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When the playoffs started I stated that they could be the best NBA playoffs ever. So far besides the individual brilliance of Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul they have been a disappointment. Mainly because it doesn't appear that anyone can when on the road. Adding to the fact that when teams are not just losing road games they are getting blown out. Championship teams win on the road and until one of these teams show that they are compatible of beating a quality team on the road the Championship is still up in the air for anyone.

This is why no one takes the Eastern Conference seriously. The days of 76-74 games should be over. That was an ugly display of basketball. For those who say it was great defense (yeah I am talking to you Amber Fox), I say Lebron James had more turnovers in one game than Chris Paul has had in the entire playoffs. Unless that was the 76 Steelers playing against Lebron, it was just a garbage performance. This isn't the Knicks vs. the Heat circa 1995

I never ever want to see a brick fest like that again. I took out valuable time from playing Grand Theft Auto 4 to watch Game 1 and now I wish I would have spent more time with Nikko and Roman at the strip club. I am giving you one more chance before I tune out the series completely.

Now just which league is the Thug League?

After all of these arrests, allegations, and God knows what else, how is it that the NFL hasn't gotten the Thug label that the NBA has? The NFL has a rap sheet at least twice as long as the NBA's, maybe three times longer, and they get away with it while the NBA suffers and gets labeled the Thug League that mainstream America just couldn't bring itself to support in large numbers anymore. How does that happen? Chris Henry alone has more arrests than we've had from NBA players over the past several years, and yet the NBA is the criminal league. Pac Man Jones is the only pro athlete facing charges for what happened at the NBA All Star Weekend, and yet the NBA gets tarnished for it as much as the NFL? I know I've been down this road before, but everytime I see an NFL player get arrested and the way the media handles it, I get upset. This Marvin Harrison thing is no different in that it's being treated as an individual incident and not being symbolic of a league run amok.

Now we all know the double standard is more about imagery than actual criminality. Tattoos, jewelry, baggy pants, hip hop, and conspicuous entourages all conspire to inspire both fear and hostility in a large portion of the sports fanbase, and these things are all on display much more in the NBA than in the NFL. Some people see those things and jump to conclusions whereas you don't see any of that during a football game. The tats are covered up by jerseys and pads, as are the jewelry. The entourages, if they're even in the building, don't stand out among 50,000 plus people the way they do sitting courtside at an NBA game. You don't have postgame press conferences where star players go on rants about 'practice' and 'both teams playing hard', so the attitude isn't put on display like it is after NBA games. And finally, with football players you're dealing with a lot of guys who could easily fit amongst us regualr folk in that most of them are no taller or bigger than you and I. There's no mistaking Rahseed Wallace for a keyboard puncher like myself.

All that being said, how about some objectivity from the media? How about we treat everyone as an individual, no matter the sport they play, and judge them for what they do instead of their entire league. No sports league is full of noble gladiators or criminals; there are many of both in all of them. How about we tell the truth instead of playing up the usual narratives? How about we not act so shocked at Marvin Harrison, especially with his history, and then turn around and treat Josh Howard like he's the typical NBA player? That's all I'm asking; is it too much?

First let me say there isn't any excuse for the Celtics even have to deal with a Game 7 with the Hawks. They should have taken care of this team in five games or less. They should be embarrassed. With that being said, they did take care of business and, hopefully for them, they have learned their lesson or Lebron will send them packing.

The Hawks I assume figure six games were enough since they didn't even try to show up, but Marvin Williams was sure to leave the Celtics with a lasting memory of trying to kill Rajon Rando.

Your Bona Fide Sports Expert and Super Model Supreme Amber Fox engage in our latest test of prognostication skill in what is shaping up as possibly the most exciting NBA playoffs ever. Amber did topple me in our March Madness Tournament, but I will exact my revenge. We will be picking every NBA Playoff series all the way to the NBA Finals.

The Bon Fide Sports Expert vs. Model NBA Playoff Challenge Presented by RhoPhotos, the photographer that will make you famous.

1st Round:

Robert Littal - 7-1
Amber Fox - 7-1

EAST:

Celtics vs. Cavs = Amber - Celtics , Robert - Celtics
Pistons vs Magic = Amber - Pistons, Robert - Magic

WEST:

Lakers vs. Jazz = Amber - Lakers, Robert - Lakers
Spurs - Hornets = Amber- Spurs, Robert - Hornets

It isn't a surprised that Darth will be named MVP. So instead of rehashing what he has done this year, let's go back in time to see how I have chronicled some of the peaks and valleys of his career since Shaq left the building.

What happened to D Wade? From NBA Finals MVP to Star Jones? That is like my going from the Bona Fide Sports Expert to working for Chris Berman or something. Talk about downgrading. Is Wade on that "Roger Clemens"? Because his judgment seems to be impaired, he doesn't seem to be functionally correctly. Maybe it is all those T-Mobile with Charles Barkley that's maybe making him insane. Not to copyright infringe on Allen Iverson but....

"Star Jones? We talking about Star Jones? Not Gabrielle Union or your ex-wife. We talking about Star Jones? What are we talking about Star Jones?"

Wake up D Wade before you become Penny Hardaway.

When I heard that Karl Malone had a son that he didn't want to have anything to do with who was drafted in the NFL I didn't blink an eye. Karl Malone is known as a dead beat dad who didn't want anything to do with his daughter until she became a WNBA player.

It was only until I found out that the mother of this kid was possibly 13 when she had Malone's child that I felt the need to speak on this. Let me repeat Malone, who was a college student at the time, possibly impregnated a 13 year old girl and then on top of that disowned the mother and the child.

What in the blue hell is going on around here lately? If it is "Misremembered" Clemens shacking up with a 15 year country singer, it is Malone doing an even worst act than that. It has been reported that the parents decided not to pursue charges against Malone and in turn allowed Malone to become one of the greatest players in NBA history while making millions of dollars when he should have been in prison. Regardless of the age question, Malone is a disgusting human being for not taking care of his children. When you are complaining about the attitudes of Chad Johnson or T.O., maybe you should look in the mirror and see who are the real bad guys of the sports world like this piece of trash Karl Malone.

Dirk choked and the refs help the Heat win the 2006 NBA Championship. From that point on. the Mavericks were destined to do one of two things:

1- Come back stronger and more determined than ever.
2- Flame out like Johnny Storm.

Unfortunately for Avery Johnson the Mavs choose door #2. The team has deteriorated quicker than Roger Clemens asking 15 year olds back to his hotel room. Nothing worse than a team whose best player isn't a "serial killer" (Dirk), whose "Scottie Pippen" player (Josh Howard) is more interested in smoking that "Ricky Williams" than improving his game and whose point guard (Jason Kidd) is more likely to beat down his wife that make an open jumper or heaven forbid defend an opposing point guard.

Just remember that Mark Cuban had a chance to trade for Shaq (when he eventually got traded to the Heat) in his semi-prime and Kobe in his prime, but he didn't want to let go of Dirk with whom he has a "man-crush" on. Maybe Cuban should have fired himself as opposed to Avery Johnson.