Sometimes it's fun to note how much work can go into making something simple happen. Case in point: This sweet alley-oop hookup between Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard early in the second quarter of Wednesday's Game 2 between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers.

As the ball crosses half-court, Parker fires a pass to guard Gary Neal on the right wing. Meanwhile, Danny Green runs to the paint on the right side of the floor and runs defender Metta World Peace into teammate Antawn Jamison. Green then sprints up to set a high screen for Neal, who dribbles left and passes to Leonard above the break on the left wing, as Parker circles from above the arc on the right side down along the baseline to the left corner to receive a feed from Leonard. Tim Duncan, who began the play by setting a soft high pick for Parker before retreating to the left block, takes a slight step forward to set up directly behind Jamison, who has no idea he's there.

Leonard makes a quick cut to the middle of the floor, which has been cleaned, paved and swept by the attention demanded by Parker and Duncan on the strong side and the action of Neal and Green on the weak side. Parker lofts the lob, Jamison tries to step around Duncan but is about an eon late to recover, World Peace is two steps slow to rotate to the cutter and Leonard's got a loud, stylish slam set up by about eight precise movements unfolding in the span of nine seconds (and, of course, some ball-watching Lakers defense). Tic, tac, toe.

The Houston Rockets faced a serious challenge heading into Game 2 of their opening-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. After getting blown out 120-91 in Game 1, Houston needed an excellent performance and several breaks. For the most part, they got the game they needed, riding a small-ball lineup and a successful 2-3 zone to come back from a 15-point deficit and take a four-point lead in the fourth quarter. And while the Thunder fought back to lead 98-97 with just over a minute left in regulation, the Rockets had to feel good about their chances in a very tough road contest.

Unfortunately, they were on the wrong side of one of the worst breaks a team can get. With 60 seconds on the clock, Kevin Durant drove left, drew the attention of the Houston defense and found a wide open Thabo Sefolosha on the right wing for a game-changing 3-pointer. The shot pushed the lead to two possessions, and the Rockets never got a real possession with the lead at three points or less again (Carlos Delfino's 81-foot heave at the buzzer would have tied the game, but that doesn't really count). The Thunder won 105-102, and this basket was a big reason why.

However, video evidence shows that Sefolosha's shot probably shouldn't have counted. He was so open in part because Thunder center Kendrick Perkins grabbed the right arm of Houston wing Chandler Parsons as he attempted to close out on the shot. Both Parsons and Rockets head coach Kevin McHale complained after the play, but their cries fell on deaf ears.

[Also: Spurs sweep of Lakers looks inevitable]

Watch the video above, and follow us after the jump for more discussion of the play and its impact.

Paul George was not going to let the Hawks back into the series in Game 2 (Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers have long had trouble scoring, relying on their stout defense to break away from lacking teams and make their way up the Eastern Conference ladder. If the Atlanta Hawks are going to make a habit of allowing the Pacers the chance to score 113 points a contest, as happened Wednesday night, then Indiana might be well on its way to its first opening-round sweep since the 2003-04 season. Indiana leads the series 2-0 after a 113-98 win, with Atlanta offering little resistance along the way.

The Pacers wasted no time in pulling ahead early, taking advantage of a step-slow Hawks on their way to a borderline shocking 59 first-half points. Though the Hawks had their way in transition early, the Pacers continued their foray to the free-throw line and front of the rim. Pacers swingman Paul George, who was handed the 2012-13 Most Improved Player trophy before Game 2, was potent offensively once again, scoring 27 points on just 21 shots, while managing to roam expertly defensively while keeping tabs on sharpshooter Kyle Korver.

Because George likes to help and play the passing lanes, it was expected that the Hawks would use the Pacers’ aggression against them in reaction to Korver’s anonymous 2-for-7 showing in Game 1. The Hawks refused to bear down on Korver’s screens, though, and even when Korver found himself open (as happened several times in the third quarter), he failed to connect. Kyle scored nine points, but he missed seven of 10 shots.

Gerald Green really doesn't appreciate Roy Hibbert trying to muscle in on his Arguably the Finest Dunker on the Indiana Pacers turf; the 2007 Slam Dunk Contest champion and 2008 runner-up has a reputation to uphold, after all.

