Weekend Review

A lot happened this past weekend.

NBA Playoffs
---Cleveland / Nobody (3 - 0)
The Cleveland LeBrons once again beat the crap of out the Hawks. James scored 47 points - in one game! I have scored over 47 points over the course a season only twice. Most guys who crack the 40-point barrier post one or two assists.

But LeBron managed to hand out eight assists. Think about it, LeBron scored 47, and assisted eight more buckets (16 points at least, 24 at the most). He was responsible for somewhere in the neighborhood of 63 to 71 of the 97 points that Cleveland scored Saturday night. MVP indeed.

The Hawks are overmatched. They might steal tonight's game if Cleveland is already planning on making trips to Boston or Orlando later.

---Nuggets / Mavericks (3 - 0)
The refs missed a clear foul in the final seconds of Game 3. What would have changed had they not missed it? This series would go five games instead of only four.

The Nuggets have the best One-Two Punch left in the playoffs: Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. They also have JR Smith, the best player coming off the remaining team's benches, in the mix as well. The more I see of this team, the more I believe that they will in the Finals.

They have Melo, Billups, Smith, and supporting cast that knows their role and doesn't mind being overlooked. This team is built to win a championship - they have all the right pieces.

Plus, I want them to go deep into the playoffs - I can't get enough of the "Bird Man" Chris Andersen.

---Lakers / Rockets (2 - 2)
Yao Ming breaks his foot, is out for the rest of the playoffs, and the Rockets of course WIN?

What?

The biggest man on the floor at all times is absent and the Rockets beat the Los Angeles Lakers? Wow.

Did Kobe play? Yeah. So he was in foul trouble and only played 20 minutes or so. No, he played 35 minutes - around his season average. He was held to 15 points though. Ron Artest probably scared him half to death.

Personally, I thought the Lakers would roll in Games 4 & 5 to take the series and move on to the Western Finals with Denver (yes, that series is over tonight). But nobody told the Rockets about what I thought. They played well and inspired.

Can they hold on? I don't think so. I've always felt Yao was overrated and the Rockets played better with him out but Kobe won't have two bad games in a row. Even if Artest is threatening to kill him.

---Celtics / Magic (2 -2)
When teams miss opportunities like the Magic missed last night, you have to scratch your head and question the players and/or coaches.

Why the questioning? 1) Paul Pierce was in foul trouble most of the second half and no one went at him on the Magic's offensive end. 2) Kevin Garnett is still in street clothes and the Magic front court is allowing Glen "Big Baby" Davis to look like a Hall of Famer. 3) The real Ray Allen is yet to show up in either Boston or Orlando. He must still be in Chicago after his 51 point explosion in the first round of the playoffs.

The series is tied at two games now. With the way Boston won the game at the buzzer, I believe the Magic have to win the next game in Boston - otherwise the Celtics are moving on.

Predictions
Cleveland sweeps Atlanta tonight.
Boston wins in 7 against Orlando.
Denver moves on tonight.
It will take 7 games, but the Lakers will advance.

Cleveland vs Boston -- Cleveland in four or five
Denver vs Lakers -- Denver in seven

PGA
Tiger Woods and Alex Cejka provided the worst final pairing in NBC Golf Broadcasting history. Cejka ended his day with a 79, while Tiger posted a 73.

Cejka's scored doesn't surprised me. Most of the time, whoever is playing with Tiger on Sundays (especially someone that most of the world couldn't pick out of a police line-up) usually plays awful. When Cejka started backing up, I thought that Tiger would pounce all over that and take the Player's Championship without any trouble.

I was wrong. Tiger let me down and I have nothing more to say about that.