2010-2011 NBA Playoff Preview and Predictions

After a rambunctious and topsy-turvy season, it’s finally time for some NBA playoff basketball. This has to go down as one of the most exciting and unpredictable season’s in history. We knew coming into this year that things would be different as evident by Lebron taking his talents to south beach with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh joining them for the party. Even after that shocking development things got even wilder in the league. Let’s take a quick rundown of everything that has transpired in the last six months:

1. The New York Knicks changed the face of its franchise adding Carmelo Anthony. The “Melo-drama” was the worst kept secret in NBA history and also the longest most overly dramatic trade that I can remember. Melo, the Knicks and the Nuggets held the league hostage for most of the first half of the season.

2. Somehow GM Danny Ainge of the Boston Celtics came up with the idea of trading Kendrick Perkins (effectively ripping out the heart and dominating physical presence from Boston) for Jeff Green and scraps. Now the Celtics are in a rut offensively and everyone points at the Perkins trade as the beginning of their downfall. As one of my friends (Codename_Rufus) and Boston fan put it, KG was depressed and would love to fight ol’ Danny boy if he could.

3. The Lakers have flipped the switch, turned it off again for a minute and look to turn it back on in time for the playoffs. Kobe is getting older and grumpier. He seems to go after teammates more than ever just like old men go after their children more as they age. And have you ever seen a team ever go 17-1 and then promptly lose five in a row? The Lakers have been bored by the regular season but now with the playoffs, they should be at full attention which is scary for most teams.

4. The trading deadline frenzy that saw two superstars (Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams) change teams and a number key role players as well. I would have paid cash money to see Deron Williams face when he realized he was going to New Jersey. The big Russian Prokhorov got his man but at what cost? The Nets gave up lottery pick Derek Favors and more draft picks, and Williams doesn’t even guarantee he will re-sign with the Nets. As I stated above, The Perkins trade was huge for two contending teams as it put OKC over the top and brought Boston back down to the Eastern conference pack. It allowed OKC to beef up their front-line and they also added Nazr Mohammed who is contributing as well. Denver should write a report on how to trade a superstar. After gutting the Knicks roster, they are getting the most out of the players they received in the Carmelo trade and have played even better since he left town. Who saw that coming? The one player who got the short end of the stick had to be Baron ‘B-diddy” Davis. He went from throwing alley-oops to superstar in the making Blake Griffin on the shores of sunny California to throwing tantrums in partly cloudy always a chance of snow Cleveland.

5. The Chicago Bulls are looking like those dynasty Bulls teams of the late 90’s. Derrick Rose has taken his game to the next level and carried Chicago in the process. Coach Tom Thibodeau also deserves a lot of credit for having his team believe in his defensive mentality. They are the feel good story of the year. I can’t remember anyone in the pre-season saying the Bulls would win anything much less the number one seed in the East, but yet I’m never able to forget they are as the bandwagon fans have inundated me with e-mail, texts, and trash-talk. The Bulls have a chance to go all the way because they have two key elements to championship teams: Great defense and a transcendent star player. Don’t be surprised if they are playing in June.

We have really witnessed it all this year and the playoffs will be a culmination of it all it. From deteriorating dynasties in L.A and Boston to ascending powers in Miami and Oklahoma City, the league is as competitive as it has ever been. Starting Saturday, the leagues top teams will be each others throats. Can L.A. flip that switch and stay healthy (namely Andrew ‘Bad Knees” Bynum) one more time? And when will we see the infamous jaw of Kobe jutting out?

Can Lebron, D-wade and Miami live up to the hype and that cute little pep rally , in their first year together? How about OKC now with the front-line to battle L.A, can they overcome their youth and reach the finals? Boston has looked terrible since trading Perkins but it’s their offense that has really fallen apart. Can Rondo find his game and get their motion offense in gear for the grind of the playoffs? What about the guys from Windy City? Are they a regular season behemoth destined to flame out in the playoffs against veteran tested teams? New York has two of the elite scores in all of basketball but hasn’t had enough time to bring it all together. Can Melo and Stoudemire deliver a playoff series victory for the basketball starved Big Apple? The beauty of this whole debate is that it all will be answered in the most anticipated playoffs in NBA history. Every team is stacked with talent and will bring there A-game to the court. As much as I have enjoyed the regular season, I have to admit that I am just salivating at the thought of some of the potential match-ups and what’s going to happen in the post-season.

