NFL Fever is starting to spread. With the Player Draft and the 2010-2011 schedule released last week, people are starting to talk football. There were a a few surprised with the draft that will greatly affect the upcoming season. Check out the NFL.com page and find out because there are some big things that will affect your team one way or another. While you’re there you can check out the schedule for the new season and perhaps plan a trip to see one. Seeing an NFL game in person is one thing I highly recommend for any sort of sports fan. But beware; NFL fans are the most intense in American sports so young children may get quite an education/earful if they go too.
But with the NFL season far off on the horizon, let’s focus on the NBA Playoffs which are just wrapping up their first round and while the Eastern Conference is progressing as usual (higher seeded teams winning out) the Western Conference is doing just the opposite. All of the underdog teams are giving the favorites a run for their money. While the Orlando Magic have basically wrapped up the Charlotte Bobcats, the Oklahoma City Thunder are giving the Los Angeles Lakers some serious trouble and the Portland Trailblazers fought through injuries to even up their series with the Phoenix Suns. By the end of the week this round will be over and forgotten about as we move forward to the second round where the intensity is even higher. Watch these games this week because you never know who will shine when the season is on the line.
Don’t forget about the NHL either though. They are wrapping up their first round as well. Check here to see what’s going on with those series and to see if your team is still winning.
Top 3
1. NBA Playoffs First Round – Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers – April 27, 30 & May 2 (if needed)
The Thunder have proven that they can play with the big boys and have gave the Lakers a thorough spanking to even up the series at two games a piece. Kevin Durant won the regular season Scoring Title and is showing wisdom beyond his years as he leads the Thunder in the franchises first playoff appearance. But don’t expect the Lakers to take it sitting down, they have the most intense player on the planet on their team. Kobe Bryant is playing through a finger injury that is affecting his shot but he will be so fired up and intense that his team will surely follow. If not, they will go down as one of the biggest playoff flops in decades. Watch this series just because it’s the first time Kevin Durant is involved and it won’t be the last. Make sure you can say you saw him start his greatness.
2. NHL Playoffs First Round Phoenix Coyotes vs. Detroit Redwings – April 27 @ TBD
The Coyotes aren’t even supposed to be here. But there they are, pushing the high powered Redwings to a final game. This one game will determine the season for both teams. Whoever wins this game goes on and the loser goes home for the long off-season. It is rare for a game seven and anytime there is one they are always worth watching because literally EVERYTHING is on the line. The Coyotes are a team that was in turmoil last season and through the off-season but out of nowhere they have come up and played well. They are widely considered the underdog so they will have my support, which will you choose? Watch because legendary plays can be made during these close games.
3. NBA Playoffs First Round – Portland Trail Blazers vs. Phoenix Suns – April 26, 29 & May 1 (if needed)
Nobody thought the Trail Blazers would put up much of a fight with the star player, Brandon Roy, out with an injury. But they were able to hold of the fast playing Suns and tied the series up at two games. So like the Thunder/Lakers series, this one is no basically a best of three series. Anything can happen but this is definitely where home-court advantage comes to play. It is much easier to be relaxed and comfortable when you don’t have 20,000 screaming fans yelling obscenities at you. With Brandon back, the Trail Blazers can do this and knock out a team that was looking to go far. The Suns have Steve Nash who is an for sure Hall of Fame player and Amar’e Stoudemire who is in a contract year and looking to prove nay-sayers wrong. Let’s see who steps up and shows they want it all more.
Quick Picks
- Don’t forget about baseball though, the season is just beginning but that doesn’t means wins are any less important. Check out the standings and where your team is here.
- For all of the NBA Playoff news and breakdown, click here.
- To see how your hockey team is doing in the NHL Playoffs, click here.
