The 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs Are Missing Just One Thing -- Sidney Crosby

So far, the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been darn close to perfect.

In round one, four Game Seven’s were needed to determine a series victor. There have been nine consecutive nights with overtime playoff hockey. And yet, something is missing.

With the NFL’s popularity waning and an NBA lockout looming ahead, this is a huge chance for the NHL to pick up steam. But without its poster boy, that’s not going to happen.

Sidney Crosby is sorely missed.

And not just be Versus, which has put out night after night of good broadcasts, but by the game itself.

Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals stand a very good chance of beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Conference Semi-finals, but even if Ovechkin leads the Caps to the Cup this year, it will be tainted.

Ovie had clearly taken a back seat to Crosby, and without going through Sid’s Penguins, “The Great 8” will not have overcome his greatest nemesis. It will be like the asterisk that now is attached to the steroid-infused Boston Red Sox 2004 World Champion club.

It’s not AO’s fault, but most experts would agree that if Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were participating in these playoffs, Pittsburgh would never have loss to Tampa Bay and would be considered the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference.

Crosby had clearly surpassed Ovechkin coming into the season – with an Olympic Gold medal, a Stanley Cup ring, and another Finals appearance, it wasn’t even debatable anymore. Then, Crosby got off to a jaw-dropping start that saw him post 66 points in 41 games.

Ovechkin’s Capitals beat the Penguins in Sid’s last healthy game of the season, but neither had much impact on the game.

The stage should have been set for a rematch in the Eastern Conference Finals, a chance for Ovie to vault himself back towards Crosby’s level. But No. 87 never arrived to save Pittsburgh in the Quarterfinals and so Ovechkin will miss his chance.

AO and the Capitals certainly have the most personal rivalry with Crosby and the Penguins, but anyone that wins the Cup this year will have also done so without facing the league’s best player, and perhaps its best team.

Like the 1994 NBA Playoffs without Michael Jordan, Crosby’s absence for the Penguins must be noted in the annals of hockey history.

It’s his time at the throne and anybody so lucky to win a title in the King’s absence should thank the Hockey Gods for showing mercy.

Fantasy Focus: Sell High On Grady Sizemore

Grady Sizemore owners have to be quite pleased with the early return from the 28-year-old centerfielder of the Cleveland Indians.

Just under a year removed from microfracture surgery on his knee, Sizemore has posted a .406 average with three home runs and seven RBIs in just eight games this season.

No one knew if he’d ever be the same player after undergoing the intense procedure, but Sizemore has quickly begun to erase everyone’s doubts.

That means this is the perfect time to sell high on the Indians’ leadoff man.

It is possible that Sizemore will continue on like nothing ever happened, but it’s pretty unlikely. For a player so reliant on his legs, any kind of serious surgery is a major red flag.

Sizemore hasn’t stolen a base yet this season, and was in fact caught in his lone attempt of the year last night. The Indians have repeatedly stated that they’ll be very careful with Grady, and it stands to reason that means he won’t exactly be given the green light on the basepaths.

At his best, Sizemore was one of the best 30-30 threats in baseball. But if he’s not going to be stealing bases, his fantasy value plummets back down to earth. Sizemore has only actually eclipsed the 30-homer mark once in his career, and his true potential is probably closer to 25 dingers.

His season batting average has never been higher than .290, and he hasn’t hit higher than .277 since 2006. The early .406 mark is impressive for sure, but it is not indicative of his past performances.

And don’t forget that when healthy, Sizemore has been among the major league leaders in strikeouts.

There’s a remote chance that Sizemore’s injury will be a non-factor going forward and that he’s the franchise player the Indians were once building around, but don’t bet on it. Better to see if any of Sizemore’s old owners in your league are thrilled with his start and nostalgic for days gone by. You may be able to squeeze a surprising trade return for him, but you’d better act fast. His terrific start won’t last forever.

How Three Free Agent Signings In 2007 Have Shaped The Eastern Conference

In the last four seasons, one of them has 51 goals and 174 assists, the next has 62 goals and 99 assists, and the last has 102 goals and 116 assists.

The first has eight goals and 26 assists in 42 playoff games, the second has four goals and four assists in 21 playoff games, and the last has 28 goals and 29 assists in 53 playoff games.

They are now a center for the Montreal Canadiens, the captain of the New York Rangers, and an alternate captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Their journeys over the last four years, however, have been far different.

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Entering the summer of 2007, Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, and Daniel Briere were the top forwards available in free agency.

Gomez had served as one of the lone offensive threats of the New Jersey Devils for the better part of a decade. Despite a system that crippled the offensive numbers of many, Gomez had four straight seasons of 40+ assists. He’d scored a career high of 33 goals in 2005-2006, and though he dipped to just 13 goals and 47 assists in 2006-2007, many thought he’d taken the next step.

Drury was a co-captain of the Buffalo Sabres and had established a reputation as one of the most clutch players in the league. He had 17 goals and 14 assists during the previous two playoffs including a game-tying goal with 7.7 seconds left in regulation of Game Five in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals against the New York Rangers. Drury’s postseason experience was the stuff of legend, but he’d also potted 37 goals in 2006-2007, seven more than his previous career high of 30.

Briere arrived in Buffalo a year before Drury and had carved out a solid career as an offensive player after a slow start to his NHL career with Phoenix. Drury was “Captain Clutch” at the time, but Briere had improved constantly and was still just 29-years-old. Drury scored more big goals than fellow co-captain Briere, but Daniel had added 11 goals and 23 assists during the past two playoffs for Buffalo himself.

The Philadelphia Flyers had finished dead last in the Eastern Conference in 2006-2007 and were in desperate need of an infusion of talent. Prior to the start of the free agency period, the Flyers traded for Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen and signed both to long-term deals. On July 1, the Flyers signed Briere to an eight-year, $52 million deal.

Later that day, Drury and Gomez signed with the New York Rangers for five-years, $32.25 million and seven-years, $51.5 million, respectively. The duo was expected to join with Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, and Martin Straka to form a potent offense and turn the Rangers into Stanley Cup contenders.

