Cassius Stanley, a top-30 prospect, committed to Duke on Monday afternoon, likely securing the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for the Blue Devils.

Stanley chose Duke from a final list that also included UCLA, Oregon and Kansas. The Blue Devils emerged late in the process after Stanley didn't make a decision during the fall's early signing period. UCLA's coaching change impacted the Bruins' pursuit of Stanley, while he remained unconvinced by the Jayhawks or Ducks.

Duke began communicating with Stanley in February, and brought him on campus for an official visit earlier this month. The Blue Devils are losing their top three scorers from this past season's team, with freshmen Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish all departing for the NBA, and Mike Krzyzewski needed replacements on the perimeter.

Stanley's commitment likely cements Duke atop the recruiting-class rankings for 2019. This would mark the third year in a row Duke has landed the No. 1 class, and the fifth time in six years.

The 6-foot-5 guard joins a group that already included five-stars Vernon Carey Jr. (No. 5 in the ESPN 100), Matthew Hurt (No. 10), Wendell Moore (No. 21) and Rejean "Boogie" Ellis (No. 36).

Stanley has been a highly touted prospect all through his high school career, with his dunks and highlights regularly going viral. He's ranked No. 29 in the ESPN 100 for the 2019 class, slotting in as the No. 6 shooting guard. Playing for Team Why Not on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer, Stanley averaged 15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

Donovan McNabb on Monday clarified his recent comments on Carson Wentz, the day after Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson criticized the former Eagles quarterback for questioning the long-term future in Philadelphia for the current signal-caller.

For those of you who misread, didn't understand, were confused or just didn't like my comments let me clarify it for you. Let me start by saying there's no beef,riff or ill-will toward @cj_wentz or the @Eagles . My comments were strictly based off of experience and understanding

— Donovan McNabb (@donovanjmcnabb) April 22, 2019

Of how The Business of football works. You are consistently evaluated everyday, every game and if you are reliable and or healthy enough to play. I know at times as players and fans it can be confusing to move on from a beloved player but due to the business of health

— Donovan McNabb (@donovanjmcnabb) April 22, 2019

And trust tough decisions are usually made. Maybe people just didn't like it because it's coming from me or I answered a question from one of the talents on the radio the way you didn't agree with. If that's how you feel I'm sorry you feel that way. It's
the nature of the game.

— Donovan McNabb (@donovanjmcnabb) April 22, 2019

On Saturday, in an appearance with CBS Sports Radio, McNabb said the Eagles should consider drafting another quarterback if Wentz can't lead the Eagles past the second round of the playoffs in the next two seasons.

"I think in the next two, three years -- two years or so -- he has to find a way to get out of the second round of the playoffs," McNabb said. "What Nick Foles was able to do, take them to a Super Bowl and then possibly take them back to the NFC Championship Game, proves that, hey, some people can get into that offense and be very successful. [Wentz] hasn't been healthy. He hasn't really proven to me, besides the year before he got hurt [when] he was, really, an MVP candidate. He needs to get back to that moment."

That drew a response Sunday from Johnson on Twitter.

@donovanjmcnabb ? ? ? ? ? ?...and you wonder why nobody respects you when you come back!!!!

— Lane Johnson (@LaneJohnson65) April 22, 2019

The Eagles right tackle then followed up his social media post by expanding on his thoughts on 94WIP radio Sunday night, calling out McNabb and other former Eagles players for criticizing current players on the team.

"This is what I meant -- every training camp we have all of these ex-players come and shake our hands, wish us good luck. Then they just go out and just talk hate," Johnson said. "I feel there is a lot of envy, jealousy, and I see a lot of fakery. It isn't just me -- a lot of other teammates see it too. You would think the best quarterback in franchise history would try to build up a young man that looks up to him instead of always criticizing him, critiquing him and wishing he would fail so he could be the missing link and feel better himself."

The retired McNabb is the Eagles' career passing leader with 32,873 yards and also leads the franchise with 216 touchdown passes. He led the Eagles to seven playoff appearances and a trip to Super Bowl XXXIX after the 2004 season but was traded by Philadelphia to the Washington Redskins in 2010.

Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban underwent hip replacement surgery on Monday and will be back to work soon, the school announced in a news release.

