Check Out Blog Talk BayHawk

Web site traffic tells me that most people haven't been coming here since the podcast went offline. Since then, I've turned my sports blog attention over to my latest project, Blog Talk BayHawk, which covers the Erie BayHawks, including some commentary on their NBA affiliates, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.

I don't want to say this is the end of the line for MattHubert.com, but it's at least a hiatus as I focus my efforts on the BayHawks blog. So thanks for all the readers/listeners over the years here at MattHubert.com. I'm not getting rid of the URL anytime soon, so you can still browse through the archives.

But please do check out my new posts at Blog Talk BayHawk!

My 2009 NBA Finals Pick

It's finally time for the NBA Finals. After a year of waiting, the Lakers are back for unfinished business. I hope they remember last year's loss to the Celtics as distinctly as I do. I'm anxiously awaiting the tip of the '09 Finals, even though I'm disappointed we will not be getting the heavily anticipated showdown between Lebron and Kobe.

Instead, the Lakers are faced with the Orlando Magic, led by the league's best big man and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard. It's hard to dislike Orlando. Howard is a fun-loving, Dunk Contest-winning, Shaq Junior. Meanwhile their coach looks like porn star Ron Jeremy, they shoot 3s like a rec league team, and they come from Disney World.

Still, the Lakers have experience on their side. Only two Magic players have ever played in the NBA Finals, and both are backup point guards. Anthony Johnson played for the New Jersey Nets in 2002 and 2003, and Tyronn Lue played for the Lakers in 2001. Most of the Lakers roster played in the Finals last year. Additionally, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher each has 3 rings, and coach Phil Jackson is aiming for his NBA record 10th title.

The key to the series, in my opinion, will be the frontcourt battle. I expect Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol to more or less cancel each other out. Both are all-star and All-NBA talents. The difference will be the other frontcourt players. If the Lakers' Andre Bynum/Lamar Odom/Trevor Ariza can outplay Orlando's Rashard Lewis/Hedo Turkoglu/Marcin Gortat, L.A. will win. If Orlando's bigs make a bigger impact, they may pull the upset.

In the end, though, I think L.A. simply has too much firepower. They learned their lesson from last year's championship, and they finally came together in Game 6 against Denver. Lakers in 6 is my pick.

My Picks
To recap, I'm using the scoring system from TrueHoop blogger Henry Abbott's Stat Geek Smackdown. The scoring system is 5 points for each correct series winner, plus 2 points if you get the number of games correct.

1st round = 36 points
2nd round = 15 points
3rd round = 7 points
Total = 58 points

NBA Finals
Los Angeles over Orlando in 6

Podcast Host Goes Offline

I have some bad news. The Web site that used to host the Winning Hand Sportscast, Switchpod.com, has gone offline, and taken all of its podcast files with it. For the time being, that leaves me with no place to store my podcast.

Unfortunately, Switchpod was perfect for my needs. It offered a lot of storage space for free. Now that it's gone, there's few comparable alternatives. There are many good pay services out there, but I've yet to find any free hosting that has enough space to even hold a month's worth of podcasts. If you know of one, please let me know.

In the meantime, I'll still offer the occasional update here at MattHubert.com. Plus, I've started a new Erie BayHawks blog called Blog Talk BayHawk.

2009 NBA Conference Finals Picks

The conference finals are here. After tonight’s one night break, the NBA has a game scheduled each day for the next two weeks. By then, if not sooner, we’ll have our 2009 NBA Finals matchup. My conference finals picks are coming in a bit, but first, a look back at how I fared in round two.

To recap, I'm using the scoring system from TrueHoop blogger Henry Abbott's Stat Geek Smackdown. The scoring system is 5 points for each correct series winner, plus 2 points if you get the number of games correct.

My picks
Cleveland over Atlanta in 5 = 5 points
Boston over Orlando in 7 = 0 points
Los Angeles over Houston in 5 = 5 points
Denver over Dallas in 6 = 5 points

1st round = 36 points
2nd round = 15 points
Total = 51 points

Boston’s Game 7 failure cost me 7 big points. Aside from that, I again underestimated the Cavs and Nuggets as they’ve both breezed through the first two rounds. For the record, my 51 points ties me with Henry’s mom in second-to-last place. Oh well.

Moving on to the conference finals, I still believe the Lakers and Cavaliers are on a collision course to meet for the championship, even if L.A. struggled to eliminate a depleted Rockets team. While I’m confident about who will advance, trying to predict the number of games is tough. I think both Orlando and Denver are tough enough to win a couple of games in the series, but I don’t see either squad forcing a Game 7.

Eastern Conference Finals
Cleveland over Orlando in 6

Western Conference Finals
Los Angeles over Denver in 6

Game 7 Looms for Los Angeles

I still cannot believe that the Lakers’ season could actually be over 24 hours from now. The problem is, I’m not sure the Lakers realize that either. They’ve had multiple wake up calls during this playoff run—perhaps more of a playoff jog or playoff brisk walk—and have continually hit the snooze bar.

So now they’re down to a one-game, winner-take-all Game 7 against an undermanned, undersized Houston team that clearly has the Lakers overmatched in one key area. Use whatever term you want: heart, desire, will, want-to, effort, energy, enthusiasm. The Rockets bring it and the Lakers wing it. I haven’t been this frustrated, well, since the Lakers last played an elimination game. For those who need a reminder, they were embarrassed by the Boston Celtics, 131-92. The Celtics celebrated an NBA championship and the Lakers vowed to come back tougher this year. Ha.

Toughness—both physical and mental—remains the glaring vulnerability of this Lakers team. Their recent history with their backs against the wall isn’t encouraging either. Including the Boston Finals debacle last year, L.A. has faced elimination just three times in the post-Shaq era, and they’re 0-3 in elimination games.

In 2006, the Lakers met the Phoenix Suns in the first round. L.A. took a 3-1 series lead, but the Suns won the next two to force a Game 7. And in the series finale, the Lakers folded, losing 121-90 in a game in which they never led.

The following year, they met up with Phoenix in round one again. This time it was the Suns who jumped out to a 3-1 series lead. But the Lakers would not force a Game 7—or even a Game 6. They lost Game 5 by a count of 119-110, again never leading at any point.

Throw in the 2004 NBA Finals against the Pistons and 2003 Western Conference Semifinals, and the Lakers are 0-5 in their last five elimination games. They haven’t won an elimination game since they took both Games 6 and 7 of the Western Conference Finals against Sacramento in 2002. Incidentally, that team was also the last Lakers team to win a championship.

With home court advantage and memories of a 40-point win the last time the Rockets visited Staples Center, the Lakers are the clear favorites in Game 7. But if they’re going to win and advance, they can’t rest on their laurels. They have to come out from the opening tip with something to prove and give a spirited full 48 minutes of intensity and execution. If not, Houston is more than capable of stealing another game and the series, leaving the Lakers and their fans another long, agonizing offseason of questioned toughness and finger-pointing.

Grading the Game 6 F-ort

Frustrated. Disappointed. Angry. The Lakers brought out a cornucopia of negative emotions from me with their dismal Game 6 performance. They started the game by digging themselves a 17-1 hole that they would never emerge from. Credit the Rockets for not rolling over when everyone (myself included) was already talking about how L.A. matched-up against Denver. Fault the Lakers for thinking the Rockets would.

Collectively, there is no question that the Lakers deserve an F for their effort in this one. If there was a grade lower than an F, I’d give them that. But I’m not satisfied with just one blanket grade for this lackluster performance, so let me go down the line and assess the Lakers roster one-by-one.

Phil Jackson: D
He can only do so much to preach to his team about not having a letdown game. My gripe with Jackson is his lineup decisions. Farmar should play the bulk of the point guard minutes against the speedy Aaron Brooks. Shannon Brown should be the primary matchup against Kyle Lowry, and Fisher should only see spot minutes filling in. I also don’t want to see any more Luke Walton or Josh Powell in this series.

