Earlier today the Houston Rockets were involved in a couple moves that have saved the franchise a bit as a result of losing Ron Artest over to the Los Angeles Lakers. Full Story

The LA Times reports that Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson will return to LA again next season. Full Story

After a 50 year career, Chicago Bulls assistant coach Del Harris has decided to retire Full Story

Los Angeles Lakers @ Houston Rockets Live Game Stream

Seeing as how we are still getting traffic for this thread from people who wish to view the live streams for the nba playoff games, I figured it would be a good idea to send you to where the streams inevitably end up.

There are places all over the internet that claim to have good streams or they go to justin.tv and create a channel with what is supposed to be a live nba game stream but they use that to send traffic to their site. We, are not trying to do that. If we were, I would have a stream going at justin.tv because those guys that do that, get a ton of traffic.

Over at the NBA Games and Live Streams forum the members of the Binary Basketball community always find links to the best live game streams because many of the members are not able to watch the games on cable here in the US. Sometimes I’ll be able to post a good stream here and sometimes we’ll have one going in the first post of the game thread but we will always be able to provide the best place to go to catch the best live stream possible. No spam, viruses, password protected channels. Our goal is to become the number one basketball community and in order to do that, we need to maintain our quality.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets Streams are always updated. Be sure to check them out

playoffs logo

After a long, tough, grinding NBA season, the 2009 NBA Playoffs are finally here.

As a passionate Suns fans I’m devastated the Suns didn’t make playoffs. There have been many up’s and down’s for the Suns this season, and unfortunately we couldn’t quite scrape in. But this blog is not about the Suns it’s about the playoffs, so here we go…

Western Conference

Lakers

Utah Jazz

1) Los Angeles Lakers
VS
8) Utah Jazz

This should really competitive series, like the last couple seasons, these teams have battled it out in the playoffs. The Lakers come into this match up as the clear favourites, but Utah are a very strong 8th seed team, and stranger things have happened in the playoffs (I’m looking at you Dirk). Utah are a very strong home team, and finished the season 33-8 and home, but they’re a terrible road team 15-26 on the road. If the Jazz are to have any chance in this series, they need to take care of their business at home otherwise they will most certainly lose. I think the Lakers can most likely win in any building in the NBA.

Key Matchup : Pau Gasol vs Carlos Boozer

Carlos Boozer needs to shutdown the big Spaniard if the Jazz have a chance. Pau gives Kobe another scoring option when he can’t get to the hoop. Gasol is a good shooter, and can get to the rim easily using his 7 foot frame. As we all know Boozer can go off when it’s his night. He could easily average a double double this series, by taking advantage of Pau’s tall but slender frame, he could bully his way into the post and will use his pretty post moves all night long. Also Boozer and Deron Williams will be a very good pick and roll combo.

X-Factor : Andrei Kirilenko

AK-47 needs to show up these playoffs, he has a reputation for fading away in playoff series in previous seasons, he is such a versatile player, he can score, rebound, pass and defend. He is also my X-Factor because he will probably get the fun job of guarding arguably the league’s best offensive player Kobe Bryant. If Kobe can only manage to score about 20-25, the Jazz would have a great chance to win the game.

My Prediction : Lakers in 6

I think the Lakers will be too strong for Utah here, they will easily exploit Utah at the Staples Center, and Kobe and Pau Gasol will be too strong, also the Lakers bench should be a spark plug as usual with Trevor Ariza playing great defence and Lamar Odom doing his thing.

Denver Nuggets

New Orleans Hornets

2) Denver Nuggets

VS.

7) New Orleans Hornets

I think this could be the best series in the Western Conference. These teams are very evenly matched in my opinion. A huge factor in this series will be the health of Hornets Center and Chris Paul’s favourite target Tyson Chandler. He’s been battling some injuries this season and will need to stay healthy if New Orleans have a chance in this series. Denver have been formidable at home this season with a record of 33-8 at the Pepsi Center. The Hornets have a home record of 28-13 at home this season and an average 21-20 road record.

Key Matchup : Chauncey Billups vs Chris Paul

The battle of the point guards, the wily vet Chauncey Billups vs the Flesh Blood Chris Paul, Mr. Big Shot vs. possibly the best passer in the NBA. This should be a brilliant matchup and will go a long way to deciding who win this series. Both are good defenders and will cause each other havoc.

X-Factor : Chris Andersen

If Andersen can do what he’s been doing lately, he will be a huge key in this series. He brings a very good defensive presence and is a good rebounder. He will need to play good D on Tyson Chandler and swat away CP3’s lobs.

