Showing posts with label playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label playoffs. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 23 (April 28)
New podcast with Brett and Sean recorded yesterday about Donald Sterling, the NBA playoffs and games to look forward to in the upcoming NFL season.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Chris Lejambe's 2014 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions
Here we are once again in the month of April and it means
only one thing: it’s time for the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. It also means
that it’s time to tell the world who I think will make it through the first
round.
Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins vs.
Detroit Red Wings
To me this will be the series to watch in the first round, and whomever wins this series will be the team to beat in the East going
forward. Boston is definitely the bigger team in this matchup, so the key for them is to be very physical right from the opening faceoff. Detroit has a lot
of young players to complement the veterans on the team and if they can score
early. They can put Boston on their heels and throw off their game. Detroit won
the season series against the Bruins and that is saying something against the
President’s Trophy winner. This will be a hard-fought series and there will not
be any easy victories. I predict a seven-game series with Detroit winning 4-3.
Pittsburgh Penguins
vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Based on regular season games this season between these two
teams, it’s fair to say that Pittsburgh is the better team (5-0 in the season
series). The Penguins have one of the best players in the world on their team
and Columbus is going to have the unenviable task of restricting Sidney Crosby’s
movements on the ice. To me this comes
down to goaltending and could very well be the Sergei Bobrovsky show (if
Columbus stands a chance against Pittsburgh then it will have to be). I think
Columbus has the better goaltender, but not enough in front of him to get
Columbus more than one win. I expect close games, but Pittsburgh has a more
talented roster and that will be the difference in the series and spell the end
to the Blue Jackets. Pittsburgh wins the series 4-1.
Tampa Bay Lightning
vs. Montreal Canadiens
This series features the only Canadian team to make the
playoffs this year, and sadly (for the country) I don’t think they will get
past the Lightning. The Lightning won the season series and although they were
close games, I think Tampa has the better team. Montreal has the better
goaltender in Carey Price, but he can’t score for the team and the Lightning
have more firepower. If Tampa gets an early lead, I’m not sure Montreal has
enough scoring power to keep up. Tampa Bay wins the series 4-2.
New York Rangers vs.
Philadelphia Flyers
Both of these teams have pretty awesome crowds, and in all
four meetings between these two teams this season, the home team won the game.
This series comes down to who plays better on the road. Both teams have solid
goaltenders behind them and both teams are capable of scoring. Some of the
veteran players on the Rangers haven’t been near as productive this season as
expected and they are going to have to step up in order to secure the Rangers a
series win. I think the Flyers are ready to go now and that will give them a
slight advantage. In a seven game series, that could make the difference.
Philadelphia wins the series 4-3.
Western Conference
Anaheim Ducks vs.
Dallas Stars
The Ducks are the top of the Western Conference and
basically dominated the league in the first half of the season with a record of
36-8-5 at one point. Yes, they did slow down after that, but they looked back to
usual form by the end of the season. Dallas has a better goaltender in Kari
Lehtonen and that should get Dallas a couple wins in the series, but overall I
feel the Ducks are the better team and their record during the season is proof of
that. Anaheim wins the series 4-2.
Colorado Avalanche
vs. Minnesota Wild
This is another series that comes down to goaltending.
Colorado has a battle tested Semyon Varlamov and Minnesota has Ilya Bryzgalov, who went 7-0-3 in the last 11 games for the Wild. He’s a big reason they
made the post season. I think Varlamov is the better and more reliable of the
two and, combined with the young talent and ability to score for Colorado, I think
the Wild won’t have enough to win the series. Colorado wins the series 4-2.
San Jose vs. Los
Angeles Sharks
This will be another nail-biting series that will be
low-scoring and filled with tension. I don’t envy die-hard fans of either of
these teams, who will need nerves of steel while watching their teams. During
the season, home ice played a big role in determining the winner and I see no
reason why this series will be any different. I think the difference in this
series will be Jonathan Quick and the overall health of the Kings. Add to that
the fact the Sharks always seem to underperform in the post-season regardless
of how good they look during the season and I think the Kings will emerge
victorious. Los Angeles wins the series 4-3.
Chicago Blackhawks
vs. St. Louis Blues
The defending Champions start their playoff run against the
Blues and these teams currently look like polar opposites. Chicago has a much
healthier team and many players from last year’s Cup winning team have returned
this year. St. Louis on the other hand, picked a terrible time of the year for
a six-game losing streak and has several injured players on the roster that may
not be healthy enough to make the team for the playoffs or to make a difference
for their team. St. Louis has the opportunity here to step up and play like they
did earlier in the season, but if they can’t do that, then it will be a quick
exit for them. Chicago wins the series 4-1.
Future Round Picks
East
Detroit defeats Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh defeats Philadelphia
Detroit defeats Pittsburgh.
West
Chicago defeats Colorado
Anaheim defeats Los Angeles
Chicago defeats Anaheim
Cup Final
Detroit defeats Chicago
Friday, May 31, 2013
Brett's 2013 NHL Conference Finals Predictions
Well, it's time for a new round of predictions for the NHL playoffs. I was 4/4 in the second round, bringing my total to nine correct out of the 12 series so far.
Now to the interesting part. The previous four Stanley Cup winners will meet each other to determine who reaches the Stanley Cup Final. The 2009 and 2011 champions meet in the East, with the 2010 and 2012 champs meeting in the west. Which two recent champions will meet for another chance to raise the Cup? It's prediction time!
Eastern Conference Final
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) Boston Bruins
Heading into the playoffs, this was probably the most expected outcome for the Eastern Conference. Both teams made moves mid-season to bolster their team for a long run in the playoffs. After both teams only took five games to dispose of their semi-final foes, they played the waiting game while the dust settled in the Western Conference.
For Pittsburgh, things seemed to click once they put Tomas Vokoun between the pipes. Since he has taken over the starting job, the team has allowed 2 goals per game. Contrast to an offence that is hitting its stride with the Sidney Crosby rounding into form, the Penguins will be a tough out.
As for Boston, they have been a tale of two teams to this point in the playoffs. They looked extremely vulnerable in the first round, almost dropping the series despite leading 3-1. However, the second round resembled the Bruins team most people expected to see all along.
So, let's figure this series out. The emotions will be interesting, with both Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow picking the Penguins over the Bruins. It will also be a return for Jaromir Jagr, playing a playoff series against his former team. Last year, the Penguins showed their frustration in a series against the Flyers and I expect the Bruins to play in a similar fashion. Led by super-pest Brad Marchand, the Bruins have a roster that will get under the skin of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, and the other stars in the line-up. While both teams have a lot of experience, I believe it will be the Penguins who pull out the series in again. The added leadership of Morrow and Iginla will be a calming influence on the team. Plus, they have the ability to put out three lines that score effectively. They were never in danger of that with the Rangers. It will be a long, hard-fought series, but Pittsburgh wins it in the end.
Pittsburgh wins the series in 4-3.
Western Conference Final
(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings
Back in January on my Sports Journalism radio show, I said the Kings would have a very strong chance to repeat as champions. They have a young, physical core and an extremely talented goalie. One of my classmates said a team to watch out for would be the Blackhawks, looking to rebound after a first round exit in the 2012 NHL Playoffs. Almost half a year later, it looks like we were both right.
The Blackhawks survived the Detroit Red Wings, coming back from a 3-1 series deficit. It was a tight series between two divisional foes, pushing Chicago to the brink multiple times.
The Kings were also tested during the second round, facing an elimination game for the first time during these last two playoffs. They responded with a true Game 7 performance, aided by Jonathan Quick.