Kobe Bryant: B-
He may be the only Laker that I trust to bring it every night (excluding the second half of Game 7 vs. Phoenix in 2006). Still, he was hardly at his best last night. The careless turnover he had trying to feed the post in the third quarter was a momentum killer after the Lakers had cut the deficit to two. He also needs to resist the temptation to go for the FU-jumpers Battier wants him to take and instead make a commitment to getting into the paint and onto the free throw line for some easy points and/or kick-out opportunities to spot-up shooters.

Derek Fisher: F
Derek Fisher is past his prime. OK, fair enough. I don’t expect major statistical production from him anymore. And I don’t expect him to be able to defend quick point guards like Aaron Brooks. (You hear that, Phil?) Still, as the only Laker besides Kobe with any championship rings, I expect certain intangible benefits from him as a veteran leader of this team. Jacking up pull-up jumpers in transition, missing open 3s, and forcing the issue on offense before any offensive rebounders are in position are not among the things he should be bringing to the table. Is it a coincidence that L.A. won the game he was suspended in this series? I’m not so sure it is.

Pau Gasol: D
It is simply unacceptable for Pau Gasol, an All-NBA selection to be outplayed by the likes of Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes, and Carl Landry. Unacceptable. No one epitomizes the soft problems more than Gasol. Don’t get me wrong, the Lakers need him. But they need him to step up and be someone they can run the offense through, especially given the injury status of the Rockets’ front line.

Lamar Odom: C+
Odom is the individual player most like this Lakers team. He is so ridiculously talented that there is little he cannot do, but you never know what version is going to show up from game to game. For being the only Laker that seemed to want to rebound the ball in Game 6, and doing so with a severely bruised back, I’m giving him one of the few decent grades.

Andrew Bynum: F
Where did you go, Andrew Bynum? The man that was supposed to be a key cog in the Lakers’ attack after returning from injury has yet to fit back in. He used to be good for a few dunks, offensive rebounds, and shot blocks per game. Now he looks lost on offense and fouls like Greg Oden on defense. He’s young enough to have time to redeem himself, but it’s looking less and less like that will happen this year—let alone this series.

Trevor Ariza: C-
He was a key contributer to the Lakers’ brief sign of life in the third quarter, getting a steal and dunk and then connecting on a 3. Unfortunately, his supposed role of defensive stopper isn’t getting much press considering the workmanlike job the Rockets’ Shane Battier is doing on Kobe.

Jordan Farmar: C+
He may have been the only Laker to make a positive impact on the first half. Then when he finally got some fourth quarter minutes in place of Jackson, his impact lessened. I still think he needs to get more time in Game 7, though as his energy and quickness is needed.

Shannon Brown: C
The most consistent player off the L.A. bench this postseason didn’t do much good or bad for the team in this one.

Sasha Vujacic: F
One of the team’s most deadly weapons off the bench last season, Vujacic hasn’t shot the ball well all season, and this series is no different. His inability to hit shots has cut into his playing time and allowed the Houston defenders to sag into the paint against Kobe.

Luke Walton: D-
Walton is noted for his basketball IQ, but I frown every time I see him on the floor. He’s become an offensive liability and he’s not much better on the defensive end.

DJ Mbenga: D
I realize he didn’t play, but DJ deserves a “D” because defensive intensity is the one thing he brings to this team. If he were on the Rockets, he’d likely be seeing some playing time filling in for the injured Yao and Mutombo. And he’d probably be outworking Gasol, Bynum, and Odom, too.

Josh Powell: D-
As the roster replacement for Ronny Turiaf, Powell gave them some quality performances during the regular season, showing that he could be a reliable pick-and-pop player. But his deficiencies have surfaced in the playoffs. Unlike Turiaf, Powell is a low-key guy. Turiaf brought a feistiness and energy that this team seems to lack. Turiaf was also a better post defender and stronger rebounder. I was sad to see him go when he did, but I really didn’t miss him until now as he’d be the perfect answer to counter the Rockets’ Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry.

Adam Morrison: INCOMPLETE
In need of comic relief? Take a look at the 2006 NBA Draft. Morrison was chosen third overall yet he’s spent the series in a suit watching picks 24-26 play meaningful minutes right before his eyes. I don’t know If Morrison will ever matter as a Laker, but I’m at least intrigued to see if watching the playoffs from close up has an effect on him next season.

The Winning Hand Sportscast 5/14/09

Matt and Mike talk about the latest happenings in the NBA playoffs, including the red hot Nuggets, the inconsistent Lakers and the dominant Cavs.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.

The Winning Hand Sportscast 5/6/09

Matt and special guest host Ryan Colvin talk NBA and, in breaking from the Winning Hand Sportscast tradition, NHL playoffs. Plus, what face card does Matt have in store for Brett Favre? Find out in this episode.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.

Two Recipes for the Lakers

I went to bed angry last night. It’s one thing to lose a playoff game. It’s another to come out at home in a series opener and lose like THAT.

The same things that the Lakers got away with in their first-round series win against Utah surfaced in Game 1 Monday night against Houston. It was a recipe for disaster.

Lazy defense? The Rockets will move the ball, find the open man and hit the shot. Bypass boxing out? Scrappy Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry and company will sniff out the loose ball and give their team extra possessions. Rely on perimeter shooting? Houston’s defense will make you work. Open shots are few and far between, and you’ll be more tired if you ever do get an open look.

There’s no question which team is more talented in this series. The Lakers have the most talented roster In the league. But the Rockets proved in Game 1 that great effort and execution can defeat great talent.

Call it rust from the long layoff between series. Or call It an off-night (the Lakers shot just 11 percent (2-18) from 3-point range to go along with 63 percent shooting from the line and 44 percent from the field.

Despite all of this, the Lakers never trailed by more than 11 and even led by 1 briefly in the fourth quarter before the Rockets closed the game on a 24-15 run.

So, now that I’ve had some time to blow off some steam via text messages to my brother, an e-mail to my dad and several ranting tweets and Facebook status updates, let me offer the an 8-step recipe of improvement to help the Lakers bounce back from this ugly 8-point defeat.

1. Start Lamar Odom.
   The Lakers are crisper with Odom and Gasol than they are with Bynum and Gasol (or Bynum and Odom) up front. It’s as simple as that. Plus, Bynum seems to pick up quick fouls almost every game relegating him back to the bench anyway. Let Bynum play with the second unit where the Rockets really have no backup center to defend him.
   
   
2. Get Gasol involved early and often.
   Pau gives the Lakers a mismatch whether it’s quickness against Yao or size and skill versus Scola, Hayes or Landry. They need to get him the ball on the low block and let him go to work. Bynum going at Yao is not the way to attack. Gasol is an all-star and a better passer if the Rockets choose to double-team.
   
   
3. Make an effort to get to the free throw line.
   I’m looking at you Kobe. Five free throw attempts is not going to cut it. Yao is a presence inside, but you still have to challenge him. Take the ball to the hoop strong and stop settling for outside shots.
   
   
4. Give Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar more playing time.
   Fisher is not a good matchup against the Rockets’ speedy point guard tandem of Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry. Brown and Farmar have the speed and quickness to stay with them and limit penetration. Fisher brings veteran leadership, but his minutes should be limited throughout this series.
   
   
5. Pass the ball with a purpose.
   There was too much stagnant offense from the Lakers in Game 1. The Rockets are a tough defensive team, but you make their job easier when the ball is sticking in one place.
   
   
6. Make someone other than Yao beat you.
   Offensively Houston looks into Yao Ming on almost every possession. The Lakers need to show Yao different looks to complicate things for him. Double-team him on the catch one time, on the dribble the next, play him straight up the next time. Frustrate Yao and you’ll stifle the Rockets.
   
   
7. Shoot with confidence.
   Ariza, Vujacic, Fisher, Brown, Farmar…when you have an open look from downtown, step into your shot and put it in. Don’t think about it. Don’t hesitate. Just shoot it. There’s no way we’re going 2-18 from distance again.
   
   
8. Show some passion.
   Somebody show me that you care. Remember the beatdown Boston gave you last season? Where is that team that was poised to make this postseason different? Give me an FU dunk on Yao. Give me a good clean, hard, playoff foul on Aaron Brooks the next time he slithers into the paint. C’mon now!

