Heard in the Cheap Seats

So the first round of the NBA Playoffs is in the books.  The second round has already gotten underway, but my picks were already on paper.  And so far not too bad!  The only pick I missed was the Spurs defeating the Suns.  I have already stated that obviously my pick of the Suns making it to the finals was way off.  I also felt all along the winner of that series would make it out of the West, so that means the Spurs against the Pistons.  Like I said, Pistons in seven.  Let’s do a brief breakdown of how I see this second round playing out.

Pistons vs. Magic

I stated earlier that I saw the Pistons in 6 here.  So far, the Pistons have taken care of the home court.  Since I write this after the series has taken shape, I think maybe the Pistons close the Magic out in Game 5.  They had their wake up call against the Sixers and now they are in high gear,  with Billups being the catalyst.  When his game is on and his shots are falling they are tough to stop.  The Pistons are just too tough defensively and the mismatches they can create on the offensive end are glaring in this one.  The Magic will steal one, but it looks like that is it.

Celtics vs. Cavaliers

So my pick when the playoffs began was the Celtics in six.  I have to stick with it, but I will say I have some reservations about the Celtics after watching them against the Hawks.  Losing all three in Atlanta is not the stuff of a champion.  Also, Boston’s defense has been praised all year, and rightly so, but a defensive weakness was exposed against Atlanta.  The Celtics showed an inability to stop penetration.  Lucky for them, the Cavs offense does not provide a lot of slashers.  But, they do have LeBron James as we know, and the Celtics have no one to match up with him.  I think the Celtics are going to have problems in this one and Garnett really needs to step up.  For a guy that plays with as much passion as he does, the dude sure does seem to crap himself at the end of games.  He does not look to score.  Can’t have that and win it all.  This is going to be a fun one.

Hornets vs. Spurs

Obviously I had the Suns here and had them moving on, and as I write this the Hornets have now dismantled the Spurs in the first 2 games.  They have made Tim Duncan look like Jon Koncak (I know weird reference, but it somehow popped into my head so I went with it).  Chris Paul is just ridiculously good.  It’s scary how good he is.  He has become a favorite player of mine to watch.  I still feel the old-timers will right the ship in San Antonio, even up the series and win this thing in 7.  They cannot guard Paul, but they almost need to let him score.  The Hornets become tough to beat when all their shooters are wide open because the lane has collapsed to stop Paul.  I also think the Spurs will realize they have to get the ball to Duncan as much as possible.  He should touch the ball every possession.  I think they step up, tighten up  the defense and start to frustrate the young Hornets.  Another great series to watch.

Lakers vs. Jazz

Ok, so I have already picked the Jazz in 7 so again I have to stick with it.  For the purpose of full disclosure I must say that I live in Los Angeles and HATE the Lakers.  I convinced myself that they will lose.  I do not want to think of the flip side.  I have made a few bets that may end up making my wallet a bit lighter, but screw it!  That’s my stubborn side.  I have to be honest though.  I think I will end up wrong.  The Jazz simply have no answer whatsoever for Kobe.  I am hoping that in Utah they can ride their fans to victories but we shall see.  Let’s just say I picked the Jazz but have a feeling that I was wrong and the Lakers are going to close this out early.  They have too many weapons.  The chance that the Jazz have is to control the boards and be as aggressive as possible on the offensive end.  Take it to the Lakers.  They have to hit their perimeter shots as well or they are done.  I can’t write anymore on this because I am about to punch myself in the face repeatedly.  Maybe Mehmet Okur will average 52 points a game.  I think I hit myself too hard.  Here’s hoping the Jazz can make me look good, but I am doubting it now.

So that’s how I see it.  I will preview the conference finals when they happen.  And if any one has seen the editor and chief of this site (AKA…my brother), tell him I’m coming for him.  Lazy ass.

First I would like to apologize for not writing anything in over a week.  I was on the shelf with a hand injury.  My status has been upgraded to questionable this week.  Not a chance I am sitting out.  I was brainstorming ideas earlier today, and I had so many different ones, that I decided to hold off on them and just write a bunch of random thoughts I’ve had in the world of sports, and possibly more.  Wow!  That was a run on sentence if I have ever seen one.  Screw it, I was not an English major.  Of course, I had no major what so ever.  And now…deep thoughts by Anthony Iafolla…

At least the Hawks and Sixers made their first round series against the Celts and Pistons somewhat interesting.  I was definitely surprised to see the Hawks step up in games 3 and 4.

