1. Chicago Bulls-Derrick Rose, PG, 6'3", Memphis
2. Miami Heat-Michael Beasley, PF, 6'9", Kansas St.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves-OJ Mayo, SG, 6'4", USC
4. Los Angeles Clippers-Eric Gordon, SG, 6'3", Indiana
5. Memphis Grizzlies-Kevin Love, PF, 6'10", UCLA
6. New York Knicks-Danillo Gallinari, SF, 6'8", Italy
7. Seattle Supersonics-Brook Lopez, C, 7'0", Stanford
8. Milwaukee Bucks-Russell Westbrook, PG, 6'3", UCLA
9. Charlotte Bobcats-Jerryd Bayliss, PG, 6'3", Arizona
10. New Jersey Nets-Joe Alexander, SF, 6'8", West Virginia
11. Indiana Pacers-Darrell Arthur, PF, 6'9", Kansas
12. Sacramento Kings-DJ Augustin, 6'0", PG, Texas
13. Portland Trail Blazers-Brandon Rush, SG, 6'6", Kansas
14. Golden State Warriors-Anthony Randolph, PF, 6'10", LSU
15. Phoenix Suns-Donte Green, SF, 6'10", Syracuse
16. Philadelphia 76ers-Jason Thompson, PF, 6'11", Rider
17. Indiana Pacers-Kosta Koufos, C, 7'0", Ohio St.
18. Washington Wizards-Roy Hibbert, C, 7'2", Georgetown
19. Cleveland Cavaliers-Robin Lopez, C, 7'0", Stanford
20. Charlotte Bobcats-Alexis Ajinca, C, 7'1", France
21. New Jersey Nets-JJ Hickson, PF, 6'9", North Carolina St.
22. Orlando Magic-Marreese Speights, PF, 6'10", Florida
23. Utah Jazz-JaVale McGee, C, 7'0", Nevada
24. Seattle Supersonics-Serge Ibaka, PF, 6'10", Congo
25. Houston Rockets-Chris Douglas-Roberts, 6'6", SG, Memphis
26. San Antonio Spurs-Ryan Anderson, PF, 6'10", California
27. Portland Trail Blazers-Nicolas Batum, SF, 6'8", France
28. Memphis Grizzlies-Ante Tomic, C, 7'2", Croatia
29. Detroit Pistons-Bill Walker, SF, 6'6", Kansas St.
30. Boston Celtics-Courtney Lee, SG, 6'5", Western Kentucky
Monday, June 23, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Throwback Finals
Lakers vs Celtics
30 Titles. 45 Finals appearances. Numerous Hall of Famers. The NBA has many rivalries, but no one questions the biggest rivalry of all, the one so big, they even named a video game after it. Lakers vs Celtics. Oh, you don't think it's a big deal? I guess you didn't see Paul Pierce's reaction after the C's finished off the Pistons in Game 6. I guess you didn't see the tears rolling down Kevin Garnett's face during the post game interview. This team knows how big this is and I'm sure the Lakers do too. Ordinarily, I'd give you a brief synopsis of my prognostication, but this is an entirely different bird. I'm breaking this down position by position.
PG: Rajon Rondo vs Derek Fisher Both help the teams in different ways, mostly as facilitators. Rondo's strengths are penetration and defense, Fisher's are clutch shooting and hustle. Fisher's postseason shooting has been off the radar, as he's shot 55% from 3-point range and will certainly make Rondo pay if he's caught cheating on defense. Generally, Rondo plays very good defense and is a top-notch rebounding guard, but he does have a tendency to overplay, so he better be careful not to pay too much attention to Kobe or Fisher will burn him. Edge: Push
SG: Ray Allen vs Kobe Bryant Kobe has come full circle as a basketball player, capturing his first MVP. The biggest adjustment in his game has been his ability to play within the offense and pick and choose when to take over. Always a spectacular scorer, now with improved shot selection and better teammates, Kobe has only two games in which he's shot under 40% while leading all playoff scorers at a 31.9 ppg clip. After going through an ugly playoff funk, Ray Allen, one of the deadliest 3-point shooters in NBA History, reemerged with a strong series against Detroit, a good omen going into the Finals. He's still shooting only 39% from the field this postseason and just 33% from 3-point range, although most of that can be attributed to the bad series he had against Cleveland. Edge: Lakers
SF: Paul Pierce vs Lamar Odom Pierce is the official go-to guy on the Celtics and he's played his best in series clinchers, including a 41 point performance in Game 7 against Cleveland and a 27 point performance in Game 6 against Detroit. Odom is a matchup headache, as he's too big for SF's and too quick for PF's with excellent passing skills and an assortment of low-post moves. He's also an improved rebounder, as he averaged 10.6 rpg during the regular season and 10.3 in the playoffs. If there is one difference, it's that Pierce is a little more consistent as a scorer and gets to the line more frequently. Edge: Celtics
PF: Kevin Garnett vs Vladimir Radmonovic KG has been everything to the Celtics from the standpoint of defense and leadership. He's at his best when facing up from 15 feet and knocking down jumpers from the left and right baseline. The Celtics will need him to dominate in the low block, however, as he has a clear advantage in size and athleticism against Vladimir Radmonovic. Radmonovic must force KG to respect his shot, as that's the only way to keep him out of the paint, where he's his most dominant defensively. Edge: Celtics
C: Kendrick Perkins vs Pau Gasol Perkins has benefitted from the defensive attention KG draws and is usually a cinch to score when he does get whatever limited touches he's alotted. He'll mainly be asked to do the dirty work, this time checking Pau Gasol, who has a beautiful inside game and excellent passing ability. As the Lakers' #2 option, he's been the perfect fit, as his soft hands are reason for Kobe to trust him in a way he could never trust Kwame Brown. While his shooting was off in the San Antonio series, he made up in a big way in Game 5 with a 19-rebound performance to help put the Lakers in the Finals. Edge: Lakers
Bench The Celtics have mostly gone with an eight-man rotation in the postseason. James Posey is a hard-nosed defender who can spell either Pierce or Allen and play some PF when the Celtics decide to go with a quicker lineup. PJ Brown is a savvy veteran who also plays physical defense and a soft touch from the baseline. Sam Cassell, while notorious for his stop-and-pop game, has struggled to get his shot off this postseason while Eddie House has played very well in his limited action. The Lakers have the deepest team in the NBA, as they can easily go 9 deep and not lose much. Jordan Farmar is an excellent penetrator and defender, Sasha Vujacic is a pesky defender with size to play either guard position, and Luke Walton is an excellent passer. Ronny Turiaf is an animal on the offensive glass and plays much bigger than his 6'8" frame. All four are versatile players, the kind Phil Jackson loves to employ in his Triangle Offense. Edge: Lakers
Coaching Phil Jackson is going for his 10th NBA Title and has long been reputable for knowing how to coach superstar players. Getting Kobe Bryant to buy into his system has been a long struggle, but Phil now has the perfect team to surround his superstar with. Phil is also unafraid to take chances, as he'll use his bench to help his team fight out of a deficit and not call timeouts even when his team is struggling. This strategy has proven effective, as it empowers players of lesser talent to take key shots with the game on the line if given the open look. Doc Rivers has also garnered a reputation for using his bench pretty liberally, although in this postseason, he's gone mostly to his veterans. Always a defensive player first, Rivers has taken that philosophy into his coaching, as the Celtics were the toughest team in the league defensively in the regular season. The Celtics are also an excellent passing team, although they sometimes have a tendency to overpass and haven't always been in synch offensively. Edge: Lakers
Verdict Boston has three very good, hungry star players, but the Lakers have the most feared offensive weapon in the NBA and a great team to surround him with. The key for Boston will be keeping Kobe in check, and they'll likely run Pierce, Allen, Posey, and at times even Tony Allen at him to throw him off his rhythm. As for LA, they'll likely treat KG the same defensively, mixing up their coverage between Gasol, Radmonovic and Turiaf. Paul Pierce is very good, but he'll have to play spectacular to keep up with Kobe, and over a seven game series, he may not be able to match that intensity. The Lakers are a deadly offensive team, but they proved in the San Antonio series that even when their shots aren't falling, they can turn it up a notch on the other end and force teams out of rhythm. The Celtics finally figured out their sudden road woes in the Detroit series, but it'll be tough for them to win a game in Staples, where the Lakers are undefeated in postseason play and haven't lost since late March. Lakers in 6
Playoff record: 12-2
30 Titles. 45 Finals appearances. Numerous Hall of Famers. The NBA has many rivalries, but no one questions the biggest rivalry of all, the one so big, they even named a video game after it. Lakers vs Celtics. Oh, you don't think it's a big deal? I guess you didn't see Paul Pierce's reaction after the C's finished off the Pistons in Game 6. I guess you didn't see the tears rolling down Kevin Garnett's face during the post game interview. This team knows how big this is and I'm sure the Lakers do too. Ordinarily, I'd give you a brief synopsis of my prognostication, but this is an entirely different bird. I'm breaking this down position by position.