Dr. Lyle Cain, an orthopedic consultant with the athletic department, said the robotic-assisted procedure was successful on the 67-year-old coach.

"Coach is resting comfortably, and we anticipate a full recovery," Cain said in the release. "He should be able to return to work in the very near future, and we'll have him back out on the golf course, with hopefully a few more yards off the tee, as soon as possible."

Alabama doesn't typically begin fall practice until early August, so Saban will have more than three months to recover.

The Crimson Tide, who have won five championships in Saban's 12 seasons leading the program, open the season against Duke on Aug. 31.

Saban said he was bothered by his hip throughout the spring and wanted to get it fixed now, rather than let the problem become worse.

"I want to get it fixed because I don't want to coach for one more year -- I want to coach for a lot of more years," he told reporters following the spring game two weeks ago. "So whenever things like this come up, I want to be aggressive and proactive to try and get it taken care of. We'll certainly do that, and we've got really good people to do it."

Virginia guard Kyle Guy announced Monday he plans to keep his name in the NBA draft and will not return to the Cavaliers for his senior season.

Saying goodbye twice is not easy.. Charlottesville I just want to say thank you so much. I'll never forget this. One day I will have the words. I am officially keeping my name in the draft. I know it's the right step after much prayer and thought with my family ?? #NoParachute pic.twitter.com/GMej9BrxBu

— Kyle J Guy (@kylejguy5) April 22, 2019

"Kyle had a remarkable three-year career at the University of Virginia," coach Tony Bennett said in a statement. "He has been a model teammate and student-athlete, and we obviously respect his decision to remain in the draft. I loved coaching him, watching him develop and turn into a terrific young man. We're excited for Kyle and his family, and wish him nothing but the best at the next level."

Guy announced last week he was declaring for the draft, but left the door open to a possible return. He is one of four Virginia players to enter their names into the NBA draft, along with Ty Jerome, De'Andre Hunter and Mamadi Diakite.

The 6-foot-2 Guy earned NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player honors after leading Virginia to a national championship. After a slow start to the tournament, Guy scored 25 points in the regional final against Purdue, hit three free throws to beat Auburn, then scored 24 points in the title game win over Texas Tech.

Guy averaged 15.4 points and 4.5 rebounds this past season, shooting 42.6 percent from 3-point range.

Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce has been added as an assistant coach for USA Basketball this summer, when the Americans will compete in the FIBA World Cup in China and try to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Pierce is replacing Indiana Pacers coach Nate McMillan, who withdrew because of scheduling conflicts. Pierce, the Golden State Warriors' Steve Kerr and Villanova's Jay Wright will be the assistants under head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs. The World Cup stretches through Sept. 15. The demands of the schedule and the travel would have likely been too daunting for McMillan -- whose Pacers are scheduled to open training camp not long after the World Cup gold-medal game, and will then travel to India for a pair of preseason games on Oct. 4-5. "It's an honor to receive this opportunity to represent our country and to work with such great coaches and staff,'' Pierce said. "My family and I are excited about and committed to enjoying this journey.''

Pierce has history with U.S. men's national team managing director Jerry Colangelo. When Colangelo was working for Philadelphia, Pierce was an assistant coach there.

"He has demonstrated the ability in particular to be an outstanding defensive coach,'' Colangelo said. "Also, it was evident during our time together in Philadelphia that he was a strong leader, players respected him a great deal. I think we're fortunate to have someone of his abilities. I think he's really a good addition.''

The U.S. is ranked No. 1 in the world and will face the Czech Republic, Japan and Turkey during Group E games in Shanghai. The Americans will hold training camps in Las Vegas and Los Angeles in August, then have exhibition games in California and Australia before arriving in China.

The U.S. is seeking its third consecutive World Cup gold medal.

Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce has been added as an assistant coach for USA Basketball this summer, when the Americans will compete in the FIBA World Cup in China and try to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Pierce is replacing Indiana Pacers coach Nate McMillan, who withdrew because of scheduling conflicts. Pierce, the Golden State Warriors' Steve Kerr and Villanova Wildcats 's Jay Wright will be the assistants under head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs. The World Cup stretches through Sept. 15. The demands of the schedule and the travel would have likely been too daunting for McMillan -- whose Pacers are scheduled to open training camp not long after the World Cup gold-medal game, and will then travel to India for a pair of preseason games on Oct. 4-5. "It's an honor to receive this opportunity to represent our country and to work with such great coaches and staff,'' Pierce said. "My family and I are excited about and committed to enjoying this journey.''

