So the World Series is finally upon us, and I for one could not be more ecstatic. The Yankees and the Phillies, two teams with outstanding pitching, and extremely potent lineups. Should be a fun filled series... so lets look at the match up in depth.
Game 1 features two of the best pitchers in the game, CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee. My scouting report on CC shows that he has a explosive fastball. He is able to fire it up in the mid to high 90's. He also has a devastating slider, which he will use to dominate left handers. It is his out pitch. He also has an above average change up that is only getting better. A weakness of his is that when he tires, he tends to elevate his fastball. So if the Phillies can get him deep into his pitch count, it might be a problem considering how explosive this offense can be. CC dominates left handers, who are only hitting a measly .198 against him, with a .310 slugging percentage. The Phillies have a bunch of left handers, so this matchup favors CC. He is posting a 1.16 ERA in the postseason, so lets see if he can keep up his dominance against a good Phillies team.
Cliff Lee is the reigning CY Young winner, and is paying dividends for the Phillies who acquired him late in the season. He is boasting an out-of-this-universe ERA in the post season. 0.74. This is just absolutely ridiculous. He dominated the Rockies and the Dodgers, so he is def. on a hot streak. He is an outstanding pitcher, who isnt necessarily a power pitcher. He has an above avg fastball that tops off in the low 90's. He has a very good cut fastball that he will run up into the hands of right handers, jamming them. He has very good breaking balls. He uses his slider as an out pitch, and has a very good curveball with a big 1-7 break. He might want to use this more as an out pitch, something he has not done in the past. His changeup is good, and almost always sets it up with his cut fastball. He has outstanding control as well, meaning he wont walk alot of hitter. He has dominated hitters this postseason, and I expect him to have a good world series.
The Yankees lineup maybe the most potent in baseball. Top to bottom is a threat to burn you. Obviously everyone talks about A-Rod, and Tex, but the key maybe at the bottom, with Melky, Jorge Posada, and Robinson Cano. Posada has come up clutch this post season, and if he gets it going, along with Cano, the Phillies might be in trouble. A-Rod has been ON FIRE this post season, batting an astounding .438 with 5 HR's and 12 RBI's. He is most certainly locked in, which is great news for the Yanks.
The Phillies also have a very good offense, and might be able to match the Yanks for runs. Ryan Howard is the big story. He is batting .375 with 14 RBI's this post season. Like A-Rod he is locked and loaded, however the layoff between series might interrupt his rhythm, and the Phills cant afford that. Jayson Werth is also on a bit of a hot post season, having 10 RBIs. Jimmy Rollins hasnt done too much, but big time players always step up in big time games. Look for him, like Tex to break out of his "slump"..
The bullpen is the big question mark with the Phillies. Brad Lidge is way to inconsistent, as are the rest of their relief pitchers. Charlie Manuel might have to leave his starters in the games longer, just to avoid going to the bullpen, which may cause them to tire, and Yankee hitters will jump all over them. This is unlikely, but if we see a melt down in game 1, look for this to take effect in the coming games. The yanks also have a bit of a question mark with their setup man, Phil Hughes. He has lost command of his fastball, and they need him to be on his game, because he is the bridge to the Sandman, Mariano Rivera. Joba Chamberlain has also been inconsistent, and the Yanks need him to step up as well. Nothing needs to be said about maybe the best closer in the game. He will always show up, and may even be called upon in the 8th innings of games. He is used to it, so i dont expect any problems with this, especially if Hughes is struggling.
This series features outstanding lineups and offenses. The bullpen for the Phillies is shaky, and this is what worries me. The Yankees need to jump all over starting pitchers early to get to the bullpen. This might be the key to the series. But as for this game, CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee should be locked into a pitching duel, and this game might be won in the later innings. Having a big layoff, playing on the road, and having a question mark of a bullpen, i expect the Yanks to take game one. It will be a low scoring game, but in the end the Bronx Bombers will prevail.
Hope everyone enjoys the games....we are in for an exciting series.
Z$
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
NBA Season Preview and Predictions- Eastern Conference
On to the wide open Eastern Conference. In my mind there are really only 3 contenders in this conference, with one (Orland0) significantly decreasing since last year. Lets get into it.
