Making a relief appearance

Rick Carlisle drove to the suburban Indianapolis home of Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird around 9:15 p.m. last Tuesday. Sitting outside Bird's pool house for three hours, the longtime friends knocked back a few beers and dissected the Pacers. They arrived at two big decisions shortly after midnight.

First, Carlisle said, they determined "that whoever dies first, the other guy's going to do the eulogy." Second, they agreed it would be best if Carlisle did not return as head coach.

The official announcement came Wednesday when Bird held a press conference at Conseco Fieldhouse, praising Carlisle and emphasizing that this was a mutual decision. Carlisle followed with his own press conference, sounding relieved and reflective as he answered questions about his four-year tenure as coach, which included a trip to the 2004 Eastern Conference finals and a memorable Game 7 blowout of the Celtics in the first round the following year.

"I had some very strong emotional feelings after our last game," said Carlisle. "I attributed those feelings to the culmination of coaching through three difficult seasons between injuries, trades, and off-court issues. That made me wonder if maybe it was time to move on. Talking with Larry Tuesday night provided some clarity and perspective on the situation."

Since the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills in November 2004, clarity and perspective have been in short supply for the Pacers. Sometimes lost in the criticism of Carlisle was how much he accomplished with what little he had. Consider: In the last three seasons, the Pacers had more than 800 man-games lost to injuries, suspensions, and "other circumstances," specifically the Ron Artest trade limbo situation in 2005-06.

Retaining his title of executive vice president of basketball operations, Carlisle has until June 15 to decide whether he wants to move to the front office next season. If not, he should have no problem landing a head coaching job whenever he wants to return to the bench.

"I'm very fortunate," said Carlisle. "I'm still a young coach and I know there is a lot of room for growth. The last three seasons have been a how-to manual for dealing with adversity, distractions, and catastrophic circumstances like the brawl.

"The real challenge for a coach is navigating through difficult times. I love that challenge. But looking back, I realize seriousness can get etched on your face when coaching a team through a difficult season. Sometimes you've got to remind yourself this is a game and you've got to have fun."

In his press conference and in a phone conversation a few hours later, Carlisle showed a side of himself rarely seen. Known for his stoic demeanor and starched white dress shirts, Carlisle seemed at ease during the press conference, prompting one audience member to remark that he smiled more that day than he had the previous four years.

Exhibiting his dry sense of humor, Carlisle joked that he had tried everything to improve this season's 35-47 team, including wearing blue shirts. When asked what he might do differently in the future, Carlisle said friend and mentor Chuck Daly advised him to "try stripes or plaids."

Sounding ready to show more openness at his next stop, Carlisle added, "When you're in this situation, it's a people business. Communication is really important. You can never be too good of a communicator, and that's something I'll continue to work on."

The gap between perception and reality with Carlisle also extends to style of play. Under Carlisle, Indiana became known as a low-scoring, methodical team. Players openly questioned whether Carlisle exhibited too much control and whether the offense was too complicated.

In reality, the Pacers averaged almost 106 points per game in the 15 wins following a blockbuster January trade with the Warriors. The Pacers proved they were capable of playing different styles, which is precisely what Bird wanted.

"We always talk about running, running up and down the floor like Phoenix," said Bird in his press conference. "I don't want a team like that. The type of team I want is a team that can play any style. They can run. They can play halfcourt. They can defend."

With regard to player "gripes," Bird quipped, "They had gripes?"

Knowing how diminished playing time can prompt players to complain, Bird added, "If you talk to our players, it's never their fault. It's always the coach's fault. That's just the nature of the business."

It's also the nature of the business that coaches move on. Given his success in far-from-ideal circumstances, Carlisle's next team should be the biggest beneficiary of his next call.

Weighing a lottery change

When NBA commissioner David Stern sets his sights on change, very little can dissuade him, especially if he is protecting the "integrity of the game." There has been the dress code, the age limit, and the so-called zero-tolerance policy when it comes to players arguing calls. Now the lottery system appears destined for a shake-up.

At a meeting with sports editors last week in New York City, Stern addressed his concerns about the current system. The thought of odds falling in favor of a team that threw games at the end of the season doesn't sit well.

Asked if he worried that teams may not try as hard as possible to win when the top pick is a prize for that, Stern said, "It gets our attention. We have to look at the way we do things. I do not know if what we do now is the best."

The Grizzlies posted the worst record this season, and under the weighted lottery system, they have a 25 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick. The Celtics had the second-worst record and have a 19.9 percent chance of winning the lottery.

Stern provided no suggestions to improve the system, but he detailed how the lottery has evolved to keep the process as honest as possible.

"We are going to look at it," said Stern. "We went from a two-team coin flip to a lottery with 11 envelopes, one of which was either frozen or bent at the corner or whatever. That was great for my reputation, not to mention that it was an accusation of a felony. From that we went to ping-pong balls to what we have now."

Stern also took time to review the impact of the most recent draft-related NBA rule change.

On the 19-year-old age limit that went into effect last year, Stern said, "A lot of players went to college and found out they were not as good as they thought they were and they are staying in school and getting better. That is a good thing. It gave [Greg] Oden and [Kevin] Durant a year to play in college and create attention for the draft. The value of a draft pick is worth more now."

Just ask those teams that angled for the worst record this season.

Arrested development on the Telfair trade front

Before Sebastian Telfair was arrested early on the morning of April 20 for felony possession of a handgun and speeding, the Celtics knew there were a handful of potential trade outlets for the third-year point guard.

The scenarios were one-for-one deals, with the Celtics' 2007 second-round pick (No. 32) usually thrown into the mix. Think about teams like Atlanta, Cleveland, Denver, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Sacramento, and the Clippers that might benefit from backcourt help.

