In the western conference Golden State, LA Clippers, Sacramento Kings and the Minnesota Timberwolves are all out of the playoffs. I wouldn’t say that Houston, Phoenix or Utah are out of it yet and all still have a good chance of making a playoff spot, especially the Houston Rockets. I think the next few weeks are going to be exciting and its going to be a real fight out from Denver right down to Utah in the table. The Rockets have 9 games remaining to push for a spot and could make it if they can keep the momentum flowing especially with Kyle Lowry’s recent performances along with the return of Scola and Kevin Martin. Phoenix also i think have a good chance of hitting the playoffs with some good recent games and some players really starting to step up such as Hakim Warwick, Jared Dudley, Channing Frye, Steve Nash… I could go on but the team has been playing some great offence recently. Utah although playing some good games, has lacked in effort and just has not had the edge to finish games strong and continue streaks and get out of shooting slumps. If there was one team out of the three i would be inclined to rule out, it would be Utah.  Let’s wait and see what happens over the next 5 games and reassess then!

Okay now moving onto the Eastern Conference. I’ve always found that this is much clearer in the range of teams with a spread from the very worst to the top with few gaps inbetween. With the loss of some of their main players, Cleveland has lost the fight this year and it looks as though their plans will now be in the long term. Don’t expect to see them at the top again for a long time. Washington has struggled in the past few seasons but i think this year has been a building block for them to get used to each other as well as giving players like John Wall some needed experience. I think we can expect to see them come back next season and push for a mid position within the league. Toronto and New Jersey again have suffered the loss of key players and it has really shown, again these will be long term changes. New Jersey has Stuggled to gain any real solid position within the conference and has been unfortunate this season but next year it will all be about putting those puzzle pieces together as they have a good roster. Players like Kris Humphries, Jordan Farmar, Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Quinton Ross to name just a few. Okay so lets have a look at the playoff fight. New York although currently in a fairly secure place has had a really bad streak just one game back loosing 9 of 10 games. There is certainly no security about this team but maybe they will be able to pull out some defence some time? Charlotte are currently on a 3 streak and have some fairly easy games coming up, 2 against Cleveland, 1 against Washington and also New Jersey were they could work back some games on Indiana. The Indiana Pacers on the other hand has only 7 games remaining with a mix of different standard teams but they may have just enough to hold their place. Detroit can be practically ruled out of the equation barring a real miracle and in my opinion I’m not sure Milwaukee has what it takes to clinch a last second spot in the playoffs but streaks can easily sway one way or another further up.

So  then, lets see what happens over the next week and then we will again return to make some final judgements on the outcome for the playoffs.

P.S Lakers fans you already knew you were in at the start of the season, you were just waiting for the playoffs to start all season!

Image Credit: NBA

Image Uploaded by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nico_/4624684781/

The NBA returns to it’s European home once again in London but this time it’s not just an exhibition match. Oh no, this time it’s a late season double header between the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors. These two season games will be the first to ever be held outside of North America making this particular event a big step in basketball and the history of the NBA. Take a look at some of the images above to see what they have been doing pre-game.

The head Coach Rodger Payne said: “Unfortunately I have had to withdraw the team from the league. Even up to two hours ago I was trying my best to get sponsorship but was unsuccessful.” (25th February 2011)

The team will make their return next season in division 4 of the league. Help support the crusaders and ensure their return by following and supporting them at: http://www.crusaders.co.uk and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5519407337

James jones kicked of the contest getting a average score of  16 while Daniel Gibson followed with an ice cold score of 7 buckets but Sugar Ray Allen  turned up the heat getting a score of 20 ,placing him into the Final. Surprisingly Kevin “The Duranchuler” Durant only bagged 6 and Wright only 11 while paul peirce manage to scrape 12 points poking himself into the final  with james jones and Ray Allen.

Peirce Began the Fiinal with impressive 18 buckets improving by 6 but was beaten by under Dog, James Jones  who dominated with a score of 19, beating Allen by 4  and peirce by 1, and therefore ataining the 3-point title.

Videos:
Part 1

Part 2

This years 2011 sprite SlamDunk contest was held in los Angeles at Staple Centre with the likes of Director Spike Lee too to famous West Coast Rapper Snoop Dogg viewing the event court side.

We got off to an explosive start with Demar derozan who brought out  an amazing bone rattling duunk called “East Bay Funk Remix” which gained him 44 points from the judges. Up next was serge Ibaka with a physics defying freethrow dunk landing him a solid 45 points. Following air congo was javale Mcee who Scored an Incredible 50 because of a 2balled 2hooped Slam Dunk . The Most talked about rookie Blake Griffin was next to leave his mark on the 10 ft Hoop  with a unbelievable 360 Jam awarding him 49 points.
Blake Griiffin makes LA proud. In the later rounds Derozan manage to get a 50 from the judges but along side Ibaka could choke up enough to reach this years final which proved to be Origional and electrifying .  In this final McGee was first to show the crowd His insane athletisism standing at 7Ft with his high flying rendition of Micheal Jordans “rock the cradle”.  It looked to be a tough final but the animated Kenny Smith showed no   weakness as he confidenly braught out the 2011 Kia Optima for grfiffin to fly over. Griffin soared over the hood of the Kia for a two-handed alley-oop tossed up by teammate Baron Davis to Win the crowd voted slam dunk Contest.

Full Video Highlights
Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 2 – Final
Atlanta

Texas

Rajon Rondo straight past Ilgauskas

Rajon rondo listens in to the Heat’s Plans

Hustle by Lebron near Game’s End

Glen Davis blows the Dunk