Boston is 1, or 2, in this conference depending on a few things. The addition of Rasheed Wallace is HUGE. This guy is a legit player.... can take you inside, can stroke the tri-fecta, can defend. He is a 6'11 player with tremendous range. He has always been a player, just hasnt had the right attitude. Put him on a veteran laced Boston team, and this should fix that. However with the good always comes the bad. KG. His attitude and leadership are the X factor. This guy is so intense to the point where it is annoying. The Celtics were def. not the same team without him last year.If he is healthy and can return to form, then this team might be a lock to make it to the NBA finals. With that said, Rajon Rondo's quarell with the front office might not have that big of an affect, because his goal is to become a restricted free agent, so he will be on his best behavior and will bring his A game, if he hopes to get paid. Paul Pierce should once again return to all star form, as he is in better shape, and with Rasheed Wallace in the lineup, it might help ease the load off of him. Marquise Daniels also provides some help, because now, PP wont have to guard the other teams best player, Daniels can come off the bench and provide some help with this. Rondo might be the best PG in the East and if he is running up and down the court, look for the Celtics to fire on all cylinders offensively. I am a little worried about their bench, losing Leon Powe is a bigger deal than people think. Eddie House is a staple, and should perform well. Kendrick Perkins must develop some sort of offensive game, and thats where Sheed comes in. It should be like the Gasol-Bynum deal in LA, lets just hope Perkins is capable of picking it up. I see Cleveland as the biggest threat to this team, however I think once again we will see an LA-Boston rematch.
Prediction: NBA Finals
Cleveland is Cleveland. Lebron James, and not much else. The addition of Shaquille O'neal was more for the playoffs than the regular season. His minutes will be limited, and he will have days off to try and conserve himself for the playoffs. Who knows what on earth is happening with Delonte West, so there is another big question mark. Moe Williams will need to pick it up and remain consistent the entire season. They do have Lebron James and in the weak East, that might be enough for a showdown with the Celts. Shaq will be used in their matchups with the Magic for the sole purpose of shutting down Dwight. It will be done in the regular season, and if they meet in the playoffs, it will be done even more so. Not much more I can say about this team. They might struggle at times...but again, Lebron might be enough to carry them.
Prediction: Conference Finals
Ahh, Orlando! Many people are ooohhhing and ahhhhing over the VC acquisition, I am def not one of them. To lose your go-to player in Hedo (sorry Superman, its true) is a major major loss. Not only was he their clutch performer in the playoffs, he was their most consistent weapon. 6'10 with the ability to run the point, pull up from anywhere on the floor, and post up is unparalleled. His departure will have grave consequences for this team. VC is a good player, but he does not create the match up problems that Hedo did. VC is an avg. 6'6. He can still score, but come playoffs, it will be so much easier to shut him down than it was Hedo. Just look at what happened last year. Dwight Howard needs an offensive game. He cannot live on put backs and slam dunks if he wants to be considered a legit superstar. His free throw shooting is horrendous and this needs to improve or we might be seeing a "Hack-A-Dwight." The magic also lose their starting 2 guard in Courtney Lee, a young, and very talented player. They lose their backup PG Rafer Alston, who basically stepped in and performed extremely well. Without him, they dont make it to the finals last year. I just dont think VC is the answer. They gave up too much and we will see the consequences of this during the season. Hedo is laughing straight to the bank in Toronto.
Prediction: Playoffs
Sleeper Teams: Miami, Toronto
Miami should be much improved from last year. D-Wade led the league in scoring, and I expect him to be in the top 3 yet again. They have aquired two stellar guards in Arroyo and Q-Rich. Both are really good players, and Q-Rich is a knockdown three point shooter. He should thrive with D-Wade setting him up. If Beasley can figure it out and have the right attitude, watch out. He is a beast, but is way to immature and doesn't show the right work ethic. If he can get going, this might be a very potent lineup. An aging Jermaine O'neal has worked relatively hard this off season and again, if he can stay healthy, and get back to form, then this team is def a contender. He used to dominate people when he was with the Pacers, but bad knees have hampered him. Look for Haslem to have more of an offensive role too. The more players they can get involved the better.
Prediction: Playoffs
Toronto might be the best team no one is talking about. They already have a bonafide star (not superstar) in Chris Bosh, and the addition of all star Hedo Turkoglu just adds that much more fire power to this team. Hedo is a match up nightmare. (refer to Orlando paragraph). Marco Bellinelli is a great pickup for this team. He is a combo-guard with tremendous shooting ability, a quick first step, and decent ball handling skills. He uses ball fakes very well and can come off of screens and knock down jumpshots. His defense needs to improve, but he is a very athletic player. Demar Derozan is an excellent young player who can flat out score the ball. He needs to get better defensively but the same goes for any young rookie. He will get better as the season goes on and might even be in contention for the ROY award.
Prediction: Playoffs
Now here come the award predictions
MVP: Lebron James...... I had a tough time picking him over Kobe, but Lebron will put up better numbers because he doesnt have a strong of a team. I believe they had the best record in the NBA last year, but the Lakers are going to challenge them for that this year. However if Kobe Bryant is fueled by the talk that he is getting old, or he has lost a step, look for him to dominate even more so offensively and he could sneak it and take it. But at this point, ill go with James.
Sleeper: Chris Paul
Rookie of the Year: Tyreke Evans. The injury to Blake Griffin solidifies my choice. Evans may be the most talented player in this draft class. He will get a lot of minutes on a bad team, so look for him to put up excellent numbers.
