NBA Playoffs Eastern conference posted by john howard

It's the All-Star break and time to asses where the season is at.  There are roughly 30 games left and the trading deadline is looming.  Here is a look at the playoffs if they were today.

1 Cleveland vs.  8 Chicago

2 Orlando vs   7 Miami

3 Atlanta vs 6 Charlotte

4 Boston vs 5 Toronto

Chicago looks like they have regressed overall from last year. But lately, they have started getting into the groove. Derrick Rose is unreal and they might win a game but they won't beat Cleveland.

Miami has one of the top 3 players in the game in Dwayne Wade.  This team could look different by playoff time. No matter how the team looks, it would take an incredible performance for even Wade to beat out Orlando.

Charlotte is a great story of over achieving.  They might be able to push Atlanta to a game 6, but that would be the best they could do.

The quietest success has been Toronto.  They are the 5th seed and no one is talking about them.  They have a shot to beat the Celtics if Boston is plagued with injuries.  But this has been a good year so far for the Raptors.

Boston has fallen from favorite to the 4th seed.  They still have the experience and firepower to go all the way. But, to do that everyone is going to have to get healthy and be at peak level which hasn't happened this year. Time is running out on the Celtics.

3 Atlanta has the best team in years.  They could be the underdog favorite after the first round.  A matchup with Orlando in round 2 is going to be fun.  Should they get past the Magic, they will be convinced they can beat anybody. 

Dwight Howard - Expanding his game posted by Patrick Lo

Not sure if many of you have noticed recently, but Dwight Howard has made an concerted effort to broaden his impact on the game, namely on the offensive end. He noted the other day in his blog about how he developed his left hand which reiniforces the idea that he wants to become an all-around player, not hindered by any glaring weakness.

 I do not live in the Orlando area so I'm not fortunate enough to watch his game on a regular basis, but in the few that I have seen he has taken a few jumpshots in an attempt to incorporate it into his game. He's stated that he can make them easily in practice, but he realizes that he has got to make them reliabily enough at a game's pace. It seems that he's starting off easy with a Duncan-esque bank shot from about 12 feet out. I know some of you might cringe seeing Dwight's awkward stroke, but he's actually made a few(and missed horribly on others). Of course he'll need to make more than a few to convince others, and himself, that his mid-range game is a legitimate threat I'm encouraged by his progress. Although practicing his jumpshot hasn't translated to an improved FT%(59.6% vs. 60% for career), I think it's admirable that he's trying to prove his doubters wrong.

I think this is the mark of a true competitor and a true champion. Even though he has yet to win one I'm certain one is in his future. The drive and desire to never be satisfied and complacent will only lead to good things for Howard. This coupled with his insanely athletic build should prove to be a winning combination.

Jameer Nelson Out 4-6 Weeks posted by Scott Shepherd

Last night, it was one small step forward and one giant leap back for the Orlando Magic.

Rashard Lewis made his season debut after being suspended for the first ten games of the season, but in the fourth quarter of the same game, Jameer Nelson injured his left knee. Reports out of Orlando today are that Nelson needs surgery to repair cartilage in that knee, and will miss 4-6 seeks.

The injury to Nelson is a big blow to the Orlando Magic. This is a team that many, including myself, thought coming into the season were a favorite to win the Eastern Conference. They were very successful last season, and achieved most of their success without Nelson, who was injured shortly after being named to his first all-star game.

In the offseason, they made the biggest splash in the Eastern Conference by adding Vince Carter.

I liked the move at the time, and still do. The way I saw it, it would take this team about two or three months to really acclimate Carter into their system, and they should be peaking right around the all-star break and be poised to make another serious run at the NBA Finals.

Now, with the injury to Nelson, everything gets pushed back 4-6 weeks, and that’s a best case scenario.

Instead of hitting their stride around the all-star break, this team will be lucky if they can put all the pieces together by April.

It takes time to acclimate any new player to a new team, especially one as talented as Vince Carter. The only real way to make it work is by playing together. Not one or two games, but a long time. It takes weeks, maybe even months, before you can see every possible situation that may arise and figure out a way to deal with it.

College Fantasy Football Rewind posted by Chad

There is a first time for everything; people typically say this after something downright amazing happens.  I've also heard of this being used on pick up lines many times while dominating the drinking establishments in Madison, Wisconsin.  Typically; your Average Joe with a nobody name and even less game will launch it out there to a fine East Coast hunny.  "I don't leave the bars without my friends," or "I don't like guys that play World of Warcraft for 12 hours straight."  Person X that just got dissed/rejected gets a smirk and offers, "Well, there's a first time for everything."  Don't lie; you've used it yourself or know somebody that has.  This is one of those cases; something amazing happens.  I'm not getting rejected, but I am posting a rewind from the past week.. yes, ladies and gentlemen.  Much like when communist Russia fell.. The Buccaneers got an NFL win this season.. there is a 1st time for everything!

