News from May 21. The NBA held the draft lottery, which determines the #1, #2, and #3 picks from the 14 non-playoff teams. There were 2 big winners in the lottery with Cleveland getting the #1 pick (with the 3rd worst record) and Washington getting the #3 pick (with the 8th worst record). Orlando moved down one spot and got the #2 pick (with the worst record) and Charlotte moved down two spots to the #4 pick (2nd worst record). And with Washington's big win, Phoenix, New Orleans, Sacramento, and Detroit all moved down one spot. The NBA draft is June 27. First Round Order 1. Cleveland 2. Orlando 3. Washington 4. Charlotte 5. Phoenix 6. New Orleans 7. Sacramento 8. Detroit 9. Minnesota 10. Portland 11. Philadelphia 12. Oklahoma City (from Toronto via Houston) 13. Dallas 14. Utah 15. Milwaukee 16. Boston 17. Atlanta 18. Atlanta (from Houston via Brooklyn) 19. Cleveland (from LA Lakers) 20. Chicago 21. Utah (from Golden State via Brooklyn) 22. Brooklyn 23. Indiana 24. New York 25. LA Clippers 26. Minnesota (from Memphis via Houston) 27. Denver 28. San Antonio 29. Oklahoma City 30. Phoenix (from Miami via LA Lakers via Cleveland) Second Round Order 31. Cleveland (from Orlando) 32. Oklahoma City (from Charlotte) 33. Cleveland 34. Houston (from Phoenix) 35. Philadelphia (from New Orleans) 36. Sacramento 37. Detroit 38. Washington 39. Portland (from Minnesota via Boston via Cleveland) 40. Portland 41. Memphis (from Toronto) 42. Philadelphia 43. Milwaukee 44. Dallas 45. Portland (from Boston) 46. Utah 47. Atlanta 48. LA Lakers 49. Chicago 50. Atlanta (from Houston) 51. Orlando (from Golden State via Denver via New York) 52. Minnesota (from Brooklyn) 53. Indiana 54. Washington (from New York) 55. Memphis 56. Detroit (from LA Clippers) 57. Phoenix (from Denver via LA Lakers) 58. San Antonio 59. Minnesota (from Oklahoma City) 60. Memphis (from Miami) The LA Clippers fired head coach Vinny Del Negro. Toronto removed the title of GM from Bryan Colangeo, but he retains his president title, and the team will look to hire a new GM. The Charlotte Bobcats submitted the paperwork to change their name to the Hornets for the 14-15 season. The name change has to be approved by the NBA Board of Governors. [The Charlotte Bobcats moved to New Orleans in 2002 and just changed their name to the Pelicans, starting with the 13-14 season.] SA 105, Mem 83 at SA Kawhi Leonard (SA) had 18 points on 7-10 FG and 4-5 3-pointers. Danny Green (SA) had 16 points. Tony Parker (SA) had 20 points including 9-14 FG and 9 assists. Marc Gasol (Mem) had 15 points and 7 rebounds. Quincy Pondexter (Mem) had 17 points including 5-9 3-pointers. SA leads the series 1-0. Playoff Standings 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Finals (Best of 7) (Best of 7) (Best of 7) (Best of 7) 1 Oklahoma City (4) _ 8 Houston (2) |_ 1 Oklahoma City (1) _ _ 5 Memphis (4) | 4 LA Clippers (2) ___| |_ 5 Memphis (0) _ 5 Memphis (4) _ 2 San Antonio (2) | | | 2 San Antonio (4) ___ | | 7 LA Lakers (0) |_ 2 San Antonio (4) __| | _ 6 Golden State (2) | 3 Denver (2) __| | 6 Golden State (4) |_ _ | 1 Miami (4) _____ | 8 Milwaukee (0) |_ 1 Miami (4) _______ | _ 5 Chicago (1) | | 4 Brooklyn (3) ______| | | 5 Chicago (4) |_ 1 Miami (0) _______| _ 3 Indiana (0) 2 New York (4) ______ | 7 Boston (2) |_ 2 New York (2) ______| _ 3 Indiana (4) 3 Indiana (4) _______| 6 Atlanta (2) Conference Finals (Central times) *if necessary Schedule for Wednesday, May 22 (All times Central) Game 1: Indiana at Miami 7:30 pm TNT Schedule for Friday, May 22 (All times Central) Game 2: Indiana at Miami 7:30 pm TNT Schedule for Saturday, May 25 (All times Central) Game 3: San Antonio at Memphis 8:00 pm ESPN Schedule for Sunday, May 26 (All times Central) Game 3: Miami at Indiana 7:30 pm TNT Schedule for Monday, May 27 (All times Central) Game 4: San Antonio at Memphis 8:00 pm ESPN Schedule for Tuesday, May 28 (All times Central) Game 4: Miami at Indiana 7:30 pm TNT Schedule for Wednesday, May 29 (All times Central) *Game 5: Memphis at San Antonio TBA ESPN Schedule for Thursday, May 30 (All times Central) *Game 5: Indiana at Miami TBA TNT Schedule for Friday, May 31 (All times Central) *Game 6: San Antonio at Memphis TBA ESPN Schedule for Saturday, June 1 (All times Central) *Game 6: Miami at Indiana TBA TNT Schedule for Sunday, June 2 (All times Central) *Game 7: Memphis at San Antonio TBA ESPN Schedule for Monday, June 3 (All times Central) *Game 7: Indiana at Miami TBA TNT ---- Patricia Bender pbender@eskimo.com For Trianglons puzzles: http://www.trianglons.com For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html For Mavs stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs.html