NFL Week 1 Takeaways

The AFC East went 4-0 this week, with dominating wins from the Jets over the Browns and the Bills over the Colts. That was a huge surprise to me because I thought the Colts were going to be nearly unstoppable on offense. The Bills shut them down with a near perfect 1^st half of defense.

The heavy weight fight between the Ravens and Broncos was brutal to watch. In a way the defensive coordinators must be happy for both teams, but the offenses looked horrific. Not a single offensive touchdown from either team, from 2 of the top teams in the league. Add insult to injury: Terrell Suggs is out for the season with a torn Achilles. Ouch!

Staying within the AFC West division, the KC Chiefs looked like a top 10 team after smashing the Texans in the first half, but let them get close in the second half. Like I said in my preview, the Broncos are going to have their handful with the Chiefs and even the surprising Chargers. The Chargers beat the lions in a back and forth game. The big loser in this division are the Oakland Raiders, who got absolutely crushed by Cincinnati and star QB David Carr took a shot.

The biggest surprise in the AFC and maybe NFL are the Tennessee Titans, more specifically Marcus Mariota. 4 TDs, and a perfect passer rating. Not only did he look good, he made Jameis Winston and the Bucs look like they made the wrong choice drafting Winston over Mariota. What else is surprising, is that the Titans are in first place in their division, thanks to the Colts getting derailed by the Bills, the Texans losing to the Chiefs, and the Jaguars being the Jags by losing to the Panthers. Playoffs in Nashville?

In the NFC, there were some great divisional match-ups including the Seahawks and Rams. This game means so much to the Rams, though they beat them last year as well, this game will give the Rams the confidence they need to be a playoff contender they believe they are. As for the Seahawks, I don’t think it’s anything to panic about, but giving up 34 points to the Rams has got to be eye-opening. Maybe pay Kam Chancellor because next week they play the Packers in Green Bay. Can you say 0-2?

Speaking of the Packers and divisional match-ups, the Packers beat the Bears in Green Bay – Chicago fashion. By that I mean, Green Bay winning and Jay Cutler throwing a costly interception. You can’t make this stuff up, it happens every time these two play each other.

The Cardinals got a great welcome back performance from Carson Palmer as he threw 3 TDs and defeated the New Orleans Saints with a dominant 4^th quarter. A week 1 win is a nice way for the Cardinals to get a game lead on the Seahawks.

To cap off Opening Sunday, we got the privilege to watch an NFC East showdown in the NY Giants and the highly praised Cowboys. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for the Cowboys in the first half, including some crazy fumbles and interceptions that led to points for the Giants and left Cowboys scratching their heads. The second half was very different. The Giants couldn’t move the ball and the Cowboys were clicking. Even with the lead the Giants were unable to secure the win due to some terrible clock management and defense allowing the Cowboys to drive down the field and score a TD with 7 seconds left. De-ja-vu to Desean Jackson’s punt return a few years ago. The consistency with this team is out of this world. Though the Cowboys got the win, they lost their star wide-out, Dez Bryant with a broken foot. That broken foot didn’t stop him from celebrating his team winning though.

On to Monday Night. We the fans get blessed with 2 MNF games. The first between the Eagles and Falcons and the second featuring the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately these aren’t the greatest games to show, but they do feature some interesting storylines. Everyone is excited to see the Chip Kelly science experiment, starting with Sam Bradford and how he will rebound from his 2 terrible knee injuries that have put him on the list of potential biggest bust. I think he will be a star, but we will have wait to find out. On the other side of the ball is the Atlanta Falcons, who have a new coach with a defensive background, which is what Atlanta most certainly needed after last year. I could see this game being a shootout between 2 high flying offenses. My advantage would have to go with Philadelphia, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this one come down to the wire. Philadelphia by 8 is my prediction.

The final game of week one stars my hometown Vikings against my once beloved 49ers, due to my love for the former 49er great, Patty Willis. Unfortunately this game starts at 9:20 CST, so half of us aren't evening going to be able to finish the game because we have to wake up for work, but too the die-hards this is nice preview of what our Vikings are going to be about this season. The Vikings should in no way lose this game to a 49ers team that is legitimately in free fall and turmoil. The organization had such a tough off-season, I don’t how they will even compete this season. With that being said, the Vikings need to pound them into the ground early with Adrian Peterson, who side note, will be running like an angry mad men, that wants to show the league he still has it. I can’t wait for all the puzzle pieces to fit for the Vikings tonight. Vikings win easily by 10, 30-20.

2015-2016 NFL SEASON PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

NFC EAST:

The NFC East is a 2 team race again this year. The Cowboys and Eagles will be neck and neck to win the division. With DeMarco Murray changing teams and Chip Kelley moving players left and right the Eagles are a project everybody has their eyes on. If Bradford can stay healthy and play close to how he did in pre-season, I think this is the year the Eagles finally make a legitimate playoff run and not get the door shut on them.

Though I like the Giants’ receiving core of Cruz and OBJ, there is something about them that doesn’t give me a good feeling that they will have good year. Average at best is my prediction for them.

The Redskins are as one analyst said “the Kardashians of the NFL.” This is spot on. This team is so dysfunctional. They will at best win 5 games and will be looking for a new QB to draft next year after they ship RG3, which is sad considering all the talent they have at skill positions.

