One week into the NBA Playoffs and one thing is crystal clear - the higher seeded teams are finding success to be a little more difficult to attain than they probably expected - except Dallas.

In the East, a total of ten playoff games have been completed... with the lower seeded team winning four of the ten.  A pair of matchups are deadlocked at 2-2 while the other two series are 2-1 with pivotal Game 4's looming.

For a closer look, let's take a gaze into each series:

#1 Detroit vs. #8 Milwaukee

After a pair of dominating performances at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the two-time defending Eastern Conference Champions, the Detroit Pistons, headed northwest to the "Beer City" to cast further doubt into the hearts and minds of the heavy-underog, Milwaukee Bucks.  But after 48 minutes of uninspired basketball by the Pistons in Game 3, the only doubt casted was whether or not the Pistons still have the ability to be a shutdown defensive unit. 

The Bucks shot an unthinkable 60 percent from the field, including 65 percent from 3-point range, in route to an easy 124-104 victory.  Much like he did during the regular season, Michael Redd blistered Detroit with 40 points on 14 of 21 shooting and a returning Tony Kukoc delivered a spark off the Bucks' bench with 10 points and six assists.  Maurice Williams added 20 points as well as the game was never in doubt from the middle of the third stanza onward.

Overview:  Despite all the offensive success the Bucks enjoyed in Game 3, it was just one game - a game in which Milwaukee knew they had to have to stay in the series, and a game the Pistons clearly didn't view as being crucial to their overall success. 

Detroit will need to make a concerted effort to play much better team defense and slow down the pace in tomorrow's Game 4.  While it's certainly not a "must-win" situation for the Pistons, a victory would put them in a position to close out the series early at home and give one of their key contributors, Richard Hamilton, some much needed extra rest for his injured ankle.

As for Milwaukee, the Bucks must realize that they won't shoot 60 percent for an entire game again for the rest of the series.  They must commit to playing solid half-court defense with an emphasis on forcing turnovers and quickening the pace.  If they can do these things, they'll have a chance to make it a series.  If not, they'll be heading back to Detroit down 3-1 with their postseason fate already decided.

#2 Miami vs. #7 Chicago

Perhaps the most intriguing of the so-called "David vs. Goliath" series, the Heat and the Bulls have spent the better part of sixteen playoff quarters of basketball trying to impose their will on each other.  The result - a 2-2 tie heading into a monumentally important Game 5 in South Beach on Tuesday night.

For Pat Riley and the Heat, their focus was to utilize their size and ability to score in the paint as a way to exploit the physically inferior Bulls.  Of course, at the forefront of their size advantage and ability to dominate the paint is Shaquille O'Neal.  Through the first two games in Miami, Shaq averaged 24.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, which parlayed into Heat victories.  However, in Game's 3 and 4, O'Neal got into early foul trouble and never found a rhythm.  The result was a 12 point, 6 rebound average and a pair of defeats in the Windy City.

The Bulls, on the other hand, have tried to use their quickness and ability to score from the perimeter to offset the Heat's physical prowess.  Scott Skiles hoped to trap Miami into an up-and-down game in order to wear out Shaq and exploit their superior guard play.  Thus far, mission accomplished as the trio of Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Chris Duhon have vastly outplayed their couterparts, Jason Williams, Dwyane Wade and Gary Payton - especially in Chicago.

Overview:  The Miami Heat, for the most part, have been their own worst enemy.  Turnovers, poor shot selection, and extended minutes of lackluster play at the defensive end of the floor have allowed the upstart Bulls to climb back into the series. 

That's not to say the Bulls haven't been a huge part of that.  Hinrich has done an admirable job of bothering Wade and forcing him to expend energy at the defensive end.  The constant shuffling in and out of players like Malik Allen, Tyson Chandler and Michael Sweetney on Shaquille O'Neal has been moderately effective and has allowed Scott Skiles to equally distribute fouls among his big men.  And the perimeter shooting and overall athletic abilities of Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni has spread the Heat defense thin and created second and third chance opportunities when they do happen to miss from outside.