My Prediction : Nuggets in 7

I think this will be the best, closest series in the West. But I think in 7 games the Nuggets will be too good for New Orleans. I just think Denver are the healthier team at the moment. Billups and Melo will be too hot to handle, and I think Denver’s role players will get the job done, JR Smith is instant offense, Smith can go out and score 30 on any given night. And Nene, Chris Andersen, Kenyon Martin will be good too.

San Antonio Spurs

Dallas mavericks

3) San Antonio Spurs

VS.

6) Dallas Mavericks

Old foe meet up here, and it should be a cracker! Tim Duncan vs Dirk Nowitzki should be a sick match up! We’ll see if TD can pull more playoff heroics (shudder) from last year. The PG match up should also be a good one. The one thing that’ll be in the Mavs favor is how good they are at home (33-8) so if they take advantage of that and can sneak one of the road, they will be in great shape. Also the Spurs have no Manu Ginobili, so that’s a huge blow, Jason Terry could easily blow up in this series.

Key Matchup: Dirk Nowitzki vs Tim Duncan

We all know what both of these guys can do, TD will be a double-double machine, and Dirk could go off for 30 ppg, a couple keys here are how to stop Dirk’s fadeaway jumper, and Dirk needs to play defense. TD has the length to reduce the affect of Dirk’s shot, but I don’t think Dirk will want to D up Duncan, and Dampier might take TD while Nowitzki takes either Gooden, Kurt Thomas or Bonner.

X-Factor : Jason Terry

I see no other option than Terry here, he can and most likely will blow up in this series. As I said before he could go for 30ppg. Roger Mason and most likely Bruce Bowen will get to play D on him. Bowen will need to do a helluva job to stop the JET from taking off.

My Prediction : Spurs in 6

I’m sure with the loss of Manu many people will count out the Spurs, but I don’t wanna do that, I’ve counted them out many times before and have been wrong most of the time. Ultimately I think TD and Tony Parker will be too good for the Mavs. Kidd is getting a bit slower and we know what Parker can do to PG’s (I’m talking to you Rajon Rondo) and I can only imagine what he might do to the veteran Jason Kidd.

Portland Trailblazers

houston Rockets

4) Portland TrailBlazers

VS.

5) Houston Rockets

This could also be the best series in the West. These teams are so even and often 4 vs 5 seed matchups are the best. These teams both have the same road record (20-21), and their home records are almost identical. Blazers (34-7), Rockets (33-8). The key in this series are no doubt Brandon Roy and Yao Ming. I think Yao can easily take advantage of the Blazers’ big men, Oden is foul prone and Pryzbilla might not be big enough to contend with Yao Ming’s shots.

Key Matchup: Ron Artest vs Brandon Roy

This should be an interesting matchup to watch, Ron Artest has a size advantage on Roy, and could bully his was to stops and shots, but Roy has pace on Artest. If Artest can stop Roy I cannot see how Portland would win this series. LaMarcus Aldridge can go for 20-10 but they need points.

X-Factor : Greg Oden

These here are major IF’S, but if Oden can stay out of foul trouble, he can have a big impact on this series. He can easily post up Yao Ming and take advantage of his slender frame, and can contest Yao’s shot and bully him out of the key. He can also strongly compete with Yao on the boards and he can easily box-out Yao.

My Prediction: Blazers in 7

I think the combo of Roy and Aldridge will be too good for Houston, the Rockets’ role players really need to step up if they’re going to have a chance in this series. Because apart from Yao and Artest I can’t see where most of their scoring is gonna come from. Also I think Portland will be too strong at the Rose Garden.

Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers

Detroit Pistons

1) Cleveland Cavaliers

VS.

8) Detroit Pistons

This will be a competitive 1 vs 8, matchup, with no love lost between these two teams. We all know LeBron will dominate, and Mo Williams will chip in 17-20 ppg. And Big Z should play well and he can also score well. The Pistons on the other hand are a complete mess, oh how much a year can change a team. The Pistons went from being one of the best East teams to batling to make the playoffs, and finishing with a woeful 39-42 record just enough to scrape in the East playoffs.

Key Matchup: LeBron James vs Tayshaun Prince

Prince will have the toughest defensive matchup in the NBA to deal with in the first round. If the Pistons are to have any chance to get past the first round let alone win a game, Prince will need to play great defense on the King. Prince has the length to contend with LeBron’s shot but I don’t think he has the strength to, and will get pushed around by LeBron a lot.

X-Factor : Mo Williams

Mo Williams will be very important in this series, because if LeBron happens to have a rare off night, Mo will need to play well otherwise the Cavs would probably lose, when LeBron gets double or even triple teamed Mo needs to be ready to knock down a jumper. He will also need to reduce Rodney Stuckey’s lane penetration.

