Predictions for the 2012 NBA Playoffs

A shortened season made basketball a lot more exciting to watch. More games on less nights is what every fan wants to see. It might not have been as fun for NBA players though. Here are my predictions.

Eastern Conference

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers

Prediction- Bulls in 4

Analysis: I think the Bulls and 76ers play very similar styles. They are both strong on the defensive side of the ball. The difference here is talent. The  76ers have depth, but they don’t have a go to player on the offensive side of the ball. If Derrick Rose can play can shake off his injury problems and play at an elite level. This series will be a wrap. The 76ers will keep it close each game, but I just think they don’t have the offense to keep up with the Bulls.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks

Prediction- Heat in 7

Analysis: This is probably the most exciting series in the playoffs. There is so much star power on the court when these two teams go head to head. The Heat pretty much owned the Knicks in the regular season going 3-0 against them. I think the Heat are too good to overcome though. They play solid defense to go along with the big three on offense. Carmelo will need to play at an elite level in order for the Knicks in order to upset the Heat and pull off this series. The Knicks bench will need to step up and outplay the Heat’s bench in order to keep each game close. The Knicks better hope that they can hit the 3-ball from downtown and not run cold.

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Orlando Magic

Prediction- Pacers in 5

Analysis: If only the Magic had Dwight Howard. The Pacers might be the most underrated team in the playoffs. They play solid defense and have just enough offense to pull of wins. I think that they are very similar to the 76ers in terms of how they play. They just happened to get lucky with their first round match up. Danny Granger has been hot and cold all season and the Pacers need him to step up in order for the Pacers to go far in the playoffs. A Magic team without Howard, lacks a defensive and offensive presence under the hoop. If Howard was healthy and playing I would pick the Magic to win this series.

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

Prediction- Hawks in 7

Analysis: The Celtics are getting older and their time to win a championship is running out. When Allen, Pierce and Garnett retire the Celtics will be in big trouble. For now, they are a team with a lot of veteran leadership and still can score the ball. Besides Rondo, they still lack speed and athleticism on the defensive and offensive ball. The problem for them is that the Hawks are one of the most athletic teams in the league. Josh Smith is going to have a huge series. He does it all, pair him with Joe Johnson and they are a dangerous combo. The Hawks always make the playoffs, but never really make a push. I think this is the year they finally win a round and advance.

Semi-Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

Prediction- Bulls in 5

Analysis: I think this is where the Hawks will meet their match. They match up well against the Celtics, but I just think the Bulls will figure out how to shut them down. It comes down to defense and that is where the Bulls shine. They will figure out how to match up against Johnson and Smith. The Bulls have a deep bench and that is where they will out produce the Hawks when the starters are off the court. I’ll take defense over the athleticism of the Hawks.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) Indiana Pacers

Prediction- Heat in 5

Analysis: It comes down to talent and the Heat have way too much of that compared to the Pacers. The Pacers don’t have the offensive fire power to compete with the Heat. They will play solid defense against the Heat and limit their scoring, but it’s just too much to overcome. Lebron and company will move on here with not much trouble.

Conference Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Miami Heat

Prediction- Miami in 7

Analysis: Here it is the match up that fans have been dying to see. It will be interesting how the Heat will match up against the Bulls. It is defense vs. defense here and it is going to be a battle. I want to see who they match up on Derrick Rose because they are going to have to put LeBron or Wade on him. I think that Bosh will need to step up here. The Bulls will try to take away two of the big three and Bosh will need to step up and I think he will. Bosh played will against the Mavericks in the finals last year and he will play well against the Bulls. It’s hard to pick against the Heat and all of their talent. If the Heat can shut down Rose and Deng they can really make it hard for the Bulls to put up points. This will be an amazing series and I see the Heat moving on in a close, hard-fought match up.

Western Conference

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz (8)

Prediction- Spurs in 5

Analysis: Al Jefferson is going to put up points in the middle for the Jazz. He is a beast and no one can stop him. Besides from Al Jefferson I just think that the Spurs are stronger at every position. The Spurs just keep finding a way to win as they get older. I think that Tony Parker has a big series and help the Spurs move on to the next round. The Jazz just don’t have the playoff experience to put up any kind of fight against the Spurs.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks

Prediction- Thunder in 6

Analysis: Kevin Durant and the Thunder get a tough early round match up. That being said, the Thunder are far too talented at every aspect of the game. They have the 6th man of the year on the bench and a MVP candidate in Durant. The Mavericks will defiantly step up in the playoffs, after a not so great regular season. Dirk Nowitzki has not been has former self, but started to round into for as the season came to an end. I think the loss JJ Barea and Tyson Chandler really hurt them and they will see that as they fall short to the Thunder.