The series will come down to whether the Kings can keep up with the high-octane offense of the Blackhawks. Chicago has shown flashes of what they are capable of during the playoffs, but nothing consistent. Los Angeles has been able to dominate teams with their defence, bolstered by the strong play of Quick in net. He will be able to keep Los Angeles in every game of the series, but will he get enough goal support? In the long run, I don't think that will matter. I'm sticking with my pick from January. Los Angeles will be able to frustrate Jonathan Toews and the rest of the Blackhawks during the series. They will have a hard time scoring, and Quick will be able to erase any mistake the Kings make in their own zone. Plus, the Kings haven't lost a game at home during this year's playoff. I see that trend continuing. Los Angeles will have a chance to defend their title in the Finals, marking the first time a team has reached back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals since the Red Wings and Penguins both did it in 2008 and 2009.Los Angeles wins the series in 4-2.
So, those are my picks. I'm sticking with the team that I picked back in January. Do you agree or disagree? Sound off in the comment section below.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Now to the interesting part. The previous four Stanley Cup winners will meet each other to determine who reaches the Stanley Cup Final. The 2009 and 2011 champions meet in the East, with the 2010 and 2012 champs meeting in the west. Which two recent champions will meet for another chance to raise the Cup? It's prediction time!
Eastern Conference Final
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) Boston Bruins
 |
| Image from Yahoo! Sports |
For Pittsburgh, things seemed to click once they put Tomas Vokoun between the pipes. Since he has taken over the starting job, the team has allowed 2 goals per game. Contrast to an offence that is hitting its stride with the Sidney Crosby rounding into form, the Penguins will be a tough out.
As for Boston, they have been a tale of two teams to this point in the playoffs. They looked extremely vulnerable in the first round, almost dropping the series despite leading 3-1. However, the second round resembled the Bruins team most people expected to see all along.
So, let's figure this series out. The emotions will be interesting, with both Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow picking the Penguins over the Bruins. It will also be a return for Jaromir Jagr, playing a playoff series against his former team. Last year, the Penguins showed their frustration in a series against the Flyers and I expect the Bruins to play in a similar fashion. Led by super-pest Brad Marchand, the Bruins have a roster that will get under the skin of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, and the other stars in the line-up. While both teams have a lot of experience, I believe it will be the Penguins who pull out the series in again. The added leadership of Morrow and Iginla will be a calming influence on the team. Plus, they have the ability to put out three lines that score effectively. They were never in danger of that with the Rangers. It will be a long, hard-fought series, but Pittsburgh wins it in the end.
Pittsburgh wins the series in 4-3.
Western Conference Final
(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings
 |
| Image from Fox Sports West |
The Blackhawks survived the Detroit Red Wings, coming back from a 3-1 series deficit. It was a tight series between two divisional foes, pushing Chicago to the brink multiple times.
The Kings were also tested during the second round, facing an elimination game for the first time during these last two playoffs. They responded with a true Game 7 performance, aided by Jonathan Quick.
The series will come down to whether the Kings can keep up with the high-octane offense of the Blackhawks. Chicago has shown flashes of what they are capable of during the playoffs, but nothing consistent. Los Angeles has been able to dominate teams with their defence, bolstered by the strong play of Quick in net. He will be able to keep Los Angeles in every game of the series, but will he get enough goal support? In the long run, I don't think that will matter. I'm sticking with my pick from January. Los Angeles will be able to frustrate Jonathan Toews and the rest of the Blackhawks during the series. They will have a hard time scoring, and Quick will be able to erase any mistake the Kings make in their own zone. Plus, the Kings haven't lost a game at home during this year's playoff. I see that trend continuing. Los Angeles will have a chance to defend their title in the Finals, marking the first time a team has reached back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals since the Red Wings and Penguins both did it in 2008 and 2009.Los Angeles wins the series in 4-2.
So, those are my picks. I'm sticking with the team that I picked back in January. Do you agree or disagree? Sound off in the comment section below.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Brett's 2013 NHL Playoff Conference Semifinals Predictions
Alright, so the first round didn't go as well as my NBA predictions. At the end of the day, I got five of the eight series correct. Not that bad, considering lost Game 7. Then again, I couldn't have been more wrong with the Ottawa and San Jose wins.
Now, I'm writing this with a heavy heart after my Toronto Maple Leafs blew Game 7 last night. It'll take some time to recover, but I've accepted the fact now. It was a much better result than I had anticipated going into the series.
Anyways, let's get on to the teams that are still actually playing hockey at this point. Conference Semifinals time!
Eastern Conference
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (7) Ottawa Senators
The media is going to have a field day with this series. Having Matt Cooke play against the Ottawa Senators mere months after slicing Erik Karlsson's Achilles. While that will give people something to talk about, the action on the ice could be even better. Pittsburgh won all three games played in the regular season, but they were all close games. The first round series exposed a problem for the Penguins in net. Marc-Andre Fleury started to play like did in last year's defeat against the Philadelphia Flyers, so much so that Tomas Vokoun has taken over the starting goalie spot - at least for Game 1. On the opposite side of the ice, Craig Anderson was brilliant against Montreal. He has been one of the league's most consistent goaltenders. How much can a hot goalie mean to a playoff series? Jaroslav Halak stole a series from the Penguins two years ago. Will it happen again this year? I don't think so. Crosby and Malkin are playing exceptionally, the Penguins have more depth, and Vokoun just has to be steady. The Pesky Sens have had a fine season, but it ends here.
Pittsburgh wins the series 4-2.
(4) Boston Bruins vs. (6) New York Rangers
This series hurts a little, knowing how close the Leafs were to being in this spot. Anyways, during that series, the Bruins showed two teams: one which was physical, fast, and intimidating and another that was slow, old, and had problems scoring. Boston will need production from all lines. At the end of the first round series, Patrice Bergeron and his line showed some life. Moving Jagr up to join Bergeron and Brad Marchand added a needed offensive spark to the team, giving them a second offensive threat. They'll need every bit of it to beat the Rangers and Vezina-nominated Henrik Lundqvist. It's hard to overestimate his worth to the Rangers in the first round, considering there were four games New York scored a goal or less. In order to beat Boston, the Rangers will need a much better effort from their offense. They showed some offensive spark in Game 7, shutting out Washington 5-0. No matter how good Lundqvist plays, it's hard to see the Rangers scoring enough goals on Tuukka Rask and the Bruins defense. It'll be a close, low-scoring series, but Boston takes it.
Boston wins the series 4-3.
Western Conference
(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings
Even though Chicago made quick work of the Minnesota Wild, two of the five games went in to overtime. The series could've been drastically different. Do I think the Blackhawks still would've won the series? Yes, they have far too much talent. Detroit presents an interesting challenge. The long-time top dog in the Central Division, the Red Wings only won one game in regulation during the first round. They showed some dominance over the Ducks last round, but allowed Anaheim to get back into games too often. Chicago will be able to take advantage of that as well, making it hard on the Red Wings to get any form of separation. During the season, Chicago won all four match-ups against Detroit, but three were in the shootout. Again, another indication of a close series, which I think it will be. Eventually Chicago takes the series and top dog spot in the Central, but Detroit will give them everything they've got.
Chicago wins the series 4-2.
