Well the conference tournaments are done and the "madness" will begin Thursday and Friday with the opening rounds. Hopefully there will be a little more upsets this year then last year and I think there can be. What's also interesting is that in my opinion there is no real standout team from the tourney, some will argue that UNC or UCLA or Memphis are a cut above everyone else but I just don't see it. There is no Florida this year where the majority agree that they will win, I can see a number of teams having a real shot at winning it all sort of like the Western Conference in the NBA this year.
So before I give my tourney predictions I'd like to speak on the Rockets and there winning streak.
It's impressive, can't say it any simpler then that. They're finally grasping Rick Adelman's system and everyone knows there role and now that Yao is out everyone is stepping up there game. There defense is amazing and that's really without an interior shot blocker once Dikembe Mutombo sits down. The defense Shane Battier played on Kobe Bryant was some of the best I have ever seen played on a player, just watching Battier play Bryant straight up with little to no help and not committing many fouls. I couldn't believe nearly every Kobe shot as Kobe jumped in the air he stuck his hand in Kobe's face inbetween Kobe's arms and he never touched Kobe or fouled him just a hand in his face. And it clearly bothered Kobe. Again to reiterrate it was just picture perfect defense, he was beating kobe to his spots and putting a hand right in his face to contest his shot everytime down.
And Rafer Alston is playing his ass off right now, I remember a week and a half ago when he played the Mavs I was embarrassed when he scored 22 or 25 against us, but he was possessed yesterday, like in his old And1 day or pickup game, if you're feeling it you give yourself a heat check and he was clicking on all cylinders. The entire game I watched and the whole time even when the Lakers got close I felt the Rockets were in control of the game and I'm not sure why, maybe it was because everyone was contributing and TMac wasn't even scoring much and could go off at anytime. Then the Rockets hit a couple 3's in a row and put the game away after a couple of missed Kobe jumpers.
I wrote that Monday night, fastforward one day and it looks like the Celtics beat the Rockets one day after coming back from at one point a 22 point deficit to beat the Spurs, so they've now swept through 2/3 of the Texas Triangle and if the Mavericks come out flat like they did against the Lakers they'll do that without breaking a sweat. But I doubt we will see this long a streak for a very very long time, good job Rockets. I will not take you as lightly as I would have if it had ended at 15 or so but I still don't see them winning the title and will still have a hard time getting out of the 1st round.
The Mavericks played the Lakers tonight and lost by 2, but that's a deceiving score because they were down by 25 at one point until the Mavs bench starting bringing them back in the game led by, Tyronn Lue, Devean George (who defended Kobe better then anyone else on this team making him work to get the ball. But everyone hates him now so most will dismiss this.) and Jason Terry. Kobe got his 4th foul and that also helped the Mavs lock down on defense for the rest of the game as there offense finally got going after a sub 40% shooting in the 1st half. Then Vladimir Radmonivic hits 3 straight 3's to put them up 12, thats what killed the Mavs. But down 12 with about 6 minutes left the team didn't quit and Dirk showed up once again and played like a monster.
For the majority of the game I'd say he and the afforementioned bench players were the only to show up tonight. Stackhouse played awful overdribbling and some costly turnovers, but he was able to get to the line in the 4th. Howard took some dumb shots and Brandon Bass should have just not shown up but it was partly Avery's fault to let him play the center position when he's more suited for the 4 or even the 3 spot. But as I was saying the Mavs kept clawing back, and the refs let the teams play tonight and it was real physical (which I enjoyed because Kobe shot 48 free throws in the 1st 2 meetings this season) and the Mavericks got it in within 1 point when Dirk hit backtoback 3 pointers. The Lakers then go down and miss a fadeaway shot by Radmonovic (who must have confused himself with Kobe) and the ref called the softest most iffy over the back call I can remember. I was steamin mad because it was the biggest piece of shit call, but what can you expect when you play the Lakers. Not to mention when Dirk made his last 3 to make it a one point game he was knocked over by Lamar Odom but I didn't expect nor think it was a foul but the fact was there was contact. I've seen players get away with over the back but that my friend was no over the back. Odom hits 2 ft's to make it a 3 point game.
The Mavs go down and miss a shot where it ended in Jason Kidds hands (who was nonexistent throughout) and make 1 of 2 free throws. 14 seconds left and the Mavs look befuddled when they get the ball and can't really get separation to make a shot as they fumble the ball and then Jason Terry jacks up a 3 5 feet behind the line and swishes it to make it a 1 point game. Derek Fisher is fouled and misses 1 of 2 free throws. 4 seconds left and Josh Howard is the inbounder and throws a terrible pass to Dirk around his ankles, Dirk fumbles the ball and has to throw up a prayer. The only real chance he had was that Odom jumped in the air and he couldve jumped to the side where Odom was and drawn a foul possibly but Dirk has a little self respect, I wouldn't have wanted to win like that, especially because we shouldn't have been close to winning in the 1st place.
