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Baseball Midseason Awards/Predictions

2005-07-13T13:11:00.000-04:00

Well, we have reached the midway point of baseball season, and today I will both look back at the first half and ahead to the second. First, my midseason awards...

AL MVP - David Ortiz. The Red Sox have taken the lead in the AL East with their recent surge, and Ortiz has been the one leading the way.

AL Cy Young - Roy Halladay. Halladay has no competition as far as this award goes. His 12 wins and 2.33 ERA easily lead the American League.

NL MVP - Derrek Lee. Need I explain? Lee's Triple Crown-caliber performance is the only reason the Cubs are still in the wild-card race.

NL Cy Young - Dontrelle Willis. This is the toughest call of the bunch. Based on pure pitching performance, the edge would seem to go to Roger Clemens, but Dontrelle's whopping 13 wins put him ahead.

Now, my predictions as to how the season will unfold from here on out...

AL East Champ - Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox seem to already have a commanding lead, despite the fact that they are only on top by two games. The Orioles are fading out of picture, and I doubt that the Yankees can catch the newly-dubbed Surgin' Sox.

AL Central Champ - Chicago White Sox. They have built such a sizeable lead that I doubt they will find a way to lose the division, even though I believe Minnesota is a better team.

AL West Champ - Los Angeles. Literal translation - the Angels. That's all I'm going to say on that one.

AL Wild Card - Minnesota Twins. The only team with a real chance to overtake the Twins is New York, but Minnesota's acquisition of Bret Boone gives the Twins a slight edge.

NL East Champ - Atlanta Braves. I'm willing to bet that 14 is Atlanta's lucky number, as I'm picking them to win their 14th straight division title. Sure, the Nats are a good story, but they're not a good team, and that will show in the second half.

NL Central Champ - St. Louis Cardinals. No explanation needed.

NL West Champ - San Diego Padres. The Padres are the best team in baseball's worst division - a distinction that will land them in the playoffs.

NL Wild Card - Florida Marlins. The Marlins have a lot of ground to make up, but I think they can do it, provided Mike Lowell turns his season around and the D-Train keeps on rolling.

ALCS - Red Sox over Angels. I have my doubts about Chicago's chances in the postseason, and these are the best of the rest, so there ya go.

NLCS - Braves over Cardinals. Hey, I have to pick at least one upset! Once Atlanta's injury problems clear up, the Braves will be an extremely dangerous team capable of knocking off the Cards.

World Series - Red Sox over Braves. Yes, I know I'm copping out by picking the Sox to repeat, but the fact is that they are the best team in baseball right now.

NBA Mock Draft

2005-06-27T18:19:00.000-04:00

I am not one to litter my blog with countless mock drafts; this is my first and last regarding the NBA. Here it is.

1. Milwaukee Bucks - Andrew Bogut
2. Atlanta Hawks - Marvin Williams
3. Portland Trail Blazers - Gerald Green
4. New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul
5. Charlotte Bobcats - Deron Williams
6. Utah Jazz - Fran Vazquez
7. Toronto Raptors - Danny Granger
8. New York Knicks - Channing Frye
9. Golden State Warriors - Martell Webster
10. Los Angeles Lakers - Raymond Felton
11. Orlando Magic - Martynas Andriuskevicius
12. Los Angeles Clippers - Antoine Wright
13. Charlotte Bobcats - Joey Graham
14. Minnesota Timberwolves - Yaroslev Korolev
15. New Jersey Nets - Ike Diogu
16. Toronto Raptors - Andrew Bynum
17. Indiana Pacers - Francisco Garcia
18. Boston Celtics - Roko Ukic
19. Memphis Grizzlies - Jarrett Jack
20. Denver Nuggets - Rashad McCants
21. Phoenix Suns - Sean May
22. Denver Nuggets - Johan Petro
23. Sacramento Kings - Luther Head
24. Houston Rockets - Mile Ilic
25. Seattle Supersonics - Hakim Warrick
26. Detroit Pistons - Charlie Villanueva
27. Utah Jazz - Monta Ellis
28. San Antonio Spurs - Ersan Ilyasova
29. Miami Heat - Wayne Simien
30. New York Knicks - Andray Blatche

There you have it: my 2005 NBA mock draft. I reserve the right to deny these predictions if, as usually occurs, the draft selections become seemingly random come tomorrow night.

