There were a lot of NBA fans and beat writers who freaked out during last year's NBA playoffs. Several writers and bloggers — most notably ESPN's John Hollinger, a stats geek (in a good way) — proposed several changes to the NBA playoffs.
My favorite one was to keep the same seeds per conference, but create one big 16-team bracket.
There hasn't been as much outcry this year, mainly because the Celtics tore through the regular season, Orlando developed into a legitimate No. 3 team and Cleveland still has that LeBron fellow.
When I did a simulated, what-if bracket last season, six of the eight teams to advance into the second round were from the West. With the East a bit stronger — and just for fun — let's take a look at what this year's playoffs would have looked like using the 16-team bracket projection, which was incredibly popular last season.
Imagine this as one giant bracket:
(1W) Los Angeles
(8E) Atlanta
(4E) Cleveland
(5W) Utah
(3W) San Antonio
(6E) Toronto
(2E) Detroit
(7W) Dallas
(1E) Boston
(8W) Denver
(4W) Houston
(5E) Washington
(3E) Orlando
(6W) Phoenix
(2W) New Orleans
(7E) Philadelphia
We again get a few fascinating first-round matchups, including Phoenix-Orlando, Cleveland-Utah and Detroit-Dallas. A quick projection give us a probable second round of Los Angeles-Utah, San Antonio-Detroit, Boston-Houston, Phoenix-New Orleans and a potential semifinals of Los Angeles-San Antonio, Boston-New Orleans.
There are still some crying for some sort of playoff change, and there are some interesting scenarios in certain new formats, but I think the NBA right now is better than it has been in many, many years.
The talent level is incredible, the historic rivalries are returning in some form and the influx of young, capable players and innovative coaches make for some great up-and-down basketball. I think this year's playoffs will serve as a sign of increased competition in the future.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Realignment goes through
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association officially approved its new conference realignment, which will begin in 2009 and last through 2013. It was an expected move, but allows county teams to know for certain where they will end up for the next few years.
Here's a breakdown of the new conferences for Iredell schools (with attendance figures to the right) and a few thoughts on all three.
2A
Bandys 989
Bunker Hill 886
Draughn ----
East Burke 950
Maiden 824
Newton-Conover 771
South Iredell 991
West Caldwell 1,011
Thoughts: Rather than doing most of its traveling to Lincoln County, the Vikings will now be dispersed to the Hickory area on road trips. One of the first things that pops out to me is wrestling. South, with a great wrestling program, will get huge tests from Bandys and Newton-Conover, two state powers. Football will also be better, as will basketball, especially over at West Caldwell where Danny Anderson has the Warriors humming. Draughn has no attendance figures because it will not open until next season. Overall, this is a very tough, mostly balanced conference.
3A
Carson 1,078
East Rowan 1,246
North Iredell 1,248
South Rowan 1,103
Statesville 1,149
West Iredell 1,052
West Rowan 1,217
Thoughts: The former North Piedmont 3A will condense from 10 to seven schools, with Lake Norman, Mooresville and Northwest Cabarrus - the three largest schools - leaving. This should give the three Iredell teams more breathing room in scheduling non-conference games for all sports. West Rowan and Statesville, maybe even Carson, should be the contenders in football. Statesville's girls soccer program immediately becomes the class of the conference, and North Iredell's girls basketball team should be the favorite in 2009. Some good rivalries have emerged between Rowan and Iredell schools, and those should continue for years. West Iredell, with just a smidge over 1,000 students, is the smallest 3A school in the state and narrowly missed the cut-off of being a 2A school.
4A
Hopewell 2,757
Mallard Creek 2,000
Mooresville 1,616
Lake Norman 1,918
North Mecklenburg 2,461
Vance 2,074
West Charlotte 2,209
Thoughts: This conference is all about the attendance figures. Mooresville actually made an official request to switch conferences, citing location and overall size. The school makes a few good points. Hopewell has 70 percent more students than Mooresville, meaning it will have a much larger pool from which to pull its athletes. That's a huge disparity, and Hopewell and North Meck may grow at an even higher rate than Mooresville and Lake Norman. This conference is loaded from top to bottom, in all sports, and boasts a few of the largest schools in the state. Here's another fascinating story line to me. For the past two years, several NPC coaches have bemoaned having to play Lake Norman and Mooresville, which were easily the two biggest schools in the conference. Now it's quite the opposite as the two Iredell schools are the smallest schools and will face what so many of their opponents did over the past two years: competing against schools with more resources.
Here's a breakdown of the new conferences for Iredell schools (with attendance figures to the right) and a few thoughts on all three.
