Five Reason Why the Thunder Should Trade Kendrick Perkins
Why Dwight Howard Would Bring Knicks Fans With Him to Brooklyn
Here’s a link to my latest post on Bleacher Report. I’ve posted about ten articles on the site. You can find them all by searching my name.
Dinner at Clyde’s
What better way is there to celebrate your birthday than with family and Walt “Clyde” Frazier at Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine?
Hello Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh has been called overrated. He’s been labeled soft. He’s been treated like a third wheel to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade’s high-flying show. Critics even argued that the Heat were better off without him after he missed most of the second and third rounds of the playoffs with an oblique injury. But through three games of the N.B.A. Finals in which the Heat lead the Oklahoma City Thunder 2-1, Chris Bosh has the been the difference.
For all their offensive fire power, the Miami Heat’s calling card is their suffocating defense. Those breathtaking fast breaks culminating in above-the-rim acrobatics by Wade and James are ignited by missed shots and turnovers on the other end of the floor where they apply relentless pressure on their opponent’s point guards and wing players.
Miami’s first line of defense is on the perimeter, beginning with LeBron, who uses his strength, agility and athleticism to check the opponent’s best play-maker. Mario Chalmers keys in on the primary ball-handler and Wade frustrates the remaining wing player with his quick hands and while wreaking havoc by stepping into the passing lanes. When Chalmers, Wade or James need a breather, the wily veteran Shane Battier fills in. Those fours players form a nearly impenetrable first layer to the Heat’s defense; that is, against just about every team other than the Thunder.
OKC poses a match-up nightmare for coaches. With three of the elite play-makers in the league in the league’s leading scoring Kevin Durant, explosive point guard Russell Westbrook and Sixth Man of the Year James Harden, it’s virtually impossible to keep them out of the lane.
While Miami’s formidable front wall has frustrated OKC, the Thunder’s big three have still managed plenty of forays into the paint. That’s where the Heat’s second layer of defense comes into play. Forwards Udonis Haslem and Shane Battier are excellent help defenders, adept at stepping in and taking a charge, but they aren’t able to block shots in the event that they’re not able to rotate into position quick enough.
In the past, Coach Spoelstra turned to Joel Anthony to protect the rim, but the offensively-challenged forward/center is too much of a liability on the other end of the floor to play significant minutes against a team as defensively sound as the Thunder. With the league’s best shot-blocker, Serge Ibaka, lurking around the rim, the Heat need offensive threats at the four and five spots in order to draw Ibaka out of the paint and free up lanes for James and Wade. So, Spo replaced Anthony in the starting lineup with a three-point shooter in Battier, leaving the shot-blocking duties to Bosh.
Miami’s 6’11” power forward is generally known for his offensive abilities. He can face up in the high post and take a big man off the dribble and his soft lefty jumper is deadly off of pick and pops with Wade and James. His ability to knock down shots from 15-20 feet spreads the floor, creating driving lanes for James and Wade.
On the defensive end of the floor, Bosh has been merely average during his two seasons with Miami. He’s a solid on-the-ball defender, posing problems for offensive players with his size, but his help defense has been lacking at times rarely has he used his long frame and athleticism to intimidate opposing players. Inexplicably, he’s averaged just over one shot per game for his career.
Bosh’s lack of aggression on the defensive end has been particularly perplexing because he’s demonstrated that he can be an imposing force in the paint. He was the most intimidating interior presence on a Gold Medal United States Men’s Basketball Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics that included the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, blocking and altering shots with a vengeance.
Over the four years since Beijing, that Chris Bosh has been conspicuously absent, until this series against the Thunder. He blocked two shots and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Heat’s Game 2 100-96 victory over the Thunder and elevated his game to another level in Game 3, anchoring a defense which limited the dynamic Thunder offense to just 85 points on 43% shooting.
When Kevin Durant tried to take over the game in the fourth quarter of Game 3, Bosh repeatedly stifled the OKC superstar. With Miami up by one halfway through the fourth quarter Durant burst past LeBron positioning himself for a routine floater in the lane, but Bosh stepped up and got a piece of the shot. Nick Collison recovered the ball and he too was blocked by the omnipresent Bosh, resulting in a 24 second violation.
