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-Digger's Daily-
Are Cleveland and Los Angeles on a collision course to determine the next NBA champion? Or will Orlando and Denver continue to thrive as underdogs?
NHL Eastern Conference Playoffs watched underdog teams stun top seeded teams. Surprising Pittsburgh (4) and Carolina (6) square off and will face whoever wins in the west (Detroit vs Chicago).
Predictions:
NBA:
(3) Orlando Magic vs (1) Cleveland Cavaliers: 2 great teams playing their hearts out. Orlando needed 7 games vs an injury riddled Celtics team. Are they gassed after a physical series? Dwight Howard is the main cog. His defense is the key if Orlando's going to advance. Howard is connecting on nearly 61% of his shots, 16 rebounds and 2.75 blocks per game. Coach Stan Van Gundy has been heavily criticized throughout the playoffs for interfering more than inspiring. His style may not jive with everyone. No one can argue his team keeps winning. Can they knock off the leagues MVP to reach the finals?
Cleveland is well rested after barely being challenged (8-0) this playoff season. In 8 wins they've averaged 94.9 ppg while choking opposing offenses to 78.1 ppg. MVP LeBron James leads the way with 32.9 playoff ppg. If Orlando can't contain him then they're doomed.
Orlando will put up a fight but Cleveland is too strong. Cavs in 6.
(2) Denver Nuggets vs (1) Los Angeles Lakers: Not many outside of Denver believed the Nuggets would advance to the conference finals. Perhaps it was due to Coach Karl's less than stellar playoff history. Well, here they are... ready to challenge LA who's coach has been heavily critiqued lately.
Denver averaged 111.5 ppg thru 11 playoff games on 50.3% shooting. Carmelo Anthony (27.0) and Chauncy Billups (22.1) lead their attack. Defensively, I don't think they'll be able to slow down Kobe & Co. These will be a very high scoring series.
Los Angeles comes off a strong 7 game challenge from Yao-less Houston. Phil Jackson was heavily critiqued because it took 7 games against an opponent many thought should have been dismantled in 4. I know he'll have the Lakers extremely focused vs Denver. Kobe (27.4) leads the way. If he can spread the ball around to Gasol (18.5), Odom (12.3) and role players then they might be able to offset a quick Denver D. Shot selection and stingy D is what LA must execute to win. LA and Denver both figure to score over 100 points each game.
This series looks great on paper. Phil Jackson holds the coaching advantage and this will prove to be the biggest key of them all. Lakers in 6.
NHL
(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (6) Carolina Hurricanes: Nobody expected either team to be playing in the conference finals. Pittsburgh needed 6 games to dump Philly and a tough 7 gamer vs Washington. Carolina knocked off the top two seeds in full 7 game series (NJ & Boston). Both played very emotional, heavy hitting OT filled games. This series will go the distance too. Pittsburgh's offense vs Carolina's D. Penguins in 7.
(2) Detroit Red Wings vs (4) Chicago Blackhawks: Defending Champion Detroit is no stranger to conference finals. All lines are tough, talented and deep. I read this series as a no contest Detroit blowout. They're better in all phases of the game. Red Wings in a sweep.
Check out SportsRagePage for your favorite sports scandals, cheats & felons.
(www.allworldallsports.com)
Showing posts with label Denver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Denver. Show all posts
Monday, May 18, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
News Makers, Rumors, Champs & More Chumps
Visit All World All Sports
-Digger's Daily-
It's been another wild week in sports news with much to discuss. It's been a week of good, bad and ugly. Let's begin with good before taking aim at the rest.
Good
Baseball: A new baseball era is set to begin in New York. The new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field are set to open this weekend with exhibition games. Yanks host the Cubs. Mets take on Boston. Both will be extended spring training games. Stay tuned for detailed blogs covering cost over runs to non-Met Jackie Robinson's tribute.
PGA: Tiger Woods wins his first post-surgery tourney. The worlds greatest ever golfer was trailing by 5 before turning it up a few notches this past Sunday to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill (Orlando). In near darkness, he sank a 15 foot birdie put for a comeback victory. Television ratings soared for the first time since his injury.
Boxing: Senator John McCain is leading the charge to pardon former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson who was sent to prison due to romantic ties with a white woman. Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion on Dec. 26, 1908. McCain has issued a resolution seeking presidential pardon. This is long overdue.
Rumors
NFL: QB Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos are back in the news again. Cutler's fued with new coach Josh McDaniels continues to brew. The latest reports state Denver seeks to trade their disgruntled signal caller. This move would be best for everyone involved since personalities are clearly conflicting. Denver's management has handled this situation terribly. New York sports sections have openly promoted suiting up Cutler as the newest member of Gang Green.
