BasketballThe end of the Spurs' dynasty?

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Tony Parker (9) and the San Antonio Spurs try to stay focused against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 4 (Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Are the Spurs done? It looks like it. Forget about Monday night's massive second half showing by Memphis -- that was one of those energy zones home teams can get into with a great crowd behind them. Not unlike when Vince Carter hit nine threes against Philly in the '01 playoffs and I woke up 10 hours later on somebody's front lawn in Scarborough.

More importantly, the Grizzlies have played opportunistic defence and capitalized on the Spurs inability to hit shots in this series. In the last two contests, San Antonio's vaunted perimeter game is 7-for-33 from beyond the arc. Tim Duncan, who turned 35 on Monday -- ominously, the day of Game 4 -- demonstrated why advertisers only care about 18-to-34 year olds with a six point, seven rebound outing while being pushed around by Marc Gasol. Richard Jefferson continues to be a non-factor, while Memphis players like Darrell Arthur are coming out of the woodwork.

As a result, the Spurs are on the verge of becoming only the fourth No. 1 seed in NBA history to lose in the first round. Could it be the end of the most unexciting quasi-dynasties in NBA history? Perhaps it was fitting that C-Webb sang Boyz II Men's It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday over highlights of the game Monday night.

In the post-game news conference after the Hornets beat the Lakers (again) Sunday, Trevor Ariza went to great lengths to point out how Chris Paul finished with 13 rebounds despite being only six feet tall (real height 5-11). Paul's triple-double in Game 4 against L.A. brings two things to mind: Every year in the playoffs, he reminds me he is the best point guard in the game. And that he is the sole reason the Hornets ever win games. All due respect to Ariza and Carl Landry, Paul demonstrates the adage that the team with the best player on the floor always has a chance to win.

You'd think the Lakers would need to wake up. Unlike Memphis-San Antonio where you have matchup issues, there is no real excuse for L.A. losing to the Hornets. The adage about the best player can be taken care of by Kobe Bryant.

Like Derrick Rose though, damn the banged-up ankle, Kobe's playing. We'll see what happens next.

With the West in this much upheaval, the Thunder are emerging as a real possibility to come out of it. If there's one liability, it's Russell Westbrook overriding Kevin Durant on certain possessions. But that's youth for you. The talent is there and their arena has had the feel of a college gym during the playoffs.

Colangelo rumour mill continues

So much for NBA playoff magic returning to Madison Square Garden this spring. It's somewhat amusing that the Knicks' corporate cousins, the Rangers, provided more drama this month at the famed arena above Penn Station. The added bonus of the Knicks quick exit for Raptors fans is that until GM Donnie Walsh's future is known, they can expect the Bryan Colangelo-to-New York rumour to live on in some form, regardless of Colangelo's denials.

It didn't help that reports out of Toronto last week said MLSE board member Glen Silvestri is inexplicably holding up his contract extension with the Raps. As for Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, conventional wisdom says he'll get another season (or half-season, whatever is played, when it's played) to get the Knicks deep into the playoffs. The sound you hear is Knick die-hards reacting with consternation.

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