NBA Playoff Action

A couple of really good games on Monday... also, the Cavs swept the Wizards. Glad thats over. Although Antawn Jamison was really good in a losing effort for the Wiz. But here are my thoughts from the other 2 games:

- I think that whoever winds up winning the Houston/Utah series, neither of them will be able to hang with the winner of Dallas/Golden State. Not enough offensive firepower for either team, and Im not sure they can even come close to matching the pace of those teams. Yao Ming was looking extremely gassed at the end of this one... how would he feel playing the Warriors pace?

- Its been said before, but I just love watching Shane Battier and Chuck Hayes play. Ditto for Paul Millsap, who is really good.

- Rockets take the series lead 3-2... I kinda think this is going to be one of those series where the home team wins every game. In other words at this point Ill take Houston in 7.

- Coming into the playoffs I thought the Spurs were going to win it all, and I see nothing to change my mind now. Beating Denver in a must-win situation for the Nuggets in Denver is great. Thats really an excellent win.

- Where did the JR Smith that averaged nearly 16 PPG before the All-Star break go? Yeesh, he looks awful out there.

- Nene and Camby, on the other hand, were brilliant.

- As always, nothing flashy for the Spurs, but they get it done. They made the plays they had to down the stretch, and just got it done. Thats fun to watch.

Golden State @ Dallas Tuesday night at 8:30 PM CDT... be there or be square. Mavs will come out firing. I dont think weve seen the end of them quite yet.

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College Basketball Coaching Changes

As you probably know, lots of changes have been taking place in college basketball as far as coaching goes over the past few days... here are some of my thoughts.

- Billy Donovan is back, which did surprise me a little. I really thought he would leave for Kentucky. To be honest, I kinda wanted to see him go to Kentucky just to see what he could do (Kentucky is still one of the best jobs in America), but Im not disappointed that hes staying in Florida. Hes already established himself as one of the best coaches in America (maybe the best), and itll be interesting to see how he builds on the momentum from the titles.

- Bob Huggins to West Virginia was a little befuddling to me... all that buzz and excitement at KSU. Bill Walker will be back after tearing his ACL, and he just brought in a top 3 class to KSU (including Michael Beasley). And hes gone, just like that? Look, Huggys a great coach. But after all of the scrutiny and allegations at Cincy, and then bolting after one year from the school that brought you back, would you want this guy coaching your team? Im not sure I would.

- The whole Dana Altman situation was just strange. Hey, I think its fine that a guy makes the decision to stay where hes happiest... too bad though that he couldnt have made the decision before he decided to accept the Arkansas job.

- I really like the hiring of John Beilein for Michigan. The guy is just a good, good basketball coach. Even if hes not getting all of the top recruits, he knows how to recruit guys that fit into his system and then teach that system to them.

- Its hard for me to even make a guess as to who will be the Kentucky coach. Latest news is that theyre going after Billy Gillepsie, but for some reason I just dont see it. I think Mark Few and Tom Crean are the most likely to get the job, but thats pure speculation.

What are your thoughts on the changes so far and who do you think will the Kentucky coach?

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Fantasy Baseball Ranking Catchers

Theres a good chance that eventually I will group some positions together, but for now lets just look exclusively at the Catchers. For brevitys sake, Ill just give my top 15 with a short comment for each. Feel free to interject at any time (by leaving a comment, or even an email, if I offend you too much).

1. Joe Mauer (MIN) - Quite simply, Mauer is the best catcher in the MLB. He was the MLB batting champ last season, and should just be coming into his own as far as power is concerned. He had 36 2B and 13 HR, and both of those should go up as he gets closer to his prime. Hes also the #3 hitter in the order, meaning plenty of chances to get RBI or get knocked in by Justin Morneau and Mike Cuddyer. And if all of that is not enough, Ron Gardenhire frequently makes Mauer the DH on the days hes not catching. Thats really good for fantasy purposes.
2. Victor Martinez (CLE) - I feel Mauer is the #1 fantasy catcher, but if you like Martinez more, I cant argue too much. At this point he doesnt get on base as much as Mauer, but maybe has a slight, slight power edge. Another thing you have to like with Martinez is that he sucks defensively... meaning the Indians will play him more at 1B, which helps to stop wear and tear.
3. Brian McCann (ATL) - McCann was pretty awesome last year, batting .333 while hitting for very good power (24 HR). Hes like 1C for fantasy catching purposes... you cant go wrong with Mauer, Martinez, or McCann, because both are excellent and are young enough that they could be even better this year.
4. Kenji Johjima (SEA) - Johjima quietly put together a nice rookie campaign last season, batting .291 with 44 XBH and 76 RBI. Now that hes more acclimated to the MLB, he should be even better in year 2.
5. Mike Piazza (OAK) - Piazza is obviously not the hitter he used to be, but thats ok. He should be doing a lot of DHing in Oak-town, which will be great since he still has catcher eligibility. He hit .283 with 22 HR last year in 400 ABs in an extreme pitchers park in a pitchers league. People are overlooking him some because of his age, but I think hell be excellent this year.
6. Ivan Rodriguez (DET) - Hes another guy thats getting older, but he did hit .300 once again last season. Also, with guys like Magglio Ordonez and the extremely underrated Carlos Guillen near him in the lineup, he should be able to provide another solid season of production.
7. Ramon Hernandez (BAL) - Hernandez adapted very well to Baltimore last season, with 23 HR, 91 RBI, and a solid .275 AVG. With the lineup around him and the fact the hitters ballpark in Baltimore, good things should again be in store.
8. Michael Barrett (CHIN) - Barrett hit over .300 last year with 16 HR, a respectable amount. With some improvements to the Cubs offense (overrated as Soriano may be), its not inconceivable to see a little boost for Barrett, which puts him definitely in the top 10.
9. Jorge Posada (NYY) - Posada has been around seemingly forever, but hes still productive for now. He hit 23 HR last year and racked up 93 RBI. He was much better in 2006 than 2005, so well see if thats just a one-year final gasp, or if hes still a top 5 catcher. Im betting somewhere in between.
10. AJ Pierzynski (CHIA) - I feel like Im repeating myself here... near .300 average for Pierzynski, mid-teens in HR, and mid twenties for doubles. He should also get solid RBI opportunities because there are some superb hitters in front of him in the Sox lineup.
11. Russell Martin (LAD) - Martin had a very nice rookie year for the Dodgers, with 26 2B, 65 R, and 65 RBI in only 121 games. Barring a sophomore slump, he could be a nice sleeper here.
12. Paul Lo Duca (NYM) - I still think Lo Duca is a little overrated, but he hit for a high average, had a good amount of doubles, and scored a lot of runs due to batting 2nd in a good lineup. I suspect that .318 average will drop some, but he sure does have a lot of protection in that lineup.
13. Jason Varitek (BOS) - Varitek may be a great gamecaller, but he was really bad at the plate last season. He only batted .238 and his power numbers were down. He was battling some injuries, so Im sure that contributed, but he needs to bounce back offensively.
14. Johnny Estrada (MIL) - Estradas always been a guy to hit for a pretty good average and get in the mid-20s in doubles. We pretty much know what to expect from him.
15. Javy Lopez (COL) - I know his numbers from last year arent all that inspiring, but playing half your games in Coors Field tends to be a big help to offensive stats.

What changes would you make to these rankings?

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NCAA Bracket Predictions Midwest Region

Moving on to the Midwest.

ROUND ONE

(1) Kansas over (16) Portland St. - The Jayhawks should dispatch of them pretty easily.

(8) UNLV over (9) Kent St. - Kent St. is certainly a really good team, but I like UNLV. Theyre very well-coached by Lon Kruger, they have Tourney experience (at least, the few holdovers from last year), and theyre fresh off winning the Mountain West.

(5) Clemson over (12) Villanova - Clemson is really good. Villanova is really inconsistent. I have a hard time seeing Nova putting up enough points in this game.

(4) Vanderbilt over (13) Siena - Siena is becoming the trendy upset pick, but hold on a minute. I know they have talent, but they dont have anyone like Shan Foster or AJ Ogilvy. And Kevin Stallings is a pretty darn good coach. Ill take Vandy to win this game.

(6) USC vs. (11) Kansas St. - All about coaching, and USC has a huge edge there. Im excited to see what Tim Floyd, the man who beat Kevin Durant in last years Tourney, comes up this year to try and slow down Michael Beasley.

