NBA Bullets +10 Most Important Playoff Performers + New Hip Hop 2.0 For Real This Time.

Just when it looked like the 2nd round of the playoffs had a great deal of entertainment capital ready to spend, Pop! The bubble burst! Steph Curry, who saw his stock shoot up like Apple in the new millennium, returned to his regular season form, shooting a paltry 36 percent (26-71) in the final 4 games against the Spurs. Going out with more of a whimper, than a defiant tour de force he seemed so capable of merely just a week prior. The reeling Thunder folded under the strength, size and general man power of the Grizz. The significantly undermanned Chicago Bulls ran out of enthusiasm, and the playoffs no longer accepted mere sweat equity as a form of currency, they succumbed to the Miami Heat in short order following their gut-wrenching, heart on their sleeves steal of a win in the opener. And my beloved Knicks shot themselves right out of playoffs, one miserable, highly contested, isolation pull up jumper at a time. Of course, Steph'll be back, Durant and the Thunder will be back, Rose and the Bulls will be back, even the Knicks, gulp, will be back, I hope. It's just I get excited about the prospect of great match ups, intense 7 game rivalries, and I thought we may have had something memorable brewing in Round 2, but alas, it was not to be.

We'll explore the playoffs 10 most important performers thus far and going forward, but first here are the latest installment of bullets.

• The Spurs are to the playoffs, as cheeseburgers are to my diet. An enduring staple.

• Memphis were undoubtedly Oklahoma City's betters. The fact they went into hostile territory and ended Durant & Co. on the road speaks to their maturity and development as a unit.

• Casual fans might not like the Grizzlies/Spurs match up, citing something superficial like it's lack of a true superstar or major media market. Overlooking, the fact that the Spurs and Grizz are undeniably the best TEAMS remaining out West. Contrary to the what the 30 second highlight packages might you believe, basketball continues to be a team sport and despite the importance of a superstar (a theory I subscribe too in large part), it still takes a team to reach the top.  

• In fact, 2013 has shown us the importance of a multi-faceted team dynamic, as we've seen more SUPERSTARS (Westbrook, Kobe, Rose, even Rondo) go down than I can remember in recent years off the top of my head. Like the Thunder found out if you build your team around a small SUPERSTAR core of players if you lose one, you're done. I still subscribe to the theory that ultimately you want to have a superstar and that the team with the best player often wins, but this years injuries have shown the counter point to this argument. Teams like Memphis (People made a fuss when they gave up Gay), Indiana (Already without former All-Star Danny Granger) and to a lesser extent San Antonio (They often play with one of their big 3 banged up, though I admit losing Tim or Parker probably dooms them), could sustain losing one of their major pieces, but if the Heat lost Wade, Bosh or Lebron it's curtains no?

• My 'Big'  takeaway (see what I did there...you will...) from Game 1 Spurs v. Grizz was the play up front,  the perception is that the Grizz have an advantage with their size up front, I think this 'advantage' has been a bit overstated, IMO when Duncan logs similar minutes to Gasol he is potentially the better big man on an any-given-night basis, and Splitter's continued development  may not have him on Z-Bo's level of dominance in the post, but he's a reliable passer, solid defensively and outplayed Z-Bo in game 1.

• Shout out to Bill Self and his recruiting squad over at Kansas, look forward to seeing Wiggins in the Kansas White and Blue.

• Forget the presupposition I made at the end of last blog; Mark Jackson could not out-coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs adjustments to Golden States perimeter play were the driving point behind their advancement to the next round. Lesson, as always, never question Pop.

• As much as I lament watching my Knicks go out to the Pacers in 6, as a basketball fan I think the Pacers present a better challenge to the Heat, as I've detailed in blogs dating back to the start of the year. As Mark Twain once suggested, the best swordsman need not fear the 2nd best swordsman, but instead the unorthodox swordsman. I'm suggesting the Pacers represent a truly different foe than the Knicks, who would have been happy to get up and down the floor, trying and beat the Heat at their own game. In this case the Pacers are both unorthodox and 2nd best and because of this the Heat need to worry. Just not too much.

• Prayers to those suffering in Oklahoma as a result of the deadly Tornado disasters that touched down. Shout out to Kevin Durant for donating a million dollars to the relief effort. A million dollars.

• The Hornets are back....in Charlotte. Don't screw it up like last time. Wait, they're still the Bobcats, damn they're already screwed!

• 'Knicks Nation' posted chatter on Facebook about a hypothetical trade, sending Amare and Felton to the Clips for CP3. I'm in Knicks Nation and clearly it is not on planet earth, can't see Clips making a deal like that. Further support, they relieved Vinny Del Negro of his coaching duties today, so they're not totally incompetent over there.

• In related pink slip talk, the Raptors relieved Brian Colangelo of his duties as GM, somehow the smooth talking Colangelo held onto his role as President, which means he'll still get a paycheck, which was clearly where his head was at if he was pushing for Rudy Gay extension as reported. Don't build to make the playoffs, build to win the playoffs. 

• I am happy to report that Tracy McGrady is finally enjoying some playoff success, it's not as personal as he may have liked, but he's closer to a ring than ever before.

The 10 Most Important 2013 Playoff Performers.  (In ascending order)

Russell Westbrook/ Derrick Rose/ Kobe Bryant - Sometimes a players greatness, their perceived importance, can only be truly understood by their absence, damn, the playoffs are not better for this.

LeBron James - No list of important performers can be completed without at least a mention of the King. However, it's my assertion that while he is of great importance to the Heat, his consistency is now legendary.  Lebron's 'just fair' days are still better than many an all-stars averages. Now that he's seemingly limited any weaknesses (shot selection, turnovers, FT shooting %, lack of post game, and perceived clutch time impotency), he's virtually a lock to give his team a chance to win. As long as the LBJ arrives at the arena, whether or not he plays well, is no longer a question. James is important in the same way oxygen is; and you hardly worry about it.

J.R. Smith/ Carmelo Anthony - Making the list for all the wrong reasons; this duo makes the list as it was their inept shooting and decision making (i.e. shot selection) that was most important in keeping the Knicks from moving past the Pacers. No team had more riding on the shoulders of it's star than New York and Carmelo, except, maybe the Thunder and Durant (Westbrook out, not the plan) who performed quite well by and large, but that isn't important because it didn't matter. If Smith and Anthony had                                                                              played better, it would have mattered.

George Hill/ Mike Conley - Both Conley and Hill had had their moments to this point, Conley was excellent in his match-up with CP3 in round 1, and Hill really made the Knicks pay for doubling off him in the late stages of round two. Going forward, both Hill and Conley represent the on-floor general for their younger, less experienced squad in the Conference finals. Their ability to get their respective teams into their coaches gameplan, as well as execute said plan, will be one of the more underrated aspects of the Conference Championships.

Gregg Popovich - Beyond Duncan and Parker, I'd be hard pressed to find another individual  more crucial to the success of the San Antonio Spurs in 2013.(Since 1996, really. In which case, Ginobili gets in and Robert Horry gets an apology.) Pop continues to excel at making both in-game and in-series adjustments, if he can continue to outwit his coaching counterparts (Is this a question?), that gives Spurs fans another blue chip reason to believe.

