NBA Capsules: Douglas carries Knicks past Bulls

"Obviously you want to win games, but I'm in no position to talk about the record," the 39-year-old rookie head coach said.

"My biggest thing is: How can we improve as a team and how can I keep getting better as a coach? We've talked about just having a desperate attitude no matter what our record is," Williams continued. "When you don't make the playoffs (the previous season) and you've got a rookie head coach, you're in no position to be patting yourself on the back."

The Hornets have been tested in victories over Milwaukee, Denver, San Antonio and Houston, but it doesn't get any easier with the Miami Heat's All-Star trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh coming to town on Friday night.

Williams quickly deflected credit to Chris Paul when explaining his team's hot start.

"He's the best in the league at his position right now," Williams said. "He's managing games like Peyton Manning does for the Colts. If you want to give anybody credit, offensively and defensively, he's been a monster."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Paul, who missed 37 games last year due to injuries, looks like his old self.

"When I watch him, it's similar to watching him two years ago," Spoelstra said. "He just has a different gear, he's shifty, he changes speeds so well. It's like the great running backs, any kind of small gap that you can't even really see, he's able to slip through there and make any kind of play.

"There are going to be over double-digit unpredictable plays that you can't prepare for or can't script, maybe that you've never even seen before because of his creativity and his ability to get into the paint."

Williams won't deny that it feels good to start 4-0 with a club that went 1-7 in the preseason, but he reminded his players of how much work remains to be done.

"I told the guys yesterday, it's like being in the NFL and scoring a touchdown in the first quarter and saying we're going to the Super Bowl," Williams said. "It's too early in the season to even get excited about our record or what we've done."

If the Hornets are not excited, they at least seem inspired by Williams and his relatively young staff, which includes lead assistant Mike Malone, the head defensive coach at Cleveland the past few seasons.

"They're a very smart group and I think that's showing in our preparation," Hornets forward David West said of the coaches. "The information that we're getting as ball players is really putting us in position to be successful."

West said practice is more like "learning and teaching sessions than it is drilling in basketball stuff on the floor. That's something that's new to me in my eight years (in the NBA), but it's working. It's helping us, and I think we're growing as ball players."

Center Emeka Okafor said Williams' years as both a player in the NBA and as an assistant with San Antonio and Portland gave him credibility, and that it was obvious from the first day of training camp that he knew what he was doing. His players also describe him as a good communicator and a "great guy."

Okafor also credited first-year general manager Dell Demps for "getting a group of talented players who are also hungry — guys who want to win, who haven't had the best chances with other teams but can play and know they can play."

"You combine all that together and you get a great working mentality," Okafor said.

The Hornets have two new starters in Trevor Ariza and Marco Belinelli, as well as a handful of new key reserves such as Willie Green and Jason Smith.

Williams saw his first task in New Orleans as tightening up the defense, which was one of the reasons he hired Malone. Through four games, New Orleans is allowing an average of 93.75 points, which heading into Thursday night's action was sixth-lowest in the league.

"If we come out and run our game plan, we have a chance to win every game," Paul said after the Hornets; 107-99 win in Houston on Wednesday night. "Definitely this is the best defensive team we've had since I've been here."

Paul, who was not available to media after a light practice on Thursday, is wearing a brace on his left knee. It doesn't seem to be slowing him. He's averaging 21.3 points, nine assists and 6.3 rebounds so far.

"You can try to contain him," said the Heat's James, who is also a close friend of Paul's. "It's hard to shut him down because of how unbelievable he is, especially with the ball handling and how he weaves through traffic."

That doesn't mean James and company won't try to put the clamps on his buddy.

"You don't want him to win," James said. "That's bragging rights in the offseason. ... I definitely try to give a little bit more when I go against Chris and good friends."

-- Brett Martel

Lucas, a fierce power forward who helped lead the Blazers to the 1977 NBA title, died Sunday after a long fight with bladder cancer. He was 58.

The Blazers were on the road when they heard the news about Lucas, who was an assistant coach with the team until cancer forced him to step away last season.