The Mavs lost because they lost there intensity once the starters went out in the 1st quarter and it didn't show back up until about 6 minutes left in the 3rd. And now this team hasn't beaten a team over .500 since Jason Kidd got here. All our games with top teams have been close (sans Houston) but sooner or later it has got to start turning into wins and not almost wins or if we got a bounce or 2. It has to start vs. Boston and then continue against San Antonio, this team cant just play a good half like they have much of the season. I don't know what the potential for this team is, the homer in me doesn't want to admit it's not that good and I know they have the potential to be great but they're one and done right now. This game should have been a must win without Gasol and Bynum it should have been a win and we couldve moved ahead of the Lakers and the struggling Spurs and moved a game closer to New Orleans and Houston but we pissed it away, and this wasn't even Kobe's best effort, we got beat by there role players like Vladimir Radmonivic and Ronny Turiaf. We were beat to lose balls, part of that is because of Dampier having limited minutes and Avery playing small the 2nd half but he could have gotten some key balls late in the 4th that led to some Laker buckets.
This team has to beat Boston and San Antonio and there should be no excuses not to because they've shown they can stick with them in there house and we have the 2nd best home record in the league, I dont give a damn if Boston just beat the Spurs and Rockets on back to back nights.
Alright here's a couple of quick problems I have with the NCAA tournament seedings, the Big 10 and Butler got screwed on the seedings. If Butler was ranked in the top 15 and had a great RPI and everything you want to make the tourney and have a high seed what the hell do they have to do to get higher then a 7 seed? I hope they make it to the elite 8 to shove it up the committees ass, but they're supposedly faced with a tough 1st round matchup with South Alabama so we'll wait and see. Secondly how the hell did Indiana get an 8 seed? They were 3rd in the Big 10, granted I've followed them most of the year and they are sort of falling apart with Kelvin Sampsons departure and have lost 3 of 4 but they finished 14-4 in the Big 10 and when looking at there whole season you go 24-7 in a mid major that gets you an 8 seed, in a major conference that has sent a team to the title game in 2 of the last 4 years is a joke by the committee. If Indiana gets it together and beats Arkansas in round 1, they'll give Carolina run for there money, DJ White is the best player in the Big 10, it all depends on how the 3 pt. shooting is and if Eric Gordon can shoot a respectable percentage. Oh and if there defense doesn't fall apart like it did at the end of the season.
That goes for Wisconsins seed too, they're better then Texas and even with them having hom court advantage all the way to the Final 4 they'll still find a way to choke, I found that out by just watching them screw up and cave in the Big 12 finals Sunday, they had that game and DJ Augustine decides to take some ill advised shots and the rest of the team followed suit. Purdue I think should be a higher seed and I have no problem with Michigan St. seeding they should probably flip flop with Purdue, sicne they finished higher. The Big 10 tourney really hurt them and Indiana.
I was shocked to see both Baylor and Kansas St. make the tourney but the USC/K St. has the chance to be a classic showdown between 2 top draft picks in Michael Beasley and OJ Mayo.
Quick predictions for the tourney, I don't think Memphis or UNC will win it all, partially because of my dislike for both of them (I die a little everytime I see a moronic fan poll claim the 82 UNC team the greatest ever) and I saw John Calipari just run the refs ragged and yell the whole game when he played a 16 seed one year, that really annoyed me. I'm going to guess that at least 1 will not make the Final 4. Probably UNC if I had to choose, this has nothing to do with hating them but they are playing by far the toughest region.
Here's my predictions from a bracket I did in about 5 minutes yesterday.
Sweet 16:
East: UNC, Notre Dame, Louisville, Butler
MidWest: Kansas, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Georgetown Wisconsin/Georgetown could be the game of the tourney if they meet
West: UCLA, UConn, Xavier, Duke
South: Memphis, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, St. Mary's
Last year there werent many upsets especially compared to previous years and this year I didn't pick as many as I normally do.
Final Four:
Notre Dame vs. Georgetown = Georgetown
UCLA vs. Pittsburgh (gotta ride there hot streak going into this thing) = UCLA
UCLA vs. Georgetown = UCLA they finally win the title game after there 3rd straight Final Four appearance, this time they'll be the better team and not have to go up against the powerhouse Florida team.
A couple of potential upsets, I see that my final four matchups look real shocking especially Pitt and Notre Dame but look for Duke to possibly go down in the 1st weekend though this team is better then the last couple years that Mike K has coached.
I picked Butler to go to the Elite 8 and could look like a real dumbass especially if they go down in the 1st round.
Winthrop beat Notre Dame in the 1st round last year as a 13 seed, this year they play Washington St.
Xavier is a team I like but they're playing Georgia who is on an unbelievable high winning the SEC with 3 games in 2 days and needing those 3 to have a .500 record. Who knows what kind of momentum they'll have to start and if they'll tire out.
I picked Kentucky to go to the Elite 8, could be a dumbass but I like Billy G. and he whipped his team into shape after sucking in non-conference play.
UCLA could win it all but 4 of there last 6 games have been decided by less then a bucket with some very favorable calls. They could have a tough time if they play either Hakeem Thabeet or Drake in the Sweet 16.
Oh and I always pick Kansas to choke or underperform, works everyear, did work for Roy Williams too until he had 4 1st round picks on his team, this year I'd say the same goes for Texas. I did pick KU to make an Elite 8 run this year though but that's because I like Brandon Rush and think he's being underestimated when it comes to his pro prospects.
Thats it for now, i need to start trying to finish my baseball articles.
