The NBA has been ran by repeat champions and dynasties for the past twenty years (and that's as far back as I did my research on, it's probably even longer). In the past twenty years there have been six different teams to win NBA champions, and the only team out of the six that didn't win more than one within the past twenty seasons was the Miami Heat. There hasn't been per say a dynasty in the NBA since the Bulls of the '90's, except you can make an argument for the Lakers that three-peated at the beginning of the decade and even the Spurs who have won three of the last five championship.

But this year's Finals isn't just a rematch of an old Finals rivalry against two dynasties of the past, it's the rekindling of this dynasty because Boston and L.A. will meet again numerous times in the finals within the next three to five years.

A lot of people will want to make arguments that in these days with players moving around and so much talent in the league it's impossible for a dynasty to emerge, let alone two, but look at both these teams. They each have a "big three", where all the players that are part of the big three are thirty-two years of age or younger.

Lakers: Kobe (29), Odom (28), Gasol (27).
Not to mention Farmar is only twenty-one and Bynum is twenty.

Celtics: KG (32), Allen (32), Pierce (30).
and Rondo's only twenty-two.

You say there's other teams that can take the reigns of these two teams? Let's start out west.

The San Antonio Spurs have their own big three in Duncan, Parker, and Ginoboli. But look at the rest of the players in their rotation. Finley's old, Horry will probably retire, Barry's old, Oberto's garbage.

The Dallas Mavericks also have a big three in Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard. This team just flat out can't play defense and Kidd doesn't have too many years left in him.

The New Orleans Hornets made a nice run this year, but Paul and West really can't carry them with the role players they have. Stojavic, Peterson, and Chandler could do a commercial with Shaq where they ARE the icy-hot patch the way they go from cold to hot and vice versa. They may have been a one-year wonder like the Warriors were last year.

I really don't know what the Phoenix Suns were thinking when they made that trade for Shaq. Shaq is well past his prime and Marion was peaking at his. I don't see this team making the finals in the near future.

The Jazz, Rockets, and Nuggets are other notable teams or any team in the west since the conference stays strong, but the Lakers are on their way to greatness.

Now onto the East to make an argument on how teams won't be able to knock off Bean Town in the upcoming years.

The Detroit Pistons have no depth and all their stars are thirty and up except for Tayshaun Prince. They play great team basketball, but it won't be enough to knock off Boston.

The Orlando Magic don't have enough star players outside of Dwight Howard to even come within punching distance of Boston.

The Cleveland Cavaliers need a scoring post threat to compliment Lebron to have a chance to win a championship. Ilgauskas is a decent player, but he's not the type of player Lebron needs. If Boozer never left Cleveland this team would have probably won a championship by now, but that's a what-if.

The rest of the East is JV compared to the west and the teams I mentioned.

Oh and another prediction.
Lakers over Celtics in six.

Stay classy.

Well I'm finally done with finals and I leave school tomorrow. Although I've been crammed with studying and essays I have had time to watch the play-offs or a least catch the highlights.

I predicted the Spurs would win the NBA championship, which I still think will be the case. Especially with Amare suspended a game that'll give the Spurs an edge in Game Five.

Lets forget my prediction and look at what would be good for the NBA.

AS crazy as this sounds but what would be best for basketball would be if the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Jersey Nets or Phoenix Suns won the NBA Championship.

Why? You ask. Diversity. I don't know the exact numbers, but NBA ratings have been down since the Jordan Era, and since it's doubtful another Jordan era would happen the NBA needs a resurrection similar to the NFL's after the Cowboy era...Diversity of champions.

FOR THE PAST TWENTY (YES TWENTY) YEARS THE NBA HAS HAD ONLY SIX DIFFERENT TEAMS WIN NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat.

