What's coming up in sport?

We are about to hit an exciting time in sport. The NBA is nearing its playoffs, the NRL season has just got underway, the MLB starts in under a month, the Cricket World Cup begins in just a number of days, the Rio Olympics are in sight and we are counting down to the 2016 AFL season. So what can we expect from these sports? Well over the next week I will be analysing each of these, and coming up with the teams and players to watch out for.

NBA
With most teams having played around 65 of their 82 regular season games, we are heading down the road to the playoffs. The big question that everyone wants answered is 'who is going to beat the Golden State Warriors (GSW)?'. Currently, the Warriors have a record of 59 wins and 6 losses. They are chasing the best record in NBA history, so how could they possibly not win the Championship?

Well the majority of NBA fans would agree that the GSW are unbeatable, but I know for sure that there are a few teams that would rate their chances of clinching the championship very high. The San Antonio Spurs, in my opinion, are the most underrated NBA team in a very long time. There is not much talked about them and they don't have players contending for MVP, but they are the second team to book a playoff birth. Their current regular season record stands at 56 wins and 10 losses. In any other season, this would be amazing, but they are being over shadowed by the GSW.

Another undervalued team with a shot at the title this year are the Toronto Raptors. They are positioned in second spot in the Eastern Conference behind Cleveland, with a record of 44 wins and 20 losses. Toronto's big strong point is their ability to close out game's when they have shot the ball well. When they have shot at a better percentage than their opponents from the field this year, they have only lost once and have won 34 times! So, if they plan on beating the warriors, or any team in the Playoffs, they are going to have to shoot well to give them a statistical advantage.

The next team that I would like to talk about are the Chicago Bulls. They have been the under achievers this season, without a doubt. Predicted to go close to finishing on top of the Eastern Conference, they are currently struggling to make the top eight! Today they sit in ninth position behind the Detroit Pistons. Chicago have an even record of 32 wins and 32 losses. They have struggled on the road this season, coming up short 20 times when playing away, and only claiming 10 away wins. Part of the reason for their downful was the absence of star shooting guard Jimmy Butler, who made his return today after several weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury. However, with Jimmy Buttler returning, I am predicting them to make the Playoffs and even clinch a series or two. I wouldn't be writing them of just yet......

Now for the underdogs of the season, the Boston Celtics. Boston have realy struggled in the past couple of years, but are now contending for the championship! They currently sit in third position in the Eastern Conference, after being predicted to finish towards the bottom of the ladder. They have brought an exciting brand of basketball to this season, averaging over 106 points per game, the fourth highest in the NBA. Last year they averaged 101 points per game, the thirteenth highest in the NBA. So, although it isn't a huge change, it seems to be making all the difference. If the Celtics can hold on to the top four, they will have home court advantage in the playoffs. If they can claim the home court advantage, I'm tipping them to pass at least the first round, and maybe even make the Conference Finals. The big thing for Boston over the next few weeks is to not take their foot off the pedal, and to keep winning.

The Los Angeles Clippers haven't had the best luck in the playoffs in recent memory. Last year they blew a huge series lead against the Houston Rockets and many thought that this would have a negative affect on them during the 2015/16 season. However, it seems to be quite the oppisite. The Clippers currently sit in fourth position behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC), yet the most impressive thing about their season so far is that they have done it for the most part without Power Forward Blake Griffen. Blake Griffen broke his hand while he was in a fight with a team employee back on the 23rd of January this year. Blake was then suspended for four games and is still out with a broken hand, but the Clippers seem to be coping perfectly fine without him. Their current record stands at 42 wins and 23 losses. Now, as well as they have been playing without Griffen, I just can't see them getting past the second round. However, they will certainly fancy themselves and I by no means am calling them easy beats!

So, there is a taste of what to expect in the Playoffs this year. Although, don't forget teams like OKC, Miami Heat, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Atlanta Hawks, who are all a chance at taking down the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors. These teams will also be looking to be the 2016 NBA Champions!