Big Sports Friday

Good morning everyone.  This is an "in-between" week for predictions here as both the NHL and NBA playoffs are currently in the "middle" of series that I predicted the outcomes of last week.  Today I am going to catch you up on what's happening in hockey, basketball, baseball, and football, while throwing in my two-cents and bringing in my ongoing predictions in spots.

As things currently stand in the second-round of the NHL playoffs, I'm looking good out west and wrong in the east.  The red-hot L.A. Kings are now up 3-0 on the St. Louis Blues while the Phoenix Coyotes hold a 2-1 lead over the Nashville Predators.  I have the Kings and Coyotes winning these series in 6 and 7 games, respectively.  The New York Rangers hold a 2-1 lead over the Washington Capitals and the New Jersey Devils have a 2-1 lead over the Philadelphia Flyers right now.  I have the Capitals and Flyers both winning in 6 games.  (Again, I'm not in Las Vegas yet and there is ZERO money on any of this).  My heart hurt a few days ago as my work schedule prevented me from seeing one of my favorite hockey games yet again, the multiple-overtime playoff game between the Rangers and the Caps...  I love when it comes down to simply seeing which team can operate on their skates the longest...

It's been a truly hectic week in the first-round of the NBA playoffs.  In every series which is not currently tied, the team that I predicted to win the series is currently leading the series.  Starting in the east, the Miami Heat have a 3-0 lead on the New York Knicks, and the Indiana Pacers hold a 2-1 edge over the Orlando Magic.  I called the Heat in 5 games, but with all of the injuries that New York has suffered, including Amare Stoudemire's knockout-punch of a glass fire-extinguisher case, this series is likely to end in a sweep.  (I have the Pacers in 6 games).  Both the Bulls/76ers and Hawks/Celtics series are tied at a game apiece.  I have the Hawks in 6 games, and this should be a good series.  Unfortunately for the Chicago Bulls, their series with the 76ers is going to be a lot more competitive than most people thought it would be.  I called the Bulls in 5 games, but the season-ending knee-injury suffered by Derrick Rose has tossed this series into turmoil.  Philadelphia took advantage of a seemingly still shaken Bulls squad to win game 2 in Chicago, and although I think that it's still possible for the Bulls to win this series, I would not be surprised if the 76ers took them now.  In the west, the Oklahoma City Thunder now hold a 3-0 lead over the Mavericks.  My prediction for this series going the full seven games looked great after the first couple of games, but after last night the Mavs will have to regroup just to avoid being swept.  (I can't believe that the Mavs fans are AGAIN being given the blue t-shirts to wear at home, mirroring the jersey color of their opposition - brilliant...).  The Spurs and Lakers both hold 2-0 leads over the Jazz and Nuggets, respectively.  The Spurs looked more dominant than I imagined they would in the first 2 games of this series.  I called San Antonio in 6 games, and I am a Spurs fan for those of you who don't know that.  The regular season games were pretty competitive, but Utah needs to figure something out quick to stay in the series.  I predicted that the Lakers and Nuggets will go the full 7 games, and game 2 of this series was the type of battle I envisioned when I made this prediction.  Denver played L.A. tough this season, and they will have the altitude back in Colorado.  Game three will obviously be huge for the Nuggets.  The Clippers and Grizzlies are currently tied at 1-1.  I called the Clippers in seven games, and they are very lucky not to be down 0-2 at this point.  With that being said, you have to respect Memphis for bouncing back to win game 2 after choking up a 27-point lead in game 1.

The following is the list of the current division leaders in Major League Baseball, with the lead in their division in parentheses:  Tampa Bay Rays (1.5); Cleveland Indians (1.5); Texas Rangers (4.5); Washington Nationals (1.5); St. Louis Cardinals (3.5); Los Angeles (4.5).  Pretty surprising list, BUT it is only the first week of May, and there is A LOT of baseball left to be played.

And I just went through a 45-minute internet outage delay, for those of you keeping score at home...

I'm not sure which football team you follow, but I think that my Pittsburgh Steelers drafted very well.  We definitely had a huge need in our offensive line, and we drafted three players for to fill that need.  In one primetime game against Indianapolis last season, we sent an injured lineman back into the game because he was less injured than another lineman.  I have to be honest with you - just watching the draft has me itching even more for the start of the football season.  I really need to get the NFL Network again when I return to the desert...  :)  On a more somber note, R.I.P. Junior Seau...

I hope that all of you have a great weekend and I will see you again on Monday.