Lets look back at the past Champs:

86-87: Lakers

87-88: Lakers

88-89: Pistons

89-90: Pistons

90-91: Bulls

91-92: Bulls

92-93: Bulls

93-94: Rockets

94-95: Rockets

95-96: Bulls

96-97: Bulls

97-98: Bulls

98-99: Spurs

99-00: Lakers

00-01: Lakers

01-02: Lakers

02-03: Spurs

03-04: Pistons

04-05: Spurs

05-06: Heat

Dynasties and repeats seem like a dying fad, the Patriots were great for the NFL, but that's because they started as an upset story beating the heavily favored Rams. Predictable has become boring in sports. Other then the Patriots, the last time an NFL team repeated was in 1999 when the Bronco's did it, the last time in baseball a team repeated was 2000 when the Yankees did it. Okay, so there's no repeat for the NBA, but if the Bulls, Spurs, or Pistons take the crown it'll follow the continuing trend of these cities dominance in collecting titles in the NBA.

SO even though Phoenix isn't too much of an underdog this year, history says they are. So lets route for the underdog and bring the NBA championship to another new city (Miami pay be the pioneer of this trend) this year.

Oh and I want to give a shout out to UAlbany Men's Lacrosse who won their first NCAA tournament game in the history of the program and we're well on our way to becoming NCAA LAX Champs.

Information of past NBA champions courtesy of databasesports.com

Picture courtesy of Google Images

If Dirk Nowitzki wins MVP no one should complain. The MVP is for the regular season. Not the play-offs. Nash is probably going to get it anyway.

I know there's going to be plenty of posts about this upset, but lets talk about Dirk and all the criticism he's going to get for this game and series.

The first point I'd like to make is if it wasn't for Dirk Golden State would have been celebrating on Dallas' home court the other night. He sparked that 15-0 run that ended the game. The block, the threes, the huge offensive rebound on a freethrow that got knocked out of his hands, but went out of bounds so Dallas held possession. Blame Dirk ALL you want, but he was part of the reason Dallas kept pace in this series.

Ok so last night he had an AWFUL game. Even though Dallas won the game before it was evident Golden State had the momentum from that home crowd in Oakland. Barkley ripped Dirk for not driving, but Dirk is a jumpshot first drive second type player. I doubt Dirk driving to the basket really would have changed how the Warriors played. Dirk may have choked in some people's minds, but Golden State actually played defense on him. He couldn't get open ANYWHERE inside. He had to lurk at the perimeter. Who knows Dirk better then Don Nelson? He coached him since he was in the NBA before he left Dallas. He made the adjustments to stop Dirk.

Even though he's probably my favorite coach in the league, Avery Johnson is partially to blame for the Mavericks early exit. He got outcoached. I wonder what he tells this team in the locker room at halftime? In Games 5 and 6 they played AWFUL in the third quarter.

Let alone Dirk's teammates. Harris, Howard, and Stackhouse stepped it up, but then again they were hit and miss. Sometimes they were hitting a lot, other times they were missing a lot. I don't think they got Dirk the ball enough. Harris drove A LOT more then usual, and last night after Stackhouse hit those four threes he decided to just heave them up all night. I don't think Dirk had that many touches because of these guys trying to step it up instead of giving it to their super star.

The only criticism I have of Dirk is he said if they didn't win Game 4 their season was over. I don't know if that was some kind of motivational comment, but it backfired. AND he didn't seem to ask for the ball. If I was in Dirk's position last night being still in the game in the first half and only scoring two points I would be begging Avery Johnson to run plays for me and for my team to feed me the ball.

Ah bandwagons. In sports, EVERY one has jumped on a team's bandwagon in his or her lifetime. If you haven't, you're not a true fan or you're so biased to your team that you can't stand any other team. The BIGGEST bandwagon right now is the Golden State Warriors. I almost want to jump it because Dallas seems like the underdog now. That's how crazy this series is when the 1 seed becomes the underdog. I'll give credit a lot of people said this was a possible upset over Dallas in the first round, but NO ONE has been talking about the Warriors prior to April. People have assumed I'm a Warriors fan due to the fact I jumped on the bandwagon. I'm a KNICKS fan. You know why I like the Warriors? Even though it doesn't seem like it now, or atleast before last night, they're the underdog. If this was a 4-5 series I would still be routing for the Warriors because I'm a Baron Davis fan, but I wouldn't make such a big deal out of it. This is HISTORY if the Warriors win Game Six tomorrow night or if it goes seven and they pull out a win. I think even Dallas fans should understand what's going on here. This is as rare as a 16 seed beating a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. NEITHER has ever happened. An 8th seed has NEVER beaten a 1 seed in a seven game series.