Here are my humble predictions, starting with the Eastern side of the bracket first:

Eastern Conference first round:

(1) Chicago over (8) Indiana 4-1

(2) Miami over (7) Philadelphia 4-0

(6) New York over (3)Boston 4-2

(4) Orlando over (5) Atlanta 4-1

Western Conference first round:

(1) San Antonio over (8) Memphis 4-2

(2) L.A Lakers over (7) New Orleans 4-0

(6) Portland over (3) Dallas 4-3






(4) Oklahoma City over (5) Denver 4-3

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals:

(1) Chicago over (4) Orlando 4-2

(2) Miami over (6) New York 4-2

Western Conference Semi-Finals:

(4) Oklahoma City over (1) San Antonio 4-3






(3) L.A. Lakers over (6) Portland 4-2

Eastern Conference Finals:



(2) Miami over (1) Chicago 4-3

Western Conference Finals:

(2) L.A. Lakers over (4) Oklahoma City 4-3

NBA Finals:

L.A. Lakers over Miami Heat 4-2

NBA Power Rankings March 23, 2011

Post All-Star break is usually when the real cream on the crop rises in the league. This year is no different as the Lakers, Bulls and Thunder are all making their second half runs. The Lakers have clearly flipped the proverbial switch and have won 13 of their 14 games since the break. Chicago seems to find a way to gut out a victory every night and have taken control of the Eastern conference. The Thunder finally have big man Kendrick Perkins manning the post and are jelling together as a unit. There is no denying that these three teams are poised for deep runs in the playoffs.

On the other hand, you have teams that are nose-diving at this junction of the season. New York seems to have settled into a non-defensive approach to defense. The hype and hoopla of Carmelo’s entrance on the big stage are gone and now he must commit to being a better all-around player rather than just scoring. Carmelo skipping the press conference and leaving A'mare to hang and dry was just wrong. The Spurs may have the number one seed locked down in the west, but just as I predicted they are wearing down after their torrid pace. Tim Duncan’s injury is an indication of trop vieux (old age) as Gregg Poppovich so eloquently put it when he didn’t start Duncan last week.



Now for the rankings:

1. Los Angeles Lakers (50-20) – The Lakers thrilling three overtime victory over the Suns proved that the Lake show have found their groove. The stats from that game as you would imagine are unbelievable. Kobe with 42 points 12 rebounds and 9 assists, Lamar Odom with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Pau Gasol “chipping” in with 24 points and 13 boards of his own. When you add Ron Artest’s 18 points to that it total out to 113 points of the 139 scored for the Lakers. That’s getting it done for the starters. LA keeps rolling along as they prepare for the Zen master’s final playoff run.

2. Chicago Bulls (50-19) The Bulls clinched their first 50 win season since some bald guy named Jordan was playing for them. This team is just so relentless on defense that they just wear down most opponents. Coming into this season I thought they would be a good team but not this good. The emergence of Derrick Rose has catapulted them into elite status this year and for the foreseeable future.

3. Boston Celtics (50-19) – So Doc Rivers pulls out the “S” word on his team to describe how they were playing against New York and the veteran laden team was having none of that. They went on to outscore the Knicks by 24 in the second half and took it to New York physically. The Celtics are like the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NBA. You know they will hit you and they will continue all game long.