In 2007-2008, the Rangers finished fifth in the Eastern Conference, their highest placing since 1997-1998. The Rangers cruised by Gomez’s old team, the New Jersey Devils, in the first round of the playoffs and were eliminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Semi-finals. Gomez and Drury finished No. 2 and No. 3 on the team in scoring behind Jagr.

Briere posted 72 points for the Flyers as Philadelphia climbed all the way up to sixth in the East. The Flyers beat Washington and Montreal en route to the Conference Finals where they, too, fell to the Penguins. Briere notched nine goals and seven assists in 17 playoff games.

Jagr, Straka, and Shanahan all left the Rangers in the offseason, and Drury and Gomez were entrusted with carrying the load in 2008-2009. The Rangers managed a seventh place finish in the East, but Gomez’s production slipped to 16 goals and 42 assists and Drury managed just 22 goals and 34 assists. The Rangers were dismissed from the playoffs in seven games by the Washington Capitals in the first round.

Briere fought off injuries all season but still scored 25 points in 29 games. Philadelphia once again ran into the Penguins in the playoffs, and once again Pittsburgh sent the Flyers packing, this time in the first round.

In the summer of 2009, the Rangers recognized that they needed to add an elite goal scorer to replace Jagr. Gomez had underwhelmed during his time in New York, and his enormous contract loomed over the team. Rangers GM Glen Sather dumped Gomez on the Montreal Canadiens and picked up Chris Higgins and a prospect named Ryan McDonagh in the process. Sather quickly made use of his cap savings, and signed Slovakian winger Marian Gaborik to a fat free agent deal the very next day.

The Flyers had established themselves as a growing Eastern Conference powerhouse. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter continued to improve, and the Flyers also had prospects Claude Giroux and James Van Riemsdyk on the horizon. During the offseason, the Flyers acquired hulking defenseman Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks.

Gaborik notched 42 goals in his first season with the Rangers, but the club failed to make the playoffs. New York’s window had closed when Jagr left, and although the team still had plenty of high-priced talent, it was clearly in a transition period. Drury scored just 14 goals and 18 assists and it was obvious that his career was on the down-swing.

In Gomez’s first season with the Canadiens, he tallied 12 goals and 47 assists for the eventual eighth seed. His numbers were basically identical to his previous season with New York, but Montreal had hoped for much more.

The Flyers were expected to cruise through the regular season, but Philadelphia got off to an awful start and needed a shootout win over the Rangers on the last day of the regular season to squeak into the playoffs as the seventh seed. From there, the Flyers went on to upset the Devils, Bruins, and Gomez’s Canadiens en route to the Stanley Cup Finals where the Flyers fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games. Briere was magic in the playoffs and scored 12 goals and 18 assists, many of them coming with the game on the line.

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Fast forward to the present day, and the three are at very different points in their careers. Drury went goal-less in his first 23 games of the season as he struggled to fight through nagging injuries. He needed until the final game of the year to surpass Henrik Lundqvist’s four points, but then Drury scored his biggest goal as a Ranger against the New Jersey Devils to help New York reach the postseason.

Canadiens fans were not impressed with Gomez in his first year with the club, and grew even more frustrated this season. The Alaskan center still has three more expensive seasons on his contract and managed just seven goals and 31 assists this season.

Briere was second on the Flyers in scoring with 34 goals and 34 assists. Once again, he’s been huge in the playoffs and added his sixth goal of the first round in last night’s elimination of his old team, the Buffalo Sabres.

Three signings have shaped the Eastern Conference over the last four years. Neither Drury nor Gomez lived up to expectations with the Rangers, and it’s a good bet that New York will buy out the final year of Drury’s contract this summer. The Rangers did acquire a stud young defenseman for Gomez in McDonagh, a player that Montreal would love to still have. Gomez’s deal is crippling for the Canadiens and one can only wonder how the top-pairing of P.K. Subban and McDonagh would have faired over the next decade.

Then there’s Briere. There’s been no better playoff performer in the league than the diminutive forward over the last few years. He always seems to be in exactly the right place at the right time for Philadelphia, and the Flyers appear poised for a deep playoff run once again with Briere an early candidate for the Conn Smythe.

On the one hand, the Rangers were forced to rebuild once the Drury and Gomez deals failed. On the other, they could have had a player like Briere.

Fantasy Focus: Don't Give Up On Adam Lind Yet

17 games into yet another disappointing season, it’s fair to worry whether Adam Lind, 27, will ever develop into a reliable fantasy player.

In 2009, Lind drilled 35 home runs and smacked in 114 RBIs while batting a respectable .305. As a former much ballyhooed prospect, most thought it was a sign of things to come.

But in 2010, Lind dipped across the board, to 23 home runs and 72 RBIs with a paltry .237 average. Many weren’t willing to write Lind off just yet and he was a big sleeper for 2011.

This year though, Lind has tallied only one homer and nine RBIs with a similarly disappointing .232 average.

Now, many owners are skeptical of whether Lind will ever return to form and fulfill his potential.

There aren’t too many signs of hope at the moment, but Lind still has too much talent to give up on completely. Many players have peaked recently far later than anyone expected after significant periods of struggle. Josh Hamilton and Alex Gordon both were top rated prospects and took years to become fantasy relevant.

That’s not to say that Lind will ever reach their level, but you’ll be kicking yourself if he has that kind of future ahead of him.

What’s most puzzling is that Lind went from being totally unable to hit left-handed pitching, to hitting .333 against southpaws this season (albeit in just 18 at bats). He used to handle righties, but in 2011 he’s hitting just .196 against them. That screams small sample size, so if Lind can turn things around against righties he’ll be right back on track.

Lind’s power comes in bursts even when he’s struggling, so you’re smart if you ride him out and take advantage of the occasional extra homer and decent RBI production. He’s shown in the past that he’s capable of hitting for average, so wait him out a bit longer and see if that starts to come around.

