Thoughts on the first weekend of NBA Playoffs!

So the first weekend of NBA Playoffs went down, and there is much to talk about.  I have no witty opening since I am a little fired up, so I’m just going to get right to it.

Let’s start with Bulls-Nets since Derrick Rose’s ACL injury put me in such a depression I gave up blogging the entire season.  Rose has now become the source of a great controversy surrounding the Bulls as many are upset he has not returned from his injury yet, and likely won’t this season.  People are questioning Rose’s heart and toughness and trying to make him look like a bad guy because he has been cleared by doctors to play for months but won’t come back.

Call me crazy, but I feel like there is more to a return from a major injury than simply being told by doctor’s that structurally you are good to go.  If he isn’t comfortable then he isn’t comfortable.  Players like LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony have defended Rose’s decisions thus far, and you haven’t heard anything about the organization being furious with him for not playing, and his teammates all stand by him.  You only really hear the shit talking coming from fair-weather fans and idiots.

The Bulls didn’t re-sign Rose to win a title in 2013, the Bulls re-signed him to contend for years to come since he is an amazing basketball talent and if you have to sacrifice one whole season for him to come back strong then so be it.  But frontrunners seem to know what’s right for the Bulls and Rose and feel he is a dirt bag because he isn’t playing right now.  I am only mad that they would not announce Rose is out for the year months ago since they knew it all along.  I am not mad he is missing time.  Screw it, they can win next year or the year after.  I would much rather Rose take the time to get comfortable than come back too soon, a decision basically everybody but people who don’t know anything about anything sympathize with.

People are saying Rose isn’t tough and doesn’t have heart, but if you stop and think for a minute you would realize that makes no sense.  The only reason LeBron James isn’t about to win a fifth straight MVP is because Rose played out of his mind two years ago.  Fair-weather fans and idiots have short memories and now think Rose was overrated this whole time, but he was a death dealer in 2010-11 and nobody should forget it.  Then in the playoffs he badly sprained his ankle against the Pacers but kept playing and took a beating every night all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Then the next season he was nursing injuries to his back, his groin, basically his entire body.  He pushed himself hard to come back and try to win the championship, but he has no heart?  He ended up tearing his ACL because of that.  That’s a major injury, and just because Adrian Peterson could come back quick and be successful that doesn’t mean Derrick Rose is ready.  Maybe it comes from the fact I enjoy fighters like Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida, but I recognize patience is extremely important and right now isn’t as important as setting up for the future.  Who is the motherfucker who has delivered again and again in big games for the Bulls and said he wants to lead them into the future?  I’ve never had reason to doubt Rose before, and just because the Bulls won’t win a championship this season I am not about to start doubting him.

So the moral of the story in terms of Bulls-Nets is that the Bulls are fucking terrible and are going to lose in six games, and I don’t feel bad that Rose won’t be playing.  Noah’s hurt, Hinrich’s hurt, Hamilton’s a walking injury, Gibson’s hurt, Deng is drained from too many minutes yet again.  Yes, the next part of Rose’s rehab is to play in a game, but if he isn’t comfortable then why rush him back to take part in the ass kicking they are going to be dealt for the next week?  And the Nets are just going to get beaten by Miami next round anyways so I won’t even bother discussing them.

The Nuggets-Warriors game was pretty wild.  Last year the Nuggets were on pace to set the world on fire until everybody got injured.  They were ready to set everybody on fire this year but things looked bad once Danilo Gallinari went down with a torn ACL and Kenneth Faried got hurt.  But the beauty of the Nuggets is that they play an amazing team game.  The Nuggets could very well make it to the Finals.  They are that good even without a superstar to lead the way.  Ty Lawson is filthy, Andre Iguodala is solid, and Andre Miller is still good.

Miller, at the age of about 867, drained the game winner with 1.3 second left to give the Nuggets the victory in Game 1.  The 37-year-old has missed six games in his entire career, and has overcome his strange Smokey Robinson voice to become one of the most reliable players of the era.  Speaking of reliability, the Warriors were dealt some damage when David Lee suffered a torn hip flexor and had to leave the game.  Lee got a whole lotta money, never really played up to it until this year, and now he goes down with an injury.  That’s a big problem for Golden State as they need all the help they can get against the amazing team game of Denver.  I figured the Nuggets could handle them before, but now with Lee out it seems like Denver just got a much easier road to the second round.

I thought I wanted to see the Knicks make it out of the East until I saw Game 1 of their series with the Celtics.  In life there are few things I hate more than the Madison Square Garden crowd.  Spike Lee is a douche, and Knicks fans suck at life.  Now that the Knicks are good, there are a lot of obnoxious frontrunners afoot.  The Garden crowd acts like their team is the best team in the universe when they are winning, then boos the team off the floor when they aren’t playing well.  Now all of a sudden they have “real” fans because they are good but you know if they get eliminated by Miami in Game 6 of the Conference Finals the Garden crowd will be booing their own players because they are morons.

Boston has had a nice run after losing Rajon Rondo to a torn ACL a few months back, but this is where the run ends.  They are a solid defensive team, but their offense is only slightly less ugly than that of the Bulls.  Even if Carmelo Anthony decides against passing and keeps shooting terribly, it will be enough to carry the Knicks since Pierce and Garnett might be cooked.  And Jason Terry was a waste of a signing.  Thanks for that amazing 0-5 performance, Jet!  Jeff Green can play his ass off in the first half all he wants, but the Knicks have too many weapons on offense and the Celtics don’t have anything.  These teams are fairly evenly matched defensively, but down the stretch in a close game New York will kill them because of weapons like Anthony and JR Smith, and that is what happened on Saturday.

The Clippers-Grizzlies series has me torn.  On one hand, I really like the Grizzlies.  I thought they would be the team to beat in the West since they play such solid defense and a good team game.  I love the Gasol-Randolph team down low, I love that they have Tayshaun Prince now, I love that Jerryd Bayless cut his hair and grew a beard and looks like Carlos Boozer.  The Grizzlies are a tough, solid team.  On the other hand, I love the Clippers.  Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league, Blake Griffin is an animal, Chauncey Billups is a good man, but Vinny Del Negro is their coach.  It will be a very entertaining series, but ultimately the Clips may pull this one out somehow.  I hope I don’t miss any games from this one.

The Hawks-Pacers series is the most uninteresting series I could ever think of.  Two teams I can’t stand in one place.  I will not talk about this further.

The Heat-Bucks series will be a source of great comedy on a game-by-game basis since Milwaukee guard Brandon Jennings said they would defeat the Heat in six games.  There isn’t much to say about this series since the Bucks are completely overmatched and will get swept.  But at least Brandon Jennings makes funnies.

I was excited for the Thunder-Rockets series until the first few minutes of last night’s game.  I stepped out of the room and missed the first few minutes of the game and walked in to see the score was 13-2 and the Rockets had not hit a field goal.  Granted it was still early, but that said everything I needed to know about the series.  The Rockets have an exciting young team, but the Thunder have been possessed all season.  Houston just doesn’t have enough to stop OKC.  Maybe they can win a game in Houston, but really the Thunder are going to jack them up since too much Houston offense revolves around James Harden isolations and missed threes.

And the last series, the best series, is the LA Lakers vs. the San Antonio Spurs. 10 years ago this would be a showdown of the West’s superpowers.  This year, it is the hobbled Lakers meeting a determined Spurs squad playing like this is their last time out.  Mike D’Antoni, so stubborn in his ways, is the reason Kobe Bryant is out.  You can’t play a guy who has 20 seasons worth the wear and tear on his body (17 seasons plus post-season and Team USA stuff) for over 40 minutes a night and rely on him to do everything.  That was how D’Antoni approached the home stretch of the season and it cost the Lakers dearly.   Steve Nash isn’t 100% and D’Antoni’s defenseless approach to the game is only going to make things worse.

The Spurs made D’Antoni’s life a living hell for most of the 2000s, and it is happening again.  Tim Duncan is playing like it is 2003 again and all signs point to this being his last run.  I have written here before about how Tim Duncan is an amazing talent, and this season only reaffirmed those statements.  He has elevated his game yet again and the Spurs are poised to dominate.  LA is a mess with no depth and no defense, so they may not have a good shot against the Spurs juggernaut.

That is it for the weekend’s games.  I will try to talk some trash about the other games this week at some point.

Final Thoughts on the Finals

I will give the Heat credit eventually, but first off holy crap did OKC blow this or what? Yes the Heat played good defense and all, but holy crap did Harden and Westbrook ruin this series or am I just totally off?  Harden regressed after blossoming into a great player through the rest of this season, shooting 20% in back-to-back games at one point, and Westbrook absolutely shit the bed in Game 5 with a mind-boggling 4-20 shooting performance. Fitting he was 4-20 since he certainly seemed stoned out there, at one point bricking a dunk for no reason.

And Westbrook made some bonehead plays at the end of Game 4 like his turnover and his intentional foul on Mario Chalmers. Yeah, Westbrook had 43 in that game, but bungling the game for your team in the clutch still ruins things. He was not the man. And I demand a tally on how many jump shots Serge Ibaka took this series, and how few he hit. Ibaka wasn't taking many shots per game, but he was taking an awful lot of jumpers from like 16-20 feet when he did get to shoot. Dude you were in the dunk contest and Miami is always criticized as being weak inside just go to the hole!