05. Z-Bo/Manu/Chris Bosh - I see these guys as the vital periphery figures on their teams, at some point each of these guys each will be called upon to put the team on their back an steal a victory. Each is more than capable of taking over the game and fueling their team to victory. With Gasol as the primary big, Z-Bo often gets the other teams 2nd best big, he needs to be dominant in this role and be a force on the block. Ginobili will need to turn back the clock and tap into his instant offense off the bench, something that has carried the Spurs for critical stretches in the past. Love Ginobili. And lastly, Chris Bosh might be the most important person that no one is talking about. Much of the perceived weakness of the Heat lies in it's lack of size on the boards and in the paint. Bosh will be called upon to contribute in these facets of the game, and he'll see heavy doses of West/Hibbert, and Duncan/Splitter or Gasol/Randolph. Good luck and have fun.

Tim Duncan & Tony Parker - Here we go again, it goes without saying that nearly 20 years later, as Duncan goes, so too, go the Spurs. Duncan has been an unrivaled measure of playoff consistency through the years, and his elixir of life has yet to fail him. 2013 has been no different as his annual playoff increase in minutes has translated into increased production. His long time partner in crime, Tony Parker, joins him for what, at this point has to be, "One Last Ride: reVisted II". No doubt the Spurs are a marvel of an organization, they've retooled their perimeter shooting and (perimeter) defenders  multiple times throughout the 'Big 3's' run, their incredible regular season record(s) year in and year out are a testament to that. But it's money time, TP and TD time, all of the supporting actors have helped them get this far, and they'll continue to do their part but it's now up to the franchise guys to get these guys back to the promised land.   

Roy Hibbert/Paul George - I couldn't decide which Pacer was more important to their overall success. Conventional wisdom would suggest it's Paul George; he was their lone all-star, their leading scorer, oh, and ya,  he'll be checking the best player in the world. On the other hand, the Pacers whole defensive scheme of running shooters off the 3 point line and funneling them in towards Hibbert is entirely dependent on Hibbert being the most dominant player on the court at the defensive end. It's for this reason that I felt Hibbert was of greater importance than George during the series with the Knicks. What's more, Hibbert will be counted on even more on the offensive end as you can bet the Pacers will try and pound the ball inside on the smaller Heat, one of the Heat's consensus limitations. Unfortunately for the Pacers, they'll need both of these guys to be playing at, or finding new (entirely possible), peaks merely to match the expected output of the defending world champs. If both found new peaks, as I said possible - not probable, would it be Twin Peaks? And if it was Twin Peaks, wouldn't it have the same level of success.

Marc Gasol - Gasol is the guy that makes the Grizz go at both ends of the court. When their offense stalls in the half court, which it does, the Grizz often run their offense through Gasol in the high post allowing him to make the vital decisions with the clock running down. Nobody seems to miss Rudy Gay. And that's not even Gasol's better half of the court, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year quarterbacks one of the leagues staunchest defensive half courts, holding opponents to under 94 ppg. Limiting the once mighty, recently castrated, Thunder offense to under a hundred points in all 5 series match-ups. Gasol has thoroughly outplayed his match-up thus far, whether it's been Jordan, Griffin, Ibaka or Perkins - Gasol has dominated. If this trend continues against the L's BEST PF OF ALL TIME and 'that other guy from Brazil', Gasol's going to get his chance to bully the Heat. Is it possible that Marc Gasol is emerging as possibly the most unlikely finals MVP of all time?

Dwayne Wade - While LeBron is undeniably the MVP of the Miami Heat, it might be the play of Wade, or rather his ability to play, that becomes most important to the Miami Heat. Wade has been two very different players at various times throughout the regular season, and on into the post season. I don't fully expect this trend to change, however if the Heat are going to win it may take some type of super human gumption from Wade, reminiscent of a Willis Reed or Isaiah Thomas scenario. I can envision Wade sucking it up, rising to the occasion and that becoming what these playoffs are ultimately known for. (Also, possibly one of the few remaining ways to elevate his legacy.) That's big picture. Small picture; the King can't do it alone, and Bosh is going to have his hands full up front from here on out, Dwayne Wade is the best 2 guard left in the playoffs, by a lot, if he shines like it - the Heat cruise. If he struggles, mostly a health related concern, it'll be a struggle to the finish for the Heat. For this reason Wade is, and has been, the most important player in the 2013 Playoffs.

And my long OVERDUE HIP HOP 2.0! The Best of April/May. Enjoy.
LR NR
n/a 20. Watching Movies - Mac Miller -Something or Nothing? I can't decide. Probably nothing.

n/a 19. Unfuckwittable - Kid Cudi - My late bloomer from the 'Indicud' album.

n/a 18. $100 Bill - Jay-Z pretty much mails in this soundtrack brag track; but reppin' the excessive "roaring '20s", Hov can do that in his sleep. Yawn. 

n/a 17. Rising - Harry Fraud Ft. Tech Nine - Tech Nine does his thing on this opening track of producer Harry Fraud's latest EP.

n/a 16. Rocket Ships - Talib Kweli Feat. Busta Rhymes - Kweli and Busta handle the bars and RZA handles the beats in a 90's reunion.

n/a 15. Kenny Lofton - J. Cole - Cole builds his hype with this track off Truly Yours 2.

n/a 14. Back to Black - Andre 3000 & Beyonce - Hardly a rap track, this remake of the Amy Whinehouse masterpiece was hardly necessary as it's hard to touch the original, that said it's still enjoyable listen.

10  13. Brothers - Kid Cudi Feat. Asap Rocky & King Chip - Shout out Thomas and Dan!

n/a 12. Think Of Me - Childish Gambino - Love Gambino's flow on this one, for a Funkmaster Flex mixtape master, sure was a shitty recording.

n/a 11. Face The World - Nipsey Hussle - Real and uplifting track from Nipsey, 9th wonder on the production.

n/a 10.Favourite Song - Chance the Rapper Ft. Childish Gambino - Undeniably catchy.

n/a 09.  Through My Head - B.O.B. - The latest single from Bobby Ray, the newest, from his newest, Underground Luxury. There's a video out there as well.

n/a 08. Wit Me - T.I. Feat. Lil Wayne - Tip's flow is on point, and this might be the best I've heard from Wayne in awhile, which isn't really saying much. There's a video on youtube but it wouldn't embed here.

n/a 07. Cole Summer - J. Cole - I know he says, "It's not a preview...", but I kinda hope it is. Born Sinner drops June 25th.

12   06. Girls Love Beyonce - Drake Feat.  James Flauntleroy - Drake holds onto a spot on the chart, but it's been awhile, expect something soon.

n/a 05. Lupe Fiasco - Animal Pharm -Who does metaphors better than Lupe? Orwellian at that.

05.  04. Solo Dolo Pt. II - Kid Cudi Feat. Kendrick Lamar  - More classic 'Man on the Moon' music from the Lonely Stoner, and this time he's not alone.

07. 03. Get Away - De La Soul - This De La Soul offering over the RZA is hauntingly brilliant.

