nba playoff predictions

life isn't life without taking some risks. so here are my (somewhat edgy) nba playoff predictions.

Eastern Conference

First Round

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Indiana Pacers -- Bulls in 5

(4) Orlando Magic vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks -- Magic in 6

(3) Boston Celtics vs. (6) New York Knicks -- Celtics in 6

(2) Miami Heat) vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers -- Heat in 5

Second Round
Bulls over Magic, 6 games
Heat over Celtics, 5 games

Eastern Conference Finals

Heat over Bulls, 6 games

Western Conference

First Round

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies -- Spurs in 6

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Denver Nuggets -- Thunder in 5

(3) Dallas Mavericks vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers -- Mavs in 7

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) New Orleans Hornets -- Lakers in 5

Second Round

Thunder over Spurs, 7 games
Lakers over Mavs, 6 games

Western Conference Finals

Thunder over Lakers, 7 games

NBA Finals

Heat over Thunder, 7 games

NBA Playoff Predictions

My blogging has been relegated to being once a year -- NBA Playoff Predictions. This year, I'm again going head-to-head with Celtics fan/blogger and USC Law Student Hayden. We'll both make our picks, then compare in June: 1 point for picking the winning team in the first round, 2 points for picking the winning team in the second round, 3 for the third, and 4 in the finals, then a bonus point for picking the number of games the series goes (only if you pick the winning team of the series). Check Hayden's picks, and we'll see who's the winner in June.

Western Conference

First Round

#1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #8 Oklahoma City Thunder
Both teams have limped into the playoffs, though fortunately, the Lakers had a big enough lead at the beginning to wrap up the #1 seed early. The Thunder threatened as high as #6, but losing 4 of 5 down the stretch forced them into the 8th seed and a match with the Lakers. Durant's first playoff experience will be entertaining, but I see this as a good chance for the Lakers to get energized and prepared for later rounds. Kobe doesn't back down in the playoffs. Durant will win game 3, but that's all.
Lakers in 5

#4 Denver Nuggets vs. #5 Utah Jazz
I feel like all the experts are picking Utah, but I'm going the other way. Boozer's missed time, Kirilenko has missed time, and a lack of homecourt advantage by way of losing to Phoenix on the season's last night will all work against the Jazz. On the other hand, Kenyon Martin seems to have gotten over having his car filled with buttered popcorn on April Fool's, and played in the team's final few games, albeit not fantastically. Billups and Carmelo will lead this team to an early lead, and Utah won't be able to recover.
Nuggets in 6

#3 Phoenix Suns vs. #6 Portland Trail Blazers
No Brandon Roy, no Greg Oden, and Portland isn't too much of a threat. Andre Miller, Martell Webster, and Marcus Camby just aren't that intimidating as a trio. Nash has had a re-energized season, Amare looks like he actually likes being in Phoenix, and guys like Jason Richardson, Channing Frye, and Robin Lopez are all fitting their roles nicely. If Barbosa can regain his form from a few years ago, this team could be scary in the playoffs.
Suns in 4

#2 Dallas Mavericks vs. #7 San Antonio Spurs
This is probably going to be the most interesting series of the first round. Seed numbers don't really matter, in my book. San Antonio is finally healthy, and overcame a tough first half of the season to finish 20-11 after the All Star Break. Dallas wasn't so bad itself, after acquiring Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, finishing 23-7 (though, as John Hollinger notes, they did have the second easiest schedule over that stretch). This may be the Spurs' final run with this core, with Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, etc. all over/approaching the top of the hill, and I don't think they'll fall easily. I'm going to pick the upset here.
Spurs in 7.

