Rookie power forward Ivan Johnson (44) is averaging five points for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Playoffs./AP Photo

Three former Erie BayHawks – PF Ivan Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), PG Blake Ahearn (Utah Jazz) and PG Mike James (Chicago Bulls) – are still flying in the NBA Playoffs.

How long will their teams stay in postseason flight is the question.

The Hawks are tied 1-1 in their best-of-7 series against the Boston Celtics. Had they won Game 2 at home with Boston not having Rajon Rondo, the Hawks would be in good shape to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Boston already the edge in experience and resolve. Now they have home court advantage and Rondo is back from his one-game suspension for bumping a referee. This isn’t looking too good for the Hawks.

As for Johnson he’s averaging five points, five rebounds and a steal in this series, but is shooting just 36.4 percent from the field. Johnson shot 51.3 percent during the regular season.

Game 3 is today at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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It’ s been the talk of the NBA. Who had the better dunk?

Blake Griffin’s throw down over Kendrick Perkins or LeBron James literally jumping over John Lucas for a dunk?

I’m not a fan of neither. Yeah, call me Scrooge.

These thrown-in dunks like Griffin had over a guy who can’t jump does nothing for me. As for the one James had, catching a lob one handed is nothing new in today’s game. Had Lucas not ducked, that could have turned ugly.

I’ll take Vince Carter’s dunks over Mount Mutumbo or Alonzo Mourning or Kobe Bryant’s over Yao Ming or Tracy McGrady’s dunk over Shawn Bradley over Griffin’s and James’ respective jams because they went through them.

Then I’d take Michael Jordan’s pure posterization over Patrick Ewing over any of them.

Although he was on a bad team in Anaheim, James White was a 2008-09 D-League All-Star.

The NBA D-League will have its expansion draft Sept. 2 to fill rosters for the two expansion teams – Maine Red Claws and Springfield (Mass.) Armor.

They’re going to pick teams from a “Returning Player Lists” of the two now defunct teams – Colorado 14ers and Anaheim Arsenal.

I tell you what, Maine and Springfield have some good players to choose from.

Very good.

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