The game is on!

In the NBA, the game is on! Although the game has been on for a while between the Indiana Pacers and rival Miami Heat, with the Heat signing Greg Oden and Michael Beasley, and the Pacers countering by acquiring Andrew Bynum. Then the Heat traded for Toney Douglas and the Pacers traded for Evan Turner (though this is not to compare the two players.) But after Wednesday night's loss to Indiana to drop then back 3 games with 12 to go, Miami realized that the Pacers could potentially have what it takes to finally BEAT THE HEAT. The Pacers managed to hang on to the victory by the slimmest if margins, that is, a Chris Bosh missed three-point shot as time expired. Although he struggled for most of the game scoring just 13 points points and shooting just 3 of 11 from the field, Indiana's David West hit a 3-pointer with just seconds left to give the Pacers an 84-83 lead they wouldn't lose. He later called it "the biggest 3-pointer of his career." Although James tried to pretend it didn't matter saying "it meant nothing," the Heat definitely wanted it badly as injury-prone semi-star Dwayne Wade played through a knee injury that had been acting up all season. He later strained his hamstring and had to leave the game, opening up the question whether he could get through a full playoff-series that would likely go to 7 games against Indy. But the race for the East's highly-coveted #1 seed is hardly over. Two nights after the win Indiana fell to the Wizards in Washington and Miami beat the Pistons. The Heat then continued their winning ways by beating the NBA-worst Bucks in Milwaukee last night. The Pacers are now just 1.5 games ahead in the race for the #1 seed, and a loss tonight to the Cavaliers in Cleveland would give them just a slim 1 game lead with next weeks contest in Miami, where "superstar" calls should be heavily involved, being the deciding factor on each team's seeding. In 6 the meetings between the teams (including the playoffs) in Miami, the Pacers have won just once. Making today's game in Cleveland a must-win for Chris Copeland and the Pacers. 

Just three more thoughts: 

1. To whining Heat fans

Whining, bandwagon Heat fans might claim that the ONLY reason Miami lost was because Grandpa Ray Allen was out with injury. Well, news flash: the Pacers were missing their best bench player, 6th man and orchestrator of the bench offense C.J. Watson with a hamstring injury. Both teams were missing key players. So don't hit me with this Grandpa Allen would've been the difference-maker stuff. 

2. Good news Pacers fans 

Although tonight's game in Cleveland looks like a prototypical trap-game for Indiana, Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving will be sidelined due to injury. 

3. NBA 2k14 is unrealistic 

One thing that 2k sports prides itself on is making its games realistic. Well, the other day I was being the Pacers vs. the Celtics and Paul George was guarding Gerald Wallace. Wallace chucked a contested 3-pointer against PG and...made it! I considered taking the game back because of how unrealistic it was. I mean, c'mon, Gerald Wallace a 3 on the best defender in today's game!!!

A note to Pacers fans:

When the Pacers and Heat play each other, it's Pacers vs. Heat NOT Heat vs. Pacers. BEAT THE HEAT

I will be taking a short break from writing as I am on spring break in St. Louis.

Sincerely,

The Sports Kid

NBA Power Rankings #15

NBA Power Rankings #15

1. Oklahoma City Thunder 51-18

The Thunder are going to have to hurry if they want to catch San Antonio in the West standings and get that #1 seed. 

Last Ranking: 2

2. San Antonio Spurs 53-16

Even amidst all the injury troubles, the Spurs are atop the West (and NBA in general) standings.

Last Ranking: 3

3. Indiana Pacers 51-19

Ugh, after scoring in double-digits in both of his first two games as a Pacer, Andrew Bynum has re-injured his knee. Again. 

Last Ranking: 1

4. Los Angeles Clippers 49-21

Has Chris Paul regained the #1 spot on my list of top current Point Guards? Not until he can shoot the 3 ball HALF as good as Stephen Curry. 

Last Ranking: 4

5. Miami Heat 47-21

Losers of 7 of their last 11, Miami needs a miracle to snag the East's coveted #1 seed.