(5) Los Angeles Kings vs. (6) San Jose Sharks
Another Western Conference series, another divisional match-up. The Kings showed what won them the Stanley Cup against the Blues in the first round: a combination of great defense and outstanding goaltending. Combined with timely scoring, it makes for a very successful playoff recipe. Jonathan Quick kept the defending champs in the series early, making huge saves. He stepped up his game from the regular season where some people were questioning the contract the Kings gave him. The Sharks are coming off of a great series against the Canucks, taking complete advantage of a team that was unable to score goals. It was a problem for L.A. in the first round, only scoring 12 times in six games against the Blues. San Jose has a Vezina-nominated goalie in Antti Niemi, which will make scoring a big issue for the Kings again. While it sounds obvious, the goalies will decide the series. I think Quick outplays Niemi, and the Kings return to the Western Conference Finals. The series goes seven games since San Jose doesn't seem to lose at home.
Los Angeles wins the series 4-3.
Well, there are my picks for the semifinals. I hope that I have a better percentage than the first round. If not, there's always another round.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Now, I'm writing this with a heavy heart after my Toronto Maple Leafs blew Game 7 last night. It'll take some time to recover, but I've accepted the fact now. It was a much better result than I had anticipated going into the series.
Anyways, let's get on to the teams that are still actually playing hockey at this point. Conference Semifinals time!
Eastern Conference
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (7) Ottawa Senators
The media is going to have a field day with this series. Having Matt Cooke play against the Ottawa Senators mere months after slicing Erik Karlsson's Achilles. While that will give people something to talk about, the action on the ice could be even better. Pittsburgh won all three games played in the regular season, but they were all close games. The first round series exposed a problem for the Penguins in net. Marc-Andre Fleury started to play like did in last year's defeat against the Philadelphia Flyers, so much so that Tomas Vokoun has taken over the starting goalie spot - at least for Game 1. On the opposite side of the ice, Craig Anderson was brilliant against Montreal. He has been one of the league's most consistent goaltenders. How much can a hot goalie mean to a playoff series? Jaroslav Halak stole a series from the Penguins two years ago. Will it happen again this year? I don't think so. Crosby and Malkin are playing exceptionally, the Penguins have more depth, and Vokoun just has to be steady. The Pesky Sens have had a fine season, but it ends here.
Pittsburgh wins the series 4-2.
(4) Boston Bruins vs. (6) New York Rangers
This series hurts a little, knowing how close the Leafs were to being in this spot. Anyways, during that series, the Bruins showed two teams: one which was physical, fast, and intimidating and another that was slow, old, and had problems scoring. Boston will need production from all lines. At the end of the first round series, Patrice Bergeron and his line showed some life. Moving Jagr up to join Bergeron and Brad Marchand added a needed offensive spark to the team, giving them a second offensive threat. They'll need every bit of it to beat the Rangers and Vezina-nominated Henrik Lundqvist. It's hard to overestimate his worth to the Rangers in the first round, considering there were four games New York scored a goal or less. In order to beat Boston, the Rangers will need a much better effort from their offense. They showed some offensive spark in Game 7, shutting out Washington 5-0. No matter how good Lundqvist plays, it's hard to see the Rangers scoring enough goals on Tuukka Rask and the Bruins defense. It'll be a close, low-scoring series, but Boston takes it.
Boston wins the series 4-3.
Western Conference
(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings
Even though Chicago made quick work of the Minnesota Wild, two of the five games went in to overtime. The series could've been drastically different. Do I think the Blackhawks still would've won the series? Yes, they have far too much talent. Detroit presents an interesting challenge. The long-time top dog in the Central Division, the Red Wings only won one game in regulation during the first round. They showed some dominance over the Ducks last round, but allowed Anaheim to get back into games too often. Chicago will be able to take advantage of that as well, making it hard on the Red Wings to get any form of separation. During the season, Chicago won all four match-ups against Detroit, but three were in the shootout. Again, another indication of a close series, which I think it will be. Eventually Chicago takes the series and top dog spot in the Central, but Detroit will give them everything they've got.
Chicago wins the series 4-2.
(5) Los Angeles Kings vs. (6) San Jose Sharks
Another Western Conference series, another divisional match-up. The Kings showed what won them the Stanley Cup against the Blues in the first round: a combination of great defense and outstanding goaltending. Combined with timely scoring, it makes for a very successful playoff recipe. Jonathan Quick kept the defending champs in the series early, making huge saves. He stepped up his game from the regular season where some people were questioning the contract the Kings gave him. The Sharks are coming off of a great series against the Canucks, taking complete advantage of a team that was unable to score goals. It was a problem for L.A. in the first round, only scoring 12 times in six games against the Blues. San Jose has a Vezina-nominated goalie in Antti Niemi, which will make scoring a big issue for the Kings again. While it sounds obvious, the goalies will decide the series. I think Quick outplays Niemi, and the Kings return to the Western Conference Finals. The series goes seven games since San Jose doesn't seem to lose at home.
Los Angeles wins the series 4-3.
Well, there are my picks for the semifinals. I hope that I have a better percentage than the first round. If not, there's always another round.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Why John Tavares Should Win the NHL's Hart Trophy
The NHL released the nominees for the Hart Memorial Trophy, given each season to the "player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team", this past Friday. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin - two former winners of the award - were both nominated this year. The third player? Fourth year forward and New York Islanders alternate captain John Tavares. While the easy choice is to give the award to Crosby or Ovechkin, the right choice is Tavares.
It's very easy to make a case for either Crosby or Ovechkin, and both are deserving candidates. When Crosby had his jaw broken by a Brooks Orpik slapshot at the end of March, he led the league with 56 points. After missing the rest of the season, he still finished tied for third in the league. While those were impressive numbers, it helped negate his campaign for the Hart. With Crosby out of the lineup for April, the Penguins won eight of their final 12 games. His absence showed the depth Pittsburgh has in their organization. So, while he is arguably the best player in the world and valuable to his team, he isn't the MOST valuable.
A similar case can be made for Ovechkin, except he has a stronger claim for the Hart. Washington was floundering during the first half of the lockout-shortened season. The same could be said for Ovechkin, who many thought he wasn't the same player that won two previous Hart trophies. Then, he caught fire and quickly closed the gap in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy, awarded to the player with the most goals in the league. As he closed that gap, the Capitals closed the gap on the Winnipeg Jets for the division crown. Both eventually overtaking the leader, with Ovechkin leading the league in goals (32 - the only player in the league to reach 30 goals) and the Capitals winning the Southeast Division title.
So, if I make a case like that for Ovechkin, how can I say that Tavares deserves the Hart?
To start, most preseason predictions found the Islanders in the bottom third of the NHL. There were questions whether they could compete with the rest of the powers in the Atlantic Division. John Tavares made the team relevant this season, leading to their first playoff appearance in six years.
In terms of numbers, the Mississauga-native put some up. Tavares lit the lamp 28 times this season. During his three 82 game seasons, he scored 24, 29, and 31 respectively. While he only had 19 assists this year, he made his line mates better. He assisted on 8 of Matt Moulson's 15 goals. That's not counting all of the goals that Tavares scored assisted by Moulson or other winger Brad Boyes. Taking his offense off of the Islanders would mean they miss the playoffs. Not taking away anything from Moulson or Boyes, but they wouldn't have come close to their numbers without Tavares either setting them up for finishing off their pass.
Now, you might make a similar argument about Ovechkin. But, he has legitimate help on the team. With Mike Riberio, Nicklas Backstrom, and Mike Green to name a few, the Capitals can still make the playoffs with the roster they have. The Islanders would be in the bottom five without Tavares.
So, when the 2013 NHL Awards take place, John Tavares deserves the Hart Trophy. Whether he wins it or not, that's another matter all together.
 |
| John Tavares (Photo from lastwordonsports.com) |
A similar case can be made for Ovechkin, except he has a stronger claim for the Hart. Washington was floundering during the first half of the lockout-shortened season. The same could be said for Ovechkin, who many thought he wasn't the same player that won two previous Hart trophies. Then, he caught fire and quickly closed the gap in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy, awarded to the player with the most goals in the league. As he closed that gap, the Capitals closed the gap on the Winnipeg Jets for the division crown. Both eventually overtaking the leader, with Ovechkin leading the league in goals (32 - the only player in the league to reach 30 goals) and the Capitals winning the Southeast Division title.
