L&E Cosmetic : Good morning. That is SO Russell Westbrook.

That and more in Monday's NBA newsletter.

Good morning. Let's basketball.

THE STAR SYSTEM: Paul Flannery's last Sunday Shootaround of the season leads with a brilliant essay on the nature of victory in the NBA, and how stars make the systems we hear so much about work. While "pace and space" has been the mantra of the season, the fate of the year is left in the hands of individuals. Check it out.

THAT'S SO RUSSELL: Desperate times call for desperate measures. With OKC on the ropes and Indiana playing so well with Paul George, Russell Westbrook took 43 FGAs plus 11 FTAs for the Thunder on Sunday. He got his 54 points, but OKC lost and, more importantly, Westbrook picked up his 16 technical of the season arguing a call. That means he'll be suspended for the Thunder's next game ... unless the league rescinds the tech. Which they actually might do, because it was borderline.

New Orleans also fell in a shootout vs. the Rockets, so the teams remain tied. The Pelicans still have that tiebreaker. New Orleans plays Minnesota on Monday and the Spurs on Wednesday. The Thunder play the Blazers on Monday and the Timberwolves on Wednesday.

ON THE 10TH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD MICHAEL JORDAN TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN ... Tim Duncan is still busting out crucial game-winning blocks. James Harden doesn't want any of Big Fun and the Spurs.

THE WEST IS BANANAS: A half-game separate the four teams battling for the No. 2 seed. Right now, the Spurs are at No. 2 with the Clippers at No. 3, the Grizzlies at No. 5 and the Rockets at No. 6. The Blazers are locked in at No. 4, and won't have home court. This is going to be a hell of a last three days.

IN THE EAST: The Bucks finally clinched the No. 6 seed, and the Celtics are one win away from locking up a spot of their own. The last spot looks like it's going to Brooklyn or Indiana, though Miami retains an outside shot.

SPEAKING OF THE BUCKS ... More like Giannis AntetokounmpWOAH.

SHOOK ONES: Isaiah Thomas' dope water dancing against the Cavaliers' B-team was something magical.

A CONFESSION: I primarily want the Warriors to make the Finals so that we keep getting random acts of Stephen Curry magic for a few more months.

HE FINALLY BROKE: Frankly, I'm worried about Erik Spoelstra after seeing ... whatever it was he did on the sidelines.

YOU HAD ONE JOB: Person working the t-shirt cannon for the Clippers launches a shirt that gets stuck on top of the backboard, leading to a delay. Red Auerbach is rolling over in his grave. If one of the teams had just signed JaVale McGee this wouldn't have been a problem!

EVOLUTION OF THE CENTER: Nice piece by Adi Joseph on whether low-post centers make sense in the NBA these days.

MATT BARNES IS _____: Excellent (as always) Chris Ballard piece on Matt Barnes.

PIVOT FUNDAMENTALS WITH KENDRICK PERKINS! Nine steps for Perk, and no one really cares.

HOW GOOD IS CURRY ON DEFENSE? Ethan Strauss touts him highly.

ON KAWHI: Excellent Miles Wray piece on Kawhi Leonard, which includes this factoid: Kawhi has already started more playoff games than Nique appeared in.