03  02. Open Letter - Jay-Z Feat.Timbaland - I'm sure you've heard this by now, possibly here more than a month ago. Here's the remix with Common, "Open Letter Pt. II"

01.  01. Immortal - Kid Cudi - Goes without saying I'm a fan of Cudi's latest effort.

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NBA Playoff Update + The Biggest Winners and Losers of the Playoffs So Far + Hip Hop 2.0

After a seemingly predictable and ho hum start to the first round... Surprise! the NBA playoffs came to life - queue the intrigue and excitement. Points of interest in bullets.

• Biggest surprise, Russell Westbrook goes down with meniscus tear and is lost for the playoffs. Tito, er, Reggie Jackson will fill in, but this is starting to look more like the Durant 5. 

• Hard work outplays talent, when talent doesn't work hard- yada yada yada, Bulls beat Nets and continue to over-achieve based on the guys they're running out there. Inspired basketball.

• Steph Curry transcended everyone's notions of his ceiling. He's gotten white hot for whole quarters at a time. (Usually, the 3rd) 

• The Knicks devolved into a mess of half court isolations and off court distractions, narrowly slipping by the undermanned and aging Celtics in 6. Unfortunately, they haven't left their stagnant isolation heavy offense in Boston. Move the ball fellas.

• The Spurs thoroughly outplayed the Lakers in their 4 game sweep, winning 13 of the 16 quarters of play.  The Heat matched San Antonio's quarter dominance in their sweep of the Bucks. I mention this because it shows that neither team is prone to lengthy droughts on offense or prolonged runs by the opposition. It shows consistency over the course of a game, and series. Oh yea, the Spurs 3 quarter losses were by a combined 3 points. 

• Mike Conley Jr. can start going by Mike Conley Sr., he's earned it... Some people (me) suggested if Conley matched or kept the match up close with Chris Paul, the Grizzlies could get by the Clips. He did, the Grizz prevailed. Personally, I think he outplayed the oft-lauded Paul.  

• Speaking of the Zeppelin that is the  Los Angeles Clippers: let's consider contributory playoff dismissal variables. Vinny Del Negro Doing Vinny Del Negro Things + Blake Griffin Being Hurt and Looking Sad + Too Many Players, Not Enough Minutes + A Neutralized CP3 = Debacle. 2 years in a row now, we've seen an implosion of sorts from within the Clips ranks. Clips problems aside, Memphis was very good; to win 4 straight against a team as talented as the Clippers certainly deserves  a dap.

• New York Knicks Fashion Sense: Cart.... Horse.

• Denver suffered from what detractors had pointed to as their 'achilles' all season - lack of an alpha scorer in the games most important moments. In juxtaposition, Steph Curry filled the role in spades for the Warriors. 

• Obligatory joke about I forgot the forgettable series between Indiana and Atlanta. Sincere remark where I say that in all honesty, it really was a terrible series. All games with 10+ point spreads. Paul George is good. That's it. Nothing to see here, Move along.

• Every generation must have a team that defines insanity, continually having the same look and feel with the same results, yet they endure - always losing in the first round of the playoffs. The Atlanta Hawks have been this team for some time.

• David Lee's muscle memory looked pretty good the other night, eh Derrick. Ah geez.

• Duncan wins games with his head, Curry his hands and Joakim Noah his heart, guts, nuts and just about anything else that is humanly possible to summon into his being when he is out there on the basketball court, an inspiring motor hardly says it.

• Tom Thibodeau > P.J Carlisemo & Just about every other NBA coach. (Save an arguable handful.) Outmatched at nearly every position. Thibodeau motivated the hurt, the sick, and the dismissed. I'm getting dramatic, but, it was dramatic. 

• Denver still makes me shake my head a little, whatever happened George? 

As you may have recognized, most of the previous bullet points were rather outdated as I began writing this blog at some point last week. Here are some more recently updated, updates:

• Manu Ginobili has no conscious, at all. After all it is, "what he does", for clarification watch Gregg Popovich's in his press conference following Game 1. Go to the 3:00min mark for the sound bite.

• Acknowledging adjustments: Unlike the regular season, the playoffs are more specifically a game of adjustments, over the course of a 7 game series in which 2 sides are trading blows and the advantage is continually shifting. A team's chances hinge on a coaches ability to adapt and adjust his team's schemes and game-plan. Golden State's small ball since the loss of Lee has been the adjustment of the playoffs, Thibbs is continually making adjustments to give his undermanned Bulls a fighting chance, the Heat have increased Norris Cole's role as they've needed him to limit Nate Robinson's quickness and penetration, The Thunder need to find a way to increase the tempo, slowing it down in the half court favours the size of the Grizz. This is the time of year when coaches earn their pay. Could Mark Jackson out coach Greg Popovich? Wouldn't that be a bigger upset than Warriors over Spurs? 

• I donno how to fix the Knicks, but I'd start by increasing the number of pick and rolls Felton runs and I'd try to get Hibbert away from the basket and involved in as many of those pick and rolls as possible. Knick attackers have got to get their shots over Hibbert and on the rim, Chandler needs to gobble those up, he's not been a story on the offensive glass and he needs to be if Hibbert is contesting the Knicks drives like he has been. I'd try and have Melo catching the ball with a defender coming at him, as opposed to 5 defenders standing there, with him coming at them. Strangely, standing around and taking contested shots doesn't seem to be getting it done at the moment.

• The Great Wall of Hibbert has been erected in NBA paints stretching from Indiana all the way to the Eastern Seaboard. He's single-handedly controlled the paint in this series, on both end of the floor. If Hibbert continues to be the most impactful player on the court, you can bet you'll see the Pacers in the next round.

• Will the real Serge Ibaka please stand up?! Ibaka has followed up his season long ascension, with what has been a playoff long regression. The Thunder's scenario called upon Ibaka to increase his impact, instead the returns have been diminished. Until the regular season version of Ibaka shows himself the Thunder are going to be hard pressed to advance. Leaving the Thunder's brass with an extended off season to consider whether the Ibaka over Harden gamble was the right decision. Of course it doesn't help that they could use a Harden-like skill set more than ever right about now.

• Could will.i.am be any more annoying. No.

• Dwayne Wade is not quite right, and subsequently the Miami Heat are not quite right. Good enough to get out of the East maybe, but they'll need Wade before it's all said and done. 

• Did I not say Derrick Rose would be one of the most talked about storylines of the playoffs, this what-if doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.

• I could not have been more wrong about the Golden State Warriors v. San Antonio Spurs series, which I figured to be cake walk for the veteran Spurs. The Warriors ability to go small and put pressure on perimeter defenders continues to be a talking point in what has been the most exciting series of the playoffs.

• LeBron human? I'm just saying it's been nearly a month since LeBron has reminded me he's from another planet, he's due for something celestial. That said he is averaging nearly as many points in the 4th quarter, as he is in the other quarters quarters combined.

• Oklahoma needs to find a new identity and find it quick. Their lighting quick attacking style isn't the same since Westbrook went down, and the thought of playing BIG with Perkins and Ibaka doesn't seem like the answer either; the Grizz's own identity lies in it's superior BIG line-ups.