Sleeper: DeMar DeRozan, Johnny Flynn
6th Man- Lamar Odom. With him being comfortable coming off the bench, he will excel offensively. He is a freak talent with unmatched skills for his height, and length. He can score from anywhere, and can handle the rock with ease. He will be much improved defensively as well.
Sleeper: Rasheed Wallace
Most Improved Player: Anthony Randolph. He came on strong at the end of the year. Much like a Lamar Odom type player, he is tall, long and athletic. He put on a show in the summer league. Last year being the youngest player in the NBA might have made him a little nervous, but this year, look for him to put up huge numbers.
Sleeper: Andrew Bynum, Aaron Brooks
Coach of the Year: Flip Saunders. With a healthy Agent Zero, and Caron Butler, this team should drastically improve on their 19-63 record. This team will make the playoffs. They should blow their 19 wins from last year straight out of the water with this roster.
Most Imrpoved Team: Washington Wizards. Again, with Flip as the coach, a healthy Gilber and Caron, this team should be in the playoff hunt all season. HEALTH is the main concern. Gilbert Arenas hasnt played in nearly 2 years, so he might be a little rusty. As long as his knees hold up, he should be fine, as he was once considered a top 10 player in the NBA not too long ago.
Thats all I got for yall. Hope you enjoyed it. The NBA season kicks off tonight, I cant wait. Enjoy the games...
Z$
Boston is 1, or 2, in this conference depending on a few things. The addition of Rasheed Wallace is HUGE. This guy is a legit player.... can take you inside, can stroke the tri-fecta, can defend. He is a 6'11 player with tremendous range. He has always been a player, just hasnt had the right attitude. Put him on a veteran laced Boston team, and this should fix that. However with the good always comes the bad. KG. His attitude and leadership are the X factor. This guy is so intense to the point where it is annoying. The Celtics were def. not the same team without him last year.If he is healthy and can return to form, then this team might be a lock to make it to the NBA finals. With that said, Rajon Rondo's quarell with the front office might not have that big of an affect, because his goal is to become a restricted free agent, so he will be on his best behavior and will bring his A game, if he hopes to get paid. Paul Pierce should once again return to all star form, as he is in better shape, and with Rasheed Wallace in the lineup, it might help ease the load off of him. Marquise Daniels also provides some help, because now, PP wont have to guard the other teams best player, Daniels can come off the bench and provide some help with this. Rondo might be the best PG in the East and if he is running up and down the court, look for the Celtics to fire on all cylinders offensively. I am a little worried about their bench, losing Leon Powe is a bigger deal than people think. Eddie House is a staple, and should perform well. Kendrick Perkins must develop some sort of offensive game, and thats where Sheed comes in. It should be like the Gasol-Bynum deal in LA, lets just hope Perkins is capable of picking it up. I see Cleveland as the biggest threat to this team, however I think once again we will see an LA-Boston rematch.
Prediction: NBA Finals
Cleveland is Cleveland. Lebron James, and not much else. The addition of Shaquille O'neal was more for the playoffs than the regular season. His minutes will be limited, and he will have days off to try and conserve himself for the playoffs. Who knows what on earth is happening with Delonte West, so there is another big question mark. Moe Williams will need to pick it up and remain consistent the entire season. They do have Lebron James and in the weak East, that might be enough for a showdown with the Celts. Shaq will be used in their matchups with the Magic for the sole purpose of shutting down Dwight. It will be done in the regular season, and if they meet in the playoffs, it will be done even more so. Not much more I can say about this team. They might struggle at times...but again, Lebron might be enough to carry them.
Prediction: Conference Finals
Ahh, Orlando! Many people are ooohhhing and ahhhhing over the VC acquisition, I am def not one of them. To lose your go-to player in Hedo (sorry Superman, its true) is a major major loss. Not only was he their clutch performer in the playoffs, he was their most consistent weapon. 6'10 with the ability to run the point, pull up from anywhere on the floor, and post up is unparalleled. His departure will have grave consequences for this team. VC is a good player, but he does not create the match up problems that Hedo did. VC is an avg. 6'6. He can still score, but come playoffs, it will be so much easier to shut him down than it was Hedo. Just look at what happened last year. Dwight Howard needs an offensive game. He cannot live on put backs and slam dunks if he wants to be considered a legit superstar. His free throw shooting is horrendous and this needs to improve or we might be seeing a "Hack-A-Dwight." The magic also lose their starting 2 guard in Courtney Lee, a young, and very talented player. They lose their backup PG Rafer Alston, who basically stepped in and performed extremely well. Without him, they dont make it to the finals last year. I just dont think VC is the answer. They gave up too much and we will see the consequences of this during the season. Hedo is laughing straight to the bank in Toronto.