NBA: A Look Forward to 2006

2005-06-24T18:31:00.000-04:00

The 2005 NBA season is now over, with the San Antonio Spurs coming out on top. Obviously, it's way too early to make any sort of concrete predictions for next season; the offseason has yet to start. However, here are some speculations as to what might happen in 2006.

TITLE CONTENDERS

Miami Heat. This team nearly won the Eastern Conference this season, and should be the favorite to do so in 2006. As long as Shaquille O'Neal's body doesn't finally suffer a total breakdown, Miami should contend for the championship, thanks to up-and-coming superstar Dwyane Wade. With one year of playoff experience under its belt, this squad should be even better next year.

Phoenix Suns. As of right now, Phoenix would probably be my pick to win the 2006 title. The Suns have already addressed their main concern (lack of toughness inside) by trading gunner Quentin Richardson to the Knicks for Kurt Thomas and a first-round pick. That trade will do a lot of things for Phoenix, most of them good: Shawn Marion can shift to small forward, Joe Johnson can be resigned, and another young, athletic player can be added through the draft. If Thomas is able to provide low-post defense to complement Amare Stoudemire, this team could run-and-gun all the way to an NBA championship.

San Antonio Spurs. What, you thought I was going to leave the defending champs off this list? No way. San Antonio should be back hungry for more in 2006. They may be able to satisfy that hunger if Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili become the potent inside-outside duo that they are capable of being. Duncan has already proven himself; on the other hand, Ginobili disappeared at times in the finals. A return to his freestyling ways will put the Spurs on the fast track for the 2006 title.

TEAMS ON THE RISE

Cleveland Cavaliers. With a new coach (Mike Brown) and a potential big free-agent signing (Ray Allen or Michael Redd?), this team should be able to put 2005's collapse in the past and become a bona fide playoff team. LeBron James has already become, in my opinion, the league's best player. If a player like Ray Allen or Michael Redd comes to Cleveland, look out for the Cavs in '06!

Golden State Warriors. Although it didn't make the playoffs, this group played well late in the season after the acquisition of Baron Davis. With Davis on board for the entire 2006 season, improvement on a 34-48 record is almost guaranteed, and a playoff berth is possible. The big question mark regarding this team is the fact that almost all the Warriors have no experience winning; all they know how to do is lose. They better learn how to win, and fast; they'll be doing a decent amount of it next season.

Indiana Pacers. Despite the loss of Reggie Miller (who had been reduced to a role of spot-up jump shooter anyway), Indiana should be better in 2006. One big reason why is the return of Ron Artest from his year-long suspension. From what I have heard, Artest has learned a lot during his time off; perhaps that will translate to more success on the court as well. With Artest back, this will be essentially the same team that won 61 games in '04, sans Miller. I'm not saying they will duplicate that feat, but a division title is certainly possible, if not likely.

Los Angeles Lakers. This might be a stretch; after all, I bashed this team just a week ago, claiming they were not in a position to get better anytime soon. However, despite my feelings regarding Phil Jackson, his teams have always succeeded. Also, any squad including Kobe Bryant has a chance to make some noise. The Lakers are talented, but whether they can make the playoffs in a tough Western Conference remains to be seen.

New Jersey Nets. New Jersey went on an incredible run late in the season to sneak into the playoffs, and I believe the Nets will pick up right where they left off in 2006. With the talented trio of Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson, New Jersey should be favored in what will once again be a weak Atlantic Division. I also have high hopes for Nenad Krstic, the Nets' promising young center.

TEAMS ON THE DECLINE

Boston Celtics. This team's plethora of strong personalities began to clash with each other as the season wore on, and more treacherous waters appear imminent. Where will this team go after the most lopsided Game 7 loss in history? Down, if you ask me.

Memphis Grizzlies. When addressing this team's problems, there is one question that needs to be asked: Where to begin? The end of the 2005 season was not pretty for Memphis; a playoff sweep at the hands of Phoenix doesn't even begin to tell the story. The Grizzlies practically revolted against their coach, siding with suspended malcontent Bonzi Wells at the season's most critical point. The debacle is probably best summed up by an incident in which a frustrated Jason Williams walked off with a reporter's pen, saying "You ain't gonna write nothin'." My prediction: Memphis's '06 roster will barely even resemble its '05 one, with maybe three players surviving the offseason. And that's a generous estimate.