A couple of minutes later Durant blew past LeBron again. Once more, Bosh rotated over and met him in the paint and Durant lost the ball while trying to get off a shot. Then, with a minute remaining in the game and the Thunder trailing by one point, Durant got a step on LeBron once more. Again, Bosh was there to meet him. KD was forced to rush his usually automatic floater and clanked it off the backboard. In such a close game those few critical possessions made the difference.
This series is far from over. OKC is a talented and hungry team. They’re going to come out with a fury tonight. If Miami is going to win the championship they’re going to do it at the defensive end of the floor and that defense needs to be anchored by Chris Bosh.
Not Even a Ring
It came as no surprise when the Knicks officially removed the interim tag from head coach Mike Woodson’s title. The players responded to Woodson, finishing the season with an 18-6 record after he replaced the departed Mike D’Antoni, and his stars, most notably Carmelo Anthony, publicly backed him after the Knicks first-round playoff exit.
Curiously, the Knicks, who are always looking to make a splash, decided to wait until after 5:00 PM on a Friday evening before a holiday weekend to announce Woodson’s new contract. It was as if they were trying to slip something past the media and fan base, which of course, they were.
Phil Jackson, the most successful coach in N.B.A. history, is healthy, unemployed and interested in returning to coaching and Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald didn’t even so much as make a phone call to gauge his interest in coaching his former team.
“I think Woody earned the right to be the first person we talked to and turned out to be the only person we talked to,” Grunwald said.
“Obviously, there are some great coaches out there that, had we opened up the search, would have been called. Namely Phil Jackson, who was the most successful coach in the NBA history. We felt Woody was our guy and he showed it during the season and in our discussions after the season.”
I don’t mean to take anything away from Woodson. His Hawks team improved during each of his six seasons coaching in Atlanta and he salvaged what was quickly descending into a lost season for the Knicks. He holds players accountable, especially on the defensive end and he convinced the disjointed Knicks to buy into an offensive system geared towards the strengths of their best scorers.
There’s something to be said for continuity within a franchise, especially after a disastrous decade and a particularly tumultuous season. Grunwald was also wise not to open a full scale search for a head coach, which based on the recent history of the franchise and owner James Dolan’s reputation would have been more embarrassing than fruitful and would have undermined the team’s confidence in Woodson, who would likely have landed the job eventually anyway.
Neither of the Van Gundy boys, both of whom are considered better coaches than Woodson would have taken the job. Jeff coached for Dolan once before and I doubt there’s a number high enough to convince him to leave the ESPN booth and do it again. Stan wasn’t about to walk into Dolan’s den after his year of turmoil in Orlando.
Woody was a safer choice than sentimental favorite Patrick Ewing and flashy Kentucky coach John Calipari, neither of whom have had any success as a head coach in the NBA. And as great a coach as Jerry Sloan is, his inability to coral Deron Williams in Utah, had to raise questions for the Knicks brass as to whether he and his ball-movement offense could co-exist with Anthony in New York.
With 13 championship rings (11 as a coach and two as a player for the Knicks), Phil Jackson is in a class of his own. Grunwald could have reached out to him and still hired Woodson in the event that Jackson wasn’t interested or the two sides failed to work out a deal, without Woodson losing face. Jackson also has experience coaching superstars and the cachet to bring Anthony on board.
Grunwald didn’t explain his unwillingness to contact Jackson, other than to state that Woodson had the first shot at the job and he blew Grunwald and Dolan away during his interview. So, are we to believe that based on 24 games and an interview that Woodson is more qualified to lead this Knicks team to a championship than Jackson?
Grunwald’s history with Woodson had to factor into his decision. The two were teammates at Indian University under Bobby Knight. From a more sinister perspective, it’s natural to wonder if another former Indiana Hoosier and Dolan adviser, Isiah Thomas, was involved with the decision. Is it merely a coincidence that the two men who replaced him as the Knicks coach and general manager were ultimately forced out in favor of two IU grads?
It’s also conceivable that Dolan was turned off by Jackson’s personality and/or price tag. The Knicks owner is fanatical about controlling the flow of information out of the franchise and the Zen Master is known to speak his mind about various league, team and player issues. Jackson also would have likely demanded at least $10 million a year, $6 million per year more than the Knicks are paying Woodson. Though, money has never been an issue for Dolan before and he couldn’t have known Jackson’s price tag without reaching out to him.
