(Brrrrrrrrrrr) What Happened to That Boy : 4/20/10 The Amare Stoudemire Edition

Welcome to the first post of the "(Brrrrrrrrrrr) What Happened to That Boy" segment were we discuss players whom have disappeared or just epically fail in their teams time of need. Tonight the star of our show is Amare Stoudemire.
(Below the song that inspired this segment)

Well for those of you who missed it the Suns lost to the Brandon Roy less, Greg Oden Less, and Joel Przybilla less Blazers. So the talent less Blazers where able to stop the hottest player with the All-Star break and they did it with old as dirt Marcus Camby and LaMarcus Alridge. Amare did have 18 pts. but it took him 19 shots. If you watched the game Amare looked uninspired and quite frankly pathetic. It honestly reminded me of watching a father and son play, with the more talent son letting the father win. The sad thing is Amare was trying, not necessarily for the benefit of his team but for himself.

Depending on his player option Amare could be a member of the highly over hyped "free agent class of 2010". Amare is essentially playing to prove that he is worth a max contract and lets be honest his game needs to speak volumes. He has some what questionably effort some nights, that is hard for me to say I love Amare as a player. And worst of all hes injury prone. If Camby does this all series what team is honestly going to want a "young star" whom cant take advantage of a 35 + year old defender. He wants the Leborn, Dwade, and Chrish Bosh like money play like it. Sure their "Kobe stoppers" in the league, but their younger players against a Kobe whose athleticism is practically gone. Not the other way around. Amare is in his prime if he doesn't shape up the Suns wont just lose the series but he could potentially lose his millions in free agency as well.

Daily LoL: 4/20/ Noah's War

So if you haven't heard Joakim Noah has his own personal war against Cleveland and its night in shining armor Lebron James. I realized citizens of both Chicago and Cleveland may actually take this seriously to some extent, but for the rest of us it provides a good laugh.

The words that started it all were spoke in a December game between the Cavs and Bulls. (See Video Below)


This along with comments made by Noah lead to Lebron taking out his anger poor James Johnson in game 1.


And still even following 2 straight play losses Noah still talks shit.

Daily Shots: 4/20/10 "The Shit Just Got Real"

The playoffs have begun and honestly most of the 1st games of round one were quite the disappointment, with only home teams winning the opening games of the series. That was until " the shit just got real" with the Blazers pulling out a huge upset Sunday night. Then some more compelling games followed with an injuried Jazz team taking out the Nuggets and the Bulls giving the Cavs a run for thier money in game 2. With that said heres the top news from the 1st round so far.
Slam Online: Melo Stopper?! Matt Harpring?!  
EPSN: Camby Will Continue to Defy Age With Blazers.
Si.com New Playoff Villains and the Elbow Heard Around the World.
ESPN: Bower returns to GM Hornets Look For New Coach
Quality Reads
Celtics Hub: A great article on the Celtics Defensive Looks V.S. D-Wade
Hoopaholic: What happend to Amare?!

Daily LoL: Adam Waddell

I wanted to post the Marcus Camby wide open fast break dunk miss from last night. Unfortunately it wasn't available so here another dunk to laugh at.

Playoff Predictions: The East

1.Cavs Vs 8.Bulls

The Bulls are a good young team and if they can land a big time player down low and a perimeter scorer they will be a real force next year, unfourtaly this isn't next year. The Cavs are just to deep to balanced.
Prediction: Cavs in 5.
Cavs X-Factor- Anderson Varejo and Shaq, they have a golden oppurity the bulls second unit is weak inside and outside Noah there only other good big defensively is Taj Gibson who is to small to guard either of them.
Bulls X-factor: Kirk Hinrich, hes a monster on ball defender they will certainly use him on Mo Williams if he can shut down Mo if will put a much more difficult work load on Lebron.

2. Magic vs 7. Bobcats

Repeat after me, Dwight Howard is a Monster. The Bobcats are the defesive darlings who are in the playoffs for the 1st time in franchise history. This could be a better seris than you think, but I think the Magics fire power will be to much.
Prediction: Magic in 5
Magic X-Factor: Matt Barnes and Michel Pertuis I believe Van Gundy will use them both on big shot jack the Bobcats best offensive threat.
Cats X-Factor: Tyson Chandler hes a good shot blocker he needs to be able to intimate Dwight and then foul Dwight when hes looking at easy buckets. If they cant stop Dwight its over.