And how slow and bad is Kendrick Perkins? He is a great defender...if the person guarding him doesn't move. For a 28-year-old he looked like he was about 60 sometimes. He's there to lock down the paint.  Uhh yeah, he didn't.  OKC played like crap way too often this series, and Miami is a team you can't get sloppy against. The Thunder bungled big leads a few times and did not deserve to win the series.  The Heat out-worked them and out-hustled them.  Even in this Game 5 that just ended, OKC looked lifeless and weak.  Nobody was boxing out LeBron James on the offensive glass, when LBJ went to the hole nobody gave him a hard foul to let him know the paint is sacred, and when the Heat started rolling nobody other than Durant rose up for the challenge.

Durantula's theme. Was it too much to ask for Harden and Westbrook to not play so dumb so often?

I really promise I will praise the Heat, but seriously the Thunder screwed the pooch big time. Durant wasn't able to destroy everything in the 4th quarters of every game like people were thinking, but he was shooting over 50% for the series so it isn't like he was ruining it all. Westbrook shot 43%, down from 45.7 during the regular season and padded because of his 43 point game, and Harden shot 38, down from 49 during the season.  Along with the tally on Ibaka's bricked jumpers, I'd like one of how any times Harden and Westbrook waved off Durant as if to say "Nah man I got this," then either missed a jumper or had the ball stolen. It certainly seemed like it happened a lot when I wasn't falling asleep during these games. Durant's the best scorer in the game and was shooting well, those guys needed to help him out a little bit.

And for everybody complaining that the NBA is so rigged and the league got what they wanted, just shut up. I'm all about NBA conspiracies and whatnot, but really don't you think they would have wanted this series to go longer than 5 games? Come on, man. The Thunder had taken way more free throws than Miami early on until they just had no fight left in them. And that's all it was. Harden said last night they learned every possession counts. Duh.  They made stupid plays time and time again and let Miami take this series.  For lack of a better phrase, they fucked up.  OKC wasn't playing perfectly and just got screwed because of the league being corrupt.  They played like crap and they got broken apart by a better, more focused team.

Yes there were times when Miami got some bogus calls, or didn't get called for anything like when LeBron clearly threw the ball off of the back of the backboard and no whistle was blown for out of bounds, but the Thunder didn't play well.  OKC came out in Game 1 ready to destroy, then they got run ragged in the next four. Miami took a lot of free throws. They have three superstars and three of the games were at home so it makes sense and nobody should be surprised. Just because they're getting to the line it doesn't make them unbeatable. The Thunder had to kick some ass last night and Miami wanted it more and played way harder. It is that simple. OKC did not try hard enough to win. They let themselves get down big, they let the big three have a dance party all the way to the hoop, and the season is over because of it.

The NBA may rig a game now and again or favor superstars, but the league can't rig heart and determination. The Thunder showed none when everything was on the line, as shown by that lack of defense that allowed Miami to shoot 52% for the game.  Games 2-4 were still close.  OKC could have won them, but their youth and inexperience came blasting through and did more damage than any foul calls or non-calls could have.

As for Miami, they stepped their game up. The role players finally came to life and gave the superstars the help they desperately needed. Shane Battier was dropping threes, Mario Chalmers played big, and even Mike Miller showed he is in fact still a living human being with that nasty three point clinic last night. The role players finally played like they wanted to win and didn't seem like a bunch of veteran frontrunners who wanted to ride the coattails of LeBron's talent.  They all stepped up and gave a team effort and executed the way you need to when you're in the Finals.

Chris Bosh played big. That's two years in a row he's come through in a big game for Miami. Last year when the Mavs were readying their championship parade, Bosh played the best of the big three. Last night he proved that he may be every bit as important, if not more so, than Dwyane Wade.  As the most ridiculed member of the big three it is nice to see him prove his worth in a few big moments these playoffs.  As a whole Miami played great team defense and they went out and played hard. OKC seemed lost and totally over-matched.

LeBron James finally has his ring. I have never taken away from the talents he took to South Beach two years ago, I just think he's a bastard. I will give him some respect for admitting he acted like a punk when he went to Miami.  He shut up and he went back to playing like he was on the Cavs. He was like the guy who scored 29 of Cleveland's last 30 points and made this writer go out and get a Witness shirt and a jersey and hang a poster of him dunking all over the Heat above his bed. Hating LeBron comes out of frustration that he has all of the tools to be the best but he says and does dumb things rather than just shutting up and doing what he does best. Every year we hear that LeBron is a new man and focused and ready to win. I was sick of hearing that and refused to believe it until we actually saw him do it, and these playoffs he did it.

I don't like how on NBA TV and ESPN they were saying since LeBron has his ring now you can't hate on him anymore. Well no, I'm not just going to become a fan of his again because he won a ring. I'm not a frontrunner.  I still think he's a dick and I don't like that he quit on Cleveland two years ago and faked that elbow injury because he wanted to play with his friends in Miami. I don't like his flopping and pretending like he got seriously hurt. I don't like his hairline. Depending on how he acts now I'll take my stand on his ego.

It was cool that LeBron said the right things last night about how he realized he had to change as a person after the Finals defeat last year. You'd never hear Kobe Bryant own up to acting like a dick or making a mistake. LeBron was a man and admitted he did the wrong things and he had to change. You learn a lot about people with how they celebrate winning a title. We saw how bad Michael Jordan had wanted to win and how much it meant to him, we saw that Kevin Garnett is really that intense all the time, and last night we saw LeBron be very humble.

When asked what went through his mind, LeBron laughed and said, "It's about damn time." He was very gracious and said he was humbled after the embarrassment of last season.  I'll hold off on my judgement of him until we see how he acts next year since he was arrogant as hell without a ring, so who knows how he'll be with one.  But he very well could be redeeming himself from being that punk kid who ruined Cleveland's front office and as Adrian Wojnaroski pointed out, wasn't wanted on the '08 Olympic team. Will we see a mature, respectful LeBron James who just shuts up and plays, or are we back to dancing and flexing and acting like the world belongs to him?

Don't forget this gem from last year.  The Heat won their second round playoff series against Boston and they celebrated like they won the title. Now with an actual title, are we back to this kind of ego and madness or will they just be a hard working, dedicated team?

Idiots.

So now the Heat are champions. At the moment it seems like LeBron has finally become the player everybody hoped he would be, but a lot can change in a little time. As for the actual series, it was pretty simple. Miami played harder and they won. As much as I may want to say the NBA helped them out, when it comes down to it OKC played way too sloppy to ever deserve to win. The Heat were the focused and composed team, and they are the NBA Champions because of it.

I can't believe I'm not furious the Heat could win a ring tonight

Slowhand's subject matter may not pertain to the situation, but the hook for this song came to mind when trying to think of how I feel about the Finals

If you have ever read this blog before then you've seen any post I've done about basketball is usually straight on about how I hate the Miami Heat and LeBron James or a jab is taken at them somewhere. LeBron and his ego have been subject to a great deal of vitriol in my time writing both here and my old blog.  While he is the greatest talent in the history of the NBA, I loathe him.  To take a page out of Rashad Evans' book, I think he's fake.  He acts the way he thinks will make the most people like him. I don't like his sense of entitlement, marketing himself as the "king" then acting like he's so humble, doing ridiculous things to get attention then saying he doesn't want attention, dancing and flexing on the court, and I especially don't like the fact he openly quit on Cleveland in 2010.

But even after all of those rants on LeBron, I don't care about the Finals potentially ending in Game 5 tonight.  I probably won't even watch the game. I've been disillusioned with the NBA ever since 2007 where the Phoenix Suns were royally screwed by the NBA and then referee Tim Donaghy was arrested for betting on games. Honestly if Chicago hadn't drafted Derrick Rose the next summer I would have been done.  There have always been shady NBA conspiracies and Donaghy betting on games didn't seem like an aberration since the Lakers had 27 free throws in the fourth quarter along against the Kings back in 2002 and Dwyane Wade shot as many free throws (25) as the entire Mavericks team in Game 5 of the 2006 Finals and then only two less (21 to the Mavs' 23) in Game 6. I always believe every NBA series is rigged now, and I see more and more how the NBA is all about protecting stars no matter what and I don't like it.

My brother and I had this conversation on the phone the other night about how the Finals just don't seem to mean as much. He said basketball just isn't fun to watch really, and I agree. Even the Bulls are not fun to watch, but they need the support. I feel like I just watch it so I have something to do, not because I love it more than something like MMA. When Derrick Rose tore his ACL I said to somebody on Facebook that this is just speeding along MMA's rise as my favorite sport, a sentiment I echoed to my brother.  I hardly watched any games this season until the playoffs started. I'm getting so burnt out on the NBA, I don't even have the passion to flip over LeBron winning a title.

I want so badly to freak out about Miami closing in on their second championship and LeBron James getting his ring, but there is so much more I want to put energy in to.  Non-sports related things include:

• Lego Batman 2: This game is freaking sick. I don't like the Lego games but I got this since I'm a Batman fanboy and for the first time in a Lego game there is actual dialogue and not just "oohs" and "ahhs" and IGN gave it a good preview write-up.  It is so much fun. Playing as Superman, even in Lego form, is way more awesome and entertaining than I've found the NBA this year.
• Life by Keith Richards: I never read as much as I should and I've been plowing away on this book forever. I will finish it. I must.