Lind was drooled over at one point for a reason, and he’s still the same person. Give him a few more weeks before cutting ties.

NBA Playoffs Preview: Eastern Conference

 

1^st Round:

(1)   Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Indiana Pacers

(2)   Miami Heat vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers

(3)   Boston Celtics vs. (6) New York Knicks

(4)   Orlando Magic vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

Chicago Bulls:

The Bulls are likely to become “America’s Team” in the next couple weeks as they are the ones who pose the biggest threat to derail the “Heatles” (Miami Heat) from making a run to the NBA Finals.  The Bulls clinched the number one seed in the Eastern Conference through the inspired play of MVP Candidate Derrick Rose and a stifling Defensive Scheme from Coach Tom Thibideau.  The Bulls have a flawless front court with different players that complement each other well.  Carlos Boozer scores in the low block while Joakim Noah protects the rim defensively.  Both are very capable rebounders as well.  Luol Deng has been an unsung hero this year by doing a little bit of everything (scoring, rebounding, and defense).  Off the bench the Bulls can go to the young and energetic Taj Gibson, grizzled veteran Kurt Thomas and rookie Omer Asik.  The Bulls backcourt begins and ends with Derrick Rose.  Rose is essentially unguardable now that he has an improved jump shot to go with his ability to get into the paint anytime he pleases.  The shooting guard position is the team’s “Achilles Heel.”  Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, and Keith Bogans each see minutes at this position but they all would be backups on other teams.  People on ESPN (cough couch Colin Cowherd) compare this Bulls team to recent Cleveland Cavaliers teams (with LeBron) because they are led by a volume scorer that simply have overachieved due to a solid defensive coach.  Cowherd even went as far to say that Deng, Noah and Boozer compare to last year’s Cavs team (Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao, Antawn Jamison).  While I don’t agree with Cowherd, I do wonder if the Bulls do not win the Eastern Conference, will it be due to a lack of a starting caliber shooting guard?

Miami Heat:

In this “Post Decision” NBA World, teams are following Miami’s example of adding multiple superstars.  The Heat are simply LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and not much else (although they did make a nice late year deal by signing Mike Bibby).  The one thing that ails this Heat team is late game situations when either Wade or James goes one-on-one against their opponents while their teammates stand in the corner.  Another problem is the season long disappearance of Mike Miller and the injury to Udonis Haslem.  With these two flaws, will the Heat have enough to win a Championship due to having two of the top five players in the league (Wade and James)?

Boston Celtics:

Scheme wise, the trade of Kenderick Perkins should not have hurt that much.  Perkins was out when the Celtics were playing their best basketball early in the season (even though they had an old Shaquille O’Neal who is now even more immobile due to recent injuries).  However one can never tell how trades and transactions will affect a team’s mood and chemistry.  Since the Perkins trade, Boston has struggled to find its groove due to star Rajon Rondo sulking due to the trade of his best friend.  Even other Celtics were disheartened by the trade of “Big Perk (see ESPN’s Series “The Association” for further evidence).  Many pundits and fans are starting to count the Celtics out, but I won’t due to the leadership of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen who can probably sense that this is their last run at title.  For Boston to get back to the Finals, they need Shaq, whatever’s left of Jermaine O’Neal and Glen Davis to try and replace Perkins’s toughness and defensive presence.

Orlando Magic:

This Magic team is different than previous versions that have had success in the playoffs.  Dwight Howard still controls the paint both offensively and defensively by himself for the Magic.  Orlando made two big mid-season trades that landed them Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas, and Hedo Turkoglu.  The Magic have essentially “F’d” themselves up for when Dwight Howard becomes a free agent by adding the long-term contracts of Turkoglu and Arenas.  If I were the Magic’s General Manager, I would have made the trade with Phoenix (netted Orlando both Richardson and Turkoglu) while not making the dumb trade for Arenas.  The Magic would have had a much more balanced roster (which would have had the depth of the Denver Nuggets with a bona-fide superstar) with Howard, Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson, Rashard Lewis, Turkoglu, Richardson, Quentin Richardson, J.J. Redick, and Jameer Nelson.  However even this roster wouldn’t be good enough to reach the Finals but it would have made the Magic much more interesting.  One can only dream.

Atlanta Hawks:

They have played horribly as of late and it is a farce to why this team is seeded so high.  They have always been a better collection of players rather than an actual team. Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Joe Johnson are each star players but their talents don’t complement each other well.  I thought the mid-season acquisition of Kirk Hinrich would have helped them but they have gotten worse.  Look for a quick exit for the Hawks against Orlando.

New York Knicks:

“I'm Coming Home, I’m Coming Home, Tell the World I’m Coming Home” as MSG runs another promo proclaiming Carmelo Anthony is a Knick.  Essentially the Knicks are a lesser version of the Miami Heat built around three stars (Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, and Chauncey Billups) but unlike the Heat they don’t play defense.  The Knicks will probably win one game against Boston in front of a playoff starved crowd at Madison Square Garden but that will be it.  They simply do not have ANY playoff quality defenders to make a deep run this year.  The future is bright for the Knicks, but delusional fans need to get a grip and realize they have no chance at beating the Celtics in this series.  The offensive wizardry of Anthony and Stoudemire will keep the games close for a while but look for the Celtics to get the key defensive stops in late game situations to propel them to an easy series victory.

Philadelphia 76ers:

The 76ers remind me so much of last season’s Charlotte Bobcats.  Philadelphia has overachieved this year under the guidance of a veteran coach (Doug Collins) and feature’s a plethora of young athletic players such as Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holliday, Thaddeus Young and a renaissance season from Elton Brand.  The Sixers would actually matchup pretty well against other playoff contenders but have got a poor matchup against the Miami Heat.  The Heat will simply out-athlete Philadelphia with James, Wade, and Bosh.  Look for the Sixers to lose the first two games by double figures and then two close games at the Wells Fargo Center.

