The Weekend Run-down

The Mesmerizing Masters: What a captivating weekend finish we witnessed on golf’s grandest stage. Rory McIlroy played brilliantly thru the first three days and looked as if he would don his first green jacket as he had a four stroke lead heading into Sunday. But the young Irishman could not handle the pressure and the wheels on his game fell completely off. McIlroy shot a 43 on the back nine that opened the door for everyone else. The stage was set for an epic battle as Tiger Woods showed he still has considerable game and growled his way back from 7 strokes down to take the lead at -10. Everyone surely takes notice when Tiger is in position to pounce on Sunday’s at a major. Tiger would miss some key putts along the way that could have made for an even better score but it was good to see him rounding into form. After Tiger’s round, things heated up for a trio of younger but fearless challengers. Adam Scott, Jason Day and Charl Schwartzel all shared or lead on the 16th and 17th holes. Scott took command as he made an array of dazzling shots. Not to be one upped, Day and Schwartzel were hot on Scott’s tail. In the end it would be Schwartzel finishing with four straight birdies to take the championship. Great stuff from Augusta this year; it surely was one of the best I’ve ever witnessed.

NBA: Top Teams Battle for Playoff Positioning.

Chicago 102 Orlando 99 - Chicago held on for a 3 point victory over Orlando and the win all but locked up the number one seed in the east for the Bulls. Derrick Rose also put the final touches on his MVP caliber season as he pasted the Magic for 39 points and five assists. The Magic were without their MVP candidate Dwight Howard who was suspended for this game due to receiving his 18th technical foul of the year.

Miami 100 Boston 77 - The Miami Heat finally beat the Boston Celtics and did it emphatically. Boston had previously owned the Heat this season as they pounded and punked them in their three previous meetings. This time Miami was having none of it. Lebron lead all scorers with 27 and he set the tone for Miami early. The Heat outrebounded the Celtics 42-26 and that was a season low for Boston. Miami was superb defensively as Dwayne Wade rejected Ray Allen on numerous occasions and closed out on his three point attempts. In what was likely a preview of the Eastern conference semifinals, this game was physical as the teams scuffled after a hard foul by Jermaine O’neal on Lebron James that led to some pushing and shoving under the basket. The playoff intensity showed but it was Miami taking control of the number two seed in the East.

OKC 120 L.A. Lakers 106 – This is the fifth straight loss for the two-time defending champions and it officially is a sign of panic in tinsletown. After beginning the post all-star break at 18-1, the Lakers lackadaisical play of late has them reeling. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook controlled the game and combined for 57 points as the Thunder won their fourth in a row and their first against the Lakers on the road since March 12, 2006. The Lakers looked sluggish out the gates but came on in the fourth quarter and took the lead but the Thunder would close the game out on a 16-2 run. Kobe Bryant finished with 31 points and Pau Gasol added another 26 but it would not be enough. The danger the Lakers now face is in the standings. The Lakers latest loss has them tied with Dallas in the standings and the surging Thunder are now only one game back for the number two seed in the West.

NHL: Nashville Predators nab the 5th seed in the West - The Preds have scratched and clawed their way to yet another playoff berth. For the sixth time in seven years, Nashville will be chasing Lord Stanley, this time as the 5th seed in the West. The Predators finished the season 14-4-3, moving from 11th going into a game on March 10 to their current position and clinched their playoff ticket with a win over Columbus this past Friday. Nashville will face the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the four vs. five match-up. It bodes well for the Preds as they have beaten the Ducks 3 out of 4 times this year. Nashville has been in this position before and knows it’s time to bring a playoff victory to music city. “For us, it’s the next step,” Nashville coach Barry Trotz said Sunday. “Sooner or later we’re going to break through that, and that’s been our goal since losing out last year is to take the next step. Hopefully, we’ll take it this year. From our standpoint, that’s our goal.” Hopefully this is the year that Smashville tastes some playoff success. Coach Trotz and the Predator faithful deserve it.

NBA Power Rankings March March 29,2011

It’s impossible not to take notice of what the Lakers and the Bulls have accomplished since the All-Star break. LA’s run of 15 victories to 1 defeat is astonishing. In fact it’s historic as LA became just the fifth team since the invention of the All-Star game to go at least 15-1 after the break. Four of those teams (Detroit Pistons 89-90, Chicago Bulls 90-91 and the Lakers again back in 99-00) went on to win the NBA title. The inspired play of Andrew Bynum is one of the big reasons the Lakers have returned to championship form. The Lake show have also been scoring like the old show time Lakers and locking down opponents as SI’s Zach Lowe pointed out in his Point Forward column. The Lakers are scoring 109.3 per 100 possessions and only allowing 99 points per 100 possessions. That means their offense is in sync as only the Denver Nuggets have a better points per game average in that span than the Lakers and on defense only the Bulls and Celtics are being more economical. The Spurs recent three game skid has opened the door for LA to possibly snatch the number one seed from the Spurs which a month of two ago was unfathomable.

