NBA Playoff Time!!!

NBA playoffs are here....

We have reached the post season in the condensed 2011-2012 NBA year with several question marks over a few teams' chances. Will the Mavs survive the first round after last years title run?? Can the Bull go a step further?? Can the Hea make the final step to a championship?? Is Boston too old?? Are the Lakers done?? 

There are more scenarios to ponder but I'll jump into my picks.

Eastern Conference:

Chicago (1) vs. Philadelphia (8)

The Sixers limp into this one after a brutal second half of the season. The Philly crew looked to keep the momentum after a fast start but struggled in the new year. 

Overall ...the Bulls will be too strong in this one

Chicago 4-1

Boston (4) vs. Atlanta (5)

The Celtics are also banged up but they are the veterans of the playoffs. Kevin Garnett has had a resurgence since the All-Star break and though they will be tested, Boston should pull this one out

Boston 4-2

Indiana (3) vs. Orlando (6)

The Pacers have been going about their business relatively unnoticed and can be a difficult foe for any team in the post season. Orlando, without Dwight Howard, are not expected to go very far.

Indiana 4-2

Miami (2) vs. New York (7)

This one will bring back memories of past series' between these two clubs. The Knicks have been better since Mike Woodson took over but Miami has a point to prove and will get through this series.

Miami 4-2

Western Conference:

San Antonio (1) vs. Utah (8)

The Spurs have reinvented themselves with an injection of youth and have not lost a step...surprising many by taking the top spot in the conference. 

Utah may win one game but the Spurs will advance.

San Antonio 4-0

Memphis (4) vs. LA Clippers (5)

Many are picking Memphis as the danger team in the Western Conference again and they could well be. The match up between these two will be the closest in the first round.

Chris Paul will be the determining factor win or lose.

LA Clippers 4-3

LA Lakers (3)  vs. Denver Nuggets (6)

The Lakers are without playoff tough Metta World Peace for at least six games of the post season but may be able to get by Denver without the wily vet.  They will need consistency from Bynum and Gasol and a balanced offence.

LA Lakers 4-2

Oklahoma City (2) vs. Dallas (7)

Will Dallas be able to turn it on in the playoffs?? Might be a tough ask in this series.

Oklahoma City 4-1

Overall....I will go out on a limb and pick Chicago to face Indiana in the Eastern Conference final and San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City in the Western Conference. 

For the Championship......I will pick San Antonio over Chicago in six games!!

Looking back at my NBA preview from December....I had Orlando missing out on the post season in anticipation of a Dwight Howard trade but picked seven playoff teams correctly...Washington?? What was I thinking!!

In the West...Denver and Utah get in in place of my Portland and Golden State picks....

My preview can be read here

Title will be decided tonight!!!

Perth and New Zealand meet in the decider

After a one point 87-86 win in Perth, New Zealand and Perth will clash soon for the 2012 NBL Championship in New Zealand.

In a rarity of sorts....Perth controlled the boards against the rugged Breaker front line in Game 2.

Again due to time constraints....here are some stories from the NBL. 

Prediction wise, I think the crowd will get the Breakers home by 7.

Game Three preview here.

Redhage article here.

NBL Finals Game two up in Perth!!!

Did the Breakers bring their brooms to Perth??

Game two of the NBL Grand Final Series kicks off later tonight in Perth with New Zealand looking to sweep the Wildcats and take the crown across the Tasman again. Last week saw Perth scramble back to nearly pull the upset in Auckland but was it their best shot??

I will go with the Wildcats to extend the series to a decider in New Zealand next week.

For a few stories and previews from the NBL website click here, here, here or here.

Enjoy the action tonight!!

NBL Finals Series is on....

Aussie Basketball Finals series underway

The Australian NBL Grand Final series would have just tipped off in New Zealand with the Perth Wildcats visiting the New Zealand Breakers to start the best of three series.

In short, I predict the series will go the distance with New Zealand pulling it out in the end.

