CMan's 2013 NBA Finals Predictions!

The NBA Finals are upon us and the two teams, Miami and San Antonio, are no stranger to the leagues marquee event. Between the two teams they have 9 finals appearances and 6 NBA Championships. The Spurs have the more impressive pedigree with 4 NBA titles but the Heat are making their third straight appearance in the finals. There is one stat worth pointing out, the Spurs are 4-0 (16-6 games played) in the Finals, Miami is 2-1 (10-7).

 

This is a tough series to call. To date I have picked 11 of the 14 series correctly. It should be 12 but my heart wouldn't let me pick against the Thunder, despite the loss of Westbrook. Conventional wisdom and most of the talking heads will pick the Heat, pointing to home court advantage and the fact that LeBron James is playing. If Miami loses the finals they will quickly begin to look like the Atlanta Braves baseball team. The Braves had the talent to win multiple championships From 1991  to 2005. During that span the team won 14 division titles including 11 straight and five NL championships but could only manage 1 world series ring. Granted, the Heat have already won 2 titles but they were 6 years apart and only Dwayne Wade and a few bench players were around for both. The current roster is 1-1. the Heat were up and down during the playoffs. The only team that I thought posed a real threat was Indiana, and threat they did. The Heat are 12-4 in this seasons playoffs, including one sweep against the Bucks and a tough 7 game series with the Pacers. Miami simply doesn't look as dominant and unbeatable as they did during their 27 game win streak this season.

 

 

 

 

The Spurs come to Miami fresh off a 4-0 sweep of the intimidating Memphis Grizzlies and well rested, having not played since May 27th. San Antonio comes in as the elder statesmen of the NBA. The Spurs have a perfect record in the Finals and won the last in a sweep of Cleveland in the 06-07 NBA season. The star player on that Cleveland team was none other than LeBron James. A win and the Spurs will go down as a dynasty having won 5 championships in 13 years. Greg Popovich will tie Pat Riley at #4 on the list of NBA coaches with the most NBA titles at 5 each. San Antonio is a well coached team that is all business on the court. They play a very consistent 48 minutes of basketball game in and game out. The Spurs are 12-2 this playoff season with sweeps against the Lakers and Memphis. They are not easy to beat and play as well on the road as they do at home, especially in the playoffs.

 

 So how do the teams match up? Miami has James, Bosh and Wade. The Spurs counter with Duncan, Ginobli and Parker. Duncan will control the paint and will keep the Heat big men at bay. Parker and Ginobli will give fits to the Heat guards and forwards with their ball movement, shooting ability and defense. The bench match up heavily favors the Spurs with the key sub being Tiago Splitter. The Coaching match up is a no brainer. I am not convinced that Eric Spoelstra does much in game coaching. "Pop", on the other hand, is a field general with a proven track record. Now, does this mean a Spurs Championship? Not at all. the Heat still have LeBron James and he has a much better supporting cast than the Cleveland team that lost to the Spurs in 2007. However, Miami will have to play near perfect, team basketball to pull this series out. Bosh and Wade will have to show up each game. James is good but he can't beat the Spurs alone.

 

I think that San Antonio will steal one of the first two in Miami and regain home court. I also believe that if they do that, they can win the series. They will have to win it in 6 though, because if the Heat can get it to a game 7, they will win it. If Miami wins the first 2 games, you can call the series in favor of the Heat.

 

Having said all that, my money is on San Antonio. I say the Spurs win the title in 6 games 4-2.

 

Now, Let's play some ball!

CMan's Conference Finals Recaps

Eastern Conference:

 

 

 

The conference finals have ended and while I correctly picked the ultimate winners, I wasn't so good at forecasting one of the two series.

#1 Miami vs #3 Indiana (Heat 4-3)

This series played out like I thought it would, plus 1 game. I knew the Pacers would give the Heat a strong series and they did. In fact, they outplayed Miami in all but two games. They just happened to be games that the Heat looked at as must wins. Despite the obvious strengths that Indiana brought to the series I still believed that Miami would eventually return to the finals for a third straight season.

The Pacers did expose two serious weaknesses of the Heat that, if not corrected, could come back to haunt them in the finals. Miami has gone through the regular season and the playoffs with a sense of arrogance. They seem to be of the mindset that they can win if they want to...if they have to. I think Indiana rattled them a little. The competition got progressively better against the Heat in the playoffs and they could have easily lost this series. LeBron James won it for them. That brings me to the second weakness, Bosh and Wade. For the heat to win the finals they must have game in and game out production from at least two of the big three if not all three. They did not get that kind of support from Wade and Bosh throughout the Pacers series. They're going to need it to beat the Spurs.

 

Western Conference:

 

 

 

#2 San Antonio vs #5 Memphis (Spurs 4-0)

I picked the Spurs to win this series...in seven games. A San Antonio sweep never occurred to me. Especially after the way Golden State pushed the Spurs. Memphis looked unfazed after the Thunder series and while I thought the Spurs would win the series, I thought the Grizzlies would make them work for it. Conventional wisdom says that Memphis used it's entire tank to get out of a tough series with OKC. However, I believe that they just ran in to a superior Spurs team that was irritated by the Warriors and is now focused on one thing. Winning one more NBA title.

Memphis is a tough team with an even tougher coach. San Antonio is a well coached, robotic team that plays as well together as any team, even Miami. The Spurs played 4 systematic, 48 minute games. It didn't matter what city they were playing in or in front of what crowd. In fact, I had to look at center court during a couple of the games just to see where they were playing. As for the outcome of the games, they might as well all been in Texas. Memphis wasn't even in the games. They seemed to be 15 - 20 points down at the beginning of each game, fighting from behind the entire series. By game 4 the Grizzlies were demoralized and resigned to losing the series. The Spurs were business like the entire series and hardly celebrated the fact that they were Western Conference Champions. The job is not finished and they know it.

As for Memphis, we discover after the series that there is turmoil within the organization. The new ownership group, responsible for the Rudy Gay trade, has more mischief up their collective sleeves. This week they granted head coach Lionel Hollins permission to entertain other coaching positions. Hollins is having a difficult time adapting to the micro-management style of the new owners. If they let Hollins leave, Memphis will return to it's previous status as a non factor in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies are who they are because of Lionel Hollins. Without him, they are just another NBA team.

On to the NBA Finals!

Buster's Conference Finals Matchups and Predictions

The second round is over in a very disappointing matter for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City was out maned in the series against Memphis. Now Memphis looks to take it a step farther and advance to the Finals. Miami didn't surprise anyone with their 4-1 victory over the Bulls, and the Pacers upset the Knicks in six games. Now that the Conference Finals have officially ended, lets take a look at the matchups.

