I recently read an article on (the sarcastically titled) BlackGirlsAreEasy.com called How to Talk to Women – a post offering advice to men on how to approach and talk to women – that contained a one-liner that caught my attention.

Any dude who says he doesn’t know what he wants from a girl he’s known for more than 30 days is a liar.

Last week, Dr. J wrote a post sharing his thoughts on why men like younger women. His post contained the following paragraph:

It’s because no matter how hard they try and deny it, they want companionship. Not only do they want it, but they want it now. When you get to over the age of 25, you’re not going to find women who want to frivolously date, or “see where things are going.” They want to know now where things are going and where you think things are going to be in a short amount of time. When I was 23, I never imagined that I would be in a conversation about marriage within the first three months of a relationship. Those same civil liberties are not afforded to you when you’re in your late twenties.

I don’t blame them. At this point, we should be able to know if a woman is someone that we can spend the rest of our lives with. We’ve been playing the birds and bees for a long time now, we know when we mess up and we know what we should be doing in a relationship.

To the casual observer, it might seem like these two thoughts contradict one another, but they actually support one another. I’ve said for years – to the huffs, sighs, teeth sucking, and generally dismissive eye rolls of many women – that men fall in love faster than women. The race isn’t even close. (Supporting my own personal observations on the subject, a recent study also found that single men are 33% more likely than women to believe in “Love at First Sight.”)

This mainly occurs because although women think they have a monopoly on love, men and women fall in love differently. It has been said, “Men fall in love with their eyes and women fall in love with their ears.” If true, then men have a head start over women on falling in love. Additionally, in most cases, men need fewer requirements met before they deem a woman “good enough” to fall in love with. So not only are men subject to falling in love quicker than women, men need less justification to allow themselves to fall in love in the first place. Rather than explain this in detail, I’ll cite a Google+ Commercial that demonstrates the difference between the typical progression of love for men and women.

In my observations, it doesn’t take men very long to figure out where a woman falls in his life. I have married friends, and I have friends that will probably never get married, but when I look back on all our years of combined experiences, it was always pretty clear which women these men were seriously and emotionally involved in and which women they were not. Further, this was evident early on or as BGAE stated above, about 30 days or less.

In contrast, many women will say this doesn’t mirror their experiences because they’ve invested time in men for months, years, or even decades who “still don’t know what they want” from a relationship. I guess anything is possible but that is not very probable. What makes more sense? A man who is perfectly capable of making hundreds of decisions each day is somehow incapable of making one decision about one woman at least one time?

I doubt it.

In fact, the absence of a decision is itself a decision. In other words, a man who doesn’t know what role a woman plays in his life is simultaneously deciding that the woman is not important enough to even determine a role for her. Honestly, this isn’t wrong as long as it’s clearly conveyed. Unlike women, most men decide they’re ready to be in a serious commitment then look for a woman they’re willing to commit to; whereas, women tend to already know they want a serious commitment before they even meet the man they’ll eventually commit to.

This is why it’s equally important for both women and men to know their own value so they can set the role they will (or will not) play in another’s life instead of having it dictated to them by the other person. Stated another way, if you want a serious commitment, there is no reason that you should be dating someone who does not. None, like at all. Whether they state it through words, actions, or inactions, there is no reason for a full-grown adult – loosely defined as someone over the age of 25 – to claim to be “trapped” in a relationship role or status in which they are not satisfied. This includes a lack of commitment for women and the friend zone for men.

Over the years, I have consistently observed women attempt to make a man they are dating and want a serious commitment from “see” their value. As I’ve gotten older, this has made less and less sense to me. For one, as I covered above, men generally know a woman’s place in his life very early on, and if he doesn’t know that probably means he doesn’t see a permanent place in his life for her. Further, his inability to articulate or demonstrate this through actions or words should be answer enough. If you want more from a man (or woman) than he is offering, his not offering it to you is usually not a reflection of his inability to do so more often than it is a reflection of his lack of desire to do so, which leaves you with two relatively straightforward choices: 1) Stay; or 2) Leave.

