NCAA Tournament Preview and Predictions March Madness Bracket Challenge

NCAA PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS(ACC TEAMS)

Virginia Cavaliers

Round of 64

The coaching job that Tony Bennett has done at Virginia is very impressive. Bennett's team has overachieved and deserves credit for it, but Mike Scott will not be enough to help Virgina move on. Florida has too much talent and has an elite coach who is Tournament tested. Virginia goes home after just one game.

N.C. State Wolfpack

Round of 32

The Pack may go to the Sweet 16 and they could go down to San Diego State in the first round. So, it may be wise to split the difference. State is very talented and athletic. Lorenzo Brown and C.J. Leslie are future NBA players who can create match up problems for any team. State, when focused, is dangerous, there's a lot of doubt if they can bring that focus for 40 minutes for 2 or 3 games in a row.

Duke Blue Devils

Sweet 16

Duke has been a good team all year, but "Duke is not elite." Duke relies too much on the three ball, has no one to distribute the basketball, and has an inconsistent inside attack. Still, Coach K will have his team ready and Duke has a team of McDonalds' All Americans that should be enough to win at least two NCAA tournament games. Austin Rivers needs to have a big time tournament or Duke may go home before this weekend is over!

Florida State Seminoles

Final Four

The Seminoles have been given a gift with Fab Melo not being able to play. With that loss, the Noles should be able to overwhelm the Orange or Ohio State inside. FSU is a veteran team with big physical post players and clutch guards. The Seminoles will have to watch out for an ACC Tournament hangover, but if they bring the same intensity to this tournament that they did in the ACC they should move on to the Final Four!

North Carolina Tar Heels

National Champions

The Tar Heels are a complete team with tournament experience. The Heels are big and long at every position, which creates nightmare match up problems for almost every team in the nation. Kentucky might be the rare exception to the match up problems UNC forces. Yet, Kendall Marshall, if UNC and Kentucky would square off for the national championship, would be an advantage over Marquis Teague at the same position. Kendall Marshall has become a complete point guard in the second half of this season. It could be argued that Marshall, of late, has been the best point guard in the nation. So, Marshall may give UNC an match up adavantage over every point guard they face and usually guards win NCAA Tournament Championship!

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Sunday Picks 10/02/2011 NFL

Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys 24-21

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Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears

Bears 28-20

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans

Texans 34-24

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Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns

Browns 24-17

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Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Bills 28-13

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Washington Redskins vs. St. Louis Rams

Rams 20-17

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Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Vikings 27-24

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San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadephia Eagles

Eagles 24-13

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New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Saints 38-17

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Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks

Falcons 31-13

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New York Giants vs. Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals 28-23

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Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers

Packers 31-17

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Miami Dolphins vs. San Diego Chargers

Chargers 34-20

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New England Patriots vs. Oakland Raiders

Patriots 35-24

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New Yorks Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens

Jets 23-21

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Monday Night

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers 27-20

NFL Preview, NFC

"TO BE THE MAN, YOU GOT TO BEAT THE MAN!"

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The NFC is a very competitive conference. Three of the four divisions in the NFC are really good. There are only a few NFC teams that are great, but almost all the teams are pretty good. The middle teams and bottom teams in the NFC are better than middle and bottom of the AFC. Everyone is picking the Green Bay Packers to repeat. That is such a safe pick. A NFC team will win the Super Bowl this year, but it will be the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS!!!

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NFC SOUTH

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New Orleans Saints

1st(2011 Super Bowl Champions)

The New Orleans Saints have what it takes to go all the way. The NFC South is one of the best divisions in football, and even if the Saints don't win their division they still may go to the Super Bowl this year. There are about 10-15 really good quarterbacks in the National Football League, but Drew Bree is one of the four QBs who stands head and shoulders above the rest. Brees(like the other three, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers) could play on any team in the NFL and make them a winning franchise. Brees always has nice targets to throw to, but this year the Saints have added two great running backs to take the pressure off the passing game. New addition, Mark Ingram, is a power running back with good speed, who functions like a bowling ball and the multipurpose Darren Sproles(genius pick up) is pure speed. The Saint's Jimmy Graham(he is still learning the game) should be much improved from last year and could be another dynamic weapon for the Saints offense. Graham is the latest in the former basketball player who converted to tight end, and with his 6-7 260 lbs. frame and ability, he should be as good as the other notable tight ends who transitioned before him. The Saint's defense will be good as well. Their front four is their strength. It is one of the best D lines in the NFC. Their line backing core is headed up by premier backer Jonathan Vilma. The Saints front 7 will be put to good use, as Defensive coordinator Greg Williams loves to blitz. William's style and the Saints personnel should spell trouble for QBs around the league. There is good chance that Green Bay will see the Saints in the NFC Conference Finals(a rematch from opening week). To pick the Packers is an easy pick to make and Rodgers will definitely get back to the Super Bowl one day, but this is the Saints' year and they will be in the big game again!