Pierce has history with U.S. men's national team managing director Jerry Colangelo. When Colangelo was working for Philadelphia, Pierce was an assistant coach there.

"He has demonstrated the ability in particular to be an outstanding defensive coach,'' Colangelo said. "Also, it was evident during our time together in Philadelphia that he was a strong leader, players respected him a great deal. I think we're fortunate to have someone of his abilities. I think he's really a good addition.''

The U.S. is ranked No. 1 in the world and will face the Czech Republic, Japan and Turkey during Group E games in Shanghai. The Americans will hold training camps in Las Vegas and Los Angeles in August, then have exhibition games in California and Australia before arriving in China.

The U.S. is seeking its third consecutive World Cup gold medal.

CAMDEN, N.J. -- Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown warned his team heading into Tuesday's potential closeout game against Brooklyn to not let the Nets' physicality derail their goal of getting out of the first round.

"There's no secret how this game tomorrow will be played, given the complaints that have surfaced in regards to refereeing and what inevitably will be sort of the reaction to the game," Brown said Monday about Game 5 in the series that Philadelphia leads 3-1. "I want to get ahead of that as the coach. Anticipate different things like that. Share stories with my team so we can just stay very linear, very straight line. Just play through noise, and that's what interests me the most in how to close out a series."

The Sixers' 112-108 win in Game 4 was marred by ejections to Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler when a skirmish broke out after Joel Embiid fouled Nets center Jarrett Allen, bringing the 6-foot-11 big man to the floor.

Then the league, in its Last Two Minute Report released Sunday, determined that Tobias Harris should have been called for a foul on Allen before Allen turned the ball over with the Nets trailing by two in the final seconds. The report also detailed a carry by Spencer Dinwiddie that should have been called.

"I mean, the game's over," Harris said Monday. "And really, who is to say he'd make both free throws anyway? I mean, I understand the league report came out and whatnot, but it is what it is. There was also something on Spencer Dinwiddie and a carry or whatnot. So, it is what it is. The game is finished. We got the win. I ain't going to say I shouldn't have done it or whatever. I was hustling. Clearly, they said it was a foul. So, it is what it is. I don't feel sorry."

The no-call on Harris, coupled with a previous foul by Embiid in Game 2 -- when his elbow to Allen's face was determined to only be a flagrant 1 instead of a flagrant 2 -- prompted Nets general manager Sean Marks to confront the officials after Game 4 by entering the referees' locker room.

Marks was fined $25,000 by the league, suspended for Game 5 and docked a game's pay.

"You see how much he's invested with the team," Dudley said Monday about the GM. "You've got to think about this: Sean was an ex-player too. ... He still has his competitive juices at all times. Just shows you his personality, a fiery guy. A guy who doesn't like to feel like he's disadvantaged. Wants to be on the same playing field. And for the most part, we're trying to set the tone for what he wants."

Embiid wanted his flagrant foul on Allen in Game 4 to be rescinded. Instead, he now is saddled with two flagrant foul points in the playoffs. If that total reaches four, he'll be suspended for a game.

"It's tough," Embiid said. "You just got to play basketball. If it happens, it happens. Like I said, I'm mature. I know what I'm doing. Although the last one, I don't even know if it was even a foul. I feel like I got all ball. So I don't know why it can be a flagrant foul, which doesn't make sense, but I'm just going to play basketball and just be myself."

When asked if he is concerned that players might try to bait him the rest of the postseason to add to his flagrant point total, Embiid said, "I don't care."

Brown has tried to drill to his players, Embiid included, that they still have to finish the job and getting in any sort of extracurriculars beyond executing the game plan will only jeopardize the team.

"It's the discipline that we have to have," Brown said. "I've told this group candidly, I sat on the bench in San Antonio [in 2007] when Robert Horry hip checked [Steve] Nash into the stands and Amare [Stoudemire] and Boris [Diaw] walked onto the court. And we weren't beating them. I think they were winning the NBA championship.

