2011-12 All-Star Sunday: Foreshadowing the Future

D-Wade, Derrick Rose, and Dwight Howard are on the same team. Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant are on the same team. That kind of talent on the same floor at the same time is guaranteed entertainment.

It's worth noting that some teams have multiple All-Stars. In most cases, the teams that do are serious contenders for the title this year. Chicago, Miami, Oklahoma City, Boston and both Los Angeles teams all have at least two All-Stars. Boston and L.A. are contenders simply because of their histories, but I don't give them much chance against the youth and athleticism they'll be facing come playoff time.

Good news for tonight is that they'll have a host of surrounding talent on both sides.

In all honesty, I think the starters on the West are a better fit based on play style, experience and balance, but the All-Star game isn't about all that for the most part--it's about flash, athleticism and playing as little defense as possible until the last 5 minutes of the game.

That said, I'm going with my the Eastern Conference All-Stars. Coincidentally, I think this years NBA Champions are coming out of the East as well.

Then there's the MVP...In sync with who I think will be the league MVP, I'm going with Lebron James--when it comes to stuffing the stat sheet, there's nobody better. (I do think my man D-Wade will take hold of the closing duties, though).


Thanks for reading.

2011-12 All-Star Saturday Night: The Stars are Out--in Hollywood

I'm not going to lie, planning the NBA All-Star weekend festivities on the same weekend as the Oscars seems like a horrible idea to me. That's coming from a movie buff / sports fanatic, though. The NY Times seems to think their co-existing won't really be a problem. The problem is that the star-studded cast of Hollywood names that would ordinarily attend, won't be there. More notably, the Saturday Night festivities are lacking more big names than usual. Either way, since Twitter will prevent any chance of avoiding spoilers there's no really choosing one or the other. I'll just have to resort to flipping channels.

I said all that to preface my picks and predictions for All-Star Saturday Night (Sunday Night coming soon)--minus the D-League All-Star Game because I honestly have no idea who any of these players are. Besides Gerald Green, and he doesn't really count.

Haier Shooting Stars
Team Orlando - Jameer Nelson, Marie Ferdinand-Harris and Dennis Scott
Team Atlanta - Jerry Stackhouse, Steve Smith and Lindsey Harding
Team New York - Landry Fields, Cappie Pondexter and Allan Houston
Team Texas - Chandler Parsons, Sophia Young, Kenny Smith

My Prediction - Judging this competition is hit or miss. I think I've picked the winner maybe one time. To put it simply, it feels like the year for Team New York to win it. Jeremy Lin's in the building, baby!


Taco Bell Skills Challenge
Kyrie Irving, Clevland Cavaliers
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
John Wall, Washington Wizards
Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets
Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

My Prediction - Well, Rajon Rondo still can't really shoot; John Wall is on the Wizards, Russell Westbrook is probably taking this competition too seriously, and Tony Parker, although playing really well this season, has lost a step. That leaves Deron Williams and Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving was on fire last night but I'm going with Deron Williams--after all, he is auditioning for the Dwight Howard.

Foot Locker Three-Point Contest
James Jones, Miami Heat
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic
Anthony Morrow, New Jersey Nets
Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

My Prediction - Don't ask me to explain this typo, i.e. Kevin Love in the 3-pt contest. I thought it was a mistake or a joke too, but it's not. He's really in there. If this were a team game the Miami Heat would have the best odds (33.3%) of winning But it's not. I think Mario Chalmers (who is having a terrific season) will put on a show, and there's no telling what kind of streak KD35 is going to put on--but I'm going with the host city's own, Ryan Anderson. He's also my pick for Most Improved player, but I think Jeremy Lin has ruined that early season prediction.

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Jeremy Evans, Utah Jazz
Chase Budinger, Houston Rockets

This has to be the least star-studded dunk contest...ever. Not saying it won't be at least relatively impressive since it always is, but I'd love to see a Lebron James v. Blake Griffin v. Dwight Howard v. Nate Robinson (to make it interesting). Either way, this is what we have and I'm taking Jeremy Evans because this is the first I've heard of him.

