3-10 Tidbits

*Note: I apologize for my lack of blogging in 2011. I will attempt to return back to regular blogging but I picked up an internship that fills my already non-free time schedule. I will do my best to continue, but don’t expect full regular blogging until the summer time.

NBA:

Miami Heat has lost five in a row. The players are crying.

However, I’m not buying it. The NBA regular season is much more trying to get through without injuries and gelling at the right time. The Heat will be fine, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the NBA Finals. They have two superstars, that are just struggling at the end of games, and Bosh should be serviceable in the playoffs against Joakim Noah, Dwight Howard, and Shaq. The scariest thing is the fact that the Heat will be strong in about two years after drafting more players and probably finding more free agents that will play in Miami for a discounted price. Don’t discount the Heat, they will catch “fire” at the right time (pun intended).

New York is relevant again

Yes, they are relevant but they don’t have a chance to represent the East. Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony are two great players, but they are stuck in NBA limbo right now. If they can grab Chris Paul in the next free agent they will be a formidable contender in the East and could fill the Celtics spot at the top. However, until they snag Paul or another top star, they won’t be the team that New York wants/needs.

Orlando Magic

Remember that big trade that nobody is discussing anymore because Carmelo was in the headlines for a month straight?
• Jason Richardson, 14.1 ppg, 4.3 rbg, 1.8 apg
• Hedo Turkoglu, 10.2 ppg, 4.4 rbg, 5.2 apg
• Gilbert Arenas, 8.1 ppg, 2.4 rbg, 3.7 apg
People they traded in their new spots:
• Vince Carter, Phoenix: 14.5 ppg, 4.4 rbg, 1.7 apg
• Rashard Lewis, Washington: 11.4 ppg, 5.8 rbg, 2.0 apg

Arenas has been a big bust, and I know they are regretting taking that huge contract that he has. Rashard Lewis will never be the same player that he was a couple of years ago, and Jason Richardson has been a difference maker in Orlando.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers will be in the NBA Finals. Quote me. They know how to turn their fire up in the playoffs and they will get it done. Whether they win, I don’t know, but they will be in the NBA Finals.

NFL:

Lockout

It will be cleared up by June 1 at the latest. The NFL has over $9 billion on the line, and they don’t want to be the MLB of 1994 and lose a percentage of their fans. Also, the 18-game schedule will become a reality, I know the players are going to claim that they want safety and protection from injuries, but the NFL will have revenue of over $1 billion by adding two regular season games. It will happen.

NHL:

I finally saw the Zdeno Chara check. The injury to Max Pacioretty was as horrific as they come but I don’t believe Chara meant that much harm to him. Chara wanted the big hit (16 seconds left in second period of 4-0 game), but no way I think did he want to fracture his vertebrae. I think the NHL should force its players to wear mouth guards (helps prevent concussions) and full helmets. Why they don’t is a question I can’t answer, but safety should always be the number one concern.

College Basketball:

Preview coming soon! St. John’s got lucky with horrible referees, and Kemba Walker may be the new Jordan Crawford. Stay tuned for a wonderful month of basketball.