The Bulls also have been on scorching the league of late with their hot play. Despite their lost to Philly last night, they are still 8-2 over their last 10 games. The lost snapped the Bulls’ home win streak at 14 and “dropped” them to 32-5 at the United Center. The Derrick Rose MVP chatter couldn’t get any louder as he has put up career numbers averaging 25 points and 8 assist a game. Rose may ultimately receive the hardware (Even though I’m more partial to Dwight Howard) but his team’s results in the playoffs may concern him more. I like the Bulls and I think they will be the top seed in the Eastern conference but I don’t think they are ready to leap frog the Celtics in the playoffs. The Celtics have lost 7 of 12 and have looked lost on offense since the injury Rajon Rondo suffered on. Home court advantage may mean a lot to the Bulls but let’s not forget the Celtics made it all the way to the finals as a fourth seed last year. The Celtics are the type of team that can make a run rather they have home court or not, it just doesn’t really matter to with those guys.

Now to the rankings:

1. Los Angeles Lakers (53-20) – The Lakers are in position to claim the number one seed in the west with San Antonio’s recent slide, not that it matters to them. 'It doesn't matter to us whether we catch them or not,' Kobe Bryant said. 'We try to win every game. If we catch them, so be it. If we don't, so be it. Bryant words are those of a former champion. The Lakers know if they play their game, then it’s going to be tough for any opponent to wrangle away the championship from the Lakers.

2. Chicago Bulls (53-20) – The Bulls’ Derrick Rose may get all the attention but it’s really their defense that keeps the train going on the Bulls train. The Bulls defensive stats: ranked first in opponents’ field-goal shooting (42.8 percent), opponents’ three-point shooting (32.7 percent) and second in points allowed (91.1 a game) and rebounds per game (44.4) and fifth in blocks per game (5.72). As the saying goes: Offense sells tickets but defense wins championships. Let’s see if the Bulls can make that quote work for them this year.

3. Miami Heat (51-22) The Heat’s roller coaster season continues with yet more ups and downs. They are definitely on a high at the moment and they made history last week. For the second time in NBA history, the other coming 50 years ago, three teammates all posted at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a regulation game. James had 33 points and 10 rebounds, Bosh added 31 points and 12 rebounds, and Wade finished with 30 points and 11 boards as the Miami Heat beat the Houston. That is what everyone expected from this team since Bosh, Wade, and Lebron had their little introductory pep rally this summer. The Heat have a soft as bread schedule for the rest of the season and actually have a shot at catching the Bulls for top seed and home court advantage in the playoffs.

4. San Antonio Spurs (57-16) – So let’s get this right with all their injuries. When you have Tony Parker out (left knee contusion), Timmy Duncan out (ankle sprain), and Manu Ginobili out (left quad contusion) what do you get? Two losses to the Trail Blazers in three days and your once insurmountable lead in the West dwindled down to 3 ½ games over the Lakers. Can the Spurs hold it together and pull through in the playoffs?

5. Dallas Mavericks (51-21) - I noticed an amazing stat about Peja Stojakovicand the Mavs. When he scores at least 15 in a game the Mavs are 15-0. I say make sure at all cost you get him those 15 points. The depth of this team knows no bounds as they go at least 10 to 11 deep in their regular rotation. That’s not even including the pending comeback of Caron Butler who insists he will be back by the playoffs. We will get to know everything we to know about the Mavs when they face the Lakers this Thursday. The two teams have split the season series and the victor of this game will own the tie breaker should the two teams tie in the standings. In other words it’s a big game and both teams should bring the best out of each other.

Sportaholic NBA Power Rankings and Other News and Notes

Welcome to the first unveiling of the Sportaholic NBA power rankings. I’ve waited this long because I had a feeling that a flurry of deals would happen as they did on the trading deadline (along with finally getting over my short depression that the NFL season is over). The trades have sparked a new interest in the league. You have major markets (New York, Miami, New Jersey) with major stars now (Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams). This is the new landscape of the NBA. Big time players are linking up and building super teams. Some people like it and some don’t. Like it or not that seems to be the future of the league. The Knicks trade is already paying off for them as they took down Miami in the showdown on South Beach. New York made a statement with their two superstars (Anthony and Stoudemire) that they will have something to say about the Eastern conference playoffs.