Prediction: Playoffs
Sleeper Teams: Miami, Toronto
Miami should be much improved from last year. D-Wade led the league in scoring, and I expect him to be in the top 3 yet again. They have aquired two stellar guards in Arroyo and Q-Rich. Both are really good players, and Q-Rich is a knockdown three point shooter. He should thrive with D-Wade setting him up. If Beasley can figure it out and have the right attitude, watch out. He is a beast, but is way to immature and doesn't show the right work ethic. If he can get going, this might be a very potent lineup. An aging Jermaine O'neal has worked relatively hard this off season and again, if he can stay healthy, and get back to form, then this team is def a contender. He used to dominate people when he was with the Pacers, but bad knees have hampered him. Look for Haslem to have more of an offensive role too. The more players they can get involved the better.
Prediction: Playoffs
Toronto might be the best team no one is talking about. They already have a bonafide star (not superstar) in Chris Bosh, and the addition of all star Hedo Turkoglu just adds that much more fire power to this team. Hedo is a match up nightmare. (refer to Orlando paragraph). Marco Bellinelli is a great pickup for this team. He is a combo-guard with tremendous shooting ability, a quick first step, and decent ball handling skills. He uses ball fakes very well and can come off of screens and knock down jumpshots. His defense needs to improve, but he is a very athletic player. Demar Derozan is an excellent young player who can flat out score the ball. He needs to get better defensively but the same goes for any young rookie. He will get better as the season goes on and might even be in contention for the ROY award.
Prediction: Playoffs
Now here come the award predictions
MVP: Lebron James...... I had a tough time picking him over Kobe, but Lebron will put up better numbers because he doesnt have a strong of a team. I believe they had the best record in the NBA last year, but the Lakers are going to challenge them for that this year. However if Kobe Bryant is fueled by the talk that he is getting old, or he has lost a step, look for him to dominate even more so offensively and he could sneak it and take it. But at this point, ill go with James.
Sleeper: Chris Paul
Rookie of the Year: Tyreke Evans. The injury to Blake Griffin solidifies my choice. Evans may be the most talented player in this draft class. He will get a lot of minutes on a bad team, so look for him to put up excellent numbers.
Sleeper: DeMar DeRozan, Johnny Flynn
6th Man- Lamar Odom. With him being comfortable coming off the bench, he will excel offensively. He is a freak talent with unmatched skills for his height, and length. He can score from anywhere, and can handle the rock with ease. He will be much improved defensively as well.
Sleeper: Rasheed Wallace
Most Improved Player: Anthony Randolph. He came on strong at the end of the year. Much like a Lamar Odom type player, he is tall, long and athletic. He put on a show in the summer league. Last year being the youngest player in the NBA might have made him a little nervous, but this year, look for him to put up huge numbers.
Sleeper: Andrew Bynum, Aaron Brooks
Coach of the Year: Flip Saunders. With a healthy Agent Zero, and Caron Butler, this team should drastically improve on their 19-63 record. This team will make the playoffs. They should blow their 19 wins from last year straight out of the water with this roster.
Most Imrpoved Team: Washington Wizards. Again, with Flip as the coach, a healthy Gilber and Caron, this team should be in the playoff hunt all season. HEALTH is the main concern. Gilbert Arenas hasnt played in nearly 2 years, so he might be a little rusty. As long as his knees hold up, he should be fine, as he was once considered a top 10 player in the NBA not too long ago.
Thats all I got for yall. Hope you enjoyed it. The NBA season kicks off tonight, I cant wait. Enjoy the games...
Z$
NBA Season Preview and Predictions- Western Conference
The NBA season is finally upon us! The season kicks off tonight with 4 quality games: Boston vs. Cleveland, Washington vs. Dallas, Houston vs. Portland, and Lakers vs. Clippers. I personally cannot wait for tonight, and in the spirit of the new season, I thought I would give you all a little preview and predictions. Lets get started
I believe there are only 4 teams with a legit chance of reaching, and winning the NBA finals. San Antonio, Boston, Cleveland, and the Lakers. San Antonio made some big noise with their acquisition of Richard Jefferson. They add a legit all star and big time playmaker to their talented trio, that being Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili. They had the steal of the draft when they got Dejaun Blair, a big body who should be able to throw his weight around inside, and rebound highly effectively, in the 2nd round. He has an excellent motor, and anyone who saw what he did in college in arguably the best conference should expect more of the same in the NBA. Parker and Duncan need no explanation or analysis. Ginobili on the other hand is the red flag. He is somewhat injury prone due to his violent style of play and is going on two very bad ankles. He is already 31 and has shown signs of slowing down. The spurs are not getting any younger, and if Ginobili keeps having these problems, look for them to move him by the trade deadline to free up some capspace for the upcoming OUT OF THIS WORLD free agent class. For those of you that dont understand, there is a very high chance they trade him, dont be shocked, you heard it here first. George Hill is turning out to be quite the player, so lets see is Pops gives him some minutes this season. As long as they have Parker, and Duncan, and now Jefferson, they look to be in decent shape.