PG: Rajon Rondo vs Derek Fisher Both help the teams in different ways, mostly as facilitators. Rondo's strengths are penetration and defense, Fisher's are clutch shooting and hustle. Fisher's postseason shooting has been off the radar, as he's shot 55% from 3-point range and will certainly make Rondo pay if he's caught cheating on defense. Generally, Rondo plays very good defense and is a top-notch rebounding guard, but he does have a tendency to overplay, so he better be careful not to pay too much attention to Kobe or Fisher will burn him. Edge: Push
SG: Ray Allen vs Kobe Bryant Kobe has come full circle as a basketball player, capturing his first MVP. The biggest adjustment in his game has been his ability to play within the offense and pick and choose when to take over. Always a spectacular scorer, now with improved shot selection and better teammates, Kobe has only two games in which he's shot under 40% while leading all playoff scorers at a 31.9 ppg clip. After going through an ugly playoff funk, Ray Allen, one of the deadliest 3-point shooters in NBA History, reemerged with a strong series against Detroit, a good omen going into the Finals. He's still shooting only 39% from the field this postseason and just 33% from 3-point range, although most of that can be attributed to the bad series he had against Cleveland. Edge: Lakers
SF: Paul Pierce vs Lamar Odom Pierce is the official go-to guy on the Celtics and he's played his best in series clinchers, including a 41 point performance in Game 7 against Cleveland and a 27 point performance in Game 6 against Detroit. Odom is a matchup headache, as he's too big for SF's and too quick for PF's with excellent passing skills and an assortment of low-post moves. He's also an improved rebounder, as he averaged 10.6 rpg during the regular season and 10.3 in the playoffs. If there is one difference, it's that Pierce is a little more consistent as a scorer and gets to the line more frequently. Edge: Celtics
PF: Kevin Garnett vs Vladimir Radmonovic KG has been everything to the Celtics from the standpoint of defense and leadership. He's at his best when facing up from 15 feet and knocking down jumpers from the left and right baseline. The Celtics will need him to dominate in the low block, however, as he has a clear advantage in size and athleticism against Vladimir Radmonovic. Radmonovic must force KG to respect his shot, as that's the only way to keep him out of the paint, where he's his most dominant defensively. Edge: Celtics
C: Kendrick Perkins vs Pau Gasol Perkins has benefitted from the defensive attention KG draws and is usually a cinch to score when he does get whatever limited touches he's alotted. He'll mainly be asked to do the dirty work, this time checking Pau Gasol, who has a beautiful inside game and excellent passing ability. As the Lakers' #2 option, he's been the perfect fit, as his soft hands are reason for Kobe to trust him in a way he could never trust Kwame Brown. While his shooting was off in the San Antonio series, he made up in a big way in Game 5 with a 19-rebound performance to help put the Lakers in the Finals. Edge: Lakers
Bench The Celtics have mostly gone with an eight-man rotation in the postseason. James Posey is a hard-nosed defender who can spell either Pierce or Allen and play some PF when the Celtics decide to go with a quicker lineup. PJ Brown is a savvy veteran who also plays physical defense and a soft touch from the baseline. Sam Cassell, while notorious for his stop-and-pop game, has struggled to get his shot off this postseason while Eddie House has played very well in his limited action. The Lakers have the deepest team in the NBA, as they can easily go 9 deep and not lose much. Jordan Farmar is an excellent penetrator and defender, Sasha Vujacic is a pesky defender with size to play either guard position, and Luke Walton is an excellent passer. Ronny Turiaf is an animal on the offensive glass and plays much bigger than his 6'8" frame. All four are versatile players, the kind Phil Jackson loves to employ in his Triangle Offense. Edge: Lakers
Coaching Phil Jackson is going for his 10th NBA Title and has long been reputable for knowing how to coach superstar players. Getting Kobe Bryant to buy into his system has been a long struggle, but Phil now has the perfect team to surround his superstar with. Phil is also unafraid to take chances, as he'll use his bench to help his team fight out of a deficit and not call timeouts even when his team is struggling. This strategy has proven effective, as it empowers players of lesser talent to take key shots with the game on the line if given the open look. Doc Rivers has also garnered a reputation for using his bench pretty liberally, although in this postseason, he's gone mostly to his veterans. Always a defensive player first, Rivers has taken that philosophy into his coaching, as the Celtics were the toughest team in the league defensively in the regular season. The Celtics are also an excellent passing team, although they sometimes have a tendency to overpass and haven't always been in synch offensively. Edge: Lakers
Verdict Boston has three very good, hungry star players, but the Lakers have the most feared offensive weapon in the NBA and a great team to surround him with. The key for Boston will be keeping Kobe in check, and they'll likely run Pierce, Allen, Posey, and at times even Tony Allen at him to throw him off his rhythm. As for LA, they'll likely treat KG the same defensively, mixing up their coverage between Gasol, Radmonovic and Turiaf. Paul Pierce is very good, but he'll have to play spectacular to keep up with Kobe, and over a seven game series, he may not be able to match that intensity. The Lakers are a deadly offensive team, but they proved in the San Antonio series that even when their shots aren't falling, they can turn it up a notch on the other end and force teams out of rhythm. The Celtics finally figured out their sudden road woes in the Detroit series, but it'll be tough for them to win a game in Staples, where the Lakers are undefeated in postseason play and haven't lost since late March. Lakers in 6
Playoff record: 12-2
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
NBA Conference Finals Predictions
Eastern Conference Finals
Boston vs Detroit From December going forward, this was the cinch matchup for the Eastern Conference crown, and now that it has come to fruition, expect nothing less than a war. Looking at this series, it's important to note how the regular season series went. Ordinarily I steer clear of this when it comes to analyzing a matchup, but Boston so completely dominated Detroit in regular season play, I can't help but feel they're the favorite in this series. For them to win, however, they'll have to do it with Ray Allen's jumper completely shot. While Allen struggled throughout the Cleveland series, however, Rajon Rondo, Eddie House and James Posey all stepped it up and Paul Pierce saved his best performances for Games 5 and 7. If he can carry that confidence into the Detroit series, I don't think the Pistons will have an answer.
