Been watching a lot of basketball and hope that you have too. Unfortunately this year has been marred by injuries to several players but I hope that it doesn't impact the playoffs any further.
Heat vs. Knicks
If the Knicks didn't have bad luck, they'd have no luck at all. After losing Shumpert and Baron Davis to knee injuries, and Stoudemire for a game, the Knicks just seemed to be lost. I thought with a fuller roster, they would have given the Heat something to think about, but it just wasn't meant to be. With the off season now in full swing, the Knicks have some questions that need to be answered. 1) Do you call Phil Jackson and see if he's ready to coach again (and that's not a knock on Woody who did a great job with what he had). 2) Do you bring back JR Smith or do you hope he opts out? 3) Do you go after Nash in free agency? 4) and finally is Carmelo the guy that you can build around and win a championship (I think you can).
Thunder vs. Mavericks
The young bucks took down the defending champions and looked good doing it. Westbrook and Durant did a great job swapping responsibility of taking over the game. They do have to worry about the health of Kendrick Perkins who missed some time due to a hip strain. They also have to be prepared for the rust that they've accumulated while waiting to find out who they'll play in the 2nd round. The Mavericks go into the off season with some 'what if's' around Odom and Chandler and 'what happens' next year. The Jet is a free agent (if he goes to Miami, whew!!), and it looks like Deron Williams will be the top target for this team to be able to bounce back next year.
Spurs vs. Jazz
This was ugly, I mean really ugly. I thought the Jazz would have been able to compete in this series but they looked like a man showing up to a gun fight with a .22. They seemed to be able to play with this team for a few minutes at a time, but then that old man basketball got to them. The Spurs looked great in dismantling this Jazz team. The Big 3 in San Antonio (Ginobili, Parker, and Duncan) showed up but more telling was the bench showed that they are just as capable of scoring and defending when called upon. The Jazz go into the off season and they have to find a way to get some better point guard play. Their bigs actually showed some heart in this series, so I'm not as worried about them.
Bulls vs. Sixers
We knew it was over after that horrific Rose knee injury, but last night was a fitting (and possibly not) end to the Bulls season. They know who the guys are that they can count on (Rose, Noah, Gibson, and Deng) and they probably know who they can't (Carlos Boozer, I'm talking to you). The Bulls have to keep this team together and try and get back next year. They will pay dearly for that (around $85M), but there's nothing else to be done. The Sixers didn't impress me, especially in a closeout game playing a Bulls team without Noah and Rose. The Sixers didn't want to win that game last night, running an offense that consisted of hold the ball for 20 secs and then find a way to throw up a contested 3 pointer at the buzzer (I apologize to my neighbors for the yelling and screaming that you heard last night, that was me and the TV). Up next for the Sixers, the Boston Celtics and we can now start the clock as to how much longer the Sixers will be in the playoffs.
Hawks vs Celtics
You know that you should never, under any circumstances, bet ON the Atlanta Hawks. Never!!!! If they were in a one pony race you should bet on the jockey or someone, but not the Hawks. There is something about this team that just needs to change. Johnson is a good complimentary player, but he's not your ace. Horford came back and was probably the 2nd best player in this series for the Hawks. It's gotta be the 'Curse of Chris Paul' that hangs over this team. The Celtics aren't spectacular but they someone how get it done. Pierce is playing on a sprained knee and without him, I'm not sure this team could score 70, especially with Ray Allen hobbled with bone spurs. The good thing in all of this is that the Celtics get the Sixers and another chance to play old man basketball (slow it down) against a younger team. The bad is that if Pierce's knee gets worse, what happens? I'm not sure KG has many more of those 28pts, 14 rebs games left in him.
Showing posts with label New York Knicks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Knicks. Show all posts
Friday, May 11, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
2012 NBA Playoffs - Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks
Can I say that I love this matchup?!?!?! This the best matchup in the 1st round in the East. We have the expectation heavy Heat taking on a resurgent Knicks squad. There will be fireworks, more likely on the scoreboard than on the court.
Heat: There's LBJ, Wade and Bosh and a few extra pieces, but this Heat team is flawed. They lack a consistent deep threat and they seem to be a team that can't keep it 'on' (their effort) consistently. The Heat's bench hasn't played well, but they are going to have to step up if they want at least one of those championships that this Big 3 promised. Will the NBA MVP, LeBron be just that in the playoffs? This is a dangerous Knicks team that can catch fire on offense so the Heat will have to dial in on defense to wrap this up quickly.
Who has to step up: The Heat Bench. Someone, anyone, step up and give these guys some punch when one of the starters sits.