Going forward, Miami must get back to their game plan of pounding the ball inside to Shaq and Alonzo Mourning and forcing Chicago into a half-court game.  Doing so will not only equate success for their big men, the double-teams will open up opportunities for their perimeter players as well as driving lanes for Dwyane Wade.  And it should equate to a berth in the second round for the Heat.

#3 New Jersey vs. #6 Indiana

Much like the Heat/Bulls series, the Pacers/Nets encounter involves two teams with two completely different identities.  The New Jersey Nets (like the Bulls) are a guard-oriented club who prefer a quicker pace, while the Indiana Pacers are more of a half-court team designed to grind it out possession by possession.  Thus far, the pace has favored Indiana ever so slightly.  Nonetheless, the series is tied going back to the Meadowlands with the Nets back in possession of home-court advantage.

One of the most talked about themes of this series was how the Pacers would be able to combat New Jersey's "big three" of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter.  So far, they've done so with inspired efforts from PG Anthony Johnson, whose 16.5 ppg are twice that of his counterpart, Jason Kidd (8.8).  They've also received significant contributions from SF Steven Jackson (14.5 ppg) and C Jermaine O'Neal.  Still, the Nets tantilizing trio has done their damage, especially Jefferson and Carter who have amassed 50 points combined in three of the four games.  The key for Indiana in their two victories has been limiting the impact of C Nenad Kristic, as well as making Carter and Jefferson work for their points.

Overview:  The consensus going into this series was that of all the first round matchups in the Eastern Conference, this one was the most likely to go the full seven.  After four games, that consensus seems to be even more prevalent.

New Jersey will need to get out to an early lead and sustain it in Game 5.  Because with the Pacers' battle-tested, veteran lineup, the longer the Nets allow Indiana to hang around, the more likely it will be that the Pacers head back to Indianapolis with an opportunity to close out the series on their home floor.

#4 Cleveland vs. #5 Washington

No Eastern Conference series possessed more star power than the Wizards/Cavs matchup.  With LeBron James, Gilbert Arenas, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, and... well... LeBron James, the potential for an offensive showcase seemed not only a probability, but inevitable - and almost pre-determined.  Yet through three games, neither team has scored 100 points to this point and only one game (Game 3) has seen both teams topple the 90-point plateau.  Yes, believe it or not folks, it's been a defensive struggle thus far between these two offensive juggernauts.

Having said that, one has to assume that both teams will eventually open things up as the "feeling out" process has come and gone.  And when you figure neither team was known for their defensive abilities all season long, that only adds to the notion that the scorekeepers will have a severe case of writer's cramp when it's all said and done.

LeBron James' game-winning floater in the lane in Game 3 shifted the momentum back in the Cavs' favor and gave coach Mike Brown's club an opportunity to take a stranglehold on the series with another victory in the nation's capital.  With claims of a traveling violation on that last shot aside (and warranted at that), LeBron has torched the Wizards in the two Cleveland victories, scoring 32 and 40 points respectively.  If the Wizards want to get back in the winning column, they'll have to be more physical in their approach to defending James, much like they were in Game 2 when LeBron was just 7 of 25 from the field.  Washington must force the Cavs' supporting cast to beat them.  In addition, they'll need more consistent outputs from Jamison and Caron Butler to coincide with the 30 ppg that Arenas brings to the table.

Overview:  Tonight's Game 4 (which is 14 minutes from tip-off as I write this) will go a long way in deciding this series.  A Wizards' win ties it at two and gives Washington the momentum and confidence needed to pull off the minor upset.  They've already proven they can beat the Cavs in Cleveland so that shouldn't present a problem for them.  However, a Cavs win tonight will bury Washington in a deep hole that will be virtually impossible to climb out of - having to win three straight and two of the three on the road. 

Much like New Jersey in their next game, it will be vital for Washington to get off to a quick start tonight and allow their fans to have an impact on the playoff-deprived Cavaliers.  Otherwise, they'll likely leave it up to fate in the final seconds with the ball in the hands of the confident, young mega-star who did them in just two nights ago.

