Two fantastic NBA Playoff games took place last night. Here are my post-game reflections...

Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Guaran-Sheed?

Being a die-hard Indiana Pacers fan, let’s just say that I’m not particularly fond of Detroit Pistons star forward Rasheed Wallace. I can't stand the way he runs his mouth. I can't stand his wannabe-Dirk Nowitzki game. I can't stand the way he whines and protests after every single foul that is called on him. I can't stand when he throws temper tantrums and flings off his headband. I can't stand that bird #### stain on the top of his dome. Most of all, I can't stand his “Guaran-Sheeds.” I hate "Guaran-Sheeds."

As you can imagine, last night I took great pleasure in watching a “Guaran-Sheed” victory prediction go up in smoke for the first time. He previously was 3-0 after making these pre-game predictions, with two of those “Guaran-Sheed” wins coming against my beloved Pacers. I was at the second of those two games--Game 4 of last year’s second-round Pacers-Pistons playoff series--where I witnessed Wallace and teammate Chauncey Billups tear my Pacers apart firsthand. That was the last time I saw my favorite player of all time--Reggie Miller--play in person. That was also the last time I went to the Pacers state-of-the-art venue Conseco Fieldhouse. I still have this nasty, bitter taste in my mouth. I-puked-and-didn’t-brush-my-teeth nasty.

Monday night’s Pistons-Cleveland Cavaliers game was also Game 4 of a second-round playoff series. I guess Wallace and the Pistons think that they can waltz to the Finals every year simply by guaranteeing victories every time any Eastern Conference team comes within striking distance in a series. LeBron and his Cavs disagreed. The Cavs won the game 74-72 and sent the series back to Detroit tied 2-2.

Another problem I have with Wallace’s promises is that he doesn’t always show up after making these predictions. Last night Wallace looked disinterested. He was so out of it that when the “Kiss Cam” made its way around the arena during a timeout, he playfully was trying to kiss Billups. He scored a pedestrian 7 points and ended up sitting out a large portion of the game with what seemed to be nothing more than a lightly sprained ankle. That also bugs me, because most so-called NBA gurus rave about the Pistons toughness. Nowitski has returned to play after losing teeth, spraining ankles, etc… Why has he been labeled “soft” while Wallace gets “tough?” It simply doesn’t make sense.

I think guarantees are becoming far too prevalent in sports today. Back in the day, these predictions were reserved for the likes of the NBA Finals and the Super Bowl. For example, flashy Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson could be a meteorologist for the local news with all the forecasting he does. Wallace is making his "Guaran-Sheeds" such an annual ritual that his latest assurance hardly even generated any news. In my opinion, if you make one of these guarantees you need to A.) Be the best player and a leader on your team; and B.) Follow it up with a monster stat line.

Wallace is not the best player on his team (he’s the fourth best, for the record), he’s’ not a leader, and he didn’t even come close to a monster stat line last night. He finally wrote a check that his butt couldn’t cash. I suppose that’s what Wallace meant when he made the post-game comment "The sun even shines on a dog's #### some days." This is suddenly a series as the Pistons biggest dog is now feeling some heat being applied to his rear end.

Sideshow Bob no longer

Varejao was all over the court, playing like the second coming of Dennis Rodman. Not only did he have 10 points and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes, he matched Ben Wallace’s intensity, and made countless hustle plays. His biggest play of the night was a charge he took from Chauncey Billups with 30 seconds left in the contest. Cavs Head Coach Mike Brown gave this beauty of a quote as a response “Andy’s charge was huge. He has about the quickest feet of any guy that I know that is seven feet, or six-ten and some hair. He’s great. His feet are extremely quick and he is a very smart basketball player.”

Varejao will definitely have to maintain this level of both play and energy for the Cavs to have a shot at stealing this series from the Pistons. However, he is playing the finest basketball of his relatively short career, so I think both he and the Cavs have an outside shot.

My Forecast (No, this is not a “Gauran-Sheed”)

I’m still thinking Pistons in 7… But, if I were Detroit I’d try to close this baby out in six games. They do not want to give LeBron James the opportunity to knock them out with clutch heroics late in Game 7. No matter how clutch Mr. Billups thinks he is.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks

Coming soon...

