Wahoo Wire

Last week, when my article went to press, the NBA Regular Season was coming to a close. Now we are one game into each of the first round matchups in what will surely be an important and exciting playoffs. The stars involved in this year’s NBA Playoffs might be playing their last few games in their current jersey given the high amount of big name free agents. This week also includes Baseball, Lacrosse and Soccer matchups. Again I am no hockey expert, but make sure to keep an eye out this week for the Stanley Cup Playoffs as at least game 3, 4 and 5 will be played as no team managed to win both games 1 and 2 (that’s how evenly matched the playoff teams are, something that most other sports cannot brag about).

Monday April 19

MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox

After the weekend yielded three straight victories for the Rays over the Sox at Fenway, this fourth and final game of the series is on this week’s watch list as the Rays look to reassert their place as one of the league’s best teams. After missing out on the playoffs last year (only a year removed from making the World Series), the Rays have started this year with a renewed vigor. If the Rays sweep, it will be their seventh in a row (all on the road) and at least tie them for first in the AL East. It would be the fifth loss in a row for the Sox as they look to regain home-field advantage at Fenway after a rough 1-5 start. Although it is only twelve or thirteen games into the season, this series could be an early indication that the Red Sox are not just going to have a playoff spot given to them this year.

NBA Playoffs: #8 Chicago Bulls at #1 Cleveland Cavaliers, Game 2

This year’s playoffs will be most important for the Cleveland Cavaliers as LeBron James contemplates his future options given his status this summer as a free agent. They have added on to a team that was the number one seed in the East last year and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. The additions of timeless Center Shaquille O’Neal, Power Forward Antawn Jamison, and guard-forwards Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker to an already strong team easily makes the Cavs the team to beat in the East, if not the favorite to win the NBA title. Although the young core of players in Chicago is fun to watch and have quite a bright future ahead of them (should they stay together), they will be no match for the deep, no-nonsense Cavaliers.

NBA Playoffs: #5 Utah Jazz at #4 Denver Nuggets, Game 2

This series is arguably the most even in the playoffs, with both sides having good big men and a superstar. Both teams finished the regular season with records of 53-29, are well coached (George Karl has mentored Adrian Dantley well and Jerry Sloan is a legend), and neither team is particularly strong on the road. The x-factor in this matchup will be the supporting cast of the Jazz Deron Williams and the Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony with Jazz Power Forwards Paul Millsapp and Carlos Boozer taking on Nuggets big men Nene and Kenyon Martin and an array of guards on both teams looking to contribute to their team’s success the best they can. I expect this series to go to seven games and for the Nuggets mile high home-field advantage and barely superior depth to set up a matchup with the Lakers.

Tuesday April 20

NBA Playoffs:

Eastern Conference:

#6 Milwaukee Bucks at #3 Atlanta Hawks, Game 2

The Bucks are a great success story in the NBA this year as they finished 12^th last year in the East (20^th overall), traded away their starting Small Forward for a backup center, drafted point guard Brandon Jennings, spent most of the season without former All-Star Shooting Guard Michael Redd (ACL and MCL tear), and ended up finishing sixth in the East. Unfortunately, starting Center Andrew Bogut dislocated his elbow in a horrific way after a dunk in early April which will make it near impossible to beat the Hawks, who have tremendous depth and can put out both big and small lineups (and both can play uptempo). The Hawks are a more long term NBA success story as not five years ago they were fighting to win enough games not to be the worst in NBA History. Enter a young core of players who have gelled nicely together with the help of veteran Point Guard Mike Bibby and one has a team that can run with the best of them. Expect the Hawks to make quick work of the Bucks and to really give the Orlando Magic a run for their money in the Conference Semifinals.

#5 Miami Heat at #4 Boston Celtics, Game 2

This series is an interesting one, with age the main factor. If Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce can stay healthy and productive, coupled with their superior bench, they will have no trouble beating the Heat. Though Garnett will be missing in game 2 due to his ejection from game 1 for elbowing Heat Guard Quentin Richardson in the face, it may be for the better as he gets a day of rest. The Celtics also beat the Heat twice in the regular season without Garnett. The Celtics offense will have more of an inside-outside game with big men Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis filling in for Garnett which could free up Pierce and Allen to rain threes. Expect a close series of games but for the Celtics to be LeBron’s first real test in the Playoffs.

Western Conference:

#6 Portland Trail Blazers at #3 Phoenix Suns, Game 2

The big story in this series is the absence of the Blazers All-Star Shooting Guard Brandon Roy. Losing 21 points per game, 5 assists per game, and 4 rebounds per game right before the Playoffs is not an ideal situation by any means, but the Blazers have enough fight in them to at least run with the Suns as was seen in game 1. Andre Miller, Nicolas Batum, and Jerryd Bayless stepped up in a major way and showed that they can put up as many points as the Suns and will not be beaten easily. Coming into the series the Suns had won fourteen of their last sixteen which launched them into the third seed and almost got them the second seed. Jason Richardson and Grant Hill had unusually bad shooting days in the first game though and the Suns potent offense could run rampant any night. Expect a high scoring and exciting series with the Suns set for a style clash with the half court offense Mavs in the next round.