• Jimmy Butler has proved to be incredibly durable and versatile in the small sample size thus far since the epic 3 OT game that knocked both Deng and Hinrich out of the Bulls rotation. In the 6 games since, Butler has played the full 48 minutes in 4 contests, 45 in another and he rested plenty in Miami's Game 2 blowout victory. Butler's emergence has to be seen as one the silver linings for the 2013 Bulls, but how much longer can the Bulls demand this kind of durability from the young swingman.

• Despite all of the Knicks woes, it seems Shumpert is finally back to form.

Of course I jinxed my man, and he has since been seen resting his knees alongside Coach Woodson. Turns out there has been some inflammation and bruising in his knee since his return from ACL surgery. Derrick Rose apologists rejoice.

My Top 5 WINNERS and LOSERS of the NBA PLAYOFFS thus far:

Loser #5 - NBA Fans - There's been a dark injury cloud looming for much of the 2013 campaign and it's lingered into the postseason, with Kobe, DRose, and now Westbrook out. I would have liked to see Kobe get a chance to finish what he started, after keeping the Lakers season afloat by sheer will for much of the season. I think I speak for every basketball fan on the planet when I say, I miss watching Derrick Rose revolutionize the point guard position. And I'm genuinely disappointed I can't see a rematch of last year's highly competitive championship series. Not to say the Thunder can't make it, but a Thunder team without Westbrook and Harden, that's not what I had in mind. That's 3 of the NBA's top 10 players, and arguably it's two most athletic guards. Not to mention Deng, Hinrich, Lee, Amare, Granger, and now it seems Wade too, has been banged up. A lot of what-ifs.

Winner #5 - Paul George - Paul George has unquestionably been the Pacer's best player throughout the 2013 season. Without much fan fare George has catapulted himself into the discussion of the playoffs elite performers thus far. A tenacious wing defender with above average length and athleticism, George has taken on an increased load on the offensive end, while remaining the staunch defender the Pacers have counted on him to be. His ability to contain Carmelo on the defensive end and his increased production on the offensive end both as a scorer and creator has the Pacers playing their best basketball of the year, poised to knock off the Knicks and advance to the Eastern Conference Championship.

Loser #4 - JR Smith - I'm one of Smith's biggest supporters but the last two weeks have been abysmal for the recently crowned 6th man. But what have you done for me lately. Following his ill intended elbow/bicep thrust at the melon of Jason Terry, JR Smith has gone ice cold in a most telling display of karma? Though perhaps, we shouldn't be surprised, often Smith's shots are of a high degree of difficulty, almost assuring slumps and streaks at a semi regular occurrence. If you check Smith's game log for the season I'm sure there have other poor shooting skids, but this one just happens to be under the microscope of the playoffs. . Smith's absence as Carmelo's wingman has been a telling storyline from round 2. It seemed Smith had turned the corner in 2013, yet his playoffs have been marred by poor judgement and poor performance. Being a free agent in the coming off season, Smith would like nothing more than to remind everyone why he was the leagues most electric weapon off the bench this season, but unless he turns things around quick the playoffs have only served to decrease his value in my opinion, and that bums me out.

Winner(s) #4 -  Jarrett Jack/Harrison Barnes - On the flip side another pending free agent, Jarrett Jack, has seized his opportunity, shining bright in the absence of the "injured' David Lee. Jack has been a vital part of the small ball, 3 guard attack employed by the Warriors. Jack's mid range pull up game has been deadly and he continues to show a knack for taking, and more importantly making, big shots in the 4th quarter. Despite some mistakes with the ball and some questionable shot selection, I'd say that Jack has done well in selling himself as a reliable scoring combo guard in the era of small ball, stretch 4 lineups that I think we're heading towards. Barnes deserves mention as well, the UNC product has blossomed in the role of 'undersized 4', stretching the defensive helping bigs away from the hoop, and punishing small guards (Parker) who match up with him in the post as well.

More Upcoming Free Agents - Let's consider a couple other winning and losing free agents based on their performances thus far in the post season.

Winners #3 - Nate Robinson - Nate has yet again (thought he was good in Boston) proven himself to be a viable scoring option with loads of energy. Is it possible Robinson has gone from overrated to underrated? He'll invariably become overrated again, very soon, I could see someone spending on Nate as a change of pace scoring option off the bench like Smith, Barea, Crawford. While he may not be in their class he has certainly increased his value this post season. Matt Barnes - As bat-shit crazy as Matt Barnes appeared throughout the Clippers series with the Grizzlies, he seemingly always backed up his chatter with quality play. While Vinny Del Negro frantically shuffled line ups in and out, one of the constants was Matt Barnes. Barnes will be a sought after free agent; he plays with the physicality necessary for a small 4, and the athleticism to match up with some of the leagues elite perimeter players. David West - I don't know how much David West can improve his stock at this point, a long time vet, he pretty much is what he is. That said, he is undeniably a winner. West brings a no-nonsense leadership mentality, I think he could greatly help a young team on the cusp, this playoffs have proven it.

Losers #3 - Josh Smith - Did Josh Smith do enough in the post season to be considered a max contract player? I don't think so. With his athleticism and skill set he should be a max guy but he shoots a poor percentage and makes poor decisions with the ball. Said someone in 2007. 6 years later the red flags are the same. Kevin Martin - Martin was the big chip headed to Oklahoma City in the Harden trade, in the regular season he filled his role (scoring lift off the bench)  impeccably well. So much so that some teams may have been tempted to offer some cash Martin's way as a number 2 scoring option. However, since Westbrook has gone down it has been glaring just how much Martin is not Harden. Martin has not filled the role of number 2 scoring option with enough consistency or success for me to think that he's improved his value, instead he's validated himself as a 3rd or 4th banana in my opinion. Lamar Odom - Aside from Vinny Del Negro, is anyone else interested in paying for Lamar's aging line drive jumper? Lamar was brutal and he's a long way removed from his glory years in Los Angeles.

Winner #2 - Mark Jackson & Steph Curry - Steph Curry may not be the BEST player in the playoffs thus far (Durant), but he's certainly raised his level of play the most. Lifting the Warriors with him.  Curry has created for both himself and his teammates as his ascension has really been something to watch. Since becoming the alpha dog, the team has seemingly taken on Curry's personality. A big part of that has been coach Mark Jackson's adjustments to his line up in the wake of David Lee going down. The Warriors are playing a small, fast exciting brand of basketball, headed by their 3 guard attack of Curry, Thompson, and Jack. Bogut has been solid in the middle and Barnes has been the perfect compliment at the 4. Many were quick to dismiss the Warriors when Lee, their lone All Star, went down. Instead the 6th seeded Warriors upset the favoured Nuggets and are now giving the vaunted Spurs all they can handle. Maybe necessity was the mother of invention in this case, regardless Jackson ability to transition his squad's identity so quickly under the circumstances has been impressive.