Prediction: Western Conference Finals
The Los Angeles Lakers start their title defense when they host the dismal Clippers (whose season just got a little worse with the Blake Griffin Injury.) They are in great shape to repeat, due to the addition of Ron Ron, and oh yea, they still have Kobe. A lot of people might be having their doubts about Artest, saying things like: "He is a head case", "He will jack up too many shots", etc etc. Put those worries to bed, because there is absolutely NO CHANCE of any of that. Last year with the Rockets he was in control of himself and not going crazy. He has that part figured out. However, with the Rockets, he did jack up alot of shots, and that took away from the offense. This will not be the case in LA because he is in a veteran locker room, with an established leader, and possibly the best coach of all time. Kobe, D-Fish, Gasol, Phil, and Lamar will def. keep Ron in check and he knows his place playing with Kobe. He is a major upgrade over Ariza, both defensively and offensively. Ron can create his own shot whenever he wants, unlike Ariza who was spoon-fed by Kobe. Artest is a freak of nature athletically and one of the best defenders of this generation. He has the muscle and toughness to go up agasint lets say, Lebron James. Kobe is Kobe, enough said. The area that worries me is the PG position. D-Fish is getting up there in age, and didnt have the greatest playoffs. Shannon Brown really came on strong, and if D-Fish continues to struggle, look for him, and not Jordan Farmar to get the starting nod. Andrew Bynum looks great in pre-season action, and IF, IF he can stay healthy, should show vast improvement and could finally reach his enormous potential. Lamar Odom showed everyone the player he can be, and should continue to do more of the same, now that he is settled in his 6th man role ,oh and not to mention, he just got hitched, so that should keep him happy for some period of time. Kobe has all the pieces around him to make a return trip to the finals, and everyone can stay healthy, with the addition of Ron, there is just too much talent on this team not to repeat. Look for the Lakeshow to hoist the banner yet again.
Prediction: NBA Champions
Sleeper Teams: Portland, New Orleans, Dallas.
This may finally be the year Portland makes some noise in the playoffs. They are a young, extremely talented team with two future superstars in Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Aldridge. If they can get off to a fast start, and learn to close out games, and play solid D, they certainly are capable of taking the next step. Brandon Roy needs to fully assert himself as the leader, and Go-to guy of this team. At times last year he was too passive, and didnt have that killer mentality of a Kobe Bryant. He is better than most players in the league and once he figures this out, the sky is the limit.
New Orleans had an abysmal season by their standards. They have arguably the best PG in the league (save Derron Williams), a young, talented center in Emeka Oakafor, and the always sharp shooting Peja, who was hampered by injuries last year. Again, being healthy is key for this team. If Paul to Okafor works as well as Paul to Chandler, the Hornets might be on to something special. Okafor is younger, more athletic, smarter, and has way more potential than Tyson Chandler. Lets see if they can put it all together.
Prediction: Playoffs
Dallas has a very talented lineup, Dirk, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, and Jason Kidd. However injuries (just yesterday with Howard) and old age (Kidd) could slow this team down tremendously. Dirk will be the always consistent regular season player he always is. Marion however needs to be in a run type offense, not a half court set. A smart thing to do may be to play him with the 2nd unit as well, with the shorty and speedy JJ Barea so he can take advantage of his athleticism. They will make the playoffs, but injuries could affect how far they go.
Prediction: Playoffs
For all the Rocket Fans out there, here is what will happen. They are clearly in the re-building stages. Yao is out, so the bulk of the offense will lie with Brooks, Ariza, Buddinger, and Jermaine Taylor. Brooks can score....Buddinger can shoot the lights out, and is extremely athletic, and Jermaine Taylor is a straight up baller. Ariza is the big question mark. While he is def. a downgrade from Artest, the fact that the Rockets are trying to get younger makes this move the correct one. What is left to be seen is if Ariza is capable of being a number one option on a team, and if he can create his own shot. Last year all he had to do was sit in one spot and make threes, which he did in the playoffs, not so much in the regular season. He only attempted 66 threes in his career up until last year where that number jumped to 191. He was only a 32% three point shooter last season, and 29.9 % for his career. This is what he made his bread and butter off of last year, so it begs the question, "One year wonder?" He is very athletic and an outstanding defender, but he will need to develop an offense game if he wants to help this team. There are reports that T-Mac is on schedule to make a return very soon. This is good news, because this season will be an audition for him. Make no mistake about it, he will be traded before the seasons end, because this is the only way to get value for him. If the Rockets decide to keep him, he will become an un-restricted free agent, and the Rockets will get nothing in return. His expiring $22 million contract is an extremely attractive piece of trade bait, and if he performs well enough during the season, look for him to be moved. All in all it will take a few years for the Rockets to return to prominence, but if a healthy Yao can make a full recovery and not lose a step, things will be looking up.
