1.) The following picture was Sports Illustrated's cover 15 years ago this week.
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| Photographed by: Peter Read Miller |
2.) NCAA president Mark Emmert was on Mike & Mike In the Morning Friday and caused quite a stir with his commentary on student-athletes and unions. Overall, my big take-away (while on a 50% medicated for flu-like symptoms mindset) was that Emmert is a complete fraud and crook. Yet, it is understandable that it's taken awhile for some things to change as any changes do need to go through all 300+ universities. I just seriously doubt that Emmert cares about the athletes 20% as much as he preaches.
3.) Giancarlo Stanton for NL MVP? So far, yes.
4.) With White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia out for the year, Is my long-running keeper team done getting injured? No.
and 5.) On the latest episode of The Finish Line (Steve Nash's fantastic collaboration with Grantland on a documentary series covering the end of the former MVP's career), Nash sits at a roundtable with former Maverick teammate Dirk Nowitzki and Dallas's equipment manager Al Whitley and discusses what could've happened had Nash decided to re-sign with the Mavericks in 2004 when he left for the Phoenix Suns. This got me to ask the same question to myself: What would have happened had Steve Nash stayed with Dallas after all these years? Whitley brought up an interesting comparison of John Stockton and Karl Malone who were the greatest point guard-power forward combination in the 90's that made multiple finals. Alas, Stockton & Malone never won a ring together (nor throughout their careers) and I believe that although Nash and Nowitzki would have snuck into the finals one extra time over the Spurs (2007), they would've ultimately lost to the decrepit Cavaliers plus Lebron. Lebron would then stay in Cleveland and the Mayan calendar would have been right all along.
Now, I will proceed to talk strictly basketball.
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| Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki guarding the Spurs' Tim Duncan |
#1 San Antonio Spurs v. #8 Dallas Mavericks
This should be the most predictable match-up along with Heat-Bobcats. The Mavs will put up a valiant effort but, Dirk and Monta Ellis will only do enough to contend for one or two games in this series as San Antonio is pissed off about last season's Finals and are willing to let everyone in their path know this.
Key Match-up To Watch: Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich vs. sideline reporter.
There won't be any other reason to watch this series unless you're a Spurs fan.
My Pick: Spurs in 4.
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| Durant - "We have to face you guys in the first round?" Z-Bo - "Heheh, yup" |
#2 Oklahoma City Thunder v. #7 Memphis Grizzlies
Kevin Durant is going to be the NBA's Most Valuable Player this season, no doubt about it. The only question that remains about his talent is whether he can survive an entire post-season without James Harden and get Oklahoma City it's first championship in major professional sports. This series will match him against a great defensive challenge in the Grizzlies' Zach "Z-Bo" Randolph. He can't just rely on Serge Ibaka to sneak in a couple of wide-open jumpers either as former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol will likely be in his vicinity for parts of the game.
Key Match-up To Watch: Point Guards Russell Westbrook vs. Mike Conley Jr.
Conley is not an outstanding defensive mind and we'll likely see multiple exhilarating fast-breaks from Westbrook. Westbrook isn't an all-defensive first team player either and that could lead to some open jumpers for Conley. Westbrook has the advantage but Conley could still out-smart him on the court.
My Pick: I picked Memphis to win the West in the pre-season so they damn-well better win! GRINDHOUSE!!! MEMPHIS SWEEPS!!!
Seriously though, Thunder in 6 probably.
BONUS NOTE: Grizzlies back-up guard Nick Calathes was suspended last night for 20 games for violating the leagues substance-abuse policy. Thunder guard Reggie Jackson rejoices.
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| (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports) Warriors' Stephen Curry attempts to guard fellow point guard Chris Paul |
#3 Los Angeles Clippers v. #6 Golden State Warriors
If you want to see a series with a ton of bonafide superstars, this is your series. Blake Griffin (The Kia guy), Chris Paul (The Statefarm guy), Stephen Curry (Degree Deodorant), Andre Iguodala, David Lee. It's going to be fantastic entertainment value.
