Technology Keeps Fans on the Couch, Rather than in the Bleachers

Bleacher Report posted this photo from last night's Game 1 in OT

It’s Sunday afternoon on a crisp, fall day, and National Football League games are being played all around the country. The fans have their seats with a great view, food in hand and favorite beverages within reach. Yet most fans aren’t in the bleachers; they’re at home. 

This is the reality of sports now. The in-home experience is arguably becoming more appealing than the in-stadium experience. Even when fans attend the games it’s not what it once was. When someone scores a touchdown, fans at the 50-yard line no longer high five each other in celebration. Instead, they immediately reach into their pocket for their smartphone so they can fire off their next tweet.  

“I believe it has taken away from some of the fun of experiencing a live professional game,” said Kyle Krueger, a college student and Chicago sports fan. “Considering the cost to attend a game, we are distracting ourselves from enjoying the full live experience of a pro game.” 

It doesn’t matter what sport you look at, the numbers clearly reflect the falling attendance. A study of NFL attendance showed that the league reached an all-time high in 2007, but since then the attendance has steadily declined. In 2011 the league reached their lowest totals since expanding to 32 teams in 2002. The in-home experience is credited for much of the decline, and teams are now trying to enhance the in-stadium experience so that fans will buy tickets instead of staying home to watch the game on a 50-inch widescreen. 

That’s a tall task considering that the NFL is heralded for some of the best television coverage in sports. Multiple games are shown on national television every week, and the NFL RedZone channel allows fans to watch any game at its most crucial points. New apps such as NFL ’12, Yahoo! Sportacular and a host of apps from ESPN have given fans a place to interact with others during the game. Add in the enormous HD televisions for consumer purchase or found at the local sports bar, and the league is in a deep hole. 

It’s not just the NFL that has had issues. The National Basketball Association has experienced the same ordeal, and league attendance is down for the third straight year. However, that doesn’t mean that interest in the sport is declining as well. The NBA recently announced that television ratings for games on ESPN and TNT were up more than 20 percent compared to last season.  

Players have expressed disdain for the matter as well, and Indiana Pacers point guard George Hill was the most vocal critic of fans preoccupied with their social media this season. After a home defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in March, Hill ripped Pacers fans, saying they were quiet, outnumbered and it didn’t feel anything like a home game. 

“Energy is down,” said Hill after that game. “(We’re) not a team that’s in the bottom in the East. We’re one of the top three teams in the East. We’re winning the Central Division, and it should show. Right now it’s not, and it’s been all season long where it’s not showing, and I don’t think there’s nothing else we can do as an organization and as players. Now it’s up to the community.” 

A study done by Integrated Marketing Communications showed that 20 percent of fans say they use tablets or smartphones to access sports content while attending a sporting event. When they are at home that number rises to 78 percent; clearly, we are not always engaged in the game 100 percent. 

That 20 percent may seem like a small number, but when smaller attendance is taken into account, that means 20 percent is larger than it appears. For example, the Pacers averaged just 15,269 fans this season. If 20 percent of the crowd is on their phone, that means that on average, there are 3,053 fans multitasking during the game.  

And that’s just the number of people looking up sports content. Thousands of others are doing other things on their phones not related to sports content. 

These are the realities, though, and teams like the Pacers have realized it. Doug Morgan, Associate Director of Game Operations and Fan Development for the Pacers, is a part of a team that tries to allow fans to use technology to enhance their in-arena experience. 

“We have added in-game elements so that fans can connect with the game,” Morgan said. “We have the #PacersCheer where we put the pictures that fans take at a game up in the third quarter. We have “text to win” promotions throughout the game, and we do a Klipsch Text to hear the next song played at halftime of every game. We give the fans three choices, and they text the song they want to hear, and it is played a couple minutes later. They have all went very well.” 

Along with the interactive elements that Indiana has debuted this season, they have also unveiled a mammoth JumboTron that spans from free-throw line to free-throw line and stands 21 feet tall. A new sound system was also installed to give fans the best sound quality possible. 

“Technology is an ever changing part of the game, and we do our best to try and stay out front to make the fan experience the best it can be,” said Morgan. 

For other fans though, the technology is all just a distraction from the root of the reason they are at the game. 