That's what I'm looking forward to tonight more than seeing if Miami gets another trophy celebration or the Thunder step their game up.   Sports related things I care more about include:

• Silva vs. Sonnen II: Chael Sonnen took Anderson Silva to the limit in their first fight before being submitted in the closing minutes. Now Sonnen gets his rematch. Silva has massacred Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami since coming through in the clutch to beat Sonnen, now everybody wants to see if the first fight was a fluke. Was Silva just hampered by a rib injury and being stubborn by wanting to submit Sonnen? Sonnen failed his pre and post-fight drug tests, so was him being juiced the reason he could bring it to Silva so hard?  This matters more to me than the NBA Championship since with Anderson Silva we're witnessing real greatness, not ESPN greatness, which I'll talk about in a little bit.
• The UFC in general: As my brother said on the phone, it is two dudes going toe-to-toe, no superstar calls or favorable treatment from the officials. You lose because you lose and that's it.  That is far more interesting to me than basketball by this point.
• Brock Lesnar's WWE situation: I want to know if these rumblings of the WWE being pissed at Lesnar are all a work or if they are legit.  Lesnar is a big-time, marketable star wherever he goes, but rumor has it he isn't getting along with the WWE and they want to job him out to everybody to make the UFC look bad. I am curious to find out if they are going to push Lesnar or just use him as a big bully who never wins a match.
• The NFL season: Never thought I'd see the day when I really care about football, but I'm actually pretty excited for this season. I don't really have one favorite team, I just have a bunch of teams I like and I've found I just like watching football in general so I am eager for the season to get under way.

I'm so tired of basketball because of this 24-hour media cycle we live in.  ESPN has ruined the game for me.  When guys like LeBron James are on a roll like he is now, organizations like ESPN start talking about all-time greatness and where players like that stack up.  They did it big time when Kobe Bryant won his MVP in 08 then titles in 09 and 10.  But they talk about all-time greats yet only take a snapshot of a current player's career and start defining their greatness.  That is ESPN greatness. ESPN was giving LeBron so much coverage when he was only in high school and this is what fed into him being hyped as the next big thing.

It just bothers me that the fact it took LeBron so long to rise to the top will never be mentioned again if they win tonight because ESPN has to prove they were right about LeBron being King all those years ago.  Suddenly there was no quitting aginst Boston, no choking in the Finals and those are two pretty serious things.  And if they lose, then LeBron wasn't aggressive enough. If they still somehow lose the series then it is all LeBron's bad. If they win the title this year but not next year LeBron maybe isn't as great as we thought again and suddenly he's not the guy you can build a dynasty around, but should they win then he was the guy all along. It is the same, predictable coverage all of the time and I find myself not interested in it at the moment.

For all of my impassioned tirades on how I can't stand the Heatles, I don't really care that they could win the championship tonight. I'm not happy about it and you will never hear me say they deserve it. Make sure that part is clear. I'm not going to write off LeBron saying they will win eight titles and it would be easy. Or all of that shit the big three talked to Team USA after they got together saying they would best the '95-'96 Chicago Bulls' 72-10 record. At least Dallas shut them up last year and made them see they had to work for it, but still there should be no shortcuts to a title.  But whatever. The NBA wasn't going to let Miami fall flat anyways; I mean Christ they called a flagrant foul on Tyson Chandler for an illegal screen in which LeBron flopped and pretended like he got shot.

In regards to superstar calls, it of course is not just limited to Miami, they just get the most since they have three stars. And that is what takes out a lot of the fun in the NBA. It just comes down to who has the bigger star and who is going to flop and get to the line more.  It is just not fun to watch. I should have known something was up after hardly watching any games during the regular season, but then I realized what was going on when I didn't really feel that excited for Games 2-4 of the Finals.  There were parts of the games that made me mad, but as a whole I don't really care about this series.

Honestly I'm worried more about if Rich Franklin or Wanderlei Silva will have to retire this weekend after one of them loses their fight than I am about if the Thunder can come back. The Thunder have made stupid mistakes, the Heat have capitalized, and the bitter fan in me will always wonder if Miami would even be there if Derrick Rose hadn't torn his ACL and Avery Bradley didn't need shoulder surgery.

Last year when the Heat went up 2-1 I was furious and I was hoping so bad Dallas came back. This year when they went up 2-1 I didn't even bother watching Game 4 until the last few minutes.  I've become one of those fans. The loser who just checks in on the last few minutes since he's too preoccupied to just watch the whole game.  I fell asleep during Games 2 and 3.  I just don't seem to care. I want to care and I want to be so mad about this all, but really aside from getting frustrated for a minute watching the game, I don't care.

There is a serious possibility I won't be watching the NBA Champion crowned for the first time in 8 years.  From Game 7 of the Spurs-Pistons in '05, all the way to Dallas shutting up the Heat last year I've seen it all. But tonight I think I'll play Lego Batman or watch a movie. I don't need to hear Mike Breen yell "BANG!" every time any player hits a shot in the 4th quarter. I don't need to see Mario Chalmers pretend he got shot every time he drives to the hoop because he wants a foul call. I don't need to see James Harden choke like he's LeBron or something.  Just doesn't interest me. And like Eric Clapton sang, "I don't know why I don't care."

Scattered Thoughts on the NBA Finals

We have arrived at the NBA Finals! The fake analyst in me wants to say this is a great match-up between two hard-working teams and it will be a great series. The biased hack fan in me says this is just like last year’s Finals, in which a team that is all about the true team concept of putting five guys on the floor who can play well together plays against the Heat, a team of three superstars and a whole lotta front runners and ego. Either way you look at it, this will be a terrific series and it is going to define careers.

For Erik Spoelstra, this series means everything for his job. Pat Riley fired Stan Van Gundy when he failed to win a championship with Dwyane Wade and Shaq in their first year together, so why would Spoelsta be expected to keep his job if he fails two years in a row with the “Three Kings”? If Miami wins, Coach Spo suddenly becomes a master motivator on the level of Doc Rivers. People will forget they talked such trash about how inept and simplistic his style is and will instead say he was the right guy for this team all along. There will be no middle ground here. A tremendous amount of blame will be heaped upon Spoelstra is the Heatles fall short a second straight year, but a championship suddenly means he had control of this team all along and even through the struggles he had them right where he wanted them. That’s just how sports work. Look at how different the tune about LeBron James has become in just a few days.

When the Celtics took a 3-2 lead, LeBron wasn't doing enough and we were going to see LBJ fall flat yet again.  Then he went off for 45-15-5 in Game 6 and hit an unreal 30-foot three-pointer to seal up Game 7 and everybody is talking about how LeBron is in the best stretch of his career and he is finally ready to make the jump.  LeBron himself says he is a different man and is ready, but this is the same story every year and every year there is no ring for the king.  A loss in this series defines LeBron's legacy as the guy who fled his team to join up with the guy who had already carried Antoine Walker, old Gary Payton, and broken-down Shaq to a championship. LeBron was supposed to blow Jordan away, but yet Jordan never lost in the Finals and LeBron has already lost twice, and could lose a third.

If the Heat lose, the story of the East becomes that Derrick Rose got injured, Avery Bradley went down with shoulder injuries, Ray Allen may need surgery, Paul Pierce has a sprained knee, and Boston was old and used up.  LeBron joined Wade and Bosh tagged along because they thought it would be easy and they could run through the NBA, and a loss makes the Heat and LeBron look like a failure since even with an easier road to the title they couldn't get it done.  Losing this championship defines LeBron as a regular season wonder who could never get it done when it mattered most. It is all the difference between being Karl Malone or one of the true greats.

Of course a win changes everything. With one championship, all the criticism goes away.  Since Kobe Bryant won his MVP and then back-to-back championships, how many people talk about the dark days in Kobe's career? How often do you hear about the 2004 Lakers imploding because of the conflicts between Kobe and the rest of the team stemming from the rape accusations? What about Phil Jackson retiring and calling Kobe "uncoachable" in his book and LA trading Shaq away since they couldn't co-exist?  Not many. All you hear about is how Kobe is an amazing scorer and defender and the best player of the post-Jordan era. If the Heat win the championship then all the trash that has been spoken about LeBron for the last few years will vanish.  Winning that one title immediately makes LeBron the King and changes the narrative of his career from an amazing player that never reached his potential to a legend who vanquished all of his foes and became a champion.

For OKC, if Russell Westbrook has a bunch of games where he shoots poorly and the Thunder ultimately lose the championship, the talk of getting rid of him will once again pick up.  People have been praising Westbrook and Durant's ability to coexist, but all it takes is one loss in the Finals and it is right back to "Westbrook needs to go."  Of course Westbrook can be a problem and will take way too many shots when he should be deferring to Durantula.  Sometimes he needs to understand he is the Rosie to Durant's Sophia Grace and he just needs to stand there and give Durant confidence and do some cool moves.  If OKC drops games where Westbrook is shooting 30% then it will be seen as Westbrook's fault and people will want him traded.

It will also be interesting to see what happens with James Harden. He becomes a restricted free agent after next season, and with all the notoriety he is getting for his amazing play off the bench he could want a big pay day and sucker some team in to giving it to him.  If the Thunder don't win this year, maybe he starts thinking about leaving if they lose next year too.  Or maybe the Thunder win and Harden pulls a Trevor Ariza and goes and gets a big pay day after proving his worth on a championship team.  Scott Brooks had to give Harden the hard sell to make him buy into his sixth man role, and though Harden says he is fine with his role now money always changes things. Will he play his little heart out to try and get a fat contract with some other team in the future?