(3) Wisconsin over (14) CF Fullerton - Badgers are too tough defensively here.

(10) Davidson over (7) Gonzaga - The Zags have talent all over, but Davidson is playing too well right now. They obviously have Stephen Curry, but dont discount Jason Richards at the PG spot. Hes real good.

(2) Georgetown over (15) UMBC - Uh, yeah. I think the Hoyas will have enough in this one.


ROUND TWO

(1) Kansas over (8) UNLV - UNLV is a tough team, but they dont have the talent or depth to match up with the Jayhawks

(5) Clemson over (4) Vanderbilt - The Tigers are playing very good basketball right now. They have the big men to slow down Ogilvy down low, and that makes the Commodores one-dimensional.

(6) USC over (3) Wisconsin - I just like USCs superior athleticism and talent in this game. It might not be pretty, but I think theyll be able to score just a little more easily than the Badgers.

(10) Davidson over (2) Georgetown - Just a feeling. The Hoyas havent been overly impressive all season long. They need Hibbert to step up, and I just see Davidson being a little better in this one. At the very least, they wont be intimidated.


SWEET 16

(1) Kansas over (5) Clemson - I think Clemson would have a very legitimate chance in this one, but the Jayhawks are playing very good basketball right now. Theyre just a little too talented for Clemson.

(6) USC over (10) Davidson - USCs a little too talented. Tim Floyd can devise some type of game plan to help slow down Stephen Curry, and USCs athletes can get to the rim against Davidson.


ELITE EIGHT

(1) Kansas over (6) USC - The Trojans run out of gas. Kansas is much deeper in this game, allowing them to run USC off the floor.

Regional Champion: KANSAS

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Billy King No Level of Incompetence that wont be tolerated

As I mentioned earlier and you almost certainly have heard many times, Allen Iverson was traded. The official deal is Allen Iverson and Ivan McFarlin for Andre Miller, Joe Smith (and his expiring contract), and two first-round draft picks.

Allen Iverson was the reason I first became a Sixers fan, so its tough to see him go, especially when hes still playing great basketball. Hes incredibly quick, a great finisher, gets to the line, and will give you all hes got each and every game. Maybe hes not big on practice, but I think thats forgivable considering the beating he takes game in and game out.

So about the trade. I dont really like it much. Certainly its not an awful deal, but in many ways I dont see the point. Andre Miller is a nice PG, and a good distributor. But like Iverson hes 31 years old and his deal runs for 2 more years after this one. Honestly, all I can see Miller doing is improving the Sixers just enough to lessen their shot at the #1 pick. I wouldnt really be surprised if the Sixers turned around and traded Miller.

Then theres Joe Smith, who is simply in it for the expiring contract. OK.

Last, and perhaps most importantly, are 2 first-round picks. These are obviously nice, but theyll be late first rounders sometime in the 20s. Its a deep draft, which is good, but what do you normally get from picks in the 20s? Based on my unscientific research, generally role players or occasional starters. Every once in a while theres a guy like Josh Howard, but then theres also the guys that never make it. And that is what they got for Allen Iverson, who by the time hes done with be one of the top 50 (certainly) players ever to play the game, and whos still playing at a very high level.

Its increasingly evident that the problem in Philadelphia was not Allen Iverson, its Billy King. Seriously, look at this Philly team right now.

- Andre Iguodala - ok, no complaints here. Hes a nice up-and-coming player on both ends of the court.
- Kyle Korver - great shooter, no defense. Solid role player.
- Chris Webber - basically on one leg, limited mobility, and with an albatross contract. An awful defensively player and poor fit for Phillys personnel.
- Samuel Dalembert - an athletic post with no real offensive skills and seems to be the same player he was 2 years ago.
- Rodney Carney - promising young player whos nowhere near ready yet.

Thats about it. Kevin Ollie starts, but he sucks. Louis Williams could be good someday, but hes not yet. Stephen Hunter is a decent big man off the bench. The starting lineup is below average, and there is no depth. This was the team surrounding around Allen Iverson.

At the end of the day, Allen Iverson is a Denver Nugget, and they become my 2nd favorite team. But the problems for the 76ers run a lot deeper than Allen Iverson, and they start in the front office with Billy King. The man with seemingly no plan, and from the looks of it no real clue on how to piece together a team.

Heres a great post at The 700 Level, and Ill quote a part I really like:

Ill remember the crossover on Jordan, the high arching kiss off the glass, the step over Tyronne Lue, the cupped hand to the ear, the sleeve, the tattoos, the MVP. Im not talkin bout practice, Im talkin bout the warrior.

Allen Iverson had his flaws. Philadelphia loved him anyway. Thanks for the memories.

Indeed. Thanks AI, youll be missed by this 76ers fan.

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MLB Power Rankings 7 16

Like the last wildly popular version, its time for another set of rankings of my top 10 teams in the MLB. Or in other words, nothing much else is going on in sports right now.

1. Boston Red Sox - Just barely retain the top spot, but they still have a comfortable 9 game lead in the AL East. But I still think the Yankees might have a little something to say by the end of the season, but things are still looking very good in Boston.

2. Detroit Tigers - They have scored almost 50 more runs than the next highest team (Cleveland), and the pitching is pretty solid too. Theyre "only" 25-19 at home, but a fantastic 29-17 on the road. Once Zumaya comes back to shore up the bullpen theyre probably the team to be in the American League.

3. Cleveland Indians - Their offense hasnt been quite as explosive as the Tigers, but its still pretty darn good. Unlike Detroit, theyre a pedestrian 21-24 on the road, but a remarkable 33-13 at home, best in the Majors.

4. Anaheim Angels - The Angels are actually tied with the Red Sox for the best record in the Majors, though I think its been a little flukey. Still, theyre a really solid team and look like the overwhelming favorites in the AL West. The Mariners might have a shot if they make a couple of moves, but the As dont look very good right now after getting swept by the Twins.

5. San Diego Padres - They have falled behind the Dodgers right now in the NL West, but I do still think they will come out on top. They have the best pitching in the League, and have been a little unlucky. It looks like the NL West will be one of the best races between the Dodgers and Padres.

6. Los Angeles Dodgers - They have started off great since the Break, moving into the lead in the NL West. They are a great 19-10 in 1-run games, which tends to even out, which is why Im a little more optimistic about the Padres than the Dodgers. But if Saito and Broxton can continue to shut the door at the end of ballgames the Dodgers should be in great position.

7. Milwaukee Brewers - Theyre probably looking over their shoulders at the Cubs a little bit (especially if the Ben Sheets injury is serious), but theyve survived a mini stumble (with the Cubs playing very well) and are still up 3.5 games. If Sheets is OK, Yovani Gallardo should remain in the rotation, bumping either Jeff Suppan or Chris Capuano.

8. Minnesota Twins - After a 4-game sweep of the As, the Twins are only 6 games behind the Tigers in the Central. If the young pitchers (Bonser, Garza, Baker) can continue to give them quality starts, they are a serious threat in the AL. Theyve still got the best pitcher in baseball and a very good middle of the order.

9. New York Yankees - Theyre just a game over .500, but no team has been more unlucky with regards to what their record is and what their pythagorean record is. They have issues in the bullpen, but the rotation is starting to come together (especially if Phillip Hughes can remain healthy).

10. Chicago Cubs - The Cubs have won 3 in a row and are 7-3 in their last 10, which have made them into a threat in the NL Central and possibly even a factor in the Wildcard race. Dont look now, but Carlos Marmol has been one of the best relievers in the MLB this year.

What are your thoughts?

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Super Bowl Prediction

On paper, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the edge over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. But as Kenny Mayne says, "We know that these games arent played on paper, but by the little men inside our TV sets."