(3) L.A Lakers vs. (6) Denver Nuggets

Prediction- Lakers in 5

Analysis: The Lakers have had many negative story lines develop around them as the season went on. They ran very hot and cold this season and there had been times when the locker room has been in disarray. They lose Ron Artest for the first round of the playoffs and that will hurt them. Artest was playing some good ball before getting suspended. The Nuggets have a solid all around team. Lawson, Galo, Harrington can all score the ball. They play fast and will run the Lakers up and down the court. That being said I have four words, Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum. Well, it was five fords, but those two will dominate.

(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5) L.A Clippers

Prediction- Grizzlies in 6

Analysis: I think a key player in this series will be Zach Randolph. He has been hurt all season and shows flashes of his old self. If he can play at his usual level, paired with Marc Gasol could be dangerous. Rudy Gay will provide balance on both side of the ball. He is one of the most underrated players in the NBA and this kid can ball. The Clippers lack any kind of depth on the bench and that will hurt them big time. Paul and Griffin will put up monster numbers, but I don’t think that it will be enough. I like the Grizzlies to pull off this series here, they are a balanced, deeper team than the Clippers.

Semi-Finals

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (4) Memphis Grizzlies

Prediction- Grizzlies in 7

Analysis: The Grizzlies are a younger version of the Spurs. They have the same kind of style that the Spurs have and I am going to take them to pull off the upset here. Mayo needs to step up off the bench and provide some scoring. He is going need to be a top scoring option, kind of like the Ginobili for the Grizzlies. Kind of put a little humor in that one right there, never mind. The Grizzlies will outlast the Spurs here and they have the younger, quicker players to keep the Spurs off balanced. I am going to take the youth over the experience here.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (3) L.A Lakers

Prediction- Thunder in 7

Analysis: This is going to be a great series. Kobe vs. Durant is going to be like Magic vs. Bird. They can never be as good as that rivalry. I kind of got carried away there, but you get the point. The Thunder are going to need to stop Bynum and I think they will figure out how to. Ibaka and Perkins are good defenders and he will cause Bynum some trouble in the low post. I don’t think that the Lakers can keep up with the Thunder as they try to push the Lakers up and down the court. Derick Fisher will have a surprisingly good series here to get some revenge on the Lakers for letting him go.

Conference Finals

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Memphis Grizzlies

Prediction- Thunder in 6

Analysis: Here are two teams who are going to be a top the Western Conference for years to come. The Thunder and Grizzlies general managers know how draft and build teams. This will be one of many match ups between these two in the future. It is going to be youth vs. youth here and both teams are going to run and gun, maybe the Thunder more than the Grizzles. Here I am going to take the star power. The Grizzles have a lot of team players and not many stars. When you’re in the playoffs you need your stars to step up and Durant and Westbrook will. The Grizzles show that they are making strides, by making it this far in the playoffs, but can’t over come the odds here.

2012 NBA FINALS

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (2) Miami Heat

Prediction- Oklahoma City Thunder in 6

Analysis: Here are my 2012 NBA Finals! Will the Heat finally win their first title or will Durant and Westbrook take home the gold? It is going to be a great series, but I am going to take the Thunder. I see LeBron playing well, but falling short of his expectations like always. The key player in this series is going to be James Harden off the bench. The Heat are going to be outmatched when he is out there against their back ups. Westbrook needs to play smart ball, not throw up unnecessary shots and watch his turnovers. I think the Thunder will be too much to handle for the Heat. Westbrook is very hard to guard and he will cause trouble for Miami’s defense. After this series, the Heat will be hoping for Steve Nash to take his talents to South Beach. The Oklahoma City Thunder win it all!

Update! My predictions were before the Derrick Rose injury!  Rose is out for the playoffs with an ACL injury. Now Iman Shumpert is out for the Knicks as well. Add Amare Stoudemire to the list. The injuries are piling up!

Please No More Reality Television

You turn on the television to find something that is entertaining to watch. Flip to the first channel and it doesn’t look like it is of any interest to you, then on to the next one and then to the next one. Finally, you stop on this new reality television show that catches your eye.

If you start watching, you will see that this show is pretty much what you do on a daily basis. The only difference is that it usually involves celebrities or people claiming that they are normal just like you. For some reason just because it is a celebrity, people can’t change the channel. They must continue watching to find out how these people live on a day-to-day basis and watch the tough life they have rolling around in millions of dollars.

