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 PLAYOFFS 2024”

NBA Playoffs 2024 (Sweet 16)

With another full 82-Games NBA Season now over and the NBA Play-In Tournament successfully completed, we are now officially ready for the NBA Playoffs 2024.

“King of The Court” and the No. 1 Seed in the entire league belong to the Boston Celtics (64-18). Them Boys balled hard the entire season looking motivated and focused from the jump. Their squad looks complete from top to bottom and battle ready for whatever the Playoff runs have in store for them. This could definitely be their year.

The No. 2 Seeded New York Knicks (50-32) impressed all year and battled their way through to earn their spot. With Julius Randle out of commission for the Playoffs, the Knicks still managed to bring a worthy team to the dance. The way they finished the regular season is proof enough to me that they are ready for what awaits them in the first round of the Playoffs.

The No. 3 Seeded Milwaukee Bucks (49-33) faught hard to hold on to their spot but are coming in wounded with their star player Giannis Antetokounmpo and other key players still battling injuries making them vulnerable in surviving the first round.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (48-34) hold the No. 4 Spot in the tough and improving Eastern Conference but for some reason peeps are sleeping on them. Them Boys over there have a chip on their shoulders and they are driven to prove to the naysayers out there that they belong in the Playoff run as well, so be on the lookout for them Boys.

The Orlando Magic the No. 5 Seed (47-35), the Indiana Pacers No. 6 Seed (47-35), the Philadelphia 76ers the No. 7 Seed (47-35) and the Miami Heat No. 8 Seed (46-36) all fought exceptionally hard to hold on to a spot in the Playoffs but that being said, they also could have been seeded much higher in the standing if it wasn’t for some unexpected injuries to key players throughout the season. Nevertheless, any one of these teams could steal the show on any given night so stay tuned in to a very intriguing first round of Playoff action.

The stronghold of the Western Conference continues again but there are new faces dominating the hierarchy this time around with two top teams with identical records. The Oklahoma City Thunder have captured the No. 1 Seed (57-25) over the Defending Champs the Denver Nuggets the No. 2 Seed (57-25) who are looking at a repeat run at the Championship. That won’t be easy with the Thunder squad looking prime and ready for the challenges ahead.

The Minnesota Timberwolves the No. 3 Seed (56-23) are the sleepers in this year’s Playoff run that peeps need to keep an extra eye on. Them Boys have a bonafide star in Anthony Edwards and a solid squad that could easily disrupt and outplay any of the Teams looking past them if they are not taken seriously.

The Los Angeles Clippers the No. 4 Seed (51-31) are coming in a little shaky with the uncertainty of Kawhi Leonard’s availability for the first round series, leaving the squad quite vulnerable. Nevertheless, the Clips still have enough firepower to hopefully stand up and hold it down until Kawhi is able to resume play with the team.

The Dallas Mavericks No. 5 Seed (50-32) are finally gelling with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving who have been playing in sync Basketball, complementing each other the way two superstars should do and peaking at the right time. They are battle tested and healthy and are ready to do damage in this year’s Playoff run.

The Phoenix Suns No. 6 Seed (49-33), the Los Angeles Lakers the No. 7 Seed (47-35) and the New Orleans Pelicans the No. 8 Seed (49-33) all have their work cut out for them if they have any plans to disrupt the new hierarchy developing in the Western Conference. These lowered seeded teams could definitely shake up their Playoffs standing if caught sleeping.

The game is changing and moving at a faster pace. This year’s Playoff runs are attention-grabbing from top to bottom so tune in and witness the outcome.

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 71st 2022 NBA All-Star Game”

This year, the 71st annual NBA All-Star Game will be hosted in Cleveland, Ohio at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday February 20, 2022.
Once again, the league is maintaining the Draft-Style format and the starters were chosen by the fans while the rest of the squad was selected by the media and their peers. That said the Western and returning leading vote-getter from the fans is Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, and the Eastern returning leading vote-getter from the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant will once again serve as Captains of their respective Conferences.

