Bear Territory Tuesday: Tyrone Wallace's return makes Cal a contender

     Last week, Cal point guard Tyrone Wallace announced in front of his teammates and certain members of the media that he will return to Cal for his senior season. He said at the press conference that his decision to return for his senior year is fueled by his desire to lead Cal deep into the NCAA Tournament, get his degree, and improve his NBA Draft stock, all of which are good reasons for him to return.

     As for what this means for Cal basketball, this is huge. It will be much easier for Cal to hit the ground running and get off to a good start since they won't be waiting on a guy to evolve into their leader. With Wallace comfortable as the leader, a ton of pressure is taken off of everyone on the team, especially Ivan Rabb, who is already getting hyped as the Messiah of Cal basketball. By having a senior to look to for leadership, Cal will have a much better chance of making a deep run in the NCAA tournament than they would if they were relying on a freshman to lead them. Especially since nobody else on the team has played in the NCAA tournament.

     In addition to Tyrone Wallace's leadership, Cal will benefit from having another really good player on the their roster. Tyrone Wallace is going to get drafted in the NBA in 2016. It's just a matter of where that remains to be seen. He could go as high as the middle of the first round to the middle of the second round. It's really hard to tell at this point where he'll go, but there is no question that he is a legitimate NBA prospect. Cal will certainly benefit from having such a talented player on its roster. Especially a versatile player like Wallace who can play point guard, shooting guard, and even small forward.

     Lastly, Wallace returning helps bring some continuity for Cuonzo Martin who is entering his second season as Cal's head coach. By having Wallace return, Martin will have a guy who already knows his system and can lead in his system. I think if Wallace were gone, Martin would in many ways feel like he was starting from scratch all over again. Wallace brings a feeling of stability to the program by returning and that I think is huge.

     The leadership, talent, and stability that Wallace brings to the Cal basketball program makes Cal a real threat to do some damage in the PAC-12 and NCAA tournament next year. Obviously I will expand much more on this once I do my season preview in the fall, but rest assured that Wallace's return makes Cal a contender for a national championship. I know this team really well and I know what kind of pieces are being brought in. Wallace's return puts in Cal in the national championship discussion. Anybody who says it doesn't simply doesn't know basketball.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord  for NBA and Cal basketball news 




   

Daily Dunks: 4/27-5/3

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 

Here is my Daily Dunks page for April 27, 2015 through May 3, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with news from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Pelicans shooting guard Eric Gordon is expected to exercise his $15.5M option this summer (Click here for details).

#2. Monty Williams is confident that he will return as the head coach of the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#3. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love (shoulder) will miss the second round of the playoffs (Click here for details).

#4. Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith has been suspended for two games, Celtics center Kelly Olynyk has been suspended for one game, and Cavaliers center Kendrick Perkins has been fined $15K (Click here for details).

#5. The Celtics are rumored to be interested in DeMarcus Cousins (Click here for details).

#6. Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons (knee) may undergo mircrofracture surgery (Click here for details).

#7. Celtics small forward Jae Crowder has a sprained ACL. He won't need surgery (Click here for details).

#8. Stance is the new sock provider of the NBA (Click here for details).

#9. Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard had 32 points and 7 assists.

#10. Nets point guard Deron Williams had 35 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Monday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Trail Blazers 99 Grizzlies 92 (Grizzlies lead the series 3-1). Nets 120 Hawks 115: Final/OT (Series is tied 2-2). Bucks 94 Bulls 88 (Bulls lead the series 3-2).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Dwane Casey will likely return as the Raptors head coach (Click here for details).

#2. Kevin Love is likely to miss the entire playoffs (Click here for details).

#3. J.R. Smith apologizes for his thuggish actions (Click here for details).

#4. The Lakers want Rajon Rondo, but not enough to throw him a ton of money (Click here for details).

#5. The Bucks are trying to make sure local fans get dibs on tickets for Game 6 (Click here for details).

#6. Carmelo Anthony has spoken out about the Baltimore riots (Click here for details).

#7. Pelicans head coach Monty Williams hopes the team retains Omer Asik (Click here for details).

#8. Raptors forward Terrence Ross is unlikely to get a contract extension this offseason (Click here for details).

#9. Elton Brand may join the Knicks next season (Click here for details).

#10. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 28 points and 8 assists.


Tuesday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Rockets 103 Mavericks 94 (Rockets win series 4-1). Spurs 111 Clippers 107 (Spurs lead series 3-2).

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Ante Tomic has decided to re-sign with FC Barcelona on a three-year extension instead of coming over to play for the Utah Jazz (Click here for details).

#2. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan is reportedly interested in joining the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#3. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love underwent surgery on his left shoulder. He is expected to be out 4-6 months (Click here for details).

#4. Timberwolves shooting guard Andrew has been named the NBA's Rookie of the Year (Click here for details).

#5. The Mavericks agreed to part ways with Rajon Rondo after Game 2 against the Rockets and also denied him of a playoff share (Click here for details).

#6. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley didn't play on Wednesday in Game 5 against the Trail Blazers. His status for Sunday against the Warriors is looking doubtful (Click here for details).

#7. Hawks small forward Kyle Korver has won the 2014-15 NBA Sportsmanship Award (Click here for details).

#8. Timberwolves small forward Chase Budinger has exercised his $5M player option for the 2015-16 season (Click here for details).

#9. Former Wizards shooting guard Javaris Crittenton has plead guilty to manslaughter and will get 23 years in prison (Click here for details).

#10. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was fined $25K for publicly criticizing officials (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Grizzlies 99 Trail Blazers 93 (Grizzlies win series 4-1).  Hawks 107 Nets 97 (Hawks lead series 3-2).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Celtics will extend Jae Crowder a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent (Click here for details).

#2. The Thunder hired Billy Donovan as head coach on a five year, $30M deal (Click here for details).

#3. Al-Farouq Aminu will opt out of his contract with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#4. Carmelo Anthony has joined protesters in Baltimore (Click here for details).

#5. The Magic have extended GM Rob Hennigan's contract through the 2017-18 season (Click here for details).

#6. Thunder center Nick Collison underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and will be out 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#7. Damian Lillard is seeking a five year, max money deal with the Trail Blazers (Click here for details).

#8. FC Barcelona point guard Marcelinho Huertas says he wants to re-sign with the Spanish club instead of leaving for the NBA (Click here for details).

#9. Bulls power forward Pau Gasol had 19 points and 8 rebounds.

#10. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Bulls 120 Bucks 66 (Bulls win series 4-2). Clippers 102 Spurs 96 (Series is tied 3-3).

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Kings reportedly do not look to trade DeMarcus Cousins (Click here for details).

#2. On the flip side, the Celtics are hell bent on trying to trade for DeMarcus Cousins (Click here for details).

#3. Arron Afflalo is expected to opt out of his contract with the Trail Blazers and test free agency (Click here for details).

