Again, its still just 2 games, but I've continued to pick up on some
things that need to be addressed, as I mentioned after the first game.
Here are some game notes, and some of my perceptions about both of these
teams, especially Cleveland...
Cleveland brought a lot more
energy in this game, as evidenced by their edge in the offensive
rebounding. It was a hard fought battle by both sides. LeBron was
obviously HUGE in this game. He pretty much took over from the onset.
Good to see him come out and remind people of exactly who he is, after a
full day of ridiculous ridicule by haters. Wasnt much offense in the
half court, nor much ball movement, by the Cavs. They got a lot of 2nd
chance opportunities with those offensive rebounds by Tristan Thompson,
and scored 25 points off Bulls turnovers. I thought Lebron and those
rebounds was one of the only things that
kept them in this game. The Bulls had some trouble when Rose was on the
bench for most of this game, in point differential, though Brooks, and
especially Hinrich, were much better in the 4th quarter. The Cavs once
again struggled on pick&roll defense, and there is a good reason for
that. They were defending it pretty similarly to the Heat's system,
with their bigs coming out and showing on guards. The main difference
there is the Cavs dont have Chris Bosh, who is the best in the league at
doing just that, and instead, they have below average defenders trying
to do those jobs. Then they have a need for 1 more perimeter defender,
as well as a rim protector, to try to help them with that issue. The
other thing I saw from the Cavs was a continued lack of any help side
defense, as rotations were slow or non existent.
Derrick Rose
looked amazing tonight, and the Cavs had ZERO answer for him. Only
things that kept Cleveland in the game were the play of LeBron,
offensive rebounding by Thompson, the point differential without Derrick
Rose, Chicago turning the ball over, and some rimmed out open looks by
the Bulls. There was some great Big 2 Big passing in this game, as
expected from both of these teams when I outlined them in my preseason
overview...I feel like the Cavs rotation is still a work in progress.
Not enough minutes for Mike Miller or Shawn Marion. Still, a better use
of the bench by them in this game than the 1st one. I just feel like
they arent taking enough advantage of LeBron James. They're limiting
LeBron to 1-2 positions, and not taking advantage of his versatility,
which I think is something to watch for as the season progresses.
The Cavs were lucky to get to OT with some mistakes by the Bulls at the
end of regulation. Obviously, Derrick Rose going down in that 4th
quarter played a big role as well.,,When Noah was out to start OT,
LeBron immediately recognized the chance, and he attacked from the start
to set the table for the rest of the game...Its a good win for
Cleveland, but I still need to see how they continue to grow throughout
the season. Obviously, the Bulls were without Jimmy Butler, and Rose
went down for that time. I think its pretty clear that the Bulls are a
better team. They won the game, but the Cavs cant continue to play like
this if they're going to be a good team. There isnt much consistency in
that formula.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Now Russell Westbrook is Hurt
So, Russell Westbrook has a small fracture in his hand. This next month
should be rough, especially this next couple of games without Reggie
Jackson and Jeremy Lamb, as well as obviously no KD or Anthony Morrow.
Depending on how much time he misses, and the time table on Durant, I
could see the Thunder slipping into the 6 range, maybe lower b/c those
spots will be bunched up, but regardless, they should have plenty of
time to still be one of those good teams, so I'm not too worried.
Its not too much time, so I could still see them getting that 4th seed
if they play well when they get healthy. I'm interested to see how some
of their young guys play with this opportunity. I've expressed my
support for Perry Jones and Jeremy Lamb in the past, and this is a good
chance for them. Reggie Jackson gets an opportunity that he really
wants, heading into restricted Free Agency for him next year, so that
should be interesting. I forgot they signed Sebastian Telfair. He was a
big prospect in high school, and I remember I really liked him in that draft the year he came out like 10 years ago. Good
opportunity for him as well. Should be an interesting situation to
follow for the next few weeks
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
2014-2015 Pre Season NBA Predictions and Overview
Pre Season Picks
EAST WEST
1. Chicago Bulls 1. LA Clippers
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 2. Golden State Warriors
3. Atlanta Hawks 3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Miami Heat 4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Charlotte Hornets 5.Dallas Mavericks
6. Washington Wizards 6. Houston Rockets
7. New York Knicks 7. Memphis Grizzlies
8. Toronto Raptors 8. Phoenix Suns
9. Brooklyn Nets 9. Denver Nuggets
10.Detroit Pistons 10.Portland Trail Blazers
11.Boston Celtics 11.New Orleans Pelicans
12.Milwaukee Bucks 12.Minnesota Timberwolves
13.Indiana Pacers 13.Sacramento Kings
14.Orlando Magic 14.Los Angeles Lakers
15.Philadelphia 76ers 15.Utah Jazz
Eastern Conference Finals Western Conference Finals
Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers Golden State Warriors vs Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Finals
Golden State Warriors vs Chicago Bulls
2015 NBA CHAMPIONS
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Injuries can obviously impact these standings. In my current picks, I considered the injuries we already know about i.e. Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, Shaun Livingston, Josh McRoberts, etc. For the 2nd straight year, I am predicting a lot of parity in the NBA, and some of that was brought on by some off-season movement, creating a couple of better teams, and bringing a couple of others closer to the pack. This being the case, I expect some teams to be bunched up and possibly separated by only a couple of games, meaning there could be a discrepancy in their final standing compared to where I ordered them here. Obviously, in season moves will effect the outcomes. I expect injury and tanking to become factors, because we all know it always does. This is the NBA. Just as they did last year, those things will effect the outcome of the season. Also, 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 doesn't 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. Lets break down the conferences.
In the West, I expect 1-3 to be bunched up, with the obvious possibility that once again, the San Antonio Spurs end up as the #1 seed. I personally believe the Golden State Warriors to be the best team in the NBA on paper, with a great balance on both sides of the floor. I expect Klay Thompson to take another step forward offensively, and continue to be a great defender, arguably their best, on a team that includes Andre Igoudala. The addition of Shaun Livingston was great from multiple standpoints. Not only does he provide them with the ball-handler off the bench that they needed last year, he also defends 3 positions, and gives them more length and athleticism to add to the plethora of guys that fit that description they already have. Even though they have a new coach, I feel the continuity of bringing back so many players, as well as the added depth, and most importantly, health, should give them every chance to win the NBA Championship. Having said that, the regular season is a different situation, which is why I ended up putting them at 2. If it feels like I'm discounting the defending 2014 NBA Champions, trust me, I'm not. I'm well aware of their capabilities in both the regular and post seasons, and I have them as one of 6 possible ultimate champions. I think the Clippers are once again, very deep, and have every chance to have a deep run in the playoffs. However, they did lose Darren Collison and brought in Jordan Farmar, who is injury prone, to replace him as a backup PG. Those guys are different players. This team feels like it is still too reliant on Chris Paul making plays for them, and that is why I ultimately think they lose to the Thunder again. Speaking of the Oklahoma City Thunder, I don't think they are as good as they were last season, even with the injury to Durant discounted. Anthony Morrow is a great shooter, but defensively, he isn't nearly as good as Sefolosha, and I'm not sure Andre Roberson can replace him. Scott Brooks will once again be looked at to figure out the proper rotations, which he has failed to do previously. If he can, I still think the Thunder have a shot to get to the Finals, despite the fact that I think they were better last year. With Durant missing time, I see them slightly behind that top 3 group I mentioned. Now things become interesting. At 5-7, I believe Dallas, Memphis, and Houston to be interchangeable. Memphis isn't as good as they were last year, but they are still very good defensively, which gives them every shot to win games. Dallas is definitely improved, but I am curious to see how the loss of Shawn Marion effects them defensively. They added Tyson Chandler to try to make up for that. They also did lose Jose Calderon, which I think is very under-rated, but the guys they brought in should be able to tandem to make up for that loss, as long as the team continues to share the ball the way they have. Houston should be a little better defensively, adding Trevor Ariza, but I'm interested to see if they lost any offense, especially off their bench, which is a question mark heading into the season. I'm interested to see how they play this year. I've been on record as saying they need to play more inside-out, but it remains to be seen if they'll do that. The 8th spot might be the most intriguing part of the West this season. I see any of 8-12 being in the same vicinity. I think the safest choice for that 8th spot is probably the Blazers, but I have questions about their bench, which I think are legitimate, considering the loss of Mo Williams, and the obvious reliance on young players such as CJ McCollum, Thomas Robinson, Will Barton, and Myers Leonard, to go with veterans Steve Blake and Chris Kaman. Their starting 5 are obviously really good, and possibly one of the better units in the league, but they've played a lot of minutes, and are going to be relied on for those minutes, and production, again. Denver, now healthy is a deep team, so I expect them to be back in the playoff picture. Even though I think its very possible that the Phoenix Suns take a step back, I see this as a Guard driven league, and they are obviously very deep at that position. They also have a couple of nice young bigs, though I think the loss of Channing Frye should hurt. New Orleans is interesting, as they've had issues staying healthy. Anthony Davis is already the 3rd best player in the NBA right now, and I cant wait to see him play this year. Also, I think Tyreke Evans is an important piece. I keep trying to stay behind him, but he keeps making me look bad for doing so. I'm not as into the Omir Asik addition as some people, but it should help them defensively. I think Minnesota has a chance to really surprise people, as they have a deep roster, with a lot of depth on the wing. I think they should be very good defensively, and they have a very balanced roster. Obviously, they are a bit reliant on some young guys, but they have some good veterans around them. If Rubio actually improves his jump-shot, they could be really good. Regardless, if Flip Saunders can get them to move the ball, and they knock down those open shots, they should be a fun team to watch. I expect there to be at least 8 teams with 50 wins, as I predicted 9 last year, and came incredibly close to being right, so there should be a lot of great basketball in the West. To be honest, I don't even think the bottom 3 teams should be THAT bad, but I'm not going to get into them, as this breakdown is long enough at this point.
