NBA Lockout Tentatively Over: What needs to happen next

As of late November 25, 2011 the long grueling marathon that has been the NBA lockout has finally ended. It seems as though the NBAPA and NBA finally realized that this arguing wasn't worth losing a full season.
Here's how plans are supposed to go: On Monday, the players repeal/retract their anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA, and the NBA does the same to their lawsuit which was to prove that the lockout was legal. Next, the players union has to be reformed, and that union has to agree on the deal. After that, the owners have to agree to this deal as well.
If all that goes right, then a 66 game season will start on December 25 with the Heat playing the Mavs, the Bulls playing the Lakers, and the Celtics playing the Knicks. Training camps will start on December 9, and as a result free agency will start on December 9 as well.
The biggest change in the league is gonna be a harsher luxury tax. That means that teams that go above the salary cap will be hit hard, not being able to have the same freedoms to get additional free agents, title pieces, etc. This is supposed to make the league more fair and balanced. Thus "making the success of a team to rely more on management than the depths of the owner's pockets" to paraphrase a quote by NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver.
One sort of funny observation in all this is the fact that there are guys who have committed to playing in China, and so they won't be able to finish their season until the end of March! Even more funny is the fact that it is a couple of Denver Nuggets players (JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, and Wilson Chandler). Can't help but wonder what they are thinking right now!!! As a Utah fan, I had to bring this up. Players that didn't commit to teams that requested they play the whole season now look smart. Guys like Deron Williams, etc.

But now back to the end of this lockout. What changes can we expect? Will this bring about change in competitive balance? Don't know for sure, but it can't hurt. That's for sure. I think everybody is just excited that we will see an NBA season. Will LeBron win a title? Will the Lakers, Celtics, and Spurs benefit from all the rest? Where will Dwight Howard go? How will the Mavs defend their crown? All these questions will now finally get resolved!!! It's nice to see that the NBA finally realized that missing a whole season was going to be way more costly than any sort of instant financial gain. Play Ball!!!!
Posted by Ben Parker at 12:24 PM

6 Rookies To Watch When The NBA Season Starts

The NFL lockout has come and gone almost as quickly as summer itself, and fears of there being no season have vanished into thin air. Those fears have now been replaced by excitement over fantasy football, pre-season hype, and Brett Favre chatter. But while the NBA is in the middle of their own lockout, the only thing that NBA fans can do is hope and pray to what ever deity they prefer that the NBA lockout ends quickly. But even though the odds of having a full season are grim, there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel, but we just don't see it. But what is keeping some fans excited and hopeful is the arrival of their recent draft picks. There are 6 rookies that I find to be of particular interest out of the entire draft field. Not that the rookie watch stops at 6, but there are 6 guys who I think are going to be the most watched, scrutinized, and also potentially praised during their rookie campaign.
The first rookie I would like to talk about is the number one pick himself, Kyrie Irving. In 11 games played at Duke, Kyrie Irving averaged 27 minutes, 17.4 points and 4.3 assists per game. Solid numbers for a college freshman. In the point guard obsessed world that we now live in, it only seemed natural for the Cleveland Cavaliers to want to take a chance on a kid who seems to have the knack for being a star point guard in the NBA. They are looking for their own Derrick Rose who can combat the Bulls and push their team into the upper echelons of the NBA.
Many teams have been built around point guards throughout NBA history and have succeeded. Take a look at the Utah Jazz with John Stockton, two Finals appearances back-to-back and consistent playoff appearances. The Los Angeles Lakers with Magic Johnson won 5 titles. The Pistons with Isaiah Thomas won 2 titles back-to-back and made 3 straight finals appearances. The Milwaukee Bucks with Oscar Robertson won their only NBA title. The Seattle Supersonics with Gary Payton reached the finals. These are only some of the teams that benefited from having great point guards. The Cavs don't have an NBA title in their history and they desperately want to change that. A good point guard is a good starting piece towards being a contender.
The reason why Irving is one of the 6 rookies to watch, is because he's the number one overall pick, he's expected to be a franchise player, and yet he's only played a handful of college games. I think of all the rookies entering the NBA, Irving has the most to prove. Nobody really knows how good he really is. Is he legit starter? Is he a legit collegiate player? Was it smart to gamble a number one pick on a college freshman who's only played 11 games? These are questions that he has to answer and the Cavs are going to expect that he proves his value to the rest of the league. Otherwise, the Cavs are going to look really stupid for taking him.

