Answers

Well, this weekend in college football is a ....?  A stinker.  Ughhh!  Little of relevance today on college campuses throughout the US.  The big programs are paying lesser rans hundreds of thousands of dollars to quash them, padding their win totals, and us the viewing public are supposed to accept the blowout pageantry that is early season football.  Yikes.  Oh well guess its Alabama versus the field anyways.

One good game could be Arizona State versus Stanford.  The Cardinal have a high ranking, have played no one as of yet, and feature a running back (Gaffney) who took a year off to pursue baseball dreams.  Is he or Stanford the real deal?  We will find out tonight.   Are the Sun Devils ready to climb the ladder and enter the national focus or will they shoot themselves in the foot as they have in the past?  Will Oregon be challenged tonight?  Answers please.

We Talking Playoffs

Finally, it's playoff time! The matchups especially out West are intriguing. Here are some initial reactions:
Mia/Mil: ugh blowout
NY/Bos: should be a good one, veteran celts led by knick killer Pierce vs melo fuelled MSG
Chi/Bro: kinda intriguing, will the nets choke?
Atl/Ind: Hawks fold Pacers roll
Okc/Hou: the Harden bowl, he'll explode in this series
SaS/LaL: Are the Spurs healthy? Battle of the big men in this series
LaC/Mem: Grizz roll Clippers shame continues
Den/Gs: Salivating! Scoring! Up and down! I have no idea who will win this one think it all rests on Lawson.

Once the series begin (after game one) I will make some predictions for each. Back at ya on Monday. Time constraints hurt!

The Dregs

Now we wait!  Yippee!  NCAA b-ball ended on Monday night with a great game between Michigan and Louisville.  The NBA season is winding down and literally crawling to the finish.  Hockey is doing the same.  Baseball has begun, yet it is too early to take seriously as of yet.  The Masters is on the weekend but unless Tiger is in it at the end it is well, golf.  During slow periods like this all we can do I reflect on what we’ve seen and look ahead to what might be in the world of sports. 

-There has to be more to the Rutgers story right.  Another firing?  Evidence of a coverup?   I trust ESPN will get to the bottom of this.  The Sandusky mess certainly fuelled the desire in reporters and consumers for such a story on big time college athletics.  There’s nothing like seeing the big fall. 

-College athletes need to be paid.  They make their schools millions, pay them. 

-Skip v. Luke!  Who saw that one coming in the national championship game?  Reminded me of the movie Hoosiers. 

-Tough to gauge who will have solid pro careers out of the top players in the Final Four.  Carter-Williams is a poor man’s Shaun Livingston.  McGary did it for a 10 game stretch but he would be insane to now got pro, next year’s draft is strong.  Burke and Dieng probably are safe bets to be solid rotation players.

-The NBA draft looks weak.  Wow.  No given talent in this one.  Smart and Noel are the only ones that stick out to me. 

-Do think the Shaq retirement jersey snafu was intentional?

-Melo is on fire! Can the Knicks do some damage in the playoffs?  Book it.  They will get to the conference finals.  Our expectations for a high quality tilt with the Heat will be at a fervor pitch.  Sadly, for us all the Knicks will be steamrolled.  Thus, letting all of America down. 

-Geez my Dallas #8 seed pick was way off.  Looks like the Lakers will get it as Utah has shown no heart over the past week.  I for one am disappointed.  Imagine Kobe’s comments should the Lakers miss the players.

-MWP to the surprise of everyone is back.  The guy is a warrior.  Or is he looking for employment next year? 

-Hockey!  Ovechkin is back.  Wondered a few weeks ago if he still elite, a flash in the pan? 

-Ottawa is fading fast.  Like the young talent though. 

-Will Crosby be back?  My guess is yes just in time for the playoffs wearing a cage. 

-Love the intensity of playoff hockey. Can’t wait!

-The Red Sox are off to a good start.  I can’t bring myself to judge or make any declarations yet about this team.  Except.  Farrell will help with Bucholtz and Lester. 

-Justin Upton MVP. 

-Does anyone care about NCAA spring football?  Not me. 

Boom B Ball Time

  Love this time of year.  College Basketball is in full meltdown hysteria mode and the NBA Playoff picture is coming into focus.

