Here are my grades for the first round picks for the 2014 NFL Draft.
1. Houston Texans — Jadeveon Clowney (DE South Carolina): A: Great selection, best player available. Look out Andrew Luck because Clowney and JJ Watt will be facing you two times per season.
2. St. Louis Rams — Greg Robinson (OT Auburn): A: Great fit, top lineman on the board. When Jake Long gets healthy, this Rams offensive line will be outstanding.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars — Blake Bortles (QB Central Florida): C-: One of the few surprises of the first round. I think Bortles was drafted too high and I expected Jacksonville to take Watkins. I think the Jaguars should waited till round two to draft a quarterback (Derek Carr or Teddy Bridgewater).
4. Buffalo Bills (via Cleveland) — Sammy Watkins (WR Clemson): A+: I love this pick for Buffalo. This is one of my favorite players in this draft and this is a great fit for Watkins. I love the fact that Watkins can develop with quarterback EJ Manuel. Best wide out in this draft without a question.
5. Oakland Raiders — Khalil Mack (DE/OLB Buffalo): A: This was a great selection for Oakland. I like the fit and Mack will learn from new teammate defensive end Justin Tuck.
6. Atlanta Falcons — Jake Matthews (OT Texas A&M): A: Another great selection in this top ten. Atlanta needed protection for quarterback Matt Ryan and they got it.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Mike Evans (WR Texas A&M): A: This was a decent pick by Tampa Bay. This receiver tandem of Evans and Vincent Jackson will be fun to watch with whoever quarterbacks this team whether it's Mike Glennon or Josh McCown.
8. Cleveland Browns (via Minnesota) — Justin Gilbert (CB Oklahoma State): B-: I do think Gilbert is a great prospect, but I thought Cleveland would've gone with Johnny Manziel here. Gilbert is a fantastic playmaker and the Browns defense should be interesting to watch in the future.
9. Minnesota Vikings (via Browns, Bills) — Anthony Barr (LB/DE UCLA): B: I am surprised that Barr went this high. But I do understand why they made this selection, since head coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive-mind guy. This should be an interesting fit for Barr.
10. Detroit Lions — Eric Ebron (TE North Carolina): B-: Detriot decided to get quarterback Matthew Stafford yet another weapon. I found this pick to be a cute one for some strange reason. Ebron's weakness is that he is not a good blocker. I do think Ebron was by far the best tight end in the draft but I thought he'd be a better fit on another team.
11. Tennessee Titans — Taylor Lewan (OT Michigan): C: The grade is lower because Lewan is a luxury pick after the team just signed Michael Oher for a bunch of money. I think Tennessee should have gone defense with the pick.
12. New York Giants — Odell Beckham Jr. (WR LSU): B+: I thought the Giants would go offensive line here, but they did need a wide out to replace Hakeem Nicks. I think Beckham Jr is a great fit in the new Ben McAdoo offense the Giants are establishing.
13. St. Louis Rams — Aaron Donald (DT Pittsburgh): A-: The defensive line of the Rams just got even better. This was a great selection by St. Louis and I cannot wait to see Donald play alongside Robert Quinn.
14. Chicago Bears — Kyle Fuller (CB Virginia Tech): B+: Chicago went defense with their pick and I like the fit. They needed another press-man corner and Fuller could and should be able to get the job done.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers — Ryan Shazier (LB Ohio State): B: I am surprised Shazier was drafted this early. Pittsburgh more importantly filled their need at the linebacker and this was a decent pick to say the least.
16. Dallas Cowboys — Zack Martin (OT/OG Notre Dame): A-: So much for all the talk about Johnny Manziel potentially ending up in Dallas. Instead, they fill a very important need at offensive line with Martin. This gives quarterback Tony Romo the protection he needed.
17. Baltimore Ravens — C.J. Mosley (LB Alabama): B+: This was a great selection by Baltimore. Mosley is the best interior linebacker in the draft, and Baltimore had a need there in their hybrid defense.
18. New York Jets — Calvin Pryor (S Louisville): B: I thought the Jets would go wide receiver here, but safety is not a bad direction for the Jets to go since it was another area of need. This is general manager John Idzik's Seattle Seahawks blueprint right where it meets head coach Rex Ryan's love of big, hard-hitting defensive backs.
19. Miami Dolphins — Ja'Wuan James (OT Tennessee): B: Miami certainly went in the correct direction with their pick by going with offensive line help. James is an athletic guy who can play either tackle or guard, and he should be a better natural pass-protector than anyone left on the board for Miami.
20. New Orleans Saints (via Arizona) — Brandin Cooks (WR Oregon State): A+: This was another favorite pick of mine in this first round. I find Cooks an absurd steal, especially for a contending team like New Orleans. This makes up for the loss of Lance Moore.
21. Green Bay Packers — Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (S Alabama): A-: I like this pick for Green Bay. They had a hole in their defensive back field and they filled the hole. I thought Clinton-Dix should've been drafted earlier than this, but I like this fit.
22. Cleveland Browns (via Philadelphia) — Johnny Manziel (QB Texas A&M): A: Cleveland finally found a potential franchise quarterback that they desperately wanted and needed. Manziel already has a stud wide out in Josh Gordon and they will be fun to watch.
23. Kansas City Chiefs — Dee Ford (OLB Auburn): D: Kansas City did not have to go linebacker here. I cannot believe Kansas City passed up on a wide receiver such as Marquis Lee. I find this pick a bit of a waste since they already have Tamba Hali and Justin Houston.
24. Cincinnati Bengals — Darqueze Dennard (CB Michigan State): A: I cannot believe how late Dennard was drafted. He was the best cornerback available and Cincinnati got themselves a steal with their biggest need in Dennard.
25. San Diego Chargers — Jason Verrett (CB TCU): B+: I think San Diego made the right move by going with a cornerback. It was a hole that they had to fill and they sure did. Verrett can potentially play outside, but he's the best nickel corner in this draft.