Sacramento Kings. Sacramento's sad story appears to have come to an end. The Kings, who could have won two or three championships already this century, have instead won none, and the window of opportunity was emphatically slammed shut when they bowed out in the first round to Seattle. If questioned, Shaq would probably say it best: next years' batch of Kings will more closely resemble Queens, at least as far as basketball goes.

Seattle Supersonics. It's a shame that Seattle will have to return to the lottery after just one year of short-lived success, but that's what will likely happen. Coach Nate McMillan, as well as a slew of free agents, will be gone in 2006, and so will all title aspirations of the Sonics and their fans. Seattle, we hardly knew ye.

PROJECTED PLAYOFF TEAMS

(in alphabetical order)

Eastern Conference: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards

Western Conference: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs

And finally, my extremely early playoff predictions:

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Heat over Pacers

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Suns over Spurs

NBA FINALS

Suns over Heat

One Game to Rule Them All

2005-06-23T14:09:00.000-04:00

For the first time in eleven years, the entire NBA season will come down to one game: tonight's Game 7 showdown between the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs. My prediction before the season even started was San Antonio over Detroit in seven games, and I'm sticking with it. Here are three reasons why.

1. Home-court advantage. This factor is often downplayed, but the truth is that it often does make a difference. It is an extremely tough task to win a pivotal game on your opponent's home floor. The Pistons were able to do it against Miami, but the Heat's two stars were nowhere near 100% in that game; the Spurs are a much better team. Detroit has overcome this obstacle once already this postseason, but I highly doubt that the Pitstons can do it again.

2. The star factor. Stars come up big in big games, and San Antonio stakes claim to both bona fide stars involved in this series: Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Duncan, the greatest power forward of all time if you ask me, knows what he and his team need to do tonight, and he'll make sure they get it done. If Ginobili shows up to play like he did in Games 1 and 2, there will be partying in San Antonio tonight.

3. Horry and the Benchwarmers. Promising band name, huh? Well, maybe not, but in all seriousness, the Spurs' huge advantage as far as contribution off the bench could play a huge role in tonight's game. The most likely difference-maker is obviously "Big Shot Bob," otherwise known as Robert Horry. He has been tremendous in the clutch throughout his entire career, and nothing defines "clutch" more than Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Look for other reserves, such as Brent Barry and Rasho Nesterovic, to chip in and help ensure the victory as well.

If I am correct, as I usually am, the San Antonio Spurs will be crowned NBA champions tonight, and it will be because of these three things.

US Open? Case Closed!

2005-06-20T15:49:00.000-04:00

This is all I have to say about the 2005 US Open: Thank goodness someone reached even par. Oh, and one more thing: even though Tiger Woods will likely never reach his prior level of utter domination, he is most definitely back as the world's best golfer. After considering his already winning one major this year, imagine what we would be talking about today if he hadn't bogeyed 16 and 17 and instead managed to best Mark Campbell in a playoff after storming back from eight shots behind. What a story that would have been!

Early Top 25

2005-06-16T16:12:00.000-04:00

Here is my early top 25 for the upcoming college football season.

1. USC
2. Texas
3. Michigan
4. Tennessee
5. Iowa
6. Oklahoma
7. Ohio State
8. Miami
9. Virginia Tech
10. Florida
11. LSU
12. Florida State
13. Louisville
14. Georgia
15. Auburn
16. Boise State
17. Arizona State
18. Texas A&M
19. Texas Tech
20. Alabama
21. Purdue
22. Nebraska
23. Boston College
24. Cal
25. Fresno State

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH: Bowling Green, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, UTEP, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Zen and the Art of Basketball Coaching

2005-06-15T10:45:00.000-04:00

Although Phil Jackson's return to the Los Angeles Lakers doesn't come as a huge surprise, it puzzles me. There are numerous reasons why this move doesn't make sense, at least in my mind. First, but not necessarily foremost, is the one that the media has been so concerned about over the past few weeks: can Phil and Kobe coexist? Are you kidding me? After Phil called Kobe "uncoachable"? No way. Kobe cemented my point of view yesterday when he released a less-than-rousing endorsement of Jackson's hiring. Not only that, but Phil has never shown he can mold a young team into a championship contender, which is what he'll be forced to do with the Lakers. Instead, he has always handpicked teams that appear ready to burst onto the scene; that's the reason he has as many championships as Red Auerbach, a travesty if you ask me. The Lakers are nowhere near that level, and are not in position to get there anytime soon; their salary-cap woes are enormous. Mark my words: this honeymoon will last one year, maybe two, but that's it.