This is where I somewhat detract from Dr. J’s opinion. If a woman (or man) – of whatever age – decides she needs to know as much information about the progress of (or lack thereof) a relationship she should feel free to ask whatever she wants to know, whenever she wants to know it. Honestly, the type of men who shy away from conversations about commitment are usually: 1) men who are not looking for commitment, period; or 2) not looking for commitment from her, specifically. Therefore, it seems that a woman would have everything to gain and nothing to lose – aside from a bruised ego – from finding this information out as early as possible before she vests any more of her time (emotions and sex notwithstanding).

I’ve said this before, but the only women I’ve never committed to are women I didn’t want to commit to. If I’m being honest, there were times where I BS’d around the inevitable, because I knew the additional burdens and requirements an updated relationship status on Facebook entails, but I still knew long before the conversation came up what I wanted from most women who have entered my life. If I didn’t know it from first sight, I surely figured it out within 30 days. Looking back on the few times when I wasn’t sure, I mistakenly thought I wasn’t sure because I needed to waste more of her and my time figuring it out. In reality, I knew almost from day one that nothing serious was ever going to materialize between us. I just didn’t have either the maturity, life-experience, or the courage to call it for what it was or was not.

Again, it’s possible that a man who isn’t looking for something serious will meet a woman that will change his mind, like all those Disney movies and romantic comedies women love; however, it is far more probable that a man will decide he’s ready for a serious relationship and then he will “see” all women differently. Eventually, he will meet and commit to one of those women. After a certain age, I think all men are looking for a serious relationship, but although the two are not mutually exclusive, there is a big difference between a man who is looking for a date and a man who is looking for a wife. Women should feel free to determine which of these types of men they are engaging, because a man who is honest with himself should know which type of man he is long before she asks him this question. By this same token, a woman should know what type of woman she is willing to be in a man’s life, the type he dates or the type he marries, long before she asks. If my theory that men fall in love faster than women is true, then he should already know the answer anyway. If we’re keeping it real gentlemen, all women are really doing is asking us to share what we already know.

Do men or women fall in love faster? What allows men/women to fall faster? Do you agree with BGAE’s quote, “Any dude who says he doesn’t know what he wants from a girl he’s known for more than 30 days is a liar.”?

Original content from SBM. Click here to check out more from WisdomIsMisery.

Here are the top news headlines that may interest you for Friday, May 17th, 2013. Read, be informed, discuss, and prosper.

IRS Scandal ”Lawmakers this morning accused leaders of the Internal Revenue Service of lying as they opened the first in a series of hearings about the agency’s targeting of conservative groups.”

Scandal Finale Re-Cap “The most intriguing thing about both seasons of Scandal is that everyone is a mess. Very few people have redeemable qualities, and most reveal a murky, sinister side more often than not. Last night’s finale was glorious, as the psychopathic, sycophantic, murderous, heart-attack-inducing personality disorders were on full display.”

Phil Jackson Compares Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant ”One basketball lover, however, has largely been reticent to compare the two legendary shooting guards — Phil Jackson, the man who coached Jordan and Bryant through their respective championship-winning, Hall-of-Fame-securing primes with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.”

Should the Redskins Change Their Name? “Changing the NFL franchise’s name won’t go over well with diehard fans, nor will it reverse American history. But there’s no excuse for continuing to commercialize a racial slur.”

Yahoo Might Buy Tumblr for $1 Billion “According to sources at AllThingsDigital and Adweek, Yahoo is currently in talks to acquire social blogging giant Tumblr for up to $1 billion USD.”

Original content from SBM. Click here to check out more from TheSUNK.