It’s not clear whether Jackson would have been interested in the job if the Knicks did call. Sources close to him, including his girlfriend Jeanie Buss, have stated that he’s interested in coaching. Even if he does want to return to the sidelines, it’s questionable whether he’d be intrigued by the Knicks job. Earlier in his coaching career he hinted that he was interested in following in the footsteps of his mentor Red Holzman, but the Knicks personnel doesn’t fit his modus operandi, a young squad built around two superstars who have yet to hit their prime.
Bill Simmons of Grantland.com stated during a podcast last week that he “knows for a fact” that Jackson was interested in the Knicks job. Yet, Phil’s former Knicks teammates, Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier, gave MSG Network’s Alan Hahn the impression that the Jackson wasn’t interested in the job.
Of course, the Knicks will never know. The 11-time championship coach may have been chomping at the bit for a shot to return his former team to glory, but without even inquiring as to his services the Knicks opted for Mike Woodson instead. Not even a ring.
Waiting For Lauryn
I know this is a sports blog, but the beauty of having your own blog is that you can branch out to other subjects every now and then.
With all due respect to MC Lyte, Salt N Peppa and Queen Latifah, Lauryn Hill is the greatest female rapper of all-time. She spit rhymes with a passion and purpose that penetrated your soul. Her lyrics were intelligent and profound, replete with biblical references, Greek gods, pop culture, and tributes to musicians from Stevie Wonder to Paul McCartney, Miles Davis to Nina Simone, The Doors to James Taylor.
Listen to her raw power as she tears up the mic on Fugees songs “Family Business” and “The Score,” with biting lyrics like, “So while you’re imitating Al Capone, I’ll be Nina Simone and defecating on your microphone.” She could also slow it down and smooth it out as demonstrated on tracks like “Fu-Gee-La.” Unlike many emcees of her day, Hill wrote her own lyrics and didn’t resort to sexual overtures to sell her rhymes.
Did I mention that L-Boogie had a beautiful, raspy singing voice as well? Sure, she was irreverent and fiery, but she had soul. She harmonized on Fugees songs and dropped the memorable hook on Nas’s “If I Ruled the World,” though it was remakes of “Killing Me Softly” and “Too Good to Be True” which really showcased her range.
Lauryn’s initial success came with The Fugees, a hip-hop trio, which included cousins Wyclef Jean and Praswel Michel. They struck it big with their second studio album The Score, released in 1996, with the hit single “Ready or Not” and remakes of Roberta Flacks’s “Killing Me Softly” and Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry.” In 1997, Lauryn contributed to her then lover Wyclef Jean’s solo album The Carnival, lending her vocals to tracks “Guantanamera” and “Seng Fezi.”
A year later, L-Boogie displayed her versatility and creativity on her own solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The single “Doo Wop (That Thing)” brilliantly combined the Doo Wop melodies she grew up listening to with a hip-hop back beat. Coupled with a classic video depicting the two eras represented in the song, “That Thing” became a musical sensation.
Though Hill rapped on a few songs, even bouncing back and forth between rapping and singing on “Everything is Everything,” the album represented a shift towards her vocal side, most evident in the stripped down sound of “Nothing Even Matters.” Lauryn was nominated for 10 Grammy’s in 1999 for Miseducation, winning five of them.
In addition to her skills on the microphone, Hill possessed a simplistic beauty and undeniable charisma that was tailor-made for the big screen. She landed a starring role in the movie Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit and by 1999, the endorsement deals were rolling in. At age 22, she’d established herself as one of the most talented and versatile artists of her generation and appeared to be on the brink of superstardom.
Then… Poof… She was gone. The sultry songstress disappeared from the public eye.
She withdrew from projects she had committed to, including a prominent role in the film adaptation of Toni Morrison’s Beloved, turned down many other acting and endorsement opportunities, stopped recording and refused to grant interviews.
Like most of her fans, I waited for a follow-up to Miseducation, but there was no studio album to come. In 2002, Hill released a live album, MTV Unplugged No. 2.0, which contained moments of splendor, such as her fiery spoken words on, “The Mystery of Iniquity,” but the live performance was raw and choppy. Her voice cracked and lacked the confidence which had once punctuated her rhymes. She lost her place mid-song several times.
The lyrics and tenor of the songs were introspective and filled with despair, revealing a woman desperate to escape the trappings of fame, as reflected in the catchy tune “I Get Out.” Her rambling digressions between songs about God, freedom and following one’s own path fueled rumors that she had suffered a nervous breakdown.