The second rookie to watch is the number two pick the NBA draft, Derrick Williams. The Minnesota Timberwolves picked Derrick Williams because they feel he was the best available player and also the best player in the draft (a belief held by many scouts). In his sophomore year at Arizona, Derrick Williams averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds. He's an athletic and powerful kid at 6 foot 8 and 240 lbs. The Cleveland Cavaliers toyed with the idea of taking him, but they went with the 6'2 180 lb Irving. Derrick Williams was saying that he was the best player in the draft and also that he's going to be a Star in the NBA. If so, this could make the Wolves very happy and save David Kahn's butt from getting fired.
The Wolves are in need of another Star player, but headcase and fellow phenom Michael Beasley plays the same position and has a similar game to Derrick Williams. How they are going to co-exist could be a challenge. But if Williams lives up to the hype, then he'll be worth the challenge. Wolves also are going to have Spanish Basketball sensation Ricky Rubio, who is drawing more attention for his pathetic numbers over seas then his flashy style of play. Rubio looks like the Dmitri Martin of the NBA, and that's not a good thing. But while Rubio isn't one of the 6 rookies to watch, he is going to affect how Derrick Williams plays and could be key in D-Will's development.
The reason Williams is on this list is simple. He's the number two pick, and he claims he's going to be a franchise player. He looks like he's got the game, now lets see if he can back up his claim.

The third rookie to watch is yes, the number 3 pick in the draft, Enes Kanter of Turkey. The 6 foot 11 inch Turk drafted by the Utah Jazz is a force to be reckoned with, and could solve the Utah Jazz problems down low. He was unable to play at Kentucky last season, and so a lot of us didn't get to really see what he could do. But he's got an impressive body frame, and plays very physical down low. The Jazz believe that he's another Karl Malone in the making but only bigger. He can also stretch the floor and score in a variety of ways. His association with Utah Jazz Center and fellow countryman Mehmet Okur should make his transition to Salt Lake City easier, and he's got a solid young crew of guys around him to help him have a productive season. He's in the best position of all rookies, because he's not expected to deliver right away. The Jazz will be patient with him like they have been with Gordon Hayward who started to blossom towards the end of the year.
The reason to watch Enes Kanter is because we don't really know what he's about. We have heard all these glowing things about his game and seen footage of the Nike Hoop Summit Game, but we don't know for sure if he's the real deal. The knees are also a concern, and seeing how healthy he can be during a full rugged 82 game schedule will be key to watch.

The fourth rookie to watch is Kemba Walker, the point guard of UCONN. The Charlotte Bobcats got a kid in Kemba who is tough, gritty, and great in the clutch. A great offensive weapon, and a warrior. He lead his team to the national championship of the final four, and also the Big East Tournament crown as well. He has the make up of a superstar in his personality and style of play. He's not afraid to hit the big shots, and take over the game if needed. He averaged 23.5 points and 4.5 assists in his Junior year at UCONN. He's got the ability to put the ball in the hole and to come through in crunch time.
The reason to watch Kemba Walker is because he's only 6'1 and only weighs 172 lbs. He's a small kid, and whether or not his size will restrict him is a big question. The Bobcats either got a steal or a bust with this pick. We're gonna have to see whether or not he's going to be a star, a role player, or a bust. Time will tell, and that may take a few years to determine.

The 5th rookie to watch is Kawhi Leonard of San Diego State, drafted by the Indiana Pacers, but traded to the San Antonio Spurs for George Hill. Everybody was flummoxed over the trade, and many were scratching their heads after the deal was made. The Spurs had found a diamond in the rough in George Hill, who seems to have the make up of a star PG in the NBA. Perhaps dealing an aging Tony Parker or Manu Ginobli would have made more sense. But alas, the Spurs dealt Hill to get Kawhi Leonard. Now the benefit of Leonard is his versatility. He can score, play some defense, and is a long and athletic young man. Perhaps the most athletic player in the draft. He has the feel of Tayshaun Prince or Andrei Kirilenko minus the heavy shot blocking. Long and athletic, this kid surely has the body frame and make up of a very skilled and talented small forward.
The real reason to watch Kawhi Leonard is too see if the Spurs out fooled everybody again. The Spurs are a smart, crafty, and solid organization. They don't make very many bad decisions. Everybody tends to lean towards giving the Spurs the benefit of the doubt on the trade, but it's really a leap of faith for some people. Especially since the Spurs liked Hill so much.

The 6th and final Rookie to watch is Bismack Biyombo, drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats. Bismack Biyombo has the physical tools to be a great player in the NBA, and the Bobcats may have found a real treasure in this kid. Oh wait, did I say Bismack Biyombo? Sorry, I meant Jimmer Freddette of Brigham Young University!! Haha! For all my fellow BYU friends out there, I hope you were thinking "How did he forget about Jimmer?!!?". Of course I didn't forget about Jimmer Fredette, the most electrifying player in college hoops last year. "Where in the gym could Jimmer not hit from?" seemed to be the question as Jimmer would drill long three point shots way beyond NBA range like he was hitting free throws. Jimmer's shooting range is unreal, and frightening to watch. It's like you throw Reggie Miller into the body of smaller white kid and give him springs like a jack rabbit. That's what Jimmer Fredette is. Reggie Miller trapped in the body of a smaller white kid fused with Jack Rabbit DNA. It's scary. He can create his own shot from anywhere on the floor, and he also is clutch in the big moments like Kemba Walker. He isn't afraid to hit the big shot or take the game winner. He has a lot of confidence and really has the mental fortitude to be a star. The only concern is his lack of defense. The way people "Defend" the "No Defense" argument is that he had to expound so much energy on offense to help his team. I can buy that for now, but I wanna see some defense in the NBA out of this kid soon. Overall, I expect him to make the Sacramento Kings very happy.
The reason to watch Jimmer is because he's an exciting player to watch. I guarantee he will have his own mixtape at the end of his rookie year. Will he prove his doubters wrong? Will the Kings be the big winners of the draft when all is said and done? Only time will tell after the Lockout ends.

