NBA PlayoffsYou guessed it folks, it's that time of the year. Time to actually start watching basketball now that they are playing for the big money, I mean, for the championship. I haven't been a huge fan of the NBA for quite some time now, but I do enjoy the playoffs because you tend to see some really great matchups. And there's a whole slew of them this year.
Here's the matchups...
In the East,
Detroit takes on Orlando
Cleveland vs. Washington
Toronto vs. New Jersey
Miami vs. Chicago
Detroit's a veteran team that will be able to handle Orlando, although I think Orlando will play them tough in the beginning of the series. Cleveland should sweep Washington with as decimated as the Bullets lineup has been. Toronto and New Jersey is an intriguing matchup but New Jersey is a solid team that will pull through. Chicago limped into the playoffs after their loss to New Jersey but are really one of the more talented teams in the East and will upset the Heat in 7.
In the West,
Dallas takes on Golden State
Phoenix takes on the LA Lakers
San Antonio vs. Denver
Utah vs. Houston
The Mavericks struggled a bit in the season against Golden State but don't expect that to happen on the big stage. Phoenix and LA will provide one of the better series of the first round but the Suns should be able to beat the one man team of the Lakers. I think Denver will be a tougher out than most people think and I wouldn't be surprised if this series goes 7. The Spurs should come out on top however. Utah will play tough, but Houston should take that series as well.
Ian Thomsen's five minute guide to the NBA playoffs on SportsIllustrated.com.
MUSIC
Herms frontman Matt Lutz releases solo record titled Seesaw
“The first time, I meet Matt Lutz, he's in a Mission district bar reading a tor copy of an Anthony Burgess book. This is a pretty good first impression, and a somewhat intimidating one. However, Lutz's confidence is no where near bordering on arrogance, and you begin to get the sense that he just really likes playing music. It just so happens that he is also really good. I first came in contact with his music earlier this year, when his band The Herms was generating buzz around the city with their debut, Record Machine. The fresh take on indie garage rock earned them a slot Live 105's BFD, alongside Echo and the Bunnymen, the Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and several others. While Lutz was waiting on Record Machine's release, he hooked with producer Scott Tusa to work on a solo record. The resulting record - Seesaw allowed him to indulge in pretty melodies, acoustic guitar and bossa nova. Boasting one of the
quintessential rock voices, which has drawn comparisons to Lou Reed and David Bowie, Lutz manages the unique ability to take on new styles without having it sound forced. Far from a series of experiments, Seesaw a compelling record that at points rivals many of Record Machine's best songs.”
- Will Benham
Matt Lutz - "Took Me A While"
Matt Lutz at Myspace