So, if I make a case like that for Ovechkin, how can I say that Tavares deserves the Hart?
To start, most preseason predictions found the Islanders in the bottom third of the NHL. There were questions whether they could compete with the rest of the powers in the Atlantic Division. John Tavares made the team relevant this season, leading to their first playoff appearance in six years.
In terms of numbers, the Mississauga-native put some up. Tavares lit the lamp 28 times this season. During his three 82 game seasons, he scored 24, 29, and 31 respectively. While he only had 19 assists this year, he made his line mates better. He assisted on 8 of Matt Moulson's 15 goals. That's not counting all of the goals that Tavares scored assisted by Moulson or other winger Brad Boyes. Taking his offense off of the Islanders would mean they miss the playoffs. Not taking away anything from Moulson or Boyes, but they wouldn't have come close to their numbers without Tavares either setting them up for finishing off their pass.
Now, you might make a similar argument about Ovechkin. But, he has legitimate help on the team. With Mike Riberio, Nicklas Backstrom, and Mike Green to name a few, the Capitals can still make the playoffs with the roster they have. The Islanders would be in the bottom five without Tavares.
So, when the 2013 NHL Awards take place, John Tavares deserves the Hart Trophy. Whether he wins it or not, that's another matter all together.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
2013 NBA Playoffs - Conference Semis
We are now into the second round of the NBA Playoffs. And since I did pretty well with predictions for the opening round, I decided to do it again.
In the Conference Quarterfinals, I picked seven of the eight winners, three of which were in the right amount of games (Miami, Indiana, Chicago). So, Stephen Curry led the Warriors to the Round of 8, the Clippers imploded in Game 6, and Westbrook is riding the bench with an injury. Let's jump back into some predictions.
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies
The Thunder certainly survived a scare from the feisty Houston Rockets. How much can be credited to the loss of Russell Westbrook? Well, he certainly takes a lot of pressure off Durant offensively. With Westbrook in the line-up, it makes it so much harder for the defense to be able to double team Durant. Now, the Grizzlies were able to dismantle the Clippers with the physical combination of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Lob City just didn't have anything to match up with the two powerhouses down low, especially with Blake Griffin being hampered by an ankle injury. It'll be an interesting match up down low, since the Thunder can counter Z-Bo and Gasol with Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka. One major concern for the Grizzlies is where the offense will come from if OKC can shut down their frontcourt? This is a really close match up for me. When it comes to that, it's hard to go against the best player in the series: Kevin "Iceberg Slim" Durant. (I take no credit for that nickname. That's all Jalen Rose.)
Oklahoma City wins the series in 7.
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Golden State Warriors
Now this is a surprise, especially for me. I had the Nuggets being all over the Warriors in the previous series. When David Lee left, I thought it was wrapped up. Well, Stephen Curry came to Golden State's rescue, carrying them to the Western Conference Semifinals. Their reward for taking down the Nuggets? A date with the well-rested San Antonio Spurs. It will be interesting to see how the Warriors will be able to respond to Duncan's presence. One of history's best power forwards, Duncan averaged just 32 minutes a game against the Lakers. So, a healthy and energized Duncan, healthy Parker, healthy Ginobli, and a bench that will do anything to win? I think that'll be too much for Golden State to overcome, especially without Lee - who averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in the regular season. Curry made the league take notice, and will probably steal a game or two based on his ability to get his shot off. However, experience wins out in this one.
San Antonio wins the series in 6.
Eastern Conference
(1) Miami Heat vs. (5) Chicago Bulls
There is a whole lot of interesting storylines that come out of this series. LeBron James was just named the NBA MVP, giving him his fourth in five seasons. Earlier in the season, the Bulls ended the Heat's 27-game winning streak. In that game, James complained about overly-aggressive and violent fouls. Oh, and there are all the rumours of Derrick Rose somehow coming back in this series to challenge the NBA's defending champ. The Bulls are still fighting injuries - who knows how healthy Joakim Noah is at this point. The teams split the season series, with each winning in their opponent's gym. Plus, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau has seemingly found a defense that works against this Heat team. All that being said, the Heat still have the three best players in the series. The Bulls will put up a fight, but the Heat will make it to their third straight Eastern Conference Finals.
Miami wins the series in 6.
(2) New York Knicks vs. (3) Indiana Pacers
Was the Celtics offense that bad, or were the Knicks that good? I found myself asking that question as I watched some horrendous basketball during that opening series. There were times the Knicks looked like they could challenge the Heat for the Eastern Conference title. There were other times it looked like both the Knicks and the Celtics forgot how to play basketball. The Knicks' key to the series isn't Carmelo Anthony since everyone knows he'll get his points. It'll come down to the play of J.R. Smith. When he is concentrating on basketball and not all of the after the whistle action, the Knicks should be fine. The Pacers won't be an easy out though. They have tough team defense, anchored by Roy Hibbert down the middle. For the Pacers to win, they'll need at least four strong games from Paul George. He might have to go shot for shot with Anthony, for example. If that's the case, the Pacers are in trouble. Again, it's hard to go against the best player in the series. Especially when this best player led the league in scoring.
New York wins the series in 6.
Well, there you have it. I'll be back with some predictions for the Conference Finals. Enjoy the playoff basketball. Hopefully this round will be much more exciting than the first. With these match-ups in place, that shouldn't be a problem.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do.
In the Conference Quarterfinals, I picked seven of the eight winners, three of which were in the right amount of games (Miami, Indiana, Chicago). So, Stephen Curry led the Warriors to the Round of 8, the Clippers imploded in Game 6, and Westbrook is riding the bench with an injury. Let's jump back into some predictions.
 |
| Photo credit: The Bleacher Report |
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies
The Thunder certainly survived a scare from the feisty Houston Rockets. How much can be credited to the loss of Russell Westbrook? Well, he certainly takes a lot of pressure off Durant offensively. With Westbrook in the line-up, it makes it so much harder for the defense to be able to double team Durant. Now, the Grizzlies were able to dismantle the Clippers with the physical combination of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Lob City just didn't have anything to match up with the two powerhouses down low, especially with Blake Griffin being hampered by an ankle injury. It'll be an interesting match up down low, since the Thunder can counter Z-Bo and Gasol with Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka. One major concern for the Grizzlies is where the offense will come from if OKC can shut down their frontcourt? This is a really close match up for me. When it comes to that, it's hard to go against the best player in the series: Kevin "Iceberg Slim" Durant. (I take no credit for that nickname. That's all Jalen Rose.)
Oklahoma City wins the series in 7.
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Golden State Warriors
Now this is a surprise, especially for me. I had the Nuggets being all over the Warriors in the previous series. When David Lee left, I thought it was wrapped up. Well, Stephen Curry came to Golden State's rescue, carrying them to the Western Conference Semifinals. Their reward for taking down the Nuggets? A date with the well-rested San Antonio Spurs. It will be interesting to see how the Warriors will be able to respond to Duncan's presence. One of history's best power forwards, Duncan averaged just 32 minutes a game against the Lakers. So, a healthy and energized Duncan, healthy Parker, healthy Ginobli, and a bench that will do anything to win? I think that'll be too much for Golden State to overcome, especially without Lee - who averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in the regular season. Curry made the league take notice, and will probably steal a game or two based on his ability to get his shot off. However, experience wins out in this one.