NFC SOUTH:

This division can’t be much worse than they were last year. My guess is that the Panthers and Saints will duke it out again for the division crown, but both teams lost their best offensive threats before the regular season even started. The Saints sent Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks and the Panthers just lost Kelvin Benjamin to an ACL tear. This is hard to pick a winner because the Panthers can play defense, but their offense is so sad it hurts to think about their options besides the Cam Newton triple-option like he’s at Auburn still. I want to see somebody from this division emerge as the leader, I just don’t see it.

The Falcons will be the sleeper of the division. They have a really good, high scoring potential offense. With Julio Jones getting an extension this off season, I expect him to even be better than he was in the past. Hiring Dan Quinn from the Seahawks wasn’t a bad move either. Keep your eye on them and don’t be surprised if they are competing for the division title in week 17.

As for the Bucs, it will be interesting to watch the progression of Jameis Winston. I personally watched him play this pre-season in a game against the Minnesota Vikings. To his credit it was his first pre-season game, but it was not pretty. He looked like a rookie QB in his first game. He made some good scrambles including a TD rush and a good end of the half drive, but other than that, he has a lot of work to do. I want him to do well and be a star in a few years, but I don’t see it and the lack of a defense is not going to help his confidence.

NFC NORTH:

This division belongs to the Green Bay Packers, but don’t count out 2 of the other teams for a wild card spot. I think it’s the consensus that the Packers are going to win this division unless Aaron Rodgers has a catastrophic injury. Even with Jordy Nelson being out for the season, the Packer’s offensive system is very versatile, allowing new players to step up and become known. They also have a legitimate running back, which they have been missing for some time now.

With the Packers winning the division, 2 other teams will be very competitive within the division. The Lions have been on the cusps of beating the Packers for a while now, but can’t get over the hump. I could see them taking one at Ford Field to give Green Bay fans a scare.

My sleeper to grab a wild card spot is the Minnesota Vikings. This team is doing everything right to keep progressing and get closer to a championship. They finally found their franchise QB in Teddy Bridgewater. AP is back. They have a hard-nosed coach that won’t deal with non-sense and a young defense that continues to get faster and better. This team has looked great and can compete with any team in the league. Yes, competing and winning are two different things, but going into season 2 with coach Zimmer, the Vikings are a scary team to play against. They are underrated with low expectations, but have the ability to win some games and grab a wild card spot.

The Bears, much like the Redskins, are in a bad spot. Hiring John Fox is not going to solve their problems. Cutting 2 proven defensive players (Tim Jennings and Ray McDonald) isn’t going help improve an already abysmal defense. I think the Bears should cut their losses, start focusing on next year’s draft and reboot the roster. They will win 4-5 games at best.

NFC WEST:

Much like the NFC North, the Seahawks own this division. They are loaded all over the field and got an upgrade to their passing game acquiring Jimmy Graham from the Saints this off-season. The rich get richer. Like the NFC North, this division will be very competitive with 2 other teams competing with each other to get 2^nd place in the division and a possible wild card playoff spot. Arizona Cardinals were last year’s surprised, but this season they are on everybody’s radar and won’t be taken lightly. They still have a top 10 defense and with a healthy Carson Palmer, they could hit the 10 win mark to grab a wild card spot. Chris Johnson was a good addition as well, but he isn’t the Chris Johnson of 2009, let’s just remember that before we give him the benefit of doubt.

The St. Louis Rams are much like the Vikings. Acquiring Nick Foles for Sam Bradford was like free bacon for them. They also have a top 10 defense, which is why they can stay in most games and ended up beating the Seahawks last year.  I’m very interested in how Todd Gurley is going to pan out. I believe he is better and will do better than Melvin Gordon, but it’s always hard to come back from a major knee surgery, unless of course you are Adrian Peterson, but he’s a football demi-good.

Poor 49ers. Ever since the 2013 Super Bowl loss and 2014 NFC Championship loss, the 49ers have gone spiraling in to a black hole and this off-season made it worse. They lost their head coach, a majority of their defense, and their QB regressed after giving Kaepernick a huge contract extension. Their situation is one of the worst in the entire league. With Willis and Borland retiring due to health issues, it seemed that other players lost interest and decided to do whatever they wanted.

Not much will change among the top of the NFC, but look for some upcoming teams to make a post season bid.

AFC EAST:

Could this be the year the Patriots get knocked off their throne in the AFC East? PENDING Tom Brady’s suspension ruling, the Patriots are in serious threat of starting the season down 1-3. IF no TB12, the Patriots will have 2 very tough games to start the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the redefined, defensive minded, Rex Ryan led Bills in week 2. They catch a break hosting the miserable Jaguars, but then head to Dallas after a bye week. If the Tom Brady’s suspension holds up, the Patriots are going to have some digging to get back on top. The benefit for them is that even starting down 1-3 or 2-2, they can win the division without a doubt, resulting in hosting a playoff game in Foxborough, where they are nearly unbeatable.

The Bills will be drawing a lot of eyes towards them this year. After a very successful defensive campaign last season, the Bills have continued right where they left off and picked up a treasure in Shady McCoy. Though they picked up McCoy and have Sammy Watkins, the Bills still are searching for a true starting QB. As of now (9/1/2015) the Bills have named Tyrod Taylor their starting QB. (WHO?) The Michael Vick like, Virginia Tech, dual threat QB, whom was drafted in the 6^th round and has never started an NFL game. That Tyrod Taylor. Don’t get me wrong, the guy was awesome in college, but that obviously hasn’t transitioned into the NFL. The Bills brought in Matt Cassel to play QB and he can’t even beat out Taylor or EJ Manuel, who is my personal favorite, but obviously hasn’t made the jump to be an NFL staring QB yet. The QB position will be their Achilles heel all season, which will cost them a few games, say when they need to beat the Patriots in Foxborough week 11.

