Sports Blogging During My Safe Driving Course: A Pivotal Showdown in the NFC North

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So, my car insurance agent has been bugging me to complete a defensive driving course for about a year now. Finally today -- since it's really to my financial benefit -- I decided to take her up on that.

Needless to say, I wasn't particularly enthralled to find that the course is a SIX-hour commitment. With that in mind, I have decided to write about sports to fill in some of the down time during this wonderful learning experience. 

2:26 p.m.:  Jermichael Finley just put together a spectacular effort on a 14-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers, but it was eventually ruled incomplete by the side judge. Speaking of Jermichael Finley...isn't he one of the most disappointing players in the NFL? All hype, very little substance. He's also injury prone. 

2:29:  Darren Sproles just caught a slant over the middle and took it for 44 yards through the middle of the enigmatic Cowboys defense. Dallas just allowed a touchdown about 1:30 ago, which tied the game at 14 before the end of the half. To allow another TD here in the final minute would be a travesty at home. 

Saints ended up settling for a short FG from shaky Garrett Hartley. 17-14 Saints at half in a must-win for the 'Boys. 

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2:37:  Adrian Peterson knifing through the Texans defense...ho hum...what else is new? Talk about dominant individual seasons this year:  Peterson, Calvin Johnson, JJ Watt and Aldon Smith. Records being shattered left and right. Very impressive and fun to watch. 

2:40:  1,148 auto-related fatalities in New York in 2010. Is that even a lot? I was kind of expecting a higher number than that. Maybe we're driving more carefully than we think in our state...nahhhhh. Who am I kidding?

2:43:  I should probably address the fact that I chose a photo of Big Ben and The Red Rocket (Ben Roethlisberger and Andy Dalton). That's because I consider the Bengals/Steelers game to be the most pivotal of the day. The NFC East certainly makes for interesting games, but the Eagles (playing Robert Griffin III) and the Saints (playing the 'Boys) aren't in the race. Obviously the Steelers and Bengals both are. 

2:52:  I feel like the Cowboys defense never holds on third downs. Maybe it's just me, but I see pretty consistent failure in those scenarios. 

3:02:  I'm actually looking forward to the Timberwolves @ Knicks game that begins late this afternoon. New York got embarrassed by Chicago in their last outing, and I'm thinking the descent back to Earth is under way. We'll see. The Wolves don't have Kevin Love so the Knicks should be able to capitalize to some extent. 

3:05:  So much for the Dolphins under 6.5 wins this season -- they're currently beating up on the lowly Bills which will result in their 7th victory. Oh well. What do I know? Not much apparently. 

3:10:  The Steelers just tied it up at 10. Let's go, boys! I have the Steelers, Cowboys and Giants in a saucy parlay today. I'm live at the moment. 

3:15:  What else can I talk about? Oh, I ranked all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks the other day. Here's what I came up with:

32. Greg McElroy-Jets

31. John Skelton-Cardinals

30. Brady Quinn-Chiefs

29. Ryan Fitzpatrick-Bills

28. Chad Henne-Jaguars

27. Nick Foles-Eagles

26. Jake Locker-Titans

25. Brandon Weeden-Browns

24. Christian Ponder-Vikings

23. Sam Bradford-Rams

22. Joe Flacco-Ravens

21. Ryan Tannehill-Dolphins

20. Carson Palmer-Raiders

19. Josh Freeman-Bucs

18. Colin Kaepernick-49ers

17. Russell Wilson-Seahawks

16. Jay Cutler-Bears

15. Philip Rivers-Chargers

14. Andy Dalton-Bengals

13. Andrew Luck-Colts

12. Matthew Stafford-Lions

11. Cam Newton-Panthers

10. Matt Schaub-Texans

9. Matt Ryan-Falcons

8. Robert Griffin III-Redskins

7. Ben Roethlisberger-Steelers

6. Tony Romo-Cowboys

5. Peyton Manning-Broncos

4. Eli Manning-Giants

3. Drew Brees-Saints

2. Tom Brady-Patriots

1. Aaron Rodgers-Packers

Any comments regarding this list? If so, holla at me...

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3:37:  Congrats to my boy Darius Butler on another pick-six today. What a comeback season for my former Jumpshooter teammate. Great to see him thriving as an Indianapolis Colt. 

3:41:  Marques Colston may have just buried the Cowboys. Man, Dallas never seems to step up. They are such a collective disappointment. Sometimes I actually feel bad for Jerry Jones. 

3:47:  Okay, this is boring me. 

NFL Power Rankings: Matt Ryan & Julio Jones' Falcons Fly High

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Things can change quite a bit over the span of one, single year...can't they?

The Packers and Saints were setting the pace at this time last season, cruising up and down the field with their high-octane, seemingly-unstoppable offenses. 

Well, that certainly isn't the case this year. The Saints finally won their first game (now 1-4) and the Packers just coughed up a 21-3 lead and suffered an excruciating loss at the hands of Andrew Luck, Reggie Wayne and the underdog Colts. 

With those once-elite teams stumbling down the ranks, who has stepped up to claim the high-end real estate? Let's find out...

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4):  The Jaguars brain trust tried valiantly to improve their offense this offseason with the wide receiver additions of rookie Justin Blackmon and former Cowboy Laurent Robinson; unfortunately Blaine Gabbert is still their starting quarterback. Needless to say, things aren't working out too well to this point in the season. I'm not sure what to think about their embarrassing second half performance against the Bears this week -- just atrocious. 

31. Tennessee Titans (1-4):  I know I'm not going out on a limb but I have to say it...Chris Johnson has been the most disappointing player in the NFL this season -- by a landslide. 