Last season, I successfully looked like a complete moron with my predictions in the East, though I did decently in the West. Hopefully, I can do a better job this year. Though I picked them to be the 1 seed, and most people have done the same, this is predicated on certain things. Staying healthy is obviously important. Joakim Noah has the knee. They're incorporating a lot of new players, including Derrick Rose. I expect Derrick Rose to be really good. I'm just curious how the offense is going to run. Last time, they ran a lot of isolation through Rose. This is a team that he can get his in the flow of the offense. I obviously picked them, so I expect them to be able to do those things. I'm very interested in seeing Noah and Gasol play together. Both of them will get opportunities in the high post, possibly running some high lows, and we can see a lot of interior passing as well. This has a chance to be a fun team to watch. I honestly didn't initially think that the Cleveland Cavaliers were that good, but they've shown me some things in Training Camp and the preseason, as well as the fact that LeBron James by himself can take them from the 5 seed range to the 2 seed. I think the 2 most important players on this team, obviously besides LeBron, are Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson. The Cavs need help defensively on the wing, and Kyrie Irving doesn't necessarily play too much defense. So guarding PGs is going to be an issue, as well as lack of rim protection. However, they should rebound enough to be able to get more possessions, as well as not give up too many offensive rebounds, which should help the defense. Offensively, if they move the ball, move without the ball, and play efficiently, they should be great, however, it remains to be seen if Kyrie Irving can learn to play off the ball. Kevin Love is going to possibly see some opportunities in the high post, as well as Varejao, and they may run some similar things as Chicago's bigs at times. He is going to have to be used to floating on the outside, which should be difficult. They should be an interesting team to watch grow throughout the season. Now we get into a group that I think can easily be bunched up from the 3-8 by a few games. You may be surprised to see Atlanta as high as they are. I think they have a great perimeter defense with DeMarre Carroll, Shelvin Mack, and now adding Thabo Sefolosha, and then they also have Al Horford back from injury to add to Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver. I think they have some great 3 point shooting as well. They're a very deep team. I think they're kind of similar to the Spurs in a few ways. They're coach is from that system. We'll see if they can play to their possibilities. I'm not going to mention the obvious because, its the obvious. Miami runs through Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, defensive chemistry, and ball movement. The Heat have a really good team this year. They still need to continue to get some continuity, as Josh McRoberts missed the pre-season. Its going to be a process this year, as they try to get better as the season progresses. I'm not going to get into the obvious with these 2guys. Dwyane Wade obviously needs to stay healthy, but I fully expect to see a great season from him. Chris Bosh is going to show people how great of an all around player he has become. I'm interested to see him take the challenge to lead on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he can guard the 2-5, and he even showed capability to come out and guard a couple of PGs at times last season. He is great defending the pick & roll, and he covers a lot of ground on shows and rotations. He has even shown an ability to get back and protect the rim. He knows how to use his length and get deflections and get in the passing lanes. Offensively he should be back on the block more, but he is going to do a bit of everything. I'm interested to see when Josh McRoberts comes back, how those two work together. McRoberts is a play-maker, and he is going to get opportunities in the high post, as a facilitator, and also stretching the floor as a shooter. He is also a pretty good defender. Luol Deng joins them, and he as consistent as they come. I think we'll see a lot of 2 PG lineups and 3 Guard lineups this year. That group is growing, and Mario Chalmers will also be used as a 2 Guard at times. I'm VERY interested in James Ennis. The talk was that he needed serious work on his ball handling, which is probably still true, but he can definitely put the ball on the floor. His athleticism really plays on both ends of the court, and he can shoot the 3 as well. He also rebounds. His development will be important for the Heat. Danny Granger is an unknown. Is he healthy? What is he going to be in this system. I see a lot of potential there, but we don't know too much about his status right now. He could be a good option at multiple positions this year, and the Heat will need him to knock down outside shots. They'll need to get better in the defensive system throughout the season, so that should be something to look for. Charlotte is really good this year. I thought they needed a ball handler off the bench, some 3 point shooting, and another play-maker, and that is exactly what they added. They lost McRoberts, but Stephenson can be a play-maker for them, as well as guard on the wings, and knock down shots. They still play through Al Jefferson, but it helps him when they can spread the floor more with some shooting. Marvin Williams should be a stretch 4 for them, and they have some good young players as well. They had a top 5 defense last year, so if they can come close to repeating that, they should be very good, as they are much better offensively. Washington was hard to put this low. They are dealing with an injury to Bradley Beal, but they are still very good. I think we're going to see even more growth in John Wall. I'm looking at continued improvement in his jump-shot, play-making abilities, and defensively. He also has to stay healthy again this year. They should get Beal back eventually, and they have a deep group of big men, including Nene and Marcin Gortat coming back. They should have more continuity with another year together. They added Paul Pierce, and it should be interesting how he plays into things, and what part he has in the offense. He does provide some leadership. I'll be interested to see how "Baby G-Money" (I'm galling Glenn Rice Jr. that) and Otto Porter Jr. effect this team this season. They're still growing, but have a lot of ability, and are fun to watch. I think the Wizards can be players this year. I actually think the Knicks are going to be pretty good this year. I don't see them at that top end of that group, but I like everything Phil Jackson has done since coming in, which is surprising. He made a great trade with Dallas, getting Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin, and those 2 draft picks, which got them a steal in Cleanthony Early. I was super surprised he fell so far. I think Early should impress. He is really athletic, with a long wingspan, and he can play on the defensive end and shoot the 3. I like the additions of Samuel Dalembert and Jason Smith at the 5. Dalembert should give them some rim protection, and Jason Smith does some things on both ends that are nice, and he should fit into their offense. JR Smith cant possibly be as bad as he was last year. I'm also really interested in the growth of Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr. I really hated having to put the Raptors into this 8 spot because I think they are better than that, and have every chance to be in that 3-6 group. Like I said, there will be parity in the league this year barring the things I mentioned, and that means a good team will be at the bottom of the playoffs. Toronto brings back pretty much everyone, and adds Lou Williams and James Johnson. They have a deep and balanced team. I'm interested to see the continued growth of Kyle Lowry, DeMar Derozan, and Amir Johnson as the leaders of this team, but also the growth of young guys like Jonas Valanciunas, Terrance Ross. They have a rookie named Bruno Caboclo that is super interesting, so I'm excited to see him play a little. Even the teams I have out of the playoffs have a shot to get into that 8 seed range if certain things happen. Brooklyn has a good veteran team, and added some unknown young players, but those guys have talent, and I think they have a great head coach in Linoel Hollins. I'm really interested to see Mason Plumlee's growth next year, and how Deron Williams can bounce back. They need to stay healthy. Detroit will try to make it work, but they cant
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, the parity, or player development.
EAST WEST
1. Chicago Bulls 1. LA Clippers
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 2. Golden State Warriors
3. Atlanta Hawks 3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Miami Heat 4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Charlotte Hornets 5.Dallas Mavericks
6. Washington Wizards 6. Houston Rockets
7. New York Knicks 7. Memphis Grizzlies
8. Toronto Raptors 8. Phoenix Suns
9. Brooklyn Nets 9. Denver Nuggets
10.Detroit Pistons 10.Portland Trail Blazers
11.Boston Celtics 11.New Orleans Pelicans
12.Milwaukee Bucks 12.Minnesota Timberwolves
13.Indiana Pacers 13.Sacramento Kings
14.Orlando Magic 14.Los Angeles Lakers
15.Philadelphia 76ers 15.Utah Jazz
Eastern Conference Finals Western Conference Finals
Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers Golden State Warriors vs Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Finals
Golden State Warriors vs Chicago Bulls
2015 NBA CHAMPIONS
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Injuries can obviously impact these standings. In my current picks, I considered the injuries we already know about i.e. Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, Shaun Livingston, Josh McRoberts, etc. For the 2nd straight year, I am predicting a lot of parity in the NBA, and some of that was brought on by some off-season movement, creating a couple of better teams, and bringing a couple of others closer to the pack. This being the case, I expect some teams to be bunched up and possibly separated by only a couple of games, meaning there could be a discrepancy in their final standing compared to where I ordered them here. Obviously, in season moves will effect the outcomes. I expect injury and tanking to become factors, because we all know it always does. This is the NBA. Just as they did last year, those things will effect the outcome of the season. Also, 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 doesn't 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. Lets break down the conferences.
In the West, I expect 1-3 to be bunched up, with the obvious possibility that once again, the San Antonio Spurs end up as the #1 seed. I personally believe the Golden State Warriors to be the best team in the NBA on paper, with a great balance on both sides of the floor. I expect Klay Thompson to take another step forward offensively, and continue to be a great defender, arguably their best, on a team that includes Andre Igoudala. The addition of Shaun Livingston was great from multiple standpoints. Not only does he provide them with the ball-handler off the bench that they needed last year, he also defends 3 positions, and gives them more length and athleticism to add to the plethora of guys that fit that description they already have. Even though they have a new coach, I feel the continuity of bringing back so many players, as well as the added depth, and most importantly, health, should give them every chance to win the NBA Championship. Having said that, the regular season is a different situation, which is why I ended up putting them at 2. If it feels like I'm discounting the defending 2014 NBA Champions, trust me, I'm not. I'm well aware of their capabilities in both the regular and post seasons, and I have them as one of 6 possible ultimate champions. I think the Clippers are once again, very deep, and have every chance to have a deep run in the playoffs. However, they did lose Darren Collison and brought in Jordan Farmar, who is injury prone, to replace him as a backup PG. Those guys are different players. This team feels like it is still too reliant on Chris Paul making plays for them, and that is why I ultimately think they lose to the Thunder again. Speaking of the Oklahoma City Thunder, I don't think they are as good as they were last season, even with the injury to Durant discounted. Anthony Morrow is a great shooter, but defensively, he isn't nearly as good as Sefolosha, and I'm not sure Andre Roberson can replace him. Scott Brooks will once again be looked at to figure out the proper rotations, which he has failed to do previously. If he can, I still think the Thunder have a shot to get to the Finals, despite the fact that I think they were better last year. With Durant missing time, I see them slightly behind that top 3 group I mentioned. Now things become interesting. At 5-7, I believe Dallas, Memphis, and Houston to be interchangeable. Memphis isn't as good as they were last year, but they are still very good defensively, which gives them every shot to win games. Dallas is definitely improved, but I am curious to see how the loss of Shawn Marion effects them defensively. They added Tyson Chandler to try to make up for that. They also did lose Jose Calderon, which I think is very under-rated, but the guys they brought in should be able to tandem to make up for that loss, as long as the team continues to share the ball the way they have. Houston should be a little better defensively, adding Trevor Ariza, but I'm interested to see if they lost any offense, especially off their bench, which is a question mark heading into the season. I'm interested to see how they play this year. I've been on record as saying they need to play more inside-out, but it remains to be seen if they'll do that. The 8th spot might be the most intriguing part of the West this season. I see any of 8-12 being in the same vicinity. I think the safest choice for that 8th spot is probably the Blazers, but I have questions about their bench, which I think are legitimate, considering the loss of Mo Williams, and the obvious reliance on young players such as CJ McCollum, Thomas Robinson, Will Barton, and Myers Leonard, to go with veterans Steve Blake and Chris Kaman. Their starting 5 are obviously really good, and possibly one of the better units in the league, but they've played a lot of minutes, and are going to be relied on for those minutes, and production, again. Denver, now healthy is a deep team, so I expect them to be back in the playoff picture. Even though I think its very possible that the Phoenix Suns take a step back, I see this as a Guard driven league, and they are obviously very deep at that position. They also have a couple of nice young bigs, though I think the loss of Channing Frye should hurt. New Orleans is interesting, as they've had issues staying healthy. Anthony Davis is already the 3rd best player in the NBA right now, and I cant wait to see him play this year. Also, I think Tyreke Evans is an important piece. I keep trying to stay behind him, but he keeps making me look bad for doing so. I'm not as into the Omir Asik addition as some people, but it should help them defensively. I think Minnesota has a chance to really surprise people, as they have a deep roster, with a lot of depth on the wing. I think they should be very good defensively, and they have a very balanced roster. Obviously, they are a bit reliant on some young guys, but they have some good veterans around them. If Rubio actually improves his jump-shot, they could be really good. Regardless, if Flip Saunders can get them to move the ball, and they knock down those open shots, they should be a fun team to watch. I expect there to be at least 8 teams with 50 wins, as I predicted 9 last year, and came incredibly close to being right, so there should be a lot of great basketball in the West. To be honest, I don't even think the bottom 3 teams should be THAT bad, but I'm not going to get into them, as this breakdown is long enough at this point.
