QUICK THOUGHTS ON TODAY'S NBA ACTION

Heat vs  76ers

Other than game 2, the Heat was challenged in every way and earned everything.  The 76ers is a young team with plenty of promise, but a true go to guy is something they lacked and it was very obvious in the closing minutes.  The three’s that dropped in their lone win is not consistent enough to seriously threaten the Magic, Celtics, Bulls, and Heat.  Shout out to Elton Brand for reviving his career and A.I. for finally unleashing his athleticism.  Yes, they were a handful but let’s give credit where it is due.  The Heat defended and scored with a rhythm.  Who knows if they are really a different team from the regular season but they will give Boston all they can handle.  The key to this series in my opinion is Chris Bosh, he has to be a major factor not only in the offensive end, but must provide a defensive presence as well.  I’ve said all along that the Heat will be represent the East in the Finals, we will see if I will eat crow or reward me for believing in them.

Spurs vs Grizzlies

Wow! What a game.  Clutch or Lucky, (Manu says luck) but I’d like to believe otherwise because we know he’s got game.  The Spurs showed plenty of heart but age is catching up to the veteran group.  The Grizzlies showed more fight in the money quarter compared to the Spurs who were trying to catch their breath.  Unlike past Spurs teams, this team relies heavier on offense while compromising their defense.  Z.Bo was clutch, showing off his sweet shooting touch.  I didn’t believe the Spurs would go down in San Antonio, but Memphis is a whole new ball game.  This young team is hungry and eager to prove that they can claim their first series win.  If they manage to pull off the upset, they will secure a spot in history as no.8 seed that sends home a no.1 seed.  

Nuggets vs Thunder

This was the series that I looked forward to the most and it did not disappoint.   Oklahoma City possessed two guys that can get their own shots as well as create for others.  In the Playoffs the tempo is controlled and opponents are very familiar with each others schemes.  This series ended in 5, but I couldn’t complain about the excitement.  Both teams were physical and competed in every possession.  Durant was clutch today by picking up the scoring slack without losing a beat on the defensive end.  The Nuggets had the lead with 2:00 minutes to go and heart prevailed.  Durant overcame the deficit by himself in the offensive end.  This was yet another coming out party for KD.  I believe we’ve seen a glimpse of the NBA’s brightest future star. THUNDER UP! 

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NBA PLAYOFFS

Oklahoma City was the place to be for a serious game 1 on sunday.  Yes, I watched all 8 games through out the weekend and Yes, Derrick Rose is a beast but the performance of the weekend had to go to KD.  Why KD over DRose you ask? Very simple, the opponent.  Look if D.Rose happened to come up short in that heroic comeback Im still not sold that the Pacers have what it takes to knock them out of the playoffs in a 7 game series.  On the other hand if Durant let the Nuggets run away with the lead in the 3rd quarter this would have spelled panic for them.  Unlike the Bulls the Thunder's performance from last season's playoffs had them pegged to go far in the playoffs (they were picked to finish 2nd to the Lakers in most if not all pre-season polls for the regular season).  So there are expectaions and that does not come with out pressure. The acquisition of Perkins only raises those expectations so to be down 0-1 to the Nuggets and losing home court advantage could threaten their playoff run.  The Nuggets can hang with anyone and they are more than capable of beating OKC.  So the nod had to go to Durant. Can't wait for game 2!

Sweet Wine

Bordeaux 7s

SATURDAY PICK UP

NIKE ZOOM KOBE VI  SUPREME "Chaos"

Baby BULLS No More

The Bulls are still one of the youngest teams in the NBA but they no longer carry the "baby" tag.  This Bulls team not only inserted themselves in the championship race but kicked the doors down at this exclusive party.  In the process Derrick Rose is not only the media darling for MVP but solidified it for the non-believers last night versus the Celtics.  Boston did not have an answer, even though they are on top of every defensive category with two potential defensive nba first teamers in Kevin Garnett & Rajon Rondo.  Most impressive I believe is how they are a team and play off one another.  Cheers for the Bulls making that leap from talented to potential title contender and we are all invited to the Derrick Rose break out season party!!

Nike SB

Another solid colorway for Nike SB dunk. which means another cop, thank you so very much.

via sneakernews.com

SPACEJAM X NIKE SB DUNK LOW

picture via sneakernews.com

Im not really huge on nicknames that refers to JB colorways when it comes to Nike SB because its usually far fetched and need a good imagination to see the similarities.  Word is its a "spacejam" dunk low and frankly I don't give a damn what they call it because the colorway is so sick.  And oh yes, so stoked for these.  It is now on my cop list x2.  Fc*k the hype its about the colorway and I'm gonna beat the baaajesus out of these!!

GAME OVER congrats UConn!!!

So had to post this ASAP to give props to UConn for taking the title and proved me wrong! Yes it was a defensive struggle and I don't mind those games because this is basketball at its best. When two teams want it so bad that their sheer will prevents the other team from scoring.  The UConn bigs not only out played the Butler front line but they completely destroyed them.  I had Kemba and Mack penciled in for a big game but they were non-factors but UConn showed they can afford it b/c they had a deeper talent pool (J.Lamb & deep front court players).  Butler couldn't buy a basket and whether they just missed them or it was the athleticism of the the UConn team they simply built a house with all those bricks.The UConn bigs not only held them to under 10pts in the paint the whole game but also swatted 10 shots.  All around great team win for the Huskies.  What a conclusion for the most unpredictable tourney. Congratulations!!

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship

So that huge field of teams is now down to two and lets get something straight, whoever claims they had these two teams playing in the end is straight out lying. LOL.   After much thought and speaking with the basketball gods I am going with the Butler Bulldogs.  Why you ask? What about Kemba?

Very simple, for the past two seasons no team has played their identity better than Butler.  No game breakers or neck breaking plays just pure basketball with in their own ability.  Yes talent is needed to win but in this level of play being seasoned is a a bigger factor in my opinion.

Fact: No one has been better than Kemba in the last month but he is the only rock on that team in saying that though a UCONN win is not out of the question.  Will the other freshmen guards step up is a giant question and can the UCONN bigs out muscle and out work the Butler bigs? I don't think so.

My most compelling argument is really this: beware in betting against Butler, they were a rattled shot away from putting Duke down & this time I think it will stay in for them. Not very in depth in my strongest argument but its just how things are going thus far in this tourney.