Lets not waste anytime and get into it. Oregon vs. Oregon State.
Arguably, the two biggest stars in this game are Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli, and Oregon St. running back, Jacquizz Rodgers. Watching both teams play this year one word describes Masoli; Winner. Unpredictable at times, and maybe a little erratic, he always seems to find a way to win in the end ( See Arizona game). He is the unquestioned leader on the team, and as he goes, the Oregon offense will go. Making him even more dangerous, he is joined by freshman sensation LaMichael James int he backfield. This teams loves to run, option, spread option, the works. Teams can stop one, but stopping both is a little difficult. (ala VY and Chris Johnson). I think the Oregon State defense needs to focus on makig Masoli a true pocket passer, and take their chances with LaMichael James running the ball. In games in which he has rushed for fewer than 40 yards, they are 1-2 on the season. He cannot be allowed to break the pocket and run at will. He is completing only 58% of his passes. So to have a chance, make Masoli throw. On the other side, Jaquizz Rodgers is their main weapon. Considered a Heisman candidate at many points during the season, he has rushed for over 1,300 yards, and has 19 TD's. When he is out of the lineup, or is not playing well, the Oregon St. Offense seems lost. No question he needs to start fast and stay consistent. Oregon St. might run a few trick plays with Quizz and his older brother James, a WR with lightning speed. They might need to stray away from their pro style offense to try and trick up the ducks. Remember this is more intense than a rivalry game (oregon being so small, and schools being fairly close to each other), and there is a trip to the Rosebowl on the line, so anything can happen.This game is AT Oregon in the famed, Autzen stadium, which may be the toughest place to play in the country.... Should be the most entertaining game on Saturday.
Prediction: 37-30 Oregon
Next we have the Big 12 Championship game... Texas v. Nebraska.
Texas is led by all everything senior Colt Mccoy. The winningest QB ever, he has never played for a Big12 championship, and one is staring him down on Saturday. He is the most accurate passer in the country, completing 72% of his passes, with 27 TD's and 9 picks. They are going up against a tough defense with a dumptruck in the middle, Ndamukong Suh. This guy is a straight beast. He may be unblockable one on one, so the UT offensive line will need to double team him to keep him at bay. However, this may open it up for others on the D-line, so the o-lines communication and protection schemes will need to be flawless. I think Texas still needs the run, but these short passes on 1st and 2nd down basically neutralize the pass rush, and open the door for the run game later on. Colt needs a big game from Malcolm Williams and James Kirkendoll, as well as Dan Buckner, who has been out of sync recently. Jordan will get his, but since Nebraska will most certainly roll coverage to his side, Williams and Kirkendoll should be looking at 1-1 matchups most of the night. Buckner needs to gain more confidence, as he was a huge weapon early on. No linebacker in college football has the speed and size to stay with somone of Buckners talent, and size. Tre Newton should have a difficult time running the ball, as Nebraskas D-line is very good. Go back to last years red river shootout, and the pound game against Oklahomas very good D-line opened up in the 4th. Texas must not abondon it, and stick with it, it will make things easier for Colt. The Nebraska Offense on the other hand is somewhat pathetic. They rank 92 in total offense, and 64th in running. A tough challenge when going up against the #1 rush defense. To put it simply, Nebraska needs to score. No way they have the offensive fire power to stick with Texas. They need to score more than 21 points to have a chance in this game. They are far to inconsistent, one week putting up 31 agasint Kansas, and one week, putting 7 up agasint IOWA STATE. This game is going to be somewaht of a defensive battle, but Nebraska needs to score, and score often. If not, this game might be over fairly quickly.
Both Teams have outstanding defenses, with Texas ranking 5th, and Nebraska 11th in total defense. Texas' strenghts are their D-line and Secondary, and the same can be said about Nebraska. The Husker's D-line puts so much pressure on QB's, which makes the Secondary look that much better. Texas needs to put pressure on the QB, and look for Muschamp to dial up some exotic blitz packages... delayed corner blitzs, complex stunts, zone's, etc. He is a master of scheming, and you better believe after their dismal performance agasint A&M, he will have them ready to go. Lamaar Houston, Sergio Kindle, Kheeston Randle, Sam Acho, all need to get pressure on the QB, and I think they will.... Nebraska also has two very good D-linemen, and the one that doesnt get much attention is Jared Crick (69 tackles, 9 sacks). He is very, very good, and with so much attention given to Suh, it opens the door for Crick, (much like Sergio Kindle, and Sam Acho). Texas need not forget about Crick, or else he could be living in the backfield.
