Pre Season Picks
EAST WEST
1. Miami Heat 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Indiana Pacers 2. LA Clippers
3. Chicago Bulls 3. San Antonio Spurs
4. New York Knicks 4. Memphis Grizzlies
5. Brooklyn Nets 5. Houston Rockets
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 6. Golden State Warriors
7. Detroit Pistons 7. Denver Nuggets
8. Washington Wizards 8. Portland Trail Blazers
9. Milwaukee Bucks 9. New Orleans Pelicans
10.Toronto Raptors 10.Dallas Mavericks
11.Orlando Magic 11.Minnesota Timberwolves
12.Atlanta Hawks 12.LA Lakers
13.Boston Celtics 13.Sacramento Kings
14.Philadelphia 76ers 14.Utah Jazz
15.Charlotte Bobcats 15.Phoenix Suns
Eastern Conference Finals Western Conference Finals
Miami Heat def. Indiana Pacers Oklahoma City Thunder def. LA Clippers
NBA Finals
Miami Heat def. Oklahoma City Thunder
2014 NBA CHAMPIONS
MIAMI HEAT
Injuries can obviously impact these standings. In my current picks, I considered the injuries
we already know about i.e. Rondo, Kobe, etc. The West was especially hard to figure out. I had
a really hard time deciding between Golden State and Memphis at 4 & 6. Denver was also really
difficult to place. Normally, I could see them in the 5-8 range, but this conference is just so
deep at this early stage. I wanted New Orleans in around 7, but it became impossible to ignore
Denver and Portland. I feel like 7-12 or 13 could easily be bunched up if health isnt a factor,
and these teams can end up in any order. Obviously, in season moves will effect the outcomes. In
the West, I have 1-3, 4-6, 7-12 or 13 bunched up in their respective groups, as long as injury and
tanking dont become factors, which we all know always do. This is the NBA. Just as they did last
year, injuries will effect the outcome of the season. Also, we have to understand that these are based on the understanding that guys are going to make their open shots. We saw from the Heat in the Eastern Finals last year that missing shots can really have a big effect. Once you get into the playoffs, really anything can happen. I would think that this is an instance where we can say that making predictions on paper doesnt mean anything. The games still have to be played. There are at least 6 teams that have a legitimate shot at winning the NBA championship this year. For now though, I'm sticking with the back to back champions b/c they have the best player on the planet and I'm not counting them out until someone beats them.
The East was harder to figure out once I got to 6. 1-3 will be bunched up, with 4-5 likely right behind them. I think Cleveland has a chance to be a pretty good team, but their upside is going to be based on Andruw Bynum, and Kyrie Irving's health. I think any one of 6-8 could easily be in any of those spots in the East. For Washington, I'm looking at improvement in John Wall's jumpshot, and if he can remain healthy. I think Orlando can easily surprise some teams this season. They have some really nice young pieces in place. Atlanta could probably be anywhere from 9-13. They dont have much depth, but have a couple of good experienced core pieces. In the end, Orlando, Boston, and Atlanta are probably interchangeale. I think Boston is better than what some others may think, but we dont know when Rajon Rondo will be coming back, nor do we know how Avery Bradley has improved offensively. I think Philly has some interesting pieces as well, with Carter-Williams joining Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes, Jason Richardson (coming off ACL injury), James Anderson, Lavoy Allen, Arnett Moultrie, Daniel Orton, and Nerlens Noel. Noel is, of course, also coming off an ACL injury, but it remains to be seen when he will return. If Evan Turner can show the talent that got him drafted #2 overall, this team is obviously better than people expect. I think that a lot of people are expecting the 76ers to start trading off pieces like Young, Turner, and Hawes. If they do in fact tank like that, they'll obviously end up at the bottom, but it will be self induced, not based on the talent level of their roster at the beginning of the season. Charlotte also has a much better looking roster than they did 2 years ago, with Al Jefferson and the young pieces they have, but they will likely be fighting it out with the 76ers for last place. The same can be said for the East as I said for the West. Injuries and tanking will likely play a factor in the outcome.
Regardless of what happens, it should be a really fun NBA season, with a deep talent pool and a lot of fun stories to follow, whether it be returning stars, players on new teams, or player development. I think the MVP race should be fun, though in reality, someone other than Lebron James or Kevin Durant winning it is kind of counter productive. Its likely going to be the media clamoring for someone else who lead their team to a high playoff seed like Derrick Rose (who I think is going to be a lot better player than his previous MVP season all around), Chris Paul, Paul George, etc. In the end, I expect a 2-3 player race between Lebron, Durant, and Rose
Monday, October 28, 2013
Preseason 2013-2014 NBA Predictions
Pre Season Picks
EAST WEST
1. Miami Heat 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Indiana Pacers 2. LA Clippers
3. Chicago Bulls 3. San Antonio Spurs
4. New York Knicks 4. Golden State Warriors
5. Brooklyn Nets 5. Houston Rockets
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Detroit Pistons 7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Washington Wizards 8. Denver Nuggets
9. Milwaukee Bucks 9. Portland Trail Blazers
10.Toronto Raptors 10.Dallas Mavericks
11.Atlanta Hawks 11.Minnesota Timberwolves
12.Boston Celtics 12.LA Lakers
13.Orlando Magic 13.Sacramento Kings
14.Charlotte Bobcats 14.Utah Jazz
15.Philadelphia 76ers 15.Phoenix Suns
Eastern Conference Finals Western Conference Finals
Miami Heat def. Indiana Pacers Oklahoma City Thunder def. LA Clippers
NBA Finals
Miami Heat def. Oklahoma City Thunder
2014 NBA CHAMPIONS
MIAMI HEAT
Injuries can obviously impact these standings. In my current picks, I considered the injuries
we already know about i.e. Rondo, Kobe, etc. The West was especially hard to figure out. I had
a really hard time deciding between Golden State and Memphis at 4 & 6. Denver was also really
difficult to place. Normally, I could see them in the 5-8 range, but this conference is just so
deep at this early stage. I wanted New Orleans in around 7, but it became impossible to ignore
Denver and Portland. I feel like 7-12 or 13 could easily be bunched up if health isnt a factor,
and these teams can end up in any order. Obviously, in season moves will effect the outcomes. In
the West, I have 1-3, 4-6, 7-12 or 13 bunched up in their respective groups, as long as injury and
tanking dont become factors, which we all know always do. This is the NBA. Just as they did last
year, injuries will effect the outcome of the season.