San Antonio wins the series in 6.
Eastern Conference
(1) Miami Heat vs. (5) Chicago Bulls
There is a whole lot of interesting storylines that come out of this series. LeBron James was just named the NBA MVP, giving him his fourth in five seasons. Earlier in the season, the Bulls ended the Heat's 27-game winning streak. In that game, James complained about overly-aggressive and violent fouls. Oh, and there are all the rumours of Derrick Rose somehow coming back in this series to challenge the NBA's defending champ. The Bulls are still fighting injuries - who knows how healthy Joakim Noah is at this point. The teams split the season series, with each winning in their opponent's gym. Plus, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau has seemingly found a defense that works against this Heat team. All that being said, the Heat still have the three best players in the series. The Bulls will put up a fight, but the Heat will make it to their third straight Eastern Conference Finals.
Miami wins the series in 6.
(2) New York Knicks vs. (3) Indiana Pacers
Was the Celtics offense that bad, or were the Knicks that good? I found myself asking that question as I watched some horrendous basketball during that opening series. There were times the Knicks looked like they could challenge the Heat for the Eastern Conference title. There were other times it looked like both the Knicks and the Celtics forgot how to play basketball. The Knicks' key to the series isn't Carmelo Anthony since everyone knows he'll get his points. It'll come down to the play of J.R. Smith. When he is concentrating on basketball and not all of the after the whistle action, the Knicks should be fine. The Pacers won't be an easy out though. They have tough team defense, anchored by Roy Hibbert down the middle. For the Pacers to win, they'll need at least four strong games from Paul George. He might have to go shot for shot with Anthony, for example. If that's the case, the Pacers are in trouble. Again, it's hard to go against the best player in the series. Especially when this best player led the league in scoring.
New York wins the series in 6.
Well, there you have it. I'll be back with some predictions for the Conference Finals. Enjoy the playoff basketball. Hopefully this round will be much more exciting than the first. With these match-ups in place, that shouldn't be a problem.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Brett's 2013 NHL Playoff Conference Quarterfinals Predictions
About two weeks ago, I wrote my predictions for the 2013 NBA Playoffs and - apart from Denver - so far, so good.
Now, the NHL regular season has wrapped up and the playoffs are upon us. The Toronto Maple Leafs broke a nine year playoff drought. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Detroit Red Wings continued their impressive run in the post-season, making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 22nd year in a row. And that's not even talking about the impressive seasons that the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguin, and Anaheim Ducks have completed. Who will win? Here's my take:
Eastern Conference
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (8) New York Islanders
The good news for the Penguins is Sidney Crosby has been practicing with the team, wearing a funny looking jaw protector. Crosby, who broke his jaw at the hands of a Brooks Orpik slapshot in a game against the Islanders, is still waiting to be cleared by doctors before returning to the team. Pittsburgh won the season series between the two teams, including four straight wins. However, I don't believe that will be the main factor in the Penguins winning the series. They have an excess in playoff experience, adding even more after acquiring Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow. While it will be nice to see Islanders star John Tavares in the playoffs, it won't be a long visit. The Penguins have a lot of expectations and a lot to prove after last year's debacle.
Pittsburgh wins series 4-1.
(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (7) Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators won their final game of the season to cement this match-up in the first round. Not only will this be a great series, but it guarantees a Canadian team in the second round. Anyways, on to the series: this is a close one. Being division rivals, these teams are very familiar with each other. They split the season series, and I see more of the same coming. The Senators received a boost with the unlikely return of reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson. The 22-year-old defenceman recently came back after a nasty Achilles injury suffered at thehands skate of Matt Cooke. However, they don't appear to be getting centre Jason Spezza back any time soon. When it comes down to it, I trust Canadiens goalie Carey Price in a seven game series more than Senators goalie Craig Anderson. Also, expect a double-OT game in this one.
Montreal wins series 4-3.
(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) New York Rangers
These two teams have met in the last two playoffs. Last year, they met in a seven game thriller in the second round. While the Rangers came out on top last year, I think the Capitals will get the job done this time around. Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin has been the hottest player in the second half of the season, storming past Steven Stamkos to lead the league with 32 goals. Plus, he's scored some fantastic goals against the Rangers in his playoff history. Now, New York won't just lie down for this series. They have arguably the best goalie in the league in Henrik Lundqvist, who was responsible for 24 of the 26 games the Rangers won this year. He'll steal them a couple of games, but the offense isn't there for New York, which was surprising after they acquired Rick Nash from the Blue Jackets in the offseason. Ovi and the Caps will use their firepower to get by a stiff test from the Rangers.
Washington wins series 4-2.
(4) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Toronto Maple Leafs
It seems fitting that the Leafs would play the Bruins in their first trip to the playoffs in nine years. It was just three and a half years ago that Toronto gave up two first round picks for winger Phil Kessel. Of course, those picks ended up being Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton, both of whom will play this season. This series will be a defining moment in Kessel's young career. In two series with the Bruins, Kessel was a point-per-game player in the playoffs. While he has been a very nice addition for the Leafs, he can't find his game against the Bruins. In his career against his former team, Kessel has nine points in 22 games. If Toronto has any hope of winning this series, Kessel will have to get back to his point-per-game level. However, even if that happens, it doesn't look good for the Leafs. Since the Kessel trade, Boston is 15-4-3 against the Leafs. The Bruins also won't be intimidated by the physical game Toronto likes to play with players like Zdeno Chara, Shawn Thornton, and Milan Lucic. Not to mention the offensive ability of Seguin, Patrice Bergeron, Jaromir Jagr, and others. As much as it pains me to say this, it will be a quick series for Boston. Toronto wins one at home, but that's it.
Boston wins series 4-1.
Western Conference
(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (8) Minnesota Wild
Many, including myself, believe that the Minnesota Wild won the 2012 offseason by signing both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to identical 13-year, $98 million deals. While some questioned the contracts, it was apparent they would help the team during the 2012-13 season. And it helped to some degree. For the first time in five seasons, Minnesota made the playoffs - barely. They needed all 48 games, but they edged the Blue Jackets. Their reward: drawing arguably the best team in the league in the first round. Chicago has been on fire this season, winning the President's Trophy this season. Led by their two young stars Patrick Kane (55 points) and Jonathan Toews (48 points), the Chicago offense was clicking all year. The Blackhawks also finally got some solid goaltending this year from Ray Emery and Corey Crawford. Chicago is just too good for the Wild.
Chicago wins series 4-0.
(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings
It's not strange to see a first round series between the Ducks and the Red Wings. However, it's not too often that Detroit is the seven seed in the series. The Ducks have been strong all season after missing the playoffs last year. It's just so hard to go against Detroit, especially with the talent that takes the ice night-in and night-out. They have seemed to been getting their game back together later in the season. It was a big adjustment for the Wings this year, losing former captain Niklas Lidstrom to retirement. This will be another close series, and my gut is telling me to go with history. It doesn't hurt that history has players like Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Jimmy Howard.
Detroit wins series 4-3.
(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) San Jose Sharks
I think this series wil be closer than most people expect. San Jose has been one of the best teams at home this season, losing only twice in regulation. They still have most of the veteran core of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dan Boyle. Logan Couture will have to have a great series to knock off the Northwest Division Champions. Speaking of the Canucks, the season has been followed by the Luongo vs. Schneider storyline. With Schneider looking to be the starter heading into the playoffs, it will be interesting to see if he can rebound after last year's shaky performance against the Kings. Offensively, Vancouver has the spark and talent with the Sedin twins, Ryan Kesler, and even Alex Burrows. It just didn't seem to click this season, as the team only scored 122 goals. If they are able to rebound, the Canucks win the series. Too bad for San Jose that Game 7 will be on the road.
