Mark MatchoRohit Walia and Pat Riley both have a lot riding on a Heat "three-peat."ROHIT WALIA IS a 36-year-old real estate agent and actor from West Virginia, now living in Los Angeles. He is not a doctor, but he really has played one on TV, most recently on Grey's Anatomy. "I've played a lot of doctors," he says. Pat Riley is the 68-year-old president of the Miami Heat. He usually plays the role of winner. Walia and Riley are seemingly different men, playing different parts, but by quirks of their imaginations and U.S. trademark law, they find themselves united. Both men want to see the Heat win this year's NBA championship -- and next year's too.
Riley semi-famously holds the trademark to the word "three-peat." That doesn't mean you can't say "three-peat" or I can't write the word on this page. It does mean that if you or I wanted to sell a T-shirt or a cap with the word "three-peat" on it, we would have to pay Riley a royalty. Riley filed his trademark application in 1988, when he was the coach of the Lakers and, as the story goes, he heard Byron Scott use the word to describe their team's aspirations. That takes a certain kind of man with a certain kind of brain. While his Lakers did not three-peat, the Bulls soon did, and Riley reportedly earned about $300,000 in licensing fees.
"It's like going out there and picking up a penny on the ground," Riley told ESPN's Darren Rovell in 2005. (Riley declined to be interviewed for this column, but he confirmed through a spokesman that he still holds his trademark.) He picked up many more pennies when the Bulls re-three-peated, and the Yankees three-peated, and Phil Jackson's Lakers three-peated. Now it seems the team with the best chance to three-peat is once again Riley's own.
David Banks/Getty ImagesIn a season full of challenges, Tom Thibodeau managed to lead the Bulls to 45 wins and a trip to the second round of the playoffs.Tom Thibodeau
Season recap: Thibodeau proved again why he is one of the best coaches in the NBA. He took a team led by Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and a lot of spare parts on the bench and turned them into a 45-game winner and into the second round against the Miami Heat. The Bulls knew they were going to take a step back this year without Derrick Rose, but Thibodeau made sure it wasn't much as the Bulls played hard almost every night and set a tone defensively that was respected throughout the league.
Season lowlight: In November, Thibodeau's team lost three straight regular season games for the first time in his tenure. The three-game losing skid included losses to the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets.
Final grades: Regular season: A Postseason: A
Notes: Thibodeau's big challenge will be integrating Rose back into the lineup this summer. He will need to find a way to make his former MVP most comfortable. He definitely did that in the public eye this past season by standing behind Rose throughout the process. Thibodeau never wavered in his support for Rose and that should pay dividends in that relationship moving forward.
Quotes: "We're not satisfied because we feel like there's still a lot to accomplish," Thibodeau said after the Game 7 win in Brooklyn. "You begin the season with the end in mind knowing that you're going to be going through a lot of different things and you have to have the perseverance and mental toughness to get through a lot of tough things. And this was one of those things. We lost some guys along the way, they had homecourt ... we took a big punch in Game 1 and we kept fighting back and that's been the story of the season."
What's next?: Thibodeau continues to squeeze the most out of his roster but for the third year in a row his team hobbled its way to the finish line. He is always going to coach with the same passion and fire but he is facing more critics about the way he splits up his minutes. The front office will likely sit down with Thibodeau this summer and see if they can get him to take his foot off the gas just a little bit during the regular season.
Welcome to the Insider edition of 5-on-5! This panel is dedicated solely to debating the 2013 NBA draft. In this edition, another panel of experts debate which players own the best skills in the draft.
1. Which player owns the best overall offensive repertoire?
Chad Ford (ESPN draft expert): C.J. McCollum. He's an elite shooter and he gets to the line as well as any guard in the draft. While he isn't a great passer yet, he shows a lot of potential in this area, as well.
Paul Biancardi (recruiting expert/scout): Otto Porter. He was a late bloomer out of high school. But he's multifaceted in his approach with a productive scoring touch; he will face up or go inside to get a bucket. He can score with his skill and athletic ability or get a basket by beating you with his high IQ for the game.
Brad Doolittle (projections/NBA expert): Ben McLemore. His translations are probably the most impressive mix of usage and efficiency, but his well-known passivity is reflected in iffy foul-drawing and athletic indicators. McCollum is right there as well, though his traits are more combo guard than lead guard. No perfect players in this draft. A sleeper: Alex Abrines.
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Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams are joining the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team, adding two respected defensive coaches to Mike Krzyzewski's staff.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim returns to round out the staff for the next three years, USA Basketball announced Monday.
Thibodeau, whose Chicago Bulls are one of the NBA's toughest defensive teams, and the New Orleans Pelicans' Williams will replace Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan.
Thibodeau said joining the Team USA coaching staff is "truly an honor."
"To have the opportunity to represent our country in the Olympics in 2016, I'm thrilled, very excited about it. I'm looking forward to working with all the great coaches, Derrick [Rose], and the rest of the great players," he told ESPNChicago.com.
"I think it was important after the recent announcement of Coach K coming back as our head coach to address our staff and after a lot of deliberation it was felt that some change would be in the best interest of our program," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said on a conference call.
"Circumstances change for individuals, and we really thank Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan for their service and feel that with the two additions to the staff to replace them in Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams, we've added a couple of outstanding coaches to join our staff."
Krzyzewski decided recently to remain the coach after leading the Americans to Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012. Boeheim decided to stick around, but D'Antoni and McMillan are moving on after serving on the U.S. staffs with him for the past seven years.
