Marc Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies couldn't come back from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the L.A. Clippers./AP Photo.

Not bad. Not bad.

With the Los Angeles Clipppers beating the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 7 Sunday to advance to the Western Conference semifinals, all the first-round series are complete. I finished 6-2 in predicting the first round.

Eastern Conference

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers.
Prediction: Bulls in 5
Outcome: Sixers in 6.
What happpened: Derrick Rose got hurt. Joakim Noah got hurt. Bulls didn’t have enough.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks
Prediction: Heat in 6
Outcome: Heat in 5
What happened: Knicks not ready as a team to seriously challenge Miami.

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Orlando Magic
Prediction: Pacers in 5
Outcome: Pacers in 5
What happened: Without Dwight Howard, Magic had no shot to win this series.

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Dwyane Wade and LeBron James (w/headband) are eying an NBA title, but Indiana is doing the same./AP Photo.

It’s just a formality.

The Indiana Pacers will be just a footnote in their storybook championship journey. Just another team the Miami Heat had to beat because they’re going to win it all right?

Right?

They’ve got the game’s best player in LeBron James, who won his third NBA MVP today.

They’ve got the league’s second and third best option in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, respectively.

And they don’t have to contend with the Chicago Bulls, who lost Derrick Rose to a season-ending injury and their first-round series to the eighth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in six games.

The road is paved for Miami to take it all. Indiana is just a speed bump in the road right?

Right?

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Up next for Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics? An familiar rival. The Philadelphia 76ers./AP Photo.

Whenever these two teams met in the 1980s, it was classic.

Bird vs. Dr. J. McHale vs. Barkley. Moses vs. Parish.

Go back even further to the 1960s. Legends emerged.

Wilt vs. Russell. Havlicek vs. Greer. Jones vs. Walker.

On Saturday, the Sixers and Celtics will renew their rivalry in the Eastern Conference semifinals as the two teams haven’t faced each in the postseason since 2002 when the first round was still a best-of-5 series.

Boston won 3-2.

Who will take this series and likely face Miami in the conference finals?

Go Green.

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(1) Chicago Bulls (50-16)

1st round foe: (8) Philadelphia 76ers (35-31).

Biggest concern vs. 76ers: Don’t have a true superstar, but enough good players to make you have to compete to beat them.

Last 10: 7-3 (Won 3)

Strengths: Defense. The Bulls lead the NBA in fewest points allowed (88.17 per game). They have front-court depth, great team chemistry and a closer in Derrick Rose.

Weaknesses: Key injuries to their two best players – Rose and Luol Deng – make them vulnerable. Although they’ve had success without Rose, in the playoffs, he’ll need to be close to 100 percent to reach NBA Finals.

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Anthony Mason says the NBA today is "way softer" than it was when he played./AP Photo.

When he was in the NBA, Anthony Mason was a tough guy.

He played for one of the toughest teams of his era – the New York Knicks – when Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and himself protected the painted area with size, force and intimidation.

Those days are long gone in his opinion.

“Now you get the rite of passage,” Mason said. “Now it’s a rite of passage. You get a layup. I get a layup. That’s how they do.”

In Erie, Pa., to watch his son, Anthony Mason Jr. play for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Mason said the NBA has changed dramatically from when he was out there bumping and bruising up folks.

“It’s a big difference,” said Mason, who averaged 10.9 points in his 13-year NBA career. Mason, whose final season was in 2002-03 with the Milwaukee Bucks, was an NBA All-Star with the Miami Heat in 2001 and the league’s Sixth Man of the Year while with the Knicks in 1994-95.

“Way softer. It’s not as exciting. I don’t think the teams are as balanced as they used to be. It’s kind of boring.”

Mason, who lives in New Rochelle, N.Y., drove seven hours to see his son, but Mason Jr. didn’t play tonight due to an injury.

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Charles Barkley loves him. So does Reggie Miller.

Ivan Johnson impressed Barkley, a Hall of Famer, and Miller, a future Hall of Famer, with his effort for the Atlanta Hawks in their 116-109 triple-overtime home loss Thursday night to the Miami Heat, who were without injured stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Johnson, who starred for the Erie BayHawks last season, had 13 points Thursday night that included a coast-to-coast jam in the third quarter.

Johnson added four rebounds for the Hawks before fouling out in the third and final overtime.

Here’s another one.

Solomon Alabi played 22 games for the Erie BayHawks last season when they were affiliated with the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 7-footer averaged just 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for Erie as a rookie last season. Someone that tall should dominate the D-League. So if anyone needs development, it’s him.

Now he’s back in the D-League as the Raptors sent him down to the Bakersfield Jam today. Erie is now an hybrid partner with the New York Knicks.

At least the weather will be better for him in Bakersfield. It’s 25 degrees in Erie, 57 in Bakersfield.

When Alabi played with fire and emotion as you will see below when he dunks on Miami Heat young big man Dexter Pittman, who was with Sioux Falls at the time, he was effective, but he has a laid back personality.

Plus he couldn’t stay out of foul trouble. He averaged 3.27 fouls a game.

NBA commissioner David Stern canceled more games through Nov. 30 after talks with the NBPA broke down Friday./AP Photo.

Yo D? What’s up guy? Haven’t seen you in a minute. What’s good?

Ah man. Nothing much. Staying busy. What’s good with you?

You know me, kid. I’m out just trying to do the right thing. So it looks like you’ve slimmed down some. Getting your run on?

Yeah man. Trying.

I hear you. I saw you one time darn near get trucked by a car over there by the hospital. I was like, ‘Yo, that looks like D right there.’ Got to wear brighter colors bruh. You know moms taught you to look both ways before crossing the street.

You right. You right.

Anyway, what’s up with this lockout man? The NBA has one of its greatest seasons in recent memory then just shut it down. What you think the problem is?

Dollars. It’s all about the dollar.

Got millionaires fighting over billions. I just heard they canceled games through the end of next month and there won’t be an 82-game season.

Yep. Well, NBA commissioner David Stern never says never, but he even admitted it’s not “practical” to have a full season. Shouldn’t have even tried to do that after canceling games earlier. Never understood trying to cram an 82-game season in.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers will likely draft Duke freshman Kyrie Irving in Thursday’s NBA Draft. ESPN is reporting that the Cavs are committed to doing so.

I understand the reasoning.

It’s a PG league.

Point guards are needed because a lot of the better teams have quality ones. Chicago has 2010-11 NBA MVP Derrick Rose. Oklahoma City has Russell Westbrook. Memphis has Mike Conley. Boston has Rajon Rondo. New Orleans has Chris Paul.

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Can LeBron James lead Miami to a win Sunday in Game 6 to force a Game 7. Hmmmm./AP Photo

I hate the term “Do or die.”

One, it’s cliche. Two, you’re not going to die by losing a game, but  you’re not going to feel that good, either.

The Miami Heat are facing that reality.

Down 3-2 to the Dallas Mavericks, the Heat need to win Sunday’s Game 6 at home to force a deciding Game 7 on Tuesday in Miami.

Truth is, the series should be over.

Miami blew a huge lead in Game 2 at home and should have won Game 4 as well but give Dallas credit. The Mavericks are locked in defensively and Dirk Nowitzki is not only playing, but he’s being a leader.

LeBron James should take some notes from him on how to find a way in the fourth quarter.

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