Last season, I successfully looked like a complete moron with my predictions in the East, though I did decently in the West. Hopefully, I can do a better job this year. Though I picked them to be the 1 seed, and most people have done the same, this is predicated on certain things. Staying healthy is obviously important. Joakim Noah has the knee. They're incorporating a lot of new players, including Derrick Rose. I expect Derrick Rose to be really good. I'm just curious how the offense is going to run. Last time, they ran a lot of isolation through Rose. This is a team that he can get his in the flow of the offense. I obviously picked them, so I expect them to be able to do those things. I'm very interested in seeing Noah and Gasol play together. Both of them will get opportunities in the high post, possibly running some high lows, and we can see a lot of interior passing as well. This has a chance to be a fun team to watch. I honestly didn't initially think that the Cleveland Cavaliers were that good, but they've shown me some things in Training Camp and the preseason, as well as the fact that LeBron James by himself can take them from the 5 seed range to the 2 seed. I think the 2 most important players on this team, obviously besides LeBron, are Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson. The Cavs need help defensively on the wing, and Kyrie Irving doesn't necessarily play too much defense. So guarding PGs is going to be an issue, as well as lack of rim protection. However, they should rebound enough to be able to get more possessions, as well as not give up too many offensive rebounds, which should help the defense. Offensively, if they move the ball, move without the ball, and play efficiently, they should be great, however, it remains to be seen if Kyrie Irving can learn to play off the ball. Kevin Love is going to possibly see some opportunities in the high post, as well as Varejao, and they may run some similar things as Chicago's bigs at times. He is going to have to be used to floating on the outside, which should be difficult. They should be an interesting team to watch grow throughout the season. Now we get into a group that I think can easily be bunched up from the 3-8 by a few games. You may be surprised to see Atlanta as high as they are. I think they have a great perimeter defense with DeMarre Carroll, Shelvin Mack, and now adding Thabo Sefolosha, and then they also have Al Horford back from injury to add to Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver. I think they have some great 3 point shooting as well. They're a very deep team. I think they're kind of similar to the Spurs in a few ways. They're coach is from that system. We'll see if they can play to their possibilities. I'm not going to mention the obvious because, its the obvious. Miami runs through Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, defensive chemistry, and ball movement. The Heat have a really good team this year. They still need to continue to get some continuity, as Josh McRoberts missed the pre-season. Its going to be a process this year, as they try to get better as the season progresses. I'm not going to get into the obvious with these 2guys. Dwyane Wade obviously needs to stay healthy, but I fully expect to see a great season from him. Chris Bosh is going to show people how great of an all around player he has become. I'm interested to see him take the challenge to lead on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he can guard the 2-5, and he even showed capability to come out and guard a couple of PGs at times last season. He is great defending the pick & roll, and he covers a lot of ground on shows and rotations. He has even shown an ability to get back and protect the rim. He knows how to use his length and get deflections and get in the passing lanes. Offensively he should be back on the block more, but he is going to do a bit of everything. I'm interested to see when Josh McRoberts comes back, how those two work together. McRoberts is a play-maker, and he is going to get opportunities in the high post, as a facilitator, and also stretching the floor as a shooter. He is also a pretty good defender. Luol Deng joins them, and he as consistent as they come. I think we'll see a lot of 2 PG lineups and 3 Guard lineups this year. That group is growing, and Mario Chalmers will also be used as a 2 Guard at times. I'm VERY interested in James Ennis. The talk was that he needed serious work on his ball handling, which is probably still true, but he can definitely put the ball on the floor. His athleticism really plays on both ends of the court, and he can shoot the 3 as well. He also rebounds. His development will be important for the Heat. Danny Granger is an unknown. Is he healthy? What is he going to be in this system. I see a lot of potential there, but we don't know too much about his status right now. He could be a good option at multiple positions this year, and the Heat will need him to knock down outside shots. They'll need to get better in the defensive system throughout the season, so that should be something to look for. Charlotte is really good this year. I thought they needed a ball handler off the bench, some 3 point shooting, and another play-maker, and that is exactly what they added. They lost McRoberts, but Stephenson can be a play-maker for them, as well as guard on the wings, and knock down shots. They still play through Al Jefferson, but it helps him when they can spread the floor more with some shooting. Marvin Williams should be a stretch 4 for them, and they have some good young players as well. They had a top 5 defense last year, so if they can come close to repeating that, they should be very good, as they are much better offensively. Washington was hard to put this low. They are dealing with an injury to Bradley Beal, but they are still very good. I think we're going to see even more growth in John Wall. I'm looking at continued improvement in his jump-shot, play-making abilities, and defensively. He also has to stay healthy again this year. They should get Beal back eventually, and they have a deep group of big men, including Nene and Marcin Gortat coming back. They should have more continuity with another year together. They added Paul Pierce, and it should be interesting how he plays into things, and what part he has in the offense. He does provide some leadership. I'll be interested to see how "Baby G-Money" (I'm galling Glenn Rice Jr. that) and Otto Porter Jr. effect this team this season. They're still growing, but have a lot of ability, and are fun to watch. I think the Wizards can be players this year. I actually think the Knicks are going to be pretty good this year. I don't see them at that top end of that group, but I like everything Phil Jackson has done since coming in, which is surprising. He made a great trade with Dallas, getting Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin, and those 2 draft picks, which got them a steal in Cleanthony Early. I was super surprised he fell so far. I think Early should impress. He is really athletic, with a long wingspan, and he can play on the defensive end and shoot the 3. I like the additions of Samuel Dalembert and Jason Smith at the 5. Dalembert should give them some rim protection, and Jason Smith does some things on both ends that are nice, and he should fit into their offense. JR Smith cant possibly be as bad as he was last year. I'm also really interested in the growth of Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr. I really hated having to put the Raptors into this 8 spot because I think they are better than that, and have every chance to be in that 3-6 group. Like I said, there will be parity in the league this year barring the things I mentioned, and that means a good team will be at the bottom of the playoffs. Toronto brings back pretty much everyone, and adds Lou Williams and James Johnson. They have a deep and balanced team. I'm interested to see the continued growth of Kyle Lowry, DeMar Derozan, and Amir Johnson as the leaders of this team, but also the growth of young guys like Jonas Valanciunas, Terrance Ross. They have a rookie named Bruno Caboclo that is super interesting, so I'm excited to see him play a little. Even the teams I have out of the playoffs have a shot to get into that 8 seed range if certain things happen. Brooklyn has a good veteran team, and added some unknown young players, but those guys have talent, and I think they have a great head coach in Linoel Hollins. I'm really interested to see Mason Plumlee's growth next year, and how Deron Williams can bounce back. They need to stay healthy. Detroit will try to make it work, but they cant
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, the parity, or player development.
