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)