FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. TORONTO RAPTORS AND THE PLAYOFFS: After watching the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat game Tuesday night and once again witnessing the Nets beat the Heat, Im convinced that the best course of action for the Raptors will be for them to make sure they do everything in their power to secure the third seed in the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division title. I want no part of the other current bracket (Heat/Nets/Chicago Bulls). Ill take my chances with the Washington Wizards or Charlotte Bobcats in the first round, though, either of those match-ups isnt a walk in the park, either. If you can win a series, and that wont be easy, and the current standings hold form, I feel confident that the Raptors could play a very competitive series against the Indiana Pacers. Im not saying they would win that series - the defence has to really improve down the stretch here and get back to early-mid-January form - but it would be quite compelling. There are five games left. Win all of your games and you write your own ticket. Stumble and the help will have to come from others and thats never a position you want to be in. 2. JOE DUMARS (Pistons): Rumours are swirling that hes going to step down as the teams president and GM and Im not a bit surprised. Too many coaching firings and going all-in on guys like Ben Gordon, Charlie Villaneuva, Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings sealed his fate in Motown. He had a terrific run in the early 2000s as the elite team in the Eastern Conference, but you see it often with coaches and GMs - you lose your fastball and get stale in your approach/creativity and you lose your way. Hes a good basketball man and some time away will reinvigorate him and Im sure hell be back at it again down the line. 3. MIKE DANTONI (Lakers): Watching some of his recent games, he looks like a beaten man and someone who knows that his fate is sealed in LA. DAntoni is an outstanding offensive coach who has had to deal with numerous injuries and drama there. At the end of the day, its a results-oriented business and when you evaluate his run in Denver, New York and LA, it doesnt look good. On the other hand, his teams in Phoenix - thanks in large part to Bryan Colangelos personnel moves - were awesome and entertaining to watch. Does he get another shot? Im not sure, but I do know that hes very capable if you give him a solid roster. If it ends there, I think hell be heard from again, at least as an assistant coach for a head coach looking for a guy who can upgrade his offence. Hed be a guy to talk to if hed consider being in that role. 4. INDIANA PACERS: Heard coach Frank Vogels interview where he said that being the top seed in the East was the "goal", but the "priority" is to be playing well down the stretch and be healthy/sharp heading into the playoffs. Well, what a change in approach. Theyve been obsessed with being the top seed since training camp. Now its about trying to rebuild your teams collective psyche, which wont be easy, but is doable. The talent is there to win the East, but the chemistry is off-kilter and Roy Hibbert needs a reality check. He is a defensive player who can block shots and rebound on both ends. Do what you do well, thats your strength, and play to it. Hes a quatenary or quinary offensive option in the grand scheme of things when hes on the floor. If they get him to buy into that, theyll be fine. Paul George and David West must have the ball in their hands a majority of the time, plain and simple. 5. STEVE NASH (Lakers): Congrats on becoming number-three on the NBAs all-time assists list last night. I watched the game versus the Houston Rockets and felt for him playing injured and in pain. Its ice to see him out there, though. What a career. Hell be a Hall of Famer. 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LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Craig Smith Predators Jersey .com) - Mike Conley scored 20 points with five assists to help the Memphis Grizzlies remain unbeaten with a 91-89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.On Thursday night, the CFL will hand out their annual awards where Toronto Argonauts QB Ricky Ray goes up against Calgary Stampeders RB Jon Cornish for the leagues Most Outstanding Player. It stops there for them, as neither man will play on Sunday for the leagues biggest prize, the 101st Grey Cup. In that title game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders, one player will stand out and be rewarded as the games Most Valuable Player. Which player will be honoured for leading his team to victory? Only one active player in this years contest has previously won the award, QB Henry Burris earned it in 2008 with the Calgary Stampeders at the 96th Grey Cup. Burris won the award in a similar circumstance to the one he will be in on Sunday, facing a team that was playing for the championship before their home crowd when his Stampeders beat the Montreal Alouettes. Could the leagues leading passer, making his triumphant return to Saskatchewan where he started his CFL career, earn his second Grey Cup MVP award? Will it be the opposing QB, Darian Durant, aiming for his first championship in three tries, this time flanked with the support of an entire province. Can he continue his hot postseason pace and have a strong performance? How about one of Durants targets? None have accomplished more in a career than the illustrious WR Geroy Simon, a two-time Grey Cup winning receiver.dddddddddddd Could this be the one award that completes his legendary resume? Will it be Durants favourite weapon, WR Chris Getzlaf? Outside of a seven-yard touchdown pass, the receiver was fairly limited against the Stampeders in the Western Division Finals. Could he breakout in front of Rider Nation? On the other sideline, Ticats receiver WR Andy Fantuz, who wore Rider green for six seasons before bolting to the Steel City as a free agent in 2012, could catch fire in his former stadium. However, with this years game being played in wintery conditions with an expected low temperature of minus-12 C combined with winds at 15 kilometres per hour, could the two teams offensive plans be left in the hands of the running game? Will the weather permit Riders RB Kory Sheets, who has rushed for a combined 245 yards in the two playoff games heading into Sunday, to be the x-factor for his team? What about Ticats RB C.J. Gable? Can the dual-threat California native brave the cold and cap off his first CFL season in MVP fashion? How about somebody unexpected? With snow and cold weather, anything can happen on the football field. With all these players motivated to win the Grey Cup on Sunday, who will be the most valuable to their team? As always, its Your! Call. ' ' '