Thanks for reading.

The Sporacle's NBA Predictions for 2011-12 (Part 1 of 3)

744 games in and we’re 37% through the 2011-12 NBA Season.

Considering we're a bit past a third of the NBA season, it seemed like a good time to make some playoff seeding and individual accolade predictions.

This season has been great so far. Fast-paced, unexpected and full of good story lines. (I'm thinking they should make this lockout-to-build-hype strategy a regular thing).

Take a look at these here predictions and see if you think The Sporacle knows what he's talking about.

Individual Merits

Rookie of the Year	Kyrie Irving
Most Improved Player	Ryan Anderson
6th Man of the Year	Lou Williams
Defensive Player of the Year	Dwight Howard
Coach of the Year	Frank Vogel
MVP	Lebron James

NBA Playoff Predictions

Eastern Conference

1	Chicago
	The Bulls have developed a special rapport. They click as a unit. They're hungry. Barring injury, they should wrap up the #1 seed this year.
2	Miami
	Miami is deeper than ever and healthy up and down for the first time in a while. That's a scary thought for the rest of the league.
3	Indiana
	Last year, when the Pacers played Chicago in Round 1, I warned that it wouldn't be an easy series. The Pacers are well built and well coached. They'll be a tough out come playoff time.
4	Atlanta
	The Hawks to me are the same Hawks they've always been (minus Jamal Crawford)--good but not good enough. A great regular season team--not much of a playoff threat.
5	New York
	I'm just going to say it--Jeremy Lin just may turn the Knicks season around. (But I don't really mean that). New York is talented, but until they learn to play some "D", they're a one-and-done team.
6	Boston
	Old, slow, and broken down--yet still resilient, experienced and probably going to be a nuisance to eliminate in the playoffs this year.
7	Philadelphia
	Philly has kind of surprised me this year, even after last years impressive showing. Doug Collins has done a phenomenal job.
8	Orlando
	Assuming Dwight Howard is actually in Orlando after seasons end, the Orlando Magic should have the privilege of being swept in Round 1.

Western Conference

1	Oklahoma City
	The Thunder should've beaten the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals last year, but they just weren't quite experienced enough--or there was some "destiny" in play. This year, they are.
2	L.A. Clippers
	What a difference a trade makes. Add Chris Paul, Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups and Mo Williams to a team with well, Blake Griffin and you've got yourself a legitimate playoff team.
3	San Antonio
	They're like the Celtics of the East but they've figured out a way to preserve their aging players, surround them with young talent and let the youth feed off the experience of the greats. Still contenders.
4	L.A. Lakers
	After Kobe's vampire, steroid knee injections in Germany, he's a new man--a lot like the Kobe of old shooting more than anyone else in the league. The Lakers are weaker, but they're still the Lakers.
5	Portland
	Add Jamal Crawford to a team that's been consistently strong the past few years; subtract the inconsistencies of injury (Brandon Roy and Greg Oden) and you've got a dangerous playoff team.
6	Dallas
	Jason Kidd has been the most disappointing fantasy player this year. Having had him on two fantasy teams (before cutting him for Jeremy Lin) made it worse for me, personally. Although, the Mavs are still a playoff calibur team.
7	Memphis
	Memphis is the same team that bounced the #1 seed Spurs in last years playoffs + a healthy Rudy Gay. Once they get Zach Randolph back, I'm curious to see how they'll gel.
8	Denver
	This is an example of what having a team full of "pretty good" players on your team can create. They're fast, young and talented, but without a real star player.

NBA Finals Predictions

Eastern Conference Champions

Miami Heat

Western Conference Champions

Oklahoma City Thunder

2011-12 NBA Champions

Miami Heat

Superbowl XLVI: "Everything to Gain. Everything to Lose"

Legacy.

That’s what this Superbowl is all about. In many ways, that’s what Football—nay – sports, is all about.

