Good morning, Serge Ibaka and maybe the Thunder are toast

Good morning. Let’s (take another day off from) basketball.

As we await the conference finals (East on Sunday, West on Monday), let’s loll through some topics of import in the NBA.

THE PROBLEM FOR BLACK COACHES: Last year, six rookie head coaches without NBA playing experience got hired. All six were white. There hasn’t been a black rookie head coach without NBA playing experience hired since 2005. That revelation and more data on the NBA’s race problem when it comes to the sidelines can be found in Friday’s Hook.

Kevin Draper has some interesting thoughts on the topic, as well.

IBAKA: The Thunder will be without their defensive ace Serge Ibaka for the remainder of the playoffs after he suffered a calf injury vs. the Clippers. Prepare for lots of Steven Adams. An argument the Thunder should go small with Kevin Durant and Perry Jones at power forward. More thoughts on what this changes from Rob Mahoney.

DEFIANCE: That’s a damn good word to describe the Thunder’s playoff run. Here’s Eddie Maisonet’s column on the subject.

EULOGY: The Wizards choose pride over grief.

FISH! Derek Fisher is supposedly the leading candidate for the Knicks coaching job.

PREVIEW! Here’s the Daily Win’s conference finals preview.

CP3: Examining Chris Paul’s playoff legacy.

DRAFT COMBINE! One of the prospects turning heads in Chicago is UCLA guard Zach LaVine. Ricky O’Donnell explains why LaVine is the biggest lump of clay in the first round and may make the team that picks him very happy in a couple years.

NEW BOSS: Great breakdown of Stan Van Gundy’s first chat as Supreme Leader of the Pistons.

Do coaching changes increase wins?

Happy Saturday. See you next time.