I think the Longhorns will be extremely focused and will come out firing. Their defense will be extra ready on Saturday. Nebraska just doesnt have the offense to stick with Texas, and this is the difference.
Prediction: 35-13 Texas
Finally...The SEC championship... #1 Florida vs #2 Alabama...
Most people when they look at Florida think of this great team, great on offense and great on defense. This is not the case... and dont let the numbers deceive you. Against a pretty good South Carolina defense, they threw for 199 yrs and rushed for 140, and only scored 24 points...With that said, in the SEC style of play, where defense dominates, these numbers are good enough to win, mainly because of Floridays NFL type defense, led by All American Joe Haden, and Carlos Dunlap (more on him in a minute.) Their defense shuts other teams down, which allows their offense to get by. Florida has one consistent reciever, Riley Cooper, and only 2 receivers with more than 30 receptions. They have a solid core of speedy backs, but they are going to need someone else to step up, or Riley Cooper to have a big day. Tebow leads the team in rushing with 796 yards, and if Alabama wants to win this game, they will not let him run. Thats where he is most dangerous, because if he runs, it opens up the pass. Make Tebow a true pocket passer, while containing him inside the pocket (easier said than done). Also, if Alabama can have good coverage downfield, it will cause Tebow to hold the ball longer, opening up the lanes for the Bama D.....On the other side, Bama offense is much the same, only a little more balanced. McElroy's numbers arent anything special....2211 yrds passing, 16 td's 4 picks. He has struggled of late, and has relied on many underneath throws to his playmakers (Ingram, Jones, Richardson) to get it done. Julio Jones was a ghost for much of the season, but seems to be waking up at just the right time. The key for McElroy is simple: dont turn it over, and get the ball to Julio. Joe Haden will be covering Julio jones, so it might be hard to throw down the field, so look for a lot of WR screens, End arounds, etc....they must get the ball in his hands....as for Mark Ingram... coming off a dismal performance against Auburn, he needs to have a good game. He was banged up in that game, but says he will play. He is their workhorse, who got them to where they are, so they will rely on him early, if he is able. If not, they have a solid backup in Trent Richardson who is faster, and a one cut runner, rather than a power back type. With Ingram however they have a very good pass catcher, as he is 2nd on the team with 28 receptions and 3 TD's. Their special teams is also very very good with Javier Arenas, who just set a record for most punt return yards. He is absolutely a threat to go the distance every time, so Florida really will need to work on tackling in space....Bama D is very stout, led by lineback Rolando Mcclain, who will be going up against the other best linebacker in the country, Brandon Spikes. This should be a fairly low scoring game.
Just got word that Carlos Dunlap (all american DE) was arrest for driving while intoxicated. This is a big problem. Spikes was arrested earlier in the year, and Urban only suspended him for a half (later, Spikes suspended himself for the game). This really puts the coach in a tough spot. I think he has no choice but to suspend Dunlap, and if thats the case, they lose one of the best defensive players in the country. They lose the leadership. It causes a huge distraction for the team, and effects their game plan. This is a huge loss for the Gators, if Urban does suspend him (which we have seen in the past is not something he likes to do). I still think Florida wins this game, but it will be low scoring, and a defensive battle.
Prediction: 27-21 Florida
Should be one of the best weekends in college football... exciting games all day long. In the end, Florida, Texas, and Oregon will all win, and go on to their respective BCS bowl games. Enjoy
Z$
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Previewing Championship Saturday...
So the end is finally near (no, not 2012) but the end of a wild, unpredictable, and somewhat mundane college football season. This weekend showcases the matchup of the year, of course, Tebow.. err I mean Florida vs. Alabama. This is a defacto national semifinal, as the winner is guaranteed a spot in the national championship. However, away from the limelight, another, underrated game could arguably be better and more entertaining.... Oregon vs. Oregon St...The Civil War!!! This one might be a shootout and look for an intense rivalry, with a trip to the Rosebowl on the line. Jeremiah Masoli, LeMichael James, The Rodgers brothers, (Jacquizz and James), provide the underrated star power to this game. Should be a great game. Finally we have Texas vs. Nebraska. People are saying this game is a letdown, due to the weakness of the Big 12 North, but if you need any incentive, the winning-est QB in the history of college football has never played for a championship, and has a chance to do it Saturday night. He could also lock up the Heisman trophy with a good performance and more importantly, a win. Texas is vying for a trip back to Pasadena, their second in 4 years, and if they can get through what some people are calling, "The revival of the Blackshirts", they asured a return trip.
Ill be previewing the 3 games in depth, this was just an appetizer. Look for it to come later today...as well as my Heisman predictions....