NFL Power Rankings

2005-06-12T14:31:00.000-04:00

Just a few minor changes here and there:

1. New England Patriots
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
5. Atlanta Falcons
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. Minnesota Vikings
8. San Diego Chargers
9. New York Jets
10. Carolina Panthers
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
12. Denver Broncos
13. Seattle Seahawks
14. Kansas City Chiefs
15. Buffalo Bills
16. Dallas Cowboys
17. Green Bay Packers
18. New Orleans Saints
19. Oakland Raiders
20. Cincinnati Bengals
21. St. Louis Rams
22. Detroit Lions
23. Arizona Cardinals
24. New York Giants
25. Houston Texans
26. Chicago Bears
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
28. Washington Redskins
29. Tennessee Titans
30. Miami Dolphins
31. Cleveland Browns
32. San Francisco 49ers

Belmont Picks

2005-06-11T12:51:00.000-04:00

Here are my picks for today's Belmont Stakes.

1-Afleet Alex

Will finish off what very well could have been a Triple Crown with yet another impressive run.

2-Giacomo

The only other possible victor should give Afleet Alex a run for his money, but I don't think he can pull it out in the end.

3-Andromeda's Hero

This horse, in my opinion, is the dark horse of the field. With no other proven winners running, that leads me to believe he will be able to land on the board.

NBA Finals Breakdown

2005-06-08T18:40:00.000-04:00

The NBA finals matchup is just as I predicted it would be before the season even started: Detroit vs. San Antonio. Here's my thoughts on each of the matchups within the matchup.

One of the most intriguing matchups is at point guard. The Pistons' Chauncey Billups and the Spurs' Tony Parker had very similar regular-season numbers (16.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game for Billups; 16.6, 3.7, and 6.1 for Parker). However, there is much more to the matchup than that. One aspect is Parker's inconstintency; despite a generally strong performance in the conference finals, his play has been erratic throughout the postseason. For this reason, I don't believe he matches up well against Billups, the most physical point guard in the league. Advantage Pistons.

The two teams' off guards also figure to lock horns in this series. Detroit's Richard "Rip" Hamilton made a name for himself during Detroit's 2004 title run, mainly because of the many clutch jumpers he drained in tough series against New Jersey and Indiana. On the other hand, Manu Ginobili is doing so as we speak, for a different reason: his slicing quickness and driving ability. In that way, he is similar to Dwyane Wade, who gave the Pistons so much trouble in the conference finals. Ginobili should be able to do the same. Advantage Spurs.

The teams' two small forwards, Tayshaun Prince and Bruce Bowen, are arguably the two best perimeter defenders in the NBA. The difference is that Detroit's Prince is skilled offensively, whereas San Antonio's Bowen is not. Despite his struggles against Miami, I am confident that Prince will break out in this series. Because of this, I give him the edge in this "matchup," although the two won't be guarding each other much, if at all. Advantage Pistons.

At power forward, the Pistons' Rasheed Wallace and the Spurs' Tim Duncan go about succeeding in completely different ways. While Wallace often is hindered by his antics both on and off the court, the former including a bevy of technical fouls, Duncan is a quiet, lead-by-example superstar. As far as basketball goes, Duncan has the clear edge, especially if he is healthy, which he has not been for long stretches throughout the season. Even if he isn't, however, I'll still take the "big Fundamental" over the "Big Bum-damental" any day. Advantage Spurs.

"Big Nazr" doesn't have nearly as much of a ring to it as "Big Ben," does it? The answer to that question pretty much sums up the matchup between these two teams' centers, Ben Wallace and Nazr Mohammed. Although Mohammed has been a nice late-season pickup for San Antonio, there is a reason why the Pistons' Wallace is named the Defensive Player of The Year almost perennialy. He is a defensive stalwart, something that Detroit will need against the Spurs. Advantage Pistons.