Monday, June 30, 2014
A Brief Guide to Free Agency for Miami Heat fans
With NBA free agency starting, and players being able to sign as of next
week, I think it has to be mentioned that we shouldnt expect guys to
take less money. They took less last time, and they should get what
they're worth. The salary cap in basketball is ridiculous, and limits
their salaries. The way they set things up after what happened 4 years
ago, they made it harder to keep 3 players together. All year, I
looked around the landscape of the NBA and I wont lie, there are places
that LeBron and/or Bosh could go that would probably make more sense for
them, including monetarily, and could probably produce a lot of really interesting teams. I wont blame them for leaving if that
happens. I am putting my trust in Pat Riley on this, but again, I wont
blame him if these guys leave or dont want to take pay cuts. The fact is,
we need these guys to take pay cuts at this point....LeBron supposedly
(and I wont believe that until I hear/see it from him) says he wants
close to a max deal or the max, which is more than understandable b/c of
the reasons I mentioned, but also b/c he has never been the highest
paid player on his own team, which is obviously ridiculous. Shane
Battier retired, and we already needed more athleticism on the wing, and
now we need to replace him as well. There are also multiple free agents
we can target depending on what situation we are in. Probably the
scenario we could really do something with would be if LeBron signed a 3
year/$62 million deal (Year 1 $20mil/Year 2 $21mil/Year 3 $21mil) with 2
player options worth $22 million on the back of that, Chris Bosh signed
a 4 Year/$64 million deal (Year 1 $15mil/Year 2 $15mil/Year 3
$17mil/Year 4 $17mil) with 2 player options on the back of that worth
$18 million on the back of that, Dwyane Wade signed a 3 year/$44-47
million deal (Year 1 $12-15mil/Year 2 $15mil/Year 3 $17mil) with 2
player options at the back of that worth $16&17 million respectively
on the back of that. That would put us around $50 million committed,
and would leave us somewhere between $10-15 million in cap space
depending on what the cap is increasing to this year. We also should
have the mid level exception and other exceptions that we could use if
we need to. There are many free agents to target that could help us. I personally would stay away from giving anyone anything more than 3 years. I
see us going after Shawn Marion for sure, and hopefully for the veterans
minimum. Then there are Trevor Ariza and Spencer Hawes out there, and
those 2 would be PERFECT for us, but Lance Stephenson is a free agent,
Luol Deng is a free agent, Chandler Parsons is a restricted free agent,
but Houston wants to go after a max contract player, so it would be
possible that they wouldnt match a certain offer. Those 3 are probably
out of our price range b/c of the demand for them. There are plenty of
other interesting names out there. It would be great to address the wing
with a good defender who can knock down shots and has the athleticism
and length I mentioned previously. I named a few for that spot. Hawes
would help us stretch the floor and he is a really good passer. I'm
personally interested in Thabo Sefolosha. We need to decide on what
we're doing at the PG position. Its hard to say we need to make a change
there to be honest. I like having both Chalmers and Cole on this team,
and they do important things; Napier is a stud, but I dont know for sure
what he can do at this level, and you dont want to lose what those
other guys have done for this team. Continued depth would be nice, and
probably at this point, if they added any of the big names I mentioned
especially, they would be targeting minimum type players. We need added
depth and probably more athleticism (Birdman type of player) at a big
man spot. As I said, I trust Pat Riley. I'm also interested in what a
lot of these other teams do b/c there is a lot of talent out there this
year, but I just wanted to make sure everyone is prepared for whats
happening. Dont have too high expectations, and please dont embarrass
South Florida sports fans by being SALTY if things dont go the way we
would hope
Thursday, June 5, 2014
2014 NBA FINALS Preview, Analysis, and Prediction
2014 NBA Finals
Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs
It all comes down to this...The Miami Heat look for a 3-peat, as they face the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the 2013 NBA Finals...Throughout the season, I have continued to say that the San Antonio Spurs are the best team in the NBA. I will not waiver from that statement here. However, I am picking the Miami Heat to win this series in 6 games. That may sound like an odd contradiction, but this is my reasoning...The San Antonio Spurs are the best team in the NBA. Last season, they lost to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, in 7 games. The series came down to a missed free throw by Kawhi Leonard, an offensive rebound by Chris Bosh, an incredible shot by Ray Allen, and then a missed bunny hook shot at the rim by Tim Duncan as Shane Battier pulled the chair on him, followed by a dagger jumpshot by LeBron James. It could be argued that the series could have gone either way. This season, the San Antonio Spurs are a better team. They still have Tony Parker setting things up, getting in the paint. They still have Tim Duncan down low. They still have Danny Green shooting 3s. Kawhi Leonard is another year more experienced, and continues to look like a star every single game on both ends of the court. His length, athleticism, and freakish hands cause the Heat trouble. The Spurs now have Patty Mills over Gary Neal. They also added Marco Belinelli, who has always hurt the Heat with his deadly outside shooting. Thiago Splitter has actually shown improvement in his game, though I'm not sure if he'll be a factor in this series. Boris Diaw is in incredible shape, and he has had a fantastic year, showing off his old PG skills at times and shooting a better percentage from 3. They also still have a guy named Manu Ginobli, who despite all of the short-sighted people that said he was done, is still just as good as he has been. They have other players on the roster, such as Matt Bonner or Jeff Ayers or Aaron Baynes, that could possibly see time as well. This team plays the game of basketball like a well oiled machine. It really is beautiful to watch. They get in the paint to set things up for themselves or others. They move the ball with precision, not letting their egos get in the way of taking the best shot available. They have a bunch of knock down shooters. They dont hurt themselves with turnovers. They play good defense and then get themselves out in the open floor. When you play the San Antonio Spurs, you know that they are going to give everything they have, and you are usually going to have to play perfect basketball to beat them...For the Heat to beat them, they are going to need to stay in front of guys, and not allow them to get into the paint. They need to close out hard to shooters, force them off their spots if possible, and not let the 3 point shot beat them, as it almost did in 2013. They are going to need to be active with their hands on the defensive end, be disruptive, and hopefully cause some turnovers, so they can get out in the open court. They need to play good transition defense as well, as you need to find shooters when getting back against the Spurs. Norris Cole, Shane Battier, Ray Allen, and Rashard Lewis are needed for specific things in this series. Battier is needed on the defensive end, with his savvy and ability to disrupt. He is needed to knock down shots when he is in the game as well. Ray Allen is obviously needed to knock down shots as well. Norris Cole is important, as the Heat try to make things more difficult for Tony Parker or others to get in the paint. The Heat bigs will need to come up and help on pick and rolls to not allow Spurs guards space to attack and get to the other side of the floor. Keeping Parker on one side of the floor is especially important. Rashard Lewis will likely see time in this series, and he has another pretty good matchup if both teams go small. Hopefully, he can bring the same defensive aggressiveness he showed against David West, while stretching the floor for the Heat. If you havent noticed it, I'm putting a lot of emphasis on the 3 point shot in this series. It is important for both teams. The Heat must not allow 2nd chances by the Spurs in this series. Offensive Rebounds by the Spurs in this series could lead to more 3 pointers. Another dynamic that is very interesting in this series is how the Spurs plan to guard LeBron James this time. Last year, and in years past, the Spurs played off LeBron, daring him to shoot. LeBron didnt take those shots early in the 2013 series, and then put the Spurs away taking, and knocking down, those shots in Game 7. LeBron has improved greatly from the perimeter in these last couple of years, and I expect him to take those shots this time if they are there. Leonard's length has given him some trouble in the past, but LeBron and Dwyane Wade's abilities to go in the post should help when in the half court...In truth, these teams are very similar, and very evenly matched. I call the San Antonio Spurs the best team in the NBA. At the end of the day though, the Miami Heat have LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and the Spurs dont. Nobody has beaten the Heat since te 2011 Finals. They may lose, but I have to stick with the defending back-to-back NBA Champions
Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs
It all comes down to this...The Miami Heat look for a 3-peat, as they face the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the 2013 NBA Finals...Throughout the season, I have continued to say that the San Antonio Spurs are the best team in the NBA. I will not waiver from that statement here. However, I am picking the Miami Heat to win this series in 6 games. That may sound like an odd contradiction, but this is my reasoning...The San Antonio Spurs are the best team in the NBA. Last season, they lost to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, in 7 games. The series came down to a missed free throw by Kawhi Leonard, an offensive rebound by Chris Bosh, an incredible shot by Ray Allen, and then a missed bunny hook shot at the rim by Tim Duncan as Shane Battier pulled the chair on him, followed by a dagger jumpshot by LeBron James. It could be argued that the series could have gone either way. This season, the San Antonio Spurs are a better team. They still have Tony Parker setting things up, getting in the paint. They still have Tim Duncan down low. They still have Danny Green shooting 3s. Kawhi Leonard is another year more experienced, and continues to look like a star every single game on both ends of the court. His length, athleticism, and freakish hands cause the Heat trouble. The Spurs now have Patty Mills over Gary Neal. They also added Marco Belinelli, who has always hurt the Heat with his deadly outside shooting. Thiago Splitter has actually shown improvement in his game, though I'm not sure if he'll be a factor in this series. Boris Diaw is in incredible shape, and he has had a fantastic year, showing off his old PG skills at times and shooting a better percentage from 3. They also still have a guy named Manu Ginobli, who despite all of the short-sighted people that said he was done, is still just as good as he has been. They have other players on the roster, such as Matt Bonner or Jeff Ayers or Aaron Baynes, that could possibly see time as well. This team plays the game of basketball like a well oiled machine. It really is beautiful to watch. They get in the paint to set things up for themselves or others. They move the ball with precision, not letting their egos get in the way of taking the best shot available. They have a bunch of knock down shooters. They dont hurt themselves with turnovers. They play good defense and then get themselves out in the open floor. When you play the San Antonio Spurs, you know that they are going to give everything they have, and you are usually going to have to play perfect basketball to beat them...For the Heat to beat them, they are going to need to stay in front of guys, and not allow them to get into the paint. They need to close out hard to shooters, force them off their spots if possible, and not let the 3 point shot beat them, as it almost did in 2013. They are going to need to be active with their hands on the defensive end, be disruptive, and hopefully cause some turnovers, so they can get out in the open court. They need to play good transition defense as well, as you need to find shooters when getting back against the Spurs. Norris Cole, Shane Battier, Ray Allen, and Rashard Lewis are needed for specific things in this series. Battier is needed on the defensive end, with his savvy and ability to disrupt. He is needed to knock down shots when he is in the game as well. Ray Allen is obviously needed to knock down shots as well. Norris Cole is important, as the Heat try to make things more difficult for Tony Parker or others to get in the paint. The Heat bigs will need to come up and help on pick and rolls to not allow Spurs guards space to attack and get to the other side of the floor. Keeping Parker on one side of the floor is especially important. Rashard Lewis will likely see time in this series, and he has another pretty good matchup if both teams go small. Hopefully, he can bring the same defensive aggressiveness he showed against David West, while stretching the floor for the Heat. If you havent noticed it, I'm putting a lot of emphasis on the 3 point shot in this series. It is important for both teams. The Heat must not allow 2nd chances by the Spurs in this series. Offensive Rebounds by the Spurs in this series could lead to more 3 pointers. Another dynamic that is very interesting in this series is how the Spurs plan to guard LeBron James this time. Last year, and in years past, the Spurs played off LeBron, daring him to shoot. LeBron didnt take those shots early in the 2013 series, and then put the Spurs away taking, and knocking down, those shots in Game 7. LeBron has improved greatly from the perimeter in these last couple of years, and I expect him to take those shots this time if they are there. Leonard's length has given him some trouble in the past, but LeBron and Dwyane Wade's abilities to go in the post should help when in the half court...In truth, these teams are very similar, and very evenly matched. I call the San Antonio Spurs the best team in the NBA. At the end of the day though, the Miami Heat have LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and the Spurs dont. Nobody has beaten the Heat since te 2011 Finals. They may lose, but I have to stick with the defending back-to-back NBA Champions
Miami Heat win 4-2
2014 NBA Champions
MIAMI HEAT
Ignoring the Conference Finals
I decided to ignore the Conference Finals b/c there was a lot of redundancy in the things I have said all year. The Spurs-OKC series, however, was not what I expected. I didnt realize that Scott Brooks was going to randomly decide not to play his best lineups. I didnt realize he was going to go away from the athleticism that gave them their advantage. Obviously, Serge Ibaka was hurt and missed the first 2 games, but that wasnt solely to blame for the Thunder loss. I feel bad for Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook. Hopefully, they come back strong next year, and I have no doubt they can (though I am very interested in seeing what happens with Thabo Sefolosha)
Monday, May 5, 2014
2014 NBA Playoffs 2nd Round Predictions and Analysis
EAST WEST
5. Washington Wizards Wizards win 4-2 5. Portland Trail Blazers Spurs win 4-2
1. Indiana Pacers 1. San Antonio Spurs
6. Brooklyn Nets Heat win 4-1 3. LA Clippers Thunder win 4-2
2. Miami Heat 2. Oklahoma City Thunder
I did a pretty good job with my predictions in the 1st round. I had a lot of fun watching and
breaking down the games and results with analyzation on my facebook page throughout that incredible 1st round. What a 1st round it was too. Just amazing basketball across the league. Hopefully, the rest of these playoffs can live up to the competitiveness we saw. There are a couple of nice matchups in this 2nd round and here is my breakdown of those. Refer to my 1st round preview for some extended information on these teams, as I spoke about them more in depth there.
