On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2024/2025”

NBA Season 2024/2025

With the Boston Celtics regaining control by winning last year’s 2024 NBA Championship, the Celtics’ once again have a target on their backs and getting back to the promised land will not be an easy task this go around. However, with their team still intact with the same squad that got them their NBA leading 18 Championships, this team will definitely be looking to defend their hard-earned crown while welcoming all challengers from the East/West trying to block them of achieving back-to-back Championship glory.

The Eastern Conference has gained some significant ground with the Larry O’Brien trophy residing on their side for the time being but aside from the Defending Champions Boston Celtics, the jury is still out on who out of the Eastern Teams will come out the pack and pose a legitimate threat to the Celtics.

The New York Knicks have done a major upgrade by adding Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges to run aside a battle tested squad of OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson. Giving the formidable starting 5, they will have to put in some serious work as a full unit in order to eclipse their previous successful year.

The Cleveland Cavaliers showed us once again that them Boys can ball during the regular season but they keep falling short in the playoffs. The Cavs just need to keep that same energy throughout the season and the postseason long enough to prove the naysayers wrong. I have them on the come up this year.

The Milwaukee Bucks are still amongst the top dogs in the East any given year with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard leading the pack but them Boys as a squad need to get it together asap in order to stay in the championship race.

The Philadelphia 76ers picked up Paul George to play alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey giving them their “Big Three” that is going to terrorize the league and give them a legitimate chance to compete for a Championship only if they can stay healthy enough for a long but competitive run.

The Indiana Pacers defied all odds last year by competing with the “Big Boys” night in and night out all the way to the Conference Finals but fell short due to injuries but with a healthy squad I expect these Boys to wreak havoc once again and outdo their previous year.

As for the remaining Eastern Conference teams the Miami Heat, the Atlanta Hawks, the Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards there is too much uncertainty surrounding these teams at this point but hopefully throughout the season they will be able to show their true identity to stake their claim.

The Western Conference continues to bear the mantle of the strongest conference, hands down, but newer faces keep moving up shaking up the conferences from top to bottom.

The Oklahoma City Thunder who “Started from the Bottom to the Top” all the way to the Western Conference Finals may have fallen short of an NBA Final but have all the right ingredients to find their way back to championship contention with the added experience earned and a Bonafide superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading this young squad making this team must see TV on any given night.

The Dallas Mavericks reached the NBA Finals last year and with added fire power in Klay Thompson running aside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving and their solid supporting cast, if all healthy, anything less than reaching the NBA Finals and getting a crack at the Championship would be considered a failure. That being said be prepared for some serious balling to be going down with this squad.

The Denver Nuggets and their three-time MVP Nikola Jokic can never be counted out the mix. This team is solid from top to bottom. Although they may have lost a few good contributors to the team, they still have the experience needed to compete with the young and the old on any given night.

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to make some serious noise this year with a healthy and slimmed down Zion Williamson leading the pack of solid veterans with a mix of youngins watching his back, them Boys might just be able to play spoiler if all goes well.

The Phoenix Suns have the shooters in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to outscore any team on any given night but have yet to show their full potential due to injuries. Hopefully they can put it all together this year and give us a good run in the Western Conference.

The Minnesota Timberwolves took the league by storm last year by being competitive on both ends of the floor and secured the third seed in a very tough Western Division. With Anthony Edwards steadily improving year by year alongside a motivated squad, them Boys should be able to continue their rise to the top of the food chain at a steady pace.

As for the remainder of the Western Conference Teams the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, the Sacramento Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Houston Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs, the Utah Jazz and the Portland Trail Blazers, the Jury is still out. No Western team can truly be counted out even if dead last and judging by how the usual suspects have fallen only time will tell which team will find their way out of the pack and back into contention status.

Tune in on opening night Tuesday October 22, 2024, and be part of an intense but intriguing new NBA Season 2024/2025.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2023/2024”

The NBA Season 2023/2024

With the Denver Nuggets finally breaking through and claiming last year’s 2023 NBA Championship, the Nuggets have now placed a target on their back and getting back to the promised land once again will not be an easy task this time around. With the team still intact with the same squad that got them their first Larry O’Brien trophy, this Championship team will definitely be looking to defend their hard-earned title while accepting all challengers from the East/West trying to prevent them of achieving back-to-back Championship glory.

