2012 NBA Playoffs Preview: First Round

After 66 regular season games, it comes down to 16 teams, and it takes 16 games to win the NBA championship. Welcome to the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Let's look at the eight first round series that will be played over the next two weeks.

Eastern Conference

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers

Regular Season: Chicago won 2-1

The Bulls made it to the playoffs atop the NBA standings even as Derrick Rose limped throughout the year with a bad ankle. The Sixers started strong, then saw their Atlantic Division title hopes fade late, and had to settle with the eighth seed in the end. The Sixers did beat the Bulls at home early in the season, but the Bulls cranked it up and then stole the series with a pair of gut-wrenchers at home and away. Did the Sixers pick the wrong opponent, or did the Bulls feel poised about facing an opponent with a history of wild mood swings?

Regardless, this series will be rough and tumble similar to what the Pacers did last year to those Bulls. Derrick Rose won't be 100% healthy, but the bench, which had lifted the Bulls all season long, will be up to the task. Philly's Andre Iguodala is an all-star, but doesn't have the closer's mentality that Rose possessed. The frontcourt of Elton Brand, Spencer Hawes, Nik Vucevic, Lavoy Allen and Thaddeus Young is an inexperienced and hurting group, which may not match up well with the Bulls' imposing frontline of Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Omer Asik and Taj Gibson. The lack of a closer affected the Sixers down the stretch, and unless they can prove that they can win a close game, it may end up as a short series.

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

Regular Season: Boston won 2-1

This is it for the Celtics. The final go-around for the trio of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. And how appropriate to begin the final run is to face an opponent which pushed them to the limit the first time around in their 2008 championship season. The Atlanta Hawks began their return to prominence with that seven-game first round series with the eventual champions, and they never stopped since, though their history of second-round misery remains a mystery in Atlanta.

The Celtics won the season series 2-1 at the right time, facing the Hawks just as they are getting hot in March and April. Then again, the Hawks are a different team from 2008, though some holdovers remain like Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and the injured All-Star Al Horford. The Hawks under Larry Drew like to pour it on offensively, unlike in Mike Woodson's defense-first approach. The Celtics also changed a lot from 2008, but there's still the Big Three and Rajon Rondo, the lead dogs from that team, and coach Doc Rivers. The hopes for both teams will now rely on their lead stars and their otherwise inconsistent supporting crew, as they look to party like it's 2008 all over again.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks

Regular Season: Miami won 3-0

The most physical and 'push to the limit' rivalry in NBA history returns to the big stage after a 12-year absence, but the guys involved are no longer named Mourning, Hardaway, Brown, Ewing , Houston and Johnson. Instead names like LeBron, D-Wade, Bosh, Melo, Amar'e and Linsanity are dominating both cities' headlines. The Knicks and the Heat hate each other, and this year's playoff confrontation mirrors that of their brawling 90s ways.

The Heat have had the Knicks' number for much of recent history, and though Anthony and Stoudemire have attempted to turn it around, the Knicks had bad chemistry, underachieving players and even ugly offensive schemes. That of course was early on, until Mike Woodson arrived and the Knicks were starting to play the right way. Even as Jeremy Lin went down hurt the Knicks' lead supporters Baron Davis, Landry Fields, Iman Shumpert, Tyson Chandler, J.R. Smith and Steve Novak were able to pick up the slack. If the Knicks' good play continues into the playoffs, then the Heat will be in a world of trouble. Unless of course, if you're LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh, whose All-Star form speaks to itself, and the Heat's formidable defense being its asset. However, they need LeBron to be at his best closing out games, which didn't work out in last year's playoffs. The Heat need their supporting crew of Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Joel Anthony, Udonis Haslem, James Jones and Shane Battier more than ever if they were to overcome the Knicks, otherwise the ghosts of Allan Houston's 1999 upset axe will continue to haunt Miami.

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Orlando Magic

Regular Season: Orlando won 3-1

Orlando won three of four in the regular season, but all four of them involved Dwight Howard. Now with Howard on the shelf following season-ending back surgery, how much does Orlando have left? As for the Indiana Pacers, they will try to prove that they are not a one-hit wonder in the playoffs. Last year, they gave Chicago all they could handle before folding in five, and then they continued that impressive performance this year, as they finished with their best showing in eight years.

With Howard out, the Magic decided to play from outside, after leading the league in three-pointers. However, the lack of inside power will be huge for Orlando, as the Pacers boast a three-headed rebounding monster of Roy Hibbert, David West and Tyler Hansbrough, who are willing to mix it up in the paint. Glen Davis is undersized while Daniel Orton and Earl Clark are unproven, so the Magic will need to rely on outside gunners Ryan Anderson, Jason and Quentin Richardson, J.J. Redick, and Hedo Turkoglu (provided he returns from a facial injury) to carry the scoring. The Pacers have two-way offensive guns in Paul George (inside) and Danny Granger (outside), and with George Hill giving a boost as the starting point guard, the Pacers ran roughshod late to finish third in the East. It will be a hard and trying series for the Magic as they try to win without Howard.

Western Conference

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Utah Jazz

Regular Season: San Antonio won 3-1

The Spurs have once again defied time and age to take over the first seed in the West. The Utah Jazz returned to the playoffs after only a year out, but they were a different team than they were two years ago. This is a mismatch, right?