Key Matchup: Rasheed Wallace vs Kevin Garnett If Detroit has a wild card, it's Rasheed Wallace. While his offensive effectiveness has declined in the last couple years, if he can find a rhythm on offense and play like a beast on defense, he could keep Detroit in this series. It will be tough, however, going against the defensive player of the year in KG. Whoever plays with the most emotional stability wins the matchup and ultimately the series. KG has been known to be a bit high strung, but he's less likely to commit those backbreaking technical fouls by letting officials take him out of his game. Prediction: Celtics in 7
Western Conference Finals
Lakers vs Spurs The other conference finals out west should be just as compelling, as these two teams have dominated the past decade, 7 of the last 9 championships between them. There's a good chance one of these teams may hoist a banner at the end of the season. Both teams faced tough semifinal series' so fatigue won't be much of a factor. If anything though, it may affect the Spurs, who are coming off a draining seven game series against the Hornets that took every ounce of energy they had. These are not the youngest guys in the league either, as four of their five starters are in their thirties. It will be imperative that the Spurs get contributions from their bench, and not just Ginobili, as the Lakers have the deepest team in the NBA.
Key Matchup: Bruce Bowen vs Kobe Bryant He's gotten a lot older, but Bowen still has his same old reputation as a physical, borderline dirty defender. Now he draws the toughest assignment in all of basketball in Kobe Bryant. The scary part for Bowen is, the more physically you play Bryant, the more angry it gets him, to the point where by the 5th and 6th games, he's pulling up from 20 and draining jumpers in your face after about six headfakes. You'd rather Kobe the jumpshooter than Kobe the penetrator beat you though, so if Bowen can just contain Kobe until Duncan switches over, SA has a chance. That will be much harder than in years past, however, as he can't take his eyes off Pau and he can't really guard Radmonovic either, as that takes him away from the hoop. Prediction: Lakers in 7
Playoff Record: 10-2
Boston vs Detroit From December going forward, this was the cinch matchup for the Eastern Conference crown, and now that it has come to fruition, expect nothing less than a war. Looking at this series, it's important to note how the regular season series went. Ordinarily I steer clear of this when it comes to analyzing a matchup, but Boston so completely dominated Detroit in regular season play, I can't help but feel they're the favorite in this series. For them to win, however, they'll have to do it with Ray Allen's jumper completely shot. While Allen struggled throughout the Cleveland series, however, Rajon Rondo, Eddie House and James Posey all stepped it up and Paul Pierce saved his best performances for Games 5 and 7. If he can carry that confidence into the Detroit series, I don't think the Pistons will have an answer.
Key Matchup: Rasheed Wallace vs Kevin Garnett If Detroit has a wild card, it's Rasheed Wallace. While his offensive effectiveness has declined in the last couple years, if he can find a rhythm on offense and play like a beast on defense, he could keep Detroit in this series. It will be tough, however, going against the defensive player of the year in KG. Whoever plays with the most emotional stability wins the matchup and ultimately the series. KG has been known to be a bit high strung, but he's less likely to commit those backbreaking technical fouls by letting officials take him out of his game. Prediction: Celtics in 7
Western Conference Finals
Lakers vs Spurs The other conference finals out west should be just as compelling, as these two teams have dominated the past decade, 7 of the last 9 championships between them. There's a good chance one of these teams may hoist a banner at the end of the season. Both teams faced tough semifinal series' so fatigue won't be much of a factor. If anything though, it may affect the Spurs, who are coming off a draining seven game series against the Hornets that took every ounce of energy they had. These are not the youngest guys in the league either, as four of their five starters are in their thirties. It will be imperative that the Spurs get contributions from their bench, and not just Ginobili, as the Lakers have the deepest team in the NBA.
Key Matchup: Bruce Bowen vs Kobe Bryant He's gotten a lot older, but Bowen still has his same old reputation as a physical, borderline dirty defender. Now he draws the toughest assignment in all of basketball in Kobe Bryant. The scary part for Bowen is, the more physically you play Bryant, the more angry it gets him, to the point where by the 5th and 6th games, he's pulling up from 20 and draining jumpers in your face after about six headfakes. You'd rather Kobe the jumpshooter than Kobe the penetrator beat you though, so if Bowen can just contain Kobe until Duncan switches over, SA has a chance. That will be much harder than in years past, however, as he can't take his eyes off Pau and he can't really guard Radmonovic either, as that takes him away from the hoop. Prediction: Lakers in 7
Playoff Record: 10-2
Monday, May 5, 2008
Round 2 NBA Predictions
Eastern Conference
Celtics vs Cavaliers This intriguing second round matchup pits the most explosive offensive player in the Eastern Conference against the NBA's best star trio. The Celts' Big 3 got put to the test in the last round, though, as they got more of a battle than anticipated from the upstart Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks extended a series many thought would be a sweep to seven games by winning all three games in Atlanta. Boston was able to close out the series, winning the decisive seventh game by 34 points while playing with the kind of defensive intensity that was curiously absent in Atlanta. While the Cavs are not as athletic as the Hawks, they have the same type of big-time scorer in LeBron James, except James is a better passer and rebounder than Joe Johnson. The Cavs also have plenty of good perimeter shooters, so it'll be important for the Celtics not to get too lured in by James's drives to the hoop.
Key Matchup: Rajon Rondo vs Delonte West The two PG's should be very familiar with each other by now after practicing against each other last year in Boston. Each is further down in the pecking order of the starting rotation, but each plays a big key in this series. West's job will be to make the defense respect him. He hit some big shots in the Washington series, including the game winner in the Game 4, but faces a much tougher test with the swarming defense of Rondo to deal with. For Rondo, the key will be getting Pierce, Allen and KG their shots and managing the game, something he was far more effective at in the Celtics' home games. Defensively, he just needs to stay at home on West and not be too tempted to play help defense on LeBron. If he can play within himself and not buckle under the pressure he'll face away from Boston, he'll be the key in helping the Celtics get that one key road victory they'll need in this series.
Prediction: Celtics in 6
Pistons vs Magic This is a far cry from last year's first round matchup, one in which the Pistons swept aside the young Magic. With Dwight Howard recording three 20-20 games, the Magic easily disposed of the Raptors in five games and are pumped up for the powerhouse Pistons, who are looking to make their sixth straight Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Detroit had a small scare from Philadelphia in round 1, losing two of the first three games and falling behind by 10 at halftime of Game 4. Obviously, at that point, something clicked and the Pistons transformed into the monster everyone thought they'd be going into the postseason. The Magic should present a good challenge for Detroit, as they have a front line that's about equal to the Pistons. Their inferior backcourt, however, may be their shortcoming if they do hope to pull an upset here.
Key Matchup: Rasheed Wallace vs Rashard Lewis Both are excellent supporting players who compliment the stars very well. Rasheed has long been the enforcer on the Pistons, a defensive whiz in the paint who makes the jobs of Billups and Hamilton easier. He has an excellent post-up game and can even draw the defense out with the three. Rashard shoots threes too, far more frequently and also has the mid-range game to go with it. His presence on the floor has done wonders to free Howard and Turkoglu for easier shots. For Detroit to win, Wallace must dominate inside and must also keep his emotions in check, as he has a tendency to blow up at officials and take himself out of games. Lewis needs to score consistently even if played physically and drag Wallace away from the hoop to give his teammates easy looks inside. Whoever performs their role better will likely experience the most team success.
