Playoff Preview: Magic vs Bobcats

(2) Magic vs (7) Bobcats

Am I the only one thinking the Magic may have some problems handling this Bobcats team? In my book Charlotte is an awfully tough team. Jax really gives them an edge and is not easy to outcoach Larry Brown you know? Stan Van Gundy is a pretty good coach and the mere quality of the Magic -and their best player- is going to give them the series. Orlando is playing amazing basketball and they haven't miss a beat since the All Star game.

Charlotte has a nice collection of big bodies to throw at Howard and getting under Howard's skin is a good way to get him off his game. Brown would make sure Wallace and Jackson attack the basket, and Howard, any chance they get.

What about Vince? Everybody have been waiting for this moment to critize and attack good ol' Vince. I like Carter. It sucks he doesn't have the thrive for glory like Kobe has. A real shame. I just hope that for a couple of months he discovers some type of hunger, like he were in a contract year, a play aggresive, smart and efficient basketball. 2 months. 1 ring. Players have been playing hard for a decades without a real chance of getting a title. It can't be that hard

This is not going to be a pretty series. They are both defensive teams so you know what that means. Hack-a-Howard is going to be in place. MJ is going to be there playing cool. Best case scenario: Jax goes all Nellie ball on Brown and ends up in the bench for the last couple of games.

Basketball Gods Prediction: Orlando in 5

Win Scale (From 1: "The refs gave them that game. Are they really this bad?" to 10: " This is the best team ever! Make me yours" ) 7

Drafts 2001-2005

2001

You would like a mulligan on this one right, MJ? Gasol is probably the best big man right now behind D12, Joe Johnson is a top tier player, Tony Parker is a 3 time champ and a finals MVP, Zach Randolph is (was?) crazy but gives you a 20/10 night after night. So, yeah, bad choice MJ, bad choice

Championship Builders: None

Biggest Jump: Mehmet Okur from 37th to 10th

Pick Order. Picking Team -- Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Wizards -- Pau Gasol (3)
2. Clippers -- Joe Johnson (10)
3. Hawks -- Tony Parker (29)
4. Bulls -- Shane Battier (6 )
5. Warriors -- Zach Randolph (19)
6. Grizzlies -- Gerald Wallace (25)
7. Nets -- Richard Jefferson (13)
8. Cavs -- Jason Richardson (5)
9. Pistons -- Tyson Chandler (2)
10. Celtics -- Mehmet Okur (37)


2002

Solid solid class featuring 4 quality dependable big guys (if we count Nene as dependable), Amare could overtake Yao as the first pick depending on where he lands this summer. Also a very bad drafted class as we have 3 second round picks in the top 10.


Championship Builders: Rockets
Biggest Jump: Luis Scola from 55th to 9th


Pick Order. Picking Team -- Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Rockets -- Yao Ming (1)
2. Bulls -- Amare Stoudemire (9)
3. Warriors -- Carlos Boozer (34)
4. Grizzlies -- Caron Butler (10)
5. Nuggets -- Tayshaun Prince (23)
6. Cavs -- John Salmons (26)
7. Knicks -- Nene Hilario (7)
8. Clippers -- Matt Barnes (45)
9. Suns -- Luis Scola (55)
10. Heat -- Drew Gooden (4)



2003

Four franchise players. Its 1984 all over again and as in 1984 the redoing of this class changes everything! Cleveland get Lebron but the Pistons come away with Dwayne Wade, basically taking away the 2006 title from the Heat and Shaq’s fourth title. What Detroit does with Wade? Bring him off the bench? We all know Wade was ready to be a impact player in year one, does Larry Brown plays him? Do the trade him? I’m guessing both Dumars and Brown would realize what they have in hands and do the right thing (Trading Rip after a year or two). Kaman goes to the Heat (no more Shaq) and Perkins take Kaman’s spot in the Clippers (Sorry Kendrick. Sorry Celtics)

Championship Builders: Cavs, Pistons, Nuggets, Raptors

Biggest Jump: Kendrick Perkins from 27th to 6th


Pick Order. Picking Team -- Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Cavs -- Lebron James (1)
2. Pistons -- Dwayne Wade (5)
3. Nuggets -- Carmelo Anthony (3)
4. Raptors -- Chris Bosh (4)
5. Heat -- Chris Kaman (6)
6. Clippers -- Kendrick Perkins (27)
7. Bulls-- David West (18)
8. Bucks -- Leandro Barbosa (28)
9. Knicks -- Boris Diaw (21)



2004

Fourth straight solid talent filled class. And you wonder why we are getting a better product (player wise). The impact of this class: Al Jefferson getting selected by the Bobcats so the Celtics don’t have the golden ticket to get the Big Ticket. No 17th banner for the Celtics. Oh look, the Hawks selects a point guard!