Second Round

#1 Lakers vs. #4Nuggets
In a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals, the Nuggets will certainly have something to play for. The Nuggets scared Laker nation and almost knocked off the eventual champs. Despite the Lakers struggles of late, I like the first round to energize them, and I see a repeat appearance in the WCF.
Lakers in 6

#3 Suns vs. #7 Spurs
These teams have a fun history (even have their own Wikipedia page about the "rivalry"), so I'd enjoy the battle. Both teams would have a legitimate shot, but seeing the Suns win would be more fun for me.
Suns in 7

Western Conference Finals

#1 Lakers vs. #3 Suns
A throwback to the 2006 & 2007 battles between these teams, I'd really enjoy seeing this series, but what kind of Laker fan would I be if I picked Phoenix?
Lakers in 6

Eastern Conference

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #8 Chicago Bulls
LeBron.
Cavs in 4

#4 Boston Celtics vs. #5 Miami Heat
The Big Three won't let the Celtics lose this series and relish a match-up with LeBron in Round 2. The Celtics won the season series 3-0, and, though D-Wade will battle, I don't see this series being nearly as dramatic as last year's Celtics-Bulls.
Celtics in 6

#3 Atlanta Hawks vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks
Tough break for the Bucks losing Andrew Bogut, after a heck of a run since acquiring John Salmons. Also too bad for them that the Hawks are coming into the playoffs healthy and happy, and shot some of the Bucks confidence with a win last weekend in a matchup between the two squads.
Hawks in 5

#2 Orlando Magic vs. #7 Charlotte Bobcats
Congratulations to the Bobcats on a heck of a season, but like the Thunder, the team's got no playoff experience, and gets the privilege of playing last year's conference champion in round 1. That typically doesn't bode well for a squad like Charlotte. I don't expect too shocking of a result here.
Magic in 5

Second Round

#1 Cavs vs. #4 Celtics
After walking through round 1, the Cavs will be healthy and rested, while the Celtics will have likely had a little more trouble moving on to see the LeBrons. Celtics fans know the eventual champion has to go through LeBron, but, I just don't see it happening.
Cavs in 6

#2 Magic vs. #3 Hawks
Atlanta's good, but Orlando's just got so many weapons, that I don't think the Hawks can stand it. For every weapon the Hawks have, Orlando is either just as good or better. Dwight Howard should beat up on Al Horford down low, Vince should go toe-to-toe with Joe Johnson, Jameer against Bibby, Lewis over Smith, etc.
Magic in 5

Eastern Conference Finals

#1 Cavs vs. #2 Magic
The rematch of last year's ECF, I don't know if LeBron will stand losing this time. That said, Orlando's in Cleveland's head, knows it can win, and will make this a fantastic series.
Cavs in 7

NBA Finals

#1 Cavs vs. #1 Lakers
Too many story lines here: Shaq vs. Kobe, Kobe vs. LeBron, Pau vs. Shaq, Will LeBron leave Cleveland if he wins? if he loses? Can Phil pass Red for his 11th ring? Will Phil stick around if he wins? if he loses? This is the matchup everyone wanted last season, when the LeBron-Kobe puppet commercials came out, and you've got to think the networks were all pretty disappointed when it didn't happen. The Cavs got the best of the Lakers during the regular season, but Kobe's experience and energy will win here.
Lakers in 7 (Yes, on Cleveland's home court)

I'm 1-1 in the last two years when picking the Lakers to win the championship, so we'll call this the "rubber match." In any event, this ought to be a great playoffs.

day 4 of the paul millsap watch

jazz stay at #20 in this week's espn power rankings. utah is 4-6 and faces toronto, san antonio, and detroit in its next three games. if they lose 2 of 3 (a very real possibility) or more, how much longer will boozer be heralded?

this is day 4 in the countdown to paul millsap's arrival in the starting lineup.

this definitely WON'T last

coach jerry sloan is sick of boozer's antics:

"Well I wouldn't mind them [boozer and mehmet okur] rebounding. There aren't any rules against them rebounding," Sloan said. "I mean, if you're just going to stay out there and shoot shots ... and not defend and not rebound, it's pretty tough." (source: http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=291113020)

ouch. really, can we start a countdown to paul millsap's arrival in the starting lineup?

this is day 1.

Re: watching the lakers erode away their hopes for repeating

When I saw the title of this post, of course I thought the sole focus of this post would be on the Lakers' likely loss of Odom. While you mention that, your premise is that the Artest acquisition and Ariza loss is what will have the most influence.

Respectfully (always!), I disagree.

You're right - Ariza's solid. I also think it's true that Ariza can play the "backup" or "No. 3" (perhaps even No. 4 or No. 5) scoring role quite well. But, it's your characterization of Artest that I mostly disagree with.

1. Artest played well with Yao and T-Mac, then knew how to be the "leader" when T-Mac (and later Yao) went down. Despite his past reputation, Artest knows that he's lost to Kobe before and he won't be taking the "lead" of this team anytime that No. 24 is on the floor.

2. As you mentioned, Artest is a defensive stalwart. Of course, Ariza had his shining moments on the defensive end as well, but the point is this: Artest on the floor means that Kobe won't have to guard the other team's best player/scorer (be it LeBron, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, etc.) Ariza may get to that point in his career, but he's not there yet.

3. While I'll admit to having worries about his character/attitude, I've pretty much stopped thinking about that. As I said in #1, his ego should be kept in check by Kobe, and Phil knows how to deal with people like him (i.e. Dennis Rodman). Moreover, if Odom comes back, Artest and Odom grew up together supposedly, and I'm sure that will help.

My biggest concern is the return of Odom, but frankly, I still (perhaps wrongly) believe that Odom will be back. The latest I've heard is that Odom called Jerry Buss this week to reignite talks, in the midst of Miami offering him a deal.

The Lakers can still pay Odom the most, and frankly, his little spat probably earned him a better deal than he would have got had he signed on July 1.

With Odom back, the team is virtually the same as it was last year. Artest and Ariza are a near wash in my book, though if you hold a gun to me I probably give the edge to Artest.

Without Odom is obviously a different story, but despite Bynum's disappearance in the 2009 Playoffs, you can't forget about the player he can/could/may be come the 2009-2010 season.

Always the eternal optimist, I still bet on a 2010 repeat.

watching the lakers erode away their hopes for repeating

if you asked me two months ago whether the lakers would have a chance to repeat as nba champions, my answer would have doubtless been yes. los angeles had the kind of depth at every position - and clutch scorers like fisher and bryant - that they would have had as good a chance as any to take home two in a row.

but now, i'm not so sure. many think that letting ariza go and picking up artest was an upgrade, but that isn't the case. ariza might not be the kind of lockdown defender artest is, but he has great instincts and comes up with timely steals, as was made very evident during the playoffs. moreover, his offensive play was a perfect match for the lakers - ariza knows how to be a no. 3 scorer and to contribute in appropriate ways. artest, on the other hand, likes to jack it up without much regard for the rest of his team, the time of the game, or whether he's actually having a good shooting night. and with odom almost certainly on the way out as well, the lakers just got much weaker at the forward position.

the lakers might have had the pacific division locked up from the moment the season began with if they had returned most of their 2008-09 roster. that might still be the case - but it's going to be a much tougher run once they get to the playoffs.

NBA Playoff Predictions

I did this last year, and this year, I challenged a law school friend of mine and impressive Celtics Blogger, Hayden, to make his playoff predictions on his blog. We both decided to get 'em done before the Playoffs started, and we'll bicker back and forth about it as a way to distract ourselves from finals for the next few weeks. So, check his, check mine, and we'll see who did better in June.

I'll go series by series, from the first round through the Finals, picking the winner and series length.

Eastern Conference

First Round

1. Cavs vs. 8. Pistons
Call me crazy, but I think the Pistons will get a game from the LeBrons...err, the Cavs. The Pistons made a "make-or-break deal" at the beginning of the season for Iverson, and now the Nuggets with Billups are sitting at #2 in the West, while Iverson is...just sitting. That said, the Pistons will give the heavy favorites a good first-round test, but, I don't see the series going beyond Cleveland in Game 5.
Cavs in 5

2. Celtics vs. 7. Bulls
Hayden may not particularly like my analysis here, but sorry, the Celtics are a MUCH different team without Kevin Garnett. And frankly, the young, feisty Bulls may be able to run and battle for a few games. However, I'll still give the Champs the benefit of the doubt here.
Celtics in 6

3. Magic vs. 6. Sixers
In my opinion, this is the least exciting first-round series in the East. Orlando's got some injuries with Hedo and Rashard Lewis, but I think they're back. And with Howard down low having a field day against the soft Samuel Dalambert, I don't see the Sixers doing too much in this one. The only thing giving the Magic some trouble may be Andre Miller, if Rafer Alston has a series where we simply can't get anything from him.
Magic in 4

