SVG and Dwight Howard both have agreed to focus solely on the game and not on anything else brewing up in the locker room. This contraversy they describe as trying to ignore is most likely a big reason why Dwight Howard played very poorly on defense and struggled shooting, going 4/8 with 8 points and 8 rebounds in the Knicks rout of the Magic 96-80 on Thursday night. Dwight, SVG and the Orlando Magic now have to take on the task of the Philadelphia 76ers, in Philadelphia, and need to step it up today, especially with the playoffs looming and their recent drop in standings and playing. The Orlando Magic played the Knicks game in the Amway Center without star power forward Ryan Anderson, who is a huge part of their offense and rebounding game, and had a dismal and embarrassing game out of Dwight Howard as well, who averaged 20 points and 14 rebounds before that performance. Anderson is questionable yet hopeful for his return tonight against the Sixers, but the Magic must deal with another loss. Hedo Turkoglu, who was elbowed in the face as Carmelo Anthony came down with a rebound Thursday night, will undergo surgery on a facial fracture and will miss the final three weeks of the season. This is huge for the Magic, even though Turkoglu has had a sub-par season, averaging only 10.7 PPG and 4.5 APG, much lower than last season or the standout season that he and Howard led the Magic to the NBA Finals, but this also means one of their starters is out, changing their game plan and making a huge impact out on the court, though Glen "Big Baby" Davis is playing superb basketball in place of the injured Anderson and may play much more from that and the new Turkoglu injury. Not only injury woes, the Magic are not very good at playing against good defensive teams, the most recent was their blowout loss to the Chicago Bulls, where they only scored 59 points, and the Sixers are the number one team in defensive points allowed (88.2 PPG). On the other side of the argument though, the Sixers went from leading the Atlantic division to now being one game behind the Boston Celtics for the division lead, and also have dropped from fourth in standings in the conference to seventh, behind the Magic by 3 1/2 games. Both teams have something to play for, especially with playoffs looming right around the corner, and I think both teams will step up tonight, and tonight could be a turning point for one or both of these teams.
Prediction: Magic by 4
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
NYK vs. ORL
Tonight's match up between the Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks in the Amway Center in Orlando will be a good one, especially with the fact of Dwight Howard being a game time decision tonight. These two teams have met twice earlier this season, where in the first meeting in Orlando the Magic came out on top 102-93, behind a career best 30 points out of Ryan Anderson (who is lso listed as questionable for tonight's game) and the other match up being in New York, where the Knicks held the Magic starters to 42 points, 12 for Howard and 3 for Anderson, in a greatly defensively played game by the Knicks, where they came away with the win with no trouble at all, 108-86. Big problems for both teams? The Knick are 9-17 on the road, yet they hold onto the 8th spot in the playoffs over the Milwaukee Bucks by one game. Not only the dismal win percentage on the road, but they also are without stars Amare Stoudemire, out for a bulging disk in his back for a couple more weeks, and Jeremy Lin, who had surgery on a torn meniscus, who is out for the rest of the season and possibly the playoffs as well. Forward Jared Jeffries is also out for tonight, meaning that J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony will have to work much harder as they have been without those three for the past couple weeks. Without Lin and Stoudemire, the Knicks are 3-2. Also, that might give them trouble tonight against the league's best big man in the game, Dwight Howard, leaving Chandler one on one down low without help from Amare or Jeffries tonight. The Knicks held Dwight to 12 points 5 rebounds last time they played in New York, but they were not a depleted as they are tonight in the Amway Center. On the other side of the ball, the Magic are on a four game losing streak, trying to avoid their first five game losing streak in five years, and have been without Dwight Howard (back spasms) for the last two, and without point guard Jameer Nelson and Anderson last game against the Detroit Pistons, where they allowed 56 points in the paint, 19.1 more than their average when Dwight was on the court. The Magic also have more drama stirring up in their management, when earlier today coach Stan van Gundy commented saying Dwight wanted him fired. Howard defended himself, saying he said nothing and wants no part in the futures of anyone working on the team and that he only wants a ring this season with the organization and that's what he cares about right now. If Dwight does play tonight, we will see how things stir up between coach and player throughout the course of the game. Both teams have not played well at points in the season, where the Knicks now are coming off the loss of their coach Mike D'Antoni and with new interim head coach Mike Woodson they began his reign over the team by winning 6 straight games, and now they are trying to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Indiana Pacers, which they lost a late third quarter 17 point lead to lose 112-104. The Magic are on a 4 game losing streak, two without Dwight Howard, dropping from the third spot in the East to the fifth, but at times this season have played better ball than any other team, going on a hot streak in which they beat the team with the league's best record, the Chicago Bulls, at home and they also have split the season series with the Miami Heat, winning two games over them, the most recent in which was in overtime, where Howard had 24 points and 26 rebounds, where he announced he would stay with the Magic until the end of the season, signing with them the day after for next season as well. Tonight's match up will be physical, especially down low between Howard and Chandler if he plays, and both teams are looking to gain momentum heading towards the playoffs in order to make a championship run.
