Wednesday was a busy day in the NBA with the draft lottery setting up the New Orleans Hornets with the top pick in the upcoming draft while also creating a conspiracy storyline since the NBA continues calling the shots for the franchise.

Also, the Miami Heat continued following their formula for success with a 35-point third quarter that nullified a strong first half from the Boston Celtics. LeBron James missed the game-winner in regulation but Dwyane Wade was there to finish off the win in OT and leave the C's down 2-0 despite 44 points and 10 assists from Rajon Rondo. Although, did you see his game winning and 1 in the lane? Impressive double carry on the dribble to get himself in the lane.

Plenty of links after the jump, including more reaction to Larry Bird's press conference.

• Bird Sounds Like a Man With Work To Do | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE INDIANA PACERS
• Time to decide Larry Bird's future with Pacers | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
• Kravitz: Larry Bird will ask Herb Simon to raise Pacers' payroll | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
• Pacers: Bird doesn’t talk like he’s ready to leave | Pacers Insider | The Indianapolis Star | IndyStar.com
• NBA: Bird to meet with Simon soon, hopes to stay with franchise - fox59.com
• Bird wants to come back with Pacers - AP
• Heat spoil Rondo's record-breaking night - TrueHoop Blog - ESPN
• Anthony Davis welcomes chance to play for New Orleans Hornets - ESPN
• Larry Bird says he wants to return to Pacers next season | ProBasketballTalk
• NBA's problematic ownership of Hornets opens door to talk of rigged draft lottery - Yahoo! Sports
• Sources: Getting Anthony Davis won't be enough for the Nets to hold onto Deron Williams - Yahoo! Sports
• Hornets strike it rich, plus more lottery observations - Sam Amick - SI.com
• The Point Forward " Posts Behind the scenes at the draft lottery "
• New Orleans leapfrogs over three other teams to earn the top pick in the 2012 NBA draft | Ball Don't Lie - Yahoo! Sports
• Michael Jordan told Patrick Ewing he's no longer a candidate for Bobcats' head coaching position - Yahoo! Sports
• Celtics devastated over wasting Rajon Rondo's 44-point outing, falling 0-2 to Heat - Yahoo! Sports
• Video: Dwyane Wade’s key shot over Garnett, foul on Rondo | ProBasketballTalk
• Behind the Box Score, where the Boston Celtics’ best somehow wasn’t enough | Ball Don't Lie - Yahoo! Sports
• Who are the NBA's top 20 unrestricted free agents? Sheridan Hoops has them, and where they might end up.
• Flopping, flagrants, Olympics on David Stern's mind - NBA - SI.com