40 Games..40 Nights Round 1

Its that time of year again for the NBA Playoffs.  Here are my predictions for the 1st Round of the 2009 Playoffs.

CHICAGO -VS- BOSTON

If KG was in the lineup I would have picked the Celtics in sweeping fashion..but hes not and the Bulls are quite capable of upsetting the champs.  The series is currently tied at 1 game a piece so this prediction isn't too much of a cheat.  I have the C's advancing in 6 games.  The Bulls stole game 1 (Paul Pierce missed free throw would have iced it) and ill give them 1 at home with the champs finishing them off in Boston.  Rose will shine as he did in game 1 and show that he was worthy of that #1 pick, and Rondo will prove why he should have made the All-Star team over Devin Harris. 

Prediction: 4-2Celtics


DETROIT -VS- CLEVELAND

There is a reason why LeBron is alone on this picture, because the King sits alone on the throne..for now.  The Cavs will not be challenged in this series, and I see a sweep in 4.  Detroit basically sent Chauncey Billups to the Nuggets for nothing, yes A.I basically gave them nothing if hes not available for the playoffs where it matters the most.  Imagine if they would have traded him for Rafer Alston how much could he have helped.  We know you aren't trying to win now Joey D so maybe you guys should have just let Charlotte make the playoffs for the 1st time in team history.  Detroit will keep it interesting at home, then LeBron will go on a tear attacking the rim like he did 2 years ago. 

Prediction:  4-0 Cavs
HOUSTON -VS- PORTLAND

 Ok, so Portland got smashed in the first game of this match up but I had them on the outside looking in from the start.  They are a young and exciting team but not playoff proven and I'm not sure if they can compete with the Rockets and that enormous burden of finally getting out of the 1st round.  The Blazers should win game 2 and maybe another 1 late but I have the too much Yao Ming and the Rockets should win in 6.  By the way once they win does T-Mac still shoulder the load of not getting out of the first round?  I think so.

Prediction: 4-2 Rockets





DALLAS-VS- SAN ANTONIO

The Spurs and the Mavs separated geographically by miles but years in age.  San Antonio has officially gotten old (to me) and with the loss of Ginobli they should wear out by game 7.  The combination of Josh Howard, Dirk Norwitzki and a little Jason Terry and Kidd mixed in should do the Spurs in, especially after stealing one from the Spurs at home.  The series is currently tied, and I have Dallas winning big at home and closing it out in 6 or 7.  Since I have to make a decision lets go with the Mavs in 7 (for drama) led by Norwitzki hitting a walk off 3 for the game. 

Prediction: 4-3 Mavericks



NEW ORLEANS -VS- DENVER

Carmelo Anthony hasn't made it out of the first round, and this is the year he finally does.  The Hornets are good and CP3 is great but without a healthy Tyson Chandler and a sub par (I should have stayed in Boston) James Posey the Nola will fall in 6.  They will play hard at home because they always do, but will never overcome the altitude of Denver and their long front line of Birdman, K-Mart, and Nene. 

Prediction: 4-2 Nuggets







UTAH -VS- LOS ANGELES
Is it me or are the Lakers destined to win the trophy this year?  Sort of like how everyone knew that Boston would figure it out last year I have that same feeling about LA.  The Jazz have the unfortunate luck of facing LA in the first round; if it was round 2 or maybe the Western finals they may have had a chance.  Too much balance for LA will wear the Jazz down every game and Kobe wont even have to go for 30 in order for them to win in 5 games.  Not having Okur in the lineup will definitely put them close to a sweep but I'll give them 1 win in Utah...just to be nice. 

Prediction: 4-1 Lakers



PHILADEPHIA -VS- ORLANDO

In game 1 Philly came out the gate swinging; took a shot in the mouth, got knocked down and delivered a knock out punch to the Magic.  Orlando seems as if they were reading the press clippings and living up to the hype as they pushed the lead to 18 in game 1, only to let the 76ers back in the game.  Not sure why Stan Van Gundy put his version of the human cigar (JJ Reddick) and pulled other starters to start the 4th quarter.  With all that said, the 76ers played as good as they can play and will only win 2 or 3 more games.  Look for the Magic to get Dwight Howard going early and often in game 2 then the 3's will start to fall.  Also, Hedo Turkoglu wont go 1 for everything he shot again so the Magic march on to round 2.

Prediction: 4-2 Magic

MIAMI -VS- ATLANTA

Since game 1 has already transpired I'll keep it real and say that I picked the Heat to win in 7.  Now, with that being said the Hawks will win in 6.  They looked like a team with something to prove while trouncing the Heat in the process.  All of a sudden D-Wade looked normal and the supporting cast looked lost as the Hawks won by almost 30 in a packed out Phillips Arena.  The Heat cant afford for Wade not to go for 30, heck to not go for 40 puts them in danger most nights, because that team feeds off of his energy.  Kudos to Joe Johnson and Josh Smith for getting ATL a big win in game 1.  So do I get to change my pick?  Of course I do. 

Prediction: 4-2 Hawks

See you in Round 2...lets see how many teams ill have left then.