Championship Builders: Magic, Bobcats

Biggest Jump: Anderson Varejao from 30th to 11th


Pick Order. Picking Team -- Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Magic -- Dwight Howard (1)
2. Bobcats -- Al Jefferson (15)
3. Bulls -- Josh Smith (17)
4. Clippers -- Emeka Okafor (2)
5. Wizards -- Andre Igoudala (9)
6. Hawks -- Jameer Nelson (20)
7. Suns -- Loul Deng (7)
8. Raptors -- Kevin Martin (26 )
9. Sixers -- Ben Gordon (3)
10. Cavs -- Devin Harris (5)
11. Warriors -- Anderson Varejao (30)
12. Sonics -- J.R. Smith (18)



2005

Can we say “5 straight good class?” Not exactly a deep class but you rarely have the first 6 teams selecting coming out with a big smile in their faces. We have two franchise point guards, one big swing man who wants to be a second banana and three really good big man who happens to be young enough to get better. Oh look, the Hawks selects a point guard!

Championship Builders: Bucks, Hawks

Biggest Jump: Anderson Varejao from 30th to 6th


Pick Order. Picking Team -- Player Selected ( Original position drafted)




1. Bucks -- Chris Paul (4)
2. Hawks -- Deron Williams (3)
3. Jazz -- Danny Granger (17)
4. Hornets -- Andrew Bogut (1)
5. Bobcats -- Andew Bynum (10)
6. Blazers -- David Lee (30)
7. Raptors -- Raymon Felton (5)

Overview: Pistons vs Magic

After a very doubtful first round survival agains the Sixers the Pistons are now rolling. I have two points of concern here regarding the Pistons:

1. They got outplayed the first three games by a younger less experience team
2. Chauncey Billups have been regular at best. For his own standards that's it.

Slowly but surely all those concerns are now history. Orlando was a team with the same youth going on for them but with a lot more of firepower and a inside monster that just went Wilt Chamberlain against Chris Bosh and the Raptors. All that just went puff against the Pistons' D and so far in these playoffs they are the only team that have shut down a quality oponent. I've said it before, I'll say it again. The Pistons are the team to beat. Orlando got a pride win but this series was clear from the get go. They never had a chance not with Howard being underSupermanesque.

Whose fault is it? You could argue that Jameer Nelson that a chance of taking control of the series when Chauncey went down. For those who knows Stuckey they were never worried about that whole situation.

NBA Playoffs Weekend 3

Boston got to the second round. Easily. I'm still questioning this team mental thoughness 'cause their road loasses where just lack of exectution they weren't victims of some conspiracy

The Spurs got beatten in the last couple of minutes by the Hornets. The Hornets' defense was "stingy" and the Spurs didn't help themselves by entering one of those "no offense time for us" type of groove they developed in the last month or so of the regular season. Not only they didn't contain Paul (his numbers may don't amaze you but he controlled that game) but they let West get 30 points and do whatever he wanted with the Spurs' defense. So, no defense and bad offense means 0-1 hole for the Spurs. Expect a better game for those guys today

The Pistons controlled Howard and the Magic shooters went 2 from 15. This is when Howard needs to prove that he really wants this. For me Howard and Lebron have the same problem: this game comes so easily for them, their bodies and abilities gives them so a clear advantage that most time they don't even need to try in order to have a big night and perhaps winning the game. Last year Lebron cruised for the entire first half and the Cavs still win 50 games.

Now Howard needs to get in another gear (like Lebron this year or last year conference finals) to defeat an highly superior team. Can he manhandle the Pistons like Lebron did last year? He has the potential but until he do it we'll leave it like that in "potential".


After building a 19 point lead the Lakers found themselves in a 4 point game with like 5 minutes to go. Utah never got closer because the didn't have Boozer (he fauled out somewhere around half way into the fourth quater) and the fould Kobe like 1 google times. I know Utah fouls a lot of people a lot of times (2468 times in the regular season. Numero uno in the league) but this Lakers team is a very good free throw shooting team (10th in the league) and having Boozer playing like a poor man's Antawn Jamison is not a good idea to give up so many points from the charity line.