US Open Tennis Preview: Which is better? A 3 Horse Race On The Men's Side Or A Wide Open Field On The Women's Side?

The US Open for Tennis starts in only a few weeks starting at the End of August going 2 weeks ending in early September. While both the Men and Women draws seem likely to be interesting tournaments filled with great tennis, the competitive nature of both couldn't be more different. On the Men's side, it's a 3 horse chase, featuring Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer. The Women's Side has a completely wide open field with Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Vera Zvonareva, Caroline Wozniaki, Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters, and many other talented young players chasing after the US Open title like it's anyone's to take.
There is no real favorite on the Women's side, while on the Men's side, Novak Djokovic is heavily favored to take the US Open crown back to Serbia. This polarizing effect of Men's tennis being limited to three contenders and Women's tennis being limited to nobody (even Wild Cards seem to have a shot now) makes watching both sides of the Men and Women very different experiences.
The Men seem to be following the same trend. Federer has an intense fight with either Nadal or Djokovic in one semi-final, and Andy Murray is on cruise control until he gets mauled in the other Semi-Final match by Nadal or Djokovic. It's that simple. Your final consisting of the winner of the Federer match, and whoever got the blessing to publicly humiliate Andy Murray. It's that simple. So, you know your going to get a final consisting of 2 of 3 people. Rafal Nadal, Novak Djokovic, or Roger Federer. All of which make great matches, but still nonetheless repetitive from one final to the next. I must say, that this is an improvement from the days when it was just Federer, and no challenger at all. At least now there's 3 instead of 1 contender like it used to be. But I can basically assure you, that the winner of the US Open will be Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, or Rafael Nadal. I can guarantee you that.
As far as the Women are concerned, I have no idea what in heaven's name is going to happen. Will Kim Clijsters repeat as US Open Champ? Will Serena Williams steal the crown back from her? Will Maria Sharapova come out of her slump and will another grand slam? Will Li Na have one final hurrah? Will Caroline Wozniaki break through? Will Ana Ivanovic, Vera Zvonareva, or Andrea Petkovic take the title? Or will somebody else entirely win it like Petra Kvitova won Wimbledon this year? Will a complete stranger like Sabine Lisicki come out of nowhere and reach a semi-final or win the whole title as a Wild Card? Any of the above or more are possible on the Women's side, which makes it a very interesting and compelling tournament, because it could go any number of directions.
So, I've just made it sound like the Women's side is better to watch because it's less predictable, more unstable, and more dramatic because you have no idea what will happen. But there is a drawback in the Women's game that the Men's game doesn't have. That would be star power. While the Men lack unpredictability and drama from that standpoint, they do have definitive stars. Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer are all stars, and even Andy Murray has become a lovable loser and star in his own right. People know who they are going to watch, and they love it. The fans love having stars to watch, and knowing that in the finals they are going to see two recognizable stars, who are superstars in the sporting world. That's a benefit. Not only for the fans, but also for the value of the sport from a monetary perspective. Stars sell tickets, and make money for the sport. Ticket prices for a Novak Djokovic/Rafa Nadal final or a Rafa Nadal/Roger Federer Final will sell better than a Juan Martin-Del Potro/Robin Soderling Final. Especially in the US, where stars are wanted. This really makes Men's Tennis better on the Final Weekend from a certain view. The Finals are often more exciting because they have bigger names. Women's tennis may have more surprises, but as of late they've had less stars.
Women's tennis can still get stars tho. They also have more options to go with. A Sharapova/Clijsters final would be nice. An All Williams Final would be great too. A Williams/Sharapova match would work. As would any final involving the number one ranked Caroline Wozniaki. The Women have more options in the star department, which helps, but the problem is, they aren't certain if they will get those stars or not. Li Na and Francesca Schiavone are nice players and all, but they're not really STARS. Vera Zvonareva and Ana Ivanovic are both really good as well, but they are less recognizable. The Women have more potential star matchups in the final for the US Open, but also a lot higher chance of seeing a final that lacks star power. That's a concern for Women's tennis. Nobody wants to be the front runner, favorite, or target. Everybody is sort of on the same level, all equally likely to win, but none really standing out.
The Men have 3 guys who are the front runners who all have massive targets on their backs. This makes things exciting when they get beaten, and when they face each other. They've embraced this role, and they all live up to the pressures that follow for having that target on their backs. The rest of the Men are fighting for a Semi-Final appearance. Even that seems to be locked in as belonging to Andy Murray. The Men are too predictable and the Women are too unpredictable. I can't think of a time when it's been more polarizing than it is now.
So at the end of the day, which is better? I personally lean towards the Women's side, since I like watching competition that I don't know the outcome of. For me, it makes it more interesting to genuinely not know what will happen. The NBA and MLB have been too predictable over the years, and I like the fact that Women's tennis is so unpredictable, much like the NFL. However, I think both sides could become more like the other. The Men could have a few more challengers, and the Women could have a few more heavy weights. Perhaps some of these top ranked Women could be more consistent, and perhaps some of these higher ranked Men like Soderling and Murray and Monfils could give Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic more of a run for their money. But until that happens, or if that happens. We have to live with what the US Open will give us this year. Things won't change overnight. So, until something changes, lets enjoy both the US Open Men and US Open Women for the benefits that they bring and now that no matter what happens, we are in for some incredible tennis!

