Bills Draft Preview for the 2013 NFL Draft

Well it’s that time of year again! The night in which NFL teams try (and in the Bills case usually fail) at adding to their teams the stars of tomorrow. Draft night has become one of the most anticipated and well covered nights in sports. The draft is of vital importance for teams whether they are a perennial bottom feeder looking to find that player who can turn around their franchise (think Bills, Browns). Where teams on the cusp of becoming playoff or Super bowl contenders look to add the few pieces they need to get over the hump. There is no lack of coverage on the NFL draft. News organizations provide the public practically 24/7 coverage of the draft. You can find countless mock drafts whether they are on ESPN, NFL.com, Bleacher report, the list seemingly goes on forever. For my preview I will try to go in depth on what I feel the Bills biggest needs are from a fan’s perspective. Needless to say there are many for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in over a decade.

Biggest Needs:

Quarterback

Why it’s a need: Ever since the retirement of Jim Kelly the bills have been looking for a franchise qb to replace him. The list of quarterbacks they have tried is long and frankly horrifying. It includes Doug Flutie, Rob Johnson, Drew Bledsoe, J.P Losman, Kelly Holcomb, Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Harvard degree (ICYMI Ryan Fitzpatrick went to Harvard). This isn’t even the entire list. I simply had to stop or risk throwing my laptop out the window. In today’s pass happy NFL a good quarterback is required to even sniff the playoffs let alone compete for the Lombardi trophy. With Fitzpatrick cut in the offseason the Bills found themselves with Tavaris Jackosn and the immortal Aaron Corp as the sole quarterbacks on the roster. The signing of Kevin Kolb, an interesting player who I believe has potential if he can get the stink of his Cardinal tenure off him, alleviates the need somewhat.

Still Bills fans are clamoring for a rookie quarterback with franchise potential.  Unfortunately the Bills passed on drafting a quarterback last year in a draft that seems to have 3 pro-bowl caliber quarterbacks coming out of it. This is a top two need for the Bills in this draft.

Potential fits:

1. Geno Smith (West Virginia): The sole quarterback projected to go in the first round Geno Smith is certainly a possibility for the bills with the eighth pick if he falls there. A pocket-passer who is capable of extending plays with his speed Smith is coming off of a stellar year season at West Virginia in which he threw 42 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions and a completion percentage of over 70 percent. He may not fall to the Bills however because the Jaguars (no. 2), Eagles (no. 4), and the Browns (no. 6) are all in need of a quarterback.

2. Ryan Nassib (Syracuse)

A popular choice among both fans and the media it is easy to see Nassib ending up a Bill. Both his head coach and offense coordinator from Syracuse now have those respective positions with the Bills.  Starting in 38 games for Marrone over his 4 year college career and leading the orange to two bowl game wins during his three years as a starter. Known for being both mentally and physically tough Nassib has all the skills needed to be a viable NFL quarterback. Good arm strength, decent accuracy and an ability to run a fast paced, pro-style offense which he did under offense coordinator Nathaniel Hackett at Syracuse. Nassib would be a good fit for the Bills though I don’t think it would be good value to pick him at 8. I would much rather see the Bills wait and hope he makes it into the second round, or to trade back later into the first round to pick up additional draft picks.

3. Matt Barkley (USC)

After having an underwhelming senior season at USC many speculated that Barkley would fall out of the first round completely. Recent reports have Barkley in serious play for the Bills at the eighth pick. As with Nassib I think it is would be quite a reach to take Barkley with the eighth pick in the draft. There are also concerns that his arm strength, average at best, would not do well in Buffalo where inclement weather can be such an issue. What Barkley does bring to the table is good accuracy accompanied by great intangibles. He seems to be seriously in play for the Bills with the eighth pick.

Guard

Why it’s a need: The departure of Andy Levitre to the Titans leaves a big hole in the interior of the offense line. In a draft rife with offensive and defensive lineman the bills could look to fill this need immediately by taking one of the best guards available with the eighth pick. Some would question whether it’s a good value to take a guard this high in the draft but if it fills a major need and solidifies an already pretty good offensive line I think it must be considered. Especially since the bills will probably be looking to utilize C.J Spiller and Fred Jackson more in a more run heavy offense.

Potential Fits

1. Chance Warmack (Alabama)

One of the most important cogs on a run favoring Alabama team Warmack is considered to one of the best two guards in this draft along with North Carolina’s Jonathan Cooper who we’ll get too soon. Started all 40 games in his last 3 seasons with Alabama and was a unanimous All-American selection for the 2012 season. Warmack was also penalized on only 2 of the 805 snaps he played during his senior season which I find quite remarkable. He also has an amazing name.

But this is perhaps the weakest of my arguments. Warmack should certainly be in play for the Bills with the eighth pick.

2. Jonathan Cooper (North Carolina)

The other elite guard in this draft with a less awesome name then his compatriot Cooper comes with more versatility then Warmack because he is capable of lining up at center. He is a freak athlete who can make plays up the field. Honestly I think the bills could not go wrong drafting either him or Warmack with the eighth pick. They both seem to be like elite talents who will be rocks for whatever offense line they happen to be playing on in the fall of 2013.

Wide Receiver

Why it’s a need: The departures of Donald Jones and David Nelson in free agency leave the Bills need of another solid wide receiver that can play across Stevie Johnson. But to be fair, this still would probably have been the case even if the Bills had signed both Jones and Nelson in the off-season (Take that Donald Jones and David Nelson!). T.J Graham, the Bills 3^rd round pick last year is currently in this role but I see him more as a slot/vertical threat. The Bills could look to add a receiver with their first few picks in the draft to further help out whoever is starting for the Bills at quarterback on opening day.

Potential Fits

1. Tavon Austin (West Virginia)

Coming off a stellar season where he caught 114 passes for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns Austin is an explosive play-maker both as a receiver and a returner. Kind of reminds me of Desean Jackson in his big play making ability. He has ridiculous speed and footwork as made clearly evident in this awesome highlights montage. Did that give you a football boner? It should have.  The Bills would have to use their eight pick if they wanted any chance of picking up this play-maker. There is no way he gets out of the first round.

