On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA-Who’s On Top?”

The NBA-Who’s On Top?

We are officially past the midpoint mark for the NBA Season with 42 plus games played to date and still holding down the No. 1 Spot in the league are the Boston Celtics (32-12). Them Boys are mission driven this year playing some very good basketball from both ends of the floor. However, holding on to the No. 1 spot won’t be easy with the other Eastern Conference teams staying quite competitive. The Brooklyn Nets (27-15), the Milwaukee Bucks (27-16), the Philadelphia 76ers (27-16), the Cleveland Cavaliers (27-17), the New York Knicks (25-19), the Miami Heat (24-20) and the Indiana Pacers (23-21) have all showed some serious improvement making the second half of the Season that much more intriguing.

The Western Conference teams have been playing musical chairs with their standings while the new faces climbing up have been making a serious stand of their own. The Denver Nuggets (30-13) now hold the No. 1 Spot with their back-to-back MVP player Nikola Jokic doing just about everything on the floor to keep them afloat for the time being. However, breathing down their necks are the Memphis Grizzlies (29-13), the New Orleans Pelicans (26-17), the Sacramento Kings (24-18), the Dallas Mavericks (24-21), the Los Angeles Clippers (23-22) while the Minnesota Timberwolves (22-22), the Golden State Warriors (21-22) and the Portland Trail Blazers (21-22) are struggling to rectify their situation but are not counted out yet.

The drastic changes of power within both conferences are exciting and mind-boggling but the second half of the season could still bring some more drama so stay locked in.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA-Who’s On Top?”

The NBA-Who’s on Top?

We are officially at the Quarter mark of this year’s shortened NBA Season and although we are still going through a Worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, the players from both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference have all managed to keep their morals up and  stay upbeat while entertaining us with some thrilling games.

The struggles of the unexpected circumstances have affected every team somehow in some ways but throughout the challenges, some teams have risen to the occasion while some unexpected teams have faltered trying to keep up.

The Philadelphia 76ers are taking claim of the No. 1 Spot on the Eastside for the time being with a modest start of 17-7 record. Under the guidance of new head coach Doc Rivers, the 76ers seem to have found the right leader to help elevate this team to Championship calibre. The Milwaukee Bucks have had some tough losses to date but still maintain a respected 15-8 record. The Boston Celtics have actually had to postpone a few games due to Covid-19 protocol but still managed a reasonable 12-9 record. With the latest acquisition of James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets who stand at 14-11 record, the fire power has just dramatically increased but only time will tell how well this version of the “Big 3” Kyrie, Kevin and James actually gel together. While the Indiana Pacers 12-11 record, the Atlanta Hawks 11-12 record, and the New York Knicks 11-13 are playing musical chairs between themselves, it has been the poor start of our Canadian team the Toronto Raptors 10-13 record and the Miami Heat 8-14 record that has been the most surprising to me so far.

The Utah Jazz lead by Donovan Mitchell is marginally taking claim of the No. 1 Spot on the Westside with their own impressive start of 18-5 record. Them boys have shown some serious growth and maturity in their steady play so far at both ends of the court. The defending Champions the Los Angeles Lakers 18-6 record and the Los Angeles Clippers 17-7 both have picked up where they left off last year and could easily steal that No. 1 Spot on any given day. That being said the Phoenix Suns 12-9 record have kept things very interesting. With Chris Paul now running the point this squad has upped their competitiveness to 100% at both ends of the floor. As for the San Antonio Spurs 12-10 record, the Denver Nuggets 12-10 record, the Portland Trail Blazers 12-10 record and the Golden State Warriors 12-11, it’s a toss-up from this point on. The Western Conference teams are all capable of putting up some serious win streaks together that could set the whole Western standings into a roller-coaster game by game. Real Talk!

Stay locked in and appreciate this attention-grabbing and unpredictable NBA Season.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2020/2021”

The NBA Season 2020/2021

The NBA Season is set to start this upcoming Tuesday December 22, 2020 but with 10 games shorter than the previous seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic still looming over the World.

