NBA Western Conference (GAME 1)

Monday , not was nothing short of a thriller as the Western Conference finals kick off. The SAN ANTONIO SPURS took on the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER. The thunder came into this game with a major "chip on their shoulder" as star forward Serge Ibaka was announced ,out for the rest of the post season. This made for a difficult defensive presence Monday night as the thunder would fall to the spurs. The spurs different then the thunder were very well rested and injury prone coming into game one of the Western Conference finals. The spurs would go on to take game one in a commanding fashion 105-122.

And the Consternation Begins

Game one of the  NBA Eastern Conference Finals is officially in the books and the biggest shock of all was discovered. As many predicted the Indiana Pacers to go down 4-0 to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, but Sunday the Pacers silenced the critiques. The Pacers were present from the start, scoring 30 points in the first quarter. The Pacers would go on to take game one in a commanding fashion 107-96 going up 1-0 in the series.

Predicitions NBA FINALS

As the finals grow close and near, its time to make predictions. In the Eastern Conference as the MIAMI HEAT and INDIANA PACERS are the center of the attention. The heat are the clear favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference just because of how strong they have presented themselves the entire post season. I believe that the Heat will take out the pacers in either 4 or 5 games. The pacers are inconsistent and are going to have a tough time trying to keep up and keep pace with the heat. Also considering the fact that the Pacers have already played four more games then the heat the wear and tear on the team is going to be very present. We will see in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals Sunday what this series is going to be comprised of.

In the Western Conference as the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER and the SAN ANTONIO SPURS take center stage. The thunder I believed would be able to take out the spurs just because of there ability to get fast break points and there ability to press a team throughout the entire game. Because of the lost of Serge Ibaka, they won't necessarily struggle offensively it would be more on the defensive end of things. He was a strong inside presence for the thunder with blocks and rebounding, but at this point its the next man up. I believe they will move Adams to the forward position and have Perkins play the center which wouldn't be that bad of a option it would just be his in experience guarding Tim Duncan, but we will see what happened, he has shocked us this far in his ability. The Spurs on the other hand have control over there own destiny, right now because of the injuries surrounding the thunder, its there series to lose. We will see Monday what will happen in this Western Conference Finals.

NBA ROUND TWO RECAP

And then there were four. The most anticipated series's are yet to come. The teams are decided so and its time to determine who will be the heavy weight champion of the WESTERN and EASTERN Conference. The MIAMI HEAT have been the clear favorite to return back to the finals for the fourth straight year and even have been been chosen to win the title for their consecutive year. The heat have been a stand out team over the past two rounds in the playoffs closing both series in a total of nine games. The team is very rested and knows that champion basketball is and when you have the second best player in the World , being Lebron James, you can't go wrong either. The heats opponent in the Eastern Conference finals for the second consequitive year is the INDIANA PACERS. The pacers have had anything but a smooth transition from the regular season to the post season. After team caption Danny Granger was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers late in the season, the pacers have showed their struggles. The pacers have faced alot of criticism in the playoffs thus far particularly Roy Hibbert, and his inconsistency throughout the playoffs thus far. His presence in games isn't always visible and his drive didn't seem, the same that was present last season. The pacers have also struggles throughout the playoffs letting their opening round series go to seven games and their second round series go to six games. As the number one seed and the placement that they earned in the playoffs it was clear that those first two series should have been swepts for the pacers, which has brought great concern surrounding their success in the playoffs this season. This should heat up for a good Conference finals and a rematch where, this time the pacers will have the home court advantage that they so desperately wanted last season in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Western Conference Finals not much different then the Eastern Conference finals has the two power house teams returning to the Conference Championship. Although the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER were not able to be in this position last season due to injury, they are returning back, and who could possibly stop the raining MVP from winning the crown. The thunder this season have returned back to the top after losing guard Russell Westbrook last post season. This week they were also faced with hard times, as star Foward Serge Ibaka would be out for the rest of the post season, do to a lingering calf injury. The thunder this season had one goal on their mind this entire season and that was to return to the NBA finals and now because of the health of their team that could be in jeopardy. The thunders opponent would be none other then the SAN ANTONIO SPURS. The San Antonio Spurs have been the clear "deep" team in the playoffs. There starters are partly the reason for this title because of the ability there bench has in carrying the team. The spurs are returning back to the Conference finals after losing to the heat in game seven of the NBA Finals last season. The spurs this season are looking stronger then ever as their bench players have made various improvements and have become a more united team.
We will see beginning Sunday night who will take the crown for their respective conferences. This is going to heat up for a very interesting 2013-2014 Conference Championships.