26. Philadelphia Eagles (via Cleveland) — Marcus Smith (DE/OLB Louisville): C-: This pick was a bit of a head-scratcher to me considering that wide receiver Marquis Lee was and still is available. On the upside, Philadelphia needed a pass-rusher and Smith knows how to rush the passer with the best of them.
27. Arizona Cardinals (via New Orleans) — Deone Bucannon (S Washington State): B: I find this pick to be intriguing, especially with the fact that Bucannon going to be playing on an underrated defense in Arizona that features free safety Tyrann Mathieu and and cornerback Patrick Peterson.
28. Carolina Panthers — Kelvin Benjamin (WR Florida State): B+: Carolina desperately needed a weapon for quarterback Cam Newton, who lost Steve Smith this offseason. I like the fit for Benjamin, especially with Newton still developing.
29. New England Patriots — Dominique Easley (DT Florida): B: I find this pick to be a wise one by New England. They could've gone with wide receiver Marquis Lee, but they needed to fix their defensive line. Easley is a fantastic pass-rusher with NFL-caliber athleticism who has a non-stop motor. Head coach Bill Belichick would like this prospect.
30. San Francisco 49ers — Jimmie Ward (S Northern Illinois): B+: I thought San Francisco would go wide receiver (they traded for Stevie Johnson from Buffalo today) but I do like this pick. This was an area of need and they surely addressed it. As long as Ward keeps the ball in front of him, he can make big plays, because he has great ball skills.
31. Denver Broncos — Bradley Roby (CB Ohio State): A: Denver had to replace Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the draft and they did. Roby is an excellent fit in Denver, where he will play alongside new comer cornerback Aqib Talib.
32. Minnesota Vikings (via Seattle) — Teddy Bridgewater (QB Louisville): A-: Minnesota addressed their quarterback need by drafting back in the first round. It pains me to see someone talented like Bridgewater have a bad pro day. I do think this pick was a bit of a risk considering the poor pro day, but I do like the pick.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
2014 NFL Mock Draft
Here is my mock draft for the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
1. Houston Texans- Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: What a tandem Houston would have with Clowney and JJ Watt up front? It would be incredible. Especially with Andrew Luck in that division, who they'd face two times per season.
2. St. Louis Rams- Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn: The Rams have done well to fill their primary needs in the draft in recent years, so they’re in a position at No. 2 overall where they can pick the player with the highest upside. That happens to be Robinson.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson: After Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon, who is already on thin ice after being suspended last year, the Jaguars lack quality receivers for the future. Watkins is the best receiver in the draft and it would be a nice fit there.
4. Cleveland Browns- Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M: I do not think Manziel is the best quarterback in this draft, but Cleveland need someone who brings energy and excitement and Manziel fits those qualities, especially for a dysfunctional franchise.
5. Oakland Raiders- Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo: This is a pretty intriguing fit because adding Mack to the recent signings of Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley would give this defense a talented pass rush to build around.
6. Atlanta Falcons- Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M: The Falcons seem to be linked to trading, but they’re better off sitting at No. 6 and drafting the best offensive lineman available at this point, which will be Matthews. Atlanta definitely needs more protection for quarterback Matt Ryan.
7. Tampa Bay Bucaneers- Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M: Tampa's biggest need is clearly a wide receiver. Evans would be a great fit with Lovie Smith and the Bucs new offense, especially that wide receiver Mike Williams was traded to Buffalo for a late draft pick.
8. Minnesota Vikings- Blake Bortles, QB, UCF: Minnesota needs someone new quarterbacking since current quarterback Christian Ponder did not develop and make the leap. I like Bortles and he can potentially be a franchise quarterback.
9. Buffalo Bills- Zack Martin, OT/OG, Notre Dame: Buffalo's biggest need is an offensive guard, but they do have other needs. Martin played left tackle in college, but with less-than-ideal arm length, his best fit in the NFL might be at guard.
10. Detroit Lions- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama: The Lions could use more receiver help, but addressing the secondary is a bigger concern, especially with this receiver class being as deep as it is. While Clinton-Dix has injury concerns, he’s clearly the best safety in this class.
11. Tennessee Titans- Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: As they switch to Ray Horton’s 3-4 defense, the Titans clearly need outside pass-rushing help. Akeem Ayers will face an edge-rusher learning curve as a 3-4 outside linebacker, while Shaun Phillips can’t be counted on as the every-down edge-rusher.
12. New York Giants- Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh: The Giants do have a few needs, but Donald would be a great fit next to Jason Pierre-Paul on the defensive front. Donald has the potential to be a star because of his talents.
13. St. Louis Rams- Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State: After letting Cortland Finnegan walk in free agency and choosing not to replace him, the Rams have a void at one of their cornerback spots. Head coach Jeff Fisher would like this neat prospect.
14. Chicago Bears- Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State: Chicago needs to continue its youth movement on defense, and cornerback is long overdue. With their top three cornerbacks being 30 or older, the Bears should address the position early and often.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Odel Beckham Jr., WR, LSU: Pittsburgh has a major void to fill at the wide receiver position since Jerricho Cotchery had left for the Carolina Panthers. Beckham would be a nice fit in Pittsburgh with Ben Rothlisberger.
16. Dallas Cowboys- Taylor Lewan, OG, Michigan: Dallas needs protection for quarterback Tony Romo and Lewan would certainly help on the offensive front. If Dallas addresses this need, maybe it can stop Romo from his late game failures.
17. Baltimore Ravens- Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia: Keeping Eugene Monroe was Baltimore's priority but they can certainly use more protection for quarterback Joe Flacco. He’s had success against different types of pass-rushers in college and is an NFL-ready starter.
18. New York Jets- Brandon Cooks, WR, Oregon State: The Jets have added Eric Decker to their mediocre receiving core. However, finding a vertical threat is a must, both for offensive versatility and to give Geno Smith some playmakers like he had at West Virginia and Cooks fits that.