The East was harder to figure out once I got to 6. 1-3 will be bunched up, with 4-5 likely right
behind them. I think Cleveland has a chance to be a pretty good team, but their upside is going
to be based on Andruw Bynum, and Kyrie Irving's health. I think any one of 6-8 could easily be in
any of those spots in the East. For Washington, I'm looking at improvement in John Wall's jumpshot, and if he can remain healthy. I think Orlando can easily surprise some teams this season. They have some really nice young pieces in place. Atlanta could probably be anywhere from 9-13. They dont have much depth, but have a couple of good experienced core pieces. In the end, Orlando, Boston, and Atlanta are probably interchangeale. I think Boston is better than what some others may think, but we dont know when Rajon Rondo will be coming back, nor do we know how Avery Bradley has improved offensively. I think Philly has some interesting pieces as well, with Carter-Williams joining Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes, Jason Richardson (coming off ACL injury), James Anderson, Lavoy Allen, Arnett Moultrie, Daniel Orton, and Nerlens Noel. Noel is, of course, also coming off an ACL injury, but it remains to be seen when he will return. If Evan Turner can show the talent that got him drafted #2 overall, this team is obviously better than people expect. Charlotte also has a much better looking roster than they did 2 years ago, with Al Jefferson and the young pieces they have, but they will likely be fighting it out with the 76ers for last place. The same can be said for the East as I said for the West. Injuries and tanking will likely play a factor in the outcome.
Regardless of what happens, it should be a really fun NBA season, with a deep talent pool and a lot of fun stories to follow, whether it be returning stars, players on new teams, or player development. I think the MVP race should be fun, though in reality, someone other than Lebron James or Kevin Durant winning it is kind of counter productive. Its likely going to be the media clamoring for someone else who lead their team to a high playoff seed like Derrick Rose (who I think is going to be a lot better player than his previous MVP season all around), Chris Paul, Paul George, etc. In the end, I expect a 2-3 player race between Lebron, Durant, and Rose
EAST WEST
1. Miami Heat 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Indiana Pacers 2. LA Clippers
3. Chicago Bulls 3. San Antonio Spurs
4. New York Knicks 4. Golden State Warriors
5. Brooklyn Nets 5. Houston Rockets
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Detroit Pistons 7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Washington Wizards 8. Denver Nuggets
9. Milwaukee Bucks 9. Portland Trail Blazers
10.Toronto Raptors 10.Dallas Mavericks
11.Atlanta Hawks 11.Minnesota Timberwolves
12.Boston Celtics 12.LA Lakers
13.Orlando Magic 13.Sacramento Kings
14.Charlotte Bobcats 14.Utah Jazz
15.Philadelphia 76ers 15.Phoenix Suns
Eastern Conference Finals Western Conference Finals
Miami Heat def. Indiana Pacers Oklahoma City Thunder def. LA Clippers
NBA Finals
Miami Heat def. Oklahoma City Thunder
2014 NBA CHAMPIONS
MIAMI HEAT
Injuries can obviously impact these standings. In my current picks, I considered the injuries
we already know about i.e. Rondo, Kobe, etc. The West was especially hard to figure out. I had
a really hard time deciding between Golden State and Memphis at 4 & 6. Denver was also really
difficult to place. Normally, I could see them in the 5-8 range, but this conference is just so
deep at this early stage. I wanted New Orleans in around 7, but it became impossible to ignore
Denver and Portland. I feel like 7-12 or 13 could easily be bunched up if health isnt a factor,
and these teams can end up in any order. Obviously, in season moves will effect the outcomes. In
the West, I have 1-3, 4-6, 7-12 or 13 bunched up in their respective groups, as long as injury and
tanking dont become factors, which we all know always do. This is the NBA. Just as they did last
year, injuries will effect the outcome of the season.
The East was harder to figure out once I got to 6. 1-3 will be bunched up, with 4-5 likely right
behind them. I think Cleveland has a chance to be a pretty good team, but their upside is going
to be based on Andruw Bynum, and Kyrie Irving's health. I think any one of 6-8 could easily be in
any of those spots in the East. For Washington, I'm looking at improvement in John Wall's jumpshot, and if he can remain healthy. I think Orlando can easily surprise some teams this season. They have some really nice young pieces in place. Atlanta could probably be anywhere from 9-13. They dont have much depth, but have a couple of good experienced core pieces. In the end, Orlando, Boston, and Atlanta are probably interchangeale. I think Boston is better than what some others may think, but we dont know when Rajon Rondo will be coming back, nor do we know how Avery Bradley has improved offensively. I think Philly has some interesting pieces as well, with Carter-Williams joining Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes, Jason Richardson (coming off ACL injury), James Anderson, Lavoy Allen, Arnett Moultrie, Daniel Orton, and Nerlens Noel. Noel is, of course, also coming off an ACL injury, but it remains to be seen when he will return. If Evan Turner can show the talent that got him drafted #2 overall, this team is obviously better than people expect. Charlotte also has a much better looking roster than they did 2 years ago, with Al Jefferson and the young pieces they have, but they will likely be fighting it out with the 76ers for last place. The same can be said for the East as I said for the West. Injuries and tanking will likely play a factor in the outcome.