I'm just wondering where all the fans of the Golden State Warriors who's been routing for this team their whole lives are I would like to hear some of their opinions on this series. I'm excited for Golden State, but if this was the Knicks being an 8th seed and upsetting a 1 I'd probably be going crazier then I was when Albany was given a chance against Virginia in the NCAA tourney.

If the Cinderella slipper doesn't fit you can always put on the flip-flops. If Dallas pulls out the series comeback I wonder how many sports analysts are going to flip flop and get back on the Mavs bandwagon. Other then Dallas fans and Charles Barkley, I think every analyst and blogger for that matter has buried this team. I still don't think Dallas is going to pull through, but it would be funny to see how many analysts will have Dallas winning the next series after counting them out against an 8th seed. If the Mavs end up winning the series I think I'll do an experiment and see how many analysts flip flop back to the Mavs.

Images courtesy of Google Images and nba.com

A great NBA season has come to a close and now sixteen teams remain fighting to be named Champion. Before I get into some West play-off predictions lets look at my yearly awards.

MVP: Kobe Bryant.

Even though he probably won't win it, Kobe has proved yet again to be the best player in the NBA. Yes the Lakers fell to a seventh seed, but KB24 scored about double his number every game down the stretch and this team would have easily missed the play-offs without him.

Coach of the Year: Don Nelson.

Warriors in the play-offs. Enough said.

Sixth Man of the Year: David Lee.

Even though he missed the later part of the season, Frodo was a guaranteed double double off the bench and his injury was one of many things that went wrong with New York and it's play-off run that turned into a run in the opposite direction.

Rookie of the Year: Andrea Bargnani.

He only averaged 11 ppg and 3 rpg, I don't know the exact numbers, but in the second half of the season he atleast averaged 15 ppg and was a great wingman for Bosh and the surprising Raptors.

Most Improved Player: Kevin Martin.

Without a doubt.

Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Camby.

11 rpg and 3 blocks per. No one was close to him defensively this year.

I think I got all the awards covered.

Now onto first round play-off predictions. Let's start with the West.

1 Dallas vs 8 Golden State

Keys for Dallas in the Series: Not giving up homecourt advantage and Defense. They need to prove to this team why they are the #1 seed in the toughest conference in the NBA.

Keys for Golden State in the Series: Taking homecourt advantage (more importantly winning game one). They swept Dallas in the regular season, I think if they can get into Dallas' head early they have a chance of winning the series.

My prediction: A lot of people surprisingly like G State as an underdog, but not me.

Dallas in five.

2 Phoenix vs 7 Los Angeles Lakers

Keys for Phoenix in the Series: Amare Stoudemire. Feed him the ball. This was an amazing series last year, but Amare will be the tipping point. Also, PHX needs to get in Kobe's head. Last year the series was close because he became a 28 ppg and 10 apg guy rather then a 40 ppg and 3 apg guy. If he doesn't trust his teammates it's going to be an early exit for La La Land.

Keys for Los Angeles in the Series: Compliment players need to step up. That's you Odom, Kwame, Parker, Walton, and Bynum. And of course I'll say this about every road team, take homecourt advantage.

My prediction: It'll be an even better series then last year, but the result will be the same.

Phoenix in seven.

3 San Antonio vs 6 Denver

Keys for San Antonio: Win early and win big. Denver will give up if you blow them out in the first few games. Also, make sure Crawford's not reffing.

Keys for Denver: AI and 'Melo have to be on their game obviously, but Camby is the most important guy in this series. When he plays well, Denver plays well. If he can put up some stat sheets like he was at the end of the year (over 20 ppg over 11 rpg and over 4 bpg) San Antonio better look out.

My prediction: I think THIS will be as exciting as last year's Phoenix and LA match-up and as much as I like Denver, they will keep it close, but..

San Antonio in seven.

4 Utah Jazz vs 5 Houston Rockets

Keys for Utah: They have to stop McGrady and Yao. They need big games from Deron Williams and they have to prove to people talent can beat experience in a play-off series...sometimes.

