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

If You Want To Enjoy March Madness, Forget Your Backet

Over the last few weeks it seems like I’ve participated in a few dozen identical conversations about the NCAA Tournament that start off with a comment like this: “Can you believe that [insert team] team lost? My bracket is so screwed. This tournament is just crazy.”

I always reply, “It’s like this every year.”

And my conversation partner insists, “No way, this year is the craziest it has ever been, there have been so many upsets.”

Go ahead and try to justify your failure of a bracket, but I don’t see the point. To me, that’s the beauty of March Madness. I root for chaos. Maybe that’s partly because I was all but eliminated in my bracket pool by midway through the Sweet 16, but regardless, the David vs. Goliath stories are what make the NCAA Tournament great.

To truly enjoy the tournament, I try to follow simple advice: forget my bracket. One of my cats has as good a chance of picking a winning bracket as I do, so I don’t fret when my well thought out pick sheet is a river of red hours into the Madness. That’s how it’s supposed to be.

Sure, it’s fun to fill those suckers out, and every year I convince myself I’ve got a winner, but the truth is that if one day I do win, it will be more a result of luck than skill.

The best way for me to enjoy March Madness is to put my bracket out of sight and out of mind and enjoy the ridiculousness that is this tournament for as long as it lasts because we’re rapidly approaching the dull as dirt summer months when the only relevant sporting event is more likely to put me to sleep than Nyquil.

The Final Four is coming up this weekend and soon we’ll have our new National Champion. At least officially, because as far as I’m concerned, the best team in the country was already crowned when Kemba Walker’s UConn Huskies won the Big East Championship a few weeks back.

They’re still alive, so my money’s on them. But what do I know; I’m going to consult Fluffy.

New Jersey Nets' Games Still Devoid Of Energy, But The In-Game Entertainment Is Top-Notch

Last Monday I attended my first NBA game in over 10 years, a clash between the powerhouse Boston Celtics and the cellar dwelling New Jersey Nets.

I’ll confess that the Nets’ acquisition of Deron Williams, one of my favorite players, goaded me into browsing for tickets and the Celtics, who I admire for playing as a team, were an appealing opponent. I figured that for the StubHub total of $37.95, I’d surely get my money’s worth.

Thanks to some basketball crazy friends at college, I’ve gotten much more into the NBA over the last few years, and my existing love for college basketball made me think it was time to give pro basketball another shot in person.

Little did I know that my negative perceptions of the NBA from afar were completely accurate.

Before anyone says, “Come on, it was the Nets! What did you expect!?” I must inform you that this crowd was quite sizable not just for the Nets, but for most NBA teams. Granted, the 18,711 fans that showed up at the Prudential Center were mostly shamrock supporters, but still, there were plenty of bodies in the building.

I showed up with GSG's own Zach Pletchan about an hour before tip-off, and we made our way down to the court hoping to get a glimpse of Deron, or rather, Nets fans going ballistic over Deron the way Knicks fans are Carmelo Anthony. Evidently Williams had either already warmed up, or was hanging out with his newborn son until the last possible moment (can’t blame him there). The ancient Celtics, who had played the night before, must have been involved in an intense locker room game of Bingo, because they never came out for warm-ups. That meant we were treated to a steady diet of Kris Humphries, Dan Gadzuric, and Sasha Vujacic. To their credit they all signed autographs and seemed like decent enough folks, but sadly there was no sight of Kim Kardashian.

The ushers sent us to find our seats and we climbed up until we were parallel to the rafters, but for the price I wasn’t complaining.

Until the game started.

The Celtics arrived clearly of the belief that they could loaf around for three quarters and snatch a victory from the hapless Nets in the closing minutes. That’s exactly what Boston tried to do, but sadly the Celtics didn’t exactly seem broken up when the game didn’t go as planned.

The Nets hung step for step with the Celtics before pulling away in the fourth, but they too seemed more than content to play at half-speed. Even though the game became suddenly dramatic in the closing minutes and Deron hit a clutch shot to ice it, real energy never entered the arena.