The smallest but biggest coup in the trade for New York was acquiring Chauncey Billups. Raymond Felton was a good fit for Mike D’antoni fast paced offense but Big-shot Billups is more of a well-rounded guard that should be able to facilitate the offense that features two of the games premier scorers. Billups is not afraid of playing on the big stage that is New York nor taking the big shot as his nickname says. In an ironic twist on all the trade bluster, one of the smallest market teams that didn’t make any move has the best record in the league. That would be none other than San Antonio Spurs.



And with that, let’s unveil the inaugural rankings:

1. San Antonio Spurs (49-10) – The infamously boring but effective Spurs sit atop the Western conference and have the best record in the league. Coach Pop and the bunch received some bad news with Tony Parker calf injury that will sideline him for the next 2-3 weeks but besides that they are hitting on all cylinders. They gutted out a win Sunday against a scrappy Memphis team thanks to Manu’s 35 and his big plays down the stretch. My question for this team is will their torrid pace that they put themselves on result in tired legs in the playoffs? Only time will tell.

2. Dallas Mavericks (43-16) – It is truly shocking just how good the Mavs are right now. They are16-1 over there last 17 games and don’t show any signs of letting up. They have probably the deepest team in the league and Dirk Nowitzki seems to defy father time with each soft step back jumper he makes. If I have to say one bad thing about this team it is health and age. Caron Butler is likely out for the remainder of the season and Roddy Beaubois just came off an ankle injury. That doesn’t bode well for a team with the 3rd oldest roster in the league.

3. Chicago Bulls (40-17) - You can’t start a Bulls conversation these days without bringing up Derrick Rose. The young all-star point guard and MVP candidate does it all offensively for Chicago. He runs the pick and roll, drives fearlessly to rim, and dishes out assists. I knew his game would translate well in the NBA but didn’t think he would be this dominant. The Bulls also have bought in to coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive strategy and now have one of the league’s stingiest defenses. And they didn’t make a trade but got the equivalent of one in getting Joakim Noah back from injury. I can’t wait to see the Eastern conference playoff match-ups. It’s going to be epic in the East this year as far as the playoffs go.

4. LA Lakers (42-19) – The Lakers defeat of Oklahoma City proved that they are still the team to beat in the West. No team in the league can defend their three headed monster in the post featuring the oft injured Andrew Bynum, the hairiest neck in the NBA Pau Gasol and candy man himself Lamar Odom. The Lakers now have won four in a row as they appear to have flipped the switch and are ready to take the season seriously now. I just don’t see how any team in the West can beat the two time defending champs four times in a playoff series, so the West is theirs to lose. Now when they face who ever makes it out the East that will be a different story.

5. Boston Celtics (42-15) – This is the team that everyone fears in the East, I don’t care what anyone says. They are like the old guys in the neighborhood that the young kids have to go through before they get respect. The Perkins trade leaves them vulnerable in the middle but I can understand GM Danny Ainge’s thinking behind the deal. They weren’t going to pay Perkins the amount of money he was looking for after he turned down a 4-year $22 million deal and they needed a big versatile 3-4 man to cover the likes of Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony in case they meet them in the playoffs. Jeff Green fits the bill and gives them what they have been looking for every since Tony Allen left town. Now just because I understand the deal doesn’t mean that I like it. Perkins mean-grimacing face was the prime example of what the Celtics are all about. The vets in the locker room (KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce) were all said to be upset after the deal but its nothing they can do about it. The Orlando Magic and the Lakers should benefit the most from this deal if they happen to meet the Celtics at one time or another in the playoffs.

Other news and notes around the league:

Contract buyout time: Now that trade deadline has come and gone, its time for the buyout players to get signed. Mike Bibby was the first player to begin the process. He was traded to the Wizards and took a $6.2 dollar buyout option to sign else where (Wow, this man really wants a ring). All indications point to him joining the Miami Heat and that would be a welcome addition for the point guard starved team. Bibby doesn’t’ play a lick of defense anymore so that has to be a concern.

