Scott Gomez has routinely been booed by New Jersey Devils fans ever since coming to New York. Tonight, it all came back to bite them in the butts. Gomez had three assists for the fifth seed Rangers, leading them to a 4-1 victory over the fourth seed Devils.
The Rangers took 7 out of 8 from the Devils during the regular season. In fact, the Rangers beat them seven strait times. The only Devils' win was the final game of the season, which clinched home ice for them, and made the Rangers the visiting team in this opening game.
Brendan Shanahan scored his 59th playoff goal to open the festivities 1:45 into the second period. Callahan, Avery, and Dawes (on an empty net) added the other Rangers' goals in this contest, boosting them to an early lead in the series.
The Rangers take the ice again Friday at 7:00 pm in game two of this seven game series.
GO RANGERS!!!!!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
LBJ, CP2, KB24
As the season winds down, the race for the MVP award has never been more exciting. We are talking about a season where so many teams (mostly in the west) are contenders. The question is who is most deserving of the prestigious award? Is it Kobe, Lebron, or Chris Paul? Our experts break it down.
LBJ: 30.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block per game......Need I say more? The answer is yes. Just last year, Kobe averaged 31.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, and brought a team with Kwame Brown as your big man threat to the playoffs and was still not awarded the MVP (Dirk holds that honor). That just shows you that numbers are not everything. James bring good leadership for a 23 year old, but what really bothers me about his campaign for MVP this year, is his team and their performance this year. They are 36-27 in the eastern conference sitting in the 4th seed. While this isn't terrible, it is not crazy to think that with a player of James' caliber a better record, at least, should be obtainable. So the positives are his great numbers and his ability to take over the game, but the negatives are his teams overall mediocre performance.
CP3: Where were the Hornets in the discussion of the best teams in the west before this season....probably no where. 21 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds are the numbers for the young point guard. The numbers are impressive enough, but what really speaks loudly for Paul is the success of his team this year. They were the #1 team in the west for a while (currently at #5) and had the second best record in the league. Paul's ability to make everyone around him better is astonishing. Tyson Chandler has become a top 10 center in the league, Peja Stojakovic is shooting a career high from beyond the three point line, and David West come into his own as a perennial all-star. Paul has emerged as a top 3 point guard in the league (the best in my opinion) and has made the New Orleans Hornets as a contender in the western conference. The downfall to Paul, is only his competition. He is easily putting up the numbers and his team is having enough success for him to be considered the MVP. But when you have Lebron and Kobe to compete with, it makes it difficult to win yourself this award.
KOBE: His points are down this year to 28.1, but his rebounds are up to 6.1 and his assists at 5.3. Arguably, Kobe had a better season last year, and the year in which he had his breath-taking 81 point game against Toronto. The difference between this and the other years, it Kobe's teamwork. It is clear in watching him play, that he has become less selfish. He is shooting his highest percentage in nine years. His team is in the best position it has been to win a championship since Shaq left. They are currently the number one seed and seem as if they are the team to beat (although I feel as if the defending champs still are). Kobe is getting his team involved more and taking less shots than he has had to in the past. The downfall to Bryant is his supporting cast. While Paul has excellent players, Bryant has Gasol, Odom, and Bynum, who is still injured. When returns, the number one team in the west gets much stronger. His surrounding cast will weight against him in terms of winning this award.
Personally, I think this is the closest the race has been in years. Paul and James both have the ball in their hands 95% of the time to run their teams offense. On the other hand, Kobe works in a system with a triangle offense. Therefore, he is seeing less of the ball than the other 2, and is still putting up these numbers. Where Cleveland would be without James and where New Orleans would be without Paul is probable the cellar. Yet the MVP award isn't about what ifs and maybes. It is about what is going on in the league at the current time. And in my opinion, Kobe Bryant is leading his team to a great season, and a great shot at winning a championship. Paul and James have been nothing short of amazing for their teams, but Kobe has played with the usual MVP like qualities in his game, and despite the other talent around him finally, he is still managing to keep his numbers up, while being a true team player. His adjustment to the new additions in Gasol and the quick maturity of Bynum is very impressive and it shows that he has the ability to be a team player and not the ball-hog that everyone thought he was. He is always a NBA all defensive first team player (as is Paul).