For Durant this is a chance to become the best in the world. He'll be going against a guy who is seen as one of the best, if not the best perimeter defender in the league.  He needs to be on his game for OKC to win.  He shot over 50% both times these two teams met during the regular season. Durant needs to do that a few more times and get to the line often.  He also needs to play good defense on LeBron and use his length to keep James from unleashing punishing drive after punishing drive and going off for monster games.  Durant has been the challenger to LeBron's throne since LBJ's second MVP season and if he can outplay LeBron on the biggest stage in all of basketball and lead the Thunder to a title then he becomes the king of the league, the MVP favorite for next season, and the Thunder are title favorites for years to come.

The perimeter defense of the Heat could give OKC some fits, but the post defense of OKC can also give Miami fits. The Thunder have better rebounders and shot blockers than Boston did so LeBron will have a tougher time bum rushing the hoop.  The keys here are if Westbrook can rip Mario Chalmers apart and still score when Dwyane Wade gets put on him, and if Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins can lock down the paint and exploit Miami's front court woes. However, a healthy Bosh, an attacking LeBron, and an active Wade could spell certain doom for OKC.

Thabo Sefolosha's defense on Wade will be a key to this series. Really OKC's team defense on Wade needs to take him out of the game since he may be more dangerous than LeBron in some respects.  If Wade is attacking and has it going then Miami is too tough to stop. How many games in the Boston series did Wade get shut down in the first half only to come and and start driving and get his shot going in the second, making the game wicked hard for the C's?  If OKC wants to win they needs to stop Wade from going off and they need Westbrook and Durant to play well. Also, on paper the Thunder hold a big edge on Miami in terms of the bench.  They need those bench guys to step up since one of Miami's biggest knocks is a lack of depth.

For Miami to win they need to shut down Russell Westbrook.  If he takes a ton of shots and misses a ton of shots, OKC is totally screwed. They also need to get the OKC bigs in foul trouble, which may not be that hard since the Heat are averaging 28 free throws per game these playoffs and if LeBron is driving then that opens everything up for his team and sends him to the line a lot. Miami has good defenders in James, Wade, Battier, and Haslem.  Durant and Westbrook are prone to turnovers and if you turn the ball over against Miami you're as good as dead.  Miami needs to use their great wing defending and get out and run in transition since that is where they break teams.

As for a prediction, my heart says OKC in six but my head says Miami in six. I would love for OKC to become this new dynasty and a superpower for years, but I think Miami has come too far to lose. You can blame it on NBA conspiracies, the Thunder's inexperience, or LeBron finally stepping up, but I think the Heat are going to win this series. I think LeBron and Wade are going to draw a lot of fouls and force too many turnovers. Westbrook is going to have two or three games where he takes way too many shots and costs the Thunder.  Miami may have had their struggles in the last two rounds, but for whatever reason I just can't picture them falling short here.  It would be pretty groovy if they lost though, but I don't find it likely.

Oh Boy: Heat-Celtics Game 5 Thoughts

And just like that, the Miami Heat's hopes for a second championship parade down Biscayne Boulevard were put on the ropes by a team nobody thought had a chance. Even this writer thought the Boston Celtics were getting swept.  But now we stand on the eve of Game 6, maybe the biggest game in the careers of so many parties, with Boston up 3-2 and Miami seemingly in search of their soul.

This was a Miami team that for a minute looked like they may not be able to beat the Indiana Pacers.  There have been multiple times this season where their aura of invincibility seemed pretty non-existent. People have said that Chris Bosh's injury doomed Miami. Injuries to Chris Bosh or not, the Heat have enough to beat Boston. Injuries can't always be an excuse since in 2010 the Celtics made the Finals despite fluid literally squirting out of Paul Pierce's knee before games.  Is it Bosh's injury that allowed Boston to get back into this series and put Miami on the brink, or is it something worse?

The Boshtrich is needed since he would make Kevin Garnett work on the defensive end, but you're going to rely on Udonis Haslem to stop KG from scoring. Garnett is 36 years old now, with career averages of 19.3 points per game on 50% shooting and 10.6 rebounds per game.  This series he is averaging 21.6 points per game on 49% shooting to go with 10.8 rebounds per.  Well thanks Haslem.  Missing Bosh sucks for Miami since it takes away an offensive option, but in terms of defense they should have enough to stop an old man like KG from taking them to the woodshed. And will somebody do something about Rajon Rondo?

Rondo's season averages: 11.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 11.7 assists with 45% shooting from the floor and 60% shooting from the foul line. His averages against Miami: 20.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 11 assists with 48% shooting from the floor and 71% at the foul line.  His scoring average is inflated thanks to his 44-point explosion in Game 2, but even without that his scoring and shooting percentage are up from his usual.  Rondo has no fear no matter who is guarding him and he is tearing Miami apart.

Not having Bosh on the offensive end hurts, but for a team that prides itself in defense the Heat should still have enough to take care of business.  Game 4 was decided by two points, Game 5 by four. Not having Bosh around is a bummer, but the Heat eliminated Indiana and went up 2-0 on Boston without him then lost in OT in Game 4 and had Bosh last night but lost another close one.  The chances were there and Miami has the MVP of the league and a former Finals MVP. This quick, aggressive, defensive-minded team should be able to pull out victories over the old Celtics.  Bosh's strained abdomen is a problem, but that is not why they are staring down elimination tomorrow. Pierce, Allen, and Rondo shot terribly yesterday but still Boston won. This is cause for alarm.

Erik Spoelstra's poor decision making may have cost Miami big time yesterday. Chris Bosh had not played in three weeks due to his strained abdomen, but he came back for Game 5.  His minute limit was 25, and in 14 minutes he put up 9 points and 7 boards and was very aggressive on offense, something the Heat sorely needed.  Bosh did not play in the fourth quarter.  Erik Spoelstra said it would not have been "fair" to put Bosh in that situation.  It is one thing to hold a guy back and let him rest in the regular season, but when an All Star scorer nearly has a double-double in 14 minutes and you are in a dog fight with control of the series on the line you can't hold back.  Bosh was a step slow on defense since he hasn't played, but you need offense from somebody other than Wade and LeBron and the Boshtrich is the best bet. As I wrote the other day, Bosh is needed to space the floor so Wade and James don't have to work so much and that would have been a huge help in the fourth quarter. Spoelstra didn't see it that way and that may be a big part of the reason Miami is down 3-2.

Another problem is that for all of LeBron's amazing play this series, it stunningly is not enough, and this is not because I'm not a LeBron fan.  LeBron is averaging 31.8 points and 10 rebounds per game and shooting 50% from the field. Very good stats, but there's more to it.  His regular season assist average was 6.2, but it is at 4 in this series along with 3.4 turnovers per game.  That is not good.  LeBron only attempted 2.4 three pointers per game during the season, but is attempting 4.4 per game against the C's this series.  James shot 36% from deep during the season, but now he's at 27%.  He had one of his best free throw shooting seasons at 77% but somehow against Boston it has dropped to 65.  And last night Dwyane Wade attempted more shots in the fourth quarter (9) than James (6).  LeBron is trying hard, but Miami still needs more out of him.

What is as frustrating as the fact LeBron is attempting so many threes and turning it over almost as often as he assists, is the fact that in the last two games he has only attempted a grand total of four free throws in the two fourth quarters. It is admirable that LeBron wants to get his team involved so much, but he needs to develop a killer instinct.  LeBron needs to understand that as the league's MVP and the greatest athlete to ever play the game he has to take over.  Nobody else even needs to really touch the ball, just put your head down and drive to the basket.  Wade may be his friend and he trusts Wade, but sometimes you have to realize you're the most unstoppable player and you have to put the burden of the team on your shoulders completely.

As good as LeBron has been these playoffs, he needs to be better.  He certainly isn't doing anything to shoot down the criticisms of not having the desire to win by saying things like "I think we played good enough to give ourselves a chance to win, and that's all you can ask for." The Heat are a team with everything to prove, and LeBron has to prove he is worthy of being the three-time MVP. Saying they tried hard and that's enough is not enough at all.  It is kind of sad and very frustrating that somebody with so much skill still apparently lacks the ferocious, take-no-prisoners attitude you would expect of somebody who wants to win so bad.

Of course it all comes back to Michael Jordan since LeBron was supposed to be on his level. Bulls center Luc Longley was once asked to describe MJ with one word, and he replied, "predator." Jordan didn't just say he wanted to win, he was going to do whatever it takes and would accept nothing less than a title.  If the game was tight, Jordan would drive to the hoop and try to get to the foul line. Wade did this same thing in 2006 against Dallas. LeBron needs to do it now. There can be no settling for a good effort, there has to be the MVP taking over.

Erik Spoelstra looked pretty bummed out in his post-game interview.  I felt so uncomfortable trying to watch him because he was trying to act like everything was cool and this was no big deal, but they were just empty words.  There's plenty of reason to be concerned. The Heat have had problems executing down the stretch for two seasons despite having two of the top players in the world. Their simplistic play designs have screwed them over for two seasons. Bosh wasn't in the fourth quarter last night despite playing well. I like Spoelstra and I think he has done a good job,  but if the Heat go home tomorrow, and I don't mean for Game 7, then Coach Spo is gone.  I felt awkward watching him try to brush this off as just another mountain for a tough team to climb. I had Bruce Springsteen's Dead Man Walking stuck in my head as I watched it unfold. The blame is going to fall on Spoelstra if they lose, and he will be gone.