2. Keenan Allen (California)

A more traditional wide receiver Allen would be a solid pick up to pair with Stevie Johnson. Keenan Allen is an attractive target because there is a strong likelihood that he will be available when the Bills pick in the second round. This would leave the Bills open to address needs at quarterback or guard with their first round pick. He has only average speed but is a good route runner with decent hands. He is also a tough player who isn't afraid of going over the middle and taking a hit. A slight injury concern since he missed the last 3 games last year with a mild PCL tear.

Thanks for reading my Bills draft preview. Hopefully they won’t totally fuck it up this time. Be sure to watch the draft at 8 P.M eastern on either ESPN or the NFL Network.

Stay based, my friends

MLB in Review: Oakland's Hard-Hitting Misfits, Rockie Foundations and More

Image courtesy of thecutoffman.mlblogs.com

             We’re now more than three weeks into the MLB season and while the action thus far provides a small sample size, a few trends can be noticed. Some of these, such as the Angels struggling due to a complete inability to pitch, don’t come as a surprise. Other developments, such as the Rockies leading the NL West or the Nationals struggling thus far have come as a complete surprise.

            It’s important to remember that most of these early concerns and surprises could be forgotten by June. But this doesn’t mean there’s nothing that can be taken from these first few weeks of action. The trick is to determine whether or not the trend is sustainable.

Oakland’s ragtag band of misfits

Through the first 21 games of the season, the perennially soft-hitting Oakland A’s are leading the Majors in runs scored. They’ve done this despite Yoenis Cespedes landing on the disabled list and more than half of the team’s at bats having been taken by Jed Lowrie, Josh Donaldson, Coco Crisp, Chris Young and Brandon Moss. But this less-than-imposing crew doesn’t necessarily mean the A’s are in for some major regression. Lowrie (.351/.432/.571, 3 hr, 14 rbi) seems to be the only one of the bunch playing well above his skill level.

 So, while he may regress, the A’s are expecting Cespedes back from injury within the next few weeks and it’s safe to assume Josh Reddick won’t bat .164 all season. Some have speculated it’s Oakland’s clever use of platooning complementary players that has led to this rapid rise in offensive production. This seems to be the most likely explanation as general manager Billy Beane has long been at the forefront of using saber metric analysis and revolutionary techniques.

Oakland’s offense likely won’t be the best in baseball this year, but it is much improved from last year’s unit.

Rocky Mountain high

After losing nearly 100 games and finishing dead last in the NL West in 2012, the Rockies are 13-7 and leading the NL West so far this year.

 This is a complete and total aberration.

Don’t get me wrong, the Rockies have more talent than they displayed last year. Michael Cuddyer is an underrated addition to the already solid core of Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Dexter Fowler. The pitching situation is still a mess, but the early schedule has masked that weakness. Colorado is 8-1 against San Diego and Milwaukee. They swept the Mets in a series that really shouldn’t have been played due to the sub-freezing temperatures. Besides that, they’ve gone 2-6 including sweeps at the hands of Atlanta and San Francisco.

The Rockies will likely win more games than last year but they have not yet proven themselves to be contenders.

Marlins North

While I predicted the Blue Jays would have more issues than most anticipated, I didn’t expect them to start this slow. Toronto is last in the AL East with a 9-13 record and a -29 run differential. Nearly the entire lineup has struggled to get on base thus far. J.P. Arencebia, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion have combined for 17 homers in the early goings, but Bautista (.190) and Encarnacion (.210) have struggled to anything but home runs. Supposed “savvy” signing Melky Cabrera is batting only .253 a year after winning the NL batting title while shortstop Jose Reyes will be out until, at least, mid-summer. All in all, the entire lineup has disappointed thus far.

The Jays real problem, however, has been the pitching. The staff that some believed could be the best in the American league has been one of the worst. The key to this winter’s mega-deal with the Marlins, Josh Johnson, is currently sporting a 6.86 ERA. Veteran Mark Buehrle’s is also hovering around six while Brandon Morrow and R.A Dickey have seen significant regression from last season. J.A. Happ, who was supposed to start the season in Buffalo, has been the Jays only effective pitcher in the early goings.

This story seems eerily familiar to the Marlins of 2012. After a big-spending offseason, the Marlins were expected to compete for the first time in years. They even changed their name to Miami, moved into a new stadium and re-designed their uniforms and logo. But somehow nearly every player on the seemingly talented Miami roster underachieved and the Marlins finished in last place, leading to a fire sale that sent Johnson, Reyes and Buehrle to Toronto. It’s doubtful the Blue Jays will lose 95 games and trade nearly the entire roster but a highly disappointing season seems well within the realm of possibility.

Ubaldo Jimenez and baseball’s strangest career arc

As I’ve stated upwards of 1000 times, the season is still young. But April couldn’t have been less kind to Jimenez. The embattled pitcher started 0-2 with a 10.06 ERA. He may very well be the worst starting pitcher in the majors at the current moment. These struggles are a far cry from 2010, when Jimenez was the league’s best pitcher. The then-Rockie was 15-1 at the All-Star break with a 2.20 ERA. However, he struggled late and finished the season 19-8. In fact, since that incredible start, Jimenez is 23-39 with over a five ERA. Baseball can be a strange sport, folks.

That’s it for this week. Stay hungry, my friends. 

Round 1 NBA Playoffs Predictions

Eastern Conference Playoffs

Miami Heat (1) vs Milwaukee Bucks (8)

I’m not going to spend too much discussing this series because at this point the outcome seems quite obvious.  There is no way in hell that the Bucks can beat Miami in a 7 game series, hell it’s going to be extremely tough for them to win one game.  Miami was the best team in basketball this season going 66-16 while playing with the league’s 2^nd best offense and 9^th best defense.  The Bucks were a bad team that got lucky playing in a subpar Eastern Conference that was able to parlay a 38-44 season with the 22^nd best offense and 12^th best defense into a playoff spot.  The real issue for the Bucks though is that if they want to keep their defense respectable it will likely cost them offensive flexibility and if they want to keep their offense strong they will lose any hope of stopping the Heat.  The Heat are just too good offensively and I expect them to bring their defensive intensity to another level this series so Heat in 4 games, bring out the broom sticks.

