Clash of the Titans: 2010 NBA Finals

This NBA finals marks the 12th time in which these two basketball giants have met on the hardwood during the finals. Of those 12 meetings the boys from Bean Town have won 9 of those championship crowns. Most notably were the rumbles in the 80s between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson that arguably ended up saving the NBA. Today's "legends in the making' wear shorts that are thankfully a bit longer but have match ups that are just as riveting. If your a betting man, this one may be just too close to call as both teams have grown since their last 2008 match up. Here are our predictions for how this renewed rivalry will play out.

Adrienne- Lakers.

John- Yes, Kobe is Kobe, and Pau is lightyears better than he was in 2008. However, Garnett seems to be at or near 100%, Perkins and Davis have matured substantially, and Rondo is now a premier point guard and master of the steal. The Celtics have a defensive edge over the Lakers which should provide an overall advantage; Boston has allowed 10 fewer points per game in the postseason. Potential X-factors: Fish, 'Sheed (should I actually want him shooting 3's? I'm so confused), and Artest (offensively). Artest has been playing good defensive ball, so it will be up to Allen on the perimeter, Garnett inside, and Rondo on the fast break to make up for what could be limited productivity from Pierce. Celtics in an EPIC 7-game series, a show only the Lakers and Celtics can offer. Is anyone selling tickets for game 6 in the Garden? Or game 7 next to Mr. Nicholson? Boston.

Sport4Prophet- And so for the billionth time we have the Boston Celtics vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. As a former Sixers fan I am predisposed to hate both those teams but I will try and put that aside. This is a case that we often see in the NBA where the best two TEAMS will make it to the Finals and the Lakers and Celtics fit that bill. I think it really comes down to the matchups in this series: how Artest does about slowing down Paul Pierce, how Gasol does about the physicality of the Boston front line, how negatively Rondo and Bynum are affected by their injuries with their respective matchups, how good Bryant is able to chase Ray Allen off of screens without exhausting himself, and finally how much Garnett really has left in the tank. This could be an even better Finals than 2008 as both teams are now more comfortable with their rosters and most of the players have been upgraded. In the end I believe that whoever wins game 1 will most likely win the series as a. Phil Jackson never loses a series when winning game 1 (47-0) and b. I think that game 1 represents the Celtics best chance to win one on the road. Unfortunately, if I had to guess, I would pick the Lakers in 6 as the Celtics just seem a little too banged up and the Black Mamba seems too focused not to go for the kill. Ring number 5 for Kobayashi and the discussion for best Laker of all time begins. Lakers in 6.

Girmay- This will be a match for the ages. Aside from the two team's physical ability and talent for the game, you can tell they both are willing to die for it. What happens when your dream comes at the expense of another's? At the end of the day, the one who wants it more will win. I don't think anyone wants this more than Kobe. Look at this dude in interviews. In his opinion a Western Conference Championship means nothing. He is focused. He will get his 5th. One more until he equals the man whose shadow he's been playing in. Lakers in 6

Michelle- The anticipation behind this series is honestly enough for me. At the end of the day, I know that it is going to be a knock down drag out. Both of these teams have been tried and tested in the finals. And both have changed a bit since the 2008 when the Celtics came out on top. Gasol and Garnett down low should be a physical match Kobe will probably do some Kobe-esque things to keep us all on the edge of our seats. I also have my money on Perkins getting at least one technical before we get to game 4. At the end of the day I am hoping for the Celtics to pull through; in part because I’m a fan of the underdog and not too long ago we all (myself included) didn’t think the Celtics could make it this far. My brain tells me that I’m probably wrong, but let’s hope I’m not. Celtics in 7.

Marcus- Honestly, I don't really even have rational thoughts on this one. Even if rationally I thought the Celtics were going to win, I wouldn't be able to say that. But to try to get something rational out, I think that Rondo will give the Lakers a substantial amount of trouble, but that the series will likely come down to Kobe's ability to control the game and to give his team whatever they need. I think Pau Gasol is considerably stronger and more talented than he was the last time we saw this matchup. Lakers in 6

Who Rules the Castle if the King is Gone? (Conference Finals Predictions)