The San Jose Sharks Flirt With Disaster and Survive

Like something out of a Greek or Shakespearean Tragedy, the San Jose Sharks blew a 3-0 series lead against the mighty Detroit Red Wings, which lead to a game 7 in the Shark Tank in San Jose yesterday. It seemed all too real, and eerily similar to San Jose Shark collapses of past seasons. It was like the Ghost of Christmas Past and Christmas Future coming to Ebeneezer Scrooge all at once. The vibe around San Jose and the Bay Area was a "Here We Go Again" type feel after the Wings won game 6 in Detroit to knot the series at 3-3. The Sharks played with little energy on Tuesday night in the Motor City and seemed doomed for another epic San Jose Sharks collapse. To quote Woody Paige of the Denver Post "We all know what happens in the Shark Tank. The Sharks Tank!" That quote speaks to exactly what die hard fans of the San Jose Sharks have had to put up with for the past 20 years and especially the last 6 years when San Jose has had teams that appear to be serious contenders.
As a Bay Area native, I find myself rooting for this San Jose Shark team more because I think it would be cool if San Jose (which is 20 minutes south of where I live) would win a championship. It would be cool for the city, the bay area, and also for the Sharks organization. But I would be lying to you if I told you I was a die-hard Sharks fan. But I am a die-hard sports fan, and anytime a team is on the verge of an epic collapse or epic victory like the Sharks were, it catches my eye, especially if it involves a team that I have some vested interest in. I enjoy watching anything that is post-season in sports, including the NHL, even though the only sports I follow through the whole season are the NBA, NFL, and MLB. The NHL is the sport I follow the least of the four major sports, and yet I have found myself very interested in this years NHL playoffs.
The Sharks to their credit beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 yesterday in the Shark tank to the massive relief of Sharks fans across the Bay Area. Had the Sharks lost yesterday, the Sharks players should have hung themselves in utter shame, and the Shark Tank should have been lit on fire. The Sharks showed tremendous toughness, grit, and pride as they avoided what would have been the most embarrassing loss in franchise history. Devin Setoguchi scored San Jose's first goal in the opening period off a nice pass from Joe Thornton and then Logan Couture scored the second goal for San Jose late in the first period, giving them a 2-0 lead which they would never surrender. The Wings made things interesting however in the 2nd period, getting a goal from Henrik Zetterberg to creep within a goal. The Second Period was not a good period for the Sharks, as they allowed that one goal from Zetterberg, and also played a lot more lethargically.
However, in the 3rd period, the Sharks awoke and started attacking the net and started to get some good looks. They were rewarded with a goal from Patrick Marleau with around 7 minutes and change left in the third period. The Wings got one more goal a a couple of minutes later, making it a 3-2 game. The next 5 and a half minutes or so of the game with the Sharks up 3-2, was a crazy scene to behold. Bodies flying everywhere, with the Red Wings scrambling like madmen to get the game tying goal to send the sucker into Overtime. But the Sharks fought off a brutal Red Wing attack much like the Americans had to fight off the British in the American Revolution. The final minute of the game, the Wings pulled their goaltender and brought in a 6th guy to have a 6 on 5 advantage. Even that didn't work, and the Sharks held on to win by the final score of 3-2.
Marleau was the hero of the game from an offensive perspective scoring the game clinching goal, but the defensive MVP was the Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi. He made some spectacular saves that you figured would be impossible. He was clutch in the most critical moments and didn't falter late when the Wings were making their aggressive attack.
So what is next for the San Jose Sharks? A trip to the Western Conference Finals to take on the Vancouver Canucks, another team known for choking and blowing post-seasons away like Dandelion spores. The Vancouver Canucks haven't been past the 2nd round of the playoffs since 1994 when they lost to the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Finals. That same week, OJ Simpson committed one of the most hideous murders and famous crimes in the world, and he got off scotch free thanks to some crafty lawyers from LA and a prosecution so bad, that even Hitler himself wouldn't have had to worry about had he gone to trial. But I digress, perhaps another OJ crime is needed for the Canucks to get back to the Stanley Cup finals, but I doubt it, and I sure hope not.
The Sharks haven't been to a Stanley Cup Final before, and last year they got humiliated by the Chicago Blackhawks in 4 games. It was a gut-wrenching series to watch for all Sharks fans, and this year seems to be more promising. The Canucks also gave up a 3-0 lead this year and won in game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks. So, both teams have had similar roads to the conference finals.
I don't have enough of an opinion on who will win, other than the fact that the Canucks should win this series because they are the #1 seed, have home ice advantage, and finished with more points than any team in the NHL. Their goaltending is good with Luongo blocking away shots, and the famous Sedin twins are supposed to be scarier on the ice than they do off the ice, and that is really saying something. If you look at them, you realize that they have faces that only their mother could love, and even that is no slamdunk. The Sharks have Antti Niemi at the Goaltending position, and he has a Stanley Cup ring which Roberto Luongo doesn't have. That is probably the most noted advantage the Sharks have is their goaltending. Which is a big advantage.
But, the Canucks are supposed to have more offensive fire power and a better overall team to combat that. The Sharks have a good team as well tho, and they can score. The only real flaw I see in the Sharks from the hockey I've observed is they have the tendency to not give their goalie much help in terms of preventing easy shots from going off. If the Sharks can play solid defense and prevent the Canucks from getting easy shots at Niemi, Niemi should be fine, and the Sharks should win. That is easier said than done, and Vancouver has a very potent offense. But, Luongo has gotten lit up good this post-season, giving up 5 and 7 goals in back to back games against the Blackhawks this post season. So he can be vulnerable. Niemi has shown the same vulnerability, but neither has shown it recently. Look for the Goaltenders to both play well.
I won't make a prediction on this series, since every prediction I seem to make backfires. But I will say that I am pulling for the Sharks, and I hope they win. Go Sharks!