Vancouver wins series 4-3.
(4) St. Louis Blues vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings
In another rematch of last year's Conference Semifinals, the Blues host the defending Stanley Cup Champions. It's been an up and down season for both teams. For a while, Brian Elliott couldn't get things done in net. Heading into the playoffs, he's the NHL's second star for the month of April. Defense hasn't been a problem for the Blues, but scoring has been an issue: only three players had more than 10 goals this season. As for the Kings, they swept the Blues last year during their march through the Western Conference. Much of their team remains unchanged from last year, but Jonathan Quick hasn't shown the second gear he demonstrated last year. Los Angeles seemingly found their game again at the end of the year. They'll be able to take care of Blues again, except less dominant.
Los Angeles wins series 4-2.
Well, those are my predictions for the first round of the playoffs. Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events.
Now, the NHL regular season has wrapped up and the playoffs are upon us. The Toronto Maple Leafs broke a nine year playoff drought. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Detroit Red Wings continued their impressive run in the post-season, making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 22nd year in a row. And that's not even talking about the impressive seasons that the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguin, and Anaheim Ducks have completed. Who will win? Here's my take:
Eastern Conference
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (8) New York Islanders
The good news for the Penguins is Sidney Crosby has been practicing with the team, wearing a funny looking jaw protector. Crosby, who broke his jaw at the hands of a Brooks Orpik slapshot in a game against the Islanders, is still waiting to be cleared by doctors before returning to the team. Pittsburgh won the season series between the two teams, including four straight wins. However, I don't believe that will be the main factor in the Penguins winning the series. They have an excess in playoff experience, adding even more after acquiring Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow. While it will be nice to see Islanders star John Tavares in the playoffs, it won't be a long visit. The Penguins have a lot of expectations and a lot to prove after last year's debacle.
Pittsburgh wins series 4-1.
(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (7) Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators won their final game of the season to cement this match-up in the first round. Not only will this be a great series, but it guarantees a Canadian team in the second round. Anyways, on to the series: this is a close one. Being division rivals, these teams are very familiar with each other. They split the season series, and I see more of the same coming. The Senators received a boost with the unlikely return of reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson. The 22-year-old defenceman recently came back after a nasty Achilles injury suffered at the
Montreal wins series 4-3.
(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) New York Rangers
These two teams have met in the last two playoffs. Last year, they met in a seven game thriller in the second round. While the Rangers came out on top last year, I think the Capitals will get the job done this time around. Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin has been the hottest player in the second half of the season, storming past Steven Stamkos to lead the league with 32 goals. Plus, he's scored some fantastic goals against the Rangers in his playoff history. Now, New York won't just lie down for this series. They have arguably the best goalie in the league in Henrik Lundqvist, who was responsible for 24 of the 26 games the Rangers won this year. He'll steal them a couple of games, but the offense isn't there for New York, which was surprising after they acquired Rick Nash from the Blue Jackets in the offseason. Ovi and the Caps will use their firepower to get by a stiff test from the Rangers.
Washington wins series 4-2.
(4) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Toronto Maple Leafs
It seems fitting that the Leafs would play the Bruins in their first trip to the playoffs in nine years. It was just three and a half years ago that Toronto gave up two first round picks for winger Phil Kessel. Of course, those picks ended up being Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton, both of whom will play this season. This series will be a defining moment in Kessel's young career. In two series with the Bruins, Kessel was a point-per-game player in the playoffs. While he has been a very nice addition for the Leafs, he can't find his game against the Bruins. In his career against his former team, Kessel has nine points in 22 games. If Toronto has any hope of winning this series, Kessel will have to get back to his point-per-game level. However, even if that happens, it doesn't look good for the Leafs. Since the Kessel trade, Boston is 15-4-3 against the Leafs. The Bruins also won't be intimidated by the physical game Toronto likes to play with players like Zdeno Chara, Shawn Thornton, and Milan Lucic. Not to mention the offensive ability of Seguin, Patrice Bergeron, Jaromir Jagr, and others. As much as it pains me to say this, it will be a quick series for Boston. Toronto wins one at home, but that's it.
Boston wins series 4-1.
(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (8) Minnesota Wild
Many, including myself, believe that the Minnesota Wild won the 2012 offseason by signing both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to identical 13-year, $98 million deals. While some questioned the contracts, it was apparent they would help the team during the 2012-13 season. And it helped to some degree. For the first time in five seasons, Minnesota made the playoffs - barely. They needed all 48 games, but they edged the Blue Jackets. Their reward: drawing arguably the best team in the league in the first round. Chicago has been on fire this season, winning the President's Trophy this season. Led by their two young stars Patrick Kane (55 points) and Jonathan Toews (48 points), the Chicago offense was clicking all year. The Blackhawks also finally got some solid goaltending this year from Ray Emery and Corey Crawford. Chicago is just too good for the Wild.
Chicago wins series 4-0.
(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings
It's not strange to see a first round series between the Ducks and the Red Wings. However, it's not too often that Detroit is the seven seed in the series. The Ducks have been strong all season after missing the playoffs last year. It's just so hard to go against Detroit, especially with the talent that takes the ice night-in and night-out. They have seemed to been getting their game back together later in the season. It was a big adjustment for the Wings this year, losing former captain Niklas Lidstrom to retirement. This will be another close series, and my gut is telling me to go with history. It doesn't hurt that history has players like Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Jimmy Howard.
Detroit wins series 4-3.
(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) San Jose Sharks
I think this series wil be closer than most people expect. San Jose has been one of the best teams at home this season, losing only twice in regulation. They still have most of the veteran core of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dan Boyle. Logan Couture will have to have a great series to knock off the Northwest Division Champions. Speaking of the Canucks, the season has been followed by the Luongo vs. Schneider storyline. With Schneider looking to be the starter heading into the playoffs, it will be interesting to see if he can rebound after last year's shaky performance against the Kings. Offensively, Vancouver has the spark and talent with the Sedin twins, Ryan Kesler, and even Alex Burrows. It just didn't seem to click this season, as the team only scored 122 goals. If they are able to rebound, the Canucks win the series. Too bad for San Jose that Game 7 will be on the road.
Vancouver wins series 4-3.
(4) St. Louis Blues vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings
In another rematch of last year's Conference Semifinals, the Blues host the defending Stanley Cup Champions. It's been an up and down season for both teams. For a while, Brian Elliott couldn't get things done in net. Heading into the playoffs, he's the NHL's second star for the month of April. Defense hasn't been a problem for the Blues, but scoring has been an issue: only three players had more than 10 goals this season. As for the Kings, they swept the Blues last year during their march through the Western Conference. Much of their team remains unchanged from last year, but Jonathan Quick hasn't shown the second gear he demonstrated last year. Los Angeles seemingly found their game again at the end of the year. They'll be able to take care of Blues again, except less dominant.
Los Angeles wins series 4-2.
Well, those are my predictions for the first round of the playoffs. Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
An Event 9 Years in the Making
I had to let this sink in for a while because I almost didn't believe it. Part of me had to wait until that magnificent little "x" appeared beside their name on the standings page of NHL.com. It took nine years, but it finally happened again. The Maple Leafs are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
 |
| R.I.P. Playoff Drought (2004-2013) |
I'll add here that I am a Leafs fan. My dad told me when he moved to Canada from Aberdeen, Scotland, my grandfather had a choice of hockey teams between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. They went with the blue and white, and it's been in my family ever since.