First off, how did these teams get here? The Pittsburgh Steelers took a slightly more conventional path. They won the difficult AFC North with a 12-4 record, receiving a first-round bye into the playoffs. Once there, they beat the upstart San Diego Chargers in the Divisional Round before taking out their bitter rival the Baltimore Ravens in the Conference Championship by a score of 23-14. They come into the Super Bowl tough and battle tested.
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The Arizona Cardinals, on the other hand, are not a team that we expected to be playing into October. They limped into the playoffs at 9-7, getting in only because they won the worst division in football. During the regular season, they went 6-0 against teams in the NFC West, and 3-7 against everyone else. They ended the regular season playing really bad football, struggling after they clinched the division, and looked like the prime example of a team that would be making an early exit. But then, something clicked. They had a home playoff game against wildcard Atlanta, and played inspired football, mixing things up offensively and getting to QB Matt Ryan repeatedly en route to a 30-24 victory. That brought them a date with the Carolina Panthers, a team many thought might be the best in the NFC. Instead of being intimidated, they went into Carolina and shocked them, dominating the game for a 33-13 win. In the Conference Championship, they got another home game, this time against the Philadelphia Eagles, and Kurt Warner led them to a late TD drive for a 32-25 win in one of the best games of the playoffs. That got them a date with the Steelers here in the Super Bowl.

For Pittsburgh, everything starts with the defense, a unit which might be the best in the NFL. Coach Mike Tomlin sets the tone for a tough, aggressive unit, and they go after the QB all day long. The defense is led by James Harrison, the best LB in the NFL this year, finishing with 16 sacks and 7 FF. The LBs are athletic and can get to the QB on a consistent basis, which stops the opposing offense from ever really getting into a rhythm. Even if the QB does have time, he has to look out for Troy Polamalu in the secondary, who finished with 7 INT. The offense of the Steelers is a pretty balanced unit, with gritty QB Ben Roethlisberger leading the charges, throwing the ball to explosive Santonio Holmes, or Hines Ward, who is perhaps the best short-yardage WR in the NFL. They have multiple options running the football, from Willie Parker to Mewelde Moore to Gary Russell. This allows them to simply go with the hot hand there.

In Arizona, offense is the name of the game. They have an explosive unit, and can score from anywhere on the field with their passing game. Kurt Warner has resurrected his career, throwing for nearly 4600 yards and 30 TDs this year. He showed that when he has time, he can still be the most accurate passer in the NFL, fitting the ball in places where you wouldnt expect it to fit, and throwing the deep ball with accuracy. On the outside, they have perhaps the best 1-2 combo at WR in the NFL. The leader is Larry Fitzgerald, who has seemed to break out here in the playoffs to stake his claim as the best WR in football. He has incredible hands, uses his body well, and has deceptive speed. He finished with 1431 yards and 12 TD in the regular season, and has over 400 yards receiving in 3 playoff games. He is flanked by Anquan Boldin, a tough WR who is not afraid to catch the ball in traffic. At certain points this year he has looked even better than Fitzgerald, and he makes sure that teams cant just key on stopping 1 WR. They need to work on balancing the passing game with a rushing game so that defenses cant just tee off on Warner, but make no mistake, they will be able to put some points on the board.
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Arizona has more momentum coming into the game, riding their improbable run into the Super Bowl. And in a 1 game Super Bowl, anything can happen. However, I like the team with more talent here, the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have shown their toughness all season long, and should be able to put pressure on Kurt Warner to at least slow down the Arizona passing attack. The Cardinals will be able to make a game of it, but I like the Steelers to win it, 27-17.

Whats your prediction?

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I get interviewed and stuff

Rick from the excellent blog Stiles Points has interviewed me in his "Beers for Bloggers" Series. So check it out! My answers are mostly boring, but youve probably come to expect that from me.

Ill be out of town for a week... yay for spring break! Itll be fun.

Enjoy yourselves, and hopefully Ill come back to some nice FA signings by the Vikings!

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Thursday Debate DH or no DH

This is another part in the continuing segment on Complete Sports called Thursday Debate. Today lets look at whether or not you like the DH.

The MLB question... do you like the DH or not? Purists will likely say the DH is bad, while non-purists like the boost that the DH brings.

Another thing that I have found is that whether or not you like the DH depends a lot on what your favorite team is and what style of baseball you grew up watching. If you are a fan of a team in the AL and have mostly watched American League games, I think you are more likely to enjoy the DH. If you are a fan of an NL team and mostly have watched National League games, I think you might prefer the pitchers batting.

Certainly its easy to appreciate both styles of play. In the NL, there is a bit more strategy involved, with things like double switches, whether to pinch hit for the pitcher or not, etc. In the AL, there is an increase in offense and more of a threat 1-9 in the order.

I think I generally follow the guideline I set forth earlier. I am a fan of the Minnesota Twins, and have basically grown up watching American League baseball. As such, I like the DH. For me, Id rather see a DH bat rather than a pitcher try to flail away at the plate.

I can certainly see how you would prefer it the other way, but for my money Ill take the DH.

But what about you? Do you like the DH? Id be really interested to see your vote and see your reasons in the comments.

Which do you like better?
	DH
	No DH

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Rangers score 30 runs

By now Im sure you know that the Texas Rangers just barely hung on to beat the Orioles in the first game of a double-header by the score of 30-3. But here was some of the things that I found most interesting about the game:

- Despite scoring 30 runs, the Rangers only scored in 4 different innings. For five separate innings they were held scoreless.

- The Orioles actually had a 3-0 lead, which means the Rangers scored 30 unanswered runs.

- The Rangers #8 and #9 hitters (Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez): 8/12, 2 BB, 4 HR, 9 R, 14 RBI. Thats called getting production out of the bottom of the lineup.

- Every Rangers started had at least 2 hits. The one guy for the Rangers that came in off of the bench (Travis Metcalf) hit a grand slam.

- The Rangers had 6 HR, but only 2 doubles.

- Wes Littleton of the Rangers, by virtue of pitching the final 3 innings, recorded a save. In a 30-3 game. That is awesome.

Other than the enormity of the runs by the Rangers, what did you find most interesting about the game?

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My College Basketball Top 10 1 09 08

Time to give me top 10 in the world of college basketball. This is not based solely on achievement, but also how good I think the teams are right now. It was based solely on achievement then all of the undefeated teams would have to be on top, which is not the case. Anyway, thats neither here nor there. My top 10:

1. Memphis - They have been the most impressive team to me so far this year. This is a few weeks back now, but I thought their win over Georgetown might have been the most impressive win for anyone this year. The way they took apart an excellent team like the Hoyas in the 2nd half was a sight to see. They struggle still in the halfcourt offense, but they are more athletic than any other team, and this allows them to get up and down the court. It also allows them to be a very, very good defensive team. Theyre tough.

2. North Carolina - Obviously you cant complain about a perfect record, I just think the Tigers are a little better. The loss of Bobby Frasor hurts, as they already struggle some with shooting the basketball from the outside. Still, they have the depth and explosiveness to make a run to the title.

3. Kansas - They have been playing excellent ball, and should only get better as Brandon Rush and Sherron Collins continue to get healthier and better. They have 9 guys that play at least 10 minutes a game. Oh yes, there is lots of depth for the Jayhawks.

4. UCLA - They are behind Washington St. in the polls, but I think theyre the better team. They had a bad game against Texas, but that neutral court win against Michigan St. (without Darren Collison or Michael Roll) is starting to look better and better. With Kevin Love averaging a double-double right now, he looks to be a strong contender for Pac-10 Player of the Year.

5. Georgetown - They will probably struggle against teams like Memphis, who play fast and have a big, physical guy to guard Roy Hibbert. But the Hoyas are a surprisingly versatile, talented team. As the excellent freshmen guards continue to get comfortable at the college level, the Hoyas will continue to improve and become more explosive.

6. Michigan St. - I like them a lot. They are great defensively under Tom Izzo. Drew Neitzel hits as big shots as anyone in America, but the little known secret is that Raymar Morgan is their best player. Like many teams near the top, they will continue to get better and better, as they play a lot of freshman that are just getting experience.

7. Washington St. - They remain undefeated, but they are very low on quality wins, which is why I have them down at 7th. But theyll be a tough out. They play great defense, and because of this they are able to slow the game down and make you play at their pace. Just a solid team that doesnt beat themselves.

8. Tennessee - They can beat anyone when their shots are falling, and they can lose to anyone when their shots are not falling. They are obviously extremely difficult to play against because of their fast-paced style. They do not allow teams to get comfortable on either end of the floor, meaning the opponent has to be very disciplined mentally to stick with the Volunteers. Most teams are not.