30. Kansas City Chiefs (1-4):  Jamaal Charles is clearly back to elite form, but the rest of KC's offense never seems to perform well when the game is within one score. They're a garbage time kind of unit. That's kind of how I feel about Dwayne Bowe -- I don't really view him as a crunch time, go-to receiver. Maybe that's just me. I still like this team's defense when healthy. 

29. Carolina Panthers (1-4):  Talk about a team that's been difficult to watch -- sloppy, inconsistent and devoid of light at the end of the tunnel. Cam Newton's been all over the place (not in a positive way) and their defense can never seem to make a critical stop. 

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28. Cleveland Browns (0-5):  I'm well aware that they're the only winless team remaining in the NFL, but I'm sticking to my guns...

They're not that bad. Trent Richardson is an incredible young talent, Brandon Weeden has been serviceable and they're getting superstar CB Joe Haden back this week. There is ability on this roster. They're young. They might be solid a little (not a Greg Little pun) ways down the road.

27. Oakland Raiders (1-3):  With the exception of their surprising victory over the Steelers they've looked like the Oakland Raiders we've come to know and pity.  

26. Tampa Bay Bucs (1-3):  Loved the Vincent Jackson addition, but I don't see this team going anywhere with Josh Freeman at the helm. He's really just an average quarterback. There's nothing championship-caliber about this squad. 

25. Buffalo Bills (2-3):  New season, same old Bills. Good job laying down against the 49ers. Chan Gailey's boys see a great team and immediately sprint in the opposite direction. 

24. New York Jets (2-2):  Injuries:  Darrelle Revis, Santonio Holmes and Dustin Keller; team MVP and Mark Sanchez's top two receiving options. These are injuries a mediocre team cannot recover from. 

23. Detroit Lions (1-3):  Head coach Jim Schwartz needs to figure out where he's going to find consistency running the football. This backfield is crowded and underwhelming. In addition, defensive discipline has been a hindrance for Detroit again this season. I think Schwartz gets canned if they don't make the playoffs. (Probably a longshot the way Minnesota and Chicago are playing right now.)

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22. Washington Redskins (2-3):  Robert Griffin III and Pierre Garcon need to be simultaneously healthy before we can truly evaluate this team on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively they've been good but not exceptional. 

21. Dallas Cowboys (2-2):  Jason Garrett is the worst head coach in the NFL; a change needs to be made. This is a franchise full of underachievers, from the players all the way up to the front office. The future is dim. 

20. New Orleans Saints (1-4):  They're a Garrett Hartley field goal away from being 2-3 and very much in the hunt. Drew Brees and Marques Colston have rekindled their chemistry and New Orleans' defensive unit stepped up in the fourth quarter of their season-saving victory over the offensively-talented Chargers. 

19. Green Bay Packers (2-3):  Mason Crosby did his best Billy Cundiff impression this weekend. This team is riddled with injuries and in danger of missing the postseason this year.  

18. Indianapolis Colts (2-2):  A day later, I'm still amazed by Reggie Wayne's incredible receiving performance against the Packers. What an awesome comeback win for the Colts and their faithful. Well deserved. 

17. Seattle Seahawks (3-2):  Marshawn Lynch and a stout defense...the Seahawks in a nutshell.  I'm not at all impressed with Russell Wilson or Pete Carroll's receiving corps. 

16. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2):  Still battling defensive injuries and...well...they lost to the Raiders. That's just awful. They don't really deserve to be ahead of the team in the 15-spot. 

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15. Denver Broncos (2-3):  They've been an interesting team thus far. For the most part, Peyton Manning has played well enough and there have been nice flashes from Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Willis McGahee. However, on the other side of the ball, John Fox's defense has under-performed relative to last year. They need to elevate their collective play. 

14. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2):  A.J. Green is one of the premier players in the NFL right now, but I'm not sure this team has what it takes to be a legitimate postseason threat. As we say in poker, they seem a little "light."

13. Miami Dolphins (2-3):  Easily the surprise team of the season -- they're a couple of bad breaks away from being a legitimate 4-1 club. Joe Philbin has done a tremendous job at the helm, and rookie Ryan Tannehill has really impressed me with his ability to avoid the rush and make plays in tough spots. Miami features an excellent offensive line and a strong, disciplined defense. I really like CB1 Sean Smith. 

12. St. Louis Rams (3-2):  Helluva job by Jeff Fisher to this point. The Rams have quickly converted from one of the worst defensive teams to one of the best. That's a very difficult transition to make in a short period of time. Credit the front office and coaching staff for putting these guys in a position to make some noise. 

11. San Diego Chargers (3-2):  Same old Chargers. We know they'll be either 8-8, 9-7 or 10-6 at the end of the season. We know it'll be a tight battle for the division title. We know, if they do reach the playoffs, that they'll lose early on. Such is life for San Diego football fans. 

10. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2):  Michael Vick has been crappy but their defense has been stout and LeSean McCoy is a bad man. Shifty and explosive...wear ankle braces. 

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9. Arizona Cardinals (4-1):  It felt really weird typing 9. and then "Arizona Cardinals." It's usually like 29. Similar scenario to the Rams here. Adrian Wilson wants Defensive MVP this season. 

8. New England Patriots (3-2):  We know they'll be in the mix when it's all said and done. I don't feel like rambling on about them.    

7. New York Giants (3-2):  I think Eli Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL right now. If they could ever keep Hakeem Nicks on the field they'd definitely be in the top five. Somehow, despite the extra defensive attention, Victor Cruz still thrives in his absence. 

6. Minnesota Vikings (4-1):  Surprisingly, this is one of the most well-rounded teams in the game. If Christian Ponder can continue to protect the football the Vikings will stick around come playoff time. Really admire the way they are playing right now. Clean and efficient. 

5. Chicago Bears (4-1):  Best defense in the world. Even better than the 49ers right now. Trying to score against them is a true nightmare -- strong on the D-line, at linebacker and in the secondary. I don't think there's an offensive solution to this unit after five games.