Eastern Conference:

 

#1 Miami vs #3 Indiana

 

After a dominating performance from both of these teams in the second round, this is bound to be an outstanding series. These two teams met up in the semifinals last season. It was a series that Indiana very well could have won, but they did not have the experience. LeBron was on a search for his first title and was more focused than ever. Indiana has acquired the two keys that they were lacking last season. They did not have a dominating big man and they did not have experience. The Pacers now have both of these things and are ready to take on the Heat.

It is always scary to pick against LeBron and the Heat, but I have to go with Indiana in this series. I think the Heat will come out too relaxed and unfocused. The Pacers will take a quick jump on this and the series will be too far gone by the time Miami wakes up. I think the Pacers win the battle on the inside with Roy Hibbert. This is honestly a series that could go either way. With Paul George and David West I think the Pacers will win the back court as well. If the Pacers are going to win this series it has to be in six, if it goes to game seven Miami will take advantage. Pacers win in a close series 4-2.

 

Western Conference:

 

 

#2 San Antonio vs #5 Memphis

 

This is going to be a series of some great old school basketball. Both teams are going to play excellent defense and play with fundamentals on offense. Both teams will try to take advantage of the size and experience of their big men. There is no doubt that Memphis has the best front court in the NBA. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph not only play outstanding offense, but they work their butt off on the defensive side of the ball. It will be interesting to see how Tim Duncan responds to the defense of these big guys.

The Spurs are a fantastic team, but I do not think they have the size or energy to play with Memphis. I think the Grizzlies will wear them down in the first two games and then make their move. It will be important for the Spurs to perform well enough to give Duncan and Parker a rest. However, I think Memphis will take advantage of the time that Duncan and Parker spend on the bench and make it almost impossible to give them a breather. Zbo and Gasol are just too physical on the inside for any team to keep up, Memphis wins 4-2.

These series have the potential to make this one of the most entertaining Conference Finals in a long time! I am picking two underdogs, and I am feeling fully confident. Make sure you stay tuned in to see how our picks come out. Maybe I will finally beat CMan!

CMan's Conference Finals Matchups and Predictions

The Conference Finals have arrived. And the top seed in the West, the OKC Thunder, will be watching from home. There are two intriguing match ups though, so lets break them down.

First, The Eastern Conference:

 

#1 Miami vs #3 Indiana

 

If you asked before the Chicago series I would have said that Miami was beatable. I'm not so sure now. Miami dismantled a good Bulls team in four games after a surprising game 1 defeat in round two. It's not that they won the series, it's how they won. After losing the first game in Miami, the Heat won the next three by an average score of 102-80. The Bulls put up a fight in game 5 but they were playing for their season. The Heat won 94-91 and took the series 4-1.

 

 I said in the first round that I thought the Pacers were the only team in the East that could play with, and beat the Heat. They proved it in the regular season going 2-1 against Miami. However, Miami is unbeatable when they play as a team and play with purpose, especially in the East. This series could go 7 games with a Pacers victory or it could result in a quick Miami sweep in 4. This is a hard one to call because the nature of the Pacers play has a tendency to disrupt their opponent. I like Indiana, but I'm not ready to bet against the Heat yet. I say the series goes 6 games with the Heat winning one in Indiana. Miami makes it's third consecutive trip to the NBA Finals.

 

Miami Heat win, 4-2

 

The Western Conference:

 

 

#2 San Antonio vs #5 Memphis

 

This series pits the old Spurs against the young, stingy Grizzlies. San Antonio was pushed by a young, explosive Warriors team that really had nothing to lose. Memphis dispatched the number one seed OKC Thunder in 5 very competitive games. Frankly, if Westbrook is healthy, I don't think the Grizzlies make it out of the second round.

 

Memphis held the high scoring Thunder to just 89.6 points per game.  The Spurs averaged 102 against Golden State. San Antonio has more shooters than the Grizzlies can cover. Memphis will have to depend on Randolph and Gasol to give Tim Duncan and the rest of the Spurs big men fits. Duncan can't guard both and he will have a hard time scoring over them. The key to this series will be Parker and Ginobli. Memphis can't handle both at the same time. If both distribute effectively and score the series will go to the Spurs. Both benches have had success in the playoffs this year and are evenly matched. If "Pop" makes the right moves look for San Antonio to reach the NBA Finals for perhaps the last time in this era. I think home court makes all the difference in this series. I see a 7 game series going down to the wire.

 

San Antonio Spurs win, 4-3

 

We should have two very competitive series to enjoy. This is why they play the regular season. All four teams play defense and defense wins Championships. I say experience wins over youth in both conferences this year. LeBron James didn't move to Miami to win one championship and he is already 1-1 in Championship series. The clock is ticking in San Antonio and they know this might be the last chance this team has to win the big one. Memphis and Indiana are good teams but they are both in uncharted territory.  Their time will come, just not in 2013.



CMan's second round recap.

The NBA Playoff second round ended last night in Indianapolis and round three starts today in San Antonio. For many, the second round went the way they thought it would. For fans in OKC, the season ended a little too early. Lets take a look back at the second round games  and see how we did.

The Eastern Conference:

Miami vs Chicago ( Heat 4-1)

Chicago won the first game of this series  in Miami, in rather convincing fashion. The Bulls had just come off a game 7 in round 1. The Heat had been off for over a week. For a brief moment the Heat looked almost human. In reality, the Bulls woke a sleeping giant and reminded them that they still have to play the games. The Bulls lost the next four in a row and never got close to the Heat again.
CMan's pick: Heat 4-2.

Indiana vs New York (Pacers 4-2)

Indiana continues to methodically roll through the playoffs playing their game. No flash, no sparkle, just basketball. The Knicks tried to make a series out of it early but the end result was never in doubt. The Pacers are not shaken by any opponent or any single game. They seem to expect to win every game and when they lose, they just put the game away and prepare for the next. It's not pretty, but it wins.
CMan's pick: Pacers 4-2

The Western Conference:

Oklahoma City vs Memphis (Grizzlies 4-1)

Ugh.The loss of Russell Westbrook exposed a serious weakness in the Thunder lineup. Without number "0" the Grizzlies focused on Durant and begged the rest of the team to score. KD couldn't get off a decent shot all series and the rest of the starters never showed up at the same time. The bench was ineffective and no one could guard the Grizzlies back court. Gasol and Randolph were contained to an extent but the Memphis guards were explosive and hard to contain. The Thunder simply couldn't replace Westbrook's points consistently and never found an offensive rhythm. I picked the Thunder in this series but frankly, I was afraid of this Memphis team with Westbrook.

