Thursday, February 28, 2013
NBA TRADE DEADLINE
Its deadline day in the NBA and General Managers for contenders around the league are working the phones furiously trying to make a deal for their team's playoff push this year... GM's of other teams are working to set their franchises up for the future...
Rumors
The Atlanta Hawks are 21-30 and don't appear to be going anywhere any time soon...
They just commited a big 5 year contract to PF Josh Smith this past Off-Season, but, the teams poor performance has once again landed Smith in the thick of Trade rumors around the league...
The Cleveland Cavaliers have shown great improvement this year as they have a 26-26 record... Its clear that this team is talented and might be ready to take that next step next Season.. The question is, will Andy Varejo be taking that step with them?
Last Season, Andy led the league in rebounding averaging just over 11 boards per game... This year, he's right there in the Top 5 again in rebounding... His defensive effort and rebounding could be the missing piece to a team that is on the verge of a championship... With his age, now 31, and his expiring contract after this Season, I think the time is right for the Cavs to deal Andy to the highest bidder... The problem with that is, as we sit today, the Cavaliers would be the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs... Granted, they aren't a legit threat to compete for a championship, however, it might be difficult to sell a trade of a fan favorite like Andy just as the team is starting to show signs of improvement...
The New York Knicks are sitting at 25-28 and in the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference... They also have one of the highest payrolls in the NBA... Its no secret that Amare Stoudemire is basically a shell of his fomer self...
In his hay day in Phoenix, Amare was looked at as one of the best players in the game... Leg injuries and age seem to have caught up to him and now he's looked at as someone who is just above average with a monster contract... If Amare is on the move, who do you think would be interested in his services?
The Utah Jazz are having a solid, but frustrating Season... Sitting at 27-26 they are currently 10th in the Western Conference Playoff race... However, they are only 8 games out of the #1 Seed as the Conference is cluttered with solid to good teams from top to bottom...
Someone who's name has been on the block for awhile and someone who could probably garner a nice package in return is PF Paul Millsap... He is your every day double-double machine and could really help a legit Title Contender down the stretch... Its no secret in Utah that the Jazz LOVE 23yr old PF Derrick Favors, and I think they are going to jump at the chance to unload Millsap and his large contract and insert Favors into their everyday starting lineup...
The once proud Los Angeles Lakers have the 2nd worst record in the West, 23-31, and they are 7 games out of the 8th and final playoff spot... Kobe Bryant is aging fast, and overall this team lacks youth and depth...
PF Pau Gasol is one of the most skilled big men in the game... His contract expires after this Season and I think the Lakers are going to look to move him for some young talent... I'm not sure who would be willing to give up premium young talent for an aging vet, but, we'll see...
2013/14 All Star Break
We've reached the All Star break here in the 2013-14 NBA Season... Its clear now that there has been a shift of Power in the NBA and the teams that you're accustomed to seeing near the top of the standings have fallen off a bit and some of the younger, deeper teams around the league have taken a step forward...
With that being said, lets take a look at how the 1st half of the Season has looked...
NBA Standings at the All Star Break
| NBA Standings - Updated: Feb 17, 2014 | |||||
| ATLANTIC | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Philidelphia 76ers | 40 | 11 | -- | 10-2 | 23-5 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 27 | 25 | 13.5 | 4-6 | 17-16 |
| New York Knicks | 25 | 28 | 16.0 | 10-2 | 17-17 |
| Toranto Raptors | 21 | 32 | 20.0 | 2-8 | 13-15 |
| Boston Celtics | 17 | 33 | 22.5 | 1-9 | 10-20 |
| CENTRAL | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Chicago Bulss | 31 | 20 | -- | 12-3 | 20-14 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 26 | 26 | 5.5 | 4-7 | 17-16 |
| Indiana Pacers | 27 | 27 | 5.5 | 6-5 | 20-14 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 21 | 32 | 11.0 | 2-10 | 11-20 |
| Detroit Pistons | 17 | 36 | 15.0 | 5-4 | 14-18 |
| SOUTHEAST | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Washington Wizards | 29 | 23 | -- | 6-3 | 19-14 |
| Miami Heat | 28 | 23 | 0.5 | 8-5 | 19-12 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 21 | 30 | 7.5 | 7-5 | 13-18 |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 19 | 33 | 10.0 | 2-8 | 10-19 |
| Orlando Magic | 16 | 34 | 12.0 | 3-5 | 10-15 |
| EAST PLAYOFF RACE | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| 76ers | 40 | 11 | -- | ||
| Bulls | 31 | 20 | 9.0 | ||
| Wizards | 29 | 23 | 11.5 | ||
| Heat | 28 | 23 | 12 | ||
| Nets | 27 | 25 | 13.5 | ||
| Pacers | 27 | 27 | 14.5 | ||
| Cavaliers | 26 | 26 | 14.5 | ||
| Knicks | 25 | 28 | 16 | ||
| Hawks | 21 | 30 | 19 | ||
| Raptors | 21 | 32 | 20 | ||
| Bucks | 21 | 32 | 20 | ||
| Bobcats | 19 | 33 | 21.5 | ||
| Celtics | 17 | 33 | 22.5 | ||
| Magic | 16 | 34 | 23.5 | ||
| Pistons | 17 | 36 | 24 | ||
| NORTHWEST | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 33 | 21 | -- | 6-3 | 20-15 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 29 | 21 | 2.0 | 6-4 | 15-15 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 30 | 23 | 2.5 | 3-6 | 15-17 |
| Denver Nuggets | 29 | 25 | 4.0 | 6-4 | 17-16 |
| Utah Jazz | 27 | 26 | 5.5 | 2-6 | 16-18 |
| PACIFIC | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Sacramento Kings | 32 | 22 | -- | 9-1 | 21-12 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 21 | 22 | 0.5 | 6-4 | 19-12 |
| Phoenix Suns | 30 | 22 | 1.0 | 5-5 | 15-17 |
| Golden State Warriors | 21 | 25 | 2.0 | 3-9 | 17-18 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 23 | 31 | 9.0 | 2-6 | 12-19 |
| SOUTHWEST | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Houston Rockets | 36 | 19 | -- | 9-2 | 24-8 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 25 | 26 | 9.0 | 5-4 | 16-16 |
| New Orleans Hornets | 25 | 28 | 10.0 | 5-6 | 12-21 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 23 | 31 | 12.5 | 5-8 | 13-17 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 19 | 33 | 15.5 | 2-6 | 11-22 |
| WEST PLAYOFF RACE | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Rockets | 36 | 19 | -- | ||
| T-Wolves | 33 | 21 | 2.5 | ||
| Kings | 32 | 22 | 3.5 | ||
| Clippers | 31 | 22 | 4.0 | ||
| Suns | 30 | 22 | 4.5 | ||
| Blazers | 29 | 21 | 4.5 | ||
| Thunder | 30 | 23 | 5.0 | ||
| Warriors | 31 | 25 | 5.5 | ||
| Nuggets | 29 | 25 | 6.5 | ||
| Jazz | 27 | 26 | 8.0 | ||
| Grizzlies | 25 | 26 | 9.0 | ||
| Hornets | 25 | 28 | 10 | ||
| Spurs | 23 | 31 | 12.5 | ||
| Lakers | 23 | 31 | 12.5 | ||
| Mavericks | 19 | 33 | 15.5 | ||
One of the first things that should jump out at you in the above standings is how the Celtics and the Lakers have apparently gotten "old" over night...
If you recall, the Lakers defeated the Bulls last year in Six Games to win the NBA Championship... This year however, they can't seem to get on the same page and they don't look like they'll even be making the post season... Kobe Bryant's scoring is down from 26 points per game last year to only 21.4 points per game this year... Dwight Howard's numbers are up from last year, however, he's not doing as much rebounding and overall his effort doesn't seem to be as high as it once was... Pau Gasol's numbers are down across the board, now only scoring 11.8 points per game and grabbing a pedestrian 6 rebounds per game... His name is among the many on the trade block as we approach the deadline...
The Boston Celtics, who missed the playoffs last year, are one of the worst teams in the NBA this season... Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnet look to be on their last legs and rumors are aplenty that one, or both of them will be traded at the deadline for some younger pieces to help rebuild the Celtics... Both Pierce and Garnett are having their typical Seasons however, there just isn't much of anything else going on for the team... The once proud defensive beast of the eastern conference is giving up 102.7 points per game which ranks 20th in the league... Combined with their 99.3 points scored per game, ranking 24th in the league, and you can see why the Celtics have struggled all Season...
You can throw the Spurs into the same catagory as the Lakers and the Celtics as their long run of being a top team seems to be over... Tim Duncan and Tony Parker simply don't have enough to carry this team any more and players like Kawai Leonard and Djaun Blair are going to have to step up if this team is going to make a run here in the 2nd half of the Season... Tim Duncan's scoring average is down from 18 points per game to 14 per game this year... His minutes per game have dipped below 30 for the first time in recent memory.. Age seems to have finally caught up to this living legend...
The Timberwolves, who finished with with the best record in the NBA Last season, only to be upset in the 1st round by the veteran Spurs team, look to have things clicking once again this year... Sitting at 33-21 and in 1st place in the Northwest Division the Wolves look to be a serious contender this year... There are rumors around the league that say Minnesota is in Talks with Boston about bringing future hall of famer Kevin Garnet back to Minnesota to help make a deep run in the post season... Garnet would bring some much needed veteran leadership to a young exciting team...
The Sixers, who upset the #1 Seeded Miami Heat in last years Eastern Conference semi finals and lost in the East Finals to the Chicago Bulls, appear to have turned the corner this season... Center Andrew Bynum has become a legit Superstar in the League and fellow big man Thaddeus Young has grown into a very good player as well... Point Guard Jrue Holiday has become one of the better point gaurds in the NBA on Both sides of the floor and he is a true floor general for this team... The off-season addition of veteran SG Manu Ginobli has really given them something that they lacked last Season... Manu is a guy that's been through the battles with those great Spurs teams and he really brings some much needed leadership to the young Sixer team... This team is going to be scary in the Playoffs, and right now, they look to be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference...
This is year 3 of the LeBron, Wade, Bosh era in Miami and so far, its been the least impressive... Sitting at 28-23 and 4th in the Eastern Conference Playoffs is not acceptable for a team as talented as Miami... So whats the Problem? Well, there has been speculation that LeBron James may not be quite as "happy" playing in Miami as he thought he would be... People close to LeBron think that he's a little homesick and he misses his family (who still lives in Ohio)... LeBron will have the option to opt out of his contract with the Heat after this Season and its not known yet what he will decide to do... Despite the apparent distraction, LeBron himself hasn't let up one bit on the floor, averaging 26 / 9 / 6 along with 2 steals and 1 block per night, LeBron is doing what he does... Wade and Bosh on the other hand aren't really holding up their end of the bargin this year... Could it be that the Heat are simply "bored" with the Regular Season and are just waiting to "turn it on" in the post-season? who knows, but, time will tell...
2013-14 NBA All Stars
| 2013-14 NBA All-Star Game Rosters | |||
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference | ||
| Head Coach: Doug Collin (PHI) | Head Coach: Kevin McHale (HOU) | ||
| Pos | Starters | Pos | Starters |
| PG | Derrick Rose - CHI (5th) | PG | Chris Paul - LAC (7th) |
| SG | Dwayne Wade - MIA (10th) | SG | Kobe Bryant - LAL (16th) |
| SF | LeBron James - MIA (10th) | SF | Kevin Durant - OKC (5th) |
| SF | Carmelo Anthony - NYK (7th) | PF | Blake Griffin - LAC (4th) |
| C | Andrew Bynum - PHI (3rd) | C | Dwight Howard - LAL (8th) |
| Pos | Reserves | Pos | Reserves |
| PG | Kyrie Irving - CLE (2nd) | PG | Stephen Curry - GSW (1st) |
| SG | Shabazz Muhammad - CLE (1st) | SG | James Harden - HOU (2nd) |
| SF | Danny Granger - IND (2nd) | SF | Andre Iguodala - DAL (3rd) |
| PF | Josh Smith - ATL (2nd) | PF | Kevin Love - MIN (4th) |
| C | Cody Zeller - ORL (1st) | C | DeMarcus Cousins - SAC (1st) |
| PG | John Wall - WAS (1st) | PG | Goran Dragic - PHX (2nd) |
| PG | Kemba Walker - CHA (1st) | PG | Russell Westrbook - OKC (4th) |
Thats all for now...
Stay tuned as I'll update you soon on my Cavaliers - ((you see we got 2 all stars
)) and I'll also let you know who won the All Star Game MVP and any trades that happen over the next couple weeks...Thanks again for all the comments... And suggestions... If you guys want to know something about a specific team that i haven't talked about much, just leave a reply and I'll bring you up to speed on how that team is doing.
Take care.
I got my PS3 account back, I've got my Madden league restarted and now I've finally got some time to jump back into my favorite game of the year NBA 2k13...
Thank you for all the comments and thanks for following along with me as I try to bring my Cavaliers a championship... I hope you are all enjoying the read as much as I am playing through it all....
With that being said, here we go...
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NBA 2013-14 Season
It was a busy Off-Season for the Cavaliers and everyone else around the league... As you know the Lakers won the NBA Title defeating the Chicago Bulls in 6 games... The Championship was Dwight Howard's 1st and Kobe Bryant reached rarefied air capturing his 6th NBA Championship, which ties him with his child hood idol Michael Jordan...
After the Lakers win, the rest of the league got busy, shuffling players, working on contract extensions and thinking about what direction they wanted to take their team...
Here is a quick run down of some teams from around the league...
So there you have it... I didn't break down every team, but I broke down pretty much all of the teams that I felt would be important to all of you
I hope you enjoyed the read... Stay tuned as I'm going to give an overview of my Cavaliers Busy Off-Season and tell you how we're doing about 1/3 of the way through the 2013-14 Season...
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
I will be going through Free Agency here in the next few days... Here are a couple things of note that have happened early on...
-----------
Dwight Howard decided to stay with the Lakers... Considering he just won the NBA Championship, and NBA Finals MVP this was probably a wise decision as he may have been looked upon as the most selfish Athlete in the history of sports if he left...
Chris Paul decided to stay with the Clippers in hopes of Bringing "LOB CITY" a Championship in the Near future... The money spent to keep CP3 however, left the Cap pretty depleted, so, the Front Office is going to have to get creative
Andre Iguodala signs with the Dallas Mavericks... The Mavs miss out on the CP3 and D12 sweepstakes and settle for Iggy... Dallas should be a fun team to watch, but, with an aging Dirk, even with Iggy, I'm not sure if they'll have enough to compete for a title
Manu Ginobili bolted San Antonio and headed towards Philly on a 1 year contract in Hopes for Playing for Championship in 2013/14...
-------------
Stay tune.... There is allot more to come
2013 NBA DRAFT RECAP
1st Round
1. Hornets - PF Nerlens Noel - Kentucky - 76
2. Cavaliers - SG/SF Shabazz Muhammad - UCLA - 78
3. Magic - C Cody Zeller - Indiana - 78
4. Bobcats - C Rudy Gobert - France - 72
5. Pistons - SF James McAdo - North Carolina - 74
6. Rockets - SF Tony Mitchell - North Texas - 76
7. Warriors - C Isaiah Austin - Baylor - 73
8. Celtics - SF Alex Poythress - Kentucky - 72
9. Trail Blazers - SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - Georgia - 68
10. Raptors - SG Archie Goodwin - Kentucky - 69
11. Kings - SF CJ Leslie - NC State - 68
12. Hawks - PG Ryan Harrow - Kentucky - 68
13. Nuggets - PG Ray McCallum - Detroit - 66
14. Grizzlies - SG CJ Wilcox - 64
15. Wizards - SF Dario Saric - Croatia - 73
16. Bucks - PG Myck Kabongo - Texas - 72
17. Nets - PF Trevor Mdakwe - Minnesota - 68
18. Jazz - SF DeShaun Thomas - Ohio State - 71
19. Spurs - PF Patrick Young - Florida - 67
20. Suns - SF Adonis Thomas - Memphis - 70
21. Clippers - SG Ben McLemore - Kansas - 66
22. Knicks - C Steven Adams - Pittsburgh - 69
23. Thunder - PG CJ McCollum - Lehigh - 65
24. Mavericks - C Gorgui Dieng - Louisville - 65
25. 76ers - SG Sean Kilpatrick - Cincinnati - 60
26. Pacers - PG Ian Miller - Florida State - 65
27. Timberwolves - C Alex Len - Maryland - 67
28. Bulls - PF - Rakeem Christmas - Syracuse - 66
29. Heat - PF Alex Oriakhi - Missouir - 64
30. Lakers - PG Lorenzo Brown - North Carolina St - 64
2nd Round
1. Hornets - SF Doug McDermott - Creighton - 64
2. Bobcats - PF Mason Plumlee - Duke - 67
3. Magic - SF Otto Porter - Georgtown - 69
4. Cavaliers - PG Trey Burke - Michigan - 66
5. Rockets - C Alec Brown - Wisconsin Green Bay - 63
6. Pistons - PF Jonas Bergstedt - Denmark - 61
7. Celtics - C Dewayne Dedmon - USC - 62
8. Warriors - PG Isiah Canaan - Murray State - 62
9. Trail Blazers - SF Rodney Williams - Minnesota - 64
10. Raptors - SF Christian Watford - Indiana - 60
11. Kings - PG Dexter Strickland - North Carolina - 63
12. Hawks - PG Nate Wolters - South Dakota State - 62
13. Wizards - PF Augusto Lima - Brazil - 62
14. Bucks - PG Pierre Jackson - Baylor -
15. Nuggets - SG Durand Scott - Miami - 61
16. Nets - SG Jamaal Franklin - San Diego State - 60
17. Grizzlies - SG Michael Snaer - Florida State - 60
18. Suns - C Jeff Withey - Kansas - 62
19. Spurs - PG Nemania Nedovic - France - 61
20. Jazz - SF Robert Covington - Tennessee State - 61
21. Clippers - PG Erick Green - Virginia Tech - 60
22. Knicks - PG Elijah Johnson - Kansas - 60
23. Thunder - C Aziz N'Diaye - Washington - 60
24. Mavericks - SF Solomon Hill - 60
25. 76ers - SG Jordan Aboudou - France - 60
26. Pacers - PF Jackie Carmichael - 60
27. Lakers - SF Mike Moser - UNLV - 60
28. Timberwolves - SF Oleksandr Lypovyy - Ukraine - 60
29. Bulls - SG Drew Crawford - Northwestern - 60
30. Heat - C Mindaugas Kupsas - Lithuania - 60
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Cavaliers
Several teams have contacted the Cavs about the Services of Anderson Varejao... Andy led the league in rebounds per game last year and would be a valuable asset to any team on the cusp of a championship... Even with a good draft and a decent Free Agent pickup, the Cavaliers probably wont be competing for a Championship next Season, so, they could look to move Andy for a younger, more athletic big man...
Teams interested:
Celtics
Thunder
Timberwolves
Kings
DeMarcus Cousins doesn't seem like he's happy in Sacramento... Its no secret that he's had off the court issues and some people around the league question his effort at times, but, I don't think you can argue the fact that he's one of the most talented big men in the NBA... Kings new head coach Ralph Bender plans on building his entire Offense around DeMarcus but, he's also been told by his GM that if the offer is right, the team will trade him if they feel like it benefits the team in the long run... Despite what the team says, I highly doubt they would trade a franchise big man with the talent of Cousins, you never know though, some team may blow them away with an offer that they simply can't refuse...
Teams interested:
Celtics
Thunder
Lakers
Cavaliers
Jazz
Derrick Favors
Great athleticism, Great size and a great offensive player in the post... Favors has many skills that teams look for in a big man... In Utah, he doesn't see much playing time behind Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson... Also, we're hearing that Center Enes Kanter is well liked by the Jazz staff, and that doesn't bode well for Favors going forward... He's voiced his displeasure with his role on the team and now, the ball is in the front offices court as they have to make a decision on his future with the team...
Interested teams
Cavaliers
Celtics
Heat
Timberwolves
The NBA Draft is only a few hours away from kicking off... Will any of these players be moved by then?
2013 Off-Season
1. Hornets - 25
2. Bobcats - 19.9
3. Magic - 15.6
4. Cavs - 11.9
5. Pistons - 8.8
6. Rockets - 6.3
7. Warriors - 4.3
8. Celtics - 2.8
9. Trail Blazers - 1.7
10. Raptors - 1.1
11. Kings - 0.8
12. Hawks - 0.7
13. Nuggets - 0.6
14. Grizzlies - 0.5
Results
1. Hornets
2. Cavs
3. Magic
4. Bobcats
5. Pistons
6. Rockets
7. Warriors
8. Celtics
9. Trail Blazers
10. Raptors
11. Kings
12. Hawks
13. Nuggets
14. Grizzlies
Around the League - Coaching Changes
Bobcats
Fired Mike Dunlap - D off, D def, D teaching, D pot
Hired George Hardin - A off, B def, B teaching, A pot
Clippers
Fired Vinny Del Negro - C off, C def, C teaching, C pot
Hired Lamar Burns - A off, B def, B teaching, A pot
Jazz
Fired Tyrone Corbin - C off, C def, C teaching, C pot
Hired Marty Osborne - A off, B def, C teaching, A pot
Kings
Fired Keith Smart - C off, D def, C teaching, D pot
Hired Ralph Bender - A off, A def, A teaching, A pot
A look at some of the Ups and Downs from around the League
Below you will see how some of the young players are progressing, and the older players are digressing around the league...
Cavaliers Prgression
PG Kyrie Irving +3 = 87ovr
SG Dion Waiters +5 = 77ovr
SF Terance Williams +1 = 77ovr
C Anderso Varejao -3 = 74ovr
SF Alonzo Gee +3 = 74ovr
PF Tristan Thompson +5 = 73ovr
C Tyler Zeller +3 = 68ovr
SF Omri Caspi +2 = 66ovr
PF Samardo Samuels +2 = 65ovr
PF Jon Leuer +3 = 66ovr
PG Jeremy Pargo +3 = 63ovr
SF CJ Miles +2 = 70ovr
SF Luke Walton -3 = 63ovr
PG Daniel Gibson +3 = 64ovr
PF Luke Harangody +3 = 58ovr
Notables around the League
Sixers
PG Jrue Holiday +3 86ovr
SF Evan Turner +6 86ovr
Bobcats
PG Kemba Walker +4 = 82ovr
SF Michale Kidd Gilchrist +3 = 80ovr
PF Tyrus Thomas +6 = 77ovr
Bucks
PG Brandon Jennings +4 = 84ovr
Celtics
PF Kevin Garnett -3 = 81ovr
SF Paul Pierce -2 = 80ovr
Clippers
PF Blake Griffin +4 = 90ovr
C Deandre Jordan +4 = 76ovr
PG Eric Bledsoe +4 = 71ovr
Grizzlies
SF Rudy Gay +3 = 88ovr
Hornets
SG Eric Gordon +3 = 87ovr
C Anthony Davis +6 = 85ovr
SF Al-Farouq Aminu +3 = 75ovr
PG Austin Rivers +4 = 71ovr
Jazz
SG Gordon Hayward +6 = 74ovr
PF Derrick Favors +5 = 80ovr
C Enes Kanter +4 = 69ovr
Kings
C Demarcus Cousins +5 = 87ovr
SG Tyreke Evans +5 = 85ovr
PF Thomas Robinson +3 = 78ovr
Knicks
SG Iman Shumpert +2 = 82ovr
Lakers
SG Kobe Bryant -2 = 91ovr
PF Pau Gasol -1 = 86ovr
Mavericks
PF Dirk Nowitzki -1 = 83ovr
SG OJ Mayo +2 = 80ovr
Nets
Brook Lopez +5 = 85ovr
Gerald Wallace -2 = 79ovr
Nuggets
PG Ty Lawson +2 = 84ovr
PF Kenneth Faried +3 = 80ovr
SF Danilo Gallinari +4 = 76ovr
Pacers
SG Paul George +4 = 82ovr
PG George Hill +2 = 76ovr
Pistons
C Greg Monroe +4 = 83ovr
PG Brandon Knight +4 = 77ovr
Raptors
PG Kyle Lowry +2 = 84ovr
SG Demar Derozan +5 = 79ovr
Rockets
SG James Harden +1 = 84ovr
PG Jeremy Lin +2 = 80ovr
PF Patrick Patterson +4 = 78ovr
Spurs
PG Tony Parker -1 = 83ovr
PF Tim Duncan -3 = 84ovr
SF Kawhi Leonard +1 = 81ovr
PF Dejuan Blair +3 = 75ovr
Suns
PG Goran Dragic +4 = 81ovr
SF Michael Beasley +3 = 82ovr
SF Shannon Brown +2 = 78ovr
Thunder
SF Kevin Durant +2 = 96ovr
PG Russell Westbrook +2 = 92ovr
PF Serge Ibaka +2 = 83ovr
SG Jeremy Lamb +3 = 74ovr
Timberwolves
PG Ricky Robio +6 = 84ovr
PF Derrick Williams +5 = 74ovr
Trailblazers
PG Damian Lillard +6 = 83ovr
SG Wesley Matthews +4 = 81ovr
SF Nicolas Batum +2 = 81ovr
Warriors
PG Stephen Curry +4 = 86ovr
SF Harrison Barnes +4 = 79ovr
Wizards
PG John Wall +5 = 87ovr
SG Bradley Beal +5 = 80ovr
C Nene -3 = 77ovr
C Emeka Okafor -3 = 75ovr
#1 pick Odds
1. Hornets - 25
2. Bobcats - 19.9
3. Magic - 15.6
4. Cavs - 11.9
5. Pistons - 8.8
6. Rockets - 6.3
7. Warriors - 4.3
8. Celtics - 2.8
9. Trail Blazers - 1.7
10. Raptors - 1.1
11. Kings - 0.8
12. Hawks - 0.7
13. Nuggets - 0.6
14. Grizzlies - 0.5
Results
1. Hornets
2. Cavs
3. Magic
4. Bobcats
5. Pistons
6. Rockets
7. Warriors
8. Celtics
9. Trail Blazers
10. Raptors
11. Kings
12. Hawks
13. Nuggets
14. Grizzlies
Around the League - Coaching Changes
Bobcats
Fired Mike Dunlap - D off, D def, D teaching, D pot
Hired George Hardin - A off, B def, B teaching, A pot
Clippers
Fired Vinny Del Negro - C off, C def, C teaching, C pot
Hired Lamar Burns - A off, B def, B teaching, A pot
Jazz
Fired Tyrone Corbin - C off, C def, C teaching, C pot
Hired Marty Osborne - A off, B def, C teaching, A pot
Kings
Fired Keith Smart - C off, D def, C teaching, D pot
Hired Ralph Bender - A off, A def, A teaching, A pot
A look at some of the Ups and Downs from around the League
Below you will see how some of the young players are progressing, and the older players are digressing around the league...
Cavaliers Prgression
PG Kyrie Irving +3 = 87ovr
SG Dion Waiters +5 = 77ovr
SF Terance Williams +1 = 77ovr
C Anderso Varejao -3 = 74ovr
SF Alonzo Gee +3 = 74ovr
PF Tristan Thompson +5 = 73ovr
C Tyler Zeller +3 = 68ovr
SF Omri Caspi +2 = 66ovr
PF Samardo Samuels +2 = 65ovr
PF Jon Leuer +3 = 66ovr
PG Jeremy Pargo +3 = 63ovr
SF CJ Miles +2 = 70ovr
SF Luke Walton -3 = 63ovr
PG Daniel Gibson +3 = 64ovr
PF Luke Harangody +3 = 58ovr
Notables around the League
Sixers
PG Jrue Holiday +3 86ovr
SF Evan Turner +6 86ovr
Bobcats
PG Kemba Walker +4 = 82ovr
SF Michale Kidd Gilchrist +3 = 80ovr
PF Tyrus Thomas +6 = 77ovr
Bucks
PG Brandon Jennings +4 = 84ovr
Celtics
PF Kevin Garnett -3 = 81ovr
SF Paul Pierce -2 = 80ovr
Clippers
PF Blake Griffin +4 = 90ovr
C Deandre Jordan +4 = 76ovr
PG Eric Bledsoe +4 = 71ovr
Grizzlies
SF Rudy Gay +3 = 88ovr
Hornets
SG Eric Gordon +3 = 87ovr
C Anthony Davis +6 = 85ovr
SF Al-Farouq Aminu +3 = 75ovr
PG Austin Rivers +4 = 71ovr
Jazz
SG Gordon Hayward +6 = 74ovr
PF Derrick Favors +5 = 80ovr
C Enes Kanter +4 = 69ovr
Kings
C Demarcus Cousins +5 = 87ovr
SG Tyreke Evans +5 = 85ovr
PF Thomas Robinson +3 = 78ovr
Knicks
SG Iman Shumpert +2 = 82ovr
Lakers
SG Kobe Bryant -2 = 91ovr
PF Pau Gasol -1 = 86ovr
Mavericks
PF Dirk Nowitzki -1 = 83ovr
SG OJ Mayo +2 = 80ovr
Nets
Brook Lopez +5 = 85ovr
Gerald Wallace -2 = 79ovr
Nuggets
PG Ty Lawson +2 = 84ovr
PF Kenneth Faried +3 = 80ovr
SF Danilo Gallinari +4 = 76ovr
Pacers
SG Paul George +4 = 82ovr
PG George Hill +2 = 76ovr
Pistons
C Greg Monroe +4 = 83ovr
PG Brandon Knight +4 = 77ovr
Raptors
PG Kyle Lowry +2 = 84ovr
SG Demar Derozan +5 = 79ovr
Rockets
SG James Harden +1 = 84ovr
PG Jeremy Lin +2 = 80ovr
PF Patrick Patterson +4 = 78ovr
Spurs
PG Tony Parker -1 = 83ovr
PF Tim Duncan -3 = 84ovr
SF Kawhi Leonard +1 = 81ovr
PF Dejuan Blair +3 = 75ovr
Suns
PG Goran Dragic +4 = 81ovr
SF Michael Beasley +3 = 82ovr
SF Shannon Brown +2 = 78ovr
Thunder
SF Kevin Durant +2 = 96ovr
PG Russell Westbrook +2 = 92ovr
PF Serge Ibaka +2 = 83ovr
SG Jeremy Lamb +3 = 74ovr
Timberwolves
PG Ricky Robio +6 = 84ovr
PF Derrick Williams +5 = 74ovr
Trailblazers
PG Damian Lillard +6 = 83ovr
SG Wesley Matthews +4 = 81ovr
SF Nicolas Batum +2 = 81ovr
Warriors
PG Stephen Curry +4 = 86ovr
SF Harrison Barnes +4 = 79ovr
Wizards
PG John Wall +5 = 87ovr
SG Bradley Beal +5 = 80ovr
C Nene -3 = 77ovr
C Emeka Okafor -3 = 75ovr
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The Bulls and Lakers, two of the NBA's premier franchises met in the 2012/13 NBA Finals... It was a dream matchup for the NBA as both teams are full of star power and play in two of the largest Television markets in the Country... Here is a rundown of how each game played outwent...