Indiana Pacers: 

Do they even deserve to be in the playoffs.  No, but actually they will give the Bulls a tough five game series.  Indiana matches up favorably against the Bulls because they have a hardworking frontline led by Danny Granger, Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert.  Much like last season’s eighth seed (the Bulls) the Pacers will steal a game against Chicago at Conseco Fieldhouse but will end up falling short in following the footsteps of the 2007 Golden State Warriors as an eighth seed who knocks off a number one seed.

Bracket Breakdown:

Look for the Bulls, Heat, Celtics and Magic to each win their first round series’ in five games or less.  In the second round, look for Orlando to give matchup problems for Chicago with their three-point shooting and the presence of Dwight Howard.  The Magic narrowly lost to the Bulls last week without Howard.  I do see the Bulls outlasting the Magic in six though.  Boston and Miami should go seven games.  The trade of Perkins evens out the two teams now that Boston doesn’t have a resounding advantage in the front court anymore against the Heat.  I believe the series will come down to home court advantage which the Heat have.  I’m taking the Heat to win a classic seven game series.  In the Eastern Conference Finals, I really want to take the Bulls because they exemplify how my ideal NBA team would be built.  But I think the Chicago’s lack of a shooting guard and the playoff inexperience of Rose and Noah (they haven’t won a first round series) will ultimately doom them. Remember Chicagoans, it took Michael Jordan seven seasons to reach the NBA Finals.  It is only Rose’s third season and he will eventually win one if not two titles.  Not this year though, “America’s Most Scrutinized Team (Miami Heat)" will represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals after defeating the Bulls in six games.

Anyone Can Have Fun And Succeed At Fantasy Sports - A Sad But True Tale

I have a confession. My girlfriend just beat me (and eight other male friends) at fantasy hockey.

Maybe I should be proud of her accomplishment and pleased that she took an interest in one of my favorite hobbies this year, but I’m not that mature. I’m a 10-year fantasy hockey veteran that has secured multiple championships, and I just lost to a (albeit very pretty) girl.

My competitiveness has blinded me to the positives of her accomplishment, and now I’m up at nights contemplating where it all went wrong.

Thanks to me, she’s been planted in front of at least 100 Rangers games since the start of our relationship. I’ve got her in agreement that Henrik Lundqvist literally cannot be beaten in the shootout, that Marian Gaborik is a lazy S.O.B., and that Brandon Dubinsky is an MVP in waiting. But in general, the depth of her current hockey knowledge is shallower than a frat guy at a happy hour.

To my delight, she agreed to participate in a league with some of my friends and teammates, provided I give her a moderate amount of help. I quickly convinced her that after my team dragged hers all over the “ice,” she’d owe me a…favor.

It didn’t turn out that way. Despite my still standing belief that I had the best team in the league, somehow it was my significant other that went on an improbable playoff run from the six-seed and won the title.

There’s only one good thing I’ve taken from this ordeal. My girlfriend’s victory will be my go to argument from now on when someone says that fantasy sports are for dorks and that casual fans shouldn’t waste their time. Anyone can play, and anyone can win.

That’s not to take anything away from my boo; as a fantasy rookie she guided her squad through the bumps and bruises of the regular season and pulled off a string of stunning upsets in the postseason that would have impressed Shaka Smart. But with just a little guidance, everyone has a chance to do the same thing.

The basic principles of fantasy sports are simple. For the preseason draft you can use any one of 6,432,019 guides on sports Web sites. Once the season starts all you want to do is add the guys whose numbers keep climbing and get rid of the ones who don’t.

Sorry to all the “experts” out there, but that’s really it. Find guys trending upward and get them on your roster while getting rid of dead weight.

Of course, it’s a little more fun when you actually know what you’re talking about. I have “my guys” that I must retain year after year, and I know which players I like and dislike in real life. My encyclopedic knowledge of NHL stats gives me an advantage, but it doesn’t always translate to victory

As my girlfriend will readily tell you, it’s pretty easy to get hooked on fantasy sports. Most red-blooded Americans are fierce competitors and no matter how nerdy they think fantasy sports are, they understand the concept of winning and losing.

If you’re a casual sports fan, or if you’re dating one and you haven’t played the biggest internet craze of the century, I highly suggest you sign up. Fantasy sports are not going away anytime soon, and you may find that mini weekly victories are quite fun to wake up to on Monday mornings.

As for me, I’m going to give serious thought to retiring from my friends and teammates league. I just don’t know if I can stomach playing with those dorks again.

I Went To A New Jersey Nets Game And A Circus Broke Out

When I went to my first pro basketball game in over ten years, Celtics @ Nets, a few weeks ago, I was less than impressed by the lackadaisical efforts displayed by the millionaire ballers I’d paid to see.

So, I guess it shouldn’t have come as a major shock that my second game on Monday night, Bobcats @ Nets, was even more of a letdown given that both teams had long been eliminated from playoff contention.

I knew going in that both teams would be without almost every decent player on their rosters due to injury, but Zach has never seen his beloved Bobcats in person so I went along for moral support.

I figured I was going to see high school level basketball, but I never expected to witness a three-ring circus.

Apparently, the Nets are well aware that their actual on court product leaves something to be desired. Last game I remember there being some sort of entertainment during literally every TV timeout, but what I saw Monday night took it to a whole new level.

The entertainment MC was a young man with corn rows tucked under his backwards hat and a Nets jersey that designated him “Glorious.” Throughout the game, he feigned excitement over T-shirt cannons, countless dance routines, an impressive halftime talent show, and a male fan makeover sponsored by Nivea.

One fourth quarter stoppage was a pretty good summation of the night. Play halted and out paraded two ladies on stilts, the Nets’ mascot, Sly, his Mini-Me accomplice (dubbed Mini-Sly) on a siren-toting bike, dancers with streamers, and trapeze artists flying down from the rafters. OK, I made that last part up, but needless to say, Glorious was pumped.

I get that the Nets are trying to provide their fans and families with as diverse an entertainment experience as possible, but they might want to focus a little more on the actual basketball aspect of the event.

