Sunday, December 30, 2012

3 Round NFL Mock Draft- Version 3.0

Draft Order is now set for most non-playoff teams, save for a few coin flips.  Bowl Season is nearly over.  Who do I expect to rise from the college to NFL level in the first 3 rounds?  *Draft Order from walterfootball.com

  1. KC- Geno Smith QB/West Virginia- KC badly needs a QB.  They're so desperate that they will take Smith, who, based on talent, should be taken closer to the middle of rd. 1.
  2. JAX- Jarvis Jones OLB/Georgia- Jones is the best pass-rusher in the draft.  The Jags could add an impact player along the lines of Von Miller or Aldon Smith.
  3. OAK- Star Lotulelei DT/Utah- Star is going to be great in the middle of a defense.  Think Ngata.
  4. PHI- Luke Joekel OT/Texas A&M- Vick might not be back, but Philly needs to do a better job protecting the QB.
  5. DET- Manti T'eo ILB/Notre Dame- For years, Detroit has looked at rival Chicago having the best MLB in the game.  With T'eo, they could flip the script. 
  6. BUF- Damontre Moore DE/Texas A&M- Another impressive pass-rusher.  They need a QB, but is Barkley really better than Fitzpatrick?
  7. CLE- Bjoern Werner DE/Florida State- Werner is a complete DE prospect.  He will be productive in the NFL
  8. TEN- Dee Milliner CB/Alabama- Milliner is the best CB in the draft.  Not sure he's a shutdown guy, but definitely a future starter.
  9. ARZ- Matt Barkley QB/USC- Arizona's QB situation is a mess.  Barkley is better than any other options they have, though like Smith, would be better suited drafted lower.
  10. SD- Taylor Lewan OT/Michigan- Philip Rivers regressed this year.  Adding some extra protection is needed.
  11. NYJ- Ezekiel Ansah DE/BYU- Jets might take Barkley if he falls to them.  With Barkley gone, and no top WR, they add a raw DE with big pass-rush potential.
  12. TB- Jonathan Banks CB/Mississippi State- Tampa adds to their secondary by taking the college CB of the year.
  13. CAR- Sheldon Richardson DT/Missouri- Carolina passed on a DT last year, they won't make that mistake again.  Richardson wreaks havoc.
  14. PIT- Dion Jordan DE/Oregon- Harrison could be shown the door due to his salary.  The 6'7" Jordan would be a good replacement. 
  15. MIA- Eric Fisher OT/Central Michigan- Miami made a big investment in Tannehill.  Now they need to protect him better.
  16. NO- Jonathan Hankins DT/Ohio State- New Orleans defense was a big reason for their decline this year.
  17. STL- Chase Warmack OG/Alabama- Steven Jackson is getting older.  Adding the best run blocker in the draft will help him out.
  18. DAL-Alec Ogletree ILB/Georgia- Dallas' defense was concerning this year.  Adding a great LB in Ogletree will help immensely.
  19. NYG- Barkevious Mingo DE/LSU- Giants add to their D-Line collection.  He has potential, but can he figure it all out?
  20. CHI- Justin Hunter WR/Tennessee- Marshall saw lots of double teams and still had a phenomenal year.  Adding an impact WR across from him helps Cutler.
  21. CIN- Sam Montgomery DE/LSU- Montgomery was better at LSU than Mingo.  He doesn't have the size or speed of Mingo,
  22. STL*- Keenan Allen WR/California- Bradford needs better targets.  Allen would immediately upgrade STL's receivers.
  23. MIN- Barrett Jones OL/Alabama- Minnesota adds the most versatile O-Lineman in the draft.  Solid to help Ponder and Peterson.
  24. IND-  Dallas Thomas OT/Tennessee- Just as Miami protects Tannehill, Indianapolis protects Luck.  Improved O-Line play could help Luck's accuracy.
  25. BAL- Matt Elam S/Florida- Ed Reed could be done after this year or next.  Time to find a good replacement.
  26. SEA- Tavon Austin WR/West Virginia- Russell Wilson badly needs playmaking receivers.  In this draft there are none better than Austin.
  27. SF- Eric Reid S/LSU- Donte Whitner struggled at times for a dominant SF defense.  Adding some competition would be beneficial.  Reid is not as good as Vacarro now, but will be in 3 years.
  28. NE- Robert Woods WR/USC- Welker could leave, and Branch needs to call it a career.  Woods could easily fill both roles and produce at a high level. 
  29. GB- Giovani Bernard RB/North Carolina- GB can't start Alex Green or James Starks at RB anymore.  It's time to draft a starter.
  30. DEN-Tyler Eifert TE/Notre Dame- The next Dallas Clark.  Peyton Manning loves throwing to TE's, so Denver should add the best one in the draft.
  31. HOU- Terrance Williams WR/Baylor- Houston still needs a receiver opposite Andre Johnson.  Williams has big play potential and could develop into a #1 option
  32. ATL- Jake Matthews OT/Texas A&M- Matthews played RT at Texas A&M.  He would help both the run game and pass game a lot.
*Pick from WAS
Round 2
  1. JAX- Mike Glennon QB/NC State- Blaine Gabbert has struggled, and if the rumors are true, Tim Tebow will get a chance to win the job.  Glennon could be better than both. 
  2. KC-  Cordarelle Patterson WR/Tennessee- Bowe might leave in free agency.  Giving Geno Smith a good WR to work with will be important.