NCAA
-The Kevin Ware injury was horrific.  Never thought it was possible to do that on a court.  Ughh.  Football maybe but hoops no.  No one was prepared for that.  Wishing the kid a speedy recovery.
-Louisville might as well have had a home game considering that crowd in Indy.  Yes I am a bitter Duke fan.
-Onto the Jabari Parker era.
-Where is Maple Jordan aka Andrew Wiggins going to school next year?  I hope it's not Carolina.
-Louisville seems to be in steamroller mode.  Siva and Smith are forces of nature and Dieng covers the rim.
-Love the Shockers.  Wichita State has depth and boards.
-Louisville wins it.
-Michigan needs to solve the Syracuse zone.  Will Stauskas get open looks?  Will the zone neutralize McGary?
-Orange win behind swats from Keita and a big game from Fair.
-Louisville beats out the Orange in the title game.
-Alford at UCLA.  Good luck Steve.
-It's NBA Draft declaration season.  This class is weak and unpolished.  Bennett from UNLV seems raw but he has the skills.  It will be between the ears with him but he seems like a fine Canadian product.  The rest aside from Noel of Kentucky really don't register as NBA talents with me.  We will see.

NBA
-The streaks are over.  Both Miami and Denver lost last week.
-Would have been nice to see the Heat streak make it to San Antonio but instead we treated to sitting stars by the Alamo.
-Miami's streak was out of this world like Lebron.  Wow.  The Heat will not be challenged until the conference finals.  Indy or NY might have a chance to test them a bit.
-Rooting for a MIA/SA final.
-Clippers seem to be falling.  Just like last year's, is Del Negro the issue, end to the season?
-I think CP3 is a bit overrated.  A great player no doubt.  But top five in the league?  I'd rather have Irving, Rose, and Rondo when healthy.
-The race for #8 in the West is a dandy.  I can't imagine the Laker's will hold onto it given the year they've had.
-Utah has some depth but can Mo Williams be trusted late in games?
-The number 8 seed will go to the Mav's-  Dirk wants it as much as Kobe and he has a better roster around him by a hair.
-Loved typing that last one.  Go Celtics!

Ball Thoughts

-Big game tonight at Cameron as Duke takes on Miami.  Grudge match.  The Dukies were blown out in Miami.  Will Kelly lace them up for the Blue Devils?

-Gonzaga is not for real.                                            

-Georgetown may be the class of the Big East. Louisville is coming on strong. 

-My how NC State has fallen.  Bubble team?

-Look for a classic team Final Four: Indiana, Duke, Georgetown, and a non-classic team in Oklahoma State.  Marcus Smart is a fav of mine.

-Memphis and Indiana are hard teams to watch in the regular season.  Both teams are plodding and play great defense with above average rebounding.  The caveat is that everyone man’s up in the playoffs so look for these teams to underwhelm in the playoffs.

-Denver has a similar problem given it’s up tempo style of play.  Look for them to be eliminated early.

-Thinking the Lakers catch Houston and get the eighth seed in the West.  The Rockets are still too inexperienced with the exception of a still very young Harden. 

-Tony Parker is out four weeks with an ankle sprain.  I think the Spurs will keep it together and at worst lose a playoff seed in his absence.  They will need him ready to roll for the playoffs or they will be toast.

-Loved the Miami Heat Harlem Shake.  Costumes were amazing. 

-Rudy Gay has now been indoctrinated to the Toronto losing ways.  Welcome to Raptorland! 

-Valiciunas is an impressive rook.  Loves to bang.

-The Bradely Beal/John Wall backcourt has potential. 

-Doug Collins sealed his exit in Philly with some midweek diatribes to the media.  Young ears tire of his act after a few seasons.

-What happens with the hairdo freak?  Does Bynum stay in Philly? Do they want him after trading for a dude who is out all year?  Does he hit the open market and leave?  Guy seems to be a giant douche.  

Dimes

COLLEGE

-Nerlens Noel, the prize of the next NBA draft, went down with a torn ACL last night.  Forcing these guys to go to college for one year is looking more ridiculous as time spills on.  Nerlens probably leaves Kentucky next week and starts rehabbing once his surgery is done.  To stay qualified for his one year with the Wildcats Noel took maybe one class?  His draft stock might fall a little but he still will be a high lottery pick.