One final note, Leave Scott Brooks alone. As a Head Coach you spend 82 regular season games defining a rotation and team unity. You can't take away your floor general and expect to win multiple series. After all, I am confident that Phil Jackson would have won 8 straight titles in Chicago if  Michael Jordan had not decided to play baseball for two years. Ugh!
CMan's pick: Thunder 4-3

San Antonio vs Golden State (Spurs 4-2)

This series shocked the basketball world...for a little while. The Warriors were fresh off the dismantling of the Denver Nuggets and brimming with confidence. The Spurs, like the Heat enjoyed an extended break after the first round. I personally don't think that Denver would have lost the first round series to the Warriors had Gallinari not gone down (See Westbrook) and while they are young and exciting, they weren't going to beat the Spurs. Watch out nest season though. The Warriors and Head Coach Mark Jackson will be back and they will be better. The Spurs will be a year older.
CMan's pick: Spurs 4-2

I should have been undefeated in this round. My Thunder pick was a homer pick and wishful thinking. In reality, OKC went 3-6 without Westbrook. I was concerned about Memphis before the injury to Westbrook and the Houston series was a win either way.

Buster's Second Round Recap

The second round of the NBA playoffs have officially ended. Some people are very happy with the results, others (us Thunder fans) are not! Two out of the four series ended in upsets, although many people predicted them to happen. Take a look at how the second round went.

Eastern Conference:
#1 Miami vs. #5 Chicago (Heat in 5)
Miami handled this series just as everyone thought. I personally thought the series would go to seven. After Chicago stumped Miami in the first game I thought maybe the world was wrong. Miami came out agressive and focused for the next four games. Miami has now won four straight games twice in two years. They won four in a row last year after losing to the Thunder in game 1 of the Finals, and four games in a row this year after losing game 1 to the Bulls. They may have the best player in the world on their team (and every NBA official) but this will be their last series to win this season. The Heat averaged 97.4 points per game in this series.

#2 New York vs. #3 Indiana (Pacers in 6)
I love it when I am right! Indiana took a quick 3-1 lead in this series that looked as if they weren't gonna lose another game. Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith were no match for George Hill and David West as they won this series in game six. I again predicted this series to go to game 7, but I am completely happy with the outcome of this series. The Pacers are a team that could have beaten Miami at this time last year, but lost due to their inexperience and the lack of a solid big man. This team now has both, and with David West joining the roster they are ready to take on the defending champions. The Pacers averaged a low 89.5 points per game in this series.

I went a solid 2-0 in the East! Now lets take a look at how I did in the West...

Western Conference:
#1 Oklahoma City vs. #5 Memphis (Grizzles in 5)
This is one of those ones where I was right, but I am very sad that I predicted it right. I did pick them to beat the Thunder in game 7, but Memphis only needed five to send us on vacation. I am okay with losing to the Grizzlies. They will be in the Finals, and have the best chance of bringing a title home to the West. With the loss of Russell Westbrook and the poor play of all of our big men (not just Kendrick Perkins) we stood no chance against Mike Conley and the big men Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. They were way to physical for us inside and on the defensive side of the ball. Say what you want, but the Thunder got straight up out played and out hustled. The Grizzlies averaged 93.6 points per game in this series.

#2 San Antonio vs. #6 Golden State (Spurs in 6)
This was the only series that I did not pick correctly. Golden State gave the Spurs all they wanted and more. No doubt in my mind that if David Lee is healthy and playing that the Warriors win this series or at least send it to game 7. San Antonio slipped through this series do to their excellent shooting and experience. The big question is, can they keep this going now that they are tired? I'm not completely sure they can, but I am terrified to doubt them. When you have the best power forward of all time and the most points scored in the playoffs by a point guard on your team it is hard to pick against them. The Spurs averaged the most points in the second round with 102 per game!

I went 1-1 in the West, leaving my total at three out of four. CMan beat me again this round, but I will see if I can get him in the Conference Finals!

Buster's NBA Playoff Second Round Matchups and Predictions

The first round went pretty much as expected with the exception of two games. But who really thought that Golden State would come back on Denver, and that Blake Griffin and the Clippers would be out coached and not physical enough. The first round is all about craziness. Now that things are a little more serious, lets see how I can do on the second round predictions. Lets start with the East and save the conference everyone really cares about for last.

Eastern Conference:

#1 Miami vs. #5 Chicago
Being rested up and 100% is one of the most important parts of being successful in the playoffs. Miami is well rested after the sweep of the Bucks. Chicago however, will be winded considering they just closed out a seven game series against Brooklyn yesterday. This series may be more about the return of Derrick Rose, rather than how this series actually plays out. Even with the return of D Rose, the Bulls cannot hang with the Heat for seven games. Rose will not be in game shape, nor is he likely to be feeling 100% if he does get a few minutes here and there in this series. Chicago will give Miami all they want, but in the long run they are no match for the defense and explosive offense of Miami. Miami wins this series 4-2.

#2 New York vs. #3 Indiana
This series is the one to watch for this second round if you ask me. I strongly believe the winner of this series will beat Miami. Indiana was an outstanding team last year who barely lost to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. They are eager to make it past this round of the tournament, and I think they will do so. As my buddy CMan mentioned Carmelo Anthony is having shoulder problems, and with JR Smith you never know what you are gonna get. One night he comes off the bench and shoots 50% for 19 points and the next he is shooting 21%. This is a series that very well could be finished in just five games. But having the scoring champion and the sixth man of the year will buy the Knicks two, maybe three games. The Pacers win this series 4-3

Western Conference:
#1 Oklahoma City vs. #5 Memphis
I have been dreading writing about this series ever since I found out we would be playing the Grizzlies. It is gonna come down to who I think will win this series, and who I want to win this series. Everything in me wants me to pick the Thunder to win this series, but Memphis is just too quick and physical on the inside. Without the offensive explosiveness of Russell Westbrook I think the Thunder will struggle to score against Tony Allen and the defensive player of the year Marc Gasol. Can the Thunder win this series? Absolutely, and I will be pulling for them as hard as I possibly can. Reggie Jackson will need to continue his play, while Nick Collison gets more minutes off the bench. Kevin Martin is going to have to step up like he did in game 6 against Houston, and Kendrick Perkins is going to have to shut down Zach Randolph on the defensive side of the ball. This series could go either way, but I think the Grizzlies win 4-3.(I hope I am wrong!)