Various theories surfaced to explain L-Boogie’s disappearance. The simplest explanations were that she was unable or unwilling to deal with fame or that she retreated from the spotlight in order to concentrate on motherhood. There were rumors that she fell under the influence of a cult-like religious figure. Some fans blamed her unconventional and reportedly volatile relationship with Rohan Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, who fathered 5 of her 6 children.
Lauryn has been very reluctant to address her seclusion and lack of new material. The few times she has publicly discussed her isolation, she attributed it to her unwillingness to compromise herself for the superficiality of the industry, as well as a desire to grow as a person.
She has teased her fans with occasional performances, surprise appearances at other artists’ concerts and sporadic talk of a comeback 
album. In 2005, she briefly reunited with The Fugees for a European Tour, but before long Wyclef and Pras grew tired of her erratic behavior and decided they could not tolerate her any longer. She routinely skipped rehearsals, showed up late for shows and insisted on being called “Ms. Hill.” Clef publicly questioned her mental stability.
Lauryn’s physical appearance at public outings over the past several years lent weight to Wyclef’s claim. Several times she took the stage looking like a clown, with excessive amounts of make-up and bright, baggy clothing, or just appeared unkempt, in raggedy clothes, with her afro untamed.
Hill has indicated that a comeback album would be coming soon for a couple of years now, yet repeated delays and her strange behavior have led to a skepticism reminiscent of the muted anticipation of Guns N’ Roses long-awaited Chinese Democracy album. She attributed the latest delay in her comeback plans to the birth of her sixth child last fall.
As difficult as it is to believe, it has been 14 years since the release of Miseducation. Other virtuoso vocalists like Alicia Keys and Adele have filled the void left by Lauryn’s absence. Even if Hill is mentally stable and focused on a new album, there is no telling whether her voice has held up over the years or if she can still tap into the mystical ingenuity that burns inside the great artists. The odds are against it.
But, like many of her fans, I hold out hope that L-Boogie will breathe fire into a microphone once again. I’m still waiting for Lauryn.
Wining and Dining With Clyde
You won’t read too many restaurant reviews here at Through the Clydescope, but when the blog’s namesake Walt “Clyde” Frazier opens up his own eatery/sports bar, I feel the need to weigh in. Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine, a joint collaboration between Frazier and Michael Weinstein of Ark Restaurants opened two months ago on the west side of Manhattan.
The restaurant is enormous, especially by New York City standards, taking up an entire city block (between 37th and 38th streets on Tenth Avenue). It includes a causal lounge area with a big screen TV, which is ideal for a small private party, a large bar area, tremendous dining area, 
with an exposed kitchen and of course, a mini basketball court where guests can shoot some hoops.
During an interview with Madison Square Garden Network Clyde said, “The essence of the restaurant is me” and he wasn’t kidding. If you enter from the uptown entrance you’ll be greeted by murals of Frazier on giant pillars. The walls on the left are covered with floor to ceiling images of Clyde from his playing days and the ceiling is adorned with several panels patterned after his eclectic suit collection.
That’s just the beginning of the homage to arguably the greatest Knick ever. The menu covers are also designed after Clyde’s flamboyant wardrobe and the drinks, referred to as Clyde’s Cocktails, are named after his favorite rhymes.
There’s Movin & Groovin, Posting & Toasting, Loosey Goosey, Winning & Grinning, Bounding & Astounding, Spinning & Winning, Swishing & Dishing, Hustling & Bustling, Stumbling & Bumbling and Dancing & Prancing. Unfortunately for Knicks fans, you won’t find a drink on the menu called Hacking & Whacking, Stylin & Profilin, Wheeling & Dealing, Swooping & Hooping, Penetrating & Devastating or Huffing & Stuffing.
The menu, developed by David Waltuck, the former owner and chef of Chanterelle in Tribeca, includes everything from pizza, burgers and sandwiches to more expensive items like seafood and steak, as well as ethnic appetizers such as steamed dumplings and knishes. Several items have a star next to them, indicating that they’re “Clyde’s Favorites.”
I’ve dined at Clyde’s on three occasions and have always been very pleased with my selection. In particular, I highly recommend the mussels appetizer, which are uniquely prepared with bread crumbs and soaked in garlic. The spaghetti with cheese-filled meatballs makes for a delicious main course and the burgers are quite tasty.
