You suspect, then, that Bibby will indeed get a vote or two in the race for Player of the Playoffs, assuming Sacramento can win either Friday's Game 6 at Staples Center or an if-necessary Game 7 at home Sunday.

The Kings would thus proceed to the role of overwhelming favorite in The Finals against the New Jersey-Boston survivor. Sacramento has two shots to win one against the Lakers, largely because of Bibby embracing fourth-quarter pressure much more readily than he soaks up postgame adulation.

After three seasons of torment toiling in Vancouver, and an unremarkable fitting-in regular season with the Kings, Bibby has gradually established himself as Sacramento's most dependable postseason player. That's despite arriving for a first-round matchup with Utah sage John Stockton with no prior experience, unless you count an NCAA championship as an Arizona freshman in 1997.

Cuttino Mobley appeared on Fox Sports' "Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Thursday, writes Clutch of Clutchcity.net.  When asked about the possibility of drafting Yao Ming, Mobley demurred and, after some prodding, said he'd rather trade the pick for a proven player.

"Um... somebody's proven," said Mobley. "What we can do is, and coach I love you, (but) what would be good, and Steve and I were talking about this, is trade the first round pick and get someone already established."

Hosts suggested Lamar Odom, who has been rumored several places (most recently in the New York Post) to be heading to Houston for the #1 pick, and Mobley launched into a little Francis-Odom-Mobley fantasy: "With Lamar running the break and Steve and I on the wings... it's over."  He went on at some length singing Odom's praises.

Why should anyone be surprised the Lakers find themselves in this predicament?

They have, after all, been headed here for months, a fateful rendezvous at the intersection of Hubris and Nonchalance.

For most of the season, it was almost as if the Lakers were playing under a sponsorship from the United States Postal Service. You know, mailing it in.

As a sizzling 16-1 start turned into a tepid 58-24 finish and only the second-best record in the Western Conference, the two-time defending champs have been nothing if not haughty in their conviction they are owed a third title.

From Shaquille O'Neal to Kobe Bryant to Phil Jackson to even newcomers such as Samaki Walker, their philosophy and attitude seem to have been bought at a lamp store. Just flip the switch and the light will go on.

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes that Steve Francis will rehabilitate after surgery on his right shoulder for 14 to 16 weeks.  Francis had been planning on participating in the LA Summer Pro League this July but will not be able to.

His arm will be immobilized for four weeks and then he will do range-of-motion and strength exercises for 10 to 12 weeks.  Rockets trainer Keith Jones says that the injury will not have any lingering effects.

Francis injured the shoulder in a March 8th game trying to dunk on Erick Dampier.  The 18 games he played after sustaining the injury, his stats fell off somewhat though he still played well.

Surgeons had hoped to simply trim the labrum of some jagged edges but discovered that it had a deep tear in it that had to be repaired.  Had it not been for the tear, the rehab would have been only four to six weeks.

There's little doubt that the L.A. Clippers want to solidify their lineup with a top-flight point guard.

Incumbent Jeff McInnis is not expected back. Not if he expects a significant pay raise, anyway. And it just so happens that the Clips have alot to offer in return for an impact floor leader.

Peter Vecsey of the New York Post reports that the Clippers are making a play for Jay Williams. The Clippers are apparently offering Lamar Odom, Corey Maggette and the eighth pick to Houston, for beginners. L.A. also has the 12th overall selection as well.

Such a deal could solidify an impressive core of players. Should the Clippers fail to acquire Williams, it's not improbable to think that the Clips have a legit shot at either Andre Miller or Baron Davis.

The (AP) reports: Chicago Bulls guard and former Michigan player Jalen Rose said he took some money from a former Michigan booster who pleaded guilty earlier this week to a federal conspiracy charge.
  Rose, who was drafted out of Michigan in 1994, told Fox Sports Net on Thursday that Ed Martin gave him pocket money.
  "He gave me money before, but it wasn't in excess of -- you know -- trying to allow me to be rich," Rose said. "You know, it was allowing me to have a couple of dollars in my pocket."
  Martin was accused of illegally lending $600,000 to four Wolverines basketball players. Martin said he paid $280,000 to Chris Webber, now with the NBA's Sacramento Kings; $160,000 to Robert Traylor, now with the Charlotte Hornets; $105,000 to Maurice Taylor, now with the Houston Rockets; and $71,000 to Louis Bullock, who is playing professionally in Europe.
  Rose didn't say how much he was given.
  "Like I said, just something to make me feel like I can go to a movie, go to a show, I can get a pair of gym shoes, I can get -- you know -- a fresh outfit," Rose said, according to excerpts released by Fox Sports prior to the show's airing.
  Rose said Martin gave him money before he was at the university, but didn't clarify whether he also received money while playing for the Wolverines.
  On Tuesday, Martin, 68, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. As part of his plea, he agreed to cooperate with the government and the university in their investigations of improper benefits to basketball players.
  Rose reportedly had been interviewed by investigators, but was not listed in the federal indictment as one of the players who took loans from Martin.
  Authorities alleged Martin and his wife, Hilda, ran an illegal numbers game at Detroit auto plants and laundered the profits, in part through the loans to the players and their families.