#2 San Antonio vs. #6 Golden State
This is really going to be a fun series to watch! The slow and fundamental play of the Spurs, against the fast pace offense of the Warriors. I think that Golden State will win this series if they play their best possible basketball (I know, I know, I picked two upsets in the West). The question will be if they can play their best possible basketball and shut down Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Golden State averaged more points than anyone in the playoffs last round with 107.2 points per game. I really do not think that the Spurs can slow them down, or put up the amount of points that Golden State will. Again I am picking a seven game series, Golden State wins 4-3.

There it is, my second round predictions! Make sure you give us a follow on the top right side of the blog so you never miss any of the action! Keep checking in throughout the second round to see how we did on our predictions!

CMan's NBA Playoff Second Round Matchups and Predictions

The second round in the East looks like I thought it would. The West is another story. This could get interesting as several key players remain out and others return. There is even a rumor that Derrick Rose might suit up in Chicago..we will see.

Now my predictions for the second round.

Eastern Conference:

#1 Miami vs #5 Chicago

The Bulls gutted out a 7 game win over the Nets in Brooklyn, the Heat burned past a Bucks team that should have started summer vacation two weeks ago. The Heat are rested and ready to play, the Bulls are tired but battle tested. I think Chicago will test Miami but I don't think they have enough left in the tank to out last them in 7 games, even with Derrick Rose in uniform. The Bulls are resilient, especially in the post season, but the Heat are too strong and in the end, should close out Chicago 4-2.

#2 New York vs #3 Indiana

This should be an entertaining series. The Pacers toyed with the Hawks and finished the series when they decided too. The Knicks have home court in this series but they struggled at times with a very old Celtics team. Carmelo is having shoulder problems and you never know which JR Smith will show up. If the Pacers can steal one of the first two games in New York then they should have enough to turn the series in their favor and win it in 6. if they don't it should be a 7 game series. Either way, I like Indiana to win, 4-2.

Western Conference:

#1 Oklahoma City vs #5Memphis

This is why you play for home court advantage. The Thunder lost 2 of 3 to the Grizzlies in the regular season. Two of those games were in OKC. Memphis is a scary team and they play angry. The Thunder are a finesse team, playing without their most dynamic player, Russell Westbrook. Both teams played last night and have little time to prepare for each other. I don't know who has the prep advantage at this point, but I do know it's going to take a team effort to win by the Thunder. Reggie Jackson has played well in the absence of Westbrook but the rest of the starters are still feeling their way. The reserves are the ace in the hole for OKC, they are still pretty much intact and, if Derek Fisher continues to play like he did last night, the Thunder have a fighting chance. It will be a long and hard series but if OKC can play 4 games at the level they did against Houston in game six, they should come out on top. They are the better team. Thunder win, ugly, 4-3.

#2 San Antonio vs #6 Golden State

The Spurs come in well rested, the Warriors come in with a ton of confidence. This is the old Spurs against the New kids on the block. No one gave them a shot against the Nuggets and few will give them a chance against the Spurs. If the Warriors shooters get hot this could be a long series. If they can steal a game early in San Antonio they will have a chance, however, these are still the Spurs and they still have Duncan, Ginobli and Parker and as long as "Pop" is drawing up plays, I can't bet against them. Spurs win, 4-2.

There you have it good people. Good luck to all the teams! Check back after round two and we will get you prepped for the Conference finals.

For Buster.

Buster's First Round Recap

The first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs are officially over. Chicago defeated Brooklyn in game 7 to finish out the last game of the first round. Here is a quick recap of the first round and a look at how my predictions turned out.

Eastern Conference:

#1 Miami vs. #8 Milwaukee (Miami 4-0)
This is a series that I really just wanted to stir up some trouble with. I knew in my mind that the Heat would sweep the Bucks with no problems, but my heart told me that Milwaukee would steal one game. This is probably because of my great hatred towards LeBron and the franchise of Miami. Miami blew threw Milwaukee averaging 100 points per game. Perhaps even Bucks fans were smarter than me and knew they couldn't even pull off one win.

#2 New York vs. #7 Boston (New York 4-2)
No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit, but Boston fooled a lot of people into thinking it was possible. The Knicks took a 3-0 lead and it looked as if my prediction of a sweep was gonna happen. Boston fought back to take the next two games in a row. Just as everyone had jumped on the Celtics bandwagon, New York pulled off the fourth win in what was a close game until the finish. The Knicks averaged 87.6 points per game.

#3 Indiana vs. #6 Atlanta (Indiana 4-2)
I am gonna brag on my self for just a second and take the time to say that I successfully predicted this series at 4-2. I knew that Atlanta could not hang with the Pacers in the long run, but I knew they were good enough to steal two games at home. After all, Indiana is going to beat the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals! The Pacers averaged 94.5 points per game.

#4 Brooklyn vs. #5 Chicago (Chicago 4-3)
Just as I thought, the Bulls pulled out a win in a very tough series. Nate Robinson played outstanding like he has been and will continue to do so for this team. I did predict a 4-2 Bulls win, but I was not surprised to see this series go to game 7. Chicago is for real, and could pose a possible threat for the Heat in the second round. The Bulls averaged 97.4 points per game.

I would like to take a quick note and say that I predicted every matchup in the East correctly, as did my partner in crime CMan. At the end of this one I stand as 4-0. Now lets take a look at how I did in the West.

Western Conference:
#1 Oklahoma City vs. #8 Houston (Oklahoma City 4-2)
I don't think this series went as anyone planned it to go. With the loss of Russell Westbrook, losing two games in this series was definitely not the biggest loss. After Russ went out in game 2 we all knew this was no longer going to be an easy journey. However, I do not think anyone expected to see some of the worst Thunder basketball of the season. The Thunder did pull it out in the end averaging an amazing 105.8 points per game!

#2 San Antonio vs. #7 LA Lakers (San Antonio 4-0)
I again want to take the time and say that I predicted this series absolutely correct, because it is the only other time I did this. The Lakers had a hard enough time winning with Kobe, without him, no one though they had a chance in this one. San Antonio took care of business in four games and is rested up for their next series against Golden State. The Spurs averaged an outstanding 104 points per game!

#3 Denver vs. #6 Golden State (Golden State 4-2)
I could not have been more wrong in this one as I picked Denver to win 4-2. Golden State was a team that I enjoyed watching very much this season. I knew they were young and explosive, but I had no idea they had the ability to comeback and take over games like they did in this series. Mark my words, Golden State is a team to watch out for in the West! The Warriors averaged more than any other team in the playoffs with 107.2 points per game!

