Back From The Dead

It appears NHL fans will get the competitive Stanley Cup Finals they expected as the Penguins returned to form on Wednesday night with a 3-2 victory over the Red Wings. After miserable performances that saw the Pens go scoreless in the first two games of the series, they were able to put everything together in front of the hometown crowd.

With the exception of several moments in the first period, the Penguins played at a tremendous pace throughout the game, especially early in the third period. They finally got the monkey off their back when Sydney Crosby scored the team’s first goal of the series at 17:25 of the first. Crosby was at it again early in the second, scoring a power play goal.

The game was never out of hand, as the Red Wings kept it close. Johan Franzen padded his playoff leading goal total with a power play marker close to the end of the second period. A third period goal by Penguins forward Adam Hall made it 3-1 for the Pens, but the Wings once again narrowed the gap with a goal six minutes later by Mikael Samuelsson.

Marc-Andre Fleury kept the Penguins in the game by making highlight reel saves throughout the game. He ended the game with 32 saves.

Most importantly for the Penguins, they’re right back in the series, and their superstars appear to have finally awaken. Marian Hossa assisted on both of Crosby’s goals, while Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar both had spirited performances with a combined seven shots on net. Brooks Orpik chipped in by keeping the fans out of their seats with bone crushing body checks at key points of the game.

Although the Penguins won the game there’s still plenty of work to do as they were out-shot 34 to 24. At times throughout the game they had trouble getting the puck out of their end, and they had a difficult time containing Johan Franzen, who had six shots on net.

Scoring the first goal of the game in these playoffs has been huge for the Pens. They’re now 11-0 when they score first, along with a perfect 9-0 record on home ice. Pittsburgh will have a chance to even up the series on Saturday night, before the series shifts back to Detroit for game five.
-Joe Osborne

UFC 84: Ill Will Preview

The UFC returns to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this Saturday night with UFC 84: Ill Will. The event features three big time fights, including one of the most anticipated fights in the history of the lightweight division, as well as Tito Ortiz’s last fight in the UFC. The event also features an under card with lots of recognizable faces. Here’s everything you need to know about UFC 84.

Thiago Silva (11-0) vs. Antonio Mendes (14-2): For those who don’t know who Thiago Silva is, you should take notice because this guy is on a serious roll. His resume includes an undefeated record and first round knockouts of James Irvin and Houston Alexander. Ten of his eleven victories have actually come by way of some type of knockout. His opponent is a fellow Brazilian with zero octagon experience. His experience includes fights for various promotions all around the world, and he was won his 12 fights in a variety of ways.
Verdict: Silva by TKO in the First Round. The good times will continue to roll for Silva. He’s only had one fight go to a decision, and Saturday night will be no different as he continues to climb the light heavyweight ladder.

Tito Ortiz (16-5-1) vs. Lyoto Machida (12-0): Ortiz has more fights in the UFC than any other fighter. He has also ran his mouth more than any other fighter, and that’s probably the reason why this will be his final fight inside the octagon. With Ortiz on the way out, the UFC will look to guys like Machida to be the future of the light heavyweight division. Ortiz’s abilities are well known. He’s a great wrestler, and he’s relentless if he gets on top of his opponent. His conditioning was questioned following his last fight with Rashad Evans, but he claims to be in the best possible shape for this fight. Machida is an unknown among casual MMA fans, but his skills are very impressive. He’s one of the only top tier mixed martial artist to use karate as his primary weapon, but he has been accused of being a boring fight with three of his four UFC fights going to a decision.
Verdict: Ortiz by unanimous decision. With all he’s done in this sport and in the UFC, it’s hard to imagine Tito not putting everything he has into this fight. Expect Tito’s strength and superb wrestling skills to make the difference.

Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) vs. Keith Jardine (13-4-1): So Jardine beat Chuck Liddell, and Liddell beat Silva, so Jardine should be able to beat Silva, right? Not necessarily. Liddell and Silva are different types of fighters, and Jardine should find that out on Saturday night. Silva is as ferocious as they get, while Jardine is someone of a counter striker who can slowly chop an opponent down with brutal leg kicks. Jardine is trying to cement his legacy in MMA, and he should be next in line for a title shot should he get by Silva. Silva on the other hand is on the worst losing streak of his career with three straight loses, but still remains a fan favorite due to putting on incredibly courageous performances.
Verdict: Silva by TKO in the Second Round. Jardine has never fought someone as vicious as Silva, and he’ll have to wait to get a title shot. A win opens up a lot of opportunities for Silva.

BJ Penn (12-4-1) vs. Sean Sherk (35-2-1): If you want a fight with some bad blood or ‘Ill Will’, this fight has it. Penn and Sherk really dislike each other. Penn hates Sherk because he was accused and tested positive for steroids, and Sherk hates Penn for going over board with cheap shots about his suspected steroid use. All drama aside, these are two of the best fighters in the UFC, not just this division. Before his suspension Sherk was in many people’s pound for pound top ten rankings, while Penn is finally doing a great job at living up to his expectations. Sherk is a dynamic wrestler with world class conditioning. His only loses come to Georges St. Pierre, and Matt Hughes at 170 pounds. The one knock one Sherk is that he doesn’t necessarily finish a whole lot of fights, and at times he can be boring. Penn has been reborn since re-entering the 155 pound division. His biggest flaw in the past was cardio. His body couldn’t keep up with what he was capable of doing, however things are different for him now as he’s changed his whole outlook to fighting. He was extremely dominant in his last two fights, but things could be different against the strength of the ‘muscle shark’. This fight could easily go either way. Expect lots of rolling around, as well as exciting stand up exchanges.
Verdict: Penn by third round submission. In the past Sherk has relied too heavily on take downs, and it may get him in trouble with Penn. Expect Penn to exploit Sherk into gaining better position, ultimately leading to a submission win.

The card also features several intriguing fights involving Rameau Sokoudjou AKA the African Assassin, Rich Clementi, as well as Jon ‘The War Machine’ Koppenhaver who was part of a fight of the year candidate at the Ultimate Fighter Finale in December.

UFC 84 kicks off what should be a big couple of weeks for Mixed Martial Arts. The following week is the debut of Elite XC ‘Primetime’ on CBS, and the weekend after that is UFC 85: Bedlam from London. It should be a great night of fights, and a great night for sports as game one of the Stanley Cup Finals will also be on. Enjoy the event, and feel free to let me know who you think will win and how.

Me and the Prime Minister

So here's the lowdown. I was at the Canada vs. Finland World Hockey Championship Game in Halifax last week, and who do I notice sitting two sections over. Non other than Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald. A friend and I (who happened to have more than a few beers into us) decided to go over to greet our nation's leader. The original plan was to be a bit of a smart ass and say something stupid, but when I entered his presence I chickened out. I did however give him a 'cool guy' handshake, which seemed to surprise him. He then gazed deep into my soul with his wolf like blue eyes and asked me where I was from. Meeting famous people is hilarious, mainly because it's unexpected. It was a cool experience, but I hope to meet more famous people in the near future or possibly by the end of the month.

NHL Fan to Host Stanley Cup Finals Gathering

The NHL Finals begin Saturday and fans everywhere will be gathering in sports bars, and in rec rooms to cheer on their favorite teams. Things will be no different in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where NHL fan Todd Blanchard has invited several friends over to watch game one. “It’s a gathering, not a party”, said Blanchard, who rents a one bedroom basement apartment. “If you go around claiming it’s a party, everyone in the city will show up, but if you label it as a gathering, people will assume it’s an invite only type of thing.”

Blanchard’s last sports themed gathering was a self proclaimed disaster. “The last time I had friends over to watch sports was game three of the 2005 World Series between the White Sox and Astros. What a debacle it turned out to be when my friend Carl surprised everyone by bringing his girlfriend. She just sat there and said nothing all night, and worst of all she wasn’t even invited.” Blanchard says it’s still up in the air as to whether or not Carl will be invited this time around. “I’m still undecided. For all I know he’ll end up showing up with a car full of people, and there won’t be enough chairs.”