Here's how I see these first round matchups ending up:

Detroit over Milwaukee (4-1)

Miami over Chicago (4-3)

New Jersey over Indiana (4-3)

Cleveland over Washington (4-2)

Yeah, I know ... I didn't really go out on a limb there, did I?  But don't fret, there will be plenty of opening round upsets in the West ... well, at least one. 

Kobe, I take everything I said about you three months ago back!  You are indeed - the MAN!

Yesterday afternoon, I blogged about five keys to victory for the Red Wings in Game 4, as well as their keys to success going forward.  Unfortunately, the blog was never posted to the NHL section for some reason.

Nonetheless, now that Game 4 is in the books (a Red Wing victory), I thought it would be interesting to do a checklist for the five key points and see how Detroit fared in each category.

Point #1 -- Eliminate Turnovers

Earlier, I wrote the following:

Experts can talk all they want about the trap Edmonton is employing or the excellent goaltending of Dwayne Roloson, but the reason this series is currently 2-1 in the Oilers' favor is because the Red Wings have not been strong with the puck, especially in their own zone. 

In Game 2, leading 2-1 in the second period, a pair of defensive zone turnovers by Kirk Maltby and Jason Williams (just 57 seconds apart) led to the tying and go-ahead goals respectively.  From there, the Wings lost the momentum and never regained it, losing 4-2.    

In Game 3, three of the four Edmonton goals were the direct result of a turnover by Detroit in their own zone, including the game-winner in overtime by Jarret Stoll.

Detroit must do a better job of handling the Oilers' forecheck.  They have to be stronger with the puck in the corners and along the boards and they must make crisper and more accurate passes in and out of the zone.  Doing so will not only keep the puck out of their own net, but it will also help them generate speed through the neutral zone and give them better opportunities to beat the Edmonton trap.

Check

The Red Wings responded with a very strong puck possession game against the Oilers, especially in the third period.  They carried the play for the most part at even strength and were adept at moving the puck before Edmonton's forwards could get in on the forecheck.

Because of their strong puck play, Edmonton's offensive chances were few and far between when they weren't on the power play.  As a result, Detroit was able to generate some momentum through the neutral zone with their crisp passing leading to several scoring chances, including the game's only even strength goal - a Robert Lang tally in the first period.

Point #2 -- Stay Out of the Penalty Box

Earlier, I wrote:

The Detroit Red Wings were among the least penalized teams in the NHL during the regular season.  And through the first two games of the postseason, they continued that trend.  But in Game 3, Detroit took undisciplined penalties from start to finish, tallying 14:43 of penalty time and nine power play opportunities for their opponents.

Edmonton managed only one power play goal out of their nine chances, but the plethora of short-handed minutes for Detroit hindered Mike Babcock's ability to role four lines and give some of his potent scorers (i.e. Pavel Datsyuk, Brendan Shanahan and Robert Lang) the ice time needed to get into game rhythm.

The Red Wings must stay out of the penalty box in Game 4 (and for the remainder of the series) or the result will likely be the same as it was in Game 3.  Detroit is far superior to Edmonton in five-on-five situations.  But they cannot exploit that superiority by taking dumb penalties and allowing the Oilers to spend a good chunk of the game on the power play.

No Check

For the second straight game, the Red Wings spent too much time in the sin bin.  But then again, so did the Oilers.

I really can't fault the Red Wings too much for being undisciplined because this was one of the worst officiated games (on both sides) I've seen in quite some time.  Any time a stick got near an opposing player, the referee's hand went up.  It was very frustrating to watch as a fan.

I realize Gary Bettman wants obstruction out of the game and subsequently, he wants it called in the playoffs in any game situation, but there needs to be some consistency with the way it's being called.  It seems that one game the referees swallow the whistles and let them play.  The next, they call every little tug, including some phantom hooks as well.  It's an absolute joke and it must be corrected for the betterment of the game.

Point #3 -- Better Goaltending

Prior to the game, I wrote:

The play of goaltender Manny Legace hasn't been a massive chink in the Red Wings' armour thus far, but it hasn't been good either. 