  3. PHI- Jonathan Cooper OG/North Carolina- Philadelphia continues to bolster their O-Line.  Cooper has first round talent, but guards rarely go in rd. 1. 
  4. DET- Jordan Poyer CB/Oregon State- Detroit badly needs to upgrade their secondary.  Poyer is a ball hawk, and should find many interceptions in the NFL.  
  5. CIN- Monte Ball RB/Wisconsin- This is the ceiling for how high Ball can go, but I think he will have a DeMarco Murray like effect on the Bengals.  He's an upgrade over the law firm.
  6. TEN- Kawann Short DT/Purdue- Short could go in rd. 1 as well.  He stops the run well, and could find a few sacks from the inside.    
  7. ARZ- DJ Fluker OT/Alabama- As bad as their QB situation is, their O-Line situation is not any better.  Fluker would be a starter at right tackle.
  8. BUF- Tyler Wilson QB/Arkansas- I'm not sold on Wilson as a first round pick.  That would be a major reach.  In rd. 2, Wilson is a solid backup pick to add competition.   
  9. NYJ- Ryan Nassib QB/Syracuse- Nassib could start next season in New York and I would not be surprised.  He may need a year of seasoning, but he has potential.  
  10. TB- Sylvester Williams DT/North Carolina- Williams is massive.  If a team needs a nose tackle, Williams could be converted.  Good value in rd. 2.  
  11. CAR- Brennan Williams OT/North Carolina- Williams is also a good value in rd. 2, a reach in rd. 1.  At right tackle, he would help Cam Newton.
  12. SD- Alex Okafor DE/Texas- Okafor is a fantastic pass rusher.  He demolished Oregon State's line in the Alamo Bowl.  Don't be surprised if he works his way into rd. 1, as pass rushers always rise (see Irvin and Jones in 2012 draft).
  13. MIA- Denard Robinson WR/Michigan- A true wild card pick.  Robinson is elusive and has good top speed.  Can he make the transition from QB effectively? 
  14. PIT- Xavier Rhodes CB/Florida State- Pittsburgh's secondary is aging.  Bringing in Rhodes will help the group next year, and as a building block for the future.  
  15. STL- Bennie Logan DT/LSU- Logan might not enter the draft.  If he does, he could even rise to rd. 1.  At pick 47, he would be a steal.
  16. NYG- Zach Ertz TE/Stanford- The Giants got essentially no value out of their TE's this year.  Ertz would be an instant upgrade.  TEs are all the rage right now...
  17. DAL- Oday Aboushi OT/Virginia- Tony Romo is solid when he has time.  Aboushi could be solid for Dallas as a right tackle.
  18. CHI- Kenny Vacarro S/Texas- Vacarro could go in the first round as well.  Chicago succeeds by taking the top player on the board. 
  19. WAS- Markus Wheaton WR/Oregon State- Wheaton is a sure rd. 2 pick.  He will rise with good work at the combine and senior bowl.
  20. MIN- Da'Rick Rogers WR/Tennessee Tech- Rogers has great talent, but off the field risks are heavily prevalent.  Based off talent alone, he could have a rd. 1 grade.
  21. CIN- Desmond Trufant CB/Washington- Cincinnati does not have a pressing need at CB, but many successful teams draft DBs year after year.  The Bengals are close to being a playoff team every year.
  22. MIA- Marquess Wilson WR/Washington State- Miami needs weapons for Tannehill to throw to also.  Wilson is a deep threat with good hands.
  23. SEA- Khaseem Greene OLB/Rutgers- Leroy Hill needs to be upgraded at OLB.  Greene was dominant for Rutgers this year, and should fit well next to Wagner and Wright.
  24. BAL- Jesse Williams DT/Alabama- Can Williams fall this low?  I think its possible, but this would be his floor.  Williams is a great run stopper, which is needed in their division.
  25. SF-  Chase Thomas OLB/Stanford- San Francisco has the best LB corps in the league.  Adding a former Harbaugh player across from Smith, and next to Willis and Bowman, could be scary good.
  26. NE- David Amerson CB/NC State- New England always drafts cornerbacks, yet still lack good starters.  Talib and McCourty are solid, but Amerson will challenge for playing time right away. 
  27. GB- Shane Skov LB/Stanford- Skov has a constant motor.  Green Bay needs a linebacker who can go sideline to sideline.
  28. DEN- Kenjon Barner RB/Oregon- Moreno has disappointed and McGahee is losing his athleticism.  Barner could be a steal this low, and would get 10-12 carries/game effectively.
  29. HOU- Corey Lemonieur DE/Auburn- Lemonieur has potential as a pass-rusher.  Going up against SEC offenses, he showed good production.   
  30. ATL- Kevin Reddick ILB/North Carolina- Atlanta does not have many pressing needs.  Adding a solid player like Reddick is a no-lose pick.
Round 3                          
  1.  KC- Stedman Bailey WR/West Virginia- KC gives Geno Smith a familiar target.  Bailey was great in Morgantown, and will be a good #2 receiver in the NFL.  Rd's 1-3 upgrade the offense in KC.   
  2.  JAX- Kyle Long OT/Oregon- Jacksonville has had difficulties protecting the QB.  Long has prototypical size, and shows good instincts as a blocker.  The son of NFL legend Howie Long.
  3.  DET- Eddie Lacey RB/Alabama- Jahvid Best's career is over.  Leshoure and Lacey would give Detroit two physical backs.  Lacey will run a faster 40 than will be expected.