Regardless of what happens, it should be a really fun NBA season, with a deep talent pool and a lot of fun stories to follow, whether it be returning stars, players on new teams, or player development. I think the MVP race should be fun, though in reality, someone other than Lebron James or Kevin Durant winning it is kind of counter productive. Its likely going to be the media clamoring for someone else who lead their team to a high playoff seed like Derrick Rose (who I think is going to be a lot better player than his previous MVP season all around), Chris Paul, Paul George, etc. In the end, I expect a 2-3 player race between Lebron, Durant, and Rose
Preliminary note on Preseason 2013-2014 NBA predictions
I'm going to do something different here and post 2 slightly different copies of my preseason NBA predictions for this upcoming season that starts tomorrow night. You will notice that they are essentially the same except for a couple of small differences and most everything is explained in the paragraphs below the predicted standings. I would generally refer to the 2nd one that is uploaded as the main one
Monday, September 30, 2013
On Season's Final Day, Henderson Alvarez Steals the Show from Justin Verlander
What a
game! What a pitchers' duel! Verlander was dominant, and it seemed
early on very similar to that playoff game from last year against the
A's. It felt like nobody had a chance off Verlander. He was using all 5
of his pitches and was just plain filthy. Painting 97 on the outside
black, going up and in with fastballs for swings and misses, dropping
the big breaking ball for called third strikes
,etc. I really enjoyed getting a chance to watch him pitch live. I
liked the clear excitement he shows and the desire he has to be on the
mound. Immediately after the Tigers made their 3rd out of an inning,
Verlander was already headed out to the mound with some bounce in his
step. I hope every Marlins pitcher was watching him today b/c that is
exactly what you want anyone to emulate. He carries himself so well, and
he exudes greatness.
Still, at the end of the day, Henderson Alvarez was AWESOME today! I was worried we were gonna "Pedro Martinez" him. Thankfully that 9th inning went the way it did. I heard a lot of hype about Henderson Alvarez when he was coming up in the Blue Jays' minor league system. Everyone knew about his electric fastball and the nasty movement on his 2 seamer that he throws at 93-96. I watched him when he came up as much as I could and got a chance to see him dominate the Yankees in a meaningful game last September. I was really happy to hear his name as part of that trade last November. There has always been questions about whether or not Henderson Alvarez can remain a starter, as he hasnt shown much in secondary offerings, but I saw him show a good changeup at times in Toronto, and he has shown it a bit this year. Today he threw a couple of slow breaking balls, that I'm pretty sure I never saw him throw before, and they were both good, with 1 helping him record a nasty strikeout. For all of the people that said he cant be a starting pitcher, including myself, he threw it in our face today, and I couldnt be happier. Today there was some real electricity in the ballpark, and it was an awesome atmosphere. Dont usually get a chance to say that about games down here, and since I average 70 games a season, I know what I'm talking about there. Regardless of what has happened this season, the team has played hard, and we have seen the development of some of these young players, especially the pitching staff. There are more on the way, and the future feels bright (ignoring Loria for now). Winning 5 of the last 6 games and sweeping the Tigers to end the season, with THAT performance really makes the rest of the season feel a lot better. I dont know about anyone else, but I'm pumped for 2014!!!
Still, at the end of the day, Henderson Alvarez was AWESOME today! I was worried we were gonna "Pedro Martinez" him. Thankfully that 9th inning went the way it did. I heard a lot of hype about Henderson Alvarez when he was coming up in the Blue Jays' minor league system. Everyone knew about his electric fastball and the nasty movement on his 2 seamer that he throws at 93-96. I watched him when he came up as much as I could and got a chance to see him dominate the Yankees in a meaningful game last September. I was really happy to hear his name as part of that trade last November. There has always been questions about whether or not Henderson Alvarez can remain a starter, as he hasnt shown much in secondary offerings, but I saw him show a good changeup at times in Toronto, and he has shown it a bit this year. Today he threw a couple of slow breaking balls, that I'm pretty sure I never saw him throw before, and they were both good, with 1 helping him record a nasty strikeout. For all of the people that said he cant be a starting pitcher, including myself, he threw it in our face today, and I couldnt be happier. Today there was some real electricity in the ballpark, and it was an awesome atmosphere. Dont usually get a chance to say that about games down here, and since I average 70 games a season, I know what I'm talking about there. Regardless of what has happened this season, the team has played hard, and we have seen the development of some of these young players, especially the pitching staff. There are more on the way, and the future feels bright (ignoring Loria for now). Winning 5 of the last 6 games and sweeping the Tigers to end the season, with THAT performance really makes the rest of the season feel a lot better. I dont know about anyone else, but I'm pumped for 2014!!!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
NBA Playoffs 2nd Round Predictions
East
(1) Miami Heat def (5) Chicago Bulls (4-1)
(3) Indiana Pacers def (2) New York Knicks (4-2)
West
(5) Memphis Grizzlies def (1) OKC Thunder (4-2)
(2) San Antonio Spurs def (6) Golden State Warriors (4-1)
When I get the chance, I will write up a wrap up of the first round and explain my predictions for the 2nd round. I still am not counting out the Thunder in my own mind, even though I am picking the Grizzlies to win here. The Thunder are definitely capable of winning. Its just a matter of if they play to the best of their ability.