To try to avert word of the get-together, Blanchard has formed a top secret e-mail invite list, as well as a facebook group where only invited people can join. “So far, it’s me, my dad, and my friends Danny and Peter. My place only has room for around six people, and I want everyone to be more than comfortable.”

Blanchard has also created a short list of strict rules his invitees must follow if they hope to watch the game in his recently renovated apartment. “If you’re gonna bring beer, make sure it’s cans. Bottles are a pain in the ass to clean up. I guess cans are just easier to get rid of.” Watching the game at Blanchard’s won’t be free however, as he says they’ll be a small charge for attending the gathering. “I still haven’t decided how much I’ll charge. I guess I’ll figure out how much my cable bill is, and do the math depending on how many people show. Plus it cost money to heat the water if people are gonna be washing their hands. I’m not made of money.”

The toughest part of the planning process so far for Blanchard has been deciding between classic Lays BBQ chips or the other type of BBQ chips Lays makes. At present time, no one has responded to Blanchard’s invite.

Did Ryan Braun Get Ripped Off?

On May 15th the Milwaukee Brewers signed third baseman Ryan Braun to a historic 8 year, $45 million dollar contract. The deal is the largest in the history of the team, and a pretty significant amount for a player with only one year of big league experience. $45 million dollars is nothing to sneeze at, but compared to the other top third basemen in baseball, the contract doesn’t make sense. His numbers are in line with the other top third basemen in the league, so why isn’t his contract?

To put Braun’s contract into perspective, here are a combination of his numbers from this season and last season compared to the other top dogs at his position. (Stats up to date as of 5/18/08)

Ryan Braun: .313 batting average, 45 home runs, 128 RBI’s, 197 hits, 16 stolen bases.
Aramis Ramirez: .295 batting average, 32 home runs, 128 RBI’s, 197 hits, 1 stolen bases.
Chipper Jones: .374 batting average, 40 home runs, 134 RBI’s, 236 hits, 5 stolen bases.
David Wright: .302 batting average, 38 home runs, 141 RBI’s, 239 hits, 40 stolen bases.
Miguel Cabrera: .295 batting average, 41 home runs, 143 RBI’s, 230 hits, 3 stolen bases.
Alex Rodriguez: .300 batting average, 58 home runs, 167 RBI’s, 209 hits, 25 stolen bases.

Looking at these numbers from this and last season, it’s obvious that Braun is among the top players at his position. Now let’s see how their contracts measure up.

Ryan Braun: $45 million over 8 years for an average of 5.625 million a season.
Aramis Ramirez: $42 million over 4 years for an average of 10.5 million a season.
Chipper Jones: $37 million over 3 seasons for an average of 12.33 million a season.
David Wright: $55 million over 6 seasons for an average of 9.17 million a season.
Miguel Cabrera: $152 million over 8 years for an average of 19 million a season.
Alex Rodriguez: $252 million over 10 years for an average of 25.2 million a season.

First let me say that A-Rod and Miguel Cabrera are getting paid a foolish amount of money. Good for them I guess. Comparing Braun’s new contract to that of the other players, it’s obvious that he’s being largely underpaid. David Wright is the closest player to Braun on this list in terms of pay scale and he’ll average $3.6 million dollars a season more. How does that make sense? There are two sides to the argument though. Braun is now guaranteed $45 million dollars, which is something most of us can only dream about. His career could completely fall off, he could become extremely injury prone, and be totally forgotten about and he’s still guaranteed $45 million dollars. But, he could have decided to wait it out for another season or two, continue playing the way he is, and probably receive a contract for almost double the amount of money than the one he just signed.

Most likely Braun’s numbers will stay consistent, and they may even get better. He’s established himself as the teams best player, and one of the best third basemen in the league, but a few years from know we may be saying he’s the most underpaid player in the league.
~Joe Osborne

Fantasy Baseball: All-Under the Radar Team

We’re six weeks deep into the baseball season and lots of players are coming out of no where to put up some big stats. If you’re in an active league, the majority of these players are probably long gone, but if not, sweep them up while you still can. Keep in mind that the season is still young, but smart pick-ups could be the key to winning or losing in your league. The following players are guys who probably went near the end of your draft, or weren’t drafted at all.