Prediction: 91-89 Knicks
Prediction: 91-89 Knicks
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
NBA Finals??
The marquee match up of the night and most likely the rest of the season? Oklahoma City going into Miami for a rematch that is continuing on after the Thunder blew out the Heat by 16 in OKC a couple weeks ago, and Miami set for revenge at home, but could this be the match up we will be seeing in the NBA Finals? With Kevin Durant leading the way for the Thunder with Russell Westbrook and James Harden behind him, and LeBron James leading the Miami Heat with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh behind him, these two teams in the NBA fina;s for a 7 game series is quite a likely case. Tonight's biggest question about this game is who will play better and who will lead their team to victory, Durant or LeBron? They are both star players and best in the league and in a pretty much two man race for the MVP title, and they will be matching up against one another, both playing the 3 spot on the court mainly. In the last two games, Durant has scored more points, dished more assists, and grabbed more rebounds than LeBron and outplayed him by far. The results? Oklahoma City won both of those games, last game being an embarrassing blowout for a team who averages 100.7 PPG as a team and only lets in 93.5 PPG on the defensive side, where against the Thunder, who average 103..2 PPG and let in 96.7 PPG, and the final score was OKC 103 Miami 87...Shows a difference between the teams, huh? One stat not shown here though is that Miami is 22-2 at home, on a 16 game winning streak here in the American Airlines Center, and that might be a tough match for Oklahoma City, though they have only lost 8 games on the road. Also, though Oklahoma City was streaking, led by Durant to a 6 game winning streak, blowing out teams such as the Clippers, Heat, and Chicago Bulls, the streak was snapped at home by the Memphis Grizzlies, so they are looking to bounce back in Miami after that heartbreaking loss at home. Going back to the Durant-James match up, James averages 25.2 PPG at home, while Durant averages 27.7 PPG on the road, showing that Durant is no slack on the road, whether it be in Miami or whether it is in Sacramento. Tonight's match up will be a great game, setting foundations in the playoffs for both teams, and it will be a great game to watch.
Prediction: 95-93 Heat
Prediction: 95-93 Heat
The chaos of the MVP race
I'm always hearing about, "Who is going to win the MVP race in the NBA?" so I decided to put my own input into the subject at hand. There are many players in the race for the coveted title, but only one can have it. In the end, it SHOULD really come down to two people in specific as runaways for contenders (Kevin Durant and LeBron James), and possibly a third and fourth if you think about recent momentum (Kevin Love) or average statistics such as points per game (Kobe Bryant). Even one player in general that I myself have opinionated in the mix because I enjoy watching him is Dwight Howard, though in reality his chances are very slim to get in because of his own created soap opera he dragged out for over three months on whether or not he wanted to stay in Orlando or whether he wanted to join an up and coming team in the New Jersey Nets. But I'm dragging off-topic, so let's get back to business shall we?