It seems like all the attention in this division has been on everybody except the Dolphins. The Dolphins made a huge splash signing Ndamaukong Suh to add to their defense. He is a top 5 player and probably the second best defensive player behind JJ Watt. He is going to upgrade an already decent Miami defense and get them closer to capturing a division title. Though no easy task knocking off the Patriots, the Dolphins have a legitimate chance of stepping up to the occasion and being crowned AFC East champs. I’ll wait to see it before I believe it though.

As for the Jets, at least they got Revis back. Signing Brandon Marshall was a good move too, but with Geno Smith their top QB, their offense will seriously struggle. Geno getting sucker punched and breaking his jaw is the epitome of the NY Jets. That sucker punch might be a blessing in disguised because now the Jets will be starting Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is the smartest QB in the league off the field, but not so much on the field. They also have the Alex Moran (Blue Mountain State reference) of the NFL with Matt Flynn in their back pocket. If it was up to me, I would have none of the above play and start Baylor sensation Bryce Petty, hopefully finding a QB for the future and not a back-up stand in while the Jets endure another painful season of losing.

UPDATE: this review was written on 9/1/2015, as of 9/3/2015 Tom Brady’s suspension was dropped. With Brady back, the Patriots have a very good chance at starting 4-0, starting with a win in Foxborough on Thursday to kick off the NFL season. Though Buffalo will be tough to be in Buffalo, the Patriots will be able to come through with a win. After a breeze against the Jaguars, they will face a true test against a playoff bound Dallas Cowboys at Dallas. No easy feat, but I have confidence that they can beat them.

AFC SOUTH:

The Colts are my pick to represent the AFC in this season’s Super Bowl. They added key guys to help solidify their run to the Super Bowl. They signed Andre Johnson and Frank Gore. 2 proven stars of the league, that have a just enough gas in them to make one more run at a championship. This is exactly what the Colts need. Andre Johnson will easily replace Reggie Wayne, barring an injury, and Frank Gore is always good to replace a non-existent running game. Their defense got help with the signing of Trent Cole, which will possibly get them over the Patriots hump from last year. Luck is the real deal and is a Super Bowl victory away from being the face of the NFL. My guess is that he will knock off both legends (Tom Brady and Peyton Manning) this season to reach the Super Bowl.

Yes, the Colts pretty much have the division locked up, but that won’t come without some battles from the second best team in the division, the Houston Texans. The Texans are featured on this year’s HBO Hard Knocks series. The Texans look hungry after taking a step back last year, due to QB issues, injuries, and other minor problems. This year, we will finally get to see the 2014 #1 pick Jadeveon Clowney play opposite of the best defensive player in the league, JJ Watt. Their defense looks promising, it’s their offense that scares me. Between Arian Foster hurting his groin and not having a solid starting QB, the Texans are going need some help on that side. I hope JJ Watt can accumulate a few pick-6s, return a few strip-sacks, and maybe even play some tight end. O wait, he did do all that. The guy is literally unstoppable and will do everything he can to help his team win. Unfortunately, even that is not enough to get the Texans to the playoffs.

I probably shouldn’t skip over the #2 pick, but the Tennessee Titans are in for another long year of rebuilding. I hope and believe Marcus Mariota is going to turn into a much more complete QB than Jameis Winston. He has looked and played better this pre-season, but with the team and talent he has, they will be lucky to win more than 4 games. Maybe next year they will get game changing defensive player. The same goes for Jacksonville. They seem to have found their franchise QB in Blake Bortles, but can’t find anyone else around him considering Justin Blackmon is M.I.A. and Julius Thomas has to sit out due to injury. I hope for the franchises sake they can grab a top pick again next year and finally get out of the gutter.

AFC NORTH:

The AFC North is always one of the most competitive divisions in the entire league and this year is no exception. The Ravens and Steelers will likely battle for the crown while the other will have to settle for a wild card spot. Did I forget the Bengals? Yes, this is the year their playoff streak ends and they save themselves the misery of getting bounced in the first round. The Steelers seem to be just an inch ahead of the Ravens due to the Ravens letting go of some key defensive players, Haloti Ngata and Pernell McPhee. They also lost their best offensive threat in Torrey Smith to the 49ers. As they have for so long, their defense can keep them in low scoring games. Which is why I think the Steelers have the advantage over them due to their potent offense and tough defense.

The down fall to the Steelers is that 2 of their stars will start the season suspended (Le’Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant) and the health of Ben Roethlisberger is always an issue. Luckily for them when they open against the Patriots, they most likely won’t have to face Tom Brady as QB. That game is going to mean a lot to that team if they can win and should win.

The Browns are still the laughing stock of this division and will be for a while. Maybe Johnny Manziel will figure it out this season. He already dropped the $ sign so maybe he is maturing. The Browns are in for another tough year. I will give them some credit for who they drafted. Danny Shelton will be a stud, Duke Johnson is a steal if he pans out, and drafting Ifo Ekpre-Olom could be the best reward of all their picks.