So many things are going to be different and unpredictable for this upcoming season but one thing is for sure, the Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to repeat as Champions regardless of the obstacles ahead. The Lakers’ squad is still well-intact and well-built for the long haul. As for the Los Angeles Clippers, they may have fallen short in the Playoffs last season but redemption will be their motivation throughout this season. The Houston Rockets are an uncertainty right now considering they have done some major changes starting with their front office and the coaching staff and their star player, James Harden, looking for a way out of the city. Assuming Harden’s indecision to still run with the team, only time will tell how they will look as the season progresses. The Western Conference will still be competitive as usual with the strong play coming from the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, the Oklahoma City Thunder and let’s not forget The Golden State Warriors who may still have a say in the Western standings, – they are not done yet in my eyes.

The Eastern Conference is steadily improving with major players changing conferences to help balance the forces. The Milwaukee Bucks fell short once again at reaching the Finals but have managed to secure their MPV player Giannis Antetokounmpo to an extended contract giving them another opportunity at the task at hand, an NBA Title. With a few added pieces to the team, things could be looking up for them. The Miami Heat shocked the league last season when they worked their way to the NBA Finals. They showed they belong and plan on getting it going right back where they left off. The Brooklyn Nets will be looking for a “Takeover” type season with a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the pack along with a new coaching staff to draw up the winning format. Our own Canadian team the Toronto Raptors are still in the running and still have the ability to stay competitive with any team from any conferences. The Philadelphia 76ers have done some revamping with their team and the coaching staff in the hope of changing their future outcome. Let’s see how everything unfolds throughout the season. The Boston Celtics is still a major player with a proven squad that can definitely upset the apple tree once they get going. They are a proven squad that can definitely disrupt the standings in the Eastern Conference. As for the Indiana Pacers, the Washington Wizards, the Charlotte Hornets, the Detroit Pistons, the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic, the jury is still out on what they can bring to the table.

We are entering the unknown with this year NBA Season. There is no script on how things will evolve and for that alone we should all tune in this Tuesday night December 22, 2020 and be part of another roller-coaster type NBA Season 2020/2021.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA PLAYOFFS 2020”

NBA Playoffs 2020 (Sweet 16)

With the NBA-Restart successfully completed, we are now ready for phase two of inside the “Bubble” of The NBA Playoffs.

This year “King of The Court” and No. 1 Seed for the shortened season are The Milwaukee Bucks (56-17). Them Boys came out the gate strong the entire season and established their dominance night in and night out. They have literally picked up where they left off last year but are definitely determined to write the wrong of not getting to the NBA Finals. They want that “Ring” by any means necessary.

That being said, our own Canadian team the Defending Champions the Toronto Raptors No. 2 Seeded (53-19) are still ballin like the Champs that they are. Real Talk! For those who thought that the Raptors would have fallen off due to Kawhi Leonard leaving, have unquestionably misjudged this team. The Raptors have acquired the experience needed to get to the promise land. They are battle-tested and have the right squad to compete with anybody on any given day. They will be defending their crown.

The Eastern Conference teams that have all made it to the “Bubble” will all have a jab at whom will represent the Eastside but I’m most intrigued by the 3rd Seeded Celtics (48-24), 4th Seeded Pacers (45-28), the 5th Seeded Heat (44-29) and the 6th Seeded 76ers (43-30) because they are all making the Eastern Conference run real attention-grabbing outside looking in.

Representing the Western Conference with the No. 1 Seed is the LeBron James- and Anthony Davis- driven Los Angeles Lakers (52-19) and breathing down their necks are the Kawhi Leonard- and Paul George- driven No. 2 Seeded Los Angeles Clippers (49-23). The word on the street is one of these LA teams will be taking it all the way to the finish line. Personally I think it would be foolish to think that the remaining participants in the 3rd Seeded Nuggets (46-27), the 4th Seeded Rockets (44-28), the 5th Seeded Thunder (44-28), the 6th Seeded Jazz (44-28), the 7th Seeded Mavericks (43-32) and even the Cinderella team in the 8th Seeded Blazers (35-39) couldn’t throw a twist to any possible outcome in these Western Playoffs. Records aside, these Western teams competing in the “Bubble” are way too competitive to being overlooked by any one of them.

Don’t sleep on this year’s 2020 “Sweet 16” Playoff run and tune in this Monday night August 17, 2020. Check up!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA-Who’s On Top?”

The NBA-Who’s On Top?

