2010-2011 NBA Preditcions

As the beginning of the NBA season is quickly approaching, every blog needs its preseason predictions. I’ll give you 5 teams and players that were under the radar next year, and will surprise you this season, and then we’ll cover the playoff picture and finals predictions.

Five players to keep your eyes on:

1.) Brook Lopez (C, New Jersey Nets) – The better of the Lopez twins. He has had two years in the league now, and is ready to put himself on the same platform as the elite centers in the NBA. His PPG leapt by almost 6 points from his rookie year to his sophomore campaign to 18.8, and his rebound total was almost 9 per game last year. He’s a legit 7-footer who will shoot over 80% from the charity stripe, and has played all 82 games in each of his two years in the NBA. Look for Lopez to be a double double machine all season long.

2.) Gerald Wallace (SF, Charlotte Bobcats) – Being a small forward with a knack for hitting the boards (10 RPG last season) helps Wallace’s stock as much as his high flying and scoring ability. Being on Michael Jordan’s on the rise Bobcats squad isn’t hurting him much either.

3.) Al Jefferson (C, Utah Jazz) – This was a piece of the KG puzzle I was shocked to learn would be leaving Boston in 2007. Just a few years ago Jefferson was emerging as a force before being exiled to Minnesota. Jefferson has quietly averaged a double double 3 out of the last 4 years, missing out last year by only 0.7 rebounds per game. His move from the T-Wolves to the Jerry Sloan coached Utah Jazz should spark production to new levels this year.

4.) Russell Westbrook (PG, Oklahoma City Thunder) – There are few players on the floor who can match Westbrook’s speed with the ball. Look for his 16.1 PPG average to improve with teams having to constantly double team Kevin Durant, who was a benefactor of Westbrook’s 8 assists per game last year, and will look to do the same this year.

5.) Steph Curry (PG, Golden State Warriors) – Curry had a great rookie year and the Warrior’s run and gun style of offense is inducive to scoring from everyone, especially someone who’s shot is as smooth as his. Curry’s great ball control and passing ability should be reasons his assists increase.

Five Teams that will shock you (in a good way):

1.) L.A. Clippers – Before you start laughing, let me explain. First and foremost, Mike Dunleavy will have nothing to do with the Lakers’ little brother this year. He is no longer the coach, or the GM, which should probably guarantee at least another 10 wins. Couple that with the fact that Baron Davis actually shows up when the team and situation are good, and that Blake Griffin is poised to start his takeover, and the Clippers could be a low seed playoff team.

2.) Philadelphia 76ers – Jrue Holiday was a bright spot in a dim season for the Sixers last year, getting better as the year wore on. Add a year of maturity from Holiday to the athleticism and constant scoring threat of Andre Iguodala, and the hope that Elton Brand can return to his pre-Philly days of averaging a double double and are counting on him to play 75+ games for this team to be a playoff team.

3.) Milwaukee Bucks – Many felt Brandon Jennings should have won Rookie of the Year honors last year for his 15.5 PPG (including his 55 point rookie record game) and his awesome Gumby haircut. Andrew Bogut won’t be at 100% when the season starts following his injury at the end of last season, but John Salmons and Cory Maggette should pick up the slack, and I expect the Bucks to climb in to the top tier of Eastern conference teams.

4.) New Jersey Nets – Having more than 12 wins shouldn’t be hard for a team this talented. Center Brook Lopez is poised to take a seat along side the top big men in the league, and Devin Harris was at one point the head scratcher in the trade that sent Jason Kidd to the Mavs. Add rookie Derrick Favors, former Laker guard Jordan Farmar, and former #1 overall pick Joe Smith to the mix, and this team has a young core with a group of veterans who have won before and will be looking to show the young guys how it’s done.

5.) Golden State Warriors – Steph Curry and Monte Ellis handling the ball, and rebound machine and overall hard worker David Lee joining the club should help this high scoring, up tempo team put points up on the board. The question remains to be defense or the lack there of. The Warriors haven’t really played anything that has resembled respectable defense any time lately, and just a little effort should push them over .500 and possibly get them to the playoffs.

