Author Archives: just1mike

First Round Finale

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 It has been the greatest first round in NBA history and what would be a better way to finish off with two more game sevens to top it off. There have been five game sevens and only two series that weren’t close. On a day when California’s colors are Chrome not Golden and certainly not Sterling, the L.A the Clippers were true Warriors and advanced to the western conference semi-finals. The League’s MVP shines bright in a small town sending Memphis back to playing the blues once again, and Indiana is back on Pace for their Championship dreams. Last night was one of the most historic nights in NBA history and tonight hopefully won’t disappoint. The Dallas Mavericks vs the San Antonio Spurs and the Brooklyn Nets vs the Toronto Raptors. Win or go Home.

#6 Brooklyn vs #3 Toronto:Unknown

Going into this series everyone knew it was going to be a battle.  The experience of the Brooklyn Nets vs the young guns of Toronto.  The Raptors have the longest active playoff victory drought in the NBA and they are looking to snap it today.  This game is a battle of two prolific back courts.  The Nets Deron Williams and Joe Johnson are the keys for this team.  Both of them need to heat up early or Brooklyn could start off in a deep hole.  The Raptors dynamic duo of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.  imagesThese young emerging stars have to show up, which is expected.  Kyle Lowry has to shoot the three ball extremely well.  Lowry is a dead-eye from behind the arch and if he gets hot, it is almost impossible to stop him because of his passing great ability.  Terrence Ross is the x-factor in this game.  Toronto needs to have that third scorer who gives instant energy and Ross is perfect for that role.  He is an excellent defender and his high flying dunking ability can spark the crowd and make it very hard for the Nets to execute their plays.

 

Prediction:  This game may be a game for the ages, both of these teams are so evenly matched their are not many advantages for each team.  I believe the home court advantage will be huge for the Raptors and DeRozan will have a monstrous game including hitting a game winning buzzer-beater to eliminate the Brooklyn Nets and advance to the conference semi-finals to take on the defending champs, the Miami Heat. Toronto 105  Brooklyn 104

#8 Dallas vs #1 San Antonio

No one expected this, San Antonio the team with the best record in the NBA has been images-1beat up all the way to game seven against the eighth seeded Dallas Mavericks, who were one game away from almost missing the playoffs.  Two future Hall of Famers, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan have been going to war in this series, rewriting history to their long historic rivalry.  The Spurs are the best coached team in the entire NBA and the Mavs are arguably playing the best basketball right now.  Monta Ellis is the reason that Dallas has been in this series.  He has always been an incredible scorer, but he has never had his chance in the playoffs because of the quality of teams he has been on.  Ellis is the best player on this Mavericks team and it is his time tonight he has to shine bright with all of the stars in the NBA.  Tony Parker is always going to play well for the Spurs, but he was been sort of rattled by Shawn Marion’s stifling defense.  Kawhi Leonard is the future of this San Antonio team and he is their best defender.  Leonard has been in the spot light already at the age of 22, but Kawhi can’t choke if he want his Spurs to avoid the upset from their bitter rivals.

Prediction:   Who will win the Lonestar state showdown, the reigning conference images-2champions or the upstart underdogs of Dallas? I believe Monta Ellis will play great and Vince Carter and Dirk Nowitzki will add more to their legacies and the Dallas Mavericks will upset the Spurs in San Antonio and advance to the second round for a date with the Portland Trailblazers. Dallas 96  San Antonio 93 

 

 

 

 

Final Match Up of the Day

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Tonight’s Match Up of the Day is the final college basketball game of the year, the National Championship.  The number seven seeded Connecticut Huskies vs the eight seeded Kentucky Wildcats.  Going into the NCAA Tournament no one was suspecting both to make it to the championship game.  Two of the most historic programs will be facing off in Dallas for the right to be called champs.