Last Ranking: 5

6. Houston Rockets 47-22

Last Ranking: 6

7. Portland Trailblazers 45-25

Last Ranking: 8

8. Memphis Grizzlies 41-28

Last Ranking: 7

9. Golden State Warriors 44-27

Last Ranking: 9

10. Dallas Mavericks 42-29

Last Ranking: 12

11. Phoenix Suns 41-29

Last Ranking: 16

12. Toronto Raptors 39-30

Last Ranking: 11

13. Chicago Bulls 39-31

Last Ranking: 10

14. Brooklyn Nets 37-31

Last Ranking: 14

15. Charlotte Bobcats 34-36

Last Ranking: 15

16. Washington Wizards 36-34

Last Ranking: 13

17. Minnesota Timberwolves 

Last Ranking: 17

18. Atlanta Hawks 31-37 

Last Ranking: 20

19. Denver Nuggets 32-38

Last Ranking: 19

20. New Orleans Pelicans 29-40 

Last Ranking: 18

21. New York Knicks 29-41 

Last Ranking: 21

22. Cleveland Cavaliers 27-44

Last Ranking: 22

23. Detroit Pistons 25-44

Last Ranking: 23

24. Sacramento Kings 25-45 

Last Ranking: 24

25. Los Angeles Lakers 23-46

Last Ranking: 27

26. Boston Celtics 23-47

Last Ranking: 25

27. Utah Jazz 23-47

Last Ranking: 26

28. Orlando Magic 

Last Ranking: 28

29. Philadelphia 76ers 15-55

Last Ranking: 29

30. Milwaukee Bucks 13-37

Last Ranking: 30 

NBA Power Rankings #14

1. Indiana Pacers 49-17

Last Ranking: 2

2. San Antonio Spurs

Last Ranking: 1

3. Oklahoma City Thunder 48-17

Last Ranking: 3

4. Los Angeles Clippers 47-20

Last Ranking: 5

5. Miami Heat 45-19

Last Ranking: 4

6. Houston Rockets 44-22

Last Ranking: 6

7. Memphis Grizzlies 39-27

Last Ranking: 10

8. Portland Trailblazers 43-23

Last Ranking: 7

9. Golden State Warriors 41-26

Last Ranking: 8

10. Chicago Bulls 37-29

Last Ranking: 13

11. Toronto Raptors 37-28

Last Ranking: 12

12. Dallas Mavericks 39-27

Last Ranking: 9

13. Washington Wizards 35-31

Last Ranking: 16

14. Brooklyn Nets 33-31

Last Ranking: 15

15. Charlotte Bobcats 33-34

Last Ranking: 17

16. Phoenix Suns 38-28

Last Ranking: 11

17. Minnesota Timberwolves 32-32 

Last Ranking: 14

18. New Orleans Pelicans 26-39

Last Ranking: 18

19. Denver Nuggets 29-37

Last Ranking: 20

20. Atlanta Hawks 29-35

Last Ranking: 19

21. New York Knicks 27-40

Last Ranking: 26

22. Cleveland Cavaliers 26-40 

Last Ranking: 22 

23. Detroit Pistons Pistons 

Last Ranking: 21

24. Sacramento Kings 23-43

Last Ranking: 25

25. Boston Celtics 22-44

Last Ranking: 23

26. Utah Jazz 22-44

Last Ranking: 24

27. Los Angeles Lakers 22-44

Last Ranking: 28

28. Orlando Magic 19-48

Last Ranking: 27

29. Philadelphia 76ers 15-51

Last Ranking: 29

30. Milwaukee Bucks 13-54

Last Ranking: 30

The NBA Coach of the Year

The NBA Coach of the Year 

The NBA's Coach of the Year award is given to, obviously, the Coach of the Year.

There are multiple worthy candidates such as Frank Vogel, Greg Poppovich, Erik Spoelstra, Kevin McHale, Doc Rivers, Tom Thiboduea, Terry Stotts, Jeff Hornacek, and (my midseason favorite) Steve Clifford. 

But, although it seems as if I've just stated all the potential candidates for the award, my personal pick as Coach of the Year is not on the list of coaches named above. 