(1) Miami Heat def (5) Chicago Bulls (4-1)
(3) Indiana Pacers def (2) New York Knicks (4-2)
West
(5) Memphis Grizzlies def (1) OKC Thunder (4-2)
(2) San Antonio Spurs def (6) Golden State Warriors (4-1)
When I get the chance, I will write up a wrap up of the first round and explain my predictions for the 2nd round. I still am not counting out the Thunder in my own mind, even though I am picking the Grizzlies to win here. The Thunder are definitely capable of winning. Its just a matter of if they play to the best of their ability.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Westbrook Done for the Season
Tough
to hear about Russel Westbrook. Should make things interesting in the
Western Conference. Clippers, Grizzlies, Denver, Golden State, San
Antonio could all come out of the West, and I'm not counting out OKC
either. They have Reggie Jackson to step in, allowing Jeremy Lamb,
Deandre Liggins, or maybe Ronnie Brewer to probably step in and provide
help, especially defensively. It also allows Kevin Durant to take more
shots, so lets see how that goes. Westbrook had never missed a game in
his life. That streak is over
Thursday, April 18, 2013
2012-2013 NBA Playoffs predictions
East
(1) Miami Heat def (8) Milwaukee Bucks (4 games) (1) Miami Heat def (5) Chicago Bulls (4-1)
(5) Chicago Bulls def (4) Brooklyn Nets (6 games) (3) Indiana Pacers def (2) NY Knicks (4-2)
(2) New York Knicks def (7) Boston Celtics (6 games)
(3) Indiana Pacers def (6) Atlanta Hawks (6 games)
(1) Miami Heat def (3) Indiana Pacers (4-2)
West
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder def (8) Houston Rockets (5 games)
(4) Los Angeles Clippers def (5) Memphis Grizzlies (6 games)
(2) San Antonio Spurs def (7) Los Angeles Lakers (5 games)
(3) Denver Nuggets def (6) Golden State Warriors (7 games)
(1) OKC Thunder def (4) LA Clippers (6 games)
(2) San Antonio Spurs def (3) Denver Nuggets (6 games)
(1) OKC Thunder def (2) San Antonio Spurs (6 games)
NBA FINALS
(1) Miami Heat def (2) OKC Thunder (6 games)
(1) Miami Heat def (8) Milwaukee Bucks (4 games) (1) Miami Heat def (5) Chicago Bulls (4-1)
(5) Chicago Bulls def (4) Brooklyn Nets (6 games) (3) Indiana Pacers def (2) NY Knicks (4-2)
(2) New York Knicks def (7) Boston Celtics (6 games)
(3) Indiana Pacers def (6) Atlanta Hawks (6 games)
(1) Miami Heat def (3) Indiana Pacers (4-2)
West
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder def (8) Houston Rockets (5 games)
(4) Los Angeles Clippers def (5) Memphis Grizzlies (6 games)
(2) San Antonio Spurs def (7) Los Angeles Lakers (5 games)
(3) Denver Nuggets def (6) Golden State Warriors (7 games)
(1) OKC Thunder def (4) LA Clippers (6 games)
(2) San Antonio Spurs def (3) Denver Nuggets (6 games)
(1) OKC Thunder def (2) San Antonio Spurs (6 games)
NBA FINALS
(1) Miami Heat def (2) OKC Thunder (6 games)
Monday, April 1, 2013
2013 MLB Opening Day picks
AL EAST AL CENTRAL AL WEST
1. Toronto Blue Jays(92-70) 1.Detroit Tigers (91-71) 1.Los Angeles Angels (90-72)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (90-72) 2.Kansas City Royals (86-76) 2.Oakland A's (88-74)
3. Baltimore Orioles (88-74) 3.Chicago White Sox (84-78) 3.Texas Rangers (87-75)
4. New York Yankees (87-75) 4.Cleveland Indians (78-84) 4.Seattle Mariners (82-80)
5. Boston Red Sox (83-79) 5.Minnesota Twins (68-94) 5.Houston Astros (60-102)
NL EAST NL CENTRAL NL WEST
1. Washington Nationals (102-60) 1.Cincinnati Reds (98-64) 1.San Francisco Giants (92-70)
2. Atlanta Braves (93-69) 2.St Louis Cardinals (89-73) 2.Los Angeles Dodgers (88-74)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (87-75) 3.Milwaukee Brewers (86-76) 3.Arizona Diamondbacks (84-76)
4. New York Mets (80-82) 4.Pittsburgh Pirates (82-80) 4.San Diego Padres (82-80)
5. Miami Marlins (71-91) 5.Chicago Cubs (69-93) 5.Colorado Rockies (72-90)
1. Toronto Blue Jays(92-70) 1.Detroit Tigers (91-71) 1.Los Angeles Angels (90-72)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (90-72) 2.Kansas City Royals (86-76) 2.Oakland A's (88-74)
3. Baltimore Orioles (88-74) 3.Chicago White Sox (84-78) 3.Texas Rangers (87-75)
4. New York Yankees (87-75) 4.Cleveland Indians (78-84) 4.Seattle Mariners (82-80)
5. Boston Red Sox (83-79) 5.Minnesota Twins (68-94) 5.Houston Astros (60-102)
NL EAST NL CENTRAL NL WEST
1. Washington Nationals (102-60) 1.Cincinnati Reds (98-64) 1.San Francisco Giants (92-70)
2. Atlanta Braves (93-69) 2.St Louis Cardinals (89-73) 2.Los Angeles Dodgers (88-74)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (87-75) 3.Milwaukee Brewers (86-76) 3.Arizona Diamondbacks (84-76)
4. New York Mets (80-82) 4.Pittsburgh Pirates (82-80) 4.San Diego Padres (82-80)
5. Miami Marlins (71-91) 5.Chicago Cubs (69-93) 5.Colorado Rockies (72-90)
Friday, March 8, 2013
2012-2013 NBA Predictions (March 8, 2013)
Picks as of March 8, 2013
EAST WEST
1. Miami Heat 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. New York Knicks 2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Indiana Pacers 3. LA Clippers
4. Brooklyn Nets 4. Denver Nuggets
5. Atlanta Hawks 5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. Chicago Bulls 6. Golden State Warriors
7. Boston Celtics 7. Houston Rockets
8. Milwalkee Bucks 8, LA Lakers
9. Toronto Raptors 9. Utah Jazz
10.Philadelphia 76ers 10.Portland Trail Blazers
11.Cleveland Cavaliers 11.Dallas Mavericks
12.Detroit Pistons 12.New Orleans Hornets
13.Washington Wizards 13.Minnesota Timberwolves
14.Orlando Magic 14.Sacramento Kings
15.Charlotte Bobcats 15.Phoenix Suns
Eastern Conference Finals Western Conference Finals
Miami Heat def. Indiana Pacers Oklahoma City Thunder def. San Antonio Spurs
NBA Finals
Miami Heat def. Oklahoma City Thunder
2013 NBA CHAMPIONS
MIAMI HEAT
Obviously, there is not much change from the preseason picks and from the current NBA standings. Barring injury, I dont see anything changing too much from this point forward. I still personally think that the Lakers will miss the playofs, but put them in the 8th seed over the Jazz b/c of their reputation and the fac t that Kobe is having the best year of his career. Injuries have hurt teams this year. Washington is looking more like I thought they would now that John Wall is back. Detroit could probably be a bit better if Andre Drummond didnt get hurt. Boston and the 76ers have their injuries. There are also some teams who have played better than their record, and have some nice young talent. Like I said before the year, I dont see that really bad team in the league this year. The talent pool is unbelievably deep and even the teams that are at the bottom of the standings have things to feel good about. We all know how Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the defending champion Miami Heat have been playing. They are all having career years and barring injuries there is no team in this league that can beat them in a 7 game series. Therefore, the Miami Heat will be repeating and there will be another parade down Biscayne Boulevard