Well, we've finally finished with the second round and instead of the story of the league being the match-ups for the next round, most sports analysts are discussing what's next for Lebron James and where he'll end up . Luckily for you though we here at Every Day is a Sports Day will buck the trend and focus on the games still left to play. In this round we have a couple of regulars and a couple of surprises. Most people penciled in the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers into at least the conference finals this year. But a few months ago no one would have thought the Boston Celtics or the Phoenix Suns would have made it this far, especially not through the teams they had to endure in the semifinals. The supposedly old and slow Celtics beat the King and his minions while the Suns exorcised the San Antonio demon that has plagued them for years. Now we get to see if these two underdogs can produce some excitement in this round and perhaps knock out the two returning Finals participants. Here are our predictions as to who will advance to play for the NBA Championship:

Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic - Celtics won game 1 - 92-88

Girmay:  I just have one question: who on the Celtics gonna stop Dwight? Magic will take the Celtics in 6

Marcus:  I see this new(for one series against rather sub-par competition) slightly smarter and less foul-prone Dwight Howard having a great series against Kevin Garnett, drawing double teams and then...well, it's lights out as the 3 pointers fly.  If this basketball-playing Vince Carter guy continues to show up, as opposed to the one who played the rest of the season...look out, this could be even less than six games.  Boston's key strength will come in Rondo.  I think that defensively, the Celtics will look considerably less formidable against the Magic as they'll have to guard everyone on the floor, rather than just LBJ. I think this is a 6 game series going to Orlando.

Michelle: Boston fans will continually tell you that the Celtics are a "playoff team" and I'm starting to believe it.  I think they have found their rhythm as a team again and have a developed an offense with several potential threats.  And to be honest, I wish I could say that I was really watching the Magic this post season but I haven't I because blowouts bore me.  I'm not sure if the lack of real competition has help or hurt Orlando. Boston will win. 

Sport4Prophet's Pick: The Magic have the offense while the Celtics provide the defense. The Celtics are playing as if this is their last chance to taste championship glory again while the Magic were able to roll off 8 straight in their quest to avenge last years Finals defeat. The Celtics were the best road team in the league this year and the Magic have the deepest bench in the game right now. So who will prevail? I believe youth wins out over experience, as the Celtics just run out of steam down the stretch. Magic in 7.

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Girmay: I just think the Lakers are too big for the Suns to take on. The Suns have a better point guard but that's about it. Lakers will take the Suns in 5.

Marcus: I think Phoenix is going to have the exact same issue that Utah had with LA.  Size and Kobe.  No one can match up with 2 7 footers simultaneously on the floor, and 3 is just unfair.  I see point guard being very interesting.  Nash will have a good series abusing Derek Fisher...Derek Fisher will have a decent series abusing (to whatever extent he's capable of) Steve Nash.  The one Laker concern I see is more or less Pau Gasol not being able to play physically enough against Amare, but I've always thought that talent trumps physicality, and Gasol has that in ever-expanding spades  They also have no Kobe stopper of any sort at all...not that anyone does. LA in 4 + Number of Games the Lakers take off (same estimate as last series, except they didn't take any off).

Michelle: I think I'm pulling for Kobe and Company.  They have had a long break to recovery from being banged up and bruised so all the great things that we saw from them in the Utah series should be taken to the next level. The thing to watch her is if Robin Lopez coming off the bench becomes the X factor for the Suns to pull the upset. Lakers win.

Sport4Prophet's Pick: As much as I would love to see Steve Nash and company finally get a chance at a ring, it just doesn't seem likely that they can overcome the Lakers might. If you have to depend on Jason Collins to stop anybody even a hobbled Andrew Bynum you have to be worried. If Robin Lopez comes back the series may become more interesting but as it stands right now with the way the Lakers are currently playing the Suns only stand the slimmest of chances. Sadly, Lakers in 5.

Good Ol' Michael Jordan Called LeBron's Fate

Warning, the following is a rant about tonight's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics:

WHAT KIND OF GAME WAS THIS? The fact that the Cavs are the number one team in the league, with the 2x reigning MVP, playing like this wasn't a conference semi-finals game (let alone the most important game in their franchise's history) makes. me. sick.

The issue here isn't LeBron James- the issue is the NBA and the poisonous notion that champions don't have to win championships. When we watch NCAA games, those cats play like their lives are on the line. If they're missing shots, at least you know they were killing themselves trying. Blood. Sweat. And (if you were watching this year's March Madness) a whole lot of tears. In the NBA, how big is the incentive to win? When he loses, LeBron still earns 16 million + millions more in endorsements. He, and all of us, already call him "the Chosen One", the "King", and Nike says we are his "witnesses". Michael Jordan in a 2006 interview with 60 Minutes said,

"The kids today, they're being given things that they haven't earned. I think the game is being cheated because of the success that's being given prior to them earning it."