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Atlanta Falcons (11-5)

2nd(Wild Card)

Matt Ryan is good and so are the Falcons, but the Falcons will not have as good a record as they did last year. Ryan has been compared to Peyton Manning(Matt has a long ways to go to be Manning good), and like Manning it may take a few seasons for Ryan to get the monkey off the Falcons' back and get to the Super Bowl.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)

3rd

The Buccaneers will not be able to duplicate their record from last year, as well. Tampa Bay will not be able to sneak up on people this year and they play in a very good division. Josh Freedom seems to have what it takes to play in the NFL, but he will have to be better this year and will be asked to do more. Still, the Buccaneers will be respectable, but not a playoff team yet.

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Carolina Panthers (3-13)

4th

Once again it is the same old story that half of the NFL has to hear, quarterback problems. Cam Newton has shown no signs of being able to play quarterback, but even if Cam develops into a good QB, it will not be this year. Newton will start this year, at least a few games, and his growing pains will be on display for everyone to see. Even with the Panther QB situation so up in the air, that is not the Panthers' biggest problems. The Panthers' run defense is horrible, and unless that is fixed the Panthers have no shot to be a competitive team. If the Panthers don't fix their two glaring holes, they will not win a game in the NFC South Division. The Panthers do have some pretty good players and they will improve as a team from last year's two win season, but they will only get one more win. At least the Panthers will not be worst team in the NFC. Most likely the Seahawks will get that title.

Is there a new sheriff in town?

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NFC North

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Green Bay Packers (13-3)

1st

Green Bay won the Super Bowl last year. It would be easy to pick them to win it all again this year, and maybe that is the smart pick. The Packers have the best overall team in the NFL. They are the best top to bottom and with that said in a quarterback league, they have the best football player in NFL playing QB. Aaron Rodgers should win the MVP this year, yet it is almost impossible to repeat in the NFL. Another thing that may keep the Packers from repeating is that they seem to be overconfident and love to talk about repeating. Most teams that repeat don't talk so much, you will never hear the Brady bunch talking like that. Still, Green Bay will have a great season and will most likely get back to the NFC conference championship game.

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Detroit Lions (10-6)

2nd(Wild Card)

Picking the Lions to make the playoffs this year is a sexy pick. The Lions will be a wild card team this year, but this is still a risky pick. The Lions are still young and inexperienced, and have a long history of losing to overcome. Still, the Lions have Ndamukong Suh who is a King Kong on defense. Suh makes the entire defensive team better, the same way Aaron Rodgers makes everyone better on offense. Matthew Stafford has looked awesome in the preseason and if he can stay healthy this year the sky is limit. Suh has help on defense and Stafford has help on offense(Calvin Johnson), so the Lions should be able to help themselves to a playoff birth. Still, the Lions don't have an easy road. The NFC North is one of the best divisions in the NFL.

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Chicago Bears (9-7)

3rd

The Bears will have a good season, but not good enough to make the playoffs. The Bears play in a really good division that has improved from last year. The Bears' defense will be good this year, but they are a year older. The offense will have to completely rely on the ground attack. Jay Cutler is a good quarterback, but he has yet to prove that he can be elite. The question will be,"Can Culter make his receivers better and if not the Bears will be old and one dimensional?"

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Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

4th

The Vikings have a good team on both sides of the ball. They could be better than 7-9, but only if they get some really good play at the QB position. The Vikings have some great impact players, but QB is the glaring hole. Donovan McNabb doesn't too have much left in the tank and he is not getting younger any time soon. Plus, this is a tough division in which the Vikings will be matched up against some really good teams with good young quarterbacks. Vikings' QB problems will keep them from being able to hang with the big boys in this great division.

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Ready to be Elite?

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NFC NORTH

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St. Louis Rams (9-7)

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1st

The Rams will not be a really good team, but they will be good enough to win the worst division in football. The Rams QB Sam Bradford should be improved this year, building on a pretty solid rookie season. Plus, the Rams can run the ball and have some nice young defensive players who should be better this year as well. This spells playoffs for the Rams. Don't worry if the Rams start out slow. The first half of their schedule is tough, but the second half is easier. The Rams will come on strong the second half of the season, plus they have a weak division that should help the Rams get some wins. Rams' fans should not get too excited though, they will have to wait a few years for a deep playoff run.

Arizona Cardinals (8-8)

2nd

Kevin Kolb should give the Cardinals some stability at Quarterback, but there are too many questions Kolb will have to answer before the Cardinals make the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers (6-10)

3rd

Jim Harbaugh seems to have the makings of a good NFL head coach. The 49ers have a nice running game and some really good defensive pieces, but like many NFL teams they have too many questions at QB to be really good this year.

Seattle Seahawks (3-13)

4th

The worst team in the worst division, you can draw your own conclusions. Peter Carol is a smart guy, but he can't play quarterback.

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Jerry's Boy's are BACK!!!

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NFC EAST

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Dallas Cowboys (10-6)

1st

America's team, either you love them or you hate them. No matter how you feel, with the return of Tony Romo to distribute the ball to some lethal offensive weapons, the Cowboys will make the playoffs. This is Dez Bryant's second year and he could have a break out superstar kind of season, now that Romo is back. Dallas also has some nice defensive pieces like DeMarcus Ware and some new additions who could make an impact like linebacker Bruce Carter. Rob Ryan is the onw who is moving around these talented defensive pieces and he plans to be aggressive, which means the Dallas D should much improved from last year. QBs in the NFC East(Vick, Manning, Beck or Grossman) may be running for their lives. Romo has been highly criticized in the past, but he is in the top half of the league as a quarterback and with an ultra talented cast around him, it may not mean Super Bowl, but it does spell playoffs. "How 'bout them Cowboys?!"

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Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)

2nd

Michael Vick has lots of weapons around him, but not a lot of protection. With Vick's style of play he could easily get hurt this year. Vick only played 11 games last season. Things could really fall apart for the Eagles this year, but most likely they will win some, but no playoffs. Besides the offensive problems Philly may have, their defense is a huge question mark. It seems the Eagles will not be able to stop the run and that is bad news in the NFL.

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New York Giants (8-8)

3rd

The Giants have a good quarterback and a great pass rush, so they will have a respectable season. The losses the Giants have suffered from injuries and free agency will take their toll.

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Washington Redskins (7-9)

4th

The Redskins will be better this year, but the NFC East is a pretty solid division, so the Skins will finish a close 4th this year. The Skins are well coached and have some stars on defense, but the offense problems will keep the Redskins from getting over the hump.

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

Risk, Reward, Sure Thing! Part I

Some pro prospects are worth the risk. They may have weaknesses, but their strengths will overshadow all doubts about them and the reward could be huge. Adrian Peterson was a risk because of his injury issues, he would have been the number one overall pick, but he was viewed as a risk. The Vikings took a chance on Peterson and the reward was, well, history. There is another Peterson in this draft, but there is no risk there, Patrick Peterson is a sure thing.

Big Risk!


Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Biggest risk in the entire Draft. Newton is the next great bust! Draft experts will ask what happened to Cam and why did he fail, in the future. There is no reason to have to look back and wonder. Guys who make six digit salaries will excuse there miss evaluation of Newton, as that is easy to look back in retrospect, and not pick him number one. They will go on to talk about his college career, national championship, Heisman, etc. But remember this blog entry that Cam will never be a great QB in the NFL. Newton has everything you want in a football player except he can't throw and he isn't a high IQ guy. Well, those are the number one and two traits you want in a QB. Cam Newton is another athlete who wants to play quarterback, this has never worked, yet some real geniuses keep trying to make square pegs fit in round holes. It's like communism, fails everytime, but people keep trying it and swear it will work, the next time. I hope my Panthers trade Cam if they draft him, if not they will take a risk that will have no reward.


Ryan Mallet, QB, Arkansas
Ryan Mallet has all the tools to be, not a good QB, but a great one. He has tools similar to Joe Flacco, but he is bigger and better in every measured skill. Mallet is a lot like Newton in the sense that he has the tools, but the IQ and off the field problems have come into question. The difference between Newton and Mallet, is that Mallet can really spin it and last time I checked that's what QBs better be able to do in the NFL. Crazy idea to want a QB who can throw the ball, right?! One big part of Mallets' risk factor is that Bobby Petrino has never produced a great pro prospect, but he has never had a QB like Mallet who destroyed SEC defenses with his arm two years in a row. Ryan has many very desirable skills and physical traits (cannon for an arm, 6'7, etc), but have you seen his hands? Mallets hands have to the biggest hands of any NFL QB ever and as you may know many great QBs have big hands (Brett Favre, Drew Brees, etc). Mallet may fall to the 2nd round and if he does this might be the steal of the decade. Mallet is a big risk, but the reward could be as big as his giant frame and arm. A pure passer with his skills and size could be, scary!


Da' Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
Bowers is a protype 4-3 Defensive End. So, what's the problem, well the knee is. I heard it said that many NFL guys call it a "ticking time bomb." This makes Da'Quan a big risk, but if he falls to the mid of late 1st round he could be a huge reward for some team.


Big Reward!

Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
Blaine Gabbert is a risk, because all QBs are, and because he is system guy who will be drafted top five. With that said I would take Gabbert over Cam Newton any day. Gabbert looks like an NFL QB and I hear he is great locker room leader. Locker room leadership is much more important than foot speed for a NFL QB. Gabbert (6'4) can really sling it and he stands tall in the pocket, plus he has Tom Brady hair and that has to count for something. There are some risks that go long with any QB and Gabbert is a risk, but nothing can be more rewarding than drafting a franchise QB. Gabbert seems to have all the tools and intangibles to be a NFL franchise QB for a long time.

Robert Quinn, DE, UNC
The only reason there is any risk with Quinn is he has not played football for a year. You just don't know what that does to a guy until he gets back on the field in game action. Quinn looked good at the combine and after a year layoff that is impressive. Robert can play in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense and Quinn has good DE size, but moves like a linebacker. That is a combination that any NFL team would be crazy about! Quinn would have most likely been the overall number one pick if he had not missed the entire 2010 college season. So, if Quinn falls out of the top 5 it would be a great value and could be a very rewarding pick for a team in the long run.

Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
The rumors that are circulating around the NFL are what make Nick Fairley a risk. Everyone has heard these rumors by now, that Fairley is one year wonder, lazy, and takes plays off. But, I saw his drills and workouts and Fairley moves like DE and yet is almost 300 pounds. I have never seen a man of that size move like that. No one in the SEC could block him and that speaks volumes to his ability. Fairley stole the spotlight from Cam Newton by dominating the National Championship game. Nick could be a very rewarding pick because a DTs with his size and skills can anchor a top ranked NFL defense.


Sure Thing!

Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
This one is easy, best player in the draft. Played in the SEC, check, Safety size, check, elite corner speed, check, and on top of that he returns kicks. Peterson is ball hawk and is one of the most dangerous kick returner to come out in a decade. Peterson is just a can't miss!

Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Like Peterson, Dareus played in the best college football conference in the world. He is huge man at 6'4 and 315 pounds and has a great motor. The experts say he can even play some DE and the NFL really like the DE/DT hybrid right now. A DT like Dareus, with his size and skills can make everyone on his side of the ball better (and make everyone on the other side look bad). DTs like Dareus don't always have the sexy stats, but the dominate football games.

Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
Castonzo has it all he is 6'7 and 311 pounds. He has the size and the fundamentals to go long with them, which is rare at this time in OT career. Castonzo will come right in and start, and will be a 12 year starter unless injuries prevent it. Castonzo seems to be well coached and smart and that is super important, because a tackle has to learn so much. It seems Castonzo might not go top 10, which means Castonzo will be a steal, because he is a sure thing.


Here are some other sure things or at least guys I really like in the 1st round.
Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
Nate Solder, OT, Colorado (but he is a risk)
Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State (maybe a steal if he goes late 1st round)


I will write about more Risks, Rewards, and Sure things from the later rounds in Part II tomorrow...

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...