“It’s not just a game anymore,” said Ryan Harter, an Anderson University student and former high school and collegiate basketball player. “I go to watch the game, but people don’t just go to watch anymore. They want to be entertained, so instead of immersing themselves in the actual game, they are very much into the JumboTron and things like that.” 

Mark Cuban, the rambunctious owner of the Dallas Mavericks, would agree more with Harter’s statement rather than the moves of the Pacers organization. In 2011, about the time that smartphones were starting to weave their way into the in-arena experience, Cuban posted a blog to speak out against the use of them at games.  

“I can’t think of a bigger mistake than trying to integrate smartphones just because you can,” said Cuban. “The last thing I want is someone looking down at their phone to see a replay. The last thing I want is someone thinking that it’s a good idea to disconnect from the unique elements of a game to look at replays or update their fantasy standings or concentrate on trying to predict what will happen next in the game.”

“There is a huge value to everyone collectively holding their breath during a replay, or responding to a great play or a missed call and then spontaneously reacting to what they see. You lose that if people are looking down at their handhelds.  The fan experience is about looking up, not looking down. If you let them look down, they might as well stay at home, the screen is always going to be better there.”  

However, there is a group of people in sports who do enjoy the change. Naturally, it’s the media. Twitter, especially, has made it easy for fans to connect with players, coaches and media members, and media personnel agree that it’s made their job more fun. 

Chuck Swirsky, the radio play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Bulls, frequently tweets back and forth with Bulls fans before, during and after ball games. His partner, former NBA player Bill Wennington, does the same. “I think [new technology] is great,” said Swirsky. “The good outweighs the bad, and I love communicating with Bulls and NBA fans.”  

Dave Shore, an Anderson University graduate and current Operations Manager at ESPN Los Angeles, has worked with the NBA for years and hosts the Los Angeles Lakers pregame show on 710 ESPN in Los Angeles. Shore said that while he thinks the technology has affected attendance some, it really has affected the demand for more information. 

Shore has been on several social media panels and is quick to point out how much of an effect the social media has had on the sports radio business. Like Swirsky, Shore says tweeting with fans has become a large part of what he and his co-workers do during the Lakers’ season. 

Whether or not the technology is good or bad for the games depends on who you talk to. Some people are all for it, but others despise it. Despite the opposition to it, this is just the beginning. Every year we become more of a technology-driven society. 

So next time the big game is about to start, make sure you have all the essentials for good viewing: great food, a cool beverage, comfy chair and, of course, your smartphone and tablet. Because was a play really that great if you didn’t tweet about it?



This post was originally written as a story for a class at Anderson University

NBA Western Conference Preview

As promised here is the NBA Western Conference Preview. Almost always the stronger conference, the West will again be dominant in 2011-12 and that's because of veteran teams like the Spurs and Lakers that are experienced in the playoffs and young teams such as the Thunder and Clippers that demand viewers' attention. Also, let us not forget that the Dallas Mavericks have assembled a team that could have the potential to repeat. I would say there is no clear cut favorite out West and as many as five or six teams have a legitimate shot to represent the conference in the Finals. Here are my picks:

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Dallas Mavericks

3. Los Angeles Lakers

4. Denver Nuggets

5. San Antonio Spurs

6. Los Angeles Clippers

7. Portland Trail Blazers

8. Memphis Grizzlies

9. Utah Jazz

10. Golden State Warriors

11. Minnesota Timberwolves

12. Houston Rockets

13. Phoenix Suns

14. New Orleans Hornets
15. Sacramento Kings

Teams to Watch

Dallas Mavericks: Always keep an eye on the defending champs in any sports and the Mavs are no different. They lost some pieces to the puzzle from a season ago such as J.J. Barea, Caron Butler and Tyson Chandler but they were able to add Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Delonte West. The supporting cast is what will propel the Mavs through the playoffs. Carter, West, Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood all bring experience and multiple talents to a deep roster. Dirk Nowitzki had a fabulous playoffs and if he, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry don't show their age this year, Mark Cuban and the Mavs could be hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy again.