#4 LA Clippers vs. #5 Memphis (Memphis 4-2)
This is just one more series that I was way off on! Maybe I just picked the Clippers to win this series because of my love for Blake Griffin, I don't know! Memphis proved to be way to physical on the inside with Gasol and Randolph. The defense of Marc Gasol and Tony Allen was too much for the Clippers to handle, especially with Blake Griffin playing injured. Memphis averaged 100.2 points per game.

I finished at a sub par level of 2-2 in the West, and an overall record of 6-2. CMan may tell you that we ended up in a tie, but he was clearly our winner. CMan predicted three perfect series to my two perfect series. Keep an our out for our second round predictions to see who wins!

CMan's NBA First Round Recap

The first round play of the 2013 NBA playoffs are history with the Bulls game 7 victory over Brooklyn tonight. Here is a quick recap of the first round series and how my predictions fared.

We'll start in the East:

Miami vs Milwaukee. (Heat 4-0)

As I stated in my preview the Bucks, an under .500 regular season team, had no business in the playoffs and they proved me right by losing in a mostly uncontested sweep to the Heat. Miami hardly broke a sweat in the four games and looks like they are prepared to repeat as NBA Champions.

New York vs Boston. (Knicks 4-2)

The Celtics fought hard and played pretty well all series even managing a win in New York in game 5. However they lost the first 3 games and no team has recovered from a 3-0 first round deficit. The Knicks went on to win game 6 in Boston,  after losing 2 in a row,  to close out the Celtics 4-2.

Indiana vs Atlanta. (Pacers 4-2)

The Hawks were who I thought they were despite winning their first two home games to tie the series at 2-2. The loss in game 5 was to much too handle and they only partially showed up in game 6 in Atlanta. My guess, vacation plans were already in process. Atlanta continues to be a Major league city that plays well in all sports during the regular season but falters when it matters.

Brooklyn vs Chicago. (Bulls 4-3)

This series went as predicted. The Bulls and the Nets played a tough, nail biting series with both teams winning games on the others court. I predicted if the Bulls can get the series to a game 7 they would win, and they did. The 4 vs 5 match up is always a pick-em and this one didn't disappoint. It was the only series to go 7 games in the first round.

With the Bulls victory I go 4-0 in the East. I didn't fare as well in the West. No one saw the Warriors coming or the sudden loss of All-Star Russell Westbrook in OKC.

Now, The unpredictable West:

Oklahoma City vs Houston. (Thunder 4-2)

The loss of Westbrook sent shock waves through the entire NBA family. It's tough enough for the players to adapt to playing without their on court leader, imagine being Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks. An NBA coach uses the 82 game regular season to fine tune the starting and reserve rotations for the playoffs, all of that preparation is thrown out. The game 3 win by OKC in Houston was an emotional one and put the Thunder up 3-0 in the series. Then reality set in as Houston wins games 4 and 5 with relative ease. It took good coaching and a gut check by the Thunder team to pull out a game 6 win in Houston. It took an entire team effort and that's what the Thunder got. With Westbrook,  this series is a sweep. No rest for the weary, The Grizzlies come calling tomorrow.

San Antonio vs Los Angeles Lakers. (Spurs 4-0)

The loss of Kobe Bryant in the season finale was devastating to the Lakers. Kobe guaranteed they would make the playoffs, and they did, but they were never going to beat the Spurs without him. It would have been an uphill battle with Bryant. In fact, the Lakers were so depleted by the end of the series even their own announcers weren't sure who was on the court. The result, a painfully easy sweep for the Spurs and it came with and extended rest for one of the oldest teams in the playoffs.

Denver vs Golden State. (Warriors 4-2)

I don't think very many people saw this coming with the possible exception of Warrior head coach Mark Jackson. Denver won a tight game 1 at home by 2 and then Golden state reeled off 3 consecutive wins going away. I don't think Denver knew what hit them. Perhaps the loss of Gallinari hurt more than I originally though or the Nuggets were looking past the Warriors. Denver managed to win game 5 at home put it only postponed the inevitable game 6 victory by the Warriors at home.

Los Angeles Clippers vs Memphis. (Grizzlies 4-2)

This series went a lot like my prediction. Tough, hard fought contest with a lot of pushing and shoving. At times it looked as if the Clippers Blake Griffin and the Grizzlies Zach Randolph were involved in an MMA championship fight.  However, I thought the Clippers would pull it out. I thought wrong. No one wants to play Memphis in a series, they are stingy defensively and they are...well...thugs. And, the Clippers were banged up going in. After winning the first two games in LA, holding Memphis to 91 each game, the Clippers looked good for a series win, however, once the Grizzlies got back to Memphis it all changed. Four games later and the Clippers were going on vacation.

So, I ended the Western Conference 2-2. My overall record stands at 6-2, not too bad. I think it just proves that the West is by far the stronger conference. Keep in mind though, it only takes one team to win it all.  Looks like Buster and I will tie in the first round. Stay tuned for my second round picks!


For Buster.

CMan's NBA Playoff First Round Matchups and Predictions

It's Playoff time again in the NBA! Welcome to the longest and most drawn out playoff format in professional sports. But, it's why they play the regular season.

I am going to do a quick breakdown of the first round match ups with predictions. Buster and I will be going head to head throughout the playoffs. May the best (or luckiest) man win.

To keep you interested, I am going to start in the East. This should force you to read all match ups until I get to the one everybody is waiting for, The Oklahoma City Thunder.

Here we go;

THE EASTERN CONFERENCE:

#1 Miami (66-16)  vs #8 Milwaukee (34-44)

 To begin with, any team that can't play .500 basketball during the regular season shouldn't qualify for the playoffs. But, we don't make the rules and they do need 8 teams to be fair. On the other hand, if the Heat were given a bye in this round, the results would be the same. The Bucks are a scrappy team but the Heat will want to take advantage of extra rest by sending the Bucks fishing early. Miami wins in a sweep, 4-0.

#2 New York (54-28) vs #7 Boston (41-40)

The Celtics have an emotional edge in this first round match up. The Boston marathon bombings are fresh in the minds of every American and the loss of Rajon Rondo for the season spurred Boston to pretty decent play in his absence. However, the emotion of recent events will probably only last until the tip-off of game 3 in The Garden, and maybe not even then if the Celtics limp in 0-2. Carmelo Anthony proved in the last half of the season that he can do what he wants if he puts his mind to it. The supporting staff led by Tyson Chandler will have winning on their mind and nothing else. I think emotion will give Boston at least 1 win in the series, maybe 2. The Garden remains one of the toughest home court advantages in the East and the Celtics still have Pierce and Garnett. But, it won't be enough to win the series. Knicks win 4-2.