Of course Miami is not done and a loss in Game 6 is not a foregone conclusion.  Bosh will play more in Game 6 and will be much more capable, most likely giving Boston's defense some fits and opening things up for Wade and James.  Also, just because the game will be in Boston it doesn't mean Boston will win.  The Celtics have problems closing teams out. They have for ages and there is not a great reason to expect anything different tomorrow. And everybody is talking about how Miami is done and unraveled. If the Heat win tomorrow suddenly there was never any cause for worry.  But Boston has exposed flaws in Miami and shown that no matter what happens in the rest of this series, the Heat are very beatable.

As for the Celtics, they remain pretty boring to discuss since they come out, play hard, go home. Their offense is hideous, but luckily they pride themselves on tough defense.  Rondo and Garnett are carrying this team and need to play magnificent one more time to make their third NBA Finals in five seasons.  You can sense the urgency since the big three all realize that their championship window is just about shut.  Rajon Rondo has shown he has all the tools to be the best point guard in the game if he could just shoot as well as he has been consistently. If he improves his jumper and foul shooting he could be unstoppable.  He is out-hustling everybody on the court and always seems to be in the perfect spot, like on his incredible tip to Mickael Pietrus for the three.

Doc Rivers is cementing himself as one of the greatest coaches of all time.  People have been saying Boston was too old by the third season the big three were together, but they could be back in the Finals. Rivers has his team playing terrific defense and their confidence is through the roof.  Just like in 2010 when nobody thought they had a shot against Cleveland, Rivers got his group to play at a level nobody thought they could by that point and they sent the Cavs home. They came so close to winning the championship that year but fell in seven games to the Lakers, failing to close LA out in six. Once again people were saying the Celtics were too old and banged up to make a run to the Finals, but all they have to do is execute for 48 more minutes and they can make it back.

And can we finally accept Paul Pierce is one of the greatest closers of all time? He is never afraid to take the big shots when it is all on the line. He took the ball to the basket to get to the line so he could give Boston the 87-85 lead, then despite being only 5-18 from the floor the Truth hit a wicked three over LeBron to make it 90-86 and send Miami reeling. His laughter afterwards was ridiculous. That play was indicative of the entire series. There is no reason old, hobbled Pierce should be able to make the young and athletic LeBron look silly just like there is no reason for these old Celtics to be making the quick and young Heat look bad, but somehow it is happening.

This has been an entertaining series and it has been full of surprises.  Tomorrow night is a huge game since the legacy of both team's big threes are resting on it.  The Heat have to execute and LeBron has to play even better than he already has through these playoffs.  The Celtics have to prove they can finally close out a team when they need to since if they let Miami back into it tomorrow, there will be no stopping the Heat from going all the way.

The Boshtrich Must Come Back - Game 4 Thoughts

Please play along with me for a minute here. When trying to think of a way to sum up the Miami Heat’s situation right now, this video was the first thing that came to mind. Pretend in this instance that Commissioner Gordon is Erik Spoelstra, since Coach Spo is on his death bed right now.  If Miami loses Spo is fired or he's going to suddenly want to spend more time with his family and will step down as coach. When he says, "This evil rises," picture Kevin Garnett in this Gatorade Rain advertisement.  When he says, "Batman," just replace that with, "Boshtrich."  And since Gordon is talking to Bruce Wayne, just imagine that is Chris Bosh.  Let's go.



That about sums up Miami's predicament.  The big three were all in this together, then with one strange abdominal strain after a dunk, Chris Bosh was gone.  Now after a series with Indiana that was tough, the Boston Celtics are rising and have managed to outplay the Heat in three straight games.  If not for some officiating many thought was poor in Game 2, the Celtics could easily be up 3-1 right now.  The C's have built up double-digit leads in the last three games but lost them in Games 2 and 4, but they have held home court and go back to Miami with the series at 2-2 and a good shot at stealing the game they need on the road.

The biggest reason for this, much like the evil Bane rising in Gotham since Batman is gone, is because Chris Bosh has been out since the first game of the Pacers series.  It should be pretty obvious to everybody that Miami badly needs Bosh, but it is still worth explaining. There was a game in that series with Indiana where up until late only two people other than Dwyane Wade and LeBron James scored the ball.  You can't win a championship like that.  The Heat can get contributions from guys like Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier, and even the occasional Mike Miller quality appearance.  But in spite of the role players occasionally stepping up, it isn't enough.  Too much of Miami's offense is Wade or LeBron take the ball and everybody get back.  This was manageable against Indiana since their inexperience gave Miami something to capitalize on.  It isn't the same with Boston, and an All Star and proven 20 point per game scorer would help.

Dwyane Wade is struggling thanks to Boston's defense. He goes long stretches where he is ineffective.  Miami's offense is very much centered around the big three dominating so with Bosh out and Wade diminished, more pressure falls on LeBron James.  He has had a good series but much like Cleveland, LeBron playing well with some scrubs is not going to be enough to beat Boston.  If Miami had Chris Bosh this series would be different. It is hard to tell by how much as Boston's defense always keeps them in it and Rajon Rondo causes all sorts of problems, but the late game fails we saw from Miami would be less likely and LeBron and Wade would not have to do as much, and Boston's old legs would have to work harder on defense.

Bosh is mocked constantly and the Heat have been called the big two and a half, but really Bosh is every bit as important to the team as the other guys and is a very good player.  Aside from helping double on Dwyane Wade occasionally and maybe picking up LeBron off a screen, Kevin Garnett doesn't have to do a whole lot in this series on the defensive end.  Chris Bosh being there instantly puts another offensive threat on the floor and KG has to do some real work.  Garnett is getting up there in age, has fought off nagging injuries for a while, and has to do so much on the offensive end.  If he had to guard Bosh it would wear him out.  Bosh's jump shooting ability helps stretch the floor and would open up more holes for Wade.  Bosh's offensive skill set would save Miami instantly since just having him out there opens the floor more and makes the Heat tougher to guard.  If Bosh were there, think of how different those poorly executed final possessions Miami had in the fourth quarter and overtime would have been last night.

To end the fourth, LeBron got the ball, drove into a crowd of three people, and smartly passed the ball.  Despite the title of this video, LeBron did not choke. If that were Bosh, a far more capable offensive player than Haslem, nobody could have a problem with that, but the Celtics just played good defense so the play was doomed.  On ESPN somebody was saying LeBron should have given it to Chalmers. How would he even see Chalmers? If anything Haslem could have tried to get it to Chalmers but whatever.  It was a bad play, and in overtime LeBron fouled out and the Heat's final possession was just as bad. Watch:



Aside from Chalmers trying to get open, there was no play other than something to the effect of "get back and let Dwyane shoot."  An iso for a star at the end of the game isn't always a bad move or anything, but that seems to be what Miami does every time and they fail miserably.  Two thoughts hit me while watching that play. First, if Bosh were there it is likely there would have been a much better design.  To finish out the discussion on the importance of the Boshtrich, Chris Bosh is a terrific offensive player and for a team that seems to have so many problems executing on offense at the end of games it would save their asses and make them far less predictable if he were out there.

Second, why was Mike Miller on the bench?  James Jones was out there so Miller should have been too so you'd have more three point shooters, but yet the play was pretty clearly "maybe get the ball to Mario Chalmers but if not screw it Dwyane will handle it."  The other guys weren't even moving on the floor as decoys.  That is Erik Spoelstra's fault.  Jon Barry said last night after the game this is a recurring problem with the Heat.  They can't execute at the end of games.  It isn't always that somebody is choking, Spoelstra needs to design better plays than "maybe set a screen here or there then just stand back and let Wade or LBJ go to work."  It has been two seasons and they still have problems executing at the end of games.  Bosh being there is another option, but the Heat still have fundamental problems in design.

After last night's loss, the Heat are now complaining about the referees due to LeBron fouling out.  Yes, the Heat are complaining about the referees. In Game 2, Miami took 47 free throws to Boston's 29. Boston has attempted more free throws than Miami in only one of the four games so far, taking 26 to Miami's 20 in Game 3.  In Game 2, the game many said was horribly officiated, Miami was called for 18 fouls while Boston was called for 33.  Miami hasn't exactly been dumped on by the refs or anything.

While LeBron fouling out was strange, Paul Pierce fouled out for the second time this series last night. It isn't like only Miami was being dumped on, but if you talk to former coach and current Heat president Pat Riley you'll hear a much different tale.

"It was a typical night in the Boston Garden," Riles was quoted in Mark Spears' piece on the Heat being upset about the refs.  Keep in mind, when Boston was miffed about the refs Miami had just taken 18 more free throws and had been called for 15 fewer fouls.  Last night Boston was called for 30 fouls to Miami's 28, and Boston took 20 free throws to Miami's 24.  LeBron James attempted the most free throws out of anybody in the game with 8.  The refs really must have had it out for Miami then.  Was it the refs being mean, or was it Miami getting flustered?



The Heat need to worry less about the refs and more about the fact that in three straight games Boston has built up leads of 15 or more through devastating execution.  Garnett continues to turn the clock back, averaging 19.5 points and 10.8 rebounds this post-season. His career averages are 19.3 and 10.6. That is insane.  Even a good defender like Udonis Haslem hasn't been able to stop KG from getting his numbers and having a double-double in three of the four games so far.  Miami also needs to find a way to slow Rajon Rondo since he is shredding them. Rondo has been scoring well this series, and he has never been known for his ability to put the ball in the basket.  This is a Celtics team riddled with injuries, missing one of its best defensive guards, and thought far too old to compete.  But somehow they're pushing Miami around now.

