The Pacers owner Herb Simon to decide fate of President Larry Bird in the next 10 days

INDIANAPOLIS - President of the Pacers Larry Bird finally given his team return the playoffs this season.

He'll soon know if he will get completed its project of reconstruction.

Bird is in the last year of his contract and owner Herb Simon said Friday that they will meet in the next 10 days to discuss the situation of the bird. They will agree on an extension or the franchise will part ways with one of the greatest heroes of hoops of the State.

"My decision will be based on my decision with Mr. Simon," Bird said. If I like what I hear, I'll probably be back. But if there are certain things that he sees in the performance at work I've done and he is not comfortable with it, it might be time for a new voice. ?

[+] Expand AP Photo/Rick BowmerLarry Bird will meet with the owner of the Pacers Herb Simon over the next 10 days to discuss the situation of the bird.

The head of the Pacers in shoulder season coming off the coast of their first playoffs since 2006 bunk. The team has four entries with three years of experience, and the franchise will have the financial flexibility to add parts. Danny Granger, veteran starter, 28, and none of the remaining starters - Darren Collison, Tyler Hansbrough, Paul George, or Roy Hibbert - is aged more than 25.

Now, the bird wants to see how Simon is prepared to spend to improve this group.

The Hall of Famer was asked to "the great question of mine that is him, 'Now, we have money, we can spend?'". "" We waited three years to reach this point, now what can we do? ". What will you leave us to do? "There are many questions that will arise, and I want to see what direction he wants to go. ?

Simon said that Bird has done its work well.

"He gave us a three-year plan, and I think that he has lived its three-year plan," said Simon. "He said it would be tough to go, but the third year, he believed that we could probably the playoffs, what it does, and that we Cap space to build on the core group which he put in place.".

Things did look so good for birds three months ago.

The Pacers have been 17-27 when the team fired coach Jim O'Brien. Frank Vogel took over as interim coach and the team went 20 - 18, the rest of the regular season. Indiana has challenged the Chicago Bulls before removing the first round of the playoffs 4-1 series.

Vogel would like to see the birds to return.

"It is not 'Larry legend' because of its physical capabilities to play basketball," said Vogel. "It was a great basketball mind and it is he who should make decisions and what he decides is going to be what is best for the Indiana Pacers."

Bird was hired as President of the team in 2003 and the decisions of basketball shared with then CEO Donnie Walsh. The infamous Brawl between Pacers players and Pistons fans took place in 2004, which prompted the team to make trades depleting talent.

The decision to clean up the list and the financial restrictions slowed the progress of the bird.

"We knew going forward for three years, that we were not go money," he said. "If we had a payroll of $ 100 million, it is much easier." If we try to build a team around the project without any money. ?

Bird took full control of the decisions of basketball after the season 2007-08, when Walsh left to become President of New York Knicks. The Pacers have 36-46 in 2008-2009 and 32-50 in 2009-2010.

The team this season went 37-45.

"I am not satisfied with the way in which we have on the whole, but obviously, we are going in the right direction and now we are to where we have lots of Cap space and we simply use the right way.""," Bird said.

Regardless what happens, bird feels that the team has a bright future.

"Our ultimate goal is to return to compete for the Championship of the Eastern Conference and I am very high on a large number of our players," he said. "I believe in the project, we will be lucky enough to get another great player and just continue to build this.

 

Rose helps the Bulls to go forward, to eliminate the Pacers in 5

The Bulls led by as many 14 points in the first half and never towed. It is the first halftime lead they held all series. And the research forward - in each of first 4 games of the series, the Pacers led in the 4th quarter. Obviously in 3 of these 4 games, they blew their lead and lost the match.

CHICAGO - Sitting on the bench with four fouls and his team struggling, Derrick Rose has pleaded with his coach in the game.

Coach of Chicago Tom Thibodeau took the risk and its All-Star Game guard replied, the Bulls for the second round of lifting.

Rose scored 25 points, Luol Deng added 24 and Chicago finally played as a top seed, hit off the coast of the Indiana Pacers 116 - 89 in the fifth game to end their series of first round of the playoffs Tuesday night.

The top-seeded Bulls can breathe a little easier after a dominant performance by their MVP candidate and an emphatic victory which came in the wake of four dramatic games.