Prediction: Pistons in 5
Western Conference
Lakers vs Jazz The Jazz have got to be nervous right about now. The Lakers have their strongest team since the 2002 Championship season and are so deep, even losing Andrew Bynum for the year doesn't seem to faze them. They have the most explosve offensive weapon in all of basketball in Kobe Bryant, who finally captured his long-deserved MVP trophy, and if that's not enough, the amazing chemistry of Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. The Jazz overcame a very physical series with Houston, getting by on a sensational series from Deron Williams while the Lakers are well-rested, coming off a four-game sweep against the Nuggets. For them to beat the Lakers, however, they'll need more than just Williams, as the front line, in particular Carlos Boozer, will need to step up.
Key Matchup: Lamar Odom vs Andrei Kirilenko Kirilenko is the only player size-wise who can check Odom, and while he did a good job early in the Houston series against Tracy McGrady, his defensive effectiveness lessened as he became less involved in the offense. If Boozer can't get on track, it's important to keep Kirilenko active if the Jazz want to have a chance in the series. His defense becomes that much more valuable when he actually gets a few touches here and there.
Prediction: Lakers in 6
Hornets vs Spurs He's not quite on the level of a Kobe Bryant, but there's no denying the major impact Chris Paul has had on the NBA's most surprising team. The Spurs' would be ill advised trying to guard him the way they did Steve Nash, as Paul is quicker, more athletic and can get his shot off in traffic. Meanwhile, the Hornets also have a bruising guard by the name of Bonzi Wells who always manhandles Ginobili because he's big enough to post him up and three leapers to check the always-unstoppable Tim Duncan.
Key Matchup: Tyson Chandler vs Tim Duncan Duncan's monster series against Phoenix had everything to do with the Suns' weak interior defense, but the Hornets' interior D is anything but weak. Aside from Chandler, who's becoming a force in the paint, they also have a couple pogo-sticks off the bench in Chris Andersen and Hilton Armstrong. They have enough length to force Duncan to change his shots and keep him out of rhythm. They'll also do an excellent job of keeping Tony Parker out of the paint. The more they can limit Parker's penetration and Duncan's post game, the better shot the Hornets have in this series.
Prediction: Hornets in 7
First Round Record: 7-1
Celtics vs Cavaliers This intriguing second round matchup pits the most explosive offensive player in the Eastern Conference against the NBA's best star trio. The Celts' Big 3 got put to the test in the last round, though, as they got more of a battle than anticipated from the upstart Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks extended a series many thought would be a sweep to seven games by winning all three games in Atlanta. Boston was able to close out the series, winning the decisive seventh game by 34 points while playing with the kind of defensive intensity that was curiously absent in Atlanta. While the Cavs are not as athletic as the Hawks, they have the same type of big-time scorer in LeBron James, except James is a better passer and rebounder than Joe Johnson. The Cavs also have plenty of good perimeter shooters, so it'll be important for the Celtics not to get too lured in by James's drives to the hoop.
Key Matchup: Rajon Rondo vs Delonte West The two PG's should be very familiar with each other by now after practicing against each other last year in Boston. Each is further down in the pecking order of the starting rotation, but each plays a big key in this series. West's job will be to make the defense respect him. He hit some big shots in the Washington series, including the game winner in the Game 4, but faces a much tougher test with the swarming defense of Rondo to deal with. For Rondo, the key will be getting Pierce, Allen and KG their shots and managing the game, something he was far more effective at in the Celtics' home games. Defensively, he just needs to stay at home on West and not be too tempted to play help defense on LeBron. If he can play within himself and not buckle under the pressure he'll face away from Boston, he'll be the key in helping the Celtics get that one key road victory they'll need in this series.
Prediction: Celtics in 6
Pistons vs Magic This is a far cry from last year's first round matchup, one in which the Pistons swept aside the young Magic. With Dwight Howard recording three 20-20 games, the Magic easily disposed of the Raptors in five games and are pumped up for the powerhouse Pistons, who are looking to make their sixth straight Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Detroit had a small scare from Philadelphia in round 1, losing two of the first three games and falling behind by 10 at halftime of Game 4. Obviously, at that point, something clicked and the Pistons transformed into the monster everyone thought they'd be going into the postseason. The Magic should present a good challenge for Detroit, as they have a front line that's about equal to the Pistons. Their inferior backcourt, however, may be their shortcoming if they do hope to pull an upset here.
Key Matchup: Rasheed Wallace vs Rashard Lewis Both are excellent supporting players who compliment the stars very well. Rasheed has long been the enforcer on the Pistons, a defensive whiz in the paint who makes the jobs of Billups and Hamilton easier. He has an excellent post-up game and can even draw the defense out with the three. Rashard shoots threes too, far more frequently and also has the mid-range game to go with it. His presence on the floor has done wonders to free Howard and Turkoglu for easier shots. For Detroit to win, Wallace must dominate inside and must also keep his emotions in check, as he has a tendency to blow up at officials and take himself out of games. Lewis needs to score consistently even if played physically and drag Wallace away from the hoop to give his teammates easy looks inside. Whoever performs their role better will likely experience the most team success.
Prediction: Pistons in 5
Western Conference
Lakers vs Jazz The Jazz have got to be nervous right about now. The Lakers have their strongest team since the 2002 Championship season and are so deep, even losing Andrew Bynum for the year doesn't seem to faze them. They have the most explosve offensive weapon in all of basketball in Kobe Bryant, who finally captured his long-deserved MVP trophy, and if that's not enough, the amazing chemistry of Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. The Jazz overcame a very physical series with Houston, getting by on a sensational series from Deron Williams while the Lakers are well-rested, coming off a four-game sweep against the Nuggets. For them to beat the Lakers, however, they'll need more than just Williams, as the front line, in particular Carlos Boozer, will need to step up.
Key Matchup: Lamar Odom vs Andrei Kirilenko Kirilenko is the only player size-wise who can check Odom, and while he did a good job early in the Houston series against Tracy McGrady, his defensive effectiveness lessened as he became less involved in the offense. If Boozer can't get on track, it's important to keep Kirilenko active if the Jazz want to have a chance in the series. His defense becomes that much more valuable when he actually gets a few touches here and there.
Prediction: Lakers in 6
Hornets vs Spurs He's not quite on the level of a Kobe Bryant, but there's no denying the major impact Chris Paul has had on the NBA's most surprising team. The Spurs' would be ill advised trying to guard him the way they did Steve Nash, as Paul is quicker, more athletic and can get his shot off in traffic. Meanwhile, the Hornets also have a bruising guard by the name of Bonzi Wells who always manhandles Ginobili because he's big enough to post him up and three leapers to check the always-unstoppable Tim Duncan.
Key Matchup: Tyson Chandler vs Tim Duncan Duncan's monster series against Phoenix had everything to do with the Suns' weak interior defense, but the Hornets' interior D is anything but weak. Aside from Chandler, who's becoming a force in the paint, they also have a couple pogo-sticks off the bench in Chris Andersen and Hilton Armstrong. They have enough length to force Duncan to change his shots and keep him out of rhythm. They'll also do an excellent job of keeping Tony Parker out of the paint. The more they can limit Parker's penetration and Duncan's post game, the better shot the Hornets have in this series.
Prediction: Hornets in 7
First Round Record: 7-1
Friday, April 18, 2008
NBA Postseason Awards and 1st Round Predictions
MVP: Kobe Bryant, Lakers I felt the last couple years he should have won this award, but with his scoring as high as its ever been and his assists going up thanks to finally having good teammates to pass the ball to, there's little doubt Kobe deserves this award. As tough as the West has been this year, to finish ahead of teams like Utah, San Antonio and Phoenix, who have just as much, if not more talent than this team is a tribute to Kobe's overall brilliance. Now that the playoffs are upon him, he's got every shot to carry this team to the Finals and a shot at possibly a fourth ring.
Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant, Sonics He was the only rookie out of this class to play close to a star level, as Durant is already a natural scorer facing up. His poor shooting can be somewhat attributed to his shot selection, which will improve over time, but also due to the fact that he was often playing out of position. He's probably more of a SF, as he has a very good mid-range game, but he was streaky from the perimeter at the SG spot. Al Horford and Luis Scola had solid years as well and experience a bit more team success, but their scoring numbers aren't close to Durant's and they didn't get quite enough rebounds to make up for it.
Coach of the Year: Byron Scott, Hornets One of the big keys for the Hornets this year was staying healthy, but even so, Scott's team, outside of Chris Paul, still had a lot of question marks and he deserves a lot of credit for getting so much out of Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic, the former a raw talent still trying to reach his potential and the latter a shooting star who had missed parts of the last two years with injuries. He also uses his bench well, letting guys like Jannero Pargo and Julian Wright earn minutes through their strong play and the team chemistry he's had has allowed the Hornets to compete with the West's elite and surprise everybody by clinching the stacked Southwest Division.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Garnett, Celtics Doc Rivers's hiring of Tom Thibodeau to manage the defense was a brilliant move, and the alpha dog in his system has been none other than KG. His rebounding and blocked shot numbers are actually surprisingly low for his standards, but a big part of the Celtics' 66 wins has been giving up the fewest points per game in the NBA. Garnett's presence in the paint has allowed Allen, Pierce and Rondo to gamble for steals. He's constantly active, making plays to disrupt ball rotation and force bad shots. The truth is, Garnett has always been a standout player defensively. He's just getting a chance to show it more on a team built for success.
Most Improved Player: Al Jefferson, Timberwolves While he's nowhere close to KG defensively, Jefferson's one of a small handful of players to average over 20 ppg and 10 rpg this past season. Since he's pretty much the T-Wolves only reliable offensive weapon, he's gotten more touches and has developed a rhythm with his smooth post-up game. He did it despite playing out of position at center for much of the year, so it's imperative that McHale find a good big man to take pressure off of him.
Sixth Man of the Year: Manu Ginobili, Spurs Ginobili led all reserves in scoring and has thrived in the role, as his hustle and energy is actually more valuable on the second unit. Don't be fooled though, because you know Popovich will have this fearless clutch shooter out on the floor in crunch time. Whether it's acrobatic shots or fancy passes, Ginobili is a playmaker deluxe and a real pain in the ass to play against.
Round 1
Eastern Conference
Celtics vs Hawks This should be a good warmup series for the Celtics and a chance to rest plenty of their starters if they can take care of business. The Hawks have a lot of young talent, the problem is they're inexperienced on the big stage. Against a tough defense like Boston, they'll be forced to rely too much on Joe Johnson, who's their only real threat as a scorer.
Key Matchup: Rondo vs Bibby If the Hawks want any shot in this series, Bibby is going to have to win this battle. He has the edge in postseason experience, but as long as Rondo plays within himself and plays the same harrassing defense on Bibby he plays on everyone else, the C's should win handily.
Prediction: Celtics in 4
Pistons vs Sixers The Pistons have as deep a team as the 2004 squad that won the NBA title, as Joe Dumars' draft brilliance has landed the Pistons a good enough bench to give the starters rest in key stretches. That bench will be sorely needed in this series as well, as the Pistons go against a young, athletic Sixers' team playing with a ton of confidence.
Key Matchup: Tayshaun Prince vs Andre Igoudala The big key for Prince won't be to shut Igoudala down, as that's very hard to do, but to force him to shoot a low percentage and work some of his unorthodox offense into the picture. As long as Prince is active on defense and doesn't get shut out of the offense, the Pistons have an easy series. If Iggy goes off though, they're in for a battle.
Prediction: Pistons in 5
Magic vs Raptors These two teams are built in similar fashion. Both have dominant PF's who control the paint for their respective ballclubs and plenty of great shooters to surround them with. The difference is Orlando's a little bit better and Toronto's backcourt isn't consistent enough to exploit the Magic's glaring weakness in their own backcourt.
Key Matchup: Jamario Moon vs Hedo Turkoglu Moon is the X-factor in this series. He'll be asked to guard the Magic's most improved player and help out Bosh on the boards, as he'll have his hands full with man-beast Dwight Howard. If he can take away Turkoglu as a weapon, the Raptors will limit the Magic's scoring options and put more pressure on Howard to deliver inside.
Prediction: Magic in 6
Cavaliers vs Wizards The Wizards have been sent home, courtesy of these same Cavs, in each of the last two years. Still, they come into this series with a lot of swagger with Arenas and Butler finally healed from injuries. Cleveland, meanwhile, has struggled to find an identity since making the blockbuster trade that sent Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden to Chicago. Ben Wallace has been laboring in back pain, Wally Sczezerbiak has cratered under pressure, shooting very poorly, and Daniel Gibson has been slow recovering from an injury that put him out most of the second half. LeBron is capable of a monster series and the Cavs need one from him if they want to get any further than round 1.
Key Matchup: DeShawn Stevenson vs LeBron James If history is any indication, Stevenson would be ill-served to badmouth LeBron James. The last thing you want to do to a competitor like James is piss him off. While he's certainly an able defender, he better stay in front of LeBron as much as possible and hope his shot isn't falling. Otherwise, he'll live in infamy with the Craig Ehlos and Bryon Russells of the world.
Prediction: Cavaliers in 7
Western Conference
Lakers vs Nuggets This should be an entertaining, high-scoring series with three of the top five scorers in the league playing. A high scoring game could be Denver's worst nightmare too, as LA has one gunslinger in Kobe Bryant who can outduel the explosive tandem of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. He also has two teammates in Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol with brilliant post-games, with both players complimenting each other extremely well. As good as Anthony and Iverson are as individuals, they both need the ball to dominate and neither is a good enough outside shooter to stretch the defense.
Key Matchup: Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom vs Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin For Denver to have a shot in this series, they'll have to get it done on the defensive end. If Camby and Martin can rough up and intimidate the Lakers' stars, Denver has a shot in this series, provided they can also get contributions off the bench from Linas Kleiza and JR Smith.
Prediction: Lakers in 6
Hornets vs Mavericks If any series is ripe with upset potential, this is it. Dallas has been on fire since Nowitzki returned from injury and they're adjusting to playing with PG magician Jason Kidd. The Hornets, meanwhile, are a little green on the big stage and have never won a game in Dallas. If they can't defend the homecourt, they maybe going home early this year.
Key Matchup: Jason Kidd vs Chris Paul This is the biggest intrigue surrounding the series. Jason Kidd has been one of the premier PG's in the NBA for the past decade, but now Paul is looking to take the torch from him. Whoever does the best job of getting their teammates involved is coming out victorious in this series.
Prediction: Mavericks in 6
Spurs vs Suns The matchup of the first round, without question. Whoever wins this series makes a good case for the conference finals, maybe even the NBA Finals. The Suns have been hell bent on revenge against the Spurs, but knew the only way to do it was to get a strong half court player. So they took a gamble with chemistry and traded for the biggest, strongest player in the league, the Shaq-daddy himself. While Phoenix has had its ups and downs defensively and has had some trouble adjusting to slowing things down with O'Neal on the floor, if anyone has benefitted from this trade, it's Amare Stoudemire. He's showing more of his game now that he's playing his natural position of PF and taking bigger, slower players off the dribble while showing improving range on his jump shot. For Phoenix to win and overcome their hurdle, however, he'll have to outshine Tim Duncan, which is by no stretch of the imagination easy.