Representing the Western Conference “Team LeBron” Starters this year are:

-Lebron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Team Captain
-Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
-Demar Derozan (Chicago Bulls)
-Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

Reserves

-Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)
-Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
-Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers)
-James Harden (Philadelphia 76ers)
-Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)
-Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns)
-Fred Vanvleet (Toronto Raptors)

Coach Monty Williams (Phoenix Suns)

Representing the Eastern Conference “Team Durant” Starters this year:

-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
-Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
-Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
-Andrew Wiggins (Golden State Warriors)
-Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)

Reserves

-LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets)
-Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
-Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
-Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors)
-Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls)
-Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)
-Dejounte Murray (San Antonio Spurs)
-Karl Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Coach Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat)

“King of the Court” will be up for grabs once again come Sunday night February 20, 2022 on NBA TNT. Which Squad will claim “GAME” when the dust settles?

Tune in and enjoy all the festivities of the entire weekend starting February 18 to February 20, 2022.

Blaze

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

The NBA-Who’s On Top?

We are officially passed the midpoint mark for the season with 42 plus Games played to date and we have a new contender in the Phoenix Suns (35-9) holding down the No. 1 Spot by a very small margin over the Golden State Warriors (33-13). The Suns have been keeping their steady team play on point and on both ends of the court. A return trip to the NBA Finals is their soul mission and judging by the way they have been balling as of late they have the right nucleus and focus to reach their destination point at hand. However, the Warriors, the dark horse of the Western Conference are slowly but efficiently getting their squad back in order with Stephen Curry balling at an MVP level and Klay Thompson finally gracing the NBA court from his two season-ending injuries back to proving he’s still got “Game”. The Warriors are seriously back into the race but breathing down their necks are the surging Memphis Grizzlies (32-16) who have exceeded their expectation so far by balling extremely hard as a solid squad creating havoc throughout the league. Ja Morant is becoming a legitimate star in the league capable of pushing this team deep into the Playoffs. The Utah Jazz (30-16) has been on a steady  pace amongst the top tier in the league. They have a well-balance proven squad capable of grabbing that No. 1 Spot in the Western Conference, so overlooking them would not be a good idea. Surprisingly the Dallas Mavericks (26-20), the Denver Nuggets (23-21), the Los Angeles Lakers (23-23), the Los Angeles Clippers (23-24) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (22-23) have all fallen short as of late and are all struggling to survive within the Western Conference but, that being said the possibility of any of the bottom teams to move up is not unrealistic at this point in the season.

With the improvement of the Eastern Conference teams this year, holding on to the No. 1 Spot has been challenging with new faces emerging within the standings while familiar faces have been dropping out. As of today, the Brooklyn Nets (29-16) are holding on to the No. 1 Spot with a slight edge over the Chicago Bulls (28-16). Like quite a few teams throughout the season, The Nets have been hit with the Covid-19 protocol but still managed to maintain a respected record during their hardship. When healthy, this team is a serious problem to the entire league. That said the surging Bulls have made a point to not being counted out but taken seriously by all competitors. This squad has a strong nucleus that play both ends of the floor night in and night out. They have the goods to upset quite a few teams this time around come Playoff time. The Miami Heat (29-17) has been fighting through injuries to their key players but have managed to maintain a respectable record while still being competitive night in and night out. Once healthy this will create havoc on their way to the Playoffs. The Defending Champions Milwaukee Bucks (30-19) have looked vulnerable throughout the season so far due to injuries to key players as well but with Giannis Antetokounmpo still balling at an MVP level and with their squad at full capability, the Bucks will find their way back to defending their Championship. The Cleveland Cavaliers (27-19) have taken the league by storm this year with a very impressive record to date. This young core has gelled well and silently created a squad worthy of a Playoff berth if they can keep it up and maintain a hold of their ranking. The Philadelphia 76ers (26-19) are still in the mix but struggling to hold on. With the Ben Simmons situation still unresolved, the team play has visibly struggled at times but with a healthy Joel Embiid and a focussed squad, the 76ers still have enough juice to make some noise come Playoff time. The Charlotte Hornets (26-20) are a work in progress but definitely bubbling and can unquestionably put on a good show when the whole squad is focussed. If the Hornets can keep it together down the stretch, a Playoff spot is on their horizon. As for the Toronto Raptors (22-21), the Washington Wizards (23-23), the Boston Celtics (23-24), the New York Knicks (22-24), their records don’t do them justice. These remaining struggling teams have enough fire power to turn things around in the second half of the season. The question remains which team will dig deep enough to make that reality.