Peace,
Agent 34

Will this be the Year for Melo?

The NBA Season is coming to a close and the playoff picture is starting to shape up to be a great one.  Sitting in the #2 spot in the Western Conference are the Denver Nuggets.  Surprised?  Me Too.  They have quietly put together a great season and Carmelo Anthony is leading the way.

Once Chauncey Billups came aboard the offense has been clicking and the defense has defensive intensity has been at an all time high.  Denver has won 53 games this season and have won 9 out of the last 10 with a 2 game lead on San Antonio for the 2nd seed out West.

Throughout Carmelo Anthony's entire career he will be compared to Dwayne Wade and LeBron James in the infamous class of 2003.  Stephen A. Smith wrote an interesting article around the time Melo was suspended 1 game for refusing to come out at George Karls request.  The fallout between coach and player plus the 15 games missed from the injury cost him a rightful spot on the All-Star Team. 

Now, Melo has put the childish ways of his past behind him and is focused on getting the Nuggets out of the 1st round for the first time in his career.  Not only are the Nuggets poised to make a playoff run; the buzz in Denver has pegged them as the odds on favorite to de-thrown the Lakers out West.  I know that sounds crazy giving that the Lakers are fighting for the #1 seed in the league, have only lost 16 games, and that they swept the Nuggets in 4 games a year ago.  Lol.  Somehow this isnt the same team..if they are healthy and click at the right time they can challenge the Lake Show and set up a showdown that has been brewing since 2003.  Melo -Vs- LeBron.

This match up I believe will be far more intriguing than Kobe -Vs- LeBron (which is the way it may end up) only because I think we could all agree that the Cavs cant beat the Lakers 4 times.  Sure the Celtics did it last year, but they had 3 All-Stars and a defense out of this world.  But the Lakers have Bynum this year, and Ariza and a bench that is unforgiving.  But, a Denver/Cleveland final would be wide open, I mean are the Cavs that much better than the Nuggets?  Melo and LeBron basically cancel each other out in the scoring department, and the role players on both teams are good.

This is my dream match up for the finals.  If the Nuggets can get through the crowded Western Conference then they will be road and battled tested to go in Cleveland and win a game or two.  The order of importance from that 03 class is..
1) LeBron
2)D-Wade
3)Chris Bosh
4)Melo

If he can win big this year in the playoffs then he can change the order, and solidify himself as a true Superstar in this league.  Or Not...

Peace,
Agent 34

Becoming a Servant Leader!

This post will be a little more personal, less basketball more about life.  I was feeling like a heathen over the past week and made it my business to get my lazy self back into church.  Isn't it funny how when you haven;t been to church in a while it seems as if the sermon is directed at you?  LoL. 

The topic was about Servant Leaders!  The term was "coined" by Robert Greenleaf whom has written various works on the topic.

Definition according to Wikipedia-Emphasizes the leader's role as steward of the resources (human, financial and otherwise) provided by the organization. It encourages leaders to serve others while staying focused on achieving results in line with the organization's values and integrity.

The pastor went on to explain that the true Servant Leader was Jesus. 
John 13:5; 12-15 (GW) offers great insight as to how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples after they had been traveling all day.  Here is a snippet of the verse.. "Then he asked his disciples, do you understand what ive done for you?  You call me teacher and lord, and you're right because that's what I am.  So if your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you must wash each others feet.  I've given you an example that you must follow."

Just imagine the same person who created you actually washing your feet.  Wow.  Makes me feel humbled but also gives me empowerment to become a better leader.  When your confidence is high most leaders feel as if they are invincible so I hope this is motivation for all of us to get better.

One of my favorite quotes of All-Time- "Steady growth leads to Excellence"-Alexander Graham Bell

                            I WILL BE GREAT

Peace,

Agent 34 

 

Shaq -VS- Lebron (Pre-Game)

By now I'm sure even the most average NBA fan has seen LeBron's pregame ritual of taking pictures of his teammates before tipoff..right? Well if not here are a few clips of King James getting his troops fired up. This has sparked some uneccesary controversy from the likes of Charles Barkley (not the biggest LeBron fan) on whether or not this should be acceptable as a pre-game ritual. Also, its worth mentioning that LeBron still does his signature "powder toss" in front of the scoring table as well.

Now, the Great Shaqctus has taken it upon himself to openly challenge LeBron to a pre-game celebration contest in which the fans will judge the winner. Here is a clip of what Shaq and the Suns came up with the other night verses the Wizards.
Shaq Goes Bowling

The Big Aristotle says that LeBrons intro is "weak" and that he has an unlimited array of ideas that he will be unleashing if King James accepts the challenge. I'm not sure who will be the winner but I know Shaq is a pretty creative guy, especially after seeing the 300 pounder transform into a Jabawackee.

So who do you think will win the contest? My vote is for Shaq. He's a seasoned vet with more experience in getting the crowd involved.

Heres a few more pictures to help you decide who is more entertaining, and remember this is pre-game only.





















Peace,
Agent 34

Most Anticipated Albums of 09 (Part 1)

On the Hip-Hop side lets take a look at some of the albums that are due to drop this year by some of the top talent in the game.