4. Hawks vs. 5. Heat
Ever since last year's Celtics-Hawks first-round series, I've enjoyed watching this Atlanta team. I wish Childress would have stuck around, because the young talent there is impressive. Miami has D-Wade, who will fight and fight, but if you ask LeBron last year, you need more than just one man to get anywhere in the playoffs. Still, Wade alone takes the series a few games further than it ought to go.
Hawks in 7

Second Round

1. Cavs vs. 4. Hawks
As I said before, I like the Hawks squad. But, this is LeBron's time, and he's got the teammates to back him up. Mo Williams can match Bibby, while the Varejao/Ilgauskas/Wallace trio down low should thwart the softer and smaller Al Horford/Josh Smith combo here. And then there's The King.
Cavs in 5

2. Celtics vs. 3. Magic
Now, here's where things get interesting. The Laker fan in me wants to call this for Orlando. I mean, is Kendrick Perkins really going to be the guy who halts Dwight Howard? The question here will be how Hedo, Rashard, and Rafer match up against Pierce, Allen, and Rondo. Healthy, the Magic could give that trio some trouble. Now you can really call me crazy: I'm thinking that with the length of time it takes the NBA to get through a playoff series, KG returns in the middle of this series, if it happens.
Celtics in 7

Eastern Conference Finals

1. Cavs vs. 2. Celtics
What we've all been waiting for all season long in the East--only, unless my insane prediction comes true, the Celtics are missing KG, and the series just got much less interesting. Two things: 1) Cleveland will have homecourt in this one, where they were 39-2 (and should have been 40-1...), 2) Cleveland killed this Boston team less than a week ago in Cleveland, 107-76, sending a nice statement to the Champs. This is where the road ends...
Cavs in 6

Western Conference

First Round

1. Lakers vs. Jazz
Jerry Sloan even thinks his team's chances are "bleak." As a cautious fan, I don't want to count my chickens before their hatched. Utah's always a tough place to play, and I see the Jazz grabbing a game there.
Lakers in 5

2. Nuggets vs. 7. Hornets
Was anyone else surprised to see the Nuggets squeak all the way up to #2? I guess I hadn't looked at the standings for a few weeks after the Lakers clinched and I was somewhat shocked that they were still up this high. That said, I feel like the West is so compact that nothing really matters between 2-7. The Hornets were last year's #2 seed, and led by CP3, they're a force. But, injuries gave them some trouble this year--Chandler and Stojakovic have never been consistently in the lineup, so they've been unable to get in a rhythm. Denver, on the other hand, has skated through, and even without Marcus Camby, Nene has stepped up down low to provide them a force there. Plus, if anyone can hang with CP3, its Billups.
Nuggets in 6

3. Spurs vs. 6. Mavericks
Like the Celtics without KG, the Spurs are a MUCH different team without Manu Ginobili. But, that guy named Tim Duncan and his 4 NBA Championships knows how to lead, and guys like Tony Parker and Roger Mason have really stepped up when Manu was out earlier in the year. On the other side, Dallas had a pretty mediocre and inconsistent year. As much as I'd like to see San Antonio upset in the first round, Dirk can't do it by himself, and Jason Kidd just hasn't been the leader that Dallas hoped for when they acquired him last year. Plus, it's an odd numbered year, and the Spurs tend to do well in those. But, it'll be a fun series, especially if sixth-man Jason Terry heats up.
Spurs in 7

4. Blazers vs. 5. Rockets
This is definitely my favorite first-round series. The Blazers soared at the end of the season and got into the #4 spot, while the Rockets had the chance to get as high as 2, but just couldn't seal the deal. Without T-Mac, I'm kind of excited that Tracy can't make another asinine comment about "if the Rockets lose, blame me." I like the Houston lineup, even without T-Mac, but the young Blazers will run and gun their way past them in a battle, I think.
Blazers in 7

Second Round

1. Lakers vs. 4. Blazers
The prospect of this series kinda scares me, because it's still early in the playoffs, and the Lakers have had some horrible struggles in the Rose Garden lately. But, Kobe's Kobe, and the experienced Lakers should get over those regular season jitters over a youthful Blazers squad.
Lakers in 5 (on the Staples Center floor, after stealing Game 4 in Portland)