NBA Playoffs 2nd Round: Which Series is most likely to have an Upset?

This year's NBA playoffs have been as exciting as any playoff in recent memory. Specifically the 1st round. The exciting 1st round of the playoffs have set up 4 very intriguing matchups, three of which are David vs. Goliath like Situations.
The First matchup that has everybody drooling is the series between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. Both teams seem to be pretty evenly matched and for the most part, the consensus among most sportswriters, and sports analysts seems to be that the Boston/Miami series is a toss up series. Lebron James, Dywane Wade, and Chris Bosh certainly seem to make up the best starting 5 due to the fact that they are younger and less injury prone, giving Miami the edge in the starting 5 department. However, In the role player department, the Celtics seem to have the edge with more weapons to use like Glen Davis, Jeff Green, Delonte West, Nenad Kristic, and Shaquille O'Neal (should he become healthy). So it's depth vs. better talent. The Celtics have Depth, and the Heat have better talent. But let's not forget the talent on Boston's side as well. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo. The Celtics have just as much star power as Miami does, but the Heat are younger and their best three is a better combo than Boston's best three. Who do I expect to win the series? I expect Boston to squeak it out in 6 games, but not without a tough battle.

The other three series that are also going on is the Atlanta Hawks/Chicago Bulls series, the Memphis Grizzlies/Oklahoma City Thunder series, and the Dallas Mavericks/Los Angeles Lakers series. In all three series, there are teams that are heavily favored to win, and all three of the favorite teams trail in the series 0-1. Memphis, Atlanta, and Dallas are all the underdogs in their respective series, and yet all three have stolen home court from their favored opponents. But which team is most likely to pull the upset over 7 games? Which team is most dangerous to their opponent? To answer this question I'll break down all three matchups.
The Memphis/ Oklahoma City series is interesting because you have the most explosive young team in the league in Oklahoma City and the most mysterious young team in the league in Memphis. Can the Grizzlies continue their hot streak that they brought over from San Antonio into this series? Will Zach Randolph continue to produce? These are all critical questions. The answer can be found in the matchups. In my opinion the Grizzlies match up well with the Thunder because they have a better post game. Mark Gasol and Zach Randolph is a more offensively prolific duo than Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins of OKC. Not only that, but the Grizzlies are a much deeper team than the Thunder are. The Thunder rely too heavily on Westbrook and Durant to shoulder the scoring load. The big question for the Thunder is who will the third scoring option be? James Harden's name comes up as that possible guy, but he hasn't shown enough to suggest that he will step up to the plate. The Grizzlies have much more options in terms of scoring the ball. Mike Conley Jr at point, Zach Randolph and Mark Gasol in the paint, OJ Mayo off the bench to score points, Shane Battier to play some defense along with Tony Allen, Sam Young, Darrell Arthur etc. The Grizzlies have more players to work with and are deeper in terms of getting more guys involved. Greivis Vasquez, the rookie out of Maryland has looked especially good providing scoring for the Grizz. In short, Memphis has a great shot of knocking off OKC because they have more depth as an overall whole, and have a better paint. The key to the series is this: If Zach Randolph can match the productivity of Kevin Durant, the Thunder will lose the series.

