Tom Thibodeau

Coach John Lucas said yesterday before the 76ers game with the Los Angeles Lakers that he is not contemplating making changes in his coaching staff. There had been speculation that Lucas, whose team was an abysmal 5-22 going into last night's game, might pull the trigger after the current six-game road trip and fire Ron Adams and Tom Thibodeau. Both came with Lucas to Philadelphia two seasons ago from the San Antonio Spurs and are working in the last year of their contract. "When you're going like we're going, you hear all kinds of things," Lucas said.

Right now, the 76ers and Sacramento Kings have more in common than the NBA's only head coaching vacancies. The two franchises are also overlapping on candidates for those vacancies, pursuing three of the same ones and making it seem possible - if not quite likely - that the two teams could target the same coach. Last week, the Sixers and Kings both met with Eddie Jordan, 54, the former Washington Wizards head coach. This week, Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski interviewed Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis and Dallas Mavericks assistant Dwane Casey, and confirmed that he would interview Boston Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau.

DEERFIELD, Ill. - Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau says center Joakim Noah is a "game-time decision" for Tuesday's playoff game against the 76ers because of a sprained left ankle. The Bulls trail 3-1 in this first-round series and are trying to avoid becoming just the fifth top seed to lose to an eighth seed. They will almost certainly again be without Noah, who was injured in Game 3 and sat out Game 4. Thibodeau had said Monday that Noah was "most likely out" for Game 5 but changed his stance slightly at the morning shootaround on Tuesday, saying, "Maybe he gets better from now until tonight.

K.C. Jones says he was "knocked out" by his meeting last week with 76ers coach Johnny Davis. But not enough to stop him from accepting a job as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics. "It was a tough one," said Jones, who coached the Celtics to NBA championships in 1983-84 and and 1985-86. "It was close. [Davis] is one of the brightest basketball people I have met at any level. " Davis, John Lucas's successor as the Sixers coach, is putting together a staff. Ron Adams and Tom Thibodeau were not retained as assistants.

Injured Chicago Bulls superstar Derrick Rose is "not quite" ready to return from his knee injury, coach Tom Thibodeau said Friday. The 2011 NBA MVP continues to practice without restrictions, but his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee remains up in the air. "He's been cleared to do everything there is," Thibodeau said before the Bulls hosted the Utah Jazz at the United Center. "Before he makes the final step, everyone has to get together and sign off. That hasn't happened yet. The most important part of this is that we have to trust Derrick, and I trust him. " ESPNChicago.com reported Friday that Rose's doctor has cleared him to play, but he has told the team he won't until he can dunk with confidence off his left foot.

The 76ers confirmed they met yesterday with Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau about their head coaching vacancy, bringing the number of interviewed candidates to four. The Sixers would not comment further on the interview, and Thibodeau could not be reached for comment. The Sixers called the Celtics for permission last weekend. Thibodeau joins former Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, current Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis, and Dallas assistant Dwane Casey as the four known candidates on the list of Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski.

Rajon Rondo recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 95-91 win Sunday over the visiting Bulls, who were without star guard Derrick Rose. Rondo had season highs in points and assists as the Celts moved 31/2 games behind the 76ers in the Atlantic Division. C.J. Watson, who started in Rose's spot, scored 22 points. Rose was out with what coach Tom Thibodeau called "stiffness" in his back and will see a specialist when the team gets back to Chicago.

CARLOS BOOZER had 29 points and 18 rebounds, Nate Robinson made the go-ahead basket with 22 seconds left, and the visiting Chicago Bulls overcame a 16-point deficit to beat the Brooklyn Nets, 92-90, on Thursday night. Jimmy Butler had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Luol Deng scored 18 points, and Robinson finished with 12 as the Bulls shook off the absences of five key players to keep Indiana from clinching the Central Division title they've won the last 2 years. Deron Williams had 30 points and 10 assists for the Nets, who had a disappointing return home from an eight-game road trip.

Harrison Barnes collected 26 points and 10 rebounds, Stephen Curry scored 22 on an injured left ankle, and the Golden State Warriors rallied past the San Antonio Spurs, 97-87, in overtime Sunday in Oakland, Calif., to even their Western Conference semifinal series at two games apiece. Jarrett Jack added 24 points in reserve and Andrew Bogut grabbed 18 rebounds to help the Warriors overcome an eight-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation. Golden State scored the first nine points of overtime to whip the yellow-shirt-clad crowd of 19,596 into a frenzy and give this topsy-turvy series another twist.

The 76ers said yesterday that they plan to interview Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau for their head coaching vacancy. The Sixers would not say when Thibodeau would be interviewed. General manager Ed Stefanski declined to comment about what will be the team's second interview since last Monday, when Tony DiLeo withdrew his name from consideration to continue as the team's coach. Stefanski interviewed former Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan on Friday. A source close to Jordan said the coach left the interview with the impression that Stefanski's search would be "a process.