2. Nuggets vs. 3. Spurs
The Western Conference has some great matchups this year that are so tough to call, and this would definitely be one of them. Even without Manu, the Spurs are one of the league's best, and I really just have a tough time seeing the Nuggets beat San Antonio in a seven-game series. Chauncey and Melo had a great run, but if its San Antonio in the second round, I see that being as far as it goes. Just my hunch.
Spurs in 6

Western Conference Finals

1. Lakers vs. 3. Spurs
Funny how I'm calling both the Celtics and Spurs in their respective conference finals, even with their major injuries. Maybe I'm giving their supporting cast too much credit, but San Antonio's grittiness just always seems to come through come playoff time (see Tim Duncan bank shot 3-pointer against Phoenix last year). But, like my Eastern Conference Final prediction above, the buck stops here for the Spurs. Lakers-Spurs playoff series this decade(save 2003) don't tend to go so well for the Texans. Without Ginobili, with the revitalized/healthy/happy Kobe-Pau-Lamar-Bynum quartet in purple and gold, and having Games 1 and 2 at Staples to cut through them early, I like the Lakers chances here.
Lakers in 5

NBA FINALS
Lakers vs. Cavs

Kobe and crew battled all year so that they'd have home-court advantage, and they fell just short to the Cavs. However, if it comes to this, as everyone hopes it will, the Lakers did themselves a favor as being one of the "2" in that 39-2 Cleveland home record. The key: which Lamar Odom comes to play? If he can come off the bench and be the leader of that second unit, I like the Lakers chances. Also, we need Pau not to disappear down low. Fortunately, I feel like the Lakers matchup well against Cleveland, and so long as LeBron is held in check simply to the point that he can't completely take over an entire game or (worse) 2, LA can win its first championship in 7 years.
Lakers in 6 (and Cleveland loses its second championship on its own floor in 3 years)

Let the games begin.

Odom's Gesture

The Clippers filed a complaint to the NBA this weekend complaining about a certain "gesture" that Lamar Odom made after a 4th quarter dunk.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen the video, but apparently after the dunk, Odom grabbed his crotch. What that means? I don't know. Perhaps he got hit? Maybe it was like, "get off my jock"? I don't know, but it offended the Clips.

Just last week, after hitting a clutch 3, Kobe did the Pedro Cerrano "You have no marbles" dance (sorry, couldn't find a video from Major League II, but here's the Kobe ).

That's certainly more "offensive" than anything Lamar probably did, but you don't see the Spurs complaining. Maybe because they won? Or maybe because they aren't the Clippers and sitting at 10-32 halfway through the year. Either way, this is the NBA, and players are obscene. Get over it.

K.R.'s Back - But is Phil Jackson gone?

I haven't even seen this online yet, but reports on LA's ESPN radio suggest that during this Sunday's Lakers vs. Spurs game, ABC will air a taped interview that took place today between Magic Johnson and Phil Jackson.

In that interview, Johnson supposedly asks Jackson how much longer he plans on coaching. Reportedly, Jackson answers that he will coach through the end next season -- that is, he'll finish this year and next, completing his current contract with the Lakers, then he'll hang it up.

Obviously, being that he's Phil Jackson, you've got to take it all with a grain of salt. He "retired" in 1998 after guiding the Bulls to 6 NBA championships only to return to take the Lakers job in 2000. He "retired" in 2004 after the Lakers failed to beat the Pistons in the NBA Finals, only to return after a one-year hiatus.

So, this leaves a few questions. Will he really retire? What if the Lakers win the championship this year? Will he leave on top?

What if they win both this year and next year? Will he want to leave while on a championship streak?

If he does leave at the end of next year, may Kobe Bryant opt out of his contract if the new coach isn't who he wants to play for? On that note, how much say will Bryant have?

Lastly, who are the candidates for what is arguably the most attractive coaching job in not just in the NBA, but in all of professional sports? Inside candidates are certainly Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw (if not Jim Cleamons or Frank Hamblen). Outside candidates have got to be current New Orleans Hornets coach and former Lakers star Byron Scott, who recently said that the Lakers job would be his "dream job." Scott's current contract conveniently expires at the conclusion of the 2009-2010 season.