I'm sorry- I'm not hating but the fact that LeBron sits in interviews after losing some of the most important games of his life (barely trying) with diamond studded watches and bracelets adorning his wrists, and tattoos like "The Chosen One" on his body, takes away from the incentive, determination and drive to win a title and leaves HUGE fans of his (like me) utterly disappointed.

So to the NBA, Nike, and the rest of the world: PLEASE stop treating players (not just LeBron) like they're God until they reach a status that is deserving of it. Otherwise, we drastically, drastically take away from the fiery, competitive spirit of the sport that we love and instead are left with watered-down games riddled with turn-overs, lackadaisical athleticism, and players who are not willing to die for the trophy's everlasting glory.

Michael Jordan was willing to die for the trophy as evidenced by his legendary flu game, the "love for the game" clause in his basketball contract, and his returning to the game twice after retirement. Kobe Bryant has that drive too- you see it in those bone-chilling stares he gives his opponents. It's different watching guys like them. LeBron may have them beat on natural talent, but he needs to do something about his drive. The heart of a champion isn't created through premature praise and sickeningly huge endorsements. The heart of a champion is earned despite of all these things because one knows deep in his soul that he will be nothing more than a whisper in the ears of history unless the chimes of his championships reverberate throughout time.

It is our job as fans to remind them of this. I don't blame LeBron. I blame us.

-The Supersonic Zombie, Girmay

Possible Instant Classic: Game 6 in Boston

Tonight we shall embark on what may be a fork in the road moment not only for the 2010 NBA playoffs but possibly also for the next decade in the NBA. When the Boston Celtics take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Beantown there may be more on the line than just a Conference Finals berth. There is the possibility that we could be facing the rebirth of a Boston team that many (including myself) declared as dead as recently as a few weeks ago. There is also the possibility (and in my opinion a good one) that we may be seeing Lebron's last game in a Cleveland uniform if he does well and his teammates let him down. I know it's a little ridiculous to take so much from one game but after the near calamity that occurred after game 5 I believe anything is possible.


So far I've heard at least a million theories regarding why Lebron did so badly last game. Here are my favorites:

• Lebron was suffering from depression as a result of the pain medication for his elbow injury or even he accidentally took too much and was just too drugged up to play.
• Lebron was mad at Mike Brown for not efficiently doling out playing time to the necessary people in their game 4 loss and has lost confidence in him. 
• Since he's going to be a free agent and leave, he's tanking to make it easier on the Cleveland fans.

Mostly ridiculous stuff as you can see and I doubt we will find out if any of them are true but still funny all the same. People are ready to crucify James for his performance, even though he is only one member of that team. One thing that did concern me about Lebron in that game is that he seemed not as into the game as usual. Some have mentioned his lack of involvement in two skirmish that occurred with him in the game (Shaq-Perkins)(Williams-Rondo). Some spoke about his continuous long looks at the ceiling of the Quicken Loans Arena. And these things aren't typical of Lebron especially in the playoffs. Everyone is ready to label him the new Karl Malone instead of the new Jordan or Magic or Bird. The problem with that is that, in the case of Magic, Bird and Jordan, they all had Robins to pick up in games that they were doing bad in. Lebron has over-the-hill Shaq, Mo Williams (the world's worst All Star selection), or Antawn "I have never been good in big moments, ask Wizards fans" Jamison.

So what happens if the Cavs lose? Who knows but the most likely locations I could see Lebron in are

• Chicago which is unfortunate because I just feel like the Jordan shadow would always be there
• Cleveland as he could make the most money there and maybe he just doesn't want to go out this way. He would become a pariah in Cleveland if he leaves...on par with Art Modell
• The Knicks, which is ridiculous if he wants to win now because they literally have no one else.. or 
• the future Brooklyn Nets (who I actually wouldn't mind especially after they win the draft lottery and draft John Wall *wink*) Could you imagine a Wall-James-BrookLopez combo plus throw in some 2nd tier free agent as well?????????? sorry my heart just stopped.

My thought: Lebron should come out firing as he usually shows up in elimination games but we must remember this is a team sport. It just feels like Boston understands that they must win this game tonight and cannot let it go back to Cleveland. But it's really up in the air.  Would anyone watching the NBA at the All Star break believe we could possibly hear these words uttered : It's the Celtics, It's the Suns, It's the NBA Finals!!! Just saying it could happen. One thing for sure though, David Stern must be peeing in his pants right now.

