As the Thunder and Spurs battle it out in what's looking like an instant classic Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, we're wondering who you think wins tomorrow night in Boston?
While the Bobcats and Magic search for a new head coach, several other teams have decide to retain the ones that finished the 2011/12 season. Despite a class of potential coaches that includes Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Nate McMillan, Stan Van Gundy, Mike D'Antoni, Michael Malone, Brian Shaw, and more, the Clippers, Knicks, and Wizards elected not to interview other candidates before retaining their own guys. Was that the right decision?
The draft lottery for the 2012 NBA Draft was held on Wednesday, with the New Orleans Hornets receiving the top overall pick and the Charlotte Bobcats coming in second. In a draft filled with uncertainty and divisive prospects, the one note that virtually every fan and analyst agrees on is the inevitability of Kentucky forward Anthony Davis' top overall selection. After that, however, it gets murkier, with several players in line for consideration by the Bobcats. Which of these do you think will end up being the second overall pick in the draft?
Tonight's draft lottery holds the potential to rewrite the history of the 13 different franchises eligible to select first come June. For the Bobcats, winning the lottery would allow owner Michael Jordan to move past an especially trying season and re-energize a fan base hungry for a quality product on the court. Adding a player like Anthony Davis to complement last year's top pick Kyrie Irving would go a long way to continue to the healing process for the Cavaliers in a post-LeBron world. In Brooklyn, securing the top spot in the draft could lead to Dwight Howard wearing a black and white Nets jersey.
When the Celtics emerged from their hard fought seven game series against the Sixers, they looked more relieved than jubilant. This was a series they were supposed to win, and waiting on the other side of the tracks was a Heat team that knocked them out in five games last season.
The upcoming Eastern Conference Finals will be a battle of will between two organizations loaded with veteran players who're more than familiar with the task at hand. How do you think it plays out?
On Saturday, the Sixers will travel up to Boston to face the Celtics in the unlikely seventh game of their Eastern Conferencen Semifinals series. It's uncharted waters for the Sixers, while the Celtics have been in this exact situation several times over the past five years. Who do you think will win, and in what fashion will they get it done?
The Spurs have yet to lose a game in the 2012 postseason, dispatching the Jazz and Clippers with ease, averaging a margin of victory of an incredible 13.8 points. San Antonio has won every game they've played for the last six weeks, and will have home court advantage in the Western Conference Finals.
The Thunder, meanwhile, have dominated their first two opponents nearly as thoroughly as the Spurs have, winning eight of nine games against the Mavericks and Lakers. Oklahoma City's big two of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have averaged over 50 points per game between them, while the Thunder's front-line of Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins could cause problems for the Spurs.
The Western Conference Finals get underway on Sunday night, and could end up being the best series we see this spring. So today's poll question is simple: Which team will win, and how many games will it take?
The Heat fell to the Pacers at home Tuesday evening by the score of 78-75 with Chris Bosh sidelined due to an abdominal muscle strain. The series, now even at one game a piece, heads to Indianapolis where the Pacers went 23-10 during the regular season and are currently 2-1 during the playoffs. Bosh, 28, had been especially strong for the Heat during the first round of the playoffs where he averaged 14.7 PPG and 6.8 RPG in just over 30 minutes per contest.
Game 2 of the series between the Heat and the Pacers saw Miami's two superstars live up to their billing with a combined 52 points and 15 rebounds in the losing effort. The Heat bench failed to shoulder any of the load as five players, including Mike Miller and Shane Battier, gave the team a total of 15 points. Ronny Turiaf, inserted into the starting lineup in the wake of Bosh's injury, struggled to provide quality minutes during his brief time on the court in which he committed more fouls (four) than points scored (three).
What do you think? Can LeBron James and Dwyane Wade elevate their level of play and get increased production from the bench to overcome the absence of Bosh to beat the Pacers?
One of the most high-profile players to hit free agency this summer will be Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash. The 38-year-old continues to express interest in returning to the Suns, although there is heavy speculation that he will instead sign with a contender such as the Heat. He’s also been linked to the Blazers, Knicks, and Raptors in various scenarios. Where do you think Nash will play in 2012/13?
Fresh off their victory over the Nuggets on Saturday evening, the Lakers will head to Oklahoma City on Monday for Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs to take on the Thunder. A re-energized Pau Gasol has the Lakers looking dangerous even against a heavily-favored Thunder squad.
The return of Metta World Peace in the final game of the series proved to be critical to the Lakers' success against the Nuggets and could potentially be a difference maker against the Thunder. The Lakers will also need improved play from Ramon Sessions or he could continue to lose minutes to Steve Blake, who put together an outstanding performance Saturday night at the Staples Center. Andrew Bynum showed flashes of brilliance at times against Denver but still needs to prove that he can play at a high level for an entire series, not just a few games.
What do you think? Will Kobe's supporting cast be able to come through against the likes of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden as they did against the Nuggets in Game 7?