The Wild Wild West: NBA Playoffs

As promised, here's Part Deux of my NBA Playoffs post.  If you read Part One, When the East is in the House, Oh My God, then you already know that these posts are about who I want to win, not who I think will win. Side bar:  I updated When the East is in the House, Oh My God, so please go back and read it.  I can't believe no one called me out for an error I made!  Speaking of calling folks out, as another reminder, I implore you to call me out if I bandwagon hop during the playoffs.  Although that's not really my style it's been known to happen a time or two in the past. :)

So, I've already broken down the Eastern Conference which means that today I'm focused on the Wild Wild West...Conference that is.  And, now that all of the matchups are set, I'm going to switch it up and go series by series.

Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
For this series, I'm riding with the Oklahoma City Thunder.  As you can probably imagine, I am not a Lakers fan.  I would be very disappointed if they won another championship (says the fan of the most winningest franchise in history).   I kind of like employing the "do as I say, not as I do mantra", lol.  I'm not going to say that I'm anti-Kobe Bryant, I'm just pro-Kevin Durant.  I think he's an amazing talent, and one of the great future stars of the league.  Case in point, this season, he set the record for the youngest player to win the scoring title.  He's the real deal.  Poor Greg Oden...  Sorry, I can't help but think of Oden's misfortune when I think of how successful Durant's young career has been.

So successful that Lakers' coach, Phil Jackson, recently criticized the officials and accused them of giving Durant preferential treatment because he goes to the foul line so much.  Seriously?  You have got to be kidding me  Phil Jackson has the nerve to talk about someone getting special treatment.  Pot meet kettle.  Kettle meet pot.  Give me a break.  When Kobe gets those calls, I don't hear him complaining.  When Jordan got those calls, he was quiet as a mouse.  SMH...Durant can't help that he's a physical player who knows how to draw the foul.  Durant can't help that people can't D him up without fouling him.  Durant also can't help that he's a 90% free throw shooter.  So, if and/or when the games come down to the wire, Phil Jackson should be shook because he knows that 9 out of 10 times, that ball is going through the hoop.   Also, I find it very interesting that Phil shares his POV two days before the Lakers/Thunder series begins.  He's already politickin'.  He aint slick.  I know his type.  I think he recognized that his team has been falling apart at the wrong time of the season.  He may be panicking slightly. Although, if I were the Lakers, I wouldn't be worried.  Yes, they hit a few bumps toward the end of the season and yes Kobe has a finger injury but I'm sure they'll be fine.  He's Kobe Bryant for goodness sakes.  Trust me, he'll turn it on when it's time i.e. now.  Also, Andrew Bynum is making his return in time for the series.  I'm sure his playing time will be limited at first, but their bench just got a little deeper, which is exactly what you want during the playoffs...more weapons.

All in all, I think this is going to be a good series.  I'm excited to watch Durant go up against Kobe.  I'm also proud to see this young team and franchise do so well.  It's a good story for the league.  I'd love to see the underdogs send the defending champs home early.  Let the Thunder, roll!!

Mavericks vs. Spurs
For this series, I'm going with the Mavs. 

The Mavs/Spurs is one of my favorite rivalries in the league.  Both teams have consistent veteran players that continue to carry their teams.  I also think that both teams take their play to another level when they face each other.  The good ol' Texas Showdown will definitely live up to the hype. 

Although, I've never really been a fan of the Spurs.  In my opinion, they're just not an exciting team to watch.  I don't really connect with anyone on their team.  Yes, Tony Parker included.  In fact, I feel like the Mavs and the Spurs are a tale of two teams.  With the Spurs, I think the personality of the team is similar to that of Tim Duncan aka The Big Fundamental aka Mr. No Personality aka pretty blah.  But on the other hand, I think the Mavs' team personality is that of Mark Cuban aka Mr. Badass.  I know lots of people think he's a team distraction, but I don't.  I think his level of involvement and fandom is exciting to watch.  I respect that he's such an active, passionate owner, who isn't afraid to speak his mind.  I also appreciate that he offers transparency for the fans. I once read that he responds to "all" of the fans' emails personally.  Notice "all" is in quotes because I think that may be exaggerated slightly,  but the fact that he responds to any is pretty remarkable.  

Mark Cuban also isn't afraid to spend money to bring talent to Dallas.  He desperately wants to win a championship and I desperately want him to win one.  I think owners like him should be rewarded with a Championship for all they do for the franchise.  He will make all necessary moves until he feels that he has the best team on the court.  However, despite all of that, the Mavs can never seem to make it happen.  It's kind of as if they lack that killer instinct to put teams away for good.  They made it to the finals in '06, but got burned by the Heat.  Maybe this will be their year.  If they're able to make it happen, you'd hear no complaints from me.


