NBA Western Conference Race

What were seeing this year in the NBA's Western Conference is amazing. 8 teams separated by 5 games with the Denver Nuggets sitting 9th and out of the playoffs just 7 games out of first or 2 games out of the playoffs. Also, the Hornets are currently in 5th just 2 games out of first place and the best record in the West. Every single game counts because it could cost teams not only playoff seeds but simply making the playoffs. The Sacramento Kings are currently 11th in the West, 17 games out of first, 12 games out of the playoffs yet they would be 8th in the East. Anyway, its going to be an outstanding finish this regular season in the West and even greater playoff. The good thing about all this is that the teams that get into the playoffs are all pretty much balanced so there really wouldn't be any unbelievable upsets this year like there was last year with the Warriors and Mavericks. The Warriors are currently in 8th just 5 games out of first place and can run the court with anybody in the league so them beating a top team wouldn't be all that crazy. I can't forget to mention the Houston Rockets either, 18 straight and counting, and six straight without Yao. I don't think they can carry this hot streak through the playoffs though without a dominant big man like Gasol, Duncan, or Shaq. I think top eight team in the West up to date are the same teams that are going to make it into the playoffs. I think the Lakers will finish with the number one seed and I think the Mavericks are actually going to finish 8th with the Warriors finishing 7th. As for those Denver Nuggets, I don't think their going to get in, which is honestly pathetic. As good as Coach George Karl has been in his career, if the Denver Nuggets really don't make the playoffs then his job should be under scrutiny because his team is stacked with talent and has two players (Carmelo and A.I.) in the top 5 in the league in scoring. They are just too inconsistent. There is still hope for them to get into the playoffs and if they can start playing good basketball right now consistently then they really can be a force in the playoffs. Being two games out of the playoffs right now is going to be really hard to catch up because I don't see the Warriors hitting a downfall as the season ends, especially with how they finished last season. I think The Lakers and Spurs will finish with the top two seeds in the playoffs and will end up meeting in the Western Conference Finals. As good as all the teams are in the West, I think its going to come down to the two best big men in the West with Gasol and Duncan. What a great matchup this will be with them two along with Kobe and Ginobli. ---CJ Prutch

Kobe or Lebron

This is a really tough argument but I would have to give a slight edge to Kobe. I believe both Kobe and Lebron are at the top of their game right now and I also feel their are the top two players in the league to give the ball to if you want the best chance at winning a game but I have to give this award to Kobe. It's ridiculous that he doesn't already have an MVP award under his belt but if there is any season to do so its this one. Lebron is averaging 30.8 ppg 8 rpg 7.4 apg while Kobe's numbers are slightly less at 28.1 ppg 6 rpg 5 apg. I still give the edge in the MVP award to Kobe because the fact that the Laker's schedule is much harder than that of the Cavaliers and Kobe seems to be a bit better to go to in the clutch than Lebron. I think if Kobe was in the east and had less of a supporting cast around him he would also average what Lebron does. Its hard to really argue something like that but its obvious how weak the Eastern Conference is and I think that hurts Lebron in MVP votes. I think if you saw Kobe's game last week against the Dallas Mavericks then you might feel the same too. Either way, both players are great and we are lucky as fans to see these two players in action. There is no question these two will battle out MVP awards for years to come and this might be the closest race since Magic and Bird. I don't think either Kobe or Lebron really truly cares about the MVP award as much as they do leading their team to an NBA championship. I'd love to see them face each other in the finals one day. ---CJ Prutch

Farewell to a hero, make way for a rising star

It's hard to imagine the Green Bay Packers without Brett Favre and I'm not even a Packers fan. For as long as I can remember Favre has been their Quarterback every single game. I can't imagine what Packers fans are going through right now, having to say goodbye to one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time and one of the greatest idols in sports history. Even though Favre owns the touchdown passes, yards, and wins record by an NFL quarterback, the most impressive stat is his consecutive games started streak. Baseball's consecutive game streak by Cal Ripken Jr will never be broken and I believe the same thing goes for Favre's streak in the NFL. It's unheard of for a football player to be that durable for so long. I'm going to miss Favre's toughness, and how daring he is with some of the crazy passes he attempts, and am especially going to miss how he still has fun playing the game. Brett Favre is a for sure first ballot lock into the NFL Hall of Fame, but enough about him now because we all know how great he is; so what about Aaron Rodgers? I don't think Packer fans have anything to worry about with a transition from Favre to Rodgers. I think he is going to have a Steve Young type affect on the team where he will be able to step in there as the new starting quarterback and be successful, even after a legend has retired and his team went to the Conference Championship the year before. The one game that Rodgers did play last season was against the Dallas Cowboy's where he was outstanding. (18-26 201 yards 1 TD 0 INT 104.8 QB rating.) I think backing up Brett Favre and being surrounded by a lot of young talent, along with a great coaching staff and overall organization is going to help Rodgers fill in nicely for Favre. Rodger's has the arm and leadership to be able to keep this team at the top of the NFL for quite some time. Rodgers is just 24 years old, and if things go right, he really could end up finishing his career in Green Bay. I like him and I really believe Green Bay fans will feel the same way just after one full season. Nobody can compare to Favre's character, and maybe never catch his records but Rodgers could still bring Super Bowl's to Green Bay. ---CJ Prutch