Week 10

Guys im sorry about this weekends posts. My Computer crashed so thats why i havent posted anything in the last few days. Once i get it back up & running ill be posting as usual. Thanks for your patience.

-Fraz

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The Polarized Conference

    What do we know so far out in the East? The Heat arent unstoppable ,the Celtics are looking "younger" than ever and Cleveland isnt missing Lebron. Who would have thought that The Cavs , at 4-3 , have just as many losses as the Miami Heat? The Division leaders are starting to make their move though. Boston (6-2) leads the Atlantic Division, Cleveland (4-3) still reigns supreme in the Central Division , & Orlando (6-1) lead the competitive Southeast Division. But , as always, there is a big gap between the top tier Eastern Conference teams and the rest. Of the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference , 8 of them have losing records. The top teams are just salivating to prey on the bottom feeders of the conference.But there are some big games over the next 3 days that will definitely be exciting to watch.

Wednesday November 10

Utah Jazz(4-3) @ Orlando Magic(6-1)

Utah is fresh off of an overtime win vs the Miami Heat the Jazz look like they may finally make some noise in the West. The Magic have been rolling ever since their loss at the hands of the Heat. There is one big problem for Orlando. All Star point guard Jameer Nelson is out. Though this is bad on the offensive end of the floor it is good on the defensive end. Chris Duhon is a much better defender than Nelson & he will matchup alot better with the Deron Williams. The Jazz also have a small problem. Al Jefferson isnt playing all that well. Dont expect him to play any better tonight either going up against Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard has transformed his game into , if consistent, something that could be un-checkable by most NBA big men. So will the Jazz keep riding this emotional high & roll by Orlando on the way to Atlanta or will the Magic , and its lockdown defense, continue to make a case as the best team in the East?

Utah Jazz (4-3)

104.3 Points Per Game (7th in the NBA)

42.7 Rebounds Per Game (9th in the NBA)

24.4 Assists Per Game (3rd in the NBA)

104.7 Points Allowed Per Game (24th in the NBA)

Team Leaders

Points : Paul Milsap 24.0 ppg

Rebounds : Paul Milsap 10.9 rpg

Assists : Deron Williams 9.7 apg

Steals : Paul Milsap 1.1 spg

Blocks : Al Jefferson 1.4 bpg

Key Bench Player

C.J. Miles 10.0 ppg 2.9 rpg 1.6 apg 1.1 spg 

Orlando Magic (6-1)

99.8 Points Per Game (17th in the NBA)

46.5 Rebounds Per Game (2nd in the NBA)

17.7 Assists Per Game (27th in the NBA)

88.7 Points Allowed Per Game (1st in the NBA)

Team Leaders
Points: Dwight Howard 23.2 ppg

Rebounds: Dwight Howard 11.3 rpg

Assists: Jameer Nelson 5.5 (inactive)

Steals: Dwight Howard 1.2 spg

Blocks: Dwight Howard 2.7 bpg

Key Bench Player

Brandon Bass 8.0 ppg 6.0 rpg 1.3 apg

Prediction

The Jazz are fresh off an emotional overtime win vs the Miami Heat. Milsap had a career game & was a huge lift to his team despite the absense of Deron Williams. The Jazz , after being down by more than 20, conrtolled most of the second half. The were able to attack the inside & expose Miamis obvious weakness, defense in the paint. That is however the strength of the Magic. Dwight Howard patrols the paint & is playing like an MVP. The Jazz will have to play a very different game to have a chance in this one. This will be a tough game and i expect there to be alot of fouls called. But i think the Magic prevail in this one. The Magic are playing too well right now & the Jazz are on the back end of a back to back.

Utah Jazz 94

Orlando Magic 99

Thursday November 11

Boston Celtics(6-2) @ Miami Heat(5-3)

Time for round 2.This is the second meeting between these two teams this season. The first game, on opening night, went in favor of the Celtics. The Heat havent seemed to get it all together & chemistry seems to be a problem. In their first game, it was the Lebron show. He had 31 points , 4 rebounds & 3 assists. Wade & Bosh ad a combined  21 points , 12 rebounds & 12 assists. If the Heat want to win this one, Bosh and Wade have to show up big. Boston is playing like they want another shot at a championship. Kevin Garnett has stepped up his level of play since he has gotten healthy. He may be the X-factor this game. If Milsap can expose the Heats lack luster defense , just imagine what KG can do. Jermaine O'Neal , Glen Davis & Shaq should be give this Heat team a headache too. So can the Heat redeem themselves & avoid falling in the Divisional standings or will the Celtics prevail once again?

Boston Celtics (6-2)

97.9 Points Per Game (22nd in the NBA)

40.8 Rebounds Per Game (22nd in the NBA)

26.5 Assists Per Game (1st in the NBA)

92.6 Points Allowed Per Game (6th in the NBA)

Team Leaders

Points: Paul Pierce 19.6 ppg

Rebounds: Kevin Garnett 10.6 rpg

Assists: Rajon Rondo 14.8 apg

Steals: Rajon Rondo 3.1 spg

Blocks: Jermaine O'Neal 1.7 bpg

Key Bench Player

Glen Davis 12.3 ppg 4.5 rpg 1.0 spg

Miami Heat (5-3)

101.4 Points Per Game (14th in the NBA)

42.5 Rebounds Per Game (13th in the NBA)

20.8 Assists Per Game (16th in the NBA)

90.1 Points Allowed Per Game (2nd in the NBA)

Team Leaders

Points: Dwyane Wade 26.0 ppg

Rebounds: Udonis Haslem 8.3 rpg

Assists: Lebron James 8.6 apg

Steals: Lebron James 1.6 spg

Blocks: Joel Anthony 1.4 bpg

Key Bench Player

James Jones 10.4 ppg 2.1 rpg 

Prediction

I see this game being alot different than the first meeting. Im picking the Celtics. Now this is why i think it will be alot different. The Heats paint defense has been exposed. The Celtics have 4 quality big men to rotate in & out to put constant pressure on the Heat bigs. They have the length to defend the perimeter also. Rondo should have a field day with Carlos Arroyo, though he has stepped up his play since being inserted in the starting lineup. Bostons bench is also going to give the Heat a problem. Marquis Daniels is finally playing like he did in Dallas again. Expect him to play a key role in defending Lebron. I expect Lebron & Wade to have big games, but i dont think the rest of their team has it in them after an overtime loss.

Boston 108

Miami 94

Here are my picks for the rest of the week:

Wednesday November 10

Milwaukee (3-5) 89

Atlanta (6-2) 88

Atlanta is hurting with Marvin Williams out. Look for the Bucks big men to take it to Horford & Collins all night. I think Jennings wants to silence the echoes from their performance in last seasons playoffs. Its going to be a close one

Houston (1-5) 92

Washington (1-4) 99

With Arron Brooks out & Yao Ming still on his minutes per game restriction , expect John Wall & Agent Zero to put on a show for the home crowd.

Charlotte (1-6)

Toronto (1-6)

I really dont know. I want to say the Bobcats but they havent showed up this season either. 

