Playoff Thoughts

While the playoffs rage on, it is still a fine time to stop for a minute and consider those who have already been knocked out.  So we begin our annual Fall Out series, in which we assess the departed and their future prospects.  The losers have been gone for at least a week and this gives us a little more perspective and avoids quickly pronouncing failure and success.  Today, we look at the Eastern Conference: 1. Chicago Bulls:  Losing in the first round as one seed really hurts.  In the case … [Read more...] about First Round Fall Out (Eastern Conference)

1.  Celtics-Hawks: So far, the First Round has been entertaining for individual games but no series has really quite gotten to the point that the outcome has been in much doubt.  In other words, no series have been tied at 2-2 but instead all were at 3-1 or 4-0 sweeps coming into Game 5.  Fortunately for the casual fan, the Hawks win tonight in Atlanta has made its series with Boston a little more fun.   Based upon the play so far, Game 6 will be yet another low scoring, low paced battle of … [Read more...] about Playoff Thoughts

1.  Spurs-Jazz: While it appeared that the Jazz's big front line just might give the Spurs some problems, it has not played out this way so far.  The front court has been irrelevant as Tony Parker destroyed the Jazz guards in Game 1 and the Spurs just collectively clobbered Utah in Game 2, in a game where the Spurs couldn't miss and the Jazz couldn't make a shot.  The only question is whether Utah can make this series interesting in Utah.  Jazz's fans can take solace in the fact that the team … [Read more...] about Playoff Thoughts (Western Conference)

Well, the NBA Finals have come and gone.  In between, we were left with a lot of fun and lots to examine.  I thought we could conduct a Finals post-mortem to pick up on some of the issues that were discussed and give our two cents and to identify some things that no one else has really discussed.  So, here's goes: -2010-11 Miami Heat, Most Hated Team Ever?: Unlike any team in recent memory, the Heat really were fun to root against.  They didn't embrace the traditional gritty … [Read more...] about NBA Finals Recap

1.    Finals Preview: It's been a long road this year to the Finals and there have been quite a few twists and turns that were unexpected (notably the fact that the Lakers aren't here).  Still, after all the happenings, the Heat are in the Finals and are prohibitive favorites (as most expected last FAll) and we have a very fun Finals match up with the Mavs, who are far from pushovers.  Aside from the actual games, there are tons of questions being raised.  Let's take a look at the major … [Read more...] about NBA Finals Preview

Round Two is over and this leaves four teams with time to assess what happened in the playoffs and what might happen next year.  The most notable elininations are last year's NBA finalists in Boston and L.A.  Meanwhile, in Memphis and Atlanta we have to decide how real these teams really are going forward.  Let's take a look: 1.  Boston Celtics: Assessing the Celtics' last few years really depends on whether you are an optimist of pessimist.  Here's how the KG Era has … [Read more...] about Second Round Fallout