NBA Playoff Update

When I made my original picks for the playoffs over a month ago, I had no idea who would get hurt and what would change for teams throughout the playoffs. I would like to think I made some good picks though considering I picked all 8 first round series winners correctly, then unfortunately just two of the four second round series winners, but I did choose both of the conference finals winners correctly. Looking at the two series I incorrectly predicted, some slack should be given. For the Rockets-Clippers series, I predicted the Clippers to win and they were a 4th quarter meltdown in game 6 away from winning that series. They choked worse than almost any other team has in the history of the NBA playoffs. So yes I was wrong, but I was so close to being right. With the other series I predicted incorrectly, Hawks-Wizards, there should be an asterisk next to my pick. Since I picked before the series started, (and before the playoffs even began) I would never have known that the Wizards best player John Wall would get injured early in the series and miss a couple of games and then play a couple of games not near 100%. Before Wall's injury, the Wizards looked like they could have won that series and were playing much better basketball than the Hawks. However, injuries are a part of the game and unpredictable, so what can I do? All I know is if there were NBA playoff brackets like with the college basketball tournament I would be towards the top right now.

With the NBA Finals beginning next week, both my picks will be playing. The Golden State Warriors are seen as the favorites, especially since they have home court advantage. However, to doubt Lebron and the Cavaliers would be foolish after witnessing how dominant they have been. I have to stick with my original pick as well, which was the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Kevin Love injury definitely weakens their team and if Kyrie Irving is not able to play his A Game, the Cavs will probably end up losing. But I picked them to win it from the beginning and to change my pick now would be flip-flopping. Also with the news coming out today that Klay Thompson has a concussion, if he has to miss any time in the next series that would be a big blow to the Warriors and would possibly turn a lot of people to favoring the Cavaliers. It should be a close series, even though I believe each team will blow out the other for one or two games. Since I picked Cleveland to win, I will guess they win in 6 games, but who knows maybe they will win in 7. Or maybe they will not win at all. The Warriors have been dominant all season and whatever the outcome there is sure to be a great NBA Finals that has best of all a new NBA champion team, with many first time NBA champions.

Knowledge is Power

Home sweet home. That is exactly how it is for the Dodgers who are almost unbeatable at home this season. Last night didn't start out perfectly for the Dodgers as they allowed a home run to Giancarlo Stanton in the first inning that cleared the bleachers and was one of the farthest home runs in Dodger stadium history. The Dodgers also left five runners on base on in the first two innings. Then the offense started clicking as Howie Kendrick hit a solo homer to lead off the third inning, Andre Ethier led off the fourth inning with another solo homer and the Dodgers continued to clobber former Dodger Dan Haren and the Miami Marlins bullpen until they had scored 11 runs already in just a few innings. There is something about the way the Dodgers have been playing, specifically at home that makes it look like the Dodgers might not lose there again all season. On Monday, the Dodgers blew a lead in the ninth and were down to their last couple outs before Scott Van Slyke hit a three run walk off home run to win it for them. They have now won 10 straight series at home, a Los Angeles Dodgers record. The most surprising thing this year has been at both home and away for the Dodgers. The Dodgers lead the Major Leagues in home runs, something they have not done in a long time. With two of the top home run hitters in the league, Adrian Gonzalez and rookie Joc Pederson, as well as guys with some power in Van Slyke, Ethier, Justin Turner, Kendrick, Alex Guerrero and others, the Dodgers are proving to be a powerful team. Hitting coach Mark Mcgwire must be proud to see them hitting the ball so well. As long as the Dodgers continue showing off their power and being an unstoppable home team, they could clinch their division by August. They have already built up a 5 1/2 game lead in the division and it is constantly growing. Now if they could only be as dominate on the road...

Tuesday's Box Score

NBA All-Team Floppers of the Year

Now that the regular season is well over and the playoffs are already a few weeks in, it is time to name the top floppers of the NBA. These men have real potential when it comes to faking getting hit and they should all sleep well at night knowing once their basketball careers are finished, they have a real shot at making it big in Hollywood.

1st Team All-NBA Floppers

Corey Brewer-The King of Flops, leads the league in falling on the floor per minutes played

Manu Ginobili-It's a big reason he has had such a great career, flopping and defense win championships

Pau Gasol-Uses facial expressions better than anybody, the famous bird scream 

JJ Barea-Easy to get away with flops when you are smaller than everyone else around you

Lance Stephenson-Making all-first team despite rarely playing this season tells you how good of a flopper he is

2nd Team All-NBA Floppers

CJ Watson-He had to figure out some way to keep the Pacers in the playoff race this year

Glen Davis-Was almost casted in the movie 'The Blind Side' so shows how much acting potential he has

Marcin Gortat-Nicknamed the Polish Hammer, but acts more like the nail

PJ Hairston-Rookie of the year in flops, was only rookie fined for flopping this year

James Harden-Master at getting foul calls, but inside that beard is someone who knows how to flop

10 Current Thoughts of NBA Players

10. Tim Duncan-"I missed two weeks of playing bridge to lose in the first round?"
9. Chris Paul-"Thanks Blake for making me seem expendable."
8. James Harden-"Where's Kevin Durant when you need him?"
7. Steph Curry-"At least now I can say I've won as many MVPs as Kobe."
6. Anthony Davis-"I can't believe we were swept by a team led by a guy with less hair on his chest than I have on my eyebrow."
5. Blake Griffin-"You still think all I can do is dunk? Well yeah, that and get triple-doubles."
4. Dwight Howard-"At least I made it a lot farther than the Lakers did this year."
3. Lebron James-"Maybe Love is all you need. Is it too late to sign Ray Allen?"
2. Derrick Rose-"As long as I have all my limbs attached I will play hard."
1. Paul Pierce-"I don't even need to smack talk against the Hawks to make this easy."

A Chance for Revenge 15 Years Later

It was reported yesterday that the Milwaukee Brewers  fired their manager of the last four seasons, Ron Roenicke. Immediately afterwards they announced that Craig Counsell would be the new manager. And who is Counsell's first game as manager against; the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers arrive in Milwaukee for a four game series today as Counsell begins his Major League managerial career. He is definitely familiar with the organization since he was acquired by the Dodgers from the then Florida Marlins in June 1999. However, less than a year later, the Dodgers released Counsell before the 2000 season even began.
Even though he was outright released by the Dodgers, Counsell went on to play more than ten more seasons in the MLB. He even got his 1,000th career hit against the Dodgers. And now just over 15 years after being released by them his first game ever as manager is against them. The Brewers currently have the worst record in the MLB, but expectations are still high for them. His chance to prove he is a better manager than ballplayer as he has claimed to be starts tonight. It will tough though for his last place Brewers to win the series against the first place Dodgers, but it is a great opportunity to show off his skills from the get go. Unfortunately, having to face Clayton Kershaw in your first game as manager is not an easy task and Counsell would probably admit he would rather have his team face any other pitcher. But the era of Manager Craig Counsell has now begun and we will all see if the Brewers can turn it all around in this still young baseball season.