NBA Playoff preview

NBA Post – Season is now here

The time for more playoff basketball is here…NBA style with the 2011 post season kicking off today. Before going forward, I will look back to my NBA preseason entry from 26 October 2010. In that, my playoff picks for the East were correct with the exception of Milwaukee and Charlotte. I was wrong on Milwaukee winning the Central Division.

In the Western Conference, take out my preseason picks of Utah and Phoenix and insert New Orleans and Memphis.

So my pick of Lakers vs. Heat final survives but there may be adjustments as I look at the first round.

Eastern Conference:

Chicago (1) 62-20 vs. Indiana (8) 37-45

This one will not be much more than a tune up for the surprisingly top seeded bulls as they go into the next round easily

Bulls win series 4-1.

Miami (2) 58-24 vs. Philadelphia (7) 41-41

The Heat has finally lived up to some of the hype in the last weeks of the season and should go on to the next round with a series win over the rejuvenated 76ers.

Miami wins series 4-0.

Boston (3) 46-26 vs. New York (6) 42-40

The Celtics showed lots of cracks in the armour late in the season while the Knicks were fine tuning their game… hmm…this could be upset of the round.

Knicks take series 4-3.

Orlando (4) 52-30 vs. Atlanta (5) 44-38

Both teams have been seen as underachievers this season but the winner of this series could go on to be the spoiler against Chicago.

Orlando takes this one 4-2.

Western Conference:

San Antonio (1) 61-21 vs. Memphis (8) 46-36

The Spurs are not completely healthy but they are a deep squad and should get through this round.

Spurs win series 4-1.

Los Angeles (2) 57-25 vs. New Orleans (7) 46-36

This could be a testy series for LA although they swept the regular season series.

LA wins 4-2.

Dallas (3) 57-25 vs. Portland (6) 48-34

Portland is a team that no one wanted to face in the first round. Dallas is a team prone to first round flops…..do the math.

Portland takes it 4-3.

Oklahoma City (4) 55-27 vs. Denver (5) 50-32

The Thunder are getting back on track and Denver has surprised since the All-Star break…good series on the way.

OKC wins 4-2.

If the predictions hold true we will have second round matches of Chicago/Orlando and Miami/NY in the East with San Antonio/OKC and LA/Portland in the West.

For the Conference Finals I would predict Chicago/Miami in the east and San Antonio/Portland in the West with Championship series of Miami vs. San Antonio where I would give the nod to Miami.

But, we will see how things pan out over the next month.

NBL Finals series on tap

NBL Finals Series underway

With basketball seasons around the globe in overload, Australia’s NBL season has reached the Semi Final stage with the top seeded New Zealand Breakers (22-6) facing the fourth seeded Perth Wildcats (16-12). The other semi matchup is an all Queensland affair with second seeded Townsville (17-11) playing number three seed Cairns 16-12).

The New Zealand/Perth matchup kicked off on Thursday night with the Wildcats shocking NZ in Auckland by a 101-78 score. The match was delicately poised at the half with the score knotted at 52. Perth held the NZ crew to 26 second half points to run out victors and gain the advantage in the series. Game two will be on Sunday afternoon with the decider, if necessary held on Wednesday night.

Cairns and Townsville kick off in a few hours with game one starting at 8pm tonight. The series will finish with games on Saturday night and Sunday if necessary.

Tune in to OneHD for the action. 

NCAA Final

NCAA Men’s Final

Well, the denouement is neigh for the 2010-2011 NCAA basketball season. Of course my bracket is shattered, of course my picks in the semi final games were wrong, of course I’ll attempt to pick the winner of the championship game and this will be my last prediction of this year’s college season.

The Final:

Butler vs. UConn

Well one UConn team has bitten the dust in the Final Four after the Husky ladies suffered a shock loss to Notre Dame in the semi finals. As for the men’s team, they come in a slight favourite over Butler although the Bulldogs are in the championship game for the second year in a row.