Of course Miami isn't the only team that needs to figure things out.  Boston has blown big leads in two games now, dropping Game 2 because of this. Boston's offense can be downright dreadful on many possessions, and after great execution in the first half they find themselves struggling in the second. Boston also needs to play smarter.  Paul Pierce fouled out last night after two plays involving Shane Battier.  Battier took a charge on a fast break to give him five fouls.  The Heat led the league in taking charges during the season and Pierce was running slow on the break so he should have seen this coming.  Then he steamrolled Battier a few minutes later, shoving him in the back and getting called for the foul.  It was really bad. Almost as bad as Ray Allen foolishly trying to put up a lay up over Dwyane Wade the other night and getting stuffed.  Boston needs to slow down and execute like the Spurs of old since if they want to speed things up Miami will run wild on them. This is how they blow leads and get made to look like silly old men.

But despite the blown leads and silly mistakes, what seemed like the obvious end of the Celtics has now become an intense series.  Despite their age and having to battle nagging injuries, the C's have been outplaying Miami and seem ready to fight for the series lead in Game 5.  Bosh may return for that game, and if he does it will be interesting to see if he's close to full strength.  If he isn't healthy then he will most likely be ineffective and nothing much changes for Boston.  If he is healthy then the Celtics have to re-work their entire defensive scheme.  If not then it may be more of the same, with Boston putting Miami on the ropes.

The NBA Doesn't Protect Stars? Then Explain LeBron's Inability to Commit a Foul

For years people have said the NBA protects their stars and will make sure they win.  When the big three got together in Miami, many cried foul that the NBA would conspire to have Miami win and would protect them with ridiculous calls.  A tweet from die-hard Celtics fan and ESPN columnist Bill Simmons adds fuel to the Heat conspiracy fire. As I said in my post yesterday, the NBA will not punish Dwyane Wade for any cheap flagrant foul he may commit since they will make more money with the marketing juggernaut of Miami, as they have three stars, in the Finals. While in a rage as the Celtics collapsed against Miami , Simmons took to Twitter and ranted on the referees and said they were the reason Miami was winning. He showed off that interesting statistic that LeBron James is only averaging 1.8 fouls per game during these playoffs. Even Michael Jordan never averaged under 2 fouls per game in his playoff career.

LeBron mysteriously only committed five fouls in six games against Indiana.  Yes, he averaged 0.8 fouls per game in that series.  I'm not understanding how that is possible.  Here are the official stats showing LeBron is currently 97th in fouls per game during these playoffs.  It is worth taking a look at how similar players are doing this post-season.  Carmelo Anthony averaged 4.2 fouls per game in New York's five games against Miami, up from his season average of 2.8 (I will talk about regular season averages towards the end, especially LeBron's).  Paul Pierce is averaging 3.1 fouls, only having one foul in Game 1 against the Heat but fouling out in Game 2 as well as fouling out in Game 7 against the 76ers.  Pierce is averaging 38.7 minutes per game, Melo averaged 40.1, and LeBron 41.3 but both Melo and Pierce averaged more fouls despite being less tenacious defenders.  Kobe Bryant played in 12 games this post-season to LeBron's 13, but Kobe had 33 fouls while LeBron has 23

Keep in mind Chris Bosh went down in Game 1 against Indiana and LeBron had to start playing power forward. He was down low and goes for a lot of blocks and steals but some how went all of Game 2 against the Pacers without fouling anybody and then never had more than 1 foul in each of the remaining four games.  Playing in the post he didn't foul anybody. Even softie Chris Bosh picks up over 2 fouls a game, same with Dirk Nowitzki, though Bosh's playoff average was 1.6 since he had nothing to do against New York and got hurt against Indy. Guarding team's top scorers like Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony, and Danny Granger, LBJ has only found himself on the brink of fouling out in one game against New York, and had 4 fouls in another.  Against Miami, Danny Granger fouled out in Game 2, came close in Game 6, and had 4 in Game 1.

Obviously superstar calls and not calling fouls on stars are nothing new, but this is a strange occurrence.  Simmons even pointed out LeBron ranks first in free throws attempted per game at 10.8, but he is so far down on the fouls per game list.  The conversation always comes back to Jordan since he is the measuring stick and the original of favored superstars, and a look at his playoff stats shows he used to get called for fouls.  In 10 games in 94-95 he had 30 fouls.  LeBron has played three more games and has seven less.  Just looking at random years in the championship era: Jordan averaged 3.1 fouls, 53 in 17 games, when the Bulls won their first title in 1991; he again averaged 3.1, 58 in 19 games, in the 92-93 season; 2.7, 49 in 18 games, in the 95-96 season on one of the greatest teams of all time; and 2.2, 47 in 21 games, in the last championship year of 97-98.  You can see the league started becoming more star oriented in the late 90s as Jordan's fouls went down, but still he never averaged fewer than 2.

Kobe Bryant averaged 4 fouls per game when the Lakers won their first of three straight titles in 2000, then 3.3, and then 2.8.  When LA won back to back titles in 2009 and 2010, Kobe averaged 2.6 and 3.3 fouls respectively.  In the 2006 seven-game series with Phoenix in the first round, he averaged 3.6.  He even averaged 2.8 when he was the MVP in 2008.

If you're curious, LeBron averaged 2.7 fouls in the playoffs last year, 2.1 in 09-10, 2.1 in 08-09, and his lowest average was an even 2 when he had 40 fouls in 20 games in 06-07 when Cleveland made the Finals.  He did average a high 3.4 in 2006 though.  I looked at the seven-game series with Boston from 2008 since I wanted to see what happened when LeBron was matched up with a much better Paul Pierce and found Pierce averaged 3.3 fouls and 6.1 free throws to LeBron's 2.9 fouls and 12.8 free throws.  Those aren't some hard, conclusive numbers that LeBron doesn't get called for fouls since he averaged almost 3 per game, but it is worth pointing out that while Pierce still got called for more fouls than LBJ, strangely the referees actually used to call fouls on LeBron. It is at least worth noting LeBron averaged almost 3 fouls per game in a series during his MVP era.

While I love using statistics, none of the other numbers really matter but LeBron having a fairly low fouls per game average in the playoffs regularly is pretty strange.  But whatever. We're talking about this year and LeBron's great skill at not fouling or the NBA's increased protection of superstars that is most evident with the lack of calls against LeBron James. But wait! What about LeBron's career regular season foul average?

While the regular season average shouldn't matter too much since playoff ball is way different and far more physical and defensive-minded, I did point out Carmelo Anthony's average since a 1.4 foul jump stood out to me, especially since it came against Miami.  Maybe I am putting too much thought into it, but I figured it was worth sharing.  LeBron averaged 1.6 fouls this season and for his career averages 1.9.  Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, the two players LeBron is most likely chasing, averaged 2.6 for their careers. Kobe's can change since he's not done of course, but it isn't going to drop below 2.  Other greats? Magic Johnson averaged 2.3, Larry Bird averaged 2.5, and Bill Russell averaged 2.7.  LeBron has averaged over 2 fouls per game in four of his nine seasons, never higher than 2.3, leaving him with that insane 1.9 career average.

The choices here are that LeBron is not a hard defender, defends so amazingly well he does not foul anybody, or the NBA is even more of a star-oriented league than in years past and wants to protect the jewel of the basketball world.  LeBron was the prized first pick in the 2003 draft, hyped as the "king" and is supposed to be the future of the sport.  With the constant hype about how amazing LeBron is, would it be out of the realm of possibility that the NBA protects him?  Think back to the 2006 Finals when Dwyane Wade took over 20 free throws in Game 5 and then again in Game 6 to secure the Heat's championship victory, and Miami as a whole took considerably more foul shots than Dallas.  Is LeBron's low foul per game average just another case of superstars being favored?

It cannot be that LeBron is just an incredible defender who knows how to not make contact with people.  That would be ridiculous to even think.  It comes down to either LeBron doesn't play hard defense and therefore can't commit fouls, or the NBA pampers stars and especially turns a blind eye to any contact LeBron James may dish out.  I would hope people aren't clamoring to accept the former.  All superstars are protected, but this is one of the most ridiculous aspects of the superstar protecting actions of the league.  LeBron goes for a lot of steals and a lot of blocks and is seen as a hard defender, so to think he is just so good he doesn't foul people is funny.  He would be a more amazing talent than any of have thought these last few years.

Every superstar is given favorable treatment, but LeBron's low foul count is unheard of for a player of his stature and with the increasingly favorable treatment the league is giving stars it isn't hard to see how this has happened with the league's star of stars.

The Rights and Wrongs in the Sporting World 2: The "I Loathe Miami" Edition

This is a good way to start off this post, even if I don't talk about their late-game fails

It has been a few weeks and there are many things I want to discuss so what better way to do that than to treat the world to another installment of The Rights and Wrongs? We are a few games deep into the second round of the NBA Playoffs so things are starting to get good. There are a great many things floating around my head and I don’t want to forget them so I’ll just get right to it.