"We remember Draymond [Green] stepping over LeBron [James]. And they're up 3-1 and they lost the series [in 2016]. So it's not holding your breath. There are reminders that I owe my players as the coach to have them be adults, be big boys and navigate through this. It's not our fault at times we're 20 pounds heavier and 3 inches taller [as is the case with Embiid versus Allen]. And so, in the meantime, we just got to be smarter and that's my job."

And it's Embiid's job to play, as JJ Redick calls him the "focal point" and "anchor" for the Sixers' organization. After sitting out Game 3 with left knee soreness, Embiid was dominant in Game 4.

He wouldn't confirm that he will definitely be in the lineup for Game 5.

"Got to keep 'em guessing," Embiid said. "But if I do play, I'm going to be aggressive. We got to close them out tomorrow night. We don't want to go back to Brooklyn, so we got to do whatever that's necessary to close it out tomorrow."

ESPN's Ian Begley contributed to this report.

The NBA fined Brooklyn Nets minority owner Joseph Tsai $35,000 on Monday for making a public statement that was deemed detrimental to the league, commissioner Adam Silver said.

On Sunday night, Tsai offered support for Nets GM Sean Marks on Twitter after Marks was suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 for entering the referees' locker room after the Nets' Game 4 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

My partners and I have spoken and the entire Nets ownership group support our GM Sean Marks for protesting the wrong calls and missed calls. NBA rules are rules and we respect that, but our players and fans expect things to be fair.

— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) April 22, 2019

In a statement issued by Silver, the NBA noted that Tsai's comments criticized the integrity of officiating.

The Nets and Marks believed Joel Embiid's flagrant 1s in the first-round series against Philadelphia should've been deemed flagrant 2s, a source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. More than sending a message to the league by challenging the referees, Marks intended to send a message to his team that the franchise is determined to support the way the players are competing in the series, the source told Wojnarowski.

Nets players on Monday expressed appreciation for Marks and Tsai's actions.

"It shows we're all one organization -- we're not separated in different parts," Jarrett Allen said. "We're all together as one."

Added D'Angelo Russell: "Right is right, and wrong is wrong. In this situation where you feel like Sean had to step up, and Kenny had to step up and say things like that -- speak on it -- lets you know what's right and what's wrong. Simple as that. However you guys view it, whatever you guys saw or thought was necessary, I thought we handled it the best way we could."

The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Embiid's flagrant foul against Allen in the third quarter. It was Embiid's second flagrant 1 in the series.

The call will remain a flagrant foul 1, sources told ESPN's Tim Bontemps, which means Embiid will remain with two flagrant foul points for the postseason. If a player reaches four, he earns an automatic one-game suspension.

Embiid's flagrant fouls weren't the only issues on which the Nets disagreed with referees. Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson also said after Game 4 that he thought the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie the game.

The league confirmed Atkinson's stance on Sunday when it stated in its 'Last Two Minute Report' that Sixers forward Tobias Harris grabbed Allen, preventing him from rolling from his screen and releasing to the basket sooner.

If Harris hadn't grabbed Allen, he might've had enough time to dunk the ball and tie the game.

On Monday, Atkinson stated emphatically that he didn't believe Brooklyn lost because of that missed call.

"The Nets lost because we weren't good enough quite honestly," the coach said. "We weren't good enough. We didn't make the plays. We didn't make the shots. We didn't execute. There were many things. I don't look at that. (Sunday) when I really reflected on our loss. I didn't think about that play."

Game 5 of the Sixers-Nets series is in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Only one first-round NBA playoff series (Celtics-Pacers) is over, but six more teams are on the brink of elimination.

Which players and teams have been the biggest surprises and disappointments so far? And what does this mean for the rest of the postseason and the future of these franchises?

Our NBA experts break down the notable teams in each conference, including the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers. Plus, they make predictions for what will happen the rest of the way.

1. What has been the biggest surprise so far in the East?

Kirk Goldsberry: Boston's sweep. Just when I was about to give up on the soap-opera Celtics, they had the exact series they needed versus Indiana, and they suddenly look like a dangerous opponent for anyone. Of course, the Pacers were short-handed, but Boston did everything it needed to do to gain confidence going into a likely second-round series against the vaunted Milwaukee Bucks. If the Celtics coalesce, look out.