Loser #2 - Los Angeles Clippers - Shit was all good just a week ago, and then it shit the fan. Big time. Just May 1st, the Clippers seemed poised to roll past the Grizz again in round 1, with the loss of Westbrook for the Thunder, the Clippers road was seemingly clear. Perhaps they looked past the Grizz, perhaps Vinny Del Negro decided to start coaching, either way shit happened and instead of marching into Oklahoma City poised to take their place amongst the NBA's elite, the Clippers are left wondering if VDN should be back, if CP3 will be back. A lot can change in a week in L.A.

My Biggest Loser of the playoffs so far, Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers. - Way passed misunderstood, Dwight cannot help making himself come off as a loser in the post season. This time selfishly sabotaging his Laker teammates, seemingly begging for two technical fouls and a quick dismissal. An appropriate ending to a season that was mired in a series of ill fated Howard dramatics since day one. He won't lose in the financial sense, but he'll certainly suffer from a personal legacy standpoint.  A career as a Los Angeles Laker could have solidified him as one of the greats down the line, he may have blown that opportunity this year. The once proud and mighty Los Angeles Lakers have experienced a humbling of sorts throughout the 2012-13 season, their steady and well publicized fall from grace reached it's culmination with their embarrassing dismissal from the playoffs at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. To worsen matters the team's obvious lack of chemistry and limited numbered of tangible successes, notably in the playoffs, can't provide encouragement to the Lakers going forward. With a so much invested in a roster that has already proven in cannot win, the Lakers are easily the most disappointing team of the 2012-13 season. A bull in a china shop the whole while, hardly carrying themselves with anywhere near, the class and effort that the Celtics did.

My Biggest Winner of the playoffs so far is again, NBA Fans. Yeah, I did that. Contradictory as it may seem, while we may have missed out on some interesting hypotheticals, there has still been plenty to celebrate. Following a slow start, the first few weeks have provided some very interesting match ups, most notably the Spurs v.Warriors series. (We've already seen 3 periods of overtime play through the first 4 games.) The back court match up of Green/ Ginobili/ Parker v. Curry/ Thompson/ Jack has been top notch, old and stubborn v. young and impatient. Memphis v. Oklahoma City has been highly competitive as well. We've been given the chance to see how truly great Durant can be on his own, despite this not being what we meant by Westbrook sacrificing his looks. The West is now truly wide open and the Heat may not be a sure thing as long as Wade isn't 100 percent. We've seen efficient and impressive team efforts (Heat, Pacers), other gutsy, yet equally impressive team efforts (Bulls), some remarkable individual performances (Curry, Robinson), intense rivals (Bulls/Heat), and late dramatics. (Ginobili, Durant)  

Hip Hop 2.0 - On The Way.
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NBA Playoffs...So Far + 5 Playoff X-Factors To Watch + My Top 15 Dunks of the Regular Season

Playoff Bullets

• The Knicks have suffocated the Celtics in the 2nd halves of both of their wins, when Jeff Green and Avery Bradley are not at the top of their games, the Celtic offense is anemic. Doubt they thought they'd be so reliant on those two.

• Keeping KG out of foul trouble has to be an imperative, for both himself and the Celtics.

• Anytime the Lakers get away from using both bigs on the low blocks, they are doomed.

• Gregg Popovich secretly loves that everyone keeps saying that Manu Ginobili is done. Manu is as competitive as anyone.

• The Clips have controlled the pace of play versus Memphis thus far. If the games make it to 100, big advantage to the Clips.

• The Bulls offense is a tough watch at times. #FreeDRose

• The Houston Rockets are a poor man's Oklahoma City Thunder.

• The NBA is unquestionably a superstars league. Certain guys get calls, while others never receive them. This works both ways, but almost always in the stars' favour. Example: Greg Smith got a taunting technical for merely flexing following an intense dunk in traffic, meanwhile Russell Westbrook screams aloud, flexes and scowls in the faces of opponents, teammates, ushers, cameramen and school children alike. 

• Klay Thompson and Steph Curry might well be the best shooting backcourt in the NBA. Ever? Too Soon.

• (Pats self on back.) I was right about J.R. Smith. He won the 6th man award, and has done nothing but hit high degree of difficulty jumpers since the playoffs tipped off.

• Joakim Noah's return in game 3 provided a spiritual lift for the Bulls in the first 3 quarters, in the 4th he physically carried the team with multiple hustle plays, defensive leadership and big hoops. The box score won't show what a difference maker he was in Game 2.

• Indiana was more ready for the playoffs than their skeptics and late season slide suggested.

• Hmmm the tandem of Al Horford and Josh Smith will yet again, not yield a NBA Championship to the Atlanta Hawks franchise this season, who knew. Really thought things would be different this year. Insanity.

• Patrick Beverley may have backed down from Russell Westbrook in game 1, he was a noticeably more aggressive player in game 2, he really got his nose in there. Frustrating Westbrook at times, which I think could be a good strategy.

•  The Heat shouldn't lose a game to Milwaukee, not as long as the games are 48 minutes.

• Paul George franchise player? Getting there.

• Haven't seen a lot of it, but we got a Chris Paul/ Tony Allen stand off with the game on the line Monday Night. Chris Paul 1 Tony Allen 0.

• Lakers and Spurs at opposite ends of the pool when it comes to depth. Even Joeseph has looked good at times off the Spurs bench.

• Milk Carton: T-Mac

• No 'surprises' so far and only a few of these first round match ups (DEN/GS Gm1, LAC/MEM Gm2, CHI/BKL Gm2, OKC/HOU Gm2) have provided much in the way of great entertainment. Enjoy the rest of Clippers v. Grizz, and Nuggets v. Warriors and then let's bring on a much juicier set of 2nd round match ups. 

The NBA couldn't have picked a shittier song, in my opinion, none the less, here is a 30 second clip of the NBA Playoff highlights so far, in a nutshell of unholy musical hell nutshells. 

5 Playoff X-Factors to Watch - Most of the 'key' players on each of the teams are well known, it goes without saying that Lebron James is important to the Heat, as is Kevin Durant for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Here are a couple of players who, while they may fly under the radar of the post game highlight package, will be relied upon to perform in a major way if their respective team's are going fulfill their championship ambitions.

Mike Conley - Conley has been the best player on the court for the Memphis Grizzlies through the first two games, apologies to Marc Gasol. While he is admittedly a big part of the Memphis offense, he is the starting point guard and he plays the lion share of minutes there, he hardly garners the same attention or praise as the point guards he'll be potentially matched up against throughout the playoffs if the Grizz are to advance - Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, and Ty Lawson. His ability to keep those match ups as close as possible, he's played Paul very close so far, give the Grizz a huge boost if they hope to advance to the finals.


Matt Barnes - Difficult to choose which member of the Los Angeles Clipper bench mob to choose, Bledsoe is undeniably dynamic but won't see enough floor time because of Paul, Crawford and inexcusably Billups,; Crawford is too easy an consistently good to be an option and Odom isn't fulfilling a large enough role yet. However, Matt Barnes is. So far Barnes has been his usual pesky self on the defensive end, and just active enough to make an impact on the offensive end. But if the Clippers are going to get through the Oklahoma City Thunder and eventually the Miami Heat they are going to lean heavily on Matt Barnes to defend the two best players on the planet . You can bet that if the Clippers draw the Thunder in their 2nd round match up that Barnes will see heavy minutes covering Durant, how he performs in this role will have a big say in how well the Clippers resist the high powered Thunder attack.