Growing up they always told us that older men preferred younger women. We came up with answers for why this may happen; maybe it was because they kept their looks or maybe it was because younger women didn’t have all the baggage of older women. Being a young gunner in the game, I dated older women and it didn’t much matter to me what their age was. That was until one day it became clear; I understood why men dated younger women.

It didn’t have anything to do with their looks or their lack of baggage for me, it had to do with trust.

Yes, trust.

I recently told myself that I don’t think I’m equipped to date women my age and it wasn’t because I don’t think they’re beautiful or have a lot to offer. I’ve always been a fan of older women; I thought they knew what they wanted and how to treat a man. But in my experiences I realized that I just don’t trust them.

Newsflash, this will be a personal post.

I’m going to turn 29 again this year and one thing I’ve learned is that, “[Women] be mother****** tripping.” I find myself in a barrage of situations where I think I’m on the same page as the woman and then next thing you know… she’s on her own agenda. It’s hard for men to cope with this reaction from women. We say, “Why can’t we just be cool and that just be it?” but that ain’t cutting it. I know we’re dealing with biological clocks but why is it so hard to be able to trust the words that come out of a woman’s mouth.

Well, I know why now.

It’s because no matter how hard they try and deny it, they want companionship. Not only do they want it, but they want it now. When you get to over the age of 25, you’re not going to find women who want to frivolously date, or “see where things are going.” They want to know now where things are going and where you think things are going to be in a short amount of time. When I was 23, I never imagined that I would be in a conversation about marriage within the first three months of a relationship. Those same civil liberties are not afforded to you when you’re in your late twenties.

I don’t blame them. At this point, we should be able to know if a woman is someone that we can spend the rest of our lives with. We’ve been playing the birds and bees for a long time now, we know when we mess up and we know what we should be doing in a relationship. However, for most of us men, we can’t do it. We’re not willing to let go of everything that makes us men so fast.

I told a woman the other day, that I’d rather bow out of dating because I’m not sure that I can trust the words that come out of women’s mouths at this age and she looked at me like I was bowing out of the game altogether. I wasn’t. I just felt that somewhere between the space when I said, “I like you and want to see where this goes” and “I’m ready to have babies with this girl” there was a chance for me to make sure that’s something I wanted.

I understand that clocks start ticking and that things are getting rough for some women out there, but I… matter fact, us men are all feeling the pressure of these women. We want to be in committed relationships because we don’t want to die alone, but we don’t want to be forced into situations that aren’t becoming of us. We’re trying, I’M TRYING, my best to put myself in a position to give a woman all of me. Faced with these decisions on the first or second date, I cringe. I cringe because I know that’s not what I want right now, it’s a goal and not a requirement.

I’ve lost faith because I think that time constraints and relationship pacts have ruined dating. It’s no longer organic but something that’s a calculated decision about will I date him or will I not. That’s not something I’m down for anymore. I’m too old for that. I just want to know that I can find a companion to spend my life with, not someone who is trying to meet a deadline.

Dr. J

Original content from SBM. Click here to check out more from Dr. J.

Here are the top news headlines that may interest you for Thursday, May 16th, 2013. Read, be informed, discuss, and prosper.

Don’t Lower Threshold on Drunken Driving ”In 2010, adults self-reported drinking and driving about 112 million times. Only 1.4 million drivers — about 1% –were arrested. In other words, if someone has had one too many drinks and gets behind the wheel of a car 100 times in a year, they might get caught once. How do you convince a nation that gets away with a crime 99% of the time that it’s a serious matter?”

Tornadoes Hit North Texas; 6 dead, Dozens Injured “Tornadoes ripped through North Texas on Wednesday night, part of a weather system that killed at least six people and injured more than 100 others, officials said.The fatalities occurred when the storm struck… There were about 120 homes in the neighborhood, and most of them were destroyed.”

Maine Man Arrested in Death of Girl, age 14 ”Police have arrested a 20-year-old Maine man in connection with the death of a 14-year-old girl whose naked, charred body was found on a Brooklyn beach in January, authorities said.”

