#NerdsUnite: Play on playa! (Breaking down the world of sports so you don't have to!)
<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Derek - I met him when I was professor for a day at CSUF. Really rad dude, and he wants to come on board to help explain to us nerdy folk the wild world of sports. Smart dude, and knows his shizzy shiznat. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT DEREK!!!</editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @DerekJ_AllDay
Hello again everyone! Hope everyone’s weekend went well. As baseball season continues to march on, the NBA playoffs are just beginning. Even though half of the teams in the NBA make it to the postseason, and some frown on that, every year the entertainment factor proves to be top notch. Those who tuned in over the weekend know that there is no change this year. This season may truly be special because of all the variables that have surrounded the league all season. The CBA lockout and the ensuing shortened schedule obviously caused a lot of controversy amongst fans. Nobody can forget the Chris Paul trade fiasco, which I wrote about much earlier in the season, which took a young superstar point guard away from the Lakers and gave him to the Clippers; both of which are in the playoffs. Considering the Clippers haven’t made it to the playoffs since 2005, and before that since 1997. Over their 42 year history they have only made it to the postseason eight times. Just saying.
It’s pretty uncommon to see such intriguing matchups so early in the postseason. When the one seed matches up with the eight seed it normally equals a massacre. This season is much different, the #1 Bulls are without their best player Derrick Rose, and although they beat the 76ers in game one 103-91 the series may get very interesting. Rose tore his ACL late in the first game Saturday and should be out for much of next season also. The more intriguing series lies between the #2 and #7 seeds, the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks. (I am watching game 2 as I write this.) In game one the Miami Heat were looking to dismantle the Knicks and allow no room for surprises, they were successful. They crushed the New Yorkers 100-67 and left another impression on the league. The Heat are probably considered the favorites in the east by most people, and I’d have to agree.
The Magic and Pacers are playing each other in what is probably the most pointless series of the postseason. Neither are going anywhere past the first round.
Over in the West lies the most competitive series of the first round, and this is because the defending champion Dallas Mavericks are seeded lower than they should be. Dallas is a veteran team, and they understand that you do not need a stellar regular season record to win a championship. The young, fast and extremely talented Oklahoma City Thunder face off as the two seed again the seven seed Mavericks. OKC prevailed thanks to a late shot from their best player Durant and won 99-98. The series could go either way, but the Thunder are my second favorite team and I have to pick them to advance.
For the sake of saving time, unless you are a fan of the Lakers of Spurs, you don’t have much of a reason to watch them destroy the Nuggets and Jazz respectively. We all know the result already, they will both advance. If they don’t you can tweet me @DerekJ_AllDay and talk all the shit you want. (Just don’t hurt my feelings, I’m sensitive about the Angels.)
The Clippers won by one point in what proved to be a historic comeback. The final score was 99-98 and they were down by 27 points at a time in the game. That’s it, I don’t want to talk about it any more.
I hate the Clippers and David Stern.
I am about to wrap this up, but as a side note I can’t forget to mention the Celtics and the Hawks who are two really really good teams going against each other. Although it might be a long shot to consider them contenders, the Hawks are a really strong and talented team that is up and coming. The Celtics on the other hand are old and on the back end of their dominant play, but right now they are both very good.
Hope you all enjoy the playoffs, I’ll update you on how all the relevant teams are doing next Tuesday. Again you can tweet me @DerekJ_AllDay and talk anything with me. Have a good week!