Los Angeles Clippers: This is new territory for the Clippers franchise. They are actually a hyped up team with tremendous expectations. And why not? They made the HUGE trade that brought the best point guard in the league, Chris Paul, to LA and signed two veteran role players with Finals experience in Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler. Throw in the freakishly athletic inside duo of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and "Lob City" might be the most exciting television this season. Still, how high can expectations be for a franchise that has never been a winner? In their preseason games the Clips looked good but they aren't deep in the post and their bench is very young. Either way the Clippers are finally relevant and that will create some exciting storylines throughout the season.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Maybe the T'Wolves won't receive that much press, but mark my words, they will be a contender in a few short years. Start with Kevin Love, a double-double machine. He is the star this organization needs and he is consistent. Michael Beasley and Derrick Williams (2nd overall pick) will also be in the frontcourt. If Darko Milicic and Brad Miller can just give Minnesota steady play they will be fine. Gone is Jonny Flynn and in is Ricky Rubio at point. The T'Wolves finally got their man and America will soon find out if he is all he's hyped up to be. He and Wes Johnson will team up in the backcourt and J.J. Barea and Wayne Ellington will come off the bench. This team has serious potential but won't win quite yet due to youth. However, don't sleep on them.

Los Angeles Lakers: Everyone is down on the Lake Show after the Chris Paul trade fiasco that ended up with Lamar Odom in Dallas and Paul in the wrong locker room at the Staples Center. Now, LA will have to move on with it's core group of stars led by Kobe Bryant. Pau Gasol, who was nearly dealt to Houston, is back in a Lakers uniform and says he is fine, despite the trade rumors. LA needs Gasol to have a monster year with no Odom and little production expected from the bench. Maybe even more important will be the play of Andrew Bynum. His potential is great but his knees have to hold up for LA to play deep into the playoffs. I expect the Lakers to still be a good team but don't be surprised if they drop off a little bit.

Players to Watch

Paul (center) with new teammates Griffin and Billups

Chris Paul: The man who has caused the most commotion this offseason will finally be able to just play ball on Christmas Day. He should have a terrific year, benefitting from the athleticism of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan along with the veteran play of Chauncey Billups. CP3 is the best point guard in the league and continues to prove it. This year he could put up his best numbers yet and people are expecting something great from him in LA.

Kevin Durant: Here is my pick for the MVP this season. The Durantula has emerged as the best scorer in the NBA and he should lead his team to a Western Conference championship for the first time. He has talented teammates at every position which allows him to do his thing without double teams coming his way every night. He has already been a scoring champion and I expect he will be again this season. With his size and his ability to shoot he may be the hardest to guard in the NBA.

Kobe Bryant: For the first time in a long time Kobe Bryant isn't the most talked about basketball player in Los Angeles, California. People seem to have pushed the Lakers and Bryant to the side for Chris Paul and the Clippers but don't forget about Kobe. He is the best player in the league and for those who say he is too old to be the "old Kobe" why don't you check his numbers from last season. His 25, 5, 4 averages match his career numbers and indicates that we haven't seen the last of Kobe.

Western Conference Rookies to Watch
Derrick Williams, forward, Minnesota Timberwolves (2nd overall pick)

Enes Kanter, forward, Utah Jazz (3rd overall)

Jimmer Fredette, guard, Sacramento Kings (10th overall)

The West is always deep and this year is no different. I will predict the Oklahoma City Thunder to defeat the Dallas Mavericks for the Western crown but, in reality, there are six teams that have the potential to play in the Finals. It all starts tomorrow and the NBA is right in saying that we should expect BIG things.

Maybe LeBron's Not Who We Thought He Was

Who could forget Arizona Cardinals' coach Dennis Green yelling at the media that the Chicago Bears "are who we thought they were!!" That line has become quite popular but in this case it must be changed around a bit because could it be that LeBron James isn't who we thought he was? It sure seems that way after watching his disastrous fourth quarter performances and his ill-advised comments in the postgame press conference. The pressure that James has been under this year is unlike any other that we have seen. Tiger Woods, Michael Vick and Kobe Bryant were all under the microscope, but that stems from off-the-field problems. In LBJ's case he technically did nothing off the court to keep people from liking him, but he has taken a series of actions that have greatly affected his reputation to the fans and media. After another failed attempt at an NBA title it is time to re-evaluate how we perceive LeBron and what we think he will become.