Z$
Ill be previewing the 3 games in depth, this was just an appetizer. Look for it to come later today...as well as my Heisman predictions....
Z$
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thoughts on a possible Mayweather v. Pacquio fight
This would obviously be the fight of the decade if it were to happen. This is the showdown that everyone wants to see, and eventually, the people may get their wish. However, I think there are several factors preventing this fight from happening, and in the end, it could potentially be relegated to just a "Dream matchup."
We all have seen Floyd's flamboyant, arrogant, and demonstrative personality in full effect. His greediness also might be unparalleled. This is the biggest factor holding the fight back. When negotiations first started, Floyd was asking for a 65-35 split... essentially saying Pacquio was not on his level in terms of star power. The talks have since blossomed into Floyd asking for a 60-40 fight, whereas the Pacquio camp is not staying from their 50-50 stance. I absolutely think it should be a 50-50 split, especially coming off the heels of another clinic in the beat down of Cotto. The only reason Floyd is asking for more, is that he knows Pacquio is the superior fighter, and wont commit himself to a beating unless there is a big profit in it for him.
Second, Floyd is, plain and simple, scared of The Pac-Man. We all saw, or heard about Floyds doozy of a fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. This was an absolute joke of a fight. Floyd knows he could have had Pacquio instead of Marquez, but the rational is that he needed a tune up for his first fight back. Pacquio meanwhile has destroyed three quality opponents: De la Hoya, Hatton, and Cotto. Paquio's absolutely has the fastest hands in the world, no matter what Floyd says. He has power with both of his hands, and his punches come from every direction. Floyd on the other hand has a defensive style, using his mastery of the ring, and defense to force opponents into fighting his fight. Their styles are tailor-made for each other, and it would be an awesome fight to watch.
Weight is another question. Pacquio's natural fighting weight is at around 140-143. Floyd on the other hand has not weighed less than 146 in about 4 years. To get this fight to happen, I think Floyd might have to come down to around 143. His willingness to do so, while only getting a 50-50 split is less than likely at this point. Another reason for his asking for more money than Pac. The mutual hate between Bob Arum, former Mayweather and current Pacquio promoter, and Floyd could also possibly hinder the negotiations.
I think these are the biggest obstacles in preventing this fight from happening. However once Floyd realizes that a 50-50 split will be the best he can get, the huge payday this fight offers might be too much to walk away. If Pac got a minimum $13 million for the Cotto fight, think about how much money they both would get from this matchup. Floyd needs to put his ego, and arrogance aside and give the public what they want. We might be asking ourselves one day where we were during the Pacquio-Mayweather fight....I for one cannot wait.
Z$
We all have seen Floyd's flamboyant, arrogant, and demonstrative personality in full effect. His greediness also might be unparalleled. This is the biggest factor holding the fight back. When negotiations first started, Floyd was asking for a 65-35 split... essentially saying Pacquio was not on his level in terms of star power. The talks have since blossomed into Floyd asking for a 60-40 fight, whereas the Pacquio camp is not staying from their 50-50 stance. I absolutely think it should be a 50-50 split, especially coming off the heels of another clinic in the beat down of Cotto. The only reason Floyd is asking for more, is that he knows Pacquio is the superior fighter, and wont commit himself to a beating unless there is a big profit in it for him.
Second, Floyd is, plain and simple, scared of The Pac-Man. We all saw, or heard about Floyds doozy of a fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. This was an absolute joke of a fight. Floyd knows he could have had Pacquio instead of Marquez, but the rational is that he needed a tune up for his first fight back. Pacquio meanwhile has destroyed three quality opponents: De la Hoya, Hatton, and Cotto. Paquio's absolutely has the fastest hands in the world, no matter what Floyd says. He has power with both of his hands, and his punches come from every direction. Floyd on the other hand has a defensive style, using his mastery of the ring, and defense to force opponents into fighting his fight. Their styles are tailor-made for each other, and it would be an awesome fight to watch.
Weight is another question. Pacquio's natural fighting weight is at around 140-143. Floyd on the other hand has not weighed less than 146 in about 4 years. To get this fight to happen, I think Floyd might have to come down to around 143. His willingness to do so, while only getting a 50-50 split is less than likely at this point. Another reason for his asking for more money than Pac. The mutual hate between Bob Arum, former Mayweather and current Pacquio promoter, and Floyd could also possibly hinder the negotiations.
