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ESPN rated him as the 25th ranked recruit in the country. Because he isn’t a top-10 prospect, Duke fans don’t have to worry about him pulling an Austin Rivers.

At 6’7”, 190 pounds, the forward has plenty of length. Luckily for Coach K’s crew, a thin frame will prevent Jefferson from becoming a another one-and-done.

After a year, though, anything can happen. His ESPN scouting report reads:

Jefferson projects as a big time wing prospect who is already coveted by many of the top college basketball programs in the country. He has great size and length for the wing, terrific agility, and a feel for the game that can’t be taught. If he can get physically stronger and develop a more reliable jump shot there won’t be much he isn’t able to do.

Jefferson is a special talent.

According to J.P. Giglio of newsobserver.com, his high school coach Jason Polykoff said earlier this month: “He’s more comfortable with his back to the basket, but he has the ability to take the ball to the high post or go to the perimeter and play the ‘3’.”

At Jefferson’s size, he’s better suited to play small forward at the next level. As soon as he develops the ability to consistently play on the perimeter, he’s gone. A wing with the ability to post up is invaluable in the isolation league that is the NBA.

And with Mike Krzyzewski—the best coach in college basketball—aiding him, his development will be rapid.

This season, he’ll be utilized as frontcourt depth behind Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly. With Plumlee and Kelly being seniors, though, Jefferson won’t be forced to wait long to be handed a starting job. After their departure, Jefferson’s role will expand dramatically, and he’ll be able to put his vast skill set on display for pro scouts.

Expect the Philly forward to stick around in Durham for two years.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels

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Coach Spoelstra may not be the perfect coach for the job, but he has sustained some level of leadership within the Miami organization. The players seem to be receptive of him and his ideas, even in situations where they may feel like the play-calling could have been better.

Miami’s head coach is in a good spot with the players, for now. However, that could change if he does not figure out a way to ease off of the gas when it comes to the league’s most valuable player.

Not a single player in the league seems to be in better basketball condition than LeBron James. He is agile, rarely benched and plays very physical basketball on a consistent basis. Still, after being propelled into the power forward position after Chris Bosh’s indefinite exit, James is subjected to far more than he ever has been in his career.

The fatigue was apparent in Game 2. James has even come forward, according to ESPN, and said that the job is challenging:

“It’s a lot more taxing being in there with bigger guys,” James said, according to the Miami Herald.

He said that defense “is the biggest difference. When you’re on the perimeter, there’s more space. The interior is more cramped and physical.”

That’s been made painfully obvious. After posting really good free throw numbers throughout the first series against the Knicks and in Game 1 of the Indiana series, he bricked two possible game-winning foul shots. It was something that pushed LeBron right back into that dim light that forces the question—“Is he really ready to be as great as The Greats?”

However, there is something else that should be learned from Game 2 in Miami against the Pacers. James played 43 of 48 minutes, and the fatigue was there. Everyone saw it. James knows it and he hopes to get a little bit of rest here and there to keep those things from being a factor.

What was Coach Spoelstra’s response?

“There’s nothing we can do [about rest for James] in the fourth quarter,” Spoelstra said, according to the Herald.

“Forty-minutes-plus is probably what he can expect.”

It is one thing to not cave in to pressure from the superstar athlete. We get that. Players often look for a role in coaching that exceeds their responsibilities. Leave the coaching to the coach, and just play the game.

Still, there seems to be a lack of communication when it comes to what Spoelstra needs to do in order to get the best possible performance from the best player on his team. He’s never coached a player like James. Taking into account how conditioned James is in the game, it’s hard to think that he would ever need a breather.

He does now, especially while banging bodies with David West play by play.

Spoelstra wants to ride James until the wheels fall off, and unfortunately that may continue to be in the fourth quarter. LeBron has worked on being productive both offensively and defensively in the fourth. That has been shown in both the regular and post seasons.