19. Miami Dolphins- Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State: One of Miami's needs is a line backer. Shazier is viewed as the premier linebacker in the draft thanks to his athleticism and range, the fit makes sense enough to warrant top-20 consideration.
20. Arizona Cardinals- Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina: Quarterback Carson Palmer could use another offensive weapon other than Larry Fitzgerald. Bruce Arians utilizes a vertical passing offense but doesn’t have a seam-stretching tight end to dominate the middle of the field.
21. Green Bay Packers- CJ Mosley, ILB, Alabama: Green Bay's weakness is their line backing core. Mosley could certainly do nothing but help. Mosley is very talented and would certainly improve on of the leagues best teams clear weakness.
22. Philadelphia Eagles- Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State: Philadelphia is likely comfortable with Brandon Boykin as one of their featured cornerbacks, but after him, they don’t have a clear-cut starter next year. Head coach would enjoy this nest prospects speed for sure.
23. Kansas City Chiefs- Marquis Lee, WR, USC: Kansas City needs more offensive weapons after some had fled elsewhere in free agency. I think Lee could be a special player in this league and head coach Andy Reid would certainly like this young rising star.
24. Cincinnati Bengals- Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: With Leon Hall returning from injury and recent draft pick Dre Kirkpatrick looking like he may completely bust, Cincinatti should strongly consider bolstering the cornerback position. He can challenge for a starter role as a rookie and probably fill a slot cornerback role immediately.
25. San Diego Chargers- Louis Nix, NT, Notre Dame: The Chargers currently don’t have a nose tackle who should start in the NFL. It’s a glaring hole in the defense that they’d be wise to fill early in the draft. Nix would fill that void in San Diego.
26. Cleveland Browns- Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: Another need of this team is a defensive back. At this point in the draft, Fuller would be the best available and Cleveland should consider taking him because of his talent.
27. New Orleans Saints- Demarcus Lawrence, OLB, Boise State: New Orleans has a handful of needs on offense and defense, but addressing the outside linebacker role for Rob Ryan’s defense seems like the most glaring requirement based on the current depth chart.
28. Carolina Panthers- JaWuan James, OT, Tennessee: Carolina clearly needs a wide receiver, but I believe they could potentially trade up and get one of the popular choices or will pick a receiver up in a later round. I think they need another offensive lineman to give quarterback Cam Newton protection.
29. New England Patriots- Ra'shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota: New England needs some help on the defensive front and Hageman would certainly help. Head coach Bill Bellichek would certainly enjoy having someone with Hageman's skill and potential.
30. San Francisco 49ers- Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana: It's no secret that quarterback Colin Kaepernick needs offensive weapons because some have either left in free agency or are injury prone. Latimer would be an excellent fit in San Francisco.
31. Denver Broncos- Kyle Van Noy, OLB, Brigham Young: One of Denver's few needs is someone else with Von Miller in the linebacking core. Van Noy is a pretty intriguing prospect and it's someone that head coach John Fox would enjoy.
32. Seattle Seahawks- Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA: For the defending champions, the offensive line is a high priority. Su’a-Filo can offer value at right tackle and guard for the Seahawks, who could use an upgrade at either spot for the future.
1. Houston Texans- Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: What a tandem Houston would have with Clowney and JJ Watt up front? It would be incredible. Especially with Andrew Luck in that division, who they'd face two times per season.
2. St. Louis Rams- Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn: The Rams have done well to fill their primary needs in the draft in recent years, so they’re in a position at No. 2 overall where they can pick the player with the highest upside. That happens to be Robinson.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson: After Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon, who is already on thin ice after being suspended last year, the Jaguars lack quality receivers for the future. Watkins is the best receiver in the draft and it would be a nice fit there.
4. Cleveland Browns- Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M: I do not think Manziel is the best quarterback in this draft, but Cleveland need someone who brings energy and excitement and Manziel fits those qualities, especially for a dysfunctional franchise.
5. Oakland Raiders- Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo: This is a pretty intriguing fit because adding Mack to the recent signings of Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley would give this defense a talented pass rush to build around.
6. Atlanta Falcons- Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M: The Falcons seem to be linked to trading, but they’re better off sitting at No. 6 and drafting the best offensive lineman available at this point, which will be Matthews. Atlanta definitely needs more protection for quarterback Matt Ryan.
7. Tampa Bay Bucaneers- Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M: Tampa's biggest need is clearly a wide receiver. Evans would be a great fit with Lovie Smith and the Bucs new offense, especially that wide receiver Mike Williams was traded to Buffalo for a late draft pick.
8. Minnesota Vikings- Blake Bortles, QB, UCF: Minnesota needs someone new quarterbacking since current quarterback Christian Ponder did not develop and make the leap. I like Bortles and he can potentially be a franchise quarterback.
9. Buffalo Bills- Zack Martin, OT/OG, Notre Dame: Buffalo's biggest need is an offensive guard, but they do have other needs. Martin played left tackle in college, but with less-than-ideal arm length, his best fit in the NFL might be at guard.
10. Detroit Lions- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama: The Lions could use more receiver help, but addressing the secondary is a bigger concern, especially with this receiver class being as deep as it is. While Clinton-Dix has injury concerns, he’s clearly the best safety in this class.
11. Tennessee Titans- Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: As they switch to Ray Horton’s 3-4 defense, the Titans clearly need outside pass-rushing help. Akeem Ayers will face an edge-rusher learning curve as a 3-4 outside linebacker, while Shaun Phillips can’t be counted on as the every-down edge-rusher.
12. New York Giants- Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh: The Giants do have a few needs, but Donald would be a great fit next to Jason Pierre-Paul on the defensive front. Donald has the potential to be a star because of his talents.
13. St. Louis Rams- Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State: After letting Cortland Finnegan walk in free agency and choosing not to replace him, the Rams have a void at one of their cornerback spots. Head coach Jeff Fisher would like this neat prospect.
