The Western Confrence playoff race may be one of the best in the history of the NBA. The number one see Lakers could fall from their number one rankings to anywhere from 2nd to 8th. No one is really safe. So when you break this down, predictions are really hard to come by. For most people, but not for me. I see the big picture, I see past the records and can see how this thing will pan out. There have been many great articles breaking down the race here on Blearcherreport.com. Lets start at the bottom and work our way up. The Race ends around the 9th seed. The Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets are locked into a playoff duel that should continue well into the end of season. The Nuggets have the talent to get in and create havoc for the number one seed. But Golden State will take this title behind Baron Davis.
What will the fall out be in Denver? Really, George Karl will be fired, Iverson will opt out and the team will need to be rebuilt. They have some over inflated salaries that need to be moved. Golden State will push in and probably lose to San Antonio int he first round.
The 5-7 seeds are tough to predict. Dallas and Phoenix are playing up and down. But I really think that both teams are just kind of starting over. They are in the first or second week of the season, while these other teams have been playing the same basketball style all year. Kidd makes the team play a different style of basketball, same with Shaq. So it is start over time for them and they are showing flashes of greatness. Dallas played San Antonio very tough last weekend, then lost when Jason Kidd fell apart. The big question for both teams is do the news guys have playoff greatness left in them? We all know Shaq does. The guy played his heart out against San Antonio Sunday and finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Shaq does make this team better, but Jason Kidd really does not make Dallas better.
The Fall out is that Dallas will stay where they are and finish as the 7th seed. A weak Houston team that is playing out of their minds will realize that they are playing without Yao and fall to the 6th seed. New Orleans drops a bit and pulls up the number 5 seed behind CP3. It will be nice to see if CP3 can keep up his big games come playoff time.
What next? Utah is no threat at all come playoff time. I predict that no matter what they face in the first round, they are done. They are very close to wrapping up the division and will finish with atleast a 4 seed as a division winner. Home court against New Orleans sounds nice, but the Hornets play well on road.
Seeds 1-3. The La Lakers are looking sharp, but they don't have a 5th gear that San Antonio has that they will shift into come playoff time. The Spurs have switched over to 5th gear and make a run at another Championship. The Lakers will get the second seed, but we still have not seen how good they will be once Bynum returns. Gasol is too weato beat Duncan, Stoudamire, and Dirk in the playoffs. He is not strong enough on D. Phoenix steals the 3rd seed because they will learn how to play with Shaq. The Diesel may even get a couple das off between now and the end of the year so he can flip into 5th gear too. San Antonio is really starting to pick it up. Kurt Thomas looks great as a sub and is playing big late minutes. The Spurs will be even better come the playoffs, but it will be a great race.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Saturday, March 01, 2008
NFC EAST BM
The NFL is a crazy business. The next two months are my favorite time of the year. We have Spring Training and then Opening Day for Baseball. The NBA Playoffs are coming around. But most importantly we have the molding of each football team with free agency and the draft.
So why not drop an NFC EAST BM on you, the best of the best divisions in the NFL.
The New York Champion Giants:
It is always mind boggling to me to watch a team win then everyone start to leave. The Giants locked up Tom Coughlin... hmmm... Wasn't he the guy who was responsible for making them bad for so long? Now one year and he is a hero. Ok, I still agree with that. They start off free agency by losing Gibril Wilson to the Raiders and Kawika Mitchell to the Bills. But this is what they did last year, they took their time and waited it out and signed the desperation guys who needed a team. But this year, it is so shallow at most of the positions, that this may not work as well this year. So right now nothing to report besides waiting for the annual decision from Michael Strahan and seeing if Eli can pick up a little more accuracy in the offseason.
Next, the Cowboys, with the best record in the NFC last year.
The Cowboys are looking to make some offensive moves this offseason. They are starting by trying to get Javon Walker into town. Javon is said to be unhealthy and may need microfracture surgery. Now that is scary. The Cowboys moved tackle Jason Ferguson to Miami and resigned Flozell Adams. So far their biggest splash has been the signing of Zach Thomas. That could be a very minimal signing based on his injury history.
The Birds:
The Eagles have hit the free agent market big time. They wanted to add to the secondary and did by adding the only big name out there in Asante Samual. This makes Lito Shappard expendable and coule help them land some offensive help in a trade. They released Jevon Kearse and franchised LJ Smith. Last night, they signed Cleo Clemens to a contract to come in and help the D-line. They have lost Thomas Tapeh at fullback, but that position is almost irrelevant in the offense.
Look for a Lito trade soon, and Andy Reid will not let this hang over his head for long.
The Washington Forskins:
The Redskins normally spend and spend. They are the team that makes bad decisions and dumb moves. But this year, they are going to sit back and see what comes to them. They resigned Todd Collins immediatly to make sure they have a back up QB. Washington will look at DJ Hackett and Drayton Florence. The Skins will only give minimal deals to anyone who comes in.
They only have 3.5 million to work with barring any veterans who will take less money this year.
Other news:
Justin Smith got his money! word that this guy is a very overated DE but he got 6 years from San Fran.
And last, the veteran great guy John Lynch will take a pay cut to stay with the Broncos and return as a starting safety. What a guy...
So why not drop an NFC EAST BM on you, the best of the best divisions in the NFL.
The New York Champion Giants:
It is always mind boggling to me to watch a team win then everyone start to leave. The Giants locked up Tom Coughlin... hmmm... Wasn't he the guy who was responsible for making them bad for so long? Now one year and he is a hero. Ok, I still agree with that. They start off free agency by losing Gibril Wilson to the Raiders and Kawika Mitchell to the Bills. But this is what they did last year, they took their time and waited it out and signed the desperation guys who needed a team. But this year, it is so shallow at most of the positions, that this may not work as well this year. So right now nothing to report besides waiting for the annual decision from Michael Strahan and seeing if Eli can pick up a little more accuracy in the offseason.
Next, the Cowboys, with the best record in the NFC last year.
The Cowboys are looking to make some offensive moves this offseason. They are starting by trying to get Javon Walker into town. Javon is said to be unhealthy and may need microfracture surgery. Now that is scary. The Cowboys moved tackle Jason Ferguson to Miami and resigned Flozell Adams. So far their biggest splash has been the signing of Zach Thomas. That could be a very minimal signing based on his injury history.
The Birds:
The Eagles have hit the free agent market big time. They wanted to add to the secondary and did by adding the only big name out there in Asante Samual. This makes Lito Shappard expendable and coule help them land some offensive help in a trade. They released Jevon Kearse and franchised LJ Smith. Last night, they signed Cleo Clemens to a contract to come in and help the D-line. They have lost Thomas Tapeh at fullback, but that position is almost irrelevant in the offense.
Look for a Lito trade soon, and Andy Reid will not let this hang over his head for long.
The Washington Forskins:
The Redskins normally spend and spend. They are the team that makes bad decisions and dumb moves. But this year, they are going to sit back and see what comes to them. They resigned Todd Collins immediatly to make sure they have a back up QB. Washington will look at DJ Hackett and Drayton Florence. The Skins will only give minimal deals to anyone who comes in.
They only have 3.5 million to work with barring any veterans who will take less money this year.
Other news:
Justin Smith got his money! word that this guy is a very overated DE but he got 6 years from San Fran.
And last, the veteran great guy John Lynch will take a pay cut to stay with the Broncos and return as a starting safety. What a guy...
NBA BM
Playoff Matchups (predicted)
East
1 Boston Vs 8 Atlanta
A fun playoff matchup that will result in a sweep of Boston.
2 Detroit vs 7 Philly
Another exciting playoff series, philly wins a game or two
3 Orlando Vs 6 Washington
Orlando is so dominate and Washington is really hurt.
4 Cleveland Vs 5 Toronto
Cleveland is going to put it together for another real run.
West
1 San Antonio Vs 8 Denver
SA is totally dominate and Denver has no reason to being in the playoffs
2 LA Vs 7 Golden State
LA is putting together a real team, GS wont put up a fight
3 New Orleans Vs 6 Dallas
What a series, def the best first round series
4 Utah Vs 5 Phoenix
Phoenix needs home court, but without a huge end of the year run. Phoenix wins this series though.
Moving around:
Theo Ratliff is Detroit bound. Last time he was there is before the Sixers traded for him.
Sam Cassell is headed to Boston, will that make them stronger?
Brent Barry resigned with SA and that puts them over the top, better than LA or Phoenix.
Ronald Murray signs with the Clipps, for what? I dont know.
Others to be bought out, Antoine Walker, Smush Parker, Michael Doleac, and Ricky Davis from the Heat.
East
1 Boston Vs 8 Atlanta
A fun playoff matchup that will result in a sweep of Boston.
2 Detroit vs 7 Philly
Another exciting playoff series, philly wins a game or two
3 Orlando Vs 6 Washington
Orlando is so dominate and Washington is really hurt.
4 Cleveland Vs 5 Toronto
Cleveland is going to put it together for another real run.
West
1 San Antonio Vs 8 Denver
SA is totally dominate and Denver has no reason to being in the playoffs
2 LA Vs 7 Golden State
LA is putting together a real team, GS wont put up a fight
3 New Orleans Vs 6 Dallas
What a series, def the best first round series
4 Utah Vs 5 Phoenix
Phoenix needs home court, but without a huge end of the year run. Phoenix wins this series though.
Moving around:
Theo Ratliff is Detroit bound. Last time he was there is before the Sixers traded for him.
Sam Cassell is headed to Boston, will that make them stronger?
Brent Barry resigned with SA and that puts them over the top, better than LA or Phoenix.
Ronald Murray signs with the Clipps, for what? I dont know.
Others to be bought out, Antoine Walker, Smush Parker, Michael Doleac, and Ricky Davis from the Heat.
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