When NCAA Tournament Standout and George Mason star F Jai Lewis (6'7", 290 lbs.) agreed to a rookie free agent contract with the New York Giants earlier this week, it came to no surprise to me. When I watched Lewis during George Mason's miracle run to the Final Four I thought, "this dude would make a devastating NFL tight end or offensive tackle."

It’s not like this trail hasn’t been blazed before. The two best tight ends in football, the Chargers Antonio Gates and the Kansas City Chiefs Tony Gonzalez, are former college basketball players. Carolina Panthers defensive end Juluis Peppers and Philadelphia Eagles QB Donavon McNabb also played Division I college basketball.

The Giants say that Lewis might even play offensive tackle at the next level. Regardless, Lewis is big, athletic for his size, and has a mean streak. Collegiate basketball has also left him with the footwork and soft hands that few football players can match. Lewis was not the only ex-basketball player signed this week. The Rams signed seldom-used Connecticut F Ed Nelson (6’8”, 265 lbs.) to a rookie free agent contract as well.

These signings have got me thinking. Why doesn’t the NFL scout more basketball players? What current NBA players would make NFL studs? Here is my list of answers to that second question…

My All-NFL NBA Team:

Starters

• F Joey Graham, Toronto Raptors (6’7”, 230) – I don’t remember the exact statistics, but Graham was easily the most athletic rookie-to-be at last year’s NBA Draft workouts. He was lighting fast, super strong and had a pogo-stick vertical. To be honest, he’s not even that great of a basketball player at this point. This is the one current NBA player that I definitely think would be a better NFL player. He has the talent to be a Pro Bowl TE.

• F Ron Artest, Sacramento Kings (6’7”, 260 lbs) – He is definitely athletic and powerful enough. However, the main reason for Ron-Ron’s inclusion on this list is for kicks. Just imagine the carnage the “Tru Warier” could cause if he was unleashed on the football field. And you thought that Kellen Winslow was a neurotic TE.

• C Shaquille O’Neal, Miami Heat (7’1”, 320-360 lbs.) – The one guy that dwarfs Ravens T Jonathon Ogden. Would be a monster offensive tackle. How fun is it to think about Shaq lining up against Pro Bowl defensive ends like Peppers and Indianapolis Colts star Dwight Freeney?

• G Nate Robinson, New York Knicks (5’9”, 180 lbs.) Robinson played cornerback while at the University of Washington, so this is no shocker.

• G Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers (5’11”, 165 lbs.) - Now this might come as a shocker, but it shouldn’t. Iverson was an All-State football star in high school. He also has insane speed and quickness, excellent hands, and has a knack for getting open. Add the fact that he’s tougher than your old lunch lady’s chicken fried steak, and it’s obvious that A.I. would be a stud slot receiver. Think Az Hakim (they even look alike.)

Bench

* G Fred Jones, Indiana Pacers (6'2", 220 lbs.) - Jones, a former NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champ, could be a phenomenal reciever. There wouldn't be a CB in the NFL that could match his serious hops. Well, unless you count Nate-Rob.

* G Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets (6'4", 210 lbs.) - Kidd has all the itangibles o####reat scrambling quarterback--smarts, speed, passing accuracy, elusiveness and leadership ability. In my mind, he might just be the best QB in Jersey (and yes, that is a knock on the J-E-T-S for passing on Matt Leinart).

* G Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons (6'3", 210 lbs.) - LenDale White's cuz has safety written all over him. Football seems to be in his family, and as a member of the Pistons, he's definitely tough enough.

* G-F Raja Bell, Phoenix Suns (6'5", 210 lbs.) - Skinny, but as we all witnesssed last night, he can hit. The best clothesline since #### "Night Train" Lane.

* F James Posey, Miami Heat (6'8", 220 lbs.), Posey would make a great special teams player. I can tell you this: He wouldn't have gotten suspended for that downfield shoulder tackle he made on Kirk Hinrich. He would've been congratulated. Needs to work on wrapping up, though.

* F Danny Fortson, Seattle Sonics (6'7", 270 lbs.) Fortson might just have the horsepower, wheels and motor necessary to play DE in the NFL. However, he would have to shed those girly pigtails for sure.

* C Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons (6'9", 250 lbs.) Big Ben would have to beef up to play DE, but I can see him as a relentless pash rusher that rings QB's bells. Can't you?