NBA Playoffs: First Round Predictions

The NBA playoffs begin on Saturday with several marquee matchups: Don Nelson and his Warriors are squaring off with his old squad, the Mavericks; Vince Carter is going up against the team he practically built, the Toronto Raptors; and the Lakers enter into a rematch of last year’s thrilling series against Suns.

While the NBA playoffs are, indeed, considered much more predictable than the NHL; I have decided to measure my well-researched and somewhat opinionated predictions against those of a mindless 2001 Canadian quarter. I do, agreeably, take risks with a few of my picks, but I’m hoping that I can still come up on top against the heads or tails approach.

Note:the higher seed was always “heads” and the lower seed was always “tails.” The coin was flipped until one side achieved a total of four wins — each win counting as one symbolic and predictive win for the team it represented.

Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Orlando
This is a David and Goliath battle that David won’t win. The Pistons are simply too good and too experienced to not dominate the Orlando Magic.

A minor subplot might be the fact that Grant Hill is going up against his former team; you know, the one that he could actually put up 20 ppg for while also playing more than 70 games a season. However, this plot and story will end rather quickly as Orlando’s inexperience will shine through.

The Pistons were able to sweep the season series 4-0; and should do so in this series in an even more convincing manner. The Pistons are quite simply favored in nearly every position on the court, with the possible exception of youngster Dwight Howard. Howard will do his best He-man impersonation, but will be thoroughly harassed by Rasheed Wallace all series long. He’ll probably even be able to put up good numbers against Detroit, but it still doesn’t matter. They still won’t come close in this series.
Chad says: Detroit in 4.
Coin says: Detroit in 5.

(2) Cleveland vs. (7) Washington
In last year’s first round matchup, the Cavaliers were able to beat the Wizards in six games. That was with Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler.

This year, the Wizards are literally limping their way into the playoffs and will be literally limping out almost as fast. Antawn Jamison has to absolutely dominate if his team wants a chance at taking the series to the length it went last year.

LeBron James will be looking to build on his resume and the Cavaliers will be looking to do a bit more damage this year than they did in the 2006 playoffs, where they came up 18 points short in Game 7 of the Conference Semifinals against the Detroit Pistons.

This year, the Cavaliers will have lots of time to prepare for that second round and the Wizards will have lots of time to heal.
Chad says: Cleveland in 5.
Coin says: Cleveland in 6.

(3) Toronto vs. (6) New Jersey
The last time the Raptors made the playoffs, Vince Carter had knee pains that kept him out of their first round loss to the Pistons. This time, his knees are just fine, but he’s on the opposing bench looking to keep the Raptors out of the second round again.

Christ Bosh and the reconstructed Raptors have put together a remarkable season, putting together the most improved record and winning their division title under the guidance of Bryan Colangelo. The Raptors, however, received late-season scares with a season-ending injury to Jorge Garbajosa and appendix surgery for Andrea Bargnani. Bargnani, however, returned in the final game of the season, putting up 17 points in 27 minutes and declaring himself ready for the playoffs. The Raptors will be relying on the rookie to keep the pressure off of Bosh. They’ll need multiple scoring options if they are going to dismantle the Nets.

The Nets are led in scoring by Carter, but have Richard Jefferson and Jason Kidd providing experienced scoring options to help balance their attack. Carter, though, will be looking to be the main man most of the way as he makes it his personal mission to beat his former team. If Carter hogs the ball, the Nets will fall. If they spread the ball around, however, they have a good chance of taking the series. At least that’s what the coin thinks.
Chad says: Toronto in 6.
Coin says: New Jersey in 7.

(4) Miami vs. (5) Chicago
Miami might be the higher seed, but the Bulls have the home-court advantage.

Chicago will be looking for revenge after falling to the eventual champs in six games last year. This year, however, the Bulls find themselves much more ready for the task. The offseason signing of Ben Wallace was meant to help the Bulls beat Shaq and the Heat; and beat them they have. The Bulls have taken three of four games during the season, but one must remember that the playoffs is a completely different beast. Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, and Ben Gordon will have to provide much of the scoring punch for these Bulls; and they’ll have to figure out a way to stop Dwyane Wade, a threat that caused many problems in the series last year.

Wade, however, doesn’t seem ready to pose as many problems for the Bulls this time around. Coming off a serious shoulder injury, Wade has only been able to put up 14.6 ppg in the five games since his return. It’s hard, however, to measure the will of a champion; and these Heat are the reigning champions of the NBA. Don’t expect them to go down without a fight, but expect them to go down nonetheless.
Chad says: Chicago in 7.
Coin says: Chicago in 6.

Western Conference
(1) Dallas vs. (8) Golden State
The Mavericks have put up one of the greatest regular-season records in NBA history, winning 65 of their 82 games. They could have had 68, however, if they knew how to beat the Golden State Warriors.

The Mavericks are led by MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki and his experienced sidekicks: Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and Jerry Stackhouse. These (almost) same Mavericks have proven that they can dominate in the playoffs by sweeping Memphis, knocking down the Spurs in seven, and pushing through the Suns in six last year. They came up short against the Heat, however, when it mattered most. This year Cuban will be expecting even more, and more he will get.

More competition, that is.

If the Mavericks are the Superman of the Western Conference, then the Golden State Warriors can be labeled as Kryptonite.

The Warriors have won all three games against the Mavericks this season: a three-point victory in Dallas and two blowout wins at home (one coming while the Mavericks rested their starters). They also took three of four last against the Mavs last season, without the genius of Don Nelson behind the bench. If anybody knows how to solve Dallas, it is Nelson, the man who practically invented the Mavericks success. Baron Davis and Jason Richardson will be relied on heavily. Stephen Jackson, Monta Ellis, and Al Harrington will also need to step up, however, if the Warriors want a chance to pull off the first-round shocker. I think they will.
Chad says: Golden State in 6.
Coin says: Golden State in 6.

(2) Phoenix vs. (7) L.A. Lakers
Last year, the Lakers gave the Suns quite a scare, going up 3-1 in the first round series before eventually folding to Steve Nash and company in seven. This year, they’ll also have to deal with Amare Stoudemire, as well.