That being said, with quite a few players jumping ship from East to West and from West to East this summer in effect changing the balance of power, the Western Conference still continues to bear the mantle of the strongest conference.

The Memphis Grizzlies, who had an amazing season last year, will be looking to pick up from where they left off with their squad pretty much still intact with some key new faces added, but they will have to maintain their play without their All-Star player Ja Morant who has been suspended for the first 25 games due to misconduct detrimental to the NBA. This group will have their work cut out for them but time will tell if they still got the juice.

The Phoenix Suns have their own new version of the “Big Three” with their latest acquisition of Bradley Beal to run aside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. With them three lethal shooters lightening up the scoreboard night in and night out, their win column will definitely be up during the regular season but their defense will remain questionable.

The Golden State Warriors are at a crossroads with father time as their core players who have been running the team are getting older but when your star player is Stephen Curry who is still playing at a top 5 level at 35 years old, you still have plenty of lifeline needed to hopefully bring one more title to the Bay. This unit has experience on their side and with some new fresh faces to back up the core unit, they still have the goods to wreak havoc when push comes to shove.

The Los Angeles Lakers will always be in the running as long as they have LeBron James and Anthony Davis causing havoc at both ends of the floor. If both of these Dudes can stay healthy for most of the season and their supporting cast can keep up with them, the West could belong to them because as of right now a LeBron James at 38 years old is still top 5 on any given night.

As for the remainder of the Western Conference Teams the Sacramento Kings, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Dallas Mavericks, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Utah Jazz, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Houston Rockets, they will all have to duke it out and play musical chairs. Some of these teams have already proven themselves last year in a major way but we all know that the Westside doesn’t play. It’s do or die on this side so making the top 8 is a tough task within itself.

The Eastern Conference is looking to shake the league up again with top players relocating and changing the balance of power making this Season that much more intriguing. The Boston Celtics may have made the best move out of them all with them picking up Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to reinforce their starting line-up. Them two alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is a defensive and offensive nightmare for their opposition. It will be interesting to see who will hold down that No. 1 Seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Milwaukee Bucks may have lost Jrue Holiday but they had themselves a major pick up in Damian Lillard a lethal assassin on that court riding shot gun to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Once Damian gets acclimated with his new teammates things will start moving a lot faster on the offensive end where teams will have a problem stopping this deadly duo in the open court.

I had high hopes for the Philadelphia 76ers to wreak havoc throughout the Season but with the uncertainty of James Harden on whether he’s staying with Philly or going is making things look quite bleak at the moment. Their one major strong point is that they have the reigning MVP Joel Embiid playing at a high level and with a strong core still intact they could still make some noise. Tyrese Maxey is that gem that could have another breakout season to help carry the load off of Embiid.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had the league shook the way they balled out last year making some serious noise throughout the season and in the Playoffs. They have the goods to do even better this time around with the valuable experience they pick up on their journey. They have to show up and prove that last year’s success was not a fluke. With Donovan Mitchell steadily improving in his leadership role, the sky is their only limit.

As for the remaining Eastern Conference teams the Miami Heat, the New York Knicks, the Atlanta Hawks, the Indiana Pacers, the Toronto Raptors, the Chicago Bulls, the Brooklyn Nets, the Charlotte Hornets, the Orlando Magic, the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards, the jury is still out on most of them. There are too many unknowns and too much uncertainty surrounding these teams making it real hard to really assess where they’re at.

However, with the NBA holding an in-Season tournament for the first time between November 3, 2023 and December 9, 2023 with all games except the final counting toward the regular Season standings, this will give a chance to the bottom teams from the Eastern/Western conferences to prove they belong by giving all participating teams a much-needed incentive and the motivation to compete night in and night out.

This new added format could be a game changer and for that alone we should all tune in this Tuesday night October 24, 2023, and be part of another fascinating NBA Season 2023/2024.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA PLAYOFFS 2023”

NBA Playoffs 2023 (Sweet 16)

With a full 82 Games NBA season now over and the NBA Play-In Tournament successfully completed, we are now officially ready to proceed with the NBA Playoffs 2023.

