NBA PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

The NBA playoffs are set to begin tomorrow and here are my predictions.

Eastern Conference

1st Round

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Chicago Bulls - Celtics in 7

(4) Washington Wizards vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks - Wizards in 5

(3) Toronto Raptors vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks - Raptors in 6

(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Indiana Pacers - Cavaliers in 5

Conference Semi-Finals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Washington Wizards - Wizards in 6

(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (3) Toronto Raptors - Cavaliers in 6

Eastern Conference Finals

(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (4) Washington Wizards - Cavaliers in 6

Western Conference

1st Round

(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers - Warriors in 4

(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Utah Jazz - Clippers in 7

(3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) Oklahoma City Thunder - Rockets in 6

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Memphis Grizzlies - Spurs in 7

Conference Semi-Finals

(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (4) Los Angeles Clippers - Warriors in 6

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (3) Houston Rockets - Rockets in 6

Western Conference Finals

(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (3) Houston Rockets - Warriors in 5

NBA Finals

(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (2) Cleveland Cavaliers - Warriors in 7

REDEMPTION COMPLETE

2017 NCAA Division 1 Champions

One year ago North Carolina was on the losing end of a heartbreaking loss in the National Championship. Last night the Tar Heels completed their redemption tour with a 71-65 victory over Gonzaga. It's their sixth championship which puts them third all-time. It wasn't a pretty game to watch as the Tar Heels only shot 14% from downtown and 35% from the field. While their offense would struggle for the entire game it didn't stop them from competing on the defensive end.

Junior forward Justin Jackson couldn't throw a rock in the ocean last night, but came up with a clutch 3-point play with just under two minutes to go in the game. Senior Kennedy Meeks had been in foul trouble, but came up with a huge block on Nigel Williams-Goss to seal the championship. I don't think I would've been able to deal with another championship game coming to the final shot again. It just wasn't good for my nerves last year.

We were treated to another championship game that came down to the final minutes. As a fan of basketball that's exactly what you want to see. Gonzaga played their hearts out and gave the Tar Heels a run for their money. I'm sure this won't be the last that we hear from the Zags and it definitely won't be the last time we see the Tar Heels in the championship game.

HEAT WAVE

Josh Richardson, Erik Spolestra & James Johnson

One of the biggest turnarounds this season belongs to the Miami Heat. The Heat started off the season 11-30 and since then have gone 25-8. They are now one game ahead of the Bulls for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. It's been a collective effort from this Heat bunch. It seems at different points during this turnaround there are different players stepping up each night. One of the biggest surprises has been Dion Waiters, who's currently out with a sprained left ankle. He's found some stability within the Heat's rotation and is a big part of what they do on the offensive end.

With eight games left to go in the regular season for Miami there's no room for let up. They still have to face the Cavaliers, Raptors, and Wizards to end the season. If the Heat can find themselves in the playoffs Erik Spolestra deserves consideration for Coach of the Year. The injury bug has been in Miami throughout the entire season causing Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside, James Johnson, Josh Richardson, and Tyler Johnson to miss time. Let's not forget that second year player Justise Winslow has been out since the earlier part of the season.

Maybe Spolestra can start getting the credit he deserves as a head coach. During the run with the big three Spolestra wasn't really given the credit he deserved because of the roster he had. If there's anyone still doubting him as a coach, this season should remove any concerns. This is one tough team down in Miami and they won't be an easy out if they're able to make the playoffs. They play well collectively and are solid defensively. This is a team to keep your eye coming down the stretch of the regular season.

REST RUINING THE NBA

This past weekend we had another primetime NBA matchup being televised and we were treated to watching the Cleveland Cavaliers rest their big three. The Los Angeles Clippers were hosting the Cavs on Saturday when news didn't break until late that LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love would be resting. Some players are complaining about the schedule of the NBA and how the league needs to do a better job of scheduling these televised matchups, but I wholeheartedly disagree.

I think the entire idea of healthy players resting is ruining the NBA brand. You have fans that plan to see their favorite player as soon as the schedule is released. It's a slap in the face to the fans that spend their hard earned money to watch these athletes play. The league is as soft as its ever been and players are resting more and more. I just can't grasp the concept of this to save my life. It's not just the playoff bound teams resting their players by the way. The Brooklyn Nets have the worst record in the NBA and they've rested Brook Lopez on a few occasions. Why is the best player on the worst team in the league resting? That doesn't send a good message to the youth watching and aspiring play professional basketball.

It makes absolutely no sense to me. If you're going to rest players I say do it for home games. For example, the Clippers and Cavs only play each other twice each season because they're in two different conferences. Consider the families that have spent their hard earned money to come see LeBron play, but that money is gone to waste because of "rest." The NBA needs to start fining or suspending these teams and players for these type of actions. In my eyes no healthy player deserves to take a night off.

Players use to take pride in playing all 82 games during the regular season. Let's just look at the MVP race we have going on now. I know there are plenty of folks trying to say LeBron is being overlooked with what Westbrook and Harden have been doing. I believe he doesn't deserve to be in the conversation this year because he's missing games due to rest. Then people try to use the logic that when he sits the Cavs usually lose, which should boost his MVP consideration because it shows how valuable he is to his team. Meanwhile, Harden and Westbrook haven't missed one game this season due any sort of rest. These are the only two that need to be discussed when it comes to MVP race this year.

