Derrick Rose

Mostly everyone was determined that Derrick Rose would wilt under the immense pressure of playing in his first playoff game, especially against the defending champion Boston Celtics.  But Rose did just the opposite.  He defied all odds and led him team to the Game 1 upset, while tying Kareem Abdul Jabbar for most points by a rookie in their first playoff game with 36 points.  He also backed that up with 11 dimes.

The Boston Celtics

The Celtics are just the opposite of Rose.  They have been underachieving this postseason.  They have allowed the 7th seeded Bulls to win in Boston, while also being tied in the series, 2-2.  The main reason for Boston's struggles are their numerous injuries.  Leon Powe, and more importantly, Kevin Garnett are both said to be out for the entire playoffs.  Without their two best power fowards, the Celtics are lost.  Their once spectacular defense is now average.  Although they did blow out the Bulls in Game 3, 107-86, they are not playing like a #2 seed should.

Rajon Rondo

Rondo has been playing out of his mind this postseason.  He is averaging a triple-double through the first 4 games of this series.  It is safe to say that Rajon Rondo has been the Celtics best player this series, which is incredible considering that he is teammates with future hall of famers, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.  Most likely Rondo won't be able to keep up this torrid pace, but he has already cemented himself has one of the elite point guards in the league.

To see the rest, please go to my website

http://thebasketballoracle.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/biggest-surprises-of-the-playoffs-so-far/

As many of you know, I love to write about the NBA.  I really like blogging on foxsports.com, but I wanted to make my blogs a little bit more special.  I decided to make a website, www.thebasketballoracle.wordpress.com

On my website I will be posting all my blogs.  Even though I am a huge Lakers fan, the site is not a Lakers site.  It is an NBA site for all fans.  I already have a small website staff that writes articles.  The site is just getting started so not a lot of people know about it, but I hope that changes soon.  This blog, as David would put it, is shameless advertising.  But since foxsports is a place to write about sports, and not advertise your personal sites, I will add in some sports.

RANDOM NOTES FROM THE LAKERS @ JAZZ GAME 4

• Pau Gasol is soft
• Boozer is a great rebounder
• Kobe is the best player in the game.  (I have to admit that when I was watching the Heat game I was thinking if Wade could possibly be overcoming Kobe, but after tonight's game I know Wade still has a ways to go.)
• Utah Jazz fans are the opposite of Lakers and Celtics fans, they cheer for there team even when they are down by 20 with 10 seconds left and they are loud.
• Odom can take over games for a small amount of time.
• Deron Williams is awesome and should be a Laker.
• Sasha keeps shooting no matter what.
• Farmar probably hates Shannon Brown.
• Neither of those teams can play defense.
• Jerry Sloan has two emotions, confused and angry.
• Shannon Brown is now the Lakers best point guard.

Now back to my website.  If anyone here wants to be a writer or editor for my site, then just e-mail me at joeyamills@gmail.com or leave a message below with your e-mail address and I will invite you to the site.  If you email me then make sure to tell me what blogger you are.  And most importantly, please visit my site and leave comments and improve the site activity.  Thanks!

www.thebasketballoracle.wordpress.com

I am looking for writers for my website.  The URL is www.thebasketballoracle.wordpress.com

With WordPress, I can give you the power to post your own article on the front page.  I am looking for 2 or 3 writers.

If you want to join, then contact me at joeyamills@gmail.com

I will then invite you to join the site and give you the power to write articles.  The website is for fans of all teams, even Celtics fans can become a writer.

What I would want from a writer is about 2 or 3 posts a week.  The posts don't need to be self-written articles, they can be articles from sports websites that you thought would be good to add.  If you take an article from another website, then please provided a link and write the name of the website before the article. 

For example:

Sports Illustrated: Kobe Bryant wants to win a ring

Today Kobe Bryant was interviewed and he said he wants a ring...

The NBA season is drawing to a close.  This is the most exciting part of the season because the awards are being handed out and the playoffs are just ahead.  While some of the awards will be obvious, some will not be.  I have watched many NBA games this season and followed the NBA very closely.  I have my own ideas for who should win each award, but since many of them will not happen I will write my predictions and who I think should win it.

Here are my predictions and choices for the 2008-2009 NBA Awards.

Most Improved Player

Choice and Prediction: Devin Harris, Nets

Harris is making the Mavericks look dumber and dumber every game he scores over 20 points and dishes out over 6 assists, which is almost every game.  Harris was the leading point guard scorer in the NBA before his injury, but is still way up there since his return.  Although he has missed time with an injury, there is no other choice.

2nd Place Choice: Danny Granger, Pacers

Granger has become the go-to guy for the amost playoff-bound Indiana Pacers since the departure of Jermaine O'Neal.  He is near the top of the league in scoring and continues to get better.  A huge steal for the Pacers at #17 int he draft.

2nd Place Prediction: Rajon Rondo, Celtics

Rondo had a lot of pressure put on him last season since he was the point guard for a team with 3 superstars, but he exceeded expectations and was a major factor in their championship season.  This season he is the 2nd best rebounding point guard in the NBA, while also averaging over 11 ppg and over 8 apg.

Coach of the Year

Choice and Prediction: Nate McMilan, Blazers

Nate has quietly let the 2nd youngest team in the NBA to homecourt advantage in the 1st round.  He has played 3 rookies significant minutes this season, Rudy Fernandez, Greg Oden, and Nicolas Batum.

2nd Place Choice and Prediction: Rick Adelman, Rockets

He had done a good job in Houston.  He has kept the Rockets near the top in the league in defense and has them on their way to get past the 1st round for the first time with Yao Ming.

6th Man of the Year

Choice and Prediction: Jason Terry, Mavericks

Terry is the obvious choice for 6th man of the year even though he missed many games with a hand injury.  He is averaging over 20 ppg off the bench, and no one else is doing that.

2nd Place Choice and Prediction: Nate Robinson, Knicks

Krypto-Nate and J.R. Smith are the only other options here.  And Nate averages more ppg, apg, and even rpg than the much taller J.R. Smith.  Robinson has adjusted to coming off the bench well and even scored 41 points off the bench this season.

Defensive Player of the Year

Choice and Prediction: Dwight Howard, Magic

Dwight Howard is the obvious choice here for everyone that isn't a Cleveland Cavaliers fan.  Dwight Howard is leading the league in rebounding and blocks and is one of the only decent defenders on one of the top defensive teams in the league, which proves how important his defense is.

2nd Place Choice: Shane Battier, Rockets

Although most other people don't have Shane Battier in their top 5, he is easily one of the top 3 perimeter defenders in the NBA.  He doesn't get as much attention as LeBron or Howard because he never has SportsCenter Top 10 blocks, but he is always solid on defense and never takes a possession off.

2nd Place Prediction: LeBron James, Cavaliers

LeBron is many people's choice for 2nd place and some peoples choice for 1st place.  Although LeBron has improved dramatically on defense, he still isn't one of the top 5 perimeter defenders in the league.  If their was a "Most Improved Defender" award then he would definitely be deserving of that, but most people see his Top 10 highligh blocks and assume he is a great defender.  Most of his great defensive plays come from weak side blocks on a fastbreak.  He is more of a freakish athlete then a great defender.

To see my Rookie of the Year and MVP choices and predictions, then please go to my website blog at http://thebasketballoracle.webs.com/apps/blog/

Earlier I had a competition in which bloggers made their dream team following my guidelines.  Now I am going to list the teams and everyone can vote for a winner.  And you can't vote for yourself.

Ubershorty

PG- Jason Kidd
SG- Kobe Bryant
SF- Shane Battier
PF- Chris Bosh
C- Tim Duncan
6- David Lee
7- Rajon Rondo
8- John Salmons
9- Jerry Stackhouse
10- Eddy Curry
11- Chris Mihm
12- Shannon Brown

StorminOrman

PG: Steve Blake
SG: Brandon Roy
SF: Nicholas Batum
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: Greg Oden
6. Travis Outlaw
7. Rudy Fernandez
8. Jerryd Bayless
9. Sergio Rodriguez
10. Joel Pryzbilla
11. Martell Webster
12. Channing Frye

Edclinch (didn't follow the guidelines.....at all....but I'll let it slide)

1.Isaih Thomas PG, IU '81
2.Larry Bird PF ISU '79
3.Randy Wittman SG IU '83
4.Calbert Cheaney SF ,IU '93
5.Alan Henderson C, IU '94
6.Quinn Buckner PG, IU '76
7.Scott May SF, IU '76
8.Ray Tolbert PF, IU '81
9.Steve Alford SG, IU '87
10.Jay Edwards SG/SF, IU '89
11.Landon Turner C, IU '90
12.AJ Guyton SG/PG , IU '00

Underage

PG---JASON KIDD
SG---KOBE BRYANT
SF---PAU GASOL
PF---LAMAR ODOM
C---TROY MURPHY
6---TREVOR ARIZA
7---SASHA VUJACIC
8---RONNY TURIAF
9---JOSH POWELL
10---DEREK FISHER
11---JORDAN FARMAR
12---LUKE WALTON

Tcbdog

1.Kobe
2.Tim Duncan
3.Pau Gasol
4.Baron Davis

5.Travis Outlaw
6.Rudy Fernandez
7.Trevor Ariza
8.Rajon Rondo

9.Eddie House
10.Josh Powell

11.Leandro Barbosa (not a bench warmer...)
12.Boris Diaw (not a bench warmer...)

K8be  24  bleep

PG: Jason Kidd
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Michael Beasley
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tim Duncan
SF: Trevor Ariza
SG: Rudy Fernandez
PF: Brad Miller
C: Erick Dampier
PF: Josh Powell
PG: Derek Fisher
SG: Shannon Brown

PF

PG Gary Payton (Not enough good players in remaining categories) otherwise Jose Calderon
SG Brandon Roy
SF Lebron James
PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Tim Duncan

PG Aaron Brooks
SG Rudy Fernandez
SF Andre Iguodala (didn't see him on any list)
PF David Lee
C Greg Oden

C Joel Pryzbilla
PG/SG Jerryd Bayless

BruinFanBaby

PG -- Deron Williams
SG -- Kobe Bryant
SF -- Lamar Odom
PF -- Amare Stoudemire
C -- Kendrick Perkins (I'll always hate him)
6 -- Jordan Farmar
7 -- Jeff Green
8 -- James Posey (Hate him too)
9 -- Jerry Stackhouse
10-- Eddie Curry
11 -- DJ Mbenga
12 -- Shannon Brown

KKfromBK

PG Chauncey Billups
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Travis Outlaw
PF Charlie Villanueva
C Tim Duncan
6th Man Kevin Durant
7th Sasha Vujacic
8th Kendrick Perkins
Brandon Bass
Eddie House
Jerome James
Thabo Sefalosha

Those are all the entries, so please vote now!