EAST WEST
1. Miami Heat 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. New York Knicks 2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Indiana Pacers 3. LA Clippers
4. Brooklyn Nets 4. Denver Nuggets
5. Atlanta Hawks 5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. Chicago Bulls 6. Golden State Warriors
7. Boston Celtics 7. Houston Rockets
8. Milwalkee Bucks 8, LA Lakers
9. Toronto Raptors 9. Utah Jazz
10.Philadelphia 76ers 10.Portland Trail Blazers
11.Cleveland Cavaliers 11.Dallas Mavericks
12.Detroit Pistons 12.New Orleans Hornets
13.Washington Wizards 13.Minnesota Timberwolves
14.Orlando Magic 14.Sacramento Kings
15.Charlotte Bobcats 15.Phoenix Suns
Eastern Conference Finals Western Conference Finals
Miami Heat def. Indiana Pacers Oklahoma City Thunder def. San Antonio Spurs
NBA Finals
Miami Heat def. Oklahoma City Thunder
2013 NBA CHAMPIONS
MIAMI HEAT
Obviously, there is not much change from the preseason picks and from the current NBA standings. Barring injury, I dont see anything changing too much from this point forward. I still personally think that the Lakers will miss the playofs, but put them in the 8th seed over the Jazz b/c of their reputation and the fac t that Kobe is having the best year of his career. Injuries have hurt teams this year. Washington is looking more like I thought they would now that John Wall is back. Detroit could probably be a bit better if Andre Drummond didnt get hurt. Boston and the 76ers have their injuries. There are also some teams who have played better than their record, and have some nice young talent. Like I said before the year, I dont see that really bad team in the league this year. The talent pool is unbelievably deep and even the teams that are at the bottom of the standings have things to feel good about. We all know how Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the defending champion Miami Heat have been playing. They are all having career years and barring injuries there is no team in this league that can beat them in a 7 game series. Therefore, the Miami Heat will be repeating and there will be another parade down Biscayne Boulevard
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Possible Extensions for Verlander and Kershaw?
With the deal that King Felix made with Seattle, this brings into question the possibilities of extensions for Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander, who will both be free agents after 2014 like King Felix would have if he didnt sign his extension. Kershaw is likely to become the first $200 million pitcher. He will be 2 years younger than Felix would have been if he hits free agency, and teams wont hesitate to make the would be 26 year old free agent the highest paid pitcher ever. Justin Verlander will be 32 when his next contract starts so his earning potential isnt what King Felix or Kershaw's is overall, but in terms of AAV, I'm sure it will be in the same neighborhood if things stay how they are. I wouldnt be surprised to see a possible 4 year/$110 million extension for Verlander. This would make his current 2 year contract at $40 million a 6 year/$150 million contract with $25 million AAV, and it would keep him in Detroit until his age 36 season. Teams seem less skeptical than they ever have to give out long term deals to front line pitchers. The risk isnt as big as it has been in the past, and thats why we are seeing these huge deals. Front line pitching is this hard to come by and these pitchers are taking advantage of that. David Price will be the next to be in this category if things continue for him.
Items deserving of mention
There are some thing I wont be able to get to. I usually will make a mention of them on facebook, but when I get the chance, I will try to talk about them here. Chris Carpenter's career might be over. If it is, its been a great career. I believe in Chris Carpenter though. If anyone could come back, I have no doubt that its him. Bruno Sammartino is going to be going into this year's WWE Hall of Fame, and he will be joining, and way outshining, a star studded class. Lebron had the best shooting night of his career the other night and his numbers simply speak for themselves (they're unreal). There was a weird trade in the AL West the other day with The A's giving up a lot for Jed Lowrie. Lowrie has always been a player that I have rooted for (I'm a Red Sox fan as well as a Marlins fan). If he could just stay healthy, he would be really valuable. The A's gave up a lot for 2 years of the risky Lowrie in shipping part of their 1b platoon in Chris Carter (ridiculous power), top pitching prospect Brad Peacock, and a high upside young catcher to the Astros
KING FELIX STAYS IN SEATTLE
Congratulations to King Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners on agreeing to a deal today. Essentially , its a 5 year/$135.5 million extension, making his contract 7 years/$175 million which would keep him in Seattle through his age 33 season. Pretty Awesome and they get to keep him on a discount from what I thought would happen. I
really thought King Felix could easily get a 7 year extension at $198
million making it a 9 year/$237 million deal. Great deal by the Mariners
to keep him for cheaper and to take less risk with 2 less years. At the
end of the contract he will still only be 33 so we'll see what happens. Its
a great deal for both. Even though Felix took less, he gets to stay in
Seattle, where he wants to be, and gives himself security 2 years away from
free agency. It also opens him up for one more decent sized contract at
the end of this one if he stays healthy and productive throughout (which
I personally have no doubt he will do). The
Mariners pitching rotation moving forward looks to be really promising.