Backup point guard Jordan Farmar - who was starting because Deron Williams, the Nets’ lone recognizable player, missed the game with injury - was caught on the Jumbotron yawning during pregame introductions, and it’s a bit of a shock that he didn’t actually fall asleep under one of the hoops.

The game was played with the enthusiasm of a hungover college freshman at a Friday morning lecture and I caught myself nodding off on more than a few occasions. I’m not a huge NBA fan so that’s understandable, but Zach, who watches basketball literally every night and was psyched up to finally catch his ‘Cats in person even admitted to closing his eyes a couple times.

The Nets drew a sizable crowd given the circumstances of the game, but I’ll bet most were like us, picking up tickets off StubHub for literally less than $1.

The Nets will only be in New Jersey for one more season before moving to Brooklyn and something tells me the organization’s circus act won’t be tolerated across the river. Getting Deron was a start, but this team had better figure out how to entertain a crowd during the actual game instead of relying on ridiculous gimmicks to rouse its fans.

Kemba’s Tourney Run Catches Eye of His Airness

Kemba Walker practically willed the Connecticut Huskies to the 2011 National Championship.  In doing so, Walker has caught the eye of Charlotte Bobcats Owner Michael Jordan.  ESPN NBA Draft Guru Chad Ford wrote that he heard that Jordan is a “Big Fan” of Walker.  If the Bobcats are able to draft Walker, it will likely signal the end of D.J. Augustin’s time in Charlotte.  Augustin (Charlotte’s incumbent starter at point guard) is about the size (6’ 0” 180 lbs) as Walker and the two would be unable to be on the court at the same time because opposing backcourts would likely score at will against them.  Most likely the Bobcats will select 9^th or 10^th is the 2011 NBA Draft.

Here's How NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Teams Did Against Each Other During The Regular Season, And Why It Doesn't Matter For The Playoffs

With just three days left in the regular season, not a single Eastern Conference playoff matchup is set in stone. What happens in the season’s final days will determine who finishes first in the conference and who misses out on the postseason all together.

Most of us are guilty of looking ahead and debating which potential opponent would be the best and worst draw for our team. One of the most frequently cited bits of information is how a team has done against its potential opponents during the regular season. Below, I compiled a list of how each potential Eastern Conference playoff team performed against potential playoff foes during the regular season.

Some interesting tidbits:

• The conference leading Washington Capitals could face any of Montreal, Buffalo, Carolina, or New York in the first round. Washington is 11-0-3 against the first three, but just 1-2-1 against the Rangers.

• If you watched “24/7” you got the distinct impression that Washington was the underdog in the Caps rivalry with the Pittsburgh Penguins. This season, Alex Ovechkin’s crew went 3-0-1 against Pittsburgh.

• If Carolina sneaks into the playoffs, the Hurricanes won’t be thrilled about any of their potential matchups. They have a losing record against all of the East’s top four seeds, a combined 4-12-2.

• Boston vs. Montreal looks like a likely matchup, and it would be a great one. The bad blood between the two teams culminating in Zdeno Chara’s hit on Max Pacioretty is palpable, and the teams have played each other very tough during the regular season.

• The Flyers may be giving their fans panic attacks as the season wears down, but the Philly faithful might be comforted to know that their team has a winning record against Montreal, Buffalo, New York and Carolina.Philly had better not lose hold of the division to Pittsburgh though; the Flyers went just 1-3-0 against TampaBay.

• Pittsburgh, on the other hand, would love to snatch the lead from Philly and draw a first round matchup with the Buffalo Sabres. The Penguins went 4-0-0 against Buffalo, but just 13-17-2 against the East’s other playoff teams.

• Boston isn’t afraid of any of the East’s big dogs, as the Bruins have a winning record against the first, second, fourth, and fifth seeds. However, Boston is just 8-9-3 against the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth seeds, one of which the Bruins will face in the first round.

• If the Rangers do make the playoffs, their first round opponent might not be thrilled. New York is 12-7-1 against the top four seeds in the East, but just 4-10-2 against the fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth seeds.

• The Canadiens shocked the world during the playoffs last year, but their playoff foes from a year ago, all of whom they could meet again, didn’t take them lightly during the regular season this year. Montreal went 1-3-0 against Philadelphia and Washington, but the Canadiens did go 3-1-0 against the Penguins.

• In 2010, the sixth seeded Boston Bruins upset the third seeded Buffalo Sabres in the first round 4-2. Buffalowent 4-1-1 against Boston this season, so this potential three-six matchup could be particularly intriguing.

• A potential matchup between the Capitals and Flyers down the line could feature lots of bonus hockey, all four games between the two this season were decided by overtime or shootout.

But does the regular season matter? If the 2010 season is any indication, not really. In the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the team that won the regular season matchup was 2-1, with Pittsburgh splitting its regular season with Ottawa. The Canadiens beat Pittsburgh in the Conference Semi-finals despite losing their regular season series to the Penguins, but the Flyers beat the Bruins after winning the regular season series between the two.Philadelphia and Montreal split their regular season series, but the Flyers came out on top in the Conference Finals.

In other words, it’s not a bad idea to take note of how your team did against potential playoff foes, but it may not mean as much as you think.