New Jersey (2-5) 89

Cleveland (4-3) 93

Byron Scott has the Cavs playing better than expected. Their defense is great & J.J. Hickson is making a name for himself. I like the Cavs in this one but not by much.

Golden State (5-2) 121

New York (3-4) 117

This game will be all about offense. The Warriors can fill it up from anywhere on the court. Look for David Lee play big against his former team.

Thursday November 11

Golden State (5-2) 113

Chicago (3-3) 119

I think Golden State will feel the effects of a back to back in this one. The Bulls get the win.

Friday November 12

Utah (4-3) 106

Atlanta (6-2) 110

The Jazz have a tough road home. The Heat Magic  & Hawks. I think the Hawks take this one.

Houston (1-5) 98

Indiana (3-3) 110

Indiana has shown that they can score in bunches. Dont expect them to go 22of 23 from field in the 3rd again but expect them to get the win.

Charlotte (1-6) 104

Washington (1-4) 103

I think it will be a close one. Two  athletic teams going head to head. I think the lack of experience on the Wizards will be the difference in this one.

Toronto (1-6) 84

Orlando (6-1) 108

I dont expect the Raptors to lead in this game at all. 

Well, those are my picks for the rest of the week. Once again i want to thank all of you that loyally read Endzone Jumper every week. We greatly appreciate it. Continue to tell your friends about us. As always, comments are more than welcomed. 

                                                                                                                    -Fraz

iBall

What do we have so far in the West? A 7-0 Lakers team and Kobe isnt even the league scoring leader! The Hornets continue their dominance at 6-0, lead by Chris Paul and David West. Heres a fun stat for you, the top six scoring leaders are in the Western Conference. (Ellis, Durant, Gay, Anthony, Nowitzki, Gasol) The power rankings have also dropped, with 6 out of the top ten teams being in the West. What does this establish? The West still maintains a lot of dominance in the NBA. With this season moving rapidly and players starting to establish themselves, lets see what games are in store for this week...

Dallas Mavericks @ Memphis Grizzlies

Wednesday 8:00 PM

Preview: The Mavericks are 4-2 (2-0 away) Their last game was a last second shot for the win by Nowitzki over the Celtics 89-87. The Grizzlies are 4-4 (2-1 home) Their last game was a win over the Suns 109-99.

The Mavericks are looking decent this season, especially on the defensive end, only allowing 91.8 ppg (4th in NBA). They have posted wins over teams as solid as the Nuggets, and more recently the Celtics, where Dirk Nowitzki hit a last second jumper to win the game. The Grizzlies are still trying to find their identity as a defensive team, allowing 106.3 ppg (25th in NBA) We know this team can put up the points (105.6 ppg, 5th in NBA) and are very solid in the rebound game with 42.3 per game.

KEY MATCH-UPS:

PF Dirk Nowitzki vs PF Zach Randolph

Offensively, both of these guys know how to score. Yesterday vs the Suns, Randolph put up 23 points, and better than that, he grabbed 20 boards off of the glass. He is averaging a double double this season with 14.8 ppg and 11.5 rebounds per game. On the other side, Nowitzki is putting up the points and is in the top five scoring leaders race with 25.7 ppg. He hasn't been going crazy from behind the three point line yet though, only four threes total and hes only made one....

SG Jason Terry vs SG OJ Mayo

Both of these guys know how to score. Terry is averaging 18.8 ppg and Mayo averages 17.8 per game. Both players really favor each other in playing styles, very smooth game play with the ability to pull up and shoot from anywhere on the floor. Both are very agile when they move the court, and can command a double team if they catch fire...

FINAL NOTES:

Can the Grizzlies shape up that defense before going up against a Dallas team that can really put up some points? They have the offensive firepower to really get it going, this could be a game based on who can score more, although this Mavericks defense has the ability to stifle this Grizzlies offense. Also, this game will be determined on the boards, and both teams are neck and neck in that category.(Mavs ranked 10th in NBA with 42.7 rpg; Grizzlies ranked 13th in NBA with 42.3) rpg) But at this point, the team that looks more polished all around will win this one

Dallas 98

Grizzlies 94

LA Lakers @ Denver Nuggets

Thursday 10:30 PM

Preview: The Lakers are 7-0 (2-0 away) Last game they worked the Trailblazers, winning 121-96. The Nuggets are 4-3 (2-1 home) On Monday the Nuggets couldn't pull out a win versus the Bulls, losing 94-92...

The Lakers are just plain hot. Thats to be expected from a championship team that features Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, and Lamar Odom. Who would have thought Kobe would come second to Gasol? Well so far this season he has. Gasol has outscored Kobe 24.1 to 22.2 ppg this year. The Lakers also rank 1st in points per game (114.3) 2nd in rebounds per game (46.3) and 3rd in assists per game (24). The Nuggets are pretty sub-par this year. No big stats coming from these guys, but they do shut teams down on the defensive end, only allowing 96.4 ppg (8th in NFL). The Nuggets are beating the tough teams, they've split the series with the Mavs so far and opened up excellently versus a tough team in the Utah Jazz.

KEY MATCHUPS

SF Carmelo Anthony vs SF Ron Artest

If you want to set up a defensive team, you would definitely want to have Artest at Small Forward. But as of late he has been stepping up his 3pt shooting, nailing three in the Lakers win over the Kings, and this season he is shooting 39% from behind the arc. We all know what Melo brings to the table. Since playing in the NBA, he has averaged 24.7 ppg and this season his average is 25.7 and he is top five in the NBA in scoring. He is very versatile, does command a double team as a slasher as well as someone who can pull up and shoot from just about anywhere.

PG Derek Fisher vs PG Chauncey Billups

Derek Fisher has been a dependable gaurd in his career for the Lakers. He always seems to lock his man down and come through in the clutch. This season has been no different. He is playing his part, and is definitely hitting from outside, shooting 66% from deep. But his matchup is no slouch from downtown either. In fact, Chauncey Billups is known for his ability to shoot threes and perform when the game is on the line. Billups is actually having more output than Fisher this season. Lets take a look:

Chauncey Billups

15.3 ppg

4.6 apg

1.6 spg

Derek Fisher

9.9 ppg

2.4 apg

1.3 spg

FINAL NOTES

The key to this game will be who will get more solid bench production. I see a better and deeper bench coming from the Nuggets, who have Al Harrington, Ty Lawson, and JR Smith coming in to back up the starters vs Steve Blake, Shannon Brown, and Matt Barnes for the Lakers. Also, this game can be shaped by Pau Gasol. If he can get into a rhythm early vs the young Shelden Williams, it will tough to try to contain him late in the game. He may require a double team and that will definitely free up Kobe Bryant to do, well, all the things that Kobe Bryant does. This will be an exciting game...

UPSET ALERT!

Nuggets 110

Lakers 107

Heres the rest of the games for the next 3 days:

Tuesday Night

New Orleans Hornets vs LA Clippers

The Hornets are undefeated this year, and with Chris Paul commanding the team in perfect form so far, look for him to control this one with the added help of David West and Marco Belinelli....