Catcher: Ryan Doumit (Pirates) - Doumit was expected to share time behind the plate this season, but caught fire and has been the everyday starter for most of the season. He has a .350 batting average, with five homers, 51 total bases, and 15 RBI’s. Doumit was placed on the DL today, so keep an eye out and snag him up when he returns.

First Base: Conor Jackson (Diamondbacks) - Co Jack has been a key contributor for the league leading D-Backs. The 25 year old has an impressive .331 batting average, with five homers, 71 total bases, 31 RBI’s, and three stolen bases. Jackson’s big time production should continue throughout the season, and he’ll be a fantasy commodity for years to come.

Second Base: Mark DeRosa (Cubs) – DeRosa is a great option for any fantasy team due to his eligibility at 2B, 3B, and OF. He also has a .280 batting average with 23 runs, and 22 RBI’s. Hitting sixth in the Cubs lineup with give him plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.

Shortstop: Ryan Theriot (Cubs) - Theriot is in a prime position to have a big year. He hits second in the high scoring Cubs potent lineup. He currently leads the Cubs with a .333 bating average, and has chipped in with 26 runs and eight stolen bases. Hitting behind Soriano, and in front of Lee and Ramirez definitely has its advantages.

Third Base: Mark Reynolds (Diamondbacks) - Reynolds has cooled down a little bit since his hot start, and doesn’t hit for average, but his steady production can’t be ignored. He’s second among third basemen with 27 runs, and also has seven home runs, and 28 RBI’s.

Outfield: Nate McLouth (Pirates) – Big Nate has shown no signs of slowing down with a very impressive 94 total bases, 10 home runs, 31 RBI’s, and 32 runs. McLouth wasn’t even expected to be a full time player, but has proved that he’s here to stay, as the second most productive outfielder so far this season.

Outfield: Josh Hamilton (Rangers) – Think the Reds are kicking themselves for trading Hamilton? He currently leads the majors in RBI’s, and is the leagues third best offensive outfielder thus far. Playing in the hitter friendly Rangers Ballpark in Arlington will only help pad his numbers. Expect big things from Hamilton who has a .301 batting average, eight home runs, 90 total bases, and 43 RBI’s.

Outfield: Carlos Quentin (White Sox) – The 25 year old outfielder has erupted so far this season with some big time numbers. Quentin has come out of no where with nine big flies, 29 RBI’s and 26 runs. He’s among the top ten outfielders this season, and it appears he’ll have lots of chances to continue his break out season.

Starting Pitcher: Edinson Volquez (Reds) – Who? This guy has been a hitter’s worst nightmare, that's who. He leads the league is strikeouts with 57, has a 6-1 record, and a miniscule 1.12 ERA in 48.1 innings pitched.

Relief Pitcher: George Sherrill (Orioles) – Sherrill is a big reason why the O’s have started the season with a surprising 20-19 record. He’s second in the league with 14 saves, has one win, and 15 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched.

Just because you have the best team in your league doesn’t mean you shouldn’t always be looking to improve your lineup. It’s always good to have a plan B incase your superstars get injured or fall into a slump.

As the season goes on pay close attention to how a player has done over the last two weeks or over the last month. This may give you a better idea as to what type of production you’ll get out of that player.

Good luck with your rosters, and remember to check back all season long for updates.
~Joe Osborne

E:60 Profile on Kimbo Slice

If you don't know who Kimbo Slice is, you should. Here's his story.



Update

Analyzing The UFC's Light Heavyweight Division

While most consider the UFC’s lightweight division as the deepest division in the organization, the light heavyweight division easily has the most star power, and blockbuster fight possibilities. The last major fight to take place in the division was over four months ago when Chuck Liddell defeated Wanderlei Silva in a three round war. Things are about to get rolling again with a handful of big fights scheduled to take place during the next few events. Here’s a breakdown of the top fighters in the division, along with some possible fight scenarios for the future.

Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson: Rampage has been at the top of the light heavyweight division for almost a year now. After his stunning knockout win over then champ Chuck Liddell, he went on to beat Dan Henderson by unanimous decision. The fight against Henderson was way back in September, and he hasn’t fought since largely due to a hand injury, and because of his role as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter reality show. Jackson will fight Forrest Griffin at UFC 86 in July. If he can get past Griffin, there will be no shortage of challengers for the charismatic champion. Rampage has loses to avenge to both Wanderlei Silva, and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua. However, Chuck Liddell will probably get another crack at the title, assuming he wins his next fight. A re-match with Liddell has the possibility to be one of the biggest fights ever, and it’s highly probable that the UFC will make it happen.

Forrest Griffin: Griffin earned the coveted number one contenders spot by tapping out the man who many believed was the best fighter in the world, Shogun. Forrest is largely popular with fans due to his bizarre personality and all or nothing fighting style, but will enter his match with Rampage as an underdog. Whether he gets by Rampage or not, we’ll probably see Griffin take on Keith Jardine sometime in the near future. With a loss, he’ll probably be matched up with the likes of Rashad Evans or possibly even the 11-0 Thiago Silva.

Chuck Liddell: The writing is clearly on the wall that with a victory in his next match, the Iceman will most likely earn another shot at the title. It appeared as if a number one contender’s bout was to take place between Liddell and Shogun in June, until both went down with injuries. It’s possible that the fight will be re-scheduled for September, as MMA fans were foaming at the mouth to see this epic match up. Other fight possibilities for Liddell include a rematch with Keith Jardine, who beat Liddell in a lackluster fight in the fall, and I’m sure no one would complain to see another fight with Wanderlei Silva. If Liddell manages to get another shot at Rampage, and is defeated, expect him to move up a weight class, or possibly even retire. Liddell’s next fight could dictate the rest of his career.

Keith Jardine: The Dean of Mean is perhaps the most overlooked fighter in the division. He holds wins over Griffin and Liddell. If he can manage to get by Wanderlei Silva at UFC 84, it’ll be hard to argue that he doesn’t deserve a title shot. With a loss, he’ll be right back in the middle of the pack.

Wanderlei Silva: The ‘Axe Murderer’ is easily one of the best strikers in MMA, as well as one of the most exciting fighters. Silva is currently riding a three fight loss streak, but could be right back in the mix with a victory over Keith Jardine. In his UFC debut in December, Silva looked relatively small compared to Chuck Liddell. The size comparison has many speculating of a possible drop to the middleweight division. With a loss to Jardine, dropping a weight class may be a good idea, but with a win he’ll put himself in contention for a title shot. He does have two knockout wins over Rampage, so another fight between the two would be intriguing. A drop to middleweight could set up a fight with current champ Anderson Silva. As long as he keeps fighting how he does, the fight possibilities are endless.

Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua: Shogun was regarded as the top light heavyweight in the world when he entered the UFC, but after a loss to Forrest Griffin and some unfortunate injuries, he’s been inactive and unable to prove his top notch abilities. Shogun was to face Chuck Liddell before rupturing his ACL. Word has it that he’ll be ready to fight again in September, and with a win a title shot will not be out of the question. The 26 year old holds a devastating knockout win over Rampage Jackson, and 13 of his 16 wins were by knockout.

Tito Ortiz: Tito’s UFC career is all but over; as he’s announced many times that he’ll leave the promotion following his fight later this month against Lyoto Machida. Ortiz has been beefing with the UFC brass because he wants more money. It appears as if he’ll end up signing with another promotion where he won’t have a chance to fight top tier talent anymore, he probably won’t receive as much exposure, he’ll be looked at as selfish, but he’ll get more money. It would be nice to see Tito stick around, as there’s still plenty of interesting fights left for him in the UFC, but with his best years behind him, he’s not worth as much as he thinks he is.

Lyoto Machida: Machida is largely unknown by casual MMA fans, but he’ll step into the spotlight when he fights Tito Ortiz at UFC 83. Some consider Machida to be a boring fighter, but he holds notable wins over B.J. Penn, Rich Franklin, and Sokoudjou. With a win over Ortiz, the 12-0 fighter will be somewhere close to the front of the line for a title shot.

