Bay Area Buzz 12/16: Jim Harbaugh, George Karl, Warriors-Grizzlies
Bay Area Topics
Jim Harbaugh
"General manager Trent Baalke said that he spoke to 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on Monday about getting the roster in the best shape to play Saturday against the San Diego Chargers.Baalke, making his weekly appearance on the Damon Bruce Show on 95.7 The Game, said any decision on Harbaugh’s future with the organization will be made after the season. The 49ers have games remaining against San Diego and Arizona.…“When the season ends, decisions are going to be made,” Baalke said. “And that’s when that conversation is going to take place. Jim and I sat here this morning and we basically talked about just that, and we talked about what we needed to do from a roster standpoint to get ready to play Saturday.“And that’s really the focus. The focus is on getting ourselves prepared to win a football game. And although there may not be as much at stake, and some people wonder why you’re putting that much effort into it, (it’s) because we’re professionals and we’re very prideful in what we do. And we want to go out and win a football game. And the only way you can do that is get complete focus on it.”"
George Karl
"After news broke late last night that Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone had been relieved of his duties, there’s been plenty of buzz on who will take over next.One candidate believed to be a frontrunner for the job is former Coach of the Year George Karl, who used to work with General Manager Pete D’Alessandro back in his days with the Denver Nuggets.Karl, whose spent time with the Supersonics, Bucks and Nuggets over his 25 year coaching career, has made it known he’s extremely interested in returning to the NBA, ever since he parted ways with the Denver Nuggets following the 2012-2013 season.His up-tempo offense and elite defensive schemes could be just what the Kings are looking for, not to mention, he’s also a proven winner and well respected all across the league.Another potential nominee could be former Bulls and Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro, who Yahoo Sports Insider Adrian Wojnarowski singled out as “another possible long-term candidate, despite the fact that no source directly connected with the Kings even supported this claim."
–Evan Caulfield, Sir Charles in Charge
Warriors-Grizzlies
"Mike Conley and Stephen Curry are playing with great confidence, so much that they’re in early MVP candidate conversations.Their play also is why Curry and the Warriors and Conley’s Grizzlies square off Tuesday night in a matchup of teams with the NBA’s best records.Conley has sparked Memphis to a franchise-best 19-4 start.…As well as Conley has been playing, Curry has been even hotter.He and Golden State backcourt mate Klay Thompson have each scored 25 points or more in two straight games for the first time, helping extend Warriors’ franchise-best winning streak to 16 straight. Curry scored eight of his 34 in overtime Sunday in New Orleans, and he is fifth in the NBA averaging 23.7 points a game.…Conley said both teams are curious to measure themselves against the other.”It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Conley said. ”It’s a great challenge playing against a team that is playing very, very well. Obviously, they’ve got a lot of firepower over there so we’re excited to have that challenge and take them on at home.”Not to mention the excitement and anticipation of the Curry-Conley matchup."