3.Hawks vs 6. Bucks

Without Bogut the bucks don't really have a chance. Its that simple the hawks are too good in-side with out Bogut to anchor the D and blance out the bucks attack thier a one diminsional team.
Prediction: Hawks in 5
Bucks X-factor: Brandon Jennings & John Salmons need to go off Jennings did in game one and kept them alive but it wasnt enough. Hopefully Salmons to try to take other in the remander of the series, as a Buck hes averging 30 a game vs the hawks.
Hawks X-factor: Al Horford, he can make it a quick seris with old Kurt Thomas guarding him. Mismatch!

4. Celtics vs 5. Heat

The Celtics have been nothing but Drama this season, too make that worse the Big 3's age is showing. Meanwhile they play essentily D-wade and an assortment of over paid role players. So this one can really go either way.
Cletics X-Factor: Rondo, hes ill and needs to be healthy and carry this old team and thier problems on his back. If he cant, they will lose to a one man team in Dwade.
Heat's X-factor: Dwade, they will need the Finals MVP version of Dwade if they expect to win anything.
Prediction: Someone wins in 7 who i dont really know of care. I can honestly say i have no bias in this match up. Guess I'll go with the C's they have more depth on the bench and Sheed comes to play in the playoffs.  

Playoff Preview: The West

Okay so i know this is a little late and the Cavs Bulls game has already ended but I've had quite the busy weekend so please bare with me. With that said well start it out in the West.
1.Lakers V.S. 8.Thunder

Okay this game seems to be a popular pick to go seven games or even result in an upset. Ultimately im positive the Lakers will win, with that said i think the Thunder can steal 2 games. The thunder have the distcint advantage that is not named Kevin Durant, its Russell Westbrook vs Derek Fisher. Westbrook is playing and an allstar level and will be guarded the Fisher the broken link in the Lakers Armor. But the true mismatch in this series is the Lakers big rotation (Odom, Gasol, Bynum, Artest when hes at the 4, and the recently invgorated D.J Mbenga) V.S. the much weaker,less athletic, and less talented bigs of OKC (Collison, Thomas, and Ibaka)
Prediction: Lakers in 6
Lakers X-factor: Derek Fisher he has to be tough on Westbrook and efficient on the offensive end.
Thunder X-Factor: Thabo Sefolosha will have his hands full with Kobe, but as Kobe goes the Lakers go. If he can slow him down they have a chance.


2.Dallas V.S. 7.San Antonio

Okay alot of "experts" are saying a "surging San Antonio could make a run, their wrong. I feel the Spurs are showing their ages as bad as the Celtics, in fact i would be willing to call them the Celtics of the West. This season will come down to each teams new additions Richard Jefferson will have to be big for the Spurs to take the pressure of Mano, Timmy, and Tony Parker. On the other hand look for Shawn Marion to do what he does, shut down any perimeter player whom catches fire. Haywood is one of my favorite players and you will see why he'll give Tim Duncan all sorts of hell inside. And finally look for Caron to be Dirks pick and roll buddy when Jets on the bench.
Prediction: Mavs in 6.
X-factor for the Mavs: Defense, especially Haywood, Kidd, and Marion
X-factor for the Spurs: It will be a Texas shoot out Mano and George Hill will need to light it up.

3.Suns vs 6. Blazers

No Roy, no Oden, and no Przybilla  so no series. The Suns have been freakish since the all-star break and the blazers are missing their best scoring and their best re bounder they have no chance.
Prediction: Suns in 5
X-factor for the Suns: The Second unit, when there good the Suns are a legit contender.
X-factor for the Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge needs to protect the paint with Marcus Camby, in an attempt to slow down Amare and Score a ton.

4.Nuggets VS 5. Jazz 

This series could go either way, and it could be a 7 game series of a 4 game series it all comes down to the x-factors.
Nuggets x-factor: Leadership without Karl on the bench and his return unknown Melo and Billups should try to be real vocal. In helping intern coach Adrian Dantley keep control of the team and their mindset right.

Jazz X-factor: The health of Carlos Boozer, if hes healthy i take the Jazz in 7.

Daily LoL: This ones for the Mascots!

Some bloopers from the unsung heroes of pro-sports, the mascots!