2A
Bandys 989
Bunker Hill 886
Draughn ----
East Burke 950
Maiden 824
Newton-Conover 771
South Iredell 991
West Caldwell 1,011
Thoughts: Rather than doing most of its traveling to Lincoln County, the Vikings will now be dispersed to the Hickory area on road trips. One of the first things that pops out to me is wrestling. South, with a great wrestling program, will get huge tests from Bandys and Newton-Conover, two state powers. Football will also be better, as will basketball, especially over at West Caldwell where Danny Anderson has the Warriors humming. Draughn has no attendance figures because it will not open until next season. Overall, this is a very tough, mostly balanced conference.
3A
Carson 1,078
East Rowan 1,246
North Iredell 1,248
South Rowan 1,103
Statesville 1,149
West Iredell 1,052
West Rowan 1,217
Thoughts: The former North Piedmont 3A will condense from 10 to seven schools, with Lake Norman, Mooresville and Northwest Cabarrus - the three largest schools - leaving. This should give the three Iredell teams more breathing room in scheduling non-conference games for all sports. West Rowan and Statesville, maybe even Carson, should be the contenders in football. Statesville's girls soccer program immediately becomes the class of the conference, and North Iredell's girls basketball team should be the favorite in 2009. Some good rivalries have emerged between Rowan and Iredell schools, and those should continue for years. West Iredell, with just a smidge over 1,000 students, is the smallest 3A school in the state and narrowly missed the cut-off of being a 2A school.
4A
Hopewell 2,757
Mallard Creek 2,000
Mooresville 1,616
Lake Norman 1,918
North Mecklenburg 2,461
Vance 2,074
West Charlotte 2,209
Thoughts: This conference is all about the attendance figures. Mooresville actually made an official request to switch conferences, citing location and overall size. The school makes a few good points. Hopewell has 70 percent more students than Mooresville, meaning it will have a much larger pool from which to pull its athletes. That's a huge disparity, and Hopewell and North Meck may grow at an even higher rate than Mooresville and Lake Norman. This conference is loaded from top to bottom, in all sports, and boasts a few of the largest schools in the state. Here's another fascinating story line to me. For the past two years, several NPC coaches have bemoaned having to play Lake Norman and Mooresville, which were easily the two biggest schools in the conference. Now it's quite the opposite as the two Iredell schools are the smallest schools and will face what so many of their opponents did over the past two years: competing against schools with more resources.
Friday, May 2, 2008
N.C. 3A tennis poll
Voters in the N.C. Coaches Association 3A tennis poll must have slept through the tennis season. That's about the only reason I can think of as to why someone is still voting Statesville No. 10 in the poll, but not Mooresville.
The Greyhounds won the 3A state championship last season and started the year ranked No. 2 in the state. I don't have a problem with that - they returned two of the best players in the area and deserved some respect as defending champs.
But it really makes no sense that Statesville is even getting a vote - or that it took so long for someone to actually vote for the Blue Devils.
Mooresville finished 8-1 in the North Piedmont 3A, its only loss coming to state champion contender Lake Norman. The Blue Devils also looked good in tough out-of-conference games. Statesville finished 7-2 in the NPC, which included an 8-1 loss to the Blue Devils. 8-1! Statesville played that match without one of its best players, Luke Gillis, but it wouldn't have mattered. Even if you plug in two victories if Gillis was there - which isn't guaranteed - it's still a 6-3 Mooresville win.
That match came April 14, and Statesville got multiple votes in the next two polls. This is the first week Mooresville got any votes at all.
Someone needs to wake up.
The Greyhounds won the 3A state championship last season and started the year ranked No. 2 in the state. I don't have a problem with that - they returned two of the best players in the area and deserved some respect as defending champs.
But it really makes no sense that Statesville is even getting a vote - or that it took so long for someone to actually vote for the Blue Devils.
Mooresville finished 8-1 in the North Piedmont 3A, its only loss coming to state champion contender Lake Norman. The Blue Devils also looked good in tough out-of-conference games. Statesville finished 7-2 in the NPC, which included an 8-1 loss to the Blue Devils. 8-1! Statesville played that match without one of its best players, Luke Gillis, but it wouldn't have mattered. Even if you plug in two victories if Gillis was there - which isn't guaranteed - it's still a 6-3 Mooresville win.
That match came April 14, and Statesville got multiple votes in the next two polls. This is the first week Mooresville got any votes at all.
Someone needs to wake up.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Knee series
As promised in an earlier blog, here's the completed version of my series on ACL injuries. Make sure to check out the video and interactive components, too.
We spent nearly six weeks from start to finish on this series, and my hope is county leaders began to take some serious proactive solutions to help curb this disturbing trend.
I'd also like to thank the athletes, coaches and doctors I talked to for being incredibly helpful.
We spent nearly six weeks from start to finish on this series, and my hope is county leaders began to take some serious proactive solutions to help curb this disturbing trend.