Key Matchup: Amare Stoudemire vs Kurt Thomas Thomas is a rugged defender, but he'll undoubtedly have his hands full with Amare, who's becoming a load in the low block. The biggest key will be playing physically enough to frustaurate Stoudemire the same way he frustaurated Duncan at times last year. He'll get his help with Oberto and at times Duncan checking him, but with Shaq on the team, he'll get more room to make his moves, which could spell doom for the defending champs.
Prediction: Spurs in 7
Rockets vs Jazz This is a rematch of last year's thrilling first round series, one that started so well for Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming and the Rockets but ended so badly with the Jazz's talent and depth outlasting the Rockets in a heartbreaking Game 7 loss. They did just enough to clinch home court advantage this year, riding out a 22-game winning streak even with Yao's season-ending foot injury and barely holding off the surging Jazz, even after losing to them on the road in the second-to-last game of the year. Not getting home court advantage could be troublesome for the Jazz, as they'll once again have to steal a game in Houston to win this series. They have a huge opportunity to do so as well, with Rafer Alston out for the first two games.
Key Matchup: Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry vs Carlos Boozer One of the areas the Rockets upgraded from last season is at PF, swiping Scola from the Spurs and getting a second-round steal in Landry to compliment Hayes. Hayes is the smallest of the three big forwards, but he's also the most experienced and the toughest defensively. They'll all have their hands full with Boozer, but if Scola and Landry can provide some bonus offense, they could swing things more in the Rockets' favor. Tragically, though, without Yao in the middle, the Rockets may not be quite the same offensive force, so their defense will have to be strong for seven games against the sharpest-shooting team in the league.
Prediction: Jazz in 6
Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant, Sonics He was the only rookie out of this class to play close to a star level, as Durant is already a natural scorer facing up. His poor shooting can be somewhat attributed to his shot selection, which will improve over time, but also due to the fact that he was often playing out of position. He's probably more of a SF, as he has a very good mid-range game, but he was streaky from the perimeter at the SG spot. Al Horford and Luis Scola had solid years as well and experience a bit more team success, but their scoring numbers aren't close to Durant's and they didn't get quite enough rebounds to make up for it.
Coach of the Year: Byron Scott, Hornets One of the big keys for the Hornets this year was staying healthy, but even so, Scott's team, outside of Chris Paul, still had a lot of question marks and he deserves a lot of credit for getting so much out of Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic, the former a raw talent still trying to reach his potential and the latter a shooting star who had missed parts of the last two years with injuries. He also uses his bench well, letting guys like Jannero Pargo and Julian Wright earn minutes through their strong play and the team chemistry he's had has allowed the Hornets to compete with the West's elite and surprise everybody by clinching the stacked Southwest Division.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Garnett, Celtics Doc Rivers's hiring of Tom Thibodeau to manage the defense was a brilliant move, and the alpha dog in his system has been none other than KG. His rebounding and blocked shot numbers are actually surprisingly low for his standards, but a big part of the Celtics' 66 wins has been giving up the fewest points per game in the NBA. Garnett's presence in the paint has allowed Allen, Pierce and Rondo to gamble for steals. He's constantly active, making plays to disrupt ball rotation and force bad shots. The truth is, Garnett has always been a standout player defensively. He's just getting a chance to show it more on a team built for success.
Most Improved Player: Al Jefferson, Timberwolves While he's nowhere close to KG defensively, Jefferson's one of a small handful of players to average over 20 ppg and 10 rpg this past season. Since he's pretty much the T-Wolves only reliable offensive weapon, he's gotten more touches and has developed a rhythm with his smooth post-up game. He did it despite playing out of position at center for much of the year, so it's imperative that McHale find a good big man to take pressure off of him.
Sixth Man of the Year: Manu Ginobili, Spurs Ginobili led all reserves in scoring and has thrived in the role, as his hustle and energy is actually more valuable on the second unit. Don't be fooled though, because you know Popovich will have this fearless clutch shooter out on the floor in crunch time. Whether it's acrobatic shots or fancy passes, Ginobili is a playmaker deluxe and a real pain in the ass to play against.
Round 1
Eastern Conference
Celtics vs Hawks This should be a good warmup series for the Celtics and a chance to rest plenty of their starters if they can take care of business. The Hawks have a lot of young talent, the problem is they're inexperienced on the big stage. Against a tough defense like Boston, they'll be forced to rely too much on Joe Johnson, who's their only real threat as a scorer.
Key Matchup: Rondo vs Bibby If the Hawks want any shot in this series, Bibby is going to have to win this battle. He has the edge in postseason experience, but as long as Rondo plays within himself and plays the same harrassing defense on Bibby he plays on everyone else, the C's should win handily.
Prediction: Celtics in 4
Pistons vs Sixers The Pistons have as deep a team as the 2004 squad that won the NBA title, as Joe Dumars' draft brilliance has landed the Pistons a good enough bench to give the starters rest in key stretches. That bench will be sorely needed in this series as well, as the Pistons go against a young, athletic Sixers' team playing with a ton of confidence.
Key Matchup: Tayshaun Prince vs Andre Igoudala The big key for Prince won't be to shut Igoudala down, as that's very hard to do, but to force him to shoot a low percentage and work some of his unorthodox offense into the picture. As long as Prince is active on defense and doesn't get shut out of the offense, the Pistons have an easy series. If Iggy goes off though, they're in for a battle.
Prediction: Pistons in 5
Magic vs Raptors These two teams are built in similar fashion. Both have dominant PF's who control the paint for their respective ballclubs and plenty of great shooters to surround them with. The difference is Orlando's a little bit better and Toronto's backcourt isn't consistent enough to exploit the Magic's glaring weakness in their own backcourt.
Key Matchup: Jamario Moon vs Hedo Turkoglu Moon is the X-factor in this series. He'll be asked to guard the Magic's most improved player and help out Bosh on the boards, as he'll have his hands full with man-beast Dwight Howard. If he can take away Turkoglu as a weapon, the Raptors will limit the Magic's scoring options and put more pressure on Howard to deliver inside.
Prediction: Magic in 6
Cavaliers vs Wizards The Wizards have been sent home, courtesy of these same Cavs, in each of the last two years. Still, they come into this series with a lot of swagger with Arenas and Butler finally healed from injuries. Cleveland, meanwhile, has struggled to find an identity since making the blockbuster trade that sent Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden to Chicago. Ben Wallace has been laboring in back pain, Wally Sczezerbiak has cratered under pressure, shooting very poorly, and Daniel Gibson has been slow recovering from an injury that put him out most of the second half. LeBron is capable of a monster series and the Cavs need one from him if they want to get any further than round 1.
Key Matchup: DeShawn Stevenson vs LeBron James If history is any indication, Stevenson would be ill-served to badmouth LeBron James. The last thing you want to do to a competitor like James is piss him off. While he's certainly an able defender, he better stay in front of LeBron as much as possible and hope his shot isn't falling. Otherwise, he'll live in infamy with the Craig Ehlos and Bryon Russells of the world.
Prediction: Cavaliers in 7
Western Conference
Lakers vs Nuggets This should be an entertaining, high-scoring series with three of the top five scorers in the league playing. A high scoring game could be Denver's worst nightmare too, as LA has one gunslinger in Kobe Bryant who can outduel the explosive tandem of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. He also has two teammates in Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol with brilliant post-games, with both players complimenting each other extremely well. As good as Anthony and Iverson are as individuals, they both need the ball to dominate and neither is a good enough outside shooter to stretch the defense.