Jarrett Jack - Following the season ending injury that David Lee suffered in Game 1 of the series, Jarrett Jack entered the starting line up in Game 2 for the Golden State Warriors. He was a revelation for the Warriors, who were able to play 'small ball' - their 3 guard triad darting about, spotting up and knocking down shots from all over. Jack was the key playmaker, setting up Klay Thompson and Steph Curry. Jack's ability to create off the dribble and run the show relieves Curry of these duties, freeing him up to do what he does best, shoot. The absence of a healthy Kenneth Faried made it hard for the Nuggets to counter with any effective 'big' line ups and the 3 guard unit is something I expect to see a lot more of if the Warriors are going to have any success going forward in the post season.

Kenyon Martin - Kenyon Martin has been the quintessential 'reserve' unit for the aging, banged up Knicks. With Marcus Camby, Amare Stoudemire and Sheed all down for the proverbial count, the Knicks reached out to veteran big man Kenyon Martin for some serviceable play inside. Martin has meant everything and more for the Knicks since his arrival. Familiar to many of the former Nuggets on the Knicks squad, Martin gives the Knicks the added toughness on the inside they desperately needed up front. This is especially true when you consider that the consensus weakness of the Miami Heat is their lack of size, toughness and rebounding in the middle. Martin has been around the block and his familiarity, experience, and leadership will be relied upon in a major way if the Knicks should make it through the size of Indiana and meet the Heat in their challenge to take the East.

Chris "The Birdman" Anderson - Much like the Knicks sought out Martin to shore up their front line, the Heat also felt their front court lacked some depth and toughness. The Birdman has a bit of a history to say the least, despite experiencing a few bumps along the way his energy and defense have never been in question. With a solid group of veteran leaders in place, incorporating the formerly 'wild child' Anderson into the fold has been a smooth transition. Anderson has taken over the lead role of big man when the Heat occasionally go 'big' with Anderson at the 5, Bosh at the 4 and Lebron at the 3. His energy has been uber apparent thus far as he leads the postseason in player efficiency rating per 48 minutes thus far. He never needs a play called his way, yet he is continually involved in the action, especially on the defensive end and offensive glass. Anderson has to be considered a big part of the reason people feel the Heat are an even better squad this year, than they were last year. Consider, the Heat are 41-3 since Andersen joined the squad back in January. If Anderson continues to keep his motor running throughout the playoffs, expect a trip back to the Finals to be an easy ride.

My Top 15 Dunks of the 2012-12 Season

15. Griffin takes the contact from Roy Hibbert and still has the strength and power to push the ball through.

14. Durant shakes Michael Beasley with a shrug of his shoulders, before extending over Gortat with for the finish.

13. Barnes explodes over Ilyasova and the rest of the Milwaukee Bucks

12 .Josh Smith catches Brook Lopez in transition.

11. Kobe reminded us he still had it a few times this year, here was one on a noted shot blocker, Josh Smith.

10. Gerald Henderson pulls a trick out of Dwight Howard's dunk comp. bag and literally 'throws ' the ball through on this finish over D12.

09 .J.R. catches one of the most acrobatic alley oops of the season against the San Antonio Spurs.

08. Jeff Green climbs the ladder on Al Jefferson and the Utah Jazz.

07. Griffin throws down a tasty windmill to top of the Jamal Crawford between the legs platter delivery.

06. Kidd Gilchrist gives us the 'little over big', dunk of the year with this abuser over Piston's 7 footer, Greg Monroe.

05. Kobe Bryant dunks on both Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries to put the Lakers up in crunch time.

 

04. DeMar Derozen delivers the highlight of my Toronto Raptor viewing with this embarrassment of Timofey Mosgov, putting the Russian big on yet another poster.

03. Harrison Barnes goes chest to chest with Nikola Pekovic and comes out on top in a major way.

02. Lebron James unofficially retires Jason Terry. "It looked like he jumped out of the mezzanine to dunk this ball." - Hubie Brown

 01. DeAndre Jordan posterizes Brandon Knight in the Slam Dunk of the Year with a full assault alley oop slam. 

NBA: Season in Review + Top 10 First Round Storylines + New Hip Hop 2.0

The Boston v. Indiana Game scheduled for Tuesday Night was cancelled in the wake of Monday's tragic events at the Boston marathon, my deepest sympathies to the families involved. I never understand violence perpetrated against the innocent, it seems so senseless as a political motive, beyond that I guess the world is just sick in some cases. Truly horrific scene of events, good on Boston for their poise and adversity in the face of desperate times. Switching lanes, we're 1,229 games since last seasons finals, we know that the Heat are the best team in the East, and the Thunder are the best team in the West. Sound familiar? Begs the question, was that all necessary? Absolutely! Here's what we learned... in bullets.

•  The Heat have transformed their legacy from a most hated franchise, to most revered in a little over 2 years, pretty incredible how talent usually wins people over in the end, and Lebron was a shitty villain. 

• Their incredible win streak single-handedly saved the regular season, especially in the East where it felt like we were just playing out nearly 2 months of basketball with the expectant results already decided. (We were, the playoff picture has hardly shifted) Miami's run made the dog days that followed the all-star break into must see TV.  I watched piously on my Samsung smartphone in a sportsbar in Charlottetown, PEI, apparently the San Jose Sharks are big there. One of the biggest sporting events of the year, can't get 1 screen? Shout out to the good people at 88.80.11.29/, that's where I catch my live sports. They have most games available, as well as as multiple ESPN feeds.  

• The Knicks laid out the future blue print for the NBA offense, an athletic scoring 4 (at times undersized) with a long active defensive 5, mixed with lots and lots of 3's (Broke NBA Record for 3's made). Hmmm kind of sounds like Dallas circa 2011. Either way, the results are irrefutable. 

• Basketball is going back to Seattle, it just is, has to.

• John Wall can really ball, when there's millions of dollars on the line. 20.7ppg, 7.8apg, 4.5rpg, 1.5stlpg following the all star break. More importantly, the Wizards were 24-25 with Wall and 5-28 without. Numbers and win value, he'll get max money.

• The Brooklyn Nets were undeniably better, but were still not elite. Only 2 of their last 15 wins were against playoff teams. I'm not convinced, I think as Deron Williams goes, they go.

• Chandler Parsons! Chandler Parsons! Chandler Parsons! - the amount we shit on former college standouts of the caucasian persuasion (think Laettner, Morrison, Ferry, Van Horne) - why not give a little love for one that has burst on the scene in semi unexpected fashion and excelled in Houston. 

• J.R. Smith can make the most difficult shots, and make em look easy. Only superseded by the great Kobe Bryant, in this regard, imo. I've learned to hold my tongue and praise the result on some of his looks.

• George Karl is the man.

• A long time ago the Bobcats had a 3 game streak to move to 4-3 on the season; hope. The Bobcats finished the season on a 3 game win streak, to move to 21-61, just one spot out of the #1 seed for the upcoming lottery. No hope.

