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.

Time 2 Dance

Today & tomorrow is the least productive work day across the US. Folks are rooting for their school or if you're like me you're just a fan of college basketball. Office pools are going on across the country even the President Obama filled out his bracket for the second year in a row. Currently I'm at work but expect an update on the games this weekend.

New #1 Goes Down

The newly crowned #1 Kentucky Wildcats receive an encouraging phone call from President Obama on maintaining being on top. As a result John Wall & Co. did not play like a number one team against South Carolina. The end result the student body rushes the floor as South Carolina pulled off the SEC upset. The highlight of the game was a vicious crossover from Devin Downey (30 pts) and finished high off the glass. It doesn't matter because UK will still be seeded #1 come March.

Kentucky Wildcats did not learn from the Lakers when interacting with the Commander in Chief. Yesterday Kobe Bryant and the Lakers met President Obama then today handled business against the Washington Wizards. The two highlights of the game was an nice wrap from Mike Miller along with Shannon Brown finishing a lob pass.

Jalen Rose & Jimmy King were in Ann Arbor to see Michigan play Michigan State. I thought the Wolverines would steel the victory but Big 10 POY Kalin Lucas hit a jumper with a few seconds left to seal the victory. I don't know what was louder the student body at Ann Arbor or Jalen Rose's red sports coat.

TNT announces the all-star reserves this Thursday and I'm really pulling for Derrick Rose to make the game.