EAST

Cleveland Cavaliers VS Chicago Bulls- Cavs in 5

I would love for the Bulls to win more than one game or even take the series, but it will not happen.  Lebron James is just too much for the Bulls to handle.  The Bulls played a great game, but still lost game 2.  Enough said,  I’m going to pout in silence…..

Boston Celtics VS Miami Heat (three old men VS a young superstar)- Boston Celtics (old men) 4-3

This is going to be a great series.  Dwayne Wade is a superstar and will win one or two games by himself.  If he gets any help at all they will win one more and could possibly take the series.  Kevin Garnett is not the same KG we know and love, plus he is out for game two because of his elbow.  The Boston Celtics have a champion swagger.  Paul Pierce will not give up for anybody and Rajon Rondo has become a great basketball player.  I think the Celtics have too much for Wade to win the series.

Atlanta Hawks VS Milwaukee Bucks- Hawks sweep

Atlanta has a balanced scoring attack.  They have perimeter shooters in Mike Bibby and Jamal Crawford.  They have physical players who will take it inside Josh Smith and Marvin Williams.  Plus,  they have the most underrated player in the NBA, Joe Johnson.  He can shoot, defend, rebound and is a good teammate.  Andrew Bogut is out for the Bucks.  With him in the lineup the Bucks could have won a few games, but not without him.  John Salmons and Brandon Jennings won’t give the team enough to get them past the Hawks.

Orlando Magic VS Charlotte Bobcats- Magic sweep

Dwight Howard is a beast.  Charlotte’s Tyson Chandler is not going to contain Howard.  The Magic are the best three point shooting team in the history of the NBA. Enough said.

WEST

LA Lakers VS Oklahoma City Thunder- Lakers in 6

Kobe or Ron Artest against Kevin Durant is the best one-on-one match-up in the first round.  Kobe is a solid defender and Artest is one of the best in the game.  Durant is the best scorer in the game.  This should be fun to watch.  The Lakers are just too good.  They have a great veteran team who are going to teach the young Thunder lessons.  The Thunder are a good team and will find enough scoring to get a couple games, but Kobe and company will win the series.

Denver Nuggets VS Utah Jazz- Nuggets in 6

The Jazz are banged up.  The Nuggets have something to prove.  They were at one time the number two seed in the west but fell to fourth after a bad stretch of loses.  Kenyon Martin is back to add physical inside play.  The Nuggets will miss George Karl but they will find a way to win the series in six games.

Phoenix Suns VS Portland Trailblazers- Suns in 6

I wanted to give the series to Portland, but, I can’t do it with Brandon Roy on the IR.  Roy is the difference maker.  Portland has a good team, but I think Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash will take care of business.

Dallas Mavericks VS San Antonio Spurs- Dallas in 5

The boring Spurs are done.  They can’t stay healthy and Tim Duncan is not even a shell of his former self.  Dallas is rolling.  Dirk is playing at an MVP level and Jason Kidd is playing like he is 24 instead of 37.  Kidd is still the best passer in the game and can add 15-to-20 points any given night.  Plus, Caron Butler and Brendan Hayword have come from Washington and added key pieces the Mavericks were missing.

The biggest event is the Boston Celtic’s Kevin Garnett getting banned from game two in his team’s series against the Miami Heat.  In game one, teammate Paul Pierce fell to the court and laid in pain.  Miami Heat’s Quentin Richardson stood over him and said some words.  With 40 seconds left in the game, Garnett came to protect Pierce, elbowing Richardson in the face.  KG is not allowed to enter the arena for game two and Richardson has to pay a $25,000 fine.

I like Garnett supporting his wounded teammate.  I like the NBA being the authority they wish to be and give the suspension and the fine.  What was Q doing?  If you knock down somebody and feel proud of it, cool, but it was wrong of him to further humiliate Pierce.  Richardson is a good player but why did he have to be ignorant?  Guess it was his 15 seconds of fame in his first playoff game since 2004 when he was with the Phoenix Suns.