Prediction: Will miss Playoffs
Look for the Eastern Conference analysis as well as award predictions in my next post....enjoy
Z$
I believe there are only 4 teams with a legit chance of reaching, and winning the NBA finals. San Antonio, Boston, Cleveland, and the Lakers. San Antonio made some big noise with their acquisition of Richard Jefferson. They add a legit all star and big time playmaker to their talented trio, that being Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili. They had the steal of the draft when they got Dejaun Blair, a big body who should be able to throw his weight around inside, and rebound highly effectively, in the 2nd round. He has an excellent motor, and anyone who saw what he did in college in arguably the best conference should expect more of the same in the NBA. Parker and Duncan need no explanation or analysis. Ginobili on the other hand is the red flag. He is somewhat injury prone due to his violent style of play and is going on two very bad ankles. He is already 31 and has shown signs of slowing down. The spurs are not getting any younger, and if Ginobili keeps having these problems, look for them to move him by the trade deadline to free up some capspace for the upcoming OUT OF THIS WORLD free agent class. For those of you that dont understand, there is a very high chance they trade him, dont be shocked, you heard it here first. George Hill is turning out to be quite the player, so lets see is Pops gives him some minutes this season. As long as they have Parker, and Duncan, and now Jefferson, they look to be in decent shape.
Prediction: Western Conference Finals
The Los Angeles Lakers start their title defense when they host the dismal Clippers (whose season just got a little worse with the Blake Griffin Injury.) They are in great shape to repeat, due to the addition of Ron Ron, and oh yea, they still have Kobe. A lot of people might be having their doubts about Artest, saying things like: "He is a head case", "He will jack up too many shots", etc etc. Put those worries to bed, because there is absolutely NO CHANCE of any of that. Last year with the Rockets he was in control of himself and not going crazy. He has that part figured out. However, with the Rockets, he did jack up alot of shots, and that took away from the offense. This will not be the case in LA because he is in a veteran locker room, with an established leader, and possibly the best coach of all time. Kobe, D-Fish, Gasol, Phil, and Lamar will def. keep Ron in check and he knows his place playing with Kobe. He is a major upgrade over Ariza, both defensively and offensively. Ron can create his own shot whenever he wants, unlike Ariza who was spoon-fed by Kobe. Artest is a freak of nature athletically and one of the best defenders of this generation. He has the muscle and toughness to go up agasint lets say, Lebron James. Kobe is Kobe, enough said. The area that worries me is the PG position. D-Fish is getting up there in age, and didnt have the greatest playoffs. Shannon Brown really came on strong, and if D-Fish continues to struggle, look for him, and not Jordan Farmar to get the starting nod. Andrew Bynum looks great in pre-season action, and IF, IF he can stay healthy, should show vast improvement and could finally reach his enormous potential. Lamar Odom showed everyone the player he can be, and should continue to do more of the same, now that he is settled in his 6th man role ,oh and not to mention, he just got hitched, so that should keep him happy for some period of time. Kobe has all the pieces around him to make a return trip to the finals, and everyone can stay healthy, with the addition of Ron, there is just too much talent on this team not to repeat. Look for the Lakeshow to hoist the banner yet again.
Prediction: NBA Champions
Sleeper Teams: Portland, New Orleans, Dallas.
This may finally be the year Portland makes some noise in the playoffs. They are a young, extremely talented team with two future superstars in Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Aldridge. If they can get off to a fast start, and learn to close out games, and play solid D, they certainly are capable of taking the next step. Brandon Roy needs to fully assert himself as the leader, and Go-to guy of this team. At times last year he was too passive, and didnt have that killer mentality of a Kobe Bryant. He is better than most players in the league and once he figures this out, the sky is the limit.
New Orleans had an abysmal season by their standards. They have arguably the best PG in the league (save Derron Williams), a young, talented center in Emeka Oakafor, and the always sharp shooting Peja, who was hampered by injuries last year. Again, being healthy is key for this team. If Paul to Okafor works as well as Paul to Chandler, the Hornets might be on to something special. Okafor is younger, more athletic, smarter, and has way more potential than Tyson Chandler. Lets see if they can put it all together.
Prediction: Playoffs
Dallas has a very talented lineup, Dirk, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, and Jason Kidd. However injuries (just yesterday with Howard) and old age (Kidd) could slow this team down tremendously. Dirk will be the always consistent regular season player he always is. Marion however needs to be in a run type offense, not a half court set. A smart thing to do may be to play him with the 2nd unit as well, with the shorty and speedy JJ Barea so he can take advantage of his athleticism. They will make the playoffs, but injuries could affect how far they go.
