The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse Are Alive And Playing In The NBA ........

Say what you will about defending a championship as there's often the belief that once having won one it's extremely difficult to come back to try and defend and retain the said championship. But it'd appear that's what the Boston Celtics are setting out to do this year. So much so that the start and stats that they've proceeded to put up are even more staggering than last seasons. They're now on pace to exceed last season's tally of 66 wins. Infact that they're now on pace for 74 wins that'd best the Chicago Bulls' 72-10 tally at the height of when Michael Jordan reigned supreme.

That being said this team with their triumvirate of stars in the guise of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce now seem to have added an even greater swagger to their role as champions. The team's play is one of confidence night in and night out since this season has started. And the fact that they now sit atop of their division with a commanding 10 game lead over their nearest rival the New Jersey Nets within the Atlantic Division. It'd suggest that the team hasn't missed a beat since its defeat of the Los Angeles Lakers in last season's NBA Finals. At 23-2 the team as alluded to before is playing with a great deal of confidence and it has to be said has come with the improvement in the play of sophomore point guard Rajon Rondo. As of late the player has been on a tear that has impressed not only his coach Glenn Doc' Rivers but also his more studious and experienced teammates as well.

Rondo commands the floor with a great deal of presence and no longer would it appear that the leadership role on the floor has to go through Garnett or Pierce with everyone else having to defer to them both in terms of the team's offense. Rondo now has the confidence in his own ability and that of his teammates around him that he makes the right decisions when it comes to the distribution of the ball and the aspects of the team's offensive strategies. Rivers,himself has expressed his pleasure in the player's seemingly progress and maturity shown not just on the basketball court but also off it as well. So much so that the feeling is that the player can become the lynch pin of the team's success for years to come and that the franchise can also profit from it all. Say nothing of which in repeating as champions they would become to the toast of the New England area.

The New England Patriots may long be viewed as the talk of the town but it's the Celtics who hold sway in much of Boston and beyond for that matter. With the team playing with such supreme confidence. There are those who feel that all Boston now has to do is to pace themselves over the season and then raise the level of play once the postseason beckons. They're not about to be pressured by the likes of the New York Knicks or the New Jersey Nets as far as winning the division goes. That may well be all but sewn up once the New Year is in unless something unforeseen were to happen.

The team has held sway over their opponents with languid ease and it's easy to see why they are the best team in the NBA by far. Defensively they're stellar and on the offensive side of the ball they get contributions from either of their Big Three. But now adding Rondo into the mix it makes it all the more difficult for teams to ingore him. In doing so they're ingorning a fact that as a player Rondo has matured and is able to light up a team almost at will. Evidence of this was on hand as he by far had one of his best games of the season, almost single handedly taking apart the Utah Jazz in an impressive 100-91 victory. To believe that the team can't be viewed as favorites as chamions would be ignore the obvious and in some respects express naivete'.

If there is anyone who may prove to be an obstacle to this team reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and beyond. Then it may well be in the hands of LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Of whom it can be said has been playing with such prowess and energy it's hard to believe that this is the same team from last year. They're getting some invaluable contributions from players such as Anderson Varejao and even more surprising from BenWallace. Such has been his presence on the team that it'd seem that he's back to the Wallace of old when the Pistons reigned supreme within the Eastern Conference and berth in the Conference Finals was nothing more than afterthought. That being said it'll be difficult to see either of these two teams usurping the Celtics. As good as they are I seemingly think that the Conference Finals are the Celtics to lose. But as usual there's a caveat in there somewhere.

The Boston Celtics having won their seventeenth championship are only too willing to raise an eighteenth at the end of this season come what may. In the Western Conference the Los Angeles Lakers are looking and hoping for another bite at the apple. Having lost the series to the Celtics in last season's finals the Lakers are only all too aware what they need to do if they're to redeem themselves. Kobe Bryant has a renewed confidence about him having won Olympic gold in Beijing. It brought about a semblance of success for him working within a structured team environment amongst his peers. And he'll no doubt view that as a good recipe for success which can be passed along and amongst his Lakers' teammates. With a fully fit Andrew Bynum and a bench that's amongst the very best in the league. The Lakers much like their eastern counterparts have a great deal to prove this season are also on a mission.