If there’s a downside to the Wine and Dine, it’s the spotty service. I visited for the first time with my wife on March 29th, proudly wearing my #10 New York Knicks jersey for the occasion. When we told our waitress that we were there to celebrate Clyde’s birthday she was a bit confused and asked if it was one of our birthday’s too.
Once we explained that it was not our birthday, we’re just big fans who wanted to celebrate Clyde’s birthday at his new restaurant she was very amused. She apologized for Clyde not being there in person, explaining that he was on the road with the Knicks (which of course we already knew) then took good care of us. She recommended the best dishes on the menu, including those superb mussels, and after dinner brought over a plate of complimentary cookies, with a candle in honor of Clyde.
I had no complaints after my second trip to the Wine and Dine, but the service was sub-par during my two subsequent visits. On both occasions, the restaurant experienced temporary problems with their televisions while I was watching a Knicks game and the amount of time I had to wait to order and receive a drink during my most recent visit, the afternoon of the first game of the Knicks-Heat playoff series, was simply unacceptable. Hopefully, these minor glitches are just the growing pains of a new restaurant and will get ironed out.
Clyde’s also seems to have a bit of an identity crisis. On the one hand, it has the characteristics of a classic sports bar, with about 50 flat screen televisions lined up above an extended bar area, a basketball hoop and murals of Clyde playing ball. Plus the essence of Clyde, just a few blocks from the Garden, is sure to draw plenty of sports fans.
On the other hand, the monochrome design, classy table cloths and smooth R&B music in the background, create the ambiance of an up-scale restaurant, with prices to match, which is a tough sell for a spot whose menu includes a cocktail called Stumbling and Bumbling. However, with a space that large, there’s no reason it can’t be used as a lounge, sports bar and upscale restaurant, possibly all at the same time, depending on the clientele and the occasion.
Perhaps, the best thing about the Wine and Dine is that unlike most athletes who lend their name to a restaurant, Clyde’s not an absentee owner. The Knick with the knack makes regular appearances when he’s in town, popping in after every Knicks home game to greet the guests.
All in all, Clyde’s boasts a fun atmosphere for sports fans and non-sports fans alike and offers some excellent dishes. Whether you’re looking for a good meal, a spot to host a small outing, someplace to watch a big game or just feel like doing a little swishing and dishing, head on over to Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine. You may even get to meet the legend himself.
Jay-Z and the Branding of the Brooklyn Nets
Monday morning the Nets officially became the Brooklyn Nets, ending their 35-year tenure in New Jersey. The team celebrated the occasion by unveiling its new logos (there are two) at an event attended by center Brook Lopez, near their new arena, the Barclays Center, in downtown Brooklyn. The logos and new colors ( black and white) were designed by hip-hop mogul and part-owner of the Nets, Jay-Z.
The Brooklyn native, whose given name is Shawn Carter, is part of the ownership group that purchased the Nets in 2004. A very small part of the group. Since the Nets are not a publicly traded company they’re not required to disclose Jay-Z’s ownership percentage, though reports indicate that his share stands at about 1.47%.
The group was headed by real estate developer Bruce Ratner, who from the moment he purchased the team, intended to move the Nets to a new arena in Brooklyn, which would serve as the centerpiece of a massive business and residential complex known as Atlantic Yards. In May of 2010, Ratner sold 80% of the team to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who provided a $700 million loan for the construction of the arena.
Despite Jay-Z’s minor interest in the team, he’s become the face of the franchise over the past several years. Ratner and Prokhorov have wisely used his status as a pop cultural icon to market their struggling franchise. Over the past two decades influential rappers, Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z chief among them, have raised New York’s biggest borough to a level of exposure it hasn’t experienced since the Dodgers left town. So who better to usher in a new sports franchise than Brooklyn’s own hip-hop royalty.
The Jigga Man’s face has been plastered on Nets billboards in Manhattan and Brooklyn. He can be seen during Nets telecasts interacting with the players from his courtside seat during and has accompanied Prokhorov and the team’s general manager on recruiting trips for superstar free agents, including his good friend LeBron James.
As the franchise’s move to Brooklyn has come to fruition, ownership has begun to utilize their famous minority owner in different ways. Previously, just a brand, used to generate interest in the team, Jay-Z is now playing a more active role in marketing the Nets and their new arena. He’s not just christening the Barclays Center with a series of concerts, beginning on September 28th, he designed the actual layout of the arena.