2009 Conference Semifinals Picks

With the Hawks in the process of blowing out Miami in Game 7, the conference semifinals are all but set in stone. I'll give my second round picks in a second, but first it's time for a quick recap of my first round picks.

To recap, I'm using the scoring system from TrueHoop blogger Henry Abbott's Stat Geek Smackdown. The scoring system is 5 points for each correct series winner, plus 2 points if you get the number of games correct.

My picks
Cleveland over Detroit in 5 = 5 points
Boston over Chicago in 4 = 5 points
Orlando over Philadelphia in 6 = 7 points
Atlanta over Miami in 7 = 7 points
Los Angeles over Utah in 5 = 7 points
Denver over New Orleans in 7 = 5 points
San Antonio over Dallas in 6 = 0 points
Portland over Houston in 6 = 0 points
Round 1 total = 36 points

The two Western conference series that I missed surprised me. In retrospect, I'm mad at myself for not taking Houston with the experience edge they had over Portland. But I definitely didn't see Dallas knocking off the Spurs, especially in such easy fashion. I also should've taken that Cavs sweep, but I gave Detroit too much credit for past success.

Moving on to round two, I remain very confident that the Lakers and Cavaliers will have little trouble advancing. The other two series have more question marks. My picks are as follows:

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Cleveland over Atlanta in 5
Boston over Orlando in 7

Western Conference Semifinals
Los Angeles over Houston in 5
Denver over Dallas in 6

The Winning Hand Sportscast 4/29/09

Matt and Mike break down the booms and busts of the NFL Draft. Plus, with the NBA playoffs in full swing, the brothers debate playoff fouls, the impressive Mavs, the epic Bulls-Celtics series, and vintage Kobe.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.

The Winning Hand Sportscast 4/22/09

Matt and Mike look ahead to the NFL Draft and talk about the first few nights in the NBA playoffs. Plus, they dish out face cards to John Madden, Dikembe Mutumbo, Derrick Rose and Percy Harvin. This and more in episode 12 of The Winning Hand Sportscast.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.

16 Reasons I’m Watching the 2009 NBA Playoffs

The NBA playoffs tip off tomorrow afternoon, and I couldn’t be more excited. For the next two and a half months, the best that the basketball world has to offer takes center stage. From TNT’s 40 games in 40 nights to ABC’s Sunday afternoon showcase games, there’s no reason not to catch a game—or, if you’re like me—it’s really tough to miss any one game.

Please, do me a favor and put your petty gripes aside. The players will be playing hard. Defense does matter. And believe it or not, the first three quarters are as important as the final three minutes. There’s so many storylines to follow in this year’s playoffs, headlined by the seemingly destined Finals showdown between Kobe’s Lakers and LeBron’s Cavs. But 14 other teams have a little something to say about that.

So, without further ado, here are 16 reasons (one for each team) why I’m watching as much of the 2009 NBA playoffs as I possibly can.

1. The return of Andrew Bynum
   Lakers fans (like myself) are elated to have a healthy roster heading into the postseason. Last year, without Bynum, they came two wins shy of winning the NBA championship. With the young center back in the lineup, Los Angeles becomes most experts’ pick as the team to beat, but question marks remain about Bynum’s long-term stability and the Lakers’ toughness.
   
   Still, like the Yankees, the Lakers are a polarizing force that is good for the sport. They are one of the most popular franchises in the league and also the most hated. If you’re not a Lakers fan, it’s fun to root against them, and fans will likely get the chance to do that well into June again this season.
   
   
2. Mr. Big Shot in the wild, wild West
   No one knows who is the biggest threat to the Lakers in the West, but it might be the second-seeded Denver Nuggets, the same team L.A. swept in round one last year. This year’s Nuggets team has a decidedly different feel thanks to the early season trade for Chauncey Billups. The former Finals MVP (against the Lakers in 2004, for what it’s worth) has provided the veteran leadership that this team has needed, and they are hopeful that his presence will help them escape the first round for the first time in the George Karl era.
   
   
3. What’s left in Tim’s tank?
   If the pattern holds, the Spurs will win the title this year. They won in 2007, 2005 and 2003, but the odds are not in their favor in 2009. The big reason why is that Manu Ginobli will miss the playoffs with an injury. So, that raises the question about San Antonio’s rock, Tim Duncan. Can the Big Fundamental rise to the occasion and carry San Antonio back to the Finals? His numbers have dipped a bit, but betting against Duncan and the Spurs in the postseason is like betting against heat in the desert.
   
   
4. The future is now in Portland.
   For the past year of two, many in the media have touted the Blazers as the team of the future. With the youngest roster in the league, featuring 2006-07 Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy and 2007 number one overall pick Greg Oden among others, the Blazers were pegged as the team to contend with the Lakers down the road.
   
   Now It looks like that road may lead to Hollywood as early as May. Having earned home court in round one, the Blazers now look to advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2000 when Blazers fans will remember, they lost a heartbreaking Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals against, who else but the Lakers.
   
   
5. Houston, we have a problem.
   No one had a more disappointing tax day in the NBA than the Rockets. They went into their April 15 game against Dallas with the possibility of moving up to number two in the West. But their loss, coupled with wins by San Antonio and Portland dropped them to fifth, which means they’ll start the playoffs on the road. Rockets fans who were hoping this would be the year they get out of the first round (0-6 in playoff series since 1998) also have to be worried about the way they lost against Dallas, faltering down the stretch.
   
   Without the injured Tracy McGrady, Houston is left without a crunch-time identity. Does the last shot go to Yao or Ron Artest? The time to answer that question is not in Game 1 of a playoff series, and that could spell trouble for the Rockets unless Daryl Morey can stat-geek his way out of that quandary as well.
   
   
6. Mark Cuban has a lot of money and little patience.
   It’s now or never in Dallas, and quite frankly, now is more like two years ago. Remember 2006, Mavs fans? Your team was two wins away from the NBA title when, down 0-2 in the Finals, the Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade (and, depending on your point of view, the refs) made a historic comeback. After a stunning loss at the hands of the eighth-seeded Warriors in ’07 and a 4-1 series round-one beatdown from the Hornets last year, Dallas is now an afterthought when it comes to NBA title talks.
   
   For what it’s worth, they still have one of the game’s best players in Dirk Nowitski, and the most explosive bench scorer in the league in Jason Terry. But if they don’t overachieve this year, expect owner Mark Cuban to blow this thing up and start with a new plan of action in Big D.
   
   
7. Can Chris Paul steal a playoff series?
   He led the league in thievery (that would be steals) for the second straight year, so it’s certainly in his nature. And last year’s playoffs was a real coming out party for Chris Paul as he led the Hornets to the Western Conference Semifinals before falling in seven games to the Spurs.
   
   This year, however, the Hornets have underperformed expectations, especially after adding former-Celtic James Posey in the offseason. But CP3 is the most dangerous player in the West not named Kobe Bryant, and the Hornets are certainly a frisky first round matchup for the Nuggets. I expect this to be the best first-round matchup in the West.
   
   
8. Jerry Sloan is singing the blues.
   The veteran coach of the Jazz has all but conceded his team’s first-round series against the Lakers. I’m not buying it. This is essentially the same team that tested the Lakers in a well-played six-game series last year. Sure, they’ve struggled down the stretch, but L.A. has no answer for Deron Williams, and Utah has a variety of lengthy perimeter defenders to throw at Kobe. No, I don’t think the Lakers will lose the series, but I think talk of a sweep is a bit premature. This team’s talent is much better than that of an eight seed.
   
   
9. LeBron James
   Remember this game from two years ago? Well, the starring figure in that montage is still playing basketball, and in case you haven’t heard, he’s gotten even better. Soon to be named 2009 NBA MVP, James leads the Cavs into the playoffs with the best record in the league, including a 39-2 mark at home. There’s no telling what King James has in store for the postseason, but he’s got at least two or three guaranteed WOW plays in him every time he steps out on the court.
   
   
10. The defending underdogs
    The Lakers were the popular pick in the Finals last year even though the Celtics were the best team all season long. Now, as defending champions, the Celtics find themselves in familiar territory. After learning that they will likely play the entire postseason without Kevin Garnett, the Celtics not only would be underdogs in a Finals rematch against the Lakers, they would be underdogs against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals and might even be underdogs against Orlando in the second round.
    