The Spurs still have Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, but they also have players whom they are grooming for the future in Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter, Kawhi Leonard, DeJuan Blair, James Anderson and Danny Green. The addition of Boris Diaw did work wonders, as he worked splendidly with his French national teammate Parker. The Spurs have extensive playoff resumes throughout their roster. Meanwhile the Jazz were flirting with both the lottery and the playoffs during the season before Al Jefferson rescued them in the final week. Jefferson, like some of his Jazz teammates, have little or no experience at all in playoff ball; Jefferson's last playoff minutes were as a Boston rookie. C.J. Miles, Paul Millsap and Raja Bell all have extensive playoff resumes, which will help the Jazz grow as the games go on. Still, the lack of playoff exposure won't help the Jazz in their playoff run, which may last just four or five games depending on performance.

(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Regular Season: L.A. Clippers won 2-1

Chris Paul's addition boosted the otherwise mediocre Clippers, and enjoyed their best season since their 70s Buffalo heyday. The Grizzlies followed up last year's impressive playoff run by finishing with their best record yet as a team, and will start at home for the first time in their playoff history. 

The Grizzlies play a basic and deliberate brand of ball, while the Clippers play razzle-dazzle, thanks to Paul's on-court wizardry. Either way it worked for both, but in the playoffs, only one style will prevail. Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen will serve as foils for Paul, Mo Williams and Randy Foye, while the inside war will pit Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler against Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay. The absence of Chauncey Billups will be felt for the Clippers, as he is their ultimate clutch performer per se. Both teams will undoubtedly push themselves to the limits, as this series have the makings of a six or seven-game masterpiece.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks

Regular Season: Oklahoma City won 3-1

Last year, the Mavericks rode the broad shoulders of Dirk Nowitzki to a five-game win over the upstart Thunder, en route to the NBA championship. This year is a different story, however, as the Mavs limp to the playoffs while the Thunder gained valuable experience to clinch the second seed. Will the underdog role suit the defending champions well, or will the Thunder write a different script this time?

The absence of Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea was noticeably felt for the Mavericks, and neither Brandan Wright nor Roddy Beaubois was able to fit the bill. Nowitzki was hurt for much of the year, while Jason Kidd had extended trips to the disabled list. Lamar Odom didn't work out and Vince Carter wasn't Vinsanity from '05. The Mavericks are an eyesore from top to bottom, and any hope of repeating may vanish too soon with this kind of roster. The Thunder had little problems whatsoever, though they weren't able to seal the top seed in the West later in the season. They have youth at their side (Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden), experienced warriors with rings (Derek Fisher, Kendrick Perkins) and good role players (Nick Collison, Serge Ibaka, Thabo Sefolosha, Daequan Cook).  The Thunder's growth will be put to the test against the slumping champions, as they look to erase the memories of last season.

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Denver Nuggets

Regular Season: L.A. Lakers won 3-1

The Lakers put to rest notions of their demise by once again finishing atop the Pacific Division. Kobe Bryant had injury problems for a few games, but still wound up second to Kevin Durant for the scoring lead. Speaking of scoring, the Nuggets led the league in scoring, despite the lack of an All-Star scorer. George Karl knows how to push the right buttons, and the Nuggets, for the ninth straight year, are in the playoffs.

Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are the Lakers' big three, though Gasol slumped during the season while Bynum blossomed to All-Star status before a reported feud with coach Mike Brown diminished his image a bit. The addition of Ramon Sessions gave the Lakers a younger, faster point guard, and he blossomed under the tutelage of Bryant. Though Metta World Peace's suspension will affect the Lakers, Matt Barnes and Devin Ebanks are more than willing to fill the void. The Nuggets lost Nene to the Wizards in a mid-season trade, leaving the door open for Kenneth Faried to blossom. However, the Nuggets frontline will be inexperienced, with Kosta Koufos, JaVale McGee and Timofey Mozgov having logged little or no playoff minutes. Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, Al Harrington, Arron Afflalo and Andre Miller will again lead the Nuggets' offense, but the lack of capable closers may spell doom for the starless Nuggets. Five or six games may be enough to decide the series. 

2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview: Conf. Semifinals

Gone are Stanley Cup champions of the past four years (Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston), as well as a two-time Presidents' Trophy winner (Vancouver), a two-time conference finalist (San Jose), and a pair of teams with little playoff history to tell (Florida, Ottawa). Now it's down to the final eight, and only four will advance to conference finals, for the right to earn the Campbell and Prince of Wales trophies. Here are the four second-round matchups, again with a story to tell.

Eastern Conference Semifinals

(1) New York Rangers vs. (7) Washington Capitals

Regular Season: Series tied 2-2

Twice in the past three seasons the Capitals have eliminated the Rangers in the playoffs' first round, winning in seven in '09 and five in '11. They were all set to meet in the first round this year, until the Caps beat the Rangers in the final day to face the Bruins instead. And the Caps shocked the erstwhile champions with a physical, checking defense that is synonymous to the team's coach and franchise legend Dale Hunter. Now they have a chance to dispose another high-caliber opponent in the Rangers, who barely squeaked past the Senators in the first round.