Suns vs. Blazers
I'm pulling for the Suns on this one. 

Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudamire are two of my favs in the league.  They're also the heart and soul of the Suns.  For that reason, all of the Stoudamire trade rumors upset me.  I feel like he's so unappreciated.  Not cool.  He's their leading scorer (23.1 ppg), leading rebounder (8.9 ppg) and has played every game this season.  He doesn't deserve to be treated like he has. I don't get it.   

I also love that Grant Hill is healthy again.  Yep, I enjoy a feel good story from time to time, lol.   The funny thing is, I was not a Grant Hill fan during his Duke days because he used to take it to Michigan's Fab Five all of the time.  But, when he came into the league, I quickly changed my opinion of him.  He's such a good guy.  I like good guys and I want this group of good guys to succeed, even if the front office is making a bad decision with trying to move Stoudamire.

Ahhh, the Portland Blazers.  I must admit, they're pretty impressive.  Despite losing Greg Oden (again) and Joel Przybilla for the season,  they've somehow pushed through and landed themselves the sixth spot in the playoffs.  Sadly, this will be the end of the road for them.  With Brandon Roy out for knee surgery, they don't have a chance.  The timing for this couldn't have been any worse.  Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.  

Nuggets vs. Jazz
If I had my way, the Denver Nuggets would be the team coming out of the West and heading to the Finals.  I'm a huge Carmelo Anthony fan (go 'cuse!).  And, I'd love to see him go up against his fellow 2003 NBA Draft mate, Lebron James.  This way, it's guaranteed that at least one of them gets a ring.  Yes, here I go being a sucker for a feel good story again. But, that's not the only reason.  I also enjoy watching the Nuggets play-- Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, Chris Anderson, Chauncey Billups, J.R. Smith, Aaron Aflalo, Nene and on and on and on.  I love this team!

I think this is their most well-rounded and focused team in a minute.  Chauncey Billups has definitely provided that team with the leadership they needed. And, during the season, they had a nice little run where they were just shutting teams down.  But, since then, Kenyon Martin suffered a knee injury and I think that's negatively impacted the team.  Although he's back, I don't think he has the same hop as he did before the injury.  Hopefully, these past few days off will do him some good.

Now, about the Jazz.  Admittedly, I haven't paid much attention to the Jazz since Karl Malone and John Stockton retired.  It's partly because they're out West and partly because they don't have the same star power they did with Stockton and Malone.

Despite that, I'm aware that Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams hold that team down.  It''ll be fun to watch Deron Williams and Billups face off against each other.  Two very strong leaders at the point.  Game changers.  And just like the Nuggets, the Jazz are dealing with injuries to some of their major contributors...Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko, and Mehmet Okur. 

Regardless, these pros know how to battle through the injuries.  They're playing to be crowned Kings of the West.  I doubt they'll use injuries as an excuse.  This should be a great matchup, but I'm riding with the Nuggets all day!!

 That does it.  I covered all of the teams. Don't forget the Playoffs start tomorrow.

Here's the schedule for the first round. 

Let the games begin!

When the East is in the House, Oh My God: The NBA Playoffs

Sorry it's been a while since my last post. I'll do better. I promise!

Get ready! The NBA Playoffs are only days away. In this post, I'll share who I'm riding with out of the Eastern Conference. You'll have to check back later in the week when I share my Western Conference favs (or lack thereof, lol).

When reading this, please know that this is about who I want to win, not who I think will win. And please, please, please commit this to memory because if any of my teams get knocked out early and you see me repping another team, I encourage you to call me out. I'd do it for you.

Being from New York, I naturally have to root for the Eastern Conference. As Blahzay Blahzay said, When the East is in the House, Oh My God. Check the records. The Eastern Conference teams dominate the Western Conference teams. Biggie would be proud. OK, enough with the preamble. Let's do this!

First off, I'm riding with the Cavs all the way to the Finals. I know that's not an original thought, but for me it's kind of a big deal because I wasn't like the rest of America. When Lebron was drafted, I didn't immediately hop on the King James bandwagon. The fact that ESPN was covering his high school games meant nothing to me. I wanted him to prove himself first. Hailing someone as the second coming prematurely annoys me. Sports heads are good for that. I can't stand it! Plus, the 2003 NBA Draft was stacked with Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and lots of other players that showed and proved in college. I had a reason to see those guys succeed over cheering for Lebron. To be honest, I don't think I really became a Lebron fan until 2007, when he took the Cavs to the finals and one-year after D-Wade got his ring.