New York Knicks (2) vs Boston Celtics (7)

This is series on the surface seems like a more compelling series than I think it will be.  The Celtics will always be dangerous when they have Garnett and Pierce, however those two are getting old and the rest of the team just isn’t able to pick up the slack.  This Celtics team which went 41-40 this year combines a mediocre offense, ranked 24^th, with a very good but not quite elite defense, ranked 7^th.  Compared to the 54-28 Knicks who combine the league’s 3^rd best offense and not great but manageable 18^th ranked defense.  Both teams are similar in that they need their center to play to even manage themselves defensively.  The Knicks offense though should be able to get enough open threes to open this series up for the most part offensively as the Celtics struggle to score on them.  I see the Knicks winning in 6 as this team tries to line itself up to be a threat to the Miami Heat.

Indiana Pacers (3) vs Atlanta Hawks (6)

Well the Hawks put together a very nice season after suffering the loss of Joe Johnson and exceded many people’s expectations while going 44-38.  However I just don’t see a way they can beat the defensively dominant Pacers team.  The Hawks as a team are for the most part very jump shot dependent to score point, they don’t offensive rebound well and they don’t get to the free throw line.  The Pacers strength as a team is forcing people to make tough jump shots.  So while the Hawks may end up taking shots they would normally take in games these shots will be considerably less open.  This series will probably end up being ugly with a lot of tough grind it out wins for the Pacers considering while holding the NBA’s top ranked defense they only have the 20^th ranked offense.  The Pacers should be able to shut the Hawks down though and score enough points on the surprisingly 10^th ranked Hawks offense, Pacers in 5.

Brooklyn Nets (4) vs Chicago Bulls (5)

Now this series will likely be the Eastern Conference’s most interesting matchup.  You have the shutdown Derrick Rose less Bulls against the offensive attack of the Brooklyn Nets.  The Bulls have impressively won 45 games this season putting together the league’s 6^th best defense to offset for their 23^rd ranked offense.  This team will need to be flying on all cylinders and will likely need a healthy Joakim Noah to defeat a Nets offense that is ranked 8^th in the NBA.  The Nets one of the best offensive centers in the NBA in Brook Lopez and will need Noah to both make him work offensively and expose his weak defense.  If Noah was healthy I would definitely pick the Bulls in this series but his questionable health combined with Deron Williams’ resurgence into an elite player is making me say Nets in 7.

Western Conference Playoffs

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs Houston Rockets (8)

Well isn’t this series going to be fun?  Oklahoma City plays at the 10^th fastest pace of any team in the league and has the NBA’s best offense while the Rockets play at the fastest pace in the league and have the NBA’s 6^th best offense.  Guarantee for the series it will be fast and many points will be scored.  O I’ve failed to mention the fact that James Harden after being traded from OKC for salary cap reasons now has the opportunity to show his old team what they miss after putting up a career year.  While Houston has the talent to score on OKC, I highly doubt even with center Omer Asik they have a prayer of stopping them.  I would love this series to end up going 7 games, but OKC’s dominant offense combined with their quite underrated 4^th ranked defense should make way for a short series, Thunder in 5 games.

San Antonio Spurs (2) vs Los Angeles Lakers (7)

Well after the windy journey the Lakers are entering the playoffs playing their best basketball of the season as they play the reeling San Antonio Spurs.  This seems to be the trendy upset pick with many thinking even without Kobe Bryant the Lakers can beat the Spurs.  I disagree for many reasons.  For one we’ve seen across the years in many sports that being “hot” or “cold” entering the postseason is largely irrelevant and really the strength of the team only matters.  The Lakers are going to dearly miss Kobe Bryant’s offense, as he scored efficiently at a high volume this season while also being the team’s best shot creator.  The Lakers defense is still weak and slow.  The Spurs still have Tony Parker, two strong bigs in Duncan and Splitter, while providing enough strong shooters around those guys.  The Spurs should be able to effectively matchup with the Lakers’ bigs while the Lakers’ have no chance of matching up with the Spurs’ perimeter players. 

Denver Nuggets (3) vs Golden State Warriors (6)

Well these are two teams that have exceeded the expectations of many basketball fans.  The Nuggets seemed like a strong title threat until injuries to Gallinari and Ty Lawson seemed to threaten their chances.  The Warriors went through a weak start to the season but followed that up with weak middle and a strong ending.  The Nuggets should be able to win another series that should be quite exciting, but combining their almost unstoppable home court advantage and athleticism to a series win.  The Nuggets have a great offense and underrated defense that should be able to slow down the Warriors good but overrated offense and average defense.  I see the Nuggets in 5 in a series that will probably be less exciting than many expect. 

Los Angeles Clippers (4) vs Memphis Grizzlies (5)

Well this series is going to be the best of the 1^st round.  These two teams which finished with an identical record of 56-26 expect to battle in what should go 7 games like last year.  The Grizzlies have lost Rudy Gay but have added Tayshaun Prince a move that to the surprise of many has aided the team’s offense and defense.  The Clippers made many moves in the offseason, most notably adding the great bench players Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes.  The Clippers now 4^th best offense, that while elite is still quite predictable and the league’s 8^th best defense while the Grizzlies have the league’s 2^nd best defense and 17^th ranked offense.  The Grizzlies defense though should be able to eat alive a Clippers offense that at times can be quite predictable.  The Clippers have Chris Paul and Blake Griffin along with a super deep bench so they definitely have the more talented of the two teams.  In this 7 game series though I’m going to say Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies win in 7.