AFC WEST:

I’m not going to chalk up the Broncos too fast to win the division. They are going to have to earn it from the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers. I do think the Broncos will win the division, but it won’t be as easy as the past. Peyton Manning is aging more and more. He is losing it. They also have a new head coach, Gary Kubiak. They still have a very talented offense and defense, but so do the Chiefs. My bet is that KC and Denver will split their series.

As for the Chargers, I think they will be the Charges as we have come to know. They start hot, then lose some games, then get hot again. Their inconsistency kills them. I imagine them being competitive as they usually are, but that doesn’t mean winning a division title. I can’t wait to see if Melvin Gordon will live up to the hype.

The Black Hole, aka The Oakland Raiders Stadium is exactly that for players and coaches careers. A black hole for careers to die. See ya later Christian Ponder and Trent Richardson. That has to be the saddest place in football right now. Sending the “get well soon” card as we speak.

NFC Playoffs

1. Seattle Seahawks

2. Green Bay Packers

3. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Carolina Panthers

5. Dallas Cowboys

6. Minnesota Vikings

AFC Playoffs

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. Denver Broncos

3. New England Patriots

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

5. Baltimore Ravens

6. Kansas City Chiefs

Wild Card Playoff

Philadelphia Eagles vs Minnesota Vikings

Carolina Panthers vs Dallas Cowboys

New England Patriots vs Kansas City Chiefs

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens

Divisional Round

NFC

#1. Seattle Seahawks vs #5. Dallas Cowboys

#2. Green Bay Packers vs #3. Philadelphia Eagles

AFC

#1. Indianapolis Colts vs #5. Baltimore Ravens

#2. Denver Broncos vs #3. New England Patriots

NFC Championship

Seattle Seahawks vs Green Bay Packers

AFC Championship

New England Patriots vs Indianapolis Colts

SUPER BOWL

Indianapolis Colts vs Green Bay Packers

SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS

GREEN BAY PACKERS

NBA Draft 2015 and Mock Draft

Thursday, June 25th, 2015 the 2015 NBA Draft will happen in NY. This year is headlined by 2 promising big men. Either could go #1 but it seems that Karl-Anthony Towns will most likely be selected by the MN Timberwolves as the #1 pick over Jahlil Okafor.

Earlier this year I wrote a piece about Okafor being the #1 pick and that any team that doesn't pick him would make a big mistake. I have to change my mind on that after watching Towns more closely at the end of the year. Don't get me wrong, Okafor is a lock at #1 or #2, but I believe Towns has way more versatility than Okafor has. Especially with the NBA merging into a small ball game, with a PF that can play Center because he can also switch on picks to guard other players. Okafor is a traditional big man with tremendous back to the basket skills, which the team that picks him will utilize him for. The thing is that with the transformation of the small ball game with evidence that it works, (i.e.watch NBA Finals Golden State) the traditional center is losing its value and need. Phil Jackson is not a fan of small ball and would take Okafor before Towns because he is still a believer in working the ball inside out, getting penetration, and get post touches.

It might be my Minnesota bias to why I'm changing my mind from drafting Okafor to now Towns, but I truly believe Towns has so much more potential to become a legitimate super star within a few years. To me he is the next Anthony Davis. He has all the same attributes, minus the offensive abilty that Davis has, but he has a nice mid range jump shot and a decent back to the basket game already. He is a little raw on offense, but will a little NBA help he will become a 20-10 guy within 3 years.

As for the Timberwolves, this pick is a no-brainer. Towns will fit right in with the Wolves. With the rapid development of Wiggins, a young, talented co-star like Wiggins could become one of the best duos in the league for the next 10 years! Yes, that is an optimistic thought, but a very realistic thought if Towns pans out. Having KG will also be very important for the development of Towns. KG has more wisdom than anybody left in the NBA, so for Towns to learn from him, he could become a very tough, young player early in his career. The Wolves also have a lot of assets they are willing to trade to get some more pieces to the puzzle. Possibly trading former #1 pick Anthony Bennett for a draft pick or a proven vet could really be exactly what the Wolves need. A Ricky Rubio and Pekovic package trade for the Knicks #4 pick and a little extra would not be a bad idea either because both Rubio and Pek are injury prone and take up a lot of the Wolves' salary cap.


For the rest of the draft and the reason I wanted to write this post is due to European players, particularly the buzz around Latvian prospect Kristaps Porzingis. Another year, another draft class with tall Europeans that can shoot the 3 and be a swing 4. Every year this happens and do you how many of them turn out??? Andrea Bargnani? NOPE! NONE! Dirk is the sole reason for this false sense of over excitement for tall Europeans. Because he (Dirk) was a pioneer of a big man from Europe who could knock down the 3 consistently, now every draft analysis thinks any tall European that can shoot the 3 will be the next Dirk. It literally drives me crazy. Dirk is the 1/100 European swing 4's that turns out. The rest are drafted and back in Europe within 2 maybe 3 years. Look at the tweet from Jay Bilas and try to argue against it, you CAN'T !! European big guys that can shoot are the worse fallacy in the NBA. These scouts who call themselves professions, literally are delusional to how bad European basketball is compared to the NBA and NCAA Division 1 college basketball. Until one of these draft picks proves otherwise, I will keep this opinion.