It's time ! (Finals predictions)

These playoffs have had anything but surprises this far as five of the first round series's would extend to seven games. All teams gave their all but there are only 8 standing, which means these are the conference semi finals to the NBA finals of 2014. As the conference semi finals are underway, conference finals predictions are in the swing as well. As we get closer to the finals the thought is in the back of my mind. I believe that the winner of the Portland and San Antonio series will more then likely lose the series against the winner of the Oklahoma City and Los Angeles series. Becasue of the offensive ability by both the clippers and thunder, it will be very hard for the winner of the spurs and trail blazers series to have a fighting chance. The spurs put up a consistent amount of points on a night In and night out bases but I question their sustainability and can they consistently defend and out score. Becasue of that happened last year against the heat in the finals, if they were to take on the thunder or the clippers they would possibly win then first two games and be out the next four , which would end it in a six game series. If it were the blazers playing against the clippers or the thunder I would question their defense and also their consistency as well. They are a team that is know for not consistently producing at a high level. Lillard can only hit clutch three point shots to a certain extent. That won't be able to save them a carry them out of the western conference.  In the eastern conference there is only one clear favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference. Because of the recent trouble surrounding the Indiana Pacers, the heat are the clear favorite to come out of the Eastern conference. The heat will take the Brooklyn Nets in 4 games. The nets don't have a chance against the defending NBA champions, although they have had a good season this far. When the nets started this season they were the worst in the Eastern conference so they have defied all odds, but there is still a lot of talent left on that team . As far as the pacers and wizards series is concerned I believe the wizards will shut out the pacers in 4 games. They are not the same pacers team that had the best record in the Eastern conference. The finals will have representing the Eastern   Conference Miami Heat and from the Western Conference the Los Angeles Clippers or possibly a rematch of the finals from two years ago the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The best day of Your LIFE (NFL DRAFT)

As a football player your number one goal is to always be good enough to make it to the next level. As a high school student often players say, one day I want to play in the NFL . Once you get that scholarship offer to go on to the next level and play college ball , that dream often becomes a reality. It becomes obtainable and reachable. For many players this past weekend, they saw the reward of their hard work. Some from middle school to present, as their hard work would finally pay off in a way they never dreamed of. The NFL draft is a dream that every football player, one day wants to hear their name called. "And the Cleveland Browns select _______". Their number one dream is to be that player, that blank as many may say. Their dream also isn't just to be that name or that blank, it is also to live up to the strong and challenging expectations set forth by the organization. For many players this weekend they were given that opportunity starting with the first pick of the 2014 NFL draft. Jadeveon Clowney a defensive end , was the first player given this opportunity to live up to all expectations set forth by the Houston Texans organization. As being a first round draft pick and the first player drafted, he has very high expectations to live up to. Being on a team with the 2012 Defensive Player of the year JJ Watt, he will have great competition and leadership on what it means to be great, as he will train right beside the best. Other star players that were key in this draft were Johnny Manziel and Michael Sam. Manziel was anything but a high quality player. Some predicted him to go first in the draft, while others often made remarks that he was to short or that his style of game wouldn't be able to translate to the NFL. When Manziel had premiered in his Pro Day, he silenced alot of those critics because of his performance. Manziel was drafted later then many had expected as he would go during the middle of the first round to the Cleveland Browns. Even though the Cleveland Browns had passed on Manziel, during their number eight pick during the draft, they eventually came back around to get Manziel later in the first. Manziel, similar to alot of these players in the draft, have very high expectations to live up to because of his star quality and capabilities,not being the "typical" quarter back. Sam much as Manziel faced alot of attention leading up to the draft and was criticized by many because of his sexuality. Sam didn't let the words of the critics stop his potential to be  the "greatest". Sam was SCC defensive player of the year this past season but it took teams a while on draft day to draft the high quality defensive player. Sam wasn't drafted until late in the seventh round which some may equate to his sexuality being the reason for the drop. As before the remarks came out about his sexuality Sam was predicted to possibly go late in the second round. What ever the case may be Sam is very eager and excited to prove all the critics wrong and show teams that secuality doesn't define you as a football players and that they missed out on a star athlete , he is ready to be "great".