Kevin Pelton: I don't think any of the teams have been particularly surprising, so I'll go with something I mentioned on Monday's Hoop Collective podcast: the ability of Boban Marjanovic to stay on the court for extended minutes. Marjanovic already has logged more playing time than he did in the 2016 playoffs for the Spurs, when his pick-and-roll defense was an issue. Boban's role has been crucial for the 76ers given Joel Embiid missing a game and the team needing to limit Embiid's minutes when he is active.

Tim Bontemps: Jared Dudley's leap into the national consciousness. Dudley has had a long, fine career in the NBA, taking Shane Battier's place as one of the league's premier advanced-stat-darling role players. But in this series against the 76ers, Dudley has become a huge factor, both because of his ongoing feud with Ben Simmons (though that began with his initial comments about Simmons being taken a fair bit out of context) and for his role in the Game 4 fracas after Embiid's second hard foul of the first round on Jarrett Allen. The playoffs always create surprising storylines and personal battles, and Dudley's emergence in this way in Brooklyn is no different.

André Snellings: The way that the Magic and Nets both came out and punched their more powerful opponents in the mouth on the road in their opening games. The East is very stratified, especially since Victor Oladipo's untimely injury, with four teams that are head and shoulders above the others. It wouldn't have surprised me if all four series were sweeps, so it was startling to see the Magic and Nets come in and win. It appears that the more powerful teams have since taken control, but those we're-coming/we-ain't-scared first impressions bode well for the future in Brooklyn and Orlando.

Bobby Marks: The play of Tobias Harris. After the Game 1 loss to Brooklyn, in which Harris had four points, people were ready to label him a regular-season player. Now heading into Game 5, the forward has become the 76ers' most consistent option. Not only has Harris averaged 24 points and nine rebounds and shot 50 percent from the field in the three straight wins, but the 76ers are plus-19.3 when he's on the floor. Without the play of Harris, Philadelphia would be looking at a 3-1 deficit, on the verge of being eliminated in the first round.

2. What has been the biggest surprise so far in the West?

Pelton: How Portland has controlled the series against Oklahoma City. The Blazers have had answers for everything that ailed them in last season's sweep by the New Orleans Pelicans. When the Thunder have forced the ball out of the hands of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, fellow starters Al-Farouq Aminu, Enes Kanter and Maurice Harkless have made big plays. And Lillard and McCollum have been forces without forcing the issue.

Snellings: I am probably higher on the Rockets than just about anyone, and it's still shocking how easily they've handled the Jazz so far. The Jazz were considered almost dark-horse contenders after finishing the season 30-11 in the second half, but the Rockets are dismantling them. The Jazz lost the first two games in the series by a combined 52 points, then returned home and couldn't win even with James Harden having a historically awful shooting night. The gap between the No. 4 and 5 seeds in the West wasn't supposed to be this large.

Marks: The resiliency of the young players in Denver. It is rare that we are writing about a No. 2 seed as a surprise with the series tied 2-2, but the Nuggets have played their best basketball when backed into a corner. We saw it in Game 2 when Jamal Murray scored 21 points in the fourth quarter as the Nuggets came back in a must-win game. After dropping Game 3 on the road, facing the possibility of returning home in a 3-1 hole, Denver played its most complete game of the season. Out of Denver's 117 points scored, 97 were from players who had never won a road playoff game.

Goldsberry: The Blazers. Coming out of last year's epic playoff debacle, Portland looks like a completely different animal this postseason. Lillard has been brilliant. McCollum has been strong. But they've managed to survive the Jusuf Nurkic injury in part because Kanter has been solid, even on defense. I did not see that coming.

Bontemps: I thought Oklahoma City would beat Portland, mostly because I thought Portland was sunk after the devastating season-ending injury to Nurkic. Instead, the Blazers look like they're going to make it to the Western Conference semis, and I would pick them as the favorites on their side of the bracket to make the West finals. Lillard has completely outplayed Russell Westbrook, and the always-underrated Terry Stotts has done an excellent job of coaxing better play out of Portland's supporting cast. After years of playoff failures in the Pacific Northwest, a combination of Portland's play and the bracket breaking in the right direction could lead to the kind of breakthrough for which Lillard and the Blazers have been dying.