Check me out on twitter tonight (EDIASDblog) as I'll be tweeting about the game throughout the evening. Hopefully its a good one.

Poll Question: Is LeBron LeBroken?

At the beginning of the year Bill Simmons wrote a piece spotlighting LeBron that not only captured what set the reigning MVP apart from current legend in the making, Kobe Bryant, but also what makes LeBron King- his command over a room. And more importantly, his command over the court.

But last night we saw something very different from King James. It wasn't even as though he was having a bad day on the court and just didn't get a chance to find his groove. He has had bad games before, all the great ones do, but last night LeBron seemed like just another guy in a jersey on the court. There was no passion, no aggression, no fight.

In the post season, James, as an individual, has an impeccable record. In 2007 in the Eastern conference finals against the Celtics he scored an awe-inspiring 45 points (the Celtics went on to win). And in last years conference finals he averaged 38.5 points. Regardless of whether his team got the W, James was/is winning and fighting.

But last night he scored a mere 15 points, his passes were all over the place, he appeared to be mentally checked out in the huddle, and he was the first guy off the court. And today, everyone is wondering if the king is putting away his crown for the season.

Maybe the Celtics just found a way to stop LeBron. Maybe there is actually some merit to "elbow gate." Maybe he just can't carry the weight of the Cavs on his back any longer and is ready for his first class ticket to free-agency. Or maybe, and in my opinion less likely, there is something more to this new blemish on LeBron's nearly flawless record.

So is everyone just over reacting? Is there any merit to all the concern and raised eyebrows? Should we give the guy a break, and chalk this up to being just another bad game, nothing more nothing less?

Poll Question: Best Semifinals Performance

The Semifinals have been quite the roller coaster with 3 sweeps already complete and a heavily contested battle between the Celtics and the Cavs. A few big name players have stepped up seal the deal for their team, but who's semi final performance was worthy of them earning the title of best Round 2 performances.

Here are the contenders

• Kobe Game 3- The the battle royale that was game 3 versus the Jazz, Kobe Bryant reminded us why he is Kobe Bryant. After starting off the game scoring the Lakers first nine points, Bryant had 20 points at the half, which was four more than the rest of the Laker's starters combined. He went on to be strong down the stretch including hitting a 3-pointer with 54 seconds left to tie it at 106. Bryant ended the game with 35 points.

• Rondo Game 4- Rajon Rondo carried the Boston Celtics with a triple double (29pts, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists) to a Game 4 victory. Making him the 3rd player ever to reach this mark in the playoffs.

• LeBron Game 3- James with is "injured" elbow in tow had his way with the Celtics when he scored 21 of his 38 points in the first quarter at the Garden. The 21 points in a quarter was a franchise post season record.

• Dragic Game 3- Dragic's 26 point performance tied for the third highest point total by a reserve 24 years or younger in the playoffs. Although that seems like quite a few caveats it is impressive to have a player his age who is not a starter put up numbers like that and to shut down Tony Parker defensively. He also had the second lowest minute total fo any player scoring 20 points as a reserve under the age of 24.

My vote goes for Rondo. With all the focus usually put on the Celtics Big 3 (Garnett, Allen, and Pierce) the one many used to refer to as the "little guy" showed that he could/would be the force that the Cavaliers would have to reckon with. He was quick, smart, and his passes were impeccable. Not to mention that as the smallest guy on the court he still manages to lead in rebounds. He is the must watch guy for the rest of this series.

What performance do you think topped the list for Round 2? Are there any players that I'm missing?

The Heart Stopping Back-and-Forth (LAL-UTA Game 3)

One would be foolish to say we haven't seen a lot in this NBA Playoff season. After all, we've seen blow outs (Magic v.s. Hawks Games 1 & 3), we've seen upsets (OKC taking LA to a Game 6, Spurs taking down the Mavs), and on a few momentous occasions, we've even seen history made (Magic get first playoff sweep in franchise history, LeBron becomes youngest player to ever win back to back MVPs, and Kobe- despite the unbelievable number of superstars to grace the pristine court of the Staples Center- sets the record for all time scoring leader of Los Angeles).