Knicks: I like this draw for the Knicks. They have Carmelo and Amare and can put up points, but the question will be can they get a stop or two? Tyson Chandler may sit game 1 due to illness, so that will probably put this Knicks team in an 0-1 hole. If Melo gets some help, this team may be able to pull an upset that many outside of NY probably aren't expecting. Although Lin isn't playing the one thing that he started was giving some of these guys confidence and that confidence makes them dangerous.
Who has to step up: JR Smith and Iman Shumpert. I love JR Smith for what he can do. He's a playmaker, can hit shots, and can even play some defense when needed. The problem I have with JR Smith is that sometimes he is out of control. A bad JR Smith means the Knicks are out of here in possibly 5. A good JR Smith means this goes 7. Shump has played ball all year long and he can be a defensive stopper with his length and quickness, so he's gotta cause some problems for either Wade or LBJ on the perimeter.
Outcome: I got the Heat in 6, but there's a chance for the upset in Round 1.
Heat: There's LBJ, Wade and Bosh and a few extra pieces, but this Heat team is flawed. They lack a consistent deep threat and they seem to be a team that can't keep it 'on' (their effort) consistently. The Heat's bench hasn't played well, but they are going to have to step up if they want at least one of those championships that this Big 3 promised. Will the NBA MVP, LeBron be just that in the playoffs? This is a dangerous Knicks team that can catch fire on offense so the Heat will have to dial in on defense to wrap this up quickly.
Who has to step up: The Heat Bench. Someone, anyone, step up and give these guys some punch when one of the starters sits.
Knicks: I like this draw for the Knicks. They have Carmelo and Amare and can put up points, but the question will be can they get a stop or two? Tyson Chandler may sit game 1 due to illness, so that will probably put this Knicks team in an 0-1 hole. If Melo gets some help, this team may be able to pull an upset that many outside of NY probably aren't expecting. Although Lin isn't playing the one thing that he started was giving some of these guys confidence and that confidence makes them dangerous.
Who has to step up: JR Smith and Iman Shumpert. I love JR Smith for what he can do. He's a playmaker, can hit shots, and can even play some defense when needed. The problem I have with JR Smith is that sometimes he is out of control. A bad JR Smith means the Knicks are out of here in possibly 5. A good JR Smith means this goes 7. Shump has played ball all year long and he can be a defensive stopper with his length and quickness, so he's gotta cause some problems for either Wade or LBJ on the perimeter.
Outcome: I got the Heat in 6, but there's a chance for the upset in Round 1.
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
NYSTOM NBA Power Rankings
Team Power Rankings. I guess we already know who's last, but I am surprised that the team from the City of Brotherly Love is still trending so high. I thought for sure they'd fall back to the middle of the pack after a few more weeks, but they are holding their own. I will say this, watch out for those Spurs. Not saying that they are going to win it all, but they could be a dangerous out in the playoffs.
Where's your team ranked?
|
|
Through
2/29
|
|||
|
1
|
27
|
7
|
0.794
|
|
|
2
|
29
|
8
|
0.784
|
|
|
3
|
21
|
15
|
0.583
|
|
|
4
|
28
|
7
|
0.800
|
|
|
5
|
18
|
17
|
0.514
|
|
|
6
|
22
|
12
|
0.647
|
|
|
7
|
24
|
11
|
0.686
|
|
|
8
|
21
|
15
|
0.583
|
|
|
9
|
23
|
13
|
0.639
|
|
|
10
|
21
|
14
|
0.600
|
|
|
11
|
19
|
17
|
0.528
|
|
|
12
|
20
|
12
|
0.625
|
|
|
13
|
20
|
15
|
0.571
|
|
|
14
|
18
|
18
|
0.500
|
|
|
15
|
20
|
15
|
0.571
|
|
|
16
|
17
|
17
|
0.500
|
|
|
17
|
21
|
15
|
0.583
|
|
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
0.500
|
|
|
19
|
16
|
18
|
0.471
|
|
|
20
|
14
|
18
|
0.438
|
|
|
21
|
14
|
21
|
0.400
|
|
|
22
|
14
|
20
|
0.412
|
|
|
23
|
13
|
20
|
0.394
|
|
|
24
|
11
|
24
|
0.314
|
|
|
25
|
8
|
27
|
0.229
|
|
|
26
|
11
|
25
|
0.306
|
|
|
27
|
12
|
25
|
0.324
|
|
|
28
|
12
|
22
|
0.353
|
|
|
29
|
7
|
28
|
0.200
|
|
|
30
|
4
|
29
|
0.121
|
Where's your team ranked?
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