Rashad Evans: ‘Sugar’ Rashad is 16-0-1, but is yet to take down any major contenders. He was supposed to fight Chuck Liddell, but Liddell got injured, so he’ll get the middle of the pack James Irvin instead. Evans is one the smaller side of 205, so a drop to middleweight could be in his future. As long as he continues to win, he’ll stay where he’s at. Evans is a top tier talent, but won’t be considered for a title shot until he beats some stiffer competition.

So who else matters in this weight class? Thiago Silva, Sokoudjou, Matt Hamill, and James Irvin are all fighters who could rise in the rankings if they can get on a roll. As for fan favorite Houston Alexander, he’ll probably get one more shot in the UFC, but it’s highly unlikely that he’ll get too far. There are also rumors that Rich Franklin would consider moving up to this weight class, which would set up some very appealing fights. Dan Henderson is also another fighter who could play a major role in the division, but it appears that he'll remain at middleweight.

The UFC has done an excellent job in bringing in all the top light heavyweights in the world. No other division has so many fighters who are in the prime of their career. Over the next three events the landscape of the weight class will change completely, as they’ll be new contenders and possibly even a new champion. The one thing that’s for sure with this division is that the amount of thrilling matches is limitless.

~Joe Osborne

Got a Few Minutes For a Good Laugh?

The Best of Mike Tyson

Why doesn't this guy have his own reality show yet?

Got a few more minutes for another laugh? Here's something hilarious from last week's Saturday Night Live that's completely unrelated to sports.

Eastern Conference Finals Preview

The Eastern Conference final features a favorite in the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with a dark horse in the sixth ranked Philadelphia Flyers. This match up is extremely tough to call and could easily go seven games. We all know that regular season results don’t translate into similar results in the playoffs, so I’ll avoid any regular season comparisons. Let’s take a look at how the teams have done thus far throughout the playoffs and how they match up.

Dubbed the ‘Battle of Pensylvania’, this series features an intense rivalry between inter state teams, each of whom is stacked with big time players and colorful personalities. Lots of fans are focusing on the toughness of the Flyers, and how they will put the heat on the Pens, but Pittsburgh are no slouches when it comes to the rough stuff, so one thing we can expect is a very physical series. The Flyers had success in their first round series against the Capitals due to paying extra attention to Alexander Ovechkin. Unfortunately for the Flyers, trying to focus on just one Penguin won’t work as Pittsburgh has way too much fire power. Putting extra effort into stopping Crosby or Malkin will just open up the ice for the other Penguins superstars.

For all the talk of the high scoring, wheeling and dealing Pens, the Flyers are actually averaging more goals a game. Line one to four for the Flyers is solid, and their offense is somewhat of a poor man’s Penguins offense (which isn’t a bad thing at all). Marc-Andre Fleury has been extremely sharp throughout the first two rounds, only allowing 1.89 goals per game. The Flyers best shot will be to put lots of shots on net, and try to agitate the Pens into taking stupid penalties.

As for the Penguins superstars, they’re all pretty much on fire. Sydney Crosby is playing how a captain should in the playoffs, and unfortunately for the Flyers he has more points against them than any other team. Marian Hossa has silenced his critics with five goals and five assists including an overtime winner. Evgeni Malkin has been a serious threat an incredible playmaker, with 14 points, and 46 shots in nine games. Throw Petr Sykora and offensive defensemen Sergei Gonchar into the mix, and yes, the Penguins offense is very scary.

If someone said that Flyers forward R.J. Umberger would lead the playoffs in goals after two rounds, they’d either be deported or possibly even executed. Well, maybe not they’d just be laughed at, but Umberger has been tearing it up with his playoff leading nine goals. The rest of the Flyers usual suspects are chipping in too, as Daniel Brier, Mike Richards and Vaclav Prospal all have 11 points or more.

Both teams hope their goaltenders will be able to shut the door, and both have been doing a great job so far. Marc-Andre Fleury has been the playoffs best goaltender with a save percentage of .938, and two shut outs. Martin Biron has surprised many by leading the Flyers this far. He’s been solid, but out of the four remaining goaltenders in the playoffs he’s been the worst, as he’s the only one with a goals against average over two (2.78), and the lowest save percentage (.914).