Despite these accomplishments, however, not until last night's game between the Lakers and the Jazz did we experience the heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, stomach-turning excitement of a classic back-and-forth. Beginning halfway through the 3rd quarter, I counted at least 15 times when the lead was exchanged. If that's not crazy enough for you die-hard basketball fans, in the last 2 minutes (120 seconds of game play), I counted 7 (count'em 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, SEVEN) times when the lead was traded-off or tied. These two titanic teams battled it out into the very last second of the 4th quarter, neither one of them willing to accept the crushing defeat of losing by 1 point in a playoff game. Ultimately, the Jazz missed a final jumpshot and a last .1 second lay-in to hear the screeching tone of the buzzer, signifying the beginning of an agonizing night riddled with "what-ifs" and "we could haves". But alas, you didn't.

"That was quite a game," said head coach Phil Jackson, "It was fun for fans to watch. It wasn't great for coaches to watch."

We must never belittle the importance of the classic back-and-forth. It is what fans want to see. Even fans who think they want their home-team to blow a team away, actually want a back-and-forth. Of course they want their team to come out on top in the end, but they feel like they've gotten their moneys-worth when they spent that game shouting at the top of their lungs, spilling bear on their neighbor, professing their hatred for their favorite player, then their love, then their hatred, then their love (i.e. "he never follows through, he's gonna blow it..." and then "OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, CAN'T NOBODY STOP KOBE!"). It's human nature: we get bored with predictability. For us to truly appreciate good times, a little bit of bad has got to be in the mix.

"Sunny days wouldn't be special, if it wasn't for rain/ Joy wouldn't feel so good, if it wasn't for pain..." - 50 Cent, Many Men

I really hope we get to see more 4th quarter back-and-forths this playoff season- no other phenomenon in sports is quite as entertaining.

Watch Video and Recap Here

- The Supersonic Zombie (Girmay)

Photo of the Day: Players get Political "Los Suns"

The Phoenix Suns were adorned in their "Los Suns" jerseys last night in honor of Cinco de Mayo and in the midst of a political whirlwind over Arizona's recent immigration law. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed one of the toughest laws against illegal immigration on April 23. The law requires police to stop anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant and has drawn tough criticism across the country.

This was not the first time that the Suns have worn this alternative uniform, which has been seen during their "Noche Latina." Suns owner Sarver stated that the team wore the jersey's again last night "to honor our Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona and, and our nation." But the jersey were stood for a bit more than just the holiday. The players on the Suns unanimously voted to also use the moment to stand as a united front against Governor Brewer's new law.

"However intended, the result of passing this law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question," Sarver said Tuesday in a statement "and Arizona's already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them."Despite Tuesday’s outspoken support of the gesture from those in both organizations — Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said that allowing the police to ask people for their papers “rings up images of Nazi Germany” — the topic of Los Suns jerseys was one that both coaches sought to distance themselves from Wednesday.

While many people including the NBA have shown verbal support of this uniform choice and the united front the Suns are showing, some fans believe that politics should stay out of the arena and the players should focus on what they are paid to do, and just play basketball.

And Then There Were 8: Round 2 NBA Playoff Predictions

What an exciting first round of play.... We bore witness as the Spurs and Jazz rose from the pits that the doubters had cast them into and the epic collapses of the Nuggets and Mavericks, two teams people expected to coast through their match-ups. We saw young guns like the Bucks and Thunder push their more talented opponents in the Hawks and the Lakers. We may have even seen Dwyane Wade's last game in a Heat jersey or the foundations of something real in Chicago (perhaps these two are related...). Regardless of what we saw in the first round one thing is for sure: there's nothing like NBA playoff basketball.

It would have been ideal to get these predictions out before the start of the second round but with the mess that is the NBA playoff schedule, we will have to deal with it. Only the defending conference champions were unanimous picks... So without further ado, your second round playoff predictions:

Thunder Clap!: Photo of the Day + A Game 4 Retrospective.

On the eve of a crucial game 5 in Los Angeles that will prove if the Thunder are real threats to the Lakers attempt at repeating as champions, I wanted to share with you the greatest sporting experience I have ever had: Game Four in the Ford Center!

Playoff Highlights: They're Back!

Although the majority of us favored the Celtics in our First Round Picks most of us (besides the obviously biased John) were skeptical of how this aged team would do in the playoffs. Most people thought that the Celtics didn't have enough "fight" in them; that they didn't want it bad enough. But from the first game of this series against the Heat, the Celtics of yesteryear have been making a comeback.