The Right:
1. Chan Sung Jung – The Korean Zombie has put himself in the title hunt in the UFC’s featherweight division following a wild victory over Dustin Poirier on Fuel the other night. Zombie seemed to get winded by the time the fourth round came, but he still locked in a d’arce choke and finished Poirier off. It was a great fight with exciting stand-up and grappling, including a wild moment when Poirier took Zombie down, only for Zombie to roll right into a full mount. As far as shows on networks most people don’t get go, this was an exciting main event and Zombie has proven he can deliver an exciting fight every time. His fights against Leonard Garcia, especially the second one in which he submitted Garcia with the twister, were both entertaining and his seven second knockout of Mark Hominick was wild as well. Of course Jung wouldn’t stand much of a chance against featherweight king Jose Aldo, but really would anybody? Jung-Aldo would be an exciting fight and if you through that on the next UFC on Fox and build it up right it can be a good ratings boost and people would love it.

2. Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan – Two of the greatest power forwards of all time, both in the twilight of their careers, have turned the clock back as of late. I have written about how Duncan is amazing here before, but after reading Chris Ballard’s piece on Timmy for Sports Illustrated I like him even more. The best statistic mentioned in the article is the .702 winning percentage the Spurs have had with Duncan, a percentage unmatched in the last 15 years by any other team in any sport. Even in NBA history there has not been such a run. Ballard touches on this for Duncan but it goes for Garnett as well, as both men played fewer minutes per game this season, but if you look at their per 36 minute stats their numbers are right in line with their stellar career marks. Duncan absolutely shit on Blake Griffin and the Clippers in Game 1 of their second round series, hanging 26 and 10 with 2 blocks and 2 steals on them. Garnett is averaging 20 and 11 (I may have done that math wrong) through the nine games Boston has played thus far. On the third page of that Ballard article he points out how Duncan loathes KG, but it is nice to see the rivals both stepping up their game.

3. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan – I will not be watching WWE’s Over the Limit pay per view this Sunday as it is expensive and the card doesn’t appeal to me, but Punk and Bryan are going to put on an awesome WWE Championship match. Bryan is the best technical wrestler on the face of the planet, winning Wrestling Observer’s award for that for the last seven years, and Punk is high up on the list. WWE markets everything around John Cena and he’ll have a stupid match with Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis, but for the Internet Wrestling Community this WWE title match is going to be the true selling point. They’ve worked matches before, in Ring of Honor and the WWE on Raw, but to have the two best guys working a match for the biggest title in the biggest wrestling company on pay per view is what it’s all about. I will definitely be ordering a replay of the show for Bryan-Punk alone.

4. The Return of Paul E. – WWE brought back Brock Lesnar, jobbed him to John Cena, had him “break” Triple H’s arm the next night on Raw, then the next week Lesnar has his legal council announce he had quit the company. Who would be Lesnar’s legal council? None other than the greatest mind in the history of the business, Paul Heyman. Heyman was the head of the now-defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling in the ‘90s. ECW’s hardcore, edgy style was ripped off by the WWE for their “Attitude Era” and WCW mastermind Eric Bischoff hired guys like Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, and Eddie Guerrero away from Heyman. He wasn’t a good enough businessman to keep ECW going, but he was brilliant at booking and as an on-screen character. Jim Ross loved doing commentary with him, and as Brock Lesnar’s manager and General Manager of SmackDown he was so entertaining. His mic skills are better than most wrestler’s, and his shoot promo on Vince McMahon is one of the greatest promos in wrestling history. I haven’t watched SmackDown regularly since Heyman was its head booker in 2002-3. He made guys like Kurt Angle, Edge, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, and Chavo Guerrero into gods. I will never forget the awesome fatal four-way between Angle, Benoit, Eddie, and Edge that took place on SmackDown. Heyman always knew what matches would work, and if you gave him a microphone he could get anything over. I don’t like the idea of hiring Lesnar to be this big star then holding him off TV so they can save his 24 remaining dates for the build to WrestleMania next year, but if Heyman is going to be Brock’s mouthpiece and handle this then I’m interested.

The Wrong:
1. Dwyane Wade Part 1 – In Game 2 of the Heatles’ second round series with the Indiana Pacers, Wade committed a flagrant foul on Darren Collison. Now, in the NBA there is a Flagrant 1 and a Flagrant 2. A flagrant 1 results in a technical foul, the team of the player who was fouled getting possession, and a $35,000 fine. A flagrant 2 is all of that, but the player who committed the foul is ejected and can be suspended. Here is the rule on how to define a 1 or a 2. Wade’s foul on Collison was only a flagrant 1, despite being unnecessary and totally excessive as well as unsportsmanlike. Wade hockey checked Collison, but somehow just got slapped with a flagrant 1. A few years back, Shaq at least made a play on the ball when he killed Rodney Stuckey and was hit with a flagrant 2 and ejected. Wade was pissed because he didn’t get a call when he didn’t deserve to get a call, and then he could have really hurt Darren Collison with that shove. There wasn’t even a play on the ball, nothing of the sort. That’s a punk ass foul and you can’t tell me that’s just a flagrant 1, like Tyson Chandler’s screen on LeBron (LBJ totally flopped) in the first round. This is ridiculous. Not to mention, this isn’t the first time Wade has pulled punk stuff like this. Remember last year when he pulled Rajon Rondo down, dislocating Rondo’s elbow and crushing Boston’s title hopes? Or for some reason giving a hard foul on Kobe Bryant in the All Star game this year, resulting in a broken nose and concussion?

2. Dwyane Wade Part 2 – After losing Game 2, Wade complained in the post-game presser that Indiana was celebrating too much after the win. They weren’t, but whatever.  The Bulls were pissed Indiana celebrated after beating them during the season too so this isn't the first we've heard about the Pacers being dicks.  However, if you watched the game with Miami you would have seen the buzzer sound, a few Pacers high five each other, and David West rush everybody off the floor.  No elaborate celebration. Funny Wade complains about celebrations, since I seem to remember the Heat having a championship party before signing anybody other than the big 3. I used to love Dwyane Wade but holy crap this dude is committing punk fouls and acting like a baby. This is why people don’t like Miami. Just shut up and play. We’re just getting started.

3. LeBron James Part 1 – Guys like Derrick Rose come across as humble because they are. Guys like Kobe Bryant come across as fierce, competitive dicks because they are. A guy like LeBron James puts on an act like he is humble and it is bullshit since everybody knows it is an act. If you've watched the Heat-Pacers series you have seen the video clip I'm about to rant on. After winning his third MVP in four years, LeBron said he can’t figure out why his name is mentioned with the greats of the game like Bird, Magic, Jordan, Kareem, etc. Well I could be cheap and say it is because LeBron doesn’t have a title, but it is more fun to point out how full of crap the self-proclaimed King is. Here is a guy who markets himself as “King James” and had ESPN hold an hour-long special on where he was going to sign during free agency. He was spotted wearing a shirt that said “LBJ MVP” a few years back so clearly he believes the hype. Say it is an honor and all that, but don’t act like you can’t believe you’re being mentioned with these people when you market yourself as the biggest and greatest thing to ever walk the Earth. When Steve Nash won his second MVP somebody asked him what comes to mind when he hears the names of the other people who have won multiple MVP awards or won two in a row and Nash replied, “Who doesn’t belong?” Nash never claimed to be King, so being humble seemed pretty genuine. LeBron still comes across as the guy trying to say the right things to make people like him because he realizes The Decision was a bad idea and wants to repair his image. And that is the problem: LeBron worries about his image too much.

4. LeBron James Part 2 – On Wednesday LeBron stated that it is “taxing” to play power forward with Bosh out and that playing 40 minutes or more in a playoff game is a lot and he was hoping he can get some rest. Now maybe some won’t see this as a complaint, but I feel talking about it is complaining since you would never hear Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan hint to the media that their coach should rest them or that they feel very tired playing a different position. Even Carmelo Anthony didn’t care about playing power forward, and he’s smaller than LeBron so going against other power forwards was tougher for him. Melo wasn’t complaining about how he was playing too many minutes or how it took a toll physically. He just wanted to make sure the Knicks were playing good enough defense to win, and that’s a fact no matter how weird saying that about Melo is. Maybe it wasn’t a complaint. Maybe he was just stating the case. I still feel it is worth noting Michael Jordan played 40 minutes or more in 17 of Chicago’s 21 playoff games in 1998, and he was 35 with bad knees. He wasn’t complaining about how playing more with Pippen injured against Utah was “taxing” and hoping he could get some rest, he took it on himself to kick some ass and win no matter what. That’s the mindset of guys like Jordan, Kobe, Garnett, and Duncan. They do what the team needs for a win and they don’t ask for shortcuts and they don’t complain. KG played small forward, then power forward, and now center. Not once did he complain about how physically demanding it was to switch positions or play more minutes in the playoffs. He wanted to win so he shut up and played. Is it so hard to ask that the most naturally talented athlete to ever play the game does the same?

5. NBA Officiating – If anybody reads this correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought the NBA instituted a new rule this year that said if you pump fake and then lean into somebody and throw up a jumper as a means of getting an easy foul call the refs won’t call it. I hate that move so I was glad to hear this, but yet I saw Derrick Rose go to the line off one early in the season and I’ve seen Kobe do this all the time. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade make a living doing this as well. In Game 1 against Indiana Wade did this and went to the line in the second quarter, then Dahntay Jones of the Pacers tried the same thing towards the end of the quarter but got no call. I know the Heat are going to get a ton of calls, but with something like that can’t the refs at least be consistent? Correction: So after posting this last night I had to go look up this rule to make sure I got it right. I didn't, as the new NBA rule is for "rip-through" moves, meaning you can't swing your arms into a defender's and then throw up a shot and hope for a foul call. Good thing Brandon Roy retired otherwise he'd be screwed. But that pump fake thing should be a rule since that's as cheap as the rip-through.  Either way, they called it for Wade but not for Jones just a few minutes later. It was the exact same play. That isn't right.