9. Duke - They have depth and an underrated amount of athleticism. 9 guys play at least 11 minutes per contest, and at least 6 score 8.8 per game. Their trio of Nelson-Singler-Henderson is very athletic, something they really lacked last year. They are well-coached, and can challenge UNC in the ACC.

10. Texas - Ill give them the final spot, though they have been struggling a little of late. DJ Augustin may be the best PG in the country, as he seems to be able to get into the lane at will and get a shot anytime he wants. We know what they have in AJ Abrams, one of the best pure shooters in America. Like last year, Texas fate rests in the hands of the "other guys," players like Damion James, Connor Atchley, and Justin Mason. They will determine how far the Longhorns go.

Your thoughts? What changes would you make?

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2006 NBA Preview Awards and Playoff Predictions

Hopefully you wont all hold it against me that the full preview is out a day after the start of the regular season! But thats a chance I had to take because things were busy. By the way, other good season previews are here or here over at WBRS if youre interested. In case you missed the division previews, here they are:

Atlantic Division
Central Division
Southeast Division
Northwest Division
Southwest Division
Pacific Division

So lets move on from there, to the Conference predictions. If I recall from what Pradamaster told me, the division winner is only guaranteed a top 4 seed, unlike the top 3 seed from last year, which is a big and welcome change. So without further ado, heres my top 8 in each conference.

EAST
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Detroit Pistons
3. Miami Heat
4. Boston Celtics
5. Chicago Bulls
6. Washington Wizards
7. New Jersey Nets
8. Orlando Magic
Next in Line: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers

WEST
1. Dallas Mavericks
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Phoenix Suns
4. Denver Nuggets
5. Houston Rockets
6. LA Lakers
7. LA Clippers
8. Utah Jazz
Next in Line: NO/OK Hornets, Golden State Warriors

Before we get to the predictions, lets go through some awards, both real and fictional, because its my blog and I can make up awards if I want to.

MVP
(5) Dwyane Wade - This isnt a slight to Dwyane Wade as much as its respect for everyone else above him. I think Wade could potentially wear down a bit as the regular season goes on, and that, combined with the overall greatness of the guys above him puts him at 5.
(4) Kobe Bryant - Much the same for Kobe as for Wade. If he won the MVP, it wouldnt be at all surprising. But hell be out probably the first week with a knee injury, plus I think his game will be changed a lot from last year.
(3) Tim Duncan - He had a foot injury last year and was still unbelievable in leading the Spurs to the best regular-season record in the West. This year, all reports say that the foot is feeling great, and he should have a new focus after their early ousting in the postseason.
(2) Dirk Nowitski - He was great last year, and continues to improve and vary his game. He added an unstoppable post game from 15 feet last year, and just continues to improve his offensive game.
(1) LeBron James - I thought he was the best player in the NBA last year, and I think he will be again. We all know about his game... 30, 8, and 8 is not out of the question.

Rookie of the Year
(5 TIE) Jordan Farmar - I think that as the season goes on, hell start to earn more and more playing time for Phil Jackson. Farmars a tough PG who just knows the game well, and is a great leader on the court. Im not big fans of Smush Parker (more on him later) or Sasha Vujacic, which is why I think minutes may be there for Farmars taking.
(5 TIE) Rodney Carney - With the sad state of Philly, Carney should be starting before too long. Hes solid defensively which is a rarity in Philly these days, and can knock down open shots. And Philly doesnt have a whole lot of other options.
(4) Tyrus Thomas - The most athletic player in the draft, I think hell have an immediate impact defensively. Hes a great shot-blocker off the weak side, and hell get up and down the floor.
(3) Randy Foye - I think itll take him a little while to adjust, but hes got great game. He can shoot from the outside, get to the basket, and play good defense. With defenses focusing their attention on KG Foye could thrive if he gets the minutes.
(2) Rudy Gay - Gay should get a decent amount of minutes, and with his enormous talent, thats all he needs to be effective. He can finish on the break, has a great pullup jumper, and should pull down rebounds. Passion & Pride likes him as their 6th Man of the Year... Ill settle for #2 on the Rookies list.
(1) Brandon Roy - I think hell have the best opportunities of all the rookies to contribute, and hes one of the most NBA ready. Portlands got young talent, but they wont be contending, which is why Roy will get a lot of minutes at the 1 and 2 guard. Hes got an NBA jumpshot, and hell be able to get into the lane.

6th Man of the Year
Leandro Barbosa - I just love his game offensively. He can score off the dribble, get out on the break with his blinding speed, and hit the open shot from downtown. He excels in the 1/2 man off the bench in the role that the Suns use him, and he should average at least 10-15 points per game off the bench for the high-scoring Suns. I think that will be enough to edge out Andres Nocioni for the 6th Man of the Year Award.

Most Overrated Players
Peja Stojakovic - On a team with many very good players he thrives. This is what happened in Sacramento when they were winning all of those games... he can stay out of the way and just hit jump shots. Which is nice, but hes sure getting paid a lot to do it. Hell knock down open shots, but Im skeptical about his ability to create for himself. Of course, with Chris Paul he may not have to.
Smush Parker - Hes an average to slightly above average 3-point shooter. Thats it. He doesnt create many shots for himself or others, hes not a great ballhandler, and hes not a great defender. Hes solid as a guard off the bench, but as a starter, I think hes very overrated.
Ben Wallace - Before you bit my head off, I think hes a bigger offensive detriment than people realize. Last year in the playoffs it was a 4-on-5 offensively for Detroit every time they had the ball. He doesnt score, and hes terrible at the line. The defense is obviously great, and Chicago is certainly better off with him, but I really think the offensive ineptitude is understated.

Most Underrated Players
Gerald Wallace - He contributes in all areas of the game. Hes a high percentage shooter and excellent rebounder at his position. But mostly hes excellent defensively. He steals (to the tune of 2.5 per game) and blocks shots (2.1 per game). And at only age 24, he should keep improving as long as the Bobcats dont try to push Adam Morrison ahead of him.
Andres Nocioni - He was my 2nd choice for 6th Man of the Year. He gets overshadowed a bit because Luol Deng plays his same position, but Nocioni is a weapon. He averaged 13 and 6 per game off the bench last year, and is a threat behind the arc. Hed be starting on a lot of teams.
Yao Ming - People obviously know about Yao, but Im not sure that everyone realize how good he really is. He has become a veritable weapon down low for the Rockets, which makes them a real threat with a healthy T-Mac. After the All-Star break last year he averaged 25.7 PPG and over 11 RPG. Hes certainly the top Center in the NBA and probably one of the top 10 players in the game right now.

Playoff Predictions
Cleveland over Orlando in 5
Detroit over New Jersey in 6
Miami over Washington in 6
Chicago over Boston in 4

Dallas over Utah in 5
San Antonio over LA Clippers in 6
Phoenix over LA Lakers in 7
Houston over Denver in 5

Cleveland over Chicago in 7
Miami over Detroit in 7

Dallas over Houston in 6
San Antonio over Phoenix in 7

Cleveland over Miami in 6
Dallas over San Antonio in 7

Dallas over Cleveland in 6



I was tempted to pick San Antonio or Phoenix in the West, but I just think Dallas it the most versatile team... more offensively potent than San Antonio, better defensively than Phoenix. That combo is enough for them to finish the job this time.

Well, how wrong am I?

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Other good readin

I got kinda busy tonight, so I wasnt able to write anything, which is either a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. Fortunately, not everyone else took a day off, so heres what you should read instead (or in addition):

Awful Announcing has their review up of the Fox NCAA Football announcers... a good read, along with their ESPN review.

And speaking of the Fox guys, I found this quote from Bill Simmons chat to be highly amusing:

I thought Foxs coverage, in general, was almost surreal. What about Eddie George and Emmitt Smith trash-talking each other during the pregame show while Chris Rose sat there with a blank look on his face? He looked like the "Airplane" stewardess taking dinner orders from the two guys speaking jive.

The other sequence I liked from the chat:

Jeannie (Philadelphia): Did you hear the Ohio State band playing the love theme from "Titanic" during halftime of Mondays game? Please tell me Im not the only one who found the parallels between the sinking ship and the sinking Buckeyes team hilarious.

Bill Simmons: I loved it. I was delighted. I would have enjoyed it more if my ears werent bleeding from Thom Brenneman. By the way, just got coffee … Im about to wake up.