But following the arrest and subsequent remarks from Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck that Telfair had played his last game in a Boston uniform, a league source said the one-for-one deals had evaporated, leaving executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge with little bargaining leverage.

The best deals always dry up when players and teams reach a point of no return. Just ask the 76ers, who had Allen Iverson then Chris Webber dangling, or the Pacers, who knew Ron Artest needed a new home long before he found one.

Ainge basically has two viable options: pursue a multi-player package deal or waive Telfair. The good news for Ainge is that several teams expressed interest in Telfair after Grousbeck's comments sparked false reports that the point guard had been released. See the above list.

If you're thinking the Celtics could nullify Telfair's contract, don't bank on it. Historically, nullifying a contract is never easy and never absolves a team entirely from financial obligation. The Vin Baker saga is well-known to fans in these parts, but don't forget about the Raptors and Nate Huffman or the Warriors and Latrell Sprewell.

The Raptors terminated Huffman's contract, claiming he hid a knee injury. The matter went to arbitration and the Raptors wound up paying off the center. The Warriors terminated Sprewell for attacking coach P.J. Carlesimo, but after protracted legal proceedings, they still owed him money.

Etc.

Who's next?
When Larry Bird talked about possible replacements for Rick Carlisle, he ruled out college coaches while sounding enthusiastic about longtime assistants from other teams. "There are some young guys I think are up and coming that could do very well," said Bird. "If you bring a younger guy in here, the head management has got to be totally behind him. It might be a learning process for the first few games, but there's a lot of guys out there that I see that I think can get the job done for us." While Bird did not bring up any names, Carlisle mentioned Celtics assistant Tony Brown. Respected by players for his ability to communicate and provide tips that can make a big difference, Brown, 46, has been with Boston for three seasons. Before that, he was an assistant to Carlisle in Detroit and then to Kevin O'Neill in Toronto. Other names being thrown around include Coach of the Year and soon-to-be free agent Sam Mitchell of Toronto, Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni, former Pacer and current broadcaster Mark Jackson, and even Pacer legend Reggie Miller.

That smarts
In the 10 Years Too Late Dept. comes the following comment from Toronto guard T.J. Ford concerning 34-year-old Nets guard Jason Kidd and 31-year-old San Antonio big man Tim Duncan. Reminded of Kidd's age, Ford said, "The guy almost averaging a triple-double? People put [too much emphasis] on people's ages. Guys come into the league so young. Look at myself: I came into the league at 20 years old. There are a lot of other guys that are under 25. Now when guys get 31 or 32, you've seen their faces for so long you think they're old. These guys can still play. They're smart. Once your talent leaves, you've got to play smart. That's why Duncan's so good. He's not the most athletic, but he's smart and fundamental. You could put him on the Boston Celtics, and he's going to make that team better."

Home improvement
In a year when the Celtics garnered attention more for negatives than positives, it is worth noting that the play of Al Jefferson caught the eye of NBA awards voters around the country. Jefferson finished sixth in balloting for Most Improved Player, even earning a pair of first-place votes. Golden State guard Monta Ellis won the award with 352 points (47 first-place votes), while Jefferson collected 62 points.

One trial down and maybe one to go for Tony Allen. Although acquitted of aggravated battery charges stemming from a fight that escalated into a shooting at a Chicago restaurant in August 2005, Allen still faces a civil suit. Two of the complaining witnesses -- Marktwain Johnson and Nigel Odum -- have sued Allen, the owners of the White Palace Grill restaurant, and the security company on duty the night of the incident. "The process will probably result in this matter going to trial in approximately a year and a half," said Allen's attorney, Michael Zaslavsky.

While some owners, players, and referees might disagree, you can never have enough David Stern. So, here are more choice tidbits from Stern's meeting with sports editors last week: On stricter referees in light of the zero-tolerance policy: "Before, everything was a negotiation. If it wasn't the player arguing a call, it was the coach or the designated assistant coach. We got rid of that." On Shaquille O'Neal not being fined for criticizing a referee by name: "What did Shaq say? [That the referee ran him out of the game on fouls.] Truth is a good defense. He did get run out by fouls. And they were all good calls." On watching playoff games: "I still like going to games. I get great seats. But it's hard to enjoy myself. I go to a game hoping certain things don't happen: No one gets injured, there are no fights, the game isn't decided on a bad call." On holding the All-Star Game in Las Vegas: "It was a success from the point of view of the game, the players, and the experience of the fans. We are mindful that a few certain people who came to the city without tickets [were in the news]. Welcome to the NBA, where issues of youth, culture, and race are always at the epicenter."

Proof that there are still diehard Celtics fans out there comes from a Belmont Hill School student. The other day, he brought to the Globe's attention a possible nickname for Greg Oden, assuming the big man plays for the Celtics. Rearranging the letters of the 7-footer's name, the student came up with "Green God." Hmmm . . . Speaking of Green, guess who was the big attraction yesterday at the opening weekend of NBA Nation in Houston. None other than Celtics swingman Gerald Green. The 2007 All-Star Slam Dunk champion kicked off NBA Nation in his hometown by interacting with fans, signing autographs, and showing off some of his basketball skills. NBA Nation is a customized 18-wheel vehicle that turns into a 30,000-square-foot fan-focused basketball playground. Houston was the first stop on an eight-city tour during which the 18-wheeler/playground will travel 8,000 miles through July . . . Get well wishes to Celtics scoreboard operator George Yorks, who continues to recover from surgery. By bringing cups full of candy to games, Yorks made a trying season go down a little easier.

Shira Springer's e-mail address is springer@globe.com; material from personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.