Ron Artest VS Kevin Durant is the must see one-on-one match up in the first round.  Artest is arguably the best man defender in the league.  He is pesky and very seldom leaves his man; seldom as in never.  Durant is the best scorer in the league,  well at least to the points per game stat.  He became the youngest player in NBA history to win the scoring crown by scoring 30 ppg this season.

In game 1, Durant was held way below his averages.  Instead of 30 points, he was held to 24.  Six points isn’t much but he didn’t get those 24 from his scoring ability.  Nine of those points came from his 9-of-11 from the free throw line.  Durant averaged 47% from the field but was 7-of-24 in game one.  Artest and Kobe Bryant blanketed him.  Durant couldn’t even get rebounds, his eight a game, fell to two.  Without Durant, the Thunder are destined to be swept.  Lakers won game one, 87-79.

This is the biggest surprise.  The Portland Trailblazers beat the Suns without Brandon Roy.  With Roy in the lineup, the Blazers have the young talent possessing the ability to beat the Suns.  The Trailblazers should not beat the Suns without him.  Roy brings 22 pppg and 5 rebounds and assists to the box score every game.  The Blazers did not let the loss of their leader effect them.

Andre Miller, not know for his scoring, dropped 31 points and eight assists.  LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 points and Marcus Camby gradded 17 rebounds.  If they continue to play like this,  the Suns may find themselves booted in the first round.  Once Roy was put on the Injured Reserve list,  the Suns were the huge favorite.  They better come to play because Portland is hungry for a playoff series win.

The Orlando Magic beat the Charlotte Bobcats 98-89, not a big surprise.  The thing for me, was Stephen Jackson.  Jackson is known as a pure scorer who lacks dedication.  He hyper extended his knee against the Magic in game one.  Instead of giving up or saying, man, I can’t play.  He said, “No Chance in Hell, I’m not going to play in game two.”

This is awesome for the Bobcats.  He is one of their main leaders.  He has a reputation.  A statement like this, might change the outcome of a few games in the series.  The Magic will still win, but Jackson’s approach could make the series interesting.

Milwaukee Bucks rookie point guard Brandon Jennings is amazing.  In game one against the Atlanta Hawks he dropped 34 points.  The problem is, he didn’t have much help against the balanced attack of the Hawks.  Joe Johnson scored 22, Mike Bibby 19, Jamal Crawford 17, Al Horford 15, and both Josh Smith and Marvin Williams had 12.  John Salmons will have to score more than 16 without Andrew Bogut in the lineup.

One more thing.  The Dallas Mavericks are going to be awfully tough to beat.  Jason Kidd, Caron Butler and Dirk Nowitzki are rolling.  They beat the Spurs only by six, 100-94, but the aging Spurs had no defensive answers for the three stars scoring.

MVP

LEBRON JAMES

James finished the season averaging 29.7 points per game which was second in the league, only behind Kevin Durant. James probably could have took the scoring crown, but he sat out the last four or five games of the season to rest his legs. LBJ is putting up video game numbers. Not only is he scoring 30 a game, he is also also sixth in assists with 8.6 and grabs seven rebounds a game. James is dominant in all facets of the game. We all know the deal, I don’t think there is anyone not voting for LBJ

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

DWIGHT HOWARD

He is the best big man in the game and has been the only one considered dominant since Shaq in his prime.  He leads the league in rebounds 13rpg, blocks 2.78 and in field goal percentage with 61%.  He is a beast.  No one wants to come into the lane against the Magic.  Howard owns the paint.  I don’t think this is even close.  Howard is hands down the defensive player of the year

SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR

JAMAL CRAWFORD

Crawford has been amazing coming off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks.  He has always been a scorer, but usually had to create for himself because nobody could score on the early 2000′s Bulls squads or the New York Knicks.  Now, he is on a team with players who can score from anywhere.  This has opened his opportunities and all around game.  Crawford could easily start over Mike Bibby, but why fix it, if it isn’t broken.  Broken is a crazy statement,  it is working to perfection for Crawford and the team.  He is averaging 18 ppg and adds three assists to every contest.  His season high is 33 and could drop 20 on any given night.  Dallas’s Jason Terry defended his sixth man award from last year, but Crawford has just been too good.