There has been much discussion, and it's pointless arguing, about whether James is already better than Michael Jordan or if he will ever be considered better. Scottie Pippen offered his opinion and was blasted for saying such blasphemy. However, then we took a step back and thought maybe Scottie knows what he's talking about. After all, the guy played with Jordan every day and knows him very well. On top of that, LeBron was a monster in the Eastern Conference Finals against Chicago. He looked so dominant and was on top of the basketball world for the time being. And then the Finals came...and we immediately knew that James will probably never reach the heights of His Airness. The great ones bring it in the fourth quarter. That's when it's Winning Time and the best players know how to close a game out. Sure, MJ or Kobe can't be a hero every game (see Game 4 of the 1996 Finals or Game 7 of the 2010 Finals) but nearly every game they TAKE and MAKE the big shots. With James we were left scratching our heads because, at times, it appeared he didn't even want the ball late in the game. If you go by the name of King you should never defer to somebody else. Jordan never deferred and Kobe never deferred. Neither LeBron nor Wade wanted to take the big shot and, as a result, the ball looked like a hot potato in the fourth quarter of Game 7.

I'll say this, LeBron James is a great athlete and he can be a great player. However, he doesn't have some of the skills, such as a reliable shot, nor does he have the intangibles. By intangibles I'm talking about that assassin mentality. When it's the fourth quarter you would like to see the fire in his eyes that says, "I'm going to make sure we win this game." In the series against Chicago that's exactly what he did and he routinely buried the Bulls late in the game. In the Finals Miami would have been better off with him on the bench for the final period. LeBron averaged only 2.2 points in the fourth quarter of the Finals and most of his buckets came when the game didn't matter because Dallas had sealed the deal. That simply cannot happen from James. For a man who is supposed to be the best player that we have today, he has routinely disappointed us with his disappearance in playoff games. This is the second time it has happened along with the Boston series last year and it begs the question: What is wrong with him?

There has to be some psychological problem with him and sports psychologists will try to figure it out this summer. It's something that we haven't seen before. We are so used to seeing the greatest athletes hit the big shot, make the perfect pass, blast the game winning homer or sink the tough putt under the highest pressure situations. For so long the media has put LeBron in that group but it is clear he is not on that level. His poor performances have hurt his image on the court but his off the court, yet still basketball related, antics will ultimately be his biggest downfall.

No one will ever forget last summer when they think about LeBron James or the Miami Heat franchise.It was two moments of selfishness and ego that brought about the strong backlash against James and the Heat. Kevin Durant went on Twitter to announce he was staying in OKC and others called a simple press conference to announce their decisions. That's all fine and good, but to take an hour television spot on ESPN and dub the event The Decision is way over the top. That right there lost him thousands of fans and that was before the South Beach party with James, Wade and Chris Bosh. The three stomped around stage, shirt-popping and screaming before sitting down to discuss the future. That was when James predicted not 5...not 6....not 7 championships!! And not only would they win, but it was going to be easy! Why would somebody say that?? I still can't figure out why he would say that. He couldn't have been thinking when the words left his mouth. Talk about putting a target on your back.

It's fitting that he closed the season with another soundbyte that left people scratching their heads. LeBron basically said that his life was better than all of ours so he was just going to be happy and live how he wants while we had to go back to our daily problems. He has since apologized, and I commend him for that, but he still said it. Whoever is advising LeBron is doing a terrible job. He needs a PR person because he isn't good around a microphone and he is constantly digging himself a deeper hole.

Is LeBron a bad player? Not by any means. He is still a dominant player but the knock on him is that he is a different kind of player in crunch time. He isn't the closer we expected him to be and he has behaved very childish off the court, perhaps a testament to the company he keeps that advises him. LeBron is still young and he is on a very good team. They will win a championship soon but LeBron must figure out his fourth quarter failures and he must work to improve his image as a selfish guy. When he does that maybe then we can finally open our arms and accept him as one of the greats.

Read Tom Haberstroh's article on LeBron's fourth quarter performances by clicking the link below:
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/8778/the-lebron-james-4th-quarter-experience

Dirk Leads Dallas to First NBA Championship

One player left the floor a few seconds early to escape the crowd because he was overcome with the emotion of victory. The other player left the floor immediately after the buzzer, head down and the look of defeat spread across his forlorn face. It was polar opposites between the two biggest stars of the NBA Finals as Dirk Nowitzki needed a moment after his Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6, 105-95. On the other bench, LeBron James was foiled again and took the long, quiet walk back to the locker room knowing that he once again was second place. Where did it go wrong for the Heat? That's debatable but one thing that isn't is Dirk's greatness. With a championship under his belt he has cemented his status as one of the best players to ever play the game while LeBron continues to struggle under the microscope he has put himself under.

