Really late NHL Predictions

Just to show I don't change my mind or cheat making late predictions, I called Buffalo over Carolina in 7 and Anaheim over Edmonton in 6. And that second pick ain't happenin'.

More NBA Playoff Predictions

I'm having a good NBA playoffs so far. I've got 11 of 12 series right and now it is time for my conference championship predictions. Yes both series have already started but I swear I have not changed my mind since they started.


Eastern Conference
Detroit Pistons vs. Miami Heat

The Heat looked great against the Nets and the Pistons looked bad against LeBron and co. The Pistons handled LeBron when it counted but they showed that they can't stop Dwayne Wade. Wade has too much around him and Shaq looks like he has one more great run in him. Helping Shaq out is a revitalized Alonzo Mourning who is the only guy in the league tougher than Piston Center Ben Wallace. I think Wallace will get worn out in this series and that makes the Pistons a very weakened defensive team. I also think Wade is going to get a lot of perimieter help from Antoine Walker and Gary Payton. As for the Pistons their lack of depth will kill them in this series. Rasheed Wallace, when he actually stops yapping, is not playing well, and he isn't good enough to flip a switch and be great again. Rip Hamilton will score enough points to kepp the Pistons around but this one is going to Miami.

Prediction: Miami in 6

Western Conference
Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks

This will be a great series and each team should score 100 in each game. The question is which team will play better defense. I have to go with the Mavs as the answer to that. The Suns can't stop Dirk Nowitzki (nor canany other team). And the Mavs can play D when they need to as the proved against the Spurs. I'm not convinced Phoenix can yet. They rely on speed to cover a lot of defensive breakdowns but the Mavs are just as quick. I expect Devon Harris to continue his coming out party and hit big shots. He will be the difference in this series.

Prediction: Dallas in 7.

Now THAT'S entertainment

Will all the old TV shows being put on the big screen it was just a matter of time. One of my all time favorite shows is getting the royal treatment. That's right Knight Rider has got the green light. I think they should go all out and have David Hasselhoff back as Michael Knight.

Keith Richards underwent surgery yesterday. This does nothing to change my opinion that the man will live forever. If he hasn't died yet from all the things he has out in his body he never will.

People ripping The Davinci Code should actually read it. The Silas character is of particular interest here. In the book he is a member of Opus Dei. While he is unorthodox and is a murderer, he is actually a tragic and sympathetic character. I'm not certain Dan Brown haters realize that.

Tom Cruise flick MI:3 opened to tepid reviews and a not so great box office. Maybe it's because he's gone right looney and nobody wants to shell out to see guys in their 40's as half assed action heroes anymore.

Tuesday sports shorts.

I think Ricky Williams would look great in the CFL wearing an Argos uniform. The guy smokes pot. It's really not that big a deal but the NFL's drug policy is draconian. Could you imagine if the NBA started suspending guys for smoking dope? There wouldn't be a league left. Bring Ricky to Toronto for a year. He may even want to stay for a few more.

The French reporter who told Saku Koivu he should learn French since he's the captain of the Montreal Canadiens is a complete idiot. As if Montreal isn't a tough enough city to play in, what with the worst fans in the league and all (Montreal is the worst sports town in Canada), this jackass furthers the image of the "french only" club. This team has a hard time attracting free agents and it just got harder.

The Senators lose two games to go down 0-2 in their series against the Sabres. This really shouldn't surprise anyone. As I've said time and again this is the same old group of gutless Sens. The NHL has changed in style but you still need heart to win and they don't got it. Can we please stop talking about Wade Redden and Daniel Alfreddson as great players, they never do a thing in the playoffs when it counts. Redden had three assists in game 1 and was a minus 3. Alfy looked completely clueless last night. Jason Spezza has didn't do anything at the World Jr. Championships, did nothing in the OHL playoffs, and did nothing in last year's AHL playoffs. The only guy they had who performed in the playoffs was Marion Hossa and they traded him. I would be surprised if this series went 5 games.

2nd Round NBA Playoff Predictions

The first round was pretty damned entertaining, a hell of a lot better than usual. Now the real fun begins as their are 4 very intriguing matchups in round 2. I could see three of the series going either way, with only the Pistons being a mortal lock. The NBA needs to change their playoff system to match the NHL though. The highest seed left should always play the lowest remaining seed. It is absolutely ridiculous that San Antonio and Dallas finish with the two best records in the West but meet in the second round.

Eastern Conference

Detroit vs. Cleveland
LeBron James is an absolute stud. Forget the Michael Jordan comparisons. First of all, LeBron is more like Magic than Michael, but the best comparison is Oscar Robertson. Michael couldn't rebound or pass like LeBron, and Magic couldn't score like Lebron. The Big O could do all three but was nowhere near as athletic. And LeBron is only 21. When Michael was 21 he was still at North Carolina. LeBron is also 6'8, 240. He's a man-child and he knocked out the Wizards with two buzzer beaters and told Gilbert Arenas if he missed two free throws he would blow the series (which Arenas then missed). I have devoted this much time to LeBron because this will be the last chance to talk about him this year because the Cavs don't have a snowball's chance in hell of beating the Pistons. James may be the best player in the league (I'm not saying he definitely is but he is in that conversation) but the Pistons are the best team. They are so strong and aggressive defensively that they can keep switching and putting fresh bodies on LeBron and wear him out. The rest of the Cavs just aren't good enough to pick up the slack. And the Pistons are also a very good offensive club this year with 4 guys capable of going for 30 on any night. I'll devote more time to the Pistons next round. Meanwhile, enjoy the new #23 while you can. This is just the beginning.