In Game 3, Legace let in two relatively weak goals from Jaroslav Spacek and Ryan Smyth in the first period.  Smyth's goal was especially deflating as it came just minutes after the Wings had tied the game and stymied the Oilers' crowd and momentum; and it came on a wrap-around attempt in which Legace was too slow to react.

But the most deflating mistake Legace made was in double overtime when he found himself out of position as the puck was being jostled behind the net.  By the time it was feathered out front, Legace had no chance to stop the back-hand rebound shot by Stoll that gave Edmonton the victory.

The bottom line is that the Red Wings' defense must play better in front of Legace.  But it's also the goaltender's job to provide the last line of resistence.  Dwayne Roloson has been formidable in that role for the Oilers.  Now it's time for Manny Legace to match his counterpart in net for Detroit.

Check

Going into Game 4, Legace carried an unimpressive .887 save percentage, which ranked 12th in the playoffs and third worst among goaltenders who had played at least three games.  Tonight, once again he looked shaky in the beginning. 

Legace allowed two goals on the power play.  Each one was a shot from the deep slot that found its way through Manny's legs.  But after making some crucial saves during a lengthy five-on-three short-handed situation, Legace started to find his groove.

In all, he stopped 24 of 26 shots, and along with Chris Chelios, was the best Red Wing penalty killer on the ice.

Legace now must build on this performance and continue to get better as the series progresses.

Point #4 -- Big Guns Must Step Up

Earlier, I wrote:

At the end of the regular season, the Red Wings had eight, yes eight, 20-goal scorers on their roster - including four with 28 or more.  Through three games in the playoffs, only three of those players have tallied a goal, and only one (Henrik Zetterberg-3) has scored multiple times.

Moreover, consider these numbers.  Brendan Shanahan is a minus-2 with only six shots on goal in the series.  Niklas Lidstrom, a three-time Norris Trophy winner and former Conn Smythe recipient is a minus-4.  Pavel Datsyuk has zero points in two games.  Robert Lang and Jason Williams are both minus-2.  And Tomas Holmstrom is a minus-2 with only seven shots on goal and no sustained pressure in front of the Edmonton net. 

If the Red Wings want to win Game 4 and ultimately advance, they need their stars to shine.  Whether it's flying through the neutral zone on odd-man rushes, shooting the puck from all angles and crashing the net for rebounds, or winning the physical battles along the boards, these players must step up and make significant contributions for their team.  And it must begin tonight!

Check +

The Wings guns came out firing from the start and never let up until the final buzzer.

Robert Lang scored a goal and had two assists.  Tomas Holmstrom and Nicklas Lidstrom each scored their first goal of the series.  Lidstrom's power play goal proved to be the game-winner.  Pavel Datsyuk tallied two assists and brought the kind of energy and play-making ability that made him one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the league during the regular season.  And even though Brendan Shanahan didn't register a point, he did pile up six shots on goal, which equaled his total for the first three games combined.

Point #5 -- Grab an Early Lead and Hold It

I wrote:

Here's an eerie stat for you.  Through three games, the Red Wings have led the Oilers a grand total of 18:17 out of 231:23 played.  That leaves 213:06 of playoff hockey where the Wings have either trailed or been tied.

Of all the statistics compiled from this series so far, this has to be the most compelling.  It's no secret that Edmonton's modified trap has foiled the Red Wings' offensive attack and has forced them to shoot from the perimeter.  But by getting out to an early one, two, or three goal lead, the Oilers will not be able to sit back and clog the neutral zone.  Instead, they'll be forced to carry the play to Detroit, thus creating even more chances for a counter attack on the Wings' behalf.

Therefore, it's imperative that Detroit survive the early on-slaught of the Oilers and their fans tonight and grab a first period lead.  From there, it's equally imperative that they score the next goal as well.  That way, they open up the ice and put the pressure on the Edmonton offense to get them back in the game.

No Check

The Red Wings fell behind 1-0 midway through the first period.  But by the end of the stanza, Detroit found itself in front 2-1. 