It would be really broken if they would have kept Pineda (though he did
end up getting hurt). Can you imagine King Felix, Pineda, Walker,
Hultzen, Paxton, Ramirez, Maurer, Iwakuma+? Their
bullpen is also pretty nasty with guys that throw in the high 90s like
Pryor, Capps, Wilhelmsen (who could also start). They could also put
Noesi in the pen where I personally think he would be better. Furbush
is a good lefty option and even Oliver Perez has been really good for
them out of the pen. They actually just designated Shawn Kelley for
assignment to make room on the 40 man roster. That was pretty surprising
considering how good he has looked and the fact that there were 3 other
options I thought would easily go before him. He likely wont fall all
the way to the Marlins in a waiver claim, but I would like to see the
Marlins trade for him b/c he would be a really nice piece for the pen.
The Mariners have a lot of good, young talent coming up and now have a true ace to build around for years to come. They have made some interesting moves this off-season and that might lead to more free agents being willing to come there. Even though they lost long term on a couple of deals, they could surprise people this season. They played really the last couple of months of the season. Whatever happens, King Felix is staying on his throne in Seattle, where he belongs
The Mariners have a lot of good, young talent coming up and now have a true ace to build around for years to come. They have made some interesting moves this off-season and that might lead to more free agents being willing to come there. Even though they lost long term on a couple of deals, they could surprise people this season. They played really the last couple of months of the season. Whatever happens, King Felix is staying on his throne in Seattle, where he belongs
The Lakers Should Be Better
First I want to mention that I have been talking about this all season, and this is one of those times where I wish I would have taken the time to post something here earlier. This is a quick version of my thoughts on their team this year, but I dont see them making the playoffs this year unless they make a move and even so, it would take serious problems from multiple other teams for that to be a real possibility. They need to go 27-5 in their final 32 games to have a legit shot at making the playoffs in the West. This isnt likely.
The Lakers obviously have been a mystery this year. I did pick them to be the 5th seed in the West this year, but this level of issue is even more than I expected. Dwight should be able to score 10 points a game just by running down the center of the floor to the basket. Gasol could arguably score 6 points a game the same way. Kobe has finally figured out that he isnt Michael Jordan and shouldnt be isolating as much anymore. If Kobe took less shots, he would be much more efficient and they would be really hard to guard. Kobe can have an easier time if he shared ball handling duties with Nash and played more off the ball, on cuts to the basket and coming off screens to spot up. Both Kobe and Steve Nash could run plays in the pick and roll with multiple different players like Artest, Antwan Jamison, Earl Clark, Jody Meeks, Dwight, Gasol, setting up shots or points down low. They need to run the floor. They've been lazy the whole season and that was evident before D'Antoni came in and it hampered them from running the offense to its best extent. You have options to score in transition, off pick and rolls, in the post with Kobe, Gasol, Dwight, Jamison, Artest, and with offenses involving Gasol as a facilitator from the top of the Key and even in post situations. This would also leave room for Gasol and Dwight to work together in many capacities, similar to part of Memphis' offense with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. In short, they have a couple of 1 on 1 players including Kobe to bail them out in situations where they cant find a shot, but these other options should be utilized more, and they need to work more as a collective group than having any one or two players lead the way. Kobe taking something like 15-18 shots a game would be a much better number for them as a team, and with Kobe getting less of a workload offensively, he may get some more energy on the defensive side of the ball. Their defense is a serious issue. Dwight cant be the only one doing it. They also have to help the helper b/c if Dwight comes to block the lane, his guy is wide open. They still cant guard the quick point guards off pick and rolls. They'll get destroyed by Westbrook, Chris Paul, Ty Lawson, Lillard, etc. Their rotations need to be better and they have a few players that should be capable.
Side note on the Stanton article. If I get the chance, I'll upload that and hopefully a couple of other things in the coming days. Have been busy. I still have been writing my thoughts on everything sports wise on my facebook page, but I intend to put up a couple of things here when I have some more time.
The Lakers obviously have been a mystery this year. I did pick them to be the 5th seed in the West this year, but this level of issue is even more than I expected. Dwight should be able to score 10 points a game just by running down the center of the floor to the basket. Gasol could arguably score 6 points a game the same way. Kobe has finally figured out that he isnt Michael Jordan and shouldnt be isolating as much anymore. If Kobe took less shots, he would be much more efficient and they would be really hard to guard. Kobe can have an easier time if he shared ball handling duties with Nash and played more off the ball, on cuts to the basket and coming off screens to spot up. Both Kobe and Steve Nash could run plays in the pick and roll with multiple different players like Artest, Antwan Jamison, Earl Clark, Jody Meeks, Dwight, Gasol, setting up shots or points down low. They need to run the floor. They've been lazy the whole season and that was evident before D'Antoni came in and it hampered them from running the offense to its best extent. You have options to score in transition, off pick and rolls, in the post with Kobe, Gasol, Dwight, Jamison, Artest, and with offenses involving Gasol as a facilitator from the top of the Key and even in post situations. This would also leave room for Gasol and Dwight to work together in many capacities, similar to part of Memphis' offense with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. In short, they have a couple of 1 on 1 players including Kobe to bail them out in situations where they cant find a shot, but these other options should be utilized more, and they need to work more as a collective group than having any one or two players lead the way. Kobe taking something like 15-18 shots a game would be a much better number for them as a team, and with Kobe getting less of a workload offensively, he may get some more energy on the defensive side of the ball. Their defense is a serious issue. Dwight cant be the only one doing it. They also have to help the helper b/c if Dwight comes to block the lane, his guy is wide open. They still cant guard the quick point guards off pick and rolls. They'll get destroyed by Westbrook, Chris Paul, Ty Lawson, Lillard, etc. Their rotations need to be better and they have a few players that should be capable.