Besides the fun and the fame and millions of dollars, that’s what motivates athletes; the great one’s anyway.

In the NFL, it seems like all season it’s been all about the QB’s.

It started with Cam Newton in the preseason. Can he play? Will his game translate to the NFL? Will he be worthy the #1 NFL Draft Pick? Many of those questions have already been answered.

Before opening night, the Colts (and the league) lost Peyton Manning to an injury that would sideline him for the duration of the season. The Colts were horrendous. Period. By season’s end, many considered Peyton the league MVP by default.

Then on opening night, we got a glimpse of Brees versus Rodgers and the conversation shifted right into “who’s the best QB in the league” mode. Rodgers for MVP? Will Brees break Marino’s record?

Then about 5 weeks into the season there was Tebow; the bumbling, mystifying, polarizing Tebow. What a mess of a wonderful story that it was.  Week after week, win after win, we talked more and more about Tebow’s ability (or lack thereof) to throw the football in contrast to his uncanny capability to inspire, and most importantly, lead his team to wins. The kid moved mountains. (Rocky mountain pun intended).

As the playoffs neared, and the Patriots win-streak mounted, of course, the Golden Boy, Tom Brady entered the conversation. Is winning (and impressively so) with the worst statistically rated defense enough to be considered for the MVP? Well, I think so.

Most recently it’s been about the emergence of one, Eli Manning. With big games to knock out the Cowboys (before the playoffs), then the Packers (in the playoffs) and a myriad of comeback wins this season, he wandered his way into the debate.

Then there was also Andy Dalton (rookie ginger sensation—I say that jokingly, but he was impressive), Tony Romo (extremely talented, yet very underrated QB), Matthew Stafford (who had the luxury  of throwing to Megatron all year), and more.

Suffice to say, Quarterbacks this year have been a big deal. The Superbowl has two of them.

Tom Brady and Eli Manning.

For Tom, this is without a doubt the biggest game of his NFL career. Win it (and the MVP) this year, and he’s undoubtedly a top 2 Quarterback of all-time. A 6th round draft pick with 7 Probowls, 4 Superbowls, 3 Superbowl MVP’s (assuming), 5 AFC Championships, 3 NFL MVP’s, the single-season passing TD’s record and Gisele Bundchen to boot. Lose it, and he’s the QB that probably doesn’t win another SB after the Spygate scandal. Whether any of it really matters, doesn’t matter—because it does to those that will tell the story.

For Eli, only one Quarterback that has won two Superbowls is not in the Hall of Fame. (Insight via Stephen A. Smith). Not only does that give him one more than his big bro, Peyton, who is already a HOF’er in everyone’s eyes, but that gives him two Superbowl wins over another future HOF’er in Tom Brady. He holds the current record for most consecutive games played, and if there was another 4th quarter QB bigger than Eli this season (Disclaimer: Tebow might not actually be a QB (jk)), you let me know who he is. Lose it, and he’s the guy that beat Tom Brady in a fluky Superbowl in a year where the Patriots quest for perfection was no more than a metaphor for how unattainable perfection truly is.

Now let’s not kid ourselves though, other legacies are at stake, too.

Bill Belichick could easily bolster his case as the greatest coach of all-time. Tom Coughlin could add another Superbowl ring to his collection and at age 65, ride off into the sunset. The Patriots and Giants who have been around since 1959 and 1925, can add another Championship to their storied histories.

Now where do I stand on this? I’m sure that’s what you’ve been wondering all along.

It’s been a quite a journey picking every NFL game this season. It’s been taxing, time consuming, sometimes frustrating, but mostly a yacht full of fun. I’m proud to say I finished the regular season better than last year, and I plan on improving again next year. (Picking 80% winners is the goal).

**I might starting picking with the spread to tailor this blog even more to you gambling enthusiast out there.

That said, as I declared on September 8, 2011, the New England Patriots will be your Superbowl XLVI (46) Champions.

Book it. *crosses fingers*

Thanks for reading.

Be sure to check out my NBA predictions the rest of the season.