The matchup between the two benches is perhaps the most lopsided one of all. While San Antonio could be described as deep, Detroit definitely could not. The Spurs' cast of reserves includes a serviceable center (Rasho Nesterovic), a three-point sharpshooter (Brent Barry), one of the greatest clutch shooters of all time (Robert Horry), and a former offensive star who can still knock down a jumper or two (Glenn Robinson). On the other hand, only three of the Pistons' benchwarmers ever get a chance to play: Lindsey Hunter, Antonio McDyess, and, as of late, Carlos Arroyo. Advantage Spurs.

The coaches responsible for leading both the Pistons and Spurs to the NBA finals are two of the best in the league. And though Detroit's Larry Brown is considered by many to be the best, I give the advantage to San Antonio's Gregg Popovich for one reason: he is more willing to experiment and make adjustments in order to come out on top. Brown is stubborn, as evidenced by the way he handled the Olympic team in Athens last summer. Advantage Spurs.

As you can see, the series shapes up to be a good one. The only question left is the most important one: who will win? Although the Pistons are, in my opinion, the best defensive team in the league, that's all they are: a walk-it-up, defensive squad that at times struggles to score points. The Spurs are just the opposite; they are able to adapt to any style, as they did in flat-out outscoring the Phoenix Suns, the NBA's highest-scoring team in a decade, in the conference finals. For that reason, I have to go with San Antonio.

THE PICK: Spurs in 7.

The Absence of Heat

2005-06-06T15:04:00.000-04:00

In case you're wondering about the title of this post, the reason will become clear tonight, when the Detroit Pistons make sure the NBA playoffs experience this rare phenomenon. Sure, it's been a great run for the Heat, but it's over. Here are three reasons why.

1. Experience. Detroit is battle-tested; Miami is not. Last year, the Pistons proved their mettle time and time again on their way to the title. The Heat, on the other hand, is here for the first time; except for Shaq, that is. Detroit's experience will prove advantageous in what is both teams' biggest game of the season so far.

2. Dwyane Wade. Ironically enough, Wade was the reason why many "experts" were flip-flopping on their picks midway through this series, forecasting a Miami triumph. His injury in Game 5 changed all that, however. Now, he will be forced to play despite his obvious inability to, just because it is "Game 7". The Heat would be better off with him sitting out; on the floor, he will hinder his teammates more than he will help them.

3. Shaquille O'Neal. I might sound crazy on this one, considering Shaq is one of the most dominant players of all time and had his best performance of the series in Game 6's blowout loss. He is still injured, though, and has not played well thus far in the postseason on only one day of rest. After the long series, he is incredibly banged up; look for him to be no more than a glorified Alonzo Mourning in tonight's game.

There you have it: three reasons why Detroit will be playing San Antonio for the NBA championship come Thursday.

Sun Rising In Miami, Setting In Phoenix

2005-05-30T15:51:00.000-04:00

Three games have now been played in each of the NBA conference finals, and the two series appear to be going in opposite directions. Here are my thoughts on what we've seen so far.

Let's begin with the Eastern Conference Finals, otherwise known as the Dwyane Wade Show. I was hesitant to jump on this kid's bandwagon, unlike seemingly every media "expert", but after his last two brilliant performances, I have seen the light. First, in Game 2, he blows past defenders time and time again, collecting countless layups and dunks en route to 20 fourth-quarter points and a Miami victory. Then, after hearing everyone say he can't replicate that success in Game 3, he proves them right. He doesn't; instead, he turns to his much-improved jump shot, scoring the majority of his 36 points from outside the paint. What a way to silence your critics! I'm not going to change my series pick; after all, I'm not one to flip-flop. However, if Wade can keep this up, and if Shaq can continue opening up the floor for the supporting cast, the Heat has a good shot at unseating the defending champs.

Meanwhile, the West appears to have already been won, with San Antonio taking a commanding 3-0 lead over Phoenix. I thought the Spurs would win this series easily, but not this easily. Make no doubt about it: there is no way the Suns will pull off a Red Sox miracle; San Antonio is just too good. The sweep will be completed tonight.

Who Cares?