This year the Milwaukee Bucks (58-24) have reclaimed the “King of The Court” and No. 1 Seed in the entire league while battling it out with key members of their squad missing quite a few games but nonetheless were still able prevail throughout a very competitive season. The Bucks are getting it together at the right time and are driven to reach the mountain top once again.

That being said the No. 2 Seeded Boston Celtics (57-25) marginally fell short of the No. 1 Spot but maintained a very strong dominance throughout the league pinning any opponent to be in deep water when coming face to face with the surging Celtics come Playoff time. They showed up this year now it’s time to complete the run to the NBA Finals.

The Philadelphia 76ers (54-28) hold the No. 3 Seed and have been looking quite motivated to silence the naysayers who have been questioning their direction. With Joel Embiid playing at an MVP level and James Harden running the show, the squad is now peaking at the right moment and hopefully on track to reaching the NBA Finals.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (51-31) hold the No. 4 Spot while surprisingly being quite competitive night in and night out proving to be a team to be taken seriously throughout this Playoff run. The Cavs have a bonafide star in Donovan Mitchell and a solid nucleus of players looking to follow his lead.

The New York Knicks No. 5 Seed (47-35), the Brooklyn Nets No. 6 Seed (45-37), the Atlanta Hawks No. 7 Seed (41-41) and the Miami Heat No.8 Seed (44-38) all fought extremely hard to have a spot in the Playoffs but will have an even greater time knocking out the higher seeded favourites off their block come “Game night”, resulting in a very intriguing first round of Playoff runs.

The stronghold of the Western Conference has dipped again this year with only two teams crossing over the 50-win column. The Denver Nuggets have secured their No. 1 Seed with a modest (53-29) record and seem to be getting their full squad fully operational at the right time if they plan on reaching the NBA Finals this year. Breathing down their necks are the youngins Memphis Grizzlies (51-31) No. 2 Seed determined to prove they belong at the top but that being said, actions speak louder than words. Them youngins have to show up big and make some serious waves this time around deep into the Playoffs

The Sacramento Kings (48-34) is the surprising No. 3 Seed looking to prove that this is not a fluke. This squad got here the hard way but this Playoff run will be the truth teller of how far they go throughout the Playoffs. The Phoenix Suns (45-37) hold the No. 4 Spot but had to climb from the bottom to get back into the game and with Kevin Durant joining the squad this team is looking more and more like they might have found the missing piece.

The Los Angeles Clippers (44-38) No. 5 Seed, the Defending Champions Golden State Warriors (44-38) No. 6 Seed, the Los Angeles Lakers (43-39) No. 7 Seed and the Minnesota Timberwolves (42-40) No. 8 Seed don’t have much separating them at this point other than the Championship pedigree that the Warriors and the Lakers have over the rest of the Western Conference Playoff teams. They are the two teams that could definitely shake up their Playoff standings after the first rounds of play come to completion.

This year, Playoff runs are interesting from top to bottom so tune in and witness the outcome starting this Saturday April 15, 2023.

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 NBA Season and the changing of the guards within the early standings updates is making some teams quite uncomfortable at the moment. Although the NBA Season is in its early stages the panic button is staying at arm’s reach for some particular teams.

Holding the No. 1 Spot in the league are the Boston Celtics (18-5) who lost their Coach Ime Udoka for disciplinary reasons early at the start of the season, but have maintained a level of competitiveness night in and night out keeping them on pace to the task at hand.

The Milwaukee Bucks (16-6) are staying at arm’s length of the Boston Celtics ready and willing to relieve them of the No. 1 Spot. With Giannis playing at a Super Star level night in and night out with a competitive squad having his back, no one in their right mind should ever sleep on the Bucks regardless of their standing because the Bucks want next no matter what.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (15-8) surprisingly keep moving up the ladder a lot quicker than expected and are showing some serious grit in the way they’ve been balling at this early stage. They are definitely a team to keep a close eye on. While the Atlanta Hawks (13-10), the Indiana Pacers 12-10, the Brooklyn Nets (13-11), Philadelphia 76ers (12-11), and the Toronto Raptors (12-11) are all in position to readjust their standing as the season progresses.

