April 2008 Archives

Being the baseball junkie that I am, if there is baseball on television, I am going to watch it. I could be happy watching a Pirates/Nationals game as I am watching a Yankees/Angels game.

With that being said, about two weeks ago it was a sexy ass Friday night and I found myself face to face with some Diamondbacks/Rockies action.

3:18: No receivers taken in the first round is rare and unexpected. I like that Jets pick at the end of the first round in Dustin Keller at tight end. It will turn out to be a good one. We'll see how the rest of the draft sorts out.

2:53: It was obvious that the Steelers would take Mendenhall, but they need help on the offensive line. With Willie Parker coming off an injury and Najeh Davenport being your backup, it was probably the best choice. The Titans taking Chris Johnson was a surprise and all this means is that the Cowboys and 49ers are going to get very good receivers at the end of this draft.

I'm an Anaheim native and my Duck loving friends will hate me for this, but I couldn't help but crack a smile the other night as the Dallas Stars knocked the defending Stanley Cup champions out of the playoffs in six games. See, Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer decided they wanted to go out as winners. So they hung up their skates after the Ducks won the Cup last June. But then they started having second thoughts. And third thoughts. And fourth thoughts. And then the saga carried on into the regular season where the Ducks got off to a horrendous start. Niedermayer decided to join the team in December and Selanne came back in February. At least Niedermayer didn't get his "C" back, fellow Norris Trophy winner Chris Pronger got to keep it.

I smiled because you can't just show up and expect to win, in any sport, let alone hockey. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the second season, two months of hockey, as many as 4 games a week. There are no easy match ups and work ethic often overcomes talent. That's why I was so happy to see the Stars polish off a lifeless Ducks team that looked like they either decided that they didn't want to put in the effort that they did in winning last season, or they thought they could win without effort. You can't. To add insult to misery the Ducks announced they were fining Niedermayer $500,000 for missing training camp after the series ended.

It's also why I cracked a smile as Jeremy Roenick took over in San Jose's game seven victory (2G 2A). I'll always respect Roenick for his passion for the game, for coming back with his jaw wired shut in the 2004 playoffs and leading his Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals. And I'll never fully forgive him for signing with the LA Kings and going Operation Shutdown. No Kings fan ever will. But it's become clear that when Roenick signed his 1 year, $500,000 deal with the Sharks this year, he was motivated. He knew he was playing for a cup contender and he was going to do what he could to contribute, even though he is nowhere near the player he was four years ago.

Pleasant Playoff Surprises

Jose Theodore (1.88 GAA / .940 SV%) - The Colorado netminder who had his best season since 2003-2004 this year, took it to an even higher level in his team's six game victory over Minnesota.

Ryan Clowe (4G / 4A) - After missing 67 games of the regular season due to injury he leads the Sharks in scoring in their seven game series victory over the Flames.

Stephane Robidas (1G / 5A) - The Dallas defenseman had an eventful series against the defending champs. Having to take on an unfamiliar offensive-defenseman role due to the absence of both Sergei Zubov and Phillipe Boucher, Robidas took a puck to the shield, breaking his nose and scored six points (five on the power play).

Our loyal (few, but loyal) readers, or people that just stop by on accident, might have recently noticed that our site has changed. You would have to notice the name change to even navigate your way here, so you've noticed that at least.

So then there's the name thing. You might be wondering what nufcedsports is. Is that even a word?

The answer is no. It's an abbreviation for enough said and it's the nickname of one of the first baseball fanatics.

So we got the name thing figured out, so maybe you're still wondering, who this black and white dude with the mustache is at the top of the page?

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Boston (66-16) vs. No. 8 Atlanta (37-45): This match-up is the equivalent of a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament vs. a No. 16 seed. In other words, the Hawks have no chance. If the Celtics don't sweep I will eat my own feces...figuratively. Celts in four or your money back.

Wrigley Field and Fenway Park have been around longer; the newer parks like Camden Yards and PNC might be more pleasing aesthetically, but no Major League Baseball Stadium will ever come close to matching what Yankee Stadium has meant to the game.

No stadium has ever seen the history and no stadium has ever housed the players that Yankee Stadium has, and after 86 seasons and 85 years, the House that Ruth built will be closing its doors forever.

This is why the Yankees simply have to win the World Series; from the standpoint of someone who appreciates the history of baseball.

After John McGraw and the New York Giants kicked them out of the Polo Grounds, the Yankees got their own home and no stadium has seen more post-season baseball.

The Stadium has seen 37 World Series played there and has seen the Yankees bring home 26 of those titles, and here are 26 reasons why the Yankees will win the World Series.