2005-05-30T12:53:00.000-04:00

Does anyone even care about the Indianapolis 500 anymore? The answer is obvious: no! Except for all the hubbub about Danica Patrick, I heard almost nothing about the race leading up to yesterday's running. How could what was once considered the world's most prestigious race lose so much of its luster? The answer to that question is just as clear: the CART - IRL split is the reason. Give me Daytona over Indianapolis any day.

Monday Musings

2005-05-23T15:59:00.000-04:00

Here's what's on my mind this Monday, May 23rd.

Shaquille O'Neal has had 100 CC's of blood removed over the last few days and is questionable for tonight's game against Detroit. This is an extremely bad omen for Miami; without Shaq, the Heat has absolutely no chance of beating the Pistons. My Eastern Conference finals pick is looker safer by the minute.

Everyone is so caught up in Barry Bond's latest complication possibly keeping him from passing Hank Aaron on the all-time home-run list. In my mind, however, the bigger issue is his loss of another shot at a ring. Without a doubt, he is the greatest player ever without a title. Despite his numerous flaws, I would have liked to see him get one and hope he will get another chance.

There is talk of Josh McCown possibly winning the Arizona Cardinals' quarterback job over offseason acquisition Kurt Warner. That is ridiculous! Why go out and give a large contract to the best free agent quarterback available if you're going to start the same sorry one that lost TWICE to the 49ers last year? Mark my words: Warner will be the starter.

All this speculation about Ricky Williams returning as a Dolphin is absurd. He may resurface, but definitely not in Miami. I mean, he quit on the team in favor of his beloved grass! Also, the Dolphins have already drafted Ronnie Brown, their running back of the future. The only use Miami has for Williams is as trade bait.

On a final note, here's my pick for tonight's game between the Pistons and Heat, with a disclaimer: If Shaq plays, Miami; if not, Detroit.

Spur of the Moment

2005-05-22T22:28:00.000-04:00

The first game of the NBA Western Conference finals went exactly as I expected: Tony Parker scored 29 points and the Spurs won. However, what I didn't foresee was how they would win: playing at Phoenix's helter-skelter pace. That's right; San Antonio scored 43 points in the fourth quarter to win, 121-114, by using a style of play that usually suits the Suns best. Four words: this series is over. O-V-E-R. If the Spurs waltzed into Phoenix and simply outscored the NBA's highest-scoring team in over a decade, imagine what they will do once they are able to assert their defensive will (hint: when the series moves to San Antonio). The Suns might be able to eke out a game or two, but there is now no doubt in my mind that the Spurs will be playing for yet another NBA title.

Preakness Picks

2005-05-21T17:18:00.000-04:00

Here are my picks for today's Preakness, which is coming up in less than an hour.

1-Afleet Alex

My pick in the Kentucky Derby didn't come through then, but I am confident that he will do so today and end Giacomo's slim hopes of a Triple Crown.

2-High Fly

Should push Afleet Alex down the stretch, but I don't think he can win. He will settle for second-best.

3-Closing Argument

The Derby's surprise runner-up will look to have another good run today. In my opinion, he has a better shot than Giacomo does of repeating his stunning performance of two weeks ago.

Inaugural NFL Power Rankings

2005-05-21T17:09:00.000-04:00

Here are my first power rankings of the 2005 NFL season - preseason, that is.

1-New England Patriots
2-Indianapolis Colts
3-Philadelphia Eagles
4-Pittsburgh Steelers
5-Baltimore Ravens
6-Atlanta Falcons
7-Minnesota Vikings
8-San Diego Chargers
9-Jacksonville Jaguars
10-Carolina Panthers
11-New York Jets
12-Denver Broncos
13-Kansas City Chiefs
14-Seattle Seahawks
15-New Orleans Saints
16-Dallas Cowboys
17-Buffalo Bills
18-Green Bay Packers
19-Oakland Raiders
20-Cincinnati Bengals
21-St. Louis Rams
22-Arizona Cardinals
23-Detroit Lions
24-New York Giants
25-Houston Texans
26-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27-Chicago Bears
28-Tennessee Titans
29-Washington Redskins
30-Miami Dolphins
31-Cleveland Browns
32-San Francisco 49ers

NBA Conference Finals

2005-05-21T15:51:00.000-04:00

Wow. What a choke job by the Dallas Mavericks. Down three games to two to the Phoenix Suns and with their backs against the wall, they came through with their best effort of the series and forced a seventh game. Well, that's what should have happened. Instead, with four minutes to go and nursing a 16-point lead, Dallas suddenly decided to stop playing as a team, and the result was a total collapse and subsequent overtime loss. Great job, Mavericks! Special congratulations to Erick Dampier, the self-proclaimed best center in the West. News flash, Erick: you're not even the best center on your own team. Hopefully, Mavericks management has enough sense to boot you out of town before the start of next season.