I think these are the biggest obstacles in preventing this fight from happening. However once Floyd realizes that a 50-50 split will be the best he can get, the huge payday this fight offers might be too much to walk away. If Pac got a minimum $13 million for the Cotto fight, think about how much money they both would get from this matchup. Floyd needs to put his ego, and arrogance aside and give the public what they want. We might be asking ourselves one day where we were during the Pacquio-Mayweather fight....I for one cannot wait.
Z$
Monday, November 16, 2009
Bill Belichick made the right call...
ok im sick of people saying how he is so dumb/stupid for not punting on 4th and 2... blah blah blah... the fact of the matter is this: Peyton Manning would have no doubt led the colts on a winning TD drive had the Patriots punted. Face it, you are not going to stop Peyton Manning in the 4th quarter. Not to mention he had 2:00, and 1 TO remaining. The previous possession he had driven the length of the field in about 1:49. Belichick knew that Peyton would score no matter what... he is a hall of fame QB, and the best player in the league. Belichick's decision was simple: Let your own hall of fame QB take control of this high powered offense, which had been outplaying the colts for about 58 minutes, and win the game. Had they picked up those 2 yards (which I think they did...Faulk did bobble, but once he had possession, forward progress should have been called) people would be hailing Belichick as a genius, smartest coach in the game, etc.... Lets not forget this guy has won 3 superbowls and this is not the first time he has gambled like this, and in fact, has made his reputation as someone that rolls the dice. The only reason this decision is being magnified is because of how many right ones he has made over his career. This decision was influenced by the greatness of Peyton Manning. One need to look no farther than Oct. 6, 2003 for further proof of this. The Bucs were leading the Colts 35-14 with about 4 minutes to go, when Jon Gruden decided to punt to Peyton Manning and the Colts, not once, BUT TWICE. I think everyone can figure out what happend. Peyton Manning proceed to light up the Bucs and led a furious 38-35 victory in OT.
This simple example shows exactly what Belichick was thinking... dont give Peyton Manning the ball with a chance to win. It backfired, and thats that. It was the right decision and people need to understand that. He is not an idiot, he did not chock, it simply didnt go his way. Lets give this guy the benefit of the doubt...he has certainly earned it.
Z$
This simple example shows exactly what Belichick was thinking... dont give Peyton Manning the ball with a chance to win. It backfired, and thats that. It was the right decision and people need to understand that. He is not an idiot, he did not chock, it simply didnt go his way. Lets give this guy the benefit of the doubt...he has certainly earned it.
Z$
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
World Series Game 6
Sorry for the lack of posts, i have been slacking. So here we go with a new baseball post.
What a series so far. The Series shifts to the Bronx in a pitching matchup straight from 1999. Lets get into it.
Andy Pettitte takes the hill for the Yanks on 3 days rest. Very interesting, coming one day after AJ Burnett got rocket in his start coming off of 3 days rest. Pettitte is a different pitcher. He is more experienced in the post season, as his 17 wins are a MLB record. Pettitte uses his intellect and experience extremely well, often times grinding out innings when he is in a jam. Think of him in a gregg madux mold....doesnt throw as hard as he used to but is extremely smart and can locate very well. Coming off of 3 days rest in the post season before, he is rocking a 2.80 era, which is extremely good. I think playing at home with everyone fired up about a potential world series clincher, Pettitte outpitches pedro tonight.
Pedro showed some outstanding stuff in his last outing. He changed speeds very well, and his changeup was working. Many times the Yankee hitters were off balance and way out in front of his changeup. He has had a full rest and we should see more of the same from him tonight. It will be a matter of if the yankees can jump on him early in the count, to avoid that devastating changeup.
Both offenses are underachieving. Ryan Howard has been abysmal, setting a new record with 19 strike outs. The phils need him to get going, ASAP, or it could be a quiet plane ride back home. Jimmy Rollins has been solid, providing a great spark. He is a threat to go at any time on the base path, so if he gets on base, watch for Andy Pettitte to use his outstanding move and try and pick off Rollins early in the count. Chase Utley has been playing OUT OF HIS MIND. 5 HR's in the world series.. absolutely ridiculous. The yanks might try pitching around him tonight, as he has caused them the most damage. He is the reason they are where they are. Jayson Werth has also had a hot bat and is arguably playing as their 2nd best player right now behind Utley. Maybe the rest of the guys can take notes from both of them and get going.
The Yanks have been sort of a roller coaster offensively. A-Rod is somewhat consistent, but Johnny Damon is the catalyst driving this team right now. What he is doing def. cannot go un noticed, and under appreciated. The Yanks will have Matsui back, who is batting .500 this world series, so that will give them an added boost. Jorge Posada has been outstanding as well, so look for him to keep up his hot streak. The one guy the need to get going is Robinson Cano. This guy is a very solid hitter, placing in the top 10 in terms of batting avg. in the AL during the season. He hasnt done much this post season, but i think he is due for a big night. Look for him to break out of his slump.