Stem Cells Being Produced from Cloning Technique ”Scientists create human embryos that are genetic copies of living people to make stem cells, which may help treat many diseases but also raises concerns about human cloning.”

Toilet Paper Shortage in Venezuela “Venezuela’s government has ordered 50 million rolls of toilet paper after a widespread shortage has left the nation irritated… Foreign economists are blaming the shortage on price controls that Venezuela has used to make the most basic items affordable to the poorest communities.”

Original content from SBM. Click here to check out more from TheSUNK.

For a certain generation of young, professional folks of color, Jay-Z’s lyrics have provided more than just entertainment.

Many of us, born on blocks our friends never made it off of, raised in an era where our older brothers, uncles, and sometimes our fathers were hustlers, but reared to understand the value of educating ourselves and transcending our environment, hear Jay-Z’s lyrics differently than the average fan. For us, many of his lyrics have come to represent the millennial’s cross between W.E.B, Dubois’ Souls of Black Folk and Sun Xu’s Art of War. Jay’s duality is one we can relate to — that of trying to reconcile, exist, and prosper in a world vastly different than the one from which we’ve come. His commitment to winning by outthinking his peers mirrors our own navigation through the rough waters of a professional career.

Today, I want to take a moment to share with y’all some of my favorite Hov lyrics. These are the ones I constantly repeat on the job… whether I’m feeling like I’m under attack, plotted against, or like I’m just the Illest Motherf*cker Alive – Hov always has a line to match my mood. Flip through the slideshow below, check out some of my favorites – and share with me some of yours.

And of course, I gotta leave you with one of the most universally applicable Hip-Hop lyrics of all time:
Stay low and keep firing.

Original content from SBM. Click here to check out more from Mr. Spradley.

Ok let’s go get some RESULTS…

Being fit and conscious of one’s health is becoming very popular! “Day 1”, “This Monday”, “Next week” are a few things I see way more often now than ever before. This is awesome for someone in my profession; people are taking the first step, the hardest step, by themselves! There is NOOO credible “bandwagon backlash” for wanting to make a change in your health/lifestyle – right Mo’nique?

However, just as often as I’m seeing people hop on the judge free bandwagon, I am seeing people fall off way before achieving their goals; then having to say “Day 1” all over again. This part is not so awe-inspiring. Fitness and results revolve around many things but the main component of getting RESULTS is CONSISTENCY.

Here are 3 actions that will take you from Day 1 to Day GOAL, the first time around.

1. Scheduling

It sounds so simple yet it is CRUCIAL to staying consistent. People “don’t have time”, are “too busy” or tend to get “caught up” ALL. THE. TIME.  Just as you would any other very important event, meeting or appointment, scheduling your workouts with specific detail (Time & Day) is a big component when it comes to staying on track. But it doesn’t stop there; you MUST treat this “appointment” with the gym SERIOUSLY. It does you no good to schedule and then ignore or move your appointment around. If you are stern about your results, be stern about the process.

2. Menu/Meal prep:

You have two routes with this one. Both are useful with staying on track. A) Write out a menu for the week: a menu that accommodates your schedule is a useful yet underused tool.  How many times have we eaten something because it was in close proximity, quick and/or required little to no thought?  Unfortunately, those food options are usually harmful to our fitness success. Write out a menu with what you plan on eating, where you plan on eating and/or the time you plan on eating. B) Cooking for the week: I have a few clients who do this and I personally do it on the more extreme workweeks. IT WORKS. Cook or prep all your meals at the beginning of the week so eating/packing food to-go is quick, efficient and requires little to no time!