1. Kansas (36-3)

2. Memphis (37-2)

3. North Carolina (36-3)

4. UCLA (35-4)

5. Texas (31-7)

6. Louisville (27-9)

7. Tennessee (31-5)

8. Davidson (29-7)

9. Xavier (30-7)

10. Wisconsin (31-5)

Day one saw three road victories including one brief (by my standards) overtime game. The Sharks were uninspired and Ottawa should have just let the Sabres take their place in the last 16. Joe Sakic keeps adding to the legend with playoff OT winner number eight and Scotty Gomez returned to New Jersey with a three assist performance to lead the Rangers to a 4-1 victory.

v.

Detroit has been cruising along seemingly forever with the best record in the NHL. Incredibly dominating scoring the third most goals in the league and allowing the fewest, by far. Two goalies did it essentially splitting the workload over the course of the season, but there has never been any doubt that Dominik Hasek would be the Wings playoff goaltender. Mike Babcock coached teams do it with defense first and the 07-08 Wings are no exception. Nashville is one of this season's surprise packages, halfway to Hamilton, ON in the summer and most of their stars (Kariya, Vokoun, Timmonen, Hartnell, Forsberg) playing for other teams the experts had Nashville scrapping it out at the bottom of the Western Conference. Despite the absence of oft-injured star Steve Sullivan the Preds made the playoffs on the back of solid play and above average goaltending from Dan Ellis who stepped in for Chris Mason during the season. Ellis' impressive 2.34 GAA and .924 save percentage in 44 games has to give the Predators some confidence even though the Wings took 5 of the 8 season meetings between the division rivals. The Red Wings don't have a history of closing a series out quickly even when they are the far superior team on paper. In a repeat of the 2003-2004 season where these teams matched up in the first round, the Predators will give Detroit all they can handle before going down in game six.

Thurs, April 10, 2008		7:00 PM	Nashville at Detroit	VERSUS
Sat., April 12, 2008		2:00 PM	Nashville at Detroit	NBC
Mon., April 14, 2008		7:30 PM	Detroit at Nashville	VERSUS
Wed, April 16, 2008		9:00 PM	Detroit at Nashville	VERSUS (JIP)
Fri., April 18, 2008		7:30 PM	Nashville at Detroit	VERSUS
Sun., April 20, 2008		3:00 PM	Detroit at Nashville	NBC
Tues., April 22, 2008		TBD	Nashville at Detroit

v.

In a matchup of Original Six teams, the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference might be this season's biggest surprise. Having done it with goaltender Carey Price is even more mind boggling. Nobody doubts the skills of the young Price and Montreal fans will have fond memories of a rookie named Patrick Roy leading them to Cup glory in 1986. Price is even the same age as Roy was that year, 20. Despite the mention of Price, the Habs did it by putting the puck in the net, more times than any other NHL team. The balanced scoring attack is led by Alexi Kovalev who bounced back and had his best season since 2000-2001 scoring 35 goals and 84 points. Mark Streit's 62 points were a fantasy hockey manager's dream (because he had D eligibility but played the wing). The Bruins will be happy just to be here with their best player Patrice Bergeron returning after being out for most of the season. The performance of goaltender Tim Thomas has taken Boston to this point, but why did it have to be the Habs? Boston has lost their last 11 games against Montreal including the eight the division rivals played this year. The Bruins should be able to pull one game out of this series, Habs in five.

Thurs, April 10, 2008		7:00 PM	Boston at Montreal	CBC, RDS
Sat., April 12, 2008		7:00 PM	Boston at Montreal	CBC, RDS, VERSUS
Sun., April 13, 2008		7:00 PM	Montreal at Boston	CBC, RDS
Tues., April 15, 2008		7:00 PM	Montreal at Boston	CBC, RDS
Thurs, April 17, 2008		7:00 PM	Boston at Montreal	CBC, RDS
Sat., April 19, 2008		TBD	Montreal at Boston	CBC, RDS
Mon., April 21, 2008		TBD	Boston at Montreal	CBC, RDS

v.

On paper this is the best match up of the first round. It would surprise nobody if either of these teams won the cup. The defending champions are rolling again with the return of Niedermayer and Selanne. Dallas got the goaltending they expected and the offense they didn't. Adding Brad Richards at the deadline makes the team even better. The Stars won the season series five games to three, but Anaheim won the last two matchups in March. An Anaheim team firing on all cylinders is still a favorite to win the whole thing. We will be watching the play of the "stopper" line of R. Niedermayer-Pahlsson-Moen who performed so well last year against opposing team's top lines that they were a tremendous part of the equation that won the Ducks the Cup. This series will be even and since the Ducks are playing in it you know they are going to throw the bodies. If everything goes as planned the winner of this series meets Detroit in the second round and Detroit will be counting on taking care of their own business and hoping the winner of this series emerges bloody and broken. We'll give the Ducks the edge based on Giguere's playoff successes over Turco's and a more balanced scoring attack. The Ducks return everyone from last year's team (minus a less than effective Andy McDonald) and have added Matthieu Schneider, Todd Bertuzzi and Doug Weight. That's some serious playoff experience between those guys. I think this goes seven games, and I'm taking the Ducks.