Dirk Nowitzki put on a clinic the entire playoffs and when he came under the weather during the Finals he still performed well. In Game 6 he was 1-12 shooting for the first half which was so un-Dirk-like that it seemed there was no way the Mavs could win. However, Jason Terry brought his jumper and kept Dallas in the game and in the second half we saw the Dirk we all know and love. It was clear that Terry and Nowitzki were on a mission to get their rings and not have a repeat of the 2006 collapse in which they lost four straight to Miami after going up 2-0. This was a totally different Mavs team and three key pieces that weren't there in '06 helped win the title. First, Jason Kidd has showed that he still can play as he climbs up in years. While he isn't as quick anymore and the dazzling plays become less and less, Kidd is a steady point guard and one of the greatest point guards ever. He will someday be in the Hall of Fame and he can now add a ring to his resume after two failed attempts with the New Jersey Nets. The experienced floor general found the open man and came up with timely steals throughout the playoffs. His backup, J.J. Barea, was also a big factor for Dallas with his quickness and his shooting. The undersized Barea averaged nine points and three assists in the postseason and irritated teams with his drives to the hoop. Tyson Chandler was perhaps the most important piece to the puzzle as he supplied muscle, athleticism and size in the post. He grabbed boards and blocked shots, but maybe the best thing he did was keep possessions alive with his tip outs off of misses.

For the Heat, they will have to go back to the drawing board and figure out what went wrong. They should take a piece out of Dallas' book and try to find a veteran point guard who doesn't need to score and they need a more reliable center. Joel Anthony did nice things but at the end of the day he is an energy guy who comes off the bench. Chris Bosh stepped up his game in the postseason and, for the most part, quieted his critics but he will need to find consistency in the offense next season. The point guard position is the main problem for Miami as they recycled players through that position. Sometimes it was Carlos Arroyo, other times it was Mike Bibby and then other times it was Mario Chalmers. Somebody has to be brought in or a current Heat player needs to step up and accept the role if Miami is to win as many championships as they have promised to their fans. Lastly, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have to figure out how to play together. At times they look fabulous sharing the ball and feeding off of each other but other times they are too unselfish. A prime example would be the fourth quarter of Game 6 when the ball was passed around like a hot potato because nobody wanted to take the shot. That problem has to be solved or one of them will have to hit the road.

Dwyane Wade

Obviously criticism has already come the Heat's way as it should. There are no excuses for the way they performed, especially late in games. LeBron was particularly awful with an average of only 2.2 points in the fourth quarter of the Finals. That simply can not happen when he is supposed to be the closer. However, if he is not getting the job done then Erik Spoelstra needs to bench him. Last night he came out of the game and the Heat took the lead midway through the 2nd quarter. It was the perfect scenario for them because it looked as if they would open up a big lead before the half. And then....LeBron came in and the Mavs regained the lead before the half. The stats don't lie from last night: the Miami Heat played better when LeBron James wasn't on the floor. Something had to be wrong with him in the series because he wasn't the same player. In the Chicago series he was the closer and took the big shots but he was M.I.A. in the fourth quarter of the Finals. Rarely was LeBron good at the end of games and next year the ball needs to be in DWade's hands come crunch time.

Was the season a total failure for the Heat? I don't think so but I do think it was a partial failure. They may not have had the right pieces but they were certainly good enough to win the title. But give Dallas credit, they played phenomenal basketball and it's nice to see them win after so many years of heartbreak. Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd can now put a ring on it after all these years and the Mavs have a great team that works together and plays hard. Those are qualities of a team that can be a dynasty if they perform how they are capable.

Dirk Cements His Legacy

Well congratulations Dirk, you’re officially the most loved player in the NBA. Why? Because you sent the Heat, as well as the whole city of Miami, a reality check. But was it simply one city that was affected by Dirk’s recent Finals victory? The League, players, and fans can all learn from how Dirk went about winning his first ring.

He was labeled as being a soft player, he lost to the Miami Heat in his first Finals appearance, and he lost literally every teammate from that Finals team with the exception of Jason Terry. Yet Dirk took it upon himself to get better and improve his game. He became a better off-the-ball player on offense, he developed a post-game, and he developed a true leadership role. When Jason Terry left Mario Chalmers wide open for that baseline three that tied the game in Game 2, Dirk got in his face and let him hear it. He then proceeded to win the game with his left hand, which was sporting an injured finger. After dropping Game 3, Dirk once again had late game heroics and had the game winning bucket, this time with his right hand.