The Phoenix Suns (15-7) have re-emerged at the No. 1 Spot for the time being, proving to be key players still in a championship run regardless of any previous outcomes. That said, holding on to their No. 1 Spot in the tough Western Conference won’t be easy with new faces climbing up the standings like the Denver Nuggets (14-8), the New Orleans Pelicans (14-8), the Memphis Grizzlies (13-9), the Sacramento Kings (12-9) who are making some early noise.
The defending Champs the Golden State Warriors who have been going through an unexpected slow start sitting in the 6th seed (13-11) working their way back to a respectable seeding one game at a time. (Still not to be slept on).

The Los Angeles Clippers (13-11), the Utah Jazz (14-12) and the Portland Trail Blazers (12-11) could all climb up the standings but these two particular teams on the outside looking in at the Dallas Mavericks (11-11) and the Los Angeles Lakers (9-12) who have the right nucleus to rise all the way up (Fat Joe voice) if your team gets caught slipping throughout the season.

Stay locked in cause this roller-coaster ride of an NBA Season is just getting heated.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2022/2023”

The NBA Season 2022/2023

With the Golden State Warriors reclaiming last years 2022 NBA Championship, the Warriors have once again proven to be a major player in this year deep Western Conference. With a healthy squad and a few new faces added to the rotation, the Warriors will be looking to defending their Championship with an iron fist from start to finish. Last year opposing teams counted them out and paid the ultimate price when it was all said and done.

With key players the likes of Kawhi Leonard (Clippers), Zion Williamson (Pelicans), Jamal Murray (Nuggets) and Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers) now healthy, they all possess the missing ingredients to help propel their teams throughout the hardship of the tough Western Conference.

The Los Angeles Clippers have a real good chance at making some serious noise this year. If they can stay healthy enough, the squad that this team is showing up with on opening night is as legit as it gets. They have the right balance of talent to definitely stir the pot throughout the league.

Last year’s shorthanded Denver Nuggets made quite a splash throughout the league and the Playoffs. With returning 2022 NBA MVP Nikola Jokic hitting the floor alongside a healthy Jamal Murray and a tight squad, the Nuggets will be looking to disrupt the league in a very competitive way.

The return of a healthy Zion Williamson has all eyes on the New Orleans Pelicans who will be coming in with a solid starting 5 that will keep the fans interested throughout the year but how far they can go will be up in the air considering just how strong the Western Conference is just surviving the regular season.

Lebron James entering his 20th NBA Season at 37 years old is just amazing. This man is a walking machine that if healthy, alongside another healthy Anthony Davis for a full season, has enough fire power to make some serious noise. Although their Pre-Season games didn’t show it, I personally wouldn’t sleep on them just yet.

The Western Conference is a tourney within itself. The Memphis Grizzlies are a bubbling team prime and ready for the big stage. Their squad is built to compete from top to bottom. They are must watch T.V. when they step foot into the arena. The Phoenix Suns have taken a fall in the standings but still managed to bring back the squad that brought them to the 2021 NBA Finals, giving them a good chance to make some serious strides back to the top. The Dallas Mavericks are coming in with an in-shape Luka Doncic who has proven to be a handful on any given night. With a healthy Tim Hardaway Jr. coming back and a solid all-around squad, the Mavericks will be in the mix. As for the remaining Western teams, the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, the jury is still out. The Western Conference is not for play.

The talk of the Eastern Conference right now is the Brooklyn Nets coming into this season with a healthy-looking squad of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons who will be gracing the court together with some serious swag. The Nets feel very optimistic of guaranteed success this time around. They will have the fire power to hang with any opponent but will the chemistry hold up?

That said, ignoring the Boston Celtics who reached the NBA Finals last year but were unsuccessful, is an understatement. The Celtics have had a taste of the Finals now and will want retribution for their failed attempt. With their squad still intact with a solid one two punch in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way, the top of the food chain is not farfetched.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks wreaked havoc throughout the league last year and fell short late in the Playoffs due to injuries to some key players but with a healthy squad and arguably the best NBA player in the league in Giannis leading the way, the Bucks will be making this Eastern Conference run that much intriguing and must watch T.V. whenever they step foot in the house.

The Philadelphia 76ers might be the sleeper team to move up and do some damage or completely drop if they don’t get it together soon. They have a solid squad well-balanced squad that could put fear throughout the league but they have to lay it all together. Joel Embiid showed up big last year playing at an MVP level but in order to have a successful run James Harden is going to have to bring back his MVP type play for them to have any kind of inspiration of reaching the NBA Finals.