4. Baltimore Ravens (4-1):  I'd still like them to play cleaner and more effectively on the road. At least they got rid of Billy Cundiff. Maybe they'll win a close game in the postseason this year.

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3. San Francisco 49ers (4-1):  A tremendous all-around team. A joy to watch. In my opinion, Jim Harbaugh is the best head coach in the game. Belichick is a legend, but Harbaugh doesn't allow his ego to cloud his judgment in should-be conservative situations.

2. Houston Texans (4-0):  Such is the trend this season:  Balance is the way to go. Vikings, Ravens, 49ers, Texans and Falcons -- strong on both sides of the ball. Who isn't impressed by the trio of Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson? I know I respect them. 

1. Atlanta Falcons (5-0):  For a few years many of us have been saying, "The offense is there, but the defense isn't quite up to par." That's no longer the case. Look out, the Atlanta Falcons are the best team in football right now.

MLB Playoffs Running Commentary: CC Shuts Down the High-Octane Orioles

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Sunday, October 7, 8:28 p.m.:  Looks like we're headed for an 8:40 first pitch...

8:31:  I feel comfortable picking the Yankees to win this series, but tonight's the game I'm most concerned about. C.C. Sabathia hasn't been an elite pitcher this season -- he's been "good" but nothing more -- and Jason Hammel is the only true threat to the Yankees' high-powered offense.

Hammel was a back-of-the-rotation starter for the Rockies in recent years, but he's really found it in Baltimore. Maybe Buck Showalter opened his eyes to superior pitch sequences. Hammel's looked like a second-tier ace, which is great considering his career leading into this season.

8:37:  This new Division Series format drives me nuts. Why are the Orioles home for Game 1 when the Yankees won the division and had the best record in the American League? Silly logic from the league's brain trust.

   

8:43:  "Would you bunt Ichiro here?" my roommate just asked. You can't because playing for one run early doesn't make sense the way Sabathia has pitched. Plus, it's an American League playoff game with two dangerous lineups -- you have to rally whenever possible.

8:46:  ...And there's Ichiro right on cue. Nice job by Joe Girardi starting Jeter there. 1-0 Yanks. Welcome back to the postseason, O's. Wow, terrible stolen base attempt by Ichiro there. What was that?

8:50:  Ichiro got the momentum rolling in the Yankees favor and then (almost) instantaneously gave it back. Terrible baserunning play that could be critical to the outcome of the game. Reminds me of Josh Hamilton's first-pitch double play in the first inning against Saunders the other day. Generated an early momentum shift. 

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8:55:  C.C. shook off Martin three times there before getting the pitch he wanted...four-seam fastball up and in. Very well executed for an out. 

8:58:  I know this is running baseball commentary, but Drew Brees just connected with Devery Henderson on a beautiful, long touchdown in the Sunday Night game. 7-7 in the first quarter. 

9:08:  Hammel isn't sharp early. Allowing leadoff runners to reach base and not locating when ahead in the count. Three poor 0-2 pitches there, but he escapes with the foul pop out from Martin. 

9:25:  Man, it's hard to stick to running MLB commentary when you have Sunday Night Football, Words with Friends, Draw Something, NHL 2013 and three roommates in the living room. You know?

9:34:  I was nervous when C.C. picked up that ball; luckily Tex held the bag. Ugh, Nate McLouth lefty on lefty, two RBI single. Annoying. 

9:36:  2-1 Baltimore after 3. Not a good sign for the Yankees because Sabathia has looked sharper than Hammel in terms of location and execution, and yet New York trails. We'll see how they respond...

9:41:  Excellent at bat from A-Rod. Great approach and discipline to draw the leadoff walk from Hammel. 

9:44:  Maybe it's just me, but I feel like Robinson Cano swings at every pitch in the postseason. Another excellent play by Mark Reynolds playing even with the bag at first. 

9:51:  More atrocious baserunning by the Yankees. Where is Tex going with the ball in front of him like that? Should be first and third one out. Changes everything. 

10:02:  Very uncharacteristic two out walk by Sabathia there. Free swinger like Reynolds; you need to make him hack with two out and no one on. Luckily it's Machado at the plate now; I don't view him as much of an offensive threat in this series batting as high in the order as he is (6th, expected him 8th). 

10:11:  Yankee hitters are consistently late on Hammel's sinking fastball which appears to be "fat" from time to time. I'd like to see them getting extended a tad earlier. As I say that, Ichiro is late on a hittable fastball and goes down swinging. 

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10:54:  Sabathia bites down and escapes after Jeter's potentially-costly E6. Pretty awful at bat from "Crush" Davis there in a pivotal position. 

11:00:  Horrible performance from Orioles reliever Troy Patton. I'm surprised that Buck trusted him in a game like this. Now it's Darren O'Day's mess to clean up; we expect Jeter to bunt them over to second and third here with no outs. 

11:27:  Helluva night for Sabathia; a true bulldog performance. Let's see if the Yankee bats can man up like C.C. has. 

11:34:  I don't know what I just saw...one of the worst at bats I've ever seen from Curtis Granderson. Takes a fastball right down the middle; takes a hanging slider then chases a fastball up out of the strikezone. Good morning, good afternoon and goodnight. Nice outing from Brian Matusz. 

11:47:  Somebody step up for C.C. -- let's go! How can the Yankee bats not be inspired to support their battling ace?

12:15 a.m.:  Thus concludes a classic performance from Sabathia:  8 2/3 innings, 2 R, 120 pitches in a hitter's park, road playoff game. Outstanding, and Robertson nails it down. Impressive late-game victory for the Yanks in Baltimore. 

12:18:  Talk about a demoralizing loss for Showalter and the O's. Jim Johnson and his 51 saves couldn't get the job done tonight. Game 2 tomorrow evening...can't wait. Congrats Yankees fans!