14. Chicago Bears- Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State: Chicago needs to continue its youth movement on defense, and cornerback is long overdue. With their top three cornerbacks being 30 or older, the Bears should address the position early and often.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Odel Beckham Jr., WR, LSU: Pittsburgh has a major void to fill at the wide receiver position since Jerricho Cotchery had left for the Carolina Panthers. Beckham would be a nice fit in Pittsburgh with Ben Rothlisberger.
16. Dallas Cowboys- Taylor Lewan, OG, Michigan: Dallas needs protection for quarterback Tony Romo and Lewan would certainly help on the offensive front. If Dallas addresses this need, maybe it can stop Romo from his late game failures.
17. Baltimore Ravens- Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia: Keeping Eugene Monroe was Baltimore's priority but they can certainly use more protection for quarterback Joe Flacco. He’s had success against different types of pass-rushers in college and is an NFL-ready starter.
18. New York Jets- Brandon Cooks, WR, Oregon State: The Jets have added Eric Decker to their mediocre receiving core. However, finding a vertical threat is a must, both for offensive versatility and to give Geno Smith some playmakers like he had at West Virginia and Cooks fits that.
19. Miami Dolphins- Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State: One of Miami's needs is a line backer. Shazier is viewed as the premier linebacker in the draft thanks to his athleticism and range, the fit makes sense enough to warrant top-20 consideration.
20. Arizona Cardinals- Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina: Quarterback Carson Palmer could use another offensive weapon other than Larry Fitzgerald. Bruce Arians utilizes a vertical passing offense but doesn’t have a seam-stretching tight end to dominate the middle of the field.
21. Green Bay Packers- CJ Mosley, ILB, Alabama: Green Bay's weakness is their line backing core. Mosley could certainly do nothing but help. Mosley is very talented and would certainly improve on of the leagues best teams clear weakness.
22. Philadelphia Eagles- Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State: Philadelphia is likely comfortable with Brandon Boykin as one of their featured cornerbacks, but after him, they don’t have a clear-cut starter next year. Head coach would enjoy this nest prospects speed for sure.
23. Kansas City Chiefs- Marquis Lee, WR, USC: Kansas City needs more offensive weapons after some had fled elsewhere in free agency. I think Lee could be a special player in this league and head coach Andy Reid would certainly like this young rising star.
24. Cincinnati Bengals- Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: With Leon Hall returning from injury and recent draft pick Dre Kirkpatrick looking like he may completely bust, Cincinatti should strongly consider bolstering the cornerback position. He can challenge for a starter role as a rookie and probably fill a slot cornerback role immediately.
25. San Diego Chargers- Louis Nix, NT, Notre Dame: The Chargers currently don’t have a nose tackle who should start in the NFL. It’s a glaring hole in the defense that they’d be wise to fill early in the draft. Nix would fill that void in San Diego.
26. Cleveland Browns- Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: Another need of this team is a defensive back. At this point in the draft, Fuller would be the best available and Cleveland should consider taking him because of his talent.
27. New Orleans Saints- Demarcus Lawrence, OLB, Boise State: New Orleans has a handful of needs on offense and defense, but addressing the outside linebacker role for Rob Ryan’s defense seems like the most glaring requirement based on the current depth chart.
28. Carolina Panthers- JaWuan James, OT, Tennessee: Carolina clearly needs a wide receiver, but I believe they could potentially trade up and get one of the popular choices or will pick a receiver up in a later round. I think they need another offensive lineman to give quarterback Cam Newton protection.
29. New England Patriots- Ra'shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota: New England needs some help on the defensive front and Hageman would certainly help. Head coach Bill Bellichek would certainly enjoy having someone with Hageman's skill and potential.
30. San Francisco 49ers- Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana: It's no secret that quarterback Colin Kaepernick needs offensive weapons because some have either left in free agency or are injury prone. Latimer would be an excellent fit in San Francisco.
31. Denver Broncos- Kyle Van Noy, OLB, Brigham Young: One of Denver's few needs is someone else with Von Miller in the linebacking core. Van Noy is a pretty intriguing prospect and it's someone that head coach John Fox would enjoy.
32. Seattle Seahawks- Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA: For the defending champions, the offensive line is a high priority. Su’a-Filo can offer value at right tackle and guard for the Seahawks, who could use an upgrade at either spot for the future.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
2014 NBA Playoffs Round 2 Predictions
What a first round we had! So many thrillers, buzzer beaters, overtime games, etc. Hopefully we have more of that because it was just fantastic! All of these match ups here are excellent. So onto my predictions for the semi-finals.
Eastern Conference
(1) Indiana Pacers vs (5) Washington Wizards: The Pacers survived their series against the Atlanta Hawks, but give the Hawks credit because they put up a fight. The Wizards on the other hand, played outstanding against the Chicago Bulls, who were not good offensively. The match ups I like in this series are the David West vs Nene and Marcin Gortat vs Roy Hibbert (who showed up and played well in game seven against the Hawks). I find this series is very intriguing because of the match ups and whether the Pacers are "back" or not. The Pacers defense was outstanding in game seven, but their offense concerns me a little bit and I wonder if Frank Vogel makes some changes to the rotation because of match ups. For the Wizards, their three-point shooting needs to be great because the Pacers were mediocre defending the three in their series against the Hawks. This series should go to distance, but most teams with deciding games in their own building tend to win those games, which has me leaning toward the team with home court. Pacers in 7.
(2) Miami Heat vs (6) Brooklyn Nets: I love this series and it has "classic" written all over it considering that every game these two played against each other in the regular season were just fantastic with all the close games. The Nets needed a block from Paul Pierce to knock off the Toronto Raptors in their game seven. If it weren't for an Al Jefferson injury, the Heat probably don't sweep the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett gave LeBron James issues in the past in the playoffs when they played for the Boston Celtics. For the Nets, Joe Johnson and Paul Pierce have had big moments against the a Raptors. For the Heat, the big three has been great as well as some of their role players. Expect a lot of close games with big name players coming up clutch from both teams. This series should also go to distance as well and expect LeBron James to carry the load again. Heat in 7.
