Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman was disgusted, angered and frustrated by what he learned Monday morning. Wittman was appalled that a man convicted in the alcohol-related crash that killed Malik Sealy in 2000 had been arrested again on suspicion of drunken driving. Souksangouane Phengsene was booked into the Hennepin County Jail about 2 a.m. Sunday. 'It's amazing that he can still be out on the road,' Wittman said. ... 'I understand people that make mistakes, but this to me is a chronic problem,' Wittman said, his voice rising. 'I don't understand how he can be out on the road, I really don't.'"
Percy Allen of The Seattle Times: "When their rookie season ends, Kevin Durant and Jeff Green are going back to school. ... Durant is guaranteed at least $8.5 million from his rookie contract, and he signed a $60 million deal with Nike. But the 19-year-old said he, too, is planning for life after basketball. 'Even though I love the game, I can't play forever and you can't do nothing without the degree,' he said. 'So I got to get it sooner or later. It's going to take awhile, but I'd rather it take awhile than not having one.' The decision to attend school means Durant and Green will not play with the Sonics summer league team in Orlando. Durant begins classes June 5. Green expects to spend most of the summer in Washington, D.C., and is organizing a family vacation to the Bahamas."
Rudy Larini of The Star-Ledger: "The New Jersey Nets and British financial services company Barclays PLC are teaming up Tuesday night to host what will be a National Basketball Association first -- a game in which all of the energy consumed by both teams and their fans in traveling to and operating the IZOD Center in East Rutherford will be offset by carbon emissions credits for energy-saving projects in Europe and Asia. 'Tuesday's game will be the first game in NBA history to be carbon neutral,' said Julianne Waldron, the Nets' chief environmental officer. 'Green Night,' as it has been dubbed, also will feature several environmentally-friendly groups that will be on hand in the IZOD Center's concourse areas to provide information for fans. 'The goal is to really educate fans and get them involved,' Waldron said."
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Putting aside the game for a moment (can we put them all aside?), perhaps the most enlightening moment of the night came before the game when Pat Riley, back from scouting, noted, 'It's an interesting process... At least 20 other players have caught my eye, that I've written a lot of notes about.' Isn't that reason enough for Riley to dedicate his future Heat years to the front office? Shouldn't he be part of that 'process' annually, rather than splitting duties, as he's done these past few weeks? Riley also said of owner Micky Arison, 'I want to thank Micky for suggesting that I do this, because it has reinvigorated me.' Sounds like the front office beckons."
Marc J. Spears of The Boston Globe: "There have been two Tony Allens for the Celtics this season. There is the confident one who throws down highlight-reel dunks and showcases a big smile afterward. Then there is the Allen who heard some boos at TD Banknorth Garden Sunday after missing a layup against Miami. Celtics coach Doc Rivers has said his main goal by the end of the regular season is to get Allen going. The frustrated Allen hopes Rivers gets his wish, too. 'I show flashes of what level I can play,' Allen said. 'It's just trying to get that consistency.'"
Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: "It's fitting that Avery Johnson's second book is titled Aspire Higher. That's exactly what he and the Mavericks find themselves having to do in the final two weeks of the regular season. They will have to practice what Johnson preaches in the book, which was co-authored by Roy S. Johnson. ... In the book, [Avery] Johnson says: 'Being born is easy. So is taking your last breath. Everything in between, that's the hard part.'"
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