NBA Playoffs Running Commentary: Are the Pacers Poised to Shock the Heat?

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Are the Miami Heat simply a "good" team without Chris Bosh, and nothing more?

After the last two games of their playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, I think that's a fair question to ask.

The Heat, led by LeBron James and Mario Chalmers, played well for the second half of the first quarter and first half of the second, but that was the extent of their success tonight. With the exception of that particular stretch of time, the Pacers were clearly a better team than the Bosh-less Heat.

Center Roy Hibbert dominated the paint for Indiana, while guards George Hill and Darren Collison played quite well on the perimeter. The Pacers have more depth and more quality professional players than the Heat, and it showed this evening.

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Erik Spoelstra's team is in serious trouble right now, and Dwyane Wade's insubordination certainly didn't help. Wade showed up his head coach on national television, displaying the attitude of a superstar player who has absolutely no respect for his superior. Wade has a championship, Spoelstra has none -- it looked like "Flash" was trying to throw that weight around in one, contentious Heat huddle.

When Spoelstra tells Pat Riley what happened, I wonder who Riley will side with. Who is more important to the Miami Heat...Erik Spoelstra or Dwyane Wade? The answer is simple: Wade. And I suppose, in a way, that's the central problem in this scenario.

If the Pacers play as well (or close to) as they played tonight in Game 4, they will likely take a 3-1 series lead. With the emotional and physical fragility of the Heat right now, I don't think they can overcome that kind of deficit. Too much pressure, too many controversial aspects at play.

With that in mind, Game 4 is an absolute must-win for the Heat. We'll see how they respond. LeBron should know he has to go for 40, or 30 and 10-15 assists. It's hard to project that type of performance from him. Where was he in the second half tonight? It was the Mario Chalmers show. 

Overall, it's such a fascinating running storyline. I want Miami to reach the NBA Finals so we can all see how LeBron handles himself under the utmost pressure, but it doesn't seem like they'll get there at this rate. Hopefully now people will understand why I consistently label Chris Bosh as "one of the most underrated players in the NBA."

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Everyone always hates on him instead of giving him the credit he deserves as a solid, talented NBA power forward. Anyway, since it's 11:29 p.m. and the Clippers/Spurs game is currently in progress, I should really switch over.

11:30:  The Spurs are leading 74-63 with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, but I have to say, I admire the Clippers' resiliency. San Antonio could have stretched the lead a couple of times thus far, but Los Angeles continues to make it a game. I can't see them pulling off a critical come-from-behind victory, but it also seems unlikely that the Spurs will extend to a 16-24 point lead.

11:31:  Chris Paul is heating up. "This is going to become a close game," Chris Mullin says. Not if the Clippers can't find a way to stop the Spurs' incredible ball movement and team play.

11:32:  Spurs up 78-67 after three.

11:37:  I can't believe how valuable PF Reggie Evans has been off the bench for the Clippers this postseason. Oh, those role players. It's a real thing.

11:38:  Gary Neal knocks down a jumper. I'm not kidding...I feel like he never misses. I absolutely love his stroke. I have so much confidence in him, and I'm sure Coach Pop has even more than I do.

11:39:  Boris Diaw just dropped a dime on a silver platter for Tiago Splitter, who was hacked by my buddy Kenyon Martin. I like the way Splitter plays and finishes around the rim. The Spurs are bringing him along at the proper pace.

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11:42:  I think Stephen Jackson is the better player in the trade that involved SF Richard Jefferson, but in all honesty, I don't think Coach Pop needs either player. I like the Spurs with Parker, Green, Leonard, Duncan, Diaw, Ginobili, Neal, Splitter and Bonner. It's funny that PF DeJuan Blair doesn't necessarily have to touch the court. Incredible depth.

11:46:  Not related, but I'll be pretty surprised if the Lakers find a way to win more than one game in their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. I actually kind of think the Thunder will sweep, a la the opening round series against the defending-champion Mavs, who also had a good chance to win Game 2.

11:47:  The Spurs opened up the lead to 14, but Mo Williams responded with a sweet jumper for two.

11:51:  Tough call on Bonner there -- I thought he played Griffin surprisingly well there. TV timeout.

11:55:  How about the old timers Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett this postseason? Talk about a resurgence. Unbelievably impressive. Gotta love those competitors.

11:59:  At the end of the day, the cream comes to the top. The Spurs are running away with this one at home. I'm calling it a night. Stay well, everyone. 

NBA Playoffs Running Commentary: Blake Griffin Overpowers the Gritty Grizz

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The best, most tightly-contested series of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs features a critical swing game in Los Angeles tonight. I'm really looking forward to this one, more so than any postseason game to this point. I love the way these two units compete.

The Clippers came back from 27 down to win Game 1, the Grizzlies stepped up for a must-have victory in Game 2 and the Clips squeaked out a one-point win in Game 3. It doesn't get much better than that. 

My Game 4 Prediction:  The Clippers have the homecourt advantage, but I find it difficult to believe the Grizzlies will fall behind 3-1 in this series. Los Angeles is currently leading the series, but I view Memphis as the superior team over time. That being said, I like the Grizzlies in a 93-89 ballgame. 

Monday, May 7th, 10:37 p.m.:  Wild finish to Game 4 of the Spurs/Jazz series. San Antonio was up 21 but Utah has cut it to 6 with 19 seconds remaining. Paul Millsap just committed a backbreaking turnover. It's likely over.

10:40:  "The Spurs, seconds away from a sweep." You can book this one. The Jazz simply didn't have the depth or guard play to compete in the series.

10:42:  Commercial break and then we're heading out to Los Angeles. I'm interested to see if Memphis will do a better job denying Blake Griffin's easy, high-percentage opportunities around the rim. Some of his finishes were far too easy in Game 3.