Under Bruce Boudreau, Alex Ovechkin thrived in the free-flowing style of play. However, Hunter has sat him down in crucial stretches, to give way to grittier, physical players. The approach worked as Washington ousted the defending champion Bruins with their defense. Braden Holtby broke out in the Boston series, as he outplayed Tim Thomas. Now he faces another Vezina-worthy vet in Henrik Lundqvist, who will try to erase the Capital curse that eluded him in the past. The line of Carl Hagelin, Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards against Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom will be a good first line matchup, while top defensive roles will be played by defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi against Mike Green and Dennis Wideman. Both teams are also deep beyond the first line, which underscores the fact that both teams use 'we' instead of 'I' in their approach. The Rangers are hoping for redemption, while the Capitals are hungry for a breakthrough.

(5) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils

Regular Season: Series tied 3-3

The last time Martin Brodeur faced the Flyers in the playoffs, he was outplayed by Brian Boucher, in what should have been a winnable series two years ago. Since then the Flyers had a revolving door of goalies, from Boucher to Sergei Bobrovsky to Michael Leighton. Now comes Ilya Bryzgalov, whose playoff futility with the Coyotes has been well-documented. In this year's playoffs, Bryzgalov wasn't himself in a high-scoring series with Pittsburgh, but stepped up in the Game 6 clincher. With the two teams resuming hostilities in the Stanley Cup race, can the 39-year old Brodeur redeem himself against a fired-up Bryzgalov?

Goalie battles aside, this should be a battle between two teams willing to mix it up physically. The new 'Broad Street Bullies' against the trapping and clogging Devils know how to play with blood. Claude Giroux outplayed both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and now will try to do the same against the Devils' trio of Zach Parise, Patrik Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk. If Giroux fails, look for Jaromir Jagr, Scott Hartnell and Danny Briere to do the same. The Flyers also received a boost from their rookies Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn and Matt Read, and along with Wayne Simmonds and James van Riemsdyk, they will again play key roles in the series. On the other hand, New Jersey will counter with Travis Zajac, Adam Henrique, Steve Bernier, Ryan Carter and Stephen Gionta to do the same. The Devils look to give Brodeur a sweeter ending, while the Flyers look to recapture the magic of 2010 and hope to translate that to a third Stanley Cup.

(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings

Regular Season: Los Angeles won 3-1

Defense is their calling card, especially of their goalies. Jonathan Quick is, quick, while the two-headed monster in Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak are an opposing coach's nightmare. The Blues finished second because of their two goalies' impressive performances and their trap-door defense. While the Kings' defense was strong as well, they finished eighth because of poor scoring. Still, they were able to shut down Vancouver's free-flowing offense, and Quick was the reason why they sent the Presidents' Trophy winners home. Now what to do for an encore against the Blues?

Dustin Brown led the Kings' scoring attack in the opening round, even scoring two shorties in Game 2. Again he will play a key role, and will be supported by the likes of Dustin Penner, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll. The Blues' first line of David Perron, T.J. Oshie and David Backes struggled against the Sharks, but they compensated that with key offensive contributions from Andy McDonald, Patrik Berglund and Alex Steen. The Kings' defense corps, led by Rob Scuderi, Drew Doughty, Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell, didn't do too well against the Canucks, and again will be a problem against the Blues' defense crew, led by Alex Pietrangelo, Barrett Jackman, Kevin Shattenkirk and Roman Polak. Both are hungry for their first Stanley Cup, and all eyes will be on the goalie matchup to see which team goes farthest.

(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (4) Nashville Predators

Regular Season: Series tied 2-2

Shane Doan and the Phoenix Coyotes enter uncharted waters, reaching the second round for the first time in the desert. Doan has been through eight playoff series with the Jets/Coyotes franchise, and has not won any until this year, when they best the Blackhawks in six games. Now they face a team that won just their second playoff series, and both are raring to advance to the conference finals for the first time ever.

Age against youth will be the story of the series: The Coyotes' old crew vs. the Predators' young guns. The Predators' youth will be led by Gabriel Bourque, Alexander Radulov, the Kostitsyn siblings Andrei and Sergei, Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. The Predators' veterans in David Legwand, Paul Gaustad, Hal Gill, Mike Fisher and Martin Erat will also lend a helping hand in giving the youngsters experience. Doan, Ray Whitney, Adrian Aucoin, Radim Vrbata, Daymond Langkow, and Taylor Pyatt will lead the aging Desert Dogs to action, and will be supported by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Mikkel Boedker, Keith Yandle, Martin Hanzal and Antoine Vermette. On goal, Mike Smith facing Pekka Rinne will be an interesting matchup. Rinne is a Vezina candidate this year who shut down the Red Wings' prolific offense the first time around, while Smith broke out free after spending time as backup with the Lightning last year. Both have something to prove, as they look to tow their respective teams to the conference finals for the first time. It is going to be a tough series that is too close to call. 

Hockey's Presidential Problem

Every year the NHL presents the Presidents' Trophy for the team with the most points accumulated in the regular season. That was the practice since the 1985-86 season. It doesn't mean, however, that the winner would have a better chance to win the Stanley Cup, as evidenced by six Presidents' Trophy-winning teams that failed to even win a series in the playoffs. 