I'd also like to thank the athletes, coaches and doctors I talked to for being incredibly helpful.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Speedy Statesville
Monday's soccer match between Statesville and Mooresville may have been the most entertaining game I have covered during the spring season.
The Greyhounds - who start six sophomores and three freshmen - defeated Mooresville, the No. 8 ranked team in the state, 3-2 by using some incredible team speed.
That's what made the game so entertaining. Statesville's girls were flying all over the field, tracking down loose balls and ripping shot after shot. While the Blue Devils couldn't match that speed, they were the more technically sound squad, so those two dynamics really played out over the course of the game.
Statesville will either be the No. 3 or No. 4 team from the North Piedmont 3A to make the playoffs and they'll play on the road against one of the top teams from another conference. The Greyhounds will be underdogs, but like the team showed Monday, they can pull an upset by running the other team ragged.
The Greyhounds - who start six sophomores and three freshmen - defeated Mooresville, the No. 8 ranked team in the state, 3-2 by using some incredible team speed.
That's what made the game so entertaining. Statesville's girls were flying all over the field, tracking down loose balls and ripping shot after shot. While the Blue Devils couldn't match that speed, they were the more technically sound squad, so those two dynamics really played out over the course of the game.
Statesville will either be the No. 3 or No. 4 team from the North Piedmont 3A to make the playoffs and they'll play on the road against one of the top teams from another conference. The Greyhounds will be underdogs, but like the team showed Monday, they can pull an upset by running the other team ragged.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Wanted: More bulk
The NFL draft is nearly a week away, and I just realized I haven't made a post on it yet. I'm the ultimate NFL draft nerd - buy preview magazines, get the day off work, load up on cheese dip and Diet Mountain Dew (although the cheese dip kind of defeats the purpose of diet soda, no?).
I haven't gotten into draft news and rumors as much as I have in the past. A lot of that has to do with being busy at work, and I also got really into the NCAA tournament this year.
But it's time to address some of the issues the hometown Carolina Panthers face this draft. This certainly could be a make-or-break year for general manager Marty Hurney and head coach John Fox, so it's important they make prudent decision and get no less than three players who will somehow contribute right away, either as a starter or key reserve.
The biggest needs are on the offensive and defensive lines. I'm a big believer in "winning the battle in the trenches," or whatever else you want to call it. If you look at recent teams that advanced to the Super Bowl, they all had good lines. The last - and only - time Carolina advanced to the Super Bowl, it had perhaps the best defensive line in football and a top-10 offensive line.
After a tremendously disappointing year from DE Julius Peppers and an unclear picture on the offensive line, that's where the Panthers should go in the draft.
I think the best pick for them is Boise State tackle Ryan Clady. He's a natural left tackle, which means Jordan Gross stays at right tackle. That would push Travelle Wharton back inside to guard and create some healthy competition for the offensive line's interior. Chris Williams from Vanderbilt or Jeff Otah from Pittsburgh wouldn't be bad picks, but ideally Carolina would like to trade down and get them.
Another intriguing prospect is Derrick Harvey, the defensive end from Florida. He's had a few phenomenal workouts - save for a pretty slow 40 time - and a solid career at Florida. Harvey, combined with Charles Johnson, Stanley McClover and Tyler Braton, would give the Panthers plenty of options for the second defensive end. Harvey, though, is one of those workout wonders, and that sometimes doesn't translate to on-the-field production.
Then there's the dark horse pick, someone like RB Rashard Mendenhall or even RB Jonathan Stewart. I wouldn't have a problem with those picks, as either one would likely get significant carries next season.
I haven't gotten into draft news and rumors as much as I have in the past. A lot of that has to do with being busy at work, and I also got really into the NCAA tournament this year.
But it's time to address some of the issues the hometown Carolina Panthers face this draft. This certainly could be a make-or-break year for general manager Marty Hurney and head coach John Fox, so it's important they make prudent decision and get no less than three players who will somehow contribute right away, either as a starter or key reserve.
The biggest needs are on the offensive and defensive lines. I'm a big believer in "winning the battle in the trenches," or whatever else you want to call it. If you look at recent teams that advanced to the Super Bowl, they all had good lines. The last - and only - time Carolina advanced to the Super Bowl, it had perhaps the best defensive line in football and a top-10 offensive line.
After a tremendously disappointing year from DE Julius Peppers and an unclear picture on the offensive line, that's where the Panthers should go in the draft.
I think the best pick for them is Boise State tackle Ryan Clady. He's a natural left tackle, which means Jordan Gross stays at right tackle. That would push Travelle Wharton back inside to guard and create some healthy competition for the offensive line's interior. Chris Williams from Vanderbilt or Jeff Otah from Pittsburgh wouldn't be bad picks, but ideally Carolina would like to trade down and get them.
