With the second round of the NBA Playoffs underway, here my five quick thoughts from the NBA and NCAA. 1. Vinny Del Negro and Larry Drew (Clippers & Hawks): We saw this earlier this month with P.J. Carlesimo and Jim Boylan, who were both interim coaches. Sometimes even if you get your team to the playoffs, your job is still in jeopardy. Now both Del Negro and Drew await news about whether theyll be retained. I think both of these guys did a good job under their specific circumstances particularly with injuries popping up. The Clippers job, if it opens, will be the job, assuming they can retain Chris Paul, that many available coaches will be all over. Atlanta? A lot will depend on what GM Danny Ferry is able to do with free agency. The club has a lot of cap space and the club needs to retain Josh Smith. This job is a bit of a leap of faith for a coach, as he will have to likely accept the job before the July 1 recruiting Period and hope like crazy for the best. 2. George Karl (Nuggets): Congratulations on winning NBA Coach of the Year. Its well-earned and well-deserved. Its great to see a man like this battle cancer and bounce back big-time. Karl is one of the most innovative and creative coaches in the past 25 years in the league. He has a nice team in Denver and when the group is healthy, the Nuggets are a legit top four team in the West for the near future. Take into account the wonderful home court advantage they have, theyre always in the discussion as a good/very good team. Karls teams are fun to watch and he gets a lot out of them. While the Nuggest got upset by the Warriors and that stings, Im sure when the coach reflects on where he has come from and where hes got that thing headed, hell see theyre in good shape and thankfully so is he. 3. Ryan McDonough (Suns): The 33-year-old is the general manager of the Suns after a nice stint as Assistant GM in Boston for Danny Ainge. Hes young but hes paid his dues and been around and contributed to the success of a very good organization. Im all for new/young guys getting their shot. We need some new blood and fresh ideas instead of the constant NBA retread mentality. McDonough will have his hands full in Phoenix. The talent level is way down yet its an attractive market to lure good players to. A Great opportunity. Good for him. 4. Anthony Bennett (UNLV): Hell be the top Canadian drafted this year in the NBA Draft before Kelly Olynk. Hell likely be a top five-to-ten selection. Bennett announced that hes going to have surgery on a torn rotator cuff. Will it hurt his draft stock at all? Likely not. All the scouts Ive spoken to have their book on him and are all quite comfortable with him and his game. I dont think its a big concern. Hes going to be a good pro. 5. Andrew Wiggins: This Canadian could end up being the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft if he has a good year as a freshman in the NCAA. The recruiting battle is down to four Schools: (Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas and Florida State). Obviously, if any of you have seen this young man, hes got a chance to be a program changer type guy in college and IF, there will a lot of hype and distractions which will serve as a good test of his dedication and focus, he works his tail off at his game and body hes got a chance to be a special player at the pro level. Potential vs. productivity, its what separates the great from the good. Ive got my fingers crossed that he listens to the right voices and stays true to what being a great player is all about. The potential is there, we all know that, now the true test will start to truly happen in near future. This will be a fascinating story. Authentic Vans Old Skool . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Cheap Vans Sk8 Hi Shoes . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. http://www.cheapoldskoolwholesale.com/ . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Vans Old Skool Discount . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Wholesale Vans Authentic . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. PHILADELPHIA -- Freddy Galvis has a handwritten note stuck on his locker reminding him to keep the ball out of the air.Theres no signature. Its simply inscribed (hash)No. 20.Even Mike Schmidt (yes, The No. 20) could agree that if Galvis does put the ball in the air, it may as well soar out of the park.Galvis continued his home run surge, hitting his 19th of the season to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.Galvis connected on a two-run shot in the second inning off Steven Brault (0-3) for his 10th homer in the last 32 games. Known more as a defensive whiz since taking over for Jimmy Rollins at shortstop, Galvis has been a bright spot offensively for the Phillies. He already has career highs in doubles, homers, extra-base hits, RBI and stolen bases, though his .239 average and .271 on-base percentage need considerable improvement.I dont know if Im surprised, he said. All I know is, I put in a good workout in my offseason and worked really hard to prove I could play baseball every day.The 26-year-old switch hitter changed his approach early last month after a session with hitting coach Steve Henderson. Galvis kept all his weight on his back leg during his swing and suddenly found the pop that was missing.Galvis had 20 career homers in 322 games entering this season.His newfound power could be enough to overcome his measly OBP.I remember a few years when Jimmy Rollins didnt hit a whole lot, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. You can live with a guy like that.Tommy Joseph hit his 19th homer for the Phillies. Jeanmar Gomez got the final two outs of the ninth for his 37th save.The Phillies won two of the first three in the four-game series and all but knocked the Pirates out of the hunt in the NL wild card. The Pirates were six games back entering Wednesday and appear set to have their playoff streak end at three seasons. They had the second-best record in baseball behind only the St. Louis Cardinals from 2013-15.Brault allowed nine hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings. He remained winless in seven career starts.The Phillies have long been out of the pllayoff picture and -- like so many teams playing out the string -- are looking for any kind of positive to end the season.dddddddddddd Galvis has been one. Joseph showed power in his rookie season. Speedy rookie outfielder Roman Quinn has been solid in September.Quinn even threw out a runner at the plate in the ninth to snuff a Pirates rally.We had two outs to play with, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. We made a bad decision there.The Phillies got a rare boost on the mound from righty Jake Thompson (2-5). Thompson, who won for the first time since Aug. 12, allowed six hits and two runs over six solid innings.Against the Pirates, he was sharp enough in front of a small and lifeless crowd to show how he went 11-5 in the minors this season and was considered valuable enough to be included in last years Cole Hamels deal with Texas.Andrew McCutchen hit his 21st homer for the Pirates.STRIKEOUTS ARE BORINGDouble-A Reading OF Dylan Cozens won the 2016 Joe Bauman award as minor league baseballs home run champion with 40. The award is named for Bauman, who set a professional record in 1954 with 72 home runs for the Roswell Rockets of the Class-C Longhorn League.OPENING UPThe 2017 schedule was released on Wednesday. The Pirates will open April 3-6 at Boston in their first trip there since 2005. The Phillies open the season April 3 at Cincinnati.FLASH A SIGNFormer Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, traded last month to the Dodgers, thanked fans with a sign of appreciation on a billboard off I-95. The billboard read: I loved playing for you. You will always be in my heart. Thank you, Philly! -- ChoochSTREAK SNAPPEDPhillies LF Tyler Goeddel singled in the second inning to snap an 0-for-21 streak.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (3-3, 4.09 ERA) will make his 11th career start. Hes lost each of his last three decisions, though the Pirates have won seven of his 10 starts.Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (10-13, 3.73 ERA) has pitched six innings in each of his last five starts and six of seven overall. ' ' '