FROM PHOENIX'S FUTILITY TO ISIAH'S IGNOMINY TO HILLARY'S PERFIDY TO TONTO KOWALSKI.

NBA PLAYOFF NOTES AND REVISIONS:

Suns-Spurs.

Can't tell if I'm more impressed by the Spurs' smothering second half defense or the Suns' stunning second half offensive ineptitude. In any event, it's the second straight game Phoenix has lost after having had a double digit lead. Popovich has clearly been outcoaching D'Antoni--preventing Phoenix from getting set in their halfcourt D by combining an uptempo offense with multiple screens and thwarting the Suns' offense by putting Kurt Thomas on Shaq and Bowen on Nash--thus allowing Duncan to shadow Amare on the attempted screen and rolls. The Suns looked totally out-of-synch and will need to rearise like the mythological bird after which their city is named or face yet another stinging disappointment at the hands of their Nemeses. The truly disappointing things about last night from the Suns' perspective are that, a) despite their bigger stronger interior defense, they let Parker and Ginobili get to the hole at will and b) they lost despite Shaq doing a very credible job of containing Duncan. Still not gonna change my prediction. But it's as much out of stubbornness as out of true conviction.

Lakers-Denver.

Gonna modify my prediction to Lakers in 5. They are clearly the superior all round team, but I suspect Denver will have at least one offensive outburst in the series that will be extraordinary enough to compensate for their continued commitment to matador D. Their lack of defensive discipline will still undermine their exceptional offensive firepower--but it will do so in 5 games rather than 4.

MEDIA MOMENT (AND EXPLANATORY FOOTNOTE) OF THE NIGHT:

Charles and Kenny in the post game show saying that Çharles was changing his name to Tonto Kowalski and both giggling like schoolboys to the mystification of Ernie and, I suspect, most of the TNT audience. Well, if you are among the mystified, let Teddy V. break down the puerile proceedings for you. You see, chuckling Charles must have just been told the old joke about a man sitting next to an attractive woman on a plane who turns out to be an expert on human sexuality. She claims that in her years of research she has discovered that the most sensitive and attentive lovers are the native Americans but the best endowed are the Polish. Then she says, "By the way, my name is Sara. What's yours?

"Tonto," the man replies. "Tonto Kowalski."

LFAQs:

Is Brent Barry the only guy ever to win both the NBA 3 point contest and the NBA dunk contest?

When was the last time a player got consecutive 20 point-20 rebound games in the playoffs? (See D-How's recent statistical output).

Which was the lowest Isiah moment?

a) Throwing the lazy inbounds pass against the Celtics in the Playoffs that was intercepted by Larry Bird who then passed it to Dennis Johnson for the now immortal game winning basket?
b) Skulking off the court without shaking hands with MJ after the Bulls beat the Pistons in the playoffs.
c) Getting convicted of sexual harrassment
d) Getting fired by the Knicks after perfectly replicating Larry Brown's ignominious 23-59 record?
e) Finding out that his new role with the Knicks does not entail him having an office and does entail him being forbidden to speak with any of the players.

When Obama finally gets the nomination and Hillary makes the obligatory offer to campaign for him and Obama makes the obligatory acceptance of her offer, will she try to subtly undermine his campaign in the interests of making another run in 2012?

POLITICAL COMMENTS:

Well, the Pennsylvania Primary went pretty much exactly as everyone expected it would. Neither changing nor resolving anything and simply extending the agony. It did, unfortunately, help remind people of the unfortunate recalcitrance of the race issue. In exit polls, 13% of Pennsylvania voters acknowledged that race was a factor in determining who got their vote--with 75% of those 13% voting for Hillary. If 13% openly admit that race was a factor, one can only assume--given the stigma of such an admission--that the true percentage for whom it figured prominently is much higher. Assuming he wins the nomination (which remains the only reasonable assumption), Democrats will ultimately be reduced to hoping that ageism trumps racism as a factor influencing voters. Which is all pretty sad and sordid considering this is a campaign based on hope, unity and the common concerns that transcend our differences. It seems like while the rhetoric will remian, "we are not red states and blue states, we are the United States of America", the underlying political reality will be "we are not red states and blue states, but the racially, chronologically, demographically, ethnically, economically and sexually stratified and separate voting blocks of America."

At the end of the Day, I sort of get a kick out of Hillary's irrepressible cheesiness.

SPORTS-POLITICAL IDEA OF THE DAY:

Obama as Knicks coach. Hey, he loves hoops, is a great communicator, is really smart and strategic and knows how to rally people together for a common cause. I mean, this is a job where his message of hope and togetherness might actually resonate and be embraced. It's a job where no one would mind if her were an "elitist." Plus, he'd be spared the indignity of bowling in public.