Celtics - Lakers in Trouble?

Don't prepare for the Lakers-Celtics finals just yet. Monday night in Boston, the Black Irish could not send Superman and the Orlando Magic fishin' just yet as Rajon Rondo was finally outplayed at the point guard position by his counterpart Jameer Nelson. The Big 3 for the Celtics along with Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis are the Magic's version of the "Big 3" but the key to this series starts and end with the Nelson vs. Rondo battle. Paul Pierce missed two 3 point shot under a minute to play but the biggest question is why didn't Ray Allen take that final shot. If the Magic win a pivotal game 5 tomorrow, expect this series to got the distance.

The Lakers took the Suns lightly and now find themselves tied 2-2 against Phoenix. The Stoudamire & Nash combination was ok but the bench for Los Suns were the deciding factor tonight. Kobe Bryant is probably giving his teammates a good lashing as he was the only offensive force for the defending champs. Phil Jackson's crew is only .500 on the road but great when playing at the Staples Center.

I'm still predicting a Celtics-Lakers finals but it's just taking a little bit longer.

The Black Irish

Tonight in Boston, the Black Irish aka Boston defeated the Orlando Magic in epic porpotion 94-71 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best of seven. I'm truly dissapointed in Vince Carter in this series as he was acquired by the Magic during the draft of big series like this one. As a result we've come to realize that he is not playing like the Tar Heel or Toronto Raptor version and that's Vince is just a shell of his former self. At this point is his career, he should know when to turn it on and when to rely on Lewis, Howard, or Nelson. The Magic should have won game 2 but Vince Carter had a Nick Anderson moment missing clutch free throws down the strech. Another double-double for Rajon Rondo with 11 points and 12 assist including a nasty crossover on White Chocolate Jason Williams in the first half.  It's safe to say the natives in Boston will be chanting......BEAT LA....BEAT LA......BEAT LA.....BEAT LA....starting Tuesday.

Tomorrow the Los Angeles Lakers hope to comand a 3-0 lead against the offensive minded Phoenix Suns. Unless Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire commit to defense (yeah right) this series is just about over and David Stern gets his Lakers-Celtics finals ratings bonanza.

Well, my time in Clevaland was......ok but I'm ready to get back to Chicago.

NBA Conference Finals

I'm off to Cleveland, OH for the weekend hopefully I get a chance to visit Progressive Field and watch the Indians play the Reds. The NBA Conference finals resume this weekend in Phoenix and Boston and when I return to Chicago on Monday both the Celtics & Lakers should have a 3 - 0 lead.

A Laker-Celtics finals would be a ratings bonanza for ABC but this current Lakers have revenge on their minds as they were defeated by these same Celtics for the crown back in 2008. This time around I don't see anybody stopping Kobe Bryant as he and Derrick Fisher capture championship ring number 5.

Wizards Win Lottery - Conference Finals Recap

Congratulations to the Washington Wizards for winning the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery tonight in New Jersey. This team's 2009-2010 season was not a good one by dealing with the death of longtime owner Abe Polen, trading the core of their team (Antwan Jamison, Caron Butler, Brendon Hayword, and Deshawn Stevenson), followed by the season long suspensions of Javaris Crittenton for gun play. The upside for this franchise is that this team is young and now have the opportunity to draft John Wall or Evan Turner. The main question is with this young team do they draft Wall then trade Agent Zero who has a monster contract that no owner wants to touch. My theory is that the Wizards buy him out then let Arenas pursue other interest with another ball club then start fresh with John Wall as their point guard for the future. Wizard's assistant coach Sam Cassell will make sure John Wall learn the lead guard position from an NBA champion guard.

Game 1 of the NBA conference finals are complete as the Lakers and Celtics were both victorious. The Phoenix Sun could not find an answer for Kobe Bryant who dropped 40 who also made Grant Hill fall off this crossover. I'm not upset that he missed the floater but he still should have converted. The almost highlight of the game was Shannon Brown almost dunking over Michigan State alum Jason Richardson but took off too early. I was also very impressed with Derick Fisher's defense on Steve Nash after getting abused by Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams in the previous series. Game two is tomorrow at the Staples Center.

Boston Celtics took a 2 game to zero lead over the Orlando Magic tonight down in South Florida. At one point the Magic had a one-point lead but KG hit a key fade away shot over Dwight Howard (good defense...better offense). After a smart foul on Vince Carter by Paul Pierce which was his sixth, Vince had the opportunity to but his club up one with less than a minuet but the former Tar Heel had a Nick Anderson moment and missed both free throws. At the end, Orlando had to go the length of the court but Jameer Nelson missed a half-court 3 to send the game to overtime.