5-1 EAST: Honestly, I originally had the Pacers winning in 6 games in a fun series, but after what I've seen from them since January, and what they showed in that first round, I'm going to pick the Washington Wizards to win it in 6 and get to the Eastern Conference Finals. I didnt give up on the Pacers until the 2nd quarter of Game 5 against the Hawks. I just kept thinking they would fix the things I've said are wrong with them for these playoffs. They havent, and it doesnt look like they will. They got incredibly lucky to win that Atlanta series. I really have never seen anything like this Pacers situation before. They're the antithesis of what they've been over the last 3 years. It really is unbelievable...I see the Wizards using their athleticism in this series to put up big scoring numbers and win it. I spoke about their defense in my 1st round preview, and I think the Pacers will have a bit of a struggle scoring. Also, Indiana's turnover issue may be evident in this series. The Wizards do a good ob of using their speed to close out, get in the passing lanes, and just disrupt. This will allow them to get out and run. They can also play in the half court with their bigs being as skilled as they are. Nene and Gortat really can give David West and Roy Hibbert some trouble on both ends. I also think that if the Wizards can compete on the boards, they should be able to win this series pretty easily. I spoke about John Wall announcing his presence. I think he will do that in this series as well. I think it could be a 4-1 series, but I'm going to give the Pacers credit enough to somehow come away with 2 wins in this one. Indiana can only hope that they can overturn the things I mentioned previously. I talked about what they need to do in my 1st round breakdown. If they can do those things, they'll have a chance. If not, this will probably be a short series and a serious disappointment to that team with their expectations.
6-2 EAST: Brooklyn is incredibly lucky to have advanced past the Toronto Raptors. They had fortunate officiating in their favor in the 1st 3 games of that series, and still barely came away with a series win. I honestly thought Toronto was winning that series and never wavered from that sentiment until it was over...As I said, if the Nets really want the Heat, then they made a mistake in that thought process. If the Heat make shots, this will be aquick series. If not, it could be closer than it should be, but the Heat should still pull it out. The Nets are going to have to hope for Marcus Thornton to do what he did in Game 7 if they're going to have a chance to win. Joe Johnson has been great for them, but he is going to need to keep up his efficiency. Brooklyn did a good job of slowing the game down against the Heat in the regular season, but the Heat can play that pace when they are at their best. In the half court, they can go into the post with Wade or Lebron to get some easy baskets. If they can hold onto the ball, they should be fine, while at the other end, I expect them to be disruptive and get out and run. Heat in 5 or 6 at the most.
5-1 WEST: This series should be incredibly interesting. That Portland-Houston 1st round series was amazing. I still think Portland's lack of a bench is going to hurt them, but you never had to question their starters, and they showed that in the 1st round. They have the star power in LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard leading them, and with 2 guys of that caliber, anything can happen in the playoffs. Wesley Matthews was very good on both ends in that 1st round, and as I mentioned in my 1st round preview, Nicholas Batum can be an X factor with his well rounded skill on both ends. I said that you cant overlook Dallas in that 1st round. I knew they were a good team, but I didnt see what we saw from them in that series coming. It could be argued that they should have won it. I still see the Spurs as the best team in the league though, so I'm going to have to stick with them here. Even so, I think this has a chance to be a great series, and its going to be the Spurs depth that edges them over Portland. The outside shot is going tobe a big determining factor in this series. The Spurs are going to have to keep Portland off the offensive boards and move the ball the way they are capable of. Will the Spurs long series effect them in this series and moving forward? That will be a question, but San Antonio has been too good to lose this early.
3-2 WEST: This is easily the most exciting series of this round. I honestly cant wait for this. I think that anything can happen in this series. It could be a long one or a short one. I know that it will be high scoring though. The reason I went with the Thunder in this one is the Clippers dont have anyone that can guard Kevin Durant or Russel Westbrook. Meanwhile, I think the Clippers will have trouble scoring in the half court. Blake Griffin has been better in the post, but he still reverts back to his usual issues at times. I think the Thunder have bigs that can guard him down low and make it difficult for him to get things done in the half court. That means a lot is going to be on Chris Paul...again. Both teams obviously want to get out and run in this series. I think the Thunder will use their length and athleticism to be really disruptive, get in passing lanes, and cause turnovers. The Thunder have their own turnover issues, but if they can hold onto the ball well enough, and play their style of defense, they should be able to win this. They are going to have to really focus on closing out to shooters in this series though. That is one area where the Clippers may be able to take advantage. OKC needs to also do a better job moving the ball. In the half court, they have to get Durant catching the ball in better spots. I said it throughout their 1st round series, and I've said it over the last few years. Durant needs to get on the elbow and down in the post so he can catch the ball closer to the basket and get easier baskets. That will take his game to the next level, as its really the only whole in his game. He cant keep letting little dudes guard him. If the Thunder cant score in the half court more efficiently, they're going to have to rely on their jumpshots. Both of these teams are very good. I do question whether Scott Brooks may be overmatched by Doc Rivers in this series, but I just keep going back to the fact that the Thunder have Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook and the Clippers dont. That being said, as I mentioned previously, the Thunder have to move the ball better and get others involved like they did during the regular season. They cant put so much reliance on Durant and Westbrook to go 1-5 every time down. This series really could go either way. I just know that its going to be a ton of fun to watch.
I'll continue to post my analysis of these games on my facebook page. I'll be breaking down the Eastern and Western Conference Finals when the time comes
5. Washington Wizards Wizards win 4-2 5. Portland Trail Blazers Spurs win 4-2
1. Indiana Pacers 1. San Antonio Spurs
6. Brooklyn Nets Heat win 4-1 3. LA Clippers Thunder win 4-2
2. Miami Heat 2. Oklahoma City Thunder
I did a pretty good job with my predictions in the 1st round. I had a lot of fun watching and
breaking down the games and results with analyzation on my facebook page throughout that incredible 1st round. What a 1st round it was too. Just amazing basketball across the league. Hopefully, the rest of these playoffs can live up to the competitiveness we saw. There are a couple of nice matchups in this 2nd round and here is my breakdown of those. Refer to my 1st round preview for some extended information on these teams, as I spoke about them more in depth there.
5-1 EAST: Honestly, I originally had the Pacers winning in 6 games in a fun series, but after what I've seen from them since January, and what they showed in that first round, I'm going to pick the Washington Wizards to win it in 6 and get to the Eastern Conference Finals. I didnt give up on the Pacers until the 2nd quarter of Game 5 against the Hawks. I just kept thinking they would fix the things I've said are wrong with them for these playoffs. They havent, and it doesnt look like they will. They got incredibly lucky to win that Atlanta series. I really have never seen anything like this Pacers situation before. They're the antithesis of what they've been over the last 3 years. It really is unbelievable...I see the Wizards using their athleticism in this series to put up big scoring numbers and win it. I spoke about their defense in my 1st round preview, and I think the Pacers will have a bit of a struggle scoring. Also, Indiana's turnover issue may be evident in this series. The Wizards do a good ob of using their speed to close out, get in the passing lanes, and just disrupt. This will allow them to get out and run. They can also play in the half court with their bigs being as skilled as they are. Nene and Gortat really can give David West and Roy Hibbert some trouble on both ends. I also think that if the Wizards can compete on the boards, they should be able to win this series pretty easily. I spoke about John Wall announcing his presence. I think he will do that in this series as well. I think it could be a 4-1 series, but I'm going to give the Pacers credit enough to somehow come away with 2 wins in this one. Indiana can only hope that they can overturn the things I mentioned previously. I talked about what they need to do in my 1st round breakdown. If they can do those things, they'll have a chance. If not, this will probably be a short series and a serious disappointment to that team with their expectations.
6-2 EAST: Brooklyn is incredibly lucky to have advanced past the Toronto Raptors. They had fortunate officiating in their favor in the 1st 3 games of that series, and still barely came away with a series win. I honestly thought Toronto was winning that series and never wavered from that sentiment until it was over...As I said, if the Nets really want the Heat, then they made a mistake in that thought process. If the Heat make shots, this will be aquick series. If not, it could be closer than it should be, but the Heat should still pull it out. The Nets are going to have to hope for Marcus Thornton to do what he did in Game 7 if they're going to have a chance to win. Joe Johnson has been great for them, but he is going to need to keep up his efficiency. Brooklyn did a good job of slowing the game down against the Heat in the regular season, but the Heat can play that pace when they are at their best. In the half court, they can go into the post with Wade or Lebron to get some easy baskets. If they can hold onto the ball, they should be fine, while at the other end, I expect them to be disruptive and get out and run. Heat in 5 or 6 at the most.