#4. Warriors GM Bob Meyers won Executive of the Year (Click here for details).

#5. Klay Thompson's dad is saying the Warriors will go after Kevin Durant (Click here for details).

#6. Joakim Noah says he is excited to be going to Cleveland (Click here for details).

#7. LaMarcus Aldridge to the Spurs is a serious possibility (Click here for details).

#8. Bucks small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is sorry he tackled Mike Dunleavy (Click here for details).

#9. Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on his right knee (Click here for details).

#10. Hawks power forward Paul Millsap had 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Friday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Hawks 111 Nets 87 (Hawks win series 4-2).

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Jared Dudley expects to be back with the Bucks (Click here for details).

#2. Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has received a one game suspension for tackling Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy (Click here for details).

#3. Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy won't be suspended for his fouls against the Bucks (Click here for details).

#4. Nets head coach Lionel Hollins says Deron Williams is no longer a franchise player (Click here for details).

#5. Nets guard Alan Anderson will decline his player option for next season and become a free agent (Click here for details).

#6. J.J. Barea hopes to remain with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#7. Khris Middleton hopes to remain with the Bucks (Click here for details).

#8. The Nets hope to retain Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young (Click here for details).

#9. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin had 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.

#10. Clippers point guard Chris Paul is dealing with a hamstring injury but he played through it in Game 7 and hit the game winning shot (Click here for details).

Saturday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Clippers 111 Spurs 109: Final. Clippers win series 4-3.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Gregg Popovich won't say what their plans are for the future (Click here for details).

#2. Adam Silver wants to make divisions matter more if they are going to continue to exist (Click here for details).

#3. Rumor: The Magic want Tom Thibodeau and are delaying a hire until after the Bulls' season is over (Click here for details).

#4. LeBron James is sticking with the no-head band look (Click here for details).

#5. Karl Anthony-Towns would like to play for the Knicks (Click here for details).

#6. Grizzlies point guard Beno Udrih doesn't think Marc Gasol will go to the Knicks (Click here for details).

#7. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley warmed up with the mask but didn't play (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 22 points and 7 assists.

#9. Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal had 28 points and 7 rebounds.

#10. Hawks small forward DeMarre Carroll had 24 points and 3 rebounds.

Sunday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Warriors 101 Grizzlies 86 (Warriors lead series 1-0). Wizards 104 Hawks 98 (Wizards lead series 1-0).
---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Saturday Slam: Why Draymond Green doesn't deserve Defensive Player of the Year

     There has been a lot of speculation and debate about the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award going to Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard despite Warriors forward Draymond Green getting more first place votes. What I will do in this article is offer an explanation for why Draymond Green did not win Defensive Player of the Year and why it makes sense for him to not make the ballot entirely.

     Before I explain my argument, it's important that you understand how the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award is given. Over one hundred sportswriters vote for this award and they each have a first place, second place, and third place vote. First place is given the most amount of points, second place the second most amount, and third place gets the least. If a player doesn't get first, second, or third on somebody's list, they get zero points in their favor.

     So, to understand how Kawhi Leonard won the award ahead of Draymond Green, Leonard simply had more points. He didn't get as many first place votes, but he made up for it in second and third place votes. In the end, Leonard got on more total ballots than Draymond Green and that is why he ended up winning the award.

     What a lot of people are complaining about is the idiocy of those who didn't include Draymond Green on their ballot. The people who have the megaphone are making it out that like Draymond Green got robbed and that he deserved to win this award. Further, they argue that there is no way possible to justify leaving him off the ballot.

     I am not one of the people with the megaphone or one who supports their position. If I had a vote for Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green would not have made my ballot. My list would have been Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and DeAndre Jordan in that order. So, I guess if you'd like, you can call me one of the "idiots" who would leave Draymond Green off their ballot.

     The reason why Draymond Green wouldn't make my ballot is simple: He doesn't make the same impact on defense that those other guys do from a statistical point of view. Anthony Davis was #1 in blocks per game and #8 in rebounds per game during the regular season; Kawhi Leonard was #1 in steals per game; and DeAndre Jordan was #1 in rebounds per game and #5 in blocks per game. Draymond Green isn't top 15 in any of those categories.

      As a matter of fact, the best he does in any of those three categories is tied for 20th in steals per game.  If you want to include defensive rebounds as a category, Green ranks 12th, which isn't bad, but even in that category he is behind Anthony Davis and DeAndre Jordan. Defensive Player of the Year is given to the best individual defender in basketball and I don't see how somebody can be warranted to win that award without being at least a top five player in one of those categories.

     One reading this who still thinks Green deserves this award will argue that there is more to defense than rebounds, steals, and blocks. They will also argue that Draymond Green is a great team defender who took on the challenge of guarding bigger players in the paint. Those points are all true, but there is no way to really quantify or measure that kind of defense. Draymond Green is a great defender because he plays well in the Warriors' defensive system, but playing well in a system doesn't mean you are the best defender in the NBA.

     This award is about who the best individual defensive player in the game is. I.e. The guy you would take first if you wanted to have a great defense. If you had to pick one player to anchor your defense on, would it really be Draymond Green ahead of Anthony Davis, DeAndre Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, and even Rudy Gobert? For me it wouldn't be and that is precisely why some guys left him off of their ballot.

     It isn't because Draymond Green is undervalued or overlooked. It's that the impact he makes defensively isn't as easy to quantify or measure because he is one piece on a team that collectively plays great defense thanks to other quality defenders like Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut. The bottom line is that if you vote for Defensive Player of the Year based on who individually impacts the game the most in a quantifiable way, Draymond Green won't get your vote. Your vote will go to the guy who blocks the most shots, gets the most steals, or grabs the most rebounds. Guys like Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, DeAndre Jordan, and Rudy Gobert.

     It may not seem fair since there is more to defense than just rebounds, blocks, and steals, but those three things are still a big part of playing defense. If a player  doesn't rank especially high in any of those categories, it becomes a lot harder to argue a case for why he should be defensive player of the year when there are guys who rank high in at least one and sometimes two of those three categories.

(Note: Hopefully you enjoy the video I just shared. It's a tribute to Draymond Green, who without question deserves a lot of credit for the Warriors' incredible success!)

---Ben Parker: Follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs

#3 Los Angeles Clippers (56-26) vs. #6 San Antonio Spurs (55-27): 

     Out of all the first round series' in the NBA Playoffs, this series should be the closest. Both teams split the regular season series 2-2 and only finished one game apart in the standings. The dominating performance the Clippers displayed in Game 1 should not fool you into thinking this will be a short series in favor of the Clippers. I expect this series to go a full seven games and test both teams' endurance and ability to make adjustments.