Dirk took charge and led the team by himself. He was even bold enough to say in a press conference that he needed more support from his teammates. Not to let their leader down, the bench as well as other starters stepped up in the next few games. Tyson Chandler cleaned the glass like Windex, Jason Terry embarrassed the Heat defense by continually burying jump shots, and Jason Kidd stepped up for a few clutch threes down the stretch. His teammates respected him and played solely for the reason of getting Dirk his first ring; Jason Kidd, who had been in the Finals twice before, even said that he wanted to win for Dirk, not himself. Dirk Nowitzki gained their trust and failed only one out of three times to make the go-ahead shot in the NBA Finals.

Another reason you can’t help but respect the German 7-footer is because the man never asked out of Dallas. Even when he was left playing with scrubs like Tony Delk and Eric Dampier, Dirk stayed right at home. MJ never asked out of Chicago when they were awful at the beginning of his career, and Kobe never left Los Angeles when his starting power forward was Chris Mihm and Smush Parker was his point guard. Alongside those two, Dirk is a superstar that decided to endure criticism and do things the hard way, we all know LeBron James can’t say the second part.

Ten-time All-Star, one-time NBA MVP, NBA champion, and a Finals MVP; Dirk has cemented the legacy he’s been trying to leave since he entered the league. He’s never even wanted to leave Dallas, he worked harder than nearly every other player in the league to achieve his goal, and he delivered in the clutch. Dirk Nowitzki has silenced the critics and proved that hard work is how you succeed. Congratulations Dirk, you’ve earned it.

NBA Western Conference Playoff Preview

It's been wild out in the West but the playoffs are finally set and there are several great matchups. Much like the East, the first round could be very unpredictable and the best teams may not be in the Finals. The fifth seeded Denver Nuggets have looked outstanding since the Carmelo trade, yet they must play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. The Thunder are the young, exciting team that most people think are ready for a breakout year after taking the Lakers six games last year in the first round. Los Angeles is the second seed and is hoping for another three-peat, but they are limping into the playoffs, losing five of their last seven. Dallas has never fared well in the postseason and nobody is giving them much of a shot and then there are the San Antonio Spurs, sitting atop the bracket with the number one seed. Like always, it seems the Spurs are the forgotten team for some reason despite posting the best record in the West. Their age may be a factor, as could Manu Ginobli's elbow injury, but Greg Popovich has won four titles and don't count San Antonio out just yet. Other young teams like the Blazers and Grizzlies will try to pull off upsets in the first round and leave their mark on the 2011 postseason. Now, let's get to the picks.

1. San Antonio Spurs vs. 8. Memphis Grizzlies

If Rudy Gay had not suffered a season ending shoulder injury then the Griz could have a realistic chance in this series. Without him they can't win four games against the Spurs but they should be able to take one or two. Memphis has Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, a double-double machine, and their post presence will be very valuable against the Spurs inside duo of Tim Duncan and DeJuan Blair. When it comes to post play it is about even, however, if Ginobli is able to play then the Spurs can dominate the perimeter. Everybody knows what they are going to get from Ginobli and Tony Parker, but the key perimeter players for the Spurs are the young guys, George Hill and Gary Neal. Both are deep ball threats and run the new, fast-paced Spurs offensive attack well. In a rough playoff series, they will be counted on a little bit more to give Parker and Ginobli some rest time. If the Grizzlies are to win then they need everybody to be clicking on all cylinders every game and hopefully steal one the road. They may win a game or two at home but this upset would be more surprising than the Warriors beating the Mavericks a few years back. Prediction: Spurs in 5

4. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 5. Denver Nuggets

Make sure to tune in to every single game of this series because it is the best first round matchup the playoffs have to offer. The Thunder are a team that has constantly been on the rise since drafting Kevin Durant and the Nuggets are a team many thought were left for dead when they traded away but Carmelo, but instead they played phenomenal, reaching the 50 win mark. Give a shoutout to George Karl that coaching masterpiece. He can also thank his backcourt of Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton, both former Tar Heels. Together they average 27 points and 13 assists for a team without a superstar. No matter though, they have more than enough firepower to defeat the favored Thunder. Give some love to Thunder point guard, Russell Westbrook, a man who has been overshadowed at his position by Derrick Rose and even on his own team by Kevin Durant. Durant and Westbrook are the best duo in the NBA. Now they have Kendrick Perkins in the middle and that has made them a true championship contender. Perkins knows how to win and he is the bully the sometimes soft Thunder needed. This series will be the best and should go the full seven. Prediction: Thunder in 7

