Eastern Conference
No. 1 Cleveland vs. No. 8 Detroit
Obviously Cleveland in this series. I think Detroit's too old and too banged up to even pose much of a threat, really. Cavs in five.
No. 2 Boston vs. No. 7 Chicago
You know what, now that Garnett's maybe out for the whole postseason, I feel like the Bulls can pull off a huge upset. I like the way they've been playing lately, there's some good matchups and if they can steal an early win in Boston they'll have a great chance at winning this series. I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Bulls in seven.
No. 3 Orlando vs. No. 6 Philadelphia
I don't know if I'm sold on Orlando going too deep, but I think they'll get past Philly without a lot of problems. Orlando in five.
No. 4 Atlanta vs. No. 5 Miami
I'm taking Miami since I really like the way Wade's played this season and I haven't really seen Atlanta play much. Miami in six.
Western Conference
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Utah
I think the Jazz are starting to self-destruct and the Lakers will walk all over them. I don't even think it'll even have a close game. Lakers in 4.
No. 2 Denver vs. No. 7 New Orleans
I really like this matchup. More then anything, I like the Billups/CP3 matchup. It's a great point against a George Karl-coached point, so I think it'll be neat. I like what little I've seen of the Nuggets, so I'm going to take them to win in six.
No. 3 San Antonio vs. No. 6 Dallas
I also really like this too. Normally I'd like the Spurs, but with Manu out and Duncan hurt, this could go either way. And since the Spurs are relying on Roger Mason Jr. to make big shots, I'll take the Mavs in seven.
No. 4 Portland vs. No. 5 Houston
Another cool series, too. I really like Houston this year (mostly because I want them to win without T-Mac) but Portland is fun to watch and I like Brandon Roy a lot. I think Portland's inexperience will be a factor, though, so I like Houston in six.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Third annual NHL Playoff picks - Western Conference
And here's part two, with my western picks, briefly:
San Jose over Anahiem
First, the Sharks are good. Nabakov has been excellent this season, winning 41 games and posting a goals-against of 2.44. And they're a solid offensive team, even now Jonathan Cheechoo's scoring touch has all but vanished. The Ducks will be hard pressed to match them.
Detroit over Columbus
A popular pick this spring is to choose Columbus and there are pretty solid reasons. Steve Mason has been nothing short of superb this year, etc. But they're over-thinking it. Detroit's offence will keep the pressure on Mason and they will get to him. I wouldn't expect this series to go very long.
Vancouver over St. Louis
Mostly because I think St. Louis is playing with house money since they've made it this far. They're old and Vancouver's Luongo can come up big in the postseason. I can see this one getting over in a hurry.
Calgary over Chicago
Because Chicago is young and still inexperienced. They remind me of the Penguins of a couple seasons ago, the ones that faced the Sens in the first round. Come next year, they might go a lot deeper, but for now they'll just give chase to the Flames.
San Jose over Anahiem
First, the Sharks are good. Nabakov has been excellent this season, winning 41 games and posting a goals-against of 2.44. And they're a solid offensive team, even now Jonathan Cheechoo's scoring touch has all but vanished. The Ducks will be hard pressed to match them.
Detroit over Columbus
A popular pick this spring is to choose Columbus and there are pretty solid reasons. Steve Mason has been nothing short of superb this year, etc. But they're over-thinking it. Detroit's offence will keep the pressure on Mason and they will get to him. I wouldn't expect this series to go very long.
Vancouver over St. Louis
Mostly because I think St. Louis is playing with house money since they've made it this far. They're old and Vancouver's Luongo can come up big in the postseason. I can see this one getting over in a hurry.
Calgary over Chicago
Because Chicago is young and still inexperienced. They remind me of the Penguins of a couple seasons ago, the ones that faced the Sens in the first round. Come next year, they might go a lot deeper, but for now they'll just give chase to the Flames.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Third annual NHL Playoff picks - Eastern Conference
It's time for the second season to begin, so here's some playoff picks for the NHL.
Boston over Montreal
Bob Gainey got the Habs under control late this season, when it looked like they had peaked early. Still, they're a team that was a sleeper pick by some (myself included) to win the Cup in October; now they barely made the playoffs. Goalie Carey Price will have to be strong in net and a few Habs - Kovalev and Kostitsyn in particular - will have to play a lot better then they have throughout the season.
Boston, on the other hand, just missed winning the Presidents trophy, albeit in a weak division - the only other team from it are the Habs - but have looked great. Tim Thomas has stood out as one of the best goalies in the NHL and looks able to carry his team. And these Bruins faced a much better-playing Habs last year in the playoffs and took them to seven games. I expect this year, they won't even have to go that far. I like the Bruins in five.
