Links: Is Randy Wittman the answer for the Washington Wizards at head coach?

Today's links:

• BNIE wonders whether Randy Wittman or Nene deserve the lion's share of the credit for the Wizards' late-season turnaround, and asks if Wittman is the "up-and-coming" assistant coach many have been clamoring for.
• Speaking of Wittman, here's some season-ending thoughts from the Wizards' interim head coach. [Washington Times]
• The #QUOTESANITY continues. "Blow It In The Club" blew "Still Without A Car" out of the water, 83 percent to 16 percent, while 5th-seed "Five Pounds of Hair," with 70 percent of the ballots cast, looks primed to score a minor upset over 4th-seed "Dinner Of Champions."
• In our second edition of "Better Know A Free Agent," Mike takes a look at Blazers wing Nicolas Batum, The Fightin' Batum!
• SB Nation's NBA bloggers have cast their imaginary votes for the league's 2012 awards, and here's the results. Mike explains his selections here.
• Frank Hanrahan is looking for Chris Singleton to show significant improvement in his second season, ala Trevor Booker. [CSN Washington]
• Video of Nene's last media interview of the 2011-2012 season. [NBA.com]
• TAI has quantified Wizards fans' optimism. [Truth About It]

• You know what's even more fascinating than a Wizards blog post? A blog post about Wizards bloggers! [We Love DC]
• Well, whuddya know, JaVale McGee actually played well in a playoff game (a victory no less), and by 'played well' I mean had 16 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in only 28 minutes, so maybe that qualifies as 'played great.' Either way, Pierre's mom, Pam McGee, got lots of screen time during the game, and it was all brilliant. [SB Nation]
• Here's more Pam McGee acting exactly as we would all expect while watching her son, or as she calls him, "the future of the NBA."
• Apparently Corey Hart (the singer) was a Nuggets fan (you're on the internet, just Google him). And once again, Pam McGee stars as a borderline-homicidal cheerleader. [SB Nation]
• Don't worry Lakers fans, we noticed you, too.
• More on JaVale and quick recaps of yesterday's playoff action. [Daily Dime]
• Some longer recaps from SI's writers. [Lakers-Nuggets, Celtics-Hawks, Bulls-Sixers]
• Kelly Dwyer takes a closer look at both Nuggets-Lakers and Celtics-Hawks. [Ball Don't Lie]
• Andrew Bynum started Lakers-Nuggets with a triple-double, then had 27 points and 9 rebounds in Game 2 and his team took a 2-0 series lead. He began Game 3 by going scoreless in the first half on 0-for-3 shooting. It's no coincidence the Lakers are now only up 2-1. [ESPN Los Angeles]
• Henry Abbott examines why Bynum is always sad. [TrueHoop]
• Andrew, Scoop Jackson is sorry.
• As if losing Derrick Rose weren't bad enough, Joakim Noah turned his ankle pretty bad in Game 3, left the arena in crutches and may have a fractured ankle. Ouch. [SB Nation Chicago]
• So are the Bulls totally screwed? Short answer: Yes.
• Doug Collins and Evan Turner have had their ups and downs (mostly downs), but right now they're doing pretty good. [TrueHoop]
• The Sixers have added Dr. J as a "strategic adviser" through the 2015 season. I imagine this will be a popular move in Philly.
• Remember when Amar'e Stoudemire punched the glass encasing a fire extinguisher, cutting his hand so badly that he had to miss Game 3 of the Knicks' series against the Heat? Of course you do, because ROFL!! You probably also remember all the gross, ghastly descriptions of Stoudemire's hand injury, but seriously, how bad could it OMG AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
• Stoudemire was able to run drills, dunk and palm the ball during the Knicks' Friday practice, which has Mike Woodson hopeful he can play tomorrow. With the Knicks one game from elimination, Stoudemire said his status remains "doubful" for Game 4. [ESPN New York]
• It's sad times in Dallas and New York. Tough for a D.C. fan to sympathize. [SB Nation]
• The Mavericks may be the defending champs, but they're fading as fast as the Thunder are ascending. [SB Nation]
• And Mike has identified the exact moment when the proverbial torch was passed.
• Reading this piece from J.A. Adande, it sounds like Gregg Popovich may be establishing his own version of the "Bill Walsh coaching tree" in the NBA.
• We all know Caron Butler is tough, but good lord. Butler was supposed to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks with a fractured left hand, but he's going to try and play in Game 3 Sunday, one week after suffering the injury. [ESPN Los Angeles]
• Have you ever wished there was a quick "pick-me-up" on the Internet that you could bookmark and repeatedly turn to whenever life gets just a bit too intense. Well, you're welcome.
• Ah, you know what goes great with your Saturday morning coffee? A nice, heaping helping of good ol' folksy racism. [Ball Don't Lie]
• GAK!!
• Jonathan Tjarks breaks down the top 10 NBA prospects who are returning to college next season. [SB Nation]
• Here's an excellent piece from Jonathan Abrams on the 'divergent' careers of Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry. [Grantland]