Both series are over and I'm already prepared for a Celtics-Lakers Finals.

LeBron James - John Calapari Package Deal?

I will comment on both conference finals game 1 after the Sun-Lakers game tonight.

The big news out of Chicago is that LeBron James and John Calapari are a package deal that will call the Chicago Bulls home next season. Calapari mentioned on his Twitter page that he has the best job in the world as the Kentucky Wildcats coach but coaching any pro team is always a step up over any college team. Both parties are denying any reports but come July 1st, we will find out the truth.

LeBron James 2010

Not even 72 hours have past and the world wants to know where will LeBron James play next season. Expect his phone (and his agent's phone) to ring non-stop come July 1, 2010. Let's look at some possible destination for King James:

• New York Knicks: Why would LeBron want to come here? The positives are they have done a pretty decent job by tanking the season, clearing cap space, potential high lottery pick, have run-n-gun offensive style of play, and it's NYC. 
• Chicago Bulls: The Madhouse on Madison. Out of all the potential team, this is where King James should call home next season. A starting five of Noah, Gibson, James, Deng, Rose challenges only Boston & Orlando for Eastern Conference supremacy. This team is pretty much the same each and they could all grow old together.
• New Jersey Nets: Billionaire owner and potentially landing John Wall or Evan Turner. Friends with part owner Jay-Z and right next door to the Mecca. Overall it's still New Jersey. 
• Los Angeles Clippers: Can the two biggest basketball stars share the same limelight in Hollywood. Landing the 1st or 2nd pick boast it's chances. 
• Miami Heat: Three words...tax free state....Two words....Dwayne Wade.....Pat Riley & South Beach..nuff said
• Cleveland Cavaliers: There's no place like home. Since this bird has never left the nest it will be hard to leave Cleveland .

My prediction: LeBron James wears #6 for Chicago Bulls

LeBron'sFinal Home Game?

Many expected (including myself) predicted the Cavaliers would defeat the Celtics today then finish the series Thursday in Boston. LeBron James never got started taking only 14 shots which resulted to Cleveland losing 120-88. The highlight of the game was a double crossover that Rondo displayed which had Rasheed Wallace in stitches.

At this stage in his career Shaq should not be the team's leading scorer when LeBron is on the court. Once again Mo Williams continued to get exposed defensively by his counter part at the point guard position. Derrick Rose is the first round now Rondo's turn. They are passing him around like foreign currency. If Cleveland looses Thursday we know Danny Ferry will not return O'Neal, most likely fire Mike Brown, and probably loos LeBron James via free agency.

Like my Chicago Blackhawks, this is the best chance for the Cleveland Cavaliers to win a world championship. The last time the Cavs had this good of a team to win a title was 1989 but their season ended by The Shot. 

Better Duo:Steve Nash & Amare Stoudamire or John Stockton & Karl Malone

While watching the Phoenix Suns take a 2-0 advantage lead over the San Antonio Spurs I've noticed that Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire are the new John Stockton and Karl Malone duo. No matter how many time you try to stop the pick and pop or pick and roll, the results end up a jump shot, lob pass, or slam dunk.

My question is who runs the play better Stave Nash and Amare Stoudamire or John Stockton and Karl Malone?

1. Steve Nash & Amare Stoudamire highlight reel
2. John Stockton & Karl Malone highlight reel

Young Money = Bucks Future

The Bucks season is now over after getting blown out Friday at the Bradley Center then loosing this afternoon in the final game of the series. Scott Skiles did a wonderful job coaching this team after loosing Michael Redd & Andrew Bogat earlier in the season. As a result, the Bucks regrouped by adding veteran Tar Heel Jerry Stackhouse, trading for John Salmon, and lead by rookie point guard Young Money aka Brandon Jennings. The game seven highlight of the Bucks/Hawks game was Jennings going behind the back on a fast break that shifted Mike Bibby to the other side and Young Money converted with the left hand.

With Brandon Jennings leading this group with John Salmon and a healthy Redd & Bogut, the future of the Milwaukee Bucks looks bright. The Kenny Anderson clone needs to get stronger, develop a right hand, and work on his outside shooting in order to compete with the Pauls, Williams, Roses, of the League.

LeBron James received his second straight MVP award at the University of Akron today along with the city of Akron, teammates, and family. The million dollar question is how many MVPs will King James win when his career is over?