JR (San Diego): Tell Jeannie the answer is no because men dont watch the halftime show.

Good stuff there. Many say Bill Simmons has sorta gone from good to bad, and in some ways I agree as far as his columns... but he still puts out funnier stuff than most of the things I read. Sure, its sometimes cluttered around stuff that doesnt make sense, but Ive just come to accept that.

Moving on... as if you needed another reason to think Sean Salisbury is weird and creepy. But at least they fired Harold Reynolds [/sarcasm].

An era has passed... TO has fired his publicist. Thats too bad things didnt work out.

Have fun!

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My NCAA Basketball Top 10

Since everyone likes lists (right??), I figured this would be a good place to rank my top 10 in College Basketball right now.

(1) Florida - Despite having the huge target on their back, the Gators have been the best college basketball team in the land so far. Their two losses were in a neutral court game against Kansas by 2, and on the road to FSU by 4. Not bad. On Saturday they played a pretty subpar game (by their standards) and still beat a solid Kentucky team at Kentucky. Dont mess with the Gators.

(2) Wisconsin - They did lose last week, but as far as losses go, losing on the road to Indiana isnt so bad. Overall, they have the same number of losses as Florida (2) , and have some quality wins against Pittsburgh and Ohio St. The national polls seem to have the Buckeyes at #2 over the Badgers, but I dont see it based on their resumes. Ill take the Badgers right now.

(3) North Carolina - They havent exactly been easing anyones fears that they are a little too young right now, as theyve been a little sloppy in some recent games. Still, the talent is undeniable, and they have more firepower, depth, and athleticism than possibly anyone in the country. Young or not, this is not a team anyone wants to see come Tourney time.

(4) UCLA - They lost at West Virginia, but Im willing to see that as a game that they flew across country for and lost tight in a game that probably wont matter to them as far as seeding goes. So Im not too worried about that. What is a little worrisome is that the Bruins still dont have any consistent inside scoring, which could pose problems. Big game coming up this Saturday against a resurgent Arizona squad.

(5) Texas A&M - One of the toughest teams in the country, and one of my favorite to watch. They take hits and they just keep on coming, led by Acie Law. Theyre a balanced team with 4 players scoring at least 12 PPG, which will serve them well. Also, the fact that they are very well-coached and very good defensively will help.

(6) Ohio St. - The talent is there, with that Oden guy, as well as fellow frosh Mike Conley, whos a bit underrated and is another one of my favorite players to watch. Since Conley doesnt get as much pub, Im going to use this space to talk about him... hes already one of the best distributors and PGs in America. His A/T ratio is over 3/1, because he averages over 6 APG. Hes not a great outside shooter, but he doesnt force things. Hes shooting 53% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc. Just an excellent, excellent player, and one who doesnt get enough credit for what he does.

(7) Kansas - Still one of the most talented clubs in the country. They have four players averaging in double figures, but its a 5th player (Sherron Collins) that might be their most explosive offensive threat. They responded very well to the A&M loss by just thrashing Kansas St. and Missouri, suggesting this may be a more mature team than last years first round losers. This is definitely a team that can go all the way if they can put it together when it counts.

(8) Memphis - I think they are flying a little under the radar because they dont have many really great wins and theyre not getting competition within their conference, but under John Calipari they dont rebuild, they reload. They have athleticism, depth, ballhandling, shooters, solid inside play, etc. In other words, dont be at all surprised if Memphis is back in the Elite 8 this year.

(9) Pittsburgh - The timing of these rankings were unkind to Pitt, as they did no favors by getting crunched by Louisville on Monday. But they are still 22-4 overall and 10-2 in the Big East, so theyre in fine shape. The guy that really makes Pitt go is sophomore Levance Fields, a tough PG that can shoot, distribute, and rebound the ball. If he is playing well, Pitt can make a deep run. If not, they could be in trouble.

(10) Washington St. - I never thought Id be putting WaSt in a top 10 list this year, but theyve certainly earned it. They beat Arizona twice, beat Gonzaga, and lost to UCLA by 3. Rookie coach Tony Bennett has them playing very well on both ends of the floor, and theyre only a half game back of UCLA for the Pac-10 lead.

What changes to my top 10 would you make?

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Mavericks 1 Spurs 0

Jason Terry failed to show up, Tony Parker only flopped once, and guess what - we did NOT see Roddy Beaubois. The Mavericks only trailed once in the second half in a game where Erick Dampier struggled placing the ball in the basket, but managed to play the majority of the second half. Oh, Carlisle. Tony Parker came off the bench to score 18 points. George Hill started and missed his only two shots in about 18 minutes. Two sprained ankles for Hill towards the end of the season have slowed him down and he was ineffective tonight in Game One. Tim Duncan had 27 for San Antonio, leading the way for them, and Dirk Nowitzki was 12-14 from the field, 12-12 from the free throw line, and ended up with 36 points in a spectacular effort as he guided the Mavericks to a series-opening win. Jason Kidd has 13 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds. Caron Butler contributed 22 of his own. The Spurs Mr. Fix-It 2010 Richard Jefferson had 4 points. Yikes, over 32 minutes as well. Because of the NBA Playoffs protocol, the teams will wait three days before resuming the series again in Dallas on Wednesday. Game 2 is at 8:30 and on behalf of the Mavericks, good seats are still available.



3 Things To Look for in Game 2:

More Dejaun Blair: The former Panther standout played behind Matt Bonner tonight. With his physical presence and Bonners inability to present ability, I would expect the banger, Blair to see increased PT on Wednesday.

Dirk Double Teams: San Antonio did not double team Dirk Nowitzki as much as you would expect, given the circumstances in this game. Jet Terry struggling, Dampier being himself, and only Caron Butler scoring non-German points, Dirk continued to face one-on-one coverage. Look for the Spurs to double more next game.

A Better Barea: Jose Juan Barea played nearly 15 minutes, and his only meaningful stat was 3 assists. He was 0-2 from the field but we still saw no Roddy. Expect a better performance from the Puerto Rican native in Game 2.

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Dallas Cowboys 2010 2011 Schedule

The Dallas Cowboys Schedule is listed as follows. And let it be a sign that the December woes may not be dead and gone quite yet.

Sun, Sept. 12 @ Washington (NBC) 7:20 PM
Sun, Sept. 19 CHICAGO (FOX) Noon
Sun, Sept. 26 @ Houston (FOX) Noon
Sun, Oct. 3 BYE
Sun, Oct. 10 TENNESSEE (CBS) 3:15 PM
Sun, Oct. 17 @ Minnesota (FOX) 3:15 PM
Mon, Oct. 25 N.Y. GIANTS (ESPN) 7:30 PM
Sun, Oct. 31 JACKSONVILLE (CBS) Noon
Sun, Nov. 7 @ Green Bay (NBC) 7:20 PM
Sun, Nov. 14 @ N.Y. Giants (FOX) 3:15 PM
Sun, Nov. 21 DETROIT (FOX) Noon*
Thu., Nov. 25 NEW ORLEANS (FOX) 3:15 PM
Sun, Dec. 5 @ Indianapolis (Fox) 3:15 PM*
Sun, Dec. 12 PHILADELPHIA (NBC) 7:20 PM*
Sun, Dec. 19 WASHINGTON (FOX) Noon*
Sat, Dec. 25 @ Arizona (NFL NETWORK) 7:30 PM
Sun, Jan. 2 @ Philadelphia (FOX) Noon*