1990-91 Chicago Blackhawks

49-23-8 (106)

lost 4-2 to the Minnesota North Stars

The Blackhawks had talent all over. The team led by Jeremy Roenick, Chris Chelios, Steve Larmer and goalie Ed Belfour, and coached by the legendary Mike Keenan were a defensive menace all year, allowing just 211 goals. However, their success didn't translate to the playoffs, where they fell to the North Stars team that peaked in time for their run to the Stanley Cup Finals. One year later, the Blackhawks made up for their early exit by winning 11 straight en route to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were swept by the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Both Larmer and Keenan went on to win the Stanley Cup with the 1993-94 New York Rangers, also Presidents' Trophy winners, while Belfour won the Cup with the now-relocated Dallas Stars in 1999.

1999-2000 St. Louis Blues

51-19-11-1 (114)

lost 4-3 to the San Jose Sharks

Over a decade before the Blues returned to prominence, the millennium edition of the Blues tanked at the most opportune time, losing to the San Jose Sharks in the first round. Like this year's Blues, the 1999-2000 team was built as a defensive machine, allowing only 165 goals that year. The team was coached by Joel Quenneville, and was captained by Chris Pronger, with efficient goaltending from Roman Turek and scoring from Pavol Demitra and Pierre Turgeon. The following year, the Blues made up for it by defeating the aforementioned Sharks in six games en route to the conference finals, losing to the eventual Cup winners Colorado Avalanche in five games. Quenneville later won the Cup with the 2010 Blackhawks.

2005-06 Detroit Red Wings

58-16-8 (124)

lost 4-2 to the Edmonton Oilers

Two years before winning the Stanley Cup, the Red Wings were sent home packing earlier than expected by the Edmonton Oilers, who went on to make the Stanley Cup Finals. The Red Wings were strong on both ends, finishing 2nd on both goals scored (305) and goals allowed (209). The core of the team would remain together two years later, as they won the Presidents' Trophy for the sixth time, and then redeemed themselves by winning their 11th Cup. The team, which was coached by Mike Babcock, were led by the aging Steve Yzerman, and the aforementioned core of Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom and Kris Draper. Manny Legace and Chris Osgood manned the pipes.

2008-09 San Jose Sharks

53-18-11 (117)

lost 4-2 to the Anaheim Ducks

The Sharks of recent years have been Cup contenders, anchored by Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Pavelski, whose offensive prowess can't be overlooked. However, the 2008-09 team may be the most disappointing of them all. Despite earning 117 points, the Sharks were unexpectedly ousted by their cross-state rivals Anaheim Ducks, who were two years removed from a Stanley Cup win. And how about this: Jeremy Roenick was a part of another Presidents' Trophy winner that didn't even advance farther than expected. Roenick then retired after the season, without a Cup ring to show for. As for the Sharks, they made up for it by advancing to the conference finals the next two years, losing to Chicago and Vancouver, respectively. But this year's team, led by the aforementioned Thornton line, underachieved and finished only seventh, and were easily ousted by the Blues in the first round.

2009-10 Washington Capitals

54-15-13 (121)

lost 4-3 to the Montreal Canadiens

The Washington Capitals were an offensive juggernaut in the 2009-10 season, anchored by the top line of Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and Nicklas Backstrom. But they couldn't pour it on when it mattered the most, losing to the Habs in a heart-breaking Game 7 at Verizon Center. The Capitals led 3-1 in the series, but they went 0 for 3 in closing out the Habs, mostly due to Jaroslav Halak outplaying the inexperienced Semyon Varlamov. Things did improve a bit for the Caps, reaching the second round the next year before losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning. But after a 7-0 start in the 2011-12 season, they slumped so bad that they fired coach Bruce Boudreau and hired Caps legend Dale Hunter, who somehow led them to the playoffs. Hunter, himself a hard-hitting player back in the day, instilled a more physical, hitting approach to his Capitals and it showed during this year's playoff series with the Boston Bruins.

2011-12 Vancouver Canucks

51-22-9 (111)

lost 4-1 to the Los Angeles Kings

They won the Presidents' Trophy the year before, and came just one game short of their first Stanley Cup. They came back wiser and more motivated, and won the trophy a second time. However, after just five games, their Stanley Cup dream was crashed by the Los Angeles Kings, who lost on the final day of the season to earn a playoff date with the Canucks. Twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin anchored the top line, along with Alexandre Burrows, while Roberto Luongo and a much-improved Cory Schneider manned the pipes. However, a late-season concussion to Daniel Sedin, as well as coach Alain Vigneault's questionable decision to start Luongo instead of Schneider (who was overmatched in last year's Stanley Cup Finals) hastened their downfall. The Canucks now face an offseason of uncertainty, as they attempt to solve 'what went wrong'.

The Presidents' Trophy is indeed a big prize won by the best regular season team. But the Stanley Cup is the real deal, for any hope of winning the Cup hinges on sustained excellence, something which doesn't happen too often. 

Preying on Detroit's Octopus

For several years, the Nashville Predators have been used as a measuring stick for the Detroit Red Wings' success. They were eliminated in six games of the 2004 and 2008 playoffs, the latter en route to Detroit's 11th Stanley Cup. However, the script appears to have been reversed in 2012.

Nashville and Detroit met for the third time in the playoffs; however this was the first time that the Predators finished with a better record than the Red Wings. This despite Detroit's record-setting home surge, winning 23 straight games at Joe Louis Arena. Heading into their playoff matchup, Nashville and Detroit split their six-game regular season series. The Predators were brimming with confidence, having just won their first playoff series the year before. The Red Wings are priming for perhaps its final run with this year's group, as aging captain Nicklas Lidstrom's future with the team remains uncertain. Both teams are heading into opposite directions, and it showed why in a five-game battle.