Verdict: Penguins is six. The Flyers are a good team, and will challenge the Pens better than the Senators and Rangers, but like those teams, they will struggle to deal with the Pens high scoring attack. Expect a good, hard hitting series as the battle of Pennsylvania grows more and more intense with each game.

And oh yeah, Detroit in seven. Enjoy the Conference Finals!
-Joe Osborne

Interview With LaDainian Tomlinson

After a rough end to his season last year, LT seems pumped up and focused going into the 2008-09 NFL season.

49 Games in 18 Nights: Observations of the NBA Playoffs

Here’s what I’m thinking so far through this years playoffs:

-Why do some second round series begin before some first round series end? While Detroit vs. Orlando and New Orleans vs. San Antonio kicked off their second round series on Saturday, the Celtics and Hawks still had a game to finish in their first round series on Sunday. Confusing isn’t it? No other major professional sports does this, and for good reason. The NBA playoff format has some serious issues, including the fact that teams aren’t re-seeded in each round. It wasn’t a problem this season because all the higher seeds won, but the NBA should seriously consider making a few fan friendly changes.

-The Hornets are for real. First they made the Mavs look like an NBADL team, now they’ve got off to a 2-0 lead over the Spurs. They’ve pretty much been unstoppable, but will things be different when the series shifts to San Antonio? Probably not. The Spurs have never come back from a 0-2 deficit in the history of their franchise. The Hornets are off the charts, and with a nucleus of Chris Paul, Davis West, and Tyson Chandler, they should be a top contender for a long time.

-Is it just me, or are the Lakers kinda flying under the radar? They’re 5-0 thus far, and have been playing phenomenal. They should continue playing great, but things won’t be so easy against the Jazz. The Lakers are still the favorite to win the conference, but the road through the Western Conference is anything but easy.

-What’s up with the Celtics? There’s no way the Hawks should have taken them to the seventh game. According to the Celts, they’re not used to playing with each other in the playoffs, which I think is a pretty lousy excuse. They had the whole regular season to prepare for the playoffs, and shouldn’t make pathetic excuses when they get out played by a lesser team. The Hornets don’t have experience playing with each other in the playoffs either and look what they’re doing. Either way, it should be a great series against the Cavs.

-How can a team that has Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith, and George Karl as its coach get swept in the first round of the playoffs? Oh yeah, they completely forgot how to play defense. The Nuggets need a new system.

-Has the window officially closed on the Phoenix Suns? I’d say so. The Suns were very hard to watch in the first round, and were even annoying to watch at times. They blew countless opportunities against the Spurs and their big players didn’t step up when needed. Was Grant Hill playing during the series? He was practically invisible. The Suns are a team that basketball fans root for because of their exciting style of play, and likeable personalities. It’s simply a case of a good team that couldn’t become a great team. The front office got too fancy with roster moves over the years and it came back to haunt them. Expect some changes in Phoenix.

-If the Toronto Raptors ever hope to compete, they’re gonna have to add another scorer. Having Anthony Parker and Carlos Delfino as your primary wing men just won’t get it done. The team took a serious step back this season, and Bryan Colangelo will have to earn his money this off-season by improving their average roster. Everyone knows either T.J. Ford or Jose Calderon will be trade bait, but beyond that the Raptors don’t have much to offer. Their best bet is to throw some money at a free agent. Luring a big name to Toronto may not be easy, so Colangelo will have to work his magic.

(By the way, here’s a list of this summers big name restricted and unrestricted free agents: Josh Smith, Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, J.R. Smith, Allen Iverson, Baron Davis, Jermaine O’Neal, Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Ricky Davis, Shawn Marion, Stephon Marbury, Andre Iguodala, Ron Artest, Jose Calderon, Gilbert Arenas, and Antawn Jamison. Obviously not all of these players will change uniforms, but if could make for a very interesting summer.)

So the second round is in full swing, and here’s what I expect to happen: Lakers in six, Hornets in six, Pistons in five, and the Celtics in seven. Hopefully round two will have a little bit more fireworks than round one.

Enjoy the rest of round two,
~Joe Osborne