As a fan of the game it's frustrating watching the direction the NBA is heading in. I'm hoping sometime in the near future Adam Silver will address this situation. It's sad that fans have to second guess buying tickets to see their favorite player because of the "rest" factor. The fans of the NBA deserve better by these coaches and players.

IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN

March Madness is back! It's that time of the year again folks. The most unpredictable tournament known to man starts in just a couple of days. This time around I'm just praying my bracket can make it in one piece to the Sweet 16. The number one seeds this year are: Villanova, Gonzaga, North Carolina and Kansas. I do have a few upsets in the earlier rounds, but I'll start my predictions with the teams I believe will reach the Sweet 16.

Sweet 16
East Region

• (1) Villanova defeats (12) UNC Wilmington
• (2) Duke defeats (14) New Mexico State

Midwest Region

• (1) Kansas defeats (4) Purdue
• (2) Louisville defeats (3) Oregon

West Region

• (1) Gonzaga defeats (4) West Virginia
• (2) Arizona defeats (6) Maryland

South Region

• (1) North Carolina defeats (12) Mid Tennessee
• (3) UCLA defeats (2) Kentucky

Elite 8

East Region

• (1) Villanova defeats (2) Duke

Midwest Region

• (2) Louisville defeats (1) Kansas

West Region

• (2) Arizona defeats (1) Gonzaga

South Region

• (1) North Carolina defeats (3) UCLA

Final Four

• (2) Arizona defeats (1) Villanova
• (1) North Carolina defeats (2) Louisville

National Championship

• (1) North Carolina defeats (2) Arizona

The Tar Heels are seeking revenge after losing the National Championship just one year ago on a buzzer beater to Villanova. With that chip on their shoulder I believe they'll play like a team possessed and become the 2017 NCAA champions.

A SIGH OF RELIEF: CUTLER IS RELEASED

Jay Cutler

Eight years ago it seemed as though the Chicago Bears would solve their quarterback issues with the acquisition of Jay Cutler. At age 26 Cutler seemed like the perfect fit for a franchise that hadn't had a great history of quarterbacks. Fast forward to 2017 and Bears fans are happy to see Cutler go. He was released yesterday and I'm pretty he'll find a new team to ruin within the next few weeks.

Let me get this out the way now. Cutler is the best quarterback the Bears franchise has ever had. He holds the franchise records for pass completions, pass attempts, passing touchdowns, quarterback rating, and 300 yard passing games. The peak of his Bears career came in 2010 when the Bears reached the NFC championship. Not only did the Bears lose at home to the Green Bay Packers 21-14, but Cutler was injured and unable to finish the game. The Packers would go to win the Super Bowl just a couple weeks later. This is also the last time the Bears made the playoffs.

Since we're on the subject of the Packers let's talk about how Cutler saved his worst performances against the division rivals. Cutler's 2-11 record against the Packers is an absolute disappointment. I know Packers fans are going to miss Cutler and his 22 interceptions during this rivalry. As former Packers cornerback Charles Woodson put it after a 2012 victory in Chicago, "it's the same-old Jay. We don't need luck; Jay will throw us the ball."

The Bears took a chance on Cutler as the franchise quarterback and they surrounded him with weapons. Matt Forte would lead the backfield attack while the receiving core consisted of Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett. The talent was there with Cutler, but he just failed to get the job done. His interceptions would come at the worst time during games and his nonchalant attitude rubbed fans the wrong way. 

In 2014 Cutler would sign a seven-year extension for $126 million with Chicago. In this contract Cutler was guaranteed $50 million. I would call this highway robbery considering the fact Cutler's performance didn't live up to half the money from this contract. Cutler would always shows flashes of his potential but he was never consistent and couldn't get the job done when it mattered the most.

It warms many fan's hearts to know Cutler won't be in that Bears uniform anymore. The eight year experiment with Cutler was a failure. The Bears haven't seen the playoffs in seven years and during that span their rival Packers have owned them. Hopefully better days are ahead with the departure of Cutler. His 51-51 record with the Bears showed just how much of a franchise quarter he wasn't during his tenure.

MARSHALL INKS DEAL WITH GIANTS

Brandon Marshall

If you're a New York Giants fan today is a good day. Free agent wide receiver Brandon Marshall has just signed a two-year deal with the Giants worth $12 million. This is a great addition for the Giants who released veteran wide receiver Victor Cruz last month. Marshall is entering his 12th season in the NFL and still looking for his first playoff appearance. This signing should make Eli Manning sweat just a little bit less knowing he has a big target in Marshall.

https://twitter.com/BMarshall

This will also add to the development of the Giants wide receiving core. Marshall should be a great compliment to Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. Everywhere Marshall has been throughout his career he has produced. He's a six-time Pro Bowler with a few good years still left in the tank. Just a couple years ago he set the Jets franchise record with 109 catches and 1,502 receiving yards.

With Marshall now in the mix it's pretty safe to say that Eli Manning isn't going anywhere for a few more years. The Giants front office has surrounded Manning with arguably the best receiving core in their division. I'm interested to see the impact Marshall will have in the locker room. I think he'll provide some much needed veteran leadership and have a positive impact on the growth of Beckham Jr.

After having a disappointing performance last season with the Jets, Marshall looks to have a bounce back season. The future not only looks good for Marshall but for the team as well. The Giants have applied the franchise tag to defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul which keeps their defense intact going into the upcoming season. With the addition of Marshall the Giants offense shouldn't struggle to put points on the scoreboard. If they can do this and take pressure off their defense there's no reason why Marshall shouldn't see his first playoff appearance with the Giants.