The most entertaining parts of the game were a goofy looking Celtics fan dressed as a leprechaun carrying a fake pipe between his lips and the in-game entertainment. Normally at sporting events I find the incessant on-court gimmicks during commercial breaks to be unnecessary and obtrusive, but it’s been a long time since I’ve suffered through a mind-numbing March game between two teams at the opposite ends of the NBA standings. So when the Nets trotted out a dance team of grandmas and grandpas called the NETSational Seniors in the third quarter, I slid to the edge of my seat. These admirable performers did some kind of ridiculous dance to the raucous hip-hop music that is constantly bumping at NBA games, and I made a mental note to YouTube them as soon as I arrived home. The Nets also deployed an impressive team of stunt-dunkers at halftime, and the usual t-shirt cannon, cheerleaders, dance team, etc.

So that was good, but the reason I actually went to the game, to see Williams attempt to contain Rajon Rondo, and Deron attempt to prevent the Celtics from dragging the Nets all over the gym, was far from the reality.

I do find NBA games, especially the playoffs, to be extremely engaging on TV where the subplots of a single match often exceed those of any other sport. However, I won’t be shelling out cash, even at the Nets’ discounted rate, to see a regular season NBA game again anytime soon unless it involves Blake Griffin.

But if the Prudential Center puts up $20 tickets to see a two-hour show by the NETSationals, you’ll see me courtside.

The End Of The Syracuse Season Represents Disappointment And Hope

Every year when a season comes to a close, college sports fans like myself are reminded of the two staples of fandom: disappointment and hope.

As a loyal Syracuse alum, I was saddened to see my team exit the NCAA Tournament earlier than I expected for the second year in a row. Last season, Syracuse’s Final Four hopes were dashed when center Arinze Onuaku was unable to return from a knee injury suffered in the Big East Tournament and this year the Orange-men were undone by Brandon Triche’s injury and a handful of boneheaded turnovers. Just like that, Syracuse was sent packing by Marquette, and a painfully long eight month offseason has begun.

As a college sports fan, an abrupt postseason loss can be difficult to stomach. Not only are there no more games to watch, but our favorite players — often seniors — move on, never to wear their college colors again. For Syracuse, Sunday’s loss meant the end of a tremendous four-year career for Rick Jackson, a rare college bruiser that got better every year and carved out an NBA future for himself. Senior players like Jackson and Onuaku and Andy Rautins last year are particularly endearing to fans, because they don’t arrive at school as ballyhooed recruits with certain professional futures, and our expectations for them are usually much lower. But as those three proved, hard work and time can turn mediocre college players into invaluable pieces as their college careers wear on. Jackson, with whom we’ve shared blood, sweat, and tears over the last four years, embodies the college experience in a way that a five-star recruit can never do. And at least for Rautins and likely Jackson, those years of work led them to their dream professions, and we’ll watch them with pride as they once again fight their way up from the bottom of the food chain in the NBA.

And while it’s often sad to see our favorite college athletes walk off the court for the final time, the end of a college season also signifies a new beginning.

This year, the Orange clearly didn’t have the necessary polish to be a championship caliber squad. But there are plenty of reasons for optimism looking ahead. Next season, the Orange will add a big five-star recruit with an incredible name, Rakeem Christmas, in addition to two coveted four-star guards in Trevor Cooney and Michael-Carter Williams. If Christmas lives up to his billing and Cooney and Williams produce at anywhere near the same level as Syracuse’s four freshmen this year, the Orange will have a very, very deep and talented squad. Not only is Syracuse adding three solid players, but the team will return all its players except for Jackson. In his senior year, maybe Scoop Jardine will finally get his head screwed on right, maybe Kris Joseph will be better equipped to be “the man,” and maybe junior-to-be Brandon Triche will continue his rapid ascension. Maybe giant Fab Melo will build on his encouraging end of season run, and maybe CJ Fair, Dion Waiters, and Baye Moussa Keita will return as even better players capable of handling roles far beyond their years. Maybe James Southerland will emerge as a knockdown three-point threat off the bench, and maybe the forgotten seven-footer, DaShonte Riley, will join Melo, Keita, and Christmas to give the Orange a remarkably deep and towering front line.

Maybe none of that will happen, but with eight months to go, the possibility and hope will quickly build in my mind. The painful memories of a disappointing conclusion to the 2010-11 season will fade and before we know it, the 2011-12 college basketball season will be upon us and a new chance for glory will arrive.

Just don’t forget about the senior warrior that is about to leave.