10:47:  First play of the game...a sloppy possession from the Grizzlies is excused by a tough foul call against Griffin.

10:48:  Griffin and Randolph going at it in the post. Z-Bo called for the foul this time. The Grizzlies are out to an early 4-0 lead on the road.

10:50:  I'm rooting for the Grizzlies, but that was another tough foul call against the Clippers. It looked like Foye had the ball when he stepped in on Marc Gasol.

10:51:  The Clippers look out of sorts offensively. A great, early sign for Memphis and their defense. Another turnover by L.A. -- this time it's Griffin.

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10:52:  Mike Conley slides through the paint for an easy bucket. Caron Butler answers with a corner jumper.

10:53:  The Clippers' crowd is silent as the Grizzlies lead 10-2. Earlier I said they're the better team, and they certainly look it in the early going. We'll see how they hold up over the course of the long battle. So far so good.

10:56:  Gotta give Butler credit for playing with a broken hand. Who says NBA players are all about the money?

10:58:  Nice offensive continuity from the Grizzlies leads to a wide open mid-range jumper for Tony Allen. Butler responds with another score.

10:59:  Wow, Rudy Gay got mugged on one end (no call) and Foye traveled on the other (no call). Talk about a homecourt whistle.

11:00:  Hard foul from Gay on Griffin. Glad they didn't call that a flagrant. Just a standard hard foul.

11:01:  Clippers' speed has the Grizzlies frazzled at the moment. We're all tied at 12 but Gasol is heading to the stripe for two.

11:03:  Griffin is utilizing his athletic advantage over Randolph right now. Z-Bo has no answer.

11:04:  The point guards -- Mike Conley and Chris Paul -- trade threes. Now Rudy for three...good. Now Butler...good. It's raining threes.

11:06:  Uncharacteristic technical foul on Gay. As Chris Webber said, it looked like a clean block from DeAndre Jordan. Here comes OJ Mayo off the bench with a quick triple. Tied at 23. There's Foye for three. This is wild.

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11:09:  Both teams seem to have warmed up quite well from the perimeter. This will be an awfully high-scoring game if this pace continues. It's probably unlikely.

11:11:  Make a wish. Offensive foul on Griffin, offensive foul on Gasol. Clips ball.

11:12:  I love to see Kenyon Martin out there -- reminds me of my Nets' glory days. Thanks J-Kidd and RJ, too.

11:14:  A gorgeous fadeaway from CP3. He's incredible.

11:15:  Gilbert Arenas sighting. This could get interesting.

11:16:  Mayo misses a gimme but Gasol draws a loose ball foul; makes one of two at the line. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are over the limit and CP3 is going to the stripe at the other end.

11:19:  Clippers up 32-26 after one. They severely outplayed the Grizzlies in the second half of the quarter. I'm not sure they can continue cashing in at this rate, but they do have the ever-so-coveted homecourt advantage. The "advantage" part is real for many reasons, particularly in fourth quarters.

11:22:  Gay and Mayo are getting too frustrated, too early. Lionel Hollins needs to settle them down before it gets out of hand.

11:26:  Big time offensive rebound and putback by Marresse Speights. He does it on back-to-back possessions, a very impressive start off the pine.

11:28:  The Grizzlies have turned up the screws defensively. There's a nice pass from Z-Bo to Conley for a lay-up. Mo Williams responds with a silky short jumper.

11:30:  Mo-Will smells blood against Arenas. That reminds me, "NBARank" had Arenas ahead of Lou Williams before the season. Is that a joke or what?

11:31:  Arenas fouls Nick Young in the act of a jumper. Tough call. Looked like contact exaggeration from Young. Nice job selling it.

11:32:  Eric Bledsoe is a pretty tenacious, young guard. I don't think he'll be a great player but he's quick, fearless and strong for his stature and position. Useful rotation guy.

11:33:  The Clippers are out-hustling the Grizzlies right now. Bad news for Memphis and their faithful.

11:34:  Bledsoe might be the best on-ball defender on the Clippers. That's a funny thought, but possibly true. Conley at the line right now; he's close to automatic. Clips lead 39-36 after Conley's pair.

11:36:  Hollins needs to get his top five back into the game. Too much Pondexter and Cunningham time. This one could slip away.

11:42:  Things are getting chippy. Griffin vs. Randolph. Gasol vs. Reggie Evans. The latter is a master at mind games in the paint. He's currently at the foul line missing free throws.

11:44:  Memphis cannot guard Griffin in the paint right now. He's carving them to pieces. It's not looking good for the Grizz.

11:45:  Randolph losing his cool against Griffin. Terrible technical foul. He's overmatched in every way at the moment. I can't take it anymore. 

NBA Playoffs Running Commentary: Melo Steals A Win From the High-Powered Heat

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I have a headache and don't really feel like writing tonight, but this will help me stay awake to watch the entire Lakers/Nuggets game. 

Sunday, May 6th, 10:14 p.m.:  So the Knicks actually won a playoff game...I must admit I'm very surprised. Heading into the game I thought a Heat blowout was more likely than a tight, Knicks victory. 

As we now know, I thought wrong. The Knicks fought hard for a gritty, gutsy win to keep their opening round postseason series alive. Carmelo Anthony and Mike Bibby were the heroes for New York. 

Melo was a consistent go-to force from start to finish, and Bibby knocked down a couple of clutch threes in the fourth, following the season-ending injury to starting PG Baron Davis (who was actually the back-up to Jeremy Lin, also hurt). 

Melo connected on a number of contested, should-be low-percentage shots. Superstars are capable of that; I suppose, in a way, that's what makes them superstars. Melo's been struggling with Miami's defensive quickness, speed, intensity and skill throughout the series -- similar to what Derrick Rose experienced in the Conference Finals last season -- but he was able to get the highly contested shots to drop today. It was nice to see, and fun to watch. 