Washington over New York
Yes, the Rangers look good. Even Avery. And Lundqvist looks good. But the Rangers haven't endeared themselves to me, not yet. I don't think they're deep enough, I don't know if they have enough experience and as a whole they look like a team in transition between leaders - in other words, they miss Jagr.
The Caps are great though. They can score in bunches and look to improve from last year, when they left the postseason early. Ovechkin will force Lundqvist to play great; nobody on the Rangers will push Theodore that hard. With him, they won't go deep, but I think they can outscore the Rangers in seven games, which is what I think this series will go to.
Carolina over New Jersey
Martin Brodeur has had a great season, setting records and winning games. He's bound to be feeling better then he has in any postseason in recent memory, as he's played less games this year then he has in over a decade. And he's part of a good Devils team, too, that can score.
But Carolina is peaking, as they say, at the right time. Cam Ward is hot, maybe the hottest goalie in the East, and I think that makes the Canes - excuse the cliche - a dark horse to go deep. It will be tough for them and I'm still not sold on their offense, but if Ward keeps playing at this clip, they have a good shot at beating the Devils, maybe in as little as five games.
Pittsburgh over Philadelphia
The Flyers are solid - not great, not bad - and they know the Penguins; one could say a rivalry has formed between the two teams, especially after last season's meeting between the two. They're about the same as the Penguins, in record and statistically - but they're not as deep. After a handful of heavies, they drop off pretty quickly. But I like their tandem of goalies.
I do like the Penguins, though, who are about as good as last year, if a little more shallow. But Crosby and Malkin are still the best 1-2 punch any team in the East has and Fleury's won 35 games; no easy feat in a tight division that sent three teams to the playoffs, with none seeded lower then fifth. They'll have a tough time, I imagine, but this is a winnable series for the Pens. I like them in six.
Boston over Montreal
Bob Gainey got the Habs under control late this season, when it looked like they had peaked early. Still, they're a team that was a sleeper pick by some (myself included) to win the Cup in October; now they barely made the playoffs. Goalie Carey Price will have to be strong in net and a few Habs - Kovalev and Kostitsyn in particular - will have to play a lot better then they have throughout the season.
Boston, on the other hand, just missed winning the Presidents trophy, albeit in a weak division - the only other team from it are the Habs - but have looked great. Tim Thomas has stood out as one of the best goalies in the NHL and looks able to carry his team. And these Bruins faced a much better-playing Habs last year in the playoffs and took them to seven games. I expect this year, they won't even have to go that far. I like the Bruins in five.
Washington over New York
Yes, the Rangers look good. Even Avery. And Lundqvist looks good. But the Rangers haven't endeared themselves to me, not yet. I don't think they're deep enough, I don't know if they have enough experience and as a whole they look like a team in transition between leaders - in other words, they miss Jagr.
The Caps are great though. They can score in bunches and look to improve from last year, when they left the postseason early. Ovechkin will force Lundqvist to play great; nobody on the Rangers will push Theodore that hard. With him, they won't go deep, but I think they can outscore the Rangers in seven games, which is what I think this series will go to.
Carolina over New Jersey
Martin Brodeur has had a great season, setting records and winning games. He's bound to be feeling better then he has in any postseason in recent memory, as he's played less games this year then he has in over a decade. And he's part of a good Devils team, too, that can score.
But Carolina is peaking, as they say, at the right time. Cam Ward is hot, maybe the hottest goalie in the East, and I think that makes the Canes - excuse the cliche - a dark horse to go deep. It will be tough for them and I'm still not sold on their offense, but if Ward keeps playing at this clip, they have a good shot at beating the Devils, maybe in as little as five games.
Pittsburgh over Philadelphia
The Flyers are solid - not great, not bad - and they know the Penguins; one could say a rivalry has formed between the two teams, especially after last season's meeting between the two. They're about the same as the Penguins, in record and statistically - but they're not as deep. After a handful of heavies, they drop off pretty quickly. But I like their tandem of goalies.
I do like the Penguins, though, who are about as good as last year, if a little more shallow. But Crosby and Malkin are still the best 1-2 punch any team in the East has and Fleury's won 35 games; no easy feat in a tight division that sent three teams to the playoffs, with none seeded lower then fifth. They'll have a tough time, I imagine, but this is a winnable series for the Pens. I like them in six.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Ovechkins celebrations a cause better left alone
Last night in Toronto, Capitals sniper Alexander Ovechkin wore a Coach's Corner T-shirt while warming up before the game. On the back was written "RESPECT".
For those not in the loop, that is Don Cherry's CBC segment. The segment where Cherry has blasted Ovechkin this season for his goal celebrations.
It was a sign that Ovechkin is ready to move on from the micro-controversy that has been clouding over him since a fateful game against Tampa Bay when he scored his 50th goal of the season. After hitting on a wrist shot, taken just inside the blue line to the left of Lightening goalie Mike McKenna, Ovechkin dropped his stick and pantomimed that he couldn't pick it up, it was too hot.