COACH OF THE YEAR

SCOTT BROOKS

Brooks has taken a horrible team who couldn’t win a game to a team who at one point was the fifth seed in the tough western conference and a 50 game win season.  At the beginning of the year, they were expected to be better than last year, but only win 35-to-38 games.  No one in their right mind would think they would win 50 and make it to the post season.  Of course, they are going to play the Lakers, but some say they could win two games, including Greg Anthony.  I think they could too.  Sure, it helps to have Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, but he still needs a coach to help him get his team involved and play winning basketball.  Russell Westbrook is developing into a top ten point guard in the league and the Thunder’s role players are playing their roles at an extremely high level.  The props for individual and team accomplishments has to fall to Scotty  for what he has done in Oklahoma City.

WHO DO YOU THINK IS DESERVING OF THE NBA AWARDS?

It is considerably harder to chose these All Stars, because the West has more stars.  I like to argue and put my guys in the game, but this year, most of them were originally selected.  Shame on West’s Head Coach George Karl thinking the same.  He picked a solid back up squad that on paper could dominate the East’s reserves if the bench teams played a pick up game.

However, there are a few players who will be in the bleachers or on their couch who should be participants.  It happens every year.  Lets start with an interesting development.

Chris Paul- Paul is arguably the best point guard in the game.  He can score, dish, rebound and defend.  There isn’t an aspect of the game he doesn’t perform on a nightly basis.  Unfortunately for him,  he had to have surgery yesterday on his left knee.  I DID AGREE His replacement is………..

Chauncey Billups- Billups was a player I was going to write about being a snub.  Billups is a supreme floor general.  He is the coach on the court, guiding the talents of Carmelo Anthony and Nene to help the team win.  Not only does he find the open man but if you challenge him, he will hit a 3 pointer in your face.  Billup’s nickname “MR. Clutch” is self explanatory.  He is a winner and a huge reason why the Denver Nuggets have moved to the top of the Western Conference.  Billups is in the league’s top 25 with 19 points a game with the help of  41%  shooting from beyond the arch.  Also, he dishes out 6 assists per game for 12th in the NBA.   I AGREE I was originally going to put him in for……

Deron Williams- Williams is a good player.  Most people would probably put him past good.  I know a lot of people who say he is in the top 15 players in the league.  He is not that good.  I like his game but I like others better.  Williams does led the Utah Jazz to a 30-18 record for 4th in the west.  This is why he is selected.  He, like Billups, is a floor general.  He gets the ball where it needs to be.  Williams is 4th in the league with 9 assists per game and in the top 25 with 19 ppg.  The only problem is, his teammates do everything else.  He isn’t the team like a few others I really want to put ahead of him.  The problem with the other players is, they don’t produce wins like Williams.  Tyreke Evans is scoring 20 ppg and contributing 5 assists.  In his rookie year, he took over the Sacramento Kings when former stud Kevin Martin was injured.  Monta Ellis is a machine.  He is 6th in the league with 26 ppg and adds 5 assists.  On most nights, he is the only reason the Golden State Warriors stay competitive.  Evans and Ellis just can’t get the W’s, both of their teams have the Utah’s record, just flip flopped.  With this said…….AGREE…..BUT DON’T WANT TO

Pau Gasol- In the past, Gasol has been a definite All Star.  This year,  his game isn’t at that level.  He demands double teams and can grab a rebound from the other side of the court.  He can go inside and outside with the ball and is a defensive presence in the paint.  He cannot stay healthy.  The Lakers are winning games without him.  If he was on another team,  I’m sure it wouldn’t be the same story but the cards lie how they fell.  Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum have better stats and are quickly becoming as important as Gasol on the Lakers.  How does Gasol rate on an All Star team if their are players on his team who should be in before him.  DISAGREE He would be replaced with…..