#3 Indiana (49-32) vs  #6 Atlanta (44-38)

The Pacers are the best bet to unseat the Heat in the East this year. The Pacers won 2 of 3 from Miami this season and played them well. But,  they have to get past the Hawks first. The Atlanta Hawks, much like their NFL counterpart the Falcons, seem to play well in the regular season but falter in the playoffs. The Pacers pose a real threat. They are a complete team with out a real stand out superstar. They play solid team defense and score enough to win more often than lose. They are a tough match up for anyone. The Pacers have their eyes on a trip to Miami in the conference finals and they will see this series as warm up. I'll give the Hawks a game at home but I see the Pacers winning easy in the series. Pacers win 4-1.

#4 Brooklyn (49-33) vs #5 Chicago (45-37)

This series is a tough one to call. The Nets have been up and down this year and the Bulls have been dealt some bad breaks. The Bull's have proven that they can win in the playoffs with out Rose and win big. They went in to the playoffs last year as the team no one wanted to play, they come in this year the same way. I'm not sold on the Nets yet and won't be till they win a series. The Bulls have history and tradition, the Net's have a new name and address. I'm going to call this a back and forth series coming down to a 7th and deciding game. If the Bulls can get it to a game 7,  I say they take the series. Chicago, in a tough series, 4-3.


THE WESTERN CONFERENCE:


#1 Oklahoma City (60-22) vs #8 Houston (45-37)

I'll try not to be a homer here. When you look at this match up from a purely statistical standpoint, it's pretty darn even. Heck,  the Rockets even top the Thunder in several statistical categories. I covered most of Oklahoma City's weaknesses in my previous blog. They seem to have corrected most of them in the last two weeks of the season. This is the first round of the playoffs - statistics are thrown out the window, at least for the first couple of games. The Thunder tasted both sweet success and bitter defeat last year and they want redemption. They are a better team than the Rockets and when they play to their potential, they don't often get beat. They also have recent, valuable playoff experience that the Rockets lack. I'll give the Rockets a home win, just for the Harden factor, but the Thunder win the rest. OKC  wins 4-1.

#2 San Antonio (58-24) vs #7 LA Lakers (45-37)

Once the Spurs realized that the Thunder would likely take the top seed, they promptly secured the #2 seed by losing a couple of their last games. Kobe Bryant predicted that the Lakers would reach the playoffs, and they did, but they will have to go forward with out him. the Lakers did win their last game against the Rockets,  assuring that they wouldn't have to face their nemesis in Oklahoma City. LA has no desire to play the Thunder in a series. They won't fare much better with the Spurs. Popovich doesn't lose many series, especially in the first round. The Lakers can play well without Kobe, but not against quality competition, and not for a 7 game series. Will the Lakers win a game? Maybe. Will they challenge for the series? No. Spurs win, 4-1.

#3 Denver (57-25) vs #6 Golden State (47-35)

This should be a lopsided series in favor of the Nuggets. George Karl knows playoff basketball and Denver plays tough all the time. The loss of Gallinari will be tough to overcome in a 7 game series but Denver should find a way. Golden State is a good team but they don't have the year in year out playoff experience that the Nuggets do. The Warriors will compete but, in the end, the the Nuggets should win the series pretty easily. In fact, Denver in a sweep, 4-0.

#4 LA Clippers (56-26) vs #5 Memphis (56-26)

This series matches two teams that couldn't be any different. The high flying Clippers against the stingy, defensive minded Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are the team that no one wants to play in the West. They are playoff hardened and hungry. The Clippers are coming off a record season for the historically worst team in the West. They do have the best all round point guard in Chris Paul and the ever improving Blake Griffin. The Grizzlies counter with attitude and a simple lack of fear for any opponent. If the Clippers play fast, team ball and Paul controls the environment,  they will win. However, I think this comes down to a game 7 in the City of Angels. Clippers win, in a tough series, 4-3.

There you have it. If you were looking for a stat filled blog with statistical reasons for winners and losers, I apologize but that blog would have been long and boring. Hey, It's the first round. We will get a little deeper in to the numbers in the latter rounds, when they really matter.

I still believe the Oklahoma City Thunder will get through the West and claim their second consecutive Western Conference Championship. I'm not so sure about the Heat. They can't be near as hungry as they were last year. Although, they have proven that they can turn their game on and off at will. The Pacers and Knicks will have something to say about it before the dust settles. If I am wrong, get ready for a rematch of last years NBA finals.

For Buster.

Buster's NBA Playoff First Round Matchups and Predictions

We have made it through all 82 games of the regular season, and it is finally time for the payoff. There is nothing more exciting to watch in the sports world than the NBA Playoffs, unless of course, your team didn’t make it.(Sorry once again Bobcat fans)

Here is a quick breakdown of the first round match ups with predictions. My buddy CGilmartin and I will be going head to head throughout the entire playoffs. The winner of each round will be announced on our Twitter page.


Eastern Conference:

#1 Miami (66-16) vs. #8 Milwaukee (34-44)
Anyone who says that the Eastern Conference is better than the West should just take a look at this matchup to realize that they are wrong. When the eighth seed in your bracket has lost ten more games than they have won, something is seriously wrong. Miami will have no problem winning this series, but will give up one game in Milwaukee. It is bound to happen, its Miami, they always give up one! Miami wins 4-1.

#2 New York (54-28) vs. #7 Boston (41-40)
Wow, so much to say about this one and the city of Boston. Such a tragedy where it is very difficult to find any good out of what happened. The entire city will want to show to the world that they are going to overcome this. There isn't a better chance than to make a run in the playoffs. However, without the leader in assist in the NBA, Rajon Rondo, it will be difficult for this team to find that offensive spark they once had. Carmelo Anthony is showing no signs of slowing down his offensive pace and will run right through Boston. I hate to say it, but New York wins in a sweep 4-0.

#3 Indiana (49-32) vs. #6 Atlanta (44-38)
The Pacers are the team that I predicted to be in the Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the beginning of the season. Despite the adversity and injuries this team had to overcome, I am going to stay with that prediction. Josh Smith and Al Horford will give Indiana all they want on the boards and through scoring, but Paul George and Roy Hibbert won't be having any of that as they defeat Atlanta in six games. Indiana wins 4-2.

#4 Brooklyn (49-33) vs. #5 Chicago (45-37)
This series has the potential to be one of the sloppiest series of the entire first round. Chicago has proven to be a team who can win without D Rose, and will have to continue to do so in order to win. Because there is no sign of his return anytime soon. Keep an eye out for Nate Robinson to continue his hot steak off the bench. He will give Chicago that spark they need to make it through this series. Brooklyn will look for their big man Brook Lopez to lead them with his 19.4 points per game. Joakim Noah is listed as doubtful for the first game of this series, however, this will not be enough for Brooklyn to make it through this one. Chicago wins 4-2.

