The Heat Win!!! The Miami Heat beat the OKC Thunder for the NBA Championship

I picked the the Miami Heat to beat the Thunder before the playoffs started. LeBron James took a step towards being great, maybe LeBron isn't so overrated anymore...

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NBA Finals Preview "Will the Real Big 3 Please Stand Up!"

This is "Middle Class" Matt, the average sports' fan and genius, with a review of the NBA Playoffs and a Preview of the NBA Finals. Here are a few questions this blog entry asks, "Will the Real Big 3 Please Stand up?" "Will LeBron James Finally get a Ring?" "Who is the Best Player in the game?" and "Which NBA Team will be the next Dynasty?" No matter what the answers are, basketball fans should be excited that they are going to see basketball played at it's highest level. This should be a historic series.

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Is LeBron James Overrated?

"Middle Class" Matt asking the questions, is LeBron James overrated? Do Shaq and Kobe get enough credit? Shaq and Kobe, are they better than LeBron? Why does LeBron have 3 MVPs and no rings?

CLICK THE VIDEO ABOVE FOR THE WHOLE STORY...

2012 NBA Playoffs Preview and Predictions! The Heat Win!!!

FOR ALL OF "MIDDLE CLASS" MATT'S PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2012 NBA PLAYOFFS, CLICK THE VIDEO ABOVE.

Here I go again, I love to predict games. Let's see if I can predict a few series right! There is no clear dominate team or teams, like there was in the past history of the NBA. Five or Six teams have a chance to win the whole thing!

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Sometimes it's Just that Simple...

Come on guys, make some shots!

This has been a very weird NBA finals. Neither Dallas or Miami has played well.

After game one, almost the entire media (which means the guys from ESPN) were talking about how great Miami's defense was at putting the claps on the Mavericks' high powered offense. All the ESPN talking heads were analyzing what happened to the Mavs and trying to breakdown why Miami was so effective but, sometimes we as fans, can figure out why a team lost and the other won, better than the high paid analysts can. It is actually quite simple. Dallas missed shots, and that's all there is to it. The bench has missed shots all series and that is the real story. Dallas could be up 3-1 if their not so, turbo charged bench played like we all expected it to. Both Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson in game four discussed, how Dallas is getting wide open shots and just can't knock them down. So that doesn't make a great story but it is the truth of it. Dallas' points per game have declined dramatically, and if the bench was reaching its normal average, so would the team as whole.

There is no reason to discuss this series anymore than the media already has. ESPN's coverage is torture enough, so to be fair, I will say just a few things about Miami. Miami has a lot of problems that have been well discussed by everyone. The Heat could have easily won the series already, and still may in the end. Wade and James are the best kids on the court and when the two best guys get together they are hard to beat. The problem is James and Wade are the same kid and that makes it hard for them to both be at their best at the same time. The Heat will most likely get a true big man during the off season and then the championships may just pile up for the foreseeable future. But for now they have problems that are allowing Dallas to outsmart and play them.

To the Heat's credit, putting LeBron on Jason Terry was a great idea, and it has disrupted the flow of Dallas' offense, but Terry had a big game four and if he has two more big game games it may spell trouble for the Heat. Still, if the Heat play with heart and hustle, I don't know if the Mavs can win with just Dirk knocking down shots. Well, no matter who wins the Heat doesn't seem to be getting the star treatment, and this great for the fans. We just might get a thriller of a game seven and no matter how flawed both teams are, as basketball fans, that's all you can ask for.

This Week in Sports!

So, I was 6 of 8 in my first round NBA predictions. This is good, but not great. The only pick that I regret is picking the Orlando Magic to beat the Atlanta Hawks. I picked the Magic because I thought Stan Van Gundy would out coach Larry Drew Sr., and the Hawks would have no answer for D. Howard. The way things shaped up, was that the Hawks were to athletic at the wings and the Magic need better players and this may cost them the man in the middle a year from now. No one really saw the Memphis Grizzlies beating San Antonio Spurs, but I had the Spurs losing in the next round so no big surprise. This was an important series because it marks the end of this Spurs team as we know it. The Spurs must bring in new young talent to be a contender again.