Stay Hungry My Friends

Five Predictions for the NBA Playoffs

Image courtesy of NBA.com

Five predictions for the NBA Postseason:

The Bulls will put up a fight against the Nets even without Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah

                This has been a trying season for the NBA’s winningest team between 2010-2012. The Bulls played the entire year without superstar point guard Derrick Rose after losing Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, CJ Watson and Omer Asek to free agency. During the season they struggled with injuries to Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Noah at various points. Yet Tom Thibodeau’s crew battled the entire season and ended up fifth in the conference. It didn’t matter who was playing, the Bulls were tough to beat. At different points, they relied on Jimmy Butler, Marco Bellini and Nazr Mohammad to create offense. The Nets are definitely more talented than the Bulls, but don’t expect this to be an easy series for the Nets. And don’t be surprised if the Bulls stretch it to seven games.

The Western Conference slate will be the most exciting first round of playoffs in years

                Four series and not a stinker in the bunch. Of the eight teams that qualified for the playoffs in the Western  Conference, all are capable of winning in the first round. But, not one of the teams appears to be flawless. Plus, there’s compelling storylines to nearly every matchup. In the one-eight series, James Harden will take on his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder traded Harden right before the season rather than give him a long-term deal. He’s since emerged as a top-flight scorer as the Thunder have rolled along, seemingly unharmed. At the very least, this series should be an exciting offensive display filled with three-point barrages and triple-digit scores.

 In the two-seven matchup we have the two most successful teams of the last 15 years. The Spurs will take on the Lakers in a matchup of banged-up squads. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard have all missed time recently for the Spurs and the Lakers will obviously be without Kobe for the first time in years. In the three-six series, we get another matchup of potent offenses as Golden State takes on Denver. The Nuggets were one of the hottest teams in the second half of the season but the Warriors have one of the most dangerous shooters in NBA history with Stephen Curry. It’s seems the Nuggets should be able to take this series but not without a battle from Curry, Klay Thompson and Co. The four-five matchup is a repeat of last year’s seven-game classic between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies have made some noise in the postseason the past two years and seem poised for a run even after trading Rudy Gay. The Clippers have two distinct advantages in being the deepest team in basketball and having the best point guard in the world. I’m not sure how this series will turn out, but there’s few thing s in life to be more excited about than Paul being guarded by Tony (the Hungry Dog) Allen. This should be quite the first round in the West.

We’ll see at least three transcendent performances

This year’s playoffs will feature LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Brook Lopez all in the midst of career years. That’s not even including Chris Bosh, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Zach Randolph, Monta Ellis, Marc Gasol Brandon Jennings, Jeremy Lin, Luol Deng, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Tyson Chandler, J.R Smith, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and a litany of others too long to list. Safe to say we’ll be treated to some outstanding performances this spring.

The Lakers will lose in the first round

I know the Spurs might not be 100% healthy but does that matter? Howard , Nash and Gasol have played very well of late but what’s beyond that? Jodie Meeks, Steve Blake, the guy that used to be Antawn Jameson and the somehow recovered Metta World Peace will receive plenty of playing time. I’d have to take the Spurs in this one.

The Miami Heat will repeat as champions in a relatively easy manner

The reasons here are obvious: they have the best player in the world by far, they’re a complete team and are totally comfortable playing with each other, they won 27 games in a row earlier this season, they had no problem winning even when their best players were out and there’s not really a team good enough to challenge them.

But this won’t be your run-of-the-mill dominant championship run. The Heat have ascended to 1980’s/2000 Lakers/1990’s Bulls territory in terms of becoming more than a basketball team. By the time this run is over, everyone on the Heat will be more of a household name than they already are. The Harlem Shake video they made proved it: people care about this Miami Heat team in some form more than they care about any team in the world. I’m not just thinking they’ll finish the postseason 16-3, I’m also looking forward to Lebron’s imminent appearance on Saturday Night Live. That’s the type of dynasty that’s in the making. Enjoy, America.

Stay hungry, my friends. 

2013 NBA Awards

MVP Ballot

1.       Lebron James

If this award isn’t unanimous then the voters have a serious issue.  Lebron is without question the best player in basketball and put together one of the greatest seasons in NBA history.  He averaged 26.8 PPG, 8 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, .9 BPG, while having an unfathomably good shooting line of .565/.406/.753.  He had a PER of 31.6, and how about this when he was on the court the Heat outscored opponents by 13.2 Points Per 100 Possessions, and when he was off the court they got outscored by -2.1.  This is one of the greatest seasons of all time and one of the best defensive players in the league and the best offensive player, the ultimate MVP. 

2.       Kevin Durant

Well in most other seasons there is no question that Kevin Durant walks away with the MVP.  Durant is the league’s best scorer; finishing 2^nd in the league in scoring while holding a shooting line that consists of a shooting line of .510/.416/.905 joining the exclusive 50/40/90 club.  Along with his awesome scoring ability he improved his all-around game as well grabbing 7.9 RPG, dishing out 4.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.3 BPG.  He was the dominant cog behind the best offensive in basketball that averaged 114.1 Points per 100 possessions when he was on the court and only 105.3 when he was off.  Durant finished 2^nd in the league with a sensational PER of 28.3.  He was without question the 2^nd best player in basketball this season and should get #2 in the race easily. 

3.       Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol this season when adjusting for how many minutes he played had the best season of any big in basketball.  He averaged 14.1 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.7 BPG, and 1.0 SPG while playing 80 games and averaging 35 MPG, the 2^nd most minutes of any big in basketball.  These stats while very good, wouldn’t suggest those of an MVP caliber player.  However these stats dramatically underrated Marc for a few reasons, his defense is nowhere near fully accounted for and the Grizzlies extremely slow pace definitely deflates his statistics.  The difference between when Marc Gasol is on or off the court for the Grizzlies, when he is on they outscore opponents by 8.0 points per 100 possessions and when he is off they get outscored by 2.9.  He is the center and leader of the 2^nd best defense in basketball by Defensive Rating and considering they play in the Western Conference, with stronger offenses, they might even have the best defense in basketball.  The offense runs through him too in the high post as he in a way is practically point guard for the Grizzlies at this point.  The Grizzlies can win the title this year and if they do it’s because of their dominant center. 