As for the Heat, LeBron made the big plays he needed to make down the stretch, but Erik Spoelstra opted for Dwyane Wade on the final play of the game. When ABC's cameras focused in on Miami's final huddle, it seemed like LeBron was convincing Spoelstra to run the play for Wade because the pick-and-roll switch would force Amar'e Stoudemire to guard Wade.

To some extent, both LeBron and Spoelstra admitted to that at the post game press conference. The strategy wasn't horrendous, except for the fact that the best player in the world didn't have the ball with the game on the line. Things with this Heat team are just so bizarre sometimes. Never boring, though.

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10:43:  The Nuggets are taking a six-point lead into the half. Danilo Gallinari missed a wide open three at the end of the second quarter; the way he's been shooting thus far, they should probably be up nine right now.

10:45:  Whenever the Lakers miss a jumper -- particularly from the corner -- and it bounces long to the foul line, the Nuggets are off and running and getting easy buckets. The older Lakers have no answer for Denver's transition speed and explosiveness.

10:48:  Callin' it quits. Not feelin' it tonight. 

NBA Playoffs Running Commentary: Look Out...LeBron Is On A Mission.

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I have officially contracted NBA playoff fever. I'm back for more. 

Thursday, May 3rd, 10:02 p.m.:  Just watched the entire Heat/Knicks game...can't say I'm the least bit surprised at the result. 

The Knicks battled hard, particularly in the first half, but the stronger team survived and eventually thrived. There's definitely something different about LeBron James this season -- this could be the year. He still gets flustered and/or frustrated at times, but those occasions seem to be in first halves. He's hungry and focused in second halves. 

When LeBron was in foul trouble in the third quarter, this became Dwyane Wade's team again (momentarily). New York's defense had no answer for Wade's assortment of offensive offerings.

In my opinion, only two teams can give the Heat a run for their money: The Thunder and Grizzlies. They have the length, athleticism, speed, talent and desire. The Spurs may be a better team than the Grizzlies, but Memphis matches up better with Miami in terms of personnel.

10:03 to 10:24:  Friends calling me to complain about the Knicks' loss. I don't know why they ever had their hopes up in the first place. Probably because they are Yankees fans. As a Mets, Nets and Jets fan, I know when it's appropriate to be pessimistic. They haven't applied that rationale to the Knicks in this series against the far superior Heat.

10:25:  Kevin Durant is off to a scorching start and no one is terribly surprised. Law of averages.

10:26:  This game has been extremely entertaining thus far -- Thunder flying up and down on both ends, Rick Carlisle nearly getting ejected, Mavs fighting back hard (as usual) from an early deficit and Vince Carter trying valiantly to channel his days as a Toronto Raptor. So far so good.

10:30: The Thunder are up 34-28 heading into a television timeout. The Mavs should be in it the rest of the way out.

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10:33:  Scott Brooks doesn't strike me as a spectacular head coach. I think Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka make him seem more special than he is. Some coaches make players; some players make coaches. We're looking at the latter situation here.

10:34:  A ridiculous block by Ibaka. I've never seen that before.

10:36:  I can never really sense when an unorthodox Shawn Marion three is going to fall. Not this time. Thunder lead is back up to 10.

10:38:  Really enjoyed watching the Clippers/Grizzlies Game 2 last night. Memphis really wants it and they're definitely the more talented team. I told my co-workers today, "Chris Paul is the best player in the series, but the next best five -- Gay, Gasol, Randolph, Mayo and Conley -- are all Grizzlies."

Blake Griffin obviously has better regular season stats than most (if not all) of those guys, but they are polished professional basketball players. Griffin is still a player who relies strictly upon his physical gifts. That will get you through the regular season with flying colors, but doesn't cut it in the postseason. You have to have skill. You have to have pure basketball IQ. You have to be a playmaker or facilitator.

10:42:  OKC is trying to pull away but the Mavs are stubborn. Whoops, there goes James Harden in the passing lane. He's scary quick.

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10:46:  Thunder up 15 now with the ball. Westbrook should have followed his own miss there; it was his rebound for the taking. Another TV timeout.

10:47:  Is Russell Westbrook a better player than Kevin Durant? I've been asking myself that question for the past month...I can't say I have a definitive answer...

I know the general public definitely sides with Durant, but that means nothing to me. I had Durant as the No. 2 ranked player in my last top 10 slideshow, but Kobe's easily back into that slot. Dwight and Rose are out of the picture. I'm looking at something like LeBron, Kobe, Durant, Westbrook, Wade, CP3, Dirk, Parker, Pierce (in that order) for the players participating in the postseason.

Something like that. Others popping to mind are Gasol, Bynum, Rondo, Al Jefferson, Garnett, Harden, Gay, Deng...damn, there are a lot of good, solid players in the league right now. Good for you, David Stern. 

10:54:  Should I bother looking at the second half line? It'll probably be ambiguous.

11:02:  Halftime. Perfect time to get my packing done. Probably won't happen, though.

11:03:  My friend just called to ask if no-hitters even matter in the MLB anymore. "Someone is taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning on a nightly basis now," he says. I can't say he's wrong. It does seem to be happening with unusual regularity.

Well I guess it's not unusual...not too many hitters left on steroids. We think. Could be other Brauns out there, I suppose.

11:04:  Kenny Smith is rambling during the halftime show; who is surprised? He cuts himself off fairly often. Always amusing.

11:08:  I know I should be taking interest in the 76ers/Bulls series -- now that Derrick Rose is out -- but I doubt I'll actually follow through on that. Philly is my least favorite team to watch in this playoff pool. Well, maybe the Magic without Dwight, but at least that's an intriguing storyline.

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11:12:  Charles Barkley is currently making an announcement about the greatness of LeBron James. I'm starting to believe in it, Chuck.