Jay-Z is the brainchild behind what will be known as “The Vault at Barclays Center,” 11 high-end luxury suites on the event level of the arena where New York’s social elite can take in a game. In addition to designing the layout and decor of “the Vault,” Jay-Z has provided input on everything from the champagne that will be sold (reportedly $300 bottles of Armand de Brignac), to the silverware.
The suites will cost an astronomical $550,000 a year, with a minimum three-year purchase. Tenants of each suite will receive eight tickets in the first 10 rows to all Barclays Center events, including Nets games, other sporting events, concerts and family shows.
The hip-hop mogul was also entrusted to design a new color scheme and fresh look for the team’s logo. Monday, team officially introduced two new logos, one, a shield with “NETS” inscribed above
a basketball emblazoned with a “B” and a second logo with the words “Brooklyn New York” encircling a basketball containing an imprinted “B”. Thus far, the reaction to the NBA’s first black and white color scheme (The Spurs are close with their black, white and gray uniforms) has received mixed reviews, with some fans and critics touting the logos as hip/chic, while others have panned them as bland.
It was a savvy move by Nets ownership to turn the marketing reigns over to Jay-Z, as they attempt to lure fans and corporate dollars from the more established Knicks fanbase. Jay has driven his personal brand to international icon status and has repeatedly demonstrated that he has his finger on the pulse of pop culture by successfully marketing business ventures from his Rocawear clothing line to his 40/40 club.
However, in order for a product to sell, the brand must be backed by substance. Behind all of Jay-Z’s on-stage swagger is a genius on the microphone. His smooth flow, unique cadence between words and lines, tight lyrics and eclectic beats are what initially made him so marketable.
The Nets lack substance. They just concluded a 22-44 season and have been unable to lock up a marquee star to build a team. They struck out on LeBron, then went all in on Deron Williams, but may lose him to free agency this summer if they’re unable to pull off a trade for Dwight Howard.
Atlantic Yards is easily accessible to wealthy Manhattanites and Jay-Z’s swag may be able to sway the allegiance of some young fans. But the Nets need to put a competitive product on the court. As long as they keep trotting out Brook Lopez at team events, all the bling in Jay-Z’s vault isn’t going to fill up the Barclays Center.
NBA Playoff Preview
Through the Clydescope is proud to present a very talented young writer, Lucas Lovekin, from Mr. Portnoy’s fifth grade class at PS 217 in Brooklyn, New York. Read below to find out his predictions for the NBA playoffs, which begin this afternoon.
Ahh! It’s playoff time! The best time of the year. This year, the championship winner is not easy to pick out of the 16 playoff teams. Can the stars in Miami win a ring (in year 2 of their push)? Do the Thunder have it in them to get that far? Can the injury-prone Bulls make it to the Finals (with possibly C.J. Watson as their starting point guard?) Will the Clippers and “Lob City” be denied by the better defensive teams? Find out who will win, and who will go home.
Eastern Conference
Favorites
The Miami Heat, after hyping themselves up on ESPN’s “the Decision” and then losing in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks last year, are still the favorites to win the Eastern Conference even though they are not the top seed in the East. Last year though, they weren’t either and still beat the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals 4-1. They seem to be able to “turn up the ‘heat’” during the playoffs.
This year, the Bulls have shown their true greatness by beating the Heat with their star Derrick Rose only scoring 2 points on 1-13 shooting. They also have added a scorer in Richard Hamilton and Luol Deng is having a superb defensive season (and scoring about 15 points a night), having received an All-Star nod. This year’s Eastern Conference Finals will be one to remember. That is, if this year’s favorites can get past the dark horses.
Dark Horses
Now this is what makes the playoffs exciting. The upsets. The teams that you never thought would make it that far.
Let’s start with the Indiana Pacers. Their record at the end of the regular season was 42-24 (the third best in the Eastern Conference). So wait, how is a 3rd seed a dark horse? Well, not many people realize that they have done so well this season. Their upside: they have 8 solid players that can play great team basketball – Danny Granger, David West, Roy Hibbert, Paul George, Darren Collison, Leandro Barbosa, Tyler Hansborough, and George Hill. Their downside: exactly that. They have no star player. This is what stops them from competing with the Heat and Bulls. Too bad the trade deadline passed. The Pacers could’ve become the #1 seed by adding someone like Joe Johnson or Zach Randolph.