4.       Chris Paul

Chris Paul had the 4^th best season of anyone in basketball based on his straight efficiency and his impact on the Clippers offense.  When Chris Paul was in the Clippers had by far the best offensive rating in basketball of 116.5, which would be 4.1 points higher than lead leaguing OKC, while without Paul they averaged 104.3 which would have had them tied for 19^th in the league with Indiana and Cleveland, quite a jump.  He averaged 16.9 PPG, 9.7 APG, with a league leading 2.4 SPG, and only 2.3 TPG, numbers that are deflated by the slow pace he has the Clippers play at.  Overall his candidacy sums up to number 4.

5.       Tim Duncan

Per Minute this man has been the 3^rd best player in basketball this season.  He averaged 17.8 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.7 APG and BPG.  His PER of 24.4 ranked 6^th in the league, but considering he was a far superior defensive player to most of those ahead of him he was definitely more impressive.  The Spurs finished with the 3^rd best defense in all of basketball largely led by him as the team was overall 7.7 points better with him on the court, and 4.2 points better defensively. 

Defensive Player of the Year

1.       Marc Gasol

Well most of my defensive player of the year argument for Gasol was made above, but I’ll rehash it with this.  This team was the most important component of the 2^nd best defensive team in basketball and the stats without question signify this.  He is a dominant defensive player who has really helped to carry the Grizzlies defense to where they are through his understanding of team and individual defense.

2.       Joakim Noah

Noah is another player with an extremely strong case for defensive player of the year.  Despite a tough offseason that saw the Bulls many of their best players, they have remained as one of the best defensive teams in basketball.  The defense is much better when he is in the lineup and he rebounds at an elite level and is the perfect center for a complex and fast Chicago defense.  He has actually run the most miles of any player in the NBA this year.

3.       Tim Duncan

Duncan’s defensive player of the year case is extremely similar to his MVP.  He is a dominant defensive force who deters shots at the center of San Antonio’s elite attack.  He is still an elite defensive rebounder and probably the NBA’s most underrated shot blocker, especially considering his blocks are the most likely to be returned to the Spurs.  Overall great defensive player and extremely strong candidate.  s

6^th Man of the Year

1.       JR Smith

At this point it would likely be a surprise if JR Smith didn’t win 6^th man of the year, and no question he deserves it.  JR Smith has transformed his game into a solid 3 point shooter who gets to the line, rebounds well for his position and is an underrated passer and defensive player.  He’s averaging 18.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 2.7 APG.  He is an important component of the Knicks turnaround as a team and will be well deserving of 6^th man of the year.

2.       Jarrett Jack

Jack has had an important role for the Golden State Warriors this season as he helped to get the team to the playoffs.  Jack scored 12.9 PPG, 5.5 APG, and 3.1 RPG.  He provides enough versatility to play either guard position, an important role for a team that has Steph Curry a small guard that can be quite dangerous playing off the ball.  Jack played good defense, gave the Warriors great versatility and produced offensively, great season. 

3.       Vince Carter

It seems surprising to have him hear but Carter is a serious 6^th man of the year candidate. He’s averaging 13.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 2.4 APG while playing very good defense and shooting 4.9 three’s per game while making .406.  He’s been the most consistent Maverick all year and has really helped the team stay afloat.  The team has needed him to play this well and of any of the major 6^th man candidates he has played the best defense.   

Coach of the Year

1.       Gregg Popovich

Best coach in basketball and probably almost permanently deserves this award.  This year again though was a thing of beauty.  He led the Spurs to the 2 seed in the West when injuries ravaged the team for almost the entire season.  Leonard, Parker, Duncan and Ginobili all missed some significant time and the Spurs were still able to win 58 games.  After reinventing his offense at the cost of the team’s defense he was able to return the Spurs defense back to its former glory ranking 3^rd in the league. 

2.       Eric Spoelstra

The likely winner of the award and he is a great choice.  The team had a 27 game winning streak, it takes a great coach to keep the team focused enough for something like that to happen.  The team reinvented itself as a small ball centric unit and created an almost unstoppable team.  He utilized Lebron to his fullest extent as he reinvented himself as a new player for this brand new team.

3.       Rick Carlisle

This candidate has a seemingly weaker case than some of the other potential candidate but quite simply he got a 41 win season out of this year’s Maverick’s team.  Dirk Nowitzki by far the team’s best player only played in 53 games and for a while was extremely limited when he returned.  Their 2^nd best player this season was probably Vince Carter, yes 36 year old Vince Carter who has changed his game to become a 3 point specialist.  The team really is just a bunch of mix and matched pieces that don’t totally fit but Carlisle was able to make it work and get the team to .500. 

Rookie of the Year

1.       Damian Lillard

Lillard this season has the strongest Rookie of the Year case.  The NBA’s league leader in minutes played has attempted to carry the Trailblazers to respectability.  Lillard while struggling defensively averaged 19 PPG and 6.5 APG while taking over 6 threes a game and making 36.8%.  He was the focus of every opponent’s game plan and while he went through some going pains still played at an extremely impressive level. 

2.       Anthony Davis

This season the presumptive rookie of the year was definitely the best rookie on a per- minute basis.  He averaged 13.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.8 BPG, and 1.2 SPG.  He shot 51.6% from the field and was a much more efficient option then Lillard.  He was the stronger defensive player, who though he struggled for much of the early season turned into a real weapon on that end by the 2^nd half of the season.  Really the only flaw in his resume is that he played in 18 less games then Lillard and played about 10 minutes per game less. 

3.       Bradley Beal

The difference between 2^nd and 3^rd in this race is quite dramatic.  Davis and Lillard were two legitimate contributors for teams who would be strong rookie of the year candidates in most seasons.  The 3^rd best option Bradley Beal would not be.  He averaged 13.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 2.4 APG with a shooting line of .410/.386/.786.  He while never showing the elite flashes that Davis or Lillard did, really began coming into his own when Wall came back from injury and was a true weapon who was extremely difficult to matchup with. 