In the summer there is not a whole lot of good sports going on. I have always had trouble finding and keeping up the important sports events. I have a hard time remembering when the good events of games are coming on, or finding the times of these events. So, here they are:

Tonight May 2, 2011
Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks 8:00 PM on TNT
L. A. Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks 10:30 PM on TNT

Tuesday May 3, 2011
Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat 7:00 PM on TNT
(This should be a really good game and series, but in game one the Big 3 decided the ball game. And by the Big 3 I mean the refs. Hopefully the refs will not continue to give Miami so much star treatment.)

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 10:30 PM on TNT

Wednesday May 4, 2011
Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls 8:00 PM on TNT
L. A. Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks 9:30 PM on TNT

Thursday May 5, 2011
No NBA

Friday May 6, 2011
Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks 7:00 PM on ESPN
L. A. Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks 9:30 PM on ESPN

Saturday May 7, 2011
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 5:00 PM on ESPN
Miami Boston vs. Boston Celtics 8:00 PM on ABC

Another good sporting event this week is the Wells Fargo Championship. This PGA tour event is in Charlotte, NC and is always a good one. I don't watch too much golf unless the big boys are there. Good News Phil Mickelson will be playing!

May 5-8 2011 Live at 3 PM or replay 8:30 PM on the Golf Channel

Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley May 7, 2011 on Pay-per-view

Tim Duncan Is Fading Fast, And It Hurts To Watch

Is this how it ends?

Let me preface this column by saying the following:  Tim Duncan is one of my top 3 favorite players of all time.  He's right there with Dominique Wilkins and Dirk Nowitzki.  I started liking Duncan when I was in high school and he was still at Wake Forest.  The reason Duncan became my favorite player was the fact that he was successful playing the game the right way, using a tremendous set of fundamentals rather than just relying on athleticism, thus garnering the nickname "The Big Fundamental."   I modeled my game after Duncan's due to my lack of athleticism when compared to other post players I faced. 

It hurts me to say this, but after watching this opening series against Memphis, I'm afraid Duncan has reached the twilight of being a force in the NBA.  Check these highlights from Game 4 last night and watch the play at 1:43.  Tim Duncan gets out muscled and out hustled by Marc Gasol. 

My jaw dropped when I saw that play live.  I even said something about it to my wife, knowing she couldn't care less, but I was so stunned and sad.  Tim Duncan has never been one to be outworked, but he has been outworked all series, as have the rest of the Spurs, against a much more athletic, young and hungry group of Grizzlies.  I, like many, thought Game 1 was a fluke, but it's clearly obvious the Grizzlies are just better than the Spurs and will win the series.   

So far in the playoffs, Duncan is averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds per game, a far cry from his dominating performances during the Spurs' championship runs, where 20+ point, 20+ rebound games were the norm.  I don't think it's a matter of heart; no one will ever question Tim Duncan's desire.  It's a matter of ability.  

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next couple of years.  Will Duncan try to hang on, like Shaq (and Brett Favre), and be a mediocre role player, or will he realize his best days are behind him and ride off into the sunset a winner (John Elway)?

Either way, Duncan is one of the 10 greatest centers of all time and a first ballot Hall of Famer.  It's sad to watch when he can no longer perform up to his and fans expectations.

CAN YOU SAY THREE-PEAT!

The Lakers may have a tough time but when the smoke clears I think they will three-peat! No other team accept maybe the Celtics have all the pieces in place to win it all. Boston is old and without and does not have the post players to match up, and to that fact niether does anyone else. Lakers win third in row and here are the rest of my playoff predictions...

2nd Round

Western Conference

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (4) Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder will make the Spurs look their age, but the Spurs will not go down without a fight. I really want to pick the Spurs here with their experience and tough playoff-ready verterans, but I just think they have too many problems this year. The lack of their trademark defense and injuries being at the top of a long list. So the athleticism of the Thunder will just be too much and the old Spurs will wear out in the end. Thunder in 7

(2) L.A. Lakers vs. (3) Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs will give the Lakers all they can handle. The Lakers will prevail because of their superior post play. Both the Mavs and Lakers have big time scores who can make big play and hit clutch shots, but the Lakers are just too long and tall inside, Lakers in 6.

Eastern Conference

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (4) Orlando Magic

I like the Bulls personnel and think they should make mutliple deep runs in the playoffs in the future. Chicago has played with passion and hustle all year and as a result they have the best record in the playoffs. Chicago is still young and inexperienced in the playoffs and heart alone will not get it done at this stage.

Orlando has had their fair share of problems this year, but when it counts they play defense and that will be enough to slow down the young firepower of the Bulls. The Bulls have very good big men, but no one can stop D. Howard, Magic in 7.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) Boston Celtics

This is the hardest game to pick but it should be a classic! Boston is experienced as a team and their defense should hold the big three in check. The game will be decided inside if Shaq was healthy or if Kendrick Perkins was still there, Boston would have even more of an advantage inside.

But Boston has enough considering the Heat have no inside presence. Boston should beat the Heat up inside, unless James gets down and dirty in the paint and I don't think that will happen (but he could like the way Magic jumped center). Going along with their inside advantage, Boston will beat up the Heat but not just inside but on the permeter as well. Celtics in 7

3rd round

Western Conference

(2) L.A. Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Lakers have too much everything for the Thunder. The Thunder's athletism and high octane offense will make this series fun, but just too much Kobe, Gasol, Odom, Phil Jackston, just too much Lakers. Lakers in 6

Eastern Conference

(3) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Orlando Magic

Boston will have no answer for D. Howard that we all know. Howard is such a force of nature inside that will keep this series competive, but in Celtics are build for playoffs and will beat the Magic in every other facet of the game. Plus Boston has that great home court advantage, Celtics in 6.

NBA Championship

L.A Laker vs. Boston Celtics

Can you say rematch! Both of these team will not get to the championship next year, if they do not get younger in the off season. With that said they will have enough to get here one last time, but Boston will look really old and the Lakers will have home court and an inside advantage. Boston's age and missing big men will make this an easier series for L.A., than it was last year, Lakers in 6.

Flip the Switch!

While the NBA regular season as a product has improved over the last few seasons it still can not match the intensity of college basketball.

But when the playoffs starts the professionals flip the switch! As a basketball purist you have love the effort and high level of play that the best players in the world showcase during this tournament. The first round will have some sub par games, but after that we should all be able to enjoy some top flight round ball! Here are my picks...

Eastern Conference

1st Round

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Indiana Pacers

I'll take the Bulls in four, for lots of reasons but no reason to bore you with details, Derrick Rose enough said.

(2) Miami Heat vs (7) Philadelphia 76ers

The Heat's star power is just too much for the 76ers. The bottom three teams from the East will not put up too much of a fight, they would not have even made the playoffs if they were in the West. Heat in 5

(3) Boston Celtics vs. (6) The New York Knicks

New York has two great players who will have some great games in this series, but in the end Boston's veteran experience and hard nose defense will be too much for the newly formed Knicks. Celtics in 6

(4) Orlando Magic vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

This is a hard one to pick as the 4-5 match up should be. Orlando wins but it will be a fight. The Hawks talented wing players will give the Magic trouble. The Magic will prevail because of better coaching, defense, and... that's right you guessed it D. Howard! Magic in 7

Western Conference

1st Round

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies

The Spurs are old and they stumbled into the playoffs but veterans and experience win playoff games. The Spurs have a ton of both of those, but the Grizzlies are young and athletic. This will cause the Spurs some problems but when all is said and done, Spurs in 6.

(2) L.A. Lakers vs. (7) New Orleans Hornets

Lakers in 5, whatever you can think of is reason enough.

(3) Dallas Mavericks vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers

This series should have some good games. Once again a common theme in the 1st round youth and athleticism vs. experience and leadership. Experience and leadership wins out, the Mavs have too many big time shot makers for the Blazers, Mavs in 6

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets have had a crazy year losing one of the games' biggest names and other important players, as well. The Nuggets are a completely different team now, from the one they started season with. Still, they have enough players to make this a series, but the Thunders great young stars will be too much for a team who lacks chemistry and defense, Thunder in 6

The rest of my predictions coming tomorrow...

NBA Playoff Prediction Time!

Who will be taking this bad boy home this year?



"Any given day" is a quote many coaches and commentators use to describe the ability for an underdog to knock off a better team in a game.  Why this is often the case in many sports, it's not true if you want to advance and win the NBA Championship.  In 2003, when the NBA went to a seven game first round, it took away the chance for early upsets in the playoffs.  Since you must beat a team four times to move on, shocking upsets in the NBA playoffs are very rare.  If you want to win it all, you have to be the best, and get a little help, usually from the officials.  There are no George Masons or Virginia Commonwealths playing for the NBA title. 

Here are my picks for this year's second season:

Western Conference Quarterfinals:
(1) San Antonio over (8) Memphis in 5 games:  This is a conservative choice, as opposed to the sweep most analysts will call.  I think Memphis may steal one at home, but this will be an easy series win for the Spurs.

(4) Oklahoma City over (5) Denver in 6 games:  I will probably watch more of this series than any of the others, with the exception of maybe the Hawks/Magic.  Even though the Nuggets have proven they are still a good team without Carmelo, the fact that George Karl came out and said he'd rather play Dallas than the Thunder should tell you something. 

(3) Dallas over (6) Portland in 7 games:  I think home-court advantage will be a big factor in this series.  Dallas has been really streaky this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if they lost here, but they are the better team, so they should take care of business.

(2) Los Angeles over (7) New Orleans in 5 games:  Even though the Lakers have played poorly down the stretch, they are clearly better than New Orleans, but don't be surprised if a couple of these games are decided late by the Black Mamba.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals:
(1) Chicago over (8) Indiana in 5 games:  Indiana has the capability of pulling off more than one win, but I think they will only get one at home. 

(4)Orlando over (5) Atlanta in 7 games:  This one should go the distance.  Atlanta has lost their last six going in to the playoffs, but did win the season series 3-1 over the Magic.  This Orlando team isn't nearly as good as last year's edition (bad trade) and I really wouldn't be shocked if Atlanta won the series.  They will have to win in Orlando to get it done, though.

(3)Boston over (6) New York in 6 games:  Boston is too playoff tested and savvy to let the Knicks take them to the limit.  This is a talented Knicks squad that will make each game tough for Boston.

(2) Miami over (7) Philadelphia in 5 games:  Miami has the propensity to hit the snooze buttons during games, which should let the Sixers steal at least one game in this series, but Miami is too good to not win this series.

Western Conference Semifinals:
(1) San Antonio over (4) Oklahoma City in 7 games:  I really like the Thunder, but i don't think they are ready to beat a team like San Antonio four times.  Maybe next year will be their year, as they grow with Westbrook, Durant and Perkins.  I think the Spurs' home court advantage and big game experience will overpower the upstart Thunder.

(2) Los Angeles over (3) Dallas in 6 games:  I can't see Dallas pushing the Lakers to a game seven, they're just not mentally tough enough to win in LA.

Eastern Conference Semifinals:
(1) Chicago over (4) Orlando in 5 games:  Whether or not it's the Magic or Hawks that Chicago faces in round 2, I don't see either giving them a long series. 

(2) Miami over (3) Boston in 7 games:  This is the series everyone wants to see, including me.  Boston won the season series, but I think the talent of Miami's Big Two-and-a-Half will overcome the older Celtics, with some help from the officials...

Western Conference Finals:
(2) Los Angeles over (1) San Antonio in 7 games:  This will be a great series that I think will be won by the Lakers.  Honestly, I think the Spurs have a deeper roster, but I feel a Lakers win. 

Eastern Conference Finals:
(2) Miami over (1) Chicago in 6 games:  Again, star power wins in the playoffs.  Chicago has a great team, but I don't think they can beat Miami four times out of seven.  I actually think Boston will give Miami a tougher series than Chicago will. 

NBA Finals:  
Miami over Los Angeles in 7 games:  Keeping with the star power theme, I'll take these two, since this is what the majority of the nation wants to see.  I kind of can't believe I'm picking these two, as my gut tells me that Boston and San Antonio are the best teams in each conference.  I think this is the matchup everyone wants to see, so don't be surprised to see some funny officiating to help these two teams.