Unfortunately I do not have time to write a full preview at the moment but please have a look at the series preview from the NBL website here, the game schedule and fast facts here, or two other lead up articles here and here.

Ok, time to settle in and watch the action.

Title Time!!

NCAA Title Tilts are on!!

The 2011-2012 NCAA mens and womens championship games are set with Kansas facing Kentucky later today in New Orleans for  the mens title and Notre Dame meeting Baylor for the womens crown in Denver on Tuesday.

Kansas vs. Kentucky

Not many predicted Kansas to be here in the pre-season. Most looked at it as a rebuilding year for the Jayhawks after losing the Morris twins and others. They have hit a hot streak at the right time of year after losing to Baylor in the Big 12 tournament. 

Kentucky has lived up to the hype but several experts are saying there could still be a loss of focus by the young team. The Wilcats have been shaken not too long ago when losing the SEC championship game to Vanderbilt.

Kentucky beat Kansas on a neutral court back in November but the Jayhawks would like to think they have improved since then. This game is also a championship rematch coaching wise with Bill Self facing off against John Calipari just as they did in 2008 when Kansas topped Calapari's Memphis squad. 

There is temptation to pick the upset here. Instead I''ll go with Kentucky surviving a major scare to grab the crown.

Kentucky by 7

Notre Dame vs. Baylor

Notre Dame returns to the Women's NCAA championship game to face another Big 12 opponent this season. After losing to Texas A&M in the title game last season, the Irish face an even tougher foe in undefeated Baylor.

In November, Baylor was too strong down the stretch for Notre Dame in their win over the Irish. This time they will have to keep their composure if they want to end the season a perfect 40-0. Expect them to do it.

Baylor by 8.

Women's Final Four picks....

Ladies Night...Final Four Style!!

The 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four comes to a head on Sunday night when UConn squares off against Big East foe Notre Dame in the first game before Baylor takes the court against Stanford for the two spots in Tuesday's championship game. 

UConn vs. Notre Dame

This will be the fourth meeting of the season for these two. Notre Dame swept the home and away regular season games before losing to UConn in the Big East tourney title game.

Both teams are on familiar ground in the Final Four. Neither team has been seriously tested thus far in the post season but this one could go down to the wire. I will give it to UConn purely on pedigree.

UConn by 3.

Stanford vs. Baylor

This one also shapes up well on paper as Stanford has only a loss to UConn and Baylor comes in undefeated. 

I think Baylor is slightly above the rest of the Final Four teams and will sweep past the Cardinal in this one.

Baylor by 11.

Back tomorrow with my pick for both Championship games (Mens&Womens).

Enjoy the games.

Final Four picks!!!

Four will become two

The 2012 NCAA season has reached the Final Four in New Orleans with Louisville battling Kentucky for the right to represent their state in the Championship game and Kansas squaring off against Ohio State for the other berth.


My bracket was busted long ago and none of my picks for the Final Four made it through after North Carolina and Baylor were beaten last weekend. Oh well, there’s always time to start working on my 2012-2013 predictions!! 


Now on to this weekend’s predictions, may as well try to end on a positive note!!


Louisville vs. Kentucky


This one is bigger than the normal bragging rights tilt which Kentucky won 69-62 on New Year’s Eve.


Form is out of the window for this one, though conventional wisdom says Kentucky should win but Louisville is looking UConn-ish this season.


I have predicted their demise a few times this season so now I will probably put a curse on them by giving the nod to the Wildcats.


Kentucky by 9


Ohio State vs. Kansas


This one is another rematch with Ohio State hoping to reverse a 78-67 loss at Kansas in early December. After losing to Michigan State in the Big 10 title game the Buckeyes have picked themselves up and powered through the tourney. 


The story is the same for Kansas who have advanced after losing to Baylor in the Big 12 title affair.


This time around, the game will be closer and I will have to give the slight edge to Ohio State on a neutral court.


Ohio State by 4


I will have a quick look at the NCAA Women’s Final Four tomorrow along with preparing my pick for Monday night’s championship game.