Most Improved Player

1.       LARRY SANDERS!

Considering I’m a fan of Zach Lowe’s NBA writing, that is the only correct way to type out his name.  SANDERS! Transformed himself into a dominant defensive big, a major deterrent to those entering the paint and a menace to those who did.  He transformed a bad Bucks defense into a defensive force when he was in the lineup.  Offensively while no weapon was able to put up respectable enough production for a dominant defensive force.  He made a major jump in PER by 5.4 points and stopped fouling people at an insane rate which allowed him to actually play.  He is the most improved player and was quite exciting in the process.

2.       Greivis Vasquez

Vasquez has converted himself into a solid starting point guard after some important improvements to his game as he was thrust into the starting lineup.  He averaged 13.9 PPG with 9 APG while having a PER of 16.3, up from 14.2 last season.  He improved as a defensive player and while still below average in that regard is definitely improved. 

3.       Brook Lopez

Now for an unorthodox choice for the ballot, Brook Lopez.  Really if you look at his game, Brook Lopez became a dominant offensive force while changing from the worst defensive center in basketball to below average at it.  He began rebounding at a semi-respectable rate again which greately improved his efficiency.  His defense became more committed as evidenced by his increased shot blocking.  Really just look at his PER, before the season his career high was 20.1 in a full season, this season he had 24.7!

Stay Hungry My Friends

Late-season thoughts on the NHL

Image courtesy of sports.gunaxin.com

A few quick thoughts on what to watch for in the last 10 days of the NHL season:

·     For the third year in a row, the Washington Capitals are erasing a slow start with a scorching finish. The Caps are coming off an eight-game win streak which saw them rise all the way to third in the Eastern conference. Currently, they have a two-point lead over division rival Winnipeg with a showdown that could determine the fate of the division looming Tuesday. But for now it appears the Capitals should be heading for their sixth consecutive postseason appearance.

·        Unlike the last two late-season surges, this run has been largely the result of Alex Overchkin’s play. After two and a half seasons of performing like a glorified second-liner, number eight is back to his old high-scoring ways. He’s now tops in the NHL with 28 goals and fourth with 48 points. If he keeps up this play and leads the Capitals to the third seed, he’ll likely garner some MVP consideration.

·         With only a week and a half left in the NHL season, there are 24 teams with playoff chances. Realistically, there are only two teams in each conference with chances of moving into the playoff pictures. The Sabres have played well of late but need a lot of help from the eight-place Rangers and ninth-place Winnipeg if they hope to qualify. The Rangers will most likely grab the final spot as they finish up against last-place Florida, lowly Carolina and the reeling New Jersey Devils.

·        The Western Conference picture is slightly more open with Detroit and Dallas both sitting two points out of a playoff spot. Eighth-place Columbus has played 45 games while both Dallas (ninth) and Detroit (10) have played 43. Although the Stars and Wings have games at hand, Columbus seems to be playing with confidence lately. If they’re able to sneak into the playoffs, Sergei Bobrovsky could steal the Vezina Trophy away from Tuuka Rask.

·        
         The playoff seeding is nearly entirely up in the air as only two of the divisions have been decided. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was one of the most exciting final days of the regular season in recent memory.

That’s it for now, stay tuned for my playoff preview/season wrap-up next week.

Stay hungry, my friends. 

This Damn Music Today

Hey Internet, do you know what sucks in today's world, and isn't made like it used to be? Of course you know the answer, it is music. Whether it be Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, or countless other pop, rap, and country stars. This is a fact. There are no more bands like the Beatles, Stones, or Nirvana who act as the voices of their generations, while also writing some very powerful poetry while laying down some funky beats. If you disagree with me, then you're an idiot and I will fight you.

You know who says shit like that? Idiots, or assholes who want to start Facebook fights because that is the farthest thing from the truth. I will be honest mainstream music is fucking trash, and the popular music industry does care about making a profit more than producing top quality music. However if you we live in a world where we are constantly looking at screens that are connected to the internet, so if the Billboard Top 100 Charts is your only source for finding new and refreshing artists, well then you deserve to suffer and hate music. "Wow Pat that is awfully harsh, don't you think?" Funny you should ask because I don't, not even in the slightest. Anyone who complains about today's music being crap either likes to bitch just for bitching sake, or is just lazy, and most likely is both. Do not worry though you bitch fits have come to an end, and I am here to enlighten your minds. 

So how do we go about changing your perceptions that the music today is no good. Well I am pretty sure most of our readers are between the ages of 15-30. This is important because the music you decide you like in those fifteen years will come to describe your musical inclinations for the rest of your life, so fucking listen up. I guarantee you have one Facebook friend or Twitter follower who is a music buff, and like me listens to awesome contemporary music. What you need to do is find this friend, and then actually talk to them about music, and what they like, and asks for artists that they can recommend you to check out. This is how people before the internet expanded their musical tastes, and guess what? It still works. Do it.

Alright maybe you are shy, and since growing up in the computer age you  have lost every and all social skills required in holding an actually conversation. You know what I am going to tell you to  stop reading, and go outside so you can work on fixing that, it is way more important. I promise the internet will be here when you get back...You're Back? Good to see you worked things out, now another thing you can do is download apps like Spotify, you can get a daytrotter membership, you can sign up for Pandora, you can scour Youtube for videos of new bands. See where I am going with this? The internet is here to help and provide you with a ton of music, and you can also download music for free using the same device, it is not hard, ( I feel like I am obligated however to remind all of you that downloading music is illegal and do it at your own risk, I am in no way advocating for it) and also if you do download you are considered to be a pirate. You hear that, a pirate, haven't you always wanted to be a pirate? 

Another suggestion is to just go to Google and type in searches along the lines of best albums of past decade or year and then read the lists that are provided, and then look up all of those albums. You won't like all of them but you might find some stuff you really dig and realize that their are many musicians who make quality music. It is so simple, I feel like I shouldn't have to write this but I need this to be said so when I see posts that says music sucks I can post this link and set the record straight, FOREVER. 