5. Dwight Howard
There's not really much to talk about with Dwight other than his recent three month changing-every-week decision on staying with Orlando, mainly because he is having a pretty normal year for him, averaging 20.9 PPG, 58% FG, 14.5 RPG, 2.13 BPG, and of course he still has that dismal 49% FT percentage that he has struggled with throughout his career, as many great big men have (Shaq, Ewing, etc.). He has 42 double-doubles this season, 2nd in the league to Kevin Love, and will most likely be in the running to win a fourth consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award, unless Serge Ibaka's unreal block average (3.4 BPG) and defensive playing puts him out in front if it already hasn't. Dwight's playing is great, yes, and he leads his team in 4 different categories, being points, rebounds, blocks, and STEALS (yes, their center is leading the team in steals), but he is not playing much better than he normally plays or than he usually has throughout his career other than maybe getting worse (if possible) with his free throws. The negative side for Dwight is that whole requesting a trade and then being all "wishy-washy" for three months about it and changing his mind every week about whether he wanted to stay or not will most likely hurt him in the run for MVP if he is even considered as a worthy candidate for his play. Bottom line: don't bet on Dwight Howard winning the MVP award this season, but maybe on another Defensive Player of the Year Award.
4. Kevin Love
This kid was just flat out put on this earth to play basketball. He originally was drafted 5th overall in the 2008 NBA draft to the Memphis Grizzlies who then traded him to the Minnesota Timber wolves for O.J. Mayo, and has been steadily rising in skill level, beginning to be noticed around the 2010-2011 season when he averaged 15.2 RPG and led the league, to reach at this point the best power forward in the league, and in my eyes is definitely a standout to win the Most Improved Player Award at the end of the season. He is having the best season of his career by a huge margin this season, averaging 26.5 PPG (tied with LeBron James for 3rd in the NBA), 13.6 RPG (second to Howard), and as a power forward averaging 39% from 3-Point Range. He is the only player in NBA history, if these numbers stay the same, that would average ~27 PPG and 13 RPG in the same single season. His numbers that he is putting up are above average by far, and he is gaining momentum as we grow closer to the playoffs, whether his team is in or not, when in the month of March he averaged-ready for this?-31 PPG and 15 RPG...WTF?! Anyways, the point is he is playing the best basketball at his position and of his career by far, but in the MVP race, it needs to be more than just rebounding and shooting threes, which are his specialties to add along with a great post game as all big men develop, but it is about being an all-around player. Derrick Rose did not win the MVP last season by just scoring and shooting threes. He drove and penetrated, found open teammates, made impossible looking layups, and being the play maker on the court for his team, leading them, along with their defense, to the best record in the NBA. I don't see Kevin Love leading his team to the playoffs this season, though he did bring them much closer than years past, only 4 1/2 games out of the 8th spot in the conference, but if he is young as is his team, which could potentially be almost as the Oklahoma City Thunder were early on in Durant's career-young, talented, inexperienced-but now that they have a couple years under them and have other key players than just Durant, they are top of the league. So in my opinion, next year or in years to come, look out for Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timber wolves!
3. Kobe Bryant
First off, I'm not a great big fan of Kobe. But I do respect him as a player and he is by far one of the greatest of all times. He shows it this season, at 34 years old, and he is leading the league in scoring, averaging 28.1 PPG and 42% FG. He has 5 games where he has scored at least 40 points and is keeping the aged Lakers in the drive for another championship opportunity. His clutch factor is as huge as ever, and his team still gives him of all people the ball just as they have the past 10 years. What does he lack? He isn't the all around player he used to be, and yes he may have a good chance of winning the MVP race and be the surprise in the voting to come out with the prize. he has only won the award one time in his illustrious career, but he still could be a very possible factor for the prize if he continues to play this caliber of basketball throughout the rest of the season.