The makers of the NFL schedule didnt exactly favor the Dallas Cowboys in this paticualr year. In fact, it seems as if the schedule is made by the people who say that the Cowboys struggle in the month of December. First off, the Cowboys have one of the earliest bye weeks comming in the 4th week of the season. So that makes for a long haul to the end. The premature bye may lead to injuries that wont have enough time to recover as the months 11 and 12 come along. So the bye doesnt exactly fir the criteria of a team making a late season push, maybe Dallas will get a break against some sub-par teams as the season winds down. Well, to end November Dallas gets New Orleans (Who Dat?...O yea the defending super bowl champions) followed by the Indianapolis Colts who finished as a close runner-up to the Saints. Oh and here is a good piece of news for Cowboys fans. Last year the Colts won every regular season game that they wanted to. After Indy, the Cowboys get Kevin Kolbs Eagles followed by Donovan Mcnabbs Redskins. The Cowboys went 3-0 against the Eagles last year, but that will be a tough feat to follow up. And then what does Jolly Ol St. Nick bring the Cowboys for Christmas? A trip to Arizona to play Matt Leinart led Cardinals. (Well, one can assume Leinart will still be the starter) Leinart hasnt prooved much in the NFL in his young career, although for some reason I think he has potential to be a pretty good quarterback in this league. With the loss of Matt Leinart and Anquan Boldin, this is a Cardianl team that must reload this year. Although, watch out for Larry Fitzgerald, because he can easily break this game wide open and torch the Cowboys. As for the last game of the year to end the season the Cowboys get to see a familiar face, the Eagles, again. Just 3 weeks after their previous meeting the Cowboys travel up to Philly to play the Eagles which is sure to be a hard nosed game with playoff implications. Some say the Eagles have questions at quarterback with Kevin Kolb starting. When has Kolb ever had experience playing with the big boys anyway? Oh yea thats right, he lit up the cowboys a few years back when Mcnabb wasnt avalible, so do not overlook this guy in 2010. As the season starts up, IO expect Dallas to get out to good start. Washington doesnt seem to have the pieces in place yet, and will probably make a run in the later part of the season (making them dangerous in the month off....yes December) So I think the Cowboys can open up with the win. They then play the Chicago Bears who have a quarterback who forgets what team he plays for at times in Jay Cutler. Jay is a spectacular quarterback out of Vanderbelt though, and I wouldnt be suprised if he puts up big numbers in the beginning of the year, but begins to slide as the year progresses. I also think this one turns out to a Cowboy victory. The next game is very tricky. The up and comming Texans are a very tough team. Although they have never beaten the Colts in thier short history in the NFL, they play them close year in and year out, and are a team that does not go away easily. Andre Johnson is just a beast and cant be stopped. If they could ever get a consistant season from Steve Slaton at the Running Back position they would be very dangerous. Although, I think Dallas is well equipped to handle Houston, and will come away with a close one in Relient Stadium. A 3-0 record going into the bye week, which I think they push to 4 against the Vince Young led Titans. Just please stop Cris Johnson. Next up is what I believe to be the first loss of the year. The trip up to Minnesota. As seen in the playoffs last year, it is impoosible to win in Minnesota. Hopefully the Cowboys will show some grit after getting shown up last year, and quite frankly embaressed in the second round of the playoffs. Minnesota is just too good though. Favre or not, this isnt a game I see Dallas winning. Too many mental errors will cost the Cowboys the game agasint the Giants. Cowboys prove to be the better team, but the Giants make more plays and less errors and come out victorious. Jacksonville is a win. The Green Bay game is tough to call, but the Cowboys come up short again which, and i have no doubt of this, will have the Dallas media in a flux with the Cowboys on a 2 game skid. But, they come out and play hard against the Giants and get a victory, then playing the Detroit Lions which also results in a victory. (Watch out for Felix Jones in this one)
So there it is. I have the Cowboys at 7-3 going into late November as December approaches. Everything from there is just to tough to call. The Cowboys should be in a good position by this time of the year at 7-3 sitting atop the NFC East. Although, with December looming. It is possible for the Cowboys to drop two in a row against the Saints and in Indy. A win in Dallas against Philly, followed by a loss to the streaking Redskins. A Christmas gift frmo Matt Leinart earns them a Christmas victory with a trip to Philly to start the new year. Then, in suprising Cowboys fashion, the Cowboys defeat an Eagles team who at this point is falling apart again. Andy Reids job in question, and Kevin Kolb simply just getting his first year as a full-time starter under his belt. But lets be honest. Philly could win the Super Bowl and theyd still be calling for Reid to get the boot. All in all I see the Cowboys finishing 10-6 and closing out the season not in a spectacular way, but not in a dreadful one either. The December woes may seem behind Dallas, but they will need to stay focused and play the stingy defense that was played last year to rid the team of its December curse.

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2006 MLB Playoff Predictions

Lets jump right in:

ALDS

Yankees vs. Tigers - Honestly, I just cant see the Tigers beating the Yankees. The Yankees have the best lineup possibly ever, and the Tigers pitching has not been the same as it was in the first half of the year. The Tigers lineup is impatient, which should play into the hands of the Yanks starters. Plus, Detroit has to be feeling down after being swept by the Royals to lose the division. YANKEES IN 3.

Twins vs. Athletics - I previewed this more extensively elsewhere, but I do think the As are getting disrespected a little bit. Zito-Loaiza-Harden-Haren can be a very good rotation, and the bullpen is very solid. However, the Twins still have Johan, and hes pretty good. Plus, if it gets down to the 7th inning and the Twins have runners on and they have to get Joe Mauer or Justin Morneau, who do they go with? Im not sure either. TWINS IN 5.

NLDS

Padres vs. Cardinals - The Cardinals limp into the playoffs with 1 good starter (who hasnt been all that great lately) and a mediocre bullpen. Meanwhile, the Padres have very solid starting pitching, a reliable bullpen, and a solid lineup. Albert Pujols is unbelievable, but he cant do it without any help. PADRES IN 4.

Mets vs. Dodgers - With Pedro Martinez, the Mets are the clear favorite to win the NL. Without him, theyre just another team with mediocre starting pitching. Whos their ace? Tom Glavine and his 4.33 ERA since the AS break? Orlando Hernandez and his 4.66 ERA? The Mets have the best lineup in the NL, but I just dont think they have the starting pitching to get it done against a solid, pesky Dodgers lineup. DODGERS IN 5.

ALCS

Yankees vs. Twins - Can the Twins score enough runs? Thats what it comes down to. Against any pitcher not named Johan Santana, we know the Yankees will get theirs. But can the Twins take advantage of the mediocre starting pitching of the Yanks? Can Boof Bonser and Brad Radke give the Twins 6 good innings and then turn it over to the best bullpen in baseball? As much as Id love to see it and will be rooting like none other if this matchup does happen, Im not sure they can. YANKEES IN 6.

NLCS

Dodgers vs. Padres - All of San Diegos batting stats are a bit skewed because of their home ballpark, but I do think the Dodgers have the better, more balanced offense. Kenny Lofton and Rafael Furcal set the table, and then guys like JD Drew, Nomar Garciaparra, and Jeff Kent are more than capable of bringing them in. Pitching wise, the Padres have the best in the NL, with Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Woody Williams, and even Clay Hensley providing stability. The rotation is so good they dont even know wholl be starting Game 1 yet. Theyve also got a great bullpen, with Trevor Hoffman, Scott Linebrink, and Cla Meredith. However, the Dodgers pitching is pretty solid as well... which is why theyre my slight favorite here. DODGERS IN 7.

WORLD SERIES

Yankees vs. Dodgers - A series only the TV networks could love! Two very solid offenses, two decent pitching staffs. However, I just dont think the Dodgers (or any NL team) has enough pitching or hitting to match up with the Yankees. If the As/Twins dont take out the Yankees, nobody does. Id put money on that. YANKEES IN 5.

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One Mans NFL Power Rankings

We are 12 weeks into the NFL season, and I must admit I still pretty much dont have this NFL thing figured out (Raiders almost beating the Chargers? Titans scoring 24 unanswered points?). Of course, this only makes me all the more qualified to contribute a list of my NFL Power Rankings, or at least the Top 10 teams as I see them. But I will delay no longer.

1. Indianapolis Colts - Edgerrin James who? As The Edge wastes away down in Arizona, Joseph Addai is doing just fine, thank you very much. Despite Indys seeming insistence on giving Dominic Rhodes carries, Addai managed to rush for a not-so-pedestrian 171 yards and 4 TD against the Eagles. And just for good measure he had 37 receiving yards. Yeah, hes pretty decent.

2. San Diego Chargers - Ok, so they squeaked by the Raiders. Ill give them a pass. They still have league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson joining talented Philip Rivers in the backfield. The defense aint so shabby either. They sometimes lose focus against lesser teams, but now that it looks like Marty Ball has gone out the window, the Chargers are a force to be reckoned with.

3. Baltimore Ravens - All season long Ive been ragging on "Air" McNair and saying that hes pretty much washed up, and while hes not his old self, hes still got something left in the tank. And with the Baltimore defense, that makes them very dangerous. However, if I were a Ravens fan, the biggest concern for me would be with the fact that Jamal Lewis is averaging only 3.5 YPC, and that could put a lot of pressure on McNair come playoff time.