Western Conference
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (5) Portland Trail Blazers: It took a series-clinching buzzer beater by Damian Lillard for the Blazers and a game seven blowout for the Spurs to set up this matchup. Damian Lillard is emerging as a superstar in this playoffs and LaMarcus Aldrige has been the playoffs MVP so far. The rest of the Blazers starting five is underrated with the likes of Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum and they played excellent against the Houston Rockets. The Spurs (the big three in particular) put on a clinic in game seven against the Dallas Mavericks, who deserve credit for pushing the defending western conference champs to seven games. Expect a big series from Kawahi Leonard and Danny Green for San Antonio and expect Lillard and Aldridge to have an impact for Portland. Expect a lot of points to be scored in this series and the leagues best team at this point to move on. Spurs in 6.
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (3) Los Angeles Clippers: This is probably the best second round matchup in sometime. Expectations are through the roofs for both teams and the loser of this series, no matter who it is, their season will be considered a failure. The point guard matchup between Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook will be just incredible. League MVP Kevin Durant was absolutely outstanding in games six and seven against the Memphis Grizzlies, who pushed the Thunder to seven games deserve credit for that. Who knows if the Thunder would be here if Zach Randolph was not suspended for game seven for the Grizzlies. The Clippers are coming off a tumultuous week with their owner Donald Sterling being banned for life and it looks like they put that behind them and it showed in their game seven thrilling victory over the Golden State Warriors. This will be a high scoring series with many dramatic finishes and expect some toughness from both teams. I think two things are the difference in this series: bench play and coaching and the team that has the edge in both categories will win the series. Clippers in 6.
Eastern Conference
(1) Indiana Pacers vs (5) Washington Wizards: The Pacers survived their series against the Atlanta Hawks, but give the Hawks credit because they put up a fight. The Wizards on the other hand, played outstanding against the Chicago Bulls, who were not good offensively. The match ups I like in this series are the David West vs Nene and Marcin Gortat vs Roy Hibbert (who showed up and played well in game seven against the Hawks). I find this series is very intriguing because of the match ups and whether the Pacers are "back" or not. The Pacers defense was outstanding in game seven, but their offense concerns me a little bit and I wonder if Frank Vogel makes some changes to the rotation because of match ups. For the Wizards, their three-point shooting needs to be great because the Pacers were mediocre defending the three in their series against the Hawks. This series should go to distance, but most teams with deciding games in their own building tend to win those games, which has me leaning toward the team with home court. Pacers in 7.
(2) Miami Heat vs (6) Brooklyn Nets: I love this series and it has "classic" written all over it considering that every game these two played against each other in the regular season were just fantastic with all the close games. The Nets needed a block from Paul Pierce to knock off the Toronto Raptors in their game seven. If it weren't for an Al Jefferson injury, the Heat probably don't sweep the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett gave LeBron James issues in the past in the playoffs when they played for the Boston Celtics. For the Nets, Joe Johnson and Paul Pierce have had big moments against the a Raptors. For the Heat, the big three has been great as well as some of their role players. Expect a lot of close games with big name players coming up clutch from both teams. This series should also go to distance as well and expect LeBron James to carry the load again. Heat in 7.
Western Conference
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (5) Portland Trail Blazers: It took a series-clinching buzzer beater by Damian Lillard for the Blazers and a game seven blowout for the Spurs to set up this matchup. Damian Lillard is emerging as a superstar in this playoffs and LaMarcus Aldrige has been the playoffs MVP so far. The rest of the Blazers starting five is underrated with the likes of Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum and they played excellent against the Houston Rockets. The Spurs (the big three in particular) put on a clinic in game seven against the Dallas Mavericks, who deserve credit for pushing the defending western conference champs to seven games. Expect a big series from Kawahi Leonard and Danny Green for San Antonio and expect Lillard and Aldridge to have an impact for Portland. Expect a lot of points to be scored in this series and the leagues best team at this point to move on. Spurs in 6.
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (3) Los Angeles Clippers: This is probably the best second round matchup in sometime. Expectations are through the roofs for both teams and the loser of this series, no matter who it is, their season will be considered a failure. The point guard matchup between Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook will be just incredible. League MVP Kevin Durant was absolutely outstanding in games six and seven against the Memphis Grizzlies, who pushed the Thunder to seven games deserve credit for that. Who knows if the Thunder would be here if Zach Randolph was not suspended for game seven for the Grizzlies. The Clippers are coming off a tumultuous week with their owner Donald Sterling being banned for life and it looks like they put that behind them and it showed in their game seven thrilling victory over the Golden State Warriors. This will be a high scoring series with many dramatic finishes and expect some toughness from both teams. I think two things are the difference in this series: bench play and coaching and the team that has the edge in both categories will win the series. Clippers in 6.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2 Predictions
Here are my predictions for round two of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Eastern Conference
(A1) Boston Bruins vs (A3) Montreal Canadiens: This series is very intriguing to me considering that this is their 34th playoff meeting against each other. This is a great rivalry and this will be a fun one to watch. Carey Price played well against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tuuka Rask was just spectacular against the Detroit Red Wings, so the goaltending should be excellent in this series and expect a low scoring series. The defense of the Bruins to me is the key to this series and how it matches up trying to defend the likes of Max Pacioretty and Thomas Vanek. Special teams will be critical in this series for sure too. Expect the eastern conference's best team to move on once again. Bruins in 6.
(M1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (M2) New York Rangers: Another great series featuring division rivals with a ton of super stars. Sidney Corsby needs to have a big series if Pittsburgh wants to win and if the Rangers wants to win, Henrik Lundqvist needs to play his best hockey of the season. Both teams have a ton of pressure on them for sure, but nobody is under more pressure than Marc-Andre Fleury, who had blown two games with 3-1 and 3-0 leads (and almost a third and had led 4-0 in game 6) in the previous series against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Expect the team with the better goaltender to move on. Rangers in 6.
