Appreciating Nash

Future Hall of Famer Steve Nash said goodbye to a two-time MVP career with a farewell retirement news conference Tuesday.

The occasion caused Wolves coach Flip Saunders to reminisce about Nash's career and the 1996 draft. Saunders said Nash spent three or four days in Minneapolis that spring and said there was a "pretty good chance" the team would have drafted him fifth overall if it hadn't swung a trade to acquire Stephon Marbury.

"We really liked him," Saunders said. "I don't know if anyone expected him to have the career he had. … Not only was he good, but he kind of revolutionized the point guard position. It became so much more open, with the scoring, the passing, so many pick-and-rolls. He really kind of revolutionized that position."

Get with the program

Kevin Love's awkward relationship with LeBron James might have gotten even more so Wednesday when the Cavaliers thumped the Grizzlies and then Love video-bombed James' postgame one-on-one interview.

He butted in to wish his mother, Karen, a happy birthday, and James didn't look exactly thrilled as he turned away afterward. In February, James cryptically tweeted about Love, messaging, "Stop trying to find a way to FIT-OUT and just FIT-IN." Love took a step toward that in Wednesday's game, when he played both inside and outside. He made 10 of 13 shots, took just four three-pointers and had 22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

First time's the charm

Despite a recent swoon, Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd still has the Bucks aimed at the playoffs. If he gets them there, he'd be the first coach to reach back-to-back playoffs with different teams in his first year with each.

Others who have done it recently back to back: Doc Rivers, Boston in 2013 and L.A. Clippers in 2014; Rick Carlisle, Detroit in 2003 and Indiana in 2004; Larry Brown, Philadelphia in 2003 and Detroit in 2004; Paul Silas, Charlotte in 2002 and New Orleans in 2003, and George Karl in Seattle 1998 and Milwaukee in 1999.