3. Dallas Mavericks vs. 6. Portland Trail Blazers

It's always hard to pick the Mavs to win a playoff series because they have such a terrible reputation in the postseason. Sure, they have one of the best players in the game with Dirk Nowitzki but he is a one-man show and that doesn't work in the playoffs. The Blazers, on the other hand, are an intriguing young squad that has seems to always be plagued by injuries but with a healthy lineup they have the potential to win this series. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are a poor man's Durant and Westbrook, but they are two players to keep an eye on in the postseason. Aldridge has had a career year, averaging 21 points and nearly 9 boards and many think he was the biggest all-star snub. Throw in Gerald Wallace and the Blazers have a solid core of players. The Mavs have had a great year but that's the norm for them. It's also the norm to then choke in the playoffs; call them the Kansas Jayhawks of the NBA. Here's their chance to change that image. Prediction: Trail Blazers in 6

2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 7. New Orleans Hornets

Much like the Grizzlies, if the Hornets had David West then they could make some noise but that's not going to happen against the defending champs. There's only one name people need to know right here: Kobe Bryant. Kobe is on a mission to get that sixth ring and it will be hard to stop him. The Lakers dynasty could be coming to an end with Phil Jackson mulling retirement and the core group of players getting older, but they have enough in the tank to parade the streets of LA one more time. If Andrew Bynum is healthy then there is no stopping the Lakers in the West. Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Kobe and Bynum is just too much for Chris Paul and his band of Hornets. Expect a sweep in this series. Prediction: Lakers in 4

If the predictions hold true then I would go with the Thunder of the Spurs and the Lakers over the Blazers. LA would then advance to the Finals where they would defeat the Bulls for their second three-peat since the millenium hit. The West is typically the stronger conference but there seems to have been a power shift to the East. Despite that, expect the West to pull off one more championship before the East wins the next few. The Lakers are too determined and too experienced for the Thunder to beat them just yet but Oklahoma City's time is near. Playoff action starts Saturday at 1 p.m. ET with the Chicago Bulls facing the Indiana Pacers.

Superpowers Good for NBA

Much has been made lately about the superpowers forming in the NBA. It all started with the Boston Celtics acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to go along with Paul Pierce, which created the first Big 3 in the East. The Los Angeles Lakers have put Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol out on the floor for a few years now and the result has been two championships to date. This summer, Miami re-signed Dwyane Wade and plucked LeBron James and Chris Bosh from the free agency market while Chicago was able to sign Carlos Boozer to help Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Before the deadline the Knicks traded for Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups and those two have teamed up with Amare Stoudamire to become a legit contender in the East. Out West there is the Thunder, Spurs and Mavericks as well and it is clear that the competition in the NBA is the best it has been since the mid-1990s.

To fans this is the best thing for the NBA because interest in the league was dwindling. After the Jordan-era, fans turned away from the NBA because the stars of the 90's were retired but now a new generation of superstars is in their prime and viewership has spiked. Also, there are finally a number of teams who have a legit shot at the title, whereas in recent years there have been few contenders. In both leagues there are four or five teams that have a chance to advance to the Finals. Boston, Miami, Chicago, Orlando and New York look strong in the East and out West the Lakers, Thunder, Spurs and Mavericks will fight for the conference crown. It is this intense competition that brings fans to their television sets because there are a number of can't-miss games. For example, Miami played Orlando last night, San Antonio tonight and then Chicago on Sunday and all those games are/will be on national television. These matchups of power teams have rekindled interest in the league.

Like the NFL, the collective bargaining agreement expires for the NBA after this season and there could potentially be a lockout next year. Enjoy this season while it lasts because owners are going to try and make the league more balanced, in hopes that every team will have a shot at winning the title. That's exactly what the league doesn't need though. What the NBA is creating now is good because they actually have competition and that creates so much more for them. It means more people tune in to watch, rivalries are created, stars go head-to-head every night and the playoffs are buckle-your-seatbelt action from start to finish. The NBA had become so watered down in the early part of the millenium because there are too many teams and stars were spread out. It made for a lot of bad games that nobody was interested in. Now, the stars have joined forces and the quest for the championship should be the best it's been in a long time.