    You just know that coach Doc Rivers loves the opportunity to fly under the radar with the confidence of a team that found a way to get it done last year. This is undeniably the team best-equipped to derail what appears to be Kobe and LeBron’s date with destiny.
    
    
11. The wild card
    For most of the season, Orlando was talked about as the fourth member of the elite top tier (along with the Lakers, Cavs and Celtics). But after a 116-87 throttling of the Cavs on April 3, Orlando closed the season 3-4, failed to reach the 60-win mark, and dropped behind Boston into the three seed in the East. Dwight Howard is a beast, but he needs to prove he can carry a team deep in the playoffs. Now’s the time for this team to prove the doubters (like me) wrong and prove they belong in the same conversation as the aforementioned big three.
    
    
12. No, seriously, watch the Hawks.
    One of the most entertaining playoff series of last season featured the Atlanta Hawks, a team that had a losing record. They took the eventual champion Celtics to seven games. And guess what? The Hawks are back and better this year. They have home court advantage in round one, and that’s big because they were 3-0 at home, 0-4 on the road in that series against Boston. Joe Johnson is the playoffs’ best kept secret, and Josh Smith is a freak of nature when it comes to swatting shots away. Look for Atlanta to be part of one of the most entertaining first-round series again.
    
    
13. Dwayne Wade takes on the Hawks.
    OK, technically it’s the Miami Heat heading to Atlanta, but Dwayne Wade is the NBA’s best one-man show. After Miami traded away Shawn Marion midseason, it became even clearer that this team was only going to go as far as Wade would take them. Is that into Cleveland for a second-round showdown with LeBron and company? Can Wade really beat the Hawks on his own? Wade’s done it before (see: Mavericks, Dallas; 2006 NBA Finals). We’ll see if he can repeat that performance soon enough.
    
    
14. Is AI the man in Philly?
    No, not Iverson. I’m talking about Andre Iguodala. Many predicted the 76ers would be in the playoffs again this year, but they expected Elton Brand to lead the charges. Instead, he’s another big name out with injury, and this Philly team is much like the one that gave Detroit a first-round scare before bowing out in six games. Iguodala leads the team in scoring and minutes played, but he’s yet to show that he’s a guy worthy of being a team’s alpha dog. If he can spearhead a first-round upset, that’d be huge, but my thinking is that he’s got to be your second or third option if you’re going to win a title.
    
    
15. A Rose blooms in Chicago
    Rookie Derrick Rose had a great first year in the NBA, and it’ll be fun to see him make his playoff debut against the defending champions and arguably the league’s best defensive point guard, Rajon Rondo. Rose has this Bulls team surging at the right point of the year, but they dropped a key game to close the season and fall from sixth to seventh in the East. No one’s expecting them to win the series, but it’ll be fun to see how much of a scare Rose and company can give a KG-less Boston squad.
    
    
16. The end of an era
    It started with the departure of Ben Wallace a few years ago, but it wasn’t really until Joe Dumars pulled the trigger on the trade that sent Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson, that this Pistons era—the one that saw Detroit play in six straight conference finals and two NBA Finals—officially came to a close. Iverson will not be a part of this Detroit playoff team (adding him to the list of injured stars that includes Garnett, McGrady, Ginobli and Brand).
    
    But it doesn’t really matter. With or without the Answer, this Pistons team doesn’t have the answers to solve all the questions posed by Cleveland in round one. Veterans Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess will certainly be game, but effort can only take them so far, and in their case, it won’t be far at all this year, especially by recent Detroit Pistons standards.

There you have it. So many reasons to watch. I can’t wait. Let the games begin.

2009 NBA Playoff First-Round Picks

I am not a Stat Geek, but I am intrigued by Henry Abbott’s 2009 NBA Playoff Stat Geek Smackdown.

If you don’t know Abbott, he is the author of the TrueHoop blog on ESPN.com, and it’s my go-to blog year-round.

Anyway, you can read about the Stat Geek Smackdown and see the competitors picks here.

Just for fun, I’m going to submit my picks as well and use the same scoring system to see how I match up to the stat geeks as someone picking based solely upon instinct and observation. The scoring system is 5 points for each correct series winner, plus 2 points if you get the number of games correct.

My picks:

East 1st round
Cleveland over Detroit in 5
Boston over Chicago in 4
Orlando over Philadelphia in 6
Atlanta over Miami in 7

West 1st round
Los Angeles over Utah in 5
Denver over New Orleans in 7
San Antonio over Dallas in 6
Portland over Houston in 6

Feel free to join in the fun and submit your own picks in the comments section below!

The Winning Hand Sportscast 4/15/09

As the NBA regular season comes to a close, Matt and Mike run down their list of awards including MVP, Rookie of the Year and All-NBA selections. Plus, they make their final set of Ace Predictions for the season. All this and more on the latest edition of The Winning Hand Sportscast.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.

LeBron James: 2009 NBA MVP

Last year was one of the most competitive NBA MVP races I can remember. Eventually, Kobe Bryant received both the official NBA honor and my unofficial vote (but not before some serious thought on the issue.)

After the success of last year’s methodology, I tried the same thing again this year. I narrowed the pool of MVP candidates to 10, and then asked myself 10 questions. For each question, I rated the candidates. The number one answer received 10 points for that question, second place received nine points and so on.

After tallying the total points for all 10 questions, last year’s winner, Kobe Bryant fell just one point shy of his 2008 mark, but Kobe’s 78 points was only good enough for second in 2009. The winner, scoring an astounding 87 (out of a possible 100) points was LeBron James.

Honestly, this exercise in justifying the MVP may be rendered unnecessary for the foreseeable future. Despite great seasons from Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade and Bryant, no one stacks up to James. And, at 24 years old, it’s scary but logical to believe King James is only going to get better.

Statistics don’t quite do James justice. Neither do superlatives. The best way to appreciate his game is to watch him night in and night out. From the moment he entered the league, there was no doubt that he was physically gifted. But a summer that included a gold medal run with Kobe Bryant and Team USA in China, LeBron entered this season with a new sense of purpose, drive and determination.

Suddenly his will to win met—if not surpassed—his unbelievable array of physical gifts. He’s not perfect. He could still improve his free throw shooting (though he did go from 71 to 78 percent this year). He could still develop a go-to move and a counter move in the post. But this is not the time to nitpick greatness.

LeBron is a singular talent unlike anything the NBA has ever seen before. That’s right. Ever. You can compare him to Magic or Michael or even Kobe. But truth be told, LeBron James is the prototype.

At 6-feet, 8-inches tall and 250 pounds, LeBron is built like a professional wrestler. Streaking down the court to finish a fast break or pin a helpless opponent off the backboard, he runs and jumps like an Olympic track star. And he does it all with the passing skills and decision making ability of a Hall of Fame quarterback. Of course, he also manages to synthesize all of these talents together into something that looks like basketball—only a brand we’d never dream of playing.

On any given night, LeBron may put up a triple double. On any given play, he may put a would-be shot blocker on a poster. And at any given moment, he can make a crowd of thousands say, “Wow!”

Of course LeBron will win the MVP for what he does on the court, but he’s just as valuable everywhere else. The rapport he has with his teammates is palpable. The connection he has with the home fans in Cleveland is tangible—just look at their home record. His personality is personable, his conversations engaging, his brand bordering on Jordan.

The only thing left for LeBron this season is an NBA championship. That’s the missing piece. His Cavaliers will enter the playoffs as the number one overall seed, which means that they, and more specifically he, will be labeled the favorites by many to defeat the defending champion Celtics and likely Western Conference Champion Lakers in the Finals.

In the last 20 years, only four players have won the NBA MVP and NBA championship in the same season (Michael Jordan ’91, ’92, ’96, ’98; Hakeen Olajuwon ’94; Shaquille O’Neal ’00; Tim Duncan ’03).