Western Conference:

#1 Oklahoma City (60-22) vs. #8 Houston (45-37)
Isn't it crazy that here we are one year from last year playing against once our very own, James Harden? If you would have told me at the beginning of the season that we would be playing Houston in the first round against James Harden, I would have said you're crazy! I am not a big believer in "Linsanity" but I do think that Harden and Lin are good enough to steal one from the Thunder in Houston. This should be a very easy series for the Thunder to manage, they win 4-1.

#2 San Antonio (58-24) vs. #7 LA Lakers (45-37)
The Lakers had one of the worst starts to a season in a long time. Bringing in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash should have solved all of their problems from last year right? Well it obviously didn't as this team had to win their final games to qualify for the playoffs. The tragic loss of Kobe Bryant due to his torn Achilles, kill all chances of the Lakers even winning a game this year in the playoffs. I wish for a speedy recovery for Kobe Bean, because he will be needed, next season. San Antonio wins in an easy sweep 4-0.

#3 Denver (57-25) vs. #6 Golden State (47-35)
Golden State is one of my favorite teams to watch in the NBA. The Warriors will give Memphis all they want in this one. Stephen Curry and David Lee will provide real problems for Denver. They combine for one of the best duo's in the league. The Nuggets will be led by Ty Lawson and the defense over Kenneth Faried. Denver will barely escape from this one, and win the series 4-2.

#4 LA Clippers (56-26) vs. #5 Memphis (56-26)
These teams having the same record had pretty much an identical season. Both teams looked like they could win the Conference at times, but also had times of being one of the worst teams. The high flying and explosive Clippers will be a great match up for the outstanding defense of Memphis. Memphis will give the Clips some struggles, but Blake Griffin and Chris Paul will take care of this one in six. The Clippers win 4-2.

There you have it, the very simple predictions of the first round. We will get more into detail as the playoffs continue. But right now this is all you get. I really do believe that the Thunder have what it takes to get back to the Finals again. Miami on the other hand, they will have to turn their game up to make it back. The Pacers WILL beat the Heat and make it to the NBA Finals. Make sure you subscribe to our blog for updates throughout the entire playoffs. You won't want to miss anything!

Thunder Update 8: The Season

We made it Thunder fans. We made it an entire season without the beard. Who would have thought? Not only did we make it through, but also we ended up better without him. The Thunder capture the first one seed in history, and the Rockets get the bottom of the barrel with the eighth seed. James Harden left a legacy here in Oklahoma City that will probably never be forgotten, but if you were to ask me who I wanted on the team I would say Kevin Martin every single time.

James Harden put up better numbers than Martin as the Thunder’s sixth man. In Harden’s last year as a Thunder he put up an outstanding 16.8 points per game. That is just 2.8 more points per game than Martin’s 14.0. However, Harden did average almost five more minutes per game than Martin. The reason why Martin is more valuable in my eyes is his unselfish play and his ability to make three’s at any part of the court at any time needed. Harden did have a few clutch moments, but shot an average of 39.0 percent from the three. Which is an outstanding average don’t get me wrong, it just doesn’t match up to Martin’s 43 percent. I honestly believe that if Martin got the minutes that Harden had we would put up better numbers. Martin averaged 31 minutes last year in Houston and put up 17.1 points per game. Both are great basketball players, but one represents what this team and city really is all about better than the other, and his name is Kevin Martin.

This season the Thunder finished the season with a record of 60-22. This is the first time the team has reached 60 wins since being here in Oklahoma City, and the first time in franchise history since 97. Having reached the NBA Playoffs three years in a row, improvement from the last three years seemed a bit unrealistic. But to say that this team just “improved” is an understatement. The Thunder took the number one seed in the Western Conference for the first time since they were the SuperSonics in 1994.

What is the difference between this year’s season, and the previous seasons in Oklahoma City? This year the expectations for greatness were higher than ever. That is the main difference from last year. In the past it has been to get a winning record, and then to make it to the playoffs. Or perhaps for the team to just “do good”. Now fans are wanting so much more (which they absolutely have the right to do so), they want an NBA Title. Even being the number three seed in last year’s playoffs, winning the title wasn’t even thought about until we barely escaped the Spurs. Falling just short of three more wins for the best record in franchise history, I guess you could say the team handled the pressure very well this season. All eyes will be on the Thunder and Miami to see if they will meet again in this year’s NBA Finals.

The Thunder really came together as a team this season. Last year it was all about the “big three” with Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. People have wondered who will step up into the spot of the Harden, but if you ask me, we are better without a “big three”. Russell Westbrook finished the season in seventh place for assist with 7.4 per game, which was also a career high. The “Honey Badger” also finished sixth in the league in scoring with 23.2 points per game. Kevin Durant continued to do what he does best this season, score! Durant gave up the scoring title this season to benefit his team. Durant still finished second in the league in scoring with 28.1 points per game. Durant finished behind Carmelo Anthony who played 14 less games than Durant and shot 55 more times. Serge Ibaka (AKA Air Congo) finished first in the league in blocked shots. Ibaka averaged 3.03 blocks per game, but also with an outstanding 13.2 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game. One thing is for sure, when we are looking for the Thunder to make a push through the playoffs this year you can count on these guys to lead the team, with the help on the defensive side of the ball from Thabo Sefolosha, and help off the bench from Kevin Martin.


Here are the final standings through the entire season:
*4/18/13 Note Worthy: The Lakers and Rockets squeeze into the playoffs as the seven and eight seeds.
*Playoff qualifiers in bold

Eastern Conference Standings:

Atlantic:
New York(54-28)
Brooklyn(48-33)
Boston(41-40)
Philadelphia(34-48)
Toronto(34-48)

Central:
Indiana(49-32)
Chicago(43-27)
Milwaukee(37-43)
Detroit(28-52)
Cleveland(24-56)

Southeast:
Miami(64-16)
Atlanta(45-37)
Washington(29-53)
Charlotte(21-61)
Orlando(20-62)

Western Conference Standings:

Southwest:
San Antonio(58-24)
Memphis(54-26)
Houston(45-35)
Dallas(40-40)
New Orleans(27-54)

Northwest:
Oklahoma City(59-21)
Denver(56-26)
Utah(43-39)
Portland(33-39)
Minnesota(31-51)

Pacific:
LA Clippers(56-26)
Golden St.(47-35)
LA Lakers(45-37)
Sacramento(28-54)
Phoenix(25-57)

Thunder Update 7: Final Two Games

The Oklahoma City Thunder now has a one game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the Western Conference. With a win over the Sacramento Kings tonight the Thunder will clinch the one seed for the first time since moving to Oklahoma City. Getting the one seed in the playoffs is a huge step forward for this organization. It shows that even as good as a season that we had last year, there is still much room for improvement. The Thunder are really coming along as a team and cleaning up the sloppy mistakes they were making a month ago. Oklahoma City has had a solid season of basketball, but they are peaking to their best ability right before playoff time. This is exactly what needs to happen in order for the Thunder to get another shot at the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.

