The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

  At this point in the year, the basketball world has no dull moments. So what are this weekend's good, bad, and ugly? Here's The Rundown.

The Good: Blue Star to the Big League

  According to sources, Michigan's sophomore point guard and this year's AP National Player of the Year Trey Burke will be entering the 2013 NBA draft this June. Burke was almost a "one-and-done" player as he was close to leaving Michigan after his freshman year and entering the draft then. He later decided to stay another year being unsatisfied with the Wolverines season ending upset loss last year in the first round of the NCAA tournament by Ohio. One could make the case that last year he was only possibly a first round draft pick, maybe a second. That extra year he took to develop was definitely a great move as this year he was named Big Ten Player of the Year, broke Michigan's single-season record in assists (260), and led his team all the way to the NCAA tournament title game. Many General Managers and NBA analysts see very few players in this draft class that really excite them as they transition into the professional basketball world. Nonetheless, Trey Burke is surely one of the top prospects of them all. He certainly has the chance to be the first or second point guard drafted. The Rundown will be following up with Burke's draft stock and placement as the June 27th draft date approaches.

The Bad: KD is NOT Nice

  On Friday, the league office fined Thunder star Kevin Durant $25,000 for making a "menacing gesture" in Thursday night's game against the Golden State Warriors. The throat-slashing motion, followed by a joining of his hands in a praying motion, was done after Durant threw down a powerful dunk in second quarter. When asked about the gesture after the game Durant said "Kill 'em and pray for 'em after the game." I'm just speculating that that comment didn't make his case any better with the league office. Durant later apologized for the gesture that got national exposure being televised on TNT.    
  Obviously he is also one of the league's most popular players and affiliated with a few national brands. In spite of all of that though, I still do not think he deserved the fine or at least not one that severe. Maybe I'm too tough or desensitized to violence, but if I was watching that game in real time I wouldn't have thought twice about that "menacing gesture". It clearly was done as a result of momentum and excitement within the moment of the game. It was quick and it wasn't even excessive. I understand that children may have seen it but the majority of children old enough to even understand that have likely seen many more violent actions that were far more graphic than Durant's gesture. Durant shares the ball too much and works out with LeBron in the off-season and he's too soft and friendly. He makes a gesture that last all of 3 seconds and he's too menacing and inappropriate. Can he win? I personally feel a public apology and a warning call from the league office would have been good enough for someone like Durant to not make that mistake again especially being that he has no prior history of doing anything like this. I mean, you don't get the reputation of being "The Nicest Guy in the NBA" for nothing right?

The Ugly: #MambaOut...Literally

  Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles tendon in Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors. Bryant is now done for the remainder of the season. The Lakers are in an intense playoff push battle with the Jazz to capture that 8th seed spot and with Kobe going down, many have undoubtedly lost faith in the Lakers chances. It only added insult to injury that on the same night of the injury, Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson scored 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists in a win over the Timberwolves. Bryant was averaging 27.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 6 APG this season, numbers that no one has put up in their 17th season in NBA history.
  Many critics feel head coach Mike D'Antoni should foot the blame, no pun intended. Over the last 7 games Bryant was averaging over 46 minutes per game. At 34 years old and playing at the level Bryant was, that is extremely taxing on the body. Many people speculate that had D'Antoni better managed Kobe's minutes he would have been in better health and the injury may not have happened. However, we all know how Kobe is. His determination is a part of what makes him so great. Trying to make good on that guarantee to make the playoffs, he wasn't stopping until the 8th seed for the Lakers was clinched no matter what it took. The Lakers say they will use this loss to propel them to continue to finish strong. With Steve Nash still being listed as a game-time decision, the offense will be ran through Pau Gasol. His ability to score in the high post can draw defenders and get more touches and attempts in the low post for Dwight Howard. In theory, this could work for them. If it doesn't though and they end up in a tie with the Jazz, who is only a game behind LA, the Jazz own the tie breaker and will automatically get the playoff spot.
  Bryant is expected to be out for 6-9 months after undergoing successful surgery yesterday. Questions of his return have arisen for many as there was already speculation that next season would be his last. Does he put in months of relentless rehab just to make it back at holiday time next season where he still may not get back to the true Mamba ability until the All-Star break, if ever? Or should he just retire now and be remembered playing so spectacularly? If he's worried about his legacy, I see no further tarnishing of it in any way from this. Kobe is the winner of 5 NBA championships, 2 NBA Finals MVP's, 2008 league MVP, 10-time All-NBA First Team, 9-time All-NBA Defensive First team, 4-time All-Star MVP's, and 15 All-Star game appearances which are only a FEW accolades that barely speak to his phenomenal NBA career. He will go down as one of the greatest this league has ever since whether the Lakers did or did not make the playoffs, with or without him. The Mamba is planning to be back in time for the season's start next year. Surely the worst thing we all can do is tell him that he can't. That will only put him in a position to do what he's done time and time again: prove us wrong.

If you missed Durant's "menacing gesture" check it out below at about the :25 mark. Also, to get an idea of just how Kobe felt after his injury follow this link to him venting on FaceBook on Friday night.

Sources: ESPN, USA Today, NBA