Playoff Predictions:

Eastern Conference

1. Miami Heat

2. Orlando Magic

3. Chicago Bulls

4. Atlanta Hawks

5. Milwaukee Bucks

6. Boston Celtics

7. Charlotte Bobcats

8. Philadelphia 76ers

Western Conference

1. L.A. Lakers

2. Dallas Mavericks

3. Utah Jazz

4. San Antonio

5. Denver Nuggets (if Melo isn’t traded)

6. Oklahoma City

7. Portland Trailblazers

8. L.A. Clippers

Finals Prediction:

Lakers over Heat in 6. While many people have their eyes on Miami as the favorites, I picked L.A. for a few different reasons. One is the matchups; Kobe will guard D. Wade, Artest will at the very least contain Lebron James, and Pau Gasol will show more playoff gusto than Chris Bosh. Past that, the Lakers have the better bench including Mr. Khloe Kardashian, Lamar Odom, and the young and exciting Shannon Brown. Another reason I picked the Lakers is because Phil Jackson wins his rings in threes, and he’s sitting on two as we speak. I expect the Lakers to cap off Jackson’s 4^th (holy crap!) 3-peat and send him off in to the Montana sunset as the best pro coach of all time.

BCS Bowls and Updates

Navy beat Army this weekend for the 6th straight time, after the coach from Army guaranteed a victory. Shout outs to my boy Le'Andre Calloway who plays on that D-Line for Navy.


I got some stuff I gotta do today, but I'm gonna get back with my bowl predictions for each bowl.


Ok, so now the biggest story out of College Football this weekend was the bowl selections, and who got snubbed. For my money, Georgia got screwed. In the BCS rulebook it states that you don't have to win your conference to play for the coach's trophy. It sure helps, but you don't HAVE to.


The argument people are making is that Georgia lost to Tennessee who got beat by LSU. Well, I'm not buying it. If we're saying that, Ohio State got beat by Illinois who lost to Iowa. They played in the soft ass Big Ten, and would have lost at least 3 times in the SEC, where Georgia only lost twice. But that's neither here nore there. Dawgs coach Mark Richt is pissed off, and he has the right to be. His tema was ranked #4 going in to the week. Then, the #1, and #2 teams lost. The #3 team slid to #1, so it would only figure that the #4 team slide to #2.


I almost think LSU got in because it's the matchup people wanted to see.


Oh, and Missouri should be heated too. How did they get snuffed on the Orange Bowl, but Kansas, who they beat, got in? That doesn't make sense. Kansas will get destroyed by Va Tech.

But a friend of mine put it pretty simply to me. "Don't get beat twice by the same team in the same year." He said his squad would be able to avenge any loss they suffered throughout the year, any year. You should never lose to the same team 2 times in a season, which is true. But still..Kansas? That's just weak for Mizzou.


Never the less, here are the bowl matchups, dates, times and networks being played on:


San Diego Co. Credit Union Poinsettia Dec. 20
9 p.m. San Diego, Calif. Utah vs. Navy ESPN

R&L Carriers New Orleans Dec. 21
8 p.m. New Orleans, La. Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis ESPN2

PapaJohn's.com Dec. 22
1 p.m. Birmingham, Ala. Cincinnati vs. Southern Miss ESPN2

New Mexico Dec. 22
4:30 p.m. Albuquerque, N.M. New Mexico vs. Nevada ESPN

Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Dec. 22
8 p.m. Las Vegas, Nev. BYU vs. UCLA ESPN

Sheraton Hawaii Dec. 23
8 p.m. Honolulu, Hawaii East Carolina vs. Boise State ESPN

Motor City Dec. 26
7:30 p.m. Detroit, Mich. Purdue vs. Central Michigan ESPN

Pacific Life Holiday Dec. 27
8 p.m. San Diego, Calif. Texas vs. Arizona State ESPN

Champs Sports Dec. 28
5 p.m. Orlando, Fla. Boston College vs. Michigan State ESPN

Texas Dec. 28
8 p.m. Houston, Texas TCU vs. Houston NFL

Emerald Dec. 28
8:30 p.m. San Francisco, Calif. Maryland vs. Oregon State ESPN

Meineke Car Care Dec. 29
1 p.m. Charlotte, N.C. Wake Forest vs. Connecticut ESPN

AutoZone Liberty Dec. 29
4:30 p.m. Memphis, Tenn. UCF vs. Mississippi State ESPN

Alamo Dec. 29
8 p.m. San Antonio, Texas Penn State vs. Texas A&M ESPN

Petro Sun Independence Dec. 30
8 p.m. Shreveport, La. Colorado vs. Alabama ESPN

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Dec. 31
12:30 p.m. Fort Worth, Texas Air Force vs. California ESPN