It's hard to pick a Finals matchup because of how evenly teams match up and that's what makes the games fun. Nobody wants to see Charlotte play Toronto because the starpower just isn't there but almost half the league has players and teams worth watching. I would imagine the playoffs should get the highest ratings it's had in awhile. Also, many stars have free agency coming up and that will mean more alliances being formed. It's an exciting time for the NBA and one that they should cherish, not try to destroy.

Jersey Gets Their Superstar

More trade news from the NBA and I'm not a fan of this move at all. Deron Williams, star point guard of the Utah Jazz, was sent to the New Jersey Nets and, in return, the Jazz received point guard, Devin Harris and a promising rookie in Derrick Favors. Williams is clearly one of the best point guards in the NBA today (see past post on NBA point guards) and many teams have coveted his services. The Nets pulled off the move less than 24 hours after Carmelo Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks and it almost seems that the Nets wanted a superstar on their roster so badly that they didn't think through this deal very hard before executing it.

It's no secret that New Jersey wanted LeBron James in the summer and that they desperately tried to make a trade with Denver to land Carmelo. Now they have Williams, but the problem is that they gave away two young players that had loads of potential. Harris and Favors along with center, Brook Lopez, made up a pretty good, young core that could have led the Nets back to the glory days of the early 2000s. Without a doubt, Williams is an improvement from Harris but he really has no one to pass to. He and Lopez could have the same success that Williams had with Carlos Boozer in Utah but there is no supporting cast. At first glance it appears that the Nets have a pretty solid roster of young talent but it really isn't. At 17-40 they are 4th in the Atlantic Division and have no shot at the playoffs this season. After Williams and Lopez the Nets have an overrated, overpaid and injured player in Troy Murphy. Sasha Vujacic has a decent jumpshot but other than that all he has going for him is Maria Sharapova. Damion James's best basketball days were in Austin, Texas as a Longhorn and Travis Outlaw got a hefty contract in the offseason and has produced very little. Williams is stuck with a bunch of players that will not win.

On top of all that, Williams is a free agent at the end of this season and I would be surprised if he stays in New Jersey. Unless they can pull together some pieces and convince him that they have a shot at being a contender he will most likely leave for a better team. I have thought that he may want to go to Los Angeles to play with Kobe. Yes, Phil Jackson is leaving and there certainly will be some changes to the Lakers but Williams could run the point and have Kobe, Gasol and Odom to pass to. Derek Fisher is on the way out and LA will need somebody to run the Lake Show. It's definitley a place where he can win a championship or two and cement his legacy as an elite point guard. A friend of mine also brought up the idea of Dallas. Jason Kidd, like Fisher, is almost done and the mavs will need a point guard. Williams is from Dallas and could play in his hometown with Dirk Nowitzki and work for Mark Cuban. What player doesn't want to play for Cuban? Point is, there are going to be many destinations more popular than New Jersey at the end of the season. The Nets could only have him for half of a season and then he will be gone, but Utah has Harris and Favors for a long time.

Another thing that bugs me about this trade is Utah's timing. A few weeks ago williams and former Utah head coach, Jerry Sloan, reportedly got in an argument and when all was said and done, Sloan resigned. He was one of the NBA's best coaches and had been with the Jazz for 20 years. However, Williams got the best of him or the franchise picked their point guard over their coach and told Sloan to resign. What ever it was, Jerry Sloan is now at home. Williams is no longer in Utah either. Why didn't the Jazz tell Coach Sloan that if he waited just two more weeks Williams would be gone? That's no loyalty to a man who has been around for a long time. Jerry Sloan deserved better than that.

With this trade it is obvious that the power of the NBA has shifted to the East. For years the West has won all the championships and had most of the star players but with Carlos Boozer going to the Bulls, Amare and Carmelo to the Knicks and now Deron Williams to the Nets the East should be dominant. The Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Magic and maybe even the Knicks could take on the top teams in the West and beat them any night and I will say right now the champion will come out of the East this season. No one knows yet how long Deron Williams will be in New Jersey but, for now, the Nets have their superstar and they are hoping it means a few more "W's" in the win column.

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