2. Reacting To Sloan's Resignation
Jerry Sloan's decision to step down as head coach of the Utah Jazz after 23 seasons caught most by surprise. Here's an overview of how people around the NBA -- players, past and present; coaches; fans and more -- reacted to the news:
IN THE MEDIA
Utah point guard Deron Williams:
"I would never force Coach Sloan out of Utah. He's meant more to this town, to this organization than I have, by far. That's not my place. If that was the case, I would've just said I wanted out before."
Jazz Hall of Famer John Stockton:
"We had our share [of rocky relationships]. I think that goes with the territory sometimes, [with] point guards and coaches. You're kind of an extension of your coach, and you're going to have disagreements and battles. I don't know if that's the root cause of all this. I would hope not. I think that if Jerry resigns, nobody's going to run him out, I don't care who it is. I think it's just a sign that it was time, he's fought a lot of battles. Maybe he doesn't want to argue with his point guard or anybody else any more. And I think he's earned that."
Celtics coach Doc Rivers:
"He's been there, like this rock. And all of a sudden, the rock is gone. It's like your franchise moved or something."
Former Jazz guard Kyle Korver:
"You always knew what you were going to get. There weren't any mind games. There wasn't any extra stuff going on. There was no guessing with anything. Same plays, same defense, same philosophy. Game after game, year after year, you knew what to expect. There is something to be said about playing under consistency. I went there from Philly where I had four coaches in 4 1/2 years. It was really nice."
Charles Barkley: "I've got great admiration and respect for Coach Sloan. But ... I've been disappointed in that Utah team. Maybe there's just a disconnect between old-school and new-school."
• For more Sloan reactions, click here »
4. Extreme Behavior
ESPN.com
THURSDAY'S BEST
Arron Afflalo, Nuggets: Melo was impressive with 43 points, but for one huge fourth quarter, Afflalo was the man. He put in a buzzer-beating game-winner, capping his 19-point fourth quarter that keyed a 121-120 win over the Mavs.
THURSDAY'S WORST
Dorell Wright, Warriors: Clanks his way to a 1-for-9 evening, good for three points in the loss to Suns. Considering that he was averaging 16.7 ppg, the Warriors could have used a lift in a 111-88 road loss.
TWEET OF THE DAY
Key to Lakers-Celtics this year: team with player who gets stitches in bald head wins.
J.A. Adande
jadande
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"You knew once he saw it was a chance to win, Kobe was going to be Kobe."
-- Celtics coach Doc Rivers, on Kobe Bryant's strong second half, including eight points in the final 4:51 to help the Lakers hold on.
6. Reggie And Ray
Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images 7. Power Of Zen
ESPNLosAngles.com
BOSTON -- For weeks, months maybe, Kobe Bryant has held his tongue as the Lakers muddled their way through another winter.
There was still time, he figured. Space to get it together. Room to grow back into what everyone still knows they are: the best team in the NBA, whenever they play as hard and as disciplined as they did Thursday night in an impressive 92-86 win over the Celtics.
But inside Bryant has been boiling. No, burning.
He has been down this lamentable path too many times over the years and seen too many ways it can snake off in the wrong direction.
Finally, in the sweet afterglow of the type of game that has been way too long in coming, he cracked.
Asked how he remained so patient with this team's struggles, Bryant paused, rolled his eyes, and said, "Zen."
• For the full story, click here »
8. Behind The Threes
Ray Allen passed Reggie Miller for the NBA's all-time lead in 3-point field goals on Thursday. Allen's average of 2.39 3-pointers per game is the highest in NBA history; Miller averaged 1.84 per game. The only other players to average two or more 3-point field-goals per game are Peja Stojakovic (2.20) and Gilbert Arenas (2.03).
Allen has made at least 600 3-point field goals for each of three different teams: 1,051 for the Milwaukee Bucks, 869 for the Seattle SuperSonics and 642 for the Boston Celtics. No other player has made even 400 3-pointers for each of three NBA teams.
• For more Elias notes, click here »
9. The MVP Question
ESPN.com
Woody (Waterville): I know LeBron has been the best player in the league but would you be upset if Chris Paul won the MVP? His PER's only 1.5 less and he does have a lot less help. Surely there's something to the theory that it's easier to put up numbers when a defense has to pay attention to Dwyane Wade instead of Willie Green.
John Hollinger: Posting this because I think CP's MVP case has been vastly understated by the masses. That said, Dwight Howard has passed CP in the PER charts and obviously has more defensive value, so if I was pulling the lever today I'd put LeBron first and Howard second.
• See Hollinger's full chat, click here »
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