NBA roundup: Pacers president Larry Bird calls his team soft
The worst playoff loss in Indiana Pacers franchise history had team president Larry Bird calling out his players, according to an Indianapolis Star report.
"I can't believe my team went soft. S-O-F-T," Bird told the paper. "I'm disappointed. I never thought it would happen."
Asked to elaborate, Bird said, "That's all I have to say."
The Pacers a game away from elimination after a 115-83 loss to the Miami Heat. Pacers' forward Danny Granger agreed with Bird's take, adding that the team got "beat up," and "bullied" in Game 5.
The teams play Thursday night.
---Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh, who has been sidelined since sustaining a strained abdominal muscle in Game 1 of the series against Indiana, will not play in Thursday's Game 6, but he has not ruled out the possibility of playing if the Heat advance, ESPN.com reported.
"I'm just hoping that everyone can keep doing what they're doing and extend the season," Bosh told ESPN.com on Wednesday. "I do have a chance to play again. That's the light at the end of the tunnel for me. That keeps me going every day."
---Jerry Sloan wants to coach again and is interested in the vacancies with the Charlotte Bobcats and Orlando Magic, according to a Salt Lake Tribune report.
Sloan, who resigned during the 2011 season after 23 seasons with the Utah Jazz, told the paper that he has spoken to Bobcats owner Michael Jordan, and could meet with him this week.
On Tuesday, Sloan told Fox Sports Florida that he had interest in the Magic job. He called the position "intriguing" despite uncertainty regarding star center Dwight Howard and a vacant general manager position after Otis Smith was fired.
---NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James is the leading vote-getter for the league's all-defensive team.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard join James on the first team, as announced Wednesday.
James, the Miami Heat star, amassed 53 points, including 24 first-team votes. He averaged 1.9 steals and 7.9 rebounds. Ibaka and Allen earned first-team honors for the first time.
The NBA's 30 head coaches vote on the all-defensive team by position.
---The Oklahoma City Thunder announced that they have shut down the giant outdoor viewing around Chesapeake Energy Arena as a result of a shooting that occurred nearby after Game 5.
"Thunder fans will continue to have a pregame opportunity to gather in Love's Thunder Alley outside Chesapeake Energy Arena prior to the Thunder Western Conference Finals home games, but the event will conclude when the game begins," the team said in a statement. "The Thunder will no longer show the game broadcast on the video board outside the arena."
An estimated 10,000 watched the game on the giant screen on Monday.
--- Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley did not expect to play in Wednesday's Game 6 against Philadelphia because of a shoulder injury.