Thurs, April 10, 2008		10:00 PM	Dallas at Anaheim	VERSUS, TSN
Sat., April 12, 2008		10:00 PM	Dallas at Anaheim	VERSUS, TSN
Tues., April 15, 2008		8:30 PM	Anaheim at Dallas	TSN
Thurs., April 17, 2008		8:00 PM	Anaheim at Dallas	TSN
Fri., April 18, 2008		10:30 PM	Dallas at Anaheim	VERSUS, TSN
Sun., April 20, 2008		TBD	Anaheim at Dallas	TSN
Tues., April 22, 2008		TBD	Dallas at Anaheim	TSN

v.

I bet you didn't think the teams with the two worst records in the East last year were going to be matching up in the playoffs this year. That would mean that not only both of them would have to have stellar turn around seasons, but one would likely have to win their division, which the Caps did on the last day of the season, knocking the Carolina Hurricanes from third to ninth in the conference. The Philadelphia acquisition of Martin Biron in goal has been solid. He has been a dependable enough backstop to go along with the scoring of expensive signings Daniel Briere and Kimmo Timmonen and the emergence of the young, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. The Caps had finally put their rebuilding process on the fast track with superstar Alex Ovechkin finally getting some sort of a supporting cast including rookie Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin. But it was the deadline acquisition of goalie Cristobal Huet that took the Caps to the next level. They won 11 of 13 games with Huet in net, who posted a 1.63 GAA and a .936 save percentage. Are the Caps just happy to be here or can we expect more from them? This is the classic young team who gets hot at the right time and really makes life difficult for a team that may be better on paper. Don't be surprised if Washington wins in six, capturing a playoff series for the first time in 10 years.

Fri., April 11, 2008		7:00 PM	Philadelphia at Washington	VERSUS, TSN
Sun., April 13, 2008		2:00 PM	Philadelphia at Washington	NBC, TSN
Tues., April 15, 2008		7:00 PM	Washington at Philadelphia	VERSUS, TSN
Thurs, April 17, 2008		7:00 PM	Washington at Philadelphia	VERSUS, TSN
Sat., April 19, 2008		1:00 PM	Philadelphia at Washington	NBC, TSN
Mon., April 21, 2008		TBD	Washington at Philadelphia	VERSUS, TSN
Tues., April 22, 2008		TBD	Philadelphia at Washington	TSN

If you know anything about the second season, you know it boils down to goal tending. Our analysis will be based on that simple premise.

v.

It's very difficult to pick against Martin Brodeur. He has the experience and he will be ready on day one (that is a bad joke).  Two years ago, New Jersey swept the up and coming Rangers in what was Henrik Lundqvist's first playoff series. After a more successful run last year the Rangers come into this series with the better team and a Lundqvist in his prime. He practically matched Brodeur's GAA this season. The Devils have only one true scoring line, which usually spells trouble in the playoffs when matching up against other elite competition. The Rangers on the other hand have a glut of offensive talent, that hasn't produced up to expectations this season. Despite that, and what might be the most meaningful statistic of all the Rangers took 7 of the 8 games they played against the Devils this season, losing only in a shootout on the last day of the season. The Devils still managed to snag the 4 seed meaning they will have home ice for this series, making it easier for me to pick the Rags to move on in six, in front of their fans at MSG.

Wed., April 9, 2008		7:00 PM	NY Rangers at New Jersey	TSN
Fri., April 11, 2008		7:00 PM	NY Rangers at New Jersey	TSN
Sun., April 13, 2008		7:00 PM	New Jersey at NY Rangers	VERSUS, TSN
Wed., April 16, 2008		7:00 PM	New Jersey at NY Rangers	VERSUS, TSN
Fri., April 18, 2008		7:30 PM	NY Rangers at New Jersey	TSN
Sun., April 20, 2008		TBD	New Jersey at NY Rangers	VERSUS, TSN
Tues., April 22, 2008		TBD	NY Rangers at New Jersey	TSN

v.

This is a rematch of last years first round tussle which the Sens won in five games. Expect this year to be a little different as the Pens have seen their team reach elite status with the true emergence of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury who other than a three month stint on the sidelines with an injury had his best season yet. Goal tending has also become Ottawa's achilles heel. The defending Eastern Conference champs have gone with career backup Martin Gerber. The Sens just snuck into the playoffs, and this injury plagued, slumping team will be lucky if they can even match Pittsburgh's performance from one year ago. Pittsburgh in five.

Wed., April 9, 2008		7:00 PM	Ottawa at Pittsburgh	VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Fri., April 11, 2008		7:00 PM	Ottawa at Pittsburgh	CBC, RDS
Mon., April 14, 2008		7:00 PM	Pittsburgh at Ottawa	CBC, RDS
Wed., April 16, 2008		7:00 PM	Pittsburgh at Ottawa	CBC, RDS
Sat., April 19, 2008		TBD	Ottawa at Pittsburgh	VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Sun., April 20, 2008		TBD	Pittsburgh at Ottawa	CBC, RDS
Tues., April 22, 2008		TBD	Ottawa at Pittsburgh	CBC, RDS

v.

