HoopsHype.com Rumors

Jackson added that he has never had contact with the Clippers, who announced Tuesday they won’t be signing coach Vinny Del Negro to a new contract, about an opening, and also said that he was never contacted by the Knicks. “No,” Jackson said, adding he wasn’t disappointed about it. “They’re pretty locked into the people they’ve got there, and they have a nice rapport between [general manager Glen Grunwald] and [coach Mike] Woodson. “That Indiana connection goes back a long way. They think alike, they have a good idea of what they want to have. That’s pretty solid.” New York Post

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

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 

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 

Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Malone and San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer are the top candidates, one executive said. Former Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry and Indiana Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw are being considered as well, another executive said. Los Angeles Times

Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Byron Scott, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Alvin Gentry, Mike Budenholzer, Mike Malone 

Scott Agness: Pendergraph missed practiced again to remain in the hospital w/ his wife for the birth of his daughter. Team is hopeful that he’ll re-join. Twitter @ScottAgness

Indiana Pacers, Jeff Pendergraph 

Among the immediate concerns for the Indiana Pacers heading into the Eastern Conference finals against Miami is the state of David West's right calf. One of the longer-term worries, though, is West's forthcoming free agency. The Pacers' veteran leader openly loves his situation in Indiana, which certainly gives Indy justified cause for optimism when it comes to re-signing the 32-year-old this summer. Yet the whispers are already swirling that Chris Paul's Los Angeles Clippers, in particular, are going to make a hard run at West in the offseason. ESPN.com

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, David West 

Indy will certainly have the ability to pay West more to convince its locker-room sage to stay, given that the Clips would presumably have to structure an offer with the $5.15 million midlevel exception available to non-tax teams. But you have to figure that the former Hornet -- who rose to All-Star prominence playing alongside CP3 -- is going to want to hear the details of a proposal pitching a reunion with his old point guard ... as long as Paul himself, of course, has decided to stay. If Paul re-signs with the Clips as most league insiders continue to expect, L.A. will then be seeking to add the final piece or two to cement itself as a contender with some staying power. ESPN.com

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, David West 

And some sources are quick to suggest it’s not just a matter of finalizing a contract with the 43-year-old Ujiri, whose contract with the Nuggets expires this year. New MLSE chief executive officer Tim Leiweke, who will make the final decision on Colangelo’s replacement, may be looking to make an even bigger splash with his first hire on the job. However, the list of potential candidates doesn’t suggest there’s going to be much of a “wow” factor to the new front office addition. The only other outside names that have been mentioned privately in NBA circles are Indiana GM Kevin Pritchard and Troy Weaver of the Oklahoma City Thunder, both solid front office personnel but hardly the kind of ‘rock star’ hire many expected Leiweke would be able to pull off. Toronto Star

Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Kevin Pritchard, Troy Weaver, Masai Ujiri, Tim Leiweke 

Mike Wells: David West did not take part in live practice action because of a strained right calf. The Pacers say he'll be fine for Game 1. Twitter @MikeWellsNBA

Indiana Pacers, Injuries, David West 

Scott Agness: Jeff Pendergraph missed practice today after the birth of his daughter, Naomi, yesterday. Twitter @ScottAgness

Indiana Pacers, Jeff Pendergraph 

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: 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 

The Knicks-Pacers game on Saturday was the lowest rated and least viewed primetime ABC playoff game since Cavaliers-Hawks in 2009 (which drew a 3.2 rating and 5.0 million viewers). Five of the seven ABC NBA playoff games from this year have been down in both ratings and viewership to games last year in a comparable window. Awful Announcing

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, 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 

Mike Prada: Offensive efficiency ranks of the four teams left in the playoffs: No. 1, No. 6, No. 17, No. 18. Twitter @MikePradaSBN

Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs