Friday April
16, 2004
NBA Playoff
Predictions
NBA Postseason Awards
TWINS THOUGHTS
BASEBALL THOUGHTS
AMERICAN IDOL THOUGHTS
THE APPRENTICE THOUGHTS
HOOPS AND
HARDBALL
NBA PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
The NBA playoffs start on Saturday afternoon. I want
to briefly make my predictions of what will happen in the first
round.
Starting with the Eastern Conference
(saving the good teams for last):
#1 Indiana Pacers vs. #8 Boston Celtics
Jermaine O'Neal will be dominant. Ron
Artest will keep Paul Pierce in check. The Pacers had
the best record in the NBA. The Celtics are in a downward
spiral. This series could be ugly and quick. Pacers in
four.
#2 New Jersey Nets vs. #7 New York Nets
The NBA will save travel money on this series.
The health of J-Kidd and K-Mart is vital to the
Nets in the playoffs, but assuming they are healthy, this team
is as good as anyone in the East and have been there before with
much of the same roster. I think Stephon Marbury alone
will win a couple of games for the Knicks. Nets in six.
#3 Detroit Pistons vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks
The Pistons, led by Ben Wallace, play
great defense. The Bucks don't have a lot of offense outside of
Michael Redd. The Pistons have Rip Hamilton,
Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace to score.
Pistons in four.
#4 Miami Heat vs. #5 New Orleans Hornets
How did the Heat get here? Dwayne Wade
versus Baron Davis should be a key matchup. Jamal
Magloire could become a star this series (even though he was
already an All-Star). Jamal Mashburn has again been left
off the playoff roster though. The Heat were expected to do
nothing and suddenly they have home court advantage. Caron
Butler is the key to the series! Hornets in seven.
And now to the competitive, fun to watch
Western Conference:
#1 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. #8 Denver Nuggets
KG is the MVP. Spree and Sam
are veteran playoff performers. Wally should thrive as
Option #4. Carmelo Anthony will get hounded by Trenton
Hassell. Nene, Voshon and Camby will
have to show up to have a chance. Wolves in five.
#2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #7 Houston Rockets
Karl Malone being healthy would make this
an even easier call. He and Gary Payton will have
complete focus at this point. For the Rockets to have a chance,
Yao would have to neutralize Shaq. Cuttino
Mobley and Steve Francis would have to neutralize
Kobe. Those three are good, but two words... Shaq and
Kobe. Lakers in five.
#3 San Antonio Spurs vs. #6 Memphis Grizzlies
Spurs are the best team in the NBA right now
having won 12 straight to end the season. The Grizzlies have
been struggling. Tim Duncan versus Pao Gasol will
be fun to watch. Tony Parker and Jason Williams
should be fun to watch because neither plays defense. Spurs are
just too good. Spurs in four.
#4 Sacramento Kings vs. #5 Dallas Mavericks
Now this should be a fun game to watch. Neither
team plays any defense. OK, Doug Christie does, but he is
the exception. Total points in each game should exceed 230 most
nights. Chris Webber really needs to step up. The Mavs
have Finley, Nash and Nowitzki who can all
score. The Kings have Bibby, Peja, Webber,
Miller, and with Vlade, their size should be the
deciding factor in this series. Kings in six.
There could be a couple of good series in the East in
the first round, and the Mavs/Kings series should be great. But the
real fun of the playoffs will start with the second round matchups.
Then things will really get intense!
What do you think? Am I off on any of these
predictions? E-mail me.
Postseason
NBA Awards
Please check back to
my pre-season predictions for this season.
You will notice also that I predicted how each team would do. I was
wrong about half the time. The biggest surprises for me were the
Heat and the Jazz. Biggest disappointments includes
Philadelphia, Orlando and much of the Pacific Division. But now,
here are my thoughts on the post season awards:
MVP -
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
(Preseason Choice - Kevin Garnett)
This is the easiest pick to make. I have just one
argument that makes it even questionable. My opinion is that
Kevin Garnett should have been the MVP last season when he
had less talent around him. Instead, Tim Duncan, who had
better teammates won the award. This year, Kevin Garnett has
help in Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell. Tim
Duncan has less around him. However, KG is the clear-cut winner.
He is by far the best overall player in the NBA. People always
said that Michael Jordan became the best player in the
game once he realized he needed his teammates. KG has always
understood that. He makes his teammates better. He leads. He has
such passion. If you want, we can look at his numbers too. His
24.2 points were 2nd in the NBA. His 13.9 rebounds were 1st in
the NBA. Some say he is too unselfish. Well, he led the NBA in
field goals attempted and scored more points than anyone in the
league. His 33.13 Efficiency Rating was almost 25% higher than
any other player in the NBA. Yeah, this should be a unanimous
selection. Second place - Tim Duncan, Third Place -
Peja Stojakovik
Coach of the Year - Stan Van Gundy, Miami Heat
(Preseason Choice - Phil Jackson)
Most people think that Hubie Brown will
win this award, and I am fine with that. The Grizzlies were very
good. Jerry Sloan deserves a lot of credit for nearly
getting the depleted Jazz team into the playoffs. But for me,
this was an easy selection. The Miami Heat were expected to be
absolutely terrible. I mean, I think many were hoping they would
win 15 games this year. Pat Riley quit on them right
before the season started and Stan Van Gundy took over. They
started out slow, but a great second half not only got them near
the playoffs, but they have home court in the first round! The
Heat aren't exactly full of star players either. Yes, they are
in the Eastern Conference, but what the Heat did was impressive.
Second Place - Jerry Sloan, Third Place - Hubie Brown
Rookie of the Year -
Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
(Preseason Choice - Dwayne Wade)
Honestly, I wish this award could be split
between James and Carmelo Anthony. They both averaged 21
points a game. They both averaged about 6 rebounds a game.
Lebron James had more assists. Both the Cleveland Cavaliers
and the Denver Nuggets made playoff pushes with the Nuggets
getting the 8th spot in the West. I predicted that James would
average 15/5/5 and that people might be disappointed by that.
Well, he actually exceeded expectations. I feared that Carmelo
Anthony might be too arrogant and playing in Denver would bring
him down. Well, not only did he play at an All-Star level, but
he helped the Nuggets to respectability. But, don't forget that
my preseason pick, Dwayne Wade, had a really incredible
rookie season that would have won this award most years. Second
Place - Carmelo Anthony, Third Place - Dwayne Wade.
Most Improved Player -
Zach Randolph, Portland Trailblazers
(Preseason Choice - Mike Dunleavy, Jr)
A lot of people think that Andrei Kirilenko
should win this award. My thought is that he was pretty good
before, just hidden in Utah behind Stockton and Malone. Zach
Randolph went from barely playing to averaging 20 points and
10.5 rebounds a game. Second Place - Carlos Boozer, Third
Place - Brian Cardinal.
First Team All-NBA
C -
Shaquille O'Neal, Lakers
F -
Kevin Garnett, Wolves
F -
Tim Duncan, Spurs
G -
Peja Stojakovic, Kings
G -
Sam Cassell, Wolves
Second Team All-NBA
C -
Yao Ming, Rockets
F -
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
F -
Jermaine O'Neal, Pacers
G -
Kobe Bryant, Lakers
G -
Tracy McGrady, Magic
So, what do you think of my selections? Agree?
Disagree? E-mail me.
TWINS
WIN AGAIN
What the Twins really needed last night... they got.
A quality start from their "ace" starter, Brad Radke. The
team had really needed to use its bullpen too extensively all
season. But in his third start, Radke was on. He was able to give
the Twins 8 shutout innings, throwing just 112 pitches. He walked
one and gave up just four hits, and all of those were just singles.
He also got some great defensive support around the diamond, but
particularly from Corey Koskie and Michael Cuddyer,
who was in left field for the first time this year (Shannon
Stewart was the DH). As important was the fact that the Twins
were able to put Joe Nathan into a save situation. After a
walk to Jody Gerut, Nathan struck out the next two hitters
before inducing a fly out to end the game, preserving the Twins 3-0
win. It was Nathan's first save as a Twin, and just his second
career save. The other was way back in 1999 with the Giants.
On the offensive side of things, the Twins got a
single run in the 4th inning when Corey Koskie singled in
Jose Offerman (who had doubled earlier). They clung on to the
one run lead until Koskie connected on a long, solo home run in the
8th inning. It was his third of the season. (He also stole two bases
in the game) Jacque Jones added his third home run in the 9th
inning, to give the Twins the three run lead. Lew Ford added
two hits for the Twins.
Doug Mientkiewicz left the game after a first
inning double play. The Indians pitcher, Jason Stanford (who
was part of the USA Olympic Qualifying Team
last fall with Twins Joe Mauer, Jesse Crain and JD Durbin)
covered first and Mientkiewicz stepped on his heel, rolling his
ankle. He was taken to the hospital for precautionary X-rays and
they were negative. He is listed as day-to-day, but may need a day
or two off.
Tonight, the Twins start a home weekend series
against the Kansas City Royals. It is very early in the season, but
it is always good to win division games, especially against a team
that many believe will be the Twins steepest competition throughout
the season. Here are the series pitching matchups:
Friday - Jimmy Gobble versus
Johan Santana
Saturday - Kevin Appier (?) versus
Kyle Lohse
Sunday - Darrell May vs. Seth
Griesinger (although it is possible that Terry Mulholland
will start this game)
The Twins are back over .500 at
5-4, one game behind the White Sox and Tigers... Just 153 games to
go!! Any thoughts on the Twins?
E-mail me.
ROCHESTER
REPORT - The Redwings improved to 8-0 on
the season with a 4-3 win over Scranton/Wilkes Barre last night. As
usual, Justin Morneau was the big story. He went 2-3 with two
walks. The two hits were solo home runs. Should Doug Mientkiewicz
need to go on the Disabled List (which is unlikely), the Twins could
turn to Morneau and not lose a lot (actually, he should be the
everyday DH up there already, especially with Matthew Lecroy
on the DL). Morneau is hitting .516 at this point. Peter Munro
pitched five great innings before giving up a couple of runs in the
sixth. He walked one and struck out six. Adam Johnson pitched
a scoreless inning of relief. Jesse Crain showed he could
come back from a disappointing game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning for
the save. On a negative note, 3B Terry Tiffee was put on the
7 Day Disabled List with a sore back.
ROCKCAT REPORT - AA New Britain was rained out
last night...
again! They play this weekend at Norwich.
SWING THINGS - The Swing
of the Quad Cities scored the games final five runs to win a 9-8
decision over Kane County. Matt Moses was 3-5 with a double
and an RBI single in the 10th inning. Dusty Gomon and Ben
Pattee each had a home run and 3 RBI. Evan Meek struggled with
the start. He lasted just 1 1/3 innings and gave up two runs,
walking six! Billy Mauer was the lone pitching highlight. He
pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three. Levale
Speigner got the win pitching the final three innings giving up
just one unearned run and striking out four (while walking two and
giving up two hits. The Swing will be starting a four game series at
Burlington.
BASEBALL
THOUGHTS
Just a few thoughts on some of
yesterday's games:
Mike Lieberthal hit a
three-run homer in the bottom of the 8th inning off the Reds'
Ryan Wagner to give the Phillies their first win in their new
park. Lieberthal is pretty underrated. He's been solid for a few
years. The bigger surprise? David Bell hit a home run!
After getting shelled by the
Tigers on Opening Day, Roy Halladay turned the tables
yesterday, shutting down the Tigers for a complete game win. And
some were worried about him? I think he is just fine!
The White Sox and Royals played
another crazy game full of heroics. Magglio Ordonez hit a
game-winning home run in the 10th inning off DJ Carrasco to
give the Sox the 6-5 win. Who has the most home runs of these
players: Juan Gonzalez, Frank Thomas or Aaron
Rowand? Trick question, they all hit their first in this game.
Oh, I was watching Baseball 2Night the other night and Harold
Reynolds said something to the effect that Carlos Beltran
will become a star this year. Note - he has been a star in baseball
circles for a few years now!!!
Rich Harden was called up
before yesterday's A's/Rangers game. It didn't go so well for him. 6
runs on 11 hits in four innings. Ouch! What happened to
Harden? After his remarkable big league start last summer, he has
really struggled. He's got all the tools! On the other side,
Kenny Rogers doesn't have the tools, but he gets the job done!
He went to 2-0 with 7 innings of one run (unearned) ball.
Did you know Jack Wilson
is hitting .412 for the Pirates??? And he has two homers! Speaking
of non-hitters, how about Michael Barrett's two homer game
for the Cubs? We know Aramis Ramirez is a hitter. He has
proven that with three homers in the last two days against his
former team.
Montreal just finished playing
its "home" opener (so to speak), in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They
played the games in Hiram Bocachica (I mean Bithorn) Stadium
where runs were plentiful last season. In their three games against
the Florida Marlins, they lost by a combined score of 17-0! Not one
single run in three games?! Yesterday, they had just three hits and
two of them were from Jamey Carroll. Raise your hand if
you've even heard of him? What position does he play? Major League
Baseball has ruined the Expos. By taking forever to decide where the
team would be relocated and not allowing an owner to buy the team,
they have lost so much talent. Vlad Guerrero and Javier
Vazquez were just the most recent losses. Jose Vidro and
Orlando Cabrera are about all they have left, and with their
looming salary hikes, they won't be around much longer. It is really
unfortunate.
The
line on Arizona's Casey Daigle yesterday was better than his
big league debut last week. When you find out that yesterday he went
4 innings and gave up six runs, you better understand that it was
not much of a compliment. However, Casey Daigle is the luckiest man
alive. Why? Because he has made two career major league starts? No.