In 2004, at Bryant's urging, the Lakers reportedly offered the job to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, though he ultimately rejected. Perhaps after bonding with Kobe on the 2008 "Redeem Team," Coach K may be more interested in the Lakers job if offered it again in 2010?

Anyway, it's all preliminary at this point, but it's definitely an interesting story that hasn't really broken yet. It'll be fun to actually see what Phil says in the interview that is causing so much hype in the LA sports radio world.

kobe hurts knee, k.c.r. pukes

but he's okay! kobe, that is. no confirmation on k.c.r.

injuries aside, what will the reigning nba mvp bring to the court this year? until the 2008 finals, it seemed that kobe had finally figured out how to feed his teammates while taking over at the right times. but as game 6 dragged on, bryant looked like the kobe of old, utterly unable to do anything as the celtics ran away with it all.

oh, and lamar odom seems to be on the trade block. these lakers may still be good, but they're far from a shoo-in as repeat western conference champs.

one thing's for sure: things are going to get mighty interesting once bynum is back in as the go-to big man.

Brrr... Outdoor Basketball

The Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets met in a preseason game on Saturday night in Indian Wells, CA, near Palm Springs.

While Indian Wells isn't your typical NBA destination anyway, the game had another twist: it was played outdoors.

ESPN's Marc Stein recaps the action in Denver's 77-72 victory over the Suns, an uncharacteristically low scoring game for the two squads.

The reason? It was chilly. Well, sorta.

The temperature dropped to a frigid 64 degrees, or, as Marc Stein says, "all the way down to 64 degrees." Brrrr...

I mean, I understand that when you sweat, that's gotta be a bit chilly, but 64 degrees is hardly "cold." Stein does say that the wind was "gusting" at 15 MPH, so perhaps I should lay off and give them the benefit of the doubt.

Still, knowing the countless street ballers play through the "elements" of wind, rain, cold, and much more difficult rims and chain nets to shoot on than what the NBA players had to "suffer" through on Saturday night, you've got to ask, how spoiled are these guys? And, how would they fare against the street scene's best? It's a fair question.

That said, I think it's a fun concept, but one that ought not transfer into the regular season. Watching NBA teams battle it out in different venues, different countries, and through different elements is great, but when the games start counting, all teams need to be on equal footing.

Plus, Shaq's free throws are miserable enough that I don't wanna have to watch him try to shoot it through the wind. (O'neal was 0 for 2 from the line).

Shaq wasn't the only one. Neither team shot over 36% from the field, and the teams combined to make just 3 of 27 three-point attempts. And actually, it was Denver whose free throw shooting suffered, sinking just 18 of 38 attempts.

Like I said, cool concept, but I'd rather watch more exciting basketball than a 77-72 brick-fest.

The Los Angeles (insert NBA team name here) of Anaheim?

The Lakers played an exhibition game at Anaheim's Honda Center on Tuesday night, as they usually do once each season, giving fans a bit further south their yearly glimpse of NBA basketball in their home territory. It wasn't all that long ago that the Clippers played a handful of games in Orange County from 1994-1999 (at the then-named Arrowhead Pond) and seriously considered moving there permanently before deciding to become the Lakers' co-tenants at Staples Center.

Now, after Tuesday's pre-season contest between the Lakers and the Jazz, one Anaheim official told the Orange County Register that he wouldn't be surprised if the city gets an NBA team within the next 5 years.

If that team isn't the Clippers, it seems a bit much to have 2 Los Angeles teams, then an Anaheim team down the road, don't you think? The Clippers barely make a pull in the LA market, competing with the Lakers, and plenty of Orange County fans are already plenty devoted to the Lakers.

After seeing the Angels change their name to consider themselves a part of the LA market, it seems clear that the two cities are too close to each other to sustain 3 NBA teams between them.

Two suggestions:

1) Make that team the Clippers. They've got to be sick of playing red-headed step-child to the Lakers not only in the city of Los Angeles, but playing there in the same building as them all season long. Make a clean break, give Orange County fans something to be excited about close to home, and don't clog the already congested market.