• Basketball may not be played with the same physicality that it has been in the past, but the athleticism is undeniably at an all time high, across the board.

• The Sacramento Kings owners might not be douche bags, but they sure seem like it.

• The Lakers season long dramedy turned out to be a tragedy, as losing Kobe Bryant deprives any and all basketball fans of some quality playoff moments, and possibly much more going forward. Don't like Kobe, but I hope the idiot can get back in short order.

• Who's rushing to the Andrew Bynum sweepstakes this summer? I'm impressed Philly won as many games as they did. (34)

• Rudy Gay shoots 17 shots a game to get 18 points a game. I don't like it Toronto. How does Colangelo still have a job, I ask, again and again.

• Portland never returned from spring break. 13 losses to close the season.

• Despite the Heat, the Western Conference remains the class of the NBA with 10 teams .500 or better to the East's 7, all 8 playoff teams scored a positive point differential, and the West certainly has more scoring with the NBA's 4 highest scoring teams, Denver (106.1),       Houston (106.0), Oklahoma City (105.7), and San Antonio (103.0), all residing out West.

• Steph Curry can stay healthy for a whole season, and when he does, he's an elite shooting talent. (Set new record for most 3pointers made in a single season) In case you missed it, 54 in MSG. (The Season High)

• Derrick Rose is not the second coming of Adrian Peterson; the Chicago Bulls are more like the Washington Nationals than the Redskins.

• Carmelo just had his best season as a professional, can he make this his best playoffs, plenty of room for improvement. He and the Knicks are both due! 

• While every other Western 'contender' peaked at different times throughout the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder remained in the "who's the best" question consistently and were without valley, losing consecutive games only 3 times this season, unlike their adversaries. San Antonio (4), Los Angeles Clippers (6), Memphis Grizzlies (6), Denver Nuggets (7).

Hardware

MVP  - Lebron James - Unquestionably the MVP, Best Player, Best Team. Runner Up: Kevin Durant

ROY - Damian Lillard - Only a question of if it will be unanimous. Late slide will prevent that. Runner Up: Anthony Davis

DPOY - Marc Gasol - Best defensive player on one of the best defensive team, Noah wins if he'd played more games. Runner Up: Joakim Noah

6th Man - J.R. Smith - Knicks #2 scoring option comes off the bench but plays all the big minutes, takes a lot of the big shots. Runner Up: Jamal Crawford

Most Improved - Larry Sanders - Ensuring the Larry Sanders show is something we'll be tuned into for years to come. Runner Up: Omer Asik

COY - Eric Spoelstra will win, George Karl or Tom Thibodeau should win. Karl has the starless Nuggets at the top of the ultra difficult West, and Nate Robinson is like the anti-Derrick Rose, yet the Bulls survive in the East.


1st Team All NBA
G Chris Paul
G Kobe Bryant
F Lebron James
F Kevin Durant
C/F Tim Duncan 

2nd Team All NBA
G Russell Westbrook
G Dwayne Wade/ James Harden
F Carmelo Anthony
F Blake Griffin
C/F Marc Gasol


1st Team All Defensive
G Tony Allen
G Avery Bradley
F Lebron James
F Joakim Noah
F/C Marc Gasol

My Top 10 First Round Storylines to Watch this NBA Post Season

10. Whats Going on in Indiana? Indiana seemingly was the consensus number 2 in the East near the All Star break, since then the Knicks have taken off and the Pacers have nearly faded into obscurity, what gives? After playing much of the season without Danny Granger, the Pacers anxiously awaited his return only to have him get injured again nearly straight away. I think this damaged their psyche a little bit down the stretch, but I look to see them regain their footing in the playoffs as a sound defensive minded squad. Paul George needs to continue his ascension to alpha dog role and George Hill needs to win the point guard battle with Jeff Teague. On the inside, Hibbert's length should give Horford some trouble, George v. Smith; there's some nice match-ups here. I like the Pacers in 6.

9. Juicy Match Ups - Melo v. KG - Playoff Edition and Chris Paul v. Tony Allen - "You ever hear of an octagon" - Kobe Bryant. We all remember the 'honey nut cheerios' incident from earlier this year, in which Kevin Garnett was able to get inside of the head Carmelo Anthony and subsequently lead the Celtics over the Knicks. That was back in 2012 and those days were quite some time ago, the Celtics are a much different team without Rondo at the controls and Carmelo is coming off arguably the best 2 months of his career. Both Garnett and Melo are invaluable to their team's potential success in the playoffs. Chris Paul is undoubtedly the best on court general in the game at the moment, Tony Allen is one of the best on the ball defenders in the game today, immovable object meet unstoppable force. Allen will try and be physical with Paul but expect Paul to  give just as much as he takes and use an array of moves to get free himself  or create contact and get to the line. 

8. WWLD - What Would Lebron Do - If you can watch only one player this playoffs it has to be Lebron, without question Lebron is a player we will delight in telling future generations about, his greatness and the joys of watching him. Big, as they say.

7. First to 110 points wins! - Let's get ready for a track meet, in what could be a sleeper pick for the most exciting series of the first round. Two teams very similar in style, the Warriors play much like the Nuggets, only maybe not quite as well. Both the Warriors and Nuggets like to get out and run, scoring at over 100 points a game apiece. Both also gave up more than 100 points a game on the defensive end, so this really should be a shoot out. With Gallinari going down, and Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson a little banged up, this 3 v 6 could prove itself very interesting. Nuggets in 7.

6. Old Giants: Lakers v. Spurs - Not an Epic Tale - The Lakers made good on Kobe's promise and got themselves into the playoffs, but to what end? I'm not buying this latest push of Lakers hype, suggesting a Dwight led Lakers squad will upset the number seed 2 San Antonio Spurs. No question the Spurs stumbled into the playoffs somewhat, Parker hasn't looked the same since he returned from injury and Manu hasn't been 100% healthy all season. Parker is still better than anything the Lakers have in the backcourt, included a banged up Steve Nash. Duncan is still arguably the best big man in the series and Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard are better perimeter players than anything the Lakers are going to trot out, including World Peace. Let's not even begin to discuss the coaching advantage Pop affords the Spurs. I'm just not buying this as a good series, Spurs in 5.

5. Will Derrick Rose Return? The Bulls take on the Nets in a series where the story is more about the players that aren't playing than those that are. The Bulls have been seriously undermanned all season long with Rose out from his torn ACL in last seasons playoffs, but they also begin the series without their defensive anchor Joakim Noah. Hard to say the Bulls haven't mailed in the 2013 season at this point, taking their time bringing Rose back, no moves at trade deadline, reluctance to pay Omar Asik or Kyle Korver in offseason but then it is the playoffs. If the Bulls turn it around and get some momentum, say take it to a game 7, is there any chance that Rose suits up? He's been practicing for a couple of weeks now, if the former MVP joins the defensively solid but offensively challenged Bulls, this easily becomes the story of the playoffs. Damn I miss watching this guy play. Bulls in 7.

