Hooped Up

Desperate Lawrence Frank said he is considering lineup changes for Game 3 Saturday, and it appears the Nets’ coach is mulling whether to dust off 40-year-old veteran Cliff Robinson to combat the Cavaliers’ rebounding dominance.

Without being specific, Frank said he may change his big-man rotation. Starting power forward Mikki Moore, who overachieved this season after being a career journeyman, could be affected. Moore hasn’t distinguished himself in this best-of-7 series, especially defensively, outplayed grandly by Cleveland’s Drew Gooden.

“I think you have to evaluate everything,” Frank said. “I think you have to have an open mind and see if it’s a different player, different scheme - something outside the box. You have to consider all the options. If we can’t do it better or harder, do we need to do something different? Do we need to play somebody different?”

New York Post

Derek Fisher — whose daughter, Tatum, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a form of childhood cancer arising from immature retinal cells in the eye — wound up with the rebound of a desperation trey try by Davis, then fed Boozer for a driving layup for Utah’s first bucket in overtime.

Deseret Morning News

Neurological signs were normal and preliminary X-rays were negative for Jazz point guard Dee Brown, who was taken to a local hospital after injuring his neck in the first half of Utah’s playoff win Wednesday over Golden State. Brown left the EnergySolutions floor with assistance and was wheeled in a cart to an ambulance. He wanted to return to the game after sustaining the scary-looking injury, but Jazz medical personnel insisted he take a trip to the hospital to undergo additional evaluation.

Deseret Morning News

Amid postseason speculation regarding the status of Shaquille O’Neal, some of it sparked by his own comments, Heat coach Pat Riley on Wednesday issued a statement that the team has not entertained offers nor has interest regarding a trade of the center. “Amongst growing speculation in the media, in reference to Shaq, I want to set the record straight and say that we are not trading Shaq,” Riley’s statement read.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

In another development, the Los Angeles Lakers granted permission for the Pacers to talk to assistant coach Brian Shaw, according to the Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise. Shaw played with Pacers president Larry Bird on the Boston Celtics.

Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal was surprised to read that he reportedly asked to be traded. O’Neal described the published report in one word: ridiculous. The Chicago Tribune earlier this week wrote that O’Neal told team officials that he wants to be traded to the New York Knicks so that he can be reunited with former coach and close friend Isiah Thomas.

Indianapolis Star

On a day in which the Charlotte Bobcats were expected to interview former NBA coaching veteran Paul Silas for their head coaching vacancy, reports indicate they’ll have more competition for the services of free agent coach Sam Mitchell. Yahoo! Sports reported Monday that league sources say Mitchell will also be the top choice of the Indiana Pacers’ for their coaching vacancy. That news isn’t surprising as Mitchell spent three years with Pacers in the early 1990s and the Pacers last week fired their head coach, Rick Carlisle.

Gaston Gazette