No Kerr Durant In + Out Of Line Up No Problem = Sweep Blazers

47 points scored in the first quarter by Golden State on Monday night. That literally was the beginning of the end for the Trailblazers. The Warriors the top seed in the West took care of business in Portland with a (4-0) clean sweep. Head coach Steve Kerr may miss the remainder of the NBA Playoffs. Coach Kerr is suffering from issues dealing with last year back surgery. Mike Brown his top assistant is the next man on deck to coach the team. Kevin Durant missed 2 games during the Portland series and game back in Game 4 to play about 20 minutes. Now he will get to rest that calf and so will his teammates. Golden State await the winner of the Clippers/Jazz series. Currently Utah holds a (3-2) series lead.

George And Pacers Suffer Bitter Sweep

Clearly the Cleveland Cavaliers even as the number two seed in the Eastern Conference are favorites to be playing deep into June. Sunday evening in Indianapolis the Cavaliers finished off Paul George and the Pacers with a (4-0) sweep. However Indiana let two games slip away in this series, which could have been extended. Those two games were : Game 1 in Cleveland with the Pacers down one. Paul George was double teamed on the game final possession. He was forced to give it up and CJ Miles missed the final shot a potential game winner, which would have stole Game 1. The other game was Game 3 at Indiana up 25 at the half, the Pacers would make history. Well so would Cleveland which won the game and made the largest halftime deficit comeback in NBA Playoff history. Mentally the Pacers were down after that collapse. Those pair of game that were mentioned were the back breakers especially Game 3. Indiana is going fishing and Cleveland is moving on. Much needed rest for this veteran ball club. They will await the winner of Toronto vs. Milwaukee. Currently the Raptors hold a (3-2) series lead. 

Harden Oust Westbrook To Advance

Tuesday night in Houston, the Rockets defeated Oklahoma City in round one of the NBA Playoffs. In a battle of former teammates / MVP candidates James Harden will be heading to the Western Conference semifinals. Meanwhile for Russell Westbrook his season along with his Thunder teammates comes to an end (4-1). Prior to the series many people were interested in viewing this 3 seed vs. 6 seed out West. Oklahoma City outside of Game 1 double digit loss, had their opportunities all series. Yet the final period is where they became unglued during their 4 defeats. The Rockets will have a brief rest as they await the winner of the Spurs/Grizzlies series. For Houston veteran Lou Williams was a key off the bench throughout the series with his instant offense. Williams was a key acquisition from the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the NBA trade deadline. It will be interesting to see what moves Oklahoma City makes this off season, in support of Westbrook. Clearly the 3 straight triple doubles in Games : 3,4,5 and 1 assist shy short of another in Game 6 didn't influence the overall outcome individually and collectively in the series.

2K17 Air Jordan I Royal

Jordan Brand is back with another classic. The Air Jordan I Royal. Personally acquired the one's that dropped in 2013. Their was also one's that retroed in 2001. After originally coming out during Michael Jordan's rookie season in Chicago. The past few years Brand Jordan has been re mastering the classics. These kicks are very fashionable on and off the basketball court. Besides the Bred I the Royal I are my favorite from Jordan's rookie routes. The Nike Air branding on the top of the tongue is so live. They always remind me of the Nike Dunks from back in the day as well.

Eastern Conference Opening Round Predictions

Surprisingly the Boston Celtics led by MVP candidate Isaiah Thomas are the number one seed in the East edging out Cleveland for the top spot. Boston will take on Chicago. The Celtics will defeat the Bulls in what should be an entertaining series. Jimmy Butler will look to keep Chicago afloat. Meanwhile it will be a homecoming for Rajon Rondo coming back to Boston. Cleveland as the 2 seed will take on Indiana. Just to watch Lebron vs. George is the reason to tune in. Cleveland will eventually take down Indiana. As they look to win back to back NBA titles. Meanwhile James is looking to head to the NBA Finals for the 7th straight June. The young Bucks led by the Greek Freak we are predicting them to take down the Toronto Raptors. Finally the Washington Wizards will play the Atlanta Hawks. We see John Wall and Bradley Beal leading the way to a Wizards series win eventually.

Western Conference Opening Round Predictions

After 82 games the NBA Playoffs are here. Out West the likes of Golden State and San Antonio are the clear cut favorites to represent the conference in the NBA Finals starting in June. Those squads are seeded number one and number two respectively. Portland will meet Golden Stare in the playoffs for the second straight year. Last year the Warriors eliminated the Trailblazers in the 2nd round. I think the same will happen this year. However just the dynamic duo backcourts both teams boaster is enough reason to watch this series. Steph/Klay vs. Dame/CJ. San Antonio will beat a gritty Memphis Grizzlies team. A battle of MVP candidates highlight the Houston vs. Oklahoma opening round series. As James Harden and Russell Westbrook are set to do battle. Our prediction is OKC winning that series. Finally young and upcoming Utah will take on the Clippers. The likes of Gordon Hayward are making playoff debuts. The Jazz will defeat the Los Angeles Clippers.

2017 NFL Draft Coming To Philadelphia

In less than two weeks the 2017 NFL Draft will be coming to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A select group of college prospects will be in town, to see where they will head to start their respective professional careers. Round one from the historic Benjamin Franklin Parkway will take place on Thursday night April 27. The National Football League will also bring the NFL Experience to town as well. Philadelphia usually host the Penn Relays at historic Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. The carnival brings many track & field fans to the city. Now a special treat this year both the NFL Draft and Penn Relays will be in Philadelphia collectively at the same time !

Philadelphia's Own Lead Lady Gamecocks To 1st National Championship

Dawn Staley is now a National Champion. South Carolina Lady Gamecocks are finally National Champions. The former Philadelphia point guard who attended the University of Virginia won a title as a head coach. Unfortunately for Staley as a collegiate player she was unable to due so. Even won MOP of the Final Four on a losing team. South Carolina finally was able to win the big trophy after defeating Mississippi State Sunday Night in Dallas. All American A'ja Wilson led the way. USC was able to win it all minus Alana Coates who didn't travel to Dallas after injuring her ankle. Staley not only has made Columbia proud yet Philadelphia proud. She started her coach career at Temple University where she also helped turn around the women's team prior to heading south. She will be the next USA Women's Basketball head coach, starting with the World Championships in 2018.

UNC National Champions (From Agony To Celebration)

Monday night in Glendale, Arizona (Phoenix) ended totally different for the North Carolina Tar Heels. In comparison to how the first Monday night in April down in Houston, Texas ended for them in 2016. After Marcus Paige incredible double clutch 3 point jump shot that tied the title game a year ago. Kris Jenkins won it all for Villanova at the buzzer. North Carolina on Saturday escaped Oregon by one on the strength of two late game offensive rebounds off a pair of free throw misses. The Tar Heels advanced from the Final Four on Saturday to the title game on Monday night. Gonzaga was in search of their 1st National Championship in school history. Instead North Carolina won their 6th title and 3rd under head coach Roy Williams. Gonzaga made a late game run, however UNC was able to hold them off. Obviously last year title game defeat fueled this team all season. Now they are back on top of the college basketball world.