5-1 WEST: This series should be incredibly interesting. That Portland-Houston 1st round series was amazing. I still think Portland's lack of a bench is going to hurt them, but you never had to question their starters, and they showed that in the 1st round. They have the star power in LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard leading them, and with 2 guys of that caliber, anything can happen in the playoffs. Wesley Matthews was very good on both ends in that 1st round, and as I mentioned in my 1st round preview, Nicholas Batum can be an X factor with his well rounded skill on both ends. I said that you cant overlook Dallas in that 1st round. I knew they were a good team, but I didnt see what we saw from them in that series coming. It could be argued that they should have won it. I still see the Spurs as the best team in the league though, so I'm going to have to stick with them here. Even so, I think this has a chance to be a great series, and its going to be the Spurs depth that edges them over Portland. The outside shot is going tobe a big determining factor in this series. The Spurs are going to have to keep Portland off the offensive boards and move the ball the way they are capable of. Will the Spurs long series effect them in this series and moving forward? That will be a question, but San Antonio has been too good to lose this early.
3-2 WEST: This is easily the most exciting series of this round. I honestly cant wait for this. I think that anything can happen in this series. It could be a long one or a short one. I know that it will be high scoring though. The reason I went with the Thunder in this one is the Clippers dont have anyone that can guard Kevin Durant or Russel Westbrook. Meanwhile, I think the Clippers will have trouble scoring in the half court. Blake Griffin has been better in the post, but he still reverts back to his usual issues at times. I think the Thunder have bigs that can guard him down low and make it difficult for him to get things done in the half court. That means a lot is going to be on Chris Paul...again. Both teams obviously want to get out and run in this series. I think the Thunder will use their length and athleticism to be really disruptive, get in passing lanes, and cause turnovers. The Thunder have their own turnover issues, but if they can hold onto the ball well enough, and play their style of defense, they should be able to win this. They are going to have to really focus on closing out to shooters in this series though. That is one area where the Clippers may be able to take advantage. OKC needs to also do a better job moving the ball. In the half court, they have to get Durant catching the ball in better spots. I said it throughout their 1st round series, and I've said it over the last few years. Durant needs to get on the elbow and down in the post so he can catch the ball closer to the basket and get easier baskets. That will take his game to the next level, as its really the only whole in his game. He cant keep letting little dudes guard him. If the Thunder cant score in the half court more efficiently, they're going to have to rely on their jumpshots. Both of these teams are very good. I do question whether Scott Brooks may be overmatched by Doc Rivers in this series, but I just keep going back to the fact that the Thunder have Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook and the Clippers dont. That being said, as I mentioned previously, the Thunder have to move the ball better and get others involved like they did during the regular season. They cant put so much reliance on Durant and Westbrook to go 1-5 every time down. This series really could go either way. I just know that its going to be a ton of fun to watch.
I'll continue to post my analysis of these games on my facebook page. I'll be breaking down the Eastern and Western Conference Finals when the time comes
Saturday, April 19, 2014
2014 NBA Playoffs 1st Round Predictions and Analysis
EAST WEST
8. Atlanta Hawks Pacers win 4-2 8. Dallas Mavericks Spurs win 4-1
1. Indiana Pacers 1. San Antonio Spurs
5. Washington Wizards Wizards win 4-3 5. Portland Trail Blazers Rockets win 4-2
4. Chicago Bulls 4. Houston Rockets
6. Brooklyn Nets Raptors win 4-2 6. Golden State Warriors Clippers win 4-2
3. Toronto Raptors 3. LA Clippers
7. Charlotte Bobcats Heat win 4-1 7. Memphis Grizzlies Thunder win 4-1
2. Miami Heat 2. Oklahoma City Thunder
8-1 East: I'm not going to lie, I'm really disappointed that we arent going to get to see Indiana
and Charlotte in the 1st round. The Bobcats matchup really well with Indiana, and I thought it
would be a great series, and we could have even potentially seen an upset, and I'm not just saying
that based on the Pacers' recent struggles. Unfortunately, the Heat werent trying and OKC blew it
for all of us...Now on to the actual series. Atlanta is definitely hurt by injuries to Pero Antic
and Al Horford, but they still are a very good shooting team, and have shown decent defensive
ability, at least on the perimeter. What hurts them in this matchup though is that they are 28th
in rebounding. I see the Hawks not making it too easy on Indiana, especially if the Pacers continue
to struggle the way they have. The Pacers have become too stagnant offensively, having terrible possessions and letting it effect their defense. They hold the ball wayyyy too much and try to play too much 1-0n-1 basketball with the rest of the team just standing around. Zero ball movement. Zero player movement. Their turnover issue is still apparent. They need to get back to being the balanced team they've been over the past 2-3 seasons. Obviously, they'll need Paul George to step up when it matters most, but you cant put the type of pressure and reliance they have put on him over the past couple of months. He isnt at that level offensively yet. At the end of the day though, I trust that David West will show his leadership, and get them on the right track for them to win this series.
7-2 East: Charlotte has a much better matchup against Indiana than against Miami. They have a top 5 defense, but they have had trouble scoring at times, especially from 3, though that has improved since trading for Gary Neal. Michael-Kidd Gilchrist is for real defending the best player on the opponent's team, and he has done a good job at the 3 position. He has made it tough on elite players as well, but at the end of the day, you arent containing LeBron James. I really like this Charlotte team. Al Jefferson is a beast. Unfortunately, they run into a bad matchup against the 2 time defending NBA Champions, and they wont be able to continue their great season. Heading into next season, I've been throwing them out there as a darkhorse for Carmelo Anthony. They're returning to the Charlotte Hornets name, and Michael Jordan will likely want to make a big splash with his cap space. a Melo-Jefferson inside out combo is pretty good, and this team has good pieces around that as well. I personally would love to see it. Not going to hold my breath though.
6-3: I find it funny that the Nets tried to purposely lose the last couple of games just to avoid
the Bulls and to "set up a 2nd round matchup against Miami." Unfortunately for them, they arent
getting past Toronto. Toronto is a very exciting, and well balanced team. They are fun to watch.
Kyle Lowry has finally got a chance to show what he can do, Demar Derozan has finally stepped up to show what he is capable of, and they have other pieces as well in Amir Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, Terrance Ross, Greivis Vasquez, and Patrick Patterson. The Nets are a nice veteran team, and this should be a really good series. I'm so happy for Shaun Livingston. I just think Toronto's athleticism is going to be too much for the Nets. The only thing I worry about on Toronto's end in this series, is their lack of experience. Maybe that pushes Brooklyn over in this series, but I just think Toronto is good enough to overcome that experience difference.
5-4 East: This has a chance to be the best series in the 1st round in the Eastern Conference. It was very tough for me to pick this series, so I decided to call it a 7 game series, though it obviously has a chance to be a shorter series. I wont lie, I kind of wanted to see Washington and Toronto in the 1st round, but the Nets had to spoil that for me. At least we dont have to see the Bulls and Nets again though...I just think Chicago's scoring issues are going to hurt them in this series. Washington can run the point total up, but they also are capable of playing good defense, especially with Trevor Ariza on the wing. They are super athletic as well, and I just see John Wall taking his moment to shine, and running with it to officially declare his arrival. Chicago is a really good team. They have a great coach. They leave everything on the floor every single night. That is going to keep these games close and keep them in the series. I'm a fan of Jimmy Butler. Hinrich is still a good player. Joakim Noah is amazing. He was considered a bust at one point, but his hard work has turned him into one of the best Centers in the NBA, and a great leader. Taj Gibson is arguably my favorite player in the NBA, and has been over the past 3-4 years b/c of his amazing versatility. I wouldnt be surprised to see Chicago win this series at all. I just dont know how their scoring issues will play out here. Looking forward to this series.
8-1 West: Before the season, I said that we would have 8 or 9 teams in the West win 50 games or
get incredibly close to 50 wins, and I was correct. This is a deep conference. I like Dallas' team.
Unfortunately, they face the best team in the NBA, and they arent going to get past them. San
Antonio is just such a great, balanced, and deep team. They are an awesome passing team, and they knock down shots. Its going to be fun to see Dirk and Tim Duncan go at it 1 more time. Dont overlook Dallas. They could potentially force a 6th game. Monta Ellis has been a great pickup for them, and has improved his efficiency. Jose Calderon has long been super under rated. Shawn Marion is apparently an ageless wonder, and "The Matrix" is still the perfect nickname for him. Its crazy that he still guards the 3 position the way he does, and he still has a ton of versatility on the court. Vince Carter has been great off the bench. They also have rim protection from Dalembert and Wright. They are a good veteran team. They just ran into a giant. Should be a nostalgic and fun series, but the Spurs are just too good.
7-2: Memphis finds themselves in a similar situation as Dallas. If they hadnt been hurt by injuries
early in the season, they likely would be a much higher seed. Love their style. I'm a fan of their
whole team, but OKC is just too good when they are healthy. Their athleticism is going to stand out in this series. Memphis has a chance if they can do their thing, slow the game down offensively, and hold on to the ball, not allowing the Thunder to get out in the open floor. Still, I have too much faith in Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook to think that OKC wont win this series. I'll be saying that again later on in these playoffs. This should be a great series. It does have a shot to be a long series. I just think OKC is too good to not put this one away as soon as possible.
6-3 West: This probably would have been the best series had Andrew Bogut not been injured. It still should be a good series, and could result in an upset. This is going to be a very physical series, as these 2 teams do not like each other. Golden State lost rim protection and defense with Bogut going down, but Jermaine Oneal has been very good this year. They have the ability to play small with Draymond Greene and Harrison Barnes. Defensively, even with losing Bogut, they should be fine, with Igoudala and Thompson on the perimeter, though I'm not so sure about the PG matchup there. They need to find a way to contain Chris Paul, and take the ball out of his hands. Both of these teams are going to knock down shots all series. Its likely going to be a high scoring matchup. I'm hoping this one goes 7 games. At the end, I just think the Clippers are a deeper team, and Chris Paul will lead them into the 2nd round. Its unfortunate that someone is going to have to lose this one. Both teams are deserving.