#8 Oklahoma City Thunder at #1 Los Angeles Lakers, Game 2

It’s hard to believe that the terribly named Oklahoma City Thunder have made it to the Playoffs so soon after being grossly miss run while in Seattle. Credit it to their youth movement. The average age on the team is 25. The Thunder only have three players over thirty and they play little to no minutes. Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green are high quality complimentary players to All-Star Kevin Durant and the young core has put on some very exciting displays this year. Unfortunately for them they got the 8^th seed and have to play the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. The three headed monster of big men of Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum figures to be too much to handle for the Thunder, who do not have much of an inside presence. Add a tough big man to the mix in Oklahoma in the offseason and the Thunder will be a team to fear next year. Expect the Lakers to sweep but for Durant and Westbrook to impress.

Wednesday April 21

NBA Playoffs:

#7 Charlotte Bobcats at #2 Orlando Magic, Game 2

Larry Brown is an amazing coach and has assembled quite the interesting crew in Charlotte, complete with utility players, multi-positioned players, and two large attacking guard-forwards in Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson. With a core of hard-nosed defending big men in Theo Ratliff, Nazr Mohammed, and Tyson Chandler, they have enough bodies to not worry about foul trouble guarding Dwight Howard. That said, I cannot see the Bobcats upsetting the Magic who made it to the finals last year and still have depth at all positions. Rashard Lewis should ignite as double teams on Howard free up space and Jameer Nelson will be able to find other shooters like J.J. Redick and Mickael Pietrus in the corner. The games will be close, but the result will be the same as the Magic try and get back to the NBA Finals.

#7 San Antonio Spurs at #2 Dallas Mavericks, Game 2

Both of these Texas based teams are deep and dangerous. The main questions will be is there a defensive answer for Mavs All-Star Dirk Nowitzki and how will Spurs point guard Tony Parker hold up after coming back recently from injury. If game 1 is any indication, Nowitzki is going to score at least 30 points a game and Parker is more than alright to play a vital role in keeping the Spurs in the Playoffs. While Manu Ginobili is finally healthy again and playing out of his mind, it will not be enough to beat the unmatched (by all except maybe the Lakers) depth of the Mavs. Close games will continue but the Mavs will win this series, the next series, and have quite an exciting series against the Lakers in the Conference Finals. Could this finally be the year the Mavs win the NBA Championship?

Thursday April 22

#3 UVA Women’s Lacrosse: ACC Tournament: Versus #6 Virginia Tech

The UVA Women’s Lacrosse (12-3, 4-1) finished up the season strong, winning six in a row including victories over Duke in Durham, NC and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg,VA and earning them a three way tie for the ACC Regular season title. Even though UNC, Maryland, and UVA finished with 4-1 conference records, the tie breaker procedure gave UVA the third seed in the ACC Tournament . The ACC Tournament is being hosted by Maryland and the Cavaliers will look to beat Virginia Tech again and make a deep run in the ACC Tournament. If UVA wins, it will set up a rematch with #2 Maryland who were their only ACC regular season loss.

Friday April 23

#1 UVA Men’s Lacrosse: ACC Tournament: Versus #4 Duke

The #1 UVA Men’s Lacrosse team (11-1, 2-1) started the season undefeated only to lose a heart breaker to Duke in the last game of the season. Now they have a chance to redeem themselves and get revenge on the team that ruined the perfect season. Look for the Cavaliers to come out firing on all cylinders as they look to get defend the #1 seeding in the ACC Tournament and turn it into a #1 seeding in the NCAA Tournament.

Saturday April 24

Premier League Soccer: Tottenham Hotspur at Manchester United

Last week’s What to Watch for involved Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur and so does this one, except this time they play each other. After a rough week and a half that saw them lose in the Champions League and potentially blow the league title by drawing at Blackburn, Man United won a crucial rivalry game that has placed them one point behind league leaders Chelsea with three games left to play. Spurs were faced with the tough task of hosting both Arsenal and Chelsea in the same week after losing to mid-tablers Sunderland and crashing out of the FA Cup Semi final to Championship bound Portsmouth. Against all odds, Spurs rose to the challenge and beat both Arsenal and Chelsea 2-1, putting them two points ahead of Manchester City with three games left in the quest for fourth place and the Champions League football that comes with it. With Chelsea hosting mid-tablers Stoke City and Manchester City playing Arsenal (who have lost three in a row, including a debacle this past weekend at Wigan losing 3-2 after being up 2-0 with only ten minutes left), this game is a must win for both Manchester United and Tottenham as United seek the title and Spurs seek Champions League football. Expect a hard fought battle, but for United to put an end to Spurs hot streak and put the pressure on Chelsea.