Western Conference
(C3) Chicago Blackhawks vs (WC1) Minnesota Wild: A rematch of last years first round series between two division rivals. Minnesota deserves a ton of credit for coming back and winning game seven in overtime in Colorado against the Avalanche. These teams are pretty evenly matched with the likes of Ryan Suter and Duncan Keith on defense and Jonathan Toews and Zach Parise on offense. Chicago has the better goaltender in Corey Crawford and that will be the difference in this series. Blackhawks in 6.
(P1) Anaheim Ducks vs (P3) Los Angeles Kings: Give the Kings credit for rallying from a 3-0 series hole to rally back and win in seven games because this was only the fourth time this happened in NHL history. Anaheim has the better offense with the likes of Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf but the Kings advantage is the man in net and that's Jonathan Quick, who is the reason why the Kings rallied back against the San Jose Sharks. This will be a great series because this is the first time these teams are ever meeting in the postseason. This was a tough call, but it should be the best second round series. Kings in 6.
Eastern Conference
(A1) Boston Bruins vs (A3) Montreal Canadiens: This series is very intriguing to me considering that this is their 34th playoff meeting against each other. This is a great rivalry and this will be a fun one to watch. Carey Price played well against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tuuka Rask was just spectacular against the Detroit Red Wings, so the goaltending should be excellent in this series and expect a low scoring series. The defense of the Bruins to me is the key to this series and how it matches up trying to defend the likes of Max Pacioretty and Thomas Vanek. Special teams will be critical in this series for sure too. Expect the eastern conference's best team to move on once again. Bruins in 6.
(M1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (M2) New York Rangers: Another great series featuring division rivals with a ton of super stars. Sidney Corsby needs to have a big series if Pittsburgh wants to win and if the Rangers wants to win, Henrik Lundqvist needs to play his best hockey of the season. Both teams have a ton of pressure on them for sure, but nobody is under more pressure than Marc-Andre Fleury, who had blown two games with 3-1 and 3-0 leads (and almost a third and had led 4-0 in game 6) in the previous series against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Expect the team with the better goaltender to move on. Rangers in 6.
Western Conference
(C3) Chicago Blackhawks vs (WC1) Minnesota Wild: A rematch of last years first round series between two division rivals. Minnesota deserves a ton of credit for coming back and winning game seven in overtime in Colorado against the Avalanche. These teams are pretty evenly matched with the likes of Ryan Suter and Duncan Keith on defense and Jonathan Toews and Zach Parise on offense. Chicago has the better goaltender in Corey Crawford and that will be the difference in this series. Blackhawks in 6.
(P1) Anaheim Ducks vs (P3) Los Angeles Kings: Give the Kings credit for rallying from a 3-0 series hole to rally back and win in seven games because this was only the fourth time this happened in NHL history. Anaheim has the better offense with the likes of Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf but the Kings advantage is the man in net and that's Jonathan Quick, who is the reason why the Kings rallied back against the San Jose Sharks. This will be a great series because this is the first time these teams are ever meeting in the postseason. This was a tough call, but it should be the best second round series. Kings in 6.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
My take on Adam Silver's discipline for Donald Sterling
As we all know, earlier this afternoon, new NBA commissioner Adam Silver threw the hammer on Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling by not only fining him 2.5 million bucks but banning him from the league for life. I absolutely agree with his decision to do so and it was absolutely the correct thing to do. Just imagine if he did not banned, head coach Doc Rivers and star players Chris Paul and Blake Griffin would probably just walk away from the franchise. Silver's next step is to get the other twenty-nine owners to get a poll together to determine whether he's forced to sell the franchise or not. Seventy-five percent of the twenty-nine owners need to vote for Sterling to sell in order for it to work. I believe more of the seventy-five percent will vote for Sterling to sell the team and rightfully so. This is a sign that this league is heading in the right direction under Silver as commissioner. Another thought going into this was, what would former commissioner David Stern do about this situation? We obviously have no clue about what Stern would've done since he is no longer the commissioner. It seems like people around the association are thrilled and agree that Silver showed leadership on the podium and handled the situation very well. This was a defining moment in NBA history for sure and I am interested to see how the Clippers play and how their fans react tonight for their game 5 in their 2-2 tied series against the Golden State Warriors.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
My take on the Donald Sterling racist comments
The biggest story of the weekend is obviously the racist comments made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Doland Sterling. After that comment that offended many people, he should be banned from the league and forced to sell the team. Sterling must go to court for this. Unfortunately, that will not happen. So, he will probably be suspended for a significant amount of time. If he is not at least suspended, I will probably rip new commissioner Adam Silver for that. I don't blame the world-wide media for saying what they want to say about Sterling because they are all right. I applaud the Clipper players for wearing their Clipper warm up uniforms inside out because it shows how offended they are by their teams owner's comments. I also applaud president Barack Obama for coming out and commenting on this unfortunate situation. This will definitely have an impact on how the Clippers perform the rest of the playoffs. I'm sure the Clipper players and coaches are sick of the media questioning them on if this situation will impact their performance in the playoffs or not. After that comment Sterling made, you can make the case that he's the leagues worst owner, and not New York Knicks owner James Dolan, in terms of a teams owner making a comment that distracts the team on and off the court. So, we shall see what happens within the next few days (expected announcement is Tuesday) on what the league decides to do with Sterling.
Friday, April 25, 2014
My thoughts on the 2014 NFL Schedule
Last night, the 2014 NFL Schedule had been released. Many games intrigue me, others do not. There are a few winners and losers of the schedule release, which I'll get to. It is one of my favorite days of the year and I love it. So here are my thoughts and takeaways on the schedule.
Games that intrigue me
Week 1- Packers vs Seahawks: The first game of the season is a rematch of the "Fail Mary" game that took place 2 seasons ago and it was the most bizarre finish we've probably ever seen to end a game. I am surprised that ESPN is not airing this game considering that I thought the opening night game would be the Seahawks hosting the 49ers and the fact that ESPN carried the "Fail Mary" game two seasons ago.