Pistons in 5.

Miami vs. New Jersey
My adage about teams relying on Vince Carter to lead them to victory is to automatically bet against them if the other team is of equal talent. Carter is gutless and you can't win with him as your main guy. Fortunately for the Nets, Jason Kidd seems to realize that and Richard Jefferson gets as many touches at the end of the game as Carter. jefferson is scary good in the clutch and wants the ball. The Nets are going to need it because they don't have anybody who can stop Shaq up front. Shaq is older and slower than he used to be, but he is still plenty good enough to dominate this series. He also realizes that the Heat are Dwayne Wade's team, not his. Wade is another guy who is in the best player in the league discussion and will eat Vince alive. Gary Payton can still play some defense and will slow down Kidd enough that the Heat will win close games. Antoine Walker will also score in this series because the nets don't have enough D to stop everyone.

Heat in 6

Western Conference

San Antonio vs. Dallas
This is going to be one hell of a series. Now that the Mavericks know how to play defense, not great defense but good enough defense, they are going to scare the Spurs. Dirk Nowitzki is unstoppable for the Mavericks and the rest of the team know their roles. Avery Johnson has coached the hell out of them and is a very confident presence for them. The Spurs look banged up. Tim Duncan is not 100% and Manu Ginobli did not look good at all against the Kings. Tony Parker has had a break out year, if that's possible for a point guard who has already won a title, and Greg Popovich is still a great coach but unless Ginobli's health gets better pronto the Spurs may not have enough offense to keep up with the Mavs. I'm calling the upset.

Mavericks in 7

Phoenix vs. Los Angeles Clippers
After the scare the Lakers gave the Suns in the first round, they should be completely freaked out having to go back to the Staples Center. And the Clippers are a lot better than the Lakers. This will be another test for the Suns but Steve Nash is still the best point guard in the league. It will be very interesting to see him against Sam Cassell who is a huge playoff performer. Elton Brand is going to have a field day against the thin Suns front-court and he is lethal in the open court, so the up tempo pace will play right into his hands. The question is how guys like Cory Maggette and Shaun Livingston are going to take the pressure of the second round. I don't think they will hold up. Key Suns like Shawn Marion have been there before and just went through a huge scare against the Lakers. The Clips will learn a lot in this series, and will be very scary next year, but the Suns time is now. They now getting by the Clips early will help them rest for the survivor of the other series.

Suns in 6

2nd round NHL playoff predictions

I'm on my way out the door and the second round starts in 20 minutes so I'll make this quick.

Eastern Conference

Ottawa vs. Buffalo

Beating a team with John Grahame in net did nothing to prove to me the Sens are for real. In fact, I think they are still the same team that chokes every year in the playoffs. The Sabres will play lose and fast, and Chris Drury will score the big goals he always does.

Sabres in 6

Carolina vs. New Jersey

Carolina is going to have to continue to get all world goaltending from Cam Ward becasue the Devils look unbeatable. Brodeur and Elias are at the top of their game and they have a lot of experience. I like the Canes, but they just aren't good enough to beat the Devs.

Devils in 6

Western Conference

San Jose vs. Edmonton

Detroit and Nashville beat up on Chicago, St. Louis, and Columbus all year so it's no surprise they had inflated records and these two teams bumped them in the first round. The Sharks have been the best team in the league since December abd they will light up Oiler goalie Dwayne Roloson early and often. This one won't be close.

Sharks in 5

Anaheim vs. Colorado

This is a tough one to call because these teams are pretty evenly matched. I just can't bet against Joe Sakic. The guy is a playoff stud.

Avalanche in 7

Wednesday Chatter.

Ralph Goodale presented the Liberal's new budget yesterday to great fanfare. What's that you say? It was Jim Flaherty announcing the Tories first federal budget in over 10 years? Damned if I could tell the difference. While it may be politically astute (questionable), it is completely gutless. Where is the capital gains tax deferral that would have spurred so much investment into Canadian companies? They give more money to farmers? Bus passes are deductible but no cut to gas taxes? They cut the GST by 1% but that doesn't mean much. It will cost $10 billion over two years in lost revenue. As Andrew Coyne points out today, they could have cut the top two tax brackets 3% each, and the lowest 1% and it would have cost the exact same thing. What would have spurred more economic activity? As for making clear the distinction between federal and provincial responsibility, well, forget that. Spending on health, education, and public transit? But hey, at least they all but said global warming is nonsense. Full points for that.

It look like the Leafs are going ahead with anming Paul Maurice as their next head coach. I think he is a great choice. He works well with the young players, has enough experience to work with the veterans and will be great dealing with the Toronto media.

How did the Flyers play so badly in a must win game last night? Horrible.

I am sticking with Devils-Sharks in the finals. I can't see how either one of them doesn't get out of their conference.