Note book

- The two first-time coaches in Sunday's NBA All-Star game enjoyed the experience. It just was a lot different than their usual nights on the sideline.

Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks, who helped the Western Conference to a 152-149 victory over the East, joked he was concerned about his team's depth coming into the game.

"I had a great opportunity. I played in this league for over a decade, but never, ever, ever - and rightfully so - was in an All-Star locker room," Brooks said. "It was a great honor.

For Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, losing wasn't as painful as it usually is.

When Thibodeau was asked what he told his team at halftime after it allowed 89 points, he laughed.

"You put that many great players on the floor - you're in a bind on almost every possession," Thibodeau said.

- It doesn't sound as if the NBA will wait another 20 years to return to Orlando for the All-Star Game.

Commissioner David Stern praised the city's qualifications for holding the league's midseason spectacle during his annual Saturday news conference, calling it the "perfect city to host an All-Star Game with all things good, from the hotels to the golf courses to the spectacular Amway Center."

"There's no better building in the world, and we're delighted to be here," he said. "To answer the question from Orlando, we look forward to coming back, but I can't say when."

Stern has long said that owners want the game in warm-weather cities with good entertainment options, which makes Orlando an obvious candidate. But the old arena simply wasn't equipped to host the game, so the league hadn't been there since 1992.

Associated Press

(China Daily 02/28/2012 page24)