  4.  OAK- Arthur Brown LB/Kansas State- Oakland's linebackers struggled.  Even McClain was almost released.  Brown would get playing time week 1.
  5.  PHI- Akeem Spence DT/Illinois- Eagles gave up over 100 yards rushing in lots of games.  Spence would help this cause.
  6.  TEN- Quinton Patton WR/La Tech- Patton had a great year for Louisiana Tech.  Locker needs more reliable targets to throw to, outside of Kendall Wright.
  7.  ARZ- Jonathan Jenkins DT/Georgia- Jenkins stock will fall after an underwhelming year coupled with ineligibility due to poor academic performance.  Rd. 3 seems about right.
  8.  BUF- Lane Johnson OT/Oklahoma- Whether it's Fitzpatrick, or rd. 2 mocked pick Wilson, better protection at RT is needed.
  9.  CLE- Tyler Bray QB/Tennessee- Cleveland is cleaning house again by firing their coach and GM.  New philosophies often mean new QBs.  Weeden and McCoy could lose the job to Bray. 
  10.  TB- John Simon DE/Ohio State- Going defense with their first 3 picks, TB could get back to what made them successful under John Gruden.
  11.  SF- Ryan Swope WR/Texas A&M- Swope reminds me of Wes Welker, who did not break out until he had Tom Brady.  Swope has excellent hands, and could replace Moss should he leave.
  12.  SD- Khaled Holmes C/USC- Rivers got hit too much.  Holmes could be the top center in the draft, depending on the position Barrett Jones winds up in.
  13.  NYJ- Cobi Hamilton WR/Arkansas- The Jets need playmakers.  Hamilton was Wilson's best option at Arkansas.  Next to Clyde Gates, the Jets could have an underrated receiving corps with an added Hamilton and a healthy Santonio Holmes.
  14.  NO- Philip Thomas S/Fresno State- Thomas had an impressive season, and was in the running for national awards.  New Orleans gets a ball hawk who will pick off 4-5 passes yr 1.
  15.  PIT- Jonathan Franklin RB/UCLA- Pittsburgh's running game was a mess this year.  Mendenhall is done.  Franklin adds versatility to the position they don't have.
  16.  MIA- Stepfan Taylor RB/Stanford- Reggie Bush is a free agent.  If he leaves, Taylor could replace Bush's numbers. 
  17.  STL- Tony Jefferson S/Oklahoma- Tony Jefferson could rise as high as the 2nd rd.  He is a top 5 safety in this draft class.
  18.  DAL- Tank Carradine DE/Florida State- Carradine could produce with the attention given to Ware.  A good, not great, option.
  19.  NYG- Margus Hunt DE/SMU- Hunt had a good year at SMU, recording 8 sacks.  Of Estonian heritage, he, along with rd. 1 pick Mingo, could bring some flair back to NYG's D-Line.
  20.  MIA- Marcus Lattimore RB/South Carolina- After drafting Taylor 5 picks earlier, they add a wait-and-see prospect in Lattimore.  Based off of talent, he is the top back in the draft.  After a gruesome injury, he will miss a lot of time.  A patient team could reap the benefits down the line. 
  21.  MIN- Everett Dawkins DT/Florida State- Florida State had a fantastic defensive line this year.  Dawkins was a stud, and can replace Kevin Williams.
  22.  CIN- TJ McDonald S/USC- TJ McDonald is a hard hitting safety.  Next to Mays, they would have an intimidating back line.
  23.  WAS- Ricky Wagner OT/Wisconsin- Wagner will be a very good RT in the NFL.  I could see him rising as high as late 2nd round.
  24.  IND- Chris Jones DT/Bowling Green- Jones had lots of sacks coming from the interior.  Albeit against weak competition, he has potential at the next level.
  25.  BAL- Theo Riddick WR/Notre Dame- Riddick is versatile, and can line-up at RB or WR.  In the slot, Riddick could be very good.
  26.  SEA- Jordan Reed TE/Florida- Russell Wilson could use an upgrade at TE, and Reed fits the bill.  Still learning the position, he has good speed and was reliable for Florida this year.
  27.  SF- Tyrann Mathieu CB/LSU- There will be a team who takes a 3rd round pick on Mathieu.  Everyone knows the story, from Heisman finalist to multiple drug violations.  Can Harbaugh keep him out of trouble?
  28.  NE- Larry Warford OG/Kentucky- Warford is a very good guard.  He can replace Mankins if his salary number is deemed too high.
  29.  GB- Marquise Goodwin WR/Texas- An olympic long jumper, Goodwin has top notch speed.  He would be perfect with Rodgers throwing to him.  If he run's a 40 below 4.25, as expected, don't count out Oakland in early rd. 3 to make this pick.
  30.  DEN- Will Davis CB/Utah State- Davis had a good year at Utah State.  With Champ Bailey turning 35 next year, Denver should add more depth.
  31.  HOU Landry Jones QB/Oklahoma- Texans don't need a QB, but Jones is a steal this low.  Just as other teams have done, they can develop him behind Schaub and look to obtain greater value for him in a few years. 
  32.  ATL Joseph Fauria TE/UCLA- Tony Gonzalez had a surprisingly amazing year.  With his age, a replacement should be drafted while Gonzalez is still on the team.  Fauria excels with his pass-catching.
Fans of all teams. are you happy with the first 3 rounds?  Post a comment about who you would rather have, and why!