Sun Dec. 31
2 p.m. El Paso, Texas South Florida vs. Oregon CBS

Humanitarian Dec. 31
2 p.m. Boise, Idaho Georgia Tech vs. Fresno State ESPN2

Gaylord Hotels Music City Dec. 31
4 p.m. Nashville, Tenn. Kentucky vs. Florida State ESPN

Chick-fil-A Dec. 31
7:30 p.m. Atlanta, Ga. Auburn vs. Clemson ESPN

Insight Dec. 31
TBA Tempe, Ariz. Indiana vs. Oklahoma State NFL

Outback Jan. 1
11 a.m. Tampa, Fla. Wisconsin vs. Tennessee ESPN

AT&T Cotton Jan. 1
11:30 a.m. Dallas, Texas Missouri vs. Arkansas FOX

Gator Jan. 1
1 p.m. Jacksonville, Fla. Virginia vs. Texas Tech CBS

Capital One Jan. 1
1 p.m. Orlando, Fla. Michigan vs. Florida ABC

Rose presented by Citi Jan. 1
4:30 p.m. Pasadena, Calif. USC vs. Illinois ABC

Allstate Sugar Jan. 1
8:30 p.m. New Orleans, La. Hawaii vs. Georgia FOX

Tostitos Fiesta Jan. 2
8 p.m. Glendale, Ariz. Oklahoma vs. West Virginia FOX

FedEx Orange Jan. 3
8 p.m. Miami, Fla. Virginia Tech vs. Kansas FOX

International Jan. 5
12 p.m. Toronto, Canada Rutgers vs. Ball State ESPN2

GMAC Jan. 6
8 p.m. Mobile, Ala. Tulsa vs. Bowling Green ESPN

BCS National Championship Jan. 7
8 p.m. New Orleans, La. Ohio State vs. LSU FOX

I've come to realize..

That some people are a lost cause. I have friends who, lately, have been talking about wanting to change their ways. Whether it be because they have a child on the way, or just need to stop behaving the way they do, they just can't seem to do it. They will talk a big game, but fold when it comes to the action.

"I'm ready to change. I NEED to change," they'll say. "No more drinks for me. I can't get high anymore. Don't have the money, and haven't been feeling well lately." Followed by, "but if you want to come smoke me out, that's straight." Or, "come buy your boy a drink down at (name a bar/club) tonight."


That sort of talk is not going to help you with cleaning up your act. Why would say you need to stop doing something, then invite people to do these things with you? You're not going to stop, even eventually, if you keep inviting people to partake with you. If you need to stop smoking, because you're broke, or you don't have a job and you need to pass a drug test, it's not gonna work if you say "come to my crib and blaze one with me." It's just not going to work.


I have tried to tell different people this. I tried to let them know that yes, you're going to have to make sacrifices. But the sacrifices are for the better. You're not going to be getting high. But you'll feel better. You'll be more efficient. You'll even think clearer. I know it's hard to believe, but you can do it. You can break this routine that you've developed. You're not going to want to, as you have become so used to it, that it's now second nature. But you HAVE to. You, in yourself, have to find the will power it takes to succeed. I am talking about personal excellence. Some people have it in them to excel and still be able to do these things, getting high, or drunk constantly. Most people do not. Most people need 100% devotion from themselves to reach their full potential.


It's not only about drugs or alcohol, either. Take a day and think about how you treat the people around you, or people in general. Are you a person that people want to be around? Are you a person that someone feels can share a worth while conversation? Are you someone that can make someone think with one sentence? Can you bring out the best in someone besides yourself? If not, then why not? What are you going to do in order to change that? What are you willing to do to change that? Are you willing to change yourself?


I'm not necessarily talking about a good job, or maintaining a friendship, or relationship. Those are included. In general, what kind of person are you? Are you what you always thought you would be? Chances are no. Percentages say no. Have you become someone you respect. Are you proud of yourself. Not


What goals have you set for yourself? For you? What do YOU want to do, and what are you doing to make it happen?

You can be successful in business and be a complete failure. Success does not equal happiness. It damn sure helps, but it isn't the only key. You don't NEED money to be happy. There is no doubt that does wonders to your self esteem for a while. But what are you doing with that money? Are you just paying your bills and getting by? Are you stuffing it all away in bank? Are you investing for your future? Has your future come sooner than expected? These are only a couple things to keep in mind every day.


Write down your goals. Seriously. Write them down, and put them in a place that you'll look at them every single day. On your bathroom mirror, a sticky note that you attach to your computer screen, the background on your cell phone, wherever it is that you look every single day. Seeing your goals in writing will make you hold yourself more accountable if you don't reach them. It will make you feel better when you look at your list, and realize they're no longer goals. You're now looking at a list of accomplishments.


But I'll finish with bringing it back to the original point I was trying to make before I got sidetracked. Some people just don't get it. They will. The timing might not be right. Maybe they need to wait until it's too late to make a significant change and realize they should have been trying to whole time. Words are worth their weight. You can talk all day, but what you do to back those words up make them mean something. Don't say you're going to do this, or not do that. Just do it, or stop doing it. Then you won't have to tell me, "Man I need to stop doing this. I need to start doing this." Because if you're talking like that, chances are you're too far gone for it to really matter.

It's Jimmy V Week

Starting today (the 28th) ESPN will be launching what is known as Jimmy V week. This will have footage of the coach, and information on his foundation incorporated in games throughout the week. This will include college games, pro games, football, and basketball alike. It will end with the showing of that 1983 NCAA championship game, December 4th on ESPN Classic.

If you don't know who Jimmy V is, let me help you out. Jimmy Valvano was, most famously, the head coach for the basketball team at NC State when they won their championship against Houston's Phi Slamma Jamma in 1983. He was stricken with cancer, and 10 years later at the first ever ESPYs was given the first annual Arther Ashe award, as Dick Vitale put it, "being a winner on and off the court." Jimmy V was very highly respected amongst his peers, his teams, and his opponents. The story goes that not long before the ESPYs, during a routine check up, it was learned that the cancer had spread throughout the coach's entire body. He became so weak that Duke coach, Mike Krzyzewski and his wife had to accompany Jimmy V on the flight from North Carolina to New York for the awards. Jimmy V was in a wheel chair at this point, and very, very ill. He was on record as saying all he could think about were his children. He had no desire to come to the ESPYs, as that would take away time from his children and family.

Well, he was convinced to accept his award in person, and gave one of the most hair raising, inspiring speeches of all time. Coach Valvano started the Jimmy V foundation shortly after being diagnosed. The foundation collects donations that go towards cancer research. To date, they have raised over $70 million. They have an annual dinner where different celebrities and coaches pay a certain amount per plate. They have an auction, and other fundraisers. Legend has it that as the event was ready to wrap up last year, Coach Krzyzewski, from Duke instead of handing the mic off, and closing down, he went on to raise $200,000 more dollars at the end of the night.


Here's the video of him running around the court after NC State upset Houston in the 1983 NCAA finals, which the image stays embedded in the minds of many as the coach "running around looking for someone to hug"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=t-ov74rxxy4


And here's the video of his speech at the 1993 ESPY awards.

With the Bad Comes the Good

We all know the saying "with the good comes the bad," right? Well does it have to be good before it can be bad? Or can a situation be bad, and turn to good? Kind of like saying what goes up must come down. But does that mean something can't start down and rise up? Just a thought.




Anyways, with all the saddening talk of Sean Taylor that has been dominating sports airwaives this week, we've missed a couple bright spots. Kansas City Chiefs O-Lineman Kyle Turley is stepping up and donating an entire game check to the 'Gridiron Greats' organization. He has challenged every player to donate at least a portion of their game check for this week to the cause. He has confirmed at least 20 players thus far, and is sending out a letter to every player in the league. Mike Ditka and Gale Sayers head the 'Gridiron Greats' organization which has petitioned the NFL and the NFLPA to increase disability benefits to not only current players, but former players as well.

This, ideally, helps former NFL players who are suffering from, and the lasting effects of, injuries sustained during their playing days. Some of these men don't have the means to pay for medical bills. The NFL, and the player's association doesn't want to give up more money than they already do to their former stars, and founding fathers of the game. There are players who have suffered, among many other things, concussions and have so many problems from chronic pain, to depression, to the point where a number have killed themselves. These former players suffer from injuries that leave them unable to join the work force. That shouldn't be a problem, because they made so much money playing ball, right? Well when you factor in the number of surgeries and other procedures that they need just to stay alive, some of these guys get completely wiped out financially.