This week was a typical college week; full of craziness and a few random boneheaded plays.  The first mistake came in a huge EPIC battle that was going to ensue in a rivalry game.  A trophy on the line; hardware of epic proportions.  The trophy hasn't been created yet, but it will be soon for the BAC 2.0 Bowl.  A battle between Chad and Bauman; some say two former friends turned enemies.  I say they've hated each other since day 1.  Bauman has been jealous of Chad as long as he's known him; he's almost like Bird/Magic.  Always looking over his shoulder to see what the other is doing and never happy with what he has; always coveting thy neighbor's beasts of burden.  It's sad really, anyway, a phone call Friday established the trophy was on the line and some smack was talked.  When it came down to it Bauman never left the locker room.  The crowd was amazing; stadium shaking.  People miles away called the police to check on earthquakes in the area because the ground was shaking.  Suddenly; the lights in the stadium went out.  Turns out, after checking security tapes; that Bauman actually snuck down into the electrical area and cut the power to the stadium.  In the confusion that ensued; he, along with his team scattered to the bus.. tails and pride tucked between their legs.  Chad decided to give the team a show and played a scrimmage against the practice squad which his starters, of course, won easily.  Chad collects himself a rivalry trophy and another win.. making 2 on the year.

Superman can't hold up against the Pistons posted by Sabrina

WOW! I wish I can go to a game at the Palace at least once in my lifetime. I bet it was crazy in there tonight! This was one of the most exciting games I have seen in a while! With Rip and Tayshaun out, I thought the Pistons' chances for a win became increasingly slimmer. People are wondering if this game will give Dumars the push to trade Rip and Tay, but all the trading rumors are, well, rumors. The teamwork and determination from the start lasted through the whole 48 minutes. Everybody stepped it up tonight!

Congratulations to Austin Daye for his first points in his NBA career! What a good way to start off! Detroit's rookies are looking good out there; there's a lot of potential. Jonas Jerebko got to start in place of Tayshaun tonight and definitely took his role seriously. One question though, where is Dajuan Summers? Daye and Jerebko are getting a lot of attention, but have we forgotten about the other rookie the Pistons picked out? I'd like to see what Summers has in him.

The Pistons are finally functioning as a team. Ben Wallace is back and isn't playing around. Being back in Detroit has given him the opportunity to start over again, as if he had never left. We never got to see this kind of talent when he was on the Bulls or the Cavaliers. Detroit is where he belongs! Another important thing to mention is Rodney Stuckey's come back! After the last game, he definitely needed to redeem himself. From beginning to end, Stuckey was determined to let everybody know what he is made of. If he plays like this every game, there are high hopes for him. Stuckey's not a rookie anymore and it's time for him to step it up. With new rookies, players, and coach, the Pistons were in for a change. The idea of a new team boggled my mind, but clearly it was worth it. Ben Gordon scored the most points in the game, 23, and Charlie Villanueva played a great game tonight.

NBA season is back! Are the Pistons going to be STUCK with a below .500 record? posted by Sabrina

Yes, I understand it's a little late to be talking about the start of the NBA season. If I wrote this after the season opener for the Pistons, it would be a very optimistic, happy blog about our win against the Grizzlies. After that, we've had two consecutive losses. It's definitely too early to tell what to expect from the Pistons, but I would like to put my two cents in.

Coach Kuester is doing an exponentially better job than Michael Curry did all of last season. It was clear that Detroit's defense needed some work and that's what Kuester has been emphasizing ever since he took charge. If we take a look at the games the Pistons lost, there's a common trend: a 3rd quarter slump. From the looks of it, the problem either lays in endurance issues or a simple lack of motivation. This isn't the coach's problem to fix. Quite frankly, there is not much a coach can do if they players aren't going to give 100%. The players need to step it up if they want to have a fighting chance to end this season with a decent record.

We are not talking about finals, semi's, or anything near it quite yet. This season is about a fresh start, almost like the rebirth of the Detroit Pistons. We've got a new coach, just enough experienced Pistons, a whole load of new traded players, players graduating out of their rookie role, and a fresh batch of immensely talented rookies. This sounds like a plan to success; this sounds like a plan to win a championship in the future, perhaps not the near future, but in the future. Think about it this way. As of right now, the Pistons are in a period of change. Once they figure out all the components they need to become a strong team using what they got, the Detroit Pistons will be a threat once again.