Chris Kaman- Kaman is quickly becoming the best center in the west.  I chose him to be a starter.  He is dominant on the offensive side of the ball.  Kaman has great footwork and moves his body well around the basket and without the ball.  When he has the ball, cutters and wings on the 3 point line do not have to wait long before Kaman hits them up with a pass.  The Los Angeles Clippers are a low post liability without him.  Marcus Camby is getting up there in age and needs Kaman there to anchor him.  Even with Camby, one of the leagues leading defensive and rebounding players in the league for the last 8 years, Kaman still gets 9 boards and 20 points a game.    SHOULD BE

Now it is easy….no more debate.   These players have put up good numbers and have been helping their team win and improve.  They should be on everybody’s list.

Kevin Durant- “Durantula” will be a starter within the next couple of years.  “Melo” will need to continue video game numbers if he doesn’t want to lose his spot.  Durant is a one man scoring nightmare for the opponent.  He has the perfect form in his jump shot, he can boom it any big man’s face or will finish a lay-up with style if their is decent defensive pressure.  He has turned the Sonics/ Thunder into a playoff contending team.  Durant is an ultimate team player making everyone better.  He is currently tied with “Melo” for the league scoring lead with 27.9 points.  He is also in the top 25 in steals with almost 2 a game and grabs 7 boards.  AGREE

Dirk Nowitzki- There isn’t any need to explain Dirk’s abilities.  He is clutch on all levels.  He should have been named a starter over Tim Duncan.  At the beginning of the season, most NBA columnists thought the Mavericks were going to miss the playoffs or be a bottom seed.  With role playing help of Jason Kidd and Jason Terry, Dirk has took the Mavericks to the next level as they sit in 3rd place in the west with a 31-18 record.  His 25 ppg puts him in 7th place and grabs 8 rebounds a game.   AGREE

Brandon Roy- Roy is a stud.  With the addition of Andre Miller he has got to move with the ball for open shots, but he is still the go to player.  He definitely has the Kobe Bryant killer look.  Roy has taken control of a once faltering franchise and turned it into a contender.  Instead of an easy win,  opponents know they will have to fight for everything, especially the win.  Roy is 9th in the league with 23 ppg and also averages 5 rebounds and assists a game.  AGREE

Zach Randolph- Besides his attitude and his ability to quit playing in the middle of a game, Randolph has always had All Star techniques and stats.  He is a dominant offensive big man.  He knows how to get defenders off their feet and out of position.  He is finally becoming the player he could have been in Portland.  The Memphis Grizzlies should be happy they took a chance with Randolph.  For the first time in a few years, they may have a playoff caliber team.  Randolph is a big reason why.  He is averaging a double-double with 20 pts and 11 rebounds putting him in 11th and 4th in the league.  AGREE

IF YOU DON’T AGREE WITH ME OR GEORGE KARL, SEND A COMMENT, LET US KNOW WHO YOUR ALL STAR RESERVES WOULD BE

In his 2nd year in the NBA, Rose is the first Chicago Bull to be named to the team since Michael Jordan in 1998.  In case you can not do math,  it has been 12 YEARS.

Rose came into the league last year as the number one draft pick and showed he was worth it.  At the end of the year, he won the Rookie of the Year award.  He also helped his team push the Boston Celtics to a tough competitive 7 game series in the playoffs.

This year, Rose picked up from exactly where he left off.  Contributing 20 points a game, Rose is a scoring point guard but is contributes to the team in every aspect of the game.  He plays defense and averages 6 assists a game.  His jump shot is developing and it seems his court vision is hitting x-ray level.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/derrick-roses-all-star-highlights.html

Having Rose named to the All Star team should be exhilarating for all Bulls fans.  This means the team is getting recognized.  Also,  the selection means the Bulls have a key piece to building a champion.

