Even though the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs are still going on, there are  so many story lines that the playoffs have turned into a 90′s episode of Monday Night Raw. With a vacation- like break before the Conference Finals start, why not review some of the top stories and players through the 1st two rounds of the NBA’s post season. I’m doing this article as the Celtics are stunning the Cavs in Game 5 of their 2nd round series. Quicken Loans Arena has more anxiety in it right now than the Sober House. Every fan in this place has 1,438 thoughts and horrific memories going on in their heads as we speak. Most notably– is this LeBron’s last home game?  It’s becoming more and more of a reality as his supporting cast is wilting under the pressure worse than the 2000 Blazers vs the Lakers. This crowd looks like they are seeing the Earnest Byner in HD all over again. LeBron can’t do everything for this team in EVERY game. It’s not fair to expect him to score, rebound, defend, sell beer, coach, pick up Shaq’s man boobs as he runs down the court, grab Dan Gilbert off the ledge, and revive the economy every night. If the Cavs lose this series, he’s out. I’m convinced of it. It’s why I wrote that the Bulls need to hire LeBron’s boy John Calipari NOW!!! The Bulls would be the clear favorites to land the game’s best player. Anyway, enough of me campaigning for LeBron……Hey Bron, did I mention how good Derrick Rose is? Okay, I’m done. On to my top players and story lines of the NBA playoffs so far…….

Rajon Rondo has been the best player in the Celtics-Cavs series. One more Boston win and the LeBron to the Bulls talk will be out of control. Go Celtics.

Rajon Rondo Is A Top 3 Point Guard: I grew to despise this guy more than Caddyshack 2 in last seasons playoff series with the Bulls. That’s slowly, but surely, going away game by game. His 29-18-13 in Game 4 vs the Cavs was the defining moment in his young career. It also could prove to be the tipping point in the Cavs-Celtics series. Mike Brown, who may or not be alive the way he’s coaching this series, focused all of his attention to Rondo in Game 5. The problem? It left Ray Allen and Paul Pierce room to prove there are still bullets in the chamber. Allen poured in 25 points in Game 5 with 6 3′s. The way Rondo has taken the lead-dog role for the Celts is astounding. Maybe the elbow Kevin Garnett gave to Q Richardson was just what the Celtics needed to get their swagger back. Whatever the reason, they are playing great ball, and Rondo is leading the way. So far, in these playoffs, Rondo is averaging 17.7 pts, 11 ast, 6.6 reb, and 1.8 steals. That sound you hear is Rondo’s agent kicking himself for letting Rajon sign a $55 million dollar extension prior to the season. If they would have waited, Rondo would have been in line for a max deal this summer. You don’t think the Knicks would come calling once LeBron turns them down? If you’re a team with money to spend this summer, who would you rather use it on– Rondo or Joe Johnson? There’s no argument. More on Johnson later. However, as this Celtics season plays out, Rondo has moved into top 3 point guard status in Mr. Chi City’s eyes (Rose, Rondo, D Williams). Go Celtics.

The Tim Duncan Era Is WCW Over: The clock finally struck midnight for the Tim Duncan era. I know this because they fell asleep at 8:30. The Spurs dominated the Suns in the 2000′s beating them in 2003, 2005, and 2007. It was a domination, not a rivalry. This was the year that the old guard finally was put down. The Spurs have been great champions and great ambassadors for the league— well respected head coach, humble superstar, solid role players, and a first class organization. I had my doubts before the season started if this team had one more run in them. I put an end to them when they lost the ’08 Western Conference Finals to the Lakers, but they kept winning. The time has finally come for the 4-time champions to start anew. They weren’t a sexy team, by any means, but I appreciate a player like Manu Ginobili. How can anyone not like the way he plays the game? Greg Popovich is the 2nd best coach since the ’99 lockout, and even though it may take a few years, Pop will have the Spurs at a playoff level once again. What they get for Tony Parker will be one of 5,826 NBA related “Breaking News” stories on The Boo-Yaa Network. Now, how do we get Manu to wear that half mask all season next year????????

The Suns' Steve Nash continues to amaze. The 36-year-old is averaging 17.8 ppg and 9 apg in the '10 playoffs.

Steve Nash Is My Favorite “Foreign” NBA Player: Technically, being Canadian isn’t really foreign, but considering how weird most Canadians are, Nash definitely qualifies. The two-time MVP gets ridiculed by two specific guys on a certain Chicago sports radio show for “being the worst two-time MVP in league history.” Whatever. People can hate on the guy all they want, but the way this guy keeps himself in shape is enough for an entire article from me. I love his dedication to the game and to his team. Nash easily could have fled, after this season, to a contender but he’s not wired that way. He’s a leader. He looked like Rocky Balboa during the Apollo Creed fights after the Duncan elbow in Game 4, but it didn’t matter. He knew the Spurs were begging to get swept, and he threw the Tyson left hook knockout punch. Despite not being able to see out of one eye, he hit a 3 and a runner off the glass that he probably could have made blind folded. The way he led the Suns, playing hurt, is a perfect end to their Spurs complex. It played out like a movie and the underdog Suns, led by their wounded warrior, overtook the arch nemesis. Good stuff. He is this team’s heart and soul. Jared Dudley recently said Nash gets on guys about what they eat on team planes. Nash sticks to an insanely strict diet that only allows him to consume sugar from fruits. The guy is borderline weird. However, as the leader of his team, guys fall in line. Can they beat the Lakers? No, but it will be fun watching the best passer in the game try and dissect the Lakers length and athleticism. I give major props to Nash for sticking out a tough situation and leading his team back from the abyss.