Although it took me four years, I'm here now! I'd love to see King James earn his jewels. I think his chances now are as good as they've ever been. Shaq Diesel (less 20 lbs.) is coming back. I expect him to be focused and energized. The playoffs is when he gets back on D a little quicker and jumps a little higher. He gets after it. Lebron should also be refreshed and ready to go since he hasn't played in a week and will probably sit out the last game of the regular season. And the supporting cast of Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams, and Delonte West are going to show up. They know this might be the end of the road for Lebron in a Cavs uni so it's now or never!

Selfishly, I want them to be hungry for that reason. I think that Lebron's chances of coming to the Knicks will improve if he gives the people of Cleveland a Championship. If he loses, I don't think he'll bail on his fans. I respect that, but that's not the result I'm looking for. Let's make everyone happy. And by everyone I mean Knicks and Cavs fans. Win for the home fans, pack it up, and make that move to NYC. We need to get that old feeling back at the Garden and in the city. I know the Yankees won, the Jets went to the AFC Championship this year, and the Giants won the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, but trust me, it's not the same. When the Knicks are winning, the city is electric. I want that old thing back. Go CAVS!!!!

Second on my list are the Atlanta Hawks. Yes. The Atlanta Hawks. All season I'd been waiting for the real Atlanta Hawks to stand up and present themselves. You know, the team that hadn't been relevant since the Dominique Wilkins days. In other words, decades ago, lol. I don't necessarily remember when I became a believer, but at some point during the season, it happened. They've been pretty convincing with their consistent play. They kept winning and winning and winning, transforming my shock to belief.

As a Spelman College alumna, I spent four of the most important years of my life in the ATL. It's like my second home. I will always have a special place in my heart for that city. I remember going to check out the Hawks' games when the Knicks came to town. You could purchase tickets for $5. Five dollars! Craziness. But, despite the bargain basement ticket prices, the arena was still empty as hell. It was sad.

My, my, my look how far they've come. Joe Johnson, Jumpshot JC (the nickname my brother gave Jamal Crawford during his Blue/Orange days), Al Horford, Josh Smith and the rest of those boys are legit. And even though they're the number three seed in the East, I still feel like they're an underdog and most people will sleep on them. Please don't be one of those people. Show them some love!

As for the rest of the teams in the East, I don't really have an interest in who advances to win it all. Alright, I may be exaggerating...slightly. If the Magic, Hornets (see update below), and (maybe) the Heat win, I wouldn't mind.

I know the Magic have had a helluva run, but I'm not putting too much stock in them after last year's performance. Dwight Howard came up short big time. They had the whole country riding with them against the Lakers and they couldn't get it done. It was a major disappointment. Adding Vince Carter to the team, plus a healthy Jameer Nelson should take them far, but I'm not sure it'll be enough. We shall see..

UPDATE:  Next up are the Hornets. Charlotte Bobcats.  I don't know what I was thinking, but clearly I had a lapse in memory and took it back to before the Hornets were relocated from Charlotte to New Orleans.  MAJOR FAIL, which makes me wonder, are you guys reading this????

Anyway, another reason I thought about the Hornets and not the Bobcats is because since when do the Bobcats make the playoffs?!?!?!  Although, I do remember them playing the Knicks a couple of times this season and beating us.  I know that doesn't say too much, but for me it does.  I always looked at the Bobcats as an easy win.  Not so much anymore.  Gotta give props where props are due, Larry Brown and Michael Jordan seem to be taking the franchise in the right direction, for this season at least.  The Bobcats grabbing that seventh seed is a huge victory.  They won't make it out of the first round, and may even get swept by the Magic, so they should be happy they made it this far. 

Next season is another story.  Since Eddie Jordan was recently fired by the 76ers, there's already talk that  Larry Brown may return to Philly.  Interesting.  Very, very interesting.  Let's see how the team's new Majority Owner, Michael Jordan, handles things during the offseason.

Moving on to the Heat. Since they won in '06, I'd prefer if they didn't win again. As long as Pat Riley runs that team, I'll never fully support them. I still feel some type of way about Pat the Rat flat leaving us for the Heat. It's really too bad because I actually like this Heat team, but unfortunately, I can't rock with them...based purely on principle.

I'm hoping the Raptors will be watching the playoffs from their couches just like me so that will leave us with the Bulls, Bucks, and Celtics. In my opinion, the Bucks are never anything to be excited about unless you live in Milwaukee, so I'll just keep it moving to the Bulls.

Although I like Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Brad Smith, I can rarely bring myself to root for the Bulls. As a Knicks fan, I just can't allow it to happen. We were crushed by MJ too many times. Last year's playoffs were a rare exception. Watching the Bulls battle it out against the Celtics was great! For that series, all was forgiven and I was a hardcore Bulls fan. Talk about "Where Amazing Happens". That series was it. Definitely one of the best. But if the Bulls lock down that 8th spot, they'll be going up against the Cavs. No way I'm rooting for the Bulls.