Key Matchup: Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom vs Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin For Denver to have a shot in this series, they'll have to get it done on the defensive end. If Camby and Martin can rough up and intimidate the Lakers' stars, Denver has a shot in this series, provided they can also get contributions off the bench from Linas Kleiza and JR Smith.
Prediction: Lakers in 6
Hornets vs Mavericks If any series is ripe with upset potential, this is it. Dallas has been on fire since Nowitzki returned from injury and they're adjusting to playing with PG magician Jason Kidd. The Hornets, meanwhile, are a little green on the big stage and have never won a game in Dallas. If they can't defend the homecourt, they maybe going home early this year.
Key Matchup: Jason Kidd vs Chris Paul This is the biggest intrigue surrounding the series. Jason Kidd has been one of the premier PG's in the NBA for the past decade, but now Paul is looking to take the torch from him. Whoever does the best job of getting their teammates involved is coming out victorious in this series.
Prediction: Mavericks in 6
Spurs vs Suns The matchup of the first round, without question. Whoever wins this series makes a good case for the conference finals, maybe even the NBA Finals. The Suns have been hell bent on revenge against the Spurs, but knew the only way to do it was to get a strong half court player. So they took a gamble with chemistry and traded for the biggest, strongest player in the league, the Shaq-daddy himself. While Phoenix has had its ups and downs defensively and has had some trouble adjusting to slowing things down with O'Neal on the floor, if anyone has benefitted from this trade, it's Amare Stoudemire. He's showing more of his game now that he's playing his natural position of PF and taking bigger, slower players off the dribble while showing improving range on his jump shot. For Phoenix to win and overcome their hurdle, however, he'll have to outshine Tim Duncan, which is by no stretch of the imagination easy.
Key Matchup: Amare Stoudemire vs Kurt Thomas Thomas is a rugged defender, but he'll undoubtedly have his hands full with Amare, who's becoming a load in the low block. The biggest key will be playing physically enough to frustaurate Stoudemire the same way he frustaurated Duncan at times last year. He'll get his help with Oberto and at times Duncan checking him, but with Shaq on the team, he'll get more room to make his moves, which could spell doom for the defending champs.
Prediction: Spurs in 7
Rockets vs Jazz This is a rematch of last year's thrilling first round series, one that started so well for Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming and the Rockets but ended so badly with the Jazz's talent and depth outlasting the Rockets in a heartbreaking Game 7 loss. They did just enough to clinch home court advantage this year, riding out a 22-game winning streak even with Yao's season-ending foot injury and barely holding off the surging Jazz, even after losing to them on the road in the second-to-last game of the year. Not getting home court advantage could be troublesome for the Jazz, as they'll once again have to steal a game in Houston to win this series. They have a huge opportunity to do so as well, with Rafer Alston out for the first two games.
Key Matchup: Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry vs Carlos Boozer One of the areas the Rockets upgraded from last season is at PF, swiping Scola from the Spurs and getting a second-round steal in Landry to compliment Hayes. Hayes is the smallest of the three big forwards, but he's also the most experienced and the toughest defensively. They'll all have their hands full with Boozer, but if Scola and Landry can provide some bonus offense, they could swing things more in the Rockets' favor. Tragically, though, without Yao in the middle, the Rockets may not be quite the same offensive force, so their defense will have to be strong for seven games against the sharpest-shooting team in the league.
Prediction: Jazz in 6
Week 24 NBA Rankings
1. Boston Celtics (66-16) (1) For what its worth, even when Rivers rested the starters, the C's still went 8-1 down the stretch. The key to them advancing in the playoffs though, will be the continued maturity of Rondo and Perkins.
2. Detroit Pistons (59-23) (3) Going into the postseason, the Pistons will get a much-needed boost off the bench from Stuckey, Affalo and Maxiell, three youngsters who have blossomed into excellent talents.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) (6) Clinching the #1 was important only for homecourt advantage, but it'll be tough working Bynum back into the flow with a tough Denver squad on their hands.
4. New Orleans Hornets (56-26) (2) The biggest knock on this team is their inexperience, but nonetheless, if Paul can elevate his game and if they can find a way to get a road game, they may have just enough to squeeze past Dallas.
5. San Antonio Spurs (56-26) (5) If the Utah game is any indication, the defending champs look primed to defend their title in a stacked Western Conference.
6. Houston Rockets (55-27) (7) They deserve all the credit in the world for finishing in the top 5 in the West, but it'll be tough handling Deron Williams in the first two games with Rafer on the sidelines.
7. Phoenix Suns (55-27) (4) They have the swagger with Shaq and they've beaten the Spurs twice since acqiring him, but are the Suns tough enough to take them out this year and redeem themselves from last year's heartwrenching defeat?
8. Utah Jazz (54-28) (8) They're a different team on the road than they are at home, but those 17 road wins do include a few impressive ones, such as Detroit, Boston and NO.
9. Dallas Mavericks (51-31) (10) Overall, it isn't the 67-win explosion from last year, but the Mavs appear to be peaking at just the right time.
10. Denver Nuggets (50-32) (11) They're a dangerous 8 seed just b/c of the talent AI and Carmelo have, but if they can get production out of Smith and Kleiza as well, they could give LA fits.
11. Orlando Magic (52-30) (9) Having Big Dwight's probably enough to get them a round, but beyond that, the Magic's streaky backcourt will be their undoing against the Pistons.
12. Golden State Warriors (48-34) (12) Nellie's well on his way to burning bridges with another superstar when he benched Baron Davis for the entire second half of the Phoenix game, which the Warriors lost, sealing their season.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers (45-37) (13) A repeat run to the Finals is very unlikely, as LeBron may have to work even harder this year to get them there.
14. Washington Wizards (43-39) (14) Well, DeShawn wanted LeBron, now he gets a full seven games of him. Lets hope his whole career isn't defined by a buzz-quote.
15. Toronto Raptors (41-41) (16) I might pick the Raptors to upset the Magic, except for the fact that their backcourt is just as streaky.
16. Philadelphia 76ers (40-42) (15) Its too bad that the Sixers, as well as they've played, get the daunting task of facing the playoff-savvy Pistons. Any other matchup and I'd have them penciled in for an upset.
17. Portland Trail Blazers (41-41) (17) They tailed off after the early hot-streak, but the Blazers have to feel optimistic about an 11-game improvement and Oden's eventual return.
18. Atlanta Hawks (37-45) (18) About the only intrigue the Hawks bring to their 1st round matchup is how Joe Johnson fares against his old team.
19. Sacramento Kings (38-44) (20) I have to give Artest credit. No blowups this year and the coach actually wants him back.
20. Indiana Pacers (36-46) (19) They couldn't overcome all the injuries and felonies in the world to get back to the postseason, but at least Dunlevy finally matured into a good player.
21. New Jersey Nets (34-48) (21) Until they get leaders with more heart than Carter and Jefferson, the Nets will continue to fall short of expectations.
22. Chicago Bulls (33-49) (22) Winning the lotto might be about the only way Paxson saves his job.
23. Charlotte Bobcats (32-50) (23) While Paul and Williams have become dominant players after three years, Felton is just barely holding onto his starting job on a mediocre ballclub.
24. Milwaukee Bucks (26-56) (24) The Krystowiak experiment bombed badly, so it's no surprise they dumped him.
25. New York Knicks (23-59) (25) With the season over, day 1 of the Knicks' overpublicized coaching search is underway.
26. Los Angeles Clippers (23-59) (26) Elton already put up close to his prime numbers in just six games and should be back in top form after an offseason of rest.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves (22-60) (28) If they can get Brook Lopez in the draft, along with Jefferson and Gomes, they'll have a pretty good young front line.
