|
|
|
 |
Basketball
The Second Round Has Heated Up
The second round has passed its midpoint and we are all witness to what a great season this has been. From multiple overtimes, to compelling storylines, we are seeing the shift happen thanks to Dallas, LA Clippers and Cleveland. The old guard is still fighting and I can't say they won't continue on, living to ball another day. But it's obvious that the upstarts are trying to make tomorrow happen today. More
|
 |
 |
Basketball
The Second Round Well Under Way
With the conclusion of the first round, it's worth taking note that all the favorites actually won. Now we get to see, with these final eight teams, a more accurate measure of reality. More
|
|
 |
Basketball
Playoff Magic
Each year, the playoffs begin with speculation and lots of unanswered questions. Most of the time, fans and pundits have an understanding of who should win it all, but the favorite doesn't always win. The regular season is a great prognosticator of post-season success. But in the playoffs, it's imperative that each player get his team to its top level on every play -- stop the ball, fight through the screen, block out, work the shot clock... And if a player can't or won't do his assigned job(s), the coach has to make changes. That's playoff basketball... More
|
|
 |
Basketball
The Second Season Begins
The playoffs start this weekend with everybody looking forward to the seemingly inevitable rematch of NBA titans the San Antonio Spurs, the standing champions, and the Detroit Pistons, the challengers. Odds are, the first and second rounds will be window dressing but even for champions, the playoffs are rarely just walks in the park. More
|
|
 |
Basketball
True Madness Takes Hold in This Year's NCAA Tournament
"What in the world is going on in the college game?" Those were my thoughts having watched George Mason upend UConn. Saturday was a bit of a surprise when both the lower seeds won. But Sunday sealed the deal with the surprise of all surprises: it is the first time a number 1 seed hasn't made the final four. An interesting explanation, given on a talk radio show, was that the big basketball schools -- the UConn's, Duke's, UNC's, etc. -- had been squeezed out by so much top talent going to the NBA early. It has led to a leveling out of the talent gap between small and big schools, with the bigs no longer having that superstar player. More
|
|
 |
Basketball
Rounding Second
Another week of the grind. This is the time of year when the bruises pile up, the legs get heavy and there are increased back-to-backs. As fans, we appreciate this stage for it is when stars are made, momentum is gained and the race for ultimate glory begins. We see the poetry of the NBA baller's life. And for the players, the yearly contextualization of what the year really means moves more into focus. With that in mind, it's worth taking into account that Miami has finally started to make their move to change the perception that they have no chance against Detroit. While Dallas and San Antonio battle for the number one spot continues More
|
|
 |
Basketball
Mid Season Props -- All Stars Selected
We’re getting close to the All-Star break, so now would be as good a time as any to recognize the players who are kicking butt and tab our mid season picks for who will be collecting awards at the end of the season -- All-NBA teams, Rookie of the Year (ROY), Coach of the Year, MVP, and the NBA Champs. More
|
|
 |
Basketball
Wins Against Detroit Show Jazz's True Potential
The basketball season heads into 2006 with lots to look forward to -- Detroit Pistons will make a run at 70 wins, LeBron James continues to grow dramatically, and the Phoenix Suns with point guard Steve Nash are doing just fine while Amare mends. But the thing that caught my eye is that the Jazz are in first place in the incredibly week Northwest Division. More
|
|
 |
Basketball
Never a Dull Moment
With Christmas now passed, the presents all unwrapped, 2005 coming to an end, let's take a moment to go over what little nuggets this season has turned up.
Better Than Advertised
Detroit Pistons - God, who would have thought that they're this good. If the season progresses according to the first half results, the Pistons will be returning the favor to the Spurs come June. Flip Saunders is going to get lots of kudos and the team's legend grows. Larry Brown on the other hand looks like a major chump -- not only did he turn down the coaching job, the team looks better than ever. Not to mention, he's coaching the Knicks. More
|
|
 |
Basketball
A Quarter Season Gone, Now What's In Store?
At this point in the season, every NBA fan knows, that barring a trade or injury, this is the team they'll be seeing for the rest of the season. Sorry Toronto, sorry Atlanta, sorry New York -- so sorry for you. Houston, Phoenix, and Miami on the other hand, I know they've lagged projections all year. But now their stars are coming back into alignment giving me reason to believe everything will be alright. More
|
|
|