I love Charles Barkley!  He is more entertaining to watch on TNT than most of what is on television these days.  I think Ernie Johnson might snap one day, but until then…Give me as many Barkley rants as you can.  Priceless!

Flopping in the NBA must go.  That Kirilenko flop and subsequent foul call at the end of Game 2 was ridiculous.  We might be getting to the point where it becomes like a soccer game.  I am waiting to see a stretcher come out on the court when a player flops and acts like he was shot.

Good job by the Denver Nuggets!  Way to make the Lakers earn their first round playoff win.  Seriously guys, you are allowed to put a hand in the face of a jump shooter.

Can it be any more obvious what David Stern wants?  Lakers and Celtics finals.  Ratings through the roof.  He cost the Suns their series against the Spurs last year, but there was no way he was going to suspend Garnett for shoving an official.  Do you think Allen Iverson  would have gotten away with that?

Speaking of the Suns…I was way off on my prediction.  Nope.  They are not going to be playing in the NBA Finals.  I would like a mulligan.  Actually, I will just say that I felt the winner of that series was coming out of the West.  The Spurs keep on winning.

Maybe Larry brown jumped back into the coaching pool too soon.  With the Mavs, possibly the Suns and other teams in need of a coach he jumped at the Charlotte job.  Now he is working for MJ.  Greatest player ever, possibly worst ever at building a team.

Hubie Brown scares me.  He looks like a character out of a horror movie.  A zombie movie to be more precise.

Every time I hear Marv Albert call a game, I can’t  help but think of the infamous biting incident.

Good to see teams like the Orioles and Rays playing good baseball.  Even if it will not result in anything by the end of the season.

Anybody else noticed how it seems like the average velocity of pitchers is down?…I wonder how that could be.  It wasn’t just the hitters juicing it up folks.

I love the NFL Draft, but I was getting close to losing my mind if I had to watch anymore analysis from Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay and all the NFL Live guys.  Literally they talked about the draft for 3 months straight.  It was the same crap!  Really?…Darren McFadden has off the field concerns?  Where have I heard that?  Oh man!  The Falcons need a quarterback?  I didn’t know.  Oh wait.  I did.  Because you told me that the last 97 days!  Enough.

I hope Roger Goodell reinstates Pacman Jones so I can enjoy seeing the Cowboys implode and watch Jerry Jones’ face melt even more.

If Jerry Jones and Joan Rivers had a child, would that child be able to move its face?

LeBron James is nowhere near Michael Jordan.  He carried the Cavs against the Pistons last year and had one of the greatest fourth quarters in playoff history, but many times when the game comes down to one shot in Lebron’s hands, that shot clangs off the rim.

Reality TV sucks!  (Sorry Joelle)  I was flipping through the channels today, and I came across some show on MTV with these guys who are all vying to go out with one girl.  I sat there and watched for about 30 seconds thinking…”Are these people serious?”  Not to mention they can never live it down.  I have never seen people acting like bigger douchebags crammed into such a short period of time.

Looks like we will not be getting anything resembling a playoff in college football anytime soon.  Too much money the way it is set up now.  Plus, watching a crappy Illinois team go against USC was so much better than USC against Georgia would have been.

Gotta love Josh Howard!  You can’t make this stuff up.  I actually think he should try smoking weed during the season since he claims he does not.  His performance this year sure seemed like he was stoned.  Maybe he would play better high.  Kind of like when people say “I drive better when I’m drunk.”…And by the way, where is Sam Perkins?  Because he can get Josh Howard the good stuff.

Listening to baseball on the radio on a beautiful sunny day when its announced by the Vin Scully’s and Harry Kalas’ of the world is better than watching it on TV.  Painting the picture like the old-timers did is a lost art form.

I cannot believe David Stern wants to expand the NBA into Europe.  To me, this might be the worst idea he has ever had.

Bold prediction: Chris Long will be a hall of famer just like his father.

I have more random thoughts but I need to go ice my hand.  I could go on and on, but I would not subject you to that.  Thanks for reading this jumbled mess of a column