UConn’s Keys: 

The UConn Huskies have had a fantastic run and most of it is because of their effort on theryan+boatright+new_fixed defensive side of the ball.  Ryan Boatright has been the best defender for this Huskies team and has been so crucial for them throughout this tournament.   Boatright and his backcourt bud, Napier, have a major height disadvantage compared to the monstrous twins that Kentucky has playing the guard position.  Boatright has to wreak havoc on the young Kentucky guards to give his team an advantage.  The X-Factor for the Huskies is forward DeAndre Daniels. It always seems like Daniels is the key for UConn and he can change a game where the Huskies can dominate or they can be dominated.  Daniels had a huge game against the number one overall seed Florida in the Final Four and he is a big reason they won. Daniels has to be a force inside and from the perimeter, but most importantly he has to contain the Wildcats stand out big man Julius Randle.

Kentucky’s Keys: 

The Kentucky Wildcats were the preseason number one team in the country but then theirncb_g_andrewharrison_ms_400x600 inexperience kicked in.  Kentucky had 10 losses in the regular season and some really bad losses like when they lost to South Carolina, who wasn’t even over 500 this year.  The CInderella story wouldn’t be the correct term for their run, it is more like Sleeping Beauty.   The Cats were in a deep deep sleep throughout the regular season but now they have awaken 100 times stronger.  The key for the Wildcats is Mr. Clutch Aaron Harrison.  Harrison has hit three straight game winning threes, which all were highly contested.  Harrison has to play well because he will probably be guarding the best player in the country Mr. Shabazz Napier who is a hungry senior looking to end his college career with a bang.  Harrison has to play well if he wants his fellow freshman to win it all.

Prediction: 

These two teams didn’t even make the NCAA tournament last year and now they are Kevin Ollieplaying each other in the National Championship.  It is just astonishing.  The Kentucky Wildcats have had the most clutch player in the NCAA tournament so he has to do it on the biggest stage right? No.  I think the youth will finally be exposed tonight and the experienced Uconn Huskies will win the National Championship.  Shabazz Napier will win the game for the Huskies an Aaron Harrison will finally miss a game winning shot.  UConn 68 Kentucky 66

 

 

Match Up of the Day

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Today’s Match Up of the Day is the first of the two Final Four games.  The number one seeded Florida Gators vs the number seven seeded Connecticut Huskies.  The Florida Gators are the number one overall seeded team in the tournament, they were expected to be here, but no one had thought that UConn would be at the point they are now.  Before the start or the tournament the Huskies had a 0.08% chance of winning making it to the Final Four well, they made it and they have a chance to go to the National Championship.  Who will win the Big Bad Gators or the Hot Streaking Huskies?

Florida’s Keys: 

The Florida Gators have been favored to win every single game in the tournament so far imagesand everybody is picking them to win but UConn is no slouch.  The key for the Gators is senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin.  Wilbekin has been almost perfect this NCAA tournament, he has only turned the ball over two times.  Wilbekin is an offensive weapon but he has to step up on defense today.  Wilbekin is a fantastic defender  but he has to have have a great defensive game to contain UConn’s superstar Shabazz Napier.  Wilbekin has to shut down Napier because if he doesn’t the Gators may have a long night.  The last team to beat Florida was UConn earlier in the year.  It was an instant classic, Napier missed a floater badly but luckily for UConn it bounced right back in his hands and Napier hit a mid range jumper for the win at the buzzer leading the Huskies to a victory.  The Gators still have the bitter taste in their mouth from that loss and Billy Donovan should use that as motivation.

UConn’s Keys: 

The UConn Huskies are the hottest team in the country and their success in theUnknown-2 tournament is mostly thanks to their senior point guard Kemba Walker I mean Shabazz Napier.  Napier has been the best player in this entire NCAA tournament and he has also been leading his Huskies to upset after upset.  Napier is going to see all or the traps and double teams that the Gators will throw at him.  Napier will have to have some help to ease the defense off him and that is why DeAndre Daniels is the X-Factor for the Huskies.  Daniels had the game of his life in the Sweet Sixteen against Iowa State.  Daniels shoots lasers from the the 3-point line and he has to have a good game to help out Napier.  Ryan Boatright is the most explosive player on this Huskies team and he has to bring energy on the defensive end for Kevin Ollie and his UConn team.