The series showed how much Nashville has grown as a team, while it witnessed how Detroit's old dog couldn't keep up with the younger Predators. Most of Detroit's top players, among them Lidstrom, Todd Bertuzzi, Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Dan Cleary, are over 30 years old. Nashville's unit remains relatively young, and still with room to grow. Their top 20-somethings include the Kostitsyn brothers Andrei and Sergei, Alexander Radulov, Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, and rookie Gabriel Bourque. Nashville's youth was clearly the difference.

Nashville and Detroit split the first two games at Bridgestone Arena, with the team scoring first winning each game. The Predators head into Joe Louis Arena with something to prove, as they were winless in six trips at the Joe in the playoffs. They continued the ongoing trend by scoring first en route to breaking the hex at the Joe in Games 3 and 4. They returned to Bridgestone Arena brimming with confidence, and when Radulov scored the opening goal, the sell-out yellow-clad crowd went into a frenzy. Though Jiri Hudler would tie the game, David Legwand's goal in the second period proved to be the difference, as Nashville finally put away Detroit for the first time in three tries in the playoffs. When the horn sounded, the crowd noise grew louder, the Nashville players celebrated with goalie Pekka Rinne, and coach Barry Trotz applauded his players' effort.

Nashville did what they had to do: be patient, and strike when the opportunity comes. The Detroit players appeared tired while trying in vain to pepper Rinne with flying pucks, and that made the difference in the series. While Rinne had more saves than his opposite number Jimmy Howard, Nashville took advantage of several Howard miscues and slow Detroit skaters en route to winning the series. Lidstrom failed to register a point in the series, and Nashville's work on the defensive end proved to be the difference.

Nashville is currently waiting for its next playoff opponent. As for Detroit, an offseason shakeup is needed, to say the least. 

Summertime Survival

It was lunchtime in Manila. Office workers leave their desks to dine inside restaurants, some village folks take siestas, and others take time to partake in card games to alleviate work-related stress. Unfortunately, the heat of summer is unbearable, with noontime temperatures reaching nearly 40 degrees, almost equal to the body temperature of a fever-riddled person. It hasn't been a good summer, isn't it?

I experienced a mild headache recently, not because of my strained eyes, but because of the summer heat. The prolonged exposure to heat may cause some headaches, which may lead to heatstroke. It also leads to sunburn, unless you're willing to take a tan. Even the eyes isn't safe either, as harmful UV rays may affect our eyesight. Summer is not for the weak at heart.

Here are some tips to beat the summer heat. We lose a lot of water because of sweat that cools our skin, thus a bottle of water or any fluid-retention drink may help us regain some of the lost fluid. Wearing light-colored shirts may help reflect the rays away. Most of all, a wide-brimmed hat and shades are also helpful to shade your face away from glare. A towel is also handy to wipe away sweat. Never stay outdoors for an extended period of time. And most of all, a sunblock lotion may help protect your skin from any damage.

Summer is still a month and a few weeks away from completion, so savor most of the trips to the beach, or if you're a cool customer like me, a trip to chilly Baguio or Tagaytay. But be safe.

The New Araneta

The Mall of Asia Arena near completion
in March 2012

A new Araneta rises near the Manila Bay. The Mall of Asia Arena, the brainchild of SM patriarch Henry Sy, will officially open on May 21, on the night Lady Gaga holds her Born This Way tour. 

The MOA Arena has been in the works since 2010, and the arena's interior was patterned after Atlanta's Philips Arena, complete with plush seating, private luxury boxes and club suites, and accessible facilities such as wi-fi capabilities, state of the art sounds and lights system, and abundance of food kiosks.

The new arena will also play host to both the UAAP and NCAA games, as most of its member schools are situated a few miles from the MOA. The PBA has also entertained talks of holding some games in the new facility. And there are also talks of bringing preseason NBA games to the MOA.

And how about this: the MOA is the closest facility to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, making it easier to hold concerts for international acts due to its close proximity. 

The Mall of Asia Arena is a few walks away from the SM Mall of Asia, and a few minutes' drive from the Bonifacio Global City, Alabang, Makati and Ortigas Central Business Districts.  So if you're a dude from the south, now you will never worry about fuel consumption.

The Smart Araneta Coliseum is arguably one of the most famous facilities in the Philippines. But its reputation as a concerts, sports and events hub may soon be overshadowed by a state-of-the-art arena at the Bay. Sadly, in a few years, we may see the last of the Big Dome, unless drastic changes occur to make it appealing to a younger audience.

The Truth Behind Pro Sports in North Carolina

North Carolina is the undisputed hotbed of college sports, with successful programs of Wake Forest, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke and NC State dominating the landscape. In the last 20 years, professional sports tried to make its mark in the Tar Heel State, but has had limited success over the years.

Fortunately, no Major League Baseball team has ever expanded to North Carolina, to this point.

The starting five of the final Hornets team
in Charlotte.

The National Basketball Association first made its mark in the state by bringing the Hornets to Charlotte. Capitalizing on the popularity of college hoops, the Hornets debuted in the NBA in 1988 to high fanfare. They dominated league attendance during their early years, and it reached its peak during the mid-90s, when players such as Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues and Glen Rice proudly wore the pinstriped teals. However, owner George Shinn's sexual abuse scandal and a failed new arena deal resulted in a sharp decline in attendance, and in 2002, Shinn moved the Hornets to New Orleans. The NBA then promised a new team in the city.