You wouldn't like the Miami Heat when they're angry. Opponents sure don't.
The Heat used a 33-5 run during the second half of Sunday's Game 2 of the NBA Finals to blow out the San Antonio Spurs 103-84 and even the series at one win apiece heading to San Antonio. Sunday's game added to the mounting pile of evidence that mild-mannered Miami transforms into a more dangerous team when threatened. Let's take a look.
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CHICAGO BULLS ON TWITTER-
- Chris_Broussard Chris Broussard
KING » True Manhood Pt. 7: A Real Man Has Courage http://t.co/6XjxEf6ZdC via @chris_broussard
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- Chris_Broussard Chris Broussard
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True Manhood Pt. 6: A Real Man Is Priest of His Home http://t.co/aAwxprunqP
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- jadande J.A. Adande
Cueto is the definition of shook right now
about 13 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande
- jadande J.A. Adande
Every time I see a fan wearing one of those Willie Stargell-era Pirates caps it makes me feel a little better about the world.
about 14 hours ago
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- chadfordinsider Chad Ford
Last year two rookies made the 150 cut: Anthony Davis (62) & Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (128). ROY Damian Lillard was ranked 211 #NBArank
about 16 hours ago
- chadfordinsider Chad Ford
- chadfordinsider Chad Ford
Ben McLemore (157), Trey Burke (161) & Cody Zeller (166) almost made the 150 cut #NBArank
about 16 hours ago
- chadfordinsider Chad Ford
- chadfordinsider Chad Ford
Looks like only 2 rookies -- Anthony Bennett & Victor Oladipo -- made the Top 150 #nbarank
about 16 hours ago
- chadfordinsider Chad Ford
- jadande J.A. Adande
@RealMikeWilbon never made a better argument than he just did in USC vs Texas
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I've got a bad feeling about this (*Han Solo voice*) RT @asolomon6: .@aroundthehorn 5 ET w/ @jadande @IzzyESPN @PabloTorre & Jackie!
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- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
RT @ESPNNBA: What does the marketplace look like for Jason Collins? @ESPNSteinLine investigates: http://t.co/vVnfMp2xVs
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- NazrMohammed Nazr Mohammed
RT @JoseHeat2006: @NazrMohammed yeah ***** good luck to you too not getting your butt split in south beach lol, that LeBron push ain't for…
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#Ready #NBA #TrainingCamp http://t.co/Z5MpG7lqNh
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RT @JennaLaineBucs: A source close to Freeman said, “It was as if he was being put into time out and punished, like a child.” http://t.co/A…
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- NazrMohammed Nazr Mohammed
And to my young guys entering the @NBA... U don't just get paid to play, u are paid to stay ready to play. #GoodTeammate #RoleModel #Worker
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Good luck to all my @NBA brothers in camp 2day. Enjoy and cherish these moments on this journey cuz the years go by quickly. #StayHealthy
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- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
Fave line: When @Marcotti said media-shy Sunderland owner Ellis Short makes media-shy Arsenal/Nuggets boss Stan Kroenke look like Mark Cuban
about 23 hours ago
- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
Podcast from latest @ESPNSoccerToday show with guests @Marcotti from @ESPNFC_Soccer and ESPN'S @AdrianHealey: http://t.co/pEvnEZV6U5
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- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
Which beats those downbeat injury reports already startling to trickle in, like Wolves' Chase Budinger out indefinitely after knee surgery
about 23 hours ago
- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
Cavs just announced that Anderson Varejao (blood clot) and Anthony Bennett (shoulder) are cleared for all basketball activities
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RT @Ballislife: Coach Mark Jackson & Brian Scalabrine play basketball against prison inmates at San Quentin http://t.co/PDk84bR9QB http://t…
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50 GREATEST JORDAN MOMENTS
ESPN Chicago takes a look at the 50 greatest moments in Michael Jordan's career. Gallery 
BULLS PREVIEWS
Nick Friedell previews the 2013-14 seasons for every Bull.
Sept. 16 -- Carlos Boozer
Sept. 17 -- Luol Deng
Sept. 18 -- Taj Gibson
Sept. 19 -- Jimmy Butler
Sept. 20 -- Tony Snell
Sept. 21 -- Nazr Mohammed
Sept. 22 -- Marquis Teague
Sept. 23 -- Erik Murphy
Sept. 24 -- Joakim Noah
Sept. 25 -- Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Sept. 26 -- Kirk Hinrich
Sept. 27 -- Derrick Rose
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Nick Friedell
Nick Friedell is the Chicago Bulls beat reporter for ESPN Chicago. Friedell is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and joined ESPNChicago.com for its launch in April 2009.
Scott Powers
Powers is an award-winning journalist and has been reporting on preps, colleges and pros for publications throughout the Midwest since 1997.
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Luol Deng
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | J. Noah | 11.1 | ||||||||||
| Assists | K. Hinrich | 5.2 | ||||||||||
| Steals | J. Noah | 1.2 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | J. Noah | 2.1 | ||||||||||
UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHI | 0-0 | .0 | .0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | W0 | |
| IND | 0-0 | .0 | .0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | W0 |
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEM | 0-0 | .0 | .0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | W0 | |
| CHI | 0-0 | .0 | .0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | W0 |
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHI | 0-0 | .0 | .0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | W0 | |
| WAS | 0-0 | .0 | .0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | W0 |