Prediction:

I believe that DeAndre Daniels will have a fantastic game and he will allow Napier to go off and the UConn Huskies will be marching on to the National Championship.  UConn 71 Florida 70

Other Prediction: 

Kentucky 75 Wisconsin 68

 

 

 

Match Up of the Day

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Today’s Match Up of the Day is the number 2 seeded Michigan Wolverines vs the number 8 seeded Kentucky Wildcats. This is a battle of two blue bloods… last year’s national runner-up vs the young guns. This is Michigan vs Kentucky, who will get the last spot into the Final Four?

Michigan’s Keys:

The Michigan Wolverines have the most lethal offense in the country. They have so many Unknowngreat 3-point shooters and they spread out the defense so well. If you give them even an inch of separation they will knock it down. The key player for Michigan is their only senior, center Jordan Morgan. Morgan was unfairly labeled the weak link of this Wolverines team. This postseason he has been the best player for Michigan and he has been playing the tournament of his life. Morgan and his backup Jon Horford are the only true big men on this team and both of them have to contain Kentucky’s star center Julius Randle. Morgan is a great defender, last game vs Tennessee, Morgan shut down the Vols’ star Jarnell Stokes and he drew the game winning charge on Stokes. Morgan has to have a repeat performance if he wants to take his Wolverines to Dallas. Guard Nik Stauskas will score his usual 18 to 20 points, but I think the x-factor of the game for the Wolverines is guard Caris LeVert. LeVert can be the best player on the floor but also Caris and be Careless as shown in their last game when he stepped out of bounds, which gave the Volunteers a chance to win the game. Fortunately Tennessee didn’t take advantage of their opportunity. LeVert has to have a big game if Michigan wants to make their second straight Final Four.

Kentucky’s Keys:

The Kentucky Wildcats are trying to be the second ever team with all freshmen in their images copystarting five to make the Final Four since ironically Michigan did it with the Fab Five. The x-factor for the Wildcats is guard James Young. Young is their best shooter from the perimeter and he has to make some big shots to keep the defense honest so they don’t just focus on Randle in the paint. Throughout the regular season the Wildcats played like a group of inexperienced freshmen but now they are all playing like a group of five year seniors. Kentucky is playing at a championship level and they will give the Wolverines a run for their money.

Prediction:images

I believe that the youth of the Wildcats will finally come to bite them and Michigan’s senior Jordan Morgan is going to save the day once again for the Wolverines. At the end of the day I believe Michigan will be Marching on to Dallas to take on conference rivals Wisconsin in the Final Four. Michigan 79 Kentucky 77

Other Prediction: UConn 72 Michigan State 68

 

Match Up of the Day

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Todays match up of the day is the number one seeded Florida Gators v the number eleven seeded Dayton Flyers. It’s the Powerhouse vs the Cinderella, Florida vs Dayton.

1 Florida’s Keys:

images-1The Florida Gators are the best team in the country and they have been dominating every team they have played in the tournament. The key to a Gators Victory is their transition defense. The Bruins exposed the Gators weak transition D in their last game vs UCLA. The Flyers really know how to run a fast break so Florida’s guards have to play well on defense to contain the Flyer’s dynamic duo Jordan Sibert on Dyshawn Pierre. Patric Young has to take advantage of his size and be a bully in the paint. The Gators are heavily favored and if they lose they will always be known as the team who didn’t get to the Final Four.

Dayton’s Keys:

The Dayton Flyers have tried on the glass slipper and found out that it fits. The Flyers are img24321081the biggest story in this tournament and they have been playing sensational basketball. They need to control the tempo and speed the game up into full court run and gun basketball. PG Jordan Sibert has to have a huge impact for the Flyers and he has to contain All-American guard Scottie Wilbekin if they want a chance to advance to the Final Four.