Week 1- 49ers vs Cowboys: This game stands out to me considering that this game is the regional 4:25PM game on FOX and it's a lock that Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will call this one. The 49ers are going through a tumultuous offseason with Aldon Smith getting arrested and contract extension talks with Colin Kaepernick and head coach Jim Harbaugh holding off. I am curious to see how the 49ers season plays out and don't forget about those Cowboys that love getting attention.
Week 1- Colts vs Broncos: Nobody is facing more pressure than Peyton Manning and the Broncos this upcoming season. After the embarrassing Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Peyton & Co will come out with a chip on their shoulder. Don't forget that Andrew Luck and the Colts are one of the AFC's best teams too.
Week 1- Chargers vs Cardinals: The second game of ESPN's Monday Night Football opening week double header intrigues me because these were two teams last season that exceeded expectations finishing 10-6 and 9-7 respectively. Both these teams want to prove that their previous seasons were no fluke, so a national TV game on a Monday night is a nice way to kick off their respective seasons.
Week 2- Bears vs 49ers: The first ever game at Levi's Stadium on a national TV stage will be great. The match up is great considering that both teams will be contending all season long.
Week 3-Broncos vs Seahawks: The rematch of Super Bowl XLVII will have all eyeballs on it. This game will prove many things such as whether Denver's renovated defense is good against an elite defense like Seattle's and if Manning will figure out Seattle's defense or not.
Week 6- Giants vs Eagles: A prime-time game between two great division rivals that will be contending for the NFC East crown. The Eagles new-look offense and the renovated Giants defensive back field will both be tested.
Week 7- 49ers vs Broncos: This matchup is just flat out great. Two elite teams going at it that have "Super Bowl or bust" labels on them. TV ratings should be high for this one.
Week 8- Packers vs Saints: A Sunday night matchup with two of the leagues best quarterbacks going at it in Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. This is must see TV.
Week 9- Broncos vs Patriots: Manning vs Brady. What else is new. Could be the final time these two match up.
Week 9- Ravens vs Steelers: One of the leagues best rivalries for sure, could have very big division title implications on it. Don't forget what Mike Tomlin did the last time these teams met.
Week 9- Colts vs Giants: This Monday night matchup is great. Andrew Luck vs Eli Manning. The Giants new secondary will have to prove they can cover the Colts great receiving core.
Week 10- 49ers vs Saints: Two of the NFC's elite teams going at it. This game has playoff implications written all over it.
Week 10- Bears vs Packers: The NFL's oldest rivalry from the great Lambeau field on a cold November night is indeed the case. This could be a division implication game as well as a few others.
Week 11- Patriots vs Colts: Present vs Future match up considering that this is Brady vs Luck III. One of the leagues most underrated rivalries for sure. This matchup had "Sunday Night Football" written all over it.
Week 12- Cowboys vs Giants: A matchup NBC airs just about every season since I have no clue how long. This could very we'll be a division title implication game.
Week 12- Ravens vs Saints: This is a great matchup that we rarely see since they are in different conferences. Two former Super Bowl winning quarterbacks going at it in the lights of the super dome will be fascinating. Don't forget this is where the Ravens won their Super Bowl two seasons ago.
Week 13- Seahawks vs 49ers: The best rivalry in the NFL today on Thanksgiving night is the best any fan could ask for. One of the teams could very well be undefeated entering in this game.
Week 13- Redskins vs Colts: This is the first of many of RG3 vs Luck match ups. It's a certain that ESPN will be all over this matchup and I'm shocked that this is not a Monday Night Football game.
Week 13- Patriots vs Packers: A battle between two top-four quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. This is another rare matchup that we only see every four years.
Week 15- Cowboys vs Eagles: One of the leagues best rivalries going at it in the City of Brotherly Love. This game will have an impact on who wins the NFC East for sure.
Week 16- Seahawks vs Cardinals: Considering that the Cardinals beat the Seahawks in Seattle this past season, Arizona gets rewarded a Sunday Night Football home game against the defending champs. Playoff implications are on this one.
Week 17- Cowboys vs Redskins: This is probably the game that decides the NFC East considering the history Dallas has had the last three seasons with them being eliminated in week 17 against the eventual NFC East champion. Let's see if the trend continues.
Winners
New England Patriots- Consider that their in the leagues weakest division and that they have opponents that they are better than for most of their match ups. They do play Denver this season, but that's at home so it won't be bad. Two challenges await when they go to Indianapolis to play the Colts and Lambeau to play the Packers.
Denver Broncos- The schedule broke pretty well for Denver. Three of the first four are at home with an early bye. The road schedule is not too bad, expect Seattle and Foxborough are the two challenges Peyton & Co must face this season.
Seattle Seahawks- The defending champs have a decent schedule for sure. A few challenges reign toward the end of the season twice against division rival San Francisco and going on the road to a hostile Philadelphia environment.
Losers
New York Jets- Despite their opener against the Raiders, they have a bear of a schedule. They have the best three NFC North teams in consecutive weeks and after that they play three consecutive playoff teams in San Diego, Denver, and New England. That pretty much guarentees a losing season because don't forget they play New England twice and have other opponents that are much better than they are in Kansas City and Pittsburgh.
Cincinatti Bengals- Last season, people looked at the Bengals with expectations. They won the AFC North and lost in the wild card round to San Diego, thanks to Andy Dalton, who tends to flop in the postseason. Since they won their division last season and some of their division rivals got better while they didn't do much this offseason, their schedule is tough. They finally get to play the big boys in the AFC like Denver and New England and it won't be easy.
Oakland Raiders- A team that brought in random veterans to make them selves look good. Uh, your still the AFC west's worst team and their schedule is not easy. Six division games against two playoff teams and one team that's pretty good too. And oh yeah, they have four games against the leagues best division.
Games that intrigue me
Week 1- Packers vs Seahawks: The first game of the season is a rematch of the "Fail Mary" game that took place 2 seasons ago and it was the most bizarre finish we've probably ever seen to end a game. I am surprised that ESPN is not airing this game considering that I thought the opening night game would be the Seahawks hosting the 49ers and the fact that ESPN carried the "Fail Mary" game two seasons ago.