-Big Ten teams are hammering each other.  Michigan was the latest victim, getting walloped by Michigan State last night.  Indiana seems to have regained its position of dominance in the conference.

-I wonder if Miami can pull it off and produce in big games.  The conference and NCAA tournament are coming up.  The Hurricanes have never been to these heights before.  Be wary of the ledge. 

-Final Four- Indiana, Duke, Michigan State, Florida

PRO

-Rudy Gay is proving to be a closer, something the Raptors have sorely lacked over the last decade.  Sure the win was over a depleted Nuggets roster but a W is a W. 

-Amir Johnson has improved at a steady pace over the years and deserves due credit. 

-Indiana is a tough physical team.  That being said it was a pleasure seeing the Raptors match their physicality and pull out a win last Friday night.

-Tyler Hansborough is the dirtiest player in the league.  Lambeerish. 

-Lebron has been on an unreal record setting pace over the last six scoring 30 plus and shotting 60 percent plus over that span.  The shooting has been astounding and I am amazed that Wilt Chamberlain did not hold the record.  Seems like he should have had 30 in a row.

-Jordan/James comparisons keep popping up.  Not yet Lebron! 

-What a streak for the Celtics!  This team is either on fire or ice cold. 

-Golden State is crashing.  The heightened defensive effort we saw earlier in the year is gone.  Pretenders.

-Look for the Clips to start teasing us and entering the West race. 

Ball Thoughts

-The Clippers are looking like the Clippers of old.  Losing with regularity.  Chris Paul has been out for far too long with a knee cap bruise.  It has to be something more serious.  Let’s take them off the title Thang

contention list. 

-Memphis has taken themselves out of the running with the Gay trade or have they?  Things may take a bit of time to settle down but Prince may actually be more beneficial to the team than Gay.  A savvy vet who will make the right play help to emphasize their interior strength.  It all will hinge on the maturity and development of Conely.  Can he and the Grizz shock some folks in the playoffs. 

-Chicago and Indiana are unreal great defensive teams.  Granger and Rose are still out.  I hope Rose comes back at the same level athletically.  Jimmy Butler has been a pleasant surprise for the Bulls.  All Indiana does is continue to win games.  George is a star.  I think Granger should be traded for pieces, I have never loved his shot first hero ball mentality.  Hibbert is overpaid, let’s face it he will never be who we thought he might develop into.  And the Pacers continue to give the Heat problems.  Either Chicago or Indiana is going to give the Heat/Knicks a very big scare if not an elimination from this years playoffs.  Book it.

-Who are the Brooklyn Nets?  I have no idea.  Lopez looks like the second coming some nights.  Sell this teams chances.

-Danny Ferry should be dealing in Atlanta.  This team is finished.  For the love of god unload Josh Smith and get some pieces.  Can you imagine how infuriating it would be to coach Smith?  Loafers delight. 

-Not sure what to make of the Celtics run without Rondo.  Terry is put in better situations without Rondo around.  Pierce, of the old man’s game, has been a treat this year.  I expect they will fall back to earth.  If I was Ainge I would be dealing.  What’s the point of an #8 seed?  The roster is old it is time to rebuild.  The aged pieces have to be dealt.  Sad truth. 

-Dwight Howard is who we thought he was.  A goof with no heart. 

-The Lakers will make the playoffs despite the mess it’s been.  They have been playing better ball.  Earl Clark is gives them youth and athleticism something they sorely lack. 

-That was a youthful Kobe facial in Brooklyn. 

-Last nights Golden State/Houston game was fun.  Reminded me of Doug Moe ball. 

-Bogut is key for the Warriors.  If he gets back to form, watch out. 

-OKC and SAN are lonely at the top of the West as the rest have fallen.

-Kentucky is creeping back onto the scene behind the swatting of Nerlens. 

-Kind of wish a team would step up and dominate in NCAA ball but then I realize it will make for a remarkable tourney.

-Ohio State is bothersome.  Thomas has a limited game and I find it shocking that this chucker gets the praise he does.

-Love Oklahoma State.  Smart is a star and Nash reminds me of Metta World Peace. 

-New Final Four: Indiana, Oklahoma State, Butler, Kansas.