Over all I would say that while it may not be his best season as a pro, it has been his most influential season, and he has played his best basketball. He has shows that he can lead a team and make everyone around him better. He is your MVP.
MVP- Kobe Bryant
2nd- Chris Paul
3rd- Lebron James
LBJ: 30.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block per game......Need I say more? The answer is yes. Just last year, Kobe averaged 31.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, and brought a team with Kwame Brown as your big man threat to the playoffs and was still not awarded the MVP (Dirk holds that honor). That just shows you that numbers are not everything. James bring good leadership for a 23 year old, but what really bothers me about his campaign for MVP this year, is his team and their performance this year. They are 36-27 in the eastern conference sitting in the 4th seed. While this isn't terrible, it is not crazy to think that with a player of James' caliber a better record, at least, should be obtainable. So the positives are his great numbers and his ability to take over the game, but the negatives are his teams overall mediocre performance.
CP3: Where were the Hornets in the discussion of the best teams in the west before this season....probably no where. 21 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds are the numbers for the young point guard. The numbers are impressive enough, but what really speaks loudly for Paul is the success of his team this year. They were the #1 team in the west for a while (currently at #5) and had the second best record in the league. Paul's ability to make everyone around him better is astonishing. Tyson Chandler has become a top 10 center in the league, Peja Stojakovic is shooting a career high from beyond the three point line, and David West come into his own as a perennial all-star. Paul has emerged as a top 3 point guard in the league (the best in my opinion) and has made the New Orleans Hornets as a contender in the western conference. The downfall to Paul, is only his competition. He is easily putting up the numbers and his team is having enough success for him to be considered the MVP. But when you have Lebron and Kobe to compete with, it makes it difficult to win yourself this award.
KOBE: His points are down this year to 28.1, but his rebounds are up to 6.1 and his assists at 5.3. Arguably, Kobe had a better season last year, and the year in which he had his breath-taking 81 point game against Toronto. The difference between this and the other years, it Kobe's teamwork. It is clear in watching him play, that he has become less selfish. He is shooting his highest percentage in nine years. His team is in the best position it has been to win a championship since Shaq left. They are currently the number one seed and seem as if they are the team to beat (although I feel as if the defending champs still are). Kobe is getting his team involved more and taking less shots than he has had to in the past. The downfall to Bryant is his supporting cast. While Paul has excellent players, Bryant has Gasol, Odom, and Bynum, who is still injured. When returns, the number one team in the west gets much stronger. His surrounding cast will weight against him in terms of winning this award.
Personally, I think this is the closest the race has been in years. Paul and James both have the ball in their hands 95% of the time to run their teams offense. On the other hand, Kobe works in a system with a triangle offense. Therefore, he is seeing less of the ball than the other 2, and is still putting up these numbers. Where Cleveland would be without James and where New Orleans would be without Paul is probable the cellar. Yet the MVP award isn't about what ifs and maybes. It is about what is going on in the league at the current time. And in my opinion, Kobe Bryant is leading his team to a great season, and a great shot at winning a championship. Paul and James have been nothing short of amazing for their teams, but Kobe has played with the usual MVP like qualities in his game, and despite the other talent around him finally, he is still managing to keep his numbers up, while being a true team player. His adjustment to the new additions in Gasol and the quick maturity of Bynum is very impressive and it shows that he has the ability to be a team player and not the ball-hog that everyone thought he was. He is always a NBA all defensive first team player (as is Paul).
Over all I would say that while it may not be his best season as a pro, it has been his most influential season, and he has played his best basketball. He has shows that he can lead a team and make everyone around him better. He is your MVP.
