Sports Talk Rundown- NBA Playoffs Edition

Everything seemed to be going against the Boston Celtics on Monday night. They arrived in Miami a day after defeating a pesky Philadelphia 76ers team in Game 7 on Saturday nighy. That meant little rest for the veteran Celtics. They had four technical fouls called against them and Kevin Garnett looked like the only played who came ready to play for the veteran ball club. Plus, they were on the road playing against two of the top five basketball players in the world. I picked the Miami Heat to win this series in 7 games, with Chris Bosh returning in Game 5. After Monday night, my opinion hasn't changed at all. The Celtics will get their feet under themselves and even up the series 1-1 on Wednesday night. It will be close, but I'll take the Celtics to defeat the Heat 89-84 in Game 2. They will get more physical with the Heat and play more zone defense. That will help against the fast-paced Miami offense.

Lebron James (left) and the Miami Heat ran passed the fatigued Boston Celtics
in Game 1. I expect Game 2 to have a much different result.

The San Antonio Spurs rallied at the end of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals to defeat the Oklahoma City  Thunder and take a 1-0 series lead on Sunday night. They play again tonight, but I am expecting the same result. The Spurs are a well-oiled machine. They do not have any noticeable weaknesses and everyone has a team first mentality. The Spurs always have a guy who steps up for them. Manu Ginobili did it in Game 1. Tony Parker will do it in Game 2 and the Spurs will win 98-89.

I'm guessing the Spurs will play well against
the Thunder from start to finish in Game 2
and come away with a 2-0 series lead.

The Answer Needs a Chance

Five years ago if you would've told me that Allen Iverson was on a basketball court in the NBA Playoffs, I would've thought he'd be starting for his team and playing a key role in his team's success. Unfortunately, that was not the case on Wednesday night. In fact, who would've thought the 36 year old Iverson would be in a Number 23 Philadelphia 76ers jersey and jeans presenting the game ball for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. Iverson didn't appear much different, but everyone knew he was. The former league MVP had fallen off of a cliff and now he was presenting the game ball on the court he had so many great moments on.

 In the 2007-2008 season Allen Iverson started all 82 games for the Denver Nuggets. He averaged just over 26 points per game and there were no signs of his basketball skills declining. Iverson showed he could complement another star when he played with Carmelo Anthony, but they never made a deep playoff run together and this led to him being traded. After being traded, Iverson began to fall off of the cliff mentioned earlier. His stats declined and he just didn't seem like the same player.

Personal problems eventually took Iverson out of the league and A.I. was left trying to get his life back together. But, I do not want to feel sorry for the former scoring champion. I know he put himself in those positions and he only has himself to blame for the mistakes he made throughout his life.

The last time Iverson was on an NBA basketball court he was dealing with demons that he had to get rid of. His daughter was dealing with illness and his marriage was on shaky ground.  While dealing with those issues, Iverson managed to average 13.7 ppg in his last 28 NBA games. Half of NBA players probably wish they could average 14 points every night and Iverson did at his worst moment. But, after playing only 3 games in 2010, Iverson's issues became toomuch and he left the NBA.


Since then, Iverson has said he would like to play again, but not many teams (if any) have reached out to him. A.I. was interviewed during the game on Wednesday Night and when asked to comment on retirement he said, "I'm not using that word." Later, he was asked about a potential NBA return, "I mean, the way it is right now, I've accepted the fact that [playing in the NBA] might not happen," he said. "But I still want to play basketball. If I can get an opportunity to where it's going to make me happy at the end of my career, I'll take that opportunity. But I just love to play and I want to have another opportunity to play on the professional level."


Allen Iverson will be 37 years old in two weeks, but why shouldn't he get one last shot to play the game he loves? Last time we saw him, he still had the talent to play at a high level. Regardless of how these NBA playoffs turnout, I hope A.I. is on an NBA court next season because he deserves one last chance. It was clear during his career that he played every game like his last and if he wants to get back on the court I believe he will be more motivated than ever.