LeBron isn’t worried about replicating history. He’s determined to make it. But if he’s ever going to surpass Michael Jordan as the public’s consensus greatest player of all-time, it’s going to take more than winning an MVP award (Jordan has five of those). It’s going to take NBA Finals MVP awards (Jordan has six). Still, LeBron’s 2008-09 season was a thing of beauty for fans of basketball. And for that, he deserves recognition as this year’s MVP.

The Winning Hand Sportscast 4/8/09

Matt and Mike talk college hoops, NBA playoff races and even a little WrestleMania in the latest Winning Hand Sportscast.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.

The Winning Hand Sportscast 3/30/09

Matt and Mike talk about this past weekend in the NCAA Tournament, look ahead to the Final Four, and predict a bunch of NBA games in the latest edition of The Winning Hand Sportscast.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.

The Winning Hand Sportscast 3/23/09

Matt and Mike recap all of the action from the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and look ahead to the Sweet 16. Plus, Ace Predictions for five key NBA games and Mike dishes out the Face Cards.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.

The Winning Hand Sportscast 3/16/09

With the start of the NCAA Tournament just days away, Matt and Mike present an all-March Madness edition of the Winning Hand Sportscast. Listen as the guys go through region by region offering their sleeper picks, key matchups and Final Four predictions. All that plus an all-college basketball set of face cards.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.

'You pick it' responses

It's another double dip for me on the ESPN.com AFC West blog of Bill Williamson. Read all the responses here, including my choice for the story of the week in the division. HINT: I don't like the Broncos.

'Sound Off' on T.O.

Every week over on his AFC West blog at ESPN.com, Bill Williamson poses a ‘Sound Off’ question to his readers. This week’s ‘Sound Off’ question asked Raider Nation to voice their opinion on Terrell Owens winding up in Buffalo and not in Oakland. To read my response and the thoughts of others, check out the full post.

No Podcast This Week

There will be no podcast for the week of March 10. But Mike and I will be back next week with a with an NCAA Tournament preview podcast. In the meantime, enjoy March Madness!

'You pick it' responses

Check out my response among those published this week on Bill Williamson's AFC West blog.

The Winning Hand Sportscast 3/3/09

Matt and Mike are counting down to March Madness. This week they unveil the top-10 NCAA champions of their lifetime. Albert Haynesworth headlines the Face Cards. And Mike tries to pull ahead in the Ace Predictions battle with Matt.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.

Sounding Off on LaDainian Tomlinson

It's that time of week. Bill Williamson posted his 'Sound off' topic responses, including the one I sent in. This week's prompt: Should LaDainian Tomlinson restructure his contract or be cut?

Check out my thoughts and all of the responses on Williamson's AFC West blog on ESPN.com

The Winning Hand Sportscast 2/24/09

In this week's episode, Derek Fisher, Al Davis and John Beilein receive Matt's face cards. Plus, the guys practice some bracketology and provide another batch of ace predictions, including their somewhat biased thoughts on the Prep-McDowell showdown on Friday.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.
  

Asom(ugha) News from Oakland

The Raiders are back!

OK, OK, so that may be jumping the gun a bit. But their best two players are coming back, and that is big news for the silver and black. Few people expected them to be able to retain both Nnamdi Asomugha and Shane Lechler. But the Raiders paid up and have retained the services of arguably their two best players (even if one of them is a punter).

Yes, the contracts are pricey. And yes, the Raiders got into trouble by overpaying for several free agents last season like DeAngelo Hall and Javon Walker.

However, these signings are different. For starters, both Asomugha and Lechler are fresh off Pro Bowl seasons and are in line to have many more. Secondly, they don’t have questionable pasts the way last year’s crop of signees did. Walker was coming off an injury and Hall had a messy divorce with the Falcons organization. Tommy Kelly, the big Raider re-signee of last year was also coming off an injury.

Lechler and Asomugha are healthy and, by all accounts, happy to be in Oakland. After all, one of them was guaranteed to have the opportunity to leave via free agency because the Raiders could only franchise one of them. Instead, they both signed to stay on board with the team despite their struggles.

In addition to the obvious on-field benefits of retaining Asomugha and Lechler, these signings give the Raiders franchise a much needed morale boost. Their decision to stay put shows the league it’s OK to be a Raider and maybe, just maybe, the franchise isn’t quite as dysfunctional as they’ve been the past six years.

For head coach Tom Cable, this is also a vote of confidence that his players see something in what he’s bringing to the table.

And yes, again, it doesn’t hurt that Al Davis shelled out major cash. So, as someone who’s blasted him in the past, kudos for getting these deals done. The next step is bolstering the offensive line and receiving corps.

The fact that the organization is finally making right steps to encourage next steps is the key. Let’s hope the trend continues.

LINK: In other AFC West news, my 'You pick it' response was published again on Bill Williamson's blog on ESPN.com.

*UPDATE 2/27/09*
In this week's 'You pick it' response, I essentially used the body of this post. Check it out here where, at three paragraphs, it stands out from the crowd.

The Winning Hand Sportscast 2/17/09

Shaq, LeBron, and Dwight Howard all get mentioned among the face cards this week. Plus, Mike does the unthinkable and talks about hockey. The guys also run through the gauntlet of new NFL coaches and offer another week of their Ace Predictions.

There are five different ways to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com.
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want.
• Visit our Switchpod page to listen to and rank our podcast.
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• Or check us out on iTunes. Click to subscribe.
  

The Legend of Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O’Neal is routinely mentioned among the likes of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Moses Malone and company as one of the greatest centers in NBA history. But O’Neal’s larger-than-life personality leads me to a bigger comparison.

I think O’Neal is the modern day Babe Ruth. Let me explain.

Like Ruth, O’Neal has put up Hall of Fame numbers for his career, winning several championships along the way. But neither Ruth nor O’Neal can ever be defined solely by numbers or rings. Their legacy is the thing of legend. They will be remembered for the OMG moments and the stories friends told friends. Babe did WHAT? Shaq did THAT?!

With the modern media and commercialization of sports, O’Neal’s exploits are almost all documented, so in that sense, Ruth may have a more mythical legacy. But both figures have left behind memories and moments that fans will speak of forever.

From Ruth’s called shot to O’Neal’s dunk that tore down the entire basketball hoop, there is no shortage of iconic memories from their careers. If you need more proof of Ruth’s legend, just watch The Sandlot. If you want proof of O’Neal’s legend, watch Kazaam and then marvel at the fact that he still went on to enjoy great professional and commercial success after making it. Legendary.

The similarities aren’t limited to the silver screen, though. Their body of work was made more impressive by the bodies they worked with. Ruth’s resembled your favorite beer-swilling, cigar-smoking uncle. Meanwhile O’Neal was a freak of nature. At 7’1” and more than 300 pounds of chiseled stone, he was simply awesome. There was no explanation why the pot-bellied Ruth was able to hit 714 home runs. Or why the behemoth O’Neal was able to move with the agility and grace of an NFL wide receiver. But they did it.

Another similarity is their likability. It’s almost impossible to find a baseball historian who can offer up an unkind word about Ruth. He was Gandhi in pinstripes (sorry Red Sox fans, your team sold him away). And O’Neal, always a media favorite for his quotability and humor, seems to have entered Ruthian territory. He can do no wrong despite burning bridges and throwing people under the bus after unhappy departures from Orlando, Los Angeles and, to a lesser extent, Miami.

Another measure of this legendary comparison is nicknames. You have to be somebody to earn a nickname. These guys have a slew of them. In addition to being dubbed “Babe,” Ruth was also known as the Great Bambino, the Sultan of Swat and he Colossus of Clout, to name a few. O’Neal has a number of monikers as well. The Diesel, Shaq Daddy, The Big Aristotle, The Big Cactus, and Most Dominant Ever are among the best of the bunch.

No matter how you slice it, O’Neal has entered Ruthian territory, and the best part is, he’s still going.

After winning a title in Miami in 2006, it appeared that O’Neal’s career was on a sharp slope downward. The ‘06-‘07 season in Miami was the worst of his career and Miami was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The following season, last year, O’Neal looked old. His play was ineffective, he was limited by injuries, and he missed the all-star game for the first time in his career. A midseason trade to Phoenix rejuvenated him a bit, but his team again lost in round one of the playoffs.