Harrison Barnes collected 26 points and 10 rebounds, Stephen Curry scored 22 on an injured left ankle, and the Golden State Warriors rallied past the San Antonio Spurs, 97-87, in overtime Sunday in Oakland, Calif., to even their Western Conference semifinal series at two games apiece. Jarrett Jack added 24 points in reserve and Andrew Bogut grabbed 18 rebounds to help the Warriors overcome an eight-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation. Golden State scored the first nine points of overtime to whip the yellow-shirt-clad crowd of 19,596 into a frenzy and give this topsy-turvy series another twist.

NATE ROBINSON scored a season-high 35 points and the Chicago Bulls stopped another lengthy winning streak, rallying to beat New York, 118-111, in overtime Thursday and end the Knicks' 13-game run. Robinson came up big down the stretch, scoring eight points in the extra period. Jimmy Butler added 22 points, Luol Deng scored 16, and the Bulls busted a long streak for the second time in about a 2-week span, ending the Miami Heat's 27-game run - the second-longest in NBA history - on March 27. Carmelo Anthony made two free throws with 14 seconds left to tie the game and force overtime, but things unraveled for the Knicks in the extra session, when they were outscored, 13-6.

CARLOS BOOZER had 29 points and 18 rebounds, Nate Robinson made the go-ahead basket with 22 seconds left, and the visiting Chicago Bulls overcame a 16-point deficit to beat the Brooklyn Nets, 92-90, on Thursday night. Jimmy Butler had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Luol Deng scored 18 points, and Robinson finished with 12 as the Bulls shook off the absences of five key players to keep Indiana from clinching the Central Division title they've won the last 2 years. Deron Williams had 30 points and 10 assists for the Nets, who had a disappointing return home from an eight-game road trip.

Injured Chicago Bulls superstar Derrick Rose is "not quite" ready to return from his knee injury, coach Tom Thibodeau said Friday. The 2011 NBA MVP continues to practice without restrictions, but his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee remains up in the air. "He's been cleared to do everything there is," Thibodeau said before the Bulls hosted the Utah Jazz at the United Center. "Before he makes the final step, everyone has to get together and sign off. That hasn't happened yet. The most important part of this is that we have to trust Derrick, and I trust him. " ESPNChicago.com reported Friday that Rose's doctor has cleared him to play, but he has told the team he won't until he can dunk with confidence off his left foot.

By the Associated Press. Listed in order of 2011-12 division finish . Eastern Conference ATLANTIC DIVISION Boston Celtics   Coach: Doc Rivers Last season: 39-27, lost to Heat in conference finals. Skinny: Ray Allen's departure to Miami broke up the trio that brought Boston an unprecedented 17th title in 2008. This season, Rajon Rondo will likely star alongside Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce as the Celtics feature the Big Three, 3.0.   New York Knicks Coach: Mike Woodson Last season: 36-30, lost to Heat in conference quarterfinals.

CHICAGO - Only three players on the 76ers' roster have advanced to the second round of the playoffs. The team is filled with young players whose playoff experience is mostly of the ousted-quick variety or not making it all. Elton Brand, Tony Battie and Sam Young have reached the second round in their careers and each knows how tough the close-out game of a series can be. "Close-out games are notoriously tough, but I'd rather be...

DEERFIELD, Ill. - Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau says center Joakim Noah is a "game-time decision" for Tuesday's playoff game against the 76ers because of a sprained left ankle. The Bulls trail 3-1 in this first-round series and are trying to avoid becoming just the fifth top seed to lose to an eighth seed. They will almost certainly again be without Noah, who was injured in Game 3 and sat out Game 4. Thibodeau had said Monday that Noah was "most likely out" for Game 5 but changed his stance slightly at the morning shootaround on Tuesday, saying, "Maybe he gets better from now until tonight.

FOR PRACTICAL purposes, Tom Thibodeau said what his depleted and shellshocked team needs to hear. The Chicago Bulls are playing a young Sixers squad that only has experience in trying to avoid losing a close-out game, not winning one. Conceptually, there is a chance that Chicago can come back from what is now a 3-1 deficit and avoid becoming just the fifth No. 1 seed ever to lose in the first round of the NBA playoffs. But it's not going to happen. This series is done.

There should have been no way the Sixers could stay with the Chicago Bulls when the Bulls were able to deaden the pace of Game 3 of their opening-round playoff series on Friday night. There should have been no way, particularly, they could come back from a 14-point deficit early in the fourth quarter. But in a series that has defied prediction, one more impossibility took place in the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers won a game in which their play was pig-ugly most of the night, but just pretty enough in the end. The 79-74 win gives them the series lead and, unless Chicago has another speed it would like to try, gives them a command of things.

During the regular season, the 76ers won only eight games in which they both outrebounded and made more free throws than the opposition. Those are the building blocks of professional basketball, but they are not what the Sixers do particularly well. At their best, the Sixers win the turnover battles, limit the opponent's shooting percentage, and scoop up easy points with their fastbreak game. Being able to control the basket area - drawing contact to get free throws, and grabbing the contested rebounds - is what every coach would like his team to do. Doug Collins of the 76ers has a roster that isn't made for that kind of basketball, and he has to find other ways to win almost all the time.