Gregg Popovich and Stephen Jackson rank teammates (Getty Images)

Stephen Jackson flew down to Miami on Tuesday, which is kind of strange because the San Antonio Spurs did the same thing; and also not kind of strange because Miami is just the sort of place that Stephen Jackson would go to pretend that he doesn’t care that the Spurs cut him just before the playoffs two months ago. Jackson attempted to give off that indication to the San Antonio Express-News’ Buck Harvey, telling the scribe that he doesn’t regret his dismissal from the team on the eve of what could have been the second Finals appearance of Jackson’s career.

Why? “Got my money.”

From Harvey’s interview:

A year ago Jackson announced, in so many words, Popovich was the only coach who could handle him. Tuesday he said he refused this season to play Popovich's “mind games.”

Chris Paul and Dwight Howard following their potential last games as a Clipper and Laker (Getty Images)

As fans and media, we’re allowed to bash around the idea of Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard and Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul heading to other teams when they become free agents in July. We’re not employed by the NBA, and we’re not even really required to call them “Lakers center” or “Clippers point guard” when we discuss their futures.

[Related: Kobe Bryant wants 'final word' in effort to keep Dwight Howard in L.A.]

NBA teams aren’t allowed such freedoms. In the past, several prominent league executives have been fined hefty amounts merely for honestly answering no-brainer questions about future free agents. Howard and Paul are still technically members of the since-dismissed Lakers and Clippers until their contracts run out and they become free agents on July 1. Until then, teams can’t even bring up their names, much less talk about coveting them.

Which is why the Atlanta Hawks could be in a whole lot of trouble. As a fan and member of the media, I can point out that the Hawks began clearing cap space for a run at Howard and Paul last summer. New general manager Danny Ferry made quick work of the above-average ceiling so happily clung to by his predecessor, but because of that smart decision the team and its fans are facing an uneasy future that could result in a Howard and/or Paul-less training camp. That’s a hard sell to season ticket holders, which is why the Hawks reportedly sent out a letter to potential ticket buyers talking up a future that specifically mentions Mssrs. Howard and Paul.

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

The letter, obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was on team letterhead and headlined “Hot New Player news: Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.”

Chandler Parsons, not at prom (Getty Images)

Twitter’s pretty cool. It allows for a direct, real-time line between any of its users, and if handled appropriately, it can serve as a nice form of communication between fans and the famous. Whether that’s good-naturedly ribbing Larry King for his latest Larry King-ism, or congratulating Roy Hibbert on a season well-played, if you walk into an @ reply with some charm and tact, you might get a nod in return.

This is exactly what Houston area high school student Stephanie Flores came through with in May. The young Houston Rockets fan decided to throw caution to the Twitter wind in asking Rox swingman Chandler Parsons to swing on by, man, to her high school’s prom. Here’s here initial reach-out:

@chandlerparsons pleaseeee make my life and escort me to my prom on May 31st!!! A simple response would make up for it. I am a huge fan!!!

— Stephanie Flores (@steph_marie03) May 20, 2013

Parsons, a Florida native who has likely been away from Texas since his Rockets were dismissed from the playoffs in early May, responded after several of Flores’ friends and family-members re-tweeted her initial proposal:

Roy Hibbert and David West, during Monday's Game 7 loss (Getty Images)

With every season that ends, for the playoff teams at least, we felt it right to take a look ahead. TNT already has the rights to "Gone Fishin'," and because we're sure that someone, somewhere, still likes that Wyclef song, we're going with "Gone Till November." And, yes, we know the season starts in October. Today? The Indiana Pacers.

Short memories may get in the way of remembering just how many people thought that a Miami/Indiana Eastern Conference final was going to be the expected result of the 2012-13 season when things tipped off last October. Some may have leaned heavily toward New York to put it all together, or Derrick Rose to return for home stretch and lead the Chicago Bulls to the third round, but Indiana was quite a few observers’ expected third round pairing. The Pacers were always going to win the Central, and they always were going to give a good postseason showing after impressive clashes with Chicago in 2011, and Miami in 2012. What was left for them, last fall, was to put that roster and that experience together in order to make the next step.

Indiana made that third round, taking the Heat to its second straight seventh game in the Eastern Conference finals. And because the Pacers are comparatively much younger and come much cheaper than last year’s Miami combatant – the aging and well-financed Boston Celtics – the easy assumption is that things are on the upswing in Indiana. A first followed by second followed by third round defeat, if NBA history is any indication, is prologue to a trip to the Finals and a possible championship. And when you factor in the team’s obvious matchup benefits with Miami, and the possible decline of LeBron James’ supporting cast, the future has to look bright.