Colorado shored up their roster at the trade deadline with some old Avalanche blood. Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote are back and helped Colorado climb from the nine spot to six where they meet up with division rival Minnesota who've just captured the Northwest Division for the first time. Some experts will go with the experience factor here and pick the Avs, but there is a time when vast experience becomes a disadvantage. That time is when you are old. The superior edge in goal tending that a Niklas Backstrom provides over the tandem of once good Jose Theodore and Peter Budaj will be the difference. It really is a miracle that the outstanding fragile tandem of Pavol Demitra and Marian Gaborik made it through the season relatively unscathed. They only missed a combined 19 games between them. Last year in the first round, Minnesota just didn't have the offense and it was clear by the end of the second period of game 2. The Wild is another example of a team with only one scoring line, albeit a lethal one. Look for Colorado, in the name of Ian Lapperiere, to try to make things physical. Give me the Wild in 7 on the "back" of Backstrom.

Wed., April 9, 2008		9:00 PM	Colorado at Minnesota
Fri. April 11, 2008		9:00 PM	Colorado at Minnesota	VERSUS (JIP)
Mon., April 14, 2008		10:00 PM	Minnesota at Colorado	VERSUS
Tues., April 15, 2008		10:00 PM	Minnesota at Colorado	VERSUS
Thurs., April 17, 2008		9:00 PM	Colorado at Minnesota
Sat., April 19, 2008		TBD	Minnesota at Colorado	VERSUS
Tues., April 22, 2008		TBD	Colorado at Minnesota

v.

The Sharks got a bad draw. They are the best team in the NHL and shouldn't lose in the first round, but against Calgary they are going to have to work hard. Probably harder than they would have had to against a Colorado or Nashville. The Flames won the season series three games to one. Amazingly, Mikka Kiprusoff has horrid numbers (by his standards) which only best Martin Gerber among playoff bound goalies. Nabokov on the other hand has a shot at a Vezina. Just as last year's version of the Flames had immense struggles on the road, this team hasn't been able to keep up any level of consistency. For a team known for their stalwart defense and lack of offensive punch, the Flames have turned that theory on its head this season, actually scoring more goals (229) than the Sharks (222) in the regular season. Just as was said last year, any team with Kipper in goal is a little scary. With a better offense this season if Kipper can flick the switch on watch out. In all likelihood he won't however, I'll take the best team in hockey in 5.

Wed., April 9, 2008		10:00 PM	Calgary at San Jose	VERSUS, CBC
Thurs, April 10, 2008		10:00 PM	Calgary at San Jose	CBC
Sun., April 13, 2008		10:00 PM	San Jose at Calgary	CBC, VERSUS
Tues., April 15, 2008		10:00 PM	San Jose at Calgary	CBC
Thurs, April 17, 2008		10:00 PM	Calgary at San Jose	VERSUS, CBC
Sun., April 20, 2008		TBD	San Jose at Calgary	CBC, VERSUS
Tues., April 22, 2008		TBD	Calgary at San Jose	CBC

Whether you spell it "Akeem" or "Hakeem", Olajuwon was a pleasure to watch throughout his career. His game was smooth and seemed effortless. I will always remember his patented "Dream Shake" which consisted of several jab steps, pump fakes and pivots followed by a smooth fade away, a lay up, or a quick dunk.

Olajuwon was completely unstoppable during his prime, culminating in back-to-back title for the Rockets in which he completely dominated a young Shaq and one Patrick Ewing.

That also led to the creation of "Big Shot Rob" and Sam Cassell pretending to lug gigantic balls around after hitting a big shot. It also led to Mario Elie being completely overrated in NBA Jam, but that's a different discussion for a different time.

I will always look at my Olajuwon Starting Lineup figure frozen in the middle of a hook shot with "Akeem" on the back of his jersey, with fondness.

Another big man going into the Hall this year is Patrick Ewing, someone that I have despised since I can remember watching the NBA, some 23 years ago.

Ewing is perhaps best known for coming up short in multiple quests for championships in both college and the NBA, thanks in large part to Michael Jordan. I remember him as the first NBA player I remember who blatantly traveled on almost every offensive possession (later taken to another level by Gary Payton and Chris Webber). Despite my abject hatred for the man, Ewing was a great post player, certainly one of the best of his era and is quite deserving of the Hall of Fame.

Ewing will mostly likely be celebrating his induction at a Gold Club near you.

 
Last spot up for grabs: The only intrigue in the playoff race in the east is the "battle" for the eighth and final playoff spot. Atlanta looks to be in firm control with Indiana clinging to playoff hopes. The two teams do play each other one more time.

For all intents and purposes, the East has been decided and looks about how everyone thought it would (with Chicago being the one HUGE disappointment): Boston, Detroit, Orlando and Cleveland round out the top four seeds.