Whether or not these two storied franchises of the NBA are to meet again in this season's finals will not only be predicated on their form during the regular season and during the playoffs themselves. But a great deal will also have to do with the temperament of the players and their resolve to succeed. With the Celtics seemingly playing at a level that was unimaginable at first. It's very difficult to see how any team'll be able to walk let alone run with the Celtics. They're playing at a higher level and at the same time when you see a player like Rajon Rondo playing above expectations. It makes us all the more intrigued to see what'll unfold as the season reaches its climax. The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse are indeed alive and well and playing Celtic green. Who'd have thought it ?



tophatal ..................

It Is What It Is It's Going To Be A Shootout...........

Well this weekend the number one ranked Texas Longhorns will be taking on their instate rivals the Texas Tech , Red Raiders for bragging rights , state supremacy and with an eye on further enhancing their national championship credentials. And when these two top ten teams meet on Saturday infront of a sellout crowd in Jones SBC Stadium , in Lubbock, Texas. It will be to the delight of the crowd and a nation watching in anticipation to see how things'll unfold.




With both teams at 8-0 and ranked #'s 1 and 8 respectively . It has to be said that the might of the Big 12 will be on display for all to see. The standings as they now sit within the conference refect that these are the two dominant teams and programs this year in the Big 12. Nationally as well in both the AP Top 25 and the BCS Poll both have very credible rankings. Though that in ofitself won't be the only thing to be admired about this game. We'll also get to see some very talented players and Heisman Trophy candidates in the guise of Colt McCoy, Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. Each of the three in question will be hoping to show their prowess on gameday and catch the eye of the voters. The clearly discerning fans will only all too pleased to see such a talented bunch of individuals.


The aspirations of the Red Raiders is that should they unseat their unbeaten guests then they now will be viewed as legitimate national contenders for a BCS Bowl berth as and national championsip. Undoubtedly though much of the puublicity has been around the nationally top ranked Longhorns. But Texas Tech too are deserving of the acclaim being shown to their instate rival. If nothing else they too have shown prodigious talent on the field of play as well as productivity. And you'd be hard pressed to say that they're not in the same class as the Longhorns at this juncture. As prodigious as the Longhorns have been . The Red Raiders have been equally so.



As the game approaches a lot will be on the minds of the two teams' respective coaches. Mike Leach of Texas Tech and the much respected Mack Brown of Texas both know that they possess two exceptionally talented teams. And it has to be as such, with the two teams that's profligated with talent on both sides of ball. There are many who felt that Brown's national championsip winning team of 2005 may well have been the best Longhorns' team that he's coached in his tenureship there in Texas. This team may well surpass that achievement should they win the national championship. Such was the hype over that 2005 Rose Bowl victory over Pete Carroll's USC Trojans. That many felt that all Carroll's team had to do , was to turn up. And then they'd proceed to defeat the Texas Longhorns. Someone obviously forgot to send Mack Brown and his team the script. As the VInce Young led Texas Longhorns proceeded to upend the might of USC.



Mike Leach's team won't be afraid to face the Longhorns head on and show them what they're made of. And this game will be a battle of wills , seeking supremacy in every aspect of the game. Defensively the edge may well be with the Red Raiders . But on the offensive side of things it may well be the Longhorns . Who may well hold the upper hand. Hopefully however we won't see the type of game that was nationally televised last weekend and played infront of a national tv audience by Penn State and Oklahoma State ? Such was the monotony of the display by both teams that you may well have wanted to leave your seat and so some chores around the house. Neither team showed any inclination for creativity on the field once the game unfolded. And it has to be said that complete and utter boredom must've set in for those watching the broadcast. As to those in attendance they may well have felt the same way. Though it may not have been visible for all to see.