My pick for the NBA's Coach of the Year award is...

(Drumroll please...)

Drumroll...................Brad Stevens!

The former Butler University Head Coach is younger than many of the players he coaches and coaches against at just 37 years old. 

After back-to-back College Basketball National Championship game appearances and a trip to the Round of 32 at Butler, the young coach was offered a job as a Head Coach by Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics.

 After embracing the opportunity with open arms, many people (including myself) were unsure whether his coaching ability translated to the NBA. 

Well, I was wrong. 

Despite his teams .333 win percentage, Stevens has come into Boston and taken his natural coaching talent, and translated it to the NBA seamlessly. 

He has even managed to look a bit like his predecessor, future Hall-of-Famer Doc Rivers, in his first season in the NBA. 

Stevens had the team atop the Atlantic Division before the Raptors and Nets went on a tear, and the remarkable thing is that, talent-wise, the Celtics are one of the worst teams in the NBA. 

And although they don't exactly sport a gaudy record, Stevens has managed to have one of the best College-to-Pros transitions in recent memory, and more often than not the C's are in the game rather than it being a blowout.

 His team is mediocre for now, but an Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker, as well as another season for him to fully reach his coaching ceiling, and this team could easily be back into title-contention.

That's it. 

My Coach of the Year pick. 

Rounding out my top 5 rankings for Coach of the Year are Frank Vogel (Indiana Pacers), Tom Thibadouea (Chicago Bulls), Greg Poppovich (San Antonio Spurs), and Terry Stotts (Portland Trailblazers) in that order. 

Who do you think should be the Coach of the Year?

Post your take in the comment section!

P.S. This has almost nothing to do with the above article but the New York Knicks have signed Phil Jackson to be their President. He will be getting payed $12 million a year.

Phil Jackson to Knicks?

There has been a very widespread rumor that former Lakers Head Coach, and winner of 11 NBA Championships, as well as being President of Basketball Operations for the Bulls during the Michael Jordan era Phil Jackson has been offered a job in the New York Knicks front office. This would not be the first time a team offered Jackson a job since his tenure with the Lakers, but it has also been rumored that Knicks Owner James Dolan has offered Jackson a huge contract, although nothing is final yet, it currently looks as if Jackson will be taking SOME job in the front office.