MVP- Kobe Bryant
2nd- Chris Paul
3rd- Lebron James
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Early Playoff Look
As of now, the NBA playoff race in the Western Conference is very tight. With a record of 34-22, the Golden State Warriors are currently the eight seed, only 1/2 game ahead of the Denver Nuggets. The Eastern Conference isn't quite as impressive. The Philadelphia 76ers are sitting in the eight spot with a record of 26-32 three games ahead of Atlanta.
The last three playoff teams in the East have a record below .500, while only five teams in the entire Western Conference have a sub .500 record.
With the additions of Jason Kidd and Shaquille O'neal, the west has become a force to be reckoned with. It seems as years go by, the west just keeps getting stronger and stronger. When you look at the contenders in the Western Conference, you come up with names like LA, San Antonio, Dallas, Pheonix, Utah, and New Orleans. In the East, there is Detriot, Boston, uhhh...well there is umm....and theres....Clevel....maybe????
The point is, besides for the proven team in Detriot, the JV league of the Eastern Conference have only possible contenders. Boston you would have to assume is a contender, but they are not time tested.
Personally, besides for Detriot I think that the west has a lock on the finals for the next three to four years.
As for my predictions, I think that Boston and Detriot will meet in the Eastern Conference finals, with Detriot advancing to the finals. In the west, it will be Los Angelas and San Antonio, with San Antonio moving on to face the Pistons.
In the finals, it will be another clash of the two best teams in the league (in my opinion). The Spurs (while they may on the way out because of age) will reign supreme again in the NBA this season. They will have secured their 5th championship in the last nine years, making them a dynasty the league will never forget. This would also mark the 7th championship by the west in the last nine years.
The last three playoff teams in the East have a record below .500, while only five teams in the entire Western Conference have a sub .500 record.
With the additions of Jason Kidd and Shaquille O'neal, the west has become a force to be reckoned with. It seems as years go by, the west just keeps getting stronger and stronger. When you look at the contenders in the Western Conference, you come up with names like LA, San Antonio, Dallas, Pheonix, Utah, and New Orleans. In the East, there is Detriot, Boston, uhhh...well there is umm....and theres....Clevel....maybe????
The point is, besides for the proven team in Detriot, the JV league of the Eastern Conference have only possible contenders. Boston you would have to assume is a contender, but they are not time tested.
Personally, besides for Detriot I think that the west has a lock on the finals for the next three to four years.
As for my predictions, I think that Boston and Detriot will meet in the Eastern Conference finals, with Detriot advancing to the finals. In the west, it will be Los Angelas and San Antonio, with San Antonio moving on to face the Pistons.
In the finals, it will be another clash of the two best teams in the league (in my opinion). The Spurs (while they may on the way out because of age) will reign supreme again in the NBA this season. They will have secured their 5th championship in the last nine years, making them a dynasty the league will never forget. This would also mark the 7th championship by the west in the last nine years.
Friday, February 22, 2008
next jordan???
My friend Justin and I constantly have the debate of whether Lebron James will be better than Michael Jordan. I say no, he says yes. I realize that it is early in Lebron's career, but I look at what Jordan has already done and find it hard to believe that another play can come along so quick and dethrone Jordan and the best.
Over the course of his career, Jordan was an all-star 14 times, winning the MVP three times. He won six championships, the rookie of the year award, and 10 NBA All-first teams. Not to mention his nine-time all-NBA defensive first team and the defensive player of the year in 1988.
Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game over his career.
Granted, if you look at what Lebron has done already, it is very possible to infer that his number may indeed be better than Jordan's. Lebron has already won 2 all-star MVP awards, including this years. I think that if James wants to be considered in the same sentence as Jordan, he must leave cleveland. Even with the new addition of Ben Wallace, six championships are not in Lebron's future with Cleveland.
Furthermore, I think that even if Lebron surpasses Jordan's numbers, he will have to do more to be known as the best of all time. Jordan dominated the game for so many years. I think that since the game has changed, and there are more dominating players now a days, James is going to have to make a huge statement to swing the opinion of most NBA fans.
