Basketball

There is no need to panic Spurs fans. Not yet. Tony Parker has been playing through a sore calf for a while now and playing well — to the tune of 14 points and 18 assists in the Spurs overtime win Tuesday night. But after the game he was limping a little around the locker…

We'll be updating this periodically with new mock drafts as they're released - if you see any we haven't, drop links in the comments. With the draft order officially set last night, it's time to get more specific with our Pelicans draft board and overall mock draft in general. Draft Express has a mock updated for last night's lottery available here, with explanations of the selections available here. DX's top 6 goes thusly: 1. Cleveland - Nerlens Noel2. Orlando - Ben McLemore3. Washington - Anthony Bennett4. Charlotte - Victor Oladipo5. Phoenix - Otto Porter6. New Orleans - Alex Len Orlando, Charlotte, and Phoenix, it appears could go in any possible direction, which makes planning for the 6th pick rather difficult. As Jon Givony writes about Orlando: Trey Burke, Anthony Bennett, Otto Porter and others will get looks here as well, as its unlikely that we'll have much of a definitive inclination of what the Magic will do with this pick until much closer to draft day. Of that group, I love Burke, and I hate Bennett. But for at least a few more weeks, we won't know how the teams above us feel about them.

(Sports Illustrated). Paul George faces the stiffest test of his young career as leader of the Indiana Pacers. The Indiana Pacers come into the Eastern Confidence Finals against the Miami Heat full of confidence. Not only did the Pacers take the New York Knicks out in six games they won two out of three contests this season against the world champions. The Miami Heat come out of their physical five game series with the Chicago Bulls healthy and rested once again. Faced against a more athletic Pacers team than in recent seasons, the Heat are up for the challenge. Indiana won season series 2-1. Game 1 in Miami: Wednesday, May 22 Game 2 in Miami: Friday, May 24 Game 3 in Indianapolis: Sunday, May 26 Game 4 in Indianapolis: Tuesday, May 28 Game 5 in Miami: Thursday, May 30 Game 6 in Indianapolis: Saturday, June 1 Game 7 in Miami: Monday, June 3 Guards: George Hill’s concussion issues are hopefully behind him and he can get back to the task at hand. Hill missed Game 5 of the Knicks series after colliding with Tyson Chandler in Game 4 and later complaining of headaches in practice. Hill gave the Pacers a needed boost at the point guard position against the Knicks, averaging 16 points per contest. Lance Stephenson came out of nowhere in the last series to nearly average a double-double. Stephenson give the Pacers an athletic guard capable of making the oft-hobbled Dwyane Wade work at both ends. Norris Cole could get the starting nod in a game or two, but for all intents and purposes Erick Spoelstra will go with the experienced Mario Chalmers. The five-year veteran remains the steady hand behind the Heat’s uptempo offense. Underrated as a defender, Chalmers’ primary assignment is to slow down George Hill. For the rest of the playoffs, the status of Dwyane Wade’s knee will be a concern. Wade put up decent numbers in the Bulls series. Being on the floor for 32+ minutes had to be encouraging to Wade and his mates. Battling with the energetic Stephenson could take its toll on Wade. I’m sure plays are designed to help him out. Forwards: Danny Granger has been reduced from the antagonist in last year’s playoffs, to a mere spectator this season. Granger’s knee woes have opened the door for Paul George to step to the forefront and claim the team as his own. George averaged 20 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists against the Knicks. George will have to work for everything against LeBron James as well as trying to keep the league MVP in check. George didn’t shoot well from the floor against New York. If he struggles against the Heat, this series will be over sooner than we expected. David West remains the muscle in the Pacers front court attack. Indiana’s power forward averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds against the Knicks. West played heavy minutes, averaging 36 per contest. LeBron James averaged 21 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists against the Pacers in three games this season – his second-lowest output against any team. James will use the now-squashed tiff between he and Pacers head coach Frank Vogel as motivation. James has been through the wringer against the physical Chicago Bulls. Despite their defensive prowess, the Pacers are paper lions in comparison to the Bulls. James may look to post up the Paul George in this series. One way to take George out of his game  is to wear him down physically. Udonis Haslem battling David West should be your classic under the basket battle royal. Haslem is the most selfless player on the team and gets more satisfaction from shutting his man down as opposed to posting big numbers. If things get overly physical, Haslem has no problem policing the situation. Center: Roy Hibbert averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks against the Knicks, including a memorable block in Carmelo Anthony in the series clincher. Hibbert will be more challenged in this series by the play of Chris Bosh. It would be wise for Hibbert to do the o

Mike Krzyzewski had decided to remain coach of the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team.

In his latest column, the Washington Post's Mike Wise tries to make the case that the Wizards should trade the number 3 pick in the 2013 draft. Sure, the Wiz could land Otto Porter or Victor Oladipo, Wise reasons, but neither player is a sure bet to contribute significantly to a playoff run for Washington next season. For this reason, Wise suggests the Wiz should trade the pick for an "established veteran." I'm not opposed to trading the pick if we can get a player who can help the Wizards become a title contender, but I don't know who they could legitimately trade the pick for that could actually do that. My bigger problem with Wise's column is that he argues against acquiring an asset that can make the team better in the future in order to get a veteran who can help them make the playoffs now. "Postseason or bust," Wise writes, clarifying that this veteran should help the team reach the second round for the first time since 2005. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for reaching the second round, but only because it's necessary to stop on the way to the Conference Finals then the NBA Finals. Having the second round as a goal is idiotic. Sure, I'd much rather see the Wiz make the playoffs than land in the lottery year after year, but the ultimate goal is to take a crack at a championship, and any move that doesn't aim for that as a goal is a bad move in my book. In his latest column, the Washington Post's Mike Wise tries to make the case that the Wizards should trade the number 3 pick in the 2013 draft. Sure, the Wiz could land Otto Porter or Victor Oladipo, Wise reasons, but neither player is a sure bet to contribute significantly to a playoff run for Washington next season. For this reason, Wise suggests the Wiz should trade the pick for an "established veteran." I'm not opposed to trading the pick if we can get a player who can help the Wizards become a title contender, but I don't know who they could legitimately trade the pick for that could actually do that. My bigger problem with Wise's column is that he argues against acquiring an asset that can make the team better in the future in order to get a veteran who can help them make the playoffs now. "Postseason or bust," Wise writes, clarifying that this veteran should help the team reach the second round for the first time since 2005. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for reaching the second round, but only because it's necessary to stop on the way to the Conference Finals then the NBA Finals. Having the second round as a goal is idiotic. Sure, I'd much rather see the Wiz make the playoffs than land in the lottery year after year, but the ultimate goal is to take a crack at a championship, and any move that doesn't aim for that as a goal is a bad move in my book.

Attention to detail from savvy veterans and athletic young players alike has helped San Antonio get out to a 2-0 lead over Memphis in their N.B.A. playoff series.

By the Numbers: Spurs Western Conference Finals

Spurs vs. Grizzlies: Game 2 Preview: 5/21/13

The Spurs defeat the Warriors 129-127 in Game 1 of the 2nd round of Playoffs

The Spurs defeat the Grizzlies 93-89 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.