The Lakers were led, as always, by the all-around efforts of Kobe Bryant. Bryant accomplished one of the most amazing feats in NBA history by scoring at least 50 points in four straight games (225 combined). He does have a decent supporting cast of Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, and the promising Andrew Bynum. However, everybody knows that Kobe is the only factor that matters for the Lakers’ success.

The strange thing, however, is that the Lakers’ only win against the Suns this season came with Bryant nursing a knee injury.

The Suns have dominated the season series with Kobe in the lineup, winning all three games by an average of seven points per contest. They, of course, are led by two-time MVP Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, and the ever difficult defense of Raja Bell. Leandro Barbosa also stepped up his game this season, chipping in 18.1 ppg.

The Lakers will fight, much like they did last year, but the Suns will prevail.
Chad says: Phoenix in 6
Coin says: Phoenix in 4

(3) San Antonio vs. (6) Denver
When the Nuggets traded for Allen Iverson, they were thinking about success. The Spurs, however, didn’t need to make any changes to an already proven core.

Last year, Carmelo was unable to lead the Nuggets through the first round matchup against the L.A. Clippers. This year, he faces a much more difficult task, the San Antonio Spurs, but he has the help of Allen Iverson. Since becoming a Nugget, Iverson has had to adapt his game to suit the Nuggets needs. Many see a potential alpha-dog struggle between ‘Melo and Iverson as unavoidable, I see it as acceptable. When the game is on the line, who do you guard? Carmelo is one of the most proven clutch scorers in the game while Allen Iverson is one of the most dominant scorers, period. The only difficulty for the Nuggets, however, will be getting the “game on the line” against these Spurs.

The Spurs won the season series 2-1, with the only loss coming in a meaningless battle of the reserves on the final day of the NBA season. In their previous meeting, they were able to hold A.I. to 9 points and ‘Melo a mere 15 and in the game before that they held off the valiant 33-point effort by Iverson to still win 92-83 (though Anthony was not in the lineup). The Spurs, to say the least, are playoff proven.

San Antonio has won the NBA championship three times since 1999 (1999, 2003, 2005) and since then, only one series was lost to a non-eventual Western Conference champ (2000). Because of their experience, they will be able to overcome the Nuggets, albeit in a very difficult series.
Chad says: San Antonio in 6.
Coin says: Denver in 5.

(4) Utah vs. (5) Houston
The last time the Utah Jazz had such a high seed for the playoffs, they were led by John Stockton and the Mailman, Karl Malone (2001). This time, however, they’ll be looking for the combo of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer to deliver.

The Utah Jazz are coming off their best season in recent years and have plenty of hope for the playoffs. Boozer emerged as a dominant force in the Western Conference, while Mehmet Okur has been able to hold his own down low, as well (17.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg). The Jazz won 51 games without much contribution from marquee player, Andrei Kirilenko. They’ll need Kirilenko to step up, however, if they are going to be able to stop T-Mac and the Rockets.

Utah has the higher seed and won the season series 3-1, but the Houston Rockets were able to pull off home-court advantage.

With 52 wins, the Houston Rockets were able to put together their best season since drafting Yao Ming in 2002. Either Yao Ming or Tracy McGrady could have emerged as MVP candidates if it weren’t for injuries. Yao averaged 25 ppg, 9. 4rpg, and 2 blocks over 48 games. Tracy McGrady, however, was the bigger contributor to the Rockets season, averaging 24.6 ppg, 6.5 apg, and 5.3 rpg, while carrying the Rockets on his back (which is susceptible to injury) with Yao out of the lineup.

With both Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming healthy, the Utah Jazz have their work cut out for them. They will fight hard, but come up short in the closest series of the first round.
Chad says: Houston in 7.
Coin says: Houston in 7.

—This article was originally published at Sports Central on April 20, 2007—

NHL Playoffs: First Round Predictions

The Carolina Hurricane have joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in the “champ to chump” category, winning the Stanley Cup last season while failing to even make the playoffs this year. Because of this, and the fact that the NHL playoffs are arguably the least predictable playoff in professional sports, the race to the cup will be a wide-open battle between 16 teams who refuse to go gently into the good summer.

As recent years have shown us, the NHL playoffs really are “anybody’s game.” The seventh-seeded Calgary Flames made a run to the finals two seasons ago and last year the eighth-seeded Edmonton Oilers pushed the Hurricane to the brink.

While my predictions are just that, “predictions,” they do take into account the head-to-head success rates of the teams during the regular season, team playoff experience, goalie readiness, and numerous other factors that will contribute to the success of any given club. While all these are important factors in determining a winner, nothing guarantees success in the grueling NHL playoffs.

After a long season filled with ups and downs, we can finally buckle up for the most exciting time of the year, the Stanley Cup playoffs. Get ready, hockey fans, because we’re in for a wild ride…

Eastern Conference

Buffalo (1) vs. New York Islanders (8)

In one of the wildest games of the year, because of what was at stake and who they were playing against, the Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off a 6-5 victory by knocking off their biggest rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. If the Habs had won, then both the Maple Leafs and the New York Islanders would have been eliminated, but they never.

The Habs loss provided a sense of hope for the surprise contenders from New York. All they needed was a win in New Jersey and they’d be guaranteed the eight seed. The Devils, however, had won the six previous games between these division rivals, though they never provided Toronto with any favors by resting Martin Brodeur in the make-or-break game for the Islanders.

Led by Wade Dubielewicz, the young AHL call-up goaltender who has been filling in valiantly for starter Rick DiPietro, the Islanders pulled off a 3-2 shootout victory against the Devils after allowing the Devils to tie the game with one second remaining in the third. If the Islanders didn’t win they would have been sent home, but Dubielewicz stepped up big with a poke-check on Sergei Brylin, New Jersey’s final shooter, to save the game and the season.

Dubielewicz won four of the five games he started and posted an incredible .929 SV% along that stretch while consistently coming up big when it mattered the most. Although he almost gave the season away with the late goal to the Devils, he more than redeemed himself in the shootout. The uncertainty remains for the Islanders heading into the playoffs, however, on whether DiPietro will be back in time or whether “Dubie” will continue to lead the team as he did in the final week of the season.

Whoever is in net, however, won’t have an easy time against the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres won the season series against the Islanders 3-1 and will be backstopped by Ryan Miller who led the team to the Eastern Conference finals last year.