There is no doubt in my mind that James will end his career as one of the greatest of all time. Yet while it is still early and impossible to predict the future, I think Lebron will have to greatly go above and beyond Jordan's achievements if he wants to be considered the best to have ever played the game.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
ANY MORE FUEL IN THE DIESELS TANK??
When the news of Shaquille O'Neal going to the Pheonix Suns came into my ears yesterday mourning, I initially reacted by laughing in the face of Steve Kerr, the Suns GM. The Suns gave up an all-star quality player in Shawn Marion for a 35-year-old Center, at the seemingly last stop of his diesel career. Shaq's PPG has dropped to a career low 14.2, and he is playing an all time low 28.5 minutes per game.
After I was done laughing, I asked myself why had Kerr been so foolish. After I thought about it more I could only come to the conclusion that Kerr believes that O'Neal can still play hard-nosed post defense against the likes of Pau Gasol, Tim Duncan, and Carlos Boozer, who are a load to defend. The size of O'Neal must have been a more attractive Kerr more than the recent play of the injury-plagued center.
I think if the Suns are to utilize O'Neal to his fullest, he cannot start. Whether they like it or not, with O'Neal's body the worn the way it shows, he couldn't possibly be able to withstand 35 minutes against a Duncan or a Boozer.
Therefore I give Steve Kerr a hand for coming up with this alternate view of how the Miami police officer can be used effectively. The big question is if the diesel can coast to another ring or will he stall out just short of his destination?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
No KIDDing Around
With a losing record of 18-28 and losers of nine strait (before they beat Milwaukee tonight), the Nets now have another thing to worry about. Their star point guard Jason Kidd has demanded a trade out of New Jersey.
Kidd (who at 34 years young is playing out of his mind this year for a struggling team) is averaging 11.3 points, 10.4 assists, and 8.3 rebounds per game. He has racked up an amazing 21 triple doubles so far this season! He will be the starting point guard for the East in this years All-Star game as well.
So here we go. Where does Kidd end up? Well first of all, lets talk about the two teams that have already expressed interest in Kidd.
CLEVELAND- King James and J-Kidd?? With Daniel "Booby" Gibson coming off the bench along with Anderson Varejao, Ira Newbell, Damon Jones, and Aleksandar Pavlovic, the Cavs may just be good enough to get over their finals loss last year. Experience in the back court is the only thing missing from this Cavs team. Gooden and Ilgauskas up front is a modest starting line up, but when you consider a healthy Larry Hughes and the combination of James and Kidd...the East may have a new power to fear. The only problem is who do you give up to get Kidd? If you give up a package of Gooden, Hughes, and Jones you leave yourself without a front court and lacking the depth of guards.
DALLAS- This would make the Nets much worse than they already are. Dallas would be willing to give up Djop, Stackhouse, and George....My question is WHAT IN GODS NAME WOULD THE NETS WANT THAT FOR??? The Mavs are not going to deal Howard or Harris, and the only big name possibility is Jason Terry, who in my opinion, isn't that big of a name. Hes not a PG that is going to turn around a team by himself. On the Mavs side, this would be golden. Dirk, Kidd, Howard, Harris, and Terry (if you want to consider him a vital part of that team if/once Kidd arrives)
Either way you look at it, the Nets are getting snubbed. There is no team out there that is going to be able to swap players evenly with the Nets to give them "Kiddesque" play. If the Nets agree to grant Kidd his trade request, I think they will have to be prepared to take a hit, and hope Marcus Williams becomes as good as he was in college for UCONN.
The King Continues To Get Crowned....
Losers of nine of the last 13, the Rangers fell again tonight 3-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist is winless in his last six road games (0-3-3).King Henrik gave up three goals tonight, two of them coming on a two on one rush. The rangers loss tonight keeps them in the celler of the Atlantic Division with a record of 24-21-6. The Islanders have the same record as the Rangers not counting the loss tonight. The Islanders have played one less game that the Rangers.
The Rangers play Philly next on Thursday
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