NBA at the Break

The NBA at the Break

Signs like this one have been appearing everywhere Jeremy Lin has played.

Note: There was no posting in the past few weeks because I had surgery. I will now be back to posting weekly.

After an extremely long, unnecessary lockout, the 30 NBA teams began the 66 game season on Christmas Day. The season began with Carmelo Anthony leading the Knicks to a 106-104 victory over the Boston Celtics. Anthony and his compatriot Amare Stoudemire had been carrying the Knicks, until about two weeks ago. With Anthony injured, and Amare grieving the death of his brother; an unknown, twice cut, Harvard educated point guard stepped up to the challenge. You know his name.Jeremy Lin. Lin has dominated this season as a starter for the Knicks. He has been the Tebow of the NBA. 

So, what else is going on? Well the defending champion Mavericks got off to a very slow start. Led by Dirk, a new look Mavs team bounced back, and is now in fourth place in the Western Conference. How’s the Big Three doing? Well, in their last game before the All-Star Break, they figured out a way to stop Linsanity. But besides that, the Miami Heat has dominated. They finished with the best record at the break, a half a game ahead of the Bulls. 

Okay, now, what about the teams who didn’t make the championship? Well, the Lakers, coached by new coach Mike Brown cannot seem to win on the road. A 6-12 road record, harms the almost perfect home record. Kobe has been his old solid self, leading the league in scoring with 28 points per game, as well as third in minutes per game. Kobe has tried to convince Lakers’ management to trade or to keep Pau Gasol. 

He's playing well, but Kobe has to be upset with the Lakers' play.

Despite constant speculation, Dwight Howard has stayed with the Orlando Magic. Lakers fans want him, Nets fans want him, but the Magic fans have him. Who knows if he will stay there for the rest of the season? Lamar Odom struggled at first, but has played better recently in his first year for the Mavs. Odom left the Lakers in a bittersweet trade for some cash and a draft pick.

And of course who could be forgetting the Clippers? Led by new acquisitions Chris Paul, and the now injured Chauncey Billups, as well as Blake Griffin,  the Clippers have cruised this season. They even beat their rival, the Lakeshow at one point. Coach Del Negro has coached the Clippers to third place in the conference. 

Oh yeah, there’s Durant too. Durant and his Thunder crew have been ballin’ it up this season, winning 27, and losing only seven. Good for first in the conference. The Thunder could be able to reach the Finals this season, and Durant can finally erase all the doubters, not that he has many. 

Superbowl Preview

Tom Brady and Eli Manning, quarterbacks of the New England Patriots and New York Giants, face off in the Superbowl on Sunday. 

I guess Tim Tebow didn’t pray hard enough.

Tebow and the Broncos were beaten by the Patriots in the divisional round, while the defending champion Green Bay Packers were upset by the New York Giants in the NFC divisional round.  The Giants and Patriots both went on to win in the conference finals in closely contested games and now they meet in the Super Bowl. Again.

Four years ago, these two teams played each other in Super Bowl XLII, when the Giants upset the Patriots and spoiled their perfect season. Now The 12-7 New York Giants take on the 15-3 New England Patriots in what is set to be an epic rematch.

Patriots offense: The Patriots offense starts and ends with Tom Brady. Brady had another fantastic season, finishing second in the NFL with 5,235 passing yards. He also threw 39 touchdown passes. While Brady continues to throw to Wes Welker, he has also added targets to his offense in tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, who have combined for 24 touchdowns this season. The Patriots’ running game is a work in progress. The team has been using BenJarvus Green-Ellis, also known as the “Law Firm,” who ran for 441 yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season. The Patriots average 32 points per game, third most in the league. In the two games that the Patriots have played in this postseason, the offense has scored 68 points combined, so expect the Super Bowl to be high scoring.

Giants offense: Eli Manning could finally be better than his brother. Eli finished with 4,933 yards passing this season, the most in his career. In addition, he also threw for 29 touchdown passes. If he beats the Patriots, he will have more Super Bowl titles than his brother. Manning has been throwing to his three core of receivers. The big three consists of Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks, who collectively combined for 197 catches and 20 touchdowns. The Giants’ running game has not been as good as in past years, but they still managed to average 24 points per game.

Offensive Edge: Patriots 

Patriots defense: The Patriots defense struggled this season, as they allowed 21 points per game. The Patriots finished #31 in the league in yards per game. Andre Carter had a great season for the Patriots, with 10 sacks on the season.

Giants defense: The Giants defense allowed 25 points per game, good for #25 in the NFL. Despite all the points being scored, the Giants finished second in the NFL in sacks, and second in tackles as well. Their fantastic defensive line consisted of Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Rocky Bernard. Pierre-Paul finished with 16.5 sacks in just nine games, while Umenyiora finished with nine sacks. This postseason, the Giants have sacked the opposing quarterback nine times. Brady better watch out.

Defensive Edge: Giants

The Pick: This year, the Patriots will try to avenge their loss. To do so, the Patriots must throw to their tight ends quickly and use them wisely. If the Pats can do this, they can win. If the Giants can contain Tom Brady, the Patriots will be hopeless. Eli Manning will tear apart the Patriots defense, but Brady will be throwing to Welker countless times. This will be a Super Bowl for the ages, but Brady and the Pats will pull away.

Patriots 27, Giants 24