MIAMI -- LeBron James looked groggy, battled the sniffles as he spoke and wore a large bandage Saturday over the bridge of his swollen, broken nose. Carlos Correa Jersey . None of which stopped James Miami Heat teammates from ribbing him about the injury, which could keep him out of Sundays game against Chicago. "Funny guys on this team, Ill tell you," James said, managing a chuckle. "We got a couple of big-nose jokes in there," teammate Chris Bosh said. James sat out practice Saturday, although he shot some baskets and free throws on the side. He said he wouldnt have played if there had been a game, but added he has felt better each day since breaking his nose during Thursdays victory at Oklahoma City. He hopes to improve enough to play against the Bulls, and his availability will be a game-time decision. When asked how his nose felt, James said, "It has been better. Its a little bit of everything -- pain, headaches, whatever. I have to get past it and hopefully get better in the next day. Im definitely not going to rush it." James was to be fitted for a protective mask and will likely wear it if he plays against the Bulls. "Its nothing you want to make long-term," James said. "Its very uncomfortable." James knows from experience. He wore a mask for a few weeks 10 years ago, after he broke his cheekbone hours before his 20th birthday in a game for Cleveland against Houston. James said he doesnt recall missing significant playing time then. "That was a 19-year-old recovering, compared with a 29-year-old recovering," he said with a laugh. "It takes a little bit longer than when I was 19." James was hurt in the fourth quarter of Thursdays game when he was struck inadvertently by defender Serge Ibaka on a drive to the basket. He missed the final six minutes, but even with his nose still bleeding afterward, he took teasing for how he looked. Coach Erik Spoelstra said a doctor fixed James nose Friday to "make it look prettier." "You cant be sensitive in this locker room," Bosh said. "Hes still a good-looking guy. Hes still married. I dont think his wife is going anywhere." James sat out one game earlier this season with a groin injury, and the Heat won at Portland despite the absence of their leading scorer. "We want to continue with the theme of no excuses, even without him," Spoelstra said. "Guys are willing, ready and able to step up. We have guys who are clawing to get some playing time." Any absence is unusual for James, who has never missed more than seven games in a season during his 11-year career. "Hes Iron Man," Bosh said. "But sometimes when you have a broken nose, you have to rest a little bit. Hell have to rub some dirt on it and come back healthy." After facing Chicago, the Heat are off until Thursday, when they play host to the New York Knicks. Sundays home game will the first in 20 days for the Heat, who went 5-1 on a trip that spanned the All-Star break. Miami trails Eastern Conference leader Indiana by 1 1/2 games. "Were not really concerned about that," Dwyane Wade said. "This team just wants to continue to play well. Everything else will take care of itself." Francisco Liriano Jersey . - Kevin Labanc and Joseph Blandisi were a potent combination for the Barrie Colts on Friday night. Brian McCann Jersey . Old times for a defence that has looked just plain old recently? "No," safety Ryan Clark said. "We used to be much better than that. http://www.astrosteamproshop.com/Astros-Jeff-Bagwell-Kids-Jersey/ . After falling 5-0 on home ice in a game that could have tied them for second in the wild card standings, Washington head coach Adam Oates had some strong words for Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin.OAKLAND, Calif. - The Golden State Warriors wanted Steve Kerr from the start but still wondered about his ability to coach. Kerr had his own questions for the Warriors before being convinced to take the job, notably what led to the bitter divorce between the team and Mark Jackson. Both got the answers that they had hoped for. Now each is counting on even better results to follow. The Warriors introduced Kerr as their new coach Tuesday at a packed news conference at the teams downtown Oakland headquarters. Kerr signed with the Warriors for five years and about $25 million after rejecting an offer from mentor Phil Jackson to coach the New York Knicks. "Im convinced Phil is going to make it work in New York, but when I sat down with the Warriors, it just clicked," Kerr said. "I think its the right fit for me." Kerr plans to finish his duties broadcasting the Western Conference finals for TNT before starting with the Warriors. The former NBA guard cited Golden States rapid rise the past three seasons and his family in California as his main reasons for taking the job. He replaces Mark Jackson, who was fired by the Warriors on May 6 after a 51-win season and back-to-back playoff appearances in large part because of his sour relationship with team management. Warriors general manager Bob Myers said the team identified Kerr and former Miami Heat and Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy at the beginning of their search. He said Kerr already was too deep in talks with the Knicks, where Phil Jackson took over as team president in March. "We were really just hoping to get an interview with Steve. And he rebuffed us in a very polite way," Myers said, chuckling. Then Van Gundy agreed to a $35 million, five-year deal with Detroit last week to coach the Pistons and oversee basketball operations. Shortly thereafter, Kerrs agent, Mike Tannenbaum, called the Warriors and asked for a meeting. Myers, Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob, assistant GM Kirk Lacob, and director of player personnel Travis Schlenk met with Kerr for more than three hours last Tuesday in Oklahoma City, where Kerr was calling the Thunder-Clippers game. Myers and Lacob said the teams biggest questioons were about Kerrs lack of coaching experience, which he outlined during a PowerPoint presentation. Hector Rondon Jersey. "He blew our socks off," Lacob said. "Steve Kerr and Bob Myers together is my dream team. That is a dream team." Kerr still had questions about why Jackson was fired after improving in each of his three seasons. He said it was refreshing to hear Lacob and Myers both admit mistakes, which he could relate to from his time as general manager of the Phoenix Suns from 2007-10. "I felt like I got a lot of clarity on the circumstances on the situation," Kerr said, declining to elaborate. Kerr, 48, helped Arizona to its first Final Four appearance in 1988. He won three titles for Phil Jackson in Chicago and another two under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio during his 15-year NBA playing career. Kerrs former coach at Arizona, Lute Olson, sat in the front row at his news conference. Lacob and Warriors co-owner Peter Guber also sat in the front row alongside Kerrs wife, Margot, and two of their three children, Nick and Madeline, who plays volleyball nearby at the University of California, Berkeley. The Warriors had a video display of "Kerrs Legendary Coaches," showing pictures of Jackson, Popovich, Olson, Lenny Wilkens and Cotton Fitzsimmons. Kerr said he will take the knowledge and experience from them — and other coaches he met with before games as a TNT broadcaster — and employ them with the Warriors. Kerr said his system will have principles of the Triangle Offense that won Jackson an NBA-record 11 titles as coach of the Bulls and Lakers but "will not be the Bulls of the 1990s." He said it will be more tailored to suit star Stephen Currys pick-and-roll abilities while adding some of the off-the-ball movement the Spurs do so well. Kerr has yet to hire a staff. He said he reached out to every Warriors player — almost all of whom publicly said they wanted Jackson to return — and has spoken with all but two of them so far. He said the feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive. "I think theyre excited to get back to work," Kerr said. "And Im excited to get started." ' ' '