The Atlanta/Chicago series is perhaps the most perplexing of them all. Atlanta last year rolled over like dead animals against the Orlando Magic, and this year came out and crushed the Orlando Magic in 6 games. Atlanta looked like the team that everybody thought they would be last year. Young, athletic, versatile, and dangerous. Joe Johnson played up to his 100+ Million dollar contract, Josh Smith played above the rim really well, Kirk Hinrich hit big shots, and most importantly was Jamal Crawford and his overall leadership. Crawford has hit big shot after big shot for Atlanta. The Hawks have shown to be a very deep complete team with a lot of weapons to use. Other guys I haven't mention are Al Horford, Zaza Pachulia, and even Jason Collins who have all stepped up in the paint. The team they face is an equally young and exciting Chicago Bulls team lead by NBA MVP Derrick Rose at point guard. The Bulls have some dangerous players of their own besides Rose. They have Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah in the middle and Luol Deng as a swingman. The most important player for Chicago is Carlos Boozer, because he is the only real scoring threat they have in the paint. Noah's job is more or less to grab rebounds and play defense. Boozer's job is to score points and grab rebounds. Boozer hasn't done either yet in the playoffs, averaging 10.7 points and 7.7 rebounds. That doesn't cut if for an 18 million dollar guy. Those are numbers I'd expect from a modest role player like Andris Biedrins of the Golden State Warriors. The rest of the Bulls have been playing well. Rose is carrying his team as much as he can, averaging 27 points a game and 6.8 assists. And Luol Deng's 19 points per game is keeping Chicago alive right now. In terms of scoring it really drops off after Rose and Deng. With a hobbled and sub-par Boozer, the Bulls are in deep trouble. The key for the Hawks to beat the Bulls is to slow down Rose, and keep Boozer in his current state of driveling rubbish. Not only that, but if Atlanta is smart about their shot selection, plays good defense, and gets as many players involved as possible, they have a real shot as winning this series.

The Mavs/Lakers series is an interesting one, because for the first time in human history, the Dallas Mavericks are playing some defense, and showing some toughness. Overcoming a 16 point hole on the road in LA, the Mavs came back to beat the Lakers and silence the sleazy Los Angeles crowd. Mark Cuban leaped for Joy and had the look of a little Jewish boy who was getting a brand new bike for Channukah instead of the usual dreidel and pair of socks that he gets from his great depression era grandparents. The Mavs showed resolve and toughness last night. Dirk Nowitzki stepped up in the clutch and hit big shots for his team. That turn around shot that Dirk hits off one leg is as close to unguardable as any shot in the league. But the real key is defense for Dallas. We all know that the Mavs have been a great offensive team. But the "D" has been lacking in the "Big D". Tyson Chandler is adding a defensive presence to the Mavs that they've been lacking in the middle, and even Jason Kidd at the age of 38 is playing good defense. The Mavs unlike the Lakers have more weapons on the bench to use like Peja Stojakovic, Jose Barea, and Corey Brewer. The only concern for the Mavs is the size of the Lakers with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum in the middle. But as Charles Barkley pointed out, Dirk makes the Lakers very uncomfortable because their bigs can't guard Dirk on the perimeter. Dirk is a matchup nightmare for the Lakers, and with the depth on the bench and more balanced scoring of Kidd, Dirk, Terry, Chandler, and Shawn Marion, the Mavs have the pieces to really challenge the Lakers. The only player that really scares the Mavs is Kobe Bryant. If Kobe goes off, he's gonna give them serious problems. But if Dirk rises to the challenge, he can cancel Kobe out, and also damage the psyche of the mentally fragile LA Laker front court. In closing, here is the Key to the Mavs success: Defense! If the Mavs play some defense, don't turn the ball over, and play good basketball on both sides the court, they will be tough to beat and will put themselves in a great position to knock off Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. The loss of Caron Butler will be missed, but with the edge in the Point Guard department and the big man department, the Mavs have a lot to use in their favor.

In closing, I think that Atlanta has the best chance to pull the upset because they have a more rounded out team than the Bulls do. Plus, the Bulls have Carlos Boozer. The Hawks to me seem to have a good shot to win their series over the Bulls. Next is Memphis, I think Memphis has a good shot, not as good as Atlanta's but still a real shot to knock off an OKC team that lacks experience in the playoffs (I'm picking Memphis and Atlanta to win). The only concern for the Grizzlies is star power. The Thunder have Kevin Durant, who is the best player in the series. That gives the Thunder the edge. But like I said, I feel like if Zach Randolph Matches Durant, they have a great shot.

Lastly, is Dallas, I find their odds to be the least likely simply because of who they are playing. The Lakers are the best team of all the favorites. Beating the back to back champs is the toughest order of all, but in sports, anything is possible. I honestly am rooting for all the underdogs to win their playoff series and advance on. Go Grizzlies, Go Hawks, and yes as much as I hate them, I have to say Go Mavs, because I hate the Lakers at a whole other level.