Take Mike Webster, for example. He's a hall of fame center that played on the Steelers. He died, homeless, in 2002. He suffered from extreme mental illness which is attributed to injuries he suffered during his playing days. There are hundreds of stories similar to this one.

I'll be out on this Kyle Turley quote, which really hits the nail on the head:

"We make a lot of money playing this game and it's because of the guys that played before us. Are we going to wait until guys die? Are we going to wait until guys commit suicide before we make a difference and change this thing? If this system doesn't get fixed, no matter how much money you make ... you are a serious surgery away from being broke."

Another Day, Another Sad Story

So we all know that there are tons of things that go down every single day that would make your stomach turn. Early Monday morning, Redskins safety Sean Taylor was shot at his home in Miami. He was not with the team, because of injury, and that is the norm for the Redskins. But, the story goes, that 8 days before this, someone broke in to Taylor's home, went through his belongings, tried to get in to a safe. They didn't take anything, but left a kitchen knife on the bedroom pillow. No one was home at the time. Early Monday morning, Taylor heard someone in his house. He got the machete he kept under the bed for protection and went to lock the bedroom door. The door swung open, and 2 shots were fired, including the one that hit the 'Hitman' and got an artery. He passed early Tuesday morning. We all know this story by now. Something is fishy about this, though. It's being treated as a home invasion, but I don't see it that way. First, they broke in his house while no one was home and didn't take anything. That doesn't mold well with me. Second, his father is the chief of police in near by Florida City, and should have told Sean that this was no breaking and entering, or robbery. If it was, something would be missing. Something. Anything. Silverware. A TV. The family pet. Something would have disappeared. I don't know why his pops wouldn't Say, "listen son, you need a gun for protection right now. Someone came in to your home and didn't take anything. That means they were looking for you, not your things.

But here's my issue with this. He didn't have a gun in the house. After it got broken in to 8 days before that. I'm not putting that 100% on him though. The league doesn't want any of their players to have guns, even at their home, because they are so dangerous. They don't want their players to shoot anybody, even in defense because it shines a negative light on the league. But now, they are looking dumb because Sean Taylor was at home, in his bedroom and someone broke in his house. He didn't have a gun, and now one of their players is dead. The second NFL player in less than a year to be killed by the bullet (Darrent Williams). I would imagine the number of guns being purchased by NFL players are skyrocketing this week. You HAVE to be able to protect yourself. Florida has laws that would have made it 100% acceptable for Sean Taylor to shoot this man between the eyes. He would have never seen the inside of a jail. Not even for 2 seconds. At Sean Taylor's house, the first time it was broken in to, the phone lines were cut, disabling any communication with the security company. They phone company should have moved his box inside the house at that point. But now, the murder investigation starts, not the breaking and entering, or attempted robbery. Will this be another case that goes unsolved? Will it get preferential treatment because of his father's occupation? Was it over a girl? His fiance? Does she know who did this?


I think the NFL should have classes, or a symposium, about security. They have these meetings for rookies to give them basic knowledge of how their life is going to change since they are coming in to the NFL. They should have the same thing once a year for gun control. It's not illegal to own a gun, unless you're a felon, and the league shouldn't say that none of their players should have one, even at home, for protection. These players are at risk, more than the average person, even if they live in your average upper middle class neighborhood. I would say more so for robbery than a straight out murder, or attempt at harm, but you have to look at both sides of the blade being sharp in this case.

Any way you look at it, a man is dead, and a daughter will grow up with out a father.

A Quick Note to Jimbo Fisher

First of all, as a Gator fan, let me say HAHA. With that being said..

Dear Jimbo,

You weren't brought to FSU, and paid the major dollar to throw up 0 TDs against your biggest rival, lose to Wake Forrest, and Miami who didn't even qualify for a bowl. Jeff Bowden did better than that. Don't you wish you would have stayed at LSU? You would be playing for the SEC championship, and a BCS bowl birth. Sucks to be you, big guy.


Sincerely, and still lauging,

Big Mike