To recognize greatness and tenacity, I will end this post with this,

Chuck Strong!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Get PUMPED!

It is almost 2013!  Before you celebrate, though, there are many sports events coming up before the New Year that will be incredibly exciting to watch.  What do I prescribe you watch?

College Basketball:

Dec. 28: Baylor at Gonzaga- 5pm West Coast time.  This game will be very exciting.  A solid backcourt battle between point guards Pangos and Jackson will be fun to watch.  Pangos is the better shooter and passer, but Jackson is a much greater athlete who puts up a ton of shots.  Isaiah Austin looks like a match-up nightmare for most teams, but Gonzaga has compiled a lot of frontcourt depth.  If the likes of Olynyk, Dower and Karnowski can stay out of foul trouble, Austin could have an off night.  The pick:  Gonzaga 77 Baylor 72

Dec. 28: Missouri at UCLA- 7pm West Coast time.  UCLA has been arguably the biggest enigma in the country thus far.  Blessed with highly touted freshmen, and solid upperclassmen role players, this UCLA has disappointed thus far, going 9-3 (including a loss to Cal-Poly).  Missouri has been impressive, with G Phil Pressey leading the way.  He has not shot the ball great this year (i.e. vs. Illinois), but he has improved his point guard skills drastically over the last year.  This will be a very tight game in Pauley Pavilion, but I expect UCLA, led by Shabazz Muhammad, to knock off the 7th ranked Tigers.  The pick:  UCLA 73 Missouri 66

Dec. 29: UNLV at North Carolina- 11am West Coast time.  This was, in my opinion, one of the best games of the year last year, when UNLV upset the top ranked Tar Heels.  The 2nd year of a home and home, North Carolina has lost a lot of the talent that they had last year.  UNLV has been impressive, but lost potential first round pick Mike Moser to an elbow injury.  The match-up to watch will be Anthony Bennett vs. James Michael McAdoo.  This will be Bennett's first real test against another lottery type talent, and McAdoo has not developed into the star Tar Heel fans expected he would be.  The pick:  UNLV 80 North Carolina 78 in overtime.

Dec. 29:  Kentucky at Louisville- 1pm West Coast time.  Expected to be a powerhouse game, Kentucky enters the match-up unranked.  They still boast an impressive freshman core, led by Nerlens Noel and Alex Poythress, but lack veteran leadership like the team had last year.  Louisville has lost only once (to top ranked Duke), and has been led by potential All-Americans Russ Smith and Peyton Siva, who could be the best backcourt in the nation.  Big man Gorgui Dieng will return from injury, and upgrade the already outstanding Cardinals defense.  I expect Noel to have a monster game on the glass, blocking a plethora of shots, but the Cardinal's backcourt will be too much to handle.  The pick:  Louisville 70 Kentucky 61

Dec. 31:  Cincinnati at Pittsburgh- 9am West Coast time.  Cincinnati is no longer unbeaten, after losing yesterday to New Mexico.  Pittsburgh has only lost once, to top 5 team Michigan, but hasn't beat any marquee opponents.  Cincinnati's strength lies in its guard play, led by Cashmere Wright and Sean Kilpatrick.  Pittsburgh will be better up front.  Steven Adams, from New Zealand, has failed to impress thus far.  Against an average Bearcat frontline, this is as good of a chance as he's had to breakout.  The pick:  Cincinnati 65 Pittsburgh 58

Dec. 31:  Michigan State at Minnesota- 11am West Coast time.  Both ranked teams, Minnesota is led by seniors Trevor Mbakwe and Rodney Williams, and Michigan State led by JR. Keith Appling and SO. Branden Dawson.  Michigan State has suffered one more loss than Minnesota, though is the only team to beat Kansas.  In this game I expect Michigan State to expose the overrated Minnesota.  The pick:  Michigan State 74 Minnesota 60