Hornets 98

Clippers 80

Detroit Pistons @ Portland Trailblazers

The Pistons are struggling. They really dont have a solid big man so they dont average a lot of boards. Meanwhile, Marcus Camby happens to be wreaking havoc down low averaging 3 blocks per game. The Trailblazers as a whole have been playing some really great defense and solid offense which has lead them to a 5-3 record....

Trailblazers 92

Pistons 79

Minnesota Timberwolves @ LA Lakers

The Lakers are undefeated coming into this one, and a loss here is highly unlikely. Player skill surpasses that of the Wolves, who have mustered up just one win so far this season

Lakers 111

Timberwolves 87

Philadelphia 76ers @ Oklahoma City Thunder

This game may actually be a little closer than it seems. The Sixers are what i like to call a strong 2-5. Elton Brand is really playing some great ball (18.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and Evan Turner continues to be mature and solid as a rookie playing the SG position. But in the end the Thunder are still a more well rounded team, and they have this player named Kevin Durant on their side...

Thunder 105

76ers 98

LA Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs

We like what the Spurs have going here. They have kind of been playing with a chip on their shoulders. The old guys are getting it done tho, and the tandem of Duncan/Genobli/Parker may be the big three of the West....just sayin...

Spurs 99

Clippers 87

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Sacremento Kings

The Kings are 3-3, and not apart of the 1 win crew. Tyreke Evans is looking good this year he is top ten in scorers this year...

Kings 95

Timberwolves 90

Key match-ups this week as teams scrounge for a victory. The divisions already have some clear cut leaders and teams are going to want to tighten those gaps....Lets see how this week turns out, and check back with us in 3 days for the next slate of games on the Endzone Jumper...

Back to get some "Get Back" ?

The Orlando Magic went 8-0 through the first two rounds of the playoffs last season. The Charlotte Bobcats & the Atlanta Hawks were dismantled by them. But this is a new season. The Hawks are out to a great start , leading the Southeast division at 6-1. The Magic , since their beatdown at the hands of the Heat, have been playing great as well. So who wins tonight when these two meet up at the new Amway Arena?

Atlanta Hawks (6-1) @ Orlando Magic (4-1)

Atlanta Hawks (6-1)

106.1 ppg (5th in the NBA)

42.0 rpg (15th in the NBA)

24.3 apg (3rd in the NBA)

99.1 Points Allowed Per Game (11th in the NBA)

Team Leaders

Points: Joe Johnson 20.4 ppg

Rebounds: Al Horford 10.4 rpg

Assists: Joe Johnson 5.7 apg

Steals: Josh Smith 1.4 spg

Blocks: Josh Smith 3.7 bpg

Key Bench Player

Jamal Crawford 16.0 ppg 2.8 apg 1.8 rpg

Orlando Magic (4-1)

101.2 ppg (14th in the NBA)

47.2 rpg (2nd in the NBA)

18.0 apg (26th in the NBA)

88.6 Points Allowed Per Game (2nd in the NBA)

Team Leaders

Points: Dwight Howard 22.4 ppg

Rebounds: Dwight Howard 11.4 rpg

Assists: Jameer Nelson 5.5 apg

Steals: Dwight Howard 1.2 spg

Blocks: Dwight Howard 3.0 bpg

Key Bench Player

Ryan Anderson 9.3 ppg 4.3 rpg 1.0 bpg

Prediction

Last season in the four regular season games between these two teams Dwight Howard averaged 21 points 17 rebounds 3 assists 1 steal & 4 blocks. Absolute dominance. Another thing that bodes well for the Magic is Ryan Anderson. Last season he played , arguably , his best basketball against Atlanta. In their four meetings last year he averaged 12 points & 4 rebounds off the bench. The Hawks are a much different team this year though. With Marvin Williams out they will start Josh Smith at the small forward spot. This is a big mismatch verses the traditional Magic line up. I wouldnt be Surprised if Stan Van Gundy opted for going with his Big rotation. That would drop Lewis to SF and insert Bass at PF. Joe Johnson has been playing great and , as always, Jamal Crawford is been a big spark off the bench. With the absense of Williams they both will have to step it up. Jason Collins will have the responsibility of guarding Dwight tonight. Horford & Smith will obviously have to help him. If Dwight can begin the game by attacking the paint , the rest of the team will catch fire. The Hawks depth will be tested again tonight.The Hawks suffered their first loss of the season to Phoenix on Sunday. I expect them to get their second tonight in Orlando. 

Atlanta 93

Orlando 109

Here are my picks for the rest of the night:

Golden State(4-2) 122

Toronto (1-5) 102

At times Golden State's defense is suspect but their offense is one of the NBA's best. Add some lack luster defense from the Raptors and you can go ahead & pencil in a win for the Warriors. 

San Antonio (4-1) 95

Charlotte (1-5) 98

Dont ask me why i think the Bobcats can pull the early season upset off. They have the ability & i like the way Steven Jackson & Gerald Wallace matchup with the Spurs. It will be close but im taking the home team.

Denver (4-2) 98

Chicago (2-3) 103

With Carmelo on your team you always have a chance in a game. However the Nugget frontline is banged up & the Bulls front line is playing with alot of energy & intensity. Look for Noah & Gibson to assert themselves on the inside early to get Nene into foul trouble. In the end i think The bigs of Chicago will decide this game.

  -Fraz         

A Slow Sunday in the East

This Sunday really doesnt provide any exciting matchups in the Eastern Conference. Ill Just do a qick rundown of the games & give you my predictions.

Philadelphia 76ers (1-5) 103
New York Knicks (3-2) 116

The Knicks have been scoring in bunches the last few games. I dont see this Philly squad to be able to contain this Knicks team.

Phoenix Suns (2-3) 104
Atlanta Hawks (6-0) 114

This Suns team is still finding its new identity now that Amare is in New York. The Hawks on the other hand are out to prove alot of critics wrong. They still havent lost a game & i dont see them losing to the Suns. Look sor Josh Howard , Marvin Williams , Al Horford & Zaza Pachulia to come up big in this one. The Suns have no answer for those guys inside.

Golden State Warriors (4-1) 118
Detroit Pistons (1-5) 99

The Pistons are fighting to stay relevant & the Warriors are fighting to become relevant. The Warroirs defense has never been a fear of opposing team but their offense is. The Warriors can score from every position on the floor. Too much for the Pistons at this point in the season.

Brief like i promised. Get ready for next week because we have some very exciting matchups coming up. Enjoy your Sunday everyone.

                                                                                                             -Fraz

New Faces , Old Rivalry

While there are a few good games in the East tonight there is one that stands alone

Chicago Bulls (2-2) @ Boston Celtics (4-1)

Everyone remembers the infamous foul Rajon Rondo commited on Brad Miller. It was the slap heard around the NBA. That series was , by most NBA standards, the best of the entire playoffs. The Baby Bulls fought the  NBA Champs till the final second. In the 7 games, 4 of them went to overtime & one went to triple overtime. But this is a new season & this Bulls team is alot different. The Celtics have kept the same team for the most part but , unlike their series in 2009, they have a healthy Kevin Garnett. Lets take a look at this exciting matchup position by position then ill give you my prediction.