The Miami Heat has the right balance of experience from young to old that have reached the NBA Finals. They are strong on both ends of the floor and can hang with the best of them on any given night. They will be a solid team vying for position. That said, they do have the potential of being a sleeper team as well if not taken seriously by their opponents.

The Eastern Conference teams have steadily been improving year after year with surprising, unexpected teams rising out the trenches disrupting the hierarchy of the usual suspects in the Division.

That being said, the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and the Detroit Piston will all have to show and prove that they belong amongst the top teams in the league or risk being labelled unworthy of keeping up in the Eastern Conference.

The league is steaming up with talent and new faces. Tune in this Tuesday night October 18, 2022, and be part of another captivating NBA Season 2022/2023.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2021/2022”

The NBA Season 2021/2022

Although the Covid-19 pandemic is still looming over the World, a full regular NBA Season is set to start this upcoming Tuesday October 19, 2021.

With the Milwaukee Bucks claiming last year’s 2021 NBA Championship, the Eastern Conference teams are steadily showing major improvement with many high-profile players migrating and seeking permanent residency on the EASTIDE helping balance the forces of the Eastern Conference. With Giannis Antetokoumpo balling at an MVP level and with a squad to back him up, the Bucks will be working really hard at getting back to the Finals to defend their previous Championship.

A healthy Brooklyn Nets squad, disorder aside regarding Kyrie Irving on board or not, the Nets, equipped with “Easy Money Sniper” Kevin Durant and James Harden running the show along with a competitive line up, them Brooklyn Boys will cause havoc throughout the NBA in order to get to the promised land aka the NBA Finals.

The Atlanta Hawks made some serious waves throughout the season and the NBA Playoffs last year. With most of their squad still intact and with the experience they have now garnered, The Hawks will be a problem to content with on any given night.

Like Brooklyn, the Philadelphia 76ers have a personnel issue concerning Ben Simmons. Will he be part of the squad or not? Uncertainty aside them Philly Boys will still have enough fire power to stay competitive – Joel Embiid and company will make sure of that.

The Miami Heat didn’t perform to their full potential last year but with a proven leader in Kyle Lowry now running the show alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo and a deep squad, they could see themselves disrupting the Eastern Conference and playing themselves back into contention.

Although the Chicago Bulls came up short last season, I think they may have gotten it right this time around with the addition of DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball alongside Zach LaVine in the starting line-up. They might have enough fire power to enter the Playoffs and make some noise.

The New York Knicks balled hard last season and I expect them to do the same this year. With the addition of a healthy Kemba Walker and some improved defense, the Knicks could find themselves once again vying for a playoff spot.

As for the remaining Eastern Teams the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and the Washington Wizards, all have too many uncertainties surrounding them right now. They are going to have to show and prove they are capable of keeping up in the Eastern Conference.

The Los Angeles Lakers have completely revamped their squad by adding key players like Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard to run alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. On paper the Lakers look to have the goods to prevail in the Western Conference but I personally think that team chemistry will be the key to unlocking their true potential. Only time will tell if they have the right nucleus.

The Phoenix Suns will be picking things up right where they left it after an incredible run to the NBA Finals. The Suns know they have the goods and the returning squad to make sure of that. The needed experience has now been acquired along with the winning attitude and the play of Devin Booker and Chris Paul running the show, they look prime to reach the NBA Finals once again.

The Utah Jazz may have fallen short in last year’s Playoff run but their nucleus is still intact and they have already proven to be the best team in the Western Conference by holding down the No. 1 Spot last year. With that in mind, them Boys now have the right mentality to reign supreme and dominate once again while working their way through a tough Western Conference.

The Denver Nuggets will have the Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic leading their team but might have a harder time keeping up with rest of the Division without key contributor Jamal Murray still recovering from his ACL injury. I gotta tip my “B” to them boys cause they ball hard even with a key player down they still have the goods to disrupt things in the Western Conference.

The Los Angeles Clippers could find themselves struggling in the tough Western Conference if they have to deal without the services of their star player Kawhi Leonard who is still out with a knee injury. If they can find some key players to help Paul George hold it down, they might be able to stay competitive long enough until Kawhi’s return whenever that may be. It’s a tough call without a healthy Kawhi in the line-up.