3. Logging:

WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN! I can’t stress its effectiveness enough. It LITERALLY takes 1 MINUTE (with all the tracking apps out there) to jot down what you’ve eaten, when you’ve eaten it and what you’ve done in your workout(s). Logging your food intake keeps you grounded! The feeling you get when you begin to write down “extra cheese pizza” or “alcohol beverage” will put reality into perspective that you’re crushing your results potential. On the contrary, writing down *insert healthy meal* will give you a sense of accomplishment and drive to KEEP GOING! Writing down your workouts is also a great tool. Progress does not come over night and it is not immediately visible. With workouts, writing down what you’ve done and how you felt doing it (For example, “5k Felt Good, took 30mins” or “5k OMG I cant feel my life”) will allow you to see (on paper) that you are indeed getting better and the road to visible results are only a few more steps away.

Remember, things that are worth it, take time! Be patient, stay consistent and see RESULTS! #BeTheBetter

- Mr. BeTheBetter

Join The Better Club™ TODAY!

Original content from SBM. Click here to check out more from BarringtonBFit.

Here are the top news headlines that may interest you for Wednesday, May 15th, 2013. Read, be informed, discuss, and prosper.

 Justice Official Defends AP Phone Records Subpoenas “The Justice Department on Tuesday defended its decision to subpoena phone records from Associated Press bureaus and reporters, saying the requests were limited and necessary to investigate a leak of classified information.”

Study Finds College Education Leaves Majority Of Graduates Unprepared “The study, conducted by researchers at Columbia University, confirmed that a drastically high number of 22- to 24-year-olds lack even the most fundamental skills necessary to singlehandedly spark unbridled economic growth across the entire country for generations to come.”

Japanese Politician Calls Wartime Sex Slaves ‘necessary’ “Japanese officials have distanced themselves from comments made by a prominent nationalist politician that suggested women forced to become prostitutes to entertain Japanese troops during World War II were “necessary.”

Have a POS System on Your Ipad ”This morning Square announced a new product that took me by surprise: the Square Stand, an iPad holder and credit card reader that’s meant to function as a point-of-sale system for high-volume small businesses like restaurants and cafes. The Square Stand costs $299, which is far more expensive than zero, which is what Square charges for the tiny credit card reader that made it famous.”

Student Loan Myth Maps(Interesting) “One of the nuances that often gets lost in discussions about student debt is that the biggest borrowers aren’t necessarily the riskiest borrowers. There are many people who take out modest loans but have trouble paying them back, either because they fail to graduate or because their degree doesn’t open many doors in the job market.”

Original content from SBM. Click here to check out more from TheSUNK.

Here are the top news headlines that may interest you for Tuesday, May 14th, 2013. Read, be informed, discuss, and prosper.

Mother’s Day Shooting ”A suspect has been identified in a New Orleans parade shooting that left 19 people injured. Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas said that authorities are looking for 19-year-old Akein Scott.”

Young Americans Lead Trend to Less Driving “For six decades, Americans have tended to drive more every year. But in the middle of the last decade, the number of miles driven — both over all and per capita — began to drop, notes a report to be published on Tuesday by U.S. Pirg, a nonprofit advocacy organization. People tend to drive less during recessions, since fewer people are working (and commuting), and most are looking for ways to save money…”

Message About Breast Cancer ”My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman,” Jolie wrote. “Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy.”

OJ Simpson Wants a New Trial “A fuller-faced O.J. Simpson walked slowly into a courtroom here Monday wearing wrist shackles and a blue jail jumpsuit as he seeks a new trial in his sports memorabilia robbery and kidnaping conviction that sent him to prison.”

How to Make the U.S. a Better Place for Caregivers “An inventory of strategies that could improve the situation of America’s working parents, from the beginning of their children’s lives to their end of their own.”

Original content from SBM. Click here to check out more from TheSUNK.

This will especially ring true for all the men who will be celebrating their first official Father’s Day (like Mr. Spradley), or found out recently that they will be fathers by this time next year.  One of my younger brothers’ fits into the latter category.   At 25, he’s expecting his first child.  My oldest daughter was born the day before my 26th birthday, and I was born when my father was 24.