4. San Antonio Spurs (57-13) – When you look at their record, it automatically jumps out. To have won 57 of 70 games constitutes that you have a great team, but I just think their record is inflated. When push comes to shove in the western conference playoffs, I would take the Thunder or the Lakers over the Spurs. Tim Duncan age along with injury prone Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli just doesn’t bode well in my eyes for a long playoff run.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder (45-24) – OKC may have the best front office in all of the NBA. Sam Presti came over from San Antonio with the good tutelage from R.C. Buford and has been one of the craftiest GMs in the league every since. His trade for Perkins was brilliant and he reinforced that by adding Nazr Mohammed. Kevin Durant is one of those special players that if he gets hot, its nothing as a defense you can do about it. Durant and Russell Westbrook are a deadly one two punch. This team will do nothing but grow and just like the Chicago Bulls will be an elite team for the foreseeable future.

Heat vs. Knicks brings out the stars.

The Oscars wasn’t the only place filled with stars Sunday night. The New York Knicks vs. the Miami Heat made for a star-studded night in South Beach as well. The Heat with Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh always attract stars when ever they play. New York’s trade for Carmelo Anthony and combining him with Amar’e Stoudemire has made the Knicks one of the marquee franchises in the league once again. Before Carmelo and Stoudemire arrived, the only guaranteed celebrity that would in be the house was Knicks superfan Spike Lee (who of course was in attendance). The list of stars for this game include: Lil Wayne, Birdman, Fat Joe, Floyd Mayweather with his fiancé, Chad Ohcocinco with Evelyn of real basketball wives, Timberland, Michael Clarke Duncan, Venus Williams, Fat Joe and son,DJ Khaled, and even Omarosa showed up. They say Miami is a front-runner city and from the look of this game the reports may be right.

The game itself was a thriller as the Knicks came back from a 16 point deficit to stun Miami. Amare’e Stoudemire’s block in the final seconds sealed the win for the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony led New York with 29 points. Amar’e Stoudemire added 16 points and 10 rebounds. The big three of Miami was only the big two for this game as Lebron scored 27, Chris Bosh had 20 points and 12 rebounds but Dwayne Wade was limited to just 12 points. The Knicks forced 20 turnovers from the Heat in this possible playoff match-up.



Melo Shines in Madison Square Garden Debut

Melo madness reached its tipping last night as he finally made his debut in Madison Square Garden. After starting slow in the first half, Anthony got it going in the second half. When his new partner in crime Amar’e Stoudemire fouled out, it was Anthony who would make two clutch baskets down the stretch to give the Knicks the win. Melo was only 10 for 25 accounting for 27 points and also had 10 boards but it was more about the shots that did fall compared to the ones that didn’t. This was a night to remember in the garden as it was a culmination from all the chaos that has surrounded Anthony for the last seven months. The crowd was described as electric as they cheered for Anthony and his sidekick in the deal, Chancey Billups. The fans in attendance to see Melo’s return home included Chris Rock, Lala Valsquez (Anthony’s wife) Matthew Modine, Woody Allen and of course Spike Lee. And that couldn’t ask for a better start to the renaissance that is New York Knicks basketball.

After all of the “Melo-drama” it was good to see Carmelo actually do what he does on the court. I still question how he and Amar’e will gel over the next 27 games but for at least one night all was well in New York. For everything that was negative about the power play Anthony pulled on the Denver Nuggets was forgiven last night by most fans (Well at least in New York). Billups, who was traded from his hometown and was none to happy about it, put on his happy face and delivered 21 points and 8 assists for his new team. This was only the first night of the saga that has become the new face New York Knicks. Where the destination ends for this team, no one knows but at least for one night, all was well in the garden.

Super Bowl Hangover

The Super Bowl hangover is now in full effect. We now have no football until at least August and quite possibly longer than that with looming NFL labor strife with the players union and the owners. What is a die-hard fan to do in the lulls of winter boredom? If you’re like most fans including myself, you will just turn your attention to the other major sports but the only thing in full swing is basketball. I am an avid basketball fan as well but regular season basketball just doesn’t tickle my fancy as much as a regular season football game. Of course, you are going to have your deep 3-pointers and high-flying dunks with animated commentators such as Marv Albert with his signature “Yes!” .Also in college basketball with Dickie V’s over the top bragging about any player he sees fit for his praise but it not enough for to fill football void. Basketball is my yang and football and is my ying. I’ve always followed both with die-hard status but it always hard to just change my viewing pleasure to mid-season basketball.