Game 1 in Los Angeles - 111-97 Lakers
- Dwight Howard - 30 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks
- Kobe Bryant - 26 points, 8 rebounds, 7 ast, 3 stl
- Antwon Jamison - 20 points, 12 rebounds
- Derrick Rose - 29 points, 5 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl
- Carlos Booze - 17 points, 9 reb
Game 2 in Los Angeles - 109-105 Lakers (2-0)
- Dwight Howard 28 points, 10 reb, 4 blk
- Kobe Bryant - 17 points, 2 reb, 9 ast
- Antwan Jamison - 16 points, 11 reb
- Derrick Rose - 35 points, 8 reb, 5 ast
- Carlos Boozer - 21 points, 6reb, 3ast, 2stl
Game 3 in Chicago - 122-97 Lakers (3-0)
- Dwight Howard - 28 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blk
- Antwan Jamison - 21 points, 5 reb
- Kobe Bryant - 17 points, 6 reb, 7 ast
- Derrick Rose - 36 points, 8 reb, 3 ast
- Taj Gibson - 16 points, 1 reb
- Joakim Noah - 9 points, 14 reb
Game 4 in Chicago - 107-98 Bulls (1-3)
- Derrick Rose - 32 pts, 6 reb, 9 ast
- Luol Deng - 23 pts, 5 reb
- Carlos Boozer - 14 pts, 11 reb
- Kobe Bryant - 39 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast
- Dwight Howard - 20 pts, 8reb, 3 blocks
Game 5 in Chicago - 103-89 Bulls (2-3)
- Carlos Boozer - 20pts, 12reb
- Derrick Rose - 19pts, 3reb, 11ast
- Luol Deng - 18pts, 17reb
- Kobe Bryant - 26pts, 4reb, 5ast
- Dwight Howard - 22pts, 8re
Game 6 in Los Angeles - 118-100 Lakers - Win Series 4-2
- Dwight Howard - 25pts, 7reb, 4 blocks
- Kobe Brynat - 23pts, 5reb, 10ast, 2stl
- Antwan Jamison - 20pts, 9reb
- Carlos Boozer - 22pts, 7reb
- Derrick Rose - 22pts, 6reb, 6ast
Lakers WIN!
Kobe Bryant wins his 6th NBA Championship... Tied with Michael Jordan, his childhood idol... Few can argue that he is now in the discussion of who is the greatest player of all time... I don't think many would put Kobe ahead of Michael, but, he's now officially in the discussion with his 6th ring...
"To win my 6th vs the team that Michael played for means a little something more"
- Kobe Bryant
Dwight Howard NBA Finals MVP
24 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks per game
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Stay tuned as we get into the Off-Season activities around the league... Also, check out my previous post and let me know about the rest of the teams in the league and what direction you think they go with the Draft, FA and all that.
In the meantime I want make this Association more interactive and immersive for the Readers, so, here's what I'm going to do... I'm going to be entering the Off-Season soon and I'd like your input on what Positions or Types of Players that teams around the league need... I follow the NBA and am a NBA Fan but I don't know the "ins and outs" of each Franchise outside of a few, so, that's were you all come in...
Let me know what YOU think think teams should be looking to do in the Off-Season, and what types of Players or system that they run so I can then work on making realistic moves for those Franchises as well as for my Cavaliers...
Here is the list of teams... I'll keep a running log here of everything you all reccomend and we'll see how it plays out in the Off-Season... I'll post some of the notable Free Agents and Rookies coming in the league as well as the NBA Draft order in the coming days...
Thanks fellas, I hope your enjoying reading all this as much as I am writing it
-Cg
List of NBA Teams - What do they Need?
If you don't know allot about ALL the teams thats fine, just post what you know about whatever team you know allot about... Hopefully we'll have a full detail sheet before I hit the Off-Season
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Bobcats
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Hornets
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards
Party like its 1991... Bulls and Lakers meet again in the NBA Finals
It been a long, grueling Season and the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers square off in the NBA Finals... I'm sure you all remember the 1991 NBA Finals? MJ vs MJ, Michael Jordan vs Magic Johnson... Jordan, winning his 1st of 6 NBA Championships...
In a league that thrives on big market matchups, it doesn't get much bigger than Los Angeles vs Chicago... Each team is full of Star Power - Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer in Chicago vs Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol in LA... This Series is sure to be one for the Ages...