5-4 West: I've said it a lot. Houston should be an elite team, but nobody guards on the perimeter
other than Patrick Beverly. Also, they dont play through Dwight Howard enough to set up their
outside shots. It just shows just how good they should be b/c they are still a really good team. James Harden frustrates me just b/c I know for a fact that he can play defense, as he did so in OKC. However, ever since he came to Houston, he doesnt play defense at all. Offensively, he is amazing. Both of these teams use the 3 point shot as a huge part of their games. Portland generally does it off of offensive rebounding. Portland has a chance in this series if they get what they need from LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. Wesley Matthews needs to be what he was this season, and they need Nicholas Batum to show his talent. He has a great all around, two way game, but sometimes he disappears. He could be the X factor for them. Robin Lopez has been awesome for them all season. Portland did a good job of improving their bench, which was a weakness last season, but I just dont think they are deep enough. This should also be a high scoring series. Terrance Jones has really stepped up for Houston all season. He is going to be a big factor in this series, as is Chandler Parsons. They are going to be counting on Patrick Beverly to try and contain Damian Lillard. I'm worried about Beverly's recent knee injury. I dont know how that is going to hold up. As I said, he is their only perimeter defender. It could come into play. At the end, I see Houston edging out Portland in 6 games b/c of their overall talent level.
I'll be posting 2nd round predictions when the time comes
8. Atlanta Hawks Pacers win 4-2 8. Dallas Mavericks Spurs win 4-1
1. Indiana Pacers 1. San Antonio Spurs
5. Washington Wizards Wizards win 4-3 5. Portland Trail Blazers Rockets win 4-2
4. Chicago Bulls 4. Houston Rockets
6. Brooklyn Nets Raptors win 4-2 6. Golden State Warriors Clippers win 4-2
3. Toronto Raptors 3. LA Clippers
7. Charlotte Bobcats Heat win 4-1 7. Memphis Grizzlies Thunder win 4-1
2. Miami Heat 2. Oklahoma City Thunder
8-1 East: I'm not going to lie, I'm really disappointed that we arent going to get to see Indiana
and Charlotte in the 1st round. The Bobcats matchup really well with Indiana, and I thought it
would be a great series, and we could have even potentially seen an upset, and I'm not just saying
that based on the Pacers' recent struggles. Unfortunately, the Heat werent trying and OKC blew it
for all of us...Now on to the actual series. Atlanta is definitely hurt by injuries to Pero Antic
and Al Horford, but they still are a very good shooting team, and have shown decent defensive
ability, at least on the perimeter. What hurts them in this matchup though is that they are 28th
in rebounding. I see the Hawks not making it too easy on Indiana, especially if the Pacers continue
to struggle the way they have. The Pacers have become too stagnant offensively, having terrible possessions and letting it effect their defense. They hold the ball wayyyy too much and try to play too much 1-0n-1 basketball with the rest of the team just standing around. Zero ball movement. Zero player movement. Their turnover issue is still apparent. They need to get back to being the balanced team they've been over the past 2-3 seasons. Obviously, they'll need Paul George to step up when it matters most, but you cant put the type of pressure and reliance they have put on him over the past couple of months. He isnt at that level offensively yet. At the end of the day though, I trust that David West will show his leadership, and get them on the right track for them to win this series.
7-2 East: Charlotte has a much better matchup against Indiana than against Miami. They have a top 5 defense, but they have had trouble scoring at times, especially from 3, though that has improved since trading for Gary Neal. Michael-Kidd Gilchrist is for real defending the best player on the opponent's team, and he has done a good job at the 3 position. He has made it tough on elite players as well, but at the end of the day, you arent containing LeBron James. I really like this Charlotte team. Al Jefferson is a beast. Unfortunately, they run into a bad matchup against the 2 time defending NBA Champions, and they wont be able to continue their great season. Heading into next season, I've been throwing them out there as a darkhorse for Carmelo Anthony. They're returning to the Charlotte Hornets name, and Michael Jordan will likely want to make a big splash with his cap space. a Melo-Jefferson inside out combo is pretty good, and this team has good pieces around that as well. I personally would love to see it. Not going to hold my breath though.
6-3: I find it funny that the Nets tried to purposely lose the last couple of games just to avoid
the Bulls and to "set up a 2nd round matchup against Miami." Unfortunately for them, they arent
getting past Toronto. Toronto is a very exciting, and well balanced team. They are fun to watch.
Kyle Lowry has finally got a chance to show what he can do, Demar Derozan has finally stepped up to show what he is capable of, and they have other pieces as well in Amir Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, Terrance Ross, Greivis Vasquez, and Patrick Patterson. The Nets are a nice veteran team, and this should be a really good series. I'm so happy for Shaun Livingston. I just think Toronto's athleticism is going to be too much for the Nets. The only thing I worry about on Toronto's end in this series, is their lack of experience. Maybe that pushes Brooklyn over in this series, but I just think Toronto is good enough to overcome that experience difference.
5-4 East: This has a chance to be the best series in the 1st round in the Eastern Conference. It was very tough for me to pick this series, so I decided to call it a 7 game series, though it obviously has a chance to be a shorter series. I wont lie, I kind of wanted to see Washington and Toronto in the 1st round, but the Nets had to spoil that for me. At least we dont have to see the Bulls and Nets again though...I just think Chicago's scoring issues are going to hurt them in this series. Washington can run the point total up, but they also are capable of playing good defense, especially with Trevor Ariza on the wing. They are super athletic as well, and I just see John Wall taking his moment to shine, and running with it to officially declare his arrival. Chicago is a really good team. They have a great coach. They leave everything on the floor every single night. That is going to keep these games close and keep them in the series. I'm a fan of Jimmy Butler. Hinrich is still a good player. Joakim Noah is amazing. He was considered a bust at one point, but his hard work has turned him into one of the best Centers in the NBA, and a great leader. Taj Gibson is arguably my favorite player in the NBA, and has been over the past 3-4 years b/c of his amazing versatility. I wouldnt be surprised to see Chicago win this series at all. I just dont know how their scoring issues will play out here. Looking forward to this series.
8-1 West: Before the season, I said that we would have 8 or 9 teams in the West win 50 games or
get incredibly close to 50 wins, and I was correct. This is a deep conference. I like Dallas' team.
Unfortunately, they face the best team in the NBA, and they arent going to get past them. San
Antonio is just such a great, balanced, and deep team. They are an awesome passing team, and they knock down shots. Its going to be fun to see Dirk and Tim Duncan go at it 1 more time. Dont overlook Dallas. They could potentially force a 6th game. Monta Ellis has been a great pickup for them, and has improved his efficiency. Jose Calderon has long been super under rated. Shawn Marion is apparently an ageless wonder, and "The Matrix" is still the perfect nickname for him. Its crazy that he still guards the 3 position the way he does, and he still has a ton of versatility on the court. Vince Carter has been great off the bench. They also have rim protection from Dalembert and Wright. They are a good veteran team. They just ran into a giant. Should be a nostalgic and fun series, but the Spurs are just too good.
7-2: Memphis finds themselves in a similar situation as Dallas. If they hadnt been hurt by injuries
early in the season, they likely would be a much higher seed. Love their style. I'm a fan of their
whole team, but OKC is just too good when they are healthy. Their athleticism is going to stand out in this series. Memphis has a chance if they can do their thing, slow the game down offensively, and hold on to the ball, not allowing the Thunder to get out in the open floor. Still, I have too much faith in Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook to think that OKC wont win this series. I'll be saying that again later on in these playoffs. This should be a great series. It does have a shot to be a long series. I just think OKC is too good to not put this one away as soon as possible.
6-3 West: This probably would have been the best series had Andrew Bogut not been injured. It still should be a good series, and could result in an upset. This is going to be a very physical series, as these 2 teams do not like each other. Golden State lost rim protection and defense with Bogut going down, but Jermaine Oneal has been very good this year. They have the ability to play small with Draymond Greene and Harrison Barnes. Defensively, even with losing Bogut, they should be fine, with Igoudala and Thompson on the perimeter, though I'm not so sure about the PG matchup there. They need to find a way to contain Chris Paul, and take the ball out of his hands. Both of these teams are going to knock down shots all series. Its likely going to be a high scoring matchup. I'm hoping this one goes 7 games. At the end, I just think the Clippers are a deeper team, and Chris Paul will lead them into the 2nd round. Its unfortunate that someone is going to have to lose this one. Both teams are deserving.
5-4 West: I've said it a lot. Houston should be an elite team, but nobody guards on the perimeter
other than Patrick Beverly. Also, they dont play through Dwight Howard enough to set up their
outside shots. It just shows just how good they should be b/c they are still a really good team. James Harden frustrates me just b/c I know for a fact that he can play defense, as he did so in OKC. However, ever since he came to Houston, he doesnt play defense at all. Offensively, he is amazing. Both of these teams use the 3 point shot as a huge part of their games. Portland generally does it off of offensive rebounding. Portland has a chance in this series if they get what they need from LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. Wesley Matthews needs to be what he was this season, and they need Nicholas Batum to show his talent. He has a great all around, two way game, but sometimes he disappears. He could be the X factor for them. Robin Lopez has been awesome for them all season. Portland did a good job of improving their bench, which was a weakness last season, but I just dont think they are deep enough. This should also be a high scoring series. Terrance Jones has really stepped up for Houston all season. He is going to be a big factor in this series, as is Chandler Parsons. They are going to be counting on Patrick Beverly to try and contain Damian Lillard. I'm worried about Beverly's recent knee injury. I dont know how that is going to hold up. As I said, he is their only perimeter defender. It could come into play. At the end, I see Houston edging out Portland in 6 games b/c of their overall talent level.
I'll be posting 2nd round predictions when the time comes
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Revised 2014 MLB picks at end of ST
Honestly, I finished this a couple of days ago, and there have been more injuries since then. I'm not going back and doing this again, so I'm just going to leave it how it is. I could do my usual thing and explain my picks, but that is clearly going to take a long time, and since nobody seems to care, I'm not going to waste my time and will continue to use my facebook account as a more immediate sports blog where I comment on most everything. I will still post stuff here, but as you may have noticed, its going to be scarcely unless this starts getting a little more recognition.