Prediction: Playoffs
For all the Rocket Fans out there, here is what will happen. They are clearly in the re-building stages. Yao is out, so the bulk of the offense will lie with Brooks, Ariza, Buddinger, and Jermaine Taylor. Brooks can score....Buddinger can shoot the lights out, and is extremely athletic, and Jermaine Taylor is a straight up baller. Ariza is the big question mark. While he is def. a downgrade from Artest, the fact that the Rockets are trying to get younger makes this move the correct one. What is left to be seen is if Ariza is capable of being a number one option on a team, and if he can create his own shot. Last year all he had to do was sit in one spot and make threes, which he did in the playoffs, not so much in the regular season. He only attempted 66 threes in his career up until last year where that number jumped to 191. He was only a 32% three point shooter last season, and 29.9 % for his career. This is what he made his bread and butter off of last year, so it begs the question, "One year wonder?" He is very athletic and an outstanding defender, but he will need to develop an offense game if he wants to help this team. There are reports that T-Mac is on schedule to make a return very soon. This is good news, because this season will be an audition for him. Make no mistake about it, he will be traded before the seasons end, because this is the only way to get value for him. If the Rockets decide to keep him, he will become an un-restricted free agent, and the Rockets will get nothing in return. His expiring $22 million contract is an extremely attractive piece of trade bait, and if he performs well enough during the season, look for him to be moved. All in all it will take a few years for the Rockets to return to prominence, but if a healthy Yao can make a full recovery and not lose a step, things will be looking up.
Prediction: Will miss Playoffs
Look for the Eastern Conference analysis as well as award predictions in my next post....enjoy
Z$
Monday, October 26, 2009
College Football Week 8 In Review
I randomly decided to put my outstanding ability to assess and comment on sports to good use by creating this blog. Better late than never right? As we are now getting into the meat of the college football season, why not start here?...Lets talk football, BCS, rankings, ref's, etc.....be gentle.
Week 8, in this unpredictable, not-living-up-to-the-hype, season was full of blowouts, controversy, and near fatal collapses by the top 2 teams. Alabama needed 2 blocked field goals to win the game, Florida and their God sent, most talented QB ever (not really) looked horrible for the 2nd straight week, and Texas continued their trend of blowing out Mizzou the week after the Red River Rivalry. Alabama's stagnant, molasses like offense is going nowhere fast. Teams have figured out they are one dimensional, and are loading up the box to stop Mark Ingram, who some consider the best back in football, not me. And Speaking of Mark Ingram, mustering 99 yards with no TD's is not going to win you the Heisman. He desperately needs his frosh QB to start producing if he has any hopes of getting to NY. Greg McElroy cannot be a check down QB. He has an outstanding weapon in Julio Jones that he is failing to utilize. All of a sudden that showdown with Florida is looking to be put in jeopardy if this offense cannot get going.
Florida again failed to show why they should be ranked #2 after a dismal performance against Mississippi State, a victory aided by the spotty officiating of the SEC officials for about the 3rd week in a row. Tim Tebow was horrid, throwing 2 pick-sixes, and 0 TD's. The final score of that game is very deceiving as clear blown calls by the officiating crew cost Miss. St points, and in the end a victory. Florida has 1 consistent receiver in Riley Cooper, but thats it. Their offense is looking horrible, and yet they have a Heisman contending QB? Please, Tebow should not even be in the discussion. His numbers are a joke, but wait its his "will" and "leadership" that matter right? The media darling is in for a rude awakening, YOU ARE NOT THAT GOOD!.....Ill save that argument for next time. The only reason they are undefeated is due to their NFL defense, but a banged up Brandon Spikes might be a bit of a problem. They could potentially drop a game before the SEC championship, and that would open the door for a on fire LSU team. Time will tell.
Texas looked like the most complete team in the country with their thrashing of Mizzou for the 2nd straight year. Colt Mccoy got off to the fast start he desperately needed. The Horns have found a consistency in their running game with Fozzy, and their usage of more tight end sets with Greg Smith have opened up the door for an aerial attack. The insertion of Malcolm Williams into the lineup cannot go un-noticed. At 6'3 220 he is a big receiver with great speed. He goes hard on every play, as is evident with his outstanding plays on special teams ( See the RRR and Mizzou game fumble recovery TD). Next week however is the game everyone will be talking about, the showdown in Stillwater. Its no secret that the Horns have trouble staying in front of OSU and have fallen into big holes in recent years. Colt and the offense will need to get off to a fast start. The Horns defense is absolutely lights out. The "Goon Sqaud" ranks 1st in rushing defense, and 2nd in overall defense. Their ability to get to the QB with their front 4 is paying dividends, and the play of their outstanding DB's- Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown, and Earl Thomas is evidence enough. Lets see if they can be the complete team next week we all thought they would be.