11:13:  My current thoughts on the Heat: I love that they play balls-to-the-wall on both ends of the court. Yeah, LeBron had "The Decision" show. Yeah, they had that stupid Big Three introduction ceremony at the beginning of last season. But really, from a pure basketball standpoint, this Miami Heat group isn't a flashy, prissy kind of team. They want it. They go after it. They play physical, hard and tough. They are skilled and savvy. I respect them. None of that matters unless LeBron gets his ring, though.

11:15:  Second half is about to start and I've packed zero items.

11:17:  Carlisle is going cutthroat. Mahinmi over Haywood to start the second half. It's the right decision. And there's Jason Kidd, and the Mavs are only down five. Love these f'n guys.

11:19:  I need to pick up the HD cable box for my flatscreen. Nothing like an unnecessarily blurry playoff game. Nice work, Frascella.

11:20:  Westbrook. Bang bang. He's a beast.

11:21:  Big bucket and the foul for Delonte West. Love the way he's been playing the past few weeks. Key contributor for Dallas.

11:22:  Durant squared up beautifully on that make. That's the difference for him tonight -- much better shooting mechanics. Meanwhile, there goes Westbrook again...I think he's more difficult to stop than KD...

11:28:  Threes from Westbrook and Sefolosha. It might actually be getting away from Dallas now. They always seem to bounce back, but I'm not feeling it this time. Thunder may win by 12-16 points.

11:31:  I thought the Mavs played about as well as they possibly could in the opening two games of this series, and that may very well be the case. That would suggest an OKC sweep. The Mavs are going to have to dig deep for another gear which may not even be there.

11:42:  "Dallas just looks old at this point."- Steve Kerr

11:43:  Thunder leading 75-57 with a couple seconds to go in the third. That's the way it'll end.

11:45:  My response to one of my friend's texts about the Knicks, "The Nets would have given the Heat a better series. 100%."

I may actually believe that. Maybe not without Lopez, but that still leaves us with Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries and Gerald Green. Love that four. I'm so biased sometimes.

11:48:  Horrendous charge call by the officials. They got together and overturned it. Refs need to stop assuming the charge. They need to call the play as it occurs. If a player is driving hard and a defender jumps in front of him, that doesn't mean he's automatically set. Let them earn the flop.

11:49:  It's raining OKC threes.

11:50:  Brian Cardinal is in for the Mavs. Carlisle is throwing up the white flag. Meanwhile Derek Fisher is making every three he attempts. Good for him. He's found a new home, for now.

11:53:  The Mavs fans who are leaving should be ashamed of themselves. Show some respect for last season's incredible championship run. This team deserves their complete and utter support. The fans who are leaving shouldn't be allowed to attend future games.

11:54:  Cardinal and Durant going at it. This is funny.

11:55:  No more for me tonight. I'm actually going to pay closer attention to this blowout. So long, Dallas. 

NBA Playoffs Running Commentary: "The Truth" Is Undeniable

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It's been awhile. I know. If you noticed the hiatus, well...you're probably the only one.

Wednesday, May 2nd, 11:03 p.m.:  You don't have to like Paul Pierce, but you have to respect him. Last night "The Truth" turned in another legendary performance, adding to his legacy as one of the most under-appreciated superstars in the history of the NBA. I mean, they definitely appreciate him in Boston, but the rest of the country doesn't give him his proper due. 

Pierce is one of the most fearless clutch players of all time. Never afraid to take and make the big one.

With the series heading to Boston, you have to like the Celtics at this point -- especially considering the absence of PF/C Al Horford from Atlanta's lineup. They've been without him for most of the season, and they simply aren't as dangerous without their top four intact (the others being SG Joe Johnson, F Josh Smith and PG Jeff Teague). Three out of four isn't going to cut it in the postseason. 

11:15:  Tony Allen jumps into the passing lane and flies in for an uncontested dunk. The Grizzlies are up 57-52 in Game 2. 

11:16:  Man, the Spurs really blew the Jazz out tonight, huh? I can't say I'm surprised because the Spurs' backcourt is in another stratosphere in comparison to the average (at best) Jazz. I like Utah's frontcourt -- Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors -- but you need it all to compete with this year's Spurs. They don't have it all; that much is for sure. 

11:18: You could make the argument that Blake Griffin is the least improved player in the NBA this season. His stats are there, thanks to his athleticism, coordination and strength, but his repertoire hasn't improved in the slightest. If I had to win one game, right now, off the top of my head I'd take all of the following power forwards over him:

Dirk Nowitzki, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love, Pau Gasol, Kevin Garnett, Chris Bosh, Al Jefferson and David Lee. I'd also consider Josh Smith, Tim Duncan and Serge Ibaka. 

Griffin, minus the monster finishes around the rim, is almost an offensive liability at times. His shot selection is bizarre and his free throw shooting isn't where it needs to be. I love watching him fly but am not a fan of his game. 

11:23:  CP3 drilling a mid-range jumper in Tony Allen's face. So much for the defensive height advantage. 

11:24:  Zach Randolph with the offensive rebound and bucket. He has 11. Looks spry tonight. 

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11:25:  I did two NBA playoff brackets -- I have the Thunder over the Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals in one of them, so the Grizz better come out of this series against CP3 and the Clips. In hindsight, I realize that I went against one of my general bracket strategies: pick the top teams with the easiest paths to the championship. Meaning, I think the Grizzlies are the second best team in the West, but they have to play the Clippers right now while the Spurs are beating up on the far inferior Jazz. 

I have the Grizzlies knocking out the Spurs (again), but Memphis has to get there before that can come to fruition. I forgot to calculate that aspect of it. I knew the Jazz had no shot to beat the Spurs in a series. The same cannot be said of the Clippers against the Grizzlies. 