Second Round: Pistons vs Magic

2. Pistons (59-23) vs 3. Magic (52-30)
Regular Season Series: TIED 2-2
Point Differencial: DET +3.0


If the Pistons want to to prove their "we are better when our backs are against the wall" theory one more time in this series the new Superman and the rest of the Magic might push you through that wall. Once again the Pistons face a team that likes to run and not to fond to defense. Not exactly a recipe for playoffs success but they have a monster for a center who comes from having a monster series (22.6 ppg, 18.2 rpg) and he can easily dominate any matchup.

This Pistons encarnation is a lot more deep that last year's. They can now throw a more mature Maxiell and a fresh Ratliff -joining Rasheed Wallace and Antonio Mcdyess - at Howard direction. Their defense is not going to anything but sweet (If you defend somebody sweetly you have issues. Look at yourselft in the mirror). Take this to the bank: Howard is going to spend a ton of time in the free throw line. He didn't played well in the regular season facing this guys (17.3 ppg, 10.8 rpg) and in some of those games Ratliff wasn't even there.

The last couple of games Detroit showed some revitalization of their offense. Rip Hamilton and Prince found their groove on those games and Billups had his moments. All their numbers are very close - that's the Pistons way - but Billups really look like he was missing a step or two and he wasn't defending no Chris Paul, he was guarding 32 year old Andre Miller.

This teams matchup pretty well and Detriot's team defense, home court advantage and experience gives them them the upper hand as long as they are focus and show up to the games.

Orlando's offense doesn't go through Howard, he still not that polished. Lewis, Turkoglu and Nelson need to be effective and efficient. Nelson averaged 4 TO per game (and 4.8 apg) against a poor defensive team if he doesn't take better care of the ball the Pistons will eat him alive. Two of their 2 main shooters were money in the regular season but struggle in the first round. (Both Hedo and Lewis had made over 40% of their three point attemps. Against Toronto Hedo shot for 11% and Lewis for 25%). They need to wake up 'cause Howard is not going to have the same freedom he had against Bosh and Toronto "team defense".


X Factor: Somebody in the Hedo/Lewis combo won't be defended by Prince. He needs to exploit that matchup against either Mcdayess or Maxiell. That Magic needs to find his shooting touch and some fire on his belly if Orlando wants to continue

Basketball Gods' Prediction: DET 4-2.

Ps: I'd put them in five but I'm giving them a "night off

Overview: Magic vs Raptors

I told u so, Dwight Howard dominated and the Magic won the series. I expected more from Bosh and company but they got outplayed in every position including at the 1. Jameer Nelson was a pretty cool surprse with 17.2 ppg with a 52% shooting, he was the better point guard in the series which helped tons to the final result.

What to say about the Raptors? The need help in almost every department. Chris Bosh can't do everything alone. They have no defense, they have no ball movement, they have no bench. They have a bunch of shooters and Andrea Bargniani. The guys that were suppose to be able to create their own shots (Parker, TJ, Moon) struggle mighty and they wasn't facing no Spurs defense.


Whose fault is it? I'm blaming TJ Ford and Bargniani. If they had fall out of bed and broke something in their bodies and they haven't been able to play one minute, it wouldn't have made any difference.

NBA Playoffs Day 11

I'll go and worry for you all Pistons and Celtics fans. Specially Celtics fans. What's happening with this Eastern powerhouses? Are they just too relax? Are they at full throttle or they are waiting for the second round?

Whatever it is have shown weakness and ineffiencies in their systems. The armor is starting to crack - whick is worrisome for the Celtics 'cause their armor is a shinny new one - and those cracks are exploded by young athletic teams that doesn't wait for the other team defense to get set (ala last season Phoenix Suns). Both Philly and Atlanta are playing freely and with a John McLane mindset and they are in no way intimidated by the big boys.

Detroit fans continue to say everything is allrigt, that's just the way they wanted to happen. Pressure is your friend. You know what else is your friend when you are a old veteran team? Rest. Specially now that your next opponent, in case you don't go fishing early, features and 20 - 20 center that can run and bully his way through your team.

The Celts? Well, they have issues mainly this one:

Good luck Celtics, because you have leveled the playing field and everyone’s gunning for you as an easy mark for an underdog series win against NBA’s best. The Celtics look like the Dallas Mavericks of the East this year, and they will have to be more dominating on the road to lay claim to what every Celtics fan hopes they can achieve in these playoffs. Celtics 17th championship

Yeap, they ain't invencibles. Everybody knows that.