With Phoenix's win, both conference finals are now set. In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons will battle for a shot at the title, while the Suns will take on the San Antonio Spurs for the Western Conference crown. Here's my take on each series:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

It was obvious throughout the entire season that Miami and Detroit would be playing for Eastern Conference supremacy. Having won each of their first eight playoff games and boasting the inside-out combo of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, the Heat is the obvious chic pick. However, Shaq, who missed the final two games of Miami's sweep of the Washington Wizards, is clearly not at full health, and the Pistons have been no slouches either so far this postseason. After going down 2-1 to the Indiana Pacers, Detroit won the next three games in convincing fashion, showing why they are the defending NBA champions. The stifling defense they used to win those three games will be key against the Heat.

In my opinion, Detroit's backcourt of Chauncey Billups and Richard "Rip" Hamilton is the best in the league. Throw in swingman Tayshaun Prince, arguably the best defender in the NBA, and you have a formidable trio. On the other hand, Miami's backcourt basically consists of one player: Wade. Although he has held a coming-out party so far during the playoffs, he can't do it all himself, and I have no faith that Damon Jones and Keyon Dooling can be effective on either end of the court against the Pistons' superior guards. Inside, it is no different; Detroit's two Wallaces, Ben and Rasheed, will make it tough on any Miami player not named Shaquille O'Neal. Even the big fellow might encounter problems; at less than 100% health, it will be hard for him to execute offensively against defensive stalwart Ben Wallace.

The coaching comparison is even more lopsided; although Stan Van Gundy has done a good job with the Heat this year, the Pistons' Larry Brown is a Hall of Famer. One area where Miami does have an advantage is off the bench; the Heat is fairly deep, while Lindsey Hunter and Antonio McDyess are the only Detroit reserves who ever see the light of day. The series, however, will likely come down to one thing: Shaq's health. If the Big Aristotle plays like he did for most of the regular season, Miami cannot be beat. I don't see that happening, though, especially not against the Pistons' excellent frontcourt.

THE PICK: Pistons in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Western Conference matchup is no surprise either, and it should be a good one: Phoenix's relentless run-and-gun style against San Antonio's impervious defense. Many doubt the ability of a running team like the Suns to win a championship; I am not one of those people. I do, however, doubt their ability to beat the Spurs, whom I picked to win the title before the season started and have stood by ever since.

The Suns' perimeter trio of MVP Steve Nash and sharpshooters Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson would present problems for the Spurs if only they were all healthy. Alas, they are not; Johnson went down in the Dallas series, forcing the insertion of Jim Jackson into the starting lineup. It is still an excellent backcourt; how could it not be if it includes Nash, who validated his selection as MVP with stellar performances in each of the Suns' last three games against the Mavericks, including a 48-point game and a triple-double. However, without Johnson, the edge shifts to San Antonio's group of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Bruce Bowen. With two of the three, you know what you're getting: offense from Ginobili and defense from Bowen. Parker, on the other hand, is erratic; at times, he dominates, but otherwise appears to have his mind on his girlfriend, Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria, rather than the game. In my opinion, his play is the key to the series.

Inside, it is a tough call. Phoenix's Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire have the edge as far as pure athleticism, but are undersized compared to the Spurs' Tim Duncan and Nazr Mohamed. I'll give the advantage to San Antonio because of Duncan, the league's most fundamentally sound player and a two-time MVP. The Spurs have a clearer advantage on the sidelines, thanks to coach Gregg Popovich and a deep cast of reserves. As I said before, though, I believe the outcome of the series depends on Tony Parker. His play will determine whether Phoenix or San Antonio comes out of the West alive.

THE PICK: Spurs in 6