The Golden State Warriors could be the sleepers in the Western Conference, looking at them right now they could easily be overlooked but with a brilliant coaching staff and a two-time MVP in Stephen Curry (still balling like an MVP) holding it down until Klay Thompson is cleared to return this season, the “Splash Brothers” could pick up where they last left it in the 2019 NBA Finals. Straight shooters back at it. With the new core of young gunners running with them and Draymond Green still in the mix, I am not counting them out just yet.

The Dallas Mavericks have a new Head Coach in Jason Kidd and still have the MVP contender Luka Doncic running the show in Dallas but still need to get it together in order to advance to the Playoffs. The pressure will be on Jason to guide this underachieving team to the promised land but with Luka balling out of his mind with the right supporting cast they just might have enough game to move up come Playoff time.

As for the remaining Western Conference teams the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Sacramento Kings, they will have to swim in the deep end in hopes of making it out somehow someway in the tough Western Conference. There is no easy passage to the NBA Playoffs in this Conference.

That being said, tune this Tuesday night October 19, 2021 and be part of another intriguing NBA Season 2021/2022.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About 2021 NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS”

2021 NBA Eastern Conference Finals

Not too many people predicted this outcome for the Eastern Conference Finals. Real Talk! The No. 3 Seeded Milwaukee Bucks and the No. 5 Seeded Atlanta Hawks both survived a tight game 7 to secure a spot to compete for the right to represent the Eastside in the NBA Finals. I gotta tip my “B” hat to the Atlanta Hawks for the way they’ve been balling as of late. I knew them Boys could shake up the Playoffs run but the Conference Finals I didn’t see that coming. They have beaten some very good teams and upset the No. 1 Seeded Philadelphia 76ers on their way up. Atlanta is not playing and them Boys mean business.

Standing in their way are the Milwaukee Bucks who grinded their way to the Conference Finals with their heads up high. They didn’t have an easy route and struggled at times but definitely showed a much better battle-tested Playoff squad, ready to rumble with the best of them. The Bucks have failed to advance to the Finals the last two seasons, so the pressure to succeed will be heavily weighing on their minds. That being said, the challenge awaiting them is here now and their time is now.

Who will emerge victorious in the Eastern Conference Finals and earn the right of passage to the NBA Finals? Tune in for Game 1 this Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This is going to be an intriguing series. Check Ball!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA PLAYOFFS 2021”

NBA Playoffs 2021 (Sweet 16)

With the NBA shortened season now over and the NBA Play-In Tournament successfully completed, we are now officially ready to proceed with The NBA Playoffs.

This year’s surprising “King of The Court” and No. 1 Seed are the Utah Jazz (52-20). Them Boys were one of the most consistent teams to ball out this year. They were laser focussed and shook the league up with their dominant play from both ends of the floor. Securing home court advantage was a must, now let’s see if they can defy the odds and reach the NBA Finals.

One game behind them as the No. 2 Seed are the Phoenix Suns (51-21). Another team that came out on top from the tough Western Conference. The odd makers don’t have them as a favourite to win it all but damnnnnn we have to appreciate the way these Boys fought through the league to earn their spot the rightful way, by balling as a team on a mission. They will definitely cause havoc in the NBA Playoffs, bet on that.

Injuries have heavily plagued the Western Conference this year costing the usual suspects to take a hit in their respective standings. Coming in as the 3rd Seed are the Denver Nuggets (47-25), without their trusted sniper Jamal Murray (torn ACL) their Playoff run will be very challenging. The 4th Seeded Los Angeles Clippers (47-25) have everything it takes to be successful in the Playoffs but it’s time for them to show and prove that they are for real and have the squad to deliver the goods. The 5th Seeded Dallas Mavericks (42-30) and the 6th Seeded Portland Trail Blazers (42-30) have had their ups and downs throughout the season but still managed to maintain their respectful standings. As for the Defending Champions the Los Angeles Lakers (42-30), they are wobbling in fresh from the Play-in Tournament as the 7th Seed. Not where they thought they would be at this point but beside an injury plagued season the odds makers still have them as the favourite to pull it off. With a strong finish from the Play-In Tournament, the Memphis Grizzlies (38-34) locked in the 8th Seed. Them Boys can’t be taken lightly. The momentum is on their side. Young, hungry and full of energy. The Grizzlies haven’t seen the Playoffs since 2017, I can’t wait to see what these youngin’s do on the “Big Stage”.