Lastly, we have the Celtics. It should be pretty clear that they get zero love from me, especially since they got their rings in 2008. The only reason I was remotely ok with them winning was because a) they beat the Lakers and b) because I like Doc Rivers. However, with that said, all generosity has left the building. I'd very much appreciate the Celtics exiting the playoffs rather expeditiously.

There you have it! Don't forget to check my blog later in the week for a post on the Western Conference.

P.S. If you like what you've read, please leave a comment. Thanks!

Congrats, UCONN!

My girls did it!  The Lady Huskies are the 2010 NCAA Women's Basketball Champions.  Back-to-back undefeated seasons.  Unbelievable.  They are 11 wins away from overtaking UCLA's record for most consecutive wins.  And, Coach Geno Auriemma is one championship away from tying Pat Summit's record of eight championships.  Both shall be done. 

P.S. Notice I didn't congratulate Duke on their win.  That was intentional.  I'm a hater.

Photo credit:  AP/Eric Gray

The Bombers Are Back!

I'll keep this short and sweet.  Tonight, the Yankees' quest for World Series domination continues as they take on the Boston Red Sux Sox in Beantown.  Yep, the offseason has come and gone. Over time,  we've said sayonara to Hideki Matsui, adios to Melky Cabrera, and goodbye to Johnny Damon. We embraced the return of a couple of familiar faces -- Nick Johnson and Javier Vazquez, and welcomed Curtis Granderson to the team, all in the name of claiming what's ours, No. 28. 

New season.  New faces.  Same goal.  Let's get it!!  No. 28 is ours.  Quote me on that.

Ballin'!!!

Take a brief step away from the madness, and let's talk money and college basketball.  As we all know, the sports industry is a huge moneymaker, but what exactly does that mean for these basketball programs at D1 schools?

For the third consecutive year, Forbes.com has ranked the Top 20 Most Valuable College Basketball teams, based on the following four factors (in order of weight):

1. The value of contributions to the institution for academic purposes, including scholarships for basketball players.

2. The net profit generated by the basketball program retained by the athletic department.

3. The value contributed to conference peers via tournament revenue.

4.  Estimated direct spending by visitors to the county attributable to home basketball games.

Ranked at #1 for two straight years and valued at $29 million are the North Carolina Tar Heels.  Coming off of their 2009 Championship, the Tar Heels are stacking their chips and saving for a rainy day.  Good thing they are, because ladies and gentlemen, that rainy day has arrived!  Last year, 2009 NCAA Champs, this year, a round-trip ticket straight to the NIT.  Can't wait to see how a disappointing season impacts their 2011 ranking. 

And, because you simply can't mention UNC without hearing Duke (or vice versa), the Blue Devils are ranked #11 with a value of $16.4 million.  For the second consecutive year, their value has dropped.  The steady decline is attributed to their enormous operations budget which is 50% more than any other team.  This seems a bit excessive, especially when they share a market with UNC.  Anytime twice as much money is spent to do the same job, questions should be asked, eyebrows should be raised, and people should be fired.  Just sayin'.

For the complete list of rankings, check out the article and slideshow. 

You may now return to your regularly scheduled program with beer in one hand, bracket sheet in the other.

Lady Huskies Rewrite HERstory!

In honor of Women's History Month, I felt compelled to write about Women's sports.  It's only right.  I didn't really put any thought behind what the focus would be, but then the University of Connecticut's Lady Huskies won 71 consecutive games by defeating Notre Dame 59-44, today.  This was suddenly a no-brainer!

What's even more incredible is that they rewrote their own history!  Yep, they previously held the record for most consecutive victories with 70 wins from 2001-2003. Today, they're sitting pretty at the top of women's college basketball with 71 wins.  What other sport organizations, pro or collegiate can boast such an accomplishment?  OK, the '71-'74 UCLA Bruins, coached by Hall of Famer John Wooden, are still clutching to their 88 wins, but besides them?  What an amazing feat!

First of all, much respect to coach Geno Auriemma. The Lady Huskies have been under his leadership since 1985.  His resume is stacked with 6 National Championships, 10 Final Four appearances, and over 25 combined Big East Conference and Tournament Championships.  After 25 years, the University of Connecticut women's basketball program continues to dominate.  Whether it was Nykesha Sales, Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, or current team leaders Tina Charles and Maya Moore, the goal is always the same...WIN.  And, don't expect their program to fall off anytime soon.  They're constant success will only result in continuing to win over the top recruits in the country.  Get used to it!


I know I'll be rooting for them as they compete in the Big East tourney and move on to the NCAA Tournament.  My hope for them is to cut down the nets in April, lace up in November, and continue the streak.  Go after the Bruins record.  Let's get it!  Big East, stand up!