The 2010-2011 Eastern Conference NBA Playoffs are upon us and the seeds are set. Some last minute shuffling occurred last night, with the Celtics benching their starting roster & allowing the Miami Heat to wrap up the #2 seed, but otherwise the match-ups have been set for about a week. The first two pairings below are hopefully easy to predict, while the Orlando/Atlanta and Boston/New York series are a little tougher to forecast.
#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #8 Indiana Pacers
No one expected the Bulls to leapfrog both Boston and Miami, but …

The All-NBA Awards for the 2009-2010 season were announced today and I doubt many of you will be surprised w/ the selections.  The first team includes guys who excel on both sides of the ball, but generally appears to reward the league’s top scorers this season.
1st Team All-NBA

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

2nd Team All-NBA

Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns

3rd Team All-NBA

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Pau Gasol, Los …

Anchored by the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, and runner-up Lebron James, the All-NBA First Team was announced on Wednesday.
The NBA didn’t go all defense, however, as the top 4 scorers in the league all made the first team squad:

Dwyane Wade – 30.2 ppg
Lebron James – 28.4
Kobe Bryant – 26.8
Dirk Nowitzki – 25.9

Wade was voted into the first team for the 1st time, while Bryant and Nowitzki were both selected their 4th times, respectively.  For James, who was listed on every first team ballot, it is his …

At only 24 yrs old, Lebron James has already accomplished more than some basketball players could hope for in a lifetime.  NBA Finals appearance – check, best record in the NBA – check, USA gold medal – check, etc.  On Monday, Lebron added to his already impressive basketball legacy by winning the 2008-2009 NBA MVP Award, given to the league’s most valuable player.
James has been the favorite to win the MVP since March, despite strong efforts from Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant  (2007-08 NBA MVP) and Dwyane Wade.  Those four players …

Not a surprise to most NBA followers today, after Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is announced as the Rookie of the Year for the 2008-09 season.  Rose excelled early and late, including a late regular season run and eventual #7 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Derrick Rose seemingly had all the necessary skills to excel in the pro game and he showed no delay in exhibiting them to the Chicago & NBA faithful.  Coming out of Memphis and an NCAA Championship loss to Kansas, Rose was selected with the #1 …

Fresh of a demolishing 2008-09 season in the NBA, the awards voters rewarded Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard w/ the league’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Starting the season on a mission to dominate the league in both blocks and rebounds, Howard wasted no time setting the tone on both ends.  Keeping up his stats during the season was definitely a challenge, but something Dwight Howard has sought since the summer.  After discussing the game w/ other great centers, Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo, Howard determined that winning slam dunk …

Football News from NFL.com
Before he played in his third Super Bowl, Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner received 2008 Walter Payton Man of the Year honors. The announcement was made Sunday on the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., before kickoff of Super Bowl XLIII.   Continue reading on NFL.com
Kurt Warner is a class-act and a great inspiration for fans throughout the NFL.  What he did this year in Arizona is simply amazing.  Here’s hoping that the Arizona Cardinals re-sign him to a new deal (if he’s not retiring)!!
Go …

Football News from NFL.com
Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington won The Associated Press 2008 NFL
Comeback Player of the Year award Wednesday, the second time in three years he has received the honor.   Continue reading on NFL.com
Pretty crazy that Chad Pennington could win not one Comeback Player of the Year Award, but two of them… and both within a 3 yr period.  Absolutely nuts…  The award is a reminder of how being persistent and believing in yourself can help pay off.  Rotator cuff surgery… no problem.  Casted away by the New …

Baseball News from L.A. Times
The Giants’ second-year pitcher wins by a comfortable margin. Brandon Webb of the Diamondbacks finishes a distant second.  Tim Lincecum won the National League Cy Young Award by a comfortable margin today, taking home pitching’s highest honor in his second major league season. Continue reading on L.A. Times

Aside from a few insignificant awards and the NBA‘s MVP award, all of the other awards have pretty much been decided.  The list includes a number of first time NBA winners, but also features a coach who’s won his 2nd Coach of the Year award.  Whether you agree with the list or not, these are the players (& coach) who the voting members chose this year.
Here is a quick summary of the winners:

Rookie of the Year – Kevin Durant, Seattle Supersonics
NBA’s 6th Man – Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
Coach of …

The Boston Celtics acquired superstar Kevin Garnett in the hopes that he could help resurrect their team and bring it back to respectability.  With his worth ethic and strong determination to win, getting Garnett was a no-brainer for GM Danny Ainge.
After leading the Celtics to the NBA‘s best single season turnaround this year and making Boston one of the top defensive teams in the league, Kevin Garnett was rewarded Tuesday w/ the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award.  This is the first time that Garnett has won the award – he …