Dec. 31:  Gonzaga at Oklahoma State- 3pm West Coast time.  The Zags make this list for a second time, mainly because they play one of the best non-league schedules year after year.  Just as Pangos vs. Jackson was a great match-up, there will be a better one against Marcus Smart.  At 6'4 Smart is one of the bigger point guards in the country, which means Gary Bell Jr. will most likely be forced to defend him when Gonzaga goes man on defense.  I expect this game to be a shootout, but Oklahoma State will have to hit outside shots to win this game, which has not been easy for the team thus far.  The pick:  Oklahoma State 77 Gonzaga 76

NBA: (with an emphasis on the Blazers)

Dec 28: Portland at LA Lakers- 730pm West Coast time.  Portland beat the Lakers at home on halloween.  Surprisingly, Portland has a better record than LA thus far, who were largely projected to be among the top 3 teams in a stacked Western Conference.  Kobe Bryant has been scoring at will, but the team seems to struggle the more Kobe scores.  Beyond LaMarcus Aldridge and JJ Hickson, Portland is young up front, and they should look to Howard and, yes, Pau Gasol early and often in the post.  Portland needs to do the same with Aldridge, but they need Lillard and Batum to score at least 20 apiece.  This game will be decided by who can play the most efficient game.  The pick: Portland 108 Los Angeles 100

Dec. 29: Philadelphia at Portland- 7pm West Coast time.  Both teams will be in the second day of a back to back (PHI gets GS the night before).  The star in Philly, Andrew Bynum, is still out, meaning they will continue to rely on Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner to score and make plays.  Holiday and Lillard, as well as Turner and Batum, are intriguing matchups, as they involve similar types of plays (except for Turner creating his own jumpshots).  Where Portland has an advantage will be inside.  LaMarcus Aldridge and JJ Hickson should shine against a front line of Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen.  I expect LA to go for 25 and 10, and Hickson go for 14 and 14.  If the Blazers dominate inside, as they should, Portland will have no issues with this 76er squad.  The pick:  Portland 97 Philadelphia 84

College Football Bowl Games

Dec. 29:  Oregon State vs. Texas (Alamo Bowl)- 345pm West Coast time.  Both teams limped into this game, with Texas dropping their last 2 and Oregon State losing big at home to the rival Ducks.  Cody Vaz gets the nod at QB for the Beavs, though Mannion will be ready, and David Ash for the Longhorns.  This game will be won or lost based off of the turnover battle.  I expect Jordan Poyer to return an interception, and Scott Crichton to get to the quarterback for a few sacks.  Texas' year is next year. The pick:  Oregon State 31 Texas 24

Dec. 29:  West Virginia vs. Syracuse (Pinstripe Bowl)- 1215pm West Coast time.  This game will be one of the most exciting bowl games this year.  Both teams boast solid offenses.  Geno Smith has potential to be the number 1 pick in the draft, and he has exceptional playmakers in Tavon Austin (who Seattle should draft!) and Stedman Bailey.  Relatively unknown, Syracuse boasts a future NFL quarterback in Ryan Nassib.  I expect Nassib to be drafted no lower than the 3rd round, even making his way into the late 2nd as something I would expect.  Syracuse also had 2 backs rush for over 600 yards, with Jr. Jerome Smith breaking the 1000 yard barrier.  This game will be a shootout.  The pick:  West Virginia 49 Syracuse 48

Dec. 31: LSU vs. Clemson (Chick-Fil-A Bowl)- 430pm West Coast time.  A great offense vs. a great defense.  Offensively, LSU has struggled, while Clemson, led by QB Tajh Boyd, has succeeded.  Boyd has future NFL starters at reciever in Watkins and Hopkins, and, one or both of these receivers MUST make big plays in this game.  Defensively, LSU has one of, if not the top, the best defensive lines in college football.  Mingo and Montgomery are great on the edges and will put lots of pressure on Boyd.  In the end, I see too much defense.  The pick:  LSU 16 Clemson 14

There are also some intriguing match-ups in the NFL, with the Bears, Vikings, Cowboys and Redskins fighting for playoff berths.  Here are some quick picks for the NFL week 17:
Falcons 31 Bucs 17
Bills 20 Jets 6
Bengals 21 Ravens 20
Bears 17 Lions 14
Titans 16 Jaguars 7
Colts 24 Texans 21
Saints 35 Panthers 24
Giants 21 Eagles 20
Steelers 7 Browns 6
Seahawks 38 Rams 20
Broncos 35 Chiefs 10
Packers 20 Vikings 17 (OT)
Patriots 27 Dolphins 14
Chargers 10 Raiders 9
49ers 20 Cardinals 13
Redskins 23 Cowboys 17 (OT)

As always, Go Blazers tonight against the Lakers!  Here are the keys to the game:
1. Win the rebound battle- This will not be easy, but Hickson and LA have performed well on the glass over the past week.  Keeping Howard off the glass is especially important.
2. Make 10 3s- This is a lot, but outside shooting is a necessity against this Laker squad.  Batum, Lillard and Babbitt should have the green light.
3. Turnovers under 12- This is one I have used many times this season, but it is incredibly important for this team, especially with a rookie point guard.  In games where the Blazers take care of the ball, they win most of the time.  The Blazers cannot give a talented team like the Lakers easy baskets!

