NBA Western Conference Playoff: Thoughts and Predictions

It's the NBA playoffs and here are some of my thoughts on the Western Conference.

(1) Warriors vs (8) Clippers - Warriors win, 4-2

The unexpected rise of the LA Clippers has been one of the more compelling and mind-boggling stories of the NBA this year. How exactly does a team who loses their acknowledged superstars in consecutive years (first Chris Paul, followed by Blake Griffin, then DeAndre Jordan, and finally, Tobias Harris) manage to not only make the playoffs in the ultra-competitive Western Conference but also cement their reputation as the team no one wants to face in the first round? Well, excellent coaching, defined roles, and skilled players would be the answer you'd be looking for. Still, the Golden State Warriors have more than enough to beat the Clippers, but not before the Clips make them sweat buckets.

Matchup to watch out: Pat Beverley vs Steph Curry. The NBA's peskiest defender versus one of game's best shooter ever.  

NBA Eastern Conference Playoff: Thoughts and Predictions

It's the NBA playoffs and here are some thoughts before we start with our do-or-die games.

Eastern Conference

(1) Bucks vs (8) Pistons - Bucks win, 4-1

The Bucks are the scariest team in the league. Yes, scarier than the Warriors, the Rockets, and the Sixers. And that's because they not only have the current best player in the world, Giannis Antetokounmpo, but also stud players like Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, and Brook Lopez, with starter-quality role players in Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell, and Nikola Mirotic ready to contribute. The Pistons, on the other hand, are of the Eastern team favorites who underperformed in the regular season. There were modest expectations of this team, considering their roster, and they barely lived up to it. As things get tougher in the playoffs, there is no indication that they will suddenly find that higher gear they need to move up.

Matchup to watch out for: Giannis Antetokuonmpo vs Blake Griffin. The best players of each team will need to be even better. The Greek Freak should have no trouble stepping up while Griffin needs to fire up on all cylinders to give the Pistons a fighting chance.

Derrick Rose, MVP-form, Is Back!

I've always been a Derrick Rose fan and it gives me great joy to announce that the real DRose, the one of the blazing speed, the impossible cuts, the incredible elevation, and the magical touch around the rim, is back.

It has been a hard road for the former MVP. Injury after injury to his knees kept him off the court for entire seasons, robbed him of his confidence, planted not just seeds but entire plantations of doubt in coaches' minds...and DRose worked his butt off to prove everyone wrong.

Tonight is just the exclamation point to what has been an extraordinary journey back to the NBA stratosphere.

Same-old, same-old In The West.

The NBA season starts tomorrow and while it seems to be shaping up as an exciting season, there really isn't anything new out West.

The power players are still the same and the cellar-dwellers, well, there doesn't seem to be any breakout teams among the West's few truly mediocre teams.

In fact, the top two teams in the West remain the same, but I have a surprise pick for the third. Without further ado, the three teams to watch out for in the Wstern Conference.

Golden State Warriors - Whaaaaaaat? You mean after a second championship, they're still the favorites? The loss of the likes of Javale McGee and David West has been totally negated by the signing of DeMarcus Cousins. Yes, he's still injured but the Warriors without a traditional center is actually more dangerous than the Warriors with one.

So the Warriors will hum along, with the same Fab Four outgunning everyone else. And when Cousins finally joins them, the Warriors may just be the most unbeatable team in the NBA's history.

The Shift Of Power In The East

We are about one week away from the start of the NBA season so we'll give you guys a quick rundown on hot topics, predictions, and things to watch out for.

First, we take a look at the Eastern Conference where the departure of Lebron James has created a seismic shift in which team will now reign supreme.

Here are the new "Beasts of the East":

The Boston Celtics. Last year, they didn't have Gordon Hayward for basically the entire season and Kyrie Irving for the latter part of the season, including their playoff series against the Cavs and they still looked like a juggernaut. Giving Brad Stevens an entire year to work with a starting five of Irving, Jaylen Brown, Hayward, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford should scare everyone in the Eastern conference. There is no better coach nor is there a better starting five than that Celtics lineup.

And then you get the likes of Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Marcus Morris, Daniel Theis, Aron Baynes, Semi Ojeleye, and Guerschon Yabusele on your bench and that is just staaaaaacked. They're basically a superteam, except no one seems to have realized it yet.

Gilas Fashions Epic Comeback Win Against Qatar, 92-81.

For two long quarters, it seemed like our worst nightmares had come true.

We went 1-15 from 3 while Qatar went 4-4 from three and 4-8 from 2. They went up bug 17 points and no one could get anything going.

We finally pruned it down to a 13 point lead by halftime (52-39) and hoped Coach Yeng Guiao and the Gilas boys had some fight left in them.

And then big Beau Belga, scrappy Scottie Thompson, and hyper Japeth Aguilar decided to put Gilas on their collective backs and tow them back into the game.