After mulling offers from New York, Miami and Orlando, Troy Murphy has decided to take his talents to Boston. The 6-10 power forward is the active leader in games played without appearing in the playoffs (639 games Wow). I think it was great choice for Murphy if he wants to make a playoff run. The Celtics needed him badly after letting Perkins go and having to past their primes O’neal’s on the roster. Murphy was thought to be going to Miami but after news surfaced that Udonis Haslem would be returning soon from injury, meaning that he would likely have split Murphy’s minutes, Murphy choose Boston. Good shrewd signing for the Celtics.

The Kooky Kuseter situation in Detroit – The Pistons are too bad to be making all of this controversy. Why doesn’t Joe Dumars just get rid of this guy? He obviously isn’t meshing well with his players when most of them don’t even bother to come to practice and the voice of the locker room Richard Hamilton is saying what ever he wants to him. Kuester lost the locker room lost a long time ago. Remember when Rodney Stuckey refused to go back in a game after being taken out? Strike one. Remember when Tayshaun Prince and Kuester got into a shouting altercation and Prince had to be restrained? Strike two. And now this Rip Hamilton incident coupled with the players mutiny and laughing at the poor guy when he was thrown out the game for getting teched up twice. It’s truly amazing how long this man has lasted this long in D-town.



Joe Dumars seemed to have the golden touch in the early 2000s when the Pistons were a model of consistency in the NBA. Now after over signing for two good but not great players in Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, he seems to be lost in the portrait of his team. They clearly need to clean house and start over. Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton both need to be moved and will be at any cost after the season. Your team can’t possibly be good if you have washed up Tracy McGrady starting at point guard. Dumars came out and stated that the organization has full support of John Kuester but that is just smoke and mirrors until the season is over. He will be the first one shown the door.

NBA season tip-off

The NBA season gets underway tonight with two games featuring three of the prohibitive favorites going into this season.

The Miami Heat face-off with the defending Eastern conference champions Boston Celtics and the defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers take on the Houston Rockets.

After an off-season in which they dominated the headlines with the free agent signings of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh; Miami finally gets the chance to state their case for the championship. I wasn’t at all thrilled with the choice of Lebron James and the whole “Taking my talents to South Beach” thing. It changed my view of James, who I thought was more of a Michael Jordan type leader. The decision to join forces with Wade and Bosh seems like an easy out for him. Everyone had something to say rather it be negative or positive with his choice. I’m not going to bash the guy for using his rights as a free agent to pick the team of his choice. But I will never view him as the fierce competitor on the level of Jordan, who took his team on his shoulders and carried them to multiple rings. I guess we all should have seen have as more of a Magic Johnson type player.

Boston has flown under the radar as much as a conference winner can. They did add Shaquille O’neal (not the big diesel anymore, more like the big unleaded.), Jermaine O’neal and Delonte West. Those additions will make them one of if the not the deepest team in the league. Their season will hinge on health issues of course as they are one of the oldest teams in the league. The big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen still have their say in the Eastern conference. They are like the old men in the neighborhood who still have enough fight in them to be a cause for concern. The most important player of the team now is Rajon Rondo. His play last year was elevated to an all-star level.This team could very well win the championship OR have multiple injuries and limp to the finish line with nothing.

In the second game of the doubleheader, The Los Angeles Lakers will face off with The Houston Rockets

The Lakers are looking for a three-peat following their championship run of last year. The biggest question mark for this team is the health of their leader Kobe Bryant and starting center Andrew Bynum. Bryant had off season knee surgery and the same goes for Bynum. Kobe was quoted as saying he thinks his knee is 75 -80% going into this season. Andrew Bynum on the other hand will be out until at least late November. The Lakers made some good off season pickups to pick up the slack with Matt Barnes, Steve Blake and Theo Ratliff. Even with Kobe not at 100% they should easily win the Western conference crown. I look for Pau Gasol , Derek Fisher and Ron Artest(as crazy as he is) to hold down the for fort until Kobe is back to 100% and Bynum is returns. A three-peat is likely as this team has the experience and talent to duplicate last year’s results.

The Houston Rockets are a team that hinges on the health (this is becoming redundant) of its big man Yao Ming. He looks to recover from a broken foot that has hindered him all of last year. Aaron Brooks took control of the team in his absence and the Rockets also traded for the sharp shooter Kevin Martin. Luis Scola had a nice tournament in the FIBA world championships, leading the tournament in scoring. This team has a lot of moving part but if it comes together and by that I mean in large part the health of Ming, they should be right in the thick of things for the Western conference.

The opening tip-off games are usually good match-ups and this year is no different. I look for Miami to pull out the victory over Boston and the Lakers to overmatch the Rockets. Enjoy the games, I know I will.