Poll Question: Best Semifinals Performance

The Semifinals have been quite the roller coaster with 3 sweeps already complete and a heavily contested battle between the Celtics and the Cavs. A few big name players have stepped up seal the deal for their team, but who's semi final performance was worthy of them earning the title of best Round 2 performances.

Here are the contenders

• Kobe Game 3- The the battle royale that was game 3 versus the Jazz, Kobe Bryant reminded us why he is Kobe Bryant. After starting off the game scoring the Lakers first nine points, Bryant had 20 points at the half, which was four more than the rest of the Laker's starters combined. He went on to be strong down the stretch including hitting a 3-pointer with 54 seconds left to tie it at 106. Bryant ended the game with 35 points.

• Rondo Game 4- Rajon Rondo carried the Boston Celtics with a triple double (29pts, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists) to a Game 4 victory. Making him the 3rd player ever to reach this mark in the playoffs.

• LeBron Game 3- James with is "injured" elbow in tow had his way with the Celtics when he scored 21 of his 38 points in the first quarter at the Garden. The 21 points in a quarter was a franchise post season record.

• Dragic Game 3- Dragic's 26 point performance tied for the third highest point total by a reserve 24 years or younger in the playoffs. Although that seems like quite a few caveats it is impressive to have a player his age who is not a starter put up numbers like that and to shut down Tony Parker defensively. He also had the second lowest minute total fo any player scoring 20 points as a reserve under the age of 24.

My vote goes for Rondo. With all the focus usually put on the Celtics Big 3 (Garnett, Allen, and Pierce) the one many used to refer to as the "little guy" showed that he could/would be the force that the Cavaliers would have to reckon with. He was quick, smart, and his passes were impeccable. Not to mention that as the smallest guy on the court he still manages to lead in rebounds. He is the must watch guy for the rest of this series.

What performance do you think topped the list for Round 2? Are there any players that I'm missing?

Poll Question: What Does the Future Hold for these Spurs?

After witnessing a sweep that no one predicted, many are left to wonder if we just witnessed the end of an era as the San Antonio Spurs, led by arguably one of the best power forwards of all time, were swept by a team that they have basically owned the past decade, the Phoenix Suns. Next up for the Suns appears to be a match-up with the Los Angeles Lakers, but what are the next steps for these Spurs? Should they break up the Duncan, Ginobli, Parker nucleus and turn the reins over to the new generation? Or should they stay the course and see if next season will find this current team rejuvenated and ready to make another run? Have we seen the last of Duncan and company?

Personally I think it might be time to find out what George Hill and Dejuan Blair can do moving forward with the team. They will also probably have Thiago Splitter coming from overseas as well. The sweep by the Suns may have been the result of fatigue from the Mavs series and if the Spurs are going to find their stride again they may have to rely on the youth movement. Hopefully they prove to be quick learners as Tim Duncan seems to be on his last legs.

The Heart Stopping Back-and-Forth (LAL-UTA Game 3)

One would be foolish to say we haven't seen a lot in this NBA Playoff season. After all, we've seen blow outs (Magic v.s. Hawks Games 1 & 3), we've seen upsets (OKC taking LA to a Game 6, Spurs taking down the Mavs), and on a few momentous occasions, we've even seen history made (Magic get first playoff sweep in franchise history, LeBron becomes youngest player to ever win back to back MVPs, and Kobe- despite the unbelievable number of superstars to grace the pristine court of the Staples Center- sets the record for all time scoring leader of Los Angeles).

Despite these accomplishments, however, not until last night's game between the Lakers and the Jazz did we experience the heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, stomach-turning excitement of a classic back-and-forth. Beginning halfway through the 3rd quarter, I counted at least 15 times when the lead was exchanged. If that's not crazy enough for you die-hard basketball fans, in the last 2 minutes (120 seconds of game play), I counted 7 (count'em 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, SEVEN) times when the lead was traded-off or tied. These two titanic teams battled it out into the very last second of the 4th quarter, neither one of them willing to accept the crushing defeat of losing by 1 point in a playoff game. Ultimately, the Jazz missed a final jumpshot and a last .1 second lay-in to hear the screeching tone of the buzzer, signifying the beginning of an agonizing night riddled with "what-ifs" and "we could haves". But alas, you didn't.