NBA Power Rankings #13/Playoff Picture

Power Rankings 

1. San Antonio Spurs 46-16

Last Ranking: 6

2. Indiana Pacers 46-17

Last Ranking: 1

3. Oklahoma City Thunder 46-17

Last Ranking: 3

4. Miami Heat 43-17

Last Ranking: 2

5. Los Angeles Clippers 44-20

Last Ranking: 5

6. Houston Rockets 44-19

Last Ranking: 7

7. Portland Trailblazers 42-21

Last Ranking: 5

8. Golden State Warriors 39-24

Last Ranking: 8

9. Dallas Mavericks 38-26

Last Ranking: 9

10. Memphis Grizzlies 36-26

Last Ranking: 10 

11. Phoenix Suns 36-25 

Last Ranking: 11

12. Toronto Raptors 35-26

Last Ranking: 13

13. Chicago Bulls 35-28

Last Ranking: 12

14. Minnesota Timberwolves 31-31

Last Ranking: 16

15. Brooklyn Nets 31-30 

Last Ranking: 15

16. Washington Wizards 

Last Ranking: 14

17. Charlotte Bobcats 29-34

Last Ranking: 17

18. New Orleans Pelicans 26-37

Last Ranking: 19

19. Atlanta Hawks 26-35

Last Ranking: 18

20. Denver Nuggets 27-35

Last Ranking: 20

21. Detroit Pistons 24-39

Last Ranking: 22

22. Cleveland Cavaliers 24-40

Last Ranking: 21

23. Boston Celtics 22-41

Last Ranking: 25

24. Utah Jazz 22-41

Last Ranking: 23

25. Sacramento Kings 22-41

Last Ranking: 26

26. New York Knicks 24-40

Last Ranking: 24

27. Orlando Magic 19-45

Last Ranking: 28

28. Los Angeles Lakers 

Last Ranking: 27

29. Philadelphia 76ers 15-47

Last Ranking: 29

30. Milwaukee Bucks 12-50

Last Ranking: 30

Playoff Picture 

East 

1. Indiana Pacers (Last Week: 1) 

2. Miami Heat (2)

3. Toronto Raptors (4)

4. Chicago Bulls (3)

5. Brooklyn Nets (5)

6. Washington Wizards (6)

7. Charlotte Bobcats (7)

8. Atlanta Hawks (8)

Conference Quarterfinals 

(1) Indiana over (8) Atlanta 4-0

(2) Miami over (7) Charlotte 4-0

(3) Toronto over (6) Washington 4-2

(5) Brooklyn over (4) Chicago 4-3

Conference Semifinals 

(1) Indiana over (5) Brooklyn 4-1

(2) Miami over (3) Toronto 4-0

Conference Finals 

(1) Indiana over (2) Miami 4-3

West 

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (Last Week: 1)

2. San Antonio Spurs (2)

3. Los Angeles Clippers (3)

4. Houston Rockets (5) 

5. Golden State Warriors (6) 

6. Portland Trailblazers (4) 

7. Dallas Mavericks (N/A)

8. Memphis Grizzlies (8)

Conference Quarterfinals 

(1) Oklahoma City over (8) Memphis 4-3

(2) San Antonio over (7) Dallas 4-2

(3) Los Angeles over (6) Portland 4-1

(4) Houston over (5) Golden State 4-2

Conference Semifinals 

(1) Oklahoma City over (4) Houston 4-1

(3) Los Angeles over (2) San Antonio 4-3

Conference Finals 

(3) Los Angeles over (1) Oklahoma City 4-2

NBA Finals

Game 1: Clippers

Game 2: Pacers 

Game 3: Clippers 

Game 4: Pacers 

Game 5: Clippers 

Game 6: Pacers 

Game 7: Pacers

Indiana over Los Angeles 4-3

Finals MVP: IND SG Lance Stephenson 

NFL Mock Draft Round 1

1. Houston Texans select LB Khalil Mack 

2. St. Louis Rams OT Jake Matthews 

3. Jacksonville Jaguars select QB Blake Bortles 

4. Cleveland Browns select QB Johnny Manziel 

5. Oakland Raiders select QB Derek Carr 

6. Atlanta Falcons DE Jadeveon Clowney 

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneets select OT Greg Robinson 

8. Minnesota Vikings select QB Teddy Bridgewater 

9. Buffalo Bills select LB Anthony Barr 

10. Detroit Lions select WR Sammy Watkins 

11. Tennessee Titans select FS Calvin Pryor 

12. New York Giants select CB Justin Gilbert 

13. St. Louis Rams select WR Mike Evans 

14. Chicago Bears select DT Caraun Reid 

15. Pittsburgh Steelers select OT Taylor Lewan 

16. Dallas Cowboys select FS Ha Ha (funny right?) Clinton-Dix 

17. Baltimore Ravens select WR Marqise Lee 

18. New York Jets select WR Kelvin Benjamin 

19. Miami Dolphins select OT Zack Martin 

20. Arizona Cardinals select LB Kevin Pierre-Louis 

21. Green Bay Packers select TE Eric Ebron 

22. Philadelphia Eagles select CB Darqueze Dennard 

23. Kansas City Chiefs select DT Timmy Jernigan 

24. Cincinnati Bengals select S Brock Vereen 

25. San Diego Chargers select CB Phillip Gaines 

26. Cleveland Browns select RB Tre Mason 

27. New Orleans Saints select CB Cyrus Kouandjio 

28. Carolina Panthers select WR Brandin Cooks 

29. New England Patriots select CB Jason Varrett 

30. San Francisco 49ers select DT Ra'Shede Hageman 

31. Denver Broncos select CB Lamarcus Joyner 

32. Seattle Seahawks select WR Odell Beckham Jr.