28. Memphis Grizzlies (22-60) (27) Once again, huge mistake to fire Iavaroni. You can't make a young team better by constantly shuffling coaches.
29. Seattle Supersonics (20-62) (29) With the season in ruin and the team on their way out, Durant's 42-point performance may have helped him clinch ROY honors.
30. Miami Heat (15-67) (30) You know if Wade and Marion aren't at the Heat games, they're pretty much everywhere on South Beach.
2. Detroit Pistons (59-23) (3) Going into the postseason, the Pistons will get a much-needed boost off the bench from Stuckey, Affalo and Maxiell, three youngsters who have blossomed into excellent talents.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) (6) Clinching the #1 was important only for homecourt advantage, but it'll be tough working Bynum back into the flow with a tough Denver squad on their hands.
4. New Orleans Hornets (56-26) (2) The biggest knock on this team is their inexperience, but nonetheless, if Paul can elevate his game and if they can find a way to get a road game, they may have just enough to squeeze past Dallas.
5. San Antonio Spurs (56-26) (5) If the Utah game is any indication, the defending champs look primed to defend their title in a stacked Western Conference.
6. Houston Rockets (55-27) (7) They deserve all the credit in the world for finishing in the top 5 in the West, but it'll be tough handling Deron Williams in the first two games with Rafer on the sidelines.
7. Phoenix Suns (55-27) (4) They have the swagger with Shaq and they've beaten the Spurs twice since acqiring him, but are the Suns tough enough to take them out this year and redeem themselves from last year's heartwrenching defeat?
8. Utah Jazz (54-28) (8) They're a different team on the road than they are at home, but those 17 road wins do include a few impressive ones, such as Detroit, Boston and NO.
9. Dallas Mavericks (51-31) (10) Overall, it isn't the 67-win explosion from last year, but the Mavs appear to be peaking at just the right time.
10. Denver Nuggets (50-32) (11) They're a dangerous 8 seed just b/c of the talent AI and Carmelo have, but if they can get production out of Smith and Kleiza as well, they could give LA fits.
11. Orlando Magic (52-30) (9) Having Big Dwight's probably enough to get them a round, but beyond that, the Magic's streaky backcourt will be their undoing against the Pistons.
12. Golden State Warriors (48-34) (12) Nellie's well on his way to burning bridges with another superstar when he benched Baron Davis for the entire second half of the Phoenix game, which the Warriors lost, sealing their season.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers (45-37) (13) A repeat run to the Finals is very unlikely, as LeBron may have to work even harder this year to get them there.
14. Washington Wizards (43-39) (14) Well, DeShawn wanted LeBron, now he gets a full seven games of him. Lets hope his whole career isn't defined by a buzz-quote.
15. Toronto Raptors (41-41) (16) I might pick the Raptors to upset the Magic, except for the fact that their backcourt is just as streaky.
16. Philadelphia 76ers (40-42) (15) Its too bad that the Sixers, as well as they've played, get the daunting task of facing the playoff-savvy Pistons. Any other matchup and I'd have them penciled in for an upset.
17. Portland Trail Blazers (41-41) (17) They tailed off after the early hot-streak, but the Blazers have to feel optimistic about an 11-game improvement and Oden's eventual return.
18. Atlanta Hawks (37-45) (18) About the only intrigue the Hawks bring to their 1st round matchup is how Joe Johnson fares against his old team.
19. Sacramento Kings (38-44) (20) I have to give Artest credit. No blowups this year and the coach actually wants him back.
20. Indiana Pacers (36-46) (19) They couldn't overcome all the injuries and felonies in the world to get back to the postseason, but at least Dunlevy finally matured into a good player.
21. New Jersey Nets (34-48) (21) Until they get leaders with more heart than Carter and Jefferson, the Nets will continue to fall short of expectations.
22. Chicago Bulls (33-49) (22) Winning the lotto might be about the only way Paxson saves his job.
23. Charlotte Bobcats (32-50) (23) While Paul and Williams have become dominant players after three years, Felton is just barely holding onto his starting job on a mediocre ballclub.
24. Milwaukee Bucks (26-56) (24) The Krystowiak experiment bombed badly, so it's no surprise they dumped him.
25. New York Knicks (23-59) (25) With the season over, day 1 of the Knicks' overpublicized coaching search is underway.
26. Los Angeles Clippers (23-59) (26) Elton already put up close to his prime numbers in just six games and should be back in top form after an offseason of rest.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves (22-60) (28) If they can get Brook Lopez in the draft, along with Jefferson and Gomes, they'll have a pretty good young front line.
28. Memphis Grizzlies (22-60) (27) Once again, huge mistake to fire Iavaroni. You can't make a young team better by constantly shuffling coaches.
29. Seattle Supersonics (20-62) (29) With the season in ruin and the team on their way out, Durant's 42-point performance may have helped him clinch ROY honors.
30. Miami Heat (15-67) (30) You know if Wade and Marion aren't at the Heat games, they're pretty much everywhere on South Beach.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Mock Draft
1. Miami Dolphins-Jake Long, OT, Michigan
2. St. Louis Rams-Chris Long, DE, Virginia
3. Atlanta Falcons-Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
4. Oakland Raiders-Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
5. Kansas City Chiefs-Ryan Clady, OT, Boise St.
6. New York Jets-Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio St.
7. New England Patriots (via San Francisco)-Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
8. Baltimore Ravens-Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
9. Cincinnati Bengals-Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
10. New Orleans Saints-Jerod Mayo, OLB, Tennessee
11. Buffalo Bills-Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
12. Denver Broncos-Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
13. Carolina Panthers-Branden Albert, OG, Virginia
14. Chicago Bears-Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
15. Detroit Lions-Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
16. Arizona Cardinals-Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
17. Kansas City Chiefs (via Minnesota)-Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
18. Houston Texans-Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St.
19. Philadelphia Eagles-Johnathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan St.
21. Washington Redskins-Philip Merling, DE, Clemson
22. Dallas Cowboys (via Cleveland)-Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
23. Pittsburgh Steelers-Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
24. Tennessee Titans-Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
25. Seattle Seahawks-Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue
26. Jacksonville Jaguars-Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
27. San Diego Chargers-Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
28. Dallas Cowboys-Early Doucet, WR, LSU
29. San Francisco 49ers-Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
30. Green Bay Packers-Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
31. New York Giants-Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
2. St. Louis Rams-Chris Long, DE, Virginia
3. Atlanta Falcons-Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
4. Oakland Raiders-Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
5. Kansas City Chiefs-Ryan Clady, OT, Boise St.
6. New York Jets-Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio St.
7. New England Patriots (via San Francisco)-Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
8. Baltimore Ravens-Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
9. Cincinnati Bengals-Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
10. New Orleans Saints-Jerod Mayo, OLB, Tennessee
11. Buffalo Bills-Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
12. Denver Broncos-Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
13. Carolina Panthers-Branden Albert, OG, Virginia
14. Chicago Bears-Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
15. Detroit Lions-Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
16. Arizona Cardinals-Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
17. Kansas City Chiefs (via Minnesota)-Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
18. Houston Texans-Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St.
19. Philadelphia Eagles-Johnathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan St.
21. Washington Redskins-Philip Merling, DE, Clemson
22. Dallas Cowboys (via Cleveland)-Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
23. Pittsburgh Steelers-Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
24. Tennessee Titans-Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
25. Seattle Seahawks-Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue
26. Jacksonville Jaguars-Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
27. San Diego Chargers-Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
28. Dallas Cowboys-Early Doucet, WR, LSU
29. San Francisco 49ers-Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
30. Green Bay Packers-Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
31. New York Giants-Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
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