Here's a list of NBA Busts http://www.thescore.com/nba/news/783326

Here is an article that has a similar take on European players http://www.lostlettermen.com/article/what-if-frank-kaminsky-was-european

Sleepers:

Sleepers are my favorite type of draftees because nobody expects them to be great and it gives the player motivation to work hard to prove to teams they missed out on them. My biggest sleepers this year are JP Tokoto from UNC, Rakeem Christmas from Syracuse, and Anthony Brown from Stanford. Tokoto is my favorite among anyone. He is extremely athletic, long, and can defend. Limited and raw offensively, but with some NBA help he could turn into a lock down defender on a championship team, coming off the bench for energy. I would compare him to a more athletic, but not as good of shooter as Matt Barnes.


My NBA Mock Draft (1-10):

1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns

2. Los Angeles Lakers: Jahlil Okafor

3. Philadelphia 76ers: D'Angelo Russell

4. New York Knicks: Emmanuel Mudiay

5. Orlando Magic: Justise Winslow,

6. Sacramento Kings: Kristaps Porzingis

7. Denver Nuggets: Willey Cauley-Stein

8. Detroit Pistons: Mario Hezonja

9. Charlotte Hornets: Stanley Johnson

10. Miami Heat: Kelly Oubre

Final thoughts:

The NBA draft is a life changing event for players and teams. Some players turn out to be superstars while the majority end up having short lived NBA careers, but being drafted is an amazing accomplishment that every player that gets drafted should be proud of.

Mark my words: If Emmanuel Mudiay goes to Sacramento he will be a bust.

Trey Lyles will be an interesting pick. I see him becoming a starter within 3 years on a middle of the pack team. A lot of potential for him.

I included Oubre in the top 10 because I think he has a lot of potential to be a scorer in the league within a few years. To me he is a steal or bust.

On one mock draft, I saw 2 of the sleepers I like going to MN. Anthony Brown and Rakeem Christmas.

Next week free agency starts so I wouldn't be surprised if any of these picks were traded for some already proven players such as the Lakers trading their pick to Sacramento for DeMarcus Cousins.

Free Agents for this summer: http://www.sbnation.com/a/nba-free-agents-2015

Follow me on twitter @basketballguy61

NBA: Free Agency LA Lakers

Now that Kevin Love just opted out of his contract maybe we will finally see the Lakers revamp their roster before Kobe goes out.

I wrote about the Lakers landing a huge free agent last summer, but it never happened, which is why they were so bad last season. I'm hoping with all the free agents this summer LA is bound to pick up one and get back to a respectful team.

If dreams came true for LA:
1) Trade their #2 pick for DeMarcus Cousins
2) Sign Jimmy Butler
3) Sign Kevin Love or LaMarcus Adridge


OK now that probably won't happen but hopefully one of those events will.

If all 3 did happen, imagine the Lakers Roster:

C: DeMarcus Cousins
PF: Kevin Love/LaMarcus Aldridge
SF: Jimmy Butler
SG: Kobe Bryant
PG: Jordan Clarkson

Bench:
Nick Young as back up SG and legitimate scoring threat
Jeremy Lin: back up PG
Julius Randle: has yet to play, but would be in a great position to come off the bench
Ed Davis, Jordan Hill and Ryan Kelly would fight for the back up positions, but provide depth and flexibility.
Wayne Ellington: Back up SF/SG

Lakers need to get rid of Boozer.

Just remember this is a hypothetical dream scenario that has little to no chance of ever happening, but it sure would be a way to get the Lakers back to championship caliber.

Follow me on twitter @basketballguy61

Follow +Lakers Nation  @lakersnation for the best LA Lakers information and updates

NBA Finals - Game 6

"When facing elimination, LeBron James averages 31.9 PPG, the highest in NBA playoff history among players with at least 5 such games in their careers. His teams are 7-7 in those games, but they’ve won 5 of the last 6." - ESPN

What more could LeBron do tonight that he hasn't already done? He's scored 40 in 3 out of the 5 games in this series. He's had a triple double in 2 of them. If only one of his teammates could step up and carry some of the load, LeBron and the Cavs would have a much better chance of winning. Tonight is different. LeBron and the Cavs are facing elimination. Tonight will be all about Lebron James, not about how much his teammates will help. Tonight will be all about attacking every opportunity he gets. I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron surpasses the 30 point mark at halftime if he's truly playing in desperation mode.
Just like in Game 6 at Boston in 2013, LeBron will be on a mission tonight. The one thing I truly believe he's lacked effort in this series and most of the post season is his INDIVIDUAL defense. Yes, I know he's basically the Cavs' only threat on offense, thus him conserving energy on the defensive side, but tonight he is going to have to play just as hard on defense as he has been on offense if the Cavs want to stay alive. If you don't agree that he hasn't given his full effort on defense, look at the play that Harrison Barnes dunked on him on the offensive rebound putback slam. Also, watch him guard Iguodala, yes he is suppose to give him room to shoot, but his close outs are lackadaisical and effortless. He needs to take command and guard Steph Curry when Steph is starting to heat up to prevent the Warriors from going on a big run or score 17 points in the 4th quarter.

When it is all over it will come down to a win or another NBA Finals loss.

My Final thought is that LeBron will come out hungry and have a big 1st half. Although he will be gunning, I think the Warriors will stay right with the Cavs. The difference tonight will be the help of the whole team in terms of defense and making shots when called to. The 4th quarter will be the final factor as to why the Cavs win or lose and I think LeBron will take over, willing his way to force Game 7 with an incredible offensive output, but even more importantly, taking responsibility on defense, shutting down Curry.