After a shaky second period that saw the Edmonton Oilers tie the game on Jaroslav Spacek's power play goal, the Wings responded with a dominating third period performance.  They grabbed the lead at the 6:44 mark and never looked back.

So I guess, in essence, they did what they needed to do.  They just waited until the third period to do it.  Going forward, they'll be better served to take the lead earlier and force the Oilers to play from behind.

All things considered, we'll call it three and a half out of five, which in this case was enough to garner a 4-2 victory.  Now Detroit has new life.  It's a best of three series starting Saturday afternoon at the Joe.  And this time, the Red Wings must make better use of the home ice advantage.

Three games into the NHL's second season, the Detroit Red Wings find itself in an all too familiar position - staring at the prospect of another early round playoff exit.

Trailing 2-1 to the eighth seeded Edmonton Oilers heading into tonight's pivotal Game 4, the heavily favored Wings face an arguable must-win situation in order to avoid a 3-1 deficit and the likelihood of yet another postseason letdown.

But this is nothing new to Hockeytown.  Despite enjoying a wealth of success in the NHL playoffs over the years (including three Stanley Cups in a six year span), they've also incurred plenty of early round disappointments. 

In 1994, after winning the President's Trophy as the league's top team, the Red Wings were shocked by San Jose in the first round, 4-3. 

In 2001, after jumping out to a commanding 2-0 lead on an inferior Los Angeles Kings' squad, the Red Wings promptly dropped four straight games to lose their opening round series, 4-2.

And of course, who could forget the 2003 debacle against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks?  The defending Stanley Cup Champions were overwhelmed by the seventh-seeded Ducks in an embarrassing four-game sweep.

However, the failures of postseasons past should not affect this year's team.  Nearly half of the current roster did not participate in any of the aforementioned series.  And those that did are playoff veterans who have also been a vital part of the many Red Wings' triumphs. 

So instead of dwelling on the past, it's time for Detroit to focus on the future - the immediate future.  Therefore, I offer five key elements that must take place in Game 4 in order to even the series and shift the momentum back in the Red Wings' favor.

#1 -- Eliminate Turnovers

Experts can talk all they want about the trap Edmonton is employing or the excellent goaltending of Dwayne Roloson, but the reason this series is currently 2-1 in the Oilers' favor is because the Red Wings have not been strong with the puck, especially in their own zone. 

In Game 2, leading 2-1 in the second period, a pair of defensive zone turnovers by Kirk Maltby and Jason Williams (just 57 seconds apart) led to the tying and go-ahead goals respectively.  From there, the Wings lost the momentum and never regained it, losing 4-2.    

In Game 3, three of the four Edmonton goals were the direct result of a turnover by Detroit in their own zone, including the game-winner in overtime by Jarret Stoll.

Detroit must do a better job of handling the Oilers' forecheck.  They have to be stronger with the puck in the corners and along the boards and they must make crisper and more accurate passes in and out of the zone.  Doing so will not only keep the puck out of their own net, but it will also help them generate speed through the neutral zone and give them better opportunities to beat the Edmonton trap.

#2 -- Stay Out of the Box

The Detroit Red Wings were among the least penalized teams in the NHL during the regular season.  And through the first two games of the postseason, they continued that trend.  But in Game 3, Detroit took undisciplined penalties from start to finish, tallying 14:43 of penalty time and nine power play opportunities for their opponents.

Edmonton managed only one power play goal out of their nine chances, but the plethora of short-handed minutes for Detroit hindered Mike Babcock's ability to role four lines and give some of his potent scorers (i.e. Pavel Datsyuk, Brendan Shanahan and Robert Lang) the ice time needed to get into game rhythm.

The Red Wings must stay out of the penalty box in Game 4 (and for the remainder of the series) or the result will likely be the same as it was in Game 3.  Detroit is far superior to Edmonton in five-on-five situations.  But they cannot exploit that superiority by taking dumb penalties and allowing the Oilers to spend a good chunk of the game on the power play. 