My Prediction: Cavs in 5

I can see the Pistons getting one win at home maybe when the Cavs are having an off night, but other than that I see the Cleveland Cavaliers rolling rather easily into the second round.

Boston Celtics

Chicago Bulls

2) Boston Celtics

VS.

7) Chicago Bulls

This really should be a walk in the park for the defending champs Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo are healthy, and Glen Davis is playing the best basketball of his career. But there is one problem, KG is looking very doubtful for this series and even the rest of the playoffs. But I really don’t see any trouble from the baby Bulls, there only threats that may give Boston some troubles are Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose.

Key Matchup: Ray Allen vs Ben Gordon

These two are both great shooters and great scorers. Ben Gordon is probably more important to his team in this series than Ray Allen is because the Celtics have more scoring options than Chicago do. If Gordon can have a monster game the Bulls may have a slight chance, but if Ray Ray does it’s night, night Chicago.

X-Factor: John Salmons

John Salmons will need to keep up his stellar play of late if Chicago have a chance. He will also need to step up his defense against Paul Pierce. He needs to create scoring options for himself by using his shot or his probing skills. Its a tough task for Salmons and that’s why he is important.

My Prediction: Celtics in 4

I actually think that the Celtics have an easier 1st round matchup than the #1 seed Cavaliers do, this Celtics team should walk all over these Baby Bulls.

Orlando Magic

Philadelphia 76ers

3) Orlando Magic

VS.

6) Philadelphia 76ers

This series is the Magic’s to lose really, they should easily beat the 76ers who are without 20-10 player Elton Brand. Even with Brand they should still win easily. But who knows the 76ers gave the Pistons a run for their money last season in the playoffs but couldn’t quite move to the 2nd round. Dwight Howard will be too strong for Samuel Dalembert in the paint, and the outside shooting should kill Philly, Philly don’t have many outside shooters to counter that.

Key Matchup : Andre Iguodala vs Hedo Turkoglu

I think Turkoglu might be out matched here, Iggy is so fast, athletic and mobile, I am not sure Hedo will be able to defend him. Iggy on the other hand needs to defend Hedo’s outside shot, which he will be doing a lot of along with Courtney Lee & Rashard Lewis. If Philly have any chance Iggy needs to play well.

X-Factor: Courtney Lee

Courtney Lee is just a starter, and in his first season he is in the NBA playoffs on a contending team, not bad eh. Lee is my X-Factor because he needs to be ready to knock down the open jumper when called upon, he will get his chance when Dwight is double teamed.

My Prediction: Magic in 5

I think the Magic will be way too strong for Philly especially for Samuel Dalembert. I see the Magic advancing in 5 to set up a potential matchup with Boston in the 2nd round.

Atlanta Hawks

Miami Heat

4) Atlanta Hawks

VS.

5) Miami Heat

This series will most likely best the closest in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks have a 3-1 advantage over Miami this season, and they’ve reduced Wade to 5 less ppg than he usually averages, this sort of play from Atlanta will need to continue in the playoffs if the Hawks are going to win this series.

Key Matchup: Joe Johnson vs Dwyane Wade

This is easily the key matchup this series, both are great scorers and Wade was for most of the season almost unstoppable. Both can score in so many ways, they can both get to the hoop, shoot. Both players will need to play lockdown defense, but I think Johnson needs to play better defense than Wade does because without Wade, Miami are almost nothing. Without D-Wade the Heat’s net scoring option is Jermaine O’Neal, who needs to remain healthy in this series.

X-Factor: Michael Beasley

B-Eazy has been playing very well lately in the absence of Udonis Haslem, although Haslem is expected to be back for the playoffs, Beasley will need to lead Miami’s bench unit, he can score like crazy and will be a big part of Miami’s success in this series. It will be interesting to see how many minutes Beasley gets this series, because he is generally not interested in playing defense and could be exploited by Josh Smith or whoever he defends.

My Prediction: Heat in 7

I expect this too be a tough series, but I think Miami will come out on top, really its all on Wade’s shoulders here, he is perhaps the most important player to his team in a first round series. I think Mario Chalmers will help Miami a lot, he needs to play good D on Mike Bibby to truly help out his team. Heat in 7.

Thankyou to all who have bothered to read this, I will be doing a blog for each round, and best of luck to your favourite team.

Of course with the playoffs creeping up on the NBA it’s time to pick out some dark horses who could be in the shadow to win the NBA title.

My randomness has come to these three teams, The Atlanta Hawks, The Houston Rockets, and The Portland Trailblazers.

Full Story