On the scale of celebrations, it was far from the worst. It was Terrell Owens running to midfield after scoring a touchdown against Dallas. There was no disrespect, no taunting. Ovechkin was having a lark, like he does with most of his goals. One remembers him running on the ice or jumping into the boards after big goals. He is not one to simply smile and raise a hand when he scores. Rather, he wears his emotion on his sleeve.
And this wears on some people's patience.
Don Cherry is one. He disagrees with what Ovechkin does and compares it to Jerome Iginla, who rarely does anything much after scoring. If Ovechkin is excitable, Iginla is workmanlike in his poise. After scoring his 50th last season against Vancouver, he put his stick up in the air and hugged a couple players.
Cherry makes a few points. By celebrating so much, he opens himself up to criticism. A parallel to baseball, as poised by Cherry, is fitting: if you stare too long at a home run, you're likely to get thrown at. That happens. In hockey, Ovechkin may find that he's getting a few more elbows thrown his way and that referees might decide to let them play.
Cherry keeps at it, though. "They're laughing at you, Alex" he opined this past weekend. He found the stick-play more then harmless. A taunt. Rubbing it in. Think of the poor Lightening, all the way down in the standings.
Here he oversteps, and not just because Ovechkin is has 50 goals because he's on a good Capitals team — if anything, the Capitals are a good team because Ovechkin has 50 goals. He reads too far into Ovechkins actions and leads one to wonder if in Cherry's ideal world, there would have be no celebrations and pitchers can throw at hockey forwards.
Unaddressed by Cherry was Cliff Ronning in the 1991 Smythe finals, Theo Fleury in the 91 Smythe semi-finals or Teemu Selanne setting the goal record for a rookie.
One wonders if the shirt will be addressed on Saturday by Cherry. It's a show of respect, yes, but the shirt means something else too: he's tired of talking about it.
What's a better sign then what Ovechkin did last night after scoring his 51st against the Maple Leafs? After crossing in front of Leafs goalie Martin Gerber, he pulled the puck in, waited for Gerber to bite and backhanded the puck past him.
And then he hugged some teammates with what looked to me like a hand pointing up to the press box.
For those not in the loop, that is Don Cherry's CBC segment. The segment where Cherry has blasted Ovechkin this season for his goal celebrations.
It was a sign that Ovechkin is ready to move on from the micro-controversy that has been clouding over him since a fateful game against Tampa Bay when he scored his 50th goal of the season. After hitting on a wrist shot, taken just inside the blue line to the left of Lightening goalie Mike McKenna, Ovechkin dropped his stick and pantomimed that he couldn't pick it up, it was too hot.
On the scale of celebrations, it was far from the worst. It was Terrell Owens running to midfield after scoring a touchdown against Dallas. There was no disrespect, no taunting. Ovechkin was having a lark, like he does with most of his goals. One remembers him running on the ice or jumping into the boards after big goals. He is not one to simply smile and raise a hand when he scores. Rather, he wears his emotion on his sleeve.
And this wears on some people's patience.
Don Cherry is one. He disagrees with what Ovechkin does and compares it to Jerome Iginla, who rarely does anything much after scoring. If Ovechkin is excitable, Iginla is workmanlike in his poise. After scoring his 50th last season against Vancouver, he put his stick up in the air and hugged a couple players.
Cherry makes a few points. By celebrating so much, he opens himself up to criticism. A parallel to baseball, as poised by Cherry, is fitting: if you stare too long at a home run, you're likely to get thrown at. That happens. In hockey, Ovechkin may find that he's getting a few more elbows thrown his way and that referees might decide to let them play.
Cherry keeps at it, though. "They're laughing at you, Alex" he opined this past weekend. He found the stick-play more then harmless. A taunt. Rubbing it in. Think of the poor Lightening, all the way down in the standings.
Here he oversteps, and not just because Ovechkin is has 50 goals because he's on a good Capitals team — if anything, the Capitals are a good team because Ovechkin has 50 goals. He reads too far into Ovechkins actions and leads one to wonder if in Cherry's ideal world, there would have be no celebrations and pitchers can throw at hockey forwards.
Unaddressed by Cherry was Cliff Ronning in the 1991 Smythe finals, Theo Fleury in the 91 Smythe semi-finals or Teemu Selanne setting the goal record for a rookie.
One wonders if the shirt will be addressed on Saturday by Cherry. It's a show of respect, yes, but the shirt means something else too: he's tired of talking about it.
What's a better sign then what Ovechkin did last night after scoring his 51st against the Maple Leafs? After crossing in front of Leafs goalie Martin Gerber, he pulled the puck in, waited for Gerber to bite and backhanded the puck past him.
And then he hugged some teammates with what looked to me like a hand pointing up to the press box.
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