Dwight Howard and Kobe continues to roll. More on that on upcoming posts

NBA Playoffs Day 3

I didn't post anything yesterday 'cause first of all, I hate teams and players that talk and talk trash and then don't even show up to the game and know everybody is asking questions about the Wizards toughness and mentality. Let me give you a piece of advise coming from above: Stop talking, stop trying to kill Lebron and start playing some freaking D ( You were supposed to be playing better D this season, remember?)

The other reason is that hoped for a good Rockets' postseason they are soooo overtmatched that I feel bad for TMac I doesn't have a shot this year.

Last night was another story completely. Both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard gave more than impresive playoffs performances for the second straight game. They both protected their home court and that's always a good start specially for young teams as those. If I were the Raptors I'll be very worried right now, Orlando was one of the best teams league-wide on the road. It's time for Bosh to step up and stop Howard. Good luck, Chris. Just a little side note, what were the Mavs thinking (Via TrueHoop)


And then there was the old guys aka Spurs grabbing a 2 - 0 lead on their series. Right now I have a couple of concerns - from the Suns' standpoint:

1. Steve Nash is not dominating anymore. He's there but he's not the same.
2. Amare and Shaq had good games, stayed out of foul trouble but even so couldn't get the win
   
3. Amare is talking like the series is over
4. Duncan is not going to lose this series

The work is cut out for you Suns specially that you are the "better team"

First Round: Magic vs Raptors

3. Magic (52-30) vs 6. Raptors (41-41)
Regular Season Series: ORL 2-1
Point Differencial: ORL +2.3

The first superstar against superstar direct-in-your-face matchup: Chris Bosh vrs Dwight Howard. This matchup is as key as any other you can think in the East. They might look like similar teams given they love the 3 ball - specially Orlando they are second behind only the trigger happy Golden State Warriors - and base they run their offense through their respective big man. Besides that they are different teams. Toronto has a lot of shooters and lots of guys that can create shots ( Ford, Calderon, Delfino) but they have been very inconsistent all season long specially lately (they were 7-13 in their las 20 games).

The Magic has a better team from top to bottom. Howard has a better supporting cast, they are better coached, they know how to win outside their home (27 -14, second best in the East). Said that, Toronto has a shot is Bosh outplays Howard something that has happened prettty much everytime they face each other. Bosh has more weapons in the low post and a sweet 10 footer jump shot. He can actually take Howard out of the zone and maybe put him in foul trouble. With Howard's role limited Orlando is a jump shooting team and we know that just doesn't work in the playoffs. Toronto has a simple offense runned by two very eficient point guards ("El Calderon" like Arenas call him and TJ "Don't hit me in my neck" Ford) what translates in good offense and the Magic ain't no Pistons (defensive wise) but ,lucklily for the Magic , Raptors' shooters haven't made anybody pay lately.

X Factor: Outside the Bosh vrs Howard matcup it has tobe Turkoglu. He can score and create for others. If Howard is controled by Bosh he must be the main guy for Orlando. Hedo owns Scotti Pippen like stats against the Raptors: 21.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 7,7 apg. He actually had a triple double against these guy November 7th

Basketball Gods' prediction: ORL 4-2

20-0

Althought I'm not entirely sold with Houston's chances of a championship, I'm very impress with their streak. You have to. Is pretty difficult to win 10 straight games in this league, not to mention 20.

What had happened since the last time Houston lost a game:

• Miami has lost 17 games.
• Lebron James has scored 784 points
• Dwight Howard has produced 17 double doubles
• The New Orleans Hornets were the number 1 team in the West. They had a 3 game lead over the Lakers
• 11 Trades went down
  
• 2 Bulls players have skipped practice
  
• New York used to have a Governer
• Britney had custody of her children.
  
• I have written 15 posts

Don't want to be a "party pooper" (sorry to everyone for usings that. I think I just lost a couple readers... they'll be back, I know it) and I love to watch history happening but does anybody think this team has a shot against the Spurs or Lakers in a 7 game series. Without Yao? Anybody?

Looking forward: East All Stars

Before the season started and I didn't had anything to write about I thought on writting something about the possible All Stars but I couldn't come out with something cool. Anyway, I was voting today and realized things are a bit different of how I thought they will be. This were the lineups in my mind, you know before the season:

East

C Howard

F KG

F Lebron

G Arenas

G Wade

West

C Yao

F Duncan

F Brand / Boozer

G Kobe

G Nash

Arenas and Brand are injured. Duncan is not putting All Star numbers and Wade is playing in the worst team in th East. The lastest two will probably made the team, though.

Let's pretend the All Star teams are not a popularity contest and take a look to the players that are really deserving a spot in the mid season classsic. Let's start with the East.

