American Idol Judges the NBA's Western Conference Playoffs

Ryan Seacrest: Last night, our judges laid down all the things our Eastern Conference teams need to work on and strive to improve in order to make the Finals, so today we're bringing you their critiques of the final eight Western Conference contestants. Now, remember these are music professionals giving insider tips to basketball players on how they can maximize their athletic potential into pure entertainment.

LCBinsider: Unfounded Rumors

-Because of the violent nature of Andre Miller's hit on Blake Griffin (shown below), NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will be suspending the Portland point guard from ever playing in the NFL.  Andre Miller responded, "No one wants to play in that weak ass league anyway.  They wear helmets."

NBA Preview Part 4: Southwest Division

NBA previews continue with the Western Conference and the Southwest Division.  With the Western Conference I will be using actual Over/Unders released by Vegas instead of last year's win total.

Dallas Mavericks
Last Year: 55-27, lost in first round
Additions: Tyson Chandler, Dominique Jones
Subtractions: Erick Dampier
O/U: 49.5

Basically the same team except they are one year older, and that is a important year as the entire starting lineup and 6th man Jason Terry will be on the wrong side of 30.  Nowitzki was as good as ever last year, and Haywood and Chandler in the middle along with Nowitzki is one the biggest frontcourts in the West. Jason Kidd is 37 and Caron Butler's play fell dramatically last year, so they need to play young guard Rodrigue Beaubois more as he is a player that could emerge as a dependable scorer alongside Nowitzki and who could replace their old guards sooner rather than later.  They are still a middle of the road playoff team who could make it out of the first round, but they won't win the West.  With the general improvement of the West, I will go slightly under.
Prediction: 48-34, 6th place, first round exit


San Antonio Spurs
Last Year: 50-32, lost in semifinal
Additions: Tiago Splitter, James Anderson
Subtractions: none of note
O/U: 50.5

The triumvirate of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili are looking to make one more run before father time catches up to them. Last year many things went wrong, as Duncan had his worst numbers as a professional averaging 17 and 10, Parker missed 26 games due to injury, and Richard Jefferson was completely underwhelming as a new addition.  But they were still able to scrap together a great ending to the season, giving them promise that they have enough left in the tank to challenge the Lakers before the window closes.  With the additions of George Hill and Dejuan Blair last season, and Tiago Splitter and James Anderson this season, they have infused enough young talent around their Big Three that beyond injuries or a total collapse in production from one of them, they will build upon the end of the last season and finish high up in the standings in the West.  But  is Duncan too far removed from his prime to for them win a title?
Prediction: 55-27, 3rd place, semifinals exit


Houston Rockets:
Last Year: 42-40
Additions: Yao Ming, Brad Miller, Courtney Lee, Patrick Patterson
Subtractions: Trevor Ariza, David Anderson
O/U: 48.5

The Rockets overachieved last season, as their two highest paid players last season, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, never stepped on the floor, and the rest of roster of support players led the Rockets to a winning record.  They received career years from Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola, Kyle Lowry, and Chuck Hayes.  They also did this with their best offseason acquisition last year Trevor Ariza mostly a disappointment and then traded during the season.  They addressed their weakness in the frontcourt with the addition of Brad Miller, Patrick Patterson, and obviously the return of Yao Ming from foot surgeries.  He will be limited in minutes and in games played, but his size and scoring ability inside was missed.  If Yao can contribute close to his production before the injuries, and Kevin Martin can stay healthy and regain his form from a few years ago, then they will improve their win total and make the playoffs, as we saw last year what the floor is for this team.  But the over is too rich for my blood, so I will go slightly under.
Prediction: 47-35, 7th place, first round exit


4)  Memphis Grizzlies
Last Year: 40-42
Additions: Tony Allen, Xavier Henry, Grevis Vasquez
Subtractions: Ronnie Brewer
O/U: 38.5

Good turnaround last season for the Grizz, as they took advantage of something that most teams do not have, interior scoring. Its rare for NBA teams to have a big man who can reliably score in the post but can also hit the outside jumper, and the Grizz are blessed with two such players.  Zach Randolph had a career year and Marc Gasol has established himself as somebody other than Pau Gasol's brother.  They are great scorers inside and out, but they also are great offensive rebounders, and they were the best offensive rebounding team in the league.  Their defense is their biggest obstacle to becoming a playoff team as they were bottom 5 in points allowed.  They need Hasheem Thabeet to bounce back from a disastrous rookie season, and they need newly signed Tony Allen to provide some defensive intensity and have it rub off on Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo.  Mike Conley is a below average point guard who doesn't distribute well, and they don't have much of a bench behind the starters.  I will pick the over, but they won't take the next to step.
Prediction: 40-42