That's why, just seven minutes of game time after Hibbert banged all over Atlanta Hawks center Ivan Johnson, Green made a slick reverse spin during the second quarter of Game 2, made a beeline for the basket and went hunting for even bigger game — Hawks star Josh Smith.

Yiiiiiiiiiiiikes. While I don't particularly enjoy the phrasing, Ian Eagle, it's hard to disagree with your analysis — that was a man's jam.

... Yep, still don't love the phrasing. Love the dunk, though. Now all we need is Paul George going VC-on-Weis on Johan Petro and we'll have a perfect trifecta. (Well, not so perfect if you're a Hawks fan, of course.)

If the clip above isn't rocking for you, please feel free to check out the facial elsewhere, thanks to CBSSports.com's Matt Moore.

A lot of things come to mind when I think about Roy Hibbert — the phrases "pretty good" and "very tall," the grey Georgetown uniforms, lifting Jean Ralphio and refusing to pay Tom Haverford's tab, etc.

What doesn't pop right to the forefront, though, is the term "explosive dunker." That might change after the first quarter of Wednesday night's Game 2 between Hibbert's Indiana Pacers and the Atlanta Hawks, though. After receiving a pass on the pick-and-roll from point guard George Hill, Hibbert used his entire 7-foot-4-inch frame to hammer with extreme prejudice on Hawks center Ivan Johnson:

[Also: Atlanta made all the wrong moves again vs. Indiana]

Clearly, somebody's a little ticked that he didn't win Defensive Player of the Year. And to take it out on noted no-joke-dude Johnson? That's quite something, Mr. Hibbert. Throw it down, big man.

If the clip above isn't rocking for you, feel free to check out the slam elsewhere, thanks to Beyond the Buzzer.

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Dwight Howard searches for leverage against Marc Gasol (Andrew D. Bernstein/ Getty).

The selection of Marc Gasol as the NBA's 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year was not particularly shocking or controversial. Gasol served as linchpin of one of the league's best defenses, protecting the rim and covering lots of ground to solidify the Memphis Grizzlies' reputation as one of the toughest teams around. He didn't come into the season as one of the favorites for the award, but his performance and the Grizzlies' all-around defensive excellence elevated him to that level.

Meanwhile, the player once regarded as the clear-cut best defender in the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard, saw his once-sterling reputation lessened by his laughably convoluted exit from Orlando and the Lakers' poor defense this season. With Howard not at 100 percent due to a series of injuries, L.A. ranked tied for 18th in the NBA in defensive efficiency this season, allowing 103.6 points per 100 possessions.

Not surprisingly, Howard finished a relatively unimpressive 14th in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He finds the result "funny." From Mark Medina for the Los Angeles Daily News (via SLAM):

LeBron James has no room in his life for Angry Birds (Isaac Baldizon/ Getty).

The NBA playoffs are a time for athletes, coaches, and analysts alike to get serious about the NBA. While it would seem fairly difficult for a sports league to change its character entirely just because the format of the schedule changes, it's absolutely true that all involved parties approach their playoff games with heightened gravitas. And, if for some reason they don't, they certainly won't say as much in public.

Miami Heat uber-star LeBron James, the best player in the NBA, is no exception. In fact, he's going well beyond superficial changes and living without a cell phone for the duration of the postseason. From Chris Tomasson for FoxSportsFlorida.com (via SLAM):

Metta and Kobe promise to favorite each other more. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBA/Getty Images)

A look around the league and the Web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.

C: Los Angeles Times. From the man, the myth, the legend, Metta World Peace: "I love when Kobe tweets. Kobe should tweet Game 2 the whole time, every possession, critique us, criticize us, chew us out. ... I love Kobe. Kobe's great."

PF: For the Win. Good news, Everyone Who's Been Waiting for a Chance to Bid on Game-Worn 25-Year-Old Alex English Short Shorts.

SF: WarriorsWorld. Jack Winter takes a look at how a small, simple adjustment in the high pick-and-roll game paid massive dividends for the Golden State Warriors in Tuesday's Game 2 win.