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TSN Basketball Analyst

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Five quick hoops thoughts:

1. DEMARRE CARROLL: It’s encouraging to see him back on the court playing.  It’s going to take some time to get back in a groove, which is fine. If he can give the Raptors 15-20 minutes in a secondary capacity at this stage of the game it would be a major bonus. It's all about realistic expectations and what he can truly give you after missing so much time.  His defensive ability at both the 3 and 4 spots is impressive and he's a smart/dependable offensive player who won't be overwhelmed one bit by the playoff experience. He’s another polished and experienced player that can help you when the stakes get bigger starting this weekend. This is certainly a positive development.

2. WARRIORS: I was so impressed with how they played the past two nights at Memphis and in San Antonio. Golden State seems to relish the challenge, which is really cool to witness. They endured a hard -fought game against the Grizzlies and found a way to pull it out and their performance Sunday night against the Spurs showed they were mentally tough - especially in the fourth quarter playing on a back to back.

That was special. They really guarded well and showed no backing down on the offensive end attacking a terrific defence and making clutch plays. They’ve kept the NBA on the map since November, which has been great for the entire league. It will be a fun event for the NBA having the Warriors play for 73 at home against the Grizzlies. I really like their chances in front of that awesome fan base.                    

3. KOBE BRYANT: He scored 35 points Sunday night – just incredible. We're down to the final few days of his career and what a run it’s been for him. Many thanks to one of the all-time greats for all he's done for the game. While there’s a lot of attention being focused on the playoff race, this is as big a story as any other. It’s nice to see him wind down with some productive/fun nights and with class.

4. EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF BRACKETS: As much as I watch the seedlings and who you play in the first round, it's also about what bracket you'd like to be in. In my book, I'm hoping the Raptors – at 1 or 2 – are in the opposite bracket of the Miami Heat. Beyond Cleveland, they're the most talented team in the playoffs and would be a tough out for the Raptors. That’s an incredibly difficult series I'd prefer to avoid if they're able to get by the Pacers or Pistons - which is no easy task, either. Give me anyone else and I'll take my chances with the Raptors getting to the East Finals.                      

5. BRYAN COLANGELO: I’m happy for him.  He's a good man and talented basketball executive. Were there hits and misses in Toronto?   Definitely. But I choose to look at the big picture - the entire picture -  which is his whole career in Phoenix and Toronto. You evaluate that and you’ll see a guy who knows the basketball business and is capable of getting the Sixers on the right path down the road.  It will be a rocky road for a while with many moves that will need to be made. But I'm quite confident that he'll get them to a competitive level in the next few years and the playoffs beyond that. It’s a good spot for him to resurrect his career. There are low expectations initially and he'll work his tail off at it.  As long as he remains patient, keeps his eye on the long term and resists trying to hit lots of home runs right off the bat - he's in a good situation.  Slow and steady wins the race.