Point Guard

This is a head to head matchup of two of the NBA's best young point guards. Rose is a dazzling scorer while Rondo seems to have nearly every assist. It will be fun to watch these two go head to head.

In 7 regular season career matchups numbers look like this:

Rajon Rondo 4-3

11.6 ppg 10.6 apg 1.7 spg 4.9 rpg .455 FG %

Derrick Rose 3-4

18.3 ppg 4.3 apg 0.3 spg 3.6 rpg .500 FG %

This season, both guards have taken their respective games to another level. Rondo is averaging nearly 16 assists per game this year while Rose is scoring close to 30 per contest.

Advantage None

Shooting Guard

Keith Bogans & Ray Allen have met up a total of 16 times in their NBA careers. The stats dont tell that great of a story when it comes to victories though

Keith Bogans 7-9

4.3 ppg 1 apg 2.5 rpg .6 spg .347 FG %

Ray Allen 9-7

19.2 ppg 3.0 apg 3.6 rpg 1.0 spg  .420 FG %

Keith Bogans has always been a decent defender. He will have to play well tonight or Ray Allen could have a bigger night than he usually does verses Bogans. I dont expect Bogans to shut him down by any means but i do think he will pester him tonight.

Advantage Allen

Small Forward

Luol Deng & Paul Pierce are actually similar players as far as skill set goes. They are both play each other well and have nearly split their 21 career matchups. 

Paul Pierce 10-11

19.7 ppg 4.4 apg 6.3 rpg 1.3 spg .427 FG%

Luol Deng 11-10

13.9 ppg 3.0 apg 5.7 rpg 1.1 spg .434 FG%

I think this matchup will be fun to watch. Pierce is in the best shap he has been in in the last 5 years & it is showing in his play. Deng seems to have finally shaken the injury bug and has been playing great basketball this season. this is a matchup to watch closely

Advantage None

Power Forward

Taj Gibson has only been in the NBA for a year but he has quickly adjusted to this level of play. He has only faced Kevin Garnett 3 times but he has played rather well even though they lost two of those games

Kevin Garnett 2-1

14.0 ppg 7.7 rpg 2.0 apg 1.0 spg .545 FG%

Taj Gibson 1-2

8.0 ppg 5.7 rpg 1.3 apg 1.0 spg .450 FG %

Taj is playing great this year in the absence of Carlos Boozer. That Being said he will have to stay committed on defense if he wants to have any chance against KG.Look for KG to play on Gibsons youth in this matchup

Advantage Garnett

Center

Joakim Noah isthe heart & soul of this Bulls team. His fearless attitude fuels them on the defensive end of the ball. Last year he showed that is is anything but afraid of Shaquille O'Neal. In four career regular season meetings with the O'Neal , Noah has a 3-1 record.

Joakim Noah 3-1

5.3 ppg 9.3 rpg 1.8 apg 1.0 spg .368 FG%

Shaquille O'Neal 1-3

16.0 ppg 8.8 rpg 1.5 apg 0 spg .581 FG%

Shaqs numbers look good but anyone who has played Noah knows that his strengths dont register on the stat sheet. I think his energy is going to be the biggest factor in this matchup.

Advantage Noah

Bench

The Bulls bench is hurting. With the injury to Carlos Boozer they have to start their best bench player , Taj Gibson. The Celtics however have one of the best benches in the NBA. Robinson & Davis in particular provide energy & toughness off the bench that cant be matched on the Bulls side of the ball at this point.

Advantage Celtics

Prediction

The Celtics are hot right now & the Bulls are on the second game of a back to back. Ill take the Celtics in this one, even though i would love to see the Bulls get a win.

Celtics 98

Bulls 95

Here are the rest of my picks for Friday night

Milwaukee (1-4) 103

Indiana (2-2) 94

That 110+ performance at San Antonio doesnt seem like a fluke now. The Pacers also have a few advantages as far a size goes as well. But i dont see the Bucks losing this game since they are already dropping to the bottom of their division already.

New Jersey (2-2) 85

Orlando (2-1) 103

New Jersey is not a bad team but since Orlando lost to Miami last Friday they seem to be playing angry. I am however excited to see how Terrance Williams does. He may be the only bright spot for the Nets tonight.

Cleveland 100 (1-3)

Philadelphia 94 (1-4)

J.J. Hickson apparently ate his Wheaties all summer long. He has been playing great since their first game of the season. Look for Iggy to exploit Moons offense this game too. Clevelands commitment to defense will be the key to this game.

Charlotte (1-3) 96

Detroit (0-5) 93

This game is going to be interesting. Neither team has alot of size but they do play with alot of physicality. This might be the closest game of the night.

Washington (1-2) 107

New York (2-2)115 

This is exactly where each teams star likes to be : the Spotlight. John Wall had an amazing home opener for the Wizards so you can imagine that he is more that ready for the bright lights of MSG. Amare on the other hand is the leader of this Knicks team that seems to score at will. I think this game will basically be decided when one of them starts missing shots. Its going to be a shootout.

Those are my picks for this Friday night. Hope Everyone enjoys the games. Thanks for the continued support.

                                                                                                                      -Fraz

Week 9 : Who is Legit & Who is Pretending

Week 9 is upon us. The playoff picture , however, is still a tad bit foggy. The Giants (5-2) , Packers (5-3) , Falcons (5-2) , Seahawks (4-3) , Patriots (6-1) , Ravens (5-2) , Colts (5-2) , and Chiefs (5-2) all lead their divisions but none of them are safe. Every division has at least two teams with a winning percentage of .500 or better. Great divisional play is going to be key in making the playoffs this year in the NFL. Enough of this, lets take a look at this weekends games.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) @ Atlanta Falcons (5-2)

This is a huge divisional game. 

With the Saints finally getting over their Superbowl hangover this division is one of the most exciting in the NFL. The Bucs find a way to win week in & week out. Last week it looks like they may have found a new running back too. LeGarrette Blount, best known for a punch thrown at the end of a game at Boise State last season, rushed for 120 yards on 22 carries plus two scores on the ground. If the Buccaneers can get consistent play from Blount, who has the potential to be great, Josh Freeman will be an even bigger problem. While he is a highly mobile QB , Freeman whats to beat defenses with his arm rather than his legs. He has completed 60% of his passes and nearly has a 3 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio. Their defense is showing flashes of greatness as well. They have racked up 14 interceptions through 7 games & they make you pay when they do, taking 3 of them back for scores.what makes this team even scarier is their youth. They are one of the youngest teams in the NFL.

Offense

Passing 216.9 (18th in the NFL)

Rushing 104.9 (18th in the NFL)

Defense

Passing 210.4 (13th in the NFL)

Rushing 149.4 (30th in the NFL)

The Falcons on the other hand have been toying with being a great team the last two seasons. This year they seem to have gotten it together. Matty Ice is playing as good as he did his breakout rookie season. He is completing nearly 62% of his passes and has thrown 12 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions. Micheal Turner isnt scoring as much as he did last year but he is running well at 83.9 yards per game. However, the big story on offense is Roddy White. In 7 games this season he has accumulated 54 receptions 747 yards and 5 scores. Tony Gonzalez is still showing that he is an elite NFL TE grabbing 3 touchdowns along with 29 receptions. The Atlanta defense is the only thing that isnt so great this season. Dont get me wrong they are a good defense but they give up too many big plays. Last week their sloppy play nearly cost them the game against Cincinnati.