Right?

Kobe Bryant tries to bend Dwight Howard's ear (Getty Images)

Dwight Howard is doing what Dwight Howard usually does. The attention shifted away from him, once his petulance cost him an early exit in Game 4 of Los Angeles’ first round loss to the San Antonio Spurs, and he can’t say “no” to any credentialed media member that wants to talk about Dwight Howard with Dwight Howard. So Dwight Howard talked about Dwight Howard recently, leaking news of his intentions to seriously consider signing with Houston and Dallas when his contract with the Lakers (the one he committed to a year ago while a member of the Orlando Magic, because he can’t say “no” to anyone) expires at the end of June.

As a result, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are going to do what Kobe Bryant and the Lakers have always done. They’re going to look Dwight Howard in the eye and ask him if he really wants to leave 72 degrees and sunny and tens of millions of dollars to leave Los Angeles. Even if such a departure might be the best basketball decision for someone who has made a career out of not making basketball-related decisions.

Here’s part of Kobe Bryant’s sit-down interview with Dave McMenamin at ESPN Los Angeles:

"For me, you kind of let him do his due diligence and then move in and talk to him and figure out if this is a place he wants to be," Bryant said. "We all want him here. But then that's when the selling begins [after Howard is courted by other teams]. You don't start the selling process right before he goes and does all this stuff. You want to get the last word. You want to have the final word and the closing argument.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade can't believe you ever doubted them (Getty Images)

After years of conference finals surprises, the favorites won out. The Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers 99-76 in a one-sided Game 7 victory on Monday night, earning the chance to face their Western counterparts from San Antonio in the NBA Finals.

The San Antonio Spurs, after nine full days off following their May 27 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, will attempt to dethrone the Heat in a Game 1 that tips off on June 6. The final round appearance will be the defending champion Heat’s third-straight trip to the Finals, while the Spurs will take to this round for the fifth time during the Tim Duncan era. San Antonio has yet to lose in the Finals since making its first appearance in 1999, though the team hasn’t reached this level since the 2006-07 season.

[Y! Sports Fan Shop: Buy Miami Heat Eastern Conference champs gear]

Despite the blowout score Miami did not come out full of fire against a younger and thinner Pacers team in Game 7, as Indiana actually led the contest by two following the first quarter. Indiana’s inexperience and unfamiliarity with the stage, though, shone through; because while Miami earned this impressive Game 7 win, the Pacers did just as much on their end to ease the Heat’s run to the NBA’s showcase stage.

Chris Bosh, in the hours before letting everyone down (Getty Images)

On Monday, in advance of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh reported that Miami Heat All-Star Chris Bosh actually apologized to his team following the Heat’s Game 6 loss on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers.

Bosh shot 1-8 in that game, missing his last seven attempts from the field while showing absolutely no confidence on the offensive end for the final 47 minutes of the contest. The Heat star, who has missed 16 of his last 21 shots, called it like he saw it at shootaround on Monday. From Haberstroh’s column:

Bosh has failed to score in double digits in three consecutive games for the first time since his rookie season in 2003-04. Bosh said he hopes to have a better Game 7 after "not being aggressive and not playing my best ball."

Paul George exults during Game 6 (Getty Images)

Buried deep in Lee Jenkins’ recent fantastic Sports Illustrated profile of Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George was this aside about George’s still-developing all-around game:

Last week, George was watching Oklahoma City against Memphis on television in his apartment when Oklahoma City point guard and close friend Reggie Jackson made a quick first step to the basket. "This summer," George announced, "I want to work on that move." He must attack more, pull up less, and raise a shooting percentage that dipped to 41.9% this season with increased attempts. "I don't even know anymore where his ceiling is," says Walsh.

I don’t know what his ceiling is either, and while (as Eric Freeman noted earlier on Monday) we are running the risk of overrating George’s star potential at this exciting point in his career, this clearly still is a player on the make. George’s tantalizing all-around gifts seem suited for just about any facet of the game – all-world defense, perimeter shooting, post-up work, penetration and dishing – which makes him the perfect up-and-coming foil for a Miami Heat team built around three of the best all-around players of their generation.

To act as the perfect foil, though, George must seal the deal in Monday evening’s Game 7 against the Heat. And to do that, he is going to have to attack early and often, drawing fouls and getting to the line. And to do that, he is going to have to utilize his own quick first step and attack the basket.