News from April 17.

The NBA named Kobe Bryant (LAL) and Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) as Players of the
Month for April.  Bryant averaged 26.1 points and 5.5 assists as the
Lakers went 7-1.  Turkoglu averaged 19.8 points and 6.4 assists as Orlando
went 5-3.

The NBA named Phil Jackson (LAL) and Doc Rivers (Bos) as Coaches of the
Month for April.  The Lakers went 7-1 and Boston went 8-1.

The NBA named Kevin Durant (Sea) and Ramon Sessions (Mil) as Rookies of
the Month for April.  Durant averaged 24.3 points and 6.4 rebounds as
Seattle went 3-5.  Sessions averaged 11.5 points, 11.3 assists, and 4.9
rebounds as Milwaukee went 2-8.

Chicago fired interim head coach Jim Boylan.

Milwaukee fired head coach Larry Krystkowiak.

Mouhamed Sene (Sea) underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee.

Kevin Love (freshman, UCLA, center), Russell Westbrook (sophomore, UCLA, 
guard), Brandon Rush (junior, Kansas, guard), and Darrell Arthur 
(sophomore, Kansas, forward) declared themselves eligible for the NBA 
draft.

Keith Brumbaugh (sophomore, Hillsborough Community College, forward), J.J.
Hickson (freshman, North Carolina State, forward), Lester Hudson (junior,
Tennessee-Martin, guard), Shawn James (junior, Duquesne, center-forward),
and Lorrenzo Wade (junior, San Diego State, forward) declared themselves
eligible for the NBA draft.  [thanks to Jed Tai]

Earl Clark (sophomore, Louisville, forward) changed his mind and decided
not to declare for the NBA draft (and never formally submitted the
paperwork).  [thanks to Jed Tai]


Playoff Standings
  1st Round            2nd Round         3rd Round          Finals
  (Best of 7)          (Best of 7)       (Best of 7)        (Best of 7)
1 LA Lakers (0) _ __
8 Denver (0)        |_              __
                     _                |
4 Utah (0)    ______|                 |_              __
5 Houston (0)                          _                |
                                      |                 |
2 New Orleans (0) __                  |                 |
7 Dallas (0)        |_              __|                 |
                     _                                  |
3 San Antonio (0) __|                                   |
6 Phoenix (0)                                           |_ 
                                                         _ 
                                                        |
1 Boston (0)  ______                                    |
8 Atlanta (0)       |_              __                  |
                     _                |                 |
4 Cleveland (0)  ___|                 |                 |
5 Washington (0)                      |_              __|
                                       _ 
2 Detroit (0)      _                  |
7 Philadelphia (0)  |_              __|
                     _ 
3 Orlando (0) ______|
6 Toronto (0)