My final thoughts address the new BCS standings. Four words, ARE YOU KIDIDNG ME?? Iowa at #4?? Cincinnati wins in blowout fashion, Boise State keeps winning, and yet Iowa, which needed a last second TD against a 4-4 team to win the game jumps both of them? They are ranked #1 in the computers which is an absolute joke. I guess when you beat Northern Iowa by 1, and Arkansas State by 3, you have to be legit. Not to mention they play in a joke of a conference, marred by big game blowouts, let downs, upsets, etc. I dont see how Natty gets pushed back for winning big, do you?...Again, keep an eye out for LSU who could be on the rise very quickly, as they are currently sitting at #9. Next weeks game against USC and Oregon also has major BCS implications. Halloween should be quite the weekend for College Football.
Thats all I have for now, but please check this regularly, as it is just now starting off. What did yall think? I would love the feedback, and suggestions that you may have, as again, this is my first time. Thanks for reading what I had to say, there will def. be more to come.... enjoy the Halloween games.... "Trick or Treat" will def be the phrase of the college football world. Enjoy... stay classy.
Z$
Week 8, in this unpredictable, not-living-up-to-the-hype, season was full of blowouts, controversy, and near fatal collapses by the top 2 teams. Alabama needed 2 blocked field goals to win the game, Florida and their God sent, most talented QB ever (not really) looked horrible for the 2nd straight week, and Texas continued their trend of blowing out Mizzou the week after the Red River Rivalry. Alabama's stagnant, molasses like offense is going nowhere fast. Teams have figured out they are one dimensional, and are loading up the box to stop Mark Ingram, who some consider the best back in football, not me. And Speaking of Mark Ingram, mustering 99 yards with no TD's is not going to win you the Heisman. He desperately needs his frosh QB to start producing if he has any hopes of getting to NY. Greg McElroy cannot be a check down QB. He has an outstanding weapon in Julio Jones that he is failing to utilize. All of a sudden that showdown with Florida is looking to be put in jeopardy if this offense cannot get going.
Florida again failed to show why they should be ranked #2 after a dismal performance against Mississippi State, a victory aided by the spotty officiating of the SEC officials for about the 3rd week in a row. Tim Tebow was horrid, throwing 2 pick-sixes, and 0 TD's. The final score of that game is very deceiving as clear blown calls by the officiating crew cost Miss. St points, and in the end a victory. Florida has 1 consistent receiver in Riley Cooper, but thats it. Their offense is looking horrible, and yet they have a Heisman contending QB? Please, Tebow should not even be in the discussion. His numbers are a joke, but wait its his "will" and "leadership" that matter right? The media darling is in for a rude awakening, YOU ARE NOT THAT GOOD!.....Ill save that argument for next time. The only reason they are undefeated is due to their NFL defense, but a banged up Brandon Spikes might be a bit of a problem. They could potentially drop a game before the SEC championship, and that would open the door for a on fire LSU team. Time will tell.
Texas looked like the most complete team in the country with their thrashing of Mizzou for the 2nd straight year. Colt Mccoy got off to the fast start he desperately needed. The Horns have found a consistency in their running game with Fozzy, and their usage of more tight end sets with Greg Smith have opened up the door for an aerial attack. The insertion of Malcolm Williams into the lineup cannot go un-noticed. At 6'3 220 he is a big receiver with great speed. He goes hard on every play, as is evident with his outstanding plays on special teams ( See the RRR and Mizzou game fumble recovery TD). Next week however is the game everyone will be talking about, the showdown in Stillwater. Its no secret that the Horns have trouble staying in front of OSU and have fallen into big holes in recent years. Colt and the offense will need to get off to a fast start. The Horns defense is absolutely lights out. The "Goon Sqaud" ranks 1st in rushing defense, and 2nd in overall defense. Their ability to get to the QB with their front 4 is paying dividends, and the play of their outstanding DB's- Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown, and Earl Thomas is evidence enough. Lets see if they can be the complete team next week we all thought they would be.
My final thoughts address the new BCS standings. Four words, ARE YOU KIDIDNG ME?? Iowa at #4?? Cincinnati wins in blowout fashion, Boise State keeps winning, and yet Iowa, which needed a last second TD against a 4-4 team to win the game jumps both of them? They are ranked #1 in the computers which is an absolute joke. I guess when you beat Northern Iowa by 1, and Arkansas State by 3, you have to be legit. Not to mention they play in a joke of a conference, marred by big game blowouts, let downs, upsets, etc. I dont see how Natty gets pushed back for winning big, do you?...Again, keep an eye out for LSU who could be on the rise very quickly, as they are currently sitting at #9. Next weeks game against USC and Oregon also has major BCS implications. Halloween should be quite the weekend for College Football.
Thats all I have for now, but please check this regularly, as it is just now starting off. What did yall think? I would love the feedback, and suggestions that you may have, as again, this is my first time. Thanks for reading what I had to say, there will def. be more to come.... enjoy the Halloween games.... "Trick or Treat" will def be the phrase of the college football world. Enjoy... stay classy.
Z$
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