All signs pointed to the end of the O’Neal era. But he came back focused this season, and earned a spot as a reserve on the Western Conference all-star team. Credit the Phoenix training staff and O’Neal for putting in the time and effort to regain all-star form. And credit karma for the 2009 all-star showcase being held in Phoenix.

There, as a member of the home team Suns, Shaquille O’Neal stole the show. Again.

There were two-dozen all-stars in Phoenix on Sunday night. The average age of the other 23 active all-stars was 28 years young. Yet it was the soon-to-be 37-year-old that made the headlines.

From his pregame introduction with Jabbawockeez to his in-game give-and-go pass between Dwight Howard’s legs to his post-game MVP-trophy mock squabble with co-MVP Kobe Bryant, O’Neal made it crystal clear: this was his night. If his 15th all-star game proves to be his last, O’Neal made sure his performance would be remembered fondly.

With his superman tattoo and man-of-steel physique, O’Neal has always played the role of hero well. But by outshining all the stars in his 15th all-star game, O’Neal proved to me his status needs to be upgraded to that of a living legend.

After all, heroes get remembered but legends never die.

'You pick it' responses

This week's 'You pick it' category on Bill Williamson's AFC West blog asked what the biggest story in the division: the Chiefs hiring Todd Haley, the Raiders hiring Tom Cable or Tony Gonzalez's comments about staying in Kansas City. Click to read my response and more over on ESPN.com.

'Sound off' response

This week, followers of Bill Williamson’s AFC West blog were asked to sound off on the Raiders’ hiring of Tom Cable. That’s a topic that is right in my wheelhouse, so I responded, and my comments were among those replicated on ESPN Web space earlier today.

The Winning Hand Sporstcast with Matt and Mike Hubert 2/10/09

Matt and Mike get ready for NBA All Star Weekend. They are intrigued by HORSE, bored by the Shooting Stars competition and in awe of the dunk contest. Plus, they try to break the tie with a gauntlet full of Ace Predictions. And, as always, they name the face cards for the week.

There are several options to listen:

• Stream it using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.
• And now you can also get the podcast on iTunes. Click to subscribe.
  

The Raiders Finally Get a Coach

Tom Cable is officially the head coach of the Oakland Raiders. That was news to me, enough to warrant 'You pick it' status on Bill Williamson's AFC West blog. Read my thoughts and more over at ESPN.com.

Should Haley Be Chiefs Coach?

This week's 'Sound Off' topic on Bill Williamson's AFC West blog focused on the prospect of Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley being named head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Winning Hand Sporstcast with Matt and Mike Hubert 2/3/09

On the heels of an electrifying Super Bowl, Matt and Mike recap the big game. Plus, they talk about the injury to Andrew Bynum, Division II PSAC basketball, and turn over three key face cards from the Super Bowl.

All that and more in the latest episode of The Winning Hand Sportscast.

There are several options to listen:

• Streaming using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.

Lamar Woodley is That Guy

Lamar Woodley’s strip-sack of Kurt Warner sealed the victory in Super Bowl XLIII for the Steelers. It also cemented Woodley’s status as That Guy this year. In addition to late-game heroics, Woodley had another sack, two quarterback hurries, one pass defensed and four tackles. But it was that final pass rush of the season gave him the nod.

In a fourth quarter where Kurt Warner caught fire and Larry Fitzgerald caught everything, no one wearing black and gold wanted to take the chance on a last second Hail Mary lofted toward Arizona’s sure-handed superstar. Woodley made sure that the Cardinals would not get the chance to see if a final Warner Hail Mary would be an answered prayer. Instead, he took matters into his own hands, and did what the Steelers failed to do for most of the fourth quarter—pressure Warner.

Woodley, in his second-year out of Michigan, spent most of the season in the shadows of fellow linebackers Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison and veteran tackle machine James Farrior. He racked up 11.5 sacks on the season, but none was bigger than the one on Warner last night.

Woodley is the third linebacker to receive my That Guy award, joining Mike Jones of the Rams and Mike Vraebel of the Patriots. My pre-game pick for the award, Steve Breaston, was a college teammate of Woodley. The Cardinals wideout/returner didn’t disappoint, amassing 144 all-purpose yards, including a 34-yard punt return.

In the end, however, it was Woodley—not Breaston—that emerged victorious. Playing linebacker for the Steelers, he won’t be just That Guy very long. But for his role in the Steelers record sixth Super Bowl title, he earned the title of That Guy for stepping out of the shadows on the biggest stage in football.

Very Unfortunate News for Laker Fans

In a déjà vu headline, Andrew Bynum is injured and may miss the rest of the regular season for the Lakers. Reports say it’s a torn MCL. He’s expected to miss 8-12 weeks. The Lakers have approximately 10 weeks left in the season.

This is eerily similar to last year when Bynum went down with a subluxation of his left kneecap and bone bruise in January. Then, as now, he was originally expected to miss eight weeks. Those who follow the Lakers know that those eight weeks turned into the rest of the season last year.

I’m among the Laker fans who believed Bynum would be the difference between last year’s runner-up finish and a championship. And just recently, a healthy Bynum seemed to be coming into his own, scoring a career-high 42 against the Clippers last month. He was also giving them the added toughness inside that they clearly lacked against the Celtics in the Finals.

The Lakers currently possess the best record in the West, and showed last year that they can hang with anyone in the conference playing Gasol at center and Odom at power forward. However, the odds of them keeping pace with the beasts of the East (Boston, Cleveland and Orlando) now seem slim. They’ll likely not have home court advantage in the Finals, assuming they can get back there.

Who knows, maybe Bynum does make it back in eight or 10 weeks this time, in time for a playoff run. I don’t want to be too doom-and-gloomy here. But this is a tough pill to swallow.

First and foremost, you have to feel for Bynum. Mentally bouncing back from another injury may be more of a hurdle than the physical rehab.

As for the rest of the team, they’ll immediately be put to the test. The rest of the teams in the West certainly now see a much more open conference. Will the Lakers fade? They’re in the midst of a six-game road trip that finishes with games at Boston on Thursday and at Cleveland on Sunday. Both of those games were going to be tough at full strength. The Lakers will now be tested even more.

Mike and I will surely talk more about this on tomorrow’s Winning Hand Sportscast. Right now, I’m just struggling to get past my initial reaction: it sucks big time.

'You pick it' Response

My response was once again chosen to be featured for the ‘You pick it’ feature on Bill Williamson’s AFC West blog. Check out what I had to say about the Herm Edwards firing as well as the responses of others on the ESPN blog.

Should Derrick Thomas and Shannon Sharpe Be in the Hall of Fame?

It's a legitimate question and one that was asked by Bill Williamson on his AFC West blog this week. My response is among the ones he included in his follow-up post today.

Super Bowl XLIII That Guy

Last year I debuted my Super Bowl That Guy column, noting that there’s always some little-known player who rises to the occasion for the big game. Click to read last year’s column for some perspective.

To refresh your mind, here are the rules to qualify for That Guy status as we head into Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIII matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals.

Rules to qualify as That Guy in a Super Bowl:

1. Starting quarterbacks are automatically ruled out. That means no Kurt Warner and no Ben Roethlisberger.
   
   
2. Pro Bowl selections are also overqualified. That means that, in addition to Warner, receievers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, safety Adrian Wilson and special teamer Sean Morey are ineligible for Arizona. For the Steelers, linebackers James Harrison and James Farrior and safety Troy Polamalu are off limits.
   
   
3. Fantasy football studs are ineligible. This net catches several players already ruled out. Add to those names: Willie Parker, Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
   
   
4. Veterans with a significant playoff history. Deshea Townsend and Aaron Smith each have at least 10 years of experience and a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers already. They’re exempt. On the Arizona side, there’s a lot less playoff experience, but Edgerrin James definitely qualifies.
   
   
5. No repeats. If you were already named That Guy in a Super Bowl, you can never be him again. The Steelers’ That Guy from Super Bowl XL, Antwaan Randle-El, is no longer with the team. No one on either team has ever been That Guy before.