#3 -- Better Goaltending

 The play of goaltender Manny Legace hasn't been a massive chink in the Red Wings' armour thus far, but it hasn't been good either. 

In Game 3, Legace let in two relatively weak goals from Jaroslav Spacek and Ryan Smyth in the first period.  Smyth's goal was especially deflating as it came just minutes after the Wings had tied the game and stymied the Oilers' crowd and momentum; and it came on a wrap-around attempt in which Legace was too slow to react.

But the most deflating mistake Legace made was in double overtime when he found himself out of position as the puck was being jostled behind the net.  By the time it was feathered out front, Legace had no chance to stop the back-hand rebound shot by Stoll that gave Edmonton the victory.

The bottom line is that the Red Wings' defense must play better in front of Legace.  But it's also the goaltender's job to provide the last line of resistence.  Dwayne Roloson has been formidable in that role for the Oilers.  Now it's time for Manny Legace to match his counterpart in net for Detroit.

#4 -- Big Guns Must Step Up

At the end of the regular season, the Red Wings had eight, yes eight, 20-goal scorers on their roster - including four with 28 or more.  Through three games in the playoffs, only three of those players have tallied a goal, and only one (Henrik Zetterberg-3) has scored multiple times.

Moreover, consider these numbers.  Brendan Shanahan is a minus-2 with only six shots on goal in the series.  Niklas Lidstrom, a three-time Norris Trophy winner and former Conn Smythe recipient is a minus-4.  Pavel Datsyuk has zero points in two games.  Robert Lang and Jason Williams are both minus-2.  And Tomas Holmstrom is a minus-2 with only seven shots on goal and no sustained pressure in front of the Edmonton net. 

If the Red Wings want to win Game 4 and ultimately advance, they need their stars to shine.  Whether it's flying through the neutral zone on odd-man rushes, shooting the puck from all angles and crashing the net for rebounds, or winning the physical battles along the boards, these players must step up and make significant contributions for their team.  And it must begin tonight!

#5 -- Grab the Early Lead and Hold It

Here's an eerie stat for you.  Through three games, the Red Wings have led the Oilers a grand total of 18:17 out of 231:23 played.  That leaves 213:06 of playoff hockey where the Wings have either trailed or been tied.

Of all the statistics compiled from this series so far, this has to be the most compelling.  It's no secret that Edmonton's modified trap has foiled the Red Wings' offensive attack and has forced them to shoot from the perimeter.  But by getting out to an early one, two, or three goal lead, the Oilers will not be able to sit back and clog the neutral zone.  Instead, they'll be forced to carry the play to Detroit, thus creating even more chances for a counter attack on the Wings' behalf.

Therefore, it's imperative that Detroit survive the early on-slaught of the Oilers and their fans tonight and grab a first period lead.  From there, it's equally imperative that they score the next goal as well.  That way, they open up the ice and put the pressure on the Edmonton offense to get them back in the game. 

If the Red Wings can apply these five keys to victory tonight, they'll be well on their way to advancing to the next round - Steve Yzerman or no Steve Yzerman.  However, if they fail to adjust to what Edmonton is doing and continue to make the same mistakes they've made in the first three games, they might has well start reserving tee times at Oakland Hills.  

 

"Just when I think I'm out... they PULL me back in!"

This famous Al Pacino line (who coincidentally is celebrating his 66th birthday today) from the Godfather trilogy aptly described the feeling I had when I received my email notification that the Next Great Sportswriter II contest was set to begin. 

On the one hand, much like the gangster life was intrinsic to Michael Corleone, sports will always be an important part of my everyday life.  And what better way to convey this inborn passion than to write about it and interact with thousands of individuals around the globe who share the same affinity.  But on the other hand, after the last fiasco that was the original NGS, I was somewhat hesitant to re-enter.

Don't get me wrong, there was much to enjoy about the first NGS - great discussion/debate, amity, arguments, agreements and a LOT of outstanding work put forth by the contestants.  But once the final 16 was revealed, all hell broke loose!