Another intriguing prospect is Derrick Harvey, the defensive end from Florida. He's had a few phenomenal workouts - save for a pretty slow 40 time - and a solid career at Florida. Harvey, combined with Charles Johnson, Stanley McClover and Tyler Braton, would give the Panthers plenty of options for the second defensive end. Harvey, though, is one of those workout wonders, and that sometimes doesn't translate to on-the-field production.
Then there's the dark horse pick, someone like RB Rashard Mendenhall or even RB Jonathan Stewart. I wouldn't have a problem with those picks, as either one would likely get significant carries next season.
Monday, April 14, 2008
County thoughts
Thanks for hanging in there, folks. My two weeks working on the ACL-tear series turned into a solid month of work. I'm OK with that, though, because it's a huge subject with tons of different angles, and I think it's important to document everything correctly.
That series of stories will run April 20 and 21, and I'll make sure to post links here. In the meantime, I've gotten out of the office a little bit recently to check out some spring sports.
Mooresville baseball
Hands down the best baseball team in the county. The Blue Devils have supplemented their fantastic pitching with timely hits and are dangerous throughout the lineup. Ten wins in a row is no fluke, but Mooresville has a humongous week ahead with games against East Rowan (unbeaten in conference) and Northwest Cabarrus (beat Blue Devils in first meeting).
North Iredell soccer
Some good talent, as always, but a little thin this year. Head coach Tim Watson has 22 total players in the program, which means - like this year's boys season - he can't field a JV team. Injuries have hit the Raiders hard, though. Midfielder Jana Bell, perhaps the best player on the team, is out for the season with a torn ACL and North also has a few injuries on defense. Goalkeeper Kawoni Revels has been superb at times, and North should still contend for a playoff spot.
Mooresville soccer
Fantastic team, especially offensively. Freshmen Courtney Smith and Hannah Mack can flat-out play, but it's the senior leadership of girls like Anna Dwiggins, Brittney Dailey, Emmie Tyson and Tiffany Wilson that has the Blue Devils ranked No. 4 in the state among 3A teams.
South Iredell baseball
Slowly improving, but must learn how to win close games. Sophomore Chris Dula hurled a no-hitter in his starting pitching debut at the varsity level, so let's see how that translates into potential wins.
THE WEEK AHEAD
I'm looking forward to going to the county track meet Tuesday. Hopefully the weather will cooperate - I can tolerate being a bit chilly so long as the sun is out. Mooresville's boys, the defending 3A state champions, are certainly the favorite and it might take an act of God for them to lose.
The girls' side should be a bit more balanced out, but the Blue Devils and Statesville have to be the favorites. Don't sleep on North Iredell, though. The Raiders are small, but have great athletes. South Iredell's girls team isn't big enough to seriously challenge for the meet title, I don't think, but they could win at least four events.
That series of stories will run April 20 and 21, and I'll make sure to post links here. In the meantime, I've gotten out of the office a little bit recently to check out some spring sports.
Mooresville baseball
Hands down the best baseball team in the county. The Blue Devils have supplemented their fantastic pitching with timely hits and are dangerous throughout the lineup. Ten wins in a row is no fluke, but Mooresville has a humongous week ahead with games against East Rowan (unbeaten in conference) and Northwest Cabarrus (beat Blue Devils in first meeting).
North Iredell soccer
Some good talent, as always, but a little thin this year. Head coach Tim Watson has 22 total players in the program, which means - like this year's boys season - he can't field a JV team. Injuries have hit the Raiders hard, though. Midfielder Jana Bell, perhaps the best player on the team, is out for the season with a torn ACL and North also has a few injuries on defense. Goalkeeper Kawoni Revels has been superb at times, and North should still contend for a playoff spot.
Mooresville soccer
Fantastic team, especially offensively. Freshmen Courtney Smith and Hannah Mack can flat-out play, but it's the senior leadership of girls like Anna Dwiggins, Brittney Dailey, Emmie Tyson and Tiffany Wilson that has the Blue Devils ranked No. 4 in the state among 3A teams.
South Iredell baseball
Slowly improving, but must learn how to win close games. Sophomore Chris Dula hurled a no-hitter in his starting pitching debut at the varsity level, so let's see how that translates into potential wins.
THE WEEK AHEAD
I'm looking forward to going to the county track meet Tuesday. Hopefully the weather will cooperate - I can tolerate being a bit chilly so long as the sun is out. Mooresville's boys, the defending 3A state champions, are certainly the favorite and it might take an act of God for them to lose.
The girls' side should be a bit more balanced out, but the Blue Devils and Statesville have to be the favorites. Don't sleep on North Iredell, though. The Raiders are small, but have great athletes. South Iredell's girls team isn't big enough to seriously challenge for the meet title, I don't think, but they could win at least four events.
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