What it comes down to is the pitching tonight. Can Pedro and Pettittie shut down the other teams lineups? I think if the Yanks jump on pedro early, pettitte could have more of a relaxed mind set and pitch with ease. The Phils need to get Ryan Howard going, because Chase Utley cannot keep this up for much longer. That is the key for them tonight. The X factor is always Mariano. If the Yanks get into the 8th with a lead, ENTER SANDMAN. Once he gets into the game, u might as well start the celebration, because he is just that good.
I think the playing at home, Pettitte on them mound, and the excitement of clinching a world series at home is enough motivation for the Yanks tonight. I think Pettitte has a solid outing, and gets some run support, and Mariano comes into the 8th to close it out. Yankees win the World Series tonight, and the celebration begins. The Phils put up a fight, but in the end, the big guns of the Yankees were just too much. Chalk up another ring for the bronx bombers.
Hope everyone enjoys tonight's game... blast from the past with Pedro and Pettitte.
Z$
What a series so far. The Series shifts to the Bronx in a pitching matchup straight from 1999. Lets get into it.
Andy Pettitte takes the hill for the Yanks on 3 days rest. Very interesting, coming one day after AJ Burnett got rocket in his start coming off of 3 days rest. Pettitte is a different pitcher. He is more experienced in the post season, as his 17 wins are a MLB record. Pettitte uses his intellect and experience extremely well, often times grinding out innings when he is in a jam. Think of him in a gregg madux mold....doesnt throw as hard as he used to but is extremely smart and can locate very well. Coming off of 3 days rest in the post season before, he is rocking a 2.80 era, which is extremely good. I think playing at home with everyone fired up about a potential world series clincher, Pettitte outpitches pedro tonight.
Pedro showed some outstanding stuff in his last outing. He changed speeds very well, and his changeup was working. Many times the Yankee hitters were off balance and way out in front of his changeup. He has had a full rest and we should see more of the same from him tonight. It will be a matter of if the yankees can jump on him early in the count, to avoid that devastating changeup.
Both offenses are underachieving. Ryan Howard has been abysmal, setting a new record with 19 strike outs. The phils need him to get going, ASAP, or it could be a quiet plane ride back home. Jimmy Rollins has been solid, providing a great spark. He is a threat to go at any time on the base path, so if he gets on base, watch for Andy Pettitte to use his outstanding move and try and pick off Rollins early in the count. Chase Utley has been playing OUT OF HIS MIND. 5 HR's in the world series.. absolutely ridiculous. The yanks might try pitching around him tonight, as he has caused them the most damage. He is the reason they are where they are. Jayson Werth has also had a hot bat and is arguably playing as their 2nd best player right now behind Utley. Maybe the rest of the guys can take notes from both of them and get going.
The Yanks have been sort of a roller coaster offensively. A-Rod is somewhat consistent, but Johnny Damon is the catalyst driving this team right now. What he is doing def. cannot go un noticed, and under appreciated. The Yanks will have Matsui back, who is batting .500 this world series, so that will give them an added boost. Jorge Posada has been outstanding as well, so look for him to keep up his hot streak. The one guy the need to get going is Robinson Cano. This guy is a very solid hitter, placing in the top 10 in terms of batting avg. in the AL during the season. He hasnt done much this post season, but i think he is due for a big night. Look for him to break out of his slump.
What it comes down to is the pitching tonight. Can Pedro and Pettittie shut down the other teams lineups? I think if the Yanks jump on pedro early, pettitte could have more of a relaxed mind set and pitch with ease. The Phils need to get Ryan Howard going, because Chase Utley cannot keep this up for much longer. That is the key for them tonight. The X factor is always Mariano. If the Yanks get into the 8th with a lead, ENTER SANDMAN. Once he gets into the game, u might as well start the celebration, because he is just that good.
I think the playing at home, Pettitte on them mound, and the excitement of clinching a world series at home is enough motivation for the Yanks tonight. I think Pettitte has a solid outing, and gets some run support, and Mariano comes into the 8th to close it out. Yankees win the World Series tonight, and the celebration begins. The Phils put up a fight, but in the end, the big guns of the Yankees were just too much. Chalk up another ring for the bronx bombers.
Hope everyone enjoys tonight's game... blast from the past with Pedro and Pettitte.
Z$
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
WORLD SERIES Game 1
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$
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$
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$
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