Meanwhile Washington (a surprise given that Agent Zero has been sidelined most of the season), Philly, Toronto and Atlanta fill in the bottom four spots. I will reiterate that I will be shocked if any of the top four seeds do not advance to the second round. The drop off in talent (with Toronto being the only exception, too bad they have no chance against Detroit.), is staggering.

 
The West race: The race in the West seems to have taken the form of three groups of three. The Hornets, Lakers and Spurs are battling for the number one seed. In the middle, the Jazz, Rockets and Suns are battling for home court advantage in the first round, made even more interesting by divisional seeding. At the bottom, the Mavericks, Nuggets and Warriors are scrapping to get into the playoffs.

Dallas holds the edge and is essentially in with a two game lead over the other two and two games left against the Sonics, a game at Portland against a fatigued and banged up Blazers team and a finale against New Orleans.

The Nuggets play the Clippers before they travel to Oakland to play the Warriors in a HUGE game. Then the Nuggets travel to Utah before coming home to play Houston and Memphis to close out the season.

Meanwhile the Warriors play the Kings tonight as my fiancé and I "break up" for the fourth time this season (she is a Kings fan...and she is actually a real Kings fan. She is from Elk Grove, so she didn't have much to do growing up besides cheer for the L Train, Wayman Tisdale's jazz career and Mitch Richmond after the Warriors ill-fated trade to acquire Billy Owens) before hosting the Nuggets who are less than stellar on the road.

Then the Warriors host the Clippers, travel to Phoenix for another exciting, probably heart burn inducing game against the Suns before coming home to finish the season against the Sonics.

The eighth spot is entirely up for grabs and I am simultaneously excited, nervous, horrified and hyped. The Warriors seem to have a slightly easier road the rest of the way, but have the tendency to play to the level of their opponents. They have looked fatigued late in games the last couple weeks, which scares the bejesus out of me.

If you are one of the few NBA fans left, buckle up and enjoy the ride. This season has been one of the most exciting and intense of my lifetime and I cannot wait for the playoffs.

 
Livingston update: Shaun Livingston is picking up the intensity of on court workouts after being examined by Dr. James Andrews of the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Birmingham, AL. According to ESPN.com, the doctor examined Livingston's knee and found everything healing nicely and no inflammation from his rehab.

Livingston has not played in a live game since suffering one of the most horrific knee injuries anyone has ever seen back on Feb. 26 of last season during the early part of a 100-93 win over the Bobcats.

Most people's brackets are destroyed, and just about everyone in the country doesn't have their favorite team playing for the title; but the game should be fantastic.

You should expect a lot of things in tonight's NCAA Division I Men's National championship, but the thing you should expect the most is an up and down tempo with both teams attacking the tin with terrific guard play.

Also, look for both teams to be physical inside as everyone rebound and every loose ball will be gone after like it will be the last one they will ever get.

Most times when analyst's breakdown a game and talk about the advantages and disadvantages a certain team has, they embellish a bit or they are nowhere close. However, when the size difference between the Memphis guards and UCLA guards was blown up, it was for good reason.

Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts combined to score 53 of the Tigers' 78 points, abusing the smaller UCLA guards all game long.

Expect Memphis to look to do the same as they face a trio of guards in Sherron Collins (5-11), Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson (both 6-1). Rose (6-3) is a very physical point guard and is very sturdy while Douglas-Roberts (6-7) can create tough matchups because of his in-between game.

Brandon Rush (6-6) is probably going to have to bird dog CDR while Bill Self will have to run several defenders at Rose just to give him different looks. Of those three guards, Collins might be the most suited to guard him, even though he is the smallest. Collins is stockier and is a very physical basketball player.

With so much attention being paid to Douglas-Roberts and Rose, Antonio Anderson could be the X factor if not enough attention is paid to him. He is 6-6 and can get hot from beyond the arc.

Memphis clearly has the edge in the backcourt.

Shawn Taggart (6-10), Joey Dorsey (6-9) and Robert Dozier (6-9) give the Tigers a formidable frontline, and they aren't afraid to be aggressive or physical.

With that said, Kansas has taller bigs and has more of them. Sasha Kaun and Cole Aldrich (both 6-11) have played outstanding off the bench in the tournament and Darrell Arthur (6-9) and Darnell Jackson (6-8) are big and physical, but have more of an ability to score than the Memphis big guys.

Kansas has a clear advantage down low.

So, who is the advantage?

With each team having an area they can exploit more than the other, it's up to a few small things. For one, Kansas has to shoot well from beyond the arc. They are a much better 3-point shooting team than Memphis and they have to utilize it tonight.

Rebounds will be a big factor, clearly. Every big man in this game is aggressive, so whichever team blocks out and controls the defensive glass will have a big edge.

Mentality is also huge. Memphis has been the disrespected No. 1 seed all tournament long while Kansas is coming off a huge win over North Carolina which can be nothing short of a confidence boost. The team that has more of a swagger early could get out to an early lead and never look back.