New Orleans Hornets
Last Year: 37-45
Additions: Jerryd Bayless, Willie Green, Trevor Ariza, Aaron Gray
Subtractions: Morris Peterson, Darren Collison, James Posey
O/U: 41.5

Major changes in the offseason for the Hornets as they cleaned house after a disappointing 37-45 season.  They rebuilt the foundation by hiring a new GM and a new head coach, two guys I know nothing about but from what I read have excellent pedigrees.  There were wholesale changes on the roster again as only 6 players remain from last year's team and only Chris Paul, Peja, and David West remain from their playoff team two years ago.  Their best offseason move was to keep Chris Paul, as their are very few transcendent players like him and anything they would have received in a trade would have been pennies on the dollar and began a massive rebuilding project, something I'm not sure this franchise can survive in this economic climate. They have created some cap flexibility and will be well under the cap for next season, but they will need to be successful this season to prove to CP that they can win in the future, and that cap space can help provide leverage in signing an impact player next offseason.  As for this season, they have a solid starting five with Paul, rising guard Marcus Thorton, Ariza, West, and Emeka Okafor. But they lack toughness and defense in the interior and they have one of the worst benches in the league.  Ultimately if the starting five can stay healthy, they can possibly sneak in the playoffs.  Any injuries to West or CP though will prove devastating.  Important year for the Hornets.
Prediction: 44-38 9th place

Aftermath of the Darren Collison, Troy Murphy, and Trevor Ariza Trade

A wild pack of family dogs came runnin' through the yard

As my little sister played, the dogs took her away

And I guess she was eaten up okay....

--Modest Mouse, "Wild Pack of Family Dogs"

If I were one to speak in cliches, and maybe I am, I would respond to the four team, five player trade that went down yesterday as a sign of the times, that in moments of economic uncertainty fortunes are made and fortunes are lost.  Of course, that would all come off as hyperbole, seeing as how the biggest names in the trade were all essentially role players and second tier players, at best, and the fact that the teams involved were Indiana, New Orleans, Houston, and New Jersey would only add to the embellishment of what is essentially a story born out of the dog days of summer.  And perhaps it is in that phrase, dog days, that the heart of this story lies.

New Orleans Hornets Preview: "Mansard Roof"

Josh Spilker of Deckfight gives us the 2010 Hornets. Getting these out is quickly becoming a testament of will. Feel free to add your thoughts in our comments section and check out the other NBA previews we've done so far.Carrollton, Magazine, St. Charles. Emeka had always heard of these homes, he never expected to make one of them into his own. Chris had tentatively offered him a place in his building on Poydras and another one in the CBD, some high-rise with multiple penthouses filled with the Saints and Lenny Kravitz. But those were industrial, not comfortable; sterile, not homely. The wine collection would not fit in those apartments, several hundred bottles scattered on a concrete floor. Nothing brought out the wrath of Okafor more than a broken bottle of vintage merlot.

"This one is very nice, very suitable for a man of your size and stature," said Emeka's real estate agent, a sixty-ish woman with short maroon hair, multiple gold rings on her fingers, a flowing yellow dress. They were approaching the front door.

brrrrbrrrr. Emeka checked his phone. A text from his agent. "Not in TPA. Not in B'more 4 sure."

The entryway was small, the stairs immediately on the right, seemingly going nowhere. The dining room had a large oak table, vaulted ceilings, at least 11 feet high.

"And this room, great views of the rolling yard and the manicured gardens," she said.

brrrbrrr. Another text from his agent. "No go in STL. Nothing in Nashville."

Emeka glanced at the yard. The garden, lilacs and tulips. A high fence. All of this was good, but he turned back into the house. The walls, Emeka wanted to see the walls. "Show me the dining room," he said.

brrrbrrr. Yet another. "Possible KC. Possible SD."

He was fascinated with the walls. Their cream voluptuousness soaring above, their expanse so wide. Slight cracks underneath the crown molding enhanced their charm.

He stretched out his arms, the full length of his wingspan not quite great enough to encapture it. There would be plenty of room, plenty.

brrrbrrr. Now an email. His agent moved to email. "Definitely not Seattle. People aren't ready. Not considering Alberquerque. That's like thinking of a team on the moon. Why would that happen? You're losing your mind..." He clicked the Blackberry off.

"Have you seen the clawed-foot tubs. They're..." the maroon-haired lady started. "And the master... "

"I'll take it, I'll take it," Emeka said. "Will you accept a check?"

***

The next day, Emeka lays silently on the wooden floors, the beams radiating the length of his body. The Mayflower trucks were on their way from Charlotte, making the drive down I-40 and through the great American south.