People were questioning the selections by the judges... a few even claimed that it was all fixed from the beginning.  We had an underaged contestant admit to his ineligibility, only after he was eliminated.  A seemingly fantastic writer was eliminated for suspicion of plagiarism.  And round-by-round eliminations were decided by the scorned "outsiders" instead of the judges themselves, leading many to believe that it was more of a popularity contest than a writing competition.  Needless to say, it all became quite the headache, at least for yours truly.  In the end, I do believe the right man won.  But all the extracurricular stuff (in addition to some health issues) drove me away from the blogging experience here for the better part of four months.

But now, with some reservation, I'm back... and the heavily anticipated NGS - Part Deux is upon us.  In order to avoid the frustrations that came with the inaugural edition, I decided to make a deal with myself... sort of a self-contract if you weill (TM - Dusty Rhodes), loaded with incentives, stipulations and out-clauses.  And for my first blog on Foxsports.com since mid-January, I thought I'd share some of the particulars of my "self-contract" for the NGS II with my fellow bloggers.

 

---

 

The following criteria must be met in it's entirety in order to continue blogging in the Next Great Sportwriter II contest on Foxsports.com:

* You shall only endeavor to write a blog if the mood should strike you.  DO NOT write just for the sake of posting in order to "pad" your blog.  This is not a contest to see who can write the most blogs.  It is a contest to see who can write the most effective blogs.

* You must NEVER take the contest, or your writing, too seriously.  Sports are your passion and you love to write.  Have fun with it!  Otherwise, what's the point?

* You must NEVER offer another blogger anything but kind words and/or constructive criticism.  If you should read something in a blog, or in a comment to one of your blogs that repulses you, simply move onto something else and ignore it.  Nothing good comes from bickering with people you don't know.  Save the venom for your ex-girlfriend!

* You must NEVER post a blog immediately after a Pistons, Tigers, or Red Wings loss ... especially if there is a blown official's call of some kind.  Doing so will only reflect bitterness and poor sportsmanship on your behalf.  Instead, sleep on it and put together honest criticisms and thoughts from your team's performance the next day. 

* You must NEVER, under any circumstances, EVER post drunk.  In addition to it being almost impossible to convey a point coherently through the spoken word with "beer goggles" on, it's equally impossible to do so via the written word.  Typos and misspelled words will most certainly be at a premium, and no matter how much sense it makes in your mind at the time, it won't make any sense at all the next day and you'll be left with nothing but regret.  (For the record, I never did this the first time.)

* You must not put too much stock into the comments posted on your blogs by other members.  Welcome the feedback as always, and strive to post thoughts on other blogs, but do not take them as gospel.  Everyone has different opinions on what makes a good piece, what makes a great game or play, and what constitutes a lucid thought or observation.  So always keep that in mind when blogging.

* DO NOT spend too much time on one post.  If it flows, it flows.  If it doesn't, it isn't worth your time.  Move on and wait til the mood strikes you again.

* DO NOT treat this like it is the gateway to becoming a nationally recognized journalist.  There are many other ways to break through and you are pursuing all of them.  Treat this only as a fun endeavor and if something else comes out of it - bonus.

* If someone gets caught cheating after the finalists are revealed, DO NOT shake your head and think "that cheatin' son of a #&&#*#* took MY spot".  Instead, simply sigh and say ... "Wow!  That sucks that he got caught!"

* Finally, you MUST resolve to do your best and accept whatever results may loom.  If you're lucky enough to advance to the final 16 this time, relish the opportunity and put your best foot forward.  If not, well... there's always the "Next Great Pornstar" competition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Failure to adhere to any and all of these guidelines will result in the immediate removal of one MotorcityMadman from the NGS II contest.

 

Okay, okay... I admit it.  I didn't actually make a contract with myself.  I just thought I'd throw that out there as a reminder to myself, and perhaps others, of what this contest is really about.  Maybe you agree, maybe you don't.  It's cool!  The bottom line is that the Madman is back and I look forward to interacting with all the familiar cohorts from last December, as well as all the new blood out there.