     On paper, the Clippers look like the better team. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul are the only two players in this series who average over 20 points per game and both guys do their rebounding and assisting duties well. The two of them make for one of the best one-two punches in all of basketball, and when given a guy like DeAndre Jordan in the paint and Jamal Crawford on the wing, they suddenly become a very dangerous team. The Clippers do it all: They score in a wide variety of ways, play good defense, move the ball, and tenaciously rebound. There really isn't anything they can't do, which  is why they finished with such a good record in a competitive Western Conference.

     The Spurs don't have guys who put up as good of numbers, but they play really well as a unit. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan have been playing together for years and they have a tremendous amount of trust in each other. In addition, they have a young emerging superstar in Kawhi Leonard who is able to pick up the slack that comes with age.

     Everybody on this Spurs team knows their role and does their job with excellence and precision. They are very selfless with the basketball and beat teams with their precision and ball movement as much as they do with their talent. They are without question the most disciplined team in the NBA.

     I guess the question that one has to answer when it comes to predicting the outcome of this series is what do you trust more: The Clippers' explosion and potency or the Spurs' experience and discipline? I'm going with the Spurs' experience and discipline to prevail in seven games. They are still the defending champions and I have tremendous confidence in Gregg Popovich's ability to make the necessary adjustments to win the series.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

#4 Portland Trail Blazers (51-31) vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies (55-27): 

     The Memphis Grizzlies swept the Portland Trail Blazers 4-0 in the regular season and by having a better overall record, they have earned home court advantage for the series. A huge factor going into this series is that the Trail Blazers are banged up and the Grizzlies are healthy. Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Jeff Green, and Marc Gasol were all able to go in Game 1 and they'll be good to go tonight in Game 2.

     As for the Trail Blazers, Chris Kaman (ankle) and Arron Afflalo (shoulder) will not be available for Game 2 after missing Game 1. In addition, the Trail Blazers have lost Wesley Matthews for the season to an Achilles injury. It will be really hard for the Trail Blazers to overcome these injuries. Especially since they weren't even able to overcome the Grizzlies when healthy.

     The only way the Trail Blazers win this series is if LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard become the best two players in the series and carry the team on their backs. Lillard has averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game while Aldridge has averaged 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. They are an excellent duo that has the capability of taking over games against the very best of teams. The problem that they face is they really don't have anybody else who can help them. Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez aren't bad, but they can't make up for the production that they would have with a healthy Wesley Matthews and Arron Afflalo.

     The Grizzlies on the other hand don't need to rely as heavily on any two players. Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, and Jeff Green share the scoring the load together, which takes pressure off each of them individually. In addition, they have guys like Courtney Lee, Vince Carter, and Beno Udrih coming in off the bench who can also knock down some shots.

     The Grizzlies' biggest strength is their defense and rebounding, which is bad news for the Trail Blazers. It will be really hard for Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge to have huge games against a team that prides itself on defense and crashing the glass since it limits the amount of quality shots they can take. Lillard and Aldridge will have to earn every point they get and as a result will get worn down over the course of the series.

     Lastly, the Grizzlies have plenty of guys who can step up in the clutch given their veteran leadership and experience. Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Vince Carter are all used to playing under the pressure of the playoffs and should be able to perform just as well in clutch moments as Lillard and Aldridge. The Grizzlies have more weapons, more depth, and home court. I got the Grizzlies winning this series in 5 games.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

   

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets

     #1 Atlanta Hawks (60-22) vs. #8 Brooklyn Nets (38-44): 

     The Atlanta Hawks won the regular season series 4-0 against the Brooklyn Nets, indicating that this series shouldn't be much of a battle. Despite not having a true "superstar" the Hawks have been tremendously successful due to their unselfish play and remarkable consistency. Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Al Horford, who are the leaders of this Hawks team, have been really consistent all season.

     It's very common for all four of them to play well in the same game even though maybe only one of them has a huge night. What has made this possible is that the Hawks really share the basketball, averaging 25.7 assists per game, which is second in the league behind only the Golden State Warriors. The Hawks all trust each other and as a result find themselves playing some of the best basketball in the league.

     The Nets on the other hand average only 20.9 assists per game, which ranks in the lower-third of the league. The Nets have some bigger names on their roster like Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez, but collectively they are very inconsistent. On some nights those guys play really well and they look like a team that could do some damage in the playoffs. On other nights, they look very erratic and too inconsistent to do any damage.

     The Nets also suffer from the problem of having some pieces that don't quite work well together. Joe Johnson is a guy who really needs the ball in his hands a lot and tends to take a lot of ill-advised shots. Deron Williams as a point guard needs to be touching the ball a lot as well. As for Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez, these guys too need their touches. The fact that the Nets have a ton of guys who want to be the "go-to option" explains why they rank so poorly in assists. They don't move the ball very well and it gets stuck in somebody else's hand for too long.

     The only guy on the Nets who the Hawks should really worry about is Brook Lopez, the Nets' starting center. Lopez has averaged 17.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He is a very talented center offensively and a guy who can give a lot of teams trouble due to his size (7'0, 260 lbs.). The Nets have to make him a priority and hope he can have some big games inside. If they can really get him going, they might be able to scare the Hawks a bit.

     However, I don't think any dosage of Brook Lopez will solve the Nets' problems of being too inconsistent. The Nets are still going to be up and down during this entire series and assuming the Hawks maintain their consistent play, that will ultimately make the difference. I expect the Hawks to win this series in four games.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Bear Territory Tuesday: Cal Bears currently in the NBA Playoffs

 I thought it would be fun to take a look at how many Cal Bears are currently in the NBA playoffs both as players, coaches, management, etc. It might surprise you how many there are!

Bucks point guard Jorge Gutierrez: Jorge Gutierrez has bounced around quite a bit, but appears to have found a home in Milwaukee. He just signed a multi-year contract with the Bucks while averaging 3.7 points and 1.5 assists per game. He has played 20 games this season, 10 with the Bucks and 10 with the Nets before joining the Bucks.

Bucks head coach Jason Kidd: The Milwaukee Bucks have been a surprising team this year and their head coach Jason Kidd deserves a ton of credit. Despite Jabari Parker going down for the season, Kidd has kept the ship afloat and guided the Bucks to the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Kidd's success earned him 3rd place in this season's NBA Coach of the Year race.

Pelicans power forward Ryan Anderson: Ryan Anderson has had a very nice season for the Pelicans, averaging 13.7 points and 2.0 three point shots made per game. The Pelicans definitely would not be a playoff team if it weren't for Anderson and his long-range capabilities.

Warriors video intern Theo Robertson: In case you were wondering what Theo Robertson does with the Warriors, he is a video intern. It's fun to have a Cal Bear be apart of perhaps the greatest season in the history of the Bay Area's NBA team.

Trail Blazers shooting guard Allen Crabbe: It has taken Allen Crabbe a while to find his groove in Portland, but he appears to be finding it now. He played in 51 games this season and started 9 games. In 15 minutes of action in Game 1 against the Grizzlies, Crabbe scored 7 points shooting 3-3 from the field and 1-1 from three-point range.