Side note on the Stanton article. If I get the chance, I'll upload that and hopefully a couple of other things in the coming days. Have been busy. I still have been writing my thoughts on everything sports wise on my facebook page, but I intend to put up a couple of things here when I have some more time.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Nevermind
So never mind on the Rafael Soriano article I was going to put up. I typed it up, was going to post it today, but he signed with the Nationals (on a great deal for them by the way). The Nationals were 1 of 3 teams that I did mention in the article I was going to put up. They sign him for about the price I felt he could be signed for, with an even better deal for them with deferred money. The Nationals are a couple of left handed relievers away from being possibly the favorites to win the World Series. They have multiple avenues to pursue this and I expect that they will address that issue at some point soon. Meanwhile, the Tigers and Blue Jays are left with question marks in the back of their bullpen. The Tigers plan on going with top prospect Bruce Rondon. He throws 100 mph, but its unknown if he can jump up to the big leagues and immediately provide the team with a shut down closer. The Blue Jays will rely on a tandem of Sergio Santos coming off of an injury and Casey Janssen, who at 31 years old is coming off of arguably the best year of his career, when he accumulated 22 saves. It is not known if he can continue and perform like that for a full season. Santos, who has proven himself as a closer before, may take a setup role while he continues to recover from his injury. Brad Lincoln, Steve Delabar, and (if he doesnt retire) Darren Oliver look to have prominent roles in the middle to late innings. There are still options out there, but none the caliber of Soriano. It should be interesting to see how this signing will effect these 3 teams in particular
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
NBA 2012-2013 Preseason Predictions
Pre Season Picks (2012-2013)
EAST WEST
1. Miami Heat 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. New York Knicks 2. LA Clippers
3. Boston Celtics 3. Denver Nuggets
4. Indiana Pacers 4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Philadelphia 76ers 5. LA Lakers
6. Chicago Bulls 6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Brooklyn Nets 7. Utah Jazz
8. Atlanta Hawks 8, Dallas Mavericks
9. Milwalkee Bucks 9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10.Toronto Raptors 10.Golden State Warriors
11.Cleveland Cavaliers 11.New Orleans Hornets
12.Orlando Magic 12.Phoenix Suns
13.Washington Wizards 13.Houston Rockets
14.Detroit Pistons 14.Portland Trail Blazers
15.Charlotte Bobcats 15.Sacramento Kings
Eastern Conference Finals Western Conference Finals
Miami Heat def. Boston Celtics Oklahoma City Thunder def. LA Clippers
NBA Finals
Miami Heat def. Oklahoma City Thunder
2013 NBA CHAMPIONS
MIAMI HEAT
These were my preseason picks. I originally had slightly different choices for different spots, but after John Wall, Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger, and other players were injured, those changed. Obviously, many things have changed since the season started, including more injuries and a couple of teams playing worse than I might have thought they would. Amusingly, some of what has happened actually was in my original preseason picks. This year was very tough for me. It was hard to figure out who wouldnt be a decent team. The league is really deep and I didnt think there was going to be that one terrible team this year, barring injuries. I figured that there would be more teams closer to .500. The Western Conference was especially hard to figure out from 3-15 and I had a hard time separating some of the teams more than a game or 2. I wanted to put Memphis higher, but couldnt figure out who to put lower, so I went with this saying that the teams finishing in the 3-6 range would be close together. A similar thing can be said for the Eastern Conference as well. I didnt think the Celtics would finish too high in the regular season, but also didnt know where I would put them. I also thought Atlanta would be somewhere around the 5th or 6th seed, but didnt know who to drop. I felt like there was going to be a close range of games separating a lot of teams. Updated picks will come out during the All-Star break.
EAST WEST
1. Miami Heat 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. New York Knicks 2. LA Clippers
3. Boston Celtics 3. Denver Nuggets
4. Indiana Pacers 4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Philadelphia 76ers 5. LA Lakers
6. Chicago Bulls 6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Brooklyn Nets 7. Utah Jazz
8. Atlanta Hawks 8, Dallas Mavericks
9. Milwalkee Bucks 9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10.Toronto Raptors 10.Golden State Warriors
11.Cleveland Cavaliers 11.New Orleans Hornets
12.Orlando Magic 12.Phoenix Suns
13.Washington Wizards 13.Houston Rockets
14.Detroit Pistons 14.Portland Trail Blazers
15.Charlotte Bobcats 15.Sacramento Kings
Eastern Conference Finals Western Conference Finals
Miami Heat def. Boston Celtics Oklahoma City Thunder def. LA Clippers
NBA Finals
Miami Heat def. Oklahoma City Thunder
2013 NBA CHAMPIONS
MIAMI HEAT
These were my preseason picks. I originally had slightly different choices for different spots, but after John Wall, Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger, and other players were injured, those changed. Obviously, many things have changed since the season started, including more injuries and a couple of teams playing worse than I might have thought they would. Amusingly, some of what has happened actually was in my original preseason picks. This year was very tough for me. It was hard to figure out who wouldnt be a decent team. The league is really deep and I didnt think there was going to be that one terrible team this year, barring injuries. I figured that there would be more teams closer to .500. The Western Conference was especially hard to figure out from 3-15 and I had a hard time separating some of the teams more than a game or 2. I wanted to put Memphis higher, but couldnt figure out who to put lower, so I went with this saying that the teams finishing in the 3-6 range would be close together. A similar thing can be said for the Eastern Conference as well. I didnt think the Celtics would finish too high in the regular season, but also didnt know where I would put them. I also thought Atlanta would be somewhere around the 5th or 6th seed, but didnt know who to drop. I felt like there was going to be a close range of games separating a lot of teams. Updated picks will come out during the All-Star break.