3. What has been the biggest disappointment so far in the East?

Marks: Indiana. The disappointment is not with the Pacers getting swept by the Celtics but what might have been had Victor Oladipo not suffered a season-ending right knee injury in late January. At the time, the Pacers were rolling. Though Indiana stayed afloat, winning 48 games, the playoffs showed the challenge of manufacturing offense without Oladipo on the court. The Pacers averaged 95.8 points per 100 possessions, down from 109.3 in the regular season.

Snellings: The status of Joel Embiid's knee. Though he has played in three of four games thus far, the fact that he has missed time and been listed as questionable or doubtful is very concerning for a team that otherwise could have legitimate championship aspirations. The top of the East shapes up as a slugfest, and Embiid should be right in the middle of it. If his knee issues persist, it could rob us of what should be some classic basketball over the next few weeks.

Bontemps: As a neutral party, I view the biggest disappointment as the Nets failing to win Game 4 and make sure this series with the Sixers -- easily the most entertaining one of the first round, regardless of conference -- goes at least six games. Nets-Sixers has had it all -- drama on and off the court, big individual performances, contrasts in styles, strategic adjustments; you name it, this series has had it. Now, though, it is likely to end Tuesday in Philadelphia, where the Sixers can close things out on their home court in Game 5.

Goldsberry: The Pistons. They showed some intriguing signs of competence late in the season, but they simply haven't looked like they belong in the playoffs. Yes, Blake Griffin missed the first two games with injury, but even with him available, they couldn't put anything together in Game 3. This once-proud franchise now has lost an NBA-record 13 playoff games in a row. If that's not a disappointment, I don't know what is.

Pelton: Nikola Vucevic, so good during a regular season that resulted in both his first All-Star nod and his first playoff appearance in Orlando, has been unable to reach the same level during the playoffs. He's averaging just 12.5 points on 37.5 percent shooting and was largely a nonfactor in the Magic's Game 1 win. Granted, playing against Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka is a challenge, but Orlando has needed more from Vucevic.

4. What has been the biggest disappointment so far in the West?

Bontemps: I'll give this as a tie to Utah and Oklahoma City (and specifically Russell Westbrook). Utah losing to Houston is one thing; Utah getting annihilated in the first two games of this series is another. The Jazz were much better in Game 3, but they still couldn't find a way to win a game at home in which James Harden went 3-of-20 from the floor, and now they could get swept out of the playoffs. Westbrook, meanwhile, is shooting 36 percent from the floor, and the Thunder look like they're about to lose in the first round for a third straight season. When the bracket broke the way it did, with Golden State and Houston on the opposite side, that's not what the Thunder were expecting to happen.

Marks: Russell Westbrook. Though there is plenty of blame to go around (including the lack of shooting on the roster), all eyes are on Westbrook. After shooting 5-of-20 in a Game 2 loss on the road, Westbrook scored one point in the second half at home in Game 4. That loss has Oklahoma City down 3-1 and on the verge of losing in the first round yet again.

Pelton: The Utah Jazz failing to win a game thus far against the Houston Rockets. I expected this to be the closest first-round series, but the Rockets dominated at home and pulled out a win in Salt Lake City despite James Harden missing his first 15 shots, putting them a game away from a sweep. Utah could join the 2004 Memphis Grizzlies and 2008 Denver Nuggets as just the third team since the first round went to best-of-seven to win at least 50 games during the regular season and none in the playoffs.

Snellings: The two best teams in the conference won't face each other in the conference finals. Last season's Western Conference finals -- between the defending champion Warriors and the top-seeded Rockets -- was the de facto NBA championship due to the inequity between the East and West. This season, that matchup appears destined to occur in the second round, too early and with the stage not fully set to appreciate the magnitude. Of course, the cynic might point out that having the Rockets and Warriors play in the second round could be a benefit due to the history of health issues on both sides, so perhaps playing earlier can prevent any more major injuries from marring the outcome.