So much uncertainty in both conferences is making it that much more interesting. Keep locked in to see the final stretch to the NBA’S version of the “Sweet 16” aka the Playoffs.

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 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS”

2021 NBA Western Conference Finals

The NBA’s version of the Final 4 is set to start this Sunday night June 20, 2021 in the Western Conference, with two new contenders in the No. 2 Seeded Phoenix Suns and the 4th Seeded Los Angeles Clippers. Both teams have dealt with adversaries on their way to the Conference Finals. Exceptional team play, good coaching and the rise of their star players stepping it up, have all contributed to them reaching this pivotal point on the road to the NBA Finals. That being said, injuries have played a big part in this year’s Playoff run and neither team were exempted.

With Phoenix having been well rested for a week, the Suns will have the edge come game time, unlike the Clippers who had to battle through a tight game 5 and 6 without one of their star players in Kawhi Leonard due to a sprained knee. With the uncertainty of Kawhi’s availability, the battle tested Clippers will have to enter their first Western Conference Finals with a tough challenge ahead of them. Like the saying goes, “the next man up” will have to hold it down and step up to the plate if they plan on defeating this hot and blazing Phoenix Suns team who may have just the right amount of fire power to cool the Clippers off, especially if they are coming in one all-star player short.

Tune in this Sunday night June 20, 2021 and witness the Western Conference shootout under the hot blazing lights!

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 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 – The Restart “

Due to the Covid-19 epidemic that’s been affecting the World as of late, the NBA was forced to lean back for a few months to now finally being able to get the green light as per the NBA’s Board of Governors, to officially resume play this Thursday July 30, 2020 and conclude August 14, 2020.

A lot has changed since the last NBA Game in March 2020. To stop the spread of Covid-19, games will be played inside a quarantine-safe site without fans at Orlando, Florida’s Walt Disney World aka “the Bubble”.

A total of 22 teams will be in Orlando Florida. The 16 teams currently in the Playoff position and six teams within six games of the No. 8 seed, in either conference.

Eastern Conference

1-Milwaukee Bucks (53-12)
2-Toronto Raptors (46-18)
3-Boston Celtics (43-21)
4-Miami Heat (41-24)
5-Indiana Pacers (39-26)
6-Philadelphia 76ers (39-26)
7-Brooklyn Nets (30-34)
8-Orlando Magic (30-35)
9-Washington Wizards (24-40)

Western Conference

1-Los Angeles Lakers (49-14)
2-Los Angeles Clippers (44-20)
3-Denver Nuggets (43-22)
4-Utah Jazz (41-23)
5-Oklahoma City Thunder (40-24)
6-Houston Rockets (40-24)
7-Dallas Mavericks (40-27)
8-Memphis Grizzlies (32-33)
9-Portland Trail Blazers (29-37)
10-New Orleans Pelicans (28-36)
11-Sacramento Kings (28-36)
12-San Antonio Spurs (27-36)
13-Phoenix Suns (26-39)

The eight seeding games will continue each day through August 14, 2020 to determine Playoff positioning. The postseason will follow the traditional format with the best-of-seven-game series all the way through the NBA Finals.

The stakes have gone up for the remainder of the 2019/2020 NBA Season. The challenges of having to deal with the high risk of Covid-19 and staying and playing out the rest of the NBA Season in one location is going to be quite the experiment to say the least but one I am very curious to see the outcome of.

Tune in on TNT Thursday night July 30, 2020 and be part of the “Restart” of the second half of the NBA Season 2019/2020.

Blaze