There are two assignments to start for HiPlains and MooreSports this week, with a third one depending on whether the NBA Finals reaches seven games.

If the Mavericks win Tuesday night's Game 6 to force a Game 7, check back here Wednesday morning for the third assignment.

But for now, on with the two assignments already in place:

Assignment No. 1

Pick one of the following six subjects and write a piece specifically on them. These are people who have been written about extensively over the last two weeks, so the key will be to find a new, original angle that someone will still be interested in reading after hearing so much about them already.

The six subjects to choose from:

Dirk Nowitzki
Avery Johnson
Mark Cuban
Dwyane Wade
Shaquille O'Neal
Pat Riley

Now this assignment isn't due until Friday at noon ET, so there is plenty of time and plenty of possible ways to go with this. But one thing to keep in mind is that should the NBA Finals end Tuesday night, it might be tough to post a compelling read on one of these figures on Friday, three days after the Finals are over. This isn't to say it can't be done, it's just something to keep in mind. Also keep in mind, that if there is a Game 7, the deadline for that piece will likely be at a comparable time (meaning Thursday/Friday). I'm not telling you how to juggle your time or what angles to take, just something to keep in mind. 

And you really can take this piece in any direction you want, but the piece must center on one of the six figures listed above.

Assignment No. 2

This one is a carbon copy from the final round of NGSI.

The topic is completely your choice. This one is probably the one I'll be looking at most closely because I'll be working with the winner on his 20 pieces for the site, and I tend to give a lot of freedom to what writers think are their strengths. And I want to see what's the best work the finalists can come up with when they are given complete freedom.

It can be any topic, any sport, any format, but has to be about sports and not something ridiculous akin to "Here's why I should win." I want the writers to think of it as something that really showcases the best possible work they can produce.

This one is due Saturday by 6 p.m. ET.

Congratulations on making it this far, and good luck.

-Tom