6. WWE Booking – They are most likely going to put the John Cena-John Laurinaitis showdown as the main event for Over the Limit this Sunday. That is totally idiotic since 1) Sheamus is defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, and Alberto Del Rio and 2) CM Punk defending the WWE title against Daniel Bryan is going to be a match of the year candidate. If Laurinaitis loses then he is fired and all outside interference is banned. This of course means Laurinaitis is going to win due to some kind of interference, most likely the incredibly lame Lord Tensai attacking John Cena backstage before the match or something. The match will be roughly 8 to 10 minutes long, Johnny Ace wins, Cena will be incapacitated somehow, and everybody except children will be mad Punk-Bryan or the four-way wasn’t the main event.

So that’s about it for now. Game 3 of the Heat-Pacers series is happening as I type this and Game 2 of the Spurs-Clippers is next so I need to get ready.

Joe's 2011-12 NBA Regular Season Awards

The NBA regular season has finally and mercifully come to a close. There have been many surprises this year like Linsanity, the Spurs once again being the 1 seed out West, and Dwight Howard evidently having no soul. Now we stand just one little day away from the Playoffs, so like all people not good enough to actually be in the NBA we must declare winners for the regular season awards.

Rookie of the Year: Kyrie Irving, Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers - Good for the Cavs, man. You can’t match losing a once-in-a-generation talent like LeBron James, but Irving will be a pretty good player and most likely will be an All Star. If the Cavs can put a good team around him he will be able to make them a playoff team for sure and the assist numbers will go up. Though he’s missed time this year he has proven to be a leader on the floor and if he can stay healthy he will be the guy in Cleveland for a few years until he hosts a television special and leaves. If Ricky Rubio had stayed healthy and gotten the Timberwolves into the playoffs I would say he gets this award, but alas the Basketball Gods can be cruel sometimes and robbed us of that reality. Irving has had a great rookie year but it will be interesting to see if his health woes from college and now the pros stick with him.

Most Improved Player: Nikola Pekovic, Center, Minnesota Timberwolves - While my brother is may have won our NBA fantasy championship, I deserve a trophy for making this pick up during the season. In only 26 minute per, he put up 14 and 7. He has had absolutely beast games during the year but has also battled injuries. Either way, this was a guy who started the season behind Darko Milicic in the rotation and now starts. They thought freaking Darko was better than him, man. Ryan Anderson is also worthy of this award, but I take Pekovic since it is much more unexpected that he has had such a good year. I’m also partial to centers who can get it done down low rather than big men who have to camp out and shoot threes to get his points so I am more impressed with Pekovic.

Defensive Player of the Year: Tyson Chandler, Center, New York Knicks - I guess somebody should throw him a bone for being the only guy on that team who plays defense. Amar’e Stoudemire has never been a particularly good defender, and despite his newfound dedication to defense Carmelo Anthony has never exactly been known for anything other than being able to score. Chandler holds it down on defense for New York and when he misses games it instantly becomes a worry as to how anybody will be able to stop the opposing team from putting points on the board. People compare what Chandler has done in NY this year to what Kevin Garnett did in Boston in 08 by transforming the culture of the team and making them focus on defense. I don’t agree with that completely since Garnett completely changed his style of play and was responsible for the creation of an elite team while Chandler is doing what he always does and has guided the Knicks to stay a few games over .500. I don’t mean to take away from what he does though. All of a sudden the Knicks aren’t this soft, candyass team down low. You have to be wary about going into the paint and you have to actually fight for rebounds since Chandler can boss people and has also inspired the other guys on the Knicks to hustle more. Chandler doesn’t get a ton of blocks or anything like he’s Dwight Howard, but the mere fact he is in the paint is enough to throw shots off course. He was the big reason Dallas could play defense and win last year, and now he’s inspired the Knicks to fight on the defensive end for the first time in years.

Sixth Man of the Year: James Harden, Guard, Oklahoma City Thunder - Here is a guy who people have been talking about a lot lately as somebody who could go start on any other team and be an absolute animal. He scores so efficiently and is the ultimate spark a great team needs off their bench. He is having a career year and has proven to be every bit as important to the team as Durant and Westbrook. Look at the Thunder’s recent loss to the Lakers. After Harden nearly died from Ron Artest’s brutal elbow the Thunder didn’t have that same spark to help with the scoring and defense and they ended up losing in double OT. Without Harden the Thunder are not even close to being the same team. He used to be furious about this role but he has since grown to appreciate it and is now thriving. Harden dropped a career-high 40 points on Phoenix the other night and was staring at a big role in the playoffs until Artest murdered him.

Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls - Gregg Popovich is also deserving but really nobody has had to overcome as much as Thibs. Last year Chicago won 62 games despite significant injuries to Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, their starting front court. This year the Bulls are once again the 1 seed in the East and were one of two teams (Popovich’s Spurs being the other) to finish with 50 wins despite even more injures. Reigning MVP Derrick Rose has missed significant time, Rip Hamilton has barely played, Luol Deng hasn’t been as effective as usual since he clearly needs surgery on his wrist, and CJ Watson has been nursing a few injuries and missed time. So that’s three injured starters and one of the most important reserves. In spite of this the Bulls have been able to scrap and fight their way to victory time and time again. This shortened season has been absolutely brutal and has taken its toll on a lot of teams, and there have been so many times when it looked like the Bulls were done and the injuries would be too much to overcome but somehow they keep winning. Sure Carlos Boozer has actually played well this year and all, but the main reason behind all of this is the fact Tom Thibodeau’s defense-first mindset has taken hold on the roster and keeps them in games always. Nobody else has had to deal with ⅗ of their starting line up being out or depleted, and not everybody could face that and still have a winning team that could win a championship.

Most Valuable Player: Kevin Durant, Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder - I was thinking LeBron for a while, even when I first started writing this thing, but really I can’t go with LBJ since it just doesn’t seem right. I will explain that in a little bit. This year you could make the case for Durant, Kobe, LeBron, or even Chris Paul since it is all pretty wide open, and really there isn’t much to say when making the case for anybody since I feel this year hasn’t seen any particular standouts aside from LeBron filling up a stat line in historic fashion. Durant has had yet another stellar season and is still the guy in OKC. It has now become apparent that he can co-exist with Russell Westbrook and together they can form a devastating one-two punch. Westbrook has taken on more of a scoring load and is starting to share the spotlight more this year, but it is still Durant’s team through and through and he is the leader. Durant has no fear taking over in the fourth quarter and has inspired that team for years. He is shooting a career-best 49.5% from the field, he is having a career year in rebounding and assists, and his scoring is back up as well and he’s this year’s scoring champion. He has still been a killer this year, starting off the season right with that sick game winner over Dallas. It seemed like he took a step backwards last year after everybody thought he was poised to be a destroyer, but he is right back on track. Of course Durant won’t win and LeBron will since everybody gushes over the numbers only, but it is the little things that count and though some late-season struggles have hit OKC, this team has been poised to bust loose for a couple years now and it seems very likely that this is the time. We haven’t had to spend countless hours thinking about Durant’s drive or his focus or if he’s ready to finally make a statement, Durant just goes out and proves time and time again that he’s a great player and a great teammate. Durant inspires his team to win and they all believe in him, but with LeBron it comes across as the Heat all say they believe in him so he’ll man up and play better in the playoffs. This isn’t high school and I don’t like having to baby somebody to give him confidence regardless of how amazing his skill set may be.

LeBron is going to win this award but I still took the time to put together a case against him as only three people have multiple MVP awards with no title: James, Karl Malone, and Steve Nash. They all have two, and I can’t get behind LBJ with a third right now. Who can forget that even in the All Star game where nothing really matters, LBJ was afraid to take over in the clutch and ignored an open Melo to throw that ridiculous cross-court pass to Dwyane Wade that got stolen and cost the East the game, then looked like he wanted to cry since Kobe asked him what's wrong with him? Sure LBJ has more confidence this year, but he still openly shirks responsibility late in games to Dwyane Wade. I can’t get behind him as King no matter how much he says he’s changed. I am not cool with saying LeBron deserves to be a three-time MVP yet since I still am not certain he is the most valuable guy on that team. Sam Smith said it, a ton of people say it, and you can just tell by watching a Heat game that in the first half you have to beware of LeBron, but in the second half that is when you worry about Wade since that’s when he goes to work. I am not ready to crown LeBron for adding that ugly post-game and cutting out the three-pointer from his game since these are things he should have done back in Cleveland. It isn’t just about statistics to me, it is about the intangibles and it seems like Wade is the guy who is still counted on to drag this team out of danger when the game is on the line. LeBron fills up his stat sheet and is an amazing player, but he isn’t the player of most value since Wade has to do the dirty work at the biggest moments. Obviously LeBron is the greatest athlete to ever set foot on a basketball court, and his two MVP awards are a credit to that skill, but I don’t think he’s the one this year. I don’t think he’s totally undeserving at all, but I won’t agree with it when he does win in a few weeks.

So that’s that. Playoffs start Saturday and since this crazy lockout schedule has left so many teams nursing injuries, people seem to think there will be a lot of upsets. I’m not sure, and I probably won’t bother writing predictions, but each series will be pretty competitive and intense so I’m looking forward to it.