HoopsHype.com Rumors

Tom Haberstroh: Shane Battier didn't watch Spurs-Grizzlies last night: "I made homemade gnocchi." Twitter @tomhaberstroh

Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Shane Battier 

Haslem sure found that out in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinal against Indiana. Shortly after Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough had a flagrant foul 1 against Heat guard Dwyane Wade, Haslem plowed into Hansbrough. Haslem was assessed a flagrant foul 1. He later was suspended for Game 6, which the Heat were able to win to close out the series 4-2. “It probably would have been just a regular foul,’’ Haslem said about how his hit on Hansbrough might have been handled during the NBA’s rough-and-tumble era. “I’ve seen a lot worse …. It was just a hard play on the basketball. I still stand by the fact that I didn’t feel like I should have been suspended, and I didn’t feel like I had tried to hurt anybody. It was a hard foul.’’ FOXSports Florida

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Tyler Hansbrough, Udonis Haslem 

Haslem will run into the Pacers again in the East finals, which start Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena. There has been plenty of talk about how this will be a physical series, much like the one last year. Then again, every series is like that as far as Haslem is concerned. “That’s the way I play the game,’’ said Haslem, 32, a former University of Florida star. “I compete. I get hit and I take hits. So to me, it’s just another series.’’ FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Udonis Haslem 

Anthony's business manager Robert "Bay" Frazier confirmed with ESPNNewYork.com that he's discussing potential business together with LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul. What those collaborations could be are unknown at this time. Something to keep in mind: Melo and LeBron both have early termination options going into the 2014-15 season. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, New York Knicks, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Agents, Rich Paul 

LeBron James saw that block Roy Hibbert applied on Carmelo Anthony's dunk attempt. He was impressed, mostly because it represented such a huge momentum shift. But this is James we're talking about, the high-flying defier of human capabilities. He seemed offended that a reporter would even ask whether he'd hesitate to drive against Hibbert. "Me?" James said incredulously. "Me?" Reassured the question was about him, James dismissed the notion. "Nah." New York Daily News

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Roy Hibbert 

La La Anthony and Gabrielle Union hanging out in bikinis in Las Vegas? Looks like a blast. Toss in a bottle of Belvedere? Good times. Union is in Vegas to shoot Think Like a Man 2 (seriously) and La La is there to lend support by touching her butt. I assume these two would be at each other’s throats had the Knicks beat the Pacers and New York was going to play Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Big Lead

Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Las Vegas, La La Anthony, Gabrielle Union 

Jill Martin, the MSG Network Knicks’ sideline reporter, is back in Miami. Again, she’s at the beach, wearing a bikini and a Knicks hat. The only difference this time is that the Knicks season is done and she can now hang out with Juwan Howard. Howard is relaxing after having scored 12 points in 17 minutes in the Heat’s final regular season game. He has yet to make an appearance in the playoffs. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James also enjoyed some time at the beach this weekend. The Big Lead

Miami Heat, New York Knicks, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Juwan Howard 

Chris Tomasson: LeBron James: “I only know information when I talk to (the media). I don’t watch television. I don’t read too much stuff.’’ Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Tom Haberstroh: Hmm... Heat assistant coach David Fizdale working with LeBron and Chalmers on floaters in the lane today at practice. Twitter @tomhaberstroh

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Mario Chalmers, David Fizdale 

Alonzo Mourning: Scottie Pippen Said LeBron Would Kick Michael Jordan’s Ass. This is where we are in sports: Former athlete gets asked a question about LeBron vs. Jordan, because LeBron is the NBA right now. Former athlete (in this case, Alonzo Mourning) answers to the laughter of everyone. Was he joking? Maybe. Was he serious? Maybe. Could Scottie Pippen have actually said this? Who knows. And who cares? (Obligatory plug of Pippen’s wife, Larsa.) The Big Lead

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Alonzo Mourning 

Frank Vogel said Monday that he has great respect for LeBron James and the Miami Heat, but as for James' perception that the Indiana Pacers coach considers Miami "just another team," he said the Heat superstar is mistaken. "Sorry, sports world, the words 'just another team' never came out of my mouth. Great respect for LBJ and the champs. Looking forward to [a] great series," Vogel said Monday, according to NBA.com. ESPN.com

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Frank Vogel 

Ira Winderman: LeBron on the Pacers, "We have respect for them. I said that yesterday, as well." Twitter @IraHeatBeat

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Chris Tomasson: Chris Andersen was asked the last time he smiled. “I don’t remember,’’ he said. Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Shane Battier wouldn't be surprised if Mike Krzyzewski, his coach at Duke, comes back to coach at 3rd Olympics. “No,'' Battier said about not being surprised. "He’s one of the most competitive people I’ve ever been around. That’s what makes him great. And so it’s not surprising me at all to hear that he has interest. Every athlete, every person who’s done this at a high level, after they step away from a really trying time, a really emotional time, says, ‘It’s too much. I can’t climb that mountain again.’ But if you’re far away enough from that mountain, you start that jones, that itch. So it’s not surprising at all.’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, Coaching, USA Basketball, Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski, Shane Battier 

Chris Tomasson: LeBron James on Paul George: "He’s one of the up-and-coming new superstars that we have in our league. He’s a kid who loves to get better." Twitter @christomasson

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George 

Chris Tomasson: Bosh on Hibbert-"I‘m going to have to have a big matchup with Roy...This is going to be the matchup that's really going to turn the series." Twitter @christomasson

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Chris Bosh, Roy Hibbert 

ABC is really hurting without the benefit of the Miami Heat on their airwaves. This past weekend, ratings for the Spurs-Warriors and Knicks-Pacers games suffered sharp declines. Sunday's San Antonio-Golden State matchup drew a 3.4 rating and 5.3 million viewers, down 29% in ratings and 30% in viewers from last year's Heat-Pacers game and 36% and 40% from 2011's Lakers-Mavericks matchup. The Knicks and Pacers didn't fare any better on Saturday evening, drawing similar marks of a 3.5 rating and 5.3 million viewers, down 29% and 35% from Heat-Celtcs in 2011 (with no comparable game last year). Awful Announcing

Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Media 

Here's full transcript of LeBron talking about how #Heat aren't just another team even if Vogel didn't say that: Frank Vogel said after last night's game, "They're the next team that's in our way and that's how we're approaching it.'' Reporter to LeBron: “Vogel kept saying last night that you guys are just another team.’’ LeBron: “We’re not just another team. I don’t understand what he’s saying. But we’re not just another team. It’s not true.’’ Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Frank Vogel 

"We're very confident," James said. "We'll be ready for them. We don't need bulletin board material. We've heard everything, we've seen everything. But I would say we're not just another team, though." ESPN.com

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Frank Vogel 

Following the Pacers' 106-99 victory Saturday night over the New York Knicks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse that pushed them into this best-of-seven series, Vogel, with his daughters by his side, seemingly offered an innocuous comment about this next step. "Oh, it's exciting," he said. "But this is not about getting back at Miami. You're in the final four, you're competing for a championship, you're competing for a championship. And they're just the next team that's in our way. And that's how we're approaching it." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Frank Vogel