Now it's time for the two greatest words in the English language: SEVENTH SEED

Where's Pitbull's Play-in Remix of "Timber"?

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

“A New Variety, Try One;” De Scott Evans; late 1800s

---

Not-So-Black Monday

Black Monday simply did not materialize in the NBA. The only known coaching openings are in Brooklyn (which fired Jacque Vaughn months ago), Washington (which fired Wes Unseld Jr. months ago) and Charlotte (where Steve Clifford announced his resignation weeks ago).

The Blazers said Chauncey Billups will return. The Pistons will hire a new president of basketball operations to run the front office, but there’s no indication Monty Williams will get bought out. The other non-postseason East team, Toronto, has a first-year coach in Darko Rajakovic, who isn’t expected to be replaced. All the non-postseason West coaches — Gregg Popovich, Ime Udoka, Will Hardy and Taylor Jenkins — are on solid ground. There is an ongoing question as to whether Popovich will retire before age 80. He’s now 75. He’s already the oldest coach in NBA history by a few years.

Neither coach in the West 9-10 — Mike Brown or Steve Kerr — will be fired if they lose. In fact, Kerr recently became the best-paid NBA head coach. Quin Snyder is a first-year coach in Atlanta and almost assuredly safe. Billy Donovan in Chicago: that’s an interesting question, especially given how much smoke circled him with the Kentucky Wildcats opening. He has multiple years remaining on his deal with the Bulls. He’s probably safe, unless he wants to leave.

The only West coach who seems to be a replacement candidate this summer is the Lakers’ Darvin Ham, especially given how much smoke swirled around midseason about locker room dissatisfaction with him. The only East coach with a seemingly hot seat is J.B. Bickerstaff in Cleveland.

All that said, it’s indeed shaping up to be a quiet offseason when it comes to the coaching carousel.

---

Bon-Jordi

The Nets seem to have already found their new head coach as Woj reports the team is prepared to hire top Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez. Jordi comes from the Michael Malone and Mike Brown trees and actually came close to completing his PhD in sports psychology before being hired by the Cavaliers in 2009. He also coaches the Canadian senior men’s team, having led them over Team USA for bronze at the World Cup last summer.

Good hire.

---

Speaking of International Basketball Relations