Forwards

• Kevin Garnett: He's not putting his typical KG numbers, but you can't really left out the best player of a 19-2 team.


• Lebron James: He's Lebron James. Just checkout his numbers.


• Chris Bosh: The heart and soul of a disappointing and injured Raptors team. Definitely one the best forwards in the East


• Caron Butler: This guy've really step up his game in the absense of Gilbert Arenas. He's averaging near 23 ppg, 7 rpg and more than 2 steals per game.


• Pau Pierce: More than 21 ppg. More than 5 rpg and more than 5 apg. Enough said.


• Antawn Jamison: Another Wizard stepping up for the lost of Gilbert but I don't think there's enough room for him

Guards:

• Jason Kidd: The Nets sucks right now but this guy is playing and amazing brand of basketball. Somebody have to rescue this guy from the swamps. Note: His avering 8.7 rpg which makes him 24th in the league. Check out all the big guys he's outrebounding.


• Chauncey Billups: Pistons fans are going to hate this but the Pistons have lost a step or two. Nevertheless they are one of the best teams in the East and they go as far as Chauncey take them.


• Joe Johnson: Can I dare to name a Hawk in an All Star discussion? The Hawks are 11-12 and Joe Johnson, even though he doesn't put up huge numbers, he's a huge catalyst for the Hawks. His case is not very strong but at least he has one. Note: His name is actually Joe Marcus Johnson. I don't know about you, but I were Joe Johnson I'll go by the name Marcus Johnson but that's just me.


• Michael Redd: Year after year the Bucks are called to be the "surprise team". I'm tired of waiting for the surprise. I wouldn't be surprise if Redd doesn't make the All Star team this year neither even though he's 10th in the league in scoring.


• Dwayne Wade: He's not a 100% following two offseason surgeries and the Heat is the worst team in the East. I'm just putting here because I know he's going to be there in February.

Centers:

• Dwight Howard: And to think once there was a discussion about who could be the better player, him or Emeka Okafor?


• Zydrunas Illgauskas: He's having his best rebounding season of his career and he's learn to do the small things to help his team win. He and the rest of the Cavs just need more Lebron James minutes.


• Shaquille O'neal: The Big Everything is having a Big Crappy Season. He's averaging 14 and 7 far from All Star numbers but he's still Shaquille O'neal. One thing I'm sure is that it can't be two players in the All Star team from the worst team. Please, don't let this happen.

So, this is my prediction

Starters

C Dwight Howard

F Kevin Garnett

F Lebron James

G Dwayne Wade

G Jason Kidd

Bench

Chris Bosh

Caron Butler

Chauncey Billups

Joe Johnson

Zydrunas Illgauskas

Michael Redd

Paul Pierce

All-Time Teams: Bench Warmers

“There’s nothing cooler than having legends as bench warmers”

I think that quote from Morgan resumes the direction of this post. I’ve told to complete the All Time teams with the 11^th and 12^th man in the rotation. This post follows the logic of the discussion post, as is not about the better player left but the best player for the given team.

Let’s get straight to business. I’m violating the main rule of this set of post, because I feel one of the greatest power forwards was cut from the “PFs” list by Morgan; and now I’ve the chance of making things right. That’s why I’m selecting Elvin Hayes as the 11^th player of the roster.

Hayes was a great rebounder and shot blocker, with a leaping ability that would made a young Shawn Kemp jealous. The downside, his ego would fight with Malone’s ego on daily basis, but we have enough leadership in the first team to cool things down. The last place belongs to one of the greatest and more clutch players of all time: Reggie Miller. Just imagine Duncan passing from a double team to either an open Reggie Miller in one corner or an open Larry Bird in the other. That’s magical.

I couldn’t explain you why I feel the second team needs a defensive boost, maybe it’s because I want to put the finishing touches in one the greatest defensive teams ever assembled. Dave DeBusschere and Dennis Rodman are my choices for the Second Team. They both are blue collar guys, premier defenders, and very smart guys, yes, Rodman too. The fact that he was crazy doesn't take anything away from him basketball-wise

The third team is going to be the only All Team to have the feared three headed monster in the middle, as I’m picking Moses Malone as one of the “bench warmers”. If your are in your twenty’s you remember him as the fat, slow center in a Spurs uniform, but he was in fact , at his heydays, a very agile player with a urge for rebounds, think in a far more offensive Dwight Howard. The final legend to be selected is Pete Maravich, he’s a prefect fit for this team; a fast, high scoring and flashy player, it’s like I planned all along!