Rick Bonnell of the charlotte Observer reports: The Charlotte Sting is the only WNBA team not in an NBA city. M.L. Carr hopes to make sure that's not a permanent condition.

Carr, a former coach of the Boston Celtics, was named president of the Sting, a newly-created role, Thursday. While running the Sting, he will continue pursuing an NBA expansion team to replace the Hornets, who are moving to New Orleans.

Carr represents Hall of Famer Larry Bird and Boston-area millionaire Steve Belkin in a group applying for that expansion franchise. He appreciates the synergy between his two jobs; successfully running the Sting would develop Charlotte business contacts and do the NBA a favor. But he says running the Sting is no ploy.

"It's a nice platform to work from (pursuing NBA expansion), but I don't want anyone to think (the Sting) is just a jumping-off spot," Carr said.

"This is not a testing ground (for the NBA) and there's no quid pro quo involved. It's an opportunity to help."

The WNBA is owned by the NBA, which hopes to keep the Sting in Charlotte. The reigning Eastern Conference champion opens its season at the Charlotte Coliseum on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Sparks.

With the Hornets moving to New Orleans, the WNBA office has taken over the team's operation. Carr's primary task will be propping up fan and sponsor support.

"My commitment is not halfway," said Carr. "I'm there to make sure attendance is increased and sponsorships, too."

Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: The Denver Nuggets' coaching search is taking a few different turns. Thursday, one candidate decided to take his name out the hat; another talked about his interview on Saturday; and a former Nuggets great said he hoped to be considered.
Mike Dunleavy, who had coaching stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee and Portland, said Thursday that he would not be interested in the Nuggets' opening.

Dunleavy said he had been intrigued by the job, but his view changed after Denver traded Nick Van Exel and Raef LaFrentz to Dallas on Feb. 21. He said forward Antonio McDyess being able to opt out of his contract in 2003 was a deterrent as well.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee assistant Terry Stotts was enthusiastic about interviewing with general manager Kiki Vandeweghe on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Stotts has been an assistant for coach George Karl in Seattle from 1993-98 and with the Bucks since '98. Stotts has a connection with Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke. He coached Kroenke's son Josh, who plays at Missouri, on a prep all-star team that played in Europe in the summer of 1998. Stotts has recently interviewed for coaching openings in Detroit, Portland and Atlanta.

"I'm very excited about it," Stotts said. "It's a great opportunity. Denver, as a team and a franchise, is a unique situation with a team rebuilding with still some all-star players. Down the line, Kiki has positioned the franchise to improve not only this coming year, but after that."

Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins is expected to interview soon. Another college coaching candidate is Kentucky's coach Tubby Smith.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said the Nuggets have not contacted him about permission to interview Dallas assistants Del Harris or Donn Nelson. Harris, who has coached Milwaukee, Houston and the Lakers, will be in Europe until June 17 to take part in coaching clinics and to scout players. Harris has declined comment but could interview after his trip.

While attending next week's NBA predraft camp in Chicago, Vandeweghe has said he hopes to sneak in some interviewing. Candidates expected to be in attendance include Nelson and Utah assistant Phil Johnson. If their respective teams do not advance to the NBA Finals, Eddie Jordan, an New Jersey Nets assistant, and Lakers assistant Frank Hamblen could be there as well.

Another potential candidate who will be in Chicago is former Nuggets player Alex English, now the head coach for North Charleston of the NBA's National Basketball Development League.

The Nuggets' all-time leading scorer led the Lowgators to a league-best 36-20 record before losing in the league championship series. He last spoke to former Nuggets teammate Vandeweghe a month ago and expects to hear from him soon.

"I would love to coach the team," English said. "I've gone through this process of trying to be a part of the organization for a while now. During the last three or four years, I haven't got the opportunity for whatever reason. I was always told you've got to have experience for this and that.

Nuggets interim coach Mike Evans has had an informal interview. Nuggets assistant Clyde Drexler, who will be coaching a team at the predraft camp, has said he would have a better idea about his interest next month.