The #4 seeded Boston Celtics are playing great basketball. They may not be the most athletic or youngest NBA team, (Allen-36, Pierce-34, Garnett-35) but they have a star point guard in Rajon Rondo and have beaten the favorite Heat three times this year.
Now we have our final team looking to upset an East favorite. (Yes, there are 3 dark horses in the East alone.) The Atlanta Hawks have the ability to beat some of the top teams. Early in the year, they beat the Heat because of great bench production by the veteran T-Mac. Joe Johnson can hit some clutch shots and Josh Smith should have been an All-Star this year. They may not be 100% because Al Horford has been out for almost the whole season with a torn pectoral muscle and will miss the first round of the playoffs. One thing slowing them down is playing the dark horse Celtics in the first round.
Western Conference
Favorites
All everyone has been talking about this year is the Oklahoma City Thunder. The #2 Thunder though, don’t have the best chance of winning the West. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden combine for an outstanding big 3, and Ibaka, well, what can’t this man swat? Kendrick Perkins’s defensive presence is great. Sadly though, there is a flaw. James Harden has a concussion. Who knows how long he will be out for? A balanced offense and defense in the starting 5 is key (technically, Harden isn’t a starter but he gets a lot more minutes than Thabo Sefolosha). The Thunder must find a way to stay strong without Harden.
The #3 seed Lakers also have a balance of offense and defense in the starting 5. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol can block shots and grab 
boards. And of course Kobe Bryant. You want offense? He’s the best in the business, hitting game winners year after year. But, Ron Artest’s (World Peace, ha!) elbow to James Harden’s head (out for 7 games) might put a dent in the Lakers’ playoff hopes. But, didn’t the Lakers rally back from 17 down in the 4th quarter for a double-OT win against the Thunder last Sunday? I can’t see Kobe giving up too easily.
So right now you’re probably thinking that the Thunder just had a bad day, giving up a 17-point 4th quarter lead to the other L.A team. The Thunder is 3-1 against the Clippers this season. This side of the Staples Center has been getting a lot of attention all this year. With Chris Paul (and back-up Mo Williams) throwing alley-oops to Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan and Randy Foye raining threes, Clipper fans might be asking, who’s Chauncey Billups?
Now you might be wondering, what about San Antonio, the #1 seed in the Western Conference? Remember last year, when San Antonio had the #1 seed in the West and couldn’t defeat the 8th seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the first round (more on Memphis later)? This year they’ve added Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw to help the bench (which had been spectacular this year before the additions of Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw). Even though they can beat teams with their big 3, they don’t have the talent and athletic ability of younger teams like the Clippers and Thunder. So where does this drop them, the second round? That’s my prediction. Who knows, it might be Battle L.A in the Conference Finals, and who doesn’t love a Hollywood ending?
Dark Horses
Only one team comes to mind. The Memphis Grizzlies. Last year, they beat the #1 seed San Antonio Spurs in the first round, only the fourth time in NBA history that the 8th seed beat the 1st seed in the NBA playoffs. They also took the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the conference semifinals. What’s different this year? Rudy Gay, (Memphis’s star), did not play for the entire playoffs last year. So Memphis, without their star, took down the #1 seed in 6 games and battled Oklahoma City (this year’s favorite to win the West, not mine though) to seven games before finally falling. If they can beat the Clippers in the first round, which they have a good shot of doing, I’m asking myself, “What can’t they accomplish this year?”
Here’s how I see it going down:
Playoff Bracket Predictions
E (1) CHI > (8) PHI (4-1)
(1)CHI > (4) BOS (4-3)
A (4) BOS > (5) ATL (4-3)
(2) MIA> (1) CHI (4-3)
S (2) MIA >(7) NYK (4-2)
(2) MIA > (3) IND (4-1)
T (3) IND > (6) ORL (4-0)
MIAMI HEAT
MIA > LAC (4-2)
2012 NBA CHAMPIONS
W (1) SAS > (8) UTA (4-1)
(5) LAC > (1) SAS (4-2)
E (4) MEM > (5) LAC (4-3)
(4) LAC > (3) LAL (4-3)
S (2) OKC > (7) DAL (4-2)
(3) LAL > (2) OKC (4-3)
T (3) LAL > (6) DEN (4-2)
Paul Knepper 