2) Why not bring a team to San Diego? It's far enough from the LA market (Padres do fine, away from the Angels and Dodgers) to sustain its own fan base, and you've got enough LA hatred to form a fan base in SD alone.

Now, what team is moving next? Oklahoma City just got the doomed Sonics from Seattle, but who else is on the list of teams ready to move out of their market?

I don't see the NBA expanding yet again. At 30 teams, it's at its current limit, in my opinion.

So, again, who's next? Personally, no team seems to be in that much turmoil to move out, but then again, five years is a long time for something to happen. Cities like Memphis, Charlotte, Toronto, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans, would be my guesses for places that may not be able to keep their teams. Any other thoughts?

Interesting Shaq Interview

Shaq sat down with ESPN for a candid, very unlike-Shaq interview. He was very apologetic and sincere. It's definitely something to check out. It's long, so if you don't have time, I've broken down the highlights.

9:40 - OK, this is Shaq-being-Shaq; "Dream Team II" (which Shaq played on) was better than Dream Team I. Really, Shaq?

5:44 - Favorite Moment with the Lakers? - "Playing with one of the greatest players ever, Kobe Bryant. That was fun." Again, seriously?

4:26 - "I think we were the greatest 1-2 punch in the game." - on him and Kobe. Is he regretting things?

4:08 - Shaq talking about the infamous rap about Kobe. He apologizes, says it was blown out of proportion, but then says, "if you look back, I just said the same thing that you guys said." Really, Shaq? Did any ESPN commentator say "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes!?" He later says he called Kobe and said "My bad."

2:29 - Great Shaq moment. "Did you already make a prediction that this team will make it past the first round?" "Yes I did. "But, it's September." "So."

:50 - "What is Tim Duncan got his fifth [ring] before you got yours?" "I'd be pissed."

It's a fun interview. Check it out.

So much for that

I don't quite understand what went down, but despite my excitement several weeks back about the Clippers signing Jason Williams, the guard has called it quits.

Thats right, after signing with the Clippers in August, Jason Williams, called "Clippers guard," despite never donning the red, white, and blue, has retired.

How and why does that happen?

Williams signed on August 7. I'm pretty sure he never started training with the team, but he decided to call it quits.

I was always a J-Will fan, ever since rumors back in the day of a deal with the Sacramento Kings that would have brought him to the Lakers. I'm talking like 1999.

He was always a fantastic passer and a great shooter, and as my post back in August indicates, I was excited to see him bring some of that flash to the Clippers.

Oh well, Baron Davis as the only point guard will have to do for the new look Clippers.

Next time, just retire first, Jason, don't get our hopes up.

Maybe It's Me?

I arrived in Boston as a college student in September of 2004.

Yes, the Patriots had just won the Super Bowl in January earlier that year, but what other sports success had the city had in the recent years before? Celtics? No chance. Red Sox, remember that Curse? Bruins? Please.

I'll go ahead and take credit for that Patriots' championship prior to my arrival, because I knew I was headed to Boston back in December 2003.

Then, what happens?

The Red Sox beat the odds (and the Curse) and win the World Series in 2004, and cap it off with another Series victory in 2007 to bookend my college life in Boston with 2 Championships.

The Patriots won again in 2005, allowing Boston to continue their celebration in the wake of the Sox Curse-Breaking win.

Then, in my final week in Boston, the Celtics brought home a long overdue championship.

Sure, the Patriots lost in the 2008 Super Bowl, but who can argue with the 17-0 record prior to that as not being successful? Perhaps that Super Bowl loss was just a sign of things to come for the city.

Now? I'm gone. I've left Boston, and it's sports are a question mark.

Brady's out. With one whack to the knee, the MVP is out for the year, and the Patriots chances of remedying their Super Bowl disappointment last season just went down the tubes.

The Red Sox, leading in the AL East when I left Boston, are now trailing Tampa Bay for the division lead and are risking not making the playoffs at all.

The Celtics are celebrating way too much, and are poised to struggle in their effort to defend their championship (OK, so this is just wishful thinking, but it definitely falls in line with my theory).

The Bruins? Who?

