2k10 First Round Predictions: Western Conference

By now you hopefully have read my analysis of what I think will come of the first-round in the Eastern Conference, which seems like it will be some pretty dull and lackluster matchups. I don’t see any series really going to the limit or even making us question the higher seed. as we did last year with the amazing Chicago-Boston series. In the West however, excitement looms.

The West typically over the last few years has always given us a better first round, just because the middle of the bunch, hell even the top portion, are incredibly close. Just looking at the standings you’ll see that only seven games separates the No. 1 seed Lakers from their No. 8 seed opponent Oklahoma City. The first round out West has the potential to be great, so here’s a look at the matchups.

JR Smith catches the oop 360

JR Smith is one of the streakiest shooters in the game. When Smith is hot, he is one of the deadliest players in the L. He can literally take over a game, even with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups on his squad.

Before Smith became known as a deadly long-range weapon, he was one of the league’s best dunkers. Obviously, nothing has changed.

This is one of the best dunks I’ve seen all season.

Iverson makes his epic return in Philly

Allen Iverson made his storyline fashioned return to Philly last night. The return to his “home.” Playing the team he was originally traded to (Denver), playing against the player a player he was traded for (Chauncey Billups).

In 37 minutes of action, Iverson was 4-for-11 from the field for 11 points, he also added five rebounds and six assists to his stat sheet. The Sixers lost to the Nuggets 93-83, after Denver outscored Philly by 12 in the fourth quarter.

If you don’t think Billups played to send a message to Iverson last night, you’re nuts. He had his best game of the season last night, scoring 31 points, dishing out eight assists and grabbing eight boards. He played phenomenal and keyed the Nuggets victory.

No matter how you feel about Iverson, this video is phenomenal and showcases the return in a brilliant fashion. At least the Sixers fans are excited over the return, nonetheless.

Allen Iverson is great in press conferences

We all know that I have had enough of Allen Iverson, but it’s something I won’t be able to get away from.

Most of the people I talk to, or the things that I read on Twitter and whatnot are very positive, everyone is excited about AI’s return to Philly. With all of that positivity and especially after yesterdays emotional press conference, it’s made me think, am I a bad person for wishing this didn’t happen for Iverson?

No.

Iverson plays to the camera well, he always says what you want to hear in press conferences. His press conference in Detroit was so overwhelmingly positive, even joking at the whole “Practice?!” moment. Then he misses a practice in Detroit and things go downhill. Again, similar situation in Memphis.

AI wants his way, if he can’t get it, he’s going to bitch and complain. He wants us to feel like he is the victim.

Iverson leaves Grizzlies, joins VH1′s “Tool Academy”

Unfortunately, the headline is wrong and it doesn’t appear that Allen Iverson will be leaving the Memphis Grizzlies to join VH1′s hit show “Tool Academy“ anytime soon.

Iverson made his Grizzlies debut last night, after missing the entire preseason and the Grizzlies’ first three games. The 14-year veteran played 18 minutes off the bench in an overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. He scored 11 points and had one assist in his brief time on the floor.

Iverson’s only practiced three days with the Grizzlies, but of course, he’s already complaining about coming off the bench:

“I had no problems (with the hamstring), I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That’s the only thing I got a problem with. I’m not a reserve basketball player. I’ve never been a reserve all my life and I’m not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. …To answer the question, ‘No, I’m not a bench player. I’m not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you I’m not a sixth man.”

What in the hell is wrong with Iverson?

NBA suspends Smith, Richardson

(Photo: Getty Images)

The Nuggets J.R. Smith and the Suns’ Jason Richardson are both vital players for their teams’ success, unfortunately both teams will start the upcoming season without those players.

The NBA has suspended Smith for the first seven games of the 2009-10 season, Richardson will miss the first two. Both players were suspended because of  their convictions on driving offenses.

Richardson was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol on Dec. 21. He also was clocked driving 55 mph above the speed limit with his 3-year-old son in the car back in February.

Smith recently served 30 days in jail for his role in a deadly 2007 accident that killed his 21-year-old friend, Andre Bell. Smith has had some trouble during his young career, and obviously the league has a close eye on him, especially after his Twitter “gang-related” issues over the summer.

Both suspensions are without pay.

The schedule is here, hail the Clippers.

This is not a typo, the Los Angeles Clippers are playing on Christmas Day.

Christmas Day games are generally for the league’s elite teams, but that’s what happens to your team when you have the best player coming out of college.

Blake Griffin and B. Diddy will play the Phoenix Suns in the fourth of five Christmas Day games (the NBA is giving families a chance to ignore each other and watch games for 12 straight hours, for the second year in a row).

The Clippers aren’t the only team from Los Angeles to play on Christmas Day, as the NBA has announced their schedule for the 2009-10 season.

“The Team Mating Game” on Jimmy Kimmel Live

On Sunday night’s special NBA Finals episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live we were introduced to a new segment, “The Team Mating Game.”

Basically, it’s a dating game, for teammates. We saw which pair of teammates knew each other better, between the Denver Nuggets (Chris Andersen and Dahntay Jones) and the Phoenix Suns (Amare Stoudemire and Grant Hill).

Pretty funny stuff, Grant and Amare were straight clownin’ each other.

I generally hate people that dress the way “The Birdman” does, but for some reason, it’s cool when he does it.

WWE, we get the point.

They WWE are doing as much as they can to root against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

So there was a scheduling mixup, it stinks, but get over it.

WWE Superstar John Cena and executive Shane McMahon were at the Staples Center Thursday night and they weren’t shy about who they were rooting for.

(Photo: Getty Images)

The funny thing of it is, they were complaining that they had sold nearly 10,000 tickets or some number, and they expected a capacity show for Monday. Last time I checked, the Pepsi Center sat 19,309. Now obviously, the setup is going to change the capacity numbers, but let’s face the facts, the WWE doesn’t fill arenas like they used to.

It stinks for WWE fans in Denver, and I’m not saying Denver shouldn’t take some blame, but Vince McMahon acts like a child.

Maybe Stan Kroenke will get into the steel cage with McMahon one day, but don’t expect it on Monday.