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Ex-Cavs coach Brown to take over Lakers

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Times wires
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers reached a deal in principle with former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown on Wednesday to succeed Phil Jackson, according to several media reports.

Brown will get a four-year deal worth roughly $18 million, according to the Associated Press.

The Lakers released a statement later Wednesday confirming that the club hopes to make Brown the 22nd coach in franchise history.

"We've met with Mike and are very impressed with him," said the statement issued by the team's public relations department. "In addition, we have an outline for an agreement in place and hope to sign a contract within the next few days."

With a strong interview last weekend, Brown jumped to the front of the line of candidates to succeed the 11-time champion Jackson with an iconic franchise. The Lakers' 16 titles trail only the Celtics' 17 in league history.

Rather than promoting one of Jackson's assistant coaches, the Lakers are changing course after their two-year title reign ended.

A respected young tactician with a strong coaching pedigree, Brown, 41, also has ample experience with big games and big stars, even if he couldn't guide LeBron James to a title. Brown specializes in defense.

"I think it's great," James said. "He definitely helped me become who I am today."

Heat on the verge

DEERFIELD, Ill. — James is doing it all for the Heat, hitting big shots and clamping down on MVP Derrick Rose.

Miami leads the Bulls 3-1 in the Eastern Conference final, with a chance to reach the Finals tonight in Chicago.

That's exactly the way James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh envisioned it when they decided to join together in the offseason. Miami is on the verge of its first trip to the Finals since 2006 after beating Chicago 101-93 in overtime on Tuesday.

James had 35 points and helped contain Rose down the stretch. Bosh added 22, Wade came up with three big blocks in overtime and the bench again delivered.

Now, it will try to close it out.

"We understand it's going to be a tough game," Wade said. "But we have the team and we have the guys that are capable of putting on a performance that we need to win. It's not going to be pretty, but that's not Miami Heat basketball anyway."

BULLS LOSE BACKUP: Chicago reserve enter Omer Asik will miss the rest of the season because of a broken left fibula.

JALEN ROSE GUILTY OF DUI: Former Michigan and NBA player Jalen Rose pleaded guilty in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. to drunken driving, admitting to a judge that he got behind the wheel after drinking six martinis and wound up crashing his SUV. The ESPN analyst faces up to 93 days in a jail and a $500 fine when he's sentenced July 27.

Conference finals

East

Heat 3, Bulls 1

Game 1: Bulls 103, Heat 82

Game 2: Heat 85, Bulls 75

Game 3: Heat 96, Bulls 85

Game 4: Heat 101, Bulls 93 OT

Tonight: at Chicago, 8:30, TNT

Saturday: at Miami, 8:30, TNT *

Monday: at Chicago, 8:30, TNT *

West

Mavericks 3, Thunder 1

Game 1: Mavericks 121, Thunder 112

Game 2: Thunder 106, Mavericks 100

Game 3: Mavericks 93, Thunder 87

Game 4: Mavericks 112, Thunder 105 OT

Wednesday: at Dallas, late

Friday: at Oklahoma City, 9, ESPN *

Sunday: at Dallas, 9, ESPN *

* If necessary


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