Welcome back to the this week's edition of the US Sports Wrap. We've reached the last day of regular season NBA action and the playoffs teams are locked in (though the matchups can still change). In addition to that, the NHL is gearing up for playoffs beginning today and the MLB just started a couple of weeks ago. Lets get to it.
NBA (Basketball)
*** UPDATED ***
After todays final games the playoff match-ups will look as follows:
Eastern Conference
#1 Chicago Bulls vs #8 Indiana Pacers
#2 Miami Heat vs #7 Philadelphia 76ers
#3 Boston Celtics vs #6 New York Knicks
#4 Orlando Magic vs #5 Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #8 Memphis Grizzlies
#2 LA Lakers vs #7 New Orleans Hornets
#3 Dallas Mavericks vs #6 Portland Trail Blazers
#4 Oklahoma City vs #5 Denver Nuggets
* Bulls surge to #1 seed in the East
The Chicago Bulls (61-20) have locked in the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. Even the strongest Bulls fans would be lying if they told you they were predicting that at the start of the season. Derrick Rose, expected to be named the MVP, has led from the front averaging over 25 points, 4 rebounds and almost 8 assists per game. The Bulls as a whole though have been winning games with their strong defence, allowing only 91.3 points against on average throughout the season - and for much of the season were missing either Boozer or Noah. They've won their past 8 in a row having beaten the Knicks yesterday 103-90 and today take on the Nets attempting to finish the season with the best record in the league (if they win and the Spurs lose).
* Lakers and Celtics slump
In what has been a baffling development, the Los Angeles Lakers (56-25), who we were lauding for winning 9 in a row leading into the start of April, then went on to drop their next 5 straight leading into yesterday's match-up against Western #1 seed the San Antonio Spurs. With the Spurs resting starters Duncan, Ginobli and Parker, the Lakers were able to get up 102-93 despite losing centre Andrew Bynum with a hyper-extended knee in the second quarter. Bynum will miss todays final game against the Kings while he has an MRI performed on his knee (*Update: it's just bruised, should be ok for the playoffs). Also, Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 by the league for directing a homophobic slur at the referee after receiving a technical foul.
...what a hissy fit...
Meanwhile, over it in the East the Boston Celtics (55-26) have also been looking a little shaky losing 5 of their past 10 games. They rested their entire starting line-up on Monday against the Wizards and lost in overtime 95-94. Trading away Kendrick Perkins looks to have been a mistake with Shaq now struggling with injury. Their playoff matchup is already locked in now as they'll take on the Knicks (42-39) in the first round of the post-season, and we'll see a preview of that series today as they also play each other in the season finale. By the way... the Knicks posted their first winning season since the '00-'01 season.
* Danger in Portland
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned the Memphis Grizzlies as a danger team in the West, and I'm tipping that the Portland Trail Blazers (48-33) could also be a bit of a smokey for the playoffs having locked in the 6th seed yesterday. In their past ten games, they've won seven including the likes of San Antonio (twice), Oklahoma City, Dallas and the Lakers. The trade deadline move to nab Gerald Wallace from the Bobcats has really looked to have strengthened the Trail Blazers who struggled earlier in the season when they lost Brandon Roy to injury. Roy's back now, but is not the same game winner he once was.
* Have to mention the Mavs to please regular reader Raul...
One team the Trail Blazers could find themselves facing is the current #3 seed Dallas Mavericks. The Mav's however could still finish anywhere between 2nd and 4th in the Western Conference depending on the results today. That means they potentially could be playing any of four teams - the Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Hornets or Grizzlies. From that list, if I was Dallas, I'd be wanting to play the Hornets and they'll get a nice rehearsal of that in their final game today.
* 'Sota officially the worst
Forget that 26 game losing streak the Cavs entertained us with earlier in the season, it's the 17-64 Minnesota Timberwolves who get the gong as the worst team this season. Despite having Kevin Love post an amazing 53 straight doubles-doubles, the T-Wolves now hold the leagues longest playoff drought having missed in their past 6 seasons.
And here's the Top Ten dunks of the week!
* Oh and if you're wondering why I didn't mention the Eastern #2 seed the Miami Heat, it's because I've ejected them from the blog for this outburst from Zydrunas Ilgauskas...
NHL (Ice Hockey)
* The playoffs kick off today in the NHL with five games today. The first round matchups are as follows:
Eastern Conference
#1 Washington Capitals vs #8 NY Rangers
#2 Philadelphia Flyers vs #7 Buffalo Sabres
#3 Boston Bruins vs #6 Montreal Canadiens
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #5 Tampa Bay Lightening
Western Conference
#1 Vancouver Canucks vs #8 Chicago Blackhawks
#2 San Jose Sharks vs #7 LA Kings
#3 Detroit Red Wings vs #6 Phoenix Coyotes
#4 Anaheim Ducks vs #5 Nashville Predators
My tip for the Stanley Cup is the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it's looking like they'll have to get past Tampa Bay without star Sidney Crosby. It'll probably end up being the Capitols again though, if not just because this ad is awesome...
MLB (Baseball)
* Champs cold, Rangers hot
Defending World Champions San Francisco Giants have had a poor first 2 weeks of the season, sitting last in their National League West division at 4-6 after 10 games. The team they beat in the World Series however, the Texas Rangers, have started the season like they've got a point to prove and lead the league with a 9-2 record. Other teams recording great starts to the season include Charlie Sheen's old team the Cleveland Indians (Major League was a documentary wasn't it? The Indians are 8-3), the Cincinnati Reds (8-3), the Philadelphia Phillies (7-3) and Colorado Rockies (7-2).
* Red Sox struggle
The Celtics aren't the only team in Boston who are struggling, with their baseball counterparts starting the season with a horrible 2-9 record after 11 games. With a good chance to notch up their third win against a Tampa Bay team also sporting only 2 wins, they couldn't get the job done surrendering three runs in the 5th innings at Fenway Park yesterday.
That's it for this edition. Tune back in next week for updates on all the first week's playoff action!