Back at the Rose Garden for a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team held a solemn moment of silence. Afterward, the crowd shouted "Luuuuuuke!" just as it did in his playing days.

A touching video tribute of the player known as "The Enforcer" prompted a long standing ovation from fans when it was shown with 6:40 left in the first quarter.

The Rose Garden was festooned Thursday night with giant lighted letters that spelled "Enforcer" and Lucas' No. 20 jersey, which the team retired in 1988, was lit in the rafters by a spotlight. Members of the Lucas family attended the game.

"Great person. Great father. Great friend," Blazers veteran center Joel Przybilla said simply.

Portland will wear No. 20 on its uniforms this season in Lucas' memory.

Lucas joined Portland in the 1976 ABA dispersal draft and averaged a team-high 20.2 points and grabbed 11.2 rebounds per game in the 1976-77 championship season.

The former Marquette player averaged 14.4 points and 8.8 rebounds in 12 NBA seasons with Portland, New Jersey, New York, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers and Seattle. In two seasons in the ABA with St. Louis and Kentucky, he averaged 15.2 points and 10.8 rebounds.

Lucas led Marquette to the 1974 NCAA title game against North Carolina State and was selected to the All-Final Four team along with future Portland teammate Bill Walton who played at UCLA. The 6-foot-9 former Pittsburgh high school star averaged 15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds as a junior that season.

Marquette also retired his No. 20 and inducted him into its Hall of Fame. Walton named his son Luke, who currently plays for the Lakers, after him.

Lucas was a five-time All-Star.

"We have lost a champion of a man," Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "Maurice was a great man and a great friend. He battled his illness like the warrior he was on the basketball court."

A private funeral for Lucas will be held on Friday in Portland. Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins and assistant Johnny Davis, former teammates on the Blazers' championship team, were among those attending.

"He had a tough exterior, but he was a sweetheart of a man and very loyal to his friends. He made an impact on a lot of people's lives, and he influenced a lot of people," Hollins said shortly after Lucas' death.

The Blazers have scheduled a public memorial for Lucas on Monday at the Memorial Coliseum next to the Rose Garden, where the team used to play.

Lucas is survived by wife Pamela, sons David and Maurice II and daughter Kristin.

-- Anne M. Peterson

Blazers C Oberto retires because of heart problems

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers center Fabricio Oberto abruptly retired Thursday because of a previously diagnosed cardiac condition that caused heart palpitations.

Bryant told the U.S. basketball coach he would play in the London Olympics in 2012 if the Americans want him there.

The 32-year-old Lakers guard was a guest on Krzyzewski's SIRIUS XM radio show Tuesday when the Duke coach asked Bryant about London.

"You guys want me there, I am there and I'm ready to defend," Bryant said. "And then when you guys need me to put some points on the board, I'll do that, too."

Bryant confirmed his interest in wearing the red-white-and-blue again Tuesday night after scoring 23 points in Los Angeles' 124-105 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

"It's a huge honor to be a part of that," Bryant said.

Bryant was a starter on the U.S. squad that won gold medals in 2008 in Beijing, but hasn't played for the American team since then. He sat out the world championships this summer, recovering from right knee surgery following the Lakers' taxing championship run to Game 7 of the NBA finals.

Bryant will turn 34 in August 2012, and his two-time defending champion Lakers appear to be loaded for two more long playoff runs after making the last three NBA finals. Yet Bryant scoffs at worries about the wear and tear on his body in the early weeks of his 15th season with the Lakers.

"If anything, I'll just be Mariano Rivera — come in in the last two minutes," Bryant said, referring to the Yankees closer.

Beijing stalwarts LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul also skipped the Istanbul tournament, while Kevin Durant led the remainder of the U.S. team to its first world championship in 16 years.

Anthony and Paul already have said they would love to return for another Olympic run. The Americans will have next summer off, already qualified for the Olympics with the world title won by Durant and a supporting cast including Lamar Odom, who's off to an outstanding start with the Lakers despite his extra summer work.

James wants to play for U.S. in London Olympics

MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James has made another decision: He wants to be an Olympian again.