Washington

Against Philadelphia 2-0-2

Nov. 7 vs. Flyers, W 3-2 OT

Nov. 20 vs. Flyers L 5-4 SO

Jan 18. @ Flyers L 3-2 OT

Mar. 22 @ Flyers W 5-4 SO

Against Boston 1-3-0

Oct. 19 vs. Bruins L 3-1

Oct 21 @ Bruins L 4-1

Nov. 5 vs. Bruins W 5-3

Dec 18. @ Bruins L 3-2

Against Pittsburgh 3-0-1

Dec. 23 vs. Penguins L 3-2 SO

Jan. 1 @ Penguins W 3-1

Feb. 6 vs. Penguins W 3-0

Feb. 21 @ Penguins W 1-0

Against Tampa Bay 4-1-1

Nov. 11 vs. Lightning W 6-3

Nov. 26 vs. Lightning W 6-0

Jan. 4 vs. Lightning L 1-0 OT

Jan. 12 @ Lightning L 3-0

Feb 4. @ Lightning W 5-2

Mar. 7 @ Lightning W 2-1 SO

Against Montreal 3-0-1

Dec. 28 vs. Canadiens W 3-0

Feb. 1 vs. Canadiens L 3-2 SO

Mar. 15 @ Canadiens W 4-2

Mar. 26 @ Canadiens W 2-0

Against Buffalo 3-0-1

Nov. 13 @ Sabres L 3-2 OT

Nov. 17 vs. Sabres W 4-2

Feb. 20 @ Sabres W 2-1

Apr. 2 vs. Sabres W 5-4 OT

Against New York 1-2-1

Nov. 9 @ Rangers W 5-3

Dec. 12 @ Rangers L 7-0

Jan. 24 vs. Rangers L 2-1 SO

Feb. 25 vs. Rangers L 6-0

Against Carolina 5-0-1

Oct. 27 @ Hurricanes W 3-0

Nov. 24 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Nov. 28 vs. Hurricanes W 3-2 SO

Dec. 26 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Mar. 11 vs. Hurricanes W 2-1

Mar. 29 vs. Hurricanes L 3-2 SO

Philadelphia

Against Washington 2-0-2

Nov. 7 @ Capitals, L 3-2 OT

Nov. 20 @ Capitals W 5-4 SO

Jan 18. vs. Capitals W 3-2 OT

Mar. 22 vs. Capitals L 5-4 SO

Against Boston 1-3-0

Dec. 1 vs. Bruins L 3-0

Dec. 11 @ Bruins W 2-1 OT

Jan. 13 @ Bruins L 7-5

Mar. 27 vs. Bruins L 2-1

Against Pittsburgh 4-1-1

Oct. 7 @ Penguins W 3-2

Oct. 16 vs. Penguins L 5-1

Oct. 29 @ Penguins W 3-2

Dec. 14 vs. Penguins W 3-2

Mar. 24 vs. Penguins L 2-1 SO

Mar. 29 @ Penguins W 5-2

Against Tampa Bay 1-3-0

Oct. 14 vs. Lightning L 3-2

Nov. 18 vs. Lightening L 8-7

Feb. 1 @ Lightning L 4-0

Feb. 15 @ Lightning W 4-3 SO

Against Montreal 3-1-0

Nov. 16 @ Canadiens L 3-0

Nov. 22 vs. Canadiens W 3-2

Dec. 15 @ Canadiens W 5-3

Jan. 25 vs. Canadiens W 5-2

Against Buffalo 2-1-0

Oct. 26 vs. Sabres W 6-3

Jan. 11 @ Sabres W 5-2

Mar. 5 vs. Sabres L 5-3

Apr. 8 @ Sabres

Against New York 4-1-1

Nov. 4 vs. Rangers W 4-1

Dec. 18 vs. Rangers W 4-1

Jan. 16 @ Rangers W 3-2

Feb. 20 @ Rangers W 4-2

Mar. 6 @ Rangers L 6-0

Apr. 3 vs. Rangers L 3-2 SO

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 1 vs. Hurricanes W 3-2

Nov. 11 @ Hurricanes W 8-1

Feb. 10 vs. Hurricanes W 2-1

Feb. 18 @ Hurricanes L 3-2

Boston

Against Washington 3-1-0

Oct. 19 @ Capitals W 3-1

Oct 21 vs. Capitals W 4-1

Nov. 5 @ Capitals L 5-3

Dec 18. vs. Capitals W 3-2

Against Philadelphia 3-0-1

Dec. 1 @ Flyers W 3-0

Dec. 11 vs. Flyers L 2-1 OT

Jan. 13 vs. Flyers W 7-5

Mar. 27 @ Flyers W 2-1

Against Pittsburgh 2-1-1

Nov. 10 @ Penguins W 7-4

Jan. 10 @ Penguins W 4-2

Jan. 15 vs. Penguins L 3-2

Mar. 5 vs. Penguins L 3-2 OT

Against Tampa Bay 3-1-0

Nov. 22 @ Lightning L 3-1

Dec. 2 vs. Lightning W 8-1

Dec. 28 @ Lightning W 4-3

Mar. 3 vs. Lightning W 2-1

Against Montreal 2-3-1

Nov. 11 vs. Canadiens L 3-1

Dec. 16 @ Canadiens L 4-3

Jan. 8 @ Canadiens L 3-2 OT

Feb. 9 vs. Canadiens W 8-6

Mar. 8 @ Canadiens L 4-1

Mar. 24 vs. Canadiens W 7-0

Against Buffalo 2-2-2

Nov. 3 @ Sabres W 5-2

Dec. 7 vs. Sabres W 3-2 OT

Dec. 15 @ Sabres L 3-2

Jan. 1 @ Sabres L 7-6 SO

Jan 20 vs. Sabres L 4-2

Mar. 10 vs. Sabres L 4-3 OT

Against New York 1-3-0

Oct. 23 vs. Rangers L 3-2

Nov. 17 @ Rangers W 3-2

Mar. 26 vs. Rangers L 1-0

Apr. 4 @ Rangers L 5-3

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 26 vs. Hurricanes L 3-0

Jan. 17 vs. Hurricanes W 7-0

Jan. 18 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 1 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Pittsburgh

