The NBA playoffs have arrived and the trills and excitement of the NBA regular season increases as the NBA's best of best face off with each other.
16 wins seperate the 16 teams who start the NBA playoffs tomorrow and at this moment each one of these teams have a chance to win the Larry O'Brien.
The Eastern Conference made powerful moves last summer as LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwayne Wade in Miami to create a super team with the Heat. This past NBA deadline the New York Knicks landed Carmelo Anthony to created a dynamic duo with him and A'mare Stoudemire.
The following are the four Eastern Conference playoff series and my prediction for each one:
No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 8 Indiana Pacers - This is a unfair match for the Pacers. Granted they do have lots of pride to fight for the last playoff seed in the East but their team and record defintely prove they should be a lottery team in the NBA draft.
The Bulls will win the series easily, 4-0. Derrick Rose is the clear favorite to win Most Valuable Player and the Bulls are a team who cannot be beat because they play smart and they share the ball together where they play as a team.
No. 4 Orlando Magic vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks - This series is going to be boring. The Hawks are not a contending team like they were in the past few seasons. They are a good team who cannot get out of second gear.
The Magic are a team who has good pieces surrounding Dwight Howard but they seem like they have no where to go. They say they want to win a title but they do not have the identity to do that. The Magic will win this series, 4-2, but I do not see this Magic team doing anything else.
No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 New York Knicks - This is going to be a easy series for the Celtics. The Knicks do not play defense and they are a loose team who tries to beat their opponents on quick lay-ups and three-pointers.
The Celtics are still a decent defensive team and they should be able to control the Knicks. The Celtics can use this series to jump start their big four who has been struggling ever since the team traded away its center, Kendrick Perkins.
I have the Celtics winning the series, 4-1.
No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers - Like the Bulls/Pacers series, I do not see the 76ers having success against the Heat. The Heat are good enough without its post game to defeat the 76ers.
James and Wade will have a great series and the Heat will win this series easily. I have the Heat winning the series, 4-0.
As the East got stronger last offseason, the West has been still competitive as years past. The two-time defending champions, Los Angeles Lakers are re-identifying themselves as they start the postseason and the Oklahoma City Thunder grew into men after picking up Perkins from the Celtics at the trade deadline.
The following are the Western Conference playoff series and my prediction for each one:
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzles - The Spurs are starting off the series without Manu Ginobili after he suffered a injury on the last game of the season. Although they do not have their scorning machine who comes off the bench, the Spurs should have not have a problem taking care of the Grizzles.
The Grizzles will be without Rudy Gay and they do not have much to compete against the Spurs.
I have the Spurs winning the series, 4-1.
No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Denver Nuggets - This series is a must watch for all basketball fans. The two teams are athletic, explosive and anything can go in this series.
The Thunder are entering the series as clear favorites but they have yet to win a road playoff game and they will have a lot in their hands with the Nuggets. The Nuggets are doing well without Anthony and they have the second best second half record following the NBA All-star weekend.
Either team could have shot at winning the series. This will come down to how the Nuggets defend Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook.
I have the Thunder winning the series, 4-3.
No. 3 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 6 Portland Blazers - If there is going to be a upset in the first round then this series will be where that occurs. The Mavericks are not clear favorites because they are missing their toughness with the injured Caron Butler.
The Blazers have a team capable of matching the Mavericks and guarding the talented Dirk Nowitzki. The series will come down to the Blazers making the games close at crunch time and Brandon Roy being able to close out the games for the Blazers.
I have the Blazers winning the series, 4-2.
No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 7 New Orleans Hornets - This series could not have been more favoring to the Lakers. The Lakers are limping into the playoffs with five losses in their last seven games. The Lakers almost received bad luck after center Andrew Bynum hyper-extended his knee but Bynum is set to start the playoffs with the team.
The Hornets will not be able to contend with the Lakers length. The Hornets do not have a chance in the series because they are going to be playing without injured David West.
I have the Lakers winning the series, 4-0.
The first round should be interesting because the 2011 NBA playoffs are going to be one of the best in recent history. Lots of great teams will make a leap and drew closer to the NBA title as the first round series play out.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
4/12/2011: Rapid Recap - 66ers get back to .500 with win over Mavericks
The Inland Empire 66ers pulled back to .500 on the season Tuesday night, improving their record to 3-3 on the season. The 66ers defeated the High Desert Mavericks by a score of 3-1 in front of 1,872 fans in San Bernardino in the second game of a three game series between the two teams.
Inland Empire starter Ryan Chaffee (1-0, 1.69 ERA) went 6.2 innings for the 66ers and looked much more in command than he did in his opening day appearance. Chaffee struck out six Mavericks batters while walking just one and allowing only one earned run.
Mavericks starter Yoervis Medina (0-2, 2.45 ERA) was not totally out shined by Chaffee, going six complete innings while striking out four and allowing only two earned runs. But for the second game in a row Medina just couldn't get the run support from his teammates needed to collect a win.
Center fielder Matt Long was the star at the dish for the 66ers going three for four on the day including a lead off triple in the bottom of the fourth inning. Long would be driven in by designated hitter Dillon Baird in what proved to be the winning run of the contest. Long would also drive in the 66ers third run in the bottom of the eighth inning with a line drive single into center field.
66ers reliever David Carpenter (0-0, 0.00 ERA) collected his first save of the season pitching 1.1 without allowing a man to even reach base.