It still sounds like there is not a clear cut winner in this game, and the reason it sounds that way is because there isn't. It comes down to predictions at this point.

Kansas will hit enough three's to equalize the size difference of the guards and they will use their slight advantage inside to score a bit more and grab a few more rebounds.

Self and the Jayhawks should be partying like its 1988 again. Danny Manning is there, so why not?

Prediction: Kansas 79, Memphis 76

It's completely unfair to read too much into any season a week into it, but that is exactly what I am going to do for the 2008 Major League Baseball season.

Last week I gave you a few general things to keep your eyes on this season, but now I am going to give you a very brief blurb about each team. Basically, it will just be a quick touch on what you might expect from each team this year; with one week being the basis for analysis.

AL

Anaheim: Watch for them to hit a lot of home runs and to get better pitching performances than they've got recently out of Jon Garland and Dustin Moseley.

Baltimore: Don't expect the Orioles to keep winning. They actually seem to have an idea about building for the future finally, with young players like Adam Jones and Nick Markakis being the future faces of the franchise.

Boston: David Ortiz won't hit under .100 and Josh Beckett won't get beat around often. The bats will come alive and the pitching will be just fine.

Chicago: Don't expect them to score 13 runs a night, like they are doing right now against the Tigers. Chicago did make some good moves, but don't expect them to have enough pitching to hang around in what is probably the toughest division in baseball.

Cleveland: Don't expect C.C. Sabathia to get beat around all season. I think he's the kind of guy where a contract season is more of a distraction rather than an inspiration, but he'll be fine.

Detroit: Don't expect them to lose all their games. Seriously though, the Tigers will be fine. Expect them to be right there in September.

Kansas City: Expect the Royals to also be a much improved team. A week in first place is about all they will have, but watch as Alex Gordon and Billy Butler turn into stars.

Minnesota: Don't expect them to get a lot of production from the bottom of the lineup, anchored by Brendan Harris, Adam Everett and Nick Punto. Do expect the young pitching to show enormous potential.

New York: Expect to continue to see great play from Melky Cabrera while he blossoms into a star. The pitching will be up and down, but the offense will come around when the weather heats up. Meanwhile, Johnny Damon will continue decaying.

Oakland: Expect exactly what you've seen. Good pitching and very little offense.

Seattle: Don't expect Richie Sexon to have the big season all the "experts" think he is. Expect them to keep with the Angels until the last week or so..... but fall short.

Tampa Bay: Expect Tampa Bay to play .500 ball for a good portion of the season. Cliff Floyd (gulp) is actually a good influence for this team and the Rays finally have a good mix.

Texas: Don't expect Kevin Millwood to make 25 starts and expect the Rangers to wilt in the Texas heat of August and fall from view in the race in the West.

Toronto: The Blue Jays are going to stay in the AL East race for most of the season if not all of it. They have great front line pitching and a lot of balance. Once Scott Rolen comes back, they will be even better.

NL

Arizona: Expect them to piss me off all season long.

Atlanta: Expect Tim Hudson and John Smoltz to be a dominant 1-2 punch. Don't expect Mark Teixeira to have the big season everyone thinks he's gonna have.

Chicago: Don't expect Kosuke Fukudome to hit .500 all season and don't expect the Cubs to break the 100-year drought (oops, I said it).

Cincinnati: Expect them to be an interesting team to keep an eye on because of all the young talent.

Florida: Don't expect much.

Houston: Expect awfulness.

Los Angeles: Expect them to pitch well and not score much.

Milwaukee: Expect them to hit a lot of home runs and don't expect Ryan Braun to have a down year (that one's for you, Mike.)

New York: Expect Carlos Delgado to continue decomposing and expect Ryan Church and Brian Schneider to turn into liabilities that basically cancel out the Johan Santana trade. Basically they are overpaid and overhyped.

Philadelphia: Expect them to flounder for the first couple of months and get hot late. Sound familiar?

Pittsburg: Expect nothing. Hope for the best. I actually think they'll be better, but I don't know anything.

San Diego: Expect them to pitch well for the most part and to be awful at the plate, but make me mad when someone does get a hit.

San Francisco: Expect to hear a lot of names like Velez, Lewis, Davis and Sanchez and expect close to 100 losses.

St. Louis: Don't expect Kyle Lohse to pitch like this all year. Don't expect Skip Schumaker and Ryan Ludwick to make them contenders.

Washington: Expect them to be close in a lot of games, but still lose 90 games.

No longer Trevor Time: Finally, it's happened. It had to. Trevor Hoffman is too old, throws too slow and is now not good enough to be a Major League closer. That's what the first week tells me, but I believe it to be true. Especially when you figure they guy has been tap dancing around trouble for the last two seasons to get a save.

So far he is 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA and has blown two of his first four saves. This is coming after he blew two key saves down the stretch last season and cost the Padres a post-season berth.