Joe Johnson Couldn’t Fool Dumb GM’s Into A Max Deal: Raise your hands if you think Johnson is worth a max deal this summer….Anyone?…..Anyone?…..Frye?……Frye? Johnson couldn’t have had a worse showing in these playoffs. Watching him vs Orlando was like watching a 45-year-old Rickey Henderson carry a swagger that he had in his 20′s. Johnson averaged 41% shooting from the floor with averages of 18-5-4. It looked worse than those number because he looked disinterested for all but 9 minutes of the series. Eddie Robinson had a better free agent push for the ’01 Hornets and we know how that worked out. Not exactly a max money performance by the soon to be 29 year old. Iso Joe, as he’s known now, was booed worse than Cade McNown was during his Bears days. Johnson could still be a 20 point a game guy if he goes to the right system with the right players around him. Put it this way, I’m begging the Knicks to blow their cap space on Johnson and am hoping he can return to form under Mike D’Antoni. Go ahead, Donnie Walsh, sign him……Seriously, he’d be great in New York…..Trust me. I wish you could see my smile right now hoping the Knicks “BIG” signings this summer are Joe Johnson and Carlos Boozer. That would make my July……And the next 5 years. Nothing gets me more excited than the thought of more Knicks misery.

The Orlando Magic Are Scary Good: The most under appreciated good team since the ’97-’98 Jazz. Sure, Dwight Howard will never make that Shaq leap into greatness, but this team is on a roll. I wish I wasn’t growing to hate Stan Van Jeremy (Van Gundy) like I am. I used to think he was refreshing for his opinionated comments, but when he defended Vinny Del No Mind, he lost me. Now I know he’s just a crusty, fat, old, miserable pain in the ass who’s only happy when he’s pissed off at the world. Even though their coach annoys me, I love how well this team plays together. It was a joy seeing two opposite ends of the basketball spectrum in the Magic-Hawks series. You had the me first, my turn, gotta get paid Atlanta Hawks getting dismantled by the slick passing Magic. This team moves the ball like they actually like each other, play good, hard aggressive defense, and have a star you can root for. They are playing the best ball of anyone in the league and Jameer Nelson is their most important player. Not having him healthy killed them in the Finals last year. Even if the Cavs come back and win their series, there’s no chance in hell, as Vince McMahon would say, of them beating this Magic team. Mickael Pietrus and Matt “Mr. Basketball Wives” Barnes provide two able defenders to throw at LeBron or Kobe, which makes this team scary. If Dwight Howard stops fouling everyone within 6 rows of the court, this team could win the title. Sure, Vince Carter could morph into me-first playoff choker Vince, but there isn’t a hotter team in the association right now. Which leads me to…..

Vince Carter Is Still Vince Carter: Who would have thought he’d still be standing at this point of an important playoff run? I would have guessed he would have at least one game that cost his team like his Toronto and New Jersey days. So far, so good for trying, VC. I’m convinced that he will still have one of those games or series that makes you remember he’s still “that” Vince Carter before it’s all said and done. He’s shooting 43% from the field and 25% from 3 while averaging 17 a game. Not great….Not bad…..Just Vince. Which leads to me doubting if he can do it in the Conference Finals or NBA Finals. There are great odds Magic fans will blame him for at least two remaining games…..And Tiger if he shows up and they lose. If and when Vince goes into his shell, it will most likely happen against…….

The Defending Champs: The Lakers have hit their stride at just the right time. They are reminding me of the ’93 Bulls (Obviously, not as good….Chill, Big Lou). They have turned it up a few notches since their game 4 debacle vs the Thunder. They quietly swept the Jazz and are the overwhelming favorites to win their 2nd consecutive title. When Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are going well, you can’t stop them. Even Ron Artest remembered the playoffs were going on vs Utah. Artest knocked down huge 3′s in Game 3, and is surprisingly playing the Trevor Ariza role perfectly.Oh yeah, they also have that Kobe guy who I hear is pretty good. He’s averaging 27-5-4 in these playoffs and is finally getting healthy. He won’t be 100%, but 90% Kobe is still the best player walking. Lookout Suns…..The key question remains will Kobe keep deferring to the big men or will he try and make it all about him? I hate asking the question, because I love Kobe, but it needs to be asked. He has games where he chooses to defer, almost out of spite, (Game 4 vs OKC) and games where he plays the facilitator role brilliantly (Game 5 vs OKC). If he does play the latter, the Lakers won’t be stopped and it will time for ring number 5 for the closet thing we will ever see to Michael Jordan. See, it always comes back to number 23. That’s just how I roll.