Nevertheless, I didn’t have an older brother to “give me the real” about how life was going to inevitably change.  Some of these realizations I’ve come to through trial and error.  The rest are knowledge that’s been shared with me, or that has recently occurred to me. Here’s my advice for fathers to be.

1. Life isn’t over, but it will be on hiatus for a while.

While preparing for the baby’s arrival, get as much stuff done, whatever it may be, as possible.  The impending birth should be your main focus.  Right after that is anything you want to accomplish i.e., finishing college, or that last hurrah with the fellas.  It’ll be a good year or more before some normalcy returns.

2. While working to keep the stress level of your girl/fiancé/wife down, do the same for yourself.

Because she’s “with child,” her total health (mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical) must be considered.  You don’t want anything to affect her too much, because it will affect the baby also.  At the same time, remember that you’ll be going through changes as well.  Don’t forget to take care of yourself because she’s going to need you.  If you’re overall health suffers, what good will you be to her, or your child?

3. If you have concerns, share them.

It’s said so often, but communication is very important.  When it comes to the family y’all have started, talk about what may bother you.  She should do the same.  Talk about how you want to raise the little bundle.  Any fears or uncertainties should also be shared.  Being on the same page with the impending life change will greatly enhance y’alls ability to weather the curveballs that life will throw.

4. Since you’ll be the pappy/fiancé/husband, you’re the backstop for your family. Can your shoulders handle the weight?

Admittedly, it’s a tough spot to be.  When things are going good, it’s gravy.  But when they’re bad, will you be able to handle it?  When it’s more month than money, or your girl decides she wants to work part time to enjoy the baby’s first year, what are you going to do?  Also understand that you’ll be looked to/at if things are good or bad.  It comes with the territory of being a protector and provider.

5. Teamwork really does make the dream work.

As much of a cliche as this statement is, it’s also true.  If the two of you can work together, it’ll be easier for both.  Where you’re weak, she may be strong.  Be humble (and wise) enough to lean on her if you need to.  I’m pretty sure she’s going to do the same.

6. No matter how close she is to her folks (especially her mom), make sure she, and you, realize that you two are the baby’s parents.

This is sorta like number 5.  Be present and be active for her and the baby.  Appreciate the help that will undoubtedly be offered, but be proactive in participating with child care.  If you don’t, she may begin to resent you, and some in her family may as well.  If “they” do, you’ll have more problems than just an upset lady.

Lastly…

7. Enjoy this journey.

What you’re embarking on is not easy, at all.  Some days you’ll want to throw stuff (and people).  Other days you’ll wonder how you could be so blessed.  It’s all part of the journey of having a family.  Your outlook on life will play a big part in how you view the days.  Just know that at the end of them, you can only do what’s in your power to.  The rest you have to leave up to God.

Good luck!

-D.G.

Is there any other advice that you can think of that a father-to-be, or new member of the father club would need?

Original content from SBM. Click here to check out more from DarrkGable.

With baseball season still in its infancy, and Tiger winning only a non-major this weekend, the sports world still revolves around the NBA playoffs (apologies to hockey fans out there). There’s been a lot to watch, with games on just about every day. Here are the four things that have made the biggest impact on me thus far:

Animated .gifs –

Besides p0rn, these are really the reason the internet and Twitter exist. A constant source of gold during the playoffs, even the NBA has taken part with their “Rapid Replays.” Shout out to @jose3030 and @sbnationgif for sharing these 6-8 minutes after they happen as well. Some of the Playoffs’ Greatest Hits so far:

Nazr Mohammed: King Slayer – Link.

First of all, who knew Nazr was still in the league? Secondly, how do you say his name? NA-zur? NA-zee? Na-ZEER? I have no idea.

Joakim Noah: Your favorite troll’s favorite troll – Link.

As Chris Bosh screams at Mario Chalmers, Noah comes in with an epic troll job. Not content to just clap, Noah turns it up with a scream hoping to draw someone’s attention. You have mine, Joakim, well done.