It makes it even harder when one person is dominating the headlines of the NBA as much as Carmelo Anthony is right now. So after countless trade rumors about Melo going to the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks, am I suppose to believe that the Los Angeles Lakers have joined the discussion? So I guess now the NBA is in line for its version of super-teams that was ushered in by Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. I just wish he would land somewhere so every time I watch sportscenter I don’t have to hear about it anymore.



College basketball isn’t good until March although The Jimmer is making a case for me to watch a BYU game. I want to catch the latest outfit of one and done players Coach Cal has put together at Kentucky before its too late. North Carolina and Duke games are always good and are about the closest thing to hard hitting you will see in college basketball. But again, I can wait until March in most cases before I tune in for college basketball.



What about baseball you ask? Spring training is right around the corner. The Boston Red Sox have reloaded by adding two of the best young hitters in the game in Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. Philadelphia added ace Cliff Lee after he spurned offers from the Yanks and Texas. And speaking of the Yankees, now what are they going to do without Andy Pettitte? Baseball peaks my interest but again not enough for my football fix. For the life of me I cannot watch an entire nine inning game of baseball. I have tried and tried but I always end up doing one of the following: A.) Falling asleep B.) Hopping on the computer or C.) Flipping the channel after watching a guy foul off 10 pitches. It’s just not the same as seeing Troy Polamalu come off the edge for a blitz or Peyton Manning pump faking the defense for a bomb to Reggie Wayne.



As far as all the other so-called spring and summer sports (Tennis, Race-car driving, Golf etc.), none can come close to the action on the gridiron. For those of us who are die-hard football fans, nothing else can touch the pigskin. The worst Sportcenters are in the summer, tune in to one if you don’t believe me. I call this period of non-football the drought. I find myself sometime watching old college football games with players who are either in the league or doing something entirely different with their lives. I watch the NFL network games just to get a taste of what I’m missing even though I know who is going to win. The only good thing that comes from this is that it makes you tune back in to your regular life. You know like work, your family and the outdoors. One person who never complains when football season is over is my girlfriend, she says this is the only time she can get my attention and maybe she is right.



So in summarizing the only thing for us football fans can do is the things we did before football like enjoying the nice spring weather and our family and friends. That is until football returns.

I'm Back!!

After a much needed hiatus, I am proud to say Sportaholic is back!! I needed to take some time off to clear my head and in doing so missed out on a lot of happenings in the sports world. There was the Melo mega deal that never went down, big time college football and NFL games, and even some division clinching victories in baseball. So without further interruption and not concentrating on what I missed, let's jump back into this thing.

NFL Quick Hits - The best match up of this weekend has to be Philly vs. Washington. The way Vick is going got me thinking that maybe jail is just what he needed to obtain the focus that it takes to perfect the Quarterback position. His pocket presence is now evident and you can tell he is the leader of the team. Kevin Kolb looks as if he is supporting Vick, but I know deep down inside this has to be killing him. As for Washington, they have to be disappointed with last weeks performance against the lowly Rams. Add the spice of Donovan McNabb returning to the city that hated him in the nicest way and you have all the makings of a great game.



Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore - Pittsburgh's defense has been looking like the steel curtain of the 70's here lately. Its crazy how everyone one of the experts had them going at best 2-2 without Big Ben at the helm. As you can tell now, Troy Polamalu is the most valuable player on this team. With him they are a Super Bowl caliber defense and without him the don't even make the playoffs as proven last year. Charlie Batch has more lives than new born cat but he delivers just what the Steelers need. The Ravens finally got off the schenid offensively with a good showing last week. Anquan Boldin and Joe Flacco looked to have chemistry. Now if they could just get that run game with Ray Rice going, then you would be talking. The Ravens defense is not what it use to be which is understandable with the rash of injuries and age starting to catch up with them. At the same token, don't get it twisted they will hit you in the mouth. As long as Ray Lewis is patrolling that side of the ball for them, this will be the case. This should a hard-hitting affair.