Representing the Eastern Conference with the No. 1 Seed are the Philadelphia 76ers (49-23). The 76ers had to work hard to earn that No. 1 Seed hands down. They have an impressive squad that should have probably performed even better but the fact that they managed to hold on to get home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference is a positive, now it’s time for them to silence the naysayers and perform above their expectations. Injuries played a big part with the play of the Brooklyn Nets (48-24) but they still managed to hold on to the 2nd Seed and with a close to heathy three-headed sniper connection of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, they might have the goods to take it all the way. Chemistry will be key amongst the Big Three considering they haven’t played much ball as a unit but they definitely have the fire power to disrupt any series ahead. The 3rd Seeded Milwaukee Bucks (46-26) haven’t looked as dominant as their previous years but still managed to stay within range of the top Seeded teams. You can’t sleep on the Bucks, even though they lacked a successful postseason record. I personally think the Bucks have a better suited squad to tackle this year’s NBA Playoffs. Only time will tell. An unexpected entry in the New York Knicks (41-31), held down the 4th Seed. With the guidance of new Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and the Allstar play of Julius Randle, the Knicks have forced the world watching to “put some respect back on the New York Knicks name” Real Talk! Them Boys have been competitive from start to finish. Old School playing hard grinding every win out. This is a good situation for the Knicks, now let’s see what becomes of this Playoff run. The 5th Seeded Atlanta Hawks (41-31) and the 6th Seeded Miami Heat (40-32) both dealt with some injuries and the Covid-19 protocol that prevented certain players from participating in games out of safety concerns, but still managed to stay ahead and competitive enough to land a spot to the dance. Interesting to see how they will do in the Playoffs. The 7th Seeded Boston Celtics (36-36) and the 8th Seeded Washington Wizards (34-38) both needed the Play-In Tournament to get in this year’s Playoff run. This year hasn’t been too kind to the Celtics who have fallen from the top dramatically due to injuries and recently the loss of key member Jalen Brown. I’m not going to count the Celtics out just yet but the loss of Jalen leaves them with a slim chance of being successful in the Playoffs. Although the Wizards didn’t come in the Playoffs with a winning record, they are the “Cinderella Team” that if not taken seriously, could undeniably disrupt any Eastern Conference team overlooking them.

Tune in this Saturday May 22, 2021 for this year’s NBA version of the “Sweet 16” Playoff run.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2019/2020”

The NBA Season 2019/2020

The NBA Season is set to start this upcoming Tuesday October 22, 2019, and our own newly crowned Canadian Defending Champs the Toronto Raptors will be looking to start the season right where they left off. However, they will be looking to repeat without their star player and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. With Kawhi jumping ship, the Raptors’ chances of repeating have definitely slimmed down but with the emergence of last year’s Most Improved Player Pascal Siakam they may have found another go to player to help them restore the balance needed to get back to the Finals and defend their Championship.

With the season that they had last year the Milwaukee Bucks will be looking to bounce right back into contention considering that their squad is still intact with a few new faces to help maintain their status quo as one of the top teams that could possibly reach the Eastern Conference Finals if all goes right for them.

After falling short at the buzzer to the Toronto Raptors in the Easter Conference Finals, the Philadelphia 76ers had a hard look at their team and decided to fine-tune their roster to hopefully have that edge needed to conquer the Eastern Conference and set foot to the NBA Finals. As it stands right now, they may have the biggest starting line-up this year if all goes as planned with 6-5, 6-9, 6-10, and a big mobile 7-footer. Defence this year should not be a problem, but Philly will definitely be gunning for that No. 1 Spot. Their time is now.

The lack of chemistry that the Boston Celtics displayed last year cost them dearly and with the departure of Kyrie Irving and Al Holford, they might have slipped a little but I’m not counting them boys out just yet. Coach Brad Stevens is a proven winner and with Kemba Walker now running the show along with a young athletic squad, the Celtics will still be in contention and may be the sleeper team in the Eastern Conference.