 

Prediction:

I believe that the Gators Elite Eight loosing streak will continue and the Dayton Flyers will hop on that magical carriage for a trip to the final four. Dayton 64 Florida 62

Other prediction for today:  Arizona 76 Wisconsin 69

Match Up of the Day

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Todays Match Up of the Day is number seven seeded Connecticut vs number 3 seeded Iowa State. The story of this game is the match up at the point guard position. Napier vs Kane will be the match up everybody will be waiting to see.

7 Uconn’s keys:

The Connecticut Huskies have had an up and down season, but they are making up for Shabazz-Napier1every game by their great performance in the NCAA Tournament. Shabazz Napier is in my opinion the best point guard in the country and he one of the best team leaders in the country. The Huskies have peaked at the right time and a lot of their uprise is thanks to Napier. Napier leads his team in points, assists, and rebounds. This is just astonishing. Napier hasn’t done it all for the Huskies. Napier’s “Robin” Ryan Boatright is a dead-eye from the 3-point line and he has some of the fastest moving feet on defense. Uconn has the best backcourt duo and they are going to be a lot to handle for the Iowa State defense.

3 Iowa State’s keys:

images-16The Iowa State Cyclones are back to playing classic Iowa State basketball. DeAndre Kane is a beast. He single handily won the game vs North Carolina. I admire his game so much and I think that he will be a steal in this year’s NBA draft. Kane and Melvin Ejim have to takeover this game because of the loss of stretch center Georges Niang. Niang is impossible to guard. He is a 7-footer and has a good power post game but he can also drain 3-pointers. Niang breaking his foot is an enormous loss for the for this Cyclones game and he will be missed in this game Prediction: I believe that Napier is going to have a Kemba Walker moment for the huskies and take over this game. Uconn 71 Iowa State 68.

Other Predictions: Michigan 82 Tennessee 74,  Michigan State 61 Virginia 58,

Louisville 78 Kentucky 75

Match Up of the Day

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Todays Match Up of the Day is the number one seeded Florida Gators vs the number four seeded UCLA Bruins. This is a classic old school powerhouse game of basketball. Two of the most storied programs will face each other for a chance to advance to the Elite Eight.

Florida’s Keys:

The Gators are the number one overall seeded team and arguably the best team in the Tennessee-upsets-short-handed-No-7-Florida-NNVU425-x-largecountry. Coach Billy Donovan really has his Gators believing. Scottie Wilbekin is Florida’s star and he is their key to victory. Wilbekin is a fantastic offensive player but where he is most needed is on the defensive side of the ball. Wilbekin is a great on-ball defender and he never lets anyone drive past him. Michael Frazier III has to have a good game shooting the three ball. When Frazier is hot there aren’t many people better shooting the three. Frazier is still very young but as he develops he reminds me of a Ray Allen or Reggie Miller, that’s how good he is at three’s. Donovan is coaching one of the best teams and he better have the Gators playing up to snuff so they don’t disappoint and reek havoc on most people’s brackets.

UCLA’s Keys:

jordan-adams-shot-blogUCLA Bruins are coming off a fantastic performance vs Cinderella story Stephen F. Austin. The Bruins shattered the Lumberjack’s glass slipper and sent them home crushed. This time the Bruins are going to have to play the underdog role. Small Forward Jordan Adams has to be on the money tonight. Last year Adams went out in the Pac 12 tourney with a broken foot, which was a huge killer for UCLA and it was a main reason their NCAA Tourney trip was quit short. This year Adams is back and he came up big in the Pac 12 Tournament by hitting the game winning shot vs Arizona. Adams has to put on a clinic if his team even wants a chance against this great Florida team.

Prediction: UCLA has had a great run but they are very young and inexperienced and Florida is a Senior driven team. Florida 75 UCLA 73

Match Up of the Day

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Like last year, I will be doing a Match Up of the Day blog everyday for the rest of March Madness.  Today’s match up of the day is the 2 seeded Wisconsin Badgers vs the 7 seeded Oregon Ducks.