Boston’s Rajon Rondo, Atlanta Hawk’s Al Horford and the Charlotte Bobcat’s Gerald Wallace join Rose as first year selections to the East All Star team.  Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, Boston’s Paul Pierce and Toronto Raptor Chris Bosh complete the Eastern Conference’s roster.

Dallas Maverick’s Dirk Nowitzki will be the hometown hero of the game since it is in Dallas.  Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant, Memphis Grizzlies Zach Randolph and Utah Jazz’s point guard Deron Williams are the first year participants for the Western Conference.  Los Angeles Laker Pau Gasol, New Orleans Hornet Chris Paul and Portland Trailblazer Brandon Roy were selected as well.

Fortunately, the team bounced back and have been playing solid team ball.   The shocking thing is most of this turn around has been on the road. Last night, the 21-22  Bulls beat the aging champions of the 25-18  San Antonio Spurs to be one win away from a .500 record.  The win was the 3rd consecutive road win in the middle of a 7 game trip to the west coast.

They have bounced back by playing fundamental basketball. The shots with two or three defenders flying towards the ball was last month.  Ball movement, crisp passing and wide open shots is now and hopefully the future.

Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich continued to penetrate to the basket with a pass first mentality.  When the ball was in the front court and a double team came, the big men dished instead of trying to throw up a blind hook shot.

These passes and team ball constructed good shots and better percentages then the Spurs.  The Bull’s field goal percentage was 54% while the Spurs shot 42%.  Chicago only made 5 three-pointers but they shot at a 46% rate while the struggling Spurs shot 21%.

Youthfulness seemed to be a problem after the first week of regular season play.  Now, it looks like a key element of Chicago becoming as high as a 5th seed in the Eastern Conference playoff tree.  The first opponent standing in the way of an even record is another young and athletic team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder have a stud in Kevin Durant.  He can score, dish and defend.  He is surrounded by other young talent who are becoming well known around the NBA and to fans, who do not get to see them on television.  If the Bulls can run with Thunder and continue to play like they have been, they have a chance.

The only question is, can they continue to play to their current standards?

Chicago jumped out to a 10-2 lead and never looked back. At times it looked like the Rockets were going to refuel and take the lead, but they didn’t have enough fire power.

Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich were the attacking guards they had been for most of the season. Both were penetrating the paint looking for an open post player or taking an uncontested layup. The players never let the ball stop moving from teammate to teammate with inside to outside ball movement.

The entire team played like they had drank 5 or 6 Red Bulls before they came to the court. Tyrus Thomas came off the bench to swat away 6 shots. As a unit they had 12 blocks with all five starters, Luol Deng, Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Taj Gibson and Brad Miller, collecting 1. Midway through the second quarter, the Rockets began pump faking or committing bad passes because they were scared of the Bulls interior defense.

Tenacity on both sides of the ball quickly took the Houston fans out of the game. The stands were either in utter shock or embarrassment as the Bulls were running fluid fast break transitions for easy baskets. This caused the fans to check other scores on their I Phones and Blackberries.

The Bulls had more energy. The different levels were extremely noticeable when rebounding or trying to get loose balls. The Red jerseys were throwing their bodies around while the white and orange were halfheartedly touching the ball with one hand.

Leg energy was also on display as the Bulls shot 58% from the 3 point line going 7-of-12 while the Rockets went 8-for-22.

Miller started the game for the injured Joakim Noah, who sat the game out for the first time this season due to pain in his left ankle. The replacement made the best out his extra minutes scoring 25 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.

Miller had help in the front court from Gibson. The rookie proved why he deserves a starting spot as he performed his 5th double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds. He was at the right place at the right time and stood his ground against the Rockets big men Luis Scola and Carl Landry.

In the back court, Rose scored 20 points while Hinrich added 12 points and 7 assists.

The Bulls have 3 more games left in their Western Conference road trip. They have won 6 of their last 8 games and their 20-22 record means they are only 2 wins away from a .500 record. To do this in the next 2 games they would need to beat the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.