I'm Back (sort of)
After not posting for almost a year, I decided to put up 2-3 posts and go from there. I actually did write up a few things that I didnt post since my last posts, including NBA predictions for this year. The reason that I didnt put those posts up is that I didnt see any real need to. I decided that I dont wish to format my thoughts in formal write-ups, so my posts here will most likely be limited. My vision is the main hindrance in all of this and because of those issues, I have a hard time proof reading. I generally comment on everything that is going on in sports, but I do so on facebook so I dont have to organize everything too much and can ramble on about the topic. The Hall of Fame post I made was not very well organized, and I literally wrote down my thoughts in a few minutes. I'm not sure that the next 2 articles I put up will be like that, but it is still possible that it will be the direction I go in. The next 2 articles will be about the Marlins and a possible Giancarlo Stanton trade, and what I think about it as a Marlins fan (which I think will surprise everyone), and who I think should sign Rafael Soriano and why it might put them over the top as a contender. I've spoken about these topics more than several times and decided that they might be good topics to bring up here. I expect to put them up at some point in the next couple of days.
2013 Hall of Fame (non)Selection
Later today, the results of this year’s Hall of Fame voting
will be in, and for the first time since 1996, it looks like nobody will be
getting in. We have heard every reason thinkable from the many different writers
who decided not to vote for certain players, or anyone at all. Those reasons
range from “his stats aren’t good enough” to “he had a lot of back hair, so he
was probably taking some kind of PED.” We’ve heard certain writers say that
they would be handing in blank ballots as a protest for the players of PED use.
This is my problem with the situation. How can we say with total certainty who
did or didn’t do something, when there isn’t any evidence against them? How do
we know who else was doing it during that era, whether it be a bench player,
the starting pitcher giving up those HRs or anyone on the field? Personally, I
think that there are at least 13 players on the ballot this year that deserve
to be in the Hall of Fame, and none of them getting in would be a disgrace. To
me, it makes the Hall of Fame a joke if these players don’t get in, just as it
looks like a joke with Pete Rose not being in the Hall of Fame, but that’s a
different story for another time. The Hall of Fame is supposed to be one of the
greatest foundations of story in sports. How can you have a Hall of Fame
without its greatest players to tell your kids about. When I visited the Hall
of Fame a few years back, I had an amazing time, and wished I went back for a
second day b/c there wasn’t enough time to see everything before closing. I
loved the experience, and it is something that I would think I could share
later on in my life. Unfortunately, I don’t know what I would say if I’m asked
why Barry Bonds isn’t in the Hall of Fame. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Craig Biggio, Tim Raines, Mike Piazza, Jack Morris, Rafael
Palmeiro, Jeff Bagwell, Alan Trammel, Curt Schilling, Fred McGriff, Edgar
Martinez, and Mark McGwire all should get in. You can only
vote for 10 per year, so 3 of these would have to be left off for another year.
Still, they all should get in at some point. Those that speak of Bonds’ and
Clemens’ PED use do so without merit in my opinion. Bonds was a no doubt, first
ballot Hall of Fame player before he ever did any of it. He still would have
hit over 600 HRs regardless, and some argue that he is the greatest player they
ever saw play the game. Clemens also has a similar case. The accusations
against Clemens suggest that he did his PED use in Toronto. Before his stint in
Toronto began in 1997, Clemens had pitched for 13 years and accumulated 3 Cy
Young awards, an MVP award, and an additional 2nd and 3rd
place finish for the Cy Young award. He was already a Hall of Fame pitcher.
Clemens is likely the greatest pitcher that I have ever seen and it would be a
travesty if neither he nor Barry Bonds got into the Hall of Fame. There is also
new speculation about Jeff Bagwell and Mike Piazza that has absolutely no merit
and is only being brought on because of who their peers were. Mike Piazza is
arguably the greatest offensive catcher in the history of the game. If he isn’t
a Hall of Famer, then I don’t know what is. The argument against McGriff is
ridiculous. Some say that he shouldn’t get in because he didn’t hit 500 HRs. HE
HIT 493! Are you really telling me that you aren’t letting “The Crime Dog” into
the Hall of Fame because of 7 HRs?! He could have easily hit those HRs if it wasn’t
for the strike shortened season in 1994, and regardless, 7 HRs is such a small
number to keep someone away from the Hall of Fame. Biggio came up as a catcher,
moved to 2nd base, to center field, and back to 2nd base,
and all he did during that time was collect more than 3000 hits and put his
name in history as an all time Houston Astros great.. He played the game the
right way and for him to be part of this whole “protest” is an absolute shame.
Tim Raines is probably the 2nd greatest lead-off hitter of all time,
and to leave him out because he played at the same time as Ricky Henderson, is
just plain stupid. Jack Morris was probably the greatest pitcher of the 1980s
and is synonymous with winning. He was dominant during his time and just
because his ERA is where it is, shouldn’t deny him his rightful spot in the
Hall of Fame. This is a guy that averaged 7 1/3 innings per start. That means
he literally pitched into the 8th inning every time he pitched. If
the objective of baseball isn’t winning, then what is the object of the game? I
don’t think he should be held out for going out on the mound and trying to win every
time he went out there. Curt Schilling’s big time moments also speak for
themselves, and he should be a Hall of Fame pitcher. Palmeiro and McGwire also
deserve to be in, even with the PED use. Palmeiro didn’t just have the HRs. He
also has more than 3000 hits, and that gets him in the Hall of Fame for me.
Meanwhile, McGwire wasn’t one-dimensional. He was always a high OBP guy, along with
the HRs. As you can tell, I would be OK with putting PED users into the Hall of
Fame because we don’t know, and will never know, enough about the whole
situation. We don’t know who did or didn’t do them before or during this period
of time. We don’t know how which specific PED effected things either. Its just the way the game was and I don’t think
we should keep the greatest players to play this game out of the Hall of Fame
because of it. If you want to put up a wing dedicated to just this era, then that’s
fine. Put up information explaining everything, so we can walk through those
halls in Cooperstown and read about these players. On their plaques, “admitted
or found PED user” can be written to show that they might not have done everything
cleanly. Do whatever you have to do, but don’t rob the fans of seeing the
greatest players in the Hall of Fame.
*Please excuse the lack of
paragraphs in this write-up. It was meant to be a quick assessment of some of
the issues in Hall of Fame voting this year, and who I think should get in on
this year’s ballot. Other articles will generally be in a more professional
format, with better organization.
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