Yet, it does not seem too smart to keep up with pushing James to the limit in a much more physical aspect of the season. The NBA Playoffs are generally much more taxing than the regular season, and 43 minutes are far from tiring.

Coach Erik Spoelstra has done a great job with LeBron James as a player and working him in every inch of Miami’s offensive scheme.

However, he may be out of his league at this point. Rotating players is something that elite coaches do without breaking a sweat and without forcing their star players into a bad situation. You know, the Phil Jacksons and the Pat Rileys.

What if Spoelstra doesn’t have that yet?

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Surely, there are other dunks that could qualify for a spot on this list, but these are my favorite dunks that I feel showcase a unique variety of dunk types and finishes. Every single one of these slams are incredible highlights and should bring back some great memories about some of your favorite player’s greatest plays.

With that being said, let me know what you think of the dunks, and I hope that you enjoy replaying these rim-rattling jams as much as I did. Be sure to leave feedback in the comments section, and let us know what your favorite dunks are and why.

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Las Vegas oddsmakers have opened up the Lakers as 2.5-point home favorites in Game 3 despite losing the first two games of the series in Oklahoma City, while the total stands at 194.

Los Angeles was handed a 77-75 setback in Game 2 as eight-point road underdogs on Wednesday night, as it was unable to close the deal after leading by seven points with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers now have a tall mountain to climb in order to reach the conference finals in the 2012 NBA playoffs, considering the franchise is just 2-17 all-time in series play when dropping the first two games of a best-of-seven series.

A return to Southern California may lift the team’s spirits after such an emotional loss, posting a 29-8 overall record at Staples Center, including wins in three of four first-round games against the Denver Nuggets.

Oklahoma City has the look of a champion six games into its 2012 NBA playoff schedule, focused on moving past this particular round for the second consecutive year. The Thunder have a great chance of ending things with two wins in Los Angeles, bringing in a 23-12 record away from Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Los Angeles may fold like a tent—last tasting victory in the second round of the playoffs on May 2, 2010, with a 104-99 home win over the Utah Jazz.

Kobe Bryant‘s window of opportunity to win his sixth championship ring is dangerously close to being shut.

Follow on Twitter: @JeffGrantSports 

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Whichever way you look at it, this is the best rivalry in college basketball.

Maybe the most extreme in all of college sports.

The Tar Heels are losing four (Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Tyler Zeller and Kendall Marshall) of their five starters from their 2011-12 team that went 32-6.

The Blue Devils only lose Austin Rivers from their squad that posted a 27-7 record.

What will happen when these two great programs clash in 2013?

Who will be matched up when UNC and Duke go head-to-head?

Here’s a quick look at what we can expect in this coming year’s Battle of Tobacco Road.

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Yet the drama looks set to continue with another night of playoff basketball ahead.

In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat will be looking to take the series lead over the Indiana Pacers despite the absence of big man Chris Bosh. In the West, the Los Angeles Clippers face the tough task of stopping the San Antonio Spurs, who haven’t lost a game in the 2012 playoffs so far.

Both games have plenty at stake, and your complete guide to Thursday’s Game 2 and 3 action is right here. So with that, let’s roll!

Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers

7 p.m. ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.

Series So Far

The Miami Heat entered their series against the Indiana Pacers with home-court advantage as the higher seed and started in the best possible way, with a dominating 95-86 victory in Game 1. However, an injury to star forward Chris Bosh and a clutch performance from the Pacers allowed Indiana to level the series at 1-1 and take away Miami’s home-court advantage heading into Game 3.

Key for the Heat

Without Bosh, the Heat had one of the most bizarre offensive performances in Game 2 with only Dwyane Wade and LeBron James scoring more than five points. In fact, it was the first time in the 24-year history of Miami that only two players had recorded more than five points. Thus, it’s crucial in Game 3 that they get their offense back into gear and find scoring options other than the star duo. 