Buffalo was the only team all season to score more than 300 goals and have been able to produce regardless of the many injuries that have plagued the team all season. The team is healthy, however, entering into the first round series with the Islanders and will be an overwhelming squad for the Islanders to try and defend. All-Star Game MVP Daniel Brier leads the way with plenty of support from others. Maxim Afinogenov, Christ Drury, Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, and Derek Roy will all continue to provide difficulties for their opponents as they have done all season long.

Brian Campbell and the rest of the Sabres defense will have their hands full with Alexei Yashin, Ryan Smyth, and Miroslav Satan. However, they’ll be able to contain them more effectively than the Islanders will be able to contain the season’s top squad.

The Sabres will prove to be too much for the Islanders: Buffalo wins in five.

New Jersey (2) vs. Tampa Bay (7)

The Tampa Bay Lightning have had the Devils’ number all year and now they get the chance to play them in the playoffs, which isn’t necessarily a good thing.

While the Lightning took the season series three games to one, they must also realize that Martin Brodeur is a goalie that was built for the playoffs. Brodeur has been put in numerous pressure situations and it seems as though he has always been able to live up to expectations. He has won three Stanley Cups and dominated playoff competition in his career, while also posting a successful win-loss record against the Lightning in overall competition (24 wins, 13 losses, 5 ties, and 2 OT losses).

The Lightning will need its goaltending (Holmqvist/Denis) to be consistent if they want a chance at an upset. Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Ruslan Fedotenko will be pressured to carry the load for Tampa Bay and if they are unable to do so it will lead to a quick first round exit for the Bolts.

This series is a classic matchup of a premier offensive team going up against a premier defensive team and because of the fact that defense tends to overcome in the playoffs, I’m giving the edge to the Devils.

Brodeur shuts down Tampa’s offense and New Jersey wins in 6.

Atlanta (3) vs. New York Rangers (6)

The New York Rangers couldn’t be happier.

What could have been a first-round matchup against the New Jersey Devils turned out being a series with the Atlanta Thrashers. No offense to Atlanta, but they simply aren’t as intimidating as the Devils come playoff time.

The Thrashers offense, led by Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk, carried them to the South East division throne and into the playoffs for the first time since Atlanta was awarded a franchise in 1997. Kari Lehtonen has had a solid season and helped Atlanta take the season series with the Rangers 3-1.

The Rangers, however, have peaked at just the right time. They are 13-3-4 over their last 20 games and Lundqvist is 8-1-1 in the last 10 games that he has started. Jaromir Jagr, meanwhile, has tallied 9 points over the final five games of the season and the Rangers, unlike last year, seem to be healthy and ready to do some damage.

While this series could easily go either way…

… I’m going with the red-hot Rangers: New York in 6.

Ottawa (4) vs. Pittsburgh (5)

The Penguins were able to win the season series 3-1, with two shootout victories. The question is not on how well they performed in the season, however, but whether or not their lack of playoff experience will be costly.

Sidney Crosby and his Pittsburgh teammates hope to follow the example set by a young Edmonton team in the 1980’s. Crosby has been compared to Wayne Gretzky his whole career and he, after his second NHL season, finally has the chance to show what he’s worth in the playoffs.

And he’ll have lots of help. With Crosby leading the way many tend to forget the rest of the young talent on this Penguins roster. Evgeni Malkin is having a fantastic rookie year and is often said to be the Pens player that is most reminiscent of Mario Lemieux. Jordan Staal and Ryan Malone have also chipped in nicely offensively while the defense is led by young Ryan Whitney and veteran Sergei Gonchar. 22-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury will be between the pipes for his inaugural playoff series and will be looking to do his best against the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators, though tied at 105 points with the Penguins, earn home-ice advantage because of the fact that they won one more game than their first-round opponent.

Many boast of the fact that the Penguins have the third best offensive team in the NHL, however, the Senators have a potent offense of their own — second in the league — with 11 goals more than the Pens over the duration of the season.

The pressure is on the experienced and favored Senators, who are entering their 10th straight playoff appearance. Ray Emery is 5-5 in the NHL playoffs and will be counted on to stop the mighty Pens attack. In an offensive matchup, everything will come down to goaltending.

And I believe Marc-Andre Fleury will prove the difference: Pittsburgh in 7.

Western Conference

Detroit (1) vs. Calgary (8)

The Western Conference champions have been here many times before. This year however, they are geared up for it better than before.

The Wings brought in power forward Todd Bertuzzi to help an already dominating club. Henrik Zetterberg should be healthy for the playoffs and Pavel Datsyuk has been ever so consistent this season. Nicklas Lidstrom will be given the difficult task of shutting down Jarome Iginla, while Dominik Hasek will have to play up to his résumé. The last time Hasek was in the playoffs, 2002, he helped the Red Wings walk away with the Cup.

Last year, the Red Wings lost out to a hot goalie in Dwyane Roloson and this year they are going to face an even more difficult task: getting the puck past Miikka Kiprusoff. Kipper has willed the Flames into the playoffs for the third consecutive season after posting 40 wins with one game remaining.

If the Flames want a chance, they’ll need a physical edge on the Wings. Dion Phaneuf will be counted on to make a major impact. Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay will need help from Tony Amonte and the second line if they are going to have any offensive pressure at all.

Even if they do, however, I simply don’t think it will be enough. The Flames are the worst road team in the 2007 playoffs and they’ll have to face a sold out Hockeytown.

The Flames fizzle much like they have in the last week: Detroit in 5.

Anaheim (2) vs. Minnesota (7)

The Minnesota Wild won their final three games of the season and are hoping to carry this momentum into Anaheim as they begin their playoff series.

These two teams haven’t squared off in 2007, but now they will have all their focus on each other in this battle for who will enter into the second round and who will watch the rest of the playoff race from home.

The Anaheim Ducks are led by their dynamic defensive duo of Scott Neidermayer and Chris Pronger. JS Giguere has had a very solid season between the pipes, despite only playing 56 games, and will look to have another dominating playoff performance like the one he had in 2003. Teemu Selanne will be leading the Ducks’ offensive attack, helped in large by Andy McDonald and youngster Ryan Getzlaf.

The Wild may be the hotter team of late, but they remain the underdogs in this series. The thought across the league is that Niklas Backstrom will have to play like a brick wall in order for Minnesota to stand a chance.