4. New England Patriots - I have a hard time figuring the Pats out... by all accounts, you should lose when you turn the ball over 5 times, but I never really felt like they were not in control against Chicago. Maybe thats just because Ive become such an unbashed Tom Brady lover. He moves around better in the pocket than anyone in the NFL.

5. Chicago Bears - The Bears will not win the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman as their quarterback (for the record, I wrote this even before I read The Sports Pulse!) I dont care how tantalizingly good hes looked at times this year, or how good the Bears defense is. Put a little pressure on Rex and he starts to rush throws, make bad decisions, force the ball, and throw off his back foot. His two best plays against New England were when he threw ducks off his back foot and then got bailed out by pass interference calls. He was awful today.

6. Denver Broncos - I fully endorse the move to Jay Cutler as starter and think it will benefit Denver. Plummer is ok when you have a great run game and a great defense, and at times the Broncos have had that. At other times the run game has become inconsistent, and theyve tried to rely on Plummer. More often than not that has failed miserably.

7. Dallas Cowboys - I believe in a thing called Romo. I mean, obviously this has been beaten to death, but how good has he been? Poised, accurate, and fairly mobile. With him at QB I have the Cowboys just a smidgen behind Chicago, but with another week like this one I might have to reconsider that.

8. Kansas City Chiefs - With all due respect to LDT, I would probably take Larry Johnson as a runner over him. Tomlinsons more versatile all-around, but LJ is bigger and stronger as a runner. In the games that Johnson rushes for 100 yards, the Chiefs are 6-1. In the games that he fails to reach the century mark they are 1-3. Correlation does not always equal causation, but suffice to say Johnson is pretty important.

9. Seattle Seahawks - Seneca Wallace did a very nice job of keeping things afloat in Seattle while both Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander out. As a result, the Seahawks still have the division lead and everything is looking rosy in Seattle. As long as they beat GB Monday night.

10. New Orleans Saints - Tomlinson is probably the MVP of the NFL so far, but Drew Brees is on the short list. He continues to be excellent for the Saints, and even has a shot at breaking Dan Marinos passing yards record for a single season. And the rest of the offensive weapons arent so bad either. Deuce and Reggie Bush are a formidable duo, and the WR corps is getting better every week. This is an offense that is to be reckoned with.

So where did I go horribly wrong? What does your top 5 look like?

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MLB All Star Snubs

Now that we (I include you, the reader in this, because Im nice like that) have looked at the fan vote in both the American League and the National League, its time to look at the snubs. Because it wouldnt really be an All-Star game if we didnt do that.

American League
Kevin Youkilis - As a Twins fan, I hate to say it but I think Youkilis has been the best first baseman in the AL, probably even more deserving than Morneau. Carlos Pena would actually be another really strong possibility, but he doesnt have quite the ABs that the top guys have.

Orlando Cabrera - Looking at the numbers, hes been a lot better than Mike Young has been this year. Young is only on because they needed a Texas Ranger (and no, Sammy Sosa is nowhere near deserving), but that doesnt make Cabrera any less deserving.

Curtis Granderson - 23 doubles, 15 triples, 11 HR. Im not sure people know just how good Granderson has been so far this year.

Gary Sheffield - He had a really slow start and he might be penalized a bit because he is a DH now, but he definitely deserves a spot. He should be on the team over a guy like Manny Ramirez, who is having a down year.

Jeremy Guthrie - This is a bit borderline... hes been good, but Im not sure hes definitely better than any pitcher that made the team. So he gets the weak vote here.


National League

Chipper Jones - He is hurt a lot by the fact that he has had some injury problems and has missed some time this year, but hes deserving, I think. Hes got an OBP over .400 and is hitting for a good amount of power. When healthy, hes been the best 3B in the NL this year.

Hanley Ramirez - Hes been the best SS in the NL this year... so he should be on the team over Hardy (who made it as a reserve) or Freddy Sanchez, who wins the vote as the worst All-Star this year. For crying out loud, Ian Snell should have been the Pirate choice... Sanchez only way of being at this All-Star game should have been for him to buy a ticket.

Edgar Renteria - See Ramirez, Hanley. Except replace best SS in the NL this year with 2nd best SS in the NL this year.

Adam Dunn - I was tempted to put Hunter Pence here, but Ill give the nod to Dunn because he has a lot more PAs. Either way, both guys should be in above Carlos Lee. Lee is hitting well, but Dunn is hitting for more power.

Ian Snell - As mentioned, he should be representing the Pirates here, not Freddy Sanchez. Hes been very good this year and his peripherals suggest he should be able to keep it up.

Derek Lowe - With all due respect to Ben Sheets (who is having a nice year), how does Sheets get in over Lowe? They strike out a comparable amount of guys, Sheets has a little better control, but Lowe has allowed half the HR that Sheets has.

Who are your choices?

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Andre Iguodala

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Andre Iguodala. Sure, you know about him from the Dunk Contest last year, but thats just a small part. Dont look now, but hes been downright studly ever since the trade of Allen Iverson.

Ill go into depth in a minute, but first this video from last years dunk contest, along with a quote from Charles Barkley that summed up Iguodalas first 2 years in the NBA:



To recap the video, heres the conversation that took place:

Kenny: I never understood this... why would you use Allen Iverson to pass you the ball in a dunk contest?
Charles: Its a subliminal message... like when I gave Kenny those Altoids.

Allen Iverson is my favorite player in the NBA, but lets be honest, with him and Webber in the mix, Iguodala didnt have that many opportunities to create and score on his own, and that may have hampered his growth and potential as a young player a little bit. So in his young days he was just the best defensive player on the team from the moment he was drafted, a good finisher and good passer, but he didnt have the ball enough to score a lot of points.

Well, now he appears to be making up for lost time. In last nights game, Iguodala was the star for the Sixers in beating the Bobcats, with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals.

Of course, this is becoming a pretty common thing for AI2. He has scored 19 or more points in his last 9 games, and has averaged 23.4 PPG over that span. After averaging just about 14 PPG in November (before the shakeup in Philly), he averaged 18.9 PPG in December, 18.2 in January, and 25 PPG so far in February. But its not like scoring is all hes been doing.

In December and January combined he averaged around 5 RPG, about 5.5 APG, and over 2 SPG. So in addition to being a high percentage scorer and being able to get to the line, he also is a contributor on the glass, a very good passer, and the best defensive player on the team.

So have a look folks at a rising star, a supremely athletic player that is just learning how to really play on the offensive end, and so far with excellent results. Andre Iguodala, one of the most underrated players in the NBA.

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Fantasy Football Rankings Running Backs

After looking at the Quarterback rankings a couple of days ago, its to look at the heart-and-soul of fantasy football... running backs. They can and usually do make or break your season, so its doubly important to pick the right one.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson - As if there was any doubt. I suspect the numbers will dip a little bit (which, they almost have to after the amazingness that as last year), especially with the switch from Marty Ball to Norv Turners offense, but LT is still the easy choice as the #1 pick.

2. Steven Jackson - With Larry Johnson still not in camp and coming off of a year in which he had about 1500 carries, I think Jackson is the easy choice as #2. Hes becoming a great runner, and is also one of the best pass-catchers out of the backfield, which is big in that offense. He should be excellent again.

3. Larry Johnson - As mentioned, there certainly are concerns about LJ. The Line is not as strong as it has been, the QB situation is very muddled, and hes coming off of a season where he carried the ball a LOT of times. Oh yeah, and hes not signed yet. On the other hand, hes still extremely talented, figures to get the ball a ton, and a deal is reportedly close. Good enough for me.

4. Joseph Addai - I absolutely love Addai this year. For one thing, hes really talented. But more importantly, defenses have to focus on the passing game, which opens up running lanes (as well as dump off passes to Addai). And if thats not enough, his backup is a guy named DeDe Dorsey. This might be a little high, but I think Addai is going to have a huge year.

5. Frank Gore - Gore exploded onto the scene last year, and as long as he can stay healthy should be very productive again. The offense continues to improve around him, with the maturation of Alex Smith, addition of Darrell Jackson, and the athletic skills of Vernon Davis. That means teams wont be able to focus on Gore.