2. LeBron James
Where to begin? Drafted straight out of high school in 2003, first pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, led the team for eight seasons, one Finals appearance and a sensational eight years in this league. In Miami, his game has gotten even better than when he was in Cleveland, having Wade and Bosh as supporting cast to his game. He this season is having by far the best of his career so far, averaging 26.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 6.4 APG, and he is probably the most athletic player in the league. His one lack he has had throughout his career is his clutch factor, which has been pretty much completely lacking or not there at all. Other than that, though, this season he could win another MVP title, since to most people it is a two man race to the finish between him and Kevin Durant. He also knows how to lead his team when they are depleted, averaging 30.7 PPG when Wade does not play and last night, with Wade on the bench with a knee injury, had 41 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, helping his team clinch a playoff spot as a shoe-in for the number 2 seed in the East. MVP caliber? I think yes, he is a great all-around player with or without a clutch factor, but he is going to have to push a lot and keep up his sensational play of this season if he wants to fully pull away from a very momentous Kevin Durant.
1. Kevin Durant
My favorite to win the MVP award this season. In his fourth season in the league, all with the Seattle Super Sonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, he this season is averaging 27.5 PPG, 2nd in the league, 8.2 RPG, and shooting 50% FG with a 38% 3 Point percentage, along with a clutch factor that sometimes looks as if to rival Kobe's (yes I went there) and he is the centerpiece or ringleader of the big three with Westbrook and Harden in Oklahoma City, leading them to the top team in the West and 2nd best team in the league. He has a great clutch along with blinding quickness, a phenomenal post game he developed by watching film of Dirk Nowitzki, and always having a size advantage by a few inches over others at his position. The difference to me for why he deserves the title of MVP over LeBron? The fact that the one game so far where the Thunder beat the Heat, Durant outplayed James by far, having 28 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists while being played defensively by James, a near triple double, while James had a respectable 17 points and 7 assists, but was outmatched by the young Thunder forward. Yes, James may be a more all around player and better than Durant in the whole all around game of basketball, but when it comes down to it, the last two games against each other, Durant has outplayed James both times, and his scoring titles as young as he is and his leadership of his team shows why he deserves the MVP award this season, even by a close margin over LeBron James.
5. Dwight Howard
There's not really much to talk about with Dwight other than his recent three month changing-every-week decision on staying with Orlando, mainly because he is having a pretty normal year for him, averaging 20.9 PPG, 58% FG, 14.5 RPG, 2.13 BPG, and of course he still has that dismal 49% FT percentage that he has struggled with throughout his career, as many great big men have (Shaq, Ewing, etc.). He has 42 double-doubles this season, 2nd in the league to Kevin Love, and will most likely be in the running to win a fourth consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award, unless Serge Ibaka's unreal block average (3.4 BPG) and defensive playing puts him out in front if it already hasn't. Dwight's playing is great, yes, and he leads his team in 4 different categories, being points, rebounds, blocks, and STEALS (yes, their center is leading the team in steals), but he is not playing much better than he normally plays or than he usually has throughout his career other than maybe getting worse (if possible) with his free throws. The negative side for Dwight is that whole requesting a trade and then being all "wishy-washy" for three months about it and changing his mind every week about whether he wanted to stay or not will most likely hurt him in the run for MVP if he is even considered as a worthy candidate for his play. Bottom line: don't bet on Dwight Howard winning the MVP award this season, but maybe on another Defensive Player of the Year Award.