Tonight, Paul Pierce hit a 21 foot jumper at the buzzer to beat the Heat 100-98. But Pierce didn't seem to understand why everyone was so surprised "That's a shot I hit a number of times in playoffs and regular season," he stated after. "I told the coaches, 'Give me the ball on the right side.' I got my sweet spot, made sure there wasn't any time left and drained it." Easy as that.

With 3 games under in the W column, people all over the city of Boston are grabbing their brooms and talking about a sweep.

Game 1 Observations

I awoke today and decided to rehash some of the memories and observations from the feast of basketball we were able to enjoy this weekend.

Phoenix 100 – Portland 105

- We saw a good amount of zone in this game being played by Portland which in turn forced the Suns to take a high number of long 2’s with hands in their faces.

- The lack of Robin Lopez definitely showed last night on the defensive and rebounding end of the game.  While Jarron Collins does a pretty good job against conventional post up big men, he had problems dealing with Portland’s athletic bigs last night. And offensively he is just a complete nonfactor.

- Andre Miller had a ridiculous game and it seems that he is actually playing better without Brandon Roy around. His veteran presence and savvy made a big impact on the game yesterday. He and Jarryd Bayless combined for 49 points.

- The Blazers were able to do exactly what they wanted to do in terms of controlling the pace of the game. They demonstrated the ability to play both an up-tempo game as well as a slow pace, grind-it-out kind of game.  If the Suns are going to take back control of this series they need be more assertive with their gameplan because on Sunday they just seemed one step behind the Trailblazers.

Dallas 100 – San Antonio 94

- Anytime Nowitzki is lights out like he was last night it’s going to be hard to beat the Mavericks. He ended up with 36 points off of going 12 for 14 from the field and 12 for 12 from the free-throw line.

- Unfortunately for San Antonio their only major contributors were Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker.  You only got 23 points from the rest of the team and if that is going to continue to be the case you can probably expect them to be swept.

- George Hill still is not ready to go off of that injured ankle and for some reason it took Pops around 20 minutes to recognize this and he left scoreless.

- The hack-a-Dampier method seemed to work a little bit but I can’t see it being a series changing strategy.

Los Angeles 87 – Oklahoma City 79

- This game really came down to Durant having problems the entire game getting any sort of good looks. The rest of the Thunder will need to step up because the Lakers will literally take a defender off of anybody on the Thunder to help on Durant. If other Thunder players start to show some life it should take some of that attention away.

- The Thunder have to worry about the dominance that Gasol and Bynum are able to display up against their bigs. Bynum is apparently healed from injury as he turned in a great game on Saturday and he and Gasol basically held down the painted area.

- It must have been really confusing if you were watching the box score periodically with this one because the score kept oscillating between a blowout and a very close game every few minutes

Boston 85 – Miami 76

- KG really needs to get past his whole alpha dog mentality because he’s just not there anymore. He spent the whole yelling at anybody on the floor, which is usually ok except that he’s not as dominant as he used to be and looked really bad on defense. And eventually all of that energy got him kicked out and now suspended for a game

- Is it bad that I think they might have a better chance to win the next game without him?…

-  Wade repeatedly carved up the slow almost geriatric Celtics defense at will for a while there.

- The Heat had Boston where they wanted them after the first half but proceeded to score only 32 points in the second half.

- The Celtics came out sluggish however after waking up they played great team defense swarming around the ball and causing a lot of Miami turnovers which then translated to easy points. Defense was the key to their comeback.

Denver 126 – Utah 113

-  JR Smith is ridiculously hot and cold but on Saturday he was on fire. He went nuts on the Jazz and just kept on swishing dagger after dagger. He had 2 points at the start of the 4th quarter and 20 points at the end.

- Without AK-47, Carmelo Anthony scored all over the Jazz and ended up with 42 points. There really seemed no answer to him all game long.

- Seeing Okur go down and finding out that he is out for the playoffs sways my prediction to the Nuggets now because it just seems like there are now too many injuries for the Jazz to overcome.

Atlanta 102 – Milwaukee 92

- First thing to note: Carlos Delfino was assigned to guard Josh Smith in the post and that’s just not a good idea for sooo many reasons.

- Brandon Jennings decided to shake off all that shooting rust he showed in the latter half of the season and went off for 34 points. Unfortunately this strategy will probably not work to win games because it’s going to take a team effort to beat the Hawks.

- The Hawks came out firing and killed Milwaukee in the 1st quarter with an inspiring team effort. Although Milwaukee got back into the game late, this game didn’t present too much uncertainty to the viewers

- Not to rag on the Collins brothers, but I found out later that Jason Collins was the only Hawk NOT to play in this game. Looks like the Lopez brothers don’t have much competition in terms of the best brother combination to come out of Stanford..