Now, I thought of doing a post about all the things that were different about my life and hockey in 2004. That would be the easy way out, not to mention done to death. Granted, I was in Grade 10 the last time the Leafs qualified for the postseason. After the Flyers eliminated the Buds in Game 6 the Conference Semi-Finals, I told my 15-year-old self that there's always next year.
But the lockout followed after after my proclamation. Then, the losing kept happening. I kept waiting for things to turn around. Draft picks were made - some were traded away. GMs were brought in with the promise of bringing a Stanley Cup contender to the city and not wanting to compromise the future to sneak into an eighth place spot. And fans of other teams relished in the fact that the Leafs again missed the playoffs, adding to the longest-running Stanley Cup drought in the NHL. It got worse when teams like Chicago and Boston won their latest Cups, ending their long droughts.
Then, a magical thing happened. There was a second lockout! This led to the shortened season we are in now and cut out the worst part of most Toronto seasons: the second half. And now we're in the playoffs thanks to a core put together by the recently-fired Brian Burke. Led by players like Joffrey Lupul, an emerging Nazem Kadri, and netminder James Reimer, the city is buzzing with playoff aspirations.
 |
| Photo credit: theleafsnation.com |
Reimer will be the key to the series against any team the Leafs draw in the first round, whether it be Montreal (Yes please!) or Boston (Dear God, no!). The team has been drastically shot all year, especially in games down the stretch. Although most of the shots have been from non-scoring areas, it just takes one to trickle in or take an awkward bounce off of a skate to destroy the confidence of a goalie. The pressure will already be high on the Manitoba-native as he will have two withstand nine years of pent-up playoff pressure.
Now, the fans of other teams can't let us Leafs fans live in the moment. It's not unusual to get bombarded with statements that we won't make it out of the first round, it's only a shortened season, or we shouldn't be celebrating something that 53% of teams in the league do. No matter how many things you say, no one can take away the fact that the Leafs made the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sure, they might get knocked out in the first round, but the Leafs were there.
My message to them: let us be. Do some of us have high expectations? Sure. It's really hard to look at the standings and the schedule and think, "Hey, that second seed isn't out of the question." But is it realistic? Of course not. Just let us be happy with our drought being over. Small victories. And, if you're right about us not going far, you won't hear from us again until the offseason when the team gets attached in rumours to every player out there. You'll also get to keep saying that we haven't made the playoffs in a full 82-game season since 2004.
Until then, please let us have our moment. We've let you have yours for nine years.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter page for updates on when new articles will be posted.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
2013 NBA Playoff Predictions
It's a very exciting time for sports: baseball is back, the NFL Draft is almost upon us, and both the NBA and NHL are gearing up for the playoffs.
With the quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy beginning this Saturday, I'm going to take a look at all eight of the first round series in The Association (high seed listed first).
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (60-22) vs. Houston Rockets (45-37)
This will be an extremely entertaining series to watch. Not only does it have the built-in James Harden vs. his old team storyline, but the two teams like to get up and down the court. The Rockets and Thunder were #2 and #3 respectively in points per game. Houston also averaged the most possessions per game in the league. The Thunder won the regular season series 2-1 and I don't see this playoff series being any different. OKC put up 363 points in three games against the Rockets. Even with the loss of Harden, the Thunder are still a deep team with Kevin Martin coming off the bench. Plus, having two of the top-10 players in the league with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook never hurts.
Oklahoma City wins the series 4-1.
San Antonio Spurs (58-24) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (45-37)
Many people thought this could be a potential Western Conference Final. Now, these two storied franchies are meeting in the first round of the playoffs. If Kobe Bryant didn't recently go down with an ankle injury, I'd feel better about the match-up for the Lakers. However, he's on the shelf with an Achilles injury. Add that to the fact that Manu Ginobli just returned for the Spurs, it's hard to imagine the Lakers pulling an upset. And don't forget: Steve Nash isn't the most capable defender in the league. At 39, he'll be in charge of keeping Tony Parker in check. The only bright spot for the Lakers is that Dwight Howard carried the Orlando Magic to the 2009 Finals on his now surgically-repaired back. If he can reclaim that form, the Lake-show can push the Spurs. That being said, Tim Duncan and the Spurs have one last run in them.
San Antonio wins the series 4-2.
Denver Nuggets (57-25) vs. Golden State Warriors (47-35)
The Nuggets are another team that like to run, leading the NBA in points per game and being a very close second to the Rockets in possessions per game. They'll play even faster without injured forward Danio Gallinari. Ty Lawson loves to push the team in transition. My only concern with Denver is the health of "The Manimal" Kenneth Faried. He should rebound quickly from his sprained ankle. The case for Golden State comes from the sharpshooting of Stephen Curry, who just set the record for most made 3-pointers in a season. Golden State will go as far as Curry will take them, but the Nuggets have too much depth. If the Nuggets get past Golden State, expect them to make a long run through the rest of the playoffs -- possibly to the NBA Finals?
Denver wins the series 4-1.
Los Angeles Clippers (56-26) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (56-26)
It'll be a strange sight to see the Clippers have a home playoff game before the Lakers do, especially this year. And I know it's a disservice to this Clippers team by mentioning the Lakers right away. It just comes with the territory. Anyways, I doubt Lob City wanted to see this Memphis team in the playoffs again after last year. L.A. won the series 4-3, but it could've been very different. The Grizzlies gave up a 27-point lead in Game 1 and did not have the strongest Game 7. As for this year, Memphis is 27-10 after trading Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors in January. As much as I think Blake Griffin's game has improved, I see Memphis taking this series. However, it's really hard to pick against Chris Paul...
Memphis wins the series 4-3.
Eastern Conference
Miami Heat (66-16) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (38-44)
Really? Heat will romp all over the Bucks. Except a really quick series to give LeBron and Co. some time off for the rest of their run in the playoffs. Milwaukee will wish that the league went back to the best-of-five this season.
Miami wins the series 4-0.
New York Knicks (54-28) vs. Boston Celtics (41-40)
Two more teams that met in last year's playoffs. The Celtics knocked out the Knicks last year, and I think this year will be another tight series. Since Rajon Rondo tore his ACL, Paul Pierce has put this Celtics team on his back. It's also hard to find a player more intense than Kevin Garnett, who showed earlier this season he could get under the skin of New York superstar and NBA scoring champion Carmelo Anthony. It will be up to Melo to show he can fight back with his play on the court. If the Celtics can get Anthony off his game, the bulk of the scoring will have to come from *gulp* J.R. Smith. I think this will be a very close series as Boston isn't ready to relinquish their hopes of a playoff run. However, the Knicks will knock the veteran team out of the playoffs.
New York wins the series 4-3.
Indiana Pacers (49-32) vs. Atlanta Hawks (44-38)
While Josh Smith may be playing for a contract, Paul George has shown he is capable of carrying a team. Now, will he make "The Leap" in the playoffs? He has a nice opponent in an Atlanta team that hasn't shown a lot of life coming down the stretch, as they are 4-6 in their last 10 games. It will still be a close series. The teams split the season series, so that doesn't help clear up this picture. In the long run, I think the Pacers will be able to clog up the middle with Roy Hibbert and ride George to a close series win.
Indiana wins the series 4-2.
Brooklyn Nets (49-33) vs. Chicago Bulls (45-37)
The Nets face a tough challenge here against Chicago. The Bulls have been crippled by injuries all season, losing a total of 180 games due to injury this year. However, they are getting (somewhat) healthy at the right time. Joakim Noah is back, but will see limited minutes to start. Will the Nets be able to take advantage of that? They should have a favourable match-up at the point guard spot with Deron Williams. He'll need to be at his best to beat this tough, defensively-sound Bulls team. This one will probably be a toss up, but Chicago has been resilient this season.
Chicago wins series 4-3.
Overall
Now, since the NBA has a weird schedule in the playoffs, it's hard to do round-by-round predictions. So, I'll give the remainder of my predictions here. I'll start off with I think may be the easiest pick of them all. The Miami Heat will win the Eastern Conference. Vegas has you losing money if you place a bet on the Heat winning the conference. That's not a good sign for the remaining teams.
As for the Western Conference, I think it'll be an Oklahoma City/Denver Conference Finals. This will be an exciting series, but OKC will prove to be too much for the Nuggets. It will be a close series though, probably going the distance.
So that brings us to a rematch of last year's NBA Finals. As much as I love the Durant-Westbrook combo in Oklahoma City, it's hard to beat the best player in the world. While Durant - or "Iceberg Slim" as Jalen Rose calls him - may be the best pure scorer in the game, LeBron is the best overall. After this season, it'll be two rings for The King. It's very hard seeing any team stopping the runaway freight train that is the Miami Hat.
So, there you have it. If you're going to watch any playoff basketball, lean towards the Western Conference. Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Do you think I'm taking the easy way out having Heat win it all again? Let us know in the comment section below.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter page for updates on when new articles will be posted.
With the quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy beginning this Saturday, I'm going to take a look at all eight of the first round series in The Association (high seed listed first).
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (60-22) vs. Houston Rockets (45-37)
This will be an extremely entertaining series to watch. Not only does it have the built-in James Harden vs. his old team storyline, but the two teams like to get up and down the court. The Rockets and Thunder were #2 and #3 respectively in points per game. Houston also averaged the most possessions per game in the league. The Thunder won the regular season series 2-1 and I don't see this playoff series being any different. OKC put up 363 points in three games against the Rockets. Even with the loss of Harden, the Thunder are still a deep team with Kevin Martin coming off the bench. Plus, having two of the top-10 players in the league with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook never hurts.
Oklahoma City wins the series 4-1.
San Antonio Spurs (58-24) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (45-37)
Many people thought this could be a potential Western Conference Final. Now, these two storied franchies are meeting in the first round of the playoffs. If Kobe Bryant didn't recently go down with an ankle injury, I'd feel better about the match-up for the Lakers. However, he's on the shelf with an Achilles injury. Add that to the fact that Manu Ginobli just returned for the Spurs, it's hard to imagine the Lakers pulling an upset. And don't forget: Steve Nash isn't the most capable defender in the league. At 39, he'll be in charge of keeping Tony Parker in check. The only bright spot for the Lakers is that Dwight Howard carried the Orlando Magic to the 2009 Finals on his now surgically-repaired back. If he can reclaim that form, the Lake-show can push the Spurs. That being said, Tim Duncan and the Spurs have one last run in them.
San Antonio wins the series 4-2.
Denver Nuggets (57-25) vs. Golden State Warriors (47-35)
The Nuggets are another team that like to run, leading the NBA in points per game and being a very close second to the Rockets in possessions per game. They'll play even faster without injured forward Danio Gallinari. Ty Lawson loves to push the team in transition. My only concern with Denver is the health of "The Manimal" Kenneth Faried. He should rebound quickly from his sprained ankle. The case for Golden State comes from the sharpshooting of Stephen Curry, who just set the record for most made 3-pointers in a season. Golden State will go as far as Curry will take them, but the Nuggets have too much depth. If the Nuggets get past Golden State, expect them to make a long run through the rest of the playoffs -- possibly to the NBA Finals?
Denver wins the series 4-1.
Los Angeles Clippers (56-26) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (56-26)
It'll be a strange sight to see the Clippers have a home playoff game before the Lakers do, especially this year. And I know it's a disservice to this Clippers team by mentioning the Lakers right away. It just comes with the territory. Anyways, I doubt Lob City wanted to see this Memphis team in the playoffs again after last year. L.A. won the series 4-3, but it could've been very different. The Grizzlies gave up a 27-point lead in Game 1 and did not have the strongest Game 7. As for this year, Memphis is 27-10 after trading Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors in January. As much as I think Blake Griffin's game has improved, I see Memphis taking this series. However, it's really hard to pick against Chris Paul...
Memphis wins the series 4-3.
Eastern Conference
Miami Heat (66-16) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (38-44)
Really? Heat will romp all over the Bucks. Except a really quick series to give LeBron and Co. some time off for the rest of their run in the playoffs. Milwaukee will wish that the league went back to the best-of-five this season.
Miami wins the series 4-0.
New York Knicks (54-28) vs. Boston Celtics (41-40)
Two more teams that met in last year's playoffs. The Celtics knocked out the Knicks last year, and I think this year will be another tight series. Since Rajon Rondo tore his ACL, Paul Pierce has put this Celtics team on his back. It's also hard to find a player more intense than Kevin Garnett, who showed earlier this season he could get under the skin of New York superstar and NBA scoring champion Carmelo Anthony. It will be up to Melo to show he can fight back with his play on the court. If the Celtics can get Anthony off his game, the bulk of the scoring will have to come from *gulp* J.R. Smith. I think this will be a very close series as Boston isn't ready to relinquish their hopes of a playoff run. However, the Knicks will knock the veteran team out of the playoffs.
New York wins the series 4-3.
Indiana Pacers (49-32) vs. Atlanta Hawks (44-38)
While Josh Smith may be playing for a contract, Paul George has shown he is capable of carrying a team. Now, will he make "The Leap" in the playoffs? He has a nice opponent in an Atlanta team that hasn't shown a lot of life coming down the stretch, as they are 4-6 in their last 10 games. It will still be a close series. The teams split the season series, so that doesn't help clear up this picture. In the long run, I think the Pacers will be able to clog up the middle with Roy Hibbert and ride George to a close series win.
Indiana wins the series 4-2.
Brooklyn Nets (49-33) vs. Chicago Bulls (45-37)
The Nets face a tough challenge here against Chicago. The Bulls have been crippled by injuries all season, losing a total of 180 games due to injury this year. However, they are getting (somewhat) healthy at the right time. Joakim Noah is back, but will see limited minutes to start. Will the Nets be able to take advantage of that? They should have a favourable match-up at the point guard spot with Deron Williams. He'll need to be at his best to beat this tough, defensively-sound Bulls team. This one will probably be a toss up, but Chicago has been resilient this season.
Chicago wins series 4-3.
Overall
Now, since the NBA has a weird schedule in the playoffs, it's hard to do round-by-round predictions. So, I'll give the remainder of my predictions here. I'll start off with I think may be the easiest pick of them all. The Miami Heat will win the Eastern Conference. Vegas has you losing money if you place a bet on the Heat winning the conference. That's not a good sign for the remaining teams.
As for the Western Conference, I think it'll be an Oklahoma City/Denver Conference Finals. This will be an exciting series, but OKC will prove to be too much for the Nuggets. It will be a close series though, probably going the distance.
So that brings us to a rematch of last year's NBA Finals. As much as I love the Durant-Westbrook combo in Oklahoma City, it's hard to beat the best player in the world. While Durant - or "Iceberg Slim" as Jalen Rose calls him - may be the best pure scorer in the game, LeBron is the best overall. After this season, it'll be two rings for The King. It's very hard seeing any team stopping the runaway freight train that is the Miami Hat.
So, there you have it. If you're going to watch any playoff basketball, lean towards the Western Conference. Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Do you think I'm taking the easy way out having Heat win it all again? Let us know in the comment section below.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter page for updates on when new articles will be posted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)