Good Week in Hoops

Still two months away from March Madness and three months before the NBA playoffs but basketball on every level has become very interesting. The powerhouse teams remain that...a powerhouse while the Washington Wizards remain the Washington Generals of the NBA. What else happened last week:

• Going into the MLK weekend Simeon (Chicago, IL) was undefeated and ranked the top HS team in the country until they ran into Findlay Prep of Las Vegas. All year long Findlay Prep felt they were disrespected for not being ranked #1 but Simeon did deserve to be ranked the cream of the crop. Chicago Public League basketball is very competitive and players have to be strong physically and mentally. Some players go away to prep schools (most notably in the New England) to improve their grades but CPS basketball especially the Red South & Red West divisions are just as tough. Congrats to Findlay Prep but if a rematch were to occur, Jabari Parker & co. will walk away the victors. 

• Only teams that will compete for the NBA title are the Bulls, Heat, Thunder. Kenny Smith suggested that the NBA Playoffs format should be the same as the NCAA tournament in March. If that's the case that eliminates Oklahoma City and the NBA Finals would consist of the Bulls and Heat. All three teams reach the conference finals last season with only the making it to the NBA Finals. Each teams has a year of expereince but the difference is OKC PG Russel Westbrook still has a low PG IQ and the Heat have yet to add a solid PG to support LBJ, Bosh and Wade. Bulls are the next team to visit President Obama count on it!!!!!!!!!!

• Syracuse continues to win. Congratulation to their best start in school history by starting out 20-0. With formers stars like Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, John Wallace, Rony Seikly, Johnny Flynn, Carmelo Anthony, this group is off to the best start in school history. Baylor started of 17-0 until their 20 point loss to Kansas last night. The Baylor Bears are still my pick to reach the Final 4. Baylor Bear have another tough challenge when they face Missouri on Saturday.

Weekend Recap

Congrats to the Saints and Colts for their trip to Miami. I'm so proud of the Saints because I lived in New Orleans for 5 years while attending college. New Orleans will always be my second home. Bring the trophy back to Canal & Bourbon Street.

What happened this weekend.....

• The Knicks were so focused on the Jets game that they go worked by 50 in MSG to Dallas
• Texas losing twice this week meaning Mr. Wall and the Kentucky Wildcats will be the new #1 come Monday. They might run the tables
• Memphis Tigers looses....first Conference USA loss since President Bush first term in office
• UNC loosing twice this week will not be in the top 25 on Monday
• Northwestern Big Dance Bound?....Beating Purdue & Illinois looks really good on their resume
• Allen Iverson should not play in the all-star game
• PAC 10 Basketball is a joke
• Syracuse is really really good without Johnny Flynn

Johnny Wins!!!!! -The Answer Needs A Job

Congratulations to Johnny Flynn for winning the starting point guard position for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Flynn won this position because the 2009 5th overall pick Ricky Rubio has decided to stay overseas at least until 2011. Rubio has been dubbed the next Pistol Pete, Steve Nash, Bob Cousey....if he's that great, Rubio should bring his A game around A talent which is the NBA not the Euroleague. Don't get me wrong, there is talent in Europe but the talent does not match-up to the NBA. Just ask the Dream Team or the Redeem Team.

Rodney Stuckey was quoted saying not that the old guys are gone and with the addition of Ben Gordon, the Pistons will become a fast-break team. No disrespect to Will Bynum or Ben Gordon, but this Pistons team is headed to the 2010 NBA Lottery. The old guys (Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess) will still play relevant basketball come late May or early June while Joe Dumars is representing your team in Atlanta hoping to win the John Wall sweepstakes.

Allen Iverson is still a free agent. The Memphis Grizzlies are a potential team for The Answer. If Iverson signs with Memphis, between OJ, Gay, Conley, they need three balls on the floor just to make sure they get their 30 shot attempts per game. Why is the Answer still unemployed? Should he go overseas? I blog you decide

Happy 36th birthday to my sister and God Bless Ted Kennedy