Cleveland 96 – Chicago 83

- Shaq looked a lot better in this game than he has all of the regular season so apparently the time he took off will pay off in the long run and hopefully this means he will be a huge factor in the games to come. Rasheed Wallace should have taken a page out of Superman’s book.

- Derrick Rose played a passionate game and was all over the court. He ended up scoring 28 points and dishing 10 assists but unfortunately his Bulls team never looked like they were close to knocking off the Cavs in this game.

- You can see the intensity that LeBron and the Cavs are playing with in the fight that there has been so many confrontations and extracurricular activity between them and the Bulls.

Orlando 98 – Charlotte 89

- Dwight Howard had 8 blocks in the first half and looked like he would easily break the playoff record of 10 set by Hakeem Olajuwon however I think that the beating he was taking inside eventually got to his head and made him start to get into foul trouble.  He actually ended up with only 5 points

- I don’t know what is going on with Vince Carter. He didn’t looked good in this game at all as he went 4 for 19 and fouled out at the end of the game

- Jameer Nelson went off in the first half scoring 24 of his 32 points. Unfortunately he didn’t show that kind of dominance the entire game as the Bobcats started to come back late in the game.

Photo of the Day: Garnett Suspended from Game 2

Kevin Garnett elbowed Quentin Richardson as part of the near-fracas that resulted in his ejection.

Here is what Garnett had to say about what went down between him and Richardson. "I saw Paul grab his shoulder, as a stinger or whatever, so I just tried to immediately call [Celtics trainer] Ed [Lacerte] over," Garnett explained after the game. "I tried to give him some room and I just saw [Quentin Richardson] standing over him talking nonsense. I asked [Richardson] to give him some room and, before you knew it, mayhem started. That situation, man, I know these two [Richardson and Pierce] have competed against each other in the past and have history from bumping heads a little bit. I was just trying to give him the common courtesy for an injured player, that's all. Nothing more, nothing less.

"I have no beef with Q, I know him personally. I thought what he did was a bit disrespectful, standing over a guy hurt, you know, and talking nonsense. Before you knew it, it all just broke out. I gotta use my head, but all I saw was Paul hurt and that's all I cared about at that time."

The question is now, what does this mean for the Celtics in Game 2? Pierce reports that his shoulder feels better but it is still questionable or if better means that he will be 100%. The Celtics put up a good fight in the first game of the series and a less than healthy Pierce and no Garnett could make the next game a bit difficult.

Both Garnett and Richardson were also fined $25k

NBA Playoffs Round 1: FIGHT

Now we have come to the most exciting part of the NBA season: Playoff Time!! And it's also time for a little playoff predicting, so without further ado I present to you Every Day Is A Sports Day's picks for the winners in the 1st Round.

Eastern Conference

1. Cleveland Cavaliers  vs. 8. Chicago Bulls

John: Cavs. For one reason: LeBron James

Marcus: Cleveland

Michelle: Cleveland. LeBron would never let this team go out in the first round.
Adrienne: LeBron James will figure out a way to fly before the Cavs lose this series. 

Sport for Prophet's Pick: Cavs in 4. Like everyone else said LeBron will just not let his team lose in the first round of the playoffs. In a recent interview he said that the Bulls were facing a different beast in the playoffs. I am inclined to believe him.

4. Boston Celtics vs. 5. Miami Heat

John: Celtics. Boston's not that bad. Garnett will bring everything he's got in the playoffs and Rondo has grown immensely.

Marcus: Heat. Boston is a sad, sad group of old people right now.

Michelle: Celtics. They are playing horribly and look old and useless, nothing like the team from 2009. But they will still make it out of the first round.
Adrienne: Both of these teams are poor excuses for the Celtics and Heat we knew just a few years ago, but the Celtics have enough power to beat out the one man attack, Dwyane Wade, that the Heat will prove to be in this series. 

Sport for Prophet's Pick: Boston in 7. Even though the Celtics are coming into the playoffs hobbling and on their last tank of gas, you have to believe that they will give us one good series before they bow out in the second round. The Heat would need Wade to become superhuman to take this series from Boston.

2. Orlando Magic vs. 7. Charlotte Bobcats

John: Magic. Offense wins games, defense wins championships. Superman will shut it down inside, allowing other defenders to take on Bobcats leader, Stephen Jackson.