Spurs assistant GM Sean Marks: 

After being an assistant coach on Gregg Popovich's staff, Sean Marks got promoted to assistant GM. Graduating from Cal with a BA in Political Science has done Sean Marks a lot of good.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Daily Dunks: 4/20-4/26

                                               (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source)

Here is my Daily Dunks page for Monday, April 20 through Sunday, April 26, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with news and scores from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (leg soreness) didn't play in Game 2 against the Warriors for precautionary reasons (Click here for details).

#2. Bulls point guard Kirk Hinrich (knee) did not play in Game 2 against the Bucks (Click here for details).

#3. The Clippers are getting a new logo (Click here for some leaked images).

#4. The Thunder are seriously considering firing Scott Brooks and hiring UConn head coach Kevin Ollie as his replacement (Click here for details).

#5. One player on the Trail Blazers thinks odds LaMarcus Aldridge leaves is 50-50 (Click here for details).

#6. Anthony Davis wants to go down as an all-time great (Click here for details).

#7. Jason Richardson would like to re-sign with the 76ers (Click here for details).

#8. Pelicans head coach Monty Williams thinks the Warriors' crowd noise is unfair (Click here for details).

#9. Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson had 26 points.

#10. Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler had 31 points and 9 rebounds.

Monday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Warriors 97 Pelicans 87 (Warriors lead series 2-0). Bulls 91 Bucks 82 (Bulls lead series 2-0).

Monday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Warriors 97 Spurs 83. Warriors win the series 2-1 and advance to the D-League Finals to take on the Mad Ants.

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Raptors point guard Lou Williams has won the 2014-15 NBA Sixth Man Award (Click here for details).

#2. Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer wins the 2014-15 NBA Coach of the Year Award (Click here for details).

#3. The Bucks are running into some snags with their arena financing (Click here for details).

#4. Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (knee) is questionable for Game 3 against the Bucks (Click here for details).

#5. Suns forwards Marcus Morris and Markeiff Morris have been charged with felony aggravated assault (Click here for details).

#6. Hawks center Al Horford (dislocated finger) will play in Game 2 against the Nets (Click here for details).

#7. Nets forward Mirza Teletovic is "probable" for Game 2 against the Hawks (Click here for details).

#8. There is some discussion about LaMarcus Aldridge meeting with the Spurs in free agency (Click here for details).

#9. Ed Davis hopes to re-sign with the Lakers (Click here for details).

#10. Kings owner Vivek Ranadive denies repots that DeMarcus Cousins is on the trading block (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Playoffs Scores: 

Cavaliers 99 Celtics 91 (Cavaliers lead series 2-0). Wizards 117 Raptors 106 (Wizards lead series 2-0).
Rockets 111 Mavericks 99 (Rockets lead series 2-0).

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Hawks have been sold to a group led by Antony Ressler for $850M (Click here for details).

#2. The Thunder have fired Scott Brooks and now look for a new head coach (Click here for details).

#3. Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo is out indefinitely with a back injury (Click here for details).

#4. Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (knee) is out for the postseason (Click here for details).

#5. Rockets shooting guard Jason Terry has been fined $5K for flopping in Game 2 against the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#6. Hornets power forward Cody Zeller underwent shoulder surgery and will be recovering for 3 months (Click here for details).

#7. Thunder center Enes Kanter underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and will be recovering for 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#8. Gary Payton is facing assault charges (Click here for details).

#9. Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade is unsure whether or not he'll exercise his $16M option for next season (Click here for details).

#10. Bulls power forward Pau Gasol has won the Magic Johnson award (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Grizzlies 97 Trail Blazers 82: Final (Grizzlies lead series 2-0). Hawks 96 Nets 91: Final (Hawks lead the series 2-0). Spurs 111 Clippers 107: Final/OT (Series tied 1-1).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. 76ers center Joel Embiid expects to play in Summer League (Click here for details).

#2. UConn head coach Kevin Ollie doesn't want to take the Thunder head coaching job (Click here for details).

#3. Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons will need surgery on his knee (Click here for details).

#4. Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard has won the 2014-15 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award (Click here for details).

#5. UNLV power forward Christian Wood is leaving for the NBA (Click here for details).

#6. Ed Davis plans to opt out of his contract with the Lakers (Click here for details).

#7. Spurs point guard Tony Parker (Achilles) will play in Game 3 against the Clippers (Click here for details).

#8. Ohio State freshman point guard D'Angelo Russell has declared for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#9. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 40 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists.

#10. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose had 34 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Thursday's NBA Playoff Final Scores: 
Warriors 123 Pelicans 119: Final/OT (Warriors lead series 3-0). Cavaliers 103 Celtics 95. Bulls 113 Bucks 106: Final/OT.

Thursday's D-League Finals Score: 
Warriors 119 Mad Ants 115 (Warriors lead series 1-0).

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. People close to Tom Thibodeau think the Bulls will fire him after the season (Click here for details).

#2. The Thunder are reportedly considering hiring Spurs assistant Ettore Messina as their head coach (Click here for details).

#3. Doug McDermott denies that his father has called the Bulls complaining about his lack of playing time (Click here for details).

#4. The NBA is going to discuss the "Hack-A-Shaq" rule (Click here for details).

#5. The NBA says Stephen Curry was fouled on his shot to force OT against the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#6. Dirk Nowitzki says he really doesn't know what to say about the Rajon Rondo situation (Click here for details).

#7. Jabari Parker wants to be a teacher after his NBA career his over (Click here for details).

#8. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 42 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists.

#9. Wizards center Marcin Gorat had 23 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks.

#10. Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard had 32 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals.

Friday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Rockets 130 Mavericks 128 (Rockets lead series 3-0). Wizards 106 Raptors 99 (Wizards lead series 3-0). Spurs 100 Clippers 73 (Spurs lead series 2-1).

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Bucks won at the buzzer courtesy of Jared Dudley finding Jerryd Bayless cutting to the basket on a back-door (Click here to watch the play).

#2. Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (knee) was able to play in Game 4 after being listed as questionable going in (Click here for details).

#3. Trail Blazers shooting guard Arron Afflalo (shoulder) played in Game 3 against the Grizzlies (Click here for details).

#4. The Utah Jazz and forward Joe Ingles are interested in agreeing on a new deal (Click here for details).

#5. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley suffered a blow to the face courtesy of C.J. McCollum's elbow. He won't play in Game 4 (Click here for details).

#6. Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has been fined $25K for criticizing officials (Click here for details).

#7. LeBron James and Dwight Howard can make some cool full court shots (Click here to watch).

#8. Nets center Brook Lopez had 22 points and 13 rebounds.

#9. Bucks shooting guard O.J. Mayo had 18 points off the bench.

#10. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 39 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists.