While the Hornets were at their peak of popularity in Charlotte, the National Football League's Carolina Panthers debuted in the 1995 season. In just their second season, they made it to the playoffs, and in their ninth, made it to Super Bowl XXXVIII, losing to the New England Patriots. In recent years, however, the Panthers faded into prominence, bottoming out in 2010 with a 2-14 mark. In the 2011 NFL draft, they added quarterback Cam Newton, and rebounded somewhat from last year's dismal performance. Unlike the Hornets, the Panthers have been consistently popular in Charlotte, averaging around 72,000 fans at the Bank of America Stadium. However, on the field, they haven't been able to consistently put together a consistent culture of winning.

The Carolina Hurricanes moved from Hartford, Connecticut (as the Whalers) to North Carolina in 1997. The Hurricanes have enjoyed decent success since the relocation, earning two trips to the Stanley Cup Finals and winning it all in 2006. However, the Hurricanes also had its fair share of frustrations, such as being one of only a few teams to miss the playoffs a year after winning the Stanley Cup. Attendance is normally below average when they're enjoying a losing season, but above when they're having a winning campaign and a playoff appearance. The Hurricanes missed the playoffs in 2012, but there are positives on the horizon.

Finally there were the Charlotte Bobcats. Debuting in 2004, the Bobcats haven't been able to draw crowds like the Hornets did in their heyday, and even on the court they haven't been consistent either. They made the playoffs in 2010, upon Michael Jordan's purchase of the team, but things went downhill since, posting the NBA's worst record this year. The Bobcats are currently one of the NBA's most undervalued teams, and coupled with low attendance figures and underachieving teams, it is possible that Charlotte may lose its NBA team again.

If you're from North Carolina, you may as well cheer for either the Tar Heels or the Blue Devils rather than the Bobcats, the Panthers or the Hurricanes. College sports will remain a hit in the Carolinas, but not in professional sports. 

2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

Here we go again. 16 teams, 16 victories to capture Lord Stanley's Cup. The Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us. 

Before the opening faceoff gets underway, we preview the eight first-round matchups, each with a story to tell.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(1) New York Rangers vs. (8) Ottawa Senators

Regular Season: Ottawa won 3-1

The Senators slipped to No. 8 on the final day of the regular season, which was a blessing in disguise considering they were 1-5 against their supposed playoff opponents from Boston. Now they figure in a favorable playoff matchup against the Rangers, whom they defeated three of four times. But this is the playoffs, and the Rangers know all too well that it's a different puck game. 

The Senators thrive on offense and speed, while the Rangers play well with a gritty, physical defense. The Senators have their major offensive weapons in Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson. While the Rangers have Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik and Carl Hagelin leading the forward lines, it is their No.1 goalie Henrik Lundqvist who leads the defense corps. This year, however, Lundqvist has his best offensive cast in his NHL career, a deficient end during his previous four playoff trips. Meanwhile, the Senators need to address their goaltending, which was shuffled between Craig Anderson, Alex Auld and Ben Bishop, neither of whom have the numbers worthy of No. 1 status. In the regular season, the Senators took advantage of Ranger miscues en route to a 3-1 season series win. However, can they pull off the upset, or can the Rangers unleash their dominant form in the best time of the year?

(2) Boston Bruins vs. (7) Washington Capitals

Regular Season: Washington won 3-1

The Washington Capitals clinched a playoff berth on the penultimate game against Florida, and then defeated the Rangers on the final day to take the seventh seed, ensuring a playoff matchup with the defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins. The Capitals have a history of regular season success followed by playoff failures. This year, however, the Capitals are the underdogs, and can they relish it? And can Boston finally dominate after spending last season's run playing from behind?

It's Alex Ovechkin against the Bruins. After all, Ovi is the main attraction and the Capitals' anchor. However, he had a poor regular season, and as a result, the Capitals struggled.  Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom won't be 100% entering the playoffs. The goalie situation will also be an issue for Dale Hunter, as both Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth were both hurt and Braden Holtby is unproven. Meanwhile, the Bruins overcame a rough October, then lackluster play throughout February and March to post another division title and the second seed, and they rely more than just one moving piece. From Tyler Seguin to Patrice Bergeron to Brad Marchand to David Krejci, the Bruins have virtually everyone contributing. And Tim Thomas continues to be a human brick wall behind the pipes. Their big concern is Nathan Horton and Adam McQuaid's health, while Tuukka Rask is getting closer to returning from a groin injury. However, the Capitals won three of four from Boston this year despite odds thrown against them. It'll be a clash between Boston's experience against Washington's determination as they face off in the playoffs.

(3) Florida Panthers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils

Regular Season: Series tied 2-2

Old faces meet again. Peter DeBoer took over the Devils after being fired by the Panthers at the end of the 2011 season. John Madden won two Stanley Cups with the Devils, and Scott Clemmensen was Martin Brodeur's backup for several years. And the Panthers' last appearance in the playoffs was bittersweet, getting swept by Brodeur and the Devils en route to their 2000 Stanley Cup title. Now the Panthers are back in the playoffs after 12 years, but can they write a different script this time?