We are well passed the midpoint mark for the season with 51 plus Games played to date and leading the entire league again this year is the Milwaukee Bucks (43-7). Them boys are on a redemption tour playing hard night in and night out from offence to defence. The Bucks are locked in and driven to get to the NBA Finals and the way they have been ballin all season it could very well be theirs for the taking. Our own Canadian team, the Defending Champions the Toronto Raptors (36-14) are surprisingly keeping it interesting considering the loss of their MVP Kawhi Lenard to the Clippers. The Raptors still have a solid squad that can definitely upset any team thinking that they are a walk over. The Boston Celtics (34-15) and the Miami Heat (34-15) are presently tied for third but either team could easily grab the No. 2 Seed with the way both teams have been playing as of late. They are both well- balanced teams who play hard ball from start to finish. The Indiana Pacers (31-19) and the Philadelphia 76ers (31-20) are both trying to hold down their respective spots for a Playoff seed but truth be told I personally expected Philly to be fighting for the 1 to 3 spot and not the lower seeds. That being said, there is still lots of ball to be played and the brackets could change come April.

With the Golden State Warriors forced to take a back seat this year, the Western Conference has a new face leading the pack with the Los Angeles Lakers (38-11). They started the season with the No. 1 spot and are still holding onto it thanks to the play of their two All Stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis helping to lead the way. That being said, holding onto the No. 1 spot won’t be that easy with The Los Angeles Clippers (35-15) chasing that No. 1 Seed and gunning for “king of the Los Angeles Court” with their two All Star players, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George getting it going come crunch time. The Denver Nuggets (35-16) are right there as expected and ready to take the No. 1 or the No 2 Seed if either Los Angeles team falter. The Nuggets may be overlooked here but they are definitely ballin the right way this season. The Utah Jazz (32-17) are bubbling at the right time securing their Playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference but holding onto their spot is a challenge within itself considering how tough the conference is. I expect a musical chair type seeding to happen within the remaining teams vying for a potential Playoff spot. The Houston Rockets (32-18), the Dallas Mavericks (31-19), the Oklahoma City Thunder (30-20) and the Portland Trail Blazers (23-28) all have a chance at a final run.

Just my thoughts.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA-Who’s On Top? “

The NBA-Who’s On Top?

We are at the Quarter mark for this year NBA Season and The Defending NBA Champs The Golden State Warriors haven’t lost a step since last years NBA Finals. REAL TALK! The Defending Champs are well above their competitors with a comfortable record of 23-0 and showing no sign of relinquishing their No. 1 Spot any time soon. With the steady amazing play of Reigning MVP Stephen Curry and a tight knit crew of teammates, knocking the Warriors off their tracks right now doesn’t seem likely anytime soon. The only other team in The West making any type of noise right now are The San Antonio Spurs with their record of 18-4.

Peeps shouldn’t be surprise by this Team cause they stay consistent with their play year after year.
As expected in The East The Cleveland Cavaliers are owners of the No. 1 Spot with a record of 14-7 but the question remains for how long since the surprising rise in play of The Miami Heat 12-7, and the steady play of The Chicago Bulls, and The Indiana Pacers heavily breathing down the Cavs necks. I’m sure by the mid point of The Season the rotation over in The EAST will definitely be different. REAL TALK! East Coast Ball is steadily improving making things very interesting on any given night. Tune In!!
Blaze

On The Watch “NBA PLAYOFFS 2014”

NBA PLAYOFFS 2014

This NBA season was another roller coaster types season with again some uncontrollable, unaccounted mishaps that we the fans would have never imagined happening through out the year. REAL TALK!

With that being said this years’ ” King Of The Court” for the season is non other then The San Antonio Spurs who finished the season with the Best record of 62-20. This team stayed on path through out the whole season with 1 goal in mind and that’s to undo the wrong of last years NBA Finals and recapture what they feel belonged to them, The O’Bryan Trophy. Their journey will not be an easy one considering how the West is loaded with some serious contenders of their own in the likes of Oklahoma, The Clippers and The Portland Trailblazers without counting out the rest of the teams in the Western Conference gunning for the same goal.

The Eastern Conference’s “Top Dog” goes to The Indiana Pacers with their record of 56-26. The Pacer’s came out the gates in an aggressive fashion but finished the last month of the season with a lack of focus, questionable for a real playoff run? The same goes for The Defending Champs Miami Heat.

Their last month finished was just has shaky and doubtful. Both team showed signs of weakness that will not go unnoticed by neither of the remaining Eastern teams aiming to upset them in their own quest. Some new faces in the Playoffs might just surprise a few team this year but one thing for sure is that this Saturday April 19, 2014 Playoffs First Round will definitely be one for the “Books”. REAL TALK! Tune in!

Blaze