Saturday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Warriors 109 Pelicans 98 (Warriors win series 4-0). Grizzlies 115 Trail Blazers 109 (Grizzlies lead series 3-0). Nets 91 Hawks 83 (Hawks lead series 2-1). Bucks 92 Bulls 90 (Bulls lead series 3-1).

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley will undergo surgery on his face. He is out indefinitely and will miss Game 4 (Click here for details).

#2. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love suffered a dislocated shoulder courtesy of Celtics center Kelly Olynyk. He is expected to be out for two weeks (Click here for details).

#3. Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith got ejected for a dirty play on Celtics small forward Jae Crowder. Smith is likely to face a suspension (Click here for details).

#4. The Pelicans plan to offer Anthony Davis an extension this summer in the range of 5 years, $140M (Click here for details).

#5. Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (left quad) is probable for Monday (Click here for details).

#6. The 76ers reportedly want to draft Ohio State point guard D'Angelo Russell (Click here for details).

#7. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists.

#8. Clippers point guard Chris Paul had 34 points and 7 assists.

#9. Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal had 23 points and 5 assists.

#10. Mavericks shooting guard Monta Ellis had 31 points and 6 rebounds.

Sunday's NBA Playoff Final Scores: 

Cavaliers 101 Celtics 93 (Cavaliers win series 4-0). Clippers 114 Spurs 105 (Series is tied 2-2). Wizards 125 Raptors 94 (Wizards win series 4-0). Mavericks 121 Rockets 109 (Rockets lead series 3-1).

Sunday's D-League Finals Scores: 

Warriors 109 Mad Ants 96 (Warriors win series 2-0 to win the D-League title). Warriors guard Elliot Williams wins MVP.


---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord  for NBA news 

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers (53-29) vs. #7 Boston Celtics (40-42): 

     The season series between these two teams was 2-2, but the last two games were back-to-back at the end of the season when the Cavaliers had nothing to play for. In addition, to say that the Celtics played the Cavaliers tough back on November 14 (122-121) is misleading since Jeff Green, Rajon Rondo, and Jared Sullinger were the key players on the Celtics at that time. Green and Rondo have since been traded and Sullinger is still working his way back from injury, only playing a handful of minutes. Head-to-head data does not help when it comes to predicting this series. I have to instead analyze the two teams side by side, looking at their records and current rosters.

     When analyzing the series in this way, it's pretty clear that the Cavaliers have an advantage thanks to having the three best players in the series (Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and Kevin Love), home court, and depth. It's always tough to beat a team when your best player isn't as good as three other players on the opposing team.  Isaiah Thomas, a talented young point guard who can really score, is the best player on the Celtics, averaging 16.4 points and 1.9 threes per game. He's a very good player, but he isn't at the same level that Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and Kevin Love are at. He's a step below them at the moment and would be much more of a roll player than a go-to option if he were on the Cavaliers.

     The fact that the Cavaliers have home court advantage can't be ignored even though it feels like an afterthought given the wide gap in the standings. But whenever you are analyzing a series, you need to address home court advantage and give the team which has it an edge or at least a check mark. The fact that the Cavaliers have home court in this series gives them a tremendous advantage since they already are the better team on paper. The Celtics will have a very hard time winning one game in Cleveland and what's scary for them is that the Cavaliers shouldn't have much trouble winning a game or two in Boston if needed.

     As for depth, the Cavaliers have more weapons that they can use. In addition to Love, James, and Irving, the Cavaliers also have J.R. Smith, Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert, Tristan Thompson, Shawn Marion, Kendrick Perkins, and Mike Miller who all know their roles. These guys collectively score, rebound, and defend very well.

      With that all being said, the only way the Celtics win this series is if their bench really steps up and outshines the Cavaliers' bench. This is something that could happen, given the statistics. The Celtics are the #1 bench-scoring team in the NBA, averaging 41.6 bench points per game whereas the Cavaliers rank dead last in this category, with their bench producing only 24.3 points per game. Now, what is somewhat misleading in all of this is that Isaiah Thomas comes off the bench for the Celtics, which inflates their bench-scoring total. However, the Celtics still have some other quality guys coming off the bench like Jae Crowder, Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger, and Luigi Datome. Those guys can definitely put up some points and provide the Celtics with some relief.

      The problem that the Celtics' bench faces is that they have to do more than outperform the Cavaliers' bench. They have to to outperform their bench so well that they defeat LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love in the process. The Cavaliers won Game 1 of this series 113-100 despite the Celtics outscoring them 55-29 in bench points.

     If the Celtics' bench is going to make the difference, they'll have to find ways to also slow down LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. Do I think the Celtics can slow down the Cavaliers' big three well enough to win this series? I don't think so. The Celtics bench may keep them in some games and help them win a game, but they simply don't have the horses to win this series. I expect the Cavaliers to sweep the Celtics 4-0 when it is all said and done.
   
---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks

     #2 Houston Rockets (56-26) vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks (50-32): 

     The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets come into this series as division foes, having played each other four times in the regular season with the Rockets taking the season series 3-1. Both teams have had injuries to deal with, but the Mavericks are healthier at the moment. Both Mavericks guard Devin Harris (toe) and Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (knee), who were listed as questionable for Game 1, will play tonight. As for the Rockets, they are currently without point guard Patrick Beverley, center Donatas Motiejunas, and small forward K.J. McDaniels. Only Beverley has any hope of playing during this series or later on in the playoffs.

     The injury factor does help out the Mavericks a little bit, but the Rockets overall feel good on the injury front with Dwight Howard back in the lineup. James Harden has really carried this team in Howard's absence and so it is definitely huge for Harden to have Dwight Howard back on the floor. Given the overall pieces at play in this series, I still give the advantage to the Rockets despite the current injury report.

     Probably the most important battle in this entire series will be the battle between James Harden and Dirk Nowitzki. Harden is the number-two scorer in the NBA and Dirk Nowitzki is still the go-to option on this Mavericks team. This series in many ways will come down to which guy steps up better in the clutch. Harden will score more points in the series because he is asked to carry the scoring load for the Rockets whereas Dirk Nowitzki has more help thanks to Monta Ellis and Chandler Parsons. But when we get to the final few minutes of the game, all eyes will be on James Harden and Dirk Nowitzki to step up and hit clutch shots. In essence, their roles will become the same in those final few minutes and whoever performs better will likely be on the winning end of the series.

     Another key factor in this series will be Rajon Rondo and how well he plays for the Mavericks. The Mavericks acquired Rondo with the hopes of him being able to get them back to the NBA Finals and it remains to be seen whether or not he can deliver in the way that they expected him to. The jury is still out on the Rajon Rondo experiment, but so far it has been a rocky road for Rondo and the Mavericks.

