The Southwest Division champion Spurs resume their series vs. the Thunder tonight, looking to hold serve at home in San Antonio. As ESPN.com's John Hollinger writes, the Spurs are very familiar with this situation, having entered a Game 5 with the series tied nine times already in the Tim Duncan era. Hollinger wonders what adjustments Gregg Popovich will make tonight, speculating that the team's changes could involve the use of Manu Ginobili and Matt Bonner. Here are a few more Monday updates out of the Southwest….
The Sixers and Celtics are taking the weekend off, but resume their compelling series tied at two games apiece Monday in Boston. Here's what's going on around the Atlantic Division:
- While noting that Pacers center Roy Hibbert is in line for much more, Chris Mannix of SI.com lets fly that the Nets are expecting to pay Brook Lopez somewhere between $8MM and $10MM a year in his next contract (Twitter link). Lopez, who played in just five games this season due to injuries, is a restricted free agent, so the Nets may not have a say in the terms of his deal if he chooses to sign an offer sheet with another team.
- The Sixers locked up Thaddeus Young for five years and $43MM before the season started, and he's making his presence known against the Celtics, as John Finger of CSNPhilly.com examines.
- Four second-round draft prospects — Scott Machado, Zack Rosen, Terrell Stoglin and Maalik Wayns — will work out tomorrow for the Sixers, the team announced. Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com has details.
Sophomore guard Terrell Stoglin has declared for this year's NBA draft, according to Jeff Ermann of Inside Maryland Sports. The NBA's early-entry deadline was April 29th at midnight, so Stoglin made his decision official yesterday.
Stoglin led the ACC in scoring this season, averaging 21.6 points per game. However, he ranks just 48th among DraftExpress.com's top NCAA sophomores, and his draft prospects aren't particularly strong. According to Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com, the 6'1" guard was hit with a one-year suspension by the University of Maryland for violating the student-athlete code of conduct, prompting him to declare for the draft rather than sit out next season.
You can check out the full list of NCAA underclassmen to declare for this June's draft here.