Champs
NCAA Final Four weekend in Detroit will decide this years champ. Michigan State vs Connecticut, Villanova vs North Carolina. The winners will play Monday night in the National Championship Game.
Chumps
Wow. This list keeps growing rapidly. Too many head cases lately (or sports figures not using their heads).Allen Iverson has never been the poster boy representing a "team player". I'll sum up his entire NBA career in two words: "Ball Hog" Here's a guy who would rather attempt to dribble past three defenders and toss up off balanced shots than dish it to an open teammate. His latest rant is not wanting to play as a backup off the bench. "I'd rather retire.." is his answer. The perfect distraction as Detroit clings desperately to a playoff birth.
(CBSSports.com) "The Swedish tennis federation was fined $25,000 on Thursday and the city of Malmo banned from hosting Davis Cup matches for five years because of the decision to play Israel behind closed doors. The Davis Cup Committee also said Sweden will lose its choice of venue if a similar situation happens again, and the country will be required to guarantee that future matches will be open to the public. Sweden hosted Israel last month in the first round of the Davis Cup, losing 3-2. The best-of-five series was played behind closed doors because city officials said they couldn't guarantee security at the venue. Critics, including the Israeli team, said Malmo was caving in to threats of violence from anti-Israel groups." So, what happened here? Did the Swedes refuse to protect Israeli players with a security detail? Was this political payback from a government which condemned Israel's recent self defense Gaza incursion?
WR Dante Stallworth turned himself in after killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Miami. Stallworth told officers he flashed his lights and honked his horn in an attempt to warn Reyes (pedestrian). I guess this drunk bozo never thought of slowing down, stopping or swerving to avoid the poor soul who's now dead. He's facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
(www.allworldallsports.com)
-Digger's Daily-
It's been another wild week in sports news with much to discuss. It's been a week of good, bad and ugly. Let's begin with good before taking aim at the rest.
Good
Baseball: A new baseball era is set to begin in New York. The new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field are set to open this weekend with exhibition games. Yanks host the Cubs. Mets take on Boston. Both will be extended spring training games. Stay tuned for detailed blogs covering cost over runs to non-Met Jackie Robinson's tribute.
PGA: Tiger Woods wins his first post-surgery tourney. The worlds greatest ever golfer was trailing by 5 before turning it up a few notches this past Sunday to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill (Orlando). In near darkness, he sank a 15 foot birdie put for a comeback victory. Television ratings soared for the first time since his injury.
Boxing: Senator John McCain is leading the charge to pardon former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson who was sent to prison due to romantic ties with a white woman. Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion on Dec. 26, 1908. McCain has issued a resolution seeking presidential pardon. This is long overdue.
Rumors
NFL: QB Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos are back in the news again. Cutler's fued with new coach Josh McDaniels continues to brew. The latest reports state Denver seeks to trade their disgruntled signal caller. This move would be best for everyone involved since personalities are clearly conflicting. Denver's management has handled this situation terribly. New York sports sections have openly promoted suiting up Cutler as the newest member of Gang Green.
Champs
NCAA Final Four weekend in Detroit will decide this years champ. Michigan State vs Connecticut, Villanova vs North Carolina. The winners will play Monday night in the National Championship Game.
Chumps
Wow. This list keeps growing rapidly. Too many head cases lately (or sports figures not using their heads).Allen Iverson has never been the poster boy representing a "team player". I'll sum up his entire NBA career in two words: "Ball Hog" Here's a guy who would rather attempt to dribble past three defenders and toss up off balanced shots than dish it to an open teammate. His latest rant is not wanting to play as a backup off the bench. "I'd rather retire.." is his answer. The perfect distraction as Detroit clings desperately to a playoff birth.
(CBSSports.com) "The Swedish tennis federation was fined $25,000 on Thursday and the city of Malmo banned from hosting Davis Cup matches for five years because of the decision to play Israel behind closed doors. The Davis Cup Committee also said Sweden will lose its choice of venue if a similar situation happens again, and the country will be required to guarantee that future matches will be open to the public. Sweden hosted Israel last month in the first round of the Davis Cup, losing 3-2. The best-of-five series was played behind closed doors because city officials said they couldn't guarantee security at the venue. Critics, including the Israeli team, said Malmo was caving in to threats of violence from anti-Israel groups." So, what happened here? Did the Swedes refuse to protect Israeli players with a security detail? Was this political payback from a government which condemned Israel's recent self defense Gaza incursion?
WR Dante Stallworth turned himself in after killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Miami. Stallworth told officers he flashed his lights and honked his horn in an attempt to warn Reyes (pedestrian). I guess this drunk bozo never thought of slowing down, stopping or swerving to avoid the poor soul who's now dead. He's facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
(www.allworldallsports.com)
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