They can also turn their attention to the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference, where they meet Atlanta or Orlando.

"Right without voice" now, Rose said. "I really cannot believe." This is a great success. I am pleased for my teammates, happy for my team of coaches. They have done a job really well. ?

Rose seemed just fine after spraining his left ankle in the fourth game. It had registered it and admitted he feared a little at the beginning, but he wound up hitting 8 of 17 shots. He has dominated in the courts at the beginning and came big in the third after as the Pacers pulled within four. He registered 10 points on the last six minutes after his return with four faults, and Chicago the end of the quarter on a 23-8 shot race open game.

The Bulls reached 14 of 31 3-pointers, including five by Keith Bogans (15 points) and three by Deng and Rose. Deng also had seven assists and 6 rebounds.

Joakim Noah added 14 points and 8 rebounds, and the Bulls won a series of playoffs for the first time since they swept Miami in the first round in 2007 and the second time only since the era of the Championship. It was clear their impressive performance in the playoffs even if Carlos Boozer scored two points.

"Throughout the year, we've focused continuously step by step," says Thibodeau. "I think that once you start skipping steps and research to all the other stuff, it is when you lose." So we knew we could play better, although when you look at the series, to be up to 3-1, you have to do many things well, too. ?

Danny Granger registered 20 for the Pacers and had some strong words later for Noah. He accused Noah throw elbows which finally led to a technical fault for A.J. price after an altercation with Tyler Hansbrough and ejection by Josh McRoberts later in the game.

"It is a player of sale," honestly, Granger said.

"Everyone knows in the League OJ is not dirty,"Deng replied."."

Tyler Hansbrough had 14 points and 11 rebounds, but the Pacers towed the whole path and committed 21 slippers.

The Pacers had registered only seven directly to draw in 61-57 to Midway through the third with Rose on the bench with four faults when the Bulls of storing.

Taj Gibson has actually started the dam with a 19 footer. Rose, who had just returned, then to work.

"They made a run and got it close, but we made a race and it become really contagious, Deng a."guys have beaten just shots and really well, we passed the ball. "

Hit a 3 pointer, blocked Hibbert low down and hit another 3 has increased. He then stole the ball from Nick Collison and it is clogged the break, reaching 1 to 2 shots to make it 70-57 with 4: 32 left in the quarter.

Rose nailed 3 another two minutes later to make it 75-60 and Bogans buried two more than the lead hit 82-65 with 42 seconds left.

"The greatest challenge is that they are good to counter everything you launch them," interim coach Pacers said Frank Vogel.

They attempted to capture again. They tried him running off the coast of peaks. Regardless, however.

"Derrick Rose puts much pressure on you to change your style," said Vogel.

Things took a nasty turn in the second closing of the third when McRoberts threw an elbow to Noah and ejected.

The two began to run in the other direction after a pointer of 3 missed by Rose. McRoberts said that it has been neglected in the throat by Noah and was all simply retaliated when swung his right elbow. The shot missed, but McRoberts has called for the flagrant 2 foul and empties.

"I was trying to shove back to defend myself," he said.

Noah, who hit two shots-francs with 2.5 seconds left to make it 84-65, said: "I was not more dirty than anyone else." It was a battle at this location. I try wasn't hurt someone. "I am just trying to win."

The victory of the series is another major step for a fried in the image of League reconstruction team, triggering the fans in a way not seen since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen have shown the way.

How they got here is well documented:

-The firing of coach Vinny Del Negro and the hiring of Tom Thibodeau after first round exits and 41 - win consecutive seasons;

-The revision list which introduced the Boozer and a deep rotation after LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined Miami;

-The rise continues to Rose for Rookie of the year at the All-Star Game's MVP as possible.

Where they will leave here remains to be seen. What is certain, however. Nothing less that a deep run would be a disappointment and the Bulls can expire for the moment.

The Pacers, meanwhile, can take some satisfaction knowing that they have improved in the second half of the season after Vogel replaced Jim O'Brien, then pushed the Bulls before losing.

"Is something which he did well, we have become a team under him," said Hansbrough.

Game notes
Boozer felt his big right toe pop when he registered early in the second quarter. X-rays were negative.