The First steps are Completed (NBA PLAYOFFS Round One)

The second weekend of the NBA plyoffs is complete, and boy, has it been a weekend. All of the first round series's were anything but boring. All though a few ended earlier then others the NBA broke records. One of those being the record of game seven match-ups in the first round. The magic number was five and a three point shot stepped in the middle of the sixth game. Although the record wasn't broken, tieing it was pretty majestic.

The first match-up in outstanding first round week number two was game number five between the Indiana Pacers and the Atlanta Hawks. The Pacers and Hawks entered game number five, tied in the series 2-2 a piece which made for a interesting second half of the series. The pacers and hawks would battle the entire first quarter, but the pacers would have the edge out scoring the hawks 107-97 in the first. Second quarter, it would all be the hawks. The hawks would show why they were still in the series. There three pointers by their guards, would continue to fall and the pacers would not have a response. The hawks would be up to the pacers at the half by 21 points. Second half both teams would come out very strong and the pacers would make adjustments to stop the run of the hawks three pointers. The pacers would edge out the hawks in the third 27-26. Fourth quarter, both teams would fight to the finish, but the hawks would come up short as the pacers made huge comeback, out scoring the hawks 30-20. Leading scorers for the pacers were Paul George going 9/16, scoring 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 ast. and David West going 6/13, scoring 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 ast. Leading scorers for the hawks were Kyle Korver going 5/10, scoring 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 ast. and Shelvin Mack going 5/9, scoring 10 points, 3 rebounds and 5 ast. The hawks would hang on to win it after a remarkable comeback by the pacers 107-97. The series would go all the way to seven games and the Pacers would prevail, going on to play the Washington Wizards in the second round. 

The second match-up in the first round, week number two was game number seven between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors. Despite all of the controversy surrounding this series in the past week game number seven was held in the Staples Center in Los Angeles on the Clippers home court. The clippers have defied all odds this entire week, with all of the rumors and controversy surrounding there owner and there ball club. Rumors surround there coach such as "Will Doc River quit on his team?" "Is he signing with a new club?" "Is he going to stop playing for a racist?" Despite everything that was going on within his team and around his team Doc Rivers kept his ball club come and told them to keep there composer. This series was difficult for both teams but leading into game number seven the series was tied at three games a piece. The winner of this game moved on to the second round of the playoffs and the loser went home. Both teams were even, it just was a matter of which club wanted it more. First quarter the warriors would get their three-point game started early, out scoring the clippers 32-22 in the first. Second quarter both teams would give it there all, but the clippers would prevail, out scoring the warriors 34-32. By the end of the half the warriors would be 64-56. Second half both teams knew what was at stake and it was only two quarters that could determine that. The clippers and warriors would come out strong but the warriors three-point shooters would begin to struggle leaving the door open for a come back by the clippers. The clippers would out score the warriors 31-20 in the third. Fourth quarter both teams would give it all they got, as they would go back on forth on the scoring end. The clippers would get the edge as they would begin to make there jump shots down the stretch. Leading scorers for the clippers were Blake Griffin going 10/18, scoring 24 points,5 rebounds, and 6 ast. and DeAndre Jordan going 6/6 scoring 15 points, 18 rebounds, and 2 ast. Leading scorers for the warriors were Stephen Curry going 7/17 scoring 33 points,5 rebounds, and 9 ast. and Draymond Green going 9/13 scoring 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 ast. The clippers would go on to win game number seven of this opening round series 126-121. In round two the clippers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder.