Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Pujols the MVP, Clausen, etc.

Greetings all... A bit scrambled in nature today...but alas, here we go...
  • Albert Pujols wins the NL MVP... I haven't heard one person go a different way on this...and that went for the Writers as well as he wins unaminously... .327 batting, 47 HR, 135 RBI, 1.001 OPS...insane numbers...no argument needed
  • Ben Roethlisberger to start this week... I'm a bit surprised by this one just b/c he has a large history of concussions now (one with the motorcycle crash, etc.)... I'd leave him out a week, but their only healthy QB is Dennis Dixon and that may be the issue...
  • Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies at 85... tragic news out of the Nation's capital... by all accounts a good man, and a good owner... even having the distinction as the NBA's longest-tenured owner... RIP sir...
  • I'm really enjoying college hoops already... is there anything better than Midnight EST tip-offs? Of relevant games? Arizona/Wisconsin was just fun last night...contrasting styles... "Styles make fights"....::laughter::
  • A little NBA...we'll call it a roundup... has there ever been a worse player with better stats than Al Thornton? The much-maligned (by experts at least) Clippers forward ended up with 31 last night...He does nothing well btw....What's going on with the Bulls? Even with decent contributions from now-healthy Luol Deng and supposed increased depth, they've been pretty bad thus far (6-7) and Derrick Rose has shown little sign of improvement from last year (in fact, he's regressed)... issues abound... Stat of the Night (this one is for @imryan of twitter fame).... Andre Miller had a +30 rating last night... 12 points better than anyone in the Bulls/Blazers game... I chuckled when I saw this.. but he was 10/11 FT...
  • One more NBA note... I've seen Joe Johnson in the top 6-7 of 3 different MVP "ballots" for the season so far...that's INSANE to me... he's the same guy he's been...he's been consistently good..not great... wanna know the key to the Hawks fast start? Josh Smith averaging 9+ rebounds (up from 7), 2.6 blocks (up from 1.6), and shooting 54% (up from 49%) and attempting ONE 3-point shot (at the end of the shot clock no less)...he's the key... and between him, Jamal Crawford (averaging 17 points a game in under 30 minutes), and Al Horford (14 pts, 10 boards, 2 blocks up from 12/9/1 last yr)....they're the reason
  • Got nothing to do tonight? Watch OKC @ Utah (9 PM, NBA TV) or a very nice college basketball doubleheader (from Maui)... Maryland/Cincy @ 7:00 (ESPN) followed by the headliner (for me at least)... Gonzaga/Wisconsin @ 9:30... Watch some hoops son...

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Greinke=Cy Young, Bills fire Jauron, etc.

Greetings all...lots to get to...
  • Zach Greinke wins the AL Cy Young...in a landslide... I'm actually glad of this result...it's not a Most Valuable Pitcher award... it's a "best" pitcher award..and that's what Greinke was... 16-8, MLB leading 2.16 ERA, 242 K's... Those numbers can't be hated on...and the 8 losses are simply a product of a ridiculous lineup behind him
  • Monday Night Football set the game back a decade last night... laughter... The Browns are an appalling franchise from a talent standpoint... Mangini may not finish the year...that's jarring... and the Josh Cribbs playcall near the end (a hook and ladder down 16?) may cost him games...and he's their only explosive option on offense/special teams...good work guys
  • I'm not going to comment on Belichick's play call...you've heard enough if you have a TV or a radio...
  • Dick Jauron out in Buffalo... Not the way I wanted to mention the Bills (sorry Bernie)...but I can't say I disagree...he was on the hot seat and with the way his team quit in the 4th quarter this week, the writing was on the wall...at the same time, I won't put it all on Jauron...the TO gamble isn't his fault... and neither is the fact that their QB situation is pathetic with Edwards/Fitzpatrick...
  • One team has expressed interest in Allen Iverson.... doesn't it HAVE to be the Knicks?!? Of course it is!
  • 24 hours of basketball on ESPN started out with a bang...UCLA went down to Cal State Fullerton...and you shouldn't have been surprised...although I'm sure you were.... the Bruins will be way down this year...you can't help it when you lose REPEATED first-rounders lately (Love, Westbrook, Collison, Holiday), and big-time college producers (Hollins, Luc Richard, Shipp, Aboye)... It could be ugly early for them
  • Very good double-header to get the world interested in CBB tonight... Gonzaga/Michigan State at 8:00 is the better game despite the less interesting names... Gonzaga is always a threat and MSU is quietly #2 in the nation preseason and returning oodles of talent... Kansas/Memphis at 10:00 is really a Jayhawk showcase (their talent is limitless), and an opportunity to see what the new Memphis regime looks like
  • Okay this is getting ridiculous.... 3 separate people have the Atlanta Hawks #1 in their power rankings... I can brush off the first 2 (Marc Stein and NBA.com)... but John Hollinger too!? For those unfamiliar with his work...he's a stat-based freak of an analyst who puts together PER (player efficiency rating for each player), and is generally regarded as an innovator... For him to arrive at the Hawks as #1 is startling.... Look, I said before the year they'd be better...and they are...I think they'll win 50-52 games...but slow down everybody.... Josh Smith has been very good...I won't dispute it as a known Smith detractor...he's the key...if he plays like this, they can win 55+ games...do I trust that? Absolutely, unequivocally....no...no....no....
  • Speaking of power rankings... I hear you clamoring for them.... Okay, no I don't....the new installment will be out soon....
  • By the way...it's Michigan/Ohio State week... you know where my head is... you know where my heart is...and I think we have a shot, b/c the matchup is a reasonable one (OSU's strength is defense, Michigan's is offense, Michigan has the special teams edge....somehow)... I'll break it down more by the weekend if I get motivated...

More later....

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The NBA by bullets (11/11)

Felt the urge to make note of some NBA action tonight...
  • Toronto/Chicago - Fairly ho-hum...but a couple season long issues...Derrick Rose's leap capability may have been a bit premature...he's only averaging 14 and 6 so far this year...Taj Gibson came out of nowhere tonight for Chicago (18 pts) but that's not sustainable... The league has FINALLY started to take notice of what Chris Bosh is doing this year...I dont know if he's trying to get dealt or something...but 29 and 11 so far is pretty stout
  • GS/Indiana - Ewww.... But had to mention Danny Granger's 31 and 16....16 boards! For the record, Golden State is still an abomination...mostly b/c of Don Nelson
  • ATL/NY - Hawks beat Knicks... nothing to see here... Larry Hughes is alive...and oh wait...it's a contract year...makes sense...
  • Philly/NJ - Brook Lopez is good.... the Nets are REALLY bad without Devin Harris (bad enough with him)...and Philly is a mess... Marreese Speights (19 and 9) is THOROUGHLY outplaying Elton Brand right now....and not just tonight...
  • Portland/Minny - Man I'm disappointed in the T-Wolves (props to @imryan for his bashing of them)...but I'm also convinced they are measurably better with Kevin Love on the floor... Greg Oden with 18 and 11...it's been covered, but he's good... and I continue to hate the Steve Blake/Andre Miller backcourt combo when playing together...why have Andre on the court if he isn't handling?
  • Cleveland/Orlando - Big win for the Cavs (as big as one could be this early) to go on the road and get one... Mo and Lebron combined for 60+... The bright side for Orlando? VC was strong (29 points) and JJ Redick is a legit rotation guy...averaging 13 a night for the year
  • Denver/Milwaukee - Denver continues to not be very good (saw this coming...consult the NBA preview)... despite Melo being at his all-time best this year (not disputable)....just no depth there...even with JR Smith or whatever his new name is... Milwaukee...wow... Brandon Jennings...32 and 9!?! that's insane for a rookie...esp. at the PG spot..he's been lights-out...
  • Memphis/Houston - A battle of teams with alternate universes....Memphis has alot of scorers but play no defense...Houston has team-first guys who lock-down, and are unselfish...Memphis has an atrocious GM who is always 2 moves behind.... Houston has a forward-thinking GM who has proven to be competitive even without his 2 franchise-level players....oh...Houston by 25 tonight? Who knew? Luis Scola is wildly underrated (22 and 15 tonight), and they keep getting late draft steals (Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, and even Chase Budinger)
  • Dallas/San Antonio - Not alot you can take out of this game as far as grand scheme...but San Antonio proved how much deeper they are than in the last couple of years winning without TD and Parker... that's pretty significant no matter how well Manu and R-Jeff are playing... Dallas is who we thought they were (thanks Denny)... alot of wings, and age...not a team that can play on back-to-backs unless Dirk can carry them
  • 2 games still going as of print on this... Kevin Durant is putting on a show (23 and 7 midway through the 3rd) in LA... if you wanna know about this game...follow Bill Simmons @sportsguy33 on twitter...he's live-tweeting lol... And Phoenix is absolutely laying the wood to New Orleans...speaking of the Hornets...I briefly touched on this...but George Shinn and the Hornets management should be ashamed of the wing combo they've assembled to help Chris Paul... Devin Brown and Peja start on this team? Mo Peterson? the Corpse of James Posey? No excuse for that...they won't compete...and it doesn't matter how good Paul is (and he's incredible)
More later

Monday, November 9, 2009

Weekend Wrap, LJ, Blount Returns, etc.

Well the title says it all...it was a busy weekend in sports...let's wrap it up shall we? First to Saturday's action...
  • Alabama outlasts LSU behind Marc Ingram's 144 yards.... Huge win for Bama obviously... a defensive battle that resulted in LSU's starting QB Jordan Jefferson being replaced via injury by the incomparable Jarrett Lee (we have a long-lasting relationship...I bash him...he likes it, etc.), and Bama did just enough on offense getting one huge play from Julio Jones and a 2nd half barrage of Ingram... They clinch the SEC West and will play Florida in the dome...
  • Iowa goes down in a heap... People will blame this loss on Ricky Stanzi going down... but he was dreadful before he left outside of one deep pass, and he's been inconsistent-to-bad all year... you just can't play 3 point games all year before you drop one like this...their offense simply isn't good enough to sustain it, and in my opinion, all this did was have them lose a week earlier than they already would have (in Columbus this week)... a good story though
  • Cincy and TCU keep trucking behind huge offensive outputs... I don't think either of these teams could really challenge the top 3 on the field...but I do think they should be "considered" for the title game should 2 of the top 3 go down...but let me just say this... the built-in advantage of Cincy being in the Big East is a fallacy...because...get ready.... the Mountain West is better than the Big East....wait for it...wait for it.... Okay then....
  • Oregon crashes to Earth... one week the biggest win in that program in probably 10 years... and the next week they allow 254 yards rushing and 51 points to Stanford... The offense did its part...but you can't be seriously considered a national power if you can beat up like that up front... props to Toby Gerhart who went 38 for 223 and 3 Tds in a "man up" type game...
  • While we discuss Oregon... their best player, suspended RB LaGarrette Blount, has been reinstated by the NCAA and may play this week...he's done all the right things since that fateful night in Boise... and I'm cool with this move...hope he does big things
  • Ohio State takes control of the Big 10... a 17-point trouncing in Happy Valley does the trick, and that defense shows why it is an elite unit... they play Iowa in Columbus for the Big 10 crown this week...and I like their chances to end up in Pasadena (once again)
  • I hit both my upset specials from Friday (Oregon State and Nebraska)....don't expect that to happen again for a while...
  • Notre Dame isn't good....especially on defense...and Navy just grounded them down winning the Time-of-possession battle and having a +3 turnover margin....done and done
  • Georgia Tech is the highest ranked of all 1-loss teams....insanity... there's a scenario in which that team plays for the title...think about it... If Alabama drops the game to Auburn, Florida loses one to either South Car. or FSU...and then the shaky non-conference winners lose? Okay...too much...but crazy stuff has happened late in the year, i.e. LSU ending up in the game with 2 losses

On to Sunday...

  • It wasn't pretty... but the Dirty Birds moved to 5-3 behind a rejuvenated Michael Turner (18 for 166 and 2 TD's) and a good effort from the D....Masking this win, however, are in the insane antics of Deangelo Hall...he's certifiable...every Falcon fan knows this...non-story
  • The hilarious part about Kurt Warner (5 TD passes) and the Cards drilling the Bears in Chicago...is that Jay Cutler was actually really good... 369 yards and 3 TDs (only 1 INT)... that Bears secondary is kinda woeful right now and Matt Forte has been an unmitigated disaster.... Arizona is still jekyll-and-hyde...they just happened to be Jekyll on Sunday
  • Cincy over Baltimore...huge win for the Bengals playoff chances and a crushing blow to Baltimore...Cincy is 4-0 in the division now, and Cedric Benson is cementing his pro bowl spot... Baltimore? 4-4 and in big trouble behind Cincy and Pitt
  • The Colts walk on air again... Kris Brown doinks a game-tying FG at the buzzer and Peyton and the boys escape...Dallas Clark had FOURTEEN catches in the game....14!.... and no one on the planet has any idea what the Texans RB situation is going to be...Moats got the start...Slaton got the goal line carry(!?)...
  • Tom Brady is quietly good again... 25-37, 332 yards, 1 TD vs. a decent defense in Miami...
  • Upset of the week...Tampa beats up on Green Bay... I feel terrible for Aaron Rodgers...he was super-human at times...but dreadful at others, and seems to be lying on his back alot (6 sacks)... Josh Freeman is the story here though...big-time debut and alot of people (me included) thought he'd be in big-trouble vs. that pretty good pass D...
  • Are the Cowboys really good? 6-2 would say yes...I still have trouble believing in Romo, the 3-back system, and a receiving corps led by Miles Austin and the corpse of Roy Williams (remember when he was good in Detroit? Seems like a decade ago)...but hey, they're in the NFC East driver's seat....

Other stuff...

  • Allen Iverson is "on leave" from the Grizzlies....I don't want him to retire this way.... Possible solution? How bout he goes to Cleveland (a place where he'd probably be more okay with a supporting role since Lebron is there...and they actually...uh, win)?
  • Larry Johnson (finally) cut by the Chiefs...he hasn't been an effective runner for the better part of 2 years...he's a headcase...what else you need? Jamaal Charles is a beast too...
  • Somebody get Stephen Jackson out of Golden State fast...I like him...Need him playing and being a clown...
  • The team that shall not be named (aka Kevin Durant's team) laid the wood to Orlando by 30 last night... Vince, Rashard Lewis, and newcomer (and very good player) Ryan Anderson were out for Orlando...but wow... KD was efficient, and Russell Westbrook is suddenly a Rondo-like triple-double threat...

A look at the stats/league leaders from the Association....

  • Scoring: CP3 averaging 27 a game...Kevin Durant and Lebron James being 8 and 9 in the scoring race respectively.... Chris Kaman averaging 23 a game (and being the best center in the West right now fyi)
  • Rebounding: Gerald Wallace out-distancing the comp. by almost 2.0 rpg a game (leading the league at 13.8)...from the wing...lol.... The top 2 guys in rebounds per 48 minutes.... Tim Duncan (duh) and...Roy Hibbert!??!?! Okay, maybe I was a little wrong on him....
  • Others: Josh Smith and Roy Hibbert (that guy again) are your league leaders in blocks...J-Smith looks more dedicated on that end...thank God... Big-ups to Greg Oden for his 2.4 bpg so far (in limited minutes)...he's showing signs... and let me just say...it's FUN to watch Rajon Rondo lock people down (3.13 steals a game too), and his on-ball D is vastly better

Friday, November 6, 2009

Another day, Another Football Weekend...

Yes...I'm still following football despite the NBA being in full-swing lol.... First today, the picks for the weekend...followed by some random NBA/other sport notes....
  • NCAAF Roundup/Picks: Bama over LSU.... I have no faith in LSU's offense at all... Bama has a better coach, a better QB, and a better run game... done and done.. Ohio State over Penn State... This one took me a minute, but this is the time of year that OSU usually turns it on...and I love their defense vs. the fairly vanilla PSU attack... 2 upset picks: Nebraska over Oklahoma, and Oregon State over Cal... just saying
  • NFL Big game picks: Bears over Cards.... I just don't trust Warner on the road after last week's stinker... Bengals over Ravens.... People keep sleeping on Cincy, that D is legit and Benson is an elite runner... Chargers over Giants... I think it gets worse for NYG before it gets better...bad matchup vs. a dynamic offense, I'd play Sproles alot if I was Norv...but of course he's Norv... Eagles over Cowboys.... Donovan goes nuts here...and Miles Austin comes back to earth... and finally, Steelers over Broncos.... I've been on the Bronco bandwagon..but I don't think this is a good matchup for Orton at all
Other stuff....
  • The Hawks laid an egg in the worst way in Charlotte on Friday... a 20 point loss is unacceptable in itself...but allowing 103 points to the league's worst offense (including 5 guys in double figures led by freaking Raja Bell with 24) is incomprehensible... 
  • New Orleans isn't good..... and I feel bad for CP3....he had 21 points, 18(!!) dimes, and 7 boards....and they lost by double-figures at home to an average Toronto team....oh, and Byron Scott will be fired by Christmas if George Shinn is alive
  • Very impressed by Phoenix lately... putting up 110 in Boston just cemented that even further....that's insanity... and J-Rich looks like an all-star in that system (34 and 10 vs. the Celts)
  • Manny took the $20 million option from LAD.... shocking.... I've never heard of anyone just openly turning down $20 million options...this is news?
  • The Red Sox traded with their perpetual trading partner the Marlins and fleeced them of Jeremy Hermida...a local guy (ATLien) who has power and is a good athlete....just something to keep an eye on as JD Drew gets injured....repeatedly
  • Denver signed Ty Law today... basically ensuring that they have the best CB tandem in the league....oh wait, this isn't 2004? Whoops...

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

NBA Power Rankings 1st Edition

Greetings everyone... I've taken on the endeavor of doing regular (still working out how regular) Power Rankings Updates for the NBA...Here's the 1st installment (As of 11/3/09)
  1. Celtics (4-0)- You just can't argue with 4-0, and with a series of dominating victories including a very rare victory in Cleveland (i.e. the Cavs were 39-1 when playing their starters at home last year)...Rondo has been great (4.7 Assist/TO ratio) despite not scoring, and Sheed looks to be fitting in
  2. Magic (3-0)- Even without Rashard Lewis for all 3, and Vince and Pietrus for 1; they've been dominant...Their depth is staggering (i.e. Ryan Anderson averaging 17 ppg in 29 mpg, and JJ Redick even throwing up 16 ppg)...Jameer looks full strength too
  3. Nuggets (3-0)- There is still skepticism from...well, me... on this club, but Melo is averagin 38 a game and they are blowing doors off people... The key besides Melo? How bout some very good play from rookie PG Ty Lawson (11 ppg, 2 total turnovers in 3 games)
  4. Spurs (2-1)- Their loss was a road back-to-back against a bad matchup for them (Chicago has too many athletes, etc. for an aging team on back-to-back), but I refuse to knock them KNOWING they don't care about wins in November, 10 guys averaging 5 ppg, and Duncan is Duncan
  5. Lakers (2-1)- Gasol is out, so they have a built-in excuse...but there are questions about their depth (only 3 guys in double digits), and their wretched PG play (30% combined shooting for Fisher and Farmar....doesn't even take into account how bad Ron-Ron has been offense...
  6. Suns (3-0)- 20 and 10 from Grant Hill? 20 and 6 from Channing Frye!?!? That's how you start 3-0 without J-Rich for 2 games and Amare going for efficiency over excess...Only team in the league with more than 4 guys averaging 15 ppg so far...and they have 6...Fun 'n Gun!
  7. Cavs (2-2)- Count this ranking as respect for Lebron who has been very good (still)...but frankly, this team isn't very good on defense right now...and that's been their non-Lebron lynchpin for the last 3-4 years....Shaq and Z are awful on the pick-n-roll (Shaq especially), and that's not changing
  8. Hawks (2-1)- No team is funnier to read quotes from depending on the outcome...the doom and gloom to the fire and rain very quick...their loss isn't a bad one (@LA) and the Horford/Smith front court has been good
  9. Heat (3-0)- This'll probably be their highest slot all year...but they are undefeated and winning games by 14 ppg so far... I don't believe in them, but Wade is Wade, and they've gotten excellent production from Jermaine O'Neal and Mike Beasley (happy for him)
  10. Blazers (2-2)- They should never lose to Houston, but it was a road loss, and they followed up by completely shutting down the Thunder's offense... Oden is dominating on D (1o rpg, 11 blocks in 4 games) and Roy has been ungodly despite his bad FG% (39%), but they need better play from Blake and Miller
  11. Wizards (2-1)- They get the nod over Dallas because well, they beat Dallas this week... Andray Blatche is shooting 71% and averaging 20+, and when they play him with McGee, you won't see a crazier athletic pairing upfront in the L...and oh yeah, Hibachi!
  12. Mavs (2-1)- They'd be higher if Kidd wasn't patently terrible so far (4-16 FG, 1-10 from 3 total) and I need more Humphries than Gooden going forward, but Dirk is playing at a high level (and even playing a little D), and Marion is fitting the slasher role
  13. Sixers (2-1)- They haven't beaten anybody yet, but they've shown they can score, and Brand is showing signs of regaining form....Lou Williams (20, 5, and 5 so far) is the key going forward
  14. Rockets (3-1)- I can't tell you how they are doing it...Oh wait, yes I can...with TEAM basketball...masterful cutting/passing, and all kinds of defense...Ariza and Brooks are pouring in 20+ a game, and I love their role players (Battier, Landry, Scola)
  15. Thunder (2-1)- This seems high, even to me...but alot of teams in this region haven't done much for me....The big indicator? The fact that even with Durant shooting 3-21 (!?!) vs. Portland, they defended and scrapped enough to be in the game in the 4th...and I think Westbrook has made a mini-leap (16, 8 and 5 on 48%)
  16. Bulls (1-2)- Everyone is making whoa-is-me points on the loss of Gordon correlating with 3 point %, but I don't see that...Salmons isn't going to shoot 28%, Rose isn't going to shoot 37%...let's calm down
  17. Jazz (1-2)- The injury bug has already hit (Korver and Okur with trouble) and they aren't defending.. That combined with Millsap outplaying Boozer could spell rotation issues; Deron Williams has been masterful though
  18. Raptors (1-2)- The Cavs win was a good one...but the Memphis loss is a bad one... The lack of depth is staggering..but Bosh and Bargnani have been excellent (53 ppg, 20 rpg combined)
  19. Bobcats (2-2)- They still can't score...but Larry's got these guys playing lock-down D right now... they're the worst team with 2 losses, but Gerald Wallace is impressing (24 and 20 on Monday)
  20. Hornets (1-3)- I now officially have Byron Scott in the "first coach fired" pool.... It seems like CP3 isn't responding, and he can't seem to find a wing combo that works... On the bright side, Peja has shown life and Okafor is doing what he does (15 ppg, 11 rpg, 2 bpg)
  21. Clippers (1-4)- Have I mentioned how bad Mike Dunleavy is? There is no excuse for burying BD for a 4th quarter unless he's had his leg amputated... Kaman has rebounded huge (23 and 10), and Baron can't stay this bad....and all 4 losses were to legit playoff teams (Dallas, LAL, Phoenix, @Utah)
  22. Pistons (1-2)- The bad: Villanueva (9 and 4), and Stuckey (36% FG)....the good: Ben Gordon (24 ppg on 49%)..but even that...isn't necessarily good when those numbers are definitely coming back to earth and the team is already 1-2
  23. T-Wolves (1-3)- Here's where the dregs of the league begin... I'll slot the T-Wolves here b/c Al Jefferson looked to be near 100% on Sunday (21 pts), b/c Flynn is playing well, and because Kevin Love is on the way
  24. Warriors (0-2)- Should be alot higher based on talent, but Nellie is certifiable...Biedrins needs more minutes/shots, Jackson is on the block, and Anthony Randolph has underwhelmed based on his hype...
  25. Grizz (1-3)- Well they can score....4 guys averaging 18+ and that doesn't even include AI....my preseason worry about Conley's minutes hasn't played out yet...but worth monitoring... Gasol has been a pleasant surprise
  26. Pacers (0-2)- Danny Granger lands them here... but he's the only sure thing on this roster with Dunleavy having major health concerns, and there being little to no depth
  27. Bucks (1-1)- Brandon Jennings!!! If only he had the fade going... they'd be a little higher if Redd wasn't hurt (already), and if Bogut looked at all like his pre-injury form (he doesn't)...
  28. Knicks (1-3)- Definitely some fun 'n gun going on here as evidenced by them allowing 140+ the other night...Gallinari has been a bright spot (19 ppg), but the D has been awful, and the Duhon/Nate platoon is shooting 30%
  29. Nets (0-4)- They get the nod to stay out of the cellar simply b/c Tyreke Evans has been hurt/bad for Sacto... I love Brook Lopez and all...but the wings are too young (and shooting under 40% as a unit), and Harris is already knicked up....countdown begins to free agency
  30. Kings (1-3)- As referenced above...They need a healthy Evans to help out Kevin Martin... and they aren't getting that... the bright spot? The play of rookie Omri Casspi (10 ppg on 58%), the dark spot? (lol) Jason Thompson and his 38% shooting from the block