The two teams will meet again Wednesday April 13 at Arrowhead Credit Union Park in San Bernardino to close out the series.
SIDENOTE: Wednesday's game is "Bring your dog to the park Wednesday," so expect some fun on the live blog.
Inland Empire starter Ryan Chaffee (1-0, 1.69 ERA) went 6.2 innings for the 66ers and looked much more in command than he did in his opening day appearance. Chaffee struck out six Mavericks batters while walking just one and allowing only one earned run.
Mavericks starter Yoervis Medina (0-2, 2.45 ERA) was not totally out shined by Chaffee, going six complete innings while striking out four and allowing only two earned runs. But for the second game in a row Medina just couldn't get the run support from his teammates needed to collect a win.
Center fielder Matt Long was the star at the dish for the 66ers going three for four on the day including a lead off triple in the bottom of the fourth inning. Long would be driven in by designated hitter Dillon Baird in what proved to be the winning run of the contest. Long would also drive in the 66ers third run in the bottom of the eighth inning with a line drive single into center field.
66ers reliever David Carpenter (0-0, 0.00 ERA) collected his first save of the season pitching 1.1 without allowing a man to even reach base.
The two teams will meet again Wednesday April 13 at Arrowhead Credit Union Park in San Bernardino to close out the series.
SIDENOTE: Wednesday's game is "Bring your dog to the park Wednesday," so expect some fun on the live blog.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Chicago Bulls are running away with the East
There is no surprise for why the Chicago Bulls are No. 1 in the NBA Eastern Conference.
According to Coach Nick on the video below, the Bulls have all the ingredients to possibly win the NBA title this June.
Team defense, solid scoring and doing all the little things are all what the Bulls have and those assets are what is going to lead the Bulls to the next level.
The Bulls are back!
According to Coach Nick on the video below, the Bulls have all the ingredients to possibly win the NBA title this June.
Team defense, solid scoring and doing all the little things are all what the Bulls have and those assets are what is going to lead the Bulls to the next level.
The Bulls are back!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Lakers are down for the moment
Stranger things have happen in the Lakers 2010-2011 season so there should not be a surprise for the current four-game losing streak with three games left in the season.
For starts, the Lakers have been blown out by the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs in a row.
Then lost another three games in a row a month later, including a five-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But the Lakers also have won 17 of 18 games including key victories over the Spurs, Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics.
The season has been a roller coaster ride as the Lakers package a group of solid games together then follow it up with a group of inconsistent sloppy losses and the pattern repeats itself.
The two-time defending champions have been playing the most basketball in the past four years starting with their first NBA finals run in 2008.
The team has of lots experience and games played where they are comfortable playing against whoever it is they play in this season's postseason. The Lakers are comfortable playing anyone, anywhere, anytime because they have seen it all in these past four season.
The two championships are proof the Lakers are no where near of worrying about themselves heading into the postseason on a four-game losing streak with three games left.
Although they are now in a dog fight with the Celtics, Heat and Mavericks for playoff positioning in potential playoff match-ups which will determine who has homecourt advantage, the Lakers are ready for whatever comes their way as the team tries to clinch its third straight championship.
The playoffs start in a week and the Lakers know in a week the season changes to the postseason and the postseason only means no more screwing around.
With the leadership of Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers are in the right state of mind to start the postseason despite what the records show.
For starts, the Lakers have been blown out by the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs in a row.
Then lost another three games in a row a month later, including a five-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But the Lakers also have won 17 of 18 games including key victories over the Spurs, Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics.
The season has been a roller coaster ride as the Lakers package a group of solid games together then follow it up with a group of inconsistent sloppy losses and the pattern repeats itself.
The two-time defending champions have been playing the most basketball in the past four years starting with their first NBA finals run in 2008.
The team has of lots experience and games played where they are comfortable playing against whoever it is they play in this season's postseason. The Lakers are comfortable playing anyone, anywhere, anytime because they have seen it all in these past four season.
The two championships are proof the Lakers are no where near of worrying about themselves heading into the postseason on a four-game losing streak with three games left.
Although they are now in a dog fight with the Celtics, Heat and Mavericks for playoff positioning in potential playoff match-ups which will determine who has homecourt advantage, the Lakers are ready for whatever comes their way as the team tries to clinch its third straight championship.
The playoffs start in a week and the Lakers know in a week the season changes to the postseason and the postseason only means no more screwing around.
With the leadership of Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers are in the right state of mind to start the postseason despite what the records show.
Manny Ramirez 'El Maniaco' has retired
Just in: Manny Ramirez has retired.
After five games with the Tampa Bay Rays, Ramirez decides to hang up the cleats.
In the short sting with the Rays, he had 17 at bats to go along with one hit and one RBI.
Ramirez, 39, came off a productive spring training as he seemed to be determine to be fitted for the opening season and have a quality season.
He comes off a bad 2010 season where he battled injuries and was dumped by the Los Angeles Dodgers and picked up by the Chicago White Sox for the remainder of the season.
After five games with the Tampa Bay Rays, Ramirez decides to hang up the cleats.
In the short sting with the Rays, he had 17 at bats to go along with one hit and one RBI.
Ramirez, 39, came off a productive spring training as he seemed to be determine to be fitted for the opening season and have a quality season.
He comes off a bad 2010 season where he battled injuries and was dumped by the Los Angeles Dodgers and picked up by the Chicago White Sox for the remainder of the season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)