Rumors of BYU Men’s Basketball Team’s Ibogaine Use: Probably Not True, But Stranger Things Have Happened

Very few stories about March Madness include rumors about a team using the drug Ibogaine, but I am here to tell you that there is a rumor that the Brigham Young University Men’s Basketball team has been using a drug known as Ibogaine. Ibogaine, “an alkaloid obtained from an African shrub having anti-depressant and hallucinogenic properties” has been in circulation for many years as a drug that acts as a stimulant. However, when used in high volumes, episodes of intense hallucinations can and do in fact occur. I don’t need to get you into the details of what this drug does, but if you are curious, there are plenty of places you can go to get a more detailed report of this drug and its effects on the human mind. But to be short, we can say that it is a “Psychoactive Substance”.
Back to the Basketball side of things, there are unnamed and unknown sources that have bubbled up stating that former BYU basketball star Rafael Araujo has secretly been supplying the team with the stuff from his home country Brazil. These rumors also state something about “frosted flakes” being used as a means of hiding the ibogaine. Being a powdery substance, it is theoretically possible for one to coat and powder one’s frosted flakes in ibogaine to get the effects of the drug. Whether or not the drug’s power or effectiveness is affected by the use of milk is something that I am not aware of. But what I am aware of is the news that Araujo and the BYU basketball coaching staff are possibly supplanting the ibogaine into the BYU player’s frosted flakes or in some cases frosted mini-wheats, pending on the player’s personal preference for breakfast. Such use of Ibogaine would most certainly be breaking NCAA Basketball violations, and would in fact result in very stiff penalties and harsh sanctions placed on the BYU basketball program and all of its athletics, if in fact the rumors were true.
What are the odds that these rumors are true? In my honest opinion, there are extremely low odds that any of this has any grain of truth in it somewhere. But, what keeps the possibility alive is the potential of a “desperate times calls for desperate measures” type of attitude at BYU. We all know, that BYU has never been very good at basketball. Sure the occasional star like Danny Ainge, Fred Roberts, and Rafael Aruajo has stumbled their direction. But when has BYU basketball been this close to a National Championship? Never! They have never been more hyped up in basketball then they are now. If they have been, it hasn’t been for a while. Jimmer Fredette their star player is arguably the best player in the nation, and has an unlimited range to hit shots from anywhere in the arena. As of Monday February 28, 2011, they are the # 3 ranked team in the nation and just beat now # 9 ranked San Diego State in a Mountain West Conference showdown. Talks about BYU getting a # 1 seed in the Western Region of the NCAA tourney have gone from mindless chatter by BYU fans to a heavily debated topic among ESPN sports analysts, with a huge chunk (I’d say probably 75 %) stating that if BYU runs the table, wins the Mountain West tourney, and finishes with only two losses, they will in all likelihood earn themselves a # 1 seed. And who’s to say they don’t deserve a # 1 seed? I mean # 1 Duke just got whopped by Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, # 5Texas got mugged by Colorado over the weekend, and # 10 Arizona got spanked by UCLA (these rankings are prior to their embarrassments on the Basketball court). Not only that, but other ranked teams like Syracuse, UCONN, and even Pittsburgh have all lost games, and none of them seem to want the #1 seed. So why not give it to BYU? They’ve only lost 2 games; they’ve gotten through all of their games almost entirely unscathed (barring 2 losses to New Mexico in the Pitt and UCLA). This could be BYU’s year! It really could be.
So, with all that swirling around them, and being the kind of group that will do whatever it takes to win a championship, it actually makes sense that BYU’s basketball coaches might want to give their players a little “kick” in the morning to wake them up a little bit, and help them focus throughout the day. If that were their ambition, then Ibogaine would be a viable option to do that. Ibogaine does have side effects that make it likely that BYU coaches would avoid it. Seizures, teeth chattering, incoherent babbling, euphoric dreams about the past, and so forth are all side effects of this African shrub drug. It can be fatal, and can cause brain damage. But on the other side of the coin, if you are BYU, when are you going to be in this position again? Why not give yourself an edge that other teams don’t have. I guarantee that no other team in the nation is using this drug. No rumors of that have yet surfaced.
But the rumor about Rafael Araujo supplying the BYU coaches with an ibogaine powder to put on frosted mini-wheats/ frosted flakes has surfaced today. If BYU were to be using the stuff (remember no hard evidence is out there to say that they are), they would more than likely be the only team in NCAA Divisions 1 through 3 that would be using the stuff. Not only that, but if it is working, then that means that they have an advantage that no other team in the Nation has! Pretty cool huh? Not only that, but Ibogaine is so far off the radar from drugs commonly used by NCAA athletes to “enhance their performance”, that it is almost certain that the NCAA isn’t testing for Ibogaine. Nobody is gonna know because it is so far-fetched and so untested in the realms of sports performance enhancement. If that is the case, then it is theoretically possible that BYU coaches would want such an advantage, as would their players. Just sprinkle a little Ibogaine on your cereal and off you go.
Now the name of this “breakfast of champions” that BYU’s players have been allegedly taking are rumored to be called “Cougar Flakes”, a spin off of “Frosted Flakes” sponsored by the fellow anabolic steroid abusing tiger “Tony the Tiger”. No other name has surfaced as the nickname of this breakfast, and so I am going to assume that they are “Cougar Flakes”.
Now if BYU were indeed eating “Cougar Flakes” for breakfast, it would be possible for opposing players and spectators to not notice any unusual signs of the drug being used. If given in small enough doses (which it would have to be), then BYU could go into games feeling and being more energized without any noticeable side effects. An interesting thing about BYU’s team that may or may not be linked to Ibogaine is that they are a small team. Jimmer Fredette is only 6 foot 2 and their tallest player is 6 foot 10, but he rarely gets used. The rest of the players are 6 foot 9 or shorter, and thus a possibility of the need for smaller players is a possibility. The reason is that the use of ibogaine on a larger bodied person could have more noticeable effects then on a smaller bodied person. That could be why the 6 foot 10 kid on BYU doesn’t get many minutes (or much Ibogaine for that matter). It could have a more noticeable effect on larger people. To be clear so I don’t get anybody confused, I am not saying that Ibogaine affects taller people more than smaller people, I’m saying I don’t know if it does or not, but it could explain why BYU’s team is so small, tiny, defenseless, and unable to get a freaking rebound.
Another possibility for why Ibogaine could be used is that BYU fans have the tendency to put unrealistic expectations on their teams. The BYU players probably feel like they aren’t the # 3 team in the Nation. The expectations are probably too high for these guys, and the Ibogaine could do the trick to calm them down and help them focus on playing basketball instead of the hype that BYU’s fans have placed on their basketball team. BYU fans as we speak are all giddy about a “final four run” and a chase for a “national championship”. Those expectations shouldn’t be there. If BYU fans would be more level headed, they would understand that their team doesn’t stack up in its comparison with the Big East teams, the ACC teams, the Big 10 Teams, SEC teams, the Big XII teams, or even the PAC-10 teams. Not to mention the other mid-majors that they have to contend with. Their schedule isn’t the toughest in the nation, and they have benefited from a soft-schedule. With teams like TCU, Wyoming, Utah, and Air Force in the Mountain West, it would be easy to get a string of wins going and build a resume that would get fans spit-balling about their teams chances to win a national championship. But the reality is simple. If BYU gets to the Sweet 16, then they’ve vastly exceeded their expectations. Last year, they barely beat the Florida Gators in the first round, only to get stomped by a vastly superior Kansas State team the following round. Florida was re-grouping after losing their star players from the past two seasons to the NBA. Florida on a down year lost in OT to the upstart Cougars. BYU just simply isn’t cut to win a national championship, or make a deep run. All they have is one short little white kid who throws up junk at the rim that goes in. It’s like blind squirrel finds nut, only the blind squirrel can see through the shades to see the nut and find it (so the squirrel really isn’t blind). My point is that BYU doesn’t have the depth or a second scoring threat that can give Fredette help incase he has an off game. As soon as Jimmer Fredette has an off game or gets doubled, BYU will fold. Not only that, but their biggest win of the year is against a San Diego State team that is just like them. Unproven, untested, and unable to go far in the dance. It is that simple. BYU is a fraud in the March madness picture. Don’t mind them. They aren’t a team to be afraid of. If BYU is taking Ibogaine, then they are a threat to do some damage. The Ibogaine could be their secret formula to succeed and win the whole thing.
In conclusion, I want to start off by saying that the rumors about the Ibogaine use are more than likely to be false. But, I do find the rumors to be interesting, and something that should be looked into by the NCAA just to make sure that all is fair and well in Provo, Utah. If the rumors are false, then we can all go back to focusing on BYU from a pure basketball sense. But, if the rumor is true (which is highly unlikely), then BYU is going to be the new USC of college athletics. Losing Bowl eligibility and NCAA tournament eligibility for years. The ramifications of using the ibogaine would be costly for the school if the rumors were indeed true.