Marian Gaborik has been playing extremely well over the last month and will look to Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra for support. If the Wild offense can get going, they may make this a very interesting series. However, it hurts Minnesota to know that there are no shootouts in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Ducks overwhelm the surging Wild: Anaheim in 6.

Vancouver (3) vs. Dallas (6)

Roberto Luongo has been waiting six years and finally he will get his chance.

The Canucks goalie and candidate for the Vezina Trophy has always been known as the best goalie to never make the playoffs. Now he’ll be given an opportunity to make a name for himself where it matters most.

Marty Turco, on the other hand, has been given plenty of playoff chances, only to dash them away along with the hopes of Stars fans three years in a row. Turco’s playoff record stands at 8 wins and 14 losses with his only playoff series win coming against the Edmonton Oilers in 2003.

The Canucks will be led by Daniel and Henrik Sedin, the Swedish twins who have greatly improved their game over the last few years. Markus Naslund, playing most of the time on the second line, will have to step up in order for the Canucks to have a deeper arsenal in order to take the pressure off of the twins.

Two of the top three offensive producers on the Dallas roster are defensemen, and this could cause difficulties for the Stars come playoff time. Sergei Zubov and Philippe Boucher will be counted on for both defensive pressure and offensive attacks, an overwhelming role for two players to burden.

During the regular season these teams split the season series two games each, with the home team prevailing 2-1 in all four events. Both teams will continue to struggle with scoring, but Vancouver has home-ice advantage…

… and Luongo will step up in a big way: Vancouver in 6.

Nashville (4) vs. San Jose (5)

Last year, San Jose disposed easily of the Nashville Predators in the first round, winning the series in five games. This year, however, the Predators are looking for revenge.

Nashville has put together their best season ever, since entering the league in the 1998-99 season. However, they have struggled with injuries and mediocre play of late, going 2-3 over the last five and 5-7 over their final twelve.

San Jose, on the other hand, has won five of their final six games with their only loss coming in Saturday night’s overtime battle with the Canucks.

Joe Thornton has put together another dominant season, tallying 114 points, while Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo, and Milan Michalek add to the offensive powers for the Sharks.

Evgeni Nabakov will be square off in goal against Tomas Vokoun with both teams having solid backup options if anything is to happen to their starters. Vesa Toskala and Chris Mason have each combine for only two less wins over the duration of the season than the starters in this series.

Both teams are extremely fast and very skilled. Peter Forsberg, a late season acquisition for the Predators, will be looking to be the difference maker.

However, the Sharks size will overcome: San Jose in 7.

—This article was originally published at Sports Central on April 9, 2007—

NBA Rookie Roundup

The NBA age restrictions have made it so that this year’s rookie class is more depleted than usual. Typically, high school players would have made the jump and added some major talent to the pool. This year’s class is the first and possibly even the only class to see the effects of the new rule. The added depth has been put on hold until next year; a year where the missing high-school players won’t be as noticeable due to the incoming stars that were held off from entering the NBA this season.

It has taken a while for the rookies to get going this year and no one player stands out among the crowd as being better than the rest. Many have called this year’s crop a bust, but I have more faith in these youngsters than that. I believe that many of them will turn into very solid contributors while a few even have all-star potential. Sure, this isn’t 1984 (Hakeem, MJ, Barkley, and Stockton), 2003 (Lebron, Melo, Bosh, and Wade), 1996 (Iverson, Camby, Ray Allen, Kobe, Peja, Nash, and Jermaine O’Neal), or even 2007 for that matter (Odom, Durant, and Joakim Noah); but that doesn’t mean that it’s an all out bust.

These guys can play and their impact will be evident for years to come. Without further adieu, here is my 2006-07 rookie roundup.

Top 10 Picks (as drafted into the league):
Andrea Bargnani (Italy – Toronto Raptors)
The “Italian Job” has brought it all to Toronto. It took him some time to get the feel for the North American game, but this youngster who once said it was easier to shoot threes than anything else (because it’s always the same distance) is now taking control for the surging Raptors.

It took him ten games to get his first double-digit scoring output of the season, but he’s stepped up ever since with consistent scoring and energy off the bench. In the last month he’s averaging 14.8ppg, 4.6rpg, and dropping 2.5 treys. MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki has stated that Bargnani is better than he was at twenty-one, but the young guy still has a long way to go. Nonetheless, the Raptors made the right choice on draft day and have a very formidable front for many years with Bosh and Bargs leading the way.

LaMarcus Aldridge (Texas – Portland Trailblazers)
It has taken the big man a while to get some time in the crowded Portland frontcourt, but it seems like he is finally getting his chance due to injuries which are depleting the roster. Przybilla was lost for the season due to a knee injury and LaFrentz is out with a strained left calf. That leaves Jamaal Magloire as Aldridge’s lone competition and coach Nate McMillan has said that he’s sticking with the rookie for now.

Since grabbing the starting center spot at the beginning of March, Aldridge has gone for 30 points on 12 of 19 shooting but then followed up that effort with 3 points on 1 for 12 shooting. He’ll need to prove himself to be a consistent contributor in order to hold on to his playing time. For now, I see him following very closely to the footsteps of sophomore Channing Frye, who has proven to be the most hopeless players with a lot of hope.

Adam Morrison (Gonzaga – Charlotte Bobcats)
Whoever compared the Sasquatch to Larry Bird has obviously never seen Larry Bird play. Morrison had an incredible college career, but he has simply been unable to carry this over to the NBA. Will he be a solid contributor? No doubt. Will he be a superstar? I doubt.

His talent is unquestionable, but his athleticism is the major problem. The NBA has eliminated the edge he had on his opponents in college due to taller, longer, and quicker defenders. Morrison has failed to adapt and will, in my mind, fail to become an all-star like many felt he was destined to become. In my opinion, the best case scenario for Ammo is for him to become a slightly more creative Kyle Korver.

Tyrus Thomas (LSU – Chicago Bulls)
This young stud from LSU is filled with potential. He’s a high-flyer who can execute on both ends of the court. His blocking ability is uncanny and he finds his way to the rim offensively as well. However, he needs to work on polishing up his moves in the post as well as adding to his range. In fact, the kid might as well change his name to Stromile Swift, because everything I’ve said so far is the exact same thing people said about the StroShow upon his entrance into the NBA. Need more proof of the similarities? Here’s a rookie season comparison of the two:

Stromile Swift (2000-01): 16 mpg, 45% FG, 60% FT, 4.9ppg, 3.6rpg, 0.4apg, 0.8 steals, 1 block, 0.8 TO.
Tyrus Thomas (2006-07): 11 mpg, 46% FG, 58% FT, 4.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 0.5apg, 0.6 steals, 1 block, 1.3 TO.