Here is an interesting article on Lebron's performance through the 5 games.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/lebron-james-may-go-down-as-the-greatest-loser-ever/

Follow me on twitter @basketballguy61

NBA Finals - Game 4 recap - Game 5 preview

It was about time that Cleveland's gas tank hit completely empty, they have had their gas light on since the 4th quarter of Game 3. We all knew that this would inevitably happen with the minutes that the Cavs player were playing. LeBron finally returned to mortal and was a non-factor in the second half. Pretty much every Cavs player had a bad night except Mozgov who had the best game of his career finishing with 28 points. This was about the only thing Cleveland did well. With the Warriors playing small, Cleveland had to use their size and take advantage. Unfortunately nobody else could make a shot, especially from outside and from 3, where the Cavs shot 4-27. JR Smith has been absent from this series and thus I predict a breakout Game 5.

Game 5

These 2 days between games will make a big difference for the depleted Cavaliers. After a horrendous Game 4, I expect LeBron to return to his SuperMan like form and have a big Game 5. I hope JR and Shumpert can get it going as well because they were so bad in Game 4. My guess is that Game 5 is another down to the wire, one possession game. I have a feeling LeBron is going to have a big game along with one other teammate, hopefully JR Smith and they pull out a win.

Cleveland wins and takes a 3-2 lead back to Cleveland.


Side note: Andre Iguodala has been the MVP of the Warriors and is the biggest reason they won last night.

LeBron will bring back the over-sized sweatband.

Follow me on twitter @basketballguy61

NBA Finals - Game 3 recap - Game 4 preview

Once again another very inefficient game for LeBron. 14-34 is better than Game 2, but still not the best. 46 minutes added to his minutes total, getting him to 142/154 minutes possible. His efficiency is really taking a toll because of his lack of rest. That being said, this is how he has to play with the line-ups he is playing with. I was impressed with how he came out attacking in the 1st half and 3rd quarter when they pushed the lead to 22. The 4th quarter was a different story though, after what we thought was turning into a blowout, the Warrior came back and cut the lead all the way to 1 point. A lot of this was because of stagnant offense by the Cavs, but another reason was because Steph Curry finally found his shot and started lighting it up from downtown. Fortunately for the Cavs, the Warriors could not complete the full comeback, due to some clutch free throws by LeBron and Dellavedova. Curry ended up scoring 17 in the 4th and 27 in the game.

Delly! Delly! Delly! Dellavedova deserves all the praise and attention he is receiving. He out played the MVP, maybe not in stats, but in terms of hustle, heart, and defense. He is giving his all and it shows. I doubt he will have the same kind of performance he had in Game 3 in Game 4, but if he plays with the same intensity and effort, expect him to frustrate Curry and the Warriors again.

Tristan Thompson was much better in Game 3 than Game 2. A key stat worth noting is that he played 44 mins, only 2 less than LeBron who played 46. TT was also very efficient last night getting some easy finishes off 4 offensive rebounds finishing 4/6 from the field with 13 rebounds, a team high. It seems to be that when one of Cleveland's bigs is on the other is off. They work so well at protecting the rim and rebounding, but if they could both be on for one game, the Warriors would have their hands full. I know Cleveland is switching all picks when Thompson is the center, but he simply cannot guard Steph.

Looking ahead to Game 4

As the Cavs take a 2-1 lead into Game 4 and home-court advantage, I wouldn't say anything is locked up for them at all. After last night's loss, I believe the Warriors finally have felt like they can actually be beat. Their body language said it all. They seem like they have lost all their confidence and chemistry. Klay Thompson was MIA last night after having a huge Game 2. Steph didn't find his shot until the 4th quarter. The Golden State front court of Bogut, Green, and Barnes was absolutely horrendous. The only reason they stayed in the game was becasue of the combo of Iggy, David Lee, and Barbosa. Yes, the very unlikely trio. If I'm Steve Kerr, I would piss these guys off to get a fire lit under them. Also, maybe David Lee has to play more. He ended with a +17 rating. That's riddiculous. I think Golden State will come out firing on all cylinders showing everybody that they haven't thrown in the towel yet and make this another close game. The difference between Game 4 and the first 3 games will be that Golden State will actually lead most of the game rather than the Cavs. The Cavs have been leading most of the game because LeBron has been controlling the tempo, disabling Golden State to play at a fast pace and get transition baskets. At the end of the game, Golden State will tie the series 2-2, unless an unexpected performance from Dellavedova, JR Smith, or Iman Shumpert.














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NBA Finals - Game 2 recap - Game 3 preview

In all honestly LeBron played very inefficient in terms of offense and amount of minutes he played. Nobody cares about efficiency though, because the highlights and history books only care about "how many" points, rebounds, assists rather than efficiency. Both Game 1 and 2 LeBron has been very inefficient but all people will see is that he has scored 44 & 39 respectfully in each game. None the less, 39 points and a triple-double is extremely impressive and will go down as one of his best performances in NBA Finals history, joining the elite company of James Worthy as the only players with 35, 15, & 10. Not to shabby Mr. James.