Keys for Houston: Of course take homecourt advantage. I think Battier needs to have a good series as well as T-Mac and Yao. They need to win early, show experience prevails in the playoffs.

My prediction: Utah looked good in the regular season up until the last month. Houston has been playing great ball.

Rockets in six.

Tune in tomorrow for my Eastern Conference play-off predictions and some 'other' NBA Awards.

 

Images courtesy of Sports Illustrated and Google Images

I like the sixth seeded Denver in the West as a sleeper, and I'm looking to the sixth (most likely, maybe 7th) seed in the East to be a sleeper too. The Leastern Conference better look out. Just a few weeks ago this team was fighting for the eighth seed, now they just about have the sixth seed locked. What a first round match-up they would put up against the Raptors. The storylines too, Vince's former team. He was known as a choke artist in the play-offs, could he prove this wrong against T-Dot? Not many teams have a three headed dragon like the Nets do with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson. Not Toronto or Chicago.

Lets talk about Jason Kidd. Lets talk about 13 ppg 8 rpg and 9 apg. Where's MVP talk for him? You want to talk about contributing to your team, he's close to averaging a triple double. Kidd has lead this team to the finals before, I don't think the Nets have a chance to make it this year, but I'm definitely not sleeping on them.

The Nets have experience. Other then Detroit and Miami the play-off teams in the East don't have a lot of play-off experience. The Bulls, Wizards, Cavs, Magic, and especially the Raptors lack the experience and play-off basketball is a whole different game. Records set aside, every team is 0-0 when this starts. The only thing that has me worried about New Jersey is after their big three they're not very deep. I like Nachbar coming off the bench, but that's about it. I love what Toronto's done this year, but I wouldn't be surprised if they get upset and sent home early if they end up facing the Nets in the first round.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

It's all smiles in Denver. January 24th, 2007 I posted saying everyone should hop on the Nuggets bandwagon. For awhile, I thought I was going to eat those words, but a few months later this team is playing how I predicted them to play. Seven straight wins, five of them against play-off teams (Credit I'm counting the Clippers as a play-off team since they are the 8th seed). If you're the three seed in the west (PHX or San Antonio, one of them will be it by the end of the year), you should be scared of this team. Of course you can credit this to Iverson and Melo playing good, but a lot of the credit has to go to Marcus Camby.

You want to talk about blocked shots, talk about Camby. Other then the first game of the seven game streak (where he had no blocked shots), he's had three or more blocked shots each game. Having seven blocked shots in TWO of the games. You want to talk about a beast on the boards, six out of the seven games he's had over ten boards, getting twenty of more boards in two of those games.

Some more impressive numbers these Nuggets have put up during this streak:

Melo has dropped thirty or more five out of the seven games.

Iverson has dropped twenty or more six of the seven games and he's dropped seven or more assists four out of the seven games.

Five out of the seven games they've scored over 110 points.

Ok so I know the Suns, Spurs, and Mavs have had longer winning streaks (the Nuggets still have games left), but this team is trying to make a statement. They're not that push-over that was flirting with not making the play-offs a few weeks ago, they ARE a presence in the west, they are the team people thought they would have been (even without Iverson they had high expectations) and no one should overlook this team, especially come play-off time.

Images courtesy of Google Images

Let's talk about the NBA today. It's the home stretch and play-off match ups are almost set.

Lets start with a team not making the play-offs. The New York Knickerbockers. Ever since they extended Isiah's contract they've been worst then usual. Last night Chicago blew them out the building, and then a fight almost broke out because Chicago tried to run up the score because if a team scored 100 points in the game everyone in the crowd would get a Big Mac. Hell, I'm a Knicks fan, but if I was in the crowd I wouldn't have minded a free Big Mac. Actually, I'd want money back for my tickets. Credit the Knicks are injury bound (I think if healthy they'd have that 8 spot), they can still try and play. Nate Robinson is actually not doing too bad, he dropped 24 last night and I'm definitely missing Frodo.