Shelden Williams (Duke – Atlanta Hawks)
Well, at least the Hawks didn’t mess up as bad this year as they did in the 2005 draft by passing on Chris Paul in favor of Marvin Williams. Shelden Williams has shown a lot of promise at moments when he’s had the opportunity to play (just look at his late-December numbers if you don’t believe me). However, his major problem is that he is lost in the depth-chart like many other rookies in the league.

With the Hawks wanting to play the upbeat style that is becoming the newest trend, Shelden Williams finds himself fighting for time behind the athletic duo of Josh Smith and Marvin Williams. It’s only a matter of time, however, until Shelden figures out his role on the team. I believe he has the ability to be a consistent contributor if given consistent minutes – and there’s no reason the Hawks can pass on that because it’s exactly what they need.

Brandon Roy (Washington – Portland Trailblazers)
Rookie of the Year is spelled ROY. Brandon Roy came into this season as the projected cream of the crop and he hasn’t disappointed. Sure, it is a bit easier to steal the award this year compared to usual; but Brandon Roy has been spectacular nonetheless. I don’t necessarily believe that he will be the best player from this group five years from now or even three, for that matter. But he is the leading candidate for the ROY honor at this moment.

He has been getting more minutes per game than any other candidate, thus vaulting his stats to higher levels than other rookies see possible. He leads the class with 15.5 PPG and adds to that a combined 8.1 assists and rebounds per contest. His percentages are highly respectable (45% FG and 83% FT) and he’s adding to that 1.2 steals per game. There’s no reason why Roy shouldn’t get the rookie of the year, although other rookies are getting chances later in the season with extra playing time that they never saw earlier in the year.

Randy Foye (Villanova – Minnesota Timberwolves)
When Kevin Garnett requests that the Timberwolves replace you with Troy Hudson for the starting guard position, you know you haven’t produced. Garnett has put up with many lacklustre starters alongside him in Minny: Michael Olowokandi, Marko Jaric, Eddie Griffin, and even Anthony Peeler (a man who would later elbow-punch Garnett in the face while playing for Sacramento).

Foye was supposed to be the T-Wolves second or third scoring option this season; he is currently fifth on the team with 9 PPG. He has all the potential in the world, which is why he went seventh overall in the draft. It’s just a matter of time until he puts his tools to use and gets that starting position back for good.

Rudy Gay (UConn – Memphis Grizzlies)
He is the most athletic player from the 2006-07 draft (other than James White) and has the ability to become a big time player in the future. He has a freakish 7’3” wingspan that has allowed him to combine for 1.8 steals and blocks per game.

Gay had a slow start to the season, which has held his shooting percentage to 42%, but he has improved of late. He has started the last twelve games for the Grizzlies and averaged 15.9 points, 6 rebounds, and just over a block per game. If he can improve on his shot selection, he has the potential to be “best in class” for a long time to come.

Patrick O’Bryant (Bradley – Golden State Warriors)
O’Bryant boosted his stock in the NCAA Tournament last year by outdueling Aaron Gray and carrying the Bradley Braves to the Sweet Sixteen. However, so far this season he has only seen action in 16 games for the Warriors while averaging less than eight minutes per contest. He has been sent down to the development league for extended periods of time and simply doesn’t seem to be capable of working himself into the Warriors rotation.

With Biedrins, Foyle, Harrington, and Powell ahead of him in the PF/C rotation, it doesn’t seem likely that O’Bryant will be seeing any significant playing time this year or next. But hey, who knows? It’s impossible to know what the guy is made of until he’s had his time to shine. For now, much like what happened at Bradley (which led to an eight game suspension), O’Bryant is simply getting paid for work that he’s not doing; and it is fine by him I’m sure.

Mouhamed Sene (Senegal – Seattle Supersonics)
Much like O’Bryant, Mouhamed Sene hasn’t played enough in the NBA to warrant much analysis. He has played in 19 games with less than six minutes per contest. He is said to be an amazing physical specimen with a 7’8” wingspan, but is also very raw on the offensive end of the court (partly because he only started playing basketball in 2003).

At only twenty years of age, Sene has a lot of time to develop himself into the type of player the Sonics plan on him becoming. Whether or not he was worth the 10th pick in the NBA draft is another question that is impossible to answer until we see what this man is made of.

Notes on the Rest:
The top ten typically contains most of the all-star potential. However, this year the draft is more evened out than usual. There will be many key contributors out of the remaining fifty picks (and undrafted rookies) that will have an impact for years to come.

Here are a few other names to keep in mind when considering whether or not this year’s draft class is a bust:

Kelenna Azubuike (G.S. – Undrafted) has raised eyebrows of late, putting up almost 10 points per game while filling in for the injury depleted Warriors. His stats will settle down as J-Rich and Baron Davis have returned, but he has proven himself capable of contributing in the future.

JJ Redick (Orl – 11th) was the player of the year in college. He has yet to make much of a contribution for the Magic and I doubt he ever will. He needs the perfect situation to contribute. Without a superstar scorer that can draw his defender away, Redick will always have difficulty making the contested shots.

Thabo Sefolosha (Chi – 13th) had a career game versus the Warriors on February 28 in which he put up 19 points. He was highly coveted by many during the draft and is expected to be around for years to come.

Ronnie Brewer (Utah – 14th) has been out shadowed by the Jazz’s second round stud, Paul Millsap (Utah – 47th), but he still should develop into a decent player. Brewer has allowed a starting spot slip through his fingers early on, but his potential is undeniable. Millsap, on the other hand, has fought for everything that has been given to him. He has earned his role on the rebuilt Utah roster and leads the rookies in both rebounds (5.2) and blocks (1.1) per game.

Rodney Carney (Phi – 16th) was just starting to find his spot with the 76ers before tearing his right rotator cuff (shoulder).

Renaldo Balkman (NY – 20th) is like any other switch on the Knicks roster. When Isiah Thomas flicks on his minutes he usually produces. When he flicks them off he can disappear for weeks at a time.