New England vs. New York Jets - I wish Tom Brady would cut that damn Justin Bieber looking hair of his (Just had to get that out) but this will be a fun one too. You know there is no love lost between these two teams, and remember Brady was quoted as saying the reason he didn't watch the hard knocks series this year was because he hates the Jets. I would hate them to if they about to take the division for the second straight year. And I just don't trust the D in Pats land. Mark Sanchez all of a sudden looks comfortable in the pocket and is delivering the ball in stride with his receivers. I like what ever he and OC Schottenheimer have come up with. As long as Sexy Rexy can keep the D playing at a high level they should win this game.



NBA news

Miami Heat report to camp - Why do I get the feeling that coverage on this team is going to just get out of control ? I know they have Lebron, D-wade and Bosh (or Bosh Spice as he likes to be called) but the Lakers are the two time defending champs and they never had ESPN covering them like this. If this is what the power team of Lebron marketing wanted, then they got it. What is also funny is the way D-wade is already taking up for his new teammate (Makes me think of the moment T.O had about his Cowboys quarterback) and attacking of all people Charles Barkley. That is going to make for some weird moments on the set of those T-mobile commercials. The point that needs to be made here is that all the hype and publicity aside, this team has not won a game yet. They can talk and defend each other all they want but I'm ready to see how this is going to work. At some point ego's will be hurt and emotions will flair. Its just a matter of time before D-wade goes off for 45 and Lebron only scores 15 or vice versa and one of the two has objection about the others shot selection, mark my words. One thing I can say is that it is going to make for great T.V watching this pan out.

Carmelo, where is your heart? - This is going to end ugly. You get the sense that Melo is going to say all the right things until he does get traded. I mean this guy basically forces the Nuggets hand and doesn't seem to care what the city thinks of him. The New Jersey deal seems like it didn't sit well with him. I never thought it would be a good fit for him. He needs a team with a good point guard to get him the ball and in the process of trading for Melo the Nets would have lost Devin Harris. I just get this feeling that somehow or some way, Donnie Walsh is going to pull a rabbit out his hat and land him for the Knicks. We will have to see how this ends up but don't count on style points from Melo as he exits Denver stage left.

Carmelo Anthony vs Kat Stacks

               

Ding Ding Ding, Lets Get Ready to Rumble!! For those who know Kat Stacks, you know her game by now. She is famous for sleeping with rappers for money and then tells her story for money. Souilja Boy and Bow Wow just to name two but this weekend she happened to mention Carmelo name and he was having none of it. His wife Lala Vasquez also got involved and as most men know when the wife gets involved, the problem is magnified ten times worst. Carmelo responded but offering anyone who had video of Kat Stacks being slapped 5,000 dollars. Yeah I have to admit, I thought about it. If I could find her i would offer her half if she let me do it and we could split the money and everyone wins in that scenario. She obviously needs money too or she wouldn't be sleeping around, I'm just saying. Maybe Lala and Kat can have a Celebrity Boxing match ( If you think calling Stacks a celeb is a stretch, I would not disagree with you) that has to be good for money to charity or something right?

This Kat Stacks is trouble anywhere she shows up. You would think these rappers and athletes would know to stay away from her by now but I guess when and attractive and have a nice body only so much can be expected out of a man. Twitter by the way deleted Carmelo's page and Carmelo says that it was hacked, I'm not buying that Carmelo especially when your wife is saying your on a tweeter roll.

Lesson learned: Stay away from Kat Stacks, Unless your looking for trouble

Editor's note: Kat Stacks has been slapped before, if you have a chance on the bottom right of my blog look up Kat Stacks gets slapped on the you tube player and enjoy!