Prediction wise I will go with Butler due to their nucleus of players left over from last season. UConn will not get away with another bad performance like the one they put forward against Kentucky

So….

Butler wins 66-62.

My tourney picking record for 2011: 40 right-24 wrong

NCAA Final Four

Final Four 2011

Well none of my Final Four picks from my personal bracket are playing this weekend but I am by no means on an island….several brackets were shattered during the course of this years tournament.

Ok, right to the picks.

VCU vs. Butler

In an oddity of sorts, the team that made it to last season’s championship game—Butler is still a Cinderella story this year. That being said one of these two underdogs will advance to the final. Both have been on amazing runs but for this one, I’ll take VCU to advance by 5.

Kentucky vs. UConn

Both schools are making headlines for the wrong reasons over the last day or so unfortunately. UConn has been on an unreal run through the Big East tournament and the NCAA’s but will need solid inside play to pull this one off. Hmmm….Kentucky by 3.

NCAA Regional Finals

Regional Finals Day Two

We are now two games away from knowing the final four teams in the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. After two exciting games on Saturday where I was wrong on both counts, UConn and Butler booked tickets for Houston next weekend.

In today’s games…..

EAST REGIONAL Final:

Kentucky (4) vs. North Carolina (2)

Back in December, North Carolina escaped with a two point (75-73) win over Kentucky and will be looking for another tough game this time around. Both teams have improved but look for Carolina to use its front line advantage to pull this one out by 6.

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL Final:

VCU (11) vs. Kansas (1)

Kansas is heavily favoured and on a roll but may be a bit too cocky when facing giant killers VCU. There was a lot of trash talking from the Jayhawks in the Richmond game … is that wise when you have to face another team from the same city?? Though the Rams had a loss to Richmond during the regular season, it does not equate an automatic Kansas win. Gut tells me VCU by 4.

Tourney Record: 40 right – 22 wrong

NCAA Hoops...

Two Final Four tickets up for grabs

Saturday sees two of the four Regional finals on tap for the weekend. In yesterdays games I went a perfect 4-0 tipping both Kentucky and VCU for big wins.

For Saturday’s action…

SOUTHEAST Regional Final:

Butler (8) vs. Florida (2)

Butler has made another surprise run in this years tournament but this year I don’t think it will continue. Florida is a solid squad and Chandler Parsons will prove to be the difference in this one. Gators by 10.

WEST Regional Final:

Arizona (5) vs. Connecticut (3)

This one will be a barn burner, UConn have been on a hot streak lately while Arizona have been a surprise to many outside of the Western USA. I think UConn’s run will finally end. ‘Zona by 7.

Current Record: 40 right-20 wrong…….

NCAASweet 16, Day 2.

Sweet 16 part deux

The Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament concludes on Friday with games in San Antonio, Texas and Newark, New Jersey. My Thursday picks fell by the wayside with only Florida advancing. Similarly my Final Four picks are gone with the exception of North Carolina. For Thursday’s games I went 1-3 pick wise.

Fridays picks…

SOUTHWEST REGION:

Richmond (12) vs. Kansas (1)

The city of Richmond will have a strong fan base in San Antonio with the hometown Spiders and VCU both playing there. First up, Richmond clashes with Kansas. This one could catch Kansas looking ahead but the Jayhawks will hold on and pull away late by 11.

Virginia Commonwealth (11) vs. Florida State (10)

VCU may be able to hang on against the tough Seminole “D”. Rams by 5.

EAST REGION:

North Carolina (2) vs. Marquette (11)

Former title game opponents square off in regional semis in this one. Carolina has had some close calls but this one may be easier. UNC by 12.

Kentucky (4) vs. Ohio State (1)

Kentucky has a solid run going but Ohio State is out to live up to the hype. Hmm….I’ll call and upset …Kentucky by 3.

Ok, back in a day or so with Regional final picks….

Current Record: 36 right – 20 wrong…