*NOTE* due to some unknown glitch, the Lakers will have home court advantage despite having a worse regular season record...
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| Chicago Bulls (57-25, Away) | Los Angeles Lakers (50-32, Home) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Key Matchup
Derrick Rose vs Kobe Bryant
The 2 faces of their respective franchises will decide this series... Whichever plays the best, their team will win the series... During the Season both of these players were Top 5 MVP Candidates and there is not question that there are among the ELITE Players in the game today... Both Coaches have already said that the two will guard each other allot during the series, so, it should be a great show...
Here's how they matched up during the regular season...
January 21, 2013 in Chicago - 98-94 Bulls win
Derrick Rose - 26 pts - 8 reb - 7 ast - 1 stl - 1 blk - 1 turnover
Kobe Bryant - 20 pts - 3 reb - 5 ast - 1 stl - 6 turnovers
March 10, 2013 in Los Angeles - 92-90 Bulls win
Derrick Rose -17 pts - 5 reb - 6 ast - 1 stl - 2 turnovers
Kobe Bryant - 30 pts - 7 reb - 5 ast - 2 stl - 1 blk - 4 turnovers
Prediction?
I think the Lakers are going to come away with the Victory... I'm going to be selfish and hope for a Seven Game Series because this is such a great matchup... In the end though, I feel like Kobe Bryant's drive to "be" Michael Jordan and the chance for him to win his 6th NBA Championship vs the Team that "the" Michael Jordan Played for, will drive him more than ever before and lead the Lakers to a victory...
FINALS - RECAP
Chicago defeats Philadelphia in 5 Games and Advances to the NBA Finals...
Derrick Rose led the way for the Bulls as he controlled the Series Offensively and Defensively... For the Series Rose averaged 27.2 points - 8 rebounds and 2 steals per game...
Rose dominated the Series on both sides of the ball and the Sixers didn't have anyone that could match Rose's intensity... Andrew Bynum was a virtual non-factor in the Series averaging just 14 points and 7 rebounds per game vs one of the best defenders in the NBA in Joakim Noah... Going into the series we knew that the Rose vs Holiday matchup and the Noah vs Bynum matchups would be key in deciding who came away with the Series win, and, they proved to be just that as Chicago won both key matchups through the 5 game series...
FINALS - RECAP
Lakers survive vs Westbrook and the Thunder
Coming into the Series we knew that Russell Westbrook was a star in this league... In this Series however, he took that next step and became a legitimate NBA Superstar... There is no longer a question in that regard... Despite Westbrook's greatest efforts, the Thunder were still not able to defeat the Lakers as they fell in a tough, hard fought 7 game series...
Russell Westbrook averaged 28 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals per game throughout the 7 Game Series... The Lakers were simply too much for one man to overtake and they would end up winning the Series in 7 games... Games 1 and 2, in Los Angeles went to the Lakers... Back home in OKC, the Thunder then took games 3 and 4... Game 5 back in La La Land went to the Lakers and they took a 3-2 Series lead... OKC, and Russell Westbrook would not go down quietly however, in Game 6 Westbrook put together one of those games that will go down in NBA Playoff Lore... With their Backs against the wall, and their best Player, MVP Candidate Kevin Durant out, Westbrook put up 36 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists and 5 steals to give OKC a 102-92 win and force a Game 7 back in LA...
Dwight Howard put together a fantastic 7 game Series vs OKC... Howard averaged 29 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks per game in the Series with his best game coming in the Game 7 closeout game... In Game 7 Howard registered 38 points, 22 rebounds and 6 blocked shots as the Lakers held off a tough Thunder team 100-98...
The win propels the Lakers to the NBA Finals where they will take on Derrick Roser, Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls...
Stay tuned
FINALS
| Matchup Preview | May 15, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Philadelphia 76ers (49-33, Away) | Chicago Bulls (57-25, Home) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As you can see from the Regular Season statistics, this Series should be tightly contested... Both teams play a very similar style... Both teams have fantastic Defenses... If you like Defensive Basketball then this Series will be for you...
Key Matchup
Jrue Holiday vs Derrick Rose
Jrue Holiday averaged 16.5 points, 8.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game during the regular Season... The sixers are going to need him to reach those numbers, and probably better to defeat one of the toughest teams in the NBA in Chicago... The Point Guard Matchup between Holiday and Rose will be fun to watch throughout the Series
Key Matchup
Joakim Noah vs Andrew Bynum
Joakim Noah is one of the best post defenders in the NBA... Andrew Bynum is on of the most talented post scorers in the NBA... It should be a classic matchup to watch throughout the series... The more physical player will probably win the battle...
Prediction?
I'm taking Chicago in 6 games... I feel like Derrick Rose is the best player on the floor and he'll have the ball in his hands every possession for his team whereas Andrew Bynum needs others to get him the ball and get him involved in the game... Philly is good, and young, but I don't know if they are ready to take that next step just yet...
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FINALS
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| Oklahoma City Thunder (46-36, Away) | Los Angeles Lakers (52-30, Home) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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With Kevin Durant out with a torn ligiment in his wrist I honestly doubt know if the Thunder can win a single game vs the Star Studded Lakers team... I think Russell Westbrook is going to have to play out of his mind on both ends of the floor just to keep the games close and in the end I just don't think its going to happen...
Key Matchup
Russelll Westbrook vs Lakers
With Durant out, the time is now for Westbrook...
He's never be "The Guy" thanks to the greatness of Kevin Durant, well, now there is no question, he's the guy weather he wants to be or not... Can he step up and carry the Thunder to the NBA Finals?
Prediction?
Without arguably the best scorer in the game, I don't think the Thunder have much of a chance in this Series... I look for the Lakers to get some revenge from the WCF Loss in in 2012 and take care of the Thunder in 5 games...
2012/13 NBA Playoffs - 2nd round recap
Western Conference
The Spurs came in riding high from their upset win in the 1st round over the #1 seeded Timberwolves, in this Series however, they were simply outgunned by a younger, more athletic team in OKC... The Thunder's NBA Championship Dreams took a HUGE hit in this Series though as Superstar Forward Kevin Durant tore a ligiment in his wrist in the 4th game of the Series... He will miss the remainder of the Playoffs
Without Kevin Durant, I can't see the Thunder getting past the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals...
Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and the star studded Lakers team takes care of the Suns in 6 games... The Suns were able to steal Game 1, but then the Lakers won 4 of the next 5 to advance to the Western Conference Finals...
Eastern Conference
The Miami Heat were the #1 Team in the NBA in the Pre-Season and during the Regular Season.. Their 63-19 record was the best in the league and they had home court advantage throughout the Playoffs... They matched up in the 2nd round vs a Philly team that had all the right pieces to compete with the talent that Miami put on the floor every night... In the shocker of the Playoffs so far the 76ers eliminated the Miami Heat in 6 games and sent the defending Champions home for the Summer... LeBron averaged 25 points, 6 reb and 6 assists fro the Series but he didn't get much help from Chris Bosh who was coming back from an injury... The win propels the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Finals for the 1st time since Allen Iverson took them there in 2001...
Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls survive a grueling 7 game Series vs the Brooklyn Nets... Derrick Rose hit the game winning shot with just 2 seconds remaining in Game 7 to give the Bulls the 111-110 victory...
Rose poured in 48 points in Game 1 of the Series and his great scoring continued throughout the series as he averaged 32 points per game... He carried the team and now he has them in the Eastern Conference Finals vs the 76ers...
Stay tuned for a Conference Finals Preview
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Western Conference
The Spurs came in riding high from their upset win in the 1st round over the #1 seeded Timberwolves, in this Series however, they were simply outgunned by a younger, more athletic team in OKC... The Thunder's NBA Championship Dreams took a HUGE hit in this Series though as Superstar Forward Kevin Durant tore a ligiment in his wrist in the 4th game of the Series... He will miss the remainder of the Playoffs
Without Kevin Durant, I can't see the Thunder getting past the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals...
Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and the star studded Lakers team takes care of the Suns in 6 games... The Suns were able to steal Game 1, but then the Lakers won 4 of the next 5 to advance to the Western Conference Finals...
Eastern Conference
The Miami Heat were the #1 Team in the NBA in the Pre-Season and during the Regular Season.. Their 63-19 record was the best in the league and they had home court advantage throughout the Playoffs... They matched up in the 2nd round vs a Philly team that had all the right pieces to compete with the talent that Miami put on the floor every night... In the shocker of the Playoffs so far the 76ers eliminated the Miami Heat in 6 games and sent the defending Champions home for the Summer... LeBron averaged 25 points, 6 reb and 6 assists fro the Series but he didn't get much help from Chris Bosh who was coming back from an injury... The win propels the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Finals for the 1st time since Allen Iverson took them there in 2001...
Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls survive a grueling 7 game Series vs the Brooklyn Nets... Derrick Rose hit the game winning shot with just 2 seconds remaining in Game 7 to give the Bulls the 111-110 victory...
Rose poured in 48 points in Game 1 of the Series and his great scoring continued throughout the series as he averaged 32 points per game... He carried the team and now he has them in the Eastern Conference Finals vs the 76ers...
Stay tuned for a Conference Finals Preview
#1 Seed in the West Goes down
All Season long we've questioned weather or not the Minnesota Timberwolves for for real, or, were they playing beyond their actual skill level... Well, all Season long they proved us wrong to the tune of a 59-21 record, best in the Western Conference...
Their 1st round matchup would be the #8 Seeded San Antonio Spurs who barely snuck into the playoffs with a 42-40 record... The Spurs are old, its no secret, and this is quite possibly the last run for the Big 3 of Parker, Duncan and Ginobli...
Everything was coming up roses for the T-Wolves in the 1st 2 games of the Series as they were able to take a 2-0 Series lead, winning Game 1 97-96 and Game 2 112-98... The T-Wolves appeared to be more focused, more talented and more energized than the Veteran Spurs... That was until they got to San Antonio in Game 3... The Spurs laid a beat down on the T-Wolves in Game 3, 121-77... The 44 point loss was one of the worst in NBA Playoff History and it seemed to shellshock the young T-Wolves as they would lose Game 4 two nights later 101-86... With the Series Tied at 2-2 and Game 5 back in Minnesota, the Pressure had suddenly shifted onto the T-Wolves... They knew if they lost Game 5 at home, they'd have to win Game 6 in San Antonio and that wouldn't be easy...
The T-Wolves jumped on the Spurs early, taking a 15 point lead in the 1st quarter... They weren't able to maintain that same level of intensity throughout the game however and the Veteran Savy Spurs team would claw their way back into the game... The Spurs would outscore the T-Wolves 85 to 67 the rest of the way on their way to a 100-97 victory and a 3-2 Series lead... Game 6 was a back and forth battle all game long and Tim Duncan and Kevin Love put on a show... Duncan finished the game with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks while Love finished with 36 points and 9 rebounds...
In the end, it was the Spurs Experience that won the game and the Series 118-112...
The Win propels the Spurs to the 2nd round of the playoffs where they will take on the 4th Seeded Oklahoma City Thunder...
Also in the Western Conference the 6th Seeded Phoenix Suns took down the 3rd seeded Dallas Mavericks in 6 games which is an upset, but, not a really big one... The Suns accomplished the upset with amazing all around balance as they had 5 players average 13+ points per game in the Series... It also helped that Mavericks All Star Dirk Nowitski missed the entire series because of a knee injury...
In the Eastern Conference Bracket there weren't really any huge surprises... The Heat took care of the Wizards in 5 games... The 76ers and the Knicks played a fantastic 7 game Series with the Sixers coming out on top... The #3 seeded Indian Pacers were eliminated by the 6th seeded Brooklyn Nets in 5 games... This isn't a huge mind blowing upset, but, that fact that it was done in 5 games is a bit surprising... And, the Bulls took care of the Bucks in 5 games...
2nd round preview
Western Conference
(4)
(8) (2)
(6) 
Eastern Conference
(1)
(4) (2)
(6) 
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