The difference in tonight's game was what the Cavs missed in the first game and that was a bench or their role players stepping up. Game 1 was 2 stars against the Warriors. Game 2 was about 1 guy and a group of guys stepping up to a challenge and beat a deeper team. The player that's not getting the press that should be getting talked about more is Mozgov. He had a very quiet, but extremely efficient 17 points and 11 Rebs. He was the Cavs' second highest scorer, yet nobody is talking about him because he hardly played in the last periods of the game.

As for Matthew Dellavedova, he deserves all the press he's getting. After posting an absolute goose egg in Game 1, he got the call to start and guard Curry all night. He might have done the best job anybody has EVER done guarding Curry. Curry ended with 19 points and had one of the worst shooting nights of his career including a record setting, most missed 3 pointers in a game going 2-15. I would have to give almost all the credit to Delly, who when guarding Curry, caused him to go 0-8. 0-8 when guarded by Dellavedova! The best shooter in the world. That's heart. Not only did Delly play stellar defense, but he posted a +15. Tristan Thompson was excellent on the rebounds, grabbing 14 rebounds but posted a team worst -21. I just wish the Cavs could get him a little more involved in the offense, getting him more touches and easy buckets, but as of now he is doing his role as best as they could ask him.

Game 2 might have been even more enticing than Game 1 just due to the fact that the Cavs won while being without their second best player and on the road after losing a heart breaker. 

I hope Game 3 will live up to what Game 1 & 2 have been, which I think it will. My guess is that the Cavs shock the world an take Game 3, forcing the Warriors and the rest of the world to doubt how good the Warriors are. Doubt is just what the Cavs have installed into the Warriors heads after winning in Golden State. Had the impossible just been done? I think the Warriors are stunned and are in a vulnerable spot right now coming to Cleveland, with the momentum on Cleveland's side. 1 day of rest is in favor of GS because of their depth.

Maybe I'm being too optimistic in thinking the Cavs are going to win the series and are just on a high from winning Game 2 without Kyrie, but I truly think Cleveland is in just as good of shape as they were before Kyrie going out. I think this because, yes Kyrie is really good and I think he would help a lot, but with him gone others really have to step up without having to go out of their comfort zones. For example, Dellevedova didn't do anything special last night in terms of playing outside his abilities, he just accepted the challenge in front of him and stepped up to it. LeBron is the one that will have to do more and something different. The rest of the Cavs just need to step their game up and know their role.

As for Game 3, I would hope Cleveland shows up like they did in Game 2, but nobody can believe Steph Curry will shoot as bad as he did in Game 2 again. I'm afraid he will have one of his "video game" like moments and get his teammates to play like they did all regular season. It's how the Cavs respond to a Curry "video game" unstoppable moment that will decide the game, if they cave in and let the lead get around 15 it might be done, but if they can sustain a big run by GS and not get knocked out (theoretically speaking) they might have a chance to play well enough to take a 2-1 lead into Game 4. This series has been a gift from the basketball gods that we should all be thankful for. I can't imagine not having 3 or 4 more epic games to lead into another epic NBA Finals like we had in the 2013 Finals between LeBron's Miami Heat and Tim Duncan's SA Spurs. After a lot of thought and research I have came to the prediction that the Cavs will take Game 3 and take a series lead into Game 4. 

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NBA Finals Game 1 recap - Game 2 Preview

Is this series déjà vu from the OKC 2012 Finals series when LeBron won his first ring or are the Cavs facing a very steep up hill battle? I'm afraid that it will be a very tough climb for the Cavs. LeBron did what everyone expected him to do by literally carrying the team on his back, scoring a new NBA Finals career high with 44 points. He was just another step back game winning buzzer beater away from stealing Game 1 on the road and adding to his already impressive "greatness" resume.

For how confident people were in the Warriors to beat up the Cavs, the Cavs held their own the entire game including a 10 point lead after the first quarter, but we all know basketball is a tale of 2 halves and sometimes 5 extra minutes in Game 1's case. That extra 5 minutes appeared to be too much more the gassed Cavs. Not only were the Cavs already exhausted by the end of the 4th, they ended up losing their star point guard, Kyrie Irving, within 2 minutes of the overtime period. Talk about killing 2 birds with 1 stone for the Warriors. Beat the Cavs and have them lose their PG. That's bad news for Cleveland and their title hopes. Still, LeBron has brought a lesser talented roster to the Finals, circa 2007. Not saying they had any success, but with a more developed LeBron James and a starting line up that is one of the best in the NBA, there is still a chance for the Cavs to win a championship without Kyrie.

The Cavs' bench which is stripped down to nothing as is, just a got a little thinner, as Kyrie Irving left Game 1 with a knee injury that will probably alter his effectiveness and status of his play. Most likely, JR Smith will have to move into the starting line up, which is no problem, but that leaves almost no bench. The irony of the bench scoring difference of 34-9 is that the Cavs record since Jan. 15 was 34-9 which I talked about in my last post.

My take for Game 2

The Cavs fought hard all game, owning the lead for a majority of the game. The effort they put into Game 1 will show up in their lack of energy for Game 2. Unless LeBron has yet another miraculous "MJ" like performance for Game 2, Cleveland stands very little chance. I don't think Kyrie will play, which hurts them even more, and even if he did, he wouldn't be at 100% or as good as he was last night. All in all, I think the Warriors will win by 11+ and take a strong 2-0 lead into Cleveland for Tuesday's Game 3.