Jadakiss-The Last Kiss

The NY rapper with the raspy flow is returning after a 5 year absence from the game. Will he be rusty? I guess the jury was silenced after his first two singles dropped. "By Your Side" feat Ne-Yo and the street single "Cant Stop Me" have both received constant rotation on the radio and Kiss looks to be in rare form. This time he returns with a major deal courtesy of Def Jam, so the bar is set high for him to produce a platinum album.

The guest appearances are already set with Ne-Yo, The LOX, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Jazmine Sullivan, Barrington Levy, Pharell, Avery Storm, Ghostface, and Raekwon. Will all this collection of talent finally bring the respect to D-Block? Only time will tell, look for this album to drop April 7th.

Jim Jones-Prey IV Reign

The Dipset General is back with his 4th solo album and he looks to pick up where P.O.M.E left off. This LP sheds light on the rappers upbringing in Harlem and how he was able to make it out of the drug infested streets. The lead single is tittled "Na-Na Na-Na" and is quickly picking up steam in the clubs and on the radios rotation.

Although Jim Jones became a household name with his last single "Ballin" most people still don't know his story. This album looks to bring him full circle as he plans on opening up to his fans. The track list has yet to be released, but the buzz is in the air regarding who may make a guest appearance. Will Juelz Santana get the invite; or better has the hatchet been buried between "Capo" and Camron? The release date is set for March 24th, go get it.

Rick Ross-Deeper Than Rap

The Biggest Boss that you've seen thus far has burst back on the scene with his new album titled Deeper Than Rap. Not only is Rick Ross the self proclaimed Boss of Miami, he now has his sights on taking over the crown of Hip-Hop. At the top of the year his street single "Mafia Music" dropped and sparked the return of Ross. One of the lines in the song was personally addressed to 50 Cent, in which Ross took shots at the G-Unit General. Since then a war of words has ensued between the two and who knows how this will affect his sales. "Cigar Music" and and "Magnificent" are the other singles that are receiving steady rotation. Nobody can take away the fact that Rick Ross has carved his lane in the game and is putting Miami on the map again. Will Deeper than Rap outsell "Trilla"? We will find out March 24th when the album hits stores.


Peace,
Agent 34

A New Star is Born!

WELCOME BACK!















Last week the news of the Knicks and Stephon Marbury reaching a buyout swept through the league and we all knew what was coming next. Less than 48 hours later Starbury made his debut with the Boston Celtics donning Antwoine Walkers old number 8 jersey.

Marbury made his debut against the Celtics scoring 8pts in 13mins and helped key the C's to a win over Indiana. The next game did not go as planned as he failed to score against the Pistons and was ripped at half court twice in 4 mins by Will Bynum of the Detroit Pistons. Clearly, Marbury is not in tip top shape after not playing in 6 months for an NBA team but he is showing flashes of his former self. In the 2nd quarter he took 1 dribble in the lane and fired a no look pass to Leon Powe for an-and-1. The pass was so crisp and fast that the camera guy (on ABC) missed it, and it wasn't clear how Powe got the ball until the replay was shown .

The reunion of KG and Steph has yet to be realized with the Big Ticket sidelined with an injury. Once he comes back, will the magic automatically return to Starbury? If he can somehow turn into the efficient scoring machine and still keep the other Big 3 players happy then the Celtics might cut down another banner this year. Some say that Steph will eventually explode and ruin the team chemistry, but I disagree. I believe this is the 1st (maybe 2nd) time in his career where he has a legit chance of getting out of the first round. Not only winning a series but also a true shot at a championship, and who better to do it with than the person whom he began his career with.

Is Shaq the MVP?

The Phoenix Suns swapped Shawn Marion for the Big Cactus over a year ago and are just now figuring out how to use him.

Shaq has been the force that has kept the Suns afloat this season, putting up some of the best numbers in his career. He is shooting a higher free throw percentage (.629) than field goal percentage (.602) ans has seemed to have found the fountain of youth in the Valley of the Sun. With injuries throughout the season to Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and Amare Stoudamire; Shaq has been the most consistent and most dominate of any of the Suns and maybe even the NBA.

So I raise the question is Shaq the MVP of the League?

Think about it..he averages 17.8 pts, 9.0 rpg and has only missed 2 games all year. To make it worse he has the bounce back in his step, no longer just overpowering opponents with dunks; but using jump hooks and the infamous left hand stare. Lol. Once you factor in the fact that Shaq only averages 11.2 shots per game and he plays in the new happy offense the Suns have resurrected then he is one of the most productive players in the league. In his last two games he has poured in totals of 45 pts and 33 pts both in big wins without Amare and Nash. Lebron and Kobe may be the favorites but the Suns would not even be in contention without the Big Diesel. This is probably why the Shaq and Lebron talk never turned into action at the trade deadline. (By the way the Cavs would have won it all if that had happened..sorry Boston.) If the Suns can squeak into the playoffs with a healthy roster then "Shaqctus" will be among the few at the top of the MVP race.

Peace,
Agent 34