On the wall was a gigantic map, a map of epic proportions of the continental United States. A thick Magik Marker drew the path from Charlotte to New Orleans. Darts were scattered all over the floor. Only one stuck on the map.

RING.....RING. Emeka tilted his head up off the floor, dug the phone out of his pocket. The real estate agent.
"Mr. Okafor?"

"Yes."
"I checked on those two requests for you, sir."
"Great."
"Well, you were right...I couldn't find the phone or house number for a uh, Mr. George Shinn anywhere in town. He might live in Metairie, but I doubt it. Maybe Old Metairie."
"Okay."
"And yes, all my sources tell me now IS the absolute, the most absolute best time to buy in Las Vegas."
"Great. Do it. I'll hold onto it for a few years."

Dunk of the Week: Terry goes back to school

This weeks edition of "dunk of the week" isn't really due to the dunk per se, but more so for the way the dunk was able to be completed. The play took place in last night's game between the Hornets and Mavericks, where Chris Paul dribbles through Jason Terry's legs and then dishes it off at the last moment to Rasual Butler. Enjoy.

NBA Tread Deadline is Thursday, but let's talk about the Maryland Terrapins

This song goes out to all the Tyson Chandler's in the league, who just wanted to hang out with a team that mattered, collect a check, and not get traded to the Thunder.

Sorry, Tyson, I guess the Hornets didn't share your emotions, and how could they? It's hard to be an NBA franchise in these dire times and have one's two highest paid players be you and Peja Stojakovic. Of course, the Thunder apparently have no problem paying you twice as much as they paid Chris Wilcox, which means they are paying roughly $2 million per rebound you average more than him. Chandler averages 8ppg and 8rpg. Wilcox averages 8ppg and 5rpg. I guess that proves Tyson Chandler's upside at 26 is more than Chris Wilcox's upside at 26.

Still, the most interesting aspect of this trade for me is that it features not only Wilcox but Joe Smith. These two guys, plus Steve Francis and Len Bias, may he rest in peace, represent the underachieving that has become synonymous with Maryland Terrapins basketball. I remember when Joe Smith was better than Rasheed Wallace and Tim Duncan. I remember when Joe Smith did things on a basketball court that made one forget he had the most bland name in sports. His nickname should be John Doe, except it would take too much effort for that to become part of anyone's vernacular. Just like, it would have been too much effort for Joe Smith to ever enter a weight room. Maybe Stan Yuengling can solve the conundrum that is Maryland basketball for us.

In the meantime, I agree with David West's thoughts on the trade: "I don't know if that's somebody we can afford to lose, so I'm not sold on the idea. You just don't find a 7-foot-1 athlete like that and he's the only 7-footer we have. Especially if we're planning on making a run into the playoffs, we're going to need size to compete with Portland, San Antonio, and the Lakers." As a Spurs fan, I think New Orleans just got a lot easier to defend and score against. Neither Wilcox nor Joe Smith are the shot blocker that Chandler is.

This trade feels like a white flag from last year's upstart team.

Lakers-Hornets recap

The Lakers came out victorious last night to remain unbeaten, by disposing of the New Orleans Hornets. The game was all Lakers for three of the four quarters, due to Chris Paul being the only one that seemed to show up to play. Tyson Chandler was anything but a factor, after getting three quick fouls in the first quarter spending a great amount of time on the bench. Peja was off, and by off I mean he was zero for his first seven shots. David West continues to play like someone else, as he seemed to miss makeable shot after shot.

This is not the Hornet team that I remember. It's still early in the season, so I expect them to pull it together soon. However another huge factor in this non-competitive game was the Lakers defense. They forced the Hornets to take some ugly looks, they took away the screen and roll, and the Lakers took advantage of the Hornets misfortune by draining their shots.

The Hornets were led on a comeback in the fourth quarter, by none other than Chris Paul. But he also finally got a little help from his friends. Peja started making his shots, West finally looked like his usual self, and Tyson managed to stay on the court for an extended period of time. But it was all for naught, the deficit was to large for them to overcome. Lakers win 93-86. The score is definitely not a representative of how uneven the game really was.

For the Lakers, they got help from every starter, although the typically great bench was a non-factor. Derek Fisher was fantastic, scoring 20 points on 11 shots. Andrew Bynum was efficient with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. Kobe was just okay, with 20 points and six assists. Pau Gasol was the star of the night, in 42 minutes he scored 30 points, dolled out 13 assists, and grabbed seven boards. He also had just two turnovers but balanced it out with two steals. It was just an amazing game for the Spaniard.

The Lakers next game will against another tough opponent as they will face off with the Pistons, Friday at 10:30. The game will be at Staples and can be seen on ESPN.