Offense

Passing 233.4 ypg (11th in the NFL)

Rushing 137.5 ypg (4th in the NFL)

Defense

Passing 260.3 ypg (27th in the NFL)

Rushing 95.5 ypg (6th in the NFL)

This game will be a fight. I dont see this being a high scoring affair either. I want to say the Buccaneers will win this one, I really do, but the Falcons are a more complete team right now. The Bucs lack of a pass rush will cost them this game.

Tampa Bay 17

Atlanta 21

Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) @ Oakland Raiders (4-4)

In a division that has been ruled by the Chargers the last few years there seems to have been a shift in the balance of power in the AFC West. The Chiefs are a surprising 5-2 and lead the division. Even more surprising , the Raiders are 4-4 & second in the division. This game will give one team the upper hand as far as divisional wins go.

Kansas City is a scary team. They have the number one rushing attack in the NFL averaging close to 200 yards per game. Thomas Jones & Jamaal Charles are , for all intents & purposes, the best back field tandem in the NFL. Matt Cassel is finally living up to the hype that surrounded him when he came to KC from New England. The running game has helped him in a major way. Dwayne Bowe is finally catching passes ,Chris Chambers is staying consistent,  rookie Dexter Mcluster is playing well & Tony Moeki is showing signs of greatness. On the other side of the ball, rookie Eric Berry is coming into his own right before our eyes. Brandon Flowers is as good of a corner as you will find in the league. His ability to play an opposing teams number one threat allows this defense to play loose & get to the ball. Their defensive line is definitely full of potential but they rely on their arsenal of capable linebackers.

Offense

Passing 197.5 ypg (20th in the NFL)

Rushing 168.5 (2nd in the NFL)

Defense

Passing 182.9 (5th in the NFL)

Rushing 127.4 (26th in the NFL)

Who would have predicted that the Raiders would be relevant in week 9? Lets be honest, they have found ways to underachieve for most of this decade. Jason Campbell & Bruce Gradkowski have quarterbacked this team by commitee and , to this point, have done a good job. We all knew that the Raiders offense had talent but now they are finally getting results. Their running game is second only to the Chiefs. Darren McFadden & Michael Bush  make for a scary backfield. McFadden is , by per game average, the leading rusher in the NFL. Michael Bushs return will help spell McFadden though Bush was originally the starter.Tight end Zach Miller is having a career year averaging nearly 14 yards per reception along with 4 touchdowns. Their receivers can all burn a secondary. The defense is a classic Raiders defense. Ballhawks & head hunters. Tyvon Branch & Michael Huff could both end up as 2 of the best safeties in the NFL eventually.

Offense

Passing 164.4 (32nd in the NFL)

Rushing 190.4 (1st in the NFL)

Defense

Passing 236.3 (23rd in the NFL)

Rushing 96.4 (7th in the NFL)

This game will boil down to Matt Cassels performance. This is the best pass defense he has faced since week one. While the Raiders only have 1 interception on the season they do have 24 sacks. If Cassel can withstand the pressure in the pocket he will find open targets. Dwayne Bowe & Chris Chambers are big body receivers that can hurt this secondary if they get open.The Raiders secondary is a little shaky now. Tyvon Branch is a VERY capable safety but Asomugha & Huff are a little banged up. I think Cassel may look to Dexter Mccluster Tony Moeki vs Huff to take advantage of that. With the Raiders defense giving up 126 yrds per game on the ground the Chiefs run game should have a great afternoon & Cassel will be asked to just not make mistakes. Ill take the Chiefs in this one.

Kansas City 34

Oakland 24

Here are the rest of my picks for the weekend

New Orleans Saints (5-3) @ Carolina Panthers (1-6)

Im going to have to pick the Saints. Not that the Panthers had a chance. This team is officially rebuilding. Drew Brees should get back into a good rhythm with his receivers this game too. The only positive for Carolina i can think of is Johnathan Stewart. He should have a good afternoon.

New Orleans 37

Carolina 13

New York Giants (5-2) @ Seattle Seahawks (4-3)

The Seahawks have ben playing great football. But with their QB out for this game i dont see them surviving this matchup. This Giants defense is vicious. Their pass rush is one of the best in the NFL & they lead the league in QB K.O.s too. Im going to say the Giants D comes up with a T.D. in this one.This will be a long afternoon for the Seahawks. 

New York 34

Seattle 13

San Diego Chargers (3-5) @ Houston Texans (4-3)

These teams are headed in two totally different directions. The Chargers are finally getting into a groove while the Texans are finding ways to loose. Even though the Texans have one of the worst defenses in the NFL, i think this game will be close. I think the Chargers have the right combo on defense to slow down Arian Foster.

San Diego 26

Houston 24

Hopefully i made up for my slacking last weekend. I love to hear your feedback. Till Next Week. Peace

      

                                                                                                                        -Fraz

The Week 9 Line

Week 9 in the NFL and we now have a clearer image of how the playoff picture will look. In the AFC, the Patriots sit on top of their division and the AFC at 6-1, Ravens, Colts, and Chiefs all represent their divisions at 5-2 but it is very close in the Wild Card with the Steelers and Jets at 5-2 and the Titans at a respective 5-3. No division games this week, but still some great ones and there may be some separation as far as the AFC playoff look. In the NFC, everything looks a little messy. The Giants lead their division at 5-2 with the Redskins at 4-3. The Packers are 5-3 and behind them are the 4-3 Bears. Atlanta and Tampa Bay are tied at 5-2 in the south, and the Saints are also hot on their trail at 5-3. Finally in the NFC West, the Seahawks are 4-3 with the surprising Rams at 4-4. Alot of games to still be played and the NFL really has yet to be decided. Lets take a look at some games this week to set the tone for the final half of this season....

Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore Ravens

1:00 PM

Preview: The Dolphins are 4-3 (4-0 away) and 3rd in the AFC West. They have just come off of a 22-14 win vs the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens are 5-2 (3-0 home) and 1st in the AFC North. Their last game was a comeback win vs the Bills 37-34. Since 2001, the these two teams have been pretty back and forth, with the Ravens holding a 4-3 record over them.