7 Oregon keys: 

The Oregon Ducks are the most prolific offensive team in America.  They run a up tempo images-13fast offense which is very similar to the play of their football team.  The X-factor for the Ducks is big man Elgin Cook. Cook just came off of playing the game of his life.  Cook was so ecstatic about playing in his home town of Milwaukee and I am waiting for an encore for him today in Milwaukee.  Cook also has a huge challenge in containing the pride and joy of Benet Academy, Frank Kaminsky the all BIG Ten 1st team center.  It will be a struggle to contain him for Cook because of Kaminsky’s range from the 3 pt.  Jason Calliste also has to play well if the Ducks want to pull of the upset.  He is probably the best 6th man in the country and he has a beautiful stroke from beyond the arch.  He had a monster game in the regular season to help the Ducks take down Arizona and I am looking for him to have the same impact.  By the way, he’s my favorite Oregon player.

2 Wisconsin keys: 

images-14The Wisconsin Badgers are one of the top defensive teams in all of college basketball but their weak link is their own offense.  The Badgers struggle to score and they have the slowest offensive production.  Frank the Tank is going to have to carry the load for this heavily favored Wisconsin team.  Wisconsin’s defense has to step up against this high powered offense.  For Wisconsin to win the game they have to slow down the tempo and not let the Ducks get any fast break opportunities.

Prediction: I believe the Oregon Ducks offense is going to be too much to handle for the Badgers.  Oregon 74 Wisconsin 65

Super Sunday

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It is the greatest football game of the year.  Every football fan and millions of others will tune into this game, even non-football lovers.  It is even more fitting that the two best football teams in the world have battled their way to the grandest game of all  and trust me they have both been battle tested.  It is Peyton Manning leading the top offense vs Richard Sherman and his most nasty defense in the NFL.

Broncos Keys: 

The Denver Broncos have the most dynamic offense in the league, there are so many images-6weapons that Peyton Manning has, they are almost impossible to stop.  The weather could have a huge affect on the passing game, so the key for a Bronco victory is RB, Knowshon Moreno.  Even with Manning it will be tough to throw the ball so Moreno has to play big.  Moreno has been a solid back throughout the year, but this game Knowshon will have to be a workhorse and outplay Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch who we all know is a beast.  Moreno is most known for crying during the National Anthem.  If the Broncos want to win Moreno better stop bawling and start balling.  Also Broncos DT Terrence Knighton has to play well.  He is the anchor of Denver’s D-line and he has to stop Beast Mode, Marshawn Lynch.

Seahawks Keys: 

The Seahawks have the greatest defense, but it is not easy stopping Peyton Manning and images-7crew.  The key for the Seahawks is WR Percy Harvin.  Harvin has only played 38 snaps this year, but he makes the defense have to account for his explosiveness.  He is the biggest playmaker there and he is the spark Seattle’s offense needs to carry home the Lombardi Trophy to the 12th man.  Harvin is so explosive you can even line him up into the back field.  He is going to keep the defense honest and then brake one for 80 yards.  Also the Seahawks defensive line has to get to Manning fast and keep him on his toes.  If they can get into Manning’s very perplexed mind they can pull out a victory.

You all know the old saying… defense wins championships and that is exactly what is going to happen.  I believe the Seattle Seahawks will be the World Champions!

Prediction: Broncos 24 Seahawks 28

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Championship Weekend

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San Francisco vs Seattle

These are the two best teams in the NFL and they are huge rivals.  Each of these teams are mirror images of one another.  They both have stifling defenses, dual threat quarterbacks, and fantastic coaches.  The key for the 49ers is the play of quarterback Colin Kaepernick.  He is going to be playing in one of the most hostile stadiums in the NFL. Also it is the biggest game ever played there.  It is going to be LOUD in Seattle and impossible to make any audibles.  Kaepernick has to battle through adversity and get the job done.  Let’s remember, he and the Niners were here last year and they made the Super Bowl.

The key for the Seahawks is running back Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch.  He is a powerUnknown house half back and the last time they played in San Francisco he went off.  The Seahawks would be unstoppable with a solid running game.  I think the crazy Seahawks crowd will be too much for the 49ers to handle and I think the Seattle Seahawks will be marching on to the  Super Bowl.

Prediction:  49ers 24, Seahawks 28