Monday, November 2, 2009

USC, The Falcons on Monday Night, Michigan Implodes, etc.

Greetings all...this one will sort of be everywhere after the weekend hiatus (traveling yet again)....without further (Freddy) adu...

  • Games that surprised me on Saturday: 1) USC laying an absolute egg in Autzen Stadium...for the record, I picked Oregon...but the way they were dismantled is something no one has seen from USC in about a decade....just insane.... The bigger question? Why shouldn't Oregon now match the pre-loss USC hype? They have a huge win over USC, their only loss was to undefeated Boise...Nothing?......2) Michigan just imploding in their loss to Illinois...yes I'm a homer...but this game was 13-7 Michigan with the ball 1st goal on the Illini 1-yard line (michigan failed to punch it in with help from a questionable spot on the 3rd down run)...Illinois went the length of the field...14-13 UI and they never looked back....unimaginably bad loss....Rich Rod's good will is running out...and if they lose to Purdue Saturday...they will have started 4-0 and still miss a bowl game...
  • Games that didn't surprise me at all on Saturday: Florida beating up a hapless Georgia team.... Texas beating up a one-sided Oklahoma State team without Dez Bryant.... Iowa struggling to beat a bad Indiana team (this just in, Iowa's offense is terrible...the fact that they beat Michigan by 2 points at home with UM committing 5 turnovers looks laughable now, and that was a "Big"win for them)....and Auburn pounding a bad Ole Miss team...
  • NFL Roundup: Hello Ryan Moats.... Steve Slaton was benched for Ryan Moats to the tune of 20+ carries, 100+ yards, and 3 TD as well as a Houston victory...Seattle is just decimated by injuries...Walter Jones and Lofa Tatupu out for the year just adds to it... terrible luck... St. Louis got off the schneid (17 straight losses), but beating Detroit with a rusty Stafford and no Megatron doesn't impress anybody lol.... The Giants have lost 3 in a row?! that seems unfathomable to most people...but they were dreadful again Sunday...Philly isn't THAT good... 2 insane running back lines in the same game... Chris Johnson goes 24 for 228 and 2 TD's...and MJD goes 8 (Eight!!!) carries for 177 and 2 scores... somebody wrap up please....
  • Oh yeah...the Vikings beat the Packers.... enough said...I refuse to add the hype machine... Aaron Rodgers needs a bodyguard for the record...the guy is lights-out when he isn't laying on his back
  • Rajon Rondo signs for 5 years/55 million....interesting number when considering Lamarcus Aldridge's 5 yr/65 mill deal from a couple weeks ago... guess he got the big-man paygrade...Important signing for Boston with the stars getting up in age...
  • The Hawks failed their first road test...but beating the Lakers in LA isn't exactly on the agenda for most clubs...the Hawks included...even without Gasol...but I have a bone to pick with Mike Woodson...Joe Johnson had 17 points in the first 9 minutes...and was promptly removed from the game to kill all momentum....sigh
  • And finally....Saints/Falcons on MNF tonight... obviously a bigger game for the Falcons than the Saints..but the game is New Orleans in front of 80K lubed up fans...add in the bad secondary for Atlanta and the sudden strength of the NO defense (losing Sedrick Ellis hurts though), and I'm gonna say 38-27 Saints.... Hope I'm wrong
Until next time...