Good luck to everyone and I'll talk to you soon!  Perhaps as soon as tomorrow if the Red Wings don't figure out that stupid trap Edmonton is playing. 

Oh wait, that would be in direct violation of a contract stipulation, wouldn't it? 

 

---

 

They're partying in Ann Arbor tonight after the Michigan Wolverines upset #12 Michigan State, 72-67.

After falling behind by double-digits early to a hot-shooting, run-and-gun Spartan squad, the senior-laden Wolverines slowly closed the gap by playing suffocating defense, dictating the tempo, and hitting one big shot after another, both from the field as well as the free throw line.

Michigan outscored Michigan State 27-6 from the foul line and that, along with inspired play from seniors Daniel Horton (23 pts.) and Chris Hunter (13 pts. and 3 blocks - all in the second half), was the difference in the Wolverines first victory in the intrastate rivalry in two years.

Going into the game, Michigan players and coaches felt that this game was their chance to make a statement that the gap between the two programs was finally closing.  It was also their opportunity to show the rest of the ultra competitive Big Ten that the Spartans weren't the only team in the state of Michigan entrenched in the race for the conference championship. 

However, in the first 10 minutes of the game, the statement seemed more like a whimper as MSU nearly ran the Wolverines right out of the gym.

Michigan State built a 28-15 first half lead by getting open looks in transition, both in the paint and behind the arc.  But Michigan regrouped and closed the half with a 17-11 mini-spurt that kept them within striking distance (39-32) heading into the locker room.

In the second half, Michigan slowed down the pace and began to frustrate the Spartans in their half-court sets. They were also able to get Michigan State's slick-shooting center Paul Davis into foul trouble, making it difficult for Davis to be any kind of factor at either end of the floor.

Michigan took their first lead since the opening minute of the game midway through the second half when Chris Hunter hit a 3-pointer from the corner.  From there, they never looked back.  Their relentless defensive pressure and aggressiveness forced the Spartans into several forced shots and turnovers. 

Meanwhile, at the offensive end, Horton's dribble penetration provided for a number of easy baskets by Hunter and Graham Brown.  And when the Wolverines weren't scoring from the field, they were getting to the foul line and converting.

Michigan built their lead to eight, 64-56, before the Spartans made a run to cut it to two in the final minute.  With Michigan leading 69-67, Chris Hunter found himself at the line with a chance to make it a two-possession game with 30 seconds to play.  Hunter split the pair though, and MSU had a chance to tie the game with a 3-point basket.

Head Coach Tom Izzo called a timeout with 7.4 seconds left, and right before Maurice Ager drilled what would've been a game-tying trey from the left wing.  Coming out of the timeout, Ager was called upon once again.  This time, however, he misfired from the top of the key and Dion Harris secured the rebound, and eventually the victory after draining a pair of free throws with 1.3 to go.

Fans stormed the Crysler Arena floor in jubilation as the Wolverines defeated the Spartans for only the second time in the last 14 meetings.  Perhaps even more impressive was that they did it without junior swingman Lester Abram, Michigan's best perimeter defender and arguably their best all-around player.  Abram sprained his left ankle in a win at Minnesota on Saturday.

The win for Michigan will go a long way in re-asserting their participation in the rivalry.  But more importantly, it will go even further in solidifying their standing as a legitimate NCAA Tournament team. 

Prior to tonight, Michigan had failed in their three previous attempts to knock off a top 25 team.  They lost close games to UCLA, Indiana and Illinois and despite a 13-3 record, many felt Michigan had yet to prove themselves as a sure-bet tournament team.  But tonight's victory over 12th ranked Michigan State should erase all doubt.

The Wolverines shouldn't celebrate too long though.  They have another test this weekend as another Big Ten front-runner, Wisconsin, comes into Crysler Arena with a chip on their shoulders after an embarrassing home loss to lowly North Dakota State last Saturday.  They've already begun to remove that awful taste out of their mouths after a 72-43 drubbing of Penn State.  And you can bet that Bo Ryan will have the Badgers ready to play this Saturday so Michigan cannot afford a letdown.