Because even if he gets sent back down to the minors, he is still
married to Jennie Finch!
He should never frown!
Pedro Martinez got
shelled yesterday, giving up 7 runs in 5 innings. Why does that make
me smile so big!? Ha! Ha!
The Orioles have a couple of
fantasy sleepers. I have previously mentioned that I think Luis
Matos could be really special. Their left fielder, Larry
Bigbie, will be a star too!
After being shut out by the
Braves John Thomson the night before, the Mets shut out the
Braves with a 4-0 win. Al Leiter got the win, but the
highlight was seeing him run out a double. He looked just shocked
that he had to run that far!!
Junior Spivey was an
All-Star two years ago. Last year he was hurt and struggled. It
really shouldn't be a big surprise if he has a huge season season in
the hitter-friendly Miller Park. And, Geoff Jenkins can
flat-out hit.
Seattle's Ryan Franklin
might be available in your league. If he is, strongly consider
picking him up! Last year, he was just 11-13, but had a 3.57 ERA.
His WHIP was 1.23 and opponents hit just .251 off him. He went 8
innings last night, giving up just two runs.
And finally, don't forget to
watch the Fox telecast of the first Red Sox/Yankees game of the year
tonight! 7:00 central time! It should be fun just to watch.
Unfortunately, Fox has decided to use Sponge Bob Square Pants to
help explain baseball stuff. Uggh!
Any other baseball thoughts you
would care to share? If so,
e-mail me.
AMERICAN
IDOL THOUGHTS
The American
Idol's elimination show was on last night. First, here were
my rankings and predictions.
How would I rank the performances?
1.) LaToya London
2.) Fantasia Barrino
3.) Jennifer Hudson
4.) Jasmine Trias
5.) John Stevens
6.) George Huff
7.) Jon Peter Lewis
8.) Diana Degarmo
Who will be The Bottom Three?
Diana Degarmo, Jasmine Trias, John Stevens
Who will be eliminated?
Diana Degarmo
Well, the actual results put Diana Degarmo, John
Stevens and Jon Peter Lewis in the bottom three. John Stevens
was sent back to safety before it was announced that JPL, Jon
Peter Lewis was going home. As you can see from my rankings, I
am not completely surprised. However, Lewis was fun, and I thought
he would last a little bit longer because of his charisma, something
Stevens has zero of. But, let's all be honest here. There are three
singers that are at the top of the talent that remains, maybe just
two. LaToya London and Fantasia Barrino are clearly
the top singers remaining. It could be argued that George Huff is
right there with them, but he really struggled on Wednesday night.
The others are really just jockeying for position, trying to finish
fourth!
Do you have any thoughts about American Idol? If so,
e-mail me.
THE APPRENTICE THOUGHTS
Last night was the two-hour finale of
The Apprentice.
Bill Rancic was hired by Donald Trump to head up a part of
his ever-expanding empire. For that to happen, Kwame had to
be fired. Bill had led a group in running a celebrity golf
tournament while Kwame was in charge of a Jessica Simpson
concert at the Trump Taj Mahal. Both are really incredible and I
think that both are great leaders, but in different ways. Anyway,
Bill was given the option of overseeing the building of a 90 story
Trump hotel in the heart of Chicago, or running an incredible golf
course on the Pacific coast in Los Angeles. The Chicago native chose
to stay home and work on the skyscraper. Either way, he was making
$250,000 for the year and also won a car.
I have to be honest, I really enjoyed The Apprentice.
It was fun to watch. Unlikely standard reality shows where there is
strategy and ugly scenarios, the best people ended up at the end of
the competition. Donald Trump fired at least one person per week
based on their performance in a business situation. The contestants
did not have that final say. American didn't make the decision.
Donald Trump, with the help of a couple of his leading employees,
made the decisions or who to eliminate.
One final note... Omarosa is a really non-good
person. First, she is suing Erika for using a racial term
(that, of course, Erika said she didn't say). Remember in an episode
where they were arguing. Erika made the comment, "Oh, isn't that the
pot calling the kettle black." That is a frequently used term for
when someone makes a comment about another person when the same
could accurately be said of themselves. Anyway, Omarosa accused her
saying that was a racist statement. Also, apparently Omarosa was
fired from four internships in the White House.
What were your thoughts on The Apprentice and its
finale last night. E-mail me.
Welp, that is it for today and
for this week. There may or may not be any updates to the site over
the weekend, but stop by and check at anytime. I invite any questions or comments you may
have about this site, about baseball, about fantasy sports, about
basketball, about me, about anything... by simply
clicking here to e-mail
me.
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