The Thunder’s last game was against Portland in Oregon. Oklahoma City won by a score of 106-90. The Thunder swept the season series winning all four games, and scoring over 100 points three of the four victories. Russell Westbrook played an outstanding game scoring 33 points, 17 of which came in the third quarter. Oklahoma City clinched their third straight division title after the game when the Mavericks defeated the Nuggets 108-105 in overtime. Durant recorded 16 points and 5 rebounds as he “joked” around through the majority of this game. Reggie Jackson was the second leading scorer on the night with 17 points. Jackson also had 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

There are only two games remaining in the regular season, both are at home for the Thunder. As if it wasn’t important enough to finish out the season on a win streak, now the Thunder need a must win in order to clinch the one seed. The Thunder has played very well this season against the Kings as they lead the season series 2-0. The Kings are still in their normal state of being as they continue to struggle this season. Sacramento has a record of 28-52 and is currently on a two game losing streak. If the Thunder plays a decent game they will come out of this with a win and the number one seed in their pockets. Almost the same situation as the game against the Kings, the Thunder will play the Milwaukee Bucks at home on Wednesday night for the final game of the regular season. Neither of these teams matches up well against Oklahoma City. If the Thunder does not finish the season on a win streak, I think it is safe to say that it will be more than just a disappointment.

If you do not already know that Kevin Durant does not care about the scoring title at all, then I will go ahead and tell you now. Durant bluntly said in a press conference regarding Carmelo Anthony about the scoring title “he can have it!” Durant could care less about winning his fourth scoring title if it means that his team will be better as a direct result of it. Durant is currently in second place in scoring in the league with 28.1 points per game, just .6 behind the leader Carmelo Anthony. It is nearly impossible for Durant to win it at this point, even if he wanted to. Serge Ibaka is currently the leagues leader in blocked shots with 3.06 per game and will most likely stay that way through the remainder of the season. Russell Westbrook is tied for sixth in the league in assists with 7.5 per game. With the ability of Durant to score thirty points on any given night, with Ibaka to defend the paint better than anyone else, and Russell not only scoring but sharing the ball, there is no reason why the Thunder should not be able to make another run for the NBA Title.


Here are the current standings through 80 games:
*4/15/13 Note Worthy: Oklahoma City takes a one game lead over the Spurs for the best record in the West.
Eastern Conference Standings:

Atlantic:
New York(53-27)
Brooklyn(47-33)
Boston(41-39)
Philadelphia(33-47)
Toronto(32-48)

Central:
Indiana(49-31)
Chicago(43-27)
Milwaukee(37-43)
Detroit(28-52)
Cleveland(24-56)

Southeast:
Miami(64-16)
Atlanta(44-36)
Washington(29-51)
Orlando(20-60)
Charlotte(19-61)


Western Conference Standings:

Southwest:
San Antonio(58-22)
Memphis(54-26)
Houston(45-35)
Dallas(40-40)
New Orleans(27-54)

Northwest:
Oklahoma City(59-21)
Denver(55-25)
Utah(42-38)
Portland(33-37)
Minnesota(30-50)

Pacific:
LA Clippers(54-26)
Golden St.(45-35)
LA Lakers(44-37)
Sacramento(28-52)
Phoenix(24-56)

Sunday Biography: Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson (or as I like to call him “R Jack”) was born on April 16, 1990, in Pordenone, Italy. Reggie was the youngest of the three sons of Sharon and Saul Jackson. Despite being born in Northeast Italy, Reggie went to high school in Colorado Springs, Colorado at Palmer High School. Jackson lived in Italy, England, North Dakota, Georgia and Florida before settling in Colorado during his sixth grade year. Reggie Jackson currently plays point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jackson played through his junior year at the University of Boston College, before declaring for the NBA draft in 2011. He was drafted as the 24th overall pick in the draft.

Reggie Jackson played for coach Jim Grantz at Palmer. Reggie served as the team captain for his last two seasons at Palmer. During Jackson’s senior season he was named Gatorade Colorado Player of the Year honors, The Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado Player of the Year, The Gazette's Big Schools Player of the Year and the Denver Post's Class 5A Player of the Year. Jackson was selected to the All-City first team twice during his career at Palmer. Reggie led all Class 5A scorers with a 29.6-point average in the 2007-08 season. He averaged 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. Jackson led his team to a 24-3 record and the 5A Metro title in 2007-08 season. The Palmer Terrors advanced to the 5A state semifinals before getting knocked out of the tournament.


When Jackson joined Boston College for the 2008–09 season, there were already stars on the team such as Tyrese Rice and Rakim Sanders. During Jackson’s freshman season Boston College made it to the NCAA tournament with Reggie coming off the bench as an explosive point guard. In his sophomore year Jackson became the starting point guard with Tyrese Rice leaving for the NBA. With Jackson being the starter, the eagles were not able to make it back to the NCAA tournament again. Reggie Jackson led the eagles in scoring during his junior season with 18.2 points per game. Jackson was named to the All-ACC First team for the 2010–11 season. The Eagles made it to the NIT (National Invitational Tournament) that season.

Jackson spent a small part of his rookie season playing in Tulsa for the Thunder’s D-League team. Reggie Jackson played in 45 games his rookie season averaging 11.1 minutes per game. Jackson averaged 3.1 points per game, but only shot 32%. When Reggie shot from beyond the arc his average dropped to 21%.

Reggie Jackson has seen tremendous improvement from last season. Jackson is shooting 45.8% on 5.0 points per game. His free throw percentage has dropped 5.1% from last year, but he is shooting a decent 82.9% for his entire career. Jackson’s assist per game has improved a little from last season as he averages 1.8 assist per game. Reggie Jackson has been able to give the Thunder some solid minutes off the bench at the point guard position this season. When Westbrook gets in foul trouble or needs a breather he has proven to have the ability to keep the same pace as Russell. Jackson is not as fast as Westbrook (is anyone?) but he keeps the same style of play going when he comes into the game. Reggie Jackson has quickly become one of my favorite players on the roster. This young point guard has a bright future in the NBA, hopefully with the Thunder!