Could Hoffman be done?

He always got by with his pinpoint control to make up for the fact his fastball hovered around 85-86, and was seen as high as 88 every once in a while. Without fastball command, his changeup isn't nearly as effective and so far people are just waiting for fastball mistakes.

Hoffman will probably save 35 games or more, but he'll blow more than usual and have a higher ERA. This should be the last go round for the all time saves leader. Hopefully, because he's not even good.

Disclaimer: Ben Malley is a UCLA partisan

Rose abused Collison all night. He looks a top 2 pick in the draft. When Collison was taken out of the game UCLA actually started getting some stops with Westbrook moving up to guard Rose and Mbah a Moute coming out to guard CDR. But you aren't going to just bench your star point guard unless you are real ballsy. UCLA let Memphis play the game at their pace. They couldn't get the ball down low to Love and showed no persistence to do so. Memphis was the better team on the day. Will their reliance on Rose and CDR (53 of 78 points) hurt them in the final or was the unbalanced scoring simply a result of their favorable matchups?

Stat o' the game: Memphis 20-23 from the free throw line. 86 percent. Color me impressed.

5:16 - On the phone with my therapist Matt Smith crying into the phone. I'll be back with a conclusion.

5:00 - Memphis' ultimate success in this game was Dorsey's ability to deny Love the ball down low. Equal blame falls on Dorsey's defense and UCLA seemingly not making it a priority to get Love the ball down low.

4:58 - The defining moment of the game: I apologize for the imagery, CDR sticks his dick in Love's mouth, knocking him over and dunking over him putting the exclamation point on the game.

4:56 - UCLA with back-to-back open 3s from Keefe and Collison (his first attempt) both go in and out.

4:52 - The posts are getting more infrequent due to my rising anger. As a UCLA fan I'm calling ballgame right now. With 8 minutes left in the half and the Bruins down 59-49. Collison just picked up his 4th foul (which isn't even a factor because he has been neutralized. He is 1-7 from the floor and hasn't even attempted a 3.

4:40 - Memphis 9-10 from the free throw line today. Mbah a Moute scores again.

4:36 - UCLA goes on a little 4 point run after Mbah a Moute makes a nice rebound and off-balance 5 footer. With 13:32 to go in the half Jim Nantz points out that the current 50-45 score is the same score (albeit reversed) that UCLA beat Memphis by in the Elite 8 two years ago.

4:35 - Love takes another 3, they can't get the ball inside to him. So he gets frustrated and comes to the top of the key. Memphis ahead 14-2 on fastbreak points.

4:33 - Westbrook/Love and CDR/Rose all look NBA ready. Collison isn't doing himself any favors for the NBA scouts. His size just look like it will keep him from being as successful at the next level.

4:30 - After a beautiful pass from Love, Mbah a Moute misses a 1 foot layup. If it sounds like I am picking on poor kid, I am. Luckily, Love cleans up his mess. 48-41 at the 15 minute mark.

4:27 - I'm at a loss for words. With both the big men on 3 fouls Love decides on 3 straight possessions that he is going to stand at the top of the key. Mbah a Moute drops an uncontested rebound out of bounds much like Keefe did earlier.

4:21 - Mbah a Moute takes another illadvised 18 footer and bricks (1 for 6). Dorsey picks up his 3rd foul with 19:08 to go in the half. Taggart picks up his 3rd on the inbounds after the Dorsey foul. Both calls were soft, especially considering how the refs were letting the big guys slug it out in the first half. It's as if it is a new set of officials here in the second half.

4:12 - I'm really liking Billy Donovan at the desk on the halftime show. Florida will have to not make the Final Four more often.

Halftime (3:59) - As Dorsey and Taggart got into foul trouble towards the end of the half (2 each) Love started to control the boards a little better (he has 10 points and 4 rebounds). The two stats that stand out: Memphis outrebounding UCLA 21-14 (including 9-3 on the offensive end). And the previously mentioned turnovers: UCLA has 8, Memphis 3. Rose and CDR are having their way with UCLA driving at will (24 of Memphis' 38 points), but seemed to get away from that a little bit at the end of the half. Westbrook has been UCLA's best player and is having much more success putting the ball on the floor than Collison. Shipp hit a couple of shots early but has been invisible since. Mbah a Moute has been abysmal. Memphis are well on their way to their 80 ppg average. Howland will be telling his team to slow the pace to a crawl in the second half.

3:58 - UCLA gets a little momentum as the half comes to a close cutting the lead to 3.

3:53 - After another UCLA turnover (this time Collison who has 0 points by the way) CDR finally beats Westbrook, but Love blocks the layup.

3:50 - Packer is going on and on about how UCLA can't afford Collison guarding Rose. It's true, it's not a good matchup, but what is Howland supposed to do? CDR is 6-7, Anderson is 6-6. Collison is 6-1, at best.