Team Stats:

Miami Dolphins

Avg pass yds per game: 232.4 (12th in NFL)
Avg rush yds per game: 111.3 (16th in NFL)

Avg pass yds allowed per game: 207.9 (12th in NFL)

Avg rush yds allowed per game: 101.6 (11th in NFL)

Baltimore Ravens

Avg pass yds per game: 225.4 (15th in NFL)

Avg rush yds per game: 114.9 (12th in NFL)

Avg pass yds allowed per game: 204.6 (9th in NFL)

Avg rush yds allowed per game: 109.3 (17th in NFL)

Game Analysis:

Its been a close match-up between the Ravens and the Dolphins. Both teams are very solid in the running game. The two-back system has worked exceptionally well for the Dolphins. Ronnie Brown averages 4.1 yards per carry and Ricky Williams averages 4.3 yards per carry. On the other side theres no slouch running the ball. Ray Rice averages 4.0 yards per carry and has 523 total rush yards on the season. On the passing side of the ball, the Ravens definitely made an excellent off-season pickup in Anquan Boldin (38 catches, 518 yards, 5 tds) and their passing game has really benefited from his presence on the field. The Ravens are coming off of a bye week and are well rested and refreshed which means this defense is ready to go. Look for the Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning to continue to keep the offense balanced and mix up the plays to keep this defense who is ranked 9th in total defense (313.9 yds allowed per game). Ironically, the Dolphins D is right ahead of them at 8th (309.4 yds allowed per game). The Ravens would like nothing more than to make this game one dimensional for Chad Henne, who has posted good numbers but has yet to establish himself as a game manager and player who can take it all on his shoulders. Both of these teams have pretty similar rankings and Dolphins are a great away team versus the Ravens being a great home team. Pretty tough one huh?

Ravens 17

Dolphins 16

Indianapolis Colts @ Philadelphia Eagles

4:15 PM

Preview: The Colts 5-2 (2-2 away) and 1st in the AFC South. They posted a win last week over the Texans 30-17. The Eagles on the other hand are 4-3 (1-2 home) and 2nd in the NFC East. Their last game was a loss at the hands of Kenny Britt and the Titans 37-19. Since 2001, these teams have met twice, the Colts winning 45-21 and 35-13 both times.

Team Stats:

Indianapolis Colts

Avg pass yds per game: 306.3 (2nd in NFL)

Avg rush yds per game: 96.6 (23rd in NFL)

Avg pass yds allowed per game: 203.43 (7th in NFL)

Avg rush yds allowed per game: 133.1 (28th in NFL)

Phildelphia Eagles

Avg pass yds per game: 243.3 (9th in NFL)

Avg rush yds per game: 129.3 (9th in NFL)

Avg pass yds allowed per game: 206.1 (11th in NFL)

Avg rush yds allowed per game: 109.9 (18th in NFL)

Game Analysis:

Micheal Vick may be back this week, which could add problems to this inconsistent Colts defense. But in the event that he isnt, Kevin Kolb has been pretty decent coming back into this system, doing what he can to win games, with an 85.3 qb rating and 6 tds and 4 picks. Hes lost his receiver Desean Jackson for another game so look for Jeremy Maclin to show out again and Brent Celek as well. The other side of the ball features one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time Peyton Manning. His season has still been great (2185 yds and 15 tds) even without having a consistent receiving corp due to injury. Gonzalez is questionable this week, and Dallas Clark is out for the season. The Colts are pretty much one dimensional, but they are one team who can operate strictly off of the pass and be okay. It may be tough versus this Eagles defense, with a secondary featuring Asante Samuel and Quentin Mikell. How good will Peyton Manning hold up vs this secondary? Will Donald Brown and Mike Hart put up enough of a distraction so that he can pass the ball effectively?( both avg 4.5+ yds per carry) I expect them to do so. I mean, how can you bet against Manning?

Colts 38

Eagles 21

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

Monday @ 8:30

Preview: The Steelers are 5-2 (3-1 away) and 2nd in the AFC North. They suffered defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints last Sunday night 20-10...The Bengals are 2-5 (1-2 home) and 3rd in the AFC North. The Bengals couldnt get past the Dolphins last week, losing 22-14...

Team Stats:

Steelers

Avg pass yds per game: 180.3 (29th in NFL)

Avg rush yds per game: 117.3 (11th in NFL)

Avg pass yds allowed per game: 243.1 (25st in NFL)

Avg rush yds allowed per game: 58.9 (1st in NFL)

Bengals

Avg pass yds per game: 254.4 (6th in NFL)

Avg rush yds per game: 101 (20th in NFL)

Avg pass yds allowed per game: 221.3 (20th in NFL)

Avg rush yds allowed per game: 120.7 (23rd in NFL)

Game Analysis: Yes I bleed Black and Gold. Yes I am a crazy Steelers fan. Yes I think the Steelers will win. But division games are never really huge blowouts for the Steelers, and with a 25th ranked pass defense vs the number 6 pass offense, it will be tough. Expect Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson to have great days, thats if Carson Palmer and the Bengals offensive line can stay composed vs this Steelers pass rush. The Steelers have taken the run game away from teams this year, only allowing 58.9 rush yards per game. They also have the third leading running back in the NFL with Rashard Mendenhall. (603 yds) Big Ben is still finding his center with the offense, and if the Bengals can stay composed and keep the game close by the 4th quarter, this could be a win for them. If the Steelers stick to their guns and run the ball, pass on 3rd down and play action on 2nd down, this game can be won through solid offense and defense...my prediction:

Steelers 20

Bengals 17

Want some more? Heres a few more scores...

Chicago Bears @ Buffalo Bills

1:00 pm

C'mon Buffalo...with so much talent these guys just cant get it together. This defense just cant get to the QB and stop the run game. On the other side, "DA Bears" dont seem to want to run the ball, even though Matt Forte is in the backfield healthy. If they choose to sling the ball all game with Jay Cutler, then expect the Bills to run away with this one. Its hard to tell what offensive coordinator Mike Martz (Bears) is doing....

Bears 13

Bills 10

New England Patriots @ Cleveland Browns

1:00 pm

New England will definitely take this one. Colt McCoy is still a rookie and he really doesnt have enough firepower to go up against the Pats. Tom Brady has Deion Branch back, Brandon Tate is showing out, and Benjarvus Green-Ellis played well last game running for 120+ yards last week.

Patriots 34

Browns 17

New York Jets @ Detroit Lions

1:00 pm

The Lions still have yet to live up to their potential. Meanwhile, the Jets are in the playoff hunt and still a favorite to be in the Super Bowl. With a top ten defense and run game, and Mark Sanchez playing commander, we can expect another Jets victory this week...

Jets 17

Lions 9

Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings

1:00 pm

Well, both teams have been playing wayyyy below their talent levels. Derek Anderson (Cardinals) will get the go ahead this week. It will definitely be tough versus this Vikings D. It is still in the air as to which QB will start for the Vikings. Yes, these are the Vikings that just released legendary wide receiver Randy Moss...In my opinion, Minnesota just has too many issues right now. Distrust in coaching, lack of consistency in any facet of the gameplan in terms of the run vs the pass. I actually see

Cardinals 17

Vikings 10

Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers

8:20 pm

Did the Packers really not score a touchdown vs the Jets last week? Well its true and those guys still found a way to win. That is how u measure a good team, they found a way to win in a tough situation. The Cowboys have not done that once this year. This Packers offense should also be back in action as far as injuries with some minor defensive injuries. The Cowboys have no solid QB and still dont seem to like to run the ball. This defense is spending too much time on the field and that is not ideal for this game where the Packers love to use the short pass to control the clock.

Packers 41

Cowboys 14

Lets see who can gain some separation this week in the NFL. Its getting to be that time where teams step it up and turn up the heat. Before we know it, the playoffs will be right around the corner.

