• How many games will the Miami Heat lose?

The regular season is long and sometimes teams lull through games and even stretches of games. That’s why streaks are so important in the NBA–they show where your team’s mind is at. The Miami Heat are the defending champions in the NBA. They almost certainly needed something to get up for every game, right? Then it hit me–the Miami Heat actually had a 27 game winning streak. They were playing from behind in a lot of those games, so how hard was it for them to actually play their best basketball for four quarters? Well, whatever the case that won’t be the story in the postseason. I don’t see anyone taking this team down the way they are constructed and with the  way that their trio of stars have been playing lately.

• How good can the Brooklyn Nets be?

Before the season started I predicted the Brooklyn Nets would be a top four seed. I was correct in my prediction, but I wasn’t correct in the way that it would happen. I didn’t think that Brook Lopez would be the Nets best player for most of the year. I thought Deron Williams would carry most of the load–that didn’t happen until the close of the regular season. I thought this team was pieced perfectly around Williams for him to be productive, and it is. They’re a team that isn’t going to play very fast and they focus on cross-screening and post opportunity in the half court. Williams is the perfect inside-out point guard. He’s always been brilliant shooting the three ball. Now that he’s finishing on the inside again, the Brooklyn Nets should be looked at as a legitimate threat to the Miami Heat.

• How healthy are the San Antonio Spurs?

The Spurs didn’t close the season the way they wanted to. They lost seven of their last 10 games and lost their last three straight games. They lost Boris Diaw for three to four weeks and Manu Ginobili still isn’t 100 percent healthy. Tony Parker should get his legs back under him, but should we worry about his ankle going forward? The Spurs are a very good team and they have the tools to win it all, but if they can’t stay healthy they won’t make it past the first round.

• Who’s the better big in Los Angeles? Gasol or Howard?

The truth is that it probably doesn’t matter. Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard have been destroying teams on a united front for the past 10-15 games. The Lakers finished the season off strong and got into the playoffs off of the strength of their size. That’s how things should’ve been run throughout the year. Mike D’Antoni continued to make adjustments throughout the season, but when Gasol returned things just catapulted into the green for them. He’s averaging over 10 rebounds and six assists per game over the last 10. He finished the season with an emphatic triple double and Dwight Howard showed us his defensive prowess once again. If Howard and Gasol can both play like the top 20 players that they are, they have a good shot at beating anyone. Of course, that doesn’t mean that it will actually happen.

• How far will the Los Angeles Clippers go?

The Los Angeles Clippers are such an enigmatic team. They win 16 straight games in December and then play near .500 level basketball for the rest of the season. It seems that they’ve rested on their laurels–especially on the defensive end. Before the turn of the year, the Clippers yielded a top three defense in the league. Since then their defense has dropped to 8th in the league yielding 103.6 points per 100 possessions. That isn’t a bad total by any stretch, but if they can get their defense back into top three shape  they’ll be a legitimate title contender. If they can’t then they may not make it out of the first round past the Memphis Grizzlies.

Apr 12, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) is looked at by a medical staff member against the Golden State Warriors during the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Friday night against the Golden State Warriors, Kobe Bryant tore his achilles tendon late in the fourth quarter as the Los Angeles Lakers were in the midst of making a comeback. Kobe had taken some ugly hits throughout the game, and with three minutes to go, his body couldn’t hold up and it gave out on him. When he found out that the prognosis wasn’t good, he took to social media to vent his frustration.

“This is such BS! All the training & sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I’ve done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I’m supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??
“I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me…Then again maybe not! It’s 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and I’m wide awake. Forgive my Venting but what’s the purpose of social media if I won’t bring it to you Real No Image?? Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in. There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn Achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.

“One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day.

“If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear”. I’ve always loved that quote. That’s “mamba mentality” we don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer.

“I know it’s a long post but I’m Facebook Venting LOL. Maybe now I can actually get some sleep and be excited for surgery tomorrow. First step of a new challenge. Guess I will be Coach Vino the rest of this season. I have faith in my teammates. They will come thru.

“Thank you for all your prayers and support. Much Love Always.”

Mamba Out”

Just from reading the emotions that he’s going through, you can’t help but feel for Kobe. Speaking on behalf of many Celtics fans, with the career that he has had up to this point, he deserves respect for what he’s done as a player, even if we hate the uniform he wears every night.

What Kobe has displayed, especially later in his career, is what every young athlete should try modeling themselves after. He gave every ounce of heart on a nightly basis. It didn’t matter what injury or illness hampered him, he played every game as if it was his last. There was no complaining from Kobe, if his teammates didn’t give 100% he called them out. If the Lakers were down late in a game, Kobe fought and most of the time overcame and persevered through any obstacle. As a fan of the game, these are the types of players you hate to see having their season, and maybe even their careers end because of an injury like a torn achilles.

For a 34 year old, returning from an injury that requires surgery, rehabilitation, and practice in the gym to return to the level he was at this season would require a lot of dedication. With it being so late in his career, and having won five championship rings, Kobe doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. It’s going to take time for it to sink in, but for Kobe to make a decision, whether it be retirement or returning for one more season, would be premature, especially since the injury occurred only two nights ago.

Kobe is one of, if not the toughest player in the game today. It’s going to require a lot of will power, but I expect him to give it one more shot and attempt to make a return. He’s the only player in basketball that can be compared to Michael Jordan, and with all the pride that he possesses, he won’t allow his career to end due to an injury.

February 20, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers watches game action against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The worst game for the Boston Celtics in the last two weeks came at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers, as Boston got blown out 113-99. The Celtics played no defense, didn’t boxout on rebounds, and made too many careless mistakes. This loss was a complete team effort, or lack thereof, as Boston came out with no energy. It’s possible that the second night of a back-to-back had something to do with it, but the Celtics didn’t look tired or physically fatigued.

Throughout the entire game Boston failed to boxout and play defense. Time and time again, the Lakers would set up their offense and there would be someone wide open under the basket for the easy layup or dunk. The perimeter defense wasn’t any better as the Lakers guards got open looks from three-point land, and unlike in Boston, L.A.’s shots were falling. Tonight, not one player could be blamed for the breakdown of defensive execution, it was everyone, from the starters to the bench players.

What really was frustrating to watch was the Celtics inability to grab rebounds on both the offensive and defensive end. The Lakers got way too many second chance opportunities and a majority of the time they capitalized on Boston’s lack of height. Dwight Howard showed up for the first time this season, scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Boston could not matchup with him, and he singlehandedly exploited the Celtics weakness of not rebounding.

With the trade deadline today at 3 pm, Danny Ainge may now look to make trades after the Celtics got massacred. If there was a time that players had to play at their best to prove that Boston doesn’t need trades, it was last night. No one stepped up, and now, one has to speculate that Ainge may look to blow it up after many of Boston’s problems came to the surface. If last night was Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett’s last game in Celtics uniforms, it was a horrible way to go out.