Arizona Cardinals top five nominees for Super Bowl XLIII That Guy

5. Mike Gandy, LT
Protecting Kurt Warner will be a key to the Cardinals’ success. Gandy is in charge of protecting Warner’s blindside against the Steelers’ rush that will feature NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison.

4. Matt Leinart, QB
The one-time golden boy has been relegated to the bench, but if Gandy and company fail to protect Warner, the Heisman-trophy winner Leinart will be called upon. Warner has managed to stay healthy this season, so there’s no indication that he’ll go down. But the Steelers’ defense is the best and arguably hardest hitting in the league. What a chance that would be for someone who was once the guy at USC to become That Guy in the Super Bowl.

3. Bertrand Berry, DE
The 11-year veteran had played in just two playoff games prior to this season, losing both. But after starting just four games during the season, he’s started in all three Cardinals playoff victories this year and recorded two sacks. He knows that Super Bowl opportunities do not come around regularly and that should motivate him to get some pressure on Ben Roethlisberger.

2. Tim Hightower, RB
After scoring six touchdowns in a reserve role, the rookie runner started seven of the team’s final nine regular season games, but he scored just four times as a starter. Nonetheless, he remains an important complement to Edgerrin James and will need to contribute if the Cardinals have any hopes of mounting a rushing attack against the Steelers’ vaunted run defense.

1. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB
In his first postseason run, the rookie corner has been stellar, tallying 15 tackles and two interceptions during Arizona’s playoff run. Whether he’s matched up against Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward or deep-threat Santonio Holmes, Rodgers-Cromartie is going to be tested by the Steelers receivers. If he can win his share of those battles, the Cardinals just might win the war.

Pittsburgh Steelers top five nominees for Super Bowl XLIII That Guy

5. Dennis Dixon, QB
This is the ultimate long-shot, but hear me out. The Steelers always seem to know when to run the trick play. They ran one to perfection in Super Bowl XL when wide receiver Antwaan Randle-El hooked up on a touchdown pass to fellow wideout Hines Ward. Who was the offensive coordinator then? Ken Whisenhunt, now head coach of the Cardinals. Wouldn’t the Steelers love to kill the Cards coach with a dose of his own medicine? And, if so, Dixon, the athletic rookie from Oregon could figure prominently. If he gets onto the field, keep an eye on him.

*4. Limas Sweed, WR
The rookie wideout is my brother Mike’s pick, so I’ll list him, but after his drop last week against the Ravens, I just don’t see it happening for Sweed. To hear more of Mike’s thoughts on the game, check out the first episode of The Winning Hand Sportscast available for download or streamed on MattHubert.com

3. LaMarr Woodley, LB
The third-year linebacker from Michigan is also the third-ranking linebacker for the Steelers, but that’s only because he plays alongside the best linebacking crew in the NFL with James Harrison and James Farrior. The young’n of the bunch, Woodley is every bit as capable of making big plays, and with the attention the others demand, he may find himself free to make some of those plays against the Cardinals.

2. Heath Miller, TE
He’s not Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates, but Miller fits the mold of a Pittsburgh Steelers tight end. He’s a big body, great blocker and, next to Hines Ward, seems to be Roethlisberger’s go-to target on third down. Tight end is a position not being talked about much in this game, but Miller has the edge and that could pay dividends for the Steelers.

1. Mewelde Moore, RB
When Willie Parker was injured earlier this year, Moore was more than a serviceable fill-in. In the four games he started, Moore averaged 20 carries for 90 yards (4.5 yards/carry) with three rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown. Parker broke through with a big effort in the Steelers’ last Super Bowl while playing somewhat in the shadow of Jerome Bettis. Parker doesn’t cast quite as large a shadow as The Bus did, but Moore will look to follow in his footsteps.

My Pick for Super Bowl XLIII That Guy
Steve Breaston, WR/returner, Arizona

The Rationale
The Cardinals are a pass-first offense. Their quarterback and both starting receivers are Pro Bowl starters. Surely the Steelers will do everything they can to limit the number of passes directed toward Fitzgerald and Boldin. Naturally that leads to additional opportunities for the number three man, Steve Breaston. His numbers for the year: 77 receptions, 1,006 yards and 3 touchdowns. Not too shabby. And that doesn’t even factor in his electrifying ability as a kick/punt return specialist, which is where he really made his mark in college at Michigan. As a multi-dimensional weapon, Breaston is a leading threat to take That Guy honors on Sunday.

Matt’s Super Bowl XLIII pick
Arizona 24, Pittsburgh 20

The Winning Hand Sporstcast with Matt and Mike Hubert 1/27/09

The debut of The Winning Hand Sportscast with Matt & Mike Hubert is loaded with sports chat.

Matt deals the face cards to Barack Obama, the late Kay Yow and Jay McGwire. The brothers continue to share a brain when it comes to picking NBA all-stars. And they finally make their picks for Super Bowl XLIII.

All that and more in the first installment of The Winning Hand Sportscast.

There are several options to listen:

• Streaming using the podcast player at the top right of the page on MattHubert.com
• Download the MP3 file to listen on your computer whenever you want
  
• Subscribe to the podcast feed using your favorite RSS reader.

Will the Raiders Ever Hire a Coach?

In this week's "You pick it" question on Bill Williamson's AFC West blog, I followed my heart and talked about the Raiders, specifically Al Davis and his inability to make a decision regarding the team's head coaching position.

I don't know if Williamson puts these responses in any order, but it's always nice to have the pole position of prominence and my comments are featured first this week.

Change is Coming to MattHubert.com

Yes, change is coming to the site in the form of a brand new podcast. This past week's show (1/20/09) was officially the final MattHubert.com podcast, but it's not the last time you'll hear my brother Mike and I discuss the hottest topics in the world of sports.

Next week MattHubert.com will debut a brand new podcast, "The Winning Hand Sportscast with Matt & Mike Hubert." While you shouldn't expect a drop-off in quality, you should expect a brand new format. The new show will have a new opening/closing theme, but more importantly, its content will be more organized and include featured segments including "King," "Queen," and "Jack" Ass of the Week awards, "Ace" predictions and more.

No, we won't be talking poker, Texas Hold 'em or any other card games, but we will be shuffling through the deck to talk about a variety of issues from the world of sports every week. As with the old show, we'll focus primarily on pro and college basketball and football, but no sports topic is off limits.

The decision to change the show was made primarily to give Mike more stake in the podcast as it clearly was more than just my project. But I also wanted to give the podcast its own identity to differentiate our work on the podcast from my writing on the site. Both the writing and podcast will remain hosted together on MattHubert.com.

So thanks to everyone who has listened to the MattHubert.com podcast since we first launched last December. Mike and I certainly hope you'll stick with us and find the new show even more entertaining.

We generally record Tuesday evening. Then I put it through some simple post-production. I generally have it uploaded to the Internet by 11 p.m. Tuesday night. It's not a schedule that is 100 percent set in stone, but we try to stick to it as much as possible. Of course, the best part of a podcast is that you can download it, store it on your iPod and listen to it on the go whenever you have 30 minutes (give or take) of downtime.

As with the old podcast, we'll work to get The Winning Hand Sportscast listed on iTunes as soon as possible. In the meantime, I hope you keep coming back to the site to hear our insights on the sports world.

Podcast 1/20/09

This week Matt & Mike start to breakdown the matchup in Super Bowl XLIII. Plus, they talk Lakers-Cavs, NBA All-Star starters, college basketball and more.

Listen to the podcast streaming using the player at the top right of the page. Download it here. Or download it from the iTunes store.

President Obama

On this historic inauguration day, I can't help but post an Obama link. Not only does he represent hope and change in America. He also has the best change-of-pace dribble of any president. Thanks to Jessie for passing along this story of how basketball shaped Obama growing up.

A Guide to Fandom and Team Loyalty

The other day at work someone asked me a question: “Is a person allowed to have more than one team?” The question was asked with the suggestion that I could support the Steelers in addition to the Raiders. I quickly slammed the brakes on that idea.

The simple answer is no, you can’t have more than one team. That would be like being married to two wives. But while polygamy is clearly defined, polyfandom is a bit more complicated. So, let me do the honors of breaking down the rules of sports fandom once and for all.

