68th NBA season
Sports season
The 2013–14 NBA season was the 68th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 29, 2013, with the Indiana Pacers hosting a game against the Orlando Magic followed by the 2012–13 NBA champions Miami Heat hosting a game against the Chicago Bulls followed by the Los Angeles Lakers hosting a game against the Los Angeles Clippers . The 2014 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 16, 2014, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans . Cleveland's Kyrie Irving won the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award . The regular season ended on April 16, 2014, and the playoffs began on April 19, 2014, and ended on June 15, 2014, with the San Antonio Spurs defeating the Miami Heat in five games to win the 2014 NBA Finals .
Transactions Free agency Free agency negotiation started on July 1, 2013, with players being able to sign starting July 10, after the July moratorium ended.[1]
Coaching changes Off-season On April 18, 2013, Byron Scott was fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers after three years with the team.[2]
On April 18, 2013, Lawrence Frank was fired by the Detroit Pistons after two years with the team.[3]
On April 18, 2013, Doug Collins resigned from the Philadelphia 76ers after three years with the team.[4]
On April 22, 2013, the Phoenix Suns fired GM Lance Blanks after three years with the team.[5]
On April 23, 2013, Mike Dunlap was fired by the Charlotte Bobcats after one season with the team.[6]
On April 24, 2013, Mike Brown was rehired by the Cleveland Cavaliers as head coach.[7]
On May 1, 2013, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that interim head coach Jim Boylan was not offered the full-time job.[8]
On May 5, 2013, the Brooklyn Nets announced that interim head coach P. J. Carlesimo was not offered the full-time position.[9]
On May 7, 2013, the Phoenix Suns named former Boston Celtics assistant general manager Ryan McDonough as the new general manager.[10]
On May 21, 2013, the Los Angeles Clippers announced that Vinny Del Negro will not return as head coach after three years with the team.[11]
On May 21, 2013, the Toronto Raptors announced that GM Bryan Colangelo will not be returning as general manager after several seasons with the team.
On May 28, 2013, the Phoenix Suns replaced interim head coach Lindsey Hunter with former Suns player and Utah Jazz assistant coach Jeff Hornacek .
On May 28, 2013, the Atlanta Hawks replaced Larry Drew , whose contract was not renewed, with former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer .[12]
On May 31, 2013, the Sacramento Kings announced that Keith Smart was fired as head coach.[13]
On May 31, 2013, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that Larry Drew replaced Jim Boylan as head coach.[14]
On June 2, 2013, the Sacramento Kings announced that Michael Malone will be the head coach for the 2013–14 season.[15]
On June 6, 2013, the Denver Nuggets announced that George Karl would not be returning as the head coach for 2013–14.[16]
On June 10, 2013, the Memphis Grizzlies announced that Lionel Hollins 's contract was not renewed for 2013–14.[17]
On June 10, 2013, the Detroit Pistons named Maurice Cheeks the head coach for the 2013–14 season.[18]
On June 12, 2013, the Brooklyn Nets named Jason Kidd the head coach for the 2013–14 season.[19]
On June 25, 2013, the Denver Nuggets named Brian Shaw the head coach for the 2013–14 season.[20]
On June 25, 2013, the NBA approved a trade of an unprotected 2015 NBA first round draft pick, which included an anti-trade clause prohibiting the Clippers and Celtics from engaging in future transactions between each other, including the exchanging of players for the duration of the 2013–14 season, for the release of the contract of Doc Rivers from the Boston Celtics , freeing him up to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers .[21]
On June 27, 2013, the Memphis Grizzlies named Dave Joerger the head coach for the 2013–14 season.[22]
On July 3, 2013, the Boston Celtics named Brad Stevens the head coach for the 2013–14 season.[23]
On August 14, 2013, the Philadelphia 76ers named Brett Brown the head coach for the 2013–14 season.[24] In-season Preseason The Preseason began on October 5, 2013, and ended on October 25, 2013. Earlier in March 2013, Commissioner David J. Stern announced that the NBA would be playing its first preseason game in the Philippines on October 10, 2013, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila featuring the Houston Rockets versus the Indiana Pacers . The arena was also the venue of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship .
Regular season The regular season began on October 29, 2013, with the Indiana Pacers hosting a game against the Orlando Magic . The regular season ended on April 16, 2014. The season featured the unveiling of national television games such as on Christmas Day along with Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets , Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks , Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers , Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors , along with other highly anticipated games.[25]
Standings By division Eastern Conference Western Conference By conference Notes
z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffsc – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffsy – Clinched division titlex – Clinched playoff spot* – Division championTiebreakers Eastern Conference Toronto clinched #3 seed over Chicago as the Raptors won the Atlantic Division and the Bulls finished second in the Central Division.
Washington clinched #5 seed over Brooklyn based on head-to-head record (3–0). Western Conference Houston clinched #4 seed over Portland based on head-to-head record (3–1). Playoffs The 2014 NBA playoffs began on April 19, 2014, and concluded with the 2014 NBA Finals which began June 5, 2014. ESPN broadcast the Eastern Conference Finals , and TNT broadcast the Western Conference Finals .
Bracket
* Division winner Bold Series winnerItalics Team with home-court advantage Statistics leaders Individual statistic leaders Individual game highs Team statistic leaders Awards Yearly awards Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant , Oklahoma City Thunder [26] Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah , Chicago Bulls [27] Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams , Philadelphia 76ers [28] Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford , Los Angeles Clippers [29] Most Improved Player Goran Dragić , Phoenix Suns [30] Coach of the Year Gregg Popovich , San Antonio Spurs [31] Executive of the Year R. C. Buford , San Antonio Spurs [32] Sportsmanship Award Mike Conley Jr. , Memphis Grizzlies [33] J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award Luol Deng , Cleveland Cavaliers [34] Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award Shane Battier , Miami Heat [35] 