For me, Joel Anthony could be a huge factor for Miami in this one. Indiana can be dominant inside—as we’ll discuss shortly—and so it’s crucial for the Heat to establish some presence in the paint early in Game 3. The absence of Bosh shouldn’t force the Heat into hitting deep shots all night; Anthony must rebound well and set up good position to give the Heat some needed offensive assistance.

Key for the Pacers

Simply put: Don’t let Miami shoot. After watching the Heat shoot 27-of-78 from the field and just 1-of-16 from deep on Tuesday night, the Pacers could be tempted to let the Heat take their shots from outside and banking that they don’t go in. Only problem with that strategy is this is the Miami Heat—one of the most explosive offensive teams in the league and a team that will get it together offensively sooner rather than later.

The Pacers must do what they’ve done successfully throughout the playoffs so far and use their big men to lead them on both ends of the court. Roy Hibbert and David West are both averaging double-doubles for the series and will seek to stifle the Heat offense through strong defensive rebounding—just like we witnessed in Game 2. 

Game 3 Prediction

The Eastern Conference appears to be wide open with no team reaching out and claiming the mantle as the team to beat. For me, if the Miami Heat can win big here, they’ll have justified themselves to be the No. 1 team left in the East.

They’ll need to improve offensively—no doubt—but behind a strong defensive performance with plenty of turnovers, the Heat have the personnel and ability to steal back home-court advantage and take a 2-1 series lead heading in to Game 4.

With or without Bosh.

Miami Heat by eight points.

Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs

9:30 p.m. ET at AT&T Center, San Antonio.

Series So Far

With just the one game played so far in the series, it’s been all the San Antonio Spurs, who haven’t been defeated in the 2012 NBA playoffs yet. After a series sweep of the Utah Jazz, they won Game 1 108-92 over the Los Angeles Clippers—hitting an incredible 13 three-pointers en route to victory.

Key for the Clippers

After watching the San Antonio Spurs dominate from both inside and outside the paint, the Los Angeles Clippers must bring a stronger defensive presence to Game 2 if they hope to level the series. The Spurs reeled in 11 offensive rebounds between four players in Game 1 and ended up winning the rebounding battle 47-34 for the game.

For me, the Clippers must be OK to watch the Spurs shoot from deep as long as they can rebound well when they miss. San Antonio is not going to have another franchise-best night shooting three-pointers in Game 2, and if Los Angeles can dominate inside, they’ll force San Antonio into making more shots from deep and earning every point they get.

Key for the Spurs

Reflecting on Game 1, Spurs veteran guard Tony Parker commented on the Clippers defense, stating:

“From the beginning of the game, they wanted to take me out; trapping me and forcing me to give the ball up. If they want to do that strategy, Timmy [Duncan] is going to have a lot of wide-open shots and all our shooters is going to have a lot of open shots…”

For me, the key for the Spurs in Game 2 is the exact same as it was in Game 1—ball movement. There will be matchups that favor the Spurs at times and they must move the ball well to exploit any holes in the Clippers defense. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are both carrying injuries for the Clippers—could some more traffic be directed their way in attack?

The Spurs had 29 assists in Game 1 compared to 19 by the Clippers and as Parker emphasizes above, their ball movement was paramount in getting good shots off at the right time. Strong and competitive across all fronts, the Spurs’ ball movement will once again be the key in Game 2.

Game 2 Prediction

I do think that the Los Angeles Clippers will win a game in this series—I just don’t think it’s going to come in San Antonio. With the demolition that they received in Game 1 not quite forgotten, I expect the young Clippers to size up a lot more on the defensive end and force the Spurs in to some poor turnovers early.

However, San Antonio’s defense will be just as good as whatever Los Angeles brings, and they too will force the Clippers into poor shooting. Paul will throw and Griffin will dunk, but ultimately, the San Antonio Spurs will control the game and run out comfortable winners in the end.

San Antonio Spurs by 15 points.

These are my thoughts and predictions for Thursday’s action in the NBA playoffs. 

I would love to hear yours, so comment below or follow me on Twitter: 

Follow @dantalintyre

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