Against Washington 1-3-0

Dec. 23 @ Capitals W 3-2 SO

Jan. 1 vs. Capitals L 3-1

Feb. 6 @ Capitals L 3-0

Feb. 21 vs. Capitals L 1-0

Against Philadelphia 2-4-0

Oct. 7 vs. Flyers L 3-2

Oct. 16 @ Flyers W 5-1

Oct. 29 vs. Flyers L 3-2

Dec. 14 @ Flyers L 3-2

Mar. 24 @ Flyers W 2-1 SO

Mar. 29 vs. Flyers L 5-2

Against Boston 2-2-0

Nov. 10 vs. Bruins L 7-4

Jan. 10 vs. Bruins L 4-2

Jan. 15 @ Bruins W 3-2

Mar. 5 @ Bruins W 3-2 OT

Against Tampa Bay 2-2-0

Oct. 27 @ Lightning L 5-3

Nov. 12 vs. Lightning W 5-1

Jan. 5 vs. Lightning W 8-1

Mar. 31 @ Lightning L 2-1

Against Montreal 1-2-1

Oct. 9 vs. Canadiens L 3-2

Jan. 6 @ Canadiens L 2-1 SO

Jan. 12 @ Canadiens W 5-2

Mar. 12 vs. Canadiens L 3-0

Against Buffalo 4-0-0

Nov. 24 @ Sabres W 1-0

Dec. 11 @ Sabres W 5-2

Feb. 4 vs. Sabres W 3-2

Mar. 8 vs. Sabres W 3-1

Against New York 2-3-1

Nov. 15 vs. Rangers L 3-2 OT

Nov. 29 @ Rangers W 3-1

Dec. 15 vs. Rangers L 4-1

Feb. 1 @ Rangers W 4-3 SO

Feb 13 @ Rangers L 5-3

Mar. 20 vs. Rangers L 5-2

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Oct. 30 @ Hurricanes W 3-0

Nov. 19 vs. Hurricanes W 5-4 SO

Jan. 22 vs. Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 25 @ Hurricanes L 4-1

Tampa Bay

Against Washington 2-3-1

Nov. 11 @ Capitals L 6-3

Nov. 26 @ Capitals L 6-0

Jan. 4 @ Capitals W 1-0 OT

Jan. 12 vs. Capitals W 3-0

Feb 4. vs. Capitals L 5-2

Mar. 7 vs. Capitals L 2-1 SO

Against Philadelphia 3-0-1

Oct. 14 @ Flyers W 3-2

Nov. 18 @ Flyers W 8-7

Feb. 1 vs. Flyers W 4-0

Feb. 15 vs. Flyers L 4-3 SO

Against Boston 1-3-0

Nov. 22 vs. Bruins W 3-1

Dec. 2 @ Bruins L 8-1

Dec. 28 vs. Bruins L 4-3

Mar. 3 @ Bruins L 2-1

Against Pittsburgh 2-2-0

Oct. 27 vs. Penguins W 5-3

Nov. 12 @ Penguins L 5-1

Jan. 5 @ Penguins L 8-1

Mar. 31 vs. Penguins W 2-1

Against Montreal 2-1-1

Oct. 13 @ Canadiens W 4-3 OT

Dec. 30 vs. Canadiens W 4-1

Mar. 5 vs. Canadiens L 4-2

Mar. 17 @ Canadiens L 3-2 SO

Against Buffalo 2-2-0

Nov. 20 @ Sabres W 2-1

Dec. 18 vs. Sabres W 3-1

Feb. 8 vs. Sabres L 7-4

Apr. 5 @ Sabres L 4-2

Against New York 4-0-0

Nov. 24 vs. Rangers W 5-3

Dec. 23 @ Rangers W 4-3 SO

Jan. 1 vs. Rangers W 2-1 OT

Feb 27. @ Rangers W 2-1

Against Carolina 3-2-0

Dec. 20 vs. Hurricanes W 5-1

Jan. 15 @ Hurricanes L 6-4

Feb. 12 vs. Hurricanes W 4-3 OT

Mar. 25 vs. Hurricanes L 4-3

Mar. 26 @ Hurricanes W 4-2

Apr. 9 @ Hurricanes

Montreal

Against Washington 1-3-0

Dec. 28 @ Capitals L 3-0

Feb. 1 @ Capitals W 3-2 SO

Mar. 15 vs. Capitals L 4-2

Mar. 26 vs. Capitals L 2-0

Against Philadelphia 1-3-0

Nov. 16 vs. Flyers W 3-0

Nov. 22 @ Flyers L 3-2

Dec. 15 vs. Flyers L 5-3

Jan. 25 @ Flyers L 5-2

Against Boston 4-2-0

Nov. 11 @ Bruins W 3-1

Dec. 16 vs. Bruins W 4-3

Jan. 8 vs. Bruins W 3-2 OT

Feb. 9 @ Bruins L 8-6

Mar. 8 vs. Bruins W 4-1

Mar. 24 @ Bruins L 7-0

Against Pittsburgh 3-1-0

Oct. 9 @ Penguins W 3-2

Jan. 6 vs. Penguins W 2-1 SO

Jan. 12 vs. Penguins L 5-2

Mar. 12 @ Penguins W 3-0

Against Tampa Bay 2-1-1

Oct. 13 vs. Lightning L 4-3 OT

Dec. 30 @ Lightning L 4-1

Mar. 5 @ Lightning W 4-2

Mar. 17 vs. Lightning W 3-2 SO

Against Buffalo 3-1-2

Oct. 15 @ Sabres W 2-1

Nov. 5 @ Sabres W 3-2

Nov. 27 vs. Sabres W 3-1

Jan. 18 @ Sabres L 2-1 OT

Feb. 15 vs. Sabres L 3-2 SO

Mar. 22 vs. Sabres L 2-0

Against New York 3-1-0

Jan. 11 @ Rangers W 2-1

Jan. 15 vs. Rangers W 3-2

Feb. 5 vs. Rangers W 2-0

Mar. 18 @ Rangers L 6-3

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 13 vs. Hurricanes W 7-2

Dec. 23 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 26 vs. Hurricanes W 4-3