4. Kevin Love
This kid was just flat out put on this earth to play basketball. He originally was drafted 5th overall in the 2008 NBA draft to the Memphis Grizzlies who then traded him to the Minnesota Timber wolves for O.J. Mayo, and has been steadily rising in skill level, beginning to be noticed around the 2010-2011 season when he averaged 15.2 RPG and led the league, to reach at this point the best power forward in the league, and in my eyes is definitely a standout to win the Most Improved Player Award at the end of the season. He is having the best season of his career by a huge margin this season, averaging 26.5 PPG (tied with LeBron James for 3rd in the NBA), 13.6 RPG (second to Howard), and as a power forward averaging 39% from 3-Point Range. He is the only player in NBA history, if these numbers stay the same, that would average ~27 PPG and 13 RPG in the same single season. His numbers that he is putting up are above average by far, and he is gaining momentum as we grow closer to the playoffs, whether his team is in or not, when in the month of March he averaged-ready for this?-31 PPG and 15 RPG...WTF?! Anyways, the point is he is playing the best basketball at his position and of his career by far, but in the MVP race, it needs to be more than just rebounding and shooting threes, which are his specialties to add along with a great post game as all big men develop, but it is about being an all-around player. Derrick Rose did not win the MVP last season by just scoring and shooting threes. He drove and penetrated, found open teammates, made impossible looking layups, and being the play maker on the court for his team, leading them, along with their defense, to the best record in the NBA. I don't see Kevin Love leading his team to the playoffs this season, though he did bring them much closer than years past, only 4 1/2 games out of the 8th spot in the conference, but if he is young as is his team, which could potentially be almost as the Oklahoma City Thunder were early on in Durant's career-young, talented, inexperienced-but now that they have a couple years under them and have other key players than just Durant, they are top of the league. So in my opinion, next year or in years to come, look out for Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timber wolves!
3. Kobe Bryant
First off, I'm not a great big fan of Kobe. But I do respect him as a player and he is by far one of the greatest of all times. He shows it this season, at 34 years old, and he is leading the league in scoring, averaging 28.1 PPG and 42% FG. He has 5 games where he has scored at least 40 points and is keeping the aged Lakers in the drive for another championship opportunity. His clutch factor is as huge as ever, and his team still gives him of all people the ball just as they have the past 10 years. What does he lack? He isn't the all around player he used to be, and yes he may have a good chance of winning the MVP race and be the surprise in the voting to come out with the prize. he has only won the award one time in his illustrious career, but he still could be a very possible factor for the prize if he continues to play this caliber of basketball throughout the rest of the season.
2. LeBron James
Where to begin? Drafted straight out of high school in 2003, first pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, led the team for eight seasons, one Finals appearance and a sensational eight years in this league. In Miami, his game has gotten even better than when he was in Cleveland, having Wade and Bosh as supporting cast to his game. He this season is having by far the best of his career so far, averaging 26.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 6.4 APG, and he is probably the most athletic player in the league. His one lack he has had throughout his career is his clutch factor, which has been pretty much completely lacking or not there at all. Other than that, though, this season he could win another MVP title, since to most people it is a two man race to the finish between him and Kevin Durant. He also knows how to lead his team when they are depleted, averaging 30.7 PPG when Wade does not play and last night, with Wade on the bench with a knee injury, had 41 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, helping his team clinch a playoff spot as a shoe-in for the number 2 seed in the East. MVP caliber? I think yes, he is a great all-around player with or without a clutch factor, but he is going to have to push a lot and keep up his sensational play of this season if he wants to fully pull away from a very momentous Kevin Durant.
1. Kevin Durant
My favorite to win the MVP award this season. In his fourth season in the league, all with the Seattle Super Sonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, he this season is averaging 27.5 PPG, 2nd in the league, 8.2 RPG, and shooting 50% FG with a 38% 3 Point percentage, along with a clutch factor that sometimes looks as if to rival Kobe's (yes I went there) and he is the centerpiece or ringleader of the big three with Westbrook and Harden in Oklahoma City, leading them to the top team in the West and 2nd best team in the league. He has a great clutch along with blinding quickness, a phenomenal post game he developed by watching film of Dirk Nowitzki, and always having a size advantage by a few inches over others at his position. The difference to me for why he deserves the title of MVP over LeBron? The fact that the one game so far where the Thunder beat the Heat, Durant outplayed James by far, having 28 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists while being played defensively by James, a near triple double, while James had a respectable 17 points and 7 assists, but was outmatched by the young Thunder forward. Yes, James may be a more all around player and better than Durant in the whole all around game of basketball, but when it comes down to it, the last two games against each other, Durant has outplayed James both times, and his scoring titles as young as he is and his leadership of his team shows why he deserves the MVP award this season, even by a close margin over LeBron James.
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