Key Match-up To Watch: David Lee vs. Blake Griffin
Griffin gets too much flack for being "soft" when in reality, he's just picking up fouls that ultimately benefit his team. David Lee is not 100% and hasn't been since he was New York Knick, but an 80% Lee could still take on most of the league's power forward's defensively. The winner of this positional match-up likely wins the series.
My Pick: Clippers in 5. Mark Jackson should probably be fired if this comes true.
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| Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge makes Houston's Dwight Howard uncomfortable |
Portland is kind of new to this whole "staying healthy, making the playoffs" thing. After years of Sam Bowie, Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, and even some smaller, time-consuming injuries to LaMarcus Aldridge, everyone is ready to go in time for Portland to try and win themselves a second championship (the first coming in 1977).
Key Match-up To Watch: Nicolas Batum vs. Chandler Parsons.
The 15 PPG wild-card small forwards. Batum is the much better player on defense, but Parsons has the advantage on offense plus the better set of teammates (athletically speaking), which could distract Batum into guarding all-star guard James Harden. This would leave Parsons open. I expect many three-point attempts from Parsons this series.
My Pick: Rockets in 5.
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| "Happy birthday to the GROUND!" shouted Pero Antic before he rode away on a majestic purple unicorn. |
The Pacers are struggling and the Atlanta Hawks are the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks have not been exciting as a whole team since the days of Dominique Wilkins and Spud Webb. I don't want to waste too much time on this series as I know that once it finishes, I'll regret it immediately.
Key Match-up To Watch: Roy Hibbert vs. His declining rebounding abilities.
My Pick: Pacers in 5.
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| Lebron James weaves through the Bobcats' defense. |
The two time defending champions versus Michael Jordan's team. When you phrase it that way, it doesn't sound too bad. Unfortunately, the Bobcats are in their tenth year (and final, as they will become the Hornets next season) and this is only their second trip to the playoffs as they've played terribly while making awful choices (Adam Morrison, Sean May). Fortunately, they made one really good choice this past off-season when they signed center Al Jefferson. He's been an automatic double-double every night and has built a stability within the Bobcats line-up that took pressure off of kids like Kemba Walker and made them perform better at their own personal games.
Key Match-up To Watch: Dwyane Wade vs. The media's perception that he's always hurt and won't be able to make it through a playoff series.
He'll prove them wrong as he's done so many times before. Hasn't anybody learned anything from the lazy narratives they stuck with on Dwyane Wade his entire career?
My Pick: Heat in 4. Al Jefferson versus a team with no Centers outside of Birdman Andersen might seem like an advantage that would give a team a game but the Heat still have Lebron, Wade, and Bosh. Charlotte? Kemba, Big Al, Henderson? Nope, not enough.
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| Jonas Valanciunas plays keep-away with Kevin Garnett |
It's hard not to get excited about Canada's only team, that has received no national-attention in America, making the playoffs as a three-seed. The Nets may be old and decrepit, but their also old, decrepit, rested, and experienced. The winner of this series has to look forward to facing Miami in the second round, the Raptors would be better off winning this series and losing next round to get the motivation necessary for a potential re-match next year. Brooklyn won't have anyone back next year if they lose in the first round. At least, not Kirilenko, Garnett, Pierce, and possibly Shaun Livingston.
Key Match-up To Watch: Tyler Hansbrough (Psycho T) vs. Kevin Garnett.
The amount of technical fouls and elbows thrown between these two will be awesome.
My Pick: Nets in 7.
I still give it to Brooklyn due to experience.
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| All-star Joakim Noah guards Wizards' Nene' Hilario |
Without Derrick Rose, this series could be god-awful boring. Thankfully, the Wizards chose John Wall with the #1 overall pick two years after Rose was taken first overall. There will still be fast-breaks and at least one 30-point game for a player in this series. Both teams are one piece away from truly contending and that's what should keep this series exciting to true NBA fans.
Key Match-up To Watch: Joakim Noah vs. Marcin Gortat.
Marcin Gortat was traded to the Wizards at the last possible second before the season began and has contributed quite well for Washington. This is the real test series that determines whether or not Gortat is here to stay as Joakim Noah has been playing like the center in the NBA with the most tools at his disposal, getting a string of triple-doubles.
My Pick: Bulls in 6.
I hope you enjoy the first round and all series' go to game sevens!
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