Optimistic thought: JR Smith goes off again like he did vs Atlanta and/or Mike Miller comes in like he did for the Heat in their 2012 NBA Finals series against OKC. #Wishfulthinking

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NBA Finals - Cavaliers vs GS Warriors

NBA Finals - Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors

This year's NBA Finals are another gift from the basketball gods to us. We get this season's MVP against the Best Player in the world going head to head. For the 1st time in 40 years for Golden State and the 1st time since 2007 for the Cavs when LeBron was still young and still developing his game. The video-game like play with street ball handles against an unstoppable freight train. This is one of the finals that we dream of, yet people are thinking this one is over before it has begun. That is not the case in my opinion.

Remember earlier this season when Lebron sat out for a 2 week stretch to rest? This nine day break between games will me much similar to that. The Cavs were 1-7 on the 8 game streak without LeBron posting a 19-19 record. Since the Cavs' horrendous start and disregarding LeBron's first game back against Phoenix, the Cavs had the best record since January 15th (34-9).

The 34-9 record is because of a few things:

1) LeBron returning. Obviously he is the main reason for the Cavs' success, but that 2 weeks of rest really helped him.

2) The trades and players signed the Cavs made mid season. Trading away Dion Waiters, whom did not fit well with the Lebron and Blatt's game plan, was one of the best moves
Cavs made. Waiters simply did not flow with LeBron's style. Picking up JR Smith and Iman Shumpert from the Knicks might be the key to puzzle for the Cavs to win a championship. The two have been crucial parts during the Cavs' magical post season run. JR has been lights out and Shumpert has filled in great on defense and shooting the 3. The last part was getting Mozgov, the center Cleveland needed to block shots and own the boards alongside Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love (while he played).

3) The back end of season also developed many of Cleveland's role players like Dellavedova and Thompson to get them comfortable playing big minutes with the starting group. The Cavs have really gelled this post season and could take the series from Golden State with their intensity on defense and team chemistry.

Why I think the Cavs will win the 2015 NBA Finals Championship:

1) NUMBERS NEVER LIE: The Cavs' defense has been superb this post season. They have the best opponents PPG at just over 92. They also have a slight edge in off and defense efficiency over the Warriors. They have lead the post season in Blocks per game with Thompson and Mozgov protecting the rim. They also have a slight edge for the lead in rebounds per game over the Warriors.  Its frustrating to read articles saying the Cavs don't stand a chance, when on paper they are just as good or better than Golden State.

2) Like I mentioned before, the new comers and role players have really stepped up this post season. JR Smith has been huge, and he is just what LeBron and Cavs needed with the injury to Kevin Love. He is a legitimate 3rd scoring option for the Cavs. His shining moment was Game 1 against the Hawks when he could not miss a shot. He ended up with 28 points. TT's rebounding has really made him emerge this off-season, proving he's worth a contract extension and a legitimate PF in the NBA. Dellavedova and Shumpert have also been good, having their own shining moments and stirs of controversy. Gaining Smith and Shumpert has allowed the Cavs to play small ball with the line up of Irving, Smith, Shumpert, James, and Thompson which has been deadly, allowing the Cavs to space the floor with shooters all over and LeBron playing point forward, given him space to get to the rim or dump to Thompson for a flush. I expect this line up to play the majority of minutes for defensive purposes to be able to guard all of Golden State's weapons.

3) Most importantly, LeBron's experience in the playoffs and finals is legendary. 5 straight NBA Finals, that hasn't been done since Bill Russell and the 1960's Celtics teams. He has put himself in another group of history. I think losing last year fueled him to make it to another finals, but he has carried this team and has felt the effects physically. I think he is a little more banged up then previous seasons and Kyrie and Love being injured or out has not helped, making him carry even more of the load. I will never bet against LeBron even if the odds are against him in these finals.

Why the Warriors could win the 2015 NBA Finals Championship:

The Golden State Warriors are really, really good, They were the best team during the regular season, and had the MVP on their team. They are really good at defense and offense. Their depth is what sets them apart from just about everyone. I think Kerr's experience playing with Jordan and the Spurs really has shaped his coaching style, emphasizing team basketball. There is a reason why they are at the top for assists per game, even with a point guard that is top 10 in scoring and shots. They are versatile and deep. Just about 1-10 could be a starter on most teams in the league, but their sacrifice to come off the bench and play as team is what makes them so dangerous. My biggest fear for them and what I believe is their achilles heel, is that they have no NBA Finals experience, but one could say the same about the Cavs, minus LeBron.

I am very excited about this year's NBA Finals and have came to my final thoughts.

My prediction is that the Cavs will be crowned Champions at Golden State after Game 7. I picked them before the season started and am sticking with em'. Never bet against the king or you will pay. I wouldn't be surprised if Golden State won, because their core has been together for a few years, starting when they pushed the Spurs a few seasons ago. You can't honestly believe that the Cavs were meant to win in LeBron's first season back in Cleveland with a group of young stars that have never even been to the playoffs (Irving, Love, Thompson). I didn't expect them to win this year, but I think LeBron's goal and reason to come back is so that they could start a dynasty for years to come with LeBron and Kyrie at the core.

Just a side thought that I had: With Kyrie getting these 2 weeks of rest, who knows maybe he will have a coming out series and be able to match Steph Curry's performance. Kyrie is my sleeper in this series, with his ability to score, when healthy, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a big game from him and steal a road game, like when he put up 57 vs the Spurs earlier this season.

CLEVELAND WINS 4-3

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