“He probably started this season maybe the fourth, third, fifth best point guard in the league, but right now, he’s definitely in the top one or two best point guards this season.” – LeBron James talking about Derrick Rose after Tuesday’s Game 5.

The Chicago Bulls have one of the game's most dynamic talents in point guard Derrick Rose.

The NBA playoffs are planting a seed in Derrick Rose that’s going to grow into something the league won’t be able to contain.

Having now been bounced from the postseason in his first two years in the NBA, Rose is going to reach a point when enough is enough.

When that time comes, look out.

“These are things that you just learn from,” said Rose, who averaged 26.2 points and 7.2 assists against the Cavaliers in the playoffs. Cleveland won the Eastern Conference first round series, 4-1. “And if I get put in that situation again, I’ll know what to do.”

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He's in a new uniform, but same foe awaits LeBron James in the NBA playoffs - the Boston Celtics./Photo by AP.

Goodbye Shield. Welcome back logo.

With the NFL Draft ending today, let’s talk NBA Playoffs.

The first round was good. Correction. It was great.

The Memphis Grizzlies stunned everyone except Charles Barkley in beating the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in six games, the Boston Celtics posted the only sweep in a first-round series and Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Kevin Durant has been the best player in the playoffs so far.

Now the conference semifinals are here. We’ve got the match up everyone wants (Miami Heat vs. the Celtics), the one we didn’t expect (Grizzlies vs. Thunder), the one that will end quickly (Atlanta Hawks vs. the Bulls) and the one that will last longer than it should (Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Dallas Mavericks).

Let’s do this:

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Kobe Bryant is still the game's best player.

I made my list.

Checked it twice

Now you’re going to find out.

The NBA players I think are oh so nice.

These guys are why I love the game of basketball. Here are my 10 favorite players in the league right now.

These are the guys if I had the money to buy NBA authentic jerseys instead of the replicas, these guys would be on my wish list. They not only provide the highlights, but you have to keep your eyes on them every play because the moment you go to grab a slice of pizza, they’ve done something you may never see again.

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LeBron James and the Miami Heat head to Los Angeles for a Christmas Day showdown with the Lakers.

The NBA has five games scheduled for Christmas Day with the big one being the Miami Heat taking on the L.A. Lakers in Los Angeles.

You’ve got Miami’s Big 3 going up against the two-time NBA champions with all the celebrities sitting courtside.

By the time that game comes on, I’m might be snoozing after eating my mom’s turkey and dressing, but as long as I wake up by the fourth quarter, I’m good to go.

Anyway, the other four games aren’t too shabby either, but is each one worth missing out on a meal or gift giving? Will you fall asleep on them or fight fatigue to tune in? Here’s how I see the appeal of the five games on a scale from 1-10.

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On the eve of two-time NBA MVP LeBron James being able to declare himself a free agent July 1, I asked basketball fans in Erie one simple question Tuesday.

Should James stay in Cleveland with the Cavaliers or go elsewhere?

Here’s what they said.

LeBron James may have played his final game for the Cleveland Cavaliers in Thursday's Game 6 loss in Boston.

It’s over.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are done for this season and if LeBron James decides to bounce and join another game, they will be done for much longer.

Just for the record, as much as I thought Cleveland had the team to win it all this season, I predicted before the season began it wouldn’t even make it to the NBA Finals.

Who did I pick: The Los Angeles Lakers to win back-to-back and beat the Orlando Magic again. They’re both still alive. Who would have thunk it?

As for the Cavaliers, they won 60-plus games in consecutive regular seasons, James won back-to-back NBA MVPs and didn’t make to the finals last season or this season.

Something is wrong with that picture?

Who is to blame?

Well, let’s start at the top. Or near the top.

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Rajon Rondo has had his way with Cleveland's guards so far in this Eastern Conference semifinals series.

This is guy is not Derrick Rose or Chris Paul.

He’s not Deron Williams or Steve Nash, either.

What Rajon Rondo is, though, is a guy the Cleveland Cavaliers better figure out or else the Boston Celtics are going to make them sweat this series to the brinking point.

Rondo had 29 points, 18 rebounds (he’s 6-foot-1 folks) and 13 assists in Boston’s 97-87 home win to even this Eastern Conference semifinals series at 2-2.  Game 5 is Tuesday in Cleveland, Game 6 is Thursday in Boston and if there is a Game 7, it will be Sunday in Cleveland.

Honestly, Cleveland doesn’t have any guards who can check Rondo. So the Cavaliers have to either one, figure Rondo can’t continue playing that way or two, make him score 40 and shut everyone else down.

Well, Cleveland does have a third option.

Push the pace. Get it in the 100s. Make the older Celtics keep up with them.

The right elbow of LeBron James is top talk of the playoffs.

The world’s most famous injured right elbow resides in Akron, Ohio. 

LeBron James is hurt.

He didn’t want to dwell on it or talk about it after the Cleveland Cavaliers won their first-round series against the Chicago Bulls by winning Game 5, 96-94, at Quicken Loans Arena. As he put it, if he’s on the court, he’s OK.

Well, after watching him attempt a free throw left handed with the game still in the balance late in the fourth quarter and wince in pain, it’s clear this is not a minor injury.

James is hurting.

Shooting just 5-of-12 from the field and 8-of-14 from the line Tuesday is a clear sign of it.

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Derrick Rose is a scary match up for most NBA teams, but he's a nightmare for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They can’t get two straight against the NBA’s top-seeded playoff team?

Well.

The Chicago Bulls will try to even up their first-round Eastern Conference series against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the United Center on Sunday.

If Kirk Hinrich can play as he did in Game 3 and Derrick Rose does his thing, the Bulls got a shot Sunday. One of the Cavaliers weaknesses is they have trouble defending guard penetration.

So Rose has been a handful and when Hinrich is playing well, the Bulls are a handful. However, the Cavaliers do have LeBron James so they should take care of business, take Game 4 and close out the series Tuesday at home in Quicken Loans Arena.

If they lose Sunday, oh boy, now we got a series.

On the wait to play in the playoffs: “It’s seemed pretty long, but it’s here now. I’m excited. It’s the best time of the year for basketball in this league. It’s an exciting time for myself and our team. … This is what I’ve waited for. I’ve been quoted the last few days. It’s what we play for in the regular season to prepare for this moment. It’s here.”

On finally having a full team: “It’s been a while. We’ve haven’t a full team for a while, honestly. Guys have been in and out of the line ups. Big players have been in and out of the lineup. So it’s great to finally have everybody healthy. This is the right time to have everybody healthy in the playoffs.”

On how Shaquille O’Neal looks basketball-wise: “He’s looked good. We’ve had a few practices and he’s got an opportunity to practice the last week. He looks pretty good an he’s ready to go.”

On expecting Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose to raise their level of play: “I expect everyone to raise the game. It’s the postseason. As far as raise their game, I don’t quite understand the question you’re asking, but it’s the postseason. They have no choice but to raise their game.”

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