Rajon Rondo (Bos – 21st) is a lightning quick guard out of Kentucky that can do it all, except for hold on to the ball at times. If he can control his turnovers he has a very bright future in the league. The Celtics just need to figure out what they’re doing with the Telfair/West/Rondo logjam at point.

Marcus Williams (NJ – 22nd) is the future of New Jersey. That might be saying too much about a first year guard that has averaged 7.7 points and 3.1 assists so far, but the Nets said quite a bit when they considered trading Jason Kidd without getting another point guard in return.

Craig Smith (Min – 36th) is leading the rookies in FG% while also showing flashes of brilliance every once in a while. He’ll have trouble becoming much more than a solid contributor as he is undersized for his natural position (PF), but he has the offensive skills to go both ways in the post and the fight to overcome more skilled individuals.

James White (Drafted 31st by Indiana/Signed by San Antonio) is getting a mention here whether you like it or not. If you can show me a more creative and able dunker than this man then I’ll never mention him again.

Jorge Garbajosa (Tor – FA) is averaging 8.5 points and 5 rebounds a game while also heavily influencing the Raptors towards the winning ways that he was accustomed to in Europe. He is a proven winner on many levels, including the Olympics, and brings an understanding of the game that is very foreign to the rest of his rookie class.

— Article originally published on March 5 at Sports Central —

How the NBA Can Save the Dunk Contest

The NBA Dunk Competition, a monumental event with a spectacular history of creativity, is playing center stage this coming Friday in the City of Lights. The question, however, is whether it will be able to live up to the hype of the almost distant past or whether it will once again fall short of adding another chapter to the legacy.

Last year, Nate Robinson beat out Andre Iguodala in an awkward finale which made the fans almost as embarrassed as lil’ Nate should have been. There were some nice displays of creativity, though, with Robinson eventually finishing off with the double-between-the-legs pass off-the-backboard alley-oop dunk (on his 953rd attempt).

Most thought, though, that Iguodala put on the best display of athleticism by ducking the backboard for an alley-oop reverse, throwing down a bounce pass alley-oop behind-the-back dunk, and putting it between the legs both ways on separate attempts to prove he’s more than just one-dimensional.

The problem with the dunk comp these days, however, isn’t that the players can’t put on an amazing show. The problem is that there are players that could put on an even better show. This year, one could argue, the judges are more capable dunker’s than the contestants themselves.

No disrespect to Gerald Green, Dwight Howard, Nate Robinson, and Tyrus Thomas — it’s not their fault that the NBA chose such prestigious judges for the big show.

The judges for the event are Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, and Dominique Wilkins.

When will NBA fans ever get to see Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter square off? When will we get to see LeBron James even compete? How about throwing in Ricky Davis, Steve Francis, Kevin Garnett, or Tracy McGrady? It would even be nice to see James White participate for the first time; a man known for his ability to do pretty much any dunk while also taking off from the free-throw line. Okay, I guess it’s all right if the NBA saves his show for when he’s actually getting playing time in the Association, but fans everywhere can hardly wait to see what he’d have prepared.

The problem with the NBA Dunk Competition isn’t that the players can’t do enough, it’s simply that they aren’t going against the best of the best. The stars of the NBA seemingly want nothing to do with the event other than judging or watching it.

It would be completely fine to have this years contestants all participate if they were going up against a few of the elite. If one of these four emerge from this year’s battle, then they’re okay, but if they took on four more of the best, they could be great.

Gerald Green has been saying that he has something up his sleeve that will shock the unshockable. His teammate Tony Allen professed to ESPN that if it is successful, it will go down as “one of the top 10 in history.” Dwight Howard has supposedly kissed the rim a few times in practice, and Nate Robinson is still short and still allowed to take two minutes to make a successful attempt.

Tyrus Thomas, on the other hand, states that he is, according to the Chicago Tribune, “just going to go out there, get my check and call it a day.”

Profound.

The winning contestant gets $35,000, while second place receives $22,500. Third- and fourth-place finishers end up with $16,125 apiece.

The event will still, undoubtedly, be an amazing show. We all know that they can dunk with creativity and know that they will, regardless of their motives. Thomas won’t want to be booed off of the Vegas center-stage and might even have just been downplaying the event (while in the meantime earning a $10,000 fine by the Bulls for his comments) in order to surprise. All four contestants will come out firing, but the winner will never be proclaimed the best dunker in the NBA, simply because there are too many amazing athletes left off of the entrants list.

The NBA should adopt a six- or eight-player event in which three or four of the competitors are high-flying youngsters and the rest are the big-name players that everybody wants to see. Not only would it add a bang to the event, but it would also continue to allow the NBA to market it’s youth movement.

Next year, I want to see Kobe in his 1997 form, Vinsanity upping what he did in 2000, and King James throwing it down with the new kids on the block. Let’s see if the young guns can really prove themselves against the fiercest competition.

Let’s make this dunk competition all about being the best — of the best.

—–This article was originally published on February 9, 2007 at Sports Central—–

Adventures of the Mustached Man

When you are drafted third overall solely based on your ability to shoot the lights out, you’d think that you would be able to do just that. Adam Morrison, however, has proven to be one of the most inconsistent shooters in the NBA thus far in his rookie year.

While other rookies have certainly not been ripping it up on the court, they also haven’t been ripping up chances for their teams to make the playoffs. Morrison, because of the fact that he’s been playing the most minutes of all the rookies (33 mpg), has had the most impact on his team’s performance on the court. While he leads the rookie class in scoring per game, he is far from efficient when compared to other rookie young guns that have seen consistent minutes on the court, such as Brandon Roy or Jorge Garbajosa (taking the term “young guns” very loosely).

Brandon Roy has been shooting almost 42% from the field while playing a very similar role to that of Morrison — scoring. Garbajosa has also been relied on for shots aplenty, hitting just under 44%. Morrison, on the other hand, is chucking up 14 shots per game at a much less effective rate, making less than 37% of his shots.

The Charlotte Bobcats are a team that is struggling to score. They are ranked 23rd in the league with just over 94 points per game while shooting a league-worst 43% from the field. Morrison is the worst offender of the Bobcats’ starters and has, arguably, the worst shot selection in the entire league for players who take over 10 shots per game.

The fact is this: Morrison is a great shooter who can get hot at any time, but when he’s not hitting his shots, he simply doesn’t let up. He’s a trigger-happy three-ball launcher who satisfies his itch to shoot much more often than he satisfies the scoreboard. His games can be downright decent. I was going to say “spectacular,” but he’s only had three games where he has shot over 50%. Looking at his stat line can be confusing. One night he’s the second coming of Larry Bird and the next he’s Antoine Walker’s apprentice.

Morrison has had five one-for games in the month of December. Four of them were in a row. The lines read this: 1-for-5, 1-for-10, 1-for-11, 1-for-8, and most recently, 1-for-15. His team was able to win, however, two of those games. Morrison’s backup, Matt Carroll, saved the team from the 1-for-5 performance against Detroit, in which Morrison was limited to 19 minutes, and then rescued the Bobcats again in a triple overtime thriller against the Lakers with 27 points, where Carroll was used in overtime rather than the rookie “shooting specialist.”

While at Gonzaga, the mustached man was launching even more shots than he is in the NBA, with 17 shots per contest. The difference, however, was that he was shooting 49.7%. He never had a single game in his college career where he only made one shot, a feat that he has unfortunately accomplished so many times in the NBA that he can almost trademark the term “one-for” or even tattoo it on his bicep.

Ammo, as he was known in college, would be better off if he ran out of ammo, and so would the Bobcats, who have won the only two games where Morrison was held to six shots or less.

The league would love to see the old Adam Morrison that was put on display night in and night out at Gonzaga. The man proved himself at that level, however, he has yet to do so in the NBA. With longer and quicker defenders, many questioned if Morrison would be able to adjust. The Bobcats believed he could and have seen flashes of brilliance. The brilliance, however, has been dimmed by shooting slumps galore.

If Morrison wants to survive in this league, he has to prove himself to be a little more efficient with a much less flamboyant shot-selection. He has to find his role on the team and fit it. He needs to settle for his shots rather than force his shots. Morrison needs to adjust his college game to the NBA to really make it work. All of this is very possible with a player that is as gifted as Adam Morrison is, but he’ll have to work hard to make it happen.

And maybe he could shave his mustache, too.

—–This article was originally published on January 2, 2007 at Sports Central—–

Rory Fitzpatrick: NHL All-Star?

This year, the NHL has decided to change up the way it handles it’s all-star voting. Instead of only allowing a restricted number of votes from each online IP address, it has decided to let the fans go crazy and vote as many times as they want to as part of their “Click to Vote” campaign. The NHL, however, did not expect the fans to react like this.

Rory Fitzpatrick, a relatively unknown and unspectacular defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks, is currently No. 12 in the all-star voting, with 31,310 votes, according to the official website of the NHL. He is the only “write-in candidate” of recent history to receive any noticeable fan recognition. The case for Fitzpatrick, who would normally only receive the votes of family members and perhaps a few of his close friends, all started on an Internet message board called HFboards.com.

A man by the moniker “lecherous” posted the idea on November 19 stating: “if we vote in the one player who probably deserves it the least, imagine the awesomeness that would come from that.”

The idea has now spread to the point that there are YouTube videos supporting the cause, fans holding up “Vote for Rory” signs in stadiums across the NHL, and even media outlets in Canada and the United States picking up the story and interviewing the originator. VoteForRory.com has also been created to provide updates on the campaign.

The concept started out with fans trying to prove that the NHL voting policy was bogus, but it has now grown to the point where many truly believe that stuffing the ballots with Fitzpatrick’s name is a just cause to support a hard-working athlete as opposed to a naturally gifted one.

Fitzpatrick is deep in the Canucks defensive depth chart and has yet to record a point in 16 games this season. He has been a longtime journeyman in the NHL and always earned the respect of those around him by trying his hardest every time he has stepped on the ice. He first turned heads this year by winning the Vancouver Canucks’ shooting accuracy competition in their 2006 SuperSkills event earlier this month. Now he is turning them one more time.

Fitzpatrick currently trails the leading vote-receiving defensemen, Scott Niedermayer and Nicklas Lidstrom, by nearly 200,000 votes each. However, the ball has just started rolling in the “Vote for Rory” campaign.

Upon hearing the news of the internet movement to get him in the event, Fitzpatrick told the Vancouver Daily Province that he was getting a kick out of all the attention. “You have to give credit to the people who have put it all together. They did a great job. It’s pretty funny.”

If fans continue to prove the power of mass communication and the internet, then Fitzpatrick truly does stand a chance to make the big game. Not only would Rory Fitzpatrick represent the Vancouver Canucks in Dallas, home of the event, but he would also be representing the “Average Joe’s” of this world.

“Vote for Rory” represents everything that is pure and noble in an market that hypes big named players and the gifted athletes that put up all the stats. Fitzpatrick is just a regular hard-working guy who is trying his best without recognition day in and day out.

Why not recognize him for his efforts? The All-Star Game is all about showing the fans what they want to see. Why not choose to see perseverance for a change? Vote for Rory and make a difference.

“If I’m going to get it,” Fitzpatrick laughed, “I’m going to need a lot of help, that’s for sure.”

—–Article originally published on December 1, 2006 at Sports Central—–

Surprise Starts in the NBA

When the top four teams from last year’s playoffs have combined for five wins and 13 losses, there are bound to be some surprise teams that are higher up in the standings than what was expected. The NBA season is only one week old and nobody could have predicted the start that we have seen. Some teams that were proclaimed to be destined for the lower half of the league are showing that they can surprise, while many teams that were thought to dominate are simply falling short.

The whole week can be summarized by one play seen on opening night — a Tyrus Thomas put back dunk overtop of Shaquille O’Neal. Nothing can say “out with the old and in with the new” quite like the jam by that youngster.

The Hawks, Lakers, Hornets, 76ers, and Jazz have also had their fair share to say as they have turned the predicted standings on its head early on. There is no way for us to believe that this trend is going to continue for the remainder of the season or even the rest of the month. However, why not enjoy the show while it’s happening? The time is now to cut out the standings page from the paper and to give praise where praise is due.

Sure, the early season may not be treating the Heat, Mavericks, Pistons, or Suns very well so far, but we can all safely bet that they’ll get back on track and be battling it out come playoff time. They will get their glory then, but for now, some attention must be given to the surprises of the young season.

With that said, let’s take an in-depth view of the teams that are turning heads across the NBA.

Atlanta Hawks (3-1)

Many experts thought that Speedy Claxton’s much-anticipated starting role with the Hawks would bring dividends. Well, the Hawks have seen highflying results, but Claxton has had little to do with it.

Joe Johnson has been on fire throughout the first week of action, averaging almost 28 points a game on 48% shooting. However, it is rare for one player to carry a team all by himself, and Johnson’s leadership of the Hawks is no exception. Zaza Pachulia has been averaging over 18 points per contest and Tyrone Lue rescued them from the grave against the Cavaliers. Lue hit a buzzer-beating runner over LeBron James to tie the game at 90 before Joe Johnson stole the show in overtime to carry the Hawks to a 104-95 victory over the Cavaliers.

These Hawks have plenty to be happy about and have a good opportunity to keep things going for another week as they face the Raptors, Sonics, and Bucks. They are bound to settle down one day or another, and they will, but there is no reason why it has to happen just yet. Hawks fans: enjoy the ride while you can.

Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)

The Lakers are giving the Clippers a push in the Battle of Los Angeles and have proved that they aren’t a one-man team, as they were often accused of being last year. Without Kobe Bryant in the lineup, the Lakers pulled off big wins against the Phoenix Suns (114-106) and the Golden State Warriors (110-98). They then continued their success with the superstar in the lineup.

Andrew Bynum has been a big surprise so far, building upon a solid preseason and making himself the probably starter, even after Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown return from their injuries. He has shot 66% from the field and pulled down 7.2 rebounds per game while also providing a defensive presence down low (1.3 blocks/game).

However, the true story in L.A. has been teamwork. All the pieces of the puzzle have seemingly fallen together for this squad. Lamar Odom has been piling on the points when needed (28 ppg without Kobe) and Luke Walton has developed into a nice complimentary player (15.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 3.8 apg).

It’s significant to note that this team is doing all of this with barely any help from Vladimir Radmanovic, their key offseason signing. As he comes along and begins to gel with his new team, there is no telling what could happen. If they can continue to rely more on teamwork and less on Kobe being a one man squad, then they’ll be able to avoid collapses like what happened last night in Portland and possibly emerge as a solid playoff contender in the West.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (4-0)

The Hornets are leading the NBA! The Hornets are leading the NBA! Two times for good measure in the same way that they won two home-openers for good measure. After pulling out a close one at home in New Orleans against the bolstered Houston Rockets, they followed it up the next game in Oklahoma City with another tight victory, this time against the Golden State Warriors. Their victories have all been within 10 points, but that is no reason to put them down. Great teams are defined by how they close out in the clutch, and this young squad is proving that they can do just that.

The Hornets have added a lot of talent with the additions of Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler, and Bobby Jackson. However, with as much press as these signings have received, you’d think that they were carrying the team throughout each one of the victories.

However, rather than taking over games, they have simply found their roles alongside the biggest ticket in (the) town(s): Chris Paul. The young sophomore point guard has had his way with opponents throughout the first four games. Paul is averaging 17.5 ppg, 10.8 apg, and 4.5 rpg and shooting 50% from the field. The young Hornets have a bright future with this kid leading the way, however, they have a long way to go before they can truly prove themselves worthy of serious recognition — as they have failed to make the playoffs ever since being moved to the Western Conference in 2004/2005. Big tests coming up this week include the Clippers and the Pistons.

Philadelphia 76ers (3-2)

Iverson is still waiting for an NBA championship and in all likelihood, he’ll continue to wait. However, the 76ers have got off to a strong start with big wins over the highflying Hawks, the improved Magic, and the Shaqless Miami Heat. The only thing this team is missing is a killer instinct, and this will be what keeps them away from continuing the success they saw in their first three games.

The Sixers have been surging under Iverson’s lead, however, if they don’t give him any more help than what they’ve been doing, then they’ll continue to have problems down the stretch, as seen with their fourth-quarter collapse against the Indiana Pacers and the two-point loss to the rebuilt Raptors. Nonetheless, they are still in a very good position in the standings and have a lot of positives to draw from the previous four games.

Allen Iverson is leading the NBA in scoring with 31.4 ppg. The amazing thing, with all the shots he’s putting up, is that he is also dishing out over 9 assists per contest. Kyle Korver is also showing some promise in his first season as a starter, putting up 16 ppg and providing a consistent outside touch. Chris Webber is shooting just 34% from the field with a measly 10 ppg (compared to his career average of 21.6 ppg). This team has had a surprising start by winning their first three games, but they will not continue to surprise anybody by having an Iverson-dominated offense.

The Sixers have always relied on Iverson to do all the work and they continue to do so. He has always done his job and kept the team respectable, however, that will continue to be the best-case scenario. Look for Philly to fall right back into the pack sooner or later, because there is no way that this team is better than 6th spot in the East.

Utah Jazz (4-1)

The Utah Jazz are singing along to their great start to the season. They have been very impressive with two victories over top-tier teams (Phoenix and Detroit), a 10-point win over the improved Houston Rockets, and a blowout victory against the fastbreak Golden State Warriors. Their only loss came to, arguably, the best offensive team in the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Nets.

Everybody on this jazzy roster is stepping up and playing their part in the success. Carlos Boozer is doing all the grunt work, averaging 19.4 ppg and 12.4 rpg. Deron Williams is continuing the magic that we saw in the last half of last season, providing 13.2 ppg and 6.4 apg. Also, Mehmet Okur is proving that last year was no fluke, and is chipping in 17.4 ppg and 9.2 rpg while providing strong defense, as well, blocking Richard Hamilton’s shot in the final seconds of the 103-101 victory over Detroit. All in all, the Utah Jazz are proving to be a together team.

The tests, however, will continue to come and the Jazz will have to keep up their strong play in order to maintain their stranglehold on the West. They couldn’t quite handle the Nets to start their three game road trip and will have to get back on track as they head into Milwaukee and Los Angeles (Clippers) before returning home. As long as Andrei Kirilenko stays healthy, this team will always have a chance to compete because of the defense he brings. The key to their continued success, however, relies mostly on their sophomore point guard. If Williams can hold up, then so can the Jazz.

—–Article originally published on November 9, 2006 at Sports Central—–