Follow on twitter @ZRey12
 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Its almost 2013, who are the best at each position?

Here are my NBA positional ranks going into the new year.  This is about their value right now.  For example, Anthony Davis might be rated low now, but I full expect him to become a superstar over the next 5 years (He had a draft grade of 93 from me).  Who are the best right now?

PG
1 Chris Paul- Is making a case to be the MVP this year.
2 Russell Westbrook- A match-up nightmare, still developing his outside shot and BBall IQ, but he is a sensational player.
3 Rajon Rondo- The best playmaker since Steve Nash.  His 11.1 apg are impressive.
4 Kyrie Irving- Yeah he's already a top 5 PG.  In 5 years, he'll be the best 1 guard in the league.
5 Deron Williams- Might be starting a slight decline, though is still scary good.  He does not have as much responsibility with Joe Johnson sharing a backcourt.
6 Derrick Rose- This is probably too low, but he won't play a game until at least March.  If his healing gets him back to 100%, I'll eat my crow for placing him this low.
7 Tony Parker- Still gets it done.  Still not an outside shooter, he might be the smartest PG in the league.
8 Stephen Curry- Averaging 20 and 6 assists for a good Golden State squad.  Well worth his recent extension.
9 Jrue Holiday- Averaging almost 19 pts and almost 9 assists.  Given the Bynum injury, the Sixers needed someone to step up and Holiday has been the guy.  Worth his extension as well.
10 Damian Lillard- Has been incredibly impressive as a rookie, and is going to get better.  Super quick and boasting deep range he has been a stud for Portland.  He needs to improve his court vision to go up the list.
For the future- Eric Bledsoe- Needs an opportunity to start, and he wont disappoint.

SG
1 Kobe Bryant- Might be his last year atop the list, but he is still scoring well, averaging 30 points a game.  If only his scoring could translate to more wins...
2 Dwayne Wade- Playing second fiddle in Miami, Wade is still averaging 20 a game.  At age 30 now, his skills, athleticism especially, are starting to decline.
3 James Harden- Has been exactly what Houston needed, though he has not fit well with Lin (who has been average).  In 5 years, he could be number 1 on this list.
4 Manu Ginobili- The go-to guy in San Antonio still.  His scoring numbers are down to only 11.6 points per game, but he plays well when it matters.  Expect good things in the playoffs.
5 Joe Johnson- The Nets are good!  Johnson has been scoring well, albeit in an inefficient manner.  I still would not want to be on the hook for his contract though.
6 Jamal Crawford- The Clippers are leading the west, mainly due to Crawford's strong play.  His ball handling and outside shooting have been what they needed.  Could this be the season for his 1st all-star appearance?
7 OJ Mayo- He is having a career year in Dallas, scoring almost 20 a game.  Dallas is not winning many games though.  The addition of Nowitzki should help this.
8 DeMar Derozan- I am still skeptical of his big contract.  He is very athletic, but cannot shoot, and is only an ok defender.  That said he is scoring 18 a game in a relatively efficient manner.
9 Wesley Matthews- Shoots and defends above the league average, and has completed more 2's than last year.  He is part of the reason Portland is at .500 so far this year.
10 Klay Thompson- Might be the best shooter in the league, but is still a below-average defender and ball handler.  Without him, though, Golden State would not be achieving the same success.
For the future- Shabazz Muhammed- In 5 years he will be a 20ppg scorer.

SF
1 Lebron James- The greatest player of the decade.  He does everything, and would be number 1 for any position.
2 Kevin Durant- If Lebron is 1, then Durant is 1a.  He means everything to the Thunder, averaging nearly 29 a game and a career best 8 rebounds. 
3 Carmelo Anthony- Number 3 on the list, he is a definite MVP candidate.  I expect his numbers to fall some, but he is why the Knicks are tops in the east right now.
4 Paul Pierce- Pierce is aging well.  I would not have guessed Pierce would score 20 a game, but he has done so thus far.  The Celtics need some more youth, but Pierce has been stellar.
5 Rudy Gay- Memphis' hot start was helped by Rudy Gay's nice start.  His shooting percentages are down, but he excels at creating his own shot.
6 Nicolas Batum- Batum is proving his worth given his contract as well.  Averaging career bests in every category, Batum is having a breakout year.
7 Josh Smith- Where will he end up next season?  Houston would be a good fit, but their assets need to develop more.  Smith is still one of the best defenders in the game, and useful on offense when he isn't shooting from the outside.
8 Andre Iguodala- His numbers are down since Denver acquired him, but he is still a great athlete and defender.  He needs to increase his efficiency to help Denver rise in the standings.
9 Paul George- Danny Granger's injury has allowed George to step up and score 17 points per game.  He is still improving, and could become a cornerstone for the Pacers.
10 Danny Granger- Amazing that he finds himself behind George.  Still a potent scorer, Granger is not the defender that George is, and is most likely done improving.
For the future- Evan Turner- Has been a great playmaker next to Holiday, and is shooting the ball better than expected.  Only an average athlete, he is finally showing some of the promise

PF
1 Kevin Love- Love has only recently returned from injury, but he should soon become a 22 and 12 player again, as long as his frustrations with his front office don't get in the way.
2 LaMarcus Aldridge- He is the best big in the league at creating his own shot.  He is not the rebounder that others on this list are, but he may be the best scorer (He leads all PF in scoring)
3 Blake Griffin- I wanna see him jump over the Kia from nose to trunk.  Griffin is averaging 18 a game, and is 2nd in efficiency.  Expect nothing but improvement, especially in the low post.
4 Tim Duncan- He has been amazing for San Antonio.  Benjamin Button effect?  Duncan is averaging 17 and 10, to go with 2.5 blocks.  Age was supposed to catch up with SA, but Duncan is defying odds.
5 David Lee- Averaging 20 and 11, Lee could be on his way to a first all-star appearance, though he only places 5th at PF on this list.  Still a marginal defender, Lee is excelling in Oakland.
6 Zach Randolph- Plays below the rim, but is a phenomenal rebounder, putting up almost 13 a game.  Athletically Z-Bo struggles, but he has found his niche.  He knows what to do.
7 Kevin Garnett- Age might be catching up to KG.  His numbers are down some, but they are affected by Miami's acquisition of Ray Allen.  Come playoff time (if they make it...) KG will step up.
8 Ryan Anderson- If it isn't Klay Thompson, Anderson might be the most feared shooter in the league.  His rebounding numbers are down, as he comes off the bench, but he is highly sought after by many teams.
9 Serge Ibaka- The best shot blocker in the game, Ibaka is scoring more for OKC this season.  His rebounding numbers are up as well.  He is feared inside.
10 Anthony Davis- The future top shot blocker.  Davis is still learning how to play in the league, but he is averaging 14 and 8 in a very efficient manner.  A superstar in waiting.
For the future: Nerlens Noel- Offensively Noel will enter the league very raw.  He reminds me of Serge Ibaka, though, as he is a great shot blocker, and could average double digits in rebounds after a few years of seasoning.

C
1 Dwight Howard- His tenure has been average in LA so far, but he is still averaging 18 and 12.  He is the best center in the league, and probably will be for at least the next few years.
2 Tyson Chandler- The reigning defensive player of the year is having another good season in New York.  Efficient, Chandler is averaging 12 and 10, but helps the team beyond statistics, as many other players on the squad are not good defenders.
3 Joakim Noah- Noah is the best passing big man in the game (No, David Kahn, it isn't Darko).  He is averaging a double double for Chicago, and the offense runs through him in the absence of Rose.
4 Chris Bosh- He is listed under center because he plays it for Miami, though he is more of a power forward.  His scoring is solid and rebounding numbers down, though that's to be expected next to Lebron James.
5 Pau Gasol- He is having a disappointing season.  Pau needs a change in scenery, where he will most likely be reverted back to the center position.  He can still be an 18/10 player in the right system.
6 Anderson Varejao- He has over-performed this season.  I am not sure he can keep up these numbers long term (or even just next season), but he is averaging 14 and 14.  He deserves a better team.
7 Al Jefferson- This is most likely his last year in Utah.  He is only the go to guy on a bad team, and would be better suited as a #2 or #3 scoring option.  He is solid in the low post, and averages 16/10.
8 Marc Gasol- The other Gasol is still in the middle in Memphis.  His rebounding numbers are average, as Randolph and Gay grab a good amount.  Marc has a great low post game.
9 Al Horford- Horford is solid.  A 15/10 player, he would be better suited at the 4.  He is not great athletically, but excels playing beneath the rim.
10 Greg Monroe- Monroe beats out Brook Lopez for this last spot.  Both better offensive players, Monroe is a better rebounder, and has a solid mid-range jumpshot.  He still has great potential as well.
For the future:  DeMarcus Cousins- One of the biggest enigmas in the league, Cousins must learn how to be a better teammate, and be more coachable.  His career could end before its ready, just as great players like Marbury, Steve Francis and Tracy McGrady, if he does not clean up his act.  On the court, he has talent that cannot be ignored.  As noted in the last post, Sacramento should add another very good post to help mentor Cousins.

Follow me on twitter @ZRey12

If I left anyone out, post in the comments!

Blazers (13-13) vs. Sacramento (again...)

Portland gets Sacramento for the 4th and final time this year tonight at 7.  Sacramento has had a dismal season, winning only 9 games to 18 losses, and winning only one game on the road.  Any guesses on where their only road win came?  If you guessed the Rose Garden you would be correct.  Sacramento has played well in the last 2 games against Portland, even without DeMarcus Cousins in the last game, and most likely without him tonight as well.  This is a must win for Portland to get over .500 again, and build some momentum going into January.  The West is far superior to the East again this season, and playoffs will not be achieved with an even win loss record.  Hollinger currently projects, in his playoff odds, that it will take 44 wins to make the playoffs, though looking at the teams in contention for the last spot it could take more than 44.  Tonight is a big game, as Portland needs to take care of marginal opponents, something the team has struggled with over the season (losses to SAC, DET, WAS...)