Marcus: Magic.

Michelle: Dwight Howard is a beast. That is all.
Adrienne: Who is going to stop that rebounding monster Mr. Dwight

Sport for Prophet's Pick: Magic in 4. The Magic have too much talent for the Bobcats to handle. Orlando should make short work of the Bobcats,

3. Atlanta Hawks vs. 6. Milwaukee Bucks

John: Hawks. The Hawks have been a dark-horse finals candidate all year. Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Al Horford are a tough combination, defensively and offensively

Marcus: Hawks.

Michelle: Hawks. I don't know. Since it's easy to sleep on this team, I'm kind of pulling for them.
Adrienne: The Hawks may low key make some noise in these playoffs. 

Sport for Prophet's Pick: Hawks in 5. If Andrew Bogut didn't Theismann his arm then they might have had a chance but now I don't have much faith in their chances.  Also Joe Johnson is very underrated, but I think a deep run for Atlanta may just prove his worth.

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8. Oklahoma City Thunder

John: Lakers. As tempting as it is to call an upset here, the Lakers have home court and if nothing else that  will make the difference. They've struggles in Oklahoma City but if worst comes to worst, they get game 7 at the Stapler and that's enough for Kobe and Co.

Marcus: Lakers

Michelle: Lakers. This matchup will be a close one and fun to watch and although part of me is pulling for the Durantula, I just don't think that they can beat the Lakers 4 times. Durant is solid but Kobe can be that clutch killer we used to see in him and I'm not totally sold that the old Kobe is dead and gone just yet.
Adrienne: Lakers. The Lakers are used to having tough first and second round series' that force them to sure up some of the holes in their arsenal that are evident during the regular season. Kobe will play like the great basketball player that he is and hope to get some quality from Gasol, Odom, Fisher, Bynum, and Co. 

Sport for Prophet's Pick: Lakers in 6. This may be wishful thinking but I think the youth movement of the Thunder will push the Lakers a little bit. The Lakers have too much talent and the Thunder are too inexperienced. Hopefully this will just build Durant's confidence for next year. 

4. Denver Nuggets vs. 5. Utah Jazz

John: Nuggets. This is a toss-up but in the playoff environment I say the Nuggets pull together and win one for coach Karl. It should be one of the closest series in Round 1 though.

Marcus: Nuggets.

Michelle: Jazz. I keep going back and forth on this but for right now I'll go with Utah.
Adrienne: I would like to say that the Nuggets will win this series for all that it symbolizes given what their coach has gone through this year, but I won't be surprised if the Jazz pull it off. 

Sport for Prophet's Pick: Jazz in 7. I don't know why but even through all the injuries I think that Utah may be able to pull this one out. This one was a toss up to me.

2. Dallas Mavericks vs. 7. San Antonio Spurs

John: Mavs. San Antonio is the opposite of rising young teams like OKC and POR. They're old, getting slow, and even though Dallas' stars might not be spring chickens, Jason Kidd is masterful in running the offense.

Marcus: Spurs. San Antonio's been clicking, so I could see them beating Dallas. Manu is playing well, Tony's still lightning quick, and Richard Jefferson and Tim Duncan are both paying very well.

Michelle: Mavs. This one will be close too but I am biased and Dirk has to win or Cuban will ship him back
Adrienne: Mavs.The Spurs are a tired franchise. They need life injected through that orange basketball. Until then my money is on the Mavs and Mark Cuban's crazy ass. 

Sport for Prophet's Pick: Mavs in 7. As I said before I think that we are witnessing the end of the Duncan era on the San Antonio Spurs, and the Mavs are coming into this game with much to prove to their detractors. Hopefully the Mavs prove that they are not the underachievers they are made out to be. 

3. Phoenix Suns vs. 6. Portland Trailblazers

John: Blazers. I haven't picked any upsets yet, and the Blazers are a promising team with the ability to take on the Suns at every level.

Marcus: Suns. Portland would/could be interesting if Brandon Roy was playing, but since he won't be it's Phoenix's series.

Michelle: Suns. If Lopez's back isn't dead, him and Amare are a deadly combo and Steve Nash is still Steve Nash.
Adrienne: Suns. 2 weeks ago this would have been a different answer, but no Roy, no victory. 

Sport for Prophet's Pick: Suns in 5. No Brandon Roy, not much hope for the Blazers. I really like Portland as a team though and they should be able to steal a game at home.