The likelihood is that we'll see a far more entertaining and well played game exhibited by the two teams. They've shown all year that they're more than capable of playing to the highest levels. But there've been times also where there's been something of a tailoff in their play. And that's to be expected as the college season is long and arduous. This isn't a trap game for either team and they both know that they'll either put up or shut up at the end of day. There are no second chances here and it'll be a game not for the faint of heart.



As to the talent on the field with Chris Ogbonnaya, Colt McCoy ,Jordan Shipley , Quan Cosby and the cadre of defensive players such as Rodrick Muckelroy, Ryan Palmer, Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon. The Longhorns will be showing us inheritly what they're made of in every facet of the game. The Red Raiders will throw at the rivals prodigious quarterback Graham Harrell, wideout Michael Crabtree , Ryan Hale, Eric Morris , Edward Britton , Baron Batch. Equally on the defensive side of things they're no slouches either. As they'll look to be tested by the Longhorns prodigious offensive capabilities. It's to be seen whether or not the likes of Marcus Bunton , Brandon Sesay, Jake Ratliff, Darcel McBath, Marlon Williams can withstand the tempest of the Longhorns' offense. So it ought to be real fun finding out this coming Saturday.



The game will have its high stakes built in. So much of what we'll witness will be predicated as to who's prepared to ante up and lay their cards on the table. No doubt this particular shootout will have its ramifications one way or another for one of these two teams. The question is which one'll have their bullets loaded and gun ready to pull the trigger and draw ? Last man standing your guess will be as good mine ?




tophatal ...................

The View From The Top .........

Johan Santana and teammate David Wright celebrate the final out of the seventh inning of their game against the Houston Astros. picture appears courtesy of getty images/Jim McIsaac ........


Well the baseball season is now going down its final stretch as teams rally to get themselves into postseason play. In the NL East the teams have played with a great deal of zeal. And for one team in particular their resolve will be tested. The New York Mets have placed themselves in a position to redeem themselves after last year's debacle.

The standings as they now sit atop of the NL East , they lead the Philadelphia Phillies (71-59) by 1/2 a game . And their record over the last 10 games (7-3) is identical to that of their nearest rival. Bu t the campaign as it is now reaching its climax places the Mets in somewhat of precarious position. Their closer Billy Wagner looks as if he'll be shut down. Being the fact that he's sustained a season ending injury. And what has further placed added pressure on the team is the fact that starting pitcher John Maine will be placed on the DL.

The problem the team now faces much like their crosstown neighbors is their lack frontline pitching . With Maine now on the DL and their All Star closer Billy Wagner possibly looking being unable to their remainder of the regular season. It leaves the Mets in an unenviable and susceptible position. Were they to fail the make the playoffs this season there'd be a great deal of questions to be asked though not necessarily answered. Much has been of the firing of Willie Randolph and its handling by the GM Omar Minaya left a great deal to be desired. Now even more would be expected from pitchers Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez , if the team is to fare well for the remainder of the regular season . Say nothing of which they'd be expected to replicate that form in the playoffs if they're likely to be viewed as a contender for the World Series.

This has been a torturous time for the Mets over the last few years. They've seen the New York Yankees been part and parcel of sport's pages and the glamor assigned to the Boys in Pinstripes.

The Mets for their part has seen fit to make a big splash in the free agent market or trade for big stars. By way of a return on the investment thus far . It hasn been somewhat of a sparse return. It has yet to bare a win of the World Series in the last decade. And if anything the New York Mets' payroll seems somewhat akin to the GDP of a third world nation. If The Mets are to justify their position as a credible contender then they're going to have to expect more out Martinez and Santana. Albeit that in terms of their offense they've been productive as and when needed. But you'd have to make a persuasive argument to Johan Santana . As so often they've done little by way giving him the run support needed whenever he's pitched an outstanding game for the team.

Whatever the Mets achieve this season will be more than dependent upon their pitching . They've been a productive team offensively as that has never proven to be a deficiency for them. It has been their pitching that may well to their Achilles' heel and undoing. And should they not be able to rectify the situation. The view from the top may not be all that it's cracked up to be.

tophatal ...........