6. Rudi Johnson - Rudi might not put up MVP type numbers, but you know what youre getting. Hes really consistent, stays healthy, and is playing in an excellent offense in Cincy.

7. Shaun Alexander - Others are more bullish on Alexander, but Im not so sure. In year 1 after Steve Hutchinson, he really struggled. Hell get a boost because hell actually be healthy this year, but I still have a hard time putting him higher.

8. Willie Parker - First off, I never understood why he got the nickname "Fast Willie Parker." I mean, hes fast, but so are a lot of other guys. But thats neither here nor there. The important thing is that he gets a lot of yards, and scored double digit TDs last year. The only concern I have is the change of offensive styles, but hes still going to get his touches.

9. Brian Westbrook - As long as hes healthy, hes great. Theres no doubting that. But thats still a concern. Another key is how much he gets the ball. Last year, after Donovan McNabb got hurt, it seemed like Andy Reid started to run the ball more, and Westbrook really shined. Lets see if Reid sticks with the commitment to the run.

10. Laurence Maroney - There are concerns about whether or not Maroney will be able to fully carry the load, but I think he should be OK. With Brady and all the talent that they now have at receiver, he should be able to get ample rest. And score a lot of TDs.

11. Travis Henry - Good running backs tend to flourish in Denver, and Henry should be no exception. All signs point to him being the workhorse back, and that could mean really big numbers.

12. Willis McGahee - McGahee has always been really talented, and I think hell be very solid in the Baltimore offense. He should definitely get the ball a lot, and rack up the yardage behind a solid O-Line.

13. Reggie Bush - I dont think much detail is necessary here... hes extremely, extremely talented, and should be getting the ball a lot, whether its running or receiving. Also, I wouldnt be surprised if he starts getting more carries near the goalline... that explosiveness is tough to stop.

14. Ronnie Brown - Brown was disappointing last year, but I think he will bounce back somewhat with a new head coach in Cam Cameron. But there are reasons for concern... namely the lack of a consistent passing game (this is not the Trent Green of 5 years ago) and a young O-Line.

15. Edgerrin James - Im optimistic about James this year. The passing game should be explosive, meaning defenses definitely wont just be able to focus on Edge. Also, Russ Grimm should come in and help improve the line, and Ken Whisenhunt brings a more run-oriented approach to Arizona.

16. Cedric Benson
17. Brandon Jacobs
18. Maurice Jones-Drew
19. Cadillac Williams
20. Jamal Lewis

SLEEPERS
- LaDell Betts - He should get a lot of chances (probably in the red zone) even with Clinton Portis healthy. If Portis gets hurt again, Betts has the potential to be a top 10 to 15 back.

- Leon Washington - He showed last year that he can be pretty productive when he plays. If Thomas Jones gets hurt (and hes not exactly Mr. Durable), Washington should be a productive starter.

- Tony Hunt - This is digging a little deep, but I think there is potential for Hunt. For one, Westbrook and Buckhalter are not all that durable in Philly, leaving the door possibly open for Hunt later in the year. Also, theres a chance that he could get some goal line carries right now.

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MLB 2007 Predictions

I just had my first fantasy baseball draft of the season on Monday, so in my world that officially means that its about time for the baseball season to start. First off, if you still want to be led astray some fantasy baseball help, you can check out some of my rankings:

Catcher
First Base
Second Base
Third Base
Shortstop
Outfield
Starting Pitching

Now that thats covered, some predictions of standings, awards, and my long-awaited pick to win it all.

* denotes wildcard

AL EAST
1) New York Yankees
2) Boston Red Sox
3) Toronto Blue Jays
4) Baltimore Orioles
5) Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Comments: Ho hum, another division title for the Yankees. In reality, this will be a tight race between the Yankees and Sox, but I like the Bronx Bombers a little better here, especially if/when Carl Pavano gets hurt and Phillip Hughes joins the rotation. I think the Yankees lineup is a little better, and there are fewer concerns in the bullpen. Elsewhere, business as usual. The DRays are better than ever, but still not good enough to get out of the cellar.


AL CENTRAL
1) Cleveland Indians
2) *Minnesota Twins
3) Detroit Tigers
4) Chicago White Sox
5) Kansas City Royals

Comments: I suspect this will be the most controversial choice, but thats ok. As far as the top 4 teams go, this is the best division in baseball. At the top, I really like the Indians. For the second straight year, they were a lot better than their record would indicate. They have an explosive offense led by Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner, an improving rotation, and the bullpen should be better (it cant be worse). Up next, Ill take the Twins slightly over the Tigers... largely dependent on the fact that I figure at some point early in the season at least a couple of the Carlos Silva, Ramon Ortiz, and Sidney Ponson trio will be replaced by some of the talented youngsters.

Im not a huge fan of the Tigers offense, and Sheffield has a bad shoulder and has been declining for 4 years now. I would bet money that Kenny Rogers ERA will not be as low as 3.84 again, and the bullpen has some questions. I think the Tigers will have a White Sox like dropoff this year... which is to say theyll still be good, but not as good as they were in 2006. As for those said White Sox, I have a hard time seeing Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye replicate their great seasons from last year. Another minus is that Ozzie Guillen is batting Darin Erstad 2nd instead of Tad Iguchi... its almost like theyre trying to lose.


AL WEST
1) Los Angeles Angels
2) Oakland Athletics
3) Texas Rangers
4) Seattle Mariners

Comments: I dont have a lot of confidence in this pick... mostly a gut feeling. If Rich Harden remians healthy all season long, he can be a Cy Young candidate and the As can be back in the playoffs, but Ill believe that when I see it. As it is, as long as the Angels let some of the young guys play, I think their rotation will be enough. But again, I wouldnt put any money on this.


NL EAST
1) Philadelphia Phillies
2) *New York Mets
3) Atlanta Braves
4) Florida Marlins
5) Washington Nationals

Comments: Certainly a large gap here between the top 3 teams and the last 2... the Marlins overachieved some, and Im not sure they can compete with the top 3. The Nationals should be really bad, so we can discount them. Up top, its the pitching concerns of the Mets that have me putting them at #2. Im not in love with this Phillies team, but I think the stellar young pitching of Cole Hamels and Brett Myers (if he can, um, stay out of trouble) will be enough for the Phils to take the East.


NL CENTRAL
1) St. Louis Cardinals
2) Milwaukee Brewers
3) Houston Astros
4) Chicago Cubs
5) Cincinnati Reds
6) Pittsburgh Pirates

Comments: To be blunt, this division sucks. Which isnt really a surprise, since it sucked last year, but not much has changed. Ill take the Cardinals as long as Carpenter and Pujols stay healthy. Brewers are young and talented but I dont think theyre quite there yet. After that, its anyones guess. I feel confident that the Reds and Pirates will take up the rear, but I dont feel confident about much else.


NL WEST
1) Arizona Diamondbacks
2) San Diego Padres
3) Los Angeles Dodgers
4) San Francisco Giants
5) Colorado Rockies

Comments: I like the DBacks here... their pitching is not as good as the Pads, but they have a look of good hitters. Brandon Webb will anchor the rotation, I think the Big Unit will bounce back some, and Livan Hernandez improved a lot once he came over to Arizona. A lot of the offensive guys are a year away from becoming household names, but I like the direction Arizona is taking. Theyre my pick.


AWARDS
AL MVP: Grady Sizemore (CLE) - The most underrated player in the MLB, if only because people dont realize that hes the best CF in the MLB.

NL MVP: Albert Pujols (STL) - Still the best hitter in the MLB.

AL Cy Young: Johan Santana (MIN) - Should be taking aim at his 4th consecutive Cy Young.

NL Cy Young: Brandon Webb (ARI) - With Arizona a winning team, its Webbs turn to take home the hardware.

AL Rookie of the Year: Alex Gordon (KC) - All the hype, finally time for him to produce.

NL Rookie of the Year: Chris Young (ARI) - Could be a 20/20 man as a rookie.


Playoffs
Yankees over Twins in 5
Indians over Angels in 4

Mets over Diamondbacks in 4
Cardinals over Phillies in 5

Yankees over Indians in 6
Mets over Cardinals in 7

Yankees over Mets in 6

World Series Champion: New York Yankees.

So... where do you disagree the most??

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