Orlando vs. Boston

If Kevin Garnett were able bodied (don’t they have cortisone in Boston?) I wouldn’t even waste my massively valuable time writing up this synopsis but since he isn’t, here I GO!!!  After a long series with Chicago we learned a few things about the “new” Celts,  #1 Paul Pierce isn’t as good as he thinks.  Sure he made some big shots but he also effed up a lot, i.e) fouling Noah on a bonehead play that probably cost them the game if not another over time. #2 Boston can get REALLY thin, REALLY fast up front (I am really trying to get a Big Baby joke in here but I am tired) and #3 Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen are part of an elaborate rouse by Ashton Kutcher to Punk the whole world into thinking these 2 DUDS could actually make and NBA squad.  As for Orlando, I think they are way too big for the Celts but not too deep for them.  If they can get O Town in foul trouble, I think they will be able to pressure their back up players into a big enough hole that they can’t recover but that is a LOOONG stretch….Magic in 6

Atlanta vs. Cleveland

If you skipped the first match up to get to this one you may want to go back to the first sentence and read slowly.  My time is valuable and the Cavaliers time is too.  I mean how is LeBron going to celebrate being MVP at 24 years old when he has to play these damn playoff games.  Cavs = good, Hawks = not good enough. Cavs in 4

Lakers vs. Rockets

I think this is a match up I am anticipating more than most people.  One of 2 of the worlds best players (depending on who you like better) vs. one of the worlds best defenders and piss off artists.  And if you don’t know who I am talking about, its Yao Ming and Sasha Vujacic…..No seriously, earlier in the year Kobe vs. Artest was AWESOME and gave me my favourite clip of the year which I posted on the site here.  I think people are MAJORLY looking past the Big Man and his band of merry men and just thinking LeBron/Kobe finals.  Houston is here for a reason, they have a deep team filled with role players that just come to play basketball.  Sure they don’t have T-Mac but T-Mac doesn’t have knees or a back so he would only slow them down.  What I think this series will come down to is how well Ming can play Gasol and how bad Artest can piss off Kobe.  If Ming gets in foul trouble consistently, Houston loses.  If Artest can piss Kobe off enough to make him shoot 50 times and forget his teammates, I think LA loses.  But…LA in 6

Denver vs. Dallas

I have previously stated my disdain for the Mavericks and their style of play and nothing afforded me more happiness then seeing them get beat on Sunday while I was nursing a WICKED hangover (THANK YOU PACQUIAO).  I think Denver is WAY too deep, too dirty and too well rounded to even get sucked into the Diggler’s one man band act.  Billups is better than Kidd (at this point in their career), anyone is better than JJ Barea, JR Smith is Jason Terry with attitude, Melo and Dirk are  fairly even, Martin is a real thug as opposed to Josh Howard and Nene is a REAL beast as opposed to Ericka Dampier (shout out to the Big Shaqtus).  I can see the Mavs lulling the Nuggets to sleep for a game or two so I will say….Denver in 6

Let me know what you guys think in the comments section….PROVE ME WRONG CELTICS!!!

Peace!

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I have been hearing for years how Iverson is a bad seed and all about himself but I just thought it was because he was on crappy Philly teams and had no one there to really help him and he was sick of carrying a team on his shoulders.  Then he went to the stacked Nuggets a few years ago and I thought “this is where AI will thrive with some weight off his shoulders” and it didn’t happen there then either.  Then he got traded to Detroit which had me shaking my head for weeks and my friend Darkman said it best “That trade was the biggest steal for the Nuggets and the worst for the Pistons, you’ll see”.  Lo and behold, he was right.  The Nuggets got the sturdy team oriented unselfish PG they have needed to get over that hump in the Western conference and the Pistons got…6th to 8th seed in the East? 

Detroit was always a team that got by with their unreal belief in themselves and their team unity.  Obviously either the loss of Chauncey really hurt their pysche in Motown or AI is really that bad a teammate or both.  I still to this day don’t know why Joe pulled the trigger on that trade because even if it was to save cap for next year, why did he do it so early?  That may be something we never know but this is something I do know for sure, he regrets it.  The Pistons have looked flat since the trade and I haven’t seen them mount one of their 4th quarter “lets try now” comebacks in a long while, well actually, since Mr. Clutch left town and it must suck for Piston fans.

With AI out for the season we will now get to see if he was the problem or if the Pistons magic has just ran out with their aging stars finally peaking. One thing we know for sure Iverson won’t have to worry about practice anymore!

Peace!

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WEST

Centres – Pau Gasol (Lakers) Shaquille O’Neal (Suns) – No problems here – Gasol is the C/PF on the best team in the west and come on, he may not be in his prime but does anybody bring more laughs to the All Star festivities then the Big Aristotle.