Philly beat the play-off looking in Pacers last night. The 76ers have won 27 games since they traded Iverson. They only won five games before that. They are only four games out of the play-offs, so they might not make it this year, but I'm definitely seeing this team making a play-off run next year.

How sick has Jamison been since Arenas and Butler have been out? The Wizards fell short last night against the Nets, but Jamison went off with 26 and 11 boards. The past three games (without Arenas) before last night Jamison dropped 37 and 11, 27 and 4, and 25 and 11. I think Agent 0 is a great player, but maybe if he played more like an actual point Jamison could do this every night. The question is, can Jamison lead the Wiz through the first round of the play-offs?

How about those Hornets? They're a game out of the West play-offs and CP3 and David West have looked ill. This team WILL make the play-offs. Sorry La La Clippers and G-State.

I just wanted to post these kicks I saw when looking up the Hornets logo on Goggle, they're pretty sick. I'm definitely checking out the website after I'm done with this post.

Let's get back to business.

Unfortunately, the Jazz flute isn't hot right now. The Utah Jazz have lost FOUR straight. I had a feeling this team was going to fold, but I thought it would have been earlier. They may be losing more then just homecourt advantage in the first round of the play-offs, they may be losing their season by the way H-Town has been playing lately.

On the contrary, the Denver Nuggets have been the hottest team in the NBA. They've won a quiet six straight games where they beat the Lakers twice, the Mavs, Seattle, Sac-Town, and the Clippers. I think the Spurs will be NBA Champs and right now they'd be facing the Nuggets in the first round, but Denver will give them a run for their money, AND if the Spurs catch the Suns and the Suns play Denver in the first round I think Denver over PHX could be a possible upset in the first round.

Images courtesy of Google Images

 

That's right ladies and gentlemen it's time for me to be a homer and talk about the Knicks. We're in the second half of the season. We're the New York Knicks and we have a new found life. Our new savior, David Lee. Before the game at the Garden tonight he was praised for the MVP he won over All Star Weekend...the Rooks Soph one. It's like he's our Kobe Bryant all of a sudden. David Lee who I'm dubbing Frodo. Maybe someone dubbed him Frodo all ready come to think of it, so I'll double dub him if that's the case.

  Frodo put in 36 minutes tonight. 14 points and 16 boards against the Dime dubbed "Centaur" Dwight Howard. Frodo slayed the Centaur, son. Magic down a game, Frodo and the Knicks one step closer. One game closer to the 8th, or even, don't say it, 7th seed. The laugh and Lottery playing Knicks of last year, PLAYOFFS. Insert a sound clip of Jim Mora here please. Or a sound clip of Delonte West talking I can't get enough of that guy, youtube him and any interviews or commercials that come up, WATCH. Back to business.
 

Our schedule is favorable. There's 28 games left. Fifteen at home where if you have been watching the Knickerbockers you know a high percentage of our games come down to the final seconds even if we lose some of them. Excitement at the Garden. We're 15-13 at home, not great, but 10-17 on the road is ugly. Yes. Fat Joe said it tonight though. The Knicks are going to win. Fat Joe said it. Let it Rain. The Knicks are back. With new life. Starbury said to watch out for us in the second half of this year. Starbury, astrology, it makes sense. Maybe him being a CANCER comes into play here(even though Starbury's birthday was tonight so he can't be a Cancer, catch the irony people).  Back to the schedule. Sixteen games against teams under .500. Oh what a favorable schedule. Don't bring in Rashard Lewis, we just got our chemistry going. Don't bring in Rashard he can't spell defense or spell assist for that matter. He can spell shoot and turnover. We don't need a lanky Allan Houston poseur. Stay in Seattle. QRich and Jamal will hit our tre’s. I'm worried though. Nate the Great didn't play tonight. Hometown Washington. No lil Nate, stay in NY. We don't want Rashard. Another shoot first player will curse this team. If only we could deal Starbury and Franchise. No one had 5 assists or more tonight. We're not perfect, but in the Leastern Conference we're playoff bound. Quote me now.

Jump on my Knick bandwagon for a play-off run.

 

Images courtesy of Google Images. Cropped images on my bandwagon courtesy of nba.com