Allen Iverson presents the game ball before tip off of
Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

Lakers Must Improve to Keep Kobe Bryant

This was something most analysts predicted and fans expected, but it seemed surreal when it happened. "The torch has been passed," TNT Analyst Reggie Miller said, and many would tend to agree with him. That implies Los Angeles Lakers run with Kobe Bryant was over and the Oklahoma City Thunder are the top dogs in the Western Conference. The game had a movie-like feel to it. Kobe goes off one last time, not only on the Oklahoma City Thunder, but on father time himself. His 16 seasons in the NBA have taken their toll, but he wanted to try an lead his team to a Game 5 win to put off the inevitable. Bryant has led the Lakers into many battles before and he led them again on Monday night. He put the Lakers on his back, but the young Thunder were too much and the future hall of famer couldn’t do it alone.


Now, media all across the country is speculating what the future holds for the Los Angeles Lakers. Should they blow up the team and start fresh or should they try to add a piece or two to help return to the promised land? I believe if the Lakers do not improve in the offseason with trades and/or free agents, that Kobe Bryant will demand a trade. He wants to be the best and still has enough in the tank to lead a team. Bryant just wants to win championships. He understands the clock is ticking on his career and if that means going to play somewhere else to make one or two more title runs, I believe he is willing to do so.

During the game it became obvious that Bryant was frustrated with his teammates. He yelled at them, tried to motivate them, but nothing worked. The Black Mamba was playing with two 7-footers who lacked the aggressiveness and killer instinct that Bryant posseses. Kobe plays with more drive and will to win then any other player in the league today, a skill that his teammates lack . If that doesn’t change in soon, expect Kobe Bryant to be in a different uniform by the start of next season.

Kobe Bryant looks on as the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate
making the Western Conference Finals
for the second straight season.

The Show Rundown

Catch me live on www.bearcastradio.com from 12-2pm today and every Tuesday. Here are a few of the many topics that will be covered today.

One of the biggest storylines of the NBA Playoffs has been the seasoned Lakers going up against the young Thunder. Some people thought the Lakers would be able to make one last run, but last night I don't believe there's any chance the Lakers WIN this series. They will take one, maybe two games but that is it. The Thunder are too talened and young for this veteran Lake-Show.


After getting blown out in Game One, Kobe Bryant and
the Lakers don't seem to have many answers for
 Kevin Durant and the young Thunder.

Can the Miami Heat still win the NBA Championship this season without Chris Bosh?

My answer to this question is no. Lebron and Wade cannot carry the team alone. Without a post prescence it will be very tough to win a title when they will have to face Boston and Oklahoma City or San Antonio. I thought OKC would probably win a 7 game series against the Heat with Bosh. If he's gone, they don't have a chance. I predict that the Boston Celtics will knock the Heat ff before they even reach the Finals if Bosh is out and the Celtics are healthy.

Joey Votto led the Reds past the Nationals on Sunday with THREE Home Runs and a Walkoff Grand Slam. They also defeated the Braves last night 3-1. That makes two wins in a row, but the questions remains: Is this Reds team back on track? Find out my opinion at 12:00pm.

The Show Rundown

Live radio show today at 12:00pm on bearcastradio.com. Here are some of today's topics:

Carmelo Anthony's Knicks got the best of Lebron James and
the Miami Heat on Sunday. Can they do it again?

Lebron James had 6 points in the final minutes of the game on Sunday and yet people still criticize him when the Heat lose. Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 41 points and yet the Heat continued to let Shane Battier guard him down the stretch. This was the difference in Game 4 and there's no doubt Erik Spolestra will have James guarding Anthony in the fourth quarter of Game 5.

We'll also talk about the rest of the NBA Playoffs including the four games taking place tonight. All four series could end as the Los Angeles Lakers face the Denver Nuggets (LA lead 3-1), the Indiana Pacers face the Orlando Magic (Indy leads 3-1), the Hawks face the Boston Celtics (Bos leads 3-1) and the Chicago Bull face the Philadelphia 76ers (Philly leads 3-1).

Cole Hamels said he meant to hit Bryce Harper. Find out
my thoughts on the matter and if it is
good or bad for baseball.

It's also time to give the Cincinnati Reds a little love because it looks like they are starting to hit their stride posting a 10-5 record in their last 15 games. They are in second place with an overall record of 15-13. They trail the NL Central leading St. Louis Cardinals by 2.5 games.

Don't forget to tune at at 12:00 pm to bearcastradio.com or to follow me on twitter @james_rapien.

NBA Series-by-Series Breakdown

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers:

The top-seeded Bulls come in with quite a resume. They won 50 games in a shortened NBA season and beat out the Miami Heat for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. What is even more astounding is the fact the Bulls played a significant part of the season without their Superstar Derek Rose. Rose seems to be as healthy as he has been all season and that is bad news for the Philadelphia 76ers who lose this series in 5 games.