And now, the good news? I've relocated to LA. Having attached "Los Angeles" to their name, the Angels may reap the benefits of me being in the City of Angels, and the Lakers are destined to have Andrew Bynum and Co. make a repeat (and hopefully successful) trip to the NBA Finals.

I'm liking my theory.

Spot the Outlier

Let's play a game.

I'm going to name several team names, and you tell me which one isn't the name of a past or current WNBA team.

Dream, Sky, Sun, Shock, Thunder, Fever, Storm, Fire, Mercury.

Any guesses? It's tougher than you think, huh?

Well, if you guessed Thunder, then you'd be correct, because that's not a WNBA team, but the newest team name of the former Seattle Supersonics.

Just two months after announcing that the team will move from Seattle to Oklahoma City, the franchise announced today that it would take on the nickname Thunder.

Lame.

If that doesn't sound like a WNBA team name, I don't know what does. The theme with the team names in the WNBA has basically been twofold - either counter the existing NBA team in your market (Houston Comets, Washington Mystics, Charlotte Sting, Sacramento Monarchs, etc.) or take some natural element that sounds either scary or intimidating and make that your team name (see list above).

Thunder fits that latter criteria, and I find that a disappointing choice.

The league rests on very original team names, typically without consideration of the natural elements. Granted, I will submit that I was also not a fan of the choice the "Bobcats" for Charlotte's expansion team a couple of years ago. Rawr.

I'm not that creative either, but resorting to a WNBA-caliber team name just seemed to be a poor choice for the new Oklahoma City squad.

Going for Gold...No surprise

So, the United States Men's Basketball Team is 2 wins from the gold medal after winning their 6th straight in Beijing over the Aussies, 116-85.

Surprise? I don't think so.

The closest any game has been was a 21-point win over Angola, which ought to be described as simply a let down against an overmatched opponent.

The two teams that were supposed to give the U.S. the most trouble, Greece and Spain, succumbed by 23 and 37, respectively.

Sounds about right.

Any team composed of the best players in the NBA (sans Dirk, Yao, Nash, etc.) should beat any group that comes at it. I'd even guess that this team would beat the "International All-Stars," if it existed, a team composed of every other country's best. And would that really be all that surprising? I don't think so.

It's a good story, because 4 years ago, the U.S. team choked badly after getting too complacent in the wake of Dream Teams I-III. Now, the Redeem Team put its best foot forward again, and the U.S. Basketball Team is back on top of the world.

I'm not surprised.

Shaping the Clippers

Who thought that my second post would be about the NBA's perennial cellar dwellars?

Well, quietly, they've put together quite an interesting roster. It has happened quietly because many would argue that their acquisitions are way past their prime.

The problem? They lost their two best players in Elton Brand and Corey Maggette. However, they've replaced the two stars with not two but four veteran leaders.

Baron Davis will clearly be Clipperville's new superstar, and we would have all loved to see the Clippers become a contender behind Davis and Brand. But, Brand bolted to Philly, fed up with the organization, and really, who can blame him?

Then, though, the Clippers acquired Camby in a Denver salary dump which suddenly replaced the gaping hole down low and gave LA a formidable Camby-Kaman front line.

Then, the two most recent pick-ups add to the intrigue. First, the Clips grabbed veteran Ricky Davis from the Miami Heat, bringing a slasher and scoring threat to the lineup. Davis averages over 14 ppg for his career, and there's no reason why he can't get that playing on the wing alongside Baron in LA. Watching his numbers carefully as a fantasy player, Ricky is one of the most underrated players in the league, in my opinion.

Finally, on Thursday, the Clippers nabbed veteran Jason Williams also from the Heat. I've always liked Williams, as he brings energy and enthusiasm to the court, albeit with a bit of a wild streak. Backing up Baron Davis, though, Williams could bring in a nice spark off the bench, or play point guard to Baron's shooting guard in a smaller lineup.

Add this to the young nucleus of Kaman and Al Thornton, as well as veteran Clippers Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas, and the team doesn't sound so bad.

The Clippers always manage to screw it up, though, and there's no question that with so many newcomers on board, chemistry will be an issue. Either way, I'm looking forward to the Davis-Davis backcourt combo as well as the Kaman-Camby twin tower duo down low. It'll be fun to watch.