Once the regular season ends, it's usually pretty easy to know how each NBA team wins basketball games. The team numbers pile up, and 82 games is great sample size to figure out a team's identity.

The Indiana Pacers win with defense, for example, while the Miami Heat spread you out and kill you with an uncanny three-point accuracy.

We know who these teams are.

That is why it is so strange when the playoffs arrive and those trends are thrown on their head.

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You'd hardly know the San Antonio Spurs were a high-flying finesse team after the way they closed out Game 2 of the 2013 Western Conference Finals against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night.

The Spurs were up by as many as 18 points in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth. Tony Parker appeared poised to challenge the NBA playoff record for assists in a game, with 16 dimes through the first three frames. All five of San Antonio's starters had already scored in double figures while helping to hold the Grizzlies well under 40 percent from the field.

Then, the wheels came off the wagon, and the Spurs found themselves on the brink of blowing a crucial contest at home. Over the last 8:10 of regulation, San Antonio missed all but one of its 12 attempts from the floor (including an ugly fadeaway by Tim Duncan at the end of the game), turned the ball over four times, and racked up six fouls—four of which came on the same possession.

Not that the Grizzlies played any prettier. Zach Randolph had himself another forgettable game. He had just two points at the half and (once again) struggled to get his shot off from among San Antonio's trees. Tony Allen airballed his fair share of shots, as did Jerryd Bayless, who clanked a three off the backboard in the closing seconds of overtime.

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If you follow the Los Angeles Lakers (or any sliver of the NBA, for that matter), you're probably curious as to whether or not Dwight Howard will be back in Purple and Gold next season.

As are the Lakers themselves. According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com, Dwight's been chilling at his cabin in Lake Tahoe, trying to clear his head and think things over in anticipation of the biggest decision of his (professional) life.

Which has left everyone else to do the talking for him, anonymously and otherwise. Per Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, Howard is intrigued by the opportunities to play with James Harden's Houston Rockets and Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks, and will entertain all offers that come his way. There have also been whispers about friction between Dwight and Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, though general manager Mitch Kupchak doesn't seem to be too worried about that, via Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com:

"I think Dwight likes winning, he likes performing at a high level. I think he's fine with Mike D'Antoni, but I'm not really concerned if players like a coach, so I don't ask that question. Our coaches are evaluated by wins and losses."

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The results of the NBA draft lottery saw a slight change from the initial projections, with the Cleveland Cavaliers moving up to No. 1, the Orlando Magic down to No. 2, the Washington Wizards sneaking up to No. 3 and Charlotte falling to No. 4.

Teams at the top will have big decisions to make with a weak field to choose from and a number of injured prospects.

Expect heavy trade chatter to pick up over the next month. The teams drafting at the top will certainly have their ears open.

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Stephen Curry’s tormenting of the net in the 2013 NBA Playoffs signified his arrival as a marquee player.

The Golden State Warriors’ point guard was the darling of the first two rounds, as he used his formidable three-point stroke to convince us all that he’s enough to carry a winning franchise.

That may not mean Curry can do it on his own—not even LeBron James has proven that—but the 25-year-old has propelled himself into the type of leader it takes to center a championship cast.

The fourth-year scorer meets all qualifications: He can take over a game, emotionally lead teammates and has proven that he can win. After catapulting Davidson ahead of its potential in college days, Curry has now led the Warriors to do the same.

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It's been a couple of weeks since we last sat down for NBA playoffs "Parent-Teacher Conferences." The field of competitors has been trimmed down to four, with the most intense games yet to be played.

As you can imagine, then, the grades for the remaining teams have shifted considerably. We might as well consider these marks as extra credit, seeing as how 26 other squads won't have any say in how things play out from this point forward.

But that's what it takes to claim the Larry O'Brien Trophy in any given year, isn't it? One hoops collective must go above and beyond the usual call of on-court duty to achieve something much bigger, much more desirable and much more permanent historically than any single paycheck.

Enough with the fluff, though. Go ahead and have a look at how the NBA's most dedicated "students" have fared in the proverbial classroom to this point.

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Steven Adams found himself on that can't-miss list entering his freshman year at Pittsburgh. Ironically, it turns out he was pretty tough to find.

The New Zealand native played a minimal role in Jamie Dixon's offense. During one loss to Cincinnati, Adams played 24 minutes without taking a shot.

He's still learning the game and figuring how he fits in.

However, Adams drew rave reviews at this year's NBA Combine, where he was able to showcase some hidden talent and a likable personality. With just five weeks left before the draft, the buzz on Adams is starting to pick up.

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As great a nickname as “The Zen Master” has been for Phil Jackson, the reality is that most people don’t even know what Zen really is.

And most people definitely don’t get who Jackson really is.

Jackson’s new book set to be released Tuesday, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success, offers one more chance to understand the greatest coach in pro basketball history as he transitions into the latest NBA front-office guy with something to prove.

But what differentiates Jackson from experienced talent evaluators or big-name players moving into executive positions is that there is essentially no one more likely to establish a basketball organization that truly works together.

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