Forwards – David West (Hornets) and Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks) – Hmmm it gets a little sketchy here for me.  I know last year David West has everyone saying  ”Who the F… is this guy killing my team” and I know he is still putting up decent numbers but what about Al Jefferson?  Sure he plays in ‘Sota and more people watch Slamball then WOLVES games but this guy is a MONSTER!  This season he has had TWENTY, 12+ rebound games and 34, 20+ point games.  I know the Mavs aren’t having the best season but Diggler is the man still.  The big German still gets his buckets and lets be honest if he wasn’t in Dallas they would be MUCH worse

Guards – Tony Paker (Spurs), Chauncey Billups (Nuggets) and Brandon Roy (Trailblazers) – Let’s be honest, these guys are GOOD!  Brandon Roy was the rookie of the year 2 years ago and he is only getting better and if he keeps pulling his tricks he might take the title of “Mr. Clutch” from his back court mate in this game Chauncey Billups.  Billups isn’t too shabby himself,  playoffs MVP anyone?  This guys literally has ice water in his veins.  Nobody in my mind right now (besides maybe Roy) is more clutch then this guy(Sorry Robert Horry but you have to play to keep your title). Last but not least Mr. Eva Longoria, this guy has game on and off the court.  He may not be the best passing PG in the league but he may be one of the fastest and best finishers around the hoop for a PG.  The only guy I can think of that is missing but I wouldn’t necessarily swap for these guys is Steve Nash.  His flashy passes are always a fan favourite and plus he’s Canadian so you know he’s my boy.

East

Centre - Chris Bosh (Raptors) - You all know that the Raps are my team but I really don’t see how the Bosh is a centre?  And to tell you the truth, I am not even sure he is the centre for the East squad but by looking at the names of the other reserves, I can’t imagine anyone else falling under “centre” on this squad.  Bosh is a good player and I like him (see: don’t really or just read my Open Letter To Chris Bosh) Zydrunas Ilgaukas is hurt so he couldn’t play so I am fine with him here.

Forwards – Danny Granger (Pacers) and Rashard Lewis (Magic) – This one I am split on – Danny Granger is a straight up player and trust me, no one knows this more than a die hard Raptors fan.  I like Joey Graham but how sick would our squad be with Granger in the starting line up?  Sorry BC but you effed that one up.  Now onto Rashard Lewis, he is on one of the best teams in the East (Magic) as shown by their 3 players on All Star team but is Lewis the second best forward left in the East?  I know this is blasphemy coming from a man in my position (Torontonian) but what about Vince Carter? I know the Nets are not even in the playoff picture but this guy was MADE for the ASG.  Hes got the showtime hops, the creativity and come on…the 2001 slam dunk contest, NUFF SAID!!!  I would even make a case for Antawn Jamison if only for the fact that he is playing in Washington and I feel so bad for him.

Guards – Paul Pierce (Celtics), Devin Harris (Nets), Jameer Nelson (Magic) and Joe Johnson (Hawks) – 2 outta 4 ain’t bad -  The first two guys deserve this for sure.  Paul Pierce, the self proclaimed best player on the planet has too stacked a resume to even bicker about if he deserves this.   Devin Harris was my choice for most improved player of the year and so far he is making me look like a genius.  He is the co-leader of the Nets along with VC and he is FAST.  I have seen him play in Toronto many times and I have NEVER seen a player faster than him while staying in control.  Now onto Joe Johnson and Jameer Nelson.  First I’ll talk about J.J, I know I know 21, 4 and 6 is hard to argue with and I was actually VERY surprised that those were his numbers because I haven’t heard anything from him since Bibby hit town.  Is he a good player?  OF COURSE!  I just think there are some guys that may not have his numbers that are doing more for their team.  Like Rajon Rondo, he may not be rocking a near trip dip every game but he really does make that team run.  When he slashes he gets Ray Ray open for the 3, Garnett open for the easy dunk or Pierce open for any shot he takes.  I just really think its easier to get your numbers on a so-so team (Atlanta) then it is to on the World Champion Celtics and Rondo actually rocked one of the sickest triple doubles of the season with 16, 17 and 13.  Now Jameer Nelson really makes me scratch my head.  How are you a point guard on a team with Dwight Howard and only averaging 5 assists?  If you trained a seal to dribble a basketball he could get at LEAST 10 assists by just tossing the ball in the vicinity of that orange cylinder.  I really think Mo Williams deserved this spot, he has truly transformed the Cavs this year.  I know they have that other player, whats his name? But he seems to be the glue on this team and to be honest.  I know he has basically the same numbers as Jameer but I just think as far as an All Star game goes, Mo Williams fits the style bit better. 

It probably comes across as splitting hairs to all of  you but…well….it really is.  Who do you think was left off the list?  Leave your team choices in the comment section or just let me know what you think of my choices?

Peace!

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