     If Rondo plays well and helps them win this series, odds are good he sticks in Dallas. If the Mavericks lose and Rondo doesn't perform well, odds are good he is out. This is a whole different story in and of itself, but as it pertains to this series, Rajon Rondo is a huge piece in all of this and it's important that you be aware of his role. What Rondo was really asked to do was be a pass first point guard who could help get the ball to Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis, and Chandler Parsons for easy shots. Whether or not Rondo makes an impact in this series will largely come down to whether or not those guys score with more ease as a result of his presence.

     At the end of the day, I think the Rockets will win this series because James Harden is the best player in the series. While Stephen Curry likely wins MVP, James Harden has made a pretty strong case for himself in the MVP race and it's due to his explosive scoring (27.4 points per game). Assuming Harden scores right around his average and has a couple of games where he goes off for 35+ points, the Rockets should win this series. To put it simply, the Rockets have more ammunition and if they don't win this series it will be because their extra ammunition didn't produce. I think the Rockets will win this series in 6 games.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks

     #3 Chicago Bulls (50-32) vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks (41-41): 

    The Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks meet as division foes, which means that both of these teams know each other as well as possible. The Bulls won the season series 3-1, giving them great confidence that they can make quick work of the Bucks. In addition, the Bulls come into this series healthy, with only Kirk Hinrich unable to go in Game 1. The only thing that has been holding this Bulls team back over the years has been injuries and with all their key guys now healthy, they appear prime to make a serious run for a championship.

     The bottom line when it comes to analyzing these two teams is that when looking at the rosters, the Bulls are the superior team by a wide margin. Derrick Rose is still one of the best point guards in the NBA, Pau Gasol is one of the best big men, Jimmy Butler might be the best shooting guard in the Eastern Conference, and Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah both crash the glass as well as anybody.

      The Bulls also have some nice role players in Nikola Mirotic, Aaron Brooks, Mike Dunleavy, and Tony Snell. The Bulls have the talent in the starting lineup and the depth on the bench to give plenty of teams trouble. As a matter of fact, it has been their depth that has kept them afloat during the course of all their injuries.

     As for the Bucks, the talent is certainly there, but they are still very young and inexperienced. Michael Carter-Williams and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who are the leaders of this team, have never played in the playoffs before and will have a lot of trouble competing against a battle-tested team like the Bulls. In addition, their key franchise centerpiece Jabari Parker is done for the season with a torn ACL.

     Even though they are "role players" O.J. Mayo, Zaza Pachulia, and Ersan Illyasova have to lead out on this team given their playoff experience. They will have to step up and play better than they usually do if they want their team to have any chance of winning the series. What's going to make that tough on them is the fact that the Bulls are a very good defensive team. It will be hard for any of those guys to really have a big night.

     Probably the x-factor as far as the Bucks are concerned is Khris Middleton. He's one of the few guys on their team who can really light it up from beyond the arc and go bananas. In addition to their veterans hitting shots, the Bucks will really need to try their very best to get Khris Middleton into a rhythm. If he can get going and start knocking down some shots, the Bucks could make things interesting.

     All the same, the Bulls are still a vastly superior team. They rebound, defend, and have guys who can score in the clutch. The Bulls have a team that is built to win a championship while the Bucks are still a long ways off from being a serious championship threat. It would be a huge upset if the Bucks won this series given the gaps in talent and experience between the two teams. I see the Bulls winning this series in 5 games.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord  for NBA news

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans

#1 Golden State Warriors (67-15) vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans (45-37): 

     On paper, the Golden State Warriors should have no problem winning this series. They have the league's best record, they took the season series with the Pelicans 3-1, they have Stephen Curry, who many feel will win the NBA MVP award, and they have won 16 of their last 18 games. I could make my entire argument for why they win this series on these points alone and call this one a wrap.

     The only issue with doing so would be that I wouldn't have addressed the Pelicans at all, and while they don't have the same resume as the Warriors, they really aren't too shabby. The Pelicans are a team that has flown under the radar all season largely due to their location, goofy mascot, and new nickname. When people talk about teams that are dangerous in the Western Conference, nobody mentions the Pelicans because half of the time they forget the Pelicans exist.

     While there are good explanations for why nobody talks about the Pelicans, that doesn't mean those explanations justify ignoring them. The Pelicans have the best big man in the league in Anthony Davis, a multifaceted force of nature who does it all. Davis averages 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game. He's a living nightmare for all who face him and the Warriors are no exception.

     While the Warriors have enough weapons to get by the Pelicans with relative ease, it would be a mistake to infer that this has anything to do with Anthony Davis. Anthony Davis is the only reason this series should even be played. His presence makes this series worth watching and at least mildly interesting.

    The Warriors do not have any answer for Davis inside and that is why the Pelicans have a shot in the dark at winning this series. Warriors fans will tell me they have Andrew Bogut to slow down Anthony Davis, but Bogut simply isn't enough to stop him. Davis is just too dominant and overwhelming. When he is on his game, he's like Wilt Chamberlain out there, doing whatever he wants when he wants.

     While Stephen Curry is deserving of the NBA's MVP award, I would rather have Anthony Davis on my team because of all that he can do. On any given night, he can be the best player on the floor and dominate games in ways that Stephen Curry cannot. I don't view this as any disrespect to Stephen Curry. Big guys are the most valuable players in this game and when faced with a chance to have a dominant big guy or a dominate wing player, you take the dominant big guy every time.

     That all being said, the reason why I think the Warriors win this series is because they simply have more weapons across the board and they have home court advantage. The Pelicans have nice weapons around Davis like Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, and Eric Gordon, but none of those guys form the same supporting cast that Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, and Andre Iguodala form around Stephen Curry. As for home court advantage, it is almost impossible to win a playoff game on the road in Oracle Arena, which makes the Pelicans' task of winning this series almost impossible. I see the Warriors winning this series in 5 games.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 





   

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards

#4 Toronto Raptors (49-33) vs. #5 Washington Wizards (46-36): 

     During the regular season, the Toronto Raptors swept the Washington Wizards 3-0. However, two of those games were decided by 4 points or less, so it isn't like the Raptors dominated the Wizards. The fact that two of their three games were close indicates that this could be a tight and competitive series in addition to the fact that most 4/5 playoff series' are close. 

     Still, the Raptors won all three of their meetings and the fact that the scores were close should not take away from that. The Raptors should have a tremendous amount of confidence going into this series   because they swept the Wizards as well as getting home court advantage for the series. At the end of the day, this is the Raptors' series to lose. 

     What is huge for the Raptors is that Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are healthy. Kyle Lowry has missed 12 games due to injury and DeMar DeRozan has missed 22 games. Having their two best players injured for a good chunk of the season took its toll on the Raptors and derailed them from getting a higher seed than what they got. With both guys healthy, the Raptors should have no problem scoring the basketball and getting into a rhythm early on. 