Kevin Durant doing things 7-footers shouldn’t do – Link.

Seriously. Remember that 6’7 guy who made the high school basketball team just because he was tall? I’m sure we all thought we’d be doing stuff like this if we had that height. I know I did. The truth is, no one really can, which is one reason why Durant is incredible.

Kendrick Perkins being Kendrick Perkins – Link.

Smh. At some point, Scott Brooks will realize Perkins is trash.

Stephen Curry’s Third Quarters –

…and by extension, Oracle Arena and the Golden State Warriors surpassing all of my expectations. Curry grabbed everyone’s attention when he led Davidson to the Elite Eight behind some truly amazing performances. While most moved on to the next Story of the Day, Curry stayed an extra year in college to sharpen himself into an NBA-caliber point guard. He more than doubled his assist totals and pushed his points per game total to 28.6. The Minnesota Timberwolves were unimpressed. They selected two point guards just ahead of Curry, one of which is now playing in Australia.

In these playoffs, Curry has recaptured some of that Davidson magic. Despite being slowed by (another) sprained ankle, he’s led a balanced attack against the favored San Antonio Spurs. For whatever reason, his best has come in the third quarter. He’s averaging over 12 points(!), including 60+% from three-point range(!!!!!) in just the third quarter through the playoffs. Here’s one example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AErklVhOjS8. Peep the bench reactions at 1:53 and 3:36. I have no idea why this is happening. I just want to see more of it.

Plus, his mom looks like Thandie Newton.

New York Knick Fans –

Who went from “We’re gonna beat Miami!” to “If JR Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudamire, Tyson Chandler can get it together, we have a shot.” Big drop off. Bad job out of you guys.

In truth, the Knicks face a tough matchup in the Indiana Pacers just as the hot shooting that they took into the playoffs cooled off. You can’t ignore the fact that Chandler’s hurt, and Smith is sick. But who is 100% healthy this late into the season (besides Derrick Rose of course)? For Knick fans’ sake, I hope Kidd learns how to shoot again (0 points in his last seven games) and coach Mike Woodson finds a productive rotation. Otherwise we’re right back where we were with the Knicks and their fans: a season that gave us plenty to discuss and no title contention.

Old Guys –

Several veterans have made an impact this postseason, not always positively. While Nazr Mohammed reminded us he was alive, Rip Hamilton remains duct taped to the bench despite injuries to just about everyone else on the roster. It hurts to clown a former Detroit Piston, but we can officially rename him R.I.P. Hamilton. We’ll always have the ’04 championship.

Derek Fisher has given the Thunder some productive minutes in the absence of Russell Westbrook. Although the team overall doesn’t appear to have enough to overcome the Memphis Grizzlies.

Tim Duncan looks like 2005 Tim Duncan. He had a productive season, but I figured his production would fade once May rolled around. Instead, he, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili have kept the Spurs in their tough series with Golden State.

Most notably, Dwyane Wade is showing his mortality. Great players never become bad per se. They just cease to be great. This happened in Boston as Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce’s best couldn’t be sustained over long stretches. Neither played badly, they just needed a little more rest, a little more time to get going, and their “great” performances started to look like the “normal” ones of just a few years ago.

After Wade’s listless performance in Game 3 against Chicago, I started to wonder if we were seeing the same progression. Wade chalked it up to picking his spots in the flow of the game. But since when does the game come to a player like him? It’s easy to take a backseat when LeBron James and Chris Bosh are leading the team to victory, but Wade was conspicuously absent during the entire game. This series with a decimated Bulls team shouldn’t be close. Hopefully Wade makes me eat these words in Game 4 Monday night.

–

That’s what I’ve had my eye on so far in the playoffs, what about you? What’s stood out? Hit the comments below!

Original content from SBM. Click here to check out more from Joe Sargent.