Around The Rim

After taking over as the Pistons' interim coach on March 6, George Irvine repeatedly said he had no interest in the job beyond this season. But now, after getting endorsements from Grant Hill and other Detroit players, Irvine is leaning toward staying, according to Pistons sources. Irvine, one of the NBA's nicest guys, has surprised the Detroit front office with his willingness to get tough. (Ask Jerry Stackhouse, who was confronted after one game for trying to do too much himself.) All this spells doom for former Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer, who was hoping to land the Pistons job....

File this under Something Has to Give: The 76ers were 17-8 in games decided by three points or fewer this season, yet their first-round opponents, the Hornets, were 9-0 lifetime against Philadelphia in games decided by five points or fewer. Nothing gave in the teams' playoff opener last Saturday, however. The Sixers won at Charlotte 92-82....

Though he resigned as the Hawks' coach on Monday, Lenny Wilkens will receive the $11 million due on the last two years of his contract—unless he takes another job. Late Monday, league sources said, Wizards boss Michael Jordan had called to talk to Wilkens about becoming Washington's coach....

The Suns aren't complaining about the NBA's ludicrous decision to string out the playoffs' first round over two weeks. The schedule might-just might—enable Jason Kidd to return from his broken left ankle at the end of Round 1.