Revised 2014 MLB ST picks after most injuries:
AL EAST AL CENTRAL AL WEST
1. Tampa Bay Rays(97-65) 1.Detroit Tigers (90-72) 1.Oakland A's (91-71)
2. Boston Red Sox (90-72) 2.Kansas City Royals (86-76) 2.Los Angeles Angels (87-75)
3. New York Yankees (88-74) 3.Cleveland Indians (83-79) 3.Texas Rangers (84-78)
4. Baltimore Orioles (87-75) 4.Chicago White Sox (76-86) 4.Seattle Mariners (78-84)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (75-87) 5.Minnesota Twins (74-88) 5.Houston Astros (72-90)
NL EAST NL CENTRAL NL WEST
1. Washington Nationals (98-64) 1.St Louis Cardinals (95-67) 1.Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67)
2. Atlanta Braves (90-72) 2.Cincinnati Reds (88-74) 2.San Francisco Giants (88-74)
3. New York Mets (85-77) 3.Pittsburgh Pirates (86-76) 3.Arizona Diamondbacks (83-79)
4. Miami Marlins(80-82) 4.Milwaukee Brewers (77-85) 4.Colorado Rockies (79-83)
5. Philadelphia Phillies(78-84) 5.Chicago Cubs (73-89) 5.San Diego Padres (74-88)
AL MVP: Mike Trout
NL MVP: Bryce Harper
NL Champion: I honestly dont know who I have going to the World Series. Right now, I'm leaning
Washington b/c of their rotation, but both St Louis and the Dodgers are good enough to get there
as well.
AL Champion: Tampa Bay Rays
World Series Champion: Whoever wins the National League
Revised 2014 MLB ST picks after most injuries:
AL EAST AL CENTRAL AL WEST
1. Tampa Bay Rays(97-65) 1.Detroit Tigers (90-72) 1.Oakland A's (91-71)
2. Boston Red Sox (90-72) 2.Kansas City Royals (86-76) 2.Los Angeles Angels (87-75)
3. New York Yankees (88-74) 3.Cleveland Indians (83-79) 3.Texas Rangers (84-78)
4. Baltimore Orioles (87-75) 4.Chicago White Sox (76-86) 4.Seattle Mariners (78-84)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (75-87) 5.Minnesota Twins (74-88) 5.Houston Astros (72-90)
NL EAST NL CENTRAL NL WEST
1. Washington Nationals (98-64) 1.St Louis Cardinals (95-67) 1.Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67)
2. Atlanta Braves (90-72) 2.Cincinnati Reds (88-74) 2.San Francisco Giants (88-74)
3. New York Mets (85-77) 3.Pittsburgh Pirates (86-76) 3.Arizona Diamondbacks (83-79)
4. Miami Marlins(80-82) 4.Milwaukee Brewers (77-85) 4.Colorado Rockies (79-83)
5. Philadelphia Phillies(78-84) 5.Chicago Cubs (73-89) 5.San Diego Padres (74-88)
AL MVP: Mike Trout
NL MVP: Bryce Harper
NL Champion: I honestly dont know who I have going to the World Series. Right now, I'm leaning
Washington b/c of their rotation, but both St Louis and the Dodgers are good enough to get there
as well.
AL Champion: Tampa Bay Rays
World Series Champion: Whoever wins the National League
Monday, March 24, 2014
Original 2014 MLB ST picks (prior to injuries)
I had already made my predictions for the 2014 MLB season, but b/c of a multitude of injuries and roster moves, I will now have to change them and come out with revised standings before Opening Day next Sunday. I will be taking into account other injuries and roster moves between now and then, so that means I will have to wait until most of those decisions are made.
Original 2014 MLB ST predictions:
AL EAST AL CENTRAL AL WEST
1. Tampa Bay Rays(97-65) 1.Detroit Tigers (92-70) 1.Oakland A's (96-66)
2. Boston Red Sox (90-72) 2.Kansas City Royals (88-74) 2.Texas Rangers (89-73)
3. New York Yankees (88-74) 3.Cleveland Indians (83-79) 3.Los Angeles Angels (87-75)
4. Baltimore Orioles (87-75) 4.Chicago White Sox (76-86) 4.Seattle Mariners (82-80)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (80-82) 5.Minnesota Twins (74-88) 5.Houston Astros (72-90)
NL EAST NL CENTRAL NL WEST
1. Washington Nationals (102-60) 1.St Louis Cardinals (95-67) 1.Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67)
2. Atlanta Braves (94-68) 2.Cincinnati Reds (90-72) 2.San Francisco Giants (88-74)
3. New York Mets (85-77) 3.Pittsburgh Pirates (88-74) 3.Arizona Diamondbacks (86-76)
4. Miami Marlins(80-82) 4.Milwaukee Brewers (77-85) 4.Colorado Rockies (84-78)
5. Philadelphia Phillies(78-84) 5.Chicago Cubs (75-87) 5.San Diego Padres (78-84)
Original 2014 MLB ST predictions:
AL EAST AL CENTRAL AL WEST
1. Tampa Bay Rays(97-65) 1.Detroit Tigers (92-70) 1.Oakland A's (96-66)
2. Boston Red Sox (90-72) 2.Kansas City Royals (88-74) 2.Texas Rangers (89-73)
3. New York Yankees (88-74) 3.Cleveland Indians (83-79) 3.Los Angeles Angels (87-75)
4. Baltimore Orioles (87-75) 4.Chicago White Sox (76-86) 4.Seattle Mariners (82-80)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (80-82) 5.Minnesota Twins (74-88) 5.Houston Astros (72-90)
NL EAST NL CENTRAL NL WEST
1. Washington Nationals (102-60) 1.St Louis Cardinals (95-67) 1.Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67)
2. Atlanta Braves (94-68) 2.Cincinnati Reds (90-72) 2.San Francisco Giants (88-74)
3. New York Mets (85-77) 3.Pittsburgh Pirates (88-74) 3.Arizona Diamondbacks (86-76)
4. Miami Marlins(80-82) 4.Milwaukee Brewers (77-85) 4.Colorado Rockies (84-78)
5. Philadelphia Phillies(78-84) 5.Chicago Cubs (75-87) 5.San Diego Padres (78-84)
Monday, February 17, 2014
2013-2014 NBA Predictions at the All Star Break
All Star Break Picks
EAST WEST
1. Indiana Pacers 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Miami Heat 2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Toronto Raptors 3. LA Clippers
4. Washington Wizards 4. Houston Rockets
5. Chicago Bulls 5. Portland Trail Blazers
6. Atlanta Hawks 6. Golden State Warriors
7. Charlotte Bobcats 7. Phoenix Suns
8. New York Knicks 8. Dallas Mavericks
9. Brooklyn Nets 9. Memphis Grizzlies
10.Detroit Pistons 10.Minnesota Timberwolves
11.Cleveland Cavaliers 11.New Orleans Hornets
12.Boston Celtics 12.Denver Nuggets
13.Orlando Magic 13.Sacramento Kings
14.Philadelphia 76ers 14.Los Angeles Lakers
15.Milwaukee Bucks 15.Utah Jazz
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
2014 NBA CHAMPIONS
Miami Heat
I plan on updating these again after March 1, which is the final day teams can add players
that have been released or bought out and have them eligible to play in the playoffs. With the
Trade deadline coming up in a couple of days, and that March 1 date also effecting team rosters,
things can end up changing. It was tough to make these picks at this stage as the West is just
so good, and I still have confidence in the Spurs to at least get to the West Finals. I took
injuries into account here. I also decided to make a couple of predictions that I think are a little
bold. I just cant put the Knicks away, even with 30 games left. I also dont have a definitive answer
for who I feel will win the 2014 NBA Championship. The Thunder match up very well with the Heat.
They use their youth, length, and athleticism to disrupt, getting in passing lanes and forcing
turnovers. Their defense is impressive. Its a similar style to the Heat, but they are more athletic.
As the rosters are currently constructed, the Heat will need Shane Battier to knock down shots and be effective in guarding Kevin Durant at times. The Heat need to take him away from his spots and deny him the ball like they did in the 2012 Finals. Also, if they can use the Thunder's turnover problem to their advantage, and the Heat do force the most turnovers in the NBA, that will give them their best shot to beat OKC. They showed some very good things in their first meeting with OKC this season, though they were beaten. I suspect the Heat will try to add another athletic wing to help them with this situation. Regardless, I see that being an incredible series and its hard to choose either way. My brain does lean towards OKC, but I cant bet against the 2 time defending NBA Champions at this point.
EAST WEST
1. Indiana Pacers 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Miami Heat 2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Toronto Raptors 3. LA Clippers
4. Washington Wizards 4. Houston Rockets
5. Chicago Bulls 5. Portland Trail Blazers
6. Atlanta Hawks 6. Golden State Warriors
7. Charlotte Bobcats 7. Phoenix Suns
8. New York Knicks 8. Dallas Mavericks
9. Brooklyn Nets 9. Memphis Grizzlies
10.Detroit Pistons 10.Minnesota Timberwolves
11.Cleveland Cavaliers 11.New Orleans Hornets
12.Boston Celtics 12.Denver Nuggets
13.Orlando Magic 13.Sacramento Kings
14.Philadelphia 76ers 14.Los Angeles Lakers
15.Milwaukee Bucks 15.Utah Jazz
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
2014 NBA CHAMPIONS
Miami Heat
I plan on updating these again after March 1, which is the final day teams can add players
that have been released or bought out and have them eligible to play in the playoffs. With the
Trade deadline coming up in a couple of days, and that March 1 date also effecting team rosters,
things can end up changing. It was tough to make these picks at this stage as the West is just
so good, and I still have confidence in the Spurs to at least get to the West Finals. I took
injuries into account here. I also decided to make a couple of predictions that I think are a little
bold. I just cant put the Knicks away, even with 30 games left. I also dont have a definitive answer
for who I feel will win the 2014 NBA Championship. The Thunder match up very well with the Heat.
They use their youth, length, and athleticism to disrupt, getting in passing lanes and forcing
turnovers. Their defense is impressive. Its a similar style to the Heat, but they are more athletic.
As the rosters are currently constructed, the Heat will need Shane Battier to knock down shots and be effective in guarding Kevin Durant at times. The Heat need to take him away from his spots and deny him the ball like they did in the 2012 Finals. Also, if they can use the Thunder's turnover problem to their advantage, and the Heat do force the most turnovers in the NBA, that will give them their best shot to beat OKC. They showed some very good things in their first meeting with OKC this season, though they were beaten. I suspect the Heat will try to add another athletic wing to help them with this situation. Regardless, I see that being an incredible series and its hard to choose either way. My brain does lean towards OKC, but I cant bet against the 2 time defending NBA Champions at this point.
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