The Brooklyn Nets acquired Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant over the off season in a serious power move, but we won’t be able to see the two heavy hitters share the court together until possibly next season since Kevin Durant is expected to miss the entire 2019/2020 season recovering from his Achilles injury. I expect the Nets to be competitive but not ready yet to steal that No 1 Spot in the East.

That being said the Eastern Conference is still steadily improving. The Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat, the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards will keep it interesting throughout the season.

Out West the tables have changed dramatically, with the departure of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson sidelined until possibly after the All-Star break. The Golden State Warriors will have no breathing room or any easy nights in the Western Conference. This season might be their toughest to date. The Warriors are not ready to concede the season just yet. Counting them out with a healthy Stephen Curry and Draymond Green still holding it down until Klay comes back is not something I’m willing to bet against at this time.

The two LA teams have done some power moves of their own and in doing so may have reignited the Lakers/Clippers rivalry. The Los Angeles Lakers will start this season with a well-rested and healthy LeBron James and newly acquired Anthony Davis. The Lakers have revamped their squad and are already talking Championships. However, their neighboring team the Los Angeles Clippers have also added two valuable pieces to their already proven squad in the form of reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Now that was an unexpected chess move by the Clippers. Both teams have easily vaulted themselves into contention but in the WESTSIDE, nothing is as easy as it’s sounds. The road to the Western Finals is a never-ending gauntlet. There are quite a few contenders willing and ready to snatch that No. 1 Spot.

The Houston Rockets will be starting two former NBA MVP’s in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. This is an intriguing backcourt but one that I am definitely looking forward to seeing in action at this point in their careers. The pace that these two can play at might be the key that gives them the edge and push them over the hump.

The Denver Nuggets are no longer flying under the radar. That squad balled out of their minds last year and are determined to give it another run at the No. 1 Spot. These Kats have a well-balanced squad who plays that team ball the proper way. No game is an easy game against them. They have arrived and are definitely in the mix.

Fresh off their Western Conference Finals showing, the Portland Trail Blazers have retooled their squad to give it another run. Their goal remains the same as all the top contenders in the Western Conference and that is Championship or bust. They have one of the best backcourts in the league in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Now it’s all about putting the right pieces together and making every game count.

Again, the Western Conference is so competitive that you cannot afford to sleep on any team on any given night. That being said, be on the lookout for the New Orleans Pelicans, the San Antonio Spurs, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks to ruffle up the pecking order and create their own havoc in the Western Conference.

Tune in Tuesday night October 22, 2019 and be part of one of the most interesting NBA Seasons.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About 2015 NBA CONFERENCES FINALS

2015 NBA CONFERENCES FINALS

The NBA’s version of the Final 4 is set to start and has it should be the 4 teams representing their respective Coasts happened to be the No. 1 and 2 seed in their Coasts as well. The NBA’s Cinderella Team The Atlanta Hawks has kept a firm and convincing grip all season and have not disappointed in doing so.

Now the question remains have The Hawks met their match in the 2nd seeded Cleveland Cavaliers? Lebron has The Cavs thinking they’re the Team who will be representing the EAST in this year NBA Finals. With a hungry Lebron James leading a starving Cavs Team the pressure now shifts onto Atlanta to complete yet another trial and prove to The Cavs why they were the No. 1 seed on the EASTSIDE. REAL TALK! Tune in Wednesday night May 20, 2015.

The WESTSIDE Playoff series have been nothing short of entertainment at its best. REAL TALK! The No. 1 seeded Team in the NBA throughout the entire season has been The Golden State Warriors. This Run and Gun Team can shoot you down offensively and break you down defensively. They ball on a different level from their opponents and judging by the play of this years newly crowned NBA’s MVP Stephen Curry this series vs the 2nd seeded Houston Rockets will definitely be a “LIVE ONE” to keep a close eye on considering James Harden being the runner up to Curry’s MVP trophy.

That alone is motivation for Harden and The Rockets to step their game up, especially after winning a hard earned series from The Clippers. With the momentum still running high for Houston, we can definitely anticipate a fast and up-tempo thrilling Western Conference Finals. REAL TALK! Tune In Tuesday night May 19, 2015.

Blaze