I think the main problem why people waste their time watching reality television is because it is “popular” and it is what everyone is watching. You go to work or to school and for some reason it is what everyone is talking about. I just don’t get it, people spend their time watching how other people live instead of worrying about their own lives.

I came up with a simple formula that makes reality television what it is. It is to act stupid and do things that you normally wouldn’t do. If there is a camera, people will turn into a different person just try to look good and entertain in front of an audience.

There are so many different reality televisions shows from the Jersey Shore to show like Survivor and Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory. These are three totally different shows, but they all have one thing in common. They are all trying to entertain the viewer and keep them interested, so they can make sure the viewer watches the next episode and keep the money coming in.

Do you think that Snookie and the other Jersey Shore members act like stuck up snobby Guidos off camera?

I am sure they still do to some degree, but they are actors. People don’t get it! They still tune in to watch these shows and give up their time to watch how other people live, or claim how they live. These are the same people who complain that they don’t understand how reality television stars make millions of dollars, even though they still tune in every week.

I think that it is time for people to tune out from the television and tune in and worry about their own lives!

Old School Gaming vs. New School Gaming

Many fear change while others embrace it.

When it comes to video games, gamers often want the new system with the high-tech flashy graphics. But that doesn’t always guarantee that it is going to be better than the system you already have.

The way gaming is now is totally different then the way that it use to be. Let’s face it, gaming now is cooler and has changed drastically from the way it use to be. Gamers can now take games on the go, interact with the games themselves and literally put themselves in the game, cool right?

As an old school gamer, I don’t think so. I think that it is getting away from the way games were meant to be played.

When you play a game you want to sit down with your controller and run through a bunch of levels and beat down the boss at the end, it was pretty easy. You don’t want to get up and move your arms around in order to interact with the game, it is too much work. It also never works either, you end up trying to position yourself perfectly and the game never even detects your movements. Sorry Microsoft Kinect, PlayStation Move and Wii, it’s the truth.

The original PlayStation and Super Nintendo got it right. Their games were simple, easy to understand and fun to play. There was no need for a strategy guide or any of that. You go from point A to point B and that is why those games were simple, but still so much fun to play. Mario, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Sonic, Pac-Man and Street Fighter all revolutionized the video game world. That is why these popular titles are still around today. They had the easy, fun concept that gamers loved.

Don’t get me wrong, some of my favorite games that I play today are on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. I think the graphics and the online game-play definitely make gaming so much better. It brings people together, you can play and talk with a friend from halfway across that world, that is amazing! All those feature are cool though, but that is not actual gaming, those are features.

Imagine if the original PlayStation and Nintendo had online play now. It would be awesome, playing the original Mario games on-line with a friend, that would be so much fun, not going to lie.

Think about the time era’s that these systems came out in. I am not surprised that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have the kind of graphics and game-play features that they have now. Imagine if those old school systems had the same kind of technology benefit that we have now, it would be crazy!

Change may be good to some degree, but just remember where it all originated from.

Mainstream Rap and Hip-Hop Music is Getting out of Hand

The mic is in your hands and there is an audience hanging on your every word. What you say is broadcasted over the radio airlines and is listened to by millions of people.

Some embrace their power to spread a positive message and others don’t.

I think that radio stations are at an all time low point. A point where there needs to be a censor on some of the music that is played. It is to a point where it is getting crazy. Music artists can say whatever they want and people will listen, they don’t care if it is spreading a negative message, they just want to jam out to a catchy beat.

Artists like Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller make music just to make money. Almost all of their songs are about money, drugs, guns and exploiting women. There is no positive message to any of the songs that they have. Those songs are the same songs that get played on the radio, because people think they are catchy and popular.

Not all artists spread a negative message. Rap artists like Lupe Fiasco, J.Cole, and Common all spread music that actually have some kind of meaning. I’m not saying every single song they have is positive, but a good majority of their music is positive. Music artists like them still don’t get much play on the radio. Even when they do, it’s just usually one song that is  over played and the meaning behind the lyrics are over looked.

So music with a negative message gets rewarded with radio air time. Music with a positive message gets put on the shelve.

The thing is that it’s going to get worse before it gets better. If I was a parent I would not want my kid listening to the music that they play on the radio. It’s disgusting, degrading and doesn’t deserve to get the amount of popularity that it does.

Maybe one day someone will finally catch on and realize.