The Chicago Bulls defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 4-1



(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks:

These teams look to rekindle their rivalry and will do that without a doubt. This is, by far the most interesting series in the first round. The Knicks have the potential to beat the Heat, but will they put it all together? New York puts pressure on its team, but Miami has pressure from the whole country. Lebron James is the best player on either team and that is why I am picking the Heat in 7 games.

The Miami Heat defeat the New York Knicks 4-3.

*NOTE* Some videos from the Heat-Knicks rivalry of the 90's are shown below.

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Orlando Magic

This series is between two teams heading in the opposite directions. The young, upstart Indiana Pacers who play so well together are going up against a team whose best player let them down all season and ended it by getting hurt before the playoffs started. Dwight Howard isn't playing for Orlando in this series and since I don't want to dedicate this post to him, I just want to say the Magic are in trouble. They are playing an Indiana team who has all the pieces necessary to make noise in the playoffs this season: inside scoring and rebounding, very good defense and shooters on the outside. They will do just that by beating the Howard-less Magic in 5 games.

The Indiana Pacers defeat the Orlando Magic 4-1.

(4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Boston Celtics

This Atlanta Hawks team always seems to get a bad matchup in the first round. They just aren't good enough to compete with the big time playoff teams. With that being said, do the Celtics have enough in the tank for one more championship run? I am not totally sold on them, but Rajon Rondo is the best player on either team and the Hawks are without Forward Al Horford. Boston takes this series in 6 games.

The Boston Celtics defeat the Atlanta Hawks 4-2.

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Utah Jazz

This is the typical 1 versus 8 matchup we are all accustomed to. The Utah Jazz played their way into the playoffs and that's great for them and for the City of Utah. Hopefully someone has told them that their dream is about to come to an end. The too often referred to as "old" Spurs looked poised and ready to make a run at the title. They will get through the first round without much resistance and knock of the Jazz in 5 games.

The San Antonio Spurs defeat the Utah Jazz 4-1.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks:

The Thunder are coming off of a breakout regular season. However, they stumbled at the end of it and gave up their grip on the top seed in the Western Conference. That was a critical mistake because now they are facing the Mavericks who knocked them off last year en route to their first NBA Championship. Dallas is a team that struggled throughout the season and excluding last year, they have been eliminated from the playoffs early. They will get back to their old ways, but not without a fight. The Thunder take this series in 7 games.

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Dallas Mavericks 4-3.

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Denver Nuggets

The Lakers come into this series as an NBA Finals darkhorse. But, can any team from Los Angeles be considered a darkhorse? They have two seven-footers that must do their job for their team to make a run. The Denver Nuggets are a solid team; however, they do not have a star. The NBA is a star driven league and when there is two minutes left, the Lakers have a guy who can deliver with Kobe Bryant. The Nuggets are missing that guy and that is going to keep them from advancing. Los Angeles takes the series in 6 games.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Denver Nuggets 4-2.

(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers

This series is a toss-up in my mind. Memphis played very well in last year's playoffs, but can they duplicate that performace? Los Angeles hasn't been to the playoffs in a while, but their leader has been in many playoff duels. Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league, but for the Clippers to win this game they will need someone else to step up down the stretch. Mo Williams could be a Jason Terry kind of player and help this team pull off the upset in 7 games.



The Los Angeles Clippers defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 4-3.

NFL 2012 Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford


2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor


3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU


4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama


5. Tampa Bay Bucanneers: Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California


6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State


7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina


8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M


9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State


10. Buffalo Bills: Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Illinois


11. Kansas City Chiefs: David Decastro, OG, Stanford


12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College


13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa


14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama


15. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Brockers, DT, Louisiana State


16. New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina


17. Cincinnati Bengals: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina


18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia


19. Chicago Bears: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse


20. Tennessee Titans: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis


21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama


22. Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame


23. Detroit Lions: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford


24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama


25. Denver Broncos: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State


26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor


27. New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama

28. Green Bay Packers: Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State


29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin


30. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin


31. New England Patriots: Devon Still, DT/DE, Penn State


32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford






Feel free to let me know what you think in the comment box below or on twitter: @james_rapien.