     In addition to Lowry and DeRozan, the Raptors also have Lou Williams in the backcourt to accompany Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas holding down the fort in the paint.  Lou Williams has been especially key to the Raptors' success because he has brought a very nice scoring punch off the bench, scoring 15.5 points and 1.9 threes per game. When he gets going, the Raptors are a very difficult team to stop. The Raptors absolutely have to make him a priority and get him touches when he is in the game. 

     As for the Wizards, they are a little more banged up, but thankfully Nene should be good to go in Game 1 after being sidelined with an ankle injury. Only reserve shooting guard Garrett Temple (hamstring) should miss the game. Like the Raptors, the Wizards had injuries derail their season, with their star shooting guard Bradley Beal missing 19 games in the regular season. It's huge for the Wizards to have him healthy as well as their star point guard John Wall. Without those two guys able to go, the Wizards would have no shot at winning this series. 

     The biggest difference between the DeMar DeRozan/Kyle Lowry combo and the Bradley Beal/John Wall combo is that the Raptors' combo has one guy (DeMar DeRozan) who consistently puts the ball in the basket. DeRozan has averaged 20.1 points per game whereas Beal has only averaged 15.3 points per game. Some of that is due to injury on Beal's end, but all the same, DeRozan has been more consistent and that definitely gives the Raptors an edge. 

     If the Wizards want to win this series, they will really need to make sure John Wall and Bradley Beal are able to find ways to score the basketball since they don't have the luxury of having a guy like Lou Williams coming off the bench. The pressure will really be on those guys to deliver the goods. While there is also pressure on DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, they can breathe a bit since Lou Williams has been a reliable third scoring option off the bench all season. 

     In addition, the Wizards will also want to take advantage of their size down low. The Wizards have two great post players in Nene and Marcin Gortat who both are better than the Raptors' center Jonas Valanciunas. In addition, the Wizards also have Kris Humphries coming off the bench who is another banger down low. The Wizards will have to control the glass to compensate for being more offensively challenged. If they really dominate on the glass, the Wizards could end up taking this series. What has to worry the Wizards is that the Raptors still took the season series 3-0 despite losing the battle on the glass in each game. The Raptors appear to have what it takes to compensate for any deficiencies they have inside, which means that the Wizards likely have to do more than just rebound well. 

       As for my prediction, I hinted that I would be picking the Raptors and that is exactly what I will do. I think the Raptors win this series in 6 games because they simply have more ammunition when it comes to scoring the basketball and finding guys to step up in crunch time. This isn't to say that John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Paul Pierce (who I haven't yet mentioned) aren't clutch. They are and they can certainly hit big shots. It's just that I like the guys who the Raptors have better. Plus, it appears as though the Raptors shouldn't be bothered by losing the rebounding battle. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter  @nba_lord  for NBA news 

     

       

Bear Territory Tuesday: Ivan Rabb commits to Cal!

     Five-star power forward Ivan Rabb from Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, CA has committed to Cal for the upcoming season! This is not a dream. This is reality. A player with the potential to be a top-five pick in the 2016 NBA Draft has chosen to play for Cal over traditional basketball powerhouses like Arizona and Kentucky.

     As a Cal graduate and fan of Cal athletics, all I can say is "Wow! This is huge!" When I heard the news I was beyond ecstatic. I was tweeting out all sorts of stuff and probably making a fool of myself. But I didn't care at the time and I still don't. Cal has landed perhaps the biggest basketball recruit in the history of the school. If that isn't a reason for a Cal basketball fan to go bananas, I don't know what is.

     Of course, there are still a lot of questions that we don't have answers to. We don't know if Tyrone Wallace is coming back or if Jaylen Brown will also commit to Cal. We also don't know how good other commits like Tyson Jolly and Davon Dillard are going to be be. As a whole, we don't know how good Cal's basketball team is going to be next season.

     These are questions that I will address in the future. But for now, all I want to do is enjoy this moment of Cal basketball landing such a huge recruit. Cal may not be able to recruit the best players from all across the country, but they should be able to recruit anybody who is playing in their own backyard. They did that with Rabb and certainly can expect to continue to do so in the future.

     Head coach Cuonzo Martin, assistant Yanni Hufnagel, and the rest of the coaching staff should feel really pleased with what they have accomplished. Yes, there were factors outside of their own control, but they obviously did a good job making Rabb feel like he was valued and wanted at this program.

     Via SF Gate: "I'm going to the University of Cal-Berkely," Rabb said. "I felt the most at home there. It felt like family."  

     Cuonzo Martin and his entire staff certainly contributed to his decision to come to Cal and their contribution should not go unnoticed. As a Cal fan, I feel really good knowing that these guys are at the head of the basketball program. Go Bears!

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA and Cal basketball news

Daily Dunks: 4/13-4/19

                                                    (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 

This is my Daily Dunks page for April 13, 2015 through April 19, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with all the latest news, scores, and rumors from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Celtics clinched a playoff spot. Also, the Pacers now are in the driver's seat for the #8 seed in the East. The Nets need some help.

#2. Lakers guard Dwight Buycks has a fractured right hand which will end his season. Lakers guard Jeremy Lin (knee) is also done for the season (Click here and here for details).

#3. In wake of injuries to their back court, the Lakers have signed guard Vander Blue from their D-League team just for the remainder of the season, which ends on Wednesday (Click here for details).

#4. Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio's ankle surgery was a success. He should be fully healed before the end of the summer (Click here for details).

#5. The Rocky Mountain Review, now the Utah Jazz Summer League will return this summer (Click here for details).

#6. Child abuse charges against Dwight Howard have been dropped (Click here for details).

#7. Isaiah Thomas and Tim Duncan have won player of the week honors (Click here for details).

#8. Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (foot) didn't play on Monday (Click here for details).

#9. Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum (knee) and Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (ankle) are questionable for Wednesday after getting hurt on Monday (Click here for details).

#10. Pistons center Greg Monroe says he hasn't agreed to anything with the Knicks (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Pelicans 100 Timberwolves 88. Jazz 109 Mavericks 92. Warriors 111 Grizzlies 107. Cavaliers 109 Pistons 97. Bucks 107 76ers 97. Rockets 100 Hornets 90. Knicks 112 Hawks 108. Heat 100 Magic 93. Bulls 113 Nets 86. Thunder 101 Trail Blazers 90. Kings 102 Lakers 92. Clippers 110 Nuggets 103.

Monday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Skyforce 100 Charge 89: Final. Skyforce forward Shawn Jones had 26 points and 14 rebounds.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Duke freshman small forward Justise Winslow is declaring for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#2. Hawks shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha says the NYPD caused his leg injury (Click here for details).

#3. Paul Pierce has spoken about his time with the Nets (Click here for details).

#4. Report: The Lakers plan to shop Nick Young this summer (Click here for details).

#5. Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll reportedly has interested in joining the Knicks in free agency (Click here for details).