As far as I’m concerned, your team allegiances should pretty much be set by the time you’re learning to read. By that point, you’re either fully indoctrinated by your diehard parents or have been swayed by something—a player, a jersey color, a team name—to choose to call a team your own. Let’s hope that something wasn’t that the said was always winning. Nobody likes a bandwagon.

Once, you’ve got your teams, there’s no turning back.* The fact that the Raiders have set an NFL record as the first team to ever lose 11 or more games in five straight seasons doesn’t change the fact that I support the silver and black 100 percent. Michigan football missed a bowl for the first time in my lifetime. But I’m no less enthused for next season, and have three—count ‘em—three Michigan calendars displayed in my office right now (Page-A-Day desk calendar, mousepad calendar and a wall calendar.

Once your team is eliminated from the playoffs, it’s fine to pick a team to root for, but the rule is to go for the underdog, unlikely and unproven team. Do not jump upon the bandwagon of the hottest team. Do not cheer for a rival team. And if your underdog does win, don’t gloat or enjoy it too much. It’s not your team.

It’s also important to note the difference between professional and college sports. The guidelines are a bit more lax for college allegiances but not much. In the NFL, there are 32 teams. The NBA has 30 as does the NHL and MLB. Meanwhile, there are well over 100 Division I NCAA football and basketball programs. So, it’s permissible to flirt with a second college team permitted that they play in a different conference. Most times the rooting interests will never cross paths, but you need to have a clear number one designated if they ever should meet.

For me, it’s Michigan. I like UCLA, but if they ever play Michigan (as they did earlier this season), there’s no doubt in my mind who I’m rooting for. Maize and blue all the way! If you hesitate or need to weigh the pros and cons of one of your teams beating the other, you’re in serious trouble of being labeled a non-serious fan. Don’t hedge your bets. Pick a horse, saddle up and enjoy the ride. It may be bumpy along the way, but the finish line means more if you were riding from the start.

Being a true sports fan isn’t that hard (even if being a Raiders fan is). It requires commitment, loyalty, enthusiasm and optimism. “There’s always next year” beats “I think I’ll just switch and cheer for someone else this year” any day. So make your allegiances clear. Stand proud when they win. Stay firm when they lose. And you’ll be just fine. Trust me.

*Exceptions apply if you’re a fan of the team in your city and that team that moves away (Cleveland Browns fans should not have cheered for the Ravens) or your city suddenly gets a new team (People in Charlotte were free to switch to become Bobcats fans when the franchise began a few years ago.)

Super Bowl History in the Making

Super Bowl XLIII will feature a matchup of two franchises on different ends of the Super Bowl history spectrum, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals.

Take a look at the chart on the left, detailing the NFL's 32 teams and 42-year Super Bowl history leading up to this season. Either team will make history with a win.

The Steelers, playing in their seventh Super Bowl and second in four years, can break a tie with Dallas and San Francisco to become the first team to win six Super Bowls.

On the flipside, the Cardinals are appearing in the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history, leaving just five teams without a Super Bowl appearance.

The Cardinals will attempt to become the 18th NFL franchise to win the Vince Lombardi trophy. The Steelers will attempt to become the first franchise to have enough rings to start loading up a second hand.

The smashmouth tradition of the Steelers against the high-octane offense, nobody-believed-in-us Cardinals. It's Super Bowl XLIII, and it's 13 days away, so expect plenty of hype, stories, analysis and predictions between now and kickoff on Feb. 1.

Calling all bandwagons! Calling all bandwagons! Last call!

If you’re a bandwagon fan (you know who you are), now’s your last chance to make a choice. But choose wisely. You don’t want to choose to suddenly become a “longtime supporter” of one of the four remaining NFL teams only to see them stumble one game short of the Super Bowl.

If you wait until the Super Bowl, you miss out on the two-week hype-fest. If you wait until after the Super Bowl, well, that’s just pathetic. To be a bandwagon fan, you’re OK with sacrificing a lot of your loyalty and self-respect, but if you care to salvage whatever bit you have left, you have to make a choice now. So, which bandwagon should you latch on to? Here’s my guide for you, the lowly bandwagon fan. (2007 Patriots AFC Championship shirts sold separately.)

Pittsburgh Steelers
I live in Pennsylvania, so I know all about the Keystone state’s bandwagon fans. And boy do they love the Steelers, especially when they’re winning. Just let them tell you about their love of the Steelers. Or don’t ask. They’ll probably tell you anyway.

Does the prospect of cheering for someone named Big Ben excite you? If you can’t spell his last name, that’s OK. If you don’t know what college he played at, hear someone say “Miami,” and think it’d be cool to cheer for someone from The U, then Big Ben and the Steelers are a perfect bandwagon pick.

Want to cheer for someone because of their long-flowing mane? You’ve got Troy Poly-pola…oh well, you can just call all your players by their first names! Ben, Troy, Willie. Yeah, it’s like you’re all buddies hanging out together.

Plus, you play in a field named after a ketchup company. That has to whet your appetite as a bandwagon fan. And guess what? You have a receiver named Hines, too! OK, so it’s spelled differently and there’s really no correlation whatsoever, but Hines at Heinz sounds cool! Maybe you should buy his jersey at Wal-Mart!

Philadelphia Eagles
The team from the eastern part of the state is not quite as popular where I live, but do they ever have a bandwagon buy-in for you?! Beards. Playoff beards are the craze in Philadelphia. So join in the fun and stop shaving. Or, if you’re like me and unable to grow a beard on command, buy a fake beard.

Get a Santa Claus beard while you’re at it. Wait, scratch that idea. The Eagles fans once booed Santa Claus—even though their current coach is resembling him more and more by the day. But a regular beard will make you as much a part of the team as caveman Kevin Curtis. If you’ve never heard of Kevin Curtis, you’re a perfect candidate to hop aboard the Eagles bandwagon.

For what it’s worth, they’re being labeled as “this year’s Giants,” the team that won the Super Bowl last year. Of course, they could also face the fate of this year’s Giants and lose an upset to an unsuspecting bird of prey.

Arizona Cardinals
Well, I actually don’t know if the Cardinals are birds of prey. But they’re birds of pray(er) led by the religious and revived ageless Kurt Warner. You may even have hopped on his bandwagon before with the 1999 St. Louis Rams.

I’ve maintained for years now that the Cardinals have the smallest national following. As recently as a few months ago, I was asking my brother if he knew a single Cardinals fan. Neither one of us could do so. It may be the only team that I don’t know a single fan of.

Be a part of history and join the Cardinals bandwagon. Plenty of good seats are still available. As an added bonus, they’re the only team left playing in a warm-weather city. So, if you really want to go all-out as a bandwagon and move to follow them, at least you’ll be living in the warmth of Phoenix when they sink back into NFL obscurity.

Baltimore Ravens
If you have any Cleveland Browns fans as friends, I advise you to stay away from this bandwagon choice. The prospect of the Ravens winning a second Super Bowl before the Browns ever play in one is painful even for me, a diehard Raiders fan.

But if you don’t have any Cleveland tie-ins, you may want to invest in becoming a Ravens fan. Whether you’re a fan of Edgar Allen Poe, the color purple or uninventive offense, the Ravens have you covered.

The Ravens are great for bandwagon fans because you’re not supposed to know the names of their offensive players. They’re just there to keep the field warm for the defense. And since bandwagon fans are already a demographic that is not looked upon fondly by diehards around the league, you’ll have no problem becoming the instant rival of two fanbases—Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Bandwagon fans of the NFL, the options are there for the taking. As for me, you may have already heard my picks on the podcast earlier this week. If not, here’s who I’m taking in the championship games

Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Philadelphia over Arizona

Yes, I’m forecasting an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl. But don’t worry, you won’t find me riding either one of those bandwagons. Nope, I’m staying out of it and just hoping for close, competitive games the rest of the way.

(OK, and maybe nudging the Cardinals bandwagon just a bit to keep it’s unlikely wheels a-turnin’.

Matt's 2009 NFL Playoff Predictions Tally
LAST WEEK: 2-2
Overall: 5-3