1. DID LEBRON JAMES WRAP UP THE MVP RACE LAST NIGHT WITH HIS PERFORMANCE VS. THE BULLS

I think so. And to be frank the only other player you can even consider as "stiff competition" for the award at this point of the year is Kevin Durant. But while both their teams are having once again extremely successful seasons the one thing separating both players and what I feel is the tiebreaker between the two is on the defensive end. Sure their numbers are relatively even but LeBron James is right now also a favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. LeBron put the race to bed last night. 


2.  DWIGHT HOWARD OUT FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON.  IS HE REALLY HURT OR JUST DOESNT WANT TO PLAY FOR STAN VAN NO LONGER?

After everything he pulled this season with his "indecision" and his aloofness after Stan Van Gundy outwardly admitted publicly that Howard wanted him fired only for Dwight to deny it not knowing what Stan Van Gundy did, at this point I wanted put it past him. I've lost all trust and respect for D12 with how he has handled this entire season in terms of his future, leaving the team and fan base hanging in the balance and Orlando deserves better. If I'm Otis Smith I'd trade him to the Charlotte Bobcats for one season out of spite. Unfortunately we all know that ain't happening and worst off the Magic will do everything in their power to appease Dwight Howard which I think is pathetic.  


3. LAKERS REALLY THIS GOOD WITHOUT KOBE?

Yes and no. But if you're a Laker fan the one thing you can take away from this is the fact that there will be a day Kobe Bryant will no longer be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. With that being said you're getting a free glimpse of what the future looks like with a much improved and most importantly healthier Andrew Bynum leading the pack. And I'm not going to lie, the future looks bright.  But in the short term with this Laker team currently constructed, they need Kobe Bryant in the fold to even take a sniff at the Western Conference Finals.


4. ARE THE CELTICS A LEGIT TITLE CONTENDER NOW?

Can't count them out at all. Paul Pierce has been lights out as of late and Rajon Rondo has been a machine and a rock for Boston since early March. And with the latest adjustments Coach Doc Rivers made inserting Avery Bradley to the starting lineup and bringing sharpshooter Ray Allen off the bench and moving Kevin Garnett to the center spot, they have played extremely well. While I have Miami and Chicago as the favorites in the East still, Boston can and will make this uncomfortable for both teams should they have the opportunity to meet in the playoffs at some point. 


5. ARE YOU SURPRISED THE COLTS ANNOUNCED ANDREW LUCK WILL THE #1 DRAFT PICK?

Are we really having this conversation!? First off the very fact Jim Irsay was actually entertaining the idea of possibly drafting Robert Griffin III knowing that he coveted Luck for most of 2011 after the disaster of last season was laughable. I get it that he might still have wanted to look at all your options before ultimately making your choice but he knew that Andrew Luck was his guy. No surprises here. 


6. BOBBY PETRINO, REALLY?

After the travesty he pulled in Atlanta in 2007 he was public enemy #1 for me. And I'm not even a Falcons fan. But while I'm not going to give into the cliche of believing in "karma" I will say he got what he deserved. And the worst thing wasn't even the accident or on a serious note the infidelity toward his wife and 4 kids. The very fact he allowed his mistress Jessica Dorrell to short cut the hiring process to get a job under him rather going through the normal process is what was his undoing to his getting fired at Arkansas. And of course all the lies upon lies, upon lies, upon lies. Petrino got what was coming to him. 


7. ENJOYING THE NHL PLAYOFFS?

Would be happier if the NY Rangers had won Game 4 and taken a strangle hold on the series vs. Ottawa. But overall you can make the argument that the Stanley Cup playoffs might be the most competitively balanced sport in all of America. In the Eastern Conference you have the top 2 seeds (Rangers Bruins) dead locked at 2 games apiece and in the West the top seeded Canucks down 3-1 to the upstart Kings. NHL may not be mainstream viable in the USA any longer but I believe people are missing out.