11:29:  It's nice to see my UConn classmate Rudy Gay knocking down jumpers in the NBA playoffs. It's all love. 

11:31:  So I have the Thunder over the Heat in 7 games in one of my brackets, but I still feel bad for my Mavs after the first two games of their series. Mathematically and practically speaking, Dallas probably should have come away from those two games with at least one victory. Unfortunately for Dirk, Jet, J-Kidd and company, they didn't. I'm not quite sure they'll hold homecourt in Game 3. OKC may sweep now, sad as that is. 

11:35:  Grizzlies back away from CP3 and he nails a big three. Bizarre defensive lapse. 

11:36:  Are the 76ers really going to win that series with Derrick Rose out of the picture? From what I saw in Game 2, it's highly possible. We'll have to wait and see. I'd still side with the Bulls but can't say I'm confident. 

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11:37:  Rudy Gay. Make it rain, kid. 

11:38:  Memphis up 75-69 after 3. CP3 and OJ Mayo just barked at one another. I like when things get personal. Should be an awesome fourth quarter. 

11:39:  I'm squinting at the screen so I should probably stop for now. If there's anything to update, check me out on Twitter @RedSoxAuthor. I never actually talk about the Red Sox. It's mostly NBA stuff. I know, not much continuity there. I'm out.

NBA Top 10: The Heated Kobe-LeBron Debate Continues

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Kobe Bryant is the most skilled and clutch offensive player in the world. LeBron James is one of the best all-around basketball players of all time. How do we separate the two?

Check out my full story on Bleacher Report.

A Blog Post By My Cell Phone: CP3 Chokes and My Mets Are A Joke

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So what does "A Blog Post By My Cell Phone" mean, you're wondering?

Well, as those of you who are close to me already know, I don't have a Smartphone, Blackberry or whatever else is hot these days. I have the env3 -- no Internet, photos or up-to-date features of any kind. 

So where am I going with this?

My cell phone caps my incoming and outgoing text messages, which means I have to delete useless texts on a daily basis. While clearing out tonight, I noticed some items worth mention. Delete them from my phone, publish 'em on my blog. They've found a home. 

1. Chris Paul chokes at the foul line. 

I have to be honest, this one isn't from my scrap heap of text messages. I was actually watching the Mavs @ Thunder on NBATV and immediately after OKC wrapped up its win, the network switched over to the conclusion of the Clippers @ T'Wolves game. The Clips were down by five with 29 seconds to go, but CP3 forced a turnover and L.A. soon cut the deficit to three. After a failed scoop shot by JJ Barea, the Clips had the ball with four seconds remaining and an opportunity to tie. 

The camera focused on Minnesota's excellent head coach Rick Adelman, who was clearly repeating, "Don't foul!" to his players. 

So what does rookie Derrick Williams do? Foul CP3 on a three-point attempt, of course. 

Paul barely knocked down the first attempt, calmly connected on the second and then...

Completely choked on the third, barely grazing the left side of the rim. About a second-and-a-half remained after the miss, but Minnesota held on for the win despite the ensuing missed free throw from their point guard, Ricky Rubio. It was a pretty embarrassing miss for CP3; it wasn't even close. Also disappointing because I would have liked to see overtime. Oh well.

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2. The Mets' talent pool is as thin as ever.

Hey Mets fans, pictured above is our fearless leader David Wright, who didn't play in tonight's preseason opener against the Nationals. That's funny to me because Ike Davis played despite "valley fever" which sounds exotic and dangerous, but apparently isn't much of a threat. 

Anyway, Justin Turner was batting third tonight, and I don't really know what to say about that. We have absolutely no depth this season -- showcasing guys like Jordany Valdespin, Zach Lutz, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Juan Lagares -- and it's probably going to be difficult to watch any more than 50 games. We might be able to hang around in games because of our adequate pitching, but hanging around doesn't equal winning. I don't think we'll be doing much of that. If only we did as much "winning" as Charlie Sheen.

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3. Matt Harvey couldn't throw a strike. 

So I was pretty excited after Harvey's first inning of work tonight -- he topped out at 94 (very impressive this early in the spring) and snapped off a couple nasty curves -- but he really tanked after that. I know it's extremely early at this point and certainly nothing to be concerned about, but why was it seemingly impossible for him to throw a strike? I understand not having command of a curve, change, slider, split or anything like that in the early going, but the four-seam fastball -- really?

Makes me wonder about his offseason preparation. It's easy for a professional pitcher to throw the ball straight, trust me. 

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4. The Nuggets have ridiculous depth. 

Denver may not be one of the premier teams in the NBA, but it definitely is the deepest. Their full strength starting lineup is PG Ty Lawson, SG Arron Afflalo, SF Danilo Gallinari, PF Nene Hilario and C Timofey Mozgov, but Sunday evening I was watching them without Gallo and Nene (both injured).

Enter SF Corey Brewer and PF Kenneth Faried. Brewer is considered one of the best and most versatile perimeter defenders in the game, and Faried is a rookie freak with jaw-dropping power and athleticism. Not bad for a couple of fill-ins. Granted, Faried has been starting for awhile now, but that's a direct result of Nene's lengthy stint on the DL. 

So even without their top two players, the Nuggets were able to bring quality veterans off the bench including PG Andre Miller, SF Al Harrington and C Chris "Birdman" Andersen. Miller is still a leader and playmaker, Harrington is easily one of the top five offensive reserves in the league and Birdman's athleticism and shotblocking are still very much a factor. 

As you can see, George Karl's rotation can already go 10 deep, and I haven't even mentioned impact reserve SF Rudy Fernandez (also injured), C Kosta Koufos who has played surprisingly well when given the opportunity and SF Wilson Chandler who may soon be returning to Denver's already long roster. This team could be a sleeper when intact. 

Maybe more to come tomorrow; I'm too tired right now.