The Panthers are led by Tomas Fleischmann, Stephen Weiss and Kris Versteeg, their three top scorers. The midseason addition of Mikael Samuelsson gave them an additional scoring threat, while Sean Bergenheim, who flourished in last season's playoffs with Tampa Bay, will be relied upon as an insurance policy in case any of his teammates struggled. Both Clemmensen and Jose Theodore played decently behind the net, but they'll face a proven playoff performer in Brodeur, who at 39 may just about to write a final chapter in his NHL career. Among the skaters for the Devils, Ilya Kovalchuk will be the one to watch for, as he looks to rebound from his poor playoff debut in 2007. The Devils will also be led by Patrik Elias, Zach Parise, David Clarkson, Adam Henrique, Dainius Zubrus, and Petr Sykora. The Panthers have the youth, but the Devils have playoff wisdom, and a possible playoff repeat.

(4) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (5) Pittsburgh Penguins

Regular Season: Philadelphia won 4-2

Scott Hartnell described this series as a 'bloodbath', and six games of the 2011-12 season wasn't enough. So here they go again, the Battle of Pennsylvania begins anew in a bigger stage that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. There will be bodies flying, coaches trash-talking, and even intense jarring from both fans. Indeed the Flyers and Penguins hate each other. 

Making it more intense are two Flyers who won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins: Max Talbot and Jaromir Jagr. Jagr will undoubtedly receive the most ire from Penguins fans, after spurning them for the Flyers in the offseason. Despite his age, he can still score with the best of them, flourishing alongside Hartnell and Claude Giroux in the Flyers' top line. The Penguins will counter with Sidney Crosby, James Neal, Pascal Dupuis and Evgeni Malkin. Marc-Andre Fleury has been stellar on goal for Pittsburgh, while Philly's Ilya Bryzgalov overcame a slow start to post stellar numbers in March. Both teams seem to be even on paper, which makes for an exciting and brutal series between the two teams.

Western Conference Quarterfinals

(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings

Regular Season: Series tied 2-2

Like the Rangers-Senators series, the Canucks-Kings series will feature a contrast of styles. The difference, however, is that top-seeded Vancouver can score goals in bunches, while Los Angeles relies on a defense-first mentality to win games, anchored by goalie Jonathan Quick.  Vancouver is off to yet another President's Trophy-winning season, but can they write a joyful playoff ending?

With Daniel Sedin still recovering from Duncan Keith's sucker-punch, twin brother Henrik will have to be relied upon to score, a role Daniel usually fulfills. Aside from the Sedins, Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows will be the primary goal-scorers for the Canucks. The only issue will be goaltending, as coach Alain Vigneault is still undecided on whether he would start breakout star Cory Schneider or veteran Roberto Luongo, who faltered down the stretch in last year's playoffs. Aside from Quick's stellar play on goal, the offense for the Kings remains its biggest concern, despite the addition of Mike Richards. His former Flyers teammate Jeff Carter has yet to make an impact, after missing the latter part of the season with an injury. Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams remain the leading goal-scorers for the Kings, but if they failed to score regularly against either Luongo or Schneider, whoever will be the main starter, then it will be another 'Quick' exit for the Kings.

(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (7) San Jose Sharks

Regular Season: St. Louis won 4-0

Once again, good job Ken Hitchcock, turning a sad-sack team to a playoff contender, with a seemingly unstoppable goalie duo and a suffocating defense that throw opponents off their games. The St. Louis Blues are now an NHL power, enjoying their best season in over a decade. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks underachieved, and even though they made the playoffs in the penultimate playdate, they knew it was a disappointing season for them. However, they have a chance to redeem themselves in the playoffs, against a Blues team that is still green.

The Blues' Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak will anchor the Blues' defense, which led the NHL in GAA. Elliott did his Tim Thomas impression in breaking his single-season save percentage record with .940. On offense, it'll be David Backes, Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk and T.J. Oshie leading the way. However, the Sharks' advantage will be experience, as the main line of Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have had tremendous playoff experience. Another major weapon for the Sharks is Logan Couture, who made the 2011-12 season his breakout party. And Antti Niemi is a playoff warrior, having played in more playoff games than Elliott and Halak combined. The Sharks are a battle-tested unit, but can they overcome the odds against St. Louis's goaltending duo?

(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (6) Chicago Blackhawks

Season Series: Phoenix won 3-1

The Phoenix Coyotes won the Pacific Division title on the final day of the season, thus making the playoffs as the third seed. Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks overcame a tough February to finish sixth. The Coyotes are in the best position to make it to the second round, and they look at Chicago as a springboard to their breakthrough season.

Indeed, the Coyotes gambled on Mike Smith to replace the ineffective Ilya Bryzgalov, and he has been stellar. Smith finished at the top 10 in GAA, and rose to become one of the NHL's best goalies. The Coyotes only hope that Smith won't wilt like Bryzgalov did the past two trips. The aging duo of Ray Whitney and Shane Doan will again lead the Coyotes offense, and providing much-needed support will be Radim Vrbata, Raffi Torres, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Lauri Korpikoski. Chicago's main issues will be the health of Jonathan Toews, who missed the final two months of the season due to a concussion, as well as their inconsistent goalie duo of Corey Crawford and Ray Emery, who has shown Jekyll and Hyde tendencies. The Blackhawks will rely on their high-scoring forwards Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Viktor Stalberg, Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa, as well as veteran defenseman Johnny Oduya. All eyes will be on the Coyotes as they look to win a playoff series for the first time since moving to Phoenix in 1996. 