As a side note, Me and Fraz would like to thank all of our followers, and regular visitors. We are moving up pretty well and we just want to thank you for your continued support. Please continue to spread the word about us and Thank You again you are so very much appreciated!

Time to Make a Statement

First off before i do this post there are a few things i want to say. Im sorry ive been slacking the last few days. I had an extremely busy weekend , a close relative in the hospital not to mention my own sickness. Here are the scores from Monday & Tuesday that i failed to put up.

Monday
-None in the Eastern Conference

Tuesday
Atlanta Hawks 100 Cleveland Cavaliers 88
Washington Wizards 116 Philadelphia 76ers 115
Boston Celtics 109 Detroit Pistons 86
Miami Heat 129 Minnesota Timberwolves 97
New York Knicks - Orlando Magic - (Game Postponed) 
Portland Trailblazers 90 Milwaukee Bucks 79

The schedule in the East is light to say the least this week , but there are some good games. The two biggest ones are :

Milwaukee Bucks @ Boston Celtics

New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls

Milwaukee Bucks (1-3) @ Boston Celtics (3-1) Wednesday 8:00

First lets take a look at the numbers

Milwaukee Bucks

91.3 PPG (26th in the NBA)

41.3 RPG (20th in the NBA)

17.0 APG (24th in the NBA)

93.0 Points Allowed Per Game (6th in the NBA)

Team Leaders
Points - Corey Maggette 16.0 ppg
Rebounds - Andrew Bogut 10.5 ppg
Assists - Brandon Jennings 8.5 apg
Steals - Carlos Delfino 2.0 spg
Blocks - Andrew Bogut 2.5 bpg

Key Bench Player
Corey Maggette 16.0 ppg 4.5 rpg 

Boston Celtics

93.3 PPG (24th in the NBA)

44.7 (7th in the NBA)

27.3 APG (2nd in the NBA)

92.0 Points Allowed Per Game (4th in the NBA)

Team Leaders

Points - Paul Peirce 19.5 ppg

Rebounds - Kevin Garnett 10.3 rpg

Assists - Rajon Rondo 16.8 apg

Steals - Rajon Rondo 2.5 spg

Blocks - Semih Erden - 2.0 bpg

Key Bench Player

Glen Davis 13.3 ppg 5.3 rpg

The Boston Celtics pride themselves on defense. They will be tested this game. Why? Because every starter for the Milwaukee Bucks poses a threat on offense. This will require them to respect everyone & they wont be able to collapse as quickly as they can on other teams. On the other hand, The Celtics have the depth to continuously hit shots from all over the court. I think that will be the true determining factor in this game. The way Rajon Rondo has this offense playing , it would be foolish to pick against them. Ill take the Celtics in this one

Milwaukee Bucks 91

Boston Celtics 98

New York Knicks (1-2) @ Chicago Bulls (2-1) Thursday 8:00 

 First lets look at the numbers

New York Knicks

98.0 PPG (19th in the NBA)

46 RPG (tied for 4th in the NBA)

17.3 APG (23rd in the NBA)

99.3 Points Allowed Per Game (14th in the NBA)

Team Leaders

Points - Amare Stoudamire 21.3 ppg

Rebounds - Wilson Chandler 10 rpg

Assists - Raymond Felton 5.7 ppg

Steals - Raymond Felton 1.7 spg

Blocks - Wilson Chandler 3.0 bpg

Key Bench Player

Wilson Chandler 21 ppg 10 rpg 1.3 spg 3.0 bpg

Chicago Bulls

102 PPG (12th in the NBA)

46 RPG (tied for 4th in the NBA)

21.7 APG (11th in the NBA)

98.3 Points Allowed Per Game (11th in the NBA)

Team Leaders

Points - Derrick Rose 27.7 ppg

Rebounds - Joakim Noah 15.3 rpg

Assists - Derrick Rose 8.7 apg

Steals - Derrick Rose 1.0 spg

Blocks - Joakim Noah 2.0 bpg

Key Bench Player

Kyle Korver 6.0 ppg 2.3 rpg 2.0 apg

The Bulls starting 5 is electric. They may not seem like much with Boozer out due to injury but they are a force. Luol Deng is finally healthy & Noah & Rose are coming into their own right before our eyes. Rose is playing at an extremely high level right now. Luol Deng is finally looking like the All Star he once was. Joakim Noah is now a feared defender in the paint. His , along with Derrick Rose , emotion is the heart beat of this team. They also play tough , on both sides of the court, which sets them apart from most teams in the NBA. But this Knicks team is explosive. Amare is now the number one option , just like he likes it. His play has opened up the floor for Gallinari & has raised Raymond Feltons stock as a PG tremendously. Wilson Chandler could start on most teams in the NBA. His impact off the bench is , in my opinion, what will decide this game. With an extra day of rest im picking the Knicks in this one.

New York Knicks 119

Chicago Bulls 107

Here are the rest of my picks

Wednesday November 3rd

Detroit Pistons 83 (0-4)

Atlanta Hawks 98 (4-0)

The under maned Pistons are fresh off a beat down, physically & verbally , from the Celtics. Atlanta will just make them feel worse.

Charlotte Bobcats 88 (0-3)

New Jersey Nets 96 (2-1)

Right now the Nets are playing better than they did all last season. The Bobcats are just finding ways to lose. This game will be close but, I think the Nets Bench might be enough for them to overcome the Bobcats. 

Minnesota Timberwolves 77 (1-3)

Orlando Magic 109 (1-1)

The Magic have had 5 full days to let that loss to the Miami Heat sink in. Its Back to business verses the Miami Heats last victim. This season the T-Wolves have lost all their games by an average of 10 points. That statistic will only grow tonight.

Indiana Pacers 99 (2-1)

Philadelphia 76ers 87 (0-4)

The Sixers had a chance to win against the Wizards. Sure John Wall had a career night but their sloppy play killed them. I cant see that being rectified in 24 hours since they havent been able to get it together through the first 4 games.. The Pacers are playing great basketball right now and are tied at the top of their division. 

Thursday November 4th 

- No Home Games in the Eastern Conference

As always , any feedback is good feedback. I'd love to hear your comments & analysis of my analysis.

         

                                                                                                                            - Fraz

LETS GET IT STARTED

Well the NBA season is underway and players are just warming up and getting back to the intensity a season has. With that being said...many teams are getting their chemistry right and fine tuning their player roles. As always, we have some solid, com

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES @ LA LAKERS

Tuesday @ 10:30

Grizzlies 2-0 (1-0 away)

Avg points: 101.3 ...Avg Points against: 99.3

Lakers

3-0 (2-0 home)

Avg points: 111 ...Avg points against: 99.7

Team Leaders

GRIZZLIES LAKERS

Rudy Gay: 22.3 ppg Pau Gasol: 25.3 ppg

Marc Gasol: 11.3 rpg Lamar Odom: 13.7 rpg

Mike Conley: 8.3 apg Paul Gasol: 5 apg

Mike Conley: 3.7 spg Ron Artest: 3 spg

Hasheem Thabeet: 1 bpg Pau Gasol: 2 bpg

Key Players:

For the Grizzlies, Marc Gasol is back from his injury, and has left off right where he started last year. Much like his brother, he is a great scorer and rebounder, and can come through when the game is close. Mike Conley is averaging 15 ppg which is goes well along with his 8.3 assist per game stat. Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo are both putting up their respective numbers in scoring. (Gay: 22.3 ppg...Mayo: 19.3))

For the Lakers, Gasol has started out hot this year, outscoring Kobe in the first two games of the season. This team already looks like they are in championship form, blowing past the Suns and Golden State respectively. Steve Blake, Theo Ratliff, and Matt Barnes have also been crucial coming off of the bench and Luke Walton will be back from his strained hamstring.