note: all information that was quoted was off of wikipedia.org or dictionary.com

also, anybody who reads this and believes that the rumors are actually true is an idiot. If you took the bait and believed the rumors, than you are the most gullible person on planet earth.

NFL Playoff Preview: Falcons/Packers

Later tonight, the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers will rumble down in the Georgia Dome in a highly anticipated matchup. Many people in America are picking the Green Bay Packers to win because of Aaron Rogers and his QB play. Everybody is "gay" for him for utterly no good reason. He's only won one playoff game, he got beat by the Cardinals last year in the post-season, and there is no reason to suggest that the Packers will be able to beat the Falcons on the road this year in the playoffs. The Falcons are 13-3 this year, and Matt Ryan the QB of the Falcons never loses in A-Town (the Falcons are 7-1 @ home this season). The Packers are banged up this year and are facing a healthy and excited Atlanta Falcon team on the road. Falcons got all the mojo going into this game and have every reason to believe that they will beat the Packers at home. We saw how much teams struggled in the Superdome last year in New Orleans, and I expect a similar deal here. It's a tough place to play in Atlanta with those fans going nuts. Matt Ryan of the Falcons is having just as good of a year as Aaron Rogers of the Packers, only he's at home, with a week's rest and preparation to face the Packers. Look for the Falcons to win this game.