(4) Nashville Predators vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings

Regular Season: Series tied 3-3

For the first time ever, the Nashville Predators finished ahead of the Detroit Red Wings in the Central Division. More importantly, they earned the home-ice advantage for this series. The Predators are still learning, but they are maturing. Now what to do for an encore after winning a playoff series last year, a franchise first?

The Predators have leaned upon their main guns David Legwand, Martin Erat, Shea Weber, Mike Fisher, Patric Hornqvist and Sergei Kostitsyn, but the addition of Sergei's brother Andrei and the return of Alexander Radulov from the KHL proved to be crucial as the Predators locked up the fourth seed. Pekka Rinne has become a reliable force behind the pipes, and he proved that after signing the largest contract in the team's history by winning 43 games. The Red Wings are showing their age, however, and despite the NHL's longest home winning streak of 23 games, their below average road play will be tested in the early going. The aging core of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom will again be the key for the Red Wings, while Jimmy Howard will be relied upon behind the pipes. If the top line failed, backup skaters Johan Franzen, Valeri Filppula, Niklas Kronwall, Jiri Hudler and Todd Bertuzzi will be leaned upon for added scoring. The Predators have never beaten the Red Wings in a playoff series, so will this year be a breakthrough for Barry Trotz's troops?

MLB Opening Day

It's that time of the year again. Major League Baseball opens another new season full of drama, tension, excitement and pure adrenaline. This season looks to be as exciting as ever, as well-renowned free agents change teams, a team was renamed, new managers were hired, and highly touted rookies look to make an immediate impact.

Perhaps the pressure is on the St. Louis Cardinals to defend their World Series title. However, their title defense won't involve Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa, as Pujols moved to the Los Angeles Angels, while La Russa retired. After losing two straight World Series, the Texas Rangers now look to make it three in a row and hope to go all the way, as they added young Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish to fill CJ Wilson's void. Their road to the AL West title won't be easy, as the Angels acquired Pujols and Wilson in a serious bid to reclaim the division.

The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees, teams whose impressive regular seasons went for naught in the post-season, now try to maintain their stranglehold in the NL and AL East respectively, even as the Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays have reloaded in hopes of toppling the Phillies and Yankees. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox are seeking redemption after blowing post-season aspirations on the last day of 2011. 

Prince Fielder takes his big bat to Comerica Park in hopes of leading the Detroit Tigers to another AL Central title. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers look to defend their NL Central title with Ryan Braun now the lead offensive star. However, the Cincinnati Reds pose a big challenge with Joey Votto on board. Chicago's Cubs and White Sox usher in a new era with Dale Sveum and Robin Ventura taking over the dugout. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles search for answers in ending their lengthy postseason droughts. And there's no way to go but up for rebuilding teams in Kansas City, Houston, Seattle, Oakland and Cleveland.

In the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best pitcher in the NL in Clayton Kershaw, and the prolific star hitter Matt Kemp, but is it enough to claim the NL West title? The Arizona Diamondbacks overachieved last season, now what to do for an encore? The San Francisco Giants look poised to return to the postseason and reclaim the World Series title with strong pitching from Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but will the offense deliver? Is the Colorado Rockies' duo of Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki enough to tow them to the postseason? And what role will the San Diego Padres play in the season, spoiler or contender?

The first pitch gets underway tonight as the defending World Series champions St. Louis Cardinals visit Marlins Park and the Miami Marlins at 7:10 EDT.

Meanwhile, PopCornTure will take a brief break in observance of Holy Week. We'll return on Easter Sunday as we wrap up the NHL season and begin the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Brawl to End It All (Or Sort Of)

The battle lines were indeed drawn in the state of Pennsylvania. At the conclusion of the NHL game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, held at Pittsburgh's Consol Energy Center, a heated exchange between Flyers coach Peter Laviolette and Penguins assistant Tony Granato, standing in for head coach Dan Bylsma, highlighted the end-game war. 


Though the Flyers won 6-4, the intensity of this possible first-round series even got to a head. First it was Joe Vitale leveling Danny Briere, which led to a bench-clearing brawl. Then at the bench area separated by two layers of Plexiglas and NBC commentator Pierre McGuire, Laviolette and Granato began shouting at each other, with Laviolette going as far as demanding a piece of Bylsma in the exchange. At the Flyers bench, a Hulk Hogan look-alike even taunted Scott Hartnell. Finally, Brayden Schenn cross-checked Sidney Crosby, concluding a wild and frantic final minute.

The Flyers have so far dominated the Penguins all season, leading in the season series 4-1, in large part to two ex-Penguins, both of whom were Stanley Cup winners: Max Talbot (2009) and Jaromir Jagr (1991, 1992). That experience factor helped the Flyers remain in contention, even as their wild mood swings endured during some stretches. As for the Penguins, a dominant March pulled them into contention, but will it be enough to at least claim fourth place and home ice?


The game on April 1 was only the beginning of an even more intense war between two teams with proud traditions. The two teams meet again in Pittsburgh on April 7, the final day of the season, but for many, the playoffs between the two have already begun.