If any reader wants to shoot the breeze about music with me that is great and wants to find out about a lot of music that I dig, I would be more than happy to, but here are some suggestions of contemporary musicians to get your search started. 

If you are anything like me then you're probably like anyone with an acoustic guitar and a poem pretending to be a song. I will then point you in the direction of bands like the Avett Brothers, or Joe Pug. Both artists are really strong lyrically and have very simple but profound instrumentals. They are a bit on the sensitive side but Goddamn is their musical universal.

But I love to rock out every now and then, and an electric guitar and steady drum beat get me going just as much as your next white boy. The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, and Jack White, have two things in common. First they all have Jack White, and two since they have Jack White they have the greatest guitarist of this generation as well as a very talented song writer. The Black Keys are another band that deserve a very strong listen, especially if you enjoy a nice bluesy sound to go with your rock. 

But maybe what you are saying to yourself right now is, "Fuck the Guitar" I get that, I understand, to each their own. You are still in luck however, because a lot of great music today is being made without even any instruments. Apparently there is some very good techno being made, but that could be a lie, i don't know, I don't listen to techno, I ain't about that life. However I do enjoy some rap music, again I am not the biggest fan or in anyway an expert but I enjoy Childish Gambino, Kid Cudi and other people that I cannot think of right now because I do not care.

The point is stop complaining about music because you're lazy and start doing some investigating, It will make you enjoy music and your life all that much more. So stop bitching on my Facebook and Twitter about how much music today sucks and just be happy we live in a world where music exists.

P.S. An artist everyone should check out is Fela Kuti. He isn't contemporary, hence the postscript, but oh wow is his music amazing. By the way I found out about Fela from speaking about music with my cousin, because my method is a guaranteed time tested method.

Stay Hungry my Friends. 

MLB In Review: April Surprises

             

            Image Courtesy of Sports.Yahoo.com    

            Eventful would be an understatement when describing the first two weeks of the MLB season.

            We’ve been witness to impossibly bad offense, incredible starts to the season by a handful of pitchers and two near no-hitters. Some teams have started better than expected (See: Atlanta) while others haven’t had quite the start they’d hoped for (think Hollywood).

            Although a dozen or so games is too small of a sample size to make any long-term judgments, what’s transpired so far is worth talking about. So without further ado, here are the major story lines so far:

HOTlanta:

            The past two Atlanta Brave seasons have ended with a total collapse that cost them a playoff spot and a rain of garbage that tarnished the final game of Chipper Jones’s career. Meanwhile, it appeared they lost as much as they gained in the off-season. So you’ll have to excuse the baseball world’s utter shock upon seeing the Braves are 11-1 with a +37 run differential despite three of their best hitters not producing so far.

Adrelton Simmons (batting .211), Dan Uggla (.171), B.J. Upton (.163) and Jason Heyward (.103) are all off to pretty horrific starts. In fact, newly-acquired Justin Upton may be the only big bat who hasn't disappointed thus far. The former Diamondback has a hitting line (batting average, on-base percentage and slugging average) of .348/.415/.891 with a National League-leading seven homers. Reclamation project Evan Gattis (.324/.385/.735) and first basemen Chris Johnson (.405/.436/.513) have provided most of the offensive spark so far.

However, the main catalyst in the Braves success has been the pitching. Four of five starters have an ERA of 2.50 or lower. In fact, veteran journeyman Paul Maholm has not yet allowed a run in over 20 innings of work. He, along with Kris Medlen, Tim Hudson, Mike Minor and Craig Kimbel in the bullpen, should provide above average pitching for the Braves throughout the season.

Simmons, Heyward and B.J. Upton won’t be this bad all season and the team should expect to see Brian McCann and Freddie Freeman by mid-May. So while the pitching will likely fall back to Earth and while they won’t play half their games against the Marlins and Cubs, the offense should improve enough to keep Atlanta competitive.

LA Slump Continues:
            After making some of the most prominent and large-scale moves in 2012, both the Angels and the Dodgers failed to qualify for the postseason. Both organizations reached deeper into their pockets this offseason-the Dodgers nabbing lefty ace Zach Greinke for a record $148 million and the Angels adding slugger Josh Hamilton for $125 million-but both have been unable to achieve any sort of on-field success thus far.

            The Dodgers (7-9) haven’t been terrible so far but this can’t be what the owners had in mind when they approved spending nearly a quarter billion dollars on this season alone. The Blue Crew has a negative run differential and is 27^th in the league in scoring. The pitching, especially Clayton Kershaw, has been stellar thus far. But now Greinke has been lost for an extended period of time and the rest of the rotation doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsly and Chris Capuano aren’t stars by any measure but will have to take on a lot of the load to make up for this hole-filled lineup.

            Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the Angels (4-9) are suffering through another horrendous April without the option of calling up Mike Trout this time. The pitching has been, as expected, putrid. Ace Jered Weaver has landed himself on the disabled list and the rest of the staff doesn’t appear to be up to the task of replacing him. The Halos have surrendered 71 runs, tied for tops in the majors. Even Weaver wouldn’t have made enough of a difference to make this pitching respectable.

            The offense, thought to be one of the most dangerous units in the league, has disappointed thus far. Trout has been good but has failed to replicate his historically good 2012 numbers. Albert Pujols has also been getting on base at a high percentage (.431) but hasn’t exactly been tearing the cover off the ball (two home runs). Howie Kendrick and Mark Trumbo round out a totally average quartet for the Angels.

 While these four haven’t met expectation so far, they also haven’t been terrible. The same cannot be said for the off-season’s top hitting prize. Hamilton has nothing short of awful this year. He’s hitting .216/.276/.412 with a .688 OPS and just two home runs. He’s already struck out 17 times and he’s on pace for a career worst in nearly every category. On the bright side, he’s only owed $100 million after this season.