3:45 - Very sloppy play from a usually fundamentally sound UCLA team. A number of traveling calls and an inbound pass that was dropped. Westbrook has 11 and is now keeping CDR relatively in check.

3:36 - Mbah a Moute misses yet another open look. Memphis is going to make him and Shipp beat them. UCLA has thus far down an abysmal job of making Love relevant on the offensive end.

3:31 - Mbah a Moute isn't looking like the same player on the offensive end that he did against Xavier. A bad sign for UCLA as Keefe drops an uncontested rebound out of bounds.

3:28 - Howland has put Mbah a Moute, a taller player than Westbrook, up against Douglas Roberts. CDR drives and throws up a horrible shot in his first possession with Mbah a Moute on him.

3:25 - Has UCLA ever given up 20 points in the first 6 minutes? One of our three readers should check, or I will.

3:24 - Waiting to see if Memphis' height advantage at the guard positions will be a key. Thus far it hasn't because the Bruins are being killed in the transition game.

3:16 - Great to see Shipp not afraid to shoot early. UCLA needs to take back control of the tempo. They are letting Memphis run too much.

3:10 - Chris Douglas Roberts' major is Sports & Leisure Management. I would make fun of him but he will actually have a job after he leaves school. Me on the other hand...

In the midst of March Madness is one of the most compelling NBA seasons in recent memory. The Western conference is a cluster of nine teams on pace to win 50 games.
One of those teams will be a lottery team. There are three teams that are fighting to stay in the top eight right now. Let's take a quick peak at each to see what's going on.

Dallas- The Mavericks are in a tailspin. They hadn't beaten a team with a winning record since acquiring Jason Kidd until beating Golden State on Wednesday night. Now Dirk Nowitzki is out with a "sprained knee and ankle." His return date is cloudy, as is his level of effectiveness upon his return. I said I thought the Kidd trade made them worse and it looks like I was right...for once. I just feel like they will not be able to right the ship in time to save their season. Who would have thought that fighting for the eighth seed and sneaking in the playoffs would be "saving the season" for the Mavericks?

Denver- They continue to play well at home and poorly on the road. They continue to have little offensive continuity; either Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith are hot...or they are getting pummeled. That's because they can't stop anyone. While Carmelo has figured out how to take advantage of the different defenders thrown at him, he hasn't figured out how to play defense against anyone. Iverson plays the passing lanes, but isn't a great one on one defender anymore, Smith is too busy thinking about the next cross over fade away jumper he's going to throw up and Kenyon Martin is a step slow now. Camby is the only player who can defend his man and protect the basket. I say they finish one game ahead of the Mavs for the final playoff spot.

Golden State-(author's note: this was written before the Warriors laid down and died in the 4th quarter against the Spurs last night and before they laid an egg against Dallas) Predicting with your heart instead of your head is always a bad idea. Fortunately for me, I am full of bad ideas and I've let my heart lead me into many horrible situations, so why stop now? The Warriors play four tough games on the road against the Spurs, Mavs, Grizzlies and Hornets. By the time they get back to California I will either be giddy or I will have jammed a staple remover into my throat. After the road swing the Warriors have a match up remaining with the Nuggets and Suns. Sprinkled in there are the Clippers with Brand back, the Kings and Sonics. Their road isn't easy, but I feel like the Warriors have built on last year and they have actually learned from their let downs this season (evidenced by their lack of losing streaks. When they lose a game they've come back and played well against their next opponent). My heart is telling me that they finish go 7-2 in their final nine including beating Dallas AND Denver. If not? The Warriors will be a lottery team. Could you imagine them ending up with a top five pick and drafting a Lopez twin or Kevin Love to rebound, defend and outlet? Not a bad consolation prize for missing the playoffs.

Potential matchups: We can't even talk about potential matchups in the West because nothing will be decided until the last couple games. That makes all of this even more "Tourney-like." The surprise of the matchups and all of the jockeying for playoff positions will just add to the intrigue.
The Eastern Conference is shaping up just how everyone thought it would. Boston, Detroit, Orlando and Cleveland have all solidified their positions at the top of the conference. If any lower seed makes it to the second round, which is a long shot, it would be the Raptors. No matter who they end up playing, they have the most overall talent as a lower seed and have been to the playoffs with this nucleus. A second round match up of Boston vs. Cleveland and Detroit vs. Orlando is going to be fun.

The plague: Injuries are plaguing several teams in the race for the west. The Lakers have some relief on the way as Pau Gasol is set to return for the Lakers next game against the Blazers. Unfortunately there is still a shroud of mystery regarding the return of Andrew Bynum. The Mavericks are without Dirk Nowitzki with no timetable for a return after landing awkwardly and spraining his knee and ankle. Stephen Jackson of the Warriors has battled a sprained ankle over the last six weeks and looks 47 steps slower on defense. It's always frustrating when injuries get in the way of a team's success in any sport. With so many great teams battling this season it would be a shame if one bowed out due to injury.