Goldsberry: Utah, Utah, Utah. The Jazz played terrific basketball after the All-Star break but have looked terrible in the first round. Not only has their great defense failed to show up, but they have the worst offensive rating of any West playoff team. One big problem: 3-point shooting. They've made only 25.5 percent of their 3s against Houston, and Jae Crowder, Thabo Sefolosha and Joe Ingles have each been worse than that. Yuck!

5. What is your bold prediction for the rest of the postseason?

Snellings: The dominant Warriors, winners of three of the past four NBA championships, will not win the title this season. There is a very good chance that they don't even make the conference finals, as the Rockets appear poised to take them down. The team that represents the East also has a very legitimate shot to take down the representative from the West. Said another way: If given the choice between the Warriors and the field, this season I'm taking the field.

Goldsberry: The Larry O'Brien Trophy is moving East. Like Andre, I think the Warriors are vulnerable, but I also think whoever comes out of the East will take home the title.

Pelton: Nikola Jokic, currently 0.7 assists per game away, averages a triple-double.

Bontemps: That Golden State beats Houston in five games in the Western Conference semifinals. For all of the growing belief that the Rockets can beat the Warriors in a series, I think that the Warriors -- if healthy -- will end that series more quickly than many would expect. And here's a bonus one: Toronto will win the East.

Marks: A Joel Embiid flagrant foul will cost Philadelphia a chance at reaching the conference finals. After picking up flagrant fouls in Games 2 and 4, Embiid is two points shy of serving a one-game suspension.

The Colorado Rockies placed left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a blister on his left middle finger.

Freeland (2-3) threw six scoreless innings last Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies but left after 85 pitches because the blister started forming on his finger.

Freeland has a 4.23 ERA in five starts this season. Last year, he went 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA in 33 starts.

In another move, the Rockies reinstated lefty Tyler Anderson (left knee inflammation) from the 10-day IL. Anderson will start Monday's game against the Washington Nationals.

PITTSBURGH -- Gregory Polanco couldn't get the awkward slide into second base last September that dislocated his left shoulder out of his head. The Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder pored over the video during his lengthy rehab to the point where it simply got to be too much.

"It was terrible," Polanco said. "I watch it a lot of times and it was not a good feeling to watch it, so I stopped."

He focused on the long road back, one that reached a significant milestone on Monday when the Pirates activated the 27-year-old off the injured list and put him in the lineup in time for the opener of a four-game series with Arizona.

Polanco was legging out a double against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 7 when he tried an unorthodox slide to avoid a tag. He appeared to leap in the air before extending his left leg toward the bag, tumbling forward and starting a sequence that ended with his left shoulder dislocated and the labrum in his throwing shoulder torn. He had surgery on Sept. 12, ending a season in which he hit a career-high 23 home runs.

Pittsburgh estimated Polanco could be out up to nine months. He made it back in a little over seven, a testament to the way he pushed himself even while spending time back home over the winter in his native Dominican Republic.

"They ask me to do extra, I do extra," Polanco said Monday. "My homework too. Back home they would ask me to do exercises, and I did it."

Polanco joins a club off to a 12-7 start despite having a lengthy injury list that includes outfielders Starling Marte, Corey Dickerson and Lonnie Chisenhall. Polanco hit .300 with five RBIs and two stolen bases during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis. He has also worked extensively on his sliding, a portion of his game that he struggled with before getting hurt.

"Unfortunately the collateral damage that he incurred from a poor sliding technique, I think that got his attention," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "And sometimes pain can bring specific attention to an immediate area, and I think in this case it was sliding. He worked very hard to tighten that up and get that in a better place."

Polanco will be prohibited from sliding headfirst and he still isn't near 100 percent arm strength, though Hurdle noted Polanco's velocity is up significantly from the end of spring training. Pittsburgh will try to help Polanco by pushing cutoff men farther into the outfield.

Though Polanco pledged to stay aggressive both on the field and on the bases, he will also do what he can to avoid another mishap like the one that led to the first significant injury of his career.

"When you make mistakes like that, it costs you," he said. "It cost me a lot of games for me and you know, maybe my arm wouldn't be the same this year. I'm here. I'm happy that I'm back here and I'm able to join the team and enjoy it with my guys."

To make room for Polanco, the Pirates optioned left-handed reliever Steven Brault to Triple-A.