#6. Luol Deng is unsure about his future with the Heat (Click here for details).

#7. Rod Thorn, a long-time NBA executive, is retiring (Click here for details).

#8. Bobby Portis is leaving Arkansas for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#9. Perry Ellis will return to Kansas for his senior season (Click here for details).

#10. Olivier Hanlan is leaving Boston College for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Celtics 95 Raptors 93. Pacers 99 Wizards 95 (2OT). Clippers 112 Suns 101.

Tuesday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Charge 105 Skyforce 95: Final. The Charge advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The NBA Playoffs start Saturday. East: #1. Hawks vs. #8. Nets. #4. Raptors vs. #5. Wizards. #3. Bulls vs. #6. Bucks. #2. Cavaliers vs. #7. Celtics. West: #1. Warriors vs. #8. Pelicans. #4. Trail Blazers vs. #5. Grizzlies*. #3. Clippers vs. #6. Spurs. #2. Rockets vs. #7. Mavericks. *Grizzlies have home court advantage. (Click here for a full schedule of all the first round playoff games).

#2. N.C. State guard Trevor Lacey is declaring for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#3. Hawks power forward Paul Millsap (shoulder) returned on Wednesday and will be available for the playoffs (Click here for details).

#4. Hawks power forward Paul Millsap also has won the Bob Petit Award (Click here for details).

#5. Duke freshman guard Tyus Jones is declaring for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#6. Thunder poing guard Russell Westbrook has won the NBA's scoring title (Click here for details).

#7. Pacers small forward Paul George injured his left calf, but it's nothing serious (Click here for details).

#8. Grizzlies shooting guard Tony Allen and point guard Mike Conley are both questionable for Game 1 on Sunday (Click here for details).

#9. The Wizards have unveiled a new logo (Click here for details).

#10. Andrew Wiggins plans to play for the Canadian National Team this summer (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Rockets 117 Jazz 91. Thunder 138 Timberwolves 113. Grizzlies 95 Pacers 83. Warriors 133 Nuggets 126. Raptors 92 Hornets 87. Pelicans 108 Spurs 103. Bulls 91 Hawks 85. Cavaliers 113 Wizards 108 (OT). Mavericks 114 Trail Blazers 98. Celtics 105 Bucks 100. Nets 101 Magic 88. Pistons 112 Knicks 90. Heat 105 76ers 101. Kings 122 Lakers 101.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The NBA and NBAPA will start testing for HGH next season (Click here for details).

#2. Nike is close to securing a long-term deal with the NBA as the brand of its uniforms (Click here for details).

#3. Mike Malone and Mike D'Antoni are linked to the Nuggets' head coaching vacancy (Click here for details).

#4. The Magic are targeting Tom Thibodeau, Scott Skiles, and Billy Donovan in their head coaching search (Click here for details).

#5. Hornets center Al Jefferson says he is unlikely to opt out of his contract this summer (Click here for details).

#6. Rockets small forward K.J. McDaniels is likely done for the post-season due to a fractured wrist (Click here for details).

#7. The Thunder may let Scott Brooks go (Click here for details).

#8. Kobe Bryant is making progress with his rehab (Click here for details).

#9. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak says the Lakers can get one max player this summer (Click here for details).

#10. Brandan Wright hopes to re-sign with the Suns (Click here for details).

Thursday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Mad Ants 105 Charge 91: Final. Mad Ants lead the Eastern Conference Finals 1-0. Mad Ants shooting guard Jordan Crawford had 27 points.

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Hawks shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha has undergone surgery and should be ready for the season opener (Click here for details).

#2. The NBA Draft had some tiebreakers settled on Friday (Click here for details).

#3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had quadruple coronary bipass surgery (Click here for details).

#4. Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose will play Game 1 against the Bucks (Click here for details).

#5. Adam Silver says he doesn't expect any changes to the NBA Draft Lottery or playoff system in the near future. He is focused on decreasing the number of back-to-backs and making the schedule easier on players (Click here for details).

#6. Warriors power forward David Lee has some back spasms and won't play in Game 1 against the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#7. Nets forward Mirza Teletovic has been cleared to resume all basketball related activities (Click here for details).

#8. The Pacers want to go small, which likely means less Roy Hibbert (Click here for details).

#9. 76ers head coach Brett Brown says Joel Embiid wasn't the most coachable dude this season (Click here for details).

#10. The Pacers are unlikely to re-sign C.J. Watson (Click here for details).

Friday's D-League playoff scores: 

Warriors 106 Spurs 95: Final. Warriors lead the Western Conference Finals 1-0. Warriors guard Darington Hobson had 20 points and 5 steals.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. There is some chatter that LaMarcus Aldridge may leave the Trail Blazers in free agency (Click here for details).

#2. DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook won player of the month honors for April (Click here for details).

#3. The NBA salary cap is projected to skyrocket to $108M in the  2017-18 season with a $127M luxury tax threshold (Click here for details).

#4. Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade plans to opt in to his contract next season (Click here for details).

#5. Suns guard Brandon Knight had surgery on his left ankle (Click here for details).

#6. The Clippers may get a new logo (Click here for details).

#7. The 76ers fined Joel Embiid for missing and arriving late to rehab sessions (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 34 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.

#9. Wizards small forward Paul Pierce had 20 points and 4 rebounds.

#10. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose had 23 points and 7 assists.

Saturday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Warriors 106 Pelicans 99 (Warriors lead series 1-0). Wizards 93 Raptors 86 (OT) (Wizards lead series 1-0). Bulls 103 Bucks 91 (Bulls lead series 1-0). Rockets 118 Mavericks 108 (Rockets lead series 1-0).

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Pelicans small forward Tyreke Evans has a bone bruise in his knee. He is questionable for Game 2 on Monday (Click here for details).

#2. Raptors GM Masai Ujiri was fined $35K for his comments about Paul Pierce. The team got fined an additional $25K (Click here for details).

#3. LeBron James is worried about his team's lack of playoff experience (Click here for details).

#4. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving had 30 points.

#5. Mike Conley, Tony Allen, and Jeff Green all played for the Grizzlies in Game 1.

#6. Grizzlies reserve point guard Beno Udrih had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

#7. Hawks guard Kyle Korver had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

#8. Clippers point guard Chris Paul had 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

#9. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin had 26 points and 12 rebounds.

#10. Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis was huge on Saturday: 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

 Sunday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Cavaliers 113 Celtics 100 (Cavaliers lead series 1-0). Hawks 99 Nets 92 (Hawks lead series 1-0). Grizzlies 100 Trail Blazers 86 (Grizzlies lead series 1-0). Clippers 107 Spurs 92 (Clippers lead series 1-0).

Sunday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Mad Ants 103 Charge 85 (Mad Ants win the series 2-0, advancing to the D-League Finals). Spurs 100 Warriors 91 (Series is tied 1-1.)

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord