The Mavericks have impressed me lately. Coming back from a severely sprained ankle is a testament to Dirk's toughness. I can't believe I just wrote that but Nowitzki is playing like a soldier and the tentativeness that has been a hallmark of the Mavericks is gone. Jason Kidd and Dirk will be a tough out in the playoffs. They're playing with a chip on their shoulder.
The Cavs are 4-6 over their last 10
It's no secret that I believe Cleveland's appearance in the NBA Finals last season was a fluke. I thought they would come back to reality this season but I didn't expect this. The Cavs are in trouble. Their offense has always been out-of-sorts but it's their defensive lapses that have hurt them recently. The Bobcats put up 114 on them last week. LeBron has been bothered by back spasms. Not a good sign. I would LOVE to see Cleveland and Washington in the first round.
I see what the NBA is trying to do here. Having the NCAA market up-and-coming players for free for one season isn't enough for David Stern. He'd rather use the free farm system for two years. I'm not in favor of ANY age limit rule. It all boils down to this for me, if you're old enough to fight and die for your country, you should be able to pursue any career path you choose.
I've NEVER seen any evidence to support the presumably held belief that college helps NBA players. I know, I know, college helps young kids learn valuable life lessons and better prepares them for a future after basketball. Where's the proof?
Anyone else notice that three of the four MVP candidates (Kobe, LeBron, Kevin Garnett) this season were drafted straight out of high school?
Seattle 151 Denver 147
The Nuggets don't deserve to make the playoffs after losing back-to-back games to the Kings and Sonics.
The New Orleans Hornets are still in 1st place
Mike Kahn wrote a very good blog on the Hornets today, entitled Why the Hornets will be written off soon. New Orleans has played great this season and Chris Paul would be a great choice for MVP. Still, I don't see them getting out of the first round. They are like Kahn wrote, too inexperienced. I'll take the Mavs, Nuggets, or Warriors over them in 7.
Tonight's NCAA Final
I'll take Memphis. I'm really impressed with Derrick Rose. I think he would make an excellent backcourt mate to Dwyane Wade in Miami. I wouldn't mind seeing him in New York either.
Who do you have tonight?
#### Vitale is inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame
If Dickey V is in, Tex Winter, the architect of the triangle offense that has won 9 NBA championships over the past 20 years, better get in too.
1. I think you're overrating the Mavs like crazy. You're right about Dirk though - absolute solider lately. He keeps going like this and the 'soft' label will be off him.
2. The Cavs are just off. Gone is that great defense that got them to where they were at last season, and Lebron's back is hurting from having to carry that team on his back for the past few seasons. The results of that trade can't be given out until the Cavs' season ends, but for now it's looking like a solid F.
3. Good. I don't much care about the kids, I'm all in this from a fan's perspective. I never gave a damn about the college game until they started having superstars like Oden, Durant, Rose, Beasley, and Love added to the mix. These guys make college ball relevant.
4. See my comments on Denver in Kahn’s blog. Absolute pretenders. Melo is amazing scorer, but I’ve finally come around to accept that he IS overrated as a player. Either you or someone else has been saying that for a long time, but now I’m finally seeing it.
5. You know how I feel about the Hornets.
6. I’ll take Kansas, but I’m absolutely amazed by the way Memphis has played. Rose is a boss.
7. Wasn’t it the college bball HOF? I still agree Tex belongs in the HOF.
Much has been made of the Mavs record against plus .500 teams but they were in a lot of those games till the end. Shaq and the Suns got a free pass for their 3-9 start, why can't the Mavs get the same luxury? They're playing VERY GOOD basketball right now.
I did a little research on back spasms and I didn't really come to any conclusion about it being related to exhaustion but LBJ has played a boatload of minutes this season. It's going to be very interesting to see how he'll hold up over his career. We've NEVER seen a player carry this much of a workload at that young of an age.
I don't like college basketball. I could get in depth with it but I agree with everything Rosen wrote: Rosen’s take on college hoops
I like Melo. I think he needs to learn to play on both ends though.
How do you feel about the Hornets?
There's only one Basketball Hall of Fame...that I know of.
1. The Mavs are better than I gave them credit for. They will indeed be a tough out.
2. Cleveland will not go anywhere if Boston and Detroit have a say.
3. You're exactly right.
4. Denver giving up 151 to Seattle shows you why they won't be a factor come playoff time.
5. New Orleans is for real.
6. Memphis in the title game.
7. There is a college basketball HOF, and Vitale was inducted into that recently, but earlier today, he said he was also getting into the Basketball HOF, as well.
Good read. By the way, my Ultimate Tournament began today. Come check out the 1st round matchup between Houston and Memphis (Grizzlies) and tell me what you think.
Hoffman
The Suns imploded and I'm being told that they'll be alright come the playoffs. Well if you continue to have lapses like we witnessed on Sunday. Then you know for sure that this team won't fare well in the playoffs.
The Nuggets may well have to go off to Kansas , find Dorothy and Toto , Tinman and the cowardy lion and go searching for a heart and some leadership also.
Other than AI is there anyone else on the team with some balls to play a full 48 minutes . It's as if everyone around him is locked in a damn time warp and they've forgotten how to play. And tell me why the hell it is that 'melo even turns up for a game ? I know he's gettin' laid but is he gettin' paid ? I think that La La is sappin' all of his juices.
As for LeBron they bring in Hughes and a stiff like Ben Wallace and they still don't improve one iota at all. See my post on the Suns titled Send In The Clowns I've Seen All The Entertainment Now !
Let me know what you think as to the merits of the piece ? I'll look forward to reading your comments.
Hoff, the Suns get a pass because they're finally playing good basketball. Aside from a win against Phoenix (and honestly Phoenix lost that game more than Dallas won it), the Mavs haven't shown any kind of consistancy. I haven't seen a single thing over the past few games that would indicate that they'll be successful in the playoffs.
I find college basketball somewhat boring myself, but all these stars popping up make it a lot more interesting for me.
I think you can pencil in the Hornets for the second round as long as they stay top 2 in the West. Past that I make no gurantees, but I think they can beat the Warriors, the Nuggets, and the Mavs. And hell, it won't take them more than six games to do it.
No clue, I never paid much attention to the HOF. I thought there was a college one, maybe not.
Despite their struggles as of late, I'd probably pick Cleveland over Detroit again. The Pistons don't have anyone to defend LeBron James. RIP and Tayshaun are too small. I think James would walk all over them again. But as it stands, he would have to go through Boston first and I don't see that happening.
The Suns have played better than I thought they would since they acquired Shaq. I still don't see them contending for the title though. Denver blew a huge first half lead last week, if they hadn't, the Suns would have lost heir last 3 games to Western Conference playoff teams.
I don't see them getting out of the first round if they have to meet Utah.
Phoenix's remaining schedule:
@ Memphis
@ San Antonio
@ Houston
vs Golden State
vs Portland
Should be interesting.
I keep on hearing that LeBron needs this type of player and that type of player around him but I wonder if it's more an issue of coaching than personnel.
I'll check out your piece shortly. Thanks for alerting me to it.
The Suns may have lost Sunday's game but if you believe that to be true than the Nuggets lost their game to Phoenix last week. Either way, the Suns are 2-2 over their last 4. I'm not impressed by Phoenix.
I like that the Mavericks are playing basketball. They're not looking to Avery for every call, Johnson is letting Kidd call the shots. I like Dirk's resilience and more than anything, I like their mannerisms. They're playing with fire, with something to prove. Something I haven't seen from them since the 2006 Western Conference Finals.
Chris Paul has played great but I watched the kid in the 2006 FIBA World Championship and he clammed up when it mattered most. He hasn't shown up for many of his marquee matchups against Deron Williams either. Maybe I'm making too much out of nothing but I don't think he'll shine as brightly in the playoffs as he has during the regular season.
Not only that but Peja is a habitual choker in the postseason and many of the easy baskets Chandler lives upon will no longer be available once the money season begins.
I guess so. It's pretty disheartening. There are going to be some changes in Denver over the offseason. I think George Karl is a good coach but maybe that teams needs a more disciplinarian approach. Rick Carlisle?
Disagree with you on the college game. It used to be very exciting. My dad says now it's just who can round up the most good freshmen. We support the 20 year old rule.
1) Not buying the Mavs. Who guards elite big men for them (Duncan, Shaq/Amare, Pau, Boozer)? Erick Dampier? Seriously, you're pinning your post defense on Erick Dampier? Sorry, I'm not convinced.
2) I haven't been impressed by them all year and I think they're headed for an early out. They are, however, the hardest team to predict because you just never know what LeBron is going to do. No way we see them in the Finals again though.
3) This one deserves a longer answer, so I'll do that in another comment (which will have to come later since I'm running out of time).
4) Hey, I hear that Kevin Durant kid is pretty good.
5) I don't set much store by the whole inexperienced argument. My problem with the Hornets is that they just don't have a good bench. Their starting 5 is as good and as balanced as any in the league, but they have a serious lack of frontcourt depth. I would be surprised if they went out in the first round though.
6) Kansas is the best team in the country when they're on. However, they lose focus far too much. I like Memphis by a hair. Rose has been unstoppable this tourney.
7) I hate #### Vitale with a burning passion. I'll just leave it at that.
Lastly, I'd like to congratulate you on your prediction that the Suns would miss the playoffs. We can only hope your Bynum over Howard prediction works out this well :)
I'll take the Mavs, Nuggets, or Warriors over the Hornets.
Lol. Thanks for the congratulations X. The Suns making the playoffs won't be the first time I've predicted an O'Neal led team to miss the postseason. I did the same thing last year after the All-Star break. Shaq proceeded to lead the Heat to a 10 game winning streak.
But we all know how that season turned out. A first round sweep at the hands of the Bulls. We'll see to what degree Shaq can prove me wrong this year.
By the way, as long we're talking about predictions. What happened to the Memphis Grizzlies this year? Didn't you predict them to make the playoffs?
I think Carlisle is a great coach. He was the one who rebuilt the Pistons. Larry Brown just swooped in and led an already established team to the NBA championship.
Mavs have played hard since Dirk came back from injury. I'm not sold on them keeping it up.
Suns are doing OK, a timeout or two to slow the Mavs momentum would have done wonders. Like many of the West teams right now, they are inconsistent, more so because of their customary lack of defensive focus. They should be able to stay in front of the Mavs, and if they keep homecourt they can possibly take the Jazz as well.
As I said on Kahn's blog, if the Hornets stay #1 and play one of the bottom 3 they will get out of the 1st round.
Nuggets are back to their old ways after improving on their east coast road trip. It will be interesting to see if they can hold off the Warriors or end up out.
I did indeed. Of course, maybe if Mike Conley had won ROY like you predicted, my prediction might have gone a bit better :P.
As for the new age limit rule, I tend to think that it's a good move for both leagues. For the NBA, their young stars get exposure and gain fans for two years before coming to the league. Just think, if Kevin Durant had jumped straight to the pros, what would you have known about him? You would've watched some team draft him and you wouldn't have cared. You might've seen some youtube highlights of their high school games, but that doesn't compare to the excitement around him coming off an epic year at Texas.
For the NCAA, they obviously benefit by getting two years of top notch talent.
Honestly, if the owners and the players union make the decision that it's better for the game, I have no problem with it.
I don't mind Vitale being inducted into the Hall. He has made a "significant contribution to the game of basketball." I don't really care for him but a lot of people do.
Guy V. Lewis?
You really are a fan of Houston sports aren't you? I didn't know who Lewis was but I wasn't surprised to see he was the basketball coach at the University of Houston.
I'm confident in the Mavs because of one thing: Jason Kidd. The rumblings that he's lost a step are very exaggerated. He's going to play big for them in the postseason. Don't forget that he AVERAGED a triple-double in last year's playoffs.
Make no mistake, I'm a fan of Chris Paul's but I think Kidd, AI, and Baron Davis are capable of getting the better of him in the playoffs. Like I said in my comment to LakersfanII, watched him in the 2006 FIBA World Championship and he came up short when the pressure mounted.
This will be his first playoffs and it's an entirely different ballgame.
I agree, the 20 year age limit is good for the NCAA and the NBA. I won't argue with that. The NBA gets their young stars marketed for free. The NCAA makes money off of young athletes at the bargain rate of an NCAA scholarship.
My question is if it's good for the players? I haven't seen any evidence that it is.
Nice read..
"Anyone else notice that three of the four MVP candidates (Kobe, LeBron, Kevin Garnett) this season were drafted straight out of high school?"
Yes sir.......... and the MVP winner was drafted straight out of high school...
Go Kobeeeeeeeeeeeeee
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I love basketball. While many basketball fans enjoy the month of March, I prefer the months of April, May, and June. I look forward to productive chats, heated debates, and honest opinions.