Mar. 30 @ Hurricanes L 6-2

Buffalo

Against Washington 1-2-1

Nov. 13 vs. Capitals W 3-2 OT

Nov. 17 @ Capitals L 4-2

Feb. 20 vs. Capitals L 2-1

Apr. 2 @ Capitals L 5-4 OT

Against Philadelphia 1-2-0

Oct. 26 @ Flyers L 6-3

Jan. 11 vs. Flyers L 5-2

Mar. 5 @ Flyers W 5-3

Apr. 8 vs. Flyers

Against Boston 4-1-1

Nov. 3 vs. Bruins L 5-2

Dec. 7 @ Bruins L 3-2 OT

Dec. 15 vs. Bruins W 3-2

Jan. 1 vs. Bruins W 7-6 SO

Jan 20 @ Bruins W 4-2

Mar. 10 @ Bruins W 4-3 OT

Against Pittsburgh 0-4-0

Nov. 24 vs. Penguins L 1-0

Dec. 11 vs. Penguins L 5-2

Feb. 4 @ Penguins L 3-2

Mar. 8 @ Penguins L 3-1

Against Tampa Bay 2-2-0

Nov. 20 vs. Lightning L 2-1

Dec. 18 @ Lightning L 3-1

Feb. 8 @ Lightning W 7-4

Apr. 5 vs. Lightning W 4-2

Against Montreal 3-3-0

Oct. 15 vs. Canadiens L 2-1

Nov. 5 vs. Canadiens L 3-2

Nov. 27 @ Canadiens L 3-1

Jan. 18 vs. Canadiens W 2-1 OT

Feb. 15 @ Canadiens W 3-2 SO

Mar. 22 @ Canadiens W 2-0

Against New York 3-1-0

Jan. 11 @ Rangers W 2-1

Jan. 15 vs. Rangers W 3-2

Feb. 5 vs. Rangers W 2-0

Mar. 18 @ Rangers L 6-3

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 13 vs. Hurricanes W 7-2

Dec. 23 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 26 vs. Hurricanes W 4-3

Mar. 30 @ Hurricanes L 6-2

New York

Against Washington 3-1-0

Nov. 9 vs. Capitals L 5-3

Dec. 12 vs. Capitals W 7-0

Jan. 24 @ Capitals W 2-1 SO

Feb. 25 @ Capitals W 6-0

Against Philadelphia 2-4-0

Nov. 4 @ Flyers L 4-1

Dec. 18 @ Flyers L 4-1

Jan. 16 vs. Flyers L 3-2

Feb. 20 vs. Flyers L 4-2

Mar. 6 vs. Flyers W 6-0

Apr. 3 @ Flyers W 3-2 SO

Against Boston 3-1-0

Oct. 23 @ Bruins W 3-2

Nov. 17 vs. Bruins L 3-2

Mar. 26 @ Bruins W 1-0

Apr. 4 vs. Bruins W 5-3

Against Pittsburgh 4-1-1

Nov. 15 @ Penguins W 3-2 OT

Nov. 29 vs. Penguins L 3-1

Dec. 15 @ Penguins W 4-1

Feb. 1 vs. Penguins L 4-3 SO

Feb 13 vs. Penguins W 5-3

Mar. 20 @ Penguins W 5-2

Against Tampa Bay 0-2-2

Nov. 24 @ Lightning L 5-3

Dec. 23 vs. Lightning L 4-3 SO

Jan. 1 @ Lightning L 2-1 OT

Feb 27. vs. Lightning L 2-1

Against Montreal 1-3-0

Jan. 11 vs. Canadiens L 2-1

Jan. 15 @ Canadiens L 3-2

Feb. 5 @ Canadiens L 2-0

Mar. 18 vs. Canadiens W 6-3

Against Buffalo 1-3-0

Jan. 11 vs. Sabres L 2-1

Jan. 15 @ Sabres L 3-2

Feb. 5 @ Sabres L 2-0

Mar. 18 vs. Sabres W 6-3

Against Carolina 2-2-0

Oct. 29 vs. Hurricanes L 4-3

Jan. 5 vs. Hurricanes W 2-1 OT

Jan. 20 @ Hurricanes L 4-1

Feb. 22 @ Hurricanes W 4-3 SO

Carolina

Against Washington 1-4-1

Oct. 27 vs. Capitals L 3-0

Nov. 24 vs. Capitals L 3-2

Nov. 28 @ Capitals L 3-2 SO

Dec. 26 vs. Capitals L 3-2

Mar. 11 @ Capitals L 2-1

Mar. 29 @ Capitals W 3-2 SO

Against Philadelphia 1-3-0

Nov. 1 @ Flyers L 3-2

Nov. 11 vs. Flyers L 8-1

Feb. 10 @ Flyers L 2-1

Feb. 18 vs. Flyers W 3-2

Against Boston 1-3-0

Nov. 26 @ Bruins W 3-0

Jan. 17 @ Bruins L 7-0

Jan. 18 vs. Bruins L 3-2

Feb. 1 vs. Bruins L 3-2

Against Pittsburgh 1-2-1

Oct. 30 vs. Penguins L 3-0

Nov. 19 @ Penguins L 5-4 SO

Jan. 22 @ Penguins L 3-2

Feb. 25 vs. Penguins W 4-1

Against Tampa Bay 2-2-1

Dec. 20 @ Lightning L 5-1

Jan. 15 vs. Lightning W 6-4

Feb. 12 @ Lightning L 4-3 OT

Mar. 25 @ Lightning W 4-3

Mar. 26 vs. Lightning L 4-2

Apr. 9 vs. Lightning

Against Montreal 1-3-0

Nov. 13 @ Canadiens L 7-2

Dec. 23 vs. Canadiens L 3-2

Feb. 26 @ Canadiens L 4-3

Mar. 30 vs. Canadiens W 6-2

Against Buffalo 1-3-0

Nov. 13 @ Sabres L 7-2

Dec. 23 vs. Sabres L 3-2

Feb. 26 @ Sabres L 4-3

Mar. 30 vs. Sabres W 6-2

Against New York 2-0-2

Oct. 29 @ Rangers W 4-3

Jan. 5 @ Rangers L 2-1 OT

Jan. 20 vs. Rangers W 4-1

Feb. 22 vs. Rangers L 4-3 SO