"That was quite a game," said head coach Phil Jackson, "It was fun for fans to watch. It wasn't great for coaches to watch."

We must never belittle the importance of the classic back-and-forth. It is what fans want to see. Even fans who think they want their home-team to blow a team away, actually want a back-and-forth. Of course they want their team to come out on top in the end, but they feel like they've gotten their moneys-worth when they spent that game shouting at the top of their lungs, spilling bear on their neighbor, professing their hatred for their favorite player, then their love, then their hatred, then their love (i.e. "he never follows through, he's gonna blow it..." and then "OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, CAN'T NOBODY STOP KOBE!"). It's human nature: we get bored with predictability. For us to truly appreciate good times, a little bit of bad has got to be in the mix.

"Sunny days wouldn't be special, if it wasn't for rain/ Joy wouldn't feel so good, if it wasn't for pain..." - 50 Cent, Many Men

I really hope we get to see more 4th quarter back-and-forths this playoff season- no other phenomenon in sports is quite as entertaining.

Watch Video and Recap Here

- The Supersonic Zombie (Girmay)

Top 5 Point Guards in the League

Because of the stellar point guard play we have seen in the first two rounds of these playoffs I think it is an excellent time to speak on the debate that is ringing out across the NBA: Who are the best point guards in the league? Heres my top 5, let me know yours:

1. Deron Williams
2. Chris Paul
3. Steve Nash
4. Rajon Rondo
5. Derrick Rose

Outside Looking In (in no particular order): Jameer Nelson, Tony Parker, Brandon Jennings, Chauncey Billups, Russell Westbrook (Tyreke Evans is not an actual point guard to me)

And discuss...

Photo of the Day: Players get Political "Los Suns"

The Phoenix Suns were adorned in their "Los Suns" jerseys last night in honor of Cinco de Mayo and in the midst of a political whirlwind over Arizona's recent immigration law. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed one of the toughest laws against illegal immigration on April 23. The law requires police to stop anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant and has drawn tough criticism across the country.

This was not the first time that the Suns have worn this alternative uniform, which has been seen during their "Noche Latina." Suns owner Sarver stated that the team wore the jersey's again last night "to honor our Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona and, and our nation." But the jersey were stood for a bit more than just the holiday. The players on the Suns unanimously voted to also use the moment to stand as a united front against Governor Brewer's new law.

"However intended, the result of passing this law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question," Sarver said Tuesday in a statement "and Arizona's already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them."Despite Tuesday’s outspoken support of the gesture from those in both organizations — Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said that allowing the police to ask people for their papers “rings up images of Nazi Germany” — the topic of Los Suns jerseys was one that both coaches sought to distance themselves from Wednesday.

While many people including the NBA have shown verbal support of this uniform choice and the united front the Suns are showing, some fans believe that politics should stay out of the arena and the players should focus on what they are paid to do, and just play basketball.

Phillies Fan Gets Tasered

( Steven M. Falk / Staff Photographer )

A Philadelphia police officer - with taser in hand - chases a fan who ran on the field during the 8th inning on Monday night. This overzealous fan was able to make several loops around center field at Citizens Bank Park. The security personnel was in full pursuit and shot the several times before hitting the fan. The man then fell and was helped off the field. The Phillies ended up losing the game to the Cardinals 6-3. It is the first time that a taser has been used by the Phillies security staff.

And Then There Were 8: Round 2 NBA Playoff Predictions

What an exciting first round of play.... We bore witness as the Spurs and Jazz rose from the pits that the doubters had cast them into and the epic collapses of the Nuggets and Mavericks, two teams people expected to coast through their match-ups. We saw young guns like the Bucks and Thunder push their more talented opponents in the Hawks and the Lakers. We may have even seen Dwyane Wade's last game in a Heat jersey or the foundations of something real in Chicago (perhaps these two are related...). Regardless of what we saw in the first round one thing is for sure: there's nothing like NBA playoff basketball.

It would have been ideal to get these predictions out before the start of the second round but with the mess that is the NBA playoff schedule, we will have to deal with it. Only the defending conference champions were unanimous picks... So without further ado, your second round playoff predictions: