Family Reunion - The Return of LeBron

Akron's most famous son returns home.

Needless to say, the LeBron James-Cleveland family reunion tonight will not be anything of the ordinary. There will not be any family portraits taken. No reminiscing of old times. And definitely no handshakes, hugs or kisses.

Nearly five months after LeBron made his decision to leave his hometown Cavaliers for the warm beaches of Miami, he will be walking down the halls of the Quicken Loans Arena for the first time as the enemy. For the first time perhaps in his career, he will face an entire crowd that will spitting venom at him for an entire 48 minutes.

Since "The Decision", the Cavaliers and the Heat franchises have gone through radical changes and repositioned themselves in the NBA landscape. Miami has struggled out of the gate and currently sits on an 11-8 record. James along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have taken longer to gel than expected and have struggled to beat teams with .500 records or better. Several preseason concerns are coming to fruition. The depth of the Heat is in serious question as, outside the Big 3, production is minimal from the bench. Significant injuries have put more pressure on the Big 3 to produce especially with the injury to Mike Miller (has yet to make his season debut) and the loss of Udonis Haslem (reportedly, done for the season). And big question marks surrounding the point guard position and the front court has been exposed by elite teams.

Off the court, the Heat has had to face their share of criticism and internal issues. With no true PG on the roster, LBJ has been forced to play point-forward and run the offense Magic Johnson-style. Reports say he prefers not to be the distributor and has clashed with coach Erik Spoelstra which climaxed with the media-constructed BumpGate. A player-only meeting was held after a dismal performance against the Dallas Mavericks in which the details of the meeting were kept internally. And campaigns for the firing of Spoelstra are in full-swing with Pat Riley coming down from the front office.

The Cavaliers, as expected, are struggling but the lack of quality teams in the East have them in playoff contention even with a 7-10 record. The Cavs have not done a complete overhaul of the team and is content on competing with the pieces they have. Veterans like Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker are taking the leadership role and help guide the young core of JJ Hickson and Daniel Gibson. The spirit of the Cavs fanbase remains high despite the latest blow to their sports-culture. Their attendance is ranked second in the league and does not need their fans to "Fan Up" to make sure they're in their seats on time.

When LeBron decided to leave back in July, he was on a pursuit for championships and believe the grass was greener in D-Wade's backyard. The Heat's struggles are well documented but it's still too early to declare the experiment a complete disaster. The final evaluation of LeBron's decision cannot be made on the premise of a handful of games or even one season. He is in for the long-haul, for now.

What is definitive is LeBron's perceived image by his hometown. He is the home-grown talent that made the Cavs relevant again. The player who brought the crowd to their feet every night. The marketing-gem who lured in big-name companies to the city and plaster his face on billboards.

But on this night, he will be perceived as the most recent blemish in Cleveland's sports history. The player who never lived up to the promise of delivering the city a championship. The man who ripped the heart out of his hometown on national TV.

When LeBron performs his pregame ritual of tossing the powder in the air, the Cleveland crowd won't be mesmerized by what his athletic greatness may bring tonight. They will see through the cloud of white powder and see an ex-relative.

This will not be a family reunion for LeBron James. It's judgement day.

Oilers Quarter Report

We have reached the quarter-mark of the NHL season and pretty soon everyone can stop using the phrase: "It's still early in the season." Time is ticking for teams to "figure things out" and "work out the kinks." The Edmonton Oilers season is quickly unfolding and needless to say its somewhat obvious where this season is heading based on the first quarter of the season.

The Oilers stormed out of the gate on opening night with the 4-0 win over the Flames. But since then, there has been little to cheer about as the team as hit a wall. Although preseason expectations were low, the margin of the Oilers' losses have been somewhat surprising. Everyone, myself included, are guilty of overhyping the influx of youth to the team. Their inexperience have come to the forefront and its evident that Hall, Eberle, and Paajarvi are prodigies that will need time to carve out their game in the big leagues. Here's a quick evaluation of Oilers thus far.

FORWARDS

The same story goes for the Oilers forwards: tons of talent but lack in size. Outside of Dustin Penner, the Oilers top 6 forwards don't have the bulk to win crucial battles. Oilers have had trouble sustaining pressure in the offensive zone due largely to their inability to win one-on-one battles in the corner and outmuscling opponents off the puck. In defence of the rookies, they are young and eventually will fill out their frames. The return of a healthy Ales Hemsky significantly boosts the offensive threat of this team but the forward has yet to find his stride. After a breakout year, Dustin Penner is already facing scrutiny in the media over his effort and desire to use his size to his advantage. Other Oilers such as Andrew Cogliano and Gilbert Brule have yet to make any positive impact on the team and may be on the trading block sooner or later. First year captain Shawn Horcoff has taken Hall and Eberle under his wing and form the first line. At times they are the most effective offensive line but with plus-minuses of -2, -7, and -8 more emphasis on two-way hockey needs to be instilled in the young Oilers. Paajarvi has shown flashes of maturity but has bounced around the lineup as of late. Unfortunately, it its of no fault of his own - the lack of size in the lineup has forced Tom Renney to downgrade Paajarvi to the 4th line in favor of the bigger and tougher Ryan Jones. It seems like in-game line juggling occurs as frequently as the Oilers let in powerplay goals. Until they can find the right combination of players and sustain some stability, they will be hard pressed to develop chemistry and offence. 

DEFENCE

Outside of Ryan Whitney, the defensive corps has been abysmal so far. At the forefront of media scrutiny is Tom Gilbert. After receiving the big contract in 2008, Gilbert has struggled to live up to expectations and deliver on both ends of the ice. With $11.5 million left on virtually an immoveable deal, Gilbert needs to find his game for the Oilers to turn this season around. Whitney has been the lone bright spot thus far. In his first full season in copper and blue, Whitney leads the team in scoring and logs huge minutes with his play on PP and PK. Even better, he has already taken a leadership role on the team and was named an alternative captain. Offseason pick-up Jim Vandermeer has been a disappointment. Brought in to be the "sandpaper" on the back end, Vandermeer has been a soft, defensive liability which has made him a healthy scratch as of late. Ladislav Smid and Theo Peckham have played a stay-at-home style and it was nice to see Peckham coming to the aid of Smid after the brawl in New York.

GOALTENDING

Although the stats show that the Oilers goaltending is a significant issue, the numbers don't tell the story. The Oilers have given up the most goals (79) and and the 4th most shots (711) which averages to about 36 shots a game. The lack of defense infront of Khabibulin and Dubnyk has really forced these two to stand on their heads and outperform the opposing goalie to give the Oilers any chance of winning. With the youth movement in full swing, one has to wonder when it is time to hand the starting job to Dubnyk. Khabibulin is the high-priced goalkeeper, but with the playoffs being a long shot this season, it may be time to let Dubs experience the highs and lows of a NHL starting goalie. 

Oilers' Stand

Another tough road game for the Edmonton Oilers where they were hammered on the scoreboard in an 8-2 loss to the New York Rangers. This ends a tough road trip for the copper and blue. But the buzz is not about the Oilers shortcomings on the road, or on the PK. Sunday's game saw a brawl between the two teams after Sean Avery sucker-punched Oilers Ladislav Smid. Watch the sequence of events.



No disciplinary action was handed out to Avery... no surprise. But without a doubt, Avery's gutless act was frowned upon around the league. He's developed a reputation for committing dishonorable acts that even his own teammates are ashamed of.

If Oilers fans can take one positive out of this situation is how Smid's teammates reacted. As Avery is being escorted off the ice, Ryan Whitney continues to give him an earful which leads to an on-ice brawl. Fraser fought. Peckham fought. Stortini fought. In years past, the Oilers have been criticized of not sticking up for one another and allowing their superstars to be bullied by other team's goons. It's refreshing to see that there is a strong sense of pride in the Oilers locker room when one teammate goes down it is an obligation for another to defend his honor. As the Oilers continue to rebuild and establish the proper culture, this element needs to be on the forefront and enforced with the right character players.

"I definitely made a little bit of a mistake and went a little wonky there, but we're a family and sometimes you just have to make a stand for yourself." - Theo Peckham

Raptors Roundup

Following a remarkable victory over the Orlando Magic and previous franchise player Vince Carter, The Toronto Raptors are getting prepared to go against their most recent departed all-star. The player formerly known as CB4 will face-off against his old teammates after leaving T.O to chase championships in Miami.

Franchise player leaves under negative circumstances, Raptors forced to rebuild, new season with very low expectations. Sound familiar? The Raptors entered 2010-2011 with possibly the lowest expectations since their inaugural season. They will hit the 10 game mark tonight and the forecast for this season is very black and white.

In terms of skill, this team severely lacks an uber-talented player who can take over games (and win them) single-handedly. It's assumed that Andrea Bargnani will take over the team and he the cornerstone for years to come. Labelled as being the next Dirk Nowitzki during his draft year, Bargnani has not come close to resembling Disco Dirk as he continues to find consistency in his game. Will he ever average 8+ rebounds in a season?

The PG platoon of Jarret Jack and Jose Calderon has been frustrating at times so far. Neither player has seized the opportunity to become the primary PG due to inconsistent play and turnover issues. Having two quality PGs is never a bad thing, however, but more efficient games from those two will go along away in making the Raptors competitive and preventing them from getting blown out every night.Since Coach Jay Triano has taken over the team, he has been preaching a defence-first mentality that has never materialized to on-court performance. The team currently gives up the 10th most points and, with a roster like the Raptors, that just won't cut it. Turnovers has been a major issue so far as they give up the 7th most turnovers and forces the Raps to play from behind on most given nights. The offence can usually manage to carve out 100-point games but more consistency on the defensive-end could swing games in their favor.

The youth movement is in full swing and with that comes with a roster full of athletic players. The likes of DeMar DeRozen, Sonny Weems and Amir Johnson gives the Raptors a lot of speed to play their up-tempo style. So far, Double D has shown glimpses of his potential as he has put together some solid games, such as the Orlando game (26pts, 7rebs), and may be the player the Raptors build around in the next few years. New additions Leandro Barbosa and Linus Kleiza have made minimal impacts so far. Barbosa is hampered with an wrist injury that is destined for surgery but his injury has given extra minutes to Weems and Julian Wright to show what they can do.

The Raptors firmly know that they won't win because of style, skill or talent for this season. Triano has made the team buy into his hard-nosed, bang-it-out, win-dirty game plan. To put it plain and simple, the Raps will win from working a lot harder than the other team. No player has embodied that more than Reggie Evans, the doppleganger of rapper Freeway. Significantly undersized at 6'8, Evans has managed be a top 5 rebounder that has given the Raps numerous second chance opportunities in games. His level of effort is something to admire and as a fan, you can only hope it is contagious amongst his teammates.

With the team facing Chris Bosh for the first time, there are a lot fo questions surrounding his departure and how it was handled. CB1 has been accused of not being a true leader, mentally checking out, and having negative opinions about Toronto and Canada. A lot of this criticism has come from the Raptors front office especially GM Bryan Colangelo. Bosh has been defending his reputation and saying there is no truth behind those claims. Either way, the path that the Raptors management took in bashing their former all-star has nothing but bad consequences attached to it. We have seen Cavaliers GM Dan Gilbert send out a public hate letter after LeBron left town. Although it was accepted by Clevelanders, the public image of Gilbert and the Cavs organization took a hit. The Raptors cannot afford to go down the same route. The team already faces a disadvantage in luring in free agents and selling them on the team, city, and culture of playing in Canada. Their biggest recruiting resource has left town and publicly bashing him, whether the facts are true or not, does not paint a better picture of the franchise in the eyes of others.

If I can summarize this Raptors season in one word or phrase it would be: Grind It Out. Grind it out in those games when you have games where you aren't suppose to have no chance of winning. Grind it out when you face injuries. Grind it out when you are in a slump. Grind it out through the long 82 game season and see what's the next step to put this team back to having to meet high expectations.

State of Affairs - Oilers and the Taylor Hall Era

So we're about a handful of games into the 2010-11 NHL season and how are those Oilers doing?

Youth movement is in full-swing and yours truly and ASam talk about the new-look Oilers. How have they done so far? Are we optimistic of pessimistic? Can Taylor Hall handle the Edmontonian, hockey crazy pressure cooker?

Check out the podcast here. Keep in mind the podcast was made before they faced-off against the San Jose Sharks. Turn up your volume and enjoy!

Break Even Point - The Greatness of HUT

EA Sports has done it again!

An integral part of every male Canadian's childhood is the beloved EA Sports NHL series. The 2011 version is back, better and still way too expensive. The usual is there - game play, online, Be a Pro mode, etc. But rather than staying completely status quo, EA has introduced the HUT!

Hockey Ultimate Team -  the nostalgic feature that has brought together fantasy hockey with our childhood.

Break Even Point returns with ASam and yours truly to break down this revolutionary new feature. What's great about it? How could it be better? Did you ever wonder what ever happened to Dominic Pittis?

TURN YOUR VOLUME UP!

A Season for the Ages: 2010-11 NBA Preview

Another NBA season is upon us and it'll will be one to remember. Why? Its inevitable that a lockout will be happening in 2011-12 so you might as well remember as much of this season as possible to get you through those hoop-less months next year. Here's a few reasons:

1) Owners want to cut players salaries by 1/3 and pocket that money for themselves. Can you blame them? Player salaries have gone out of control and the owners want a hard salary cap to swing things back in their favor. I guess it only takes contracts like Eddy Curry's $11 million per season to make them realize this. 

2) Players are telling the owners to go eff themselves. A lot of NBA players grew up in poverty and disadvantaged circumstances and now make more money then they ever dreamed of. And you expect them to just give that up? Its like watching TV in HD on a flatscreen and trying to rip that away and replace it with a TV with bunny ear antennas. 

But regardless of what happens in 12 months from now, this upcoming season will be one to remember. The talent is at an all time high. So many story lines (did you hear what happened in Miami?). So many questions with no answers...yet. 

Will the Lakers 3-peat?

How will the Big 3 in Miami on in its inaugural season together?

Can the Celtics drag Shaq to the Finals for his 5th ring?

Will Kevin Durant supplant LBJ for the MVP?

Will Blake Griffin or John Wall win the ROY?

Will Jay Triano be completely bald by the end of the season from the dreadful upcoming Raptors season?

We'll have our answers soon enough. Here is a divisional preview for the 2010-11 NBA season.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic

Central

Southeast

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Northwest

Pacific

Southwest

My Finals Predictions:

Boston Celtics v. LA Lakers

Lakers in 6

2010-11 NBA Preview - Northwest Division

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Reasons for Success:

Jumped on this bandwagon after they left the turmoil in Seattle and glad that I did. They have a strong core of young players to build around in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green. Great supporting cast and lots of cap room to keep their stars and tinker with the lineup to push for a championship one day. There are no head-cases and they play so unselfishly. This is how every team in sports should build a contender with longevity.

Causes for Concern:

Coming off his first of many scoring titles, KD is a heavy favorite to dethrone LBJ for MVP honors. OKC pushed the Lakers immensely in their first round matchup last season and are expected to make a quantum leap this year. Too much expectation? KD and Westbrook had long summers playing for USA in the FIBA tournament and may run out of gas. Remember, these guys have never had a long playoff run before.

Prediction: 1st Division 3rd Conference

UTAH JAZZ

Reasons for Success:

After losing Carlos Boozer, the Jazz replaced him (and potentially upgraded) with Al Jefferson. Paul Milsap is slated to be the starting PF and may finally have the breakout season everyone has been waiting for. AK47 is in a contract year and if he can regain his 2005-6 form, this team can challenge for a top 3 spot in the West. Deron Williams will remain the 20-10 threat he always has been. When will Jerry Sloan win Coach of the Year?

Causes for Concern:

Like many other teams, the Jazz had a lot of turnover during the offseason. They lost effective role players in Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer and Wesley Matthews. Al Jefferson is finally out of the Minny and is poised for an allstar-calibre season playing alongside D-Will but he needs to stay healthy.

Prediction: 2nd Division 4th Conference

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

Reasons for Success:

This team is littered with talent in all positions. This team is poised for a playoff run with Brandon Roy running the show with LaMarcus Aldridge as his sidekick. Having Marcus Camby for a full season will pay huge dividends and may help the team contend for a top 3 spot in the conference. Breakout seasons from Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews will certainly help that cause.

Causes for Concern:

Everyone starts off the season healthy, but how long will that last? Greg Oden is being Greg Oden. What is the over/under on when the Trailblazers give up/get rid of this bust? 2 seasons? Sidenote: How did Matthews get a $34million contract when he averaged less than 10 points last season?

Prediction: 3rd Division 7th Conference

DENVER NUGGETS

Reasons for Success:

They still have Melo as of now and he is one of the best scorers in the game today. If they manage to keep him until the trade deadline they may be in position to lock down a playoff spot.

Causes for Concern:

The Carmelo saga may take a turn for the worst at any given moment. If Melo decides to mentally check out than it jeopardizes the season and the value they can get in return via trade. The frontcourt has already been hit with long-term injuries in Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen. Throw in the fact that K-Mart and JR Smith are already bitching about getting new contracts and you cannot help it but to see this team being blown up and start from scratch.

Prediction: 4th Division 8th Conference

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Reasons for Success:

The key to the team has been handed to Kevin Love to lead this team back to respectability. Underachiever Michael Beasley was brought in and if he reaches his potential that warranted him being picked 2nd overall then they may have a foundation to build on.

Causes for Concern:

They have no point guard and their supposed franchise PG is chilling in Barcelona after a dreadful showing at the FIBA tournament this summer. They essentially replaced Al Jefferson's double-double production with Darko Milicic. David Kahn is the new Isiah Thomas.

Prediction: 5th Division 15th Conference

2010-11 NBA Preview - Southeast Division

MIAMI HEAT

Reasons for Success:
When you add the like of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Jamaal Magloire (okay, maybe not) you cannot help but be overly optimistic about this team's chances of winning a title. Dwyane Wade is still the leader of this team and oddsmakers have already put this team ahead of the two-time defending champs. In addition to the Big 3, they have surrounded them with some decent role players in Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem and Eddie House. They will sell out every arena they go to this season, play a high-octane brand of basketball and take a few shots at their critics along the way.

Causes for Concern:
ALOT OF HYPE! Some experts believe they can break the 72-win season of the '95 Bulls with LeBron averaging a triple-double along the way. It'll be interesting to see how the Big 3 play together. Three former alpha dogs are going to be sharing the spotlight and who exactly will be taking the last shot? The frontcourt of the Heat is a area of concern especially against teams such as the Lakers, Magic and Celtics. And of course, injuries. Bosh and Wade have had their history of injuries and one major injury can put this team into the middle of the pack as opposed to ahead of the pack in the East.

Prediction: 1st Division 1st Conference

ORLANDO MAGIC

Reasons for Success:
Dwight Howard is still the best centre in the league and is an absolute brute force in the middle. He is a matchup nightmare for most teams and will do everything he can to take this team back to the finals. There are a few players on the team who have something to prove. Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis are coming off sub-par seasons and will look to rebound and regain their allstar forms. If they do, watch out.

Causes for Concern:
If Dwight Howard stays status quo from last season, so will the Magic. He has been criticized for not taking over games when a superstar should and being passive rather than aggressive. The East has gotten a lot better over the summer and he will need to elevate his game to another level for this team to reach the Finals.

Prediction: 2nd Division 3rd Conference

ATLANTA HAWKS

Reasons for Success:
The nucleus was kept intact with a new coach behind the bench to help this team advance further in the playoffs. They have a young frontcourt of Josh Smith and Al Horford who will be the centerpieces of this team for years to come. Joe Johnson was resigned and will be looked upon to lead this team past the first round of the playoffs.

Causes for Concern:
Reigning 6th-man of the Year Jamal Crawford is already sulking about not getting a contract extension. Its probably because their leader, Joe Johnson, was resigned to massive 6 year $119million contract... yikes! Depth is also an issue for this team. Their bench is thin on all fronts and will need to be addressed at some point in the season to make a run in the playoffs. Look for Jeff Teague to supplant Mike Bibby for the starting PG at some point.

Prediction: 3rd Division 5th Conference

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Reasons for Success:
Like I always say, playing like crap for a whole 82 game season is okay if you take advantage of the draft. And the Wizards have done that by taking Allen Iverson 2.0 with the 1st overall pick in John Wall. He is the new face of the franchise, an absolute super athlete that will no doubt contend for the Rookie of the Year honors. Gilbert Arenas is back and his career can only go up after last season (unless he visited T.I for a firesale on AK47s). They have promising young talents in Andrays Blatche and JaVale McGee.  They added great pieces in offseason in Kirk Hinrich and Yi Jianlian and rebound season from them along with Josh Howard and Al Thornton could bring this franchise back to being respectable.

Causes for Concern:
The player formerly known as Agent Zero has to repair his image, regain his allstar form and take a backseat to Wall. He will be the catalyst for success or failure for this team again and it waits to be seen if he makes it to the end of the season in Washington. The turnover on the team was significant as well so chemistry will be issue from the get-go. Bottom line, talents is there, it's a matter of managing them.

Prediction: 4th Division  9th Conference

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

Reasons for Success:
They have excellent utility players in Stephen Jackson, Tyrus Thomas and Boris Diaw who give you a little bit of everything. Michael Jordan become the majority owner so having his name in the forefront will increase the credibility of the franchise.

Causes for Concern:
The offense will have to go through Jackson as he will have to play point-forward as their lack a true point guard. They let Raymond Felton walk out the door and replaced him with the doorknob known as DJ Augustin. The center position is porous at best as it is up for grabs between jobbers Nazr Mohammad, DeSagana Diop and Kwame Brown. As well, MJ himself has had a horrible track record as a decision-maker since his days in Washington. He obviosuly has something to prove... c'mon, why else would Kwame still have a job!

Prediction: 5th Division 10th Conference

2010-11 NBA Preview - Southwest Division

DALLAS MAVERICKS

Reasons for Success:
The had a long summer to regroup after the first round exit to the Spurs. Dirk Nowitzki will put on another allstar-calibre season with Jason Kidd running the team to another 50+win season. Caron Butler is playing for a contract and is slated to be the starting SF with Shawn Marion joining Jason Terry on the second unit. The tantum of Brendan Haywood and Tyson Chandler will give the Mavs flexibility to playing various styles. Having both Butler and Haywood for a full season will greatly improve the team chemistry that was evidently lost during the playoffs. This team has the most depth in the league is deeper than the team that made it to the Finals in 2006. There is optimism surrounding younger players such as Roddy Beaubois and rookie Dominique Jones to playing a larger role this season.

Causes for Concern:
The go-to players are all over the age of 30 and the window is quickly closing on their opportunity to win a title. Getting to the playoffs is not the issue - it's whether they can make a run and dethrone the Lakers. Mavs want to reduce Dirk's minutes to save him for the playoffs but with no adequate backup, the plan may be on the back-burner as the season progresses.

Prediction: 1st Division 2nd Conference

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Reasons for Success:
Last postseason showed the Spurs still have something left in the tank. Tim Duncan is still one of the best PF in the game and as long as he's playing, the Spurs will have a chance to win. The team has a great mix of youth and veteran presence. George Hill and DeJuan Blair showed a lot of promise last season and may be poised for bigger roles this year. Rookie Tiago Splitter will have a large role on this team after several seasons overseas. Tony Parker is in a contract year and will try to regain his allstar form to justify a getting the big bucks.

Causes for Concern:
With the play of Hill, Blair and the other younger players on this roster, you have to wonder when it is time to start turning the team over to the new breed. Richard Jefferson was strangely resigned in the offseason after a dreadful first season with the Spurs. The Spurs need him to play to his potential to contend with the other top teams.

Prediction: 2nd Division 5th Conference

HOUSTON ROCKETS

Reasons for Success:
They have an effective backcourt in Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin that will put up a lot points on most nights. Yao Ming returns after taking a year off to recover from foot surgery. Brad Miller was brought in as insurance if Yao is to stumble along the way. The team also have a cupboard full of assets after the Tracy McGrady deal. Armed with several first round picks, this team could make a midseason move that can propel them higher in the standings.

Causes for Concern:
Yao is expected to be limited to only 24 minutes a game which could hinder his effectiveness. It's disappointing to see a promising career that is bound to be cut short. Luis Scola is a great player but having him to take on the offensive load on the front court and clean up the boards on a nightly basis may be too much to ask for.

Prediction: 3rd Division 6th Conference

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

Reasons for Success:
Chris Paul, arguably the best PG in the league, is back for a full season. They traded for Trevor Ariza to bring a versatile guard-forward into the mix and finally moving Peja to the bench on a permanent basis. Both David West and Emeka Okafor are bound to benefit from having Paul for a full season.

Causes for Concern:
CP3 wanted out this summer and management had to do huge damage control to keep their franchise player happy. If things don't go well, his request may resurface which will turn into a season-long soap opera. To make it worse, they shipped out Darren Collison and have no backup plan if they're forced to trade CP3. Smells like a recipe for disaster.

Prediction: 4th Division 9th Conference

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Reasons for Success:
Zach Randolph emerged as a team-player for the first time in his career and was rewarded with his first allstar berth. The team has a bunch of young, athletic players in Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo and Marc Gasol to run with for years to come. Quality season from Hasheem Thabeet and rookie Xavier Henry will help this team contend for a playoff spot.

Causes for Concern:
Is it just me or is nobody else buying the whole "Zach Randolph is an unselfish team-player now"facade. Sure, he's yearly double-double threat but this guy has butchered the Trailblazers, Knicks, and Clippers before joining the Griz. His true character will emerge this season and will cripple the team. Think I'm wrong? Well, check this out... ARE YOU SERIOUS? But don't get me wrong, this guy should definitely be on your fantasy team.

Prediction: 5th Division 12th Conference

2010-11 NBA Preview - Pacific Division

LA LAKERS

Reasons for Success:
Several reasons to be motivated to win back-to-back-to-back championships. Phil Jackson aims for his 4th 3-peat in his coaching career. Kobe aims for his 6th ring to tie MJ. And the Lakers are actually considered the underdogs to the new Miami Heat. That does not sit well with Black Mamba. They've reloaded in the offseason to counter the Heat with the additions of Matt Barnes, Steve Blake and Theo Ratliff. Add in the psychotic nature of Ron Artest and this team will be making noise in May one way or another.

Causes for Concern:
Andrew Bynum's health is already a question mark heading into the season. He will need to be healthy for the playoffs. Both times Lakers have won he was been the starting center and he was on the shelf for their loss to the Celtics in 2008. Do you see the correlation?

Prediction: 1st Division 1st Conference

PHOENIX SUNS

Reasons for Success:
When you have future Hall of Famer Steve Nash running the show, you will always have a chance to win.

Causes for Concern:
They let Amare Stoudamire go and replaced him with the like of Channing Fry and Hakim Warrick. They traded for the enigmatic Hedo Turkoglu and brought in Josh Childress from the Greek sabbatical. I cannot help it but to feel bad for Steve Nash. Barring a trade, he'll never play in the Finals.

Prediction: 2nd Division 10th Conference

LA CLIPPERS

Reasons for Success:
Blake Griffin looks like the lead contender for Rookie of the Year. In the the preseason, he has dominated the competition and looks like the franchise power forward that went 1st overall in 2009. Eric Gordon had an amazing summer at the FIBA World Championships and hopefully he can bring that experience to this coming season. Chris Kaman is coming off his first allstar season and the combination of him and Griffin could form a lethal frontcourt. Baron Davis is back and his beard is thicker and sweatier than ever.

Causes for Concern:
With Mike Dunleavy finally out of the front office, the team is finally headed in a competent direction. We will see whether or not this team can finally put it together.

Prediction: 3rd Division 11th Conference

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Reasons for Success:
Stephan Curry had an incredible rookie season and the combination of him and Monta Ellis creates an exciting backcourt. Throw in the likes of David Lee and you have the perfect personnel for Nellie-Ball!

Causes for Concern:
Nellie-Ball is over! Don Nelson was let go and defense remains a huge issue with this team. Although watching a team averaging 120+ points a night is entertaining, it usually does not result in wins as past seasons show.

Prediction: 4th Division 13th Conference

SACRAMENTO KINGS

Reasons for Concern:
They are starting to build their core of players to build for the future. Tyreke Evans emerged as a the Rookie of the Year and his performance will hopefully put Beno Udrih on the bench permanently. They have a great collection of young big men in Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, Samuel Dalembert and rookie DeMarcus Cousins.

Causes for Concern:
This team is in rebuilding mode. They are headed in the right direction and there is no need to make any drastic moves to speed up the process. With that said, they will have trouble beating out the better teams in the West and will end up in the lottery to collect another piece to their puzzle. Watch out for this team in the next few years.

Prediction: 5th Division 14th Conference

2010-11 NBA Preview - Atlantic Division

BOSTON CELTICS

Reasons for Success:
The proved everyone wrong last season by reaching Game 7 of the Finals and if it weren't for an injury to Kendrick Perkins, this team may have have their second title in three seasons. With the activity in Miami, Boston reloaded their frontcourt and brought in the O'Neils - Shaq and Jermaine. The Big 3 return along with Rajon Rondo running the show (when will writer expand it to the Big 4? Is it not blatantly obvious that Rondo is the best player on this team now?). The supporting cast may be the best in the league with Big Baby Davis, Nate Robinson, Delonte West and Jermaine O'Neil providing the spark off the bench.

Causes for Concern:
If last season was a fluke, it won't happen again. Teams will not let their guards down against the C's this time around and there will be no sneaking up on anyone. The team is another year older and the window is slowly closing on many of these former allstars. KG will need to regain his form and Perkins needs to return healthy and be a defensive disrupter in the middle. Can Shaq finally win that 5th title?

Prediction: 1st Division 2nd Conference

NEW YORK KNICKS

Reasons for Success:
The Knickerbockers have finally added players who can run Mike Dantoni's run-and-gun system. Amare Stoudamire was brought in along with Raymond Felton to run the SSOL offence. They have guys who can run in Anthony Randolph and Wilson Chandler along with Danillo Gallinari launching 3s. The on-court personnel finally makes sense.

Causes for Concern:
If Eddy Curry, in any shape or form, steps on the court.

Prediction: 2nd Division 7th Conference

NEW JERSEY NETS

Reasons for Success:
It can't get any worse than last season. After flirting with the wrong side of history, the Nets have reason for optimism. They have promising young talents in Devin Harris, Brook Lopez and Derrick Favors. And they have their new Russian billionaire owner to party at the 40/40 with Jay-Z.

Causes for Concern:
They striked-out in the free agent market and missed out on getting John Wall in the draft. Not exactly the best outcomes to market a team that plans on moving to Brooklyn in the near future. The weak division will help them increase their win total from last year but they will struggle overall.

Prediction: 3rd Division  11th Conference


PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Reasons for Success:
They have a promising backcourt in Iguodala, Holiday, Louis Williams and rookie Evan Turner.

Causes for Concern:
The dead corpse known as Elton Brand

Prediction: 4th Division  13th Conference

TORONTO RAPTORS

Reasons for Success:
None.

Causes for Concern:
Everything.

Prediction: 5th Division  15th Conference

2010-11 NBA Preview - Central Division

CHICAGO BULLS

Reasons for Success:
They finally addressed their biggest need over the last half decade and added Carlos Boozer to establish a low-post threat. Derrick Rose will become the best point guard in the league within the next few years and Joakim Noah is the new generation's version of Dennis Rodman sans craziness. They also added great role players in Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer. New head coach Tom Thibodeau brings a winning attitude from Boston. And let's not forget the Prince of Wow Luol Deng!

Causes for Concern:
They are still a relatively young team and may be a year or two away from beating out the other powerhouses of the East.

Prediction: 1st Division 4th Conference

MILWAUKEE BUCKS


Reasons for Success:
Came out of nowhere last season to make the playoffs and turn some heads. Brandon Jennings will need to follow up his amazing rookie season to help this team reach the playoffs again. Andrew Bogut is back from his horrific arm injury. They have added Drew Gooden as insurance for Bogut and brought in free-throw extraordinaire Corey Maggette to round out the roster. The "Fear the Deer" moniker is spreading like the flu!

Causes for Concern:
Early indications show that Bogut will be experiencing significant pain in his recovering arm and losing him at any point will be a huge blow to the team.

Prediction: 2nd Division 6th Conference

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Reasons for Success:
This sports city has been kicked in the groin multiple times even before LeBron decided to take his talents to south beach. They still have decent players in Mo Williams, Antwan Jamison, Anderson Varajeo and JJ Hickson. They hired Byron Scott to rally the troops and move forward to build a new chapter in its history. For this team to be successful they will really have to embody the cliche, "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

Causes for Concern:
After losing a player like LeBron, one cannot blame this team/city to go into deep depression. Mo Williams already has a head start.

Prediction: 3rd Division 8th Conference

DETROIT PISTONS

Reasons for Success:
Veteran presence of Hamilton, Prince and Wallace will help guide the youth movement in the Motorcity. Rebound years from Charlie V and Ben Gordan will go a long way to justifying those contract given to them two summers ago.

Causes for Concern:
Gone are the days of the Bad Boy Pistons and Defensive Juggernauts. This team needs to carve out a new identity and a changing of the guard may be needed for that to happen.

Prediction: 4th Division 11th Conference

INDIANA PACERS

Reasons for Success:
They finally realized TJ Ford is garbage and brought in a Darren Collison from New Orleans after his breakout season. The emergence of Roy Hibbert will give the team an inside presence that is vacant with Troy Murphy leaving town. Danny Granger is an all-around allstar who needs to stay healthy for this team to improve.

Causes for Concern:
With the East getting better, they will struggle to reach .500. Larry Bird is another example of a great player turned atrocious manager.

Prediction: 5th Division 14th Conference

The Decision - One Month Anniversary

I was in Spain during the historical July 1st free agent frenzy. Even though I caught World Cup fever for the first time in my life, I still could not help it but have my mind on how the NBA will unfold. Where will LeBron go? Where will D-Wade go? How much will Toronto regret not trading Bosh at the trade deadline?

Needless to say, there was zero coverage whatsoever in Europe on what's going on in the NBA. Seriously, I mean zero. Not even a mentioning of LeBron taking his talents to South Beach on the sports ticker. Did anyone around me care? No. Was I surprised? No. Should you be surprised? Well... no. Because in the end, what was supposed to be a historical event of superstars changing addresses, shifting powers, dethroning Kobe and the Lakers, and LeBron saving the Knicks, was nothing more than a facade.

In the NBA, all great things comes in 3s and now you can add another one in Miami with LeBron, Wade and Bosh teaming up for the next 6 years. The parties have already begun in South Beach as the NBA's greatest kept secret has finally been revealed to the masses. Yes, people are bitter (except for the residences of Miami) but the only thing we truly should be upset with is that we were forced to wait until July 8 to verify what we already knew. The ongoing circus of the Miami Thrice meeting teams, "debating" options and televised specials was truly an embarrassment to the NBA and its fans.

And then there was "The Decision." LeBron's one-hour special of ego-stroking was one of the most detrimental moves an athlete has ever done to damage their own personal brand. He was one cellphone and two-blonde bimbos away from pulling a Tiger. Now, does LeBron have a right to leave Cleveland? Yes. Does he have the right to join his two pals in Miami to make long playoff runs every year? Absolutely. Does he have the right to not show the courtesy of informing the Cavs of his decision in advance and making the Cleveland fan base look foolish in the process? No. Would Michael, Magic or Larry have ever done this? No.

We have had a month to digest all that has happened. Like it or not, it is what it is. Three best friends have joined forces, taken less money and sacrifice personal accolades for the chance to play basketball together. LBJ, D-Wade and Bosh are together and everyone is expecting a collision course between the Heat and the Lakers. Las Vegas already has the Heat as the favorites to win the Larry O'Brien trophy but are they better than the Lakers as of right now?

There are several key areas that may be weakspots for the Heat in which the Lakers can expose:

Frontcourt: Yes, the have Bosh. But I can guarantee you that most NBA executives would probably prefer Pau Gasol and his pedigree as of this season. The Heat are extremely weak at the centre position with a committee consisting of Žydrunas Ilgauskas, Joel Anthony, Juwan Howard and Jamaal Magloire. Although there is a sense of veteran savviness, I highly doubt that it strike fear in the eyes of others. The Laker frontcourt trio of Gasol, Bynum and Odom along with newly acquired Theo Ratliff can easily control what Miami has to offer both offensively and defensively.


Depth: Outside of the Miami Thrice and perhaps Mike Miller, I really question the quality of their role players and their impact on a game. The likes of James Jones, Eddie House and Carlos Arroyo may have a difficult time making any contribution on the court with 3 superstars and 1 basketball. On the other side of the ball, the Lakers have established, effective role players. They have added Steve Blake to be a playmaker off the bench who can control the tempo of the game with the Laker's second unit. They have added a tough defensively-minded Matt Barnes who can also hit from long range. And they have brought back high-flying Shannon Brown and Mr. Khloe Kardashian.


Chemistry: There will be a 82 game season to see if the Heat can discover the perfect chemistry to involve all necessary players and they may figure it out. But right now, the Lakerss are seasoned champions who know how to get it done. They have one undisputed leader in Kobe Bryant. The Celtics have admitted to taking nearly 60 games in 2008 before they figured out the perfect chemistry. But keep in mind their Big 3 were 30+ year old veterans who have done-it-all on a personal level, suffered, and would sacrifice anything to win. Can the new Big 3 of superstars entering their prime in their mid-20s do the same? 


Matchups: There is the notion that no team can play man-to-man with the Heat. And I agree, unless you're the Lakers. The frontcourt battle is heavily in the Lakers favor as Gasol had established himself as a low-post force with his performace against Kevin Garnett last spring. Kobe v. Wade is an interesting matchup, they may just cancel each other out in the end. LeBron will have to go up against Ron Artest and Matt Barnes in which he should gain the upper hand, but how much? The Lakers' bench is much deeper and more experienced which may be their competitive advantage. Needless to say, the Lakers do not need to structure their lineups to match the Heat. It may be the other way around. 


As of right now, I would that the Lakers in a 7-game series against the Heat. But we still have a full season to watch to determine how the Heat really are and whether Ron Artest will shotgun a 6-pack before game time while getting "Tru Warrior 2.0" shaved onto his head.


Thoughts on other transactions:

• After striking out on luring a franchise savior, New York Knick owner James Dolan invested $100 million on a PF who has had reconstructive knee surgery and permanent eye problems while bringing back the man responsible for wasting the past decade as a consultant? I can't wait for the 2018 Spike Lee documentary "James Dolan Shits His Pants - How the Knicks Empire Was Destroyed in 2010". 
• It's amazing how, when all things are said and done, Joe Johnson got the richest contract out of all the free agents. 
• Absolutely love the Carlos Boozer move to Chicago. The Bulls finally get a low-post scoring presence they have been looking for the past 5 years. Along with Rose, Noah, a healthy Deng (sounds kinda funny), and a great bench - these Bulls are no push-overs in the East.
• How much does Steve Nash regret signing that two year contract extension last season? You replace Stoudemire as your running-mate with Hakim Warrick. Yikes!
• How much longer before Bryan Colangelo gets fired? Over/Under 1.5 seasons? 
• T-Wolves GM David Kahn replaces an automatic double-double in Al Jefferson with Darko Milicic and an enigmatic Michael Beasley. How did Kahn get his job? I believe his interview process involved a picture of a donkey, a cardboard cutout of its tail and a blindfold.

LeBron in Big D?

Oh where oh where will Lebron go? That is the million dollar question heading into the 2010 free agency period. A period in which the entire landscape of the NBA can be altered by the decisions of Lebron, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and others. But LBJ is the most coveted free agent and coming off another disappointing season of not meeting expectations, will he leave his hometown and head to greener pastures? 


Several rumours are circulating regarding where LBJ may end up. New York, Chicago, Miami, New Jersey, or staying in Cleveland. Each team has its own individual merits for being in the LBJ Sweepstakes conversation. But there is one team that may be able to offer more value to LBJ, from a basketball and economic standpoint, than any other team... the Dallas Mavericks. Laugh it up, snicker if you must but the Mavericks have all the assets that will benefit both Lebron and the Cavaliers and help him reach his goals on and off the court. 


The quality of the Mavericks roster: With the move made at this past trade deadline, the Mavericks have one of the most talented, deepest and versatile rosters in the NBA. They have a Top 10 talent in Dirk Nowitzki, a diversified backcourt in J-Kidd, Jason Terry, Caron Butler, and JJ Barea, defensive toughness in the form of Shawn Marion and Brenden Haywood, up and coming prospect in Roddy Beaubois and on and on. When matched up against the rest of the NBA, Dallas can run with the best of them. 
Much has been said of the Mavs' recent playoff disappointment. Yes, they choked against the Spurs. Yes, they underachieved. Yes, it is very disappointing. Yes, I am still trying to get over it. But in their defence, the management staff made the usual critical error and that is, they make necessary moves 4 months too late. The trade forced the Mavs to turnover 40% of their starting 5 (Butler and Haywood) and leaving only two and half months to incorporated them into the game plan. Fatal mistake. If given a full season, can we all not agree that the Mavs would have advanced further in the playoffs? Throw Lebron into the mix, can we not all agree the Mavs would be title contenders?

Mark Cuban: There is a lot of noise being made about New Jersey's new Russian billionaire owner, Mikhail Prokorov, and his free-spending, bachelor/playboy lifestyle. But let's not forget the original "headline grabbing, free-spending, in-your-face, doesn't give a damn about David Stern" owner... Mark Cuban. Cuban will play a significant part in attracting LBJ to Dallas with his track record and resume. 1) Money is no object for Cuban. The trade with Washington added an additional $15 million to next years salary cap. Cuban will just have to devote a few minutes digging in his sofa cushions to pay this off. 2) Cuban is not afraid to pull the trade trigger. We have seen it over the last few years with the J-Kidd and Butler trade. Whether they were good moves is up for debate. But needless to say, Cuban will make the necessary transactions to give his team the best chance of winning every year. 3) Knowledge of the NBA. Prokorov is a rookie and will be learning on the fly about the ins and outs of the NBA. Cuban is a seasoned veteran. Not only does he understand the economical side of the business (ie. salary cap structure) but also the marketing side and what makes the NBA a global sport. 4) Business Knowledge. Cuban is an internet guru and owns his own HDTV cable network along with several other business ventures. In other words, he is a savvy business man. Can Lebron learn a thing or two from Cuban to help build his own global business empire? (YES!) Perhaps maybe a joint venture? (Okay, no.)


Sign and Trade Partner: Chris Bosh has gone on record to saying he will work out a sign and trade with Toronto if he chooses to leave. What this does is create a win-win situation for both parties - Bosh goes to the team he wants and gets a max deal that will pay him an extra $30mil and Cleveland gets something in return and not lose Bosh for nothing. The same scenario can be applied to LBJ and the other free agents. The questions is which teams have the assets to complete a sign and trade, give the Cavs quality players, and still keep a competitive roster surrounding Lebron? Do you see where I'm going with this?
Dallas can facilitate any sort of trade scenario that Cleveland may want. They have talented wing players that can fill in the vacant spot left by Lebron (Butler, Marion), young players with high potential (Beaubois), role players to fill out the trade (Terry, Barea) and of course cash! But the biggest bargaining chip is Erick Dampier's contract. Dampier has a one year, $13 million non-guaranteed contract that is based on performance measures. How does this benefit Cleveland? A trade scenario involving Dampier allows numbers to match up (in terms of salary cap) but in reality the Cavs do not have to pay his full salary if they choose not to (ie: not play Dampier so he does not meet performance measures). This provides the Cavs with huge financial flexibility to either go after free agents or rebuild and not completely implode as an organization. 

The Jerry-dome: The success of the 2010 Allstar Weekend was largely due to the venue - the brand new $1.3 billion Cowboys Stadium. The House that Jerry Built seated over 108,000 spectators for the event and presented a stage that is unrivaled in the NBA. Needless to say, Lebron was in attendance. Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban have gone on record in saying they would be willing to host a few home games a year at the stadium. Can you imagine the marketing and exposure this presents for Lebron? Let's say they play 4 home games a year at the stadium, can you not target specific dates to increase television ratings... lets say games against Kobe, Wade, Spurs and Raptors (JUST KIDDING, how about Houston?). Also worth noting, Lebron's favorite NFL team is the Dallas Cowboys.


No State Income Tax: Imagine making $130 million and not having to pay a personal income tax on it. You won't have to worry about the IRS knocking on your mansion and harassing your maids and accountants. Out of all the teams in serious contention for Lebron's services, only two teams can offer this - Miami and Dallas.


Television Market: Dallas has the 5th largest US television market in the US which provides huge exposure that Cleveland cannot. The only relevant markets ahead of Dallas are New York and Chicago. 

2010 Playoffs - Final Thoughts

The 2009/2010 sports season has come to an end with championship hardware being handed out. Normally, sports fans are scrambling to pick up new hobbies to fill in the hours devoted to sports (Sorry baseball. You’re like a PB&J sandwich – it solves my hunger but it doesn’t hit the spot like a grilled-cheese), but thankfully this year we have the World Cup.

The young guns of Chicago won the Stanley Cup while the Lakers were able to get the best of their archrivals the Boston Celtics. The 2010 playoffs will go down as one of the most thrilling, climatic, entertaining and memorable post-seasons ever. After spending hours watching, debating and podcasting, I have come to some revelations about the NHL and NBA along with some random observations.

NBA:

The best player in the NBA is Kobe Bryant: And it’s not even a debate. No one is even close. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, to some degree, partially or completely, believed that Lebron has taken the throne as the best player in the league with an astounding statistical season backed by a second consecutive MVP trophy. He outplayed Kobe in two regular season games and helped the Cavs get the best record. Result? Second round exit by the hands of the Celtics. At this moment, Lebron is where Kobe was post-Shaq trade. He fills up the box scores but unable to win when it matters most. Yes, Lebron is less selfish than Kobe was however; he lacks the killer instinct that Kobe has had his whole career. Lebron has not proven to be a clutch performer on the same scale as Kobe nor has he developed an understanding of when to take over games when it matters most. Kobe is now a 5-time champion because he has finally found the balance between being the game-assassin and the superstar that elevates the play of this teammates. Until Lebron can find that balance, he will play second-banana to Kobe. At some point, Lebron will become the undisputed King of the NBA. How fast Lebron discovers that balance will be the deciding factor on whether Lebron takes that crown away from Kobe or whether Kobe hands it to him. Kobe's legacy is unquestionably legendary however...


The Kobe/MJ comparisons are still absurd: Kobe now has 5 championships and is one away from tying MJ. There is a good possibility that Kobe will surpass MJ considering his age (31) and playing level. But regardless if Kobe gets 6, 7 or more rings, he will not dethrone MJ as the Basketball God. If greatness was measured strictly by rings then Bill Russell's 11 rings should end all debate. In the past two seasons, Kobe, without a doubt, has propelled himself up the rankings on the greatest players list. He may have made the "Who is the Greatest Laker ever?" conversation a little more interesting. But when it comes down to how is the greatest, that title will remain with His Airness.

Ron Artest’s post-game interview will become a classic: After the interview happens, I messaged my buddy ASam and asked whether Artest’s interview is better than KG’s 2008 interview. He responds, “It’s not as iconic or as quotable as KG but unintentional comedy is off the charts.” How can you go against that statement when the guy thanks his psychiatrist and bear hugs a middle-aged white reporter? You can’t! It has “Top 10 (fill in the blank)” quality written all over it. FYI, Artest has a new single coming out this summer titled “Champion” that he recorded last June (you see, the comedy is literally of the charts).


Why is Magic Johnson an analyst? Yes, he is one of the greatest of all time and so forth. But Magic has nearly a 5% stake in the Lakers franchise and does that not restrict his analytical range when calling a game like this? How can an owner publicly go against his team? Hypothetically, if Magic felt the Celtics were going to win Game 7 during the pre-game show, would he even be allowed to be standing on the podium during the trophy ceremony? 

NHL:

Championship teams are built around a franchise center: Since the lockout, the 5 Stanley Cup champions had the following centerpieces: Chicago – Toews (C) and Kane (C), Pittsburgh – Crosby (C) and Malkin (C), Detroit – Lidstrom (D), Datsyuk (C), and Zetterberg (C), Anaheim – Neidermeyer (D) and Pronger (D), Carolina – Staal (C) and Brindamour (C). With the exception of Anaheim, all other champs revolved their team around franchise center(s) which may explain why teams with/had franchise wingers failed yearly (ie: Washington (Ovechkin), Columbus (Nash), Atlanta (Kolvachuk), and Calgary (Iginla)). Furthermore, the centre must play a solid two-way game. Each center listed has that attribute with maybe the exception of Kane (covered by Toews). Therefore, I think this argument may shed some light on the Taylor(LW) vs. Tyler(C) debate (although apparently Taylor claims his natural position is center and converted to LW only because they had too many centers on his junior team already… can’t wait till this debate ends).


To touch the conference trophy or not? I find players' superstitions so amusing. Whether it is putting on their left skate first or sleeping in the opponents jersey the night before the game, there is no real justification for these actions. The most interesting superstition of all is, of course, whether teams should touch the Conference Championship trophies upon winning them. This year the Blackhawks decided not to touch the Campbell Trophy while Mike Richards and the Flyers decided to lift the Wales Trophy, following in the footsteps of Sidney Crosby in hopes of breaking the superstition and winning it all. The hysterical part of this year is how the Flyers had an impromptu summit to quickly decide what to do with the trophy. Well, we all know who won this time. In the last two seasons, one team has elected to touch the conference trophy while the other team does not. The score is 1-1. So I must ask, do you touch the conference trophy or not?

NHL’s marketing team finally produced some good commercials: The NHL marketing team has done an atrocious job at developing a compelling advertisement campaign since the lockout. Nothing was worse than their “Is this the year?” campaign which involved players asking hypothetical questions to hype up the potential “unexpectedness” of the 2007 season. The NBA has capitalized on their “Where Amazing Happens” slogan and expanded it to the point where you can replace “Amazing” with any other relevant adjective(s) and corresponding footage to make it a hit. But this year, the NHL’s playoff commercials titled "History Will Be Made" have finally stroked a cord with its audience. They paid homage to the past while being able to exemplify athletic characteristics like inspiration, perseverance and greatness. Therefore, the NHL was able to answer my question: “Is this the year that the NHL actually realize how comical their commercials are and produce something good?”