Kyle’s View

With the Playoffs gearing up to start Sunday, i figured now was as good of time as any to chime in with some thoughts. The western conference race should be awesome. I have never seen so many intriguing match ups from top to bottom. I think the best first round series will be between the Suns and Spurs. The Spurs are the defending champs but Shaq gives the Suns a different look and makes Duncan work hard on both ends of the floor. The other series I am really intrigued by is the Hornets and Mavericks. The Mavericks were shown up by the Warriors in the playoffs last year and they need to make up for that loss. However the Hornets have a similar style and MVP candidate Chris Paul. The east will have some great games as well. I really want to watch the Cavs and Wizards series. The Cavs and Lebron started their run to the finals last year by beating the Wizards. There has been some nice trash talk of late between these two teams and that should add to an already very interesting match up. That said heres how i see the Playoffs playing out. I think the Lakers will not have too much trouble with the Nuggets and should win no more the 6, probably 4 or 5. The Rockets will put up a fight but without Yao i don’t see them beating the Jazz. Suns and Spurs will be an epic battle but i think Amare will break out and win the series for the Suns in seven games. I think the Mavericks experience will out last the Hornets youth and the Mavs will pull out a tough series in 7. Shifting to the east the Celtics will sweep the Hawks, although people will start to learn the name Joe Johnson as he tries to beat the team that drafted him. I think the Wizards will beat the Cavs in 6 and Lebron wont be enough for the Cavs to advance. The Magic will win against Toronto with the Chris Bosh vs Dwight Howard will show off the NBA’s future in the front court. The Sixers will play well and make each game interesting but the Pistons should sweep with the outside chance the Sixers get a game in Philly.

The Second round will also bring some great games and awesome finishes. With the Lakers and Jazz meeting in round 2, The Lakers will edge out the Jazz in 7 games and make it to the Western Conference Finals where they will meet the Suns who will handle the Mavericks in 6. This will set up and amazing Western Conference Final. So many plot lines Shaq vs Kobe, Shaq vs Phil, Raja Bell vs Kobe. Should be an intense and thrilling series. As a Suns fan it hurts me to say this but the Lakers will win in 7 games.

As for the East the Celtics will beat the Wizards and face the Pistons who will take care of Orlando in round 2. The Celtics and Pistons will pit the 2 best teams against each other and will be one of the best series in a long time, maybe even since the days when Bird and Isiah used to match up in the 80′s. The Celtics will edge out the Pistons and keep the resurgence going in Boston.

This years playoffs will bring back the amazing basketball that was in the 80′s. With the Resurgence of the Lakers and Celtics along with the talented Pistons it will remind NBA fans of yesteryear (Bird, Magic, Thomas)

That said, the Lakers and Celtics will be one of the best NBA finals in the past 10 or so years. This will be the will of Kobe vs the 3 headed monster in Boston. This is the year Kobe goes into the the top 5 all time players and proves he can win without Shaq. He will be dominant and win the Finals MVP award.

At a press conference scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (est), Steve McNair is expected to announce his retirement. This will bring to an end a 13 year career, which included 3 Pro Bowl appearances and a trip to Super Bowl 34 coming up just short of winning. He also was named the NFL’s MVP along with Peyton Manning in 2003. McNair will always be remembered for his grittiness and his never surrender attitude. McNair was the quarterback that wouldn’t leave the game and would always give his team a shot to win at the end of the game. I will always remember his epic battles between McNair and Manning in the AFC south.

Chad Johnson has continued to demand to be traded, and now is wanting to be traded before the draft. He says he has no intention of reporting to any team workouts or meetings. This action is due to his disbelief in the team and relationship with Marvin Lewis.

“I want to continue my career wherever I have the opportunity to win a playoff game and get to the Super Bowl. That’s where I want to be,” Johnson said.

Marvin Lewis and the team are insisting they have no intentions of trading him. The Bears went through the same thing the last off season Lance Briggs was sitting out and demanding to be traded but then this off season he signs a multi year deal and all is well in Chi Town.

So with this in mind, here are a couple teams that are wanting or needing a reciever and have a pick or picks and players to make the deal happen.

Tennessee

They have a serious need for wide receiver. They have an emerging quarterback and were a team that went 10-6 with a formidable running attack and one of the best defenses. This would also allow the titans to focus on other pieces with the draft picks they have. With Randy Moss going for a 4th round pick so the Titans could offer something similar.

Dallas

They could make a run at Johnson. They were looking to acquire Randy Moss and Javon Walker this off season. Jerry Jones is always looking to add talent and the Cowboys are poised for a serious run. Also having 2 first round picks could add some serious fire power to the deal

New Orleans

They are in need of a serious receiver to be opposite Marques Colston. This would add depth to a team that was in the NFC title game two years ago.

Carolina

While there isn’t imminent championship threat here they would have the best receiver duo in the league and give Steve Smith the help he needs to avoid double teams and safeties shading his side. Also Smith and Johnson were teammates in Junior College and when asked during an interview with WFNZ-AM’s Mark Packer if he would like the opportunity to rejoin his former teammate, “Definitely,”

He continued “Hey, (numbers) 89 and 85 equals Super Bowl.” 85 being Johnson and 89 being Smith.