A Familiar Look in the AL East:
            All throughout the winter and early spring baseball pundits, reporters and fans preached the demise of New York and Boston dominance in the AL East. While that may very well be the case eventually, it has not been so far. Currently, the teams hold the top two spots in the division and have succeeded where they were expected to fail. Despite a litany of injuries and free agent losses, the Yankee offense has scored the most runs in the AL East thus far. Boston’s pitching, which was thought to be as inept as last year’s squad, has performed nicely so far, led by the resurgence of Clay Bucholz (3-0, 0.41 ERA). While it’s been only two weeks, both the Red Sox and Yankees have shown they aren’t going quietly into the night.

We are the Marlins: 

          When Jeffrey Loria stripped his team apart and traded nearly every player of value, it became obvious the Marlins would be in for a tough couple years. But tough doesn’t begin to describe the start they’ve had. The Fish are 2-11 and have scored only 23 runs so far. In comparison, the A’s have scored 85 runs already. The difference, 62 runs, matches the output of the Atlanta Braves, baseball’s eighth-best offense. The team’s only recognizable player, Giancarlo Stanton, is out with a shoulder injury. This leaves Placido Polanco and Donavan Solano (.238 average) as the best hitting options. It could be a long year in Miami. But, on the bright side, this exists!

What to watch for this week:
             If you’re a fan of excellent pitching, this has been quite an April for you. Here’s a few matchups this week worth keeping an eye on:

Cole Hamels vs. Adam Wainwright Thursday 7 p.m. MLB Network.
            Wainwright has been his usual dominant self to start the season while Hamels is still looking to get back on track. No matter what the circumstances, this is a matchup of two of the best in the world. It’s worth keeping an eye on.

Chris Sale vs. RA Dickey Thursday 7:07 p.m.

            Both of these guys have had rough starts after shocking the baseball world in 2012. Both will be looking to get themselves and their teams back on the right track Thursday.

Steven Strasburg vs. Matt Harvey Friday 7:10 p.m.

            The two young aces of the NL East will face off Friday night. While Strasburg has been very good for Washington (2.95 ERA, 1.20 WHIP), Harvey has been lights out for the Mets. His numbers (3-0, .82 ERA, .55 WHIP, 25 strikeouts) have been unbelievably good thus far, making every start a must-watching. Facing off against another one of the game’s best only enhances the matchup’s potential.

That’s it for this week. Stay Hungry, My Friends. 

Joey Votto's MVP and other predictions

Well Taylor is in the process of giving you his baseball preview; I’m just making one major prediction this season.  Joey Votto is going to be the MVP of the NL and has a chance to put up the best offensive season since Barry Bonds.  First of all, outside of Mike Trout’s overall Messiah like characteristics and Brandon McCarthy’s awesome hilarity, Joey Votto’s intelligent approach to the plate might make him my favorite player in all of baseball.  This stat might tell you why, since 2009 there have been more perfect games than times Joey Votto has hit an infield popup.  Ok so you this gives you an idea of Joey Votto’s awesomeness.

Joey Votto is basically a hitting savant; he is almost unquestionably the best hitter in baseball.  He has had a wOBA  of .424 the highest in baseball since the 2009 season.  He is an on base machine who has had a OBP of .429 since 2009, first in baseball in that period, and a remarkable .474 last season.  Some might see that number as an aberration that can’t be repeated, but personally I disagree.  After putting together a remarkable first half of the season that saw him as the favorite for NL MVP, an injury derailed that.  He returned from injury where he had clearly lost his power and was a limited player.  He totally reinvented himself though and despite not hitting a homerun, in September/Ocotober of last season where he had an OBP of .505 and a BB% of 26.7 contributing to a wOBA of .408 a remarkable figure for a player who didn’t hit a homerun.  If he is healthy this season, and is able to keep up only a semblance of that Barry Bonds like BB% then a historic season could be upcoming.  Also he is above average first basemen defensively which should help his case for MVP.  Votto is a special player who studies the game maybe unlike anyone else in baseball.  If he can buck some historic trends, then a season of .300/.450/.600 is a possibility, a season that would practically guarantee an MVP.

                Also here are the rest of my predictions for this season with some quick thoughts:

AL East: Tampa Bay Rays

·         Most well organized team in the division, an elite pitching staff and the late season call up of Will Myers should put this team over the top

AL Central: Detroit Tigers

·         Won the division last season fairly easily, and should be able to win easily in a poor division

AL West: Oakland A’s

·         People expect regression but some good offseason moves, a strong pitching staff and a underrated lineup should help lead them to another division title

AL Wild Cards: LA Angels/Toronto Blue Jays

·         Went back and forth between the Blue Jays and Rangers here but decided to go with the Blue Jays because of some injuries concerns with the Rangers, and the Angel’s have Mike Trout!!!! Also they should be about as good this season as last season and the AL got weaker as a whole

AL MVP: Mike Trout

·         He is likely the Messiah, next question

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

·         I see a tight race between him and Verlander, but Hernandez will likely pull it out if nothing if not voter fatigue

NL East: Washington Nationals

·         This team was loaded last season and added Rafael Soriano and will be getting full seasons out of Strasburg and Bryce Harper

NL Central: Cincinnati Reds

·         Not only do the Reds have Votto they bring back last season’s very good pitching staff and have a pretty good lineup, they’ll win

NL West: San Francisco Giants

·         The Dodgers are overrated and the Giants bring back almost their entire team from last season which should be able to win another division title

NL Wild Cards: St. Louis Cardinals/Arizona Diamondbacks

·         Cardinals will win a Wild Card spot for their 3^rd straight season along with the Diamonbacks who while making some bad long term decisions, their offseason along with positive regression after some bad luck last season should land them a wild card berth.  The Braves losses probably offset their gains as they try to claim a wild card spot and the Dodgers just aren’t as good as their payroll suggests

NL MVP: Joey Votto

·         See above

NL Cy Young: Stephen Strasburg

·         Everything we’ve seen from him so far suggests there is no reason he shouldn’t be the best pitcher in baseball this season. 

Stay Hungry My Friends