4. The Miami Heat's Legacy - I honestly think that the Heat are now starting to realize the feeling of greatness, the 27 game streak being the great catalyst for this. During the streak their was numerous occasions in which the Heat rose to challenge to keep their streak alive. They began to play for something greater than just the game, there place in history. I think they realize that if you play at that elite level, long enough, you can be remembered with immortal distinction. With that said, I fully expect the Heat to sweep the Bucks as we begin to generate the potential talk of them sweeping the playoffs, a potentially more historical win streak. Professed history major.

3.*Western Conference Series To Watch - Grizzlies vs.Clippers - Grit v. Glamour, Labour v. Lob, Substance v. Style - This series is a rematch of last year's 7 game series slug-fest, which the Clippers came away from with the victory. Before dismissing the Grizzlies, remember that Zach Randolph was not healthy for last year's playoffs, so expect the Memphis half court offense to be a different beast this time around. Will the defensive minded Grizz be able to limit the free flowing, up tempo style of the Los Angeles Clippers to dominate play, preferring instead to slow it down, and grind it out in the half court grind. The pace of play will be one of the dominant factors, but I think the Clippers improved play in the half court and balanced perimeter shooting will be the difference. I like the Clippers in 7.

2.*Eastern Conference Series to Watch Celtics vs. Knicks - Is KG healthy enough to  rally the aging Celtics to victory one last time? I think this is certainly the most interesting series of the first round, the always tough, yet aging, Celtics square off with the Knicks in what has been a flip flop of fates for the Atlantic Division rivals in 2013. The Knicks are the favourite this time around, coming in as the division champs and number 2 seed, winners of 16 of their final 20 heading into the playoffs. The Celtics come in losing 12 of their last 20, but that's all irrelevant because it's the playoffs now and the regular season was just foreplay, and these two teams know each other well. KG has been out for much of the past month with a variety of ailments, maybe it was precautionary; he was just saving himself for the playoffs, or, maybe he is legitimately banged up. Until we know just how healthy Garnett is, it's hard to say how much of a chance the Celtics have, as he is the key to their effort on the defensive end. However, if Garnett's good to go, this becomes a real dogfight; Avery Bradley pesters J.R. Smith on the perimeter, Garnett, Green and Bass team up on Carmelo on the defensive end, crowding him and wearing on him physically and Pierce always plays big in MSG. Of course the C's need all of this to happen just to compete with the Knicks, so I like the Knicks chances, but this certainly isn't the cake walk a 2 v. 7 in the East usually is. Knicks in 7. 

1. James Harden's return to Oklahoma City - James Harden leads Houston's high octane offense into Oklahoma City to face his former team, the defending Western Conference champions. Harden has proven to be everything that Houston hoped he'd be and more as a franchise player, finishing in 5th scoring at over 25ppg and often serving as the trigger man for the high powered Houston offense. But if there is any team that knows Harden's limitations or imperfections, it's the Thunder. Not to mention that the Thunder score on par with the Rockets and defend much better on the other end. It will be fun to watch Harden navigate his way against his former teammates but the Thunder have far more defensive playmakers (Ibaka, Sefolosha, Westbrook), and an equally if not more high octane offense lead by Kevin Durant, only the 2nd best basketball player on planet Earth. I like the Thunder in 5.
 
Hip Hop 2.0 - The Top 20 Songs of the Past 2 Months (March-April)

PVR NR
N/A  20. No New Friends - Drake Feat. Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - Using the old "made a hot line, into a hot song" concept, Drake almost succeeds. It's alright, but nothing classic.

N/A  19. Congratulations - Common Feat. Concaine 80's - A very smooth spring feeling beat, Common borders on corny at times though.

N/A  18. Numbers On the Board - Pusha T - A bit of a polarizing beat, I think you either dig it or you don't.

N/A  17. A Day in the Life - Joey Bada$$ - Joey Basa$$ continues to impress, keeping the boom bap sound of New York alive for the younger generation..

N/A  16. Maine On Fire - J. Cole - Another typical boast off from J. Cole, typically, he's better than most.

N/A  15. Started From the Bottom - Mike Posner Feat Asher Roth, TMills, Chuck Inglish and King Chip - A remix of the very popular Drake tune that headlined the early 2013 hip hop scene, a very different take though.

N/A  14. Rusty - Tyler The Creator Feat. Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt - Tyler the Creator at his most provocative, I think he's improving from shock to substance.

N/A  13. Sunday's Best, Monday's Worst - Black Milk - Plays like 2 songs in one, something differently and utterly enjoyable. For whatever reason, I couldn't embed the video but you can find it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72t2k-OQ_e8 and I highly recommend you check it out.

N/A  12. Girls Love Beyonce - Drake Feat. James Flauntleroy - Drake's, err, 'tribute' to Beyonce, with James Flauntleroy singing the 'Say My Name' chorus, Darke's undeniably catchy once again.

N/A  11. They Die By Dawn - The Bullitts Feat. Mos Def, Jay Electronica and Lucy Liu - Off the soundtrack for a spaghetti western of the same name, this is worth a listen just for the Jay Electronica verse, Mos Def holds his own as well.

N/A  10. Brothers - Kid Cudi Feat. ASAP Rocky & King Chip - ASAP Rocky lends his voice on another standout track from Cudi's, "Indicud".

04.    09. Cypher - Hit-Boy Feat. Kent M$ney, Audio Push, B Mac The Queen, Schoolboy Q, Casey Veggies, Xzibit, Rick Ross, Method Man, Redman, Raekwon -  Dynamite posse cut, a Hit-Boy creation that just keeps on coming hard without a chorus.

06.    08.  Jonylah Forever - Lupe Fiasco - Lupe penned this song in dedication to an infant who was fatally shot recently in Chicago. A creative and positive take on a tragic event.

N/A  07. Get Away- De La Soul Feat. Spirit of the Wu - De La Soul pay homage to their 90's contemporaries, The Wu Tang Killer Bees on this cut recorded over the 'Intro' track to the Wu's Wu-Tang Forever album. Classic.

N/A  06. We Up - 50 Cent Feat. Kendrick Lamar - 50 and Kendrick Lamar both go hard in this catchy banger, wherein 50 announces it's his turn to run the game, again.

N/A  05. Solo Dolo Pt. II - Kid Cudi Feat. Kendrick Lamar - Solo Dolo Pt.II  follows a similar sonic template to that of it's predecessor. What is new however, is that we see the lonely stoner share the stage, Part II features a verse and chorus from none other than Kendrick Lamar.

10.    04. Hottest MC - Danny Brown -The always unique and often absurd Danny Brown stakes his claim to Hip Hop's throne. This time over a uniquely haunting beat from Harry Fraud, sounds like a Velvet Underground sample to me.

 N/A  03. Open Letter - Jay Z Feat. Timbaland _- The Jigga Man bursts back on the scene with this banger from the boards of Swizz Beats with a feature from Timbaland, Jay Z has a bit of an old school flow on this joint.

08.    02. 5 AM in Toronto - Drake - Drake's latest in his continued dominance of the hip hop charts. The closest thing Hip Hop has to a money tree, at the moment.

07.    01. Immortal - Kid Cudi -  A standout track off of Cudi's recently released, "Indicud". Immortal is the first official single off of the album, and is a worthy choice.

 Enjoy the tunes, peace!