How Can the Washington Wizards Improve to Contender Status? posted by Chase Hughes

Last night I was listening to an interview with former NBA head coach P.J. Carlesimo on 106.7 The Fan.  He was commenting on the opening days of the NBA regular season, specifically about the Eastern Conference and his thoughts on who were the better teams.  Not surprisingly he named the top three teams as the “factors,” those being Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando.  He said that there are not any teams even close to those three but on the outside looking in is the Washington Wizards.  The Wizards were the only team he mentioned as the fourth best team and he said this about three times.  These comments got me thinking about what the Wizards need to do this regular season to take the next step and breach that label, in what areas can they improve to develop into the fourth Eastern Conference power? 
First of all, this piece is not in discussion of anything to do with the playoffs, I am not assuming that the Wizards are clearly the fourth best team or that they will even make the playoffs at all.  What I am saying is that the Wiz are in that second tier bunch that follows the top three, which in my opinion also includes the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, and the Philadelphia 76’ers (3rd tier: MIA, CHI, NJ, DET).  Carlesimo added that this is the way the East is presently, that come December we could be talking about another team that has emerged or perhaps a top team will regress and make way for one that is on the brink.  We know that this is Gilbert Arenas’ team but what pieces need to fall into place for Washington to make that jump?  I offer several possibilities, some more plausible than others for how the Wizards can materialize into a contender:

Shaq disses Howard, nope, just truth's him up a bit. posted by The Gripester

I remember when Superman Shaq came out years ago. Perhaps it was so many years ago that Dwight Howard was too young to know it. Anyway, nothing much was said when Superman Dwight came out at the All-Star game a few years, but now Shaq's back in the East. And there can only be one Superman in the East. So what's my gripe? Two Super's? Nope. Turf wars? Nope. Getting teary-eyed and sniffly because The Big Witness Protection outed the imposter by saying Dwight "hijacked his Superman title?" Yep. I though basketball was a tough, trash-talking, in your momma's face kind of game. What is D HO doing saying, "I would say it hurts my feelings?" Come on, man! Bring it on to Krypton!!Continue reading "Shaq disses Howard, nope, just truth's ..."

NBA Playoff Predictions posted by Ian Shankster

At this point in the summer I am going to break down who I think is going to land in the playoffs after the nine.ten. This is based on what has happened so far around the league.

Western Conference Playoffs:

1. Los Angeles Lakers

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Portland Trailblazers

4. Dallas Mavericks

5. Denver Nuggets

6. Utah Jazz

7. Phoenix Suns

8. New Orleans Hornets 

Easter Conference Playoffs:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

2. Boston Celtics

3. Miami Heat

4. Orlando Magic

5. Chicago Bulls

6. Atlanta Hawks

7. Toronto Raptors

8. Indiana Pacers 

The turnover from last year is small with the Suns replacing the Rockets in the Western Conference and the Raptors and Pacers replacing the Sixers and Pistons in the Eastern Conference. There is however, some movement in the standings, except at the top. 

James, Vick, Manny, and Beckham take a look in the mirror. posted by Robert Karpeles

Dave Dameshek, an ESPN.com podcaster gave kudos to Andre Agassi today, ( http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?context=podcast&id=4352192) on his podcast for his infamous mantra “ Image is everything” which Agassi stated in a Canon commercial over fifteen- years ago. Still, Dameshek argued, Agassi’s words seem fitting today as some top athletes currently find them-selves in a position of trying to restore their image due to off-field episodes that seemingly rattled their once squeaky clean perception. On Tuesday, TMZ released the feared truth; Lebron James was in fact dunked on by a Syracuse Guard named Jordan Crawford several weeks ago at the Lebron James Camp in Ohio. James reportedly may have confiscated the tapes, with the help of some Nike representatives until TMZ finally got a hold of them, somehow. In a book entitled The Beckham Experiment, author Grant Wahl explained, with the help of Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan, that it was indeed Beckham’s unwillingness to embrace the savior of American soccer that disallowed the sport from gaining any ground in becoming a main stream sport in America.      Ben Roethlisberger will not only be fighting off defensive lineman next year but also some woman in a civil law suit who is accusing him of rape.   Michael Vick wants to find a team to play for and be forgiven for killing dogs ( or having them killed) while Manny Ramirez is trying to battle back from a 50-game suspension for doing drugs. Because of their unfortunate off the field episodes, all of these for-menContinue reading "James, Vick, Manny, and Beckham take ..."

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Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has a stomach illness but is expected to play against the Orlando Magic. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said before Sunday's game that Bryant would likely play despite being a little late to the game because of the illness. Bryant was not in the locker room while it was open to the media. [read full article]

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