FINAL NOTES:

Both teams have come out with some fire this year and are putting up a good amount of points.

The Lakers have the edge here definitely in this one, but like was said earlier this year: "For those who expect us to go 82-0, we're sorry." As tough as this may be to say...I think that:

Grizzlies 107

Lakers 101

SAN ANTONIO SPURS @ PHOENIX SUNS

Wednesday @ 10:30

Spurs: 2-1 (1-0 away)

Avg Points: 103... Avg Points allowed: 98.7

Suns: 1-2 (0-1 home)

Avg Points: 102.7... Avg Points allowed: 104.7

Team Leaders

SPURS SUNS

Manu Genobli: 19.7 ppg Jason Richardson: 18.3 ppg

Tim Duncan: 8.7 rpg Robin Lopez: 8.3 rpg

Tony Parker: 7.3 apg Steve Nash: 6.7 apg

Manu Genobli: 2.7 spg Steve Nash: 1.3 spg

Tim Duncan: 1.3 bpg Channing Frye: 1.7 bpg

Key Players:

For the Spurs, the big 3 in the West are in the building! Tim Duncan, Manu Genobli, and Tony Parker are back. With Parker being healthy so far this season, the Spurs are playing some decent ball. With George Hill being day-to-day (shoulder), look for rookie Gary Neal (PG) to show out again just like he did vs the Clippers, where he scored 16 points and had 6 rebounds to go with that in only 20 minutes. Rookie Tiago Splitter will play his second game as well after being sidelined last game with an ankle injury.Th is bench will be the factor that carries the Spurs in this game (and for that matter really any game this year)

For the Suns, this team is having a little trouble being cohesive as a team. But they are still getting used to one another and in their defense they have played some rough games thus far vs Portland, Utah, and the Lakers. Steve Nash and Jason Richardson will once again have to shoulder a large scoring role, Josh Childress is out with a fractured finger, and with a little manuevering, Grant Hill will be starting in his place, who is averaging 11.3 ppg.

FINAL NOTES:

As stated earlier, the Suns are sitll having a little trouble getting their chemistry together. With really only two players being able to consistently put up points in Richardson and Nash, this team may not be too hard for the Spurs to shut down. The Spurs are healthy coming into this one and are really gelling as a team even with their rookies playing a substantial amount of minutes. But this Suns team has always been able to put up lots of points and with their speed and quick pass offense, San Antonio may not be quick enough to keep up with them...still though:

Spurs 100

Suns 96

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER @ PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

Thursday @ 10:30

Thunder: 2-1 (1-1 away)

Avg points: 103.3... Avg points allowed: 106.3

Trailblazers: 3-1 (1-0 home)

Avg points: 100.5... Avg points allowed: 96.3

Team Leaders

Thunder Trailblazers

Kevin Durant: 29.3 ppg Brandon Roy: 23 ppg

Serge Ibaka: 8.3 rpg Marcus Camby: 10 rpg

Russell Westbrook: 7.3 apg Andre Miller: 8 apg

Russell Westbrook: 2.7 spg Andre Miller: 2.3 spg

Serge Ibaka: 3 bpg Marcus Camby: 1.8 bpg

Key Players:

For the Thunder, Kevin Durant of course is going to be a handful averaging almost 30 ppg. And standout Sergio Ibaka is playing the PF/C role perfectly, defensively and as far as grabbing the boards. Russell Westbrook continues to solidify his skills and become more of a household name in the NBA, and Jeff Green is continuing to make the tough baskets, beginning in his hot start versus the Bulls where he dropped 15 points.

For the Trailblazers:

Andre Miller continues to be a force as the point gaurd. He is truly a game manager and his experience feeds to the rest of his players. He is also making an impact on the defensive side of the ball averaging a little over 2 steals a game. Brandon Roy is an All Star gaurd who can give any defense trouble and has the ability to score from anywhere.

FINAL NOTES:

Both teams actually look really solid so far this season. Offensively and defensively, the Trailblazers have seemed to have found their identity as a team that can block, steal, and run the fastbreak with ease. On the other end, the Thunder can do much of the same, except they have more people on the offensive end who can score. In the end, these teams mirror one another very well, and this game could actually go down to the wire pending that the Blazers bench can come in and be a force against a polished Thunder team...prediction?

Thunder 101

Trailblazers 99

Heres the rest of the match ups over the span of the next three days:

WEDNESDAY:

New Orleans Hornets @ Houston Rockets

The Rockets just cant seem to buy a win although they have a very talented roster. Meanwhile, on the defensive end, the Hornets have found their identity. Chris Paul is dishing assists like a madman with 23 over the last two games and they are coming off of a great win versus the Spurs 99-90...This Game?

Hornets 98

Rockets 82

Dallas Mavericks @ Denver Nuggets

Dirk is averaging 23.7 ppg, Carmelo is averaging 23.7 a game. Both point gaurds in Kidd and Billups are finding their men, and both benches have the talent to come in and show out. So which team will show up to win?

Denver 105

Dallas 100

Toronto Raptors @ Utah Jazz

Definitely some jazzy numbers for Paul Millsap. Last game he had 16 points and 13 boards. After tough starts for both teams, look for this game to be a rebound. The Raptors are still a pretty new bunch and need to solidify some chemistry...

Jazz 111

Raptors 80

Memphis Grizzlies @ Golden State Warriors

Both of these teams can put up points fast and in a hurry. Stephen Curry is day-to-day with an ankle injury, but Monta Ellis has definitely been able to score on his behalf (27 ppg). On the other side, the Grizzlies have alot of offensive firepower and with Marc Gasol back in action, look for him to force Biedrins to commit early fouls and get him out the game...the team with the most offense will win this one....

Grizzlies 115

Warriors 100

Oklahoma City Thunder @ LA Clippers

Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Serge Ibaka have been playing phenomenal basketball. But dont count out Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, and Blake Griffin, who is making an excellent run at rookie of the year thus far....whos got more firepower here?

Thunder 100

Clippers 94

LA Lakers @ Sacremento Kings

Boy this game would be great if the Kings had their 2002 roster with Bibby, Webber, Divac, Christie and Stojackovic....but ehhh...we'll see what Tyreke Evans, Fransisco Garcia, and Demarcus Cousins can do...

Lakers 120

Kings 90

Theres your NBA update for the next three days. Teams now know what to expect this year, and this will no doubt be a better week than the first....