Week 1- 49ers vs Cowboys: This game stands out to me considering that this game is the regional 4:25PM game on FOX and it's a lock that Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will call this one. The 49ers are going through a tumultuous offseason with Aldon Smith getting arrested and contract extension talks with Colin Kaepernick and head coach Jim Harbaugh holding off. I am curious to see how the 49ers season plays out and don't forget about those Cowboys that love getting attention.
Week 1- Colts vs Broncos: Nobody is facing more pressure than Peyton Manning and the Broncos this upcoming season. After the embarrassing Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Peyton & Co will come out with a chip on their shoulder. Don't forget that Andrew Luck and the Colts are one of the AFC's best teams too.
Week 1- Chargers vs Cardinals: The second game of ESPN's Monday Night Football opening week double header intrigues me because these were two teams last season that exceeded expectations finishing 10-6 and 9-7 respectively. Both these teams want to prove that their previous seasons were no fluke, so a national TV game on a Monday night is a nice way to kick off their respective seasons.
Week 2- Bears vs 49ers: The first ever game at Levi's Stadium on a national TV stage will be great. The match up is great considering that both teams will be contending all season long.
Week 3-Broncos vs Seahawks: The rematch of Super Bowl XLVII will have all eyeballs on it. This game will prove many things such as whether Denver's renovated defense is good against an elite defense like Seattle's and if Manning will figure out Seattle's defense or not.
Week 6- Giants vs Eagles: A prime-time game between two great division rivals that will be contending for the NFC East crown. The Eagles new-look offense and the renovated Giants defensive back field will both be tested.
Week 7- 49ers vs Broncos: This matchup is just flat out great. Two elite teams going at it that have "Super Bowl or bust" labels on them. TV ratings should be high for this one.
Week 8- Packers vs Saints: A Sunday night matchup with two of the leagues best quarterbacks going at it in Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. This is must see TV.
Week 9- Broncos vs Patriots: Manning vs Brady. What else is new. Could be the final time these two match up.
Week 9- Ravens vs Steelers: One of the leagues best rivalries for sure, could have very big division title implications on it. Don't forget what Mike Tomlin did the last time these teams met.
Week 9- Colts vs Giants: This Monday night matchup is great. Andrew Luck vs Eli Manning. The Giants new secondary will have to prove they can cover the Colts great receiving core.
Week 10- 49ers vs Saints: Two of the NFC's elite teams going at it. This game has playoff implications written all over it.
Week 10- Bears vs Packers: The NFL's oldest rivalry from the great Lambeau field on a cold November night is indeed the case. This could be a division implication game as well as a few others.
Week 11- Patriots vs Colts: Present vs Future match up considering that this is Brady vs Luck III. One of the leagues most underrated rivalries for sure. This matchup had "Sunday Night Football" written all over it.
Week 12- Cowboys vs Giants: A matchup NBC airs just about every season since I have no clue how long. This could very we'll be a division title implication game.
Week 12- Ravens vs Saints: This is a great matchup that we rarely see since they are in different conferences. Two former Super Bowl winning quarterbacks going at it in the lights of the super dome will be fascinating. Don't forget this is where the Ravens won their Super Bowl two seasons ago.
Week 13- Seahawks vs 49ers: The best rivalry in the NFL today on Thanksgiving night is the best any fan could ask for. One of the teams could very well be undefeated entering in this game.
Week 13- Redskins vs Colts: This is the first of many of RG3 vs Luck match ups. It's a certain that ESPN will be all over this matchup and I'm shocked that this is not a Monday Night Football game.
Week 13- Patriots vs Packers: A battle between two top-four quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. This is another rare matchup that we only see every four years.
Week 15- Cowboys vs Eagles: One of the leagues best rivalries going at it in the City of Brotherly Love. This game will have an impact on who wins the NFC East for sure.
Week 16- Seahawks vs Cardinals: Considering that the Cardinals beat the Seahawks in Seattle this past season, Arizona gets rewarded a Sunday Night Football home game against the defending champs. Playoff implications are on this one.
Week 17- Cowboys vs Redskins: This is probably the game that decides the NFC East considering the history Dallas has had the last three seasons with them being eliminated in week 17 against the eventual NFC East champion. Let's see if the trend continues.
Winners
New England Patriots- Consider that their in the leagues weakest division and that they have opponents that they are better than for most of their match ups. They do play Denver this season, but that's at home so it won't be bad. Two challenges await when they go to Indianapolis to play the Colts and Lambeau to play the Packers.
Denver Broncos- The schedule broke pretty well for Denver. Three of the first four are at home with an early bye. The road schedule is not too bad, expect Seattle and Foxborough are the two challenges Peyton & Co must face this season.
Seattle Seahawks- The defending champs have a decent schedule for sure. A few challenges reign toward the end of the season twice against division rival San Francisco and going on the road to a hostile Philadelphia environment.
Losers
New York Jets- Despite their opener against the Raiders, they have a bear of a schedule. They have the best three NFC North teams in consecutive weeks and after that they play three consecutive playoff teams in San Diego, Denver, and New England. That pretty much guarentees a losing season because don't forget they play New England twice and have other opponents that are much better than they are in Kansas City and Pittsburgh.
Cincinatti Bengals- Last season, people looked at the Bengals with expectations. They won the AFC North and lost in the wild card round to San Diego, thanks to Andy Dalton, who tends to flop in the postseason. Since they won their division last season and some of their division rivals got better while they didn't do much this offseason, their schedule is tough. They finally get to play the big boys in the AFC like Denver and New England and it won't be easy.
Oakland Raiders- A team that brought in random veterans to make them selves look good. Uh, your still the AFC west's worst team and their schedule is not easy. Six division games against two playoff teams and one team that's pretty good too. And oh yeah, they have four games against the leagues best division.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)