Keys to the game:
1. LaMarcus Aldridge scores 20 and grabs 10 boards.  Against bigs of Thompson and Robinson, LA should have no problem scoring 20, though grabbing 10 boards will be more difficult.  He needs to be aggressive tonight.  *Side Note- LA deserves to be an All-Star (20/8/2/1/1 stat line), but the Blazers need to win games and LA needs to keep putting up numbers.  Beating up on an inexperienced Kings front line could be important for this cause.
2.  Keep turnovers under 12.  Damian Lillard has been a stud, and both Batum and Matthews have performed better with the ball in their hands, but these 3 players account for 7 turnovers a game.  If the ball handlers take care of the ball (Matthews is out again tonight), we can get a lead early and hold onto it late.
3.  Win the rebound battle.  If LA and JJ post double doubles, this cause will be helped.  Allowing Sacramento to stay in the game, by allowing offensive boards, and thus second chances, would be a major mistake for the Blazers squad.

GO BLAZERS!!!

Bonus Note-  The Kings are in quite the predicament given the recent behavior of Cousins.  He has been a cancer to his team, which is a shame given his talent.  Many analysts on ESPN, and around the internet, think the Kings should trade Cousins, even though his trade stock is low.  I think Geoff Petrie should make a move for a veteran big to mentor Cousins.  Players like Anderson Varejao, Chris Kaman, or Utah's 2 bigs (Jefferson and Millsap) could be available given their teams poor performances, or depth at the position.  Sacramento should look to acquire Al Jefferson as their top priority(given that he will re-sign), building a package around Tyreke Evans and Isaiah Thomas to get him.  The Kings are a long ways away from competing, and they should not give up on Cousins just yet.

Monday, December 24, 2012

NBA Draft Stock Report

Stock Up:

Ben McLemore G/Kansas- McLemore has been playing out of his mind in the last few games.  He has been deadly behind the 3 point line, and has incredible athleticism.  Still raw as a player, if he can develop greater awareness on both sides of the ball, and learn to create his own shot with greater efficiency, he will be a future All-Star.  As of now he projects with a ceiling of "Starter." Grade:  78

Brandon Paul G/Illinois- Paul has been the go to guy for the Illini.  He does not boast the athleticism or shooting stroke that McLemore does, but he has shown the ability to create his own shot.  He has also shown clutch abilities, dating back to his 43 point outburst last season.  Attacking against quicker opponents every night in the NBA will cause Paul to make adjustments, but he has all of the tools to be successful.  Grade:  68

Nemanja Nedovic G/Serbia- I was a huge fan of Nedovic last year, and wanted Portland to draft him with one of their 2 2nd round picks.  When he withdrew, I was disappointed, though he has been tearing up Euroleague.  Still raw as a prospect, and stuck between the point and shooting guard positions, Nedovic is incredibly athletic, as he has a 41 inch vertical.  He shows promise with his shooting mechanics and court vision, though he needs to become a more willing passer at the next level.  He cannot contribute in the NBA right away, but he has lots of potential, and a team willing to wait 2 or 3 more years could reap the benefits.  Grade:  60

Stock Down:

Anthony Bennett F/UNLV- Around the internet, various writers are raving about Anthony Bennett.  He has been putting up impressive numbers at UNLV, but I am still concerned at what position he plays at the next level.  He reminds me of Derrick Williams or Michael Beasley.  Both were outstanding college players whose impressive tenure led both to be drafted number 2 overall.  Both have been disappointing at the next level.  That's not to say either were busts, as they can both help teams in a variety of ways, but neither really lead teams to a large number of wins.  Bennett could fall in that category.  He will be drafted in the lottery, but a team should do so with a grain of salt, as he will have difficulties on defense, and scoring from the outside.  I'm not sure he develops into anything better than a 6th or 7th man at the next level.  Grade:  69

Trending Up: Sergey Karasev, Marcus Smart
Trending Down: Andre Roberson, Patric Young

College Basketball top 25

If I had a vote in the Associated Press poll (and let's be honest, I probably know more than some voters anyways) this is what my ballot would look like
  1.  Duke (11-0)- Boast 3 wins over top 5 opponents.  #1 until someone beats them
  2.  Michigan (12-0)- Has been very impressive, may have best starting 5 in the country.
  3.  Arizona (11-0)- Still undefeated, and won an impressive game against Florida.
  4.  Louisville (11-1)- Big game against Kentucky on the 29th, could be a marquee win.
  5.  Indiana (11-1)- Lost in OT to Butler, but still arguably one of the top teams in the country.  Zeller needs to step up like a POY candidate again.
  6.  Kansas (11-1)- Big win over an overrated Ohio State squad.  McLemore could win Naismith.
  7.  Cincinnati (12-0)- Undefeated with wins over average opponents.  Needs a bigger win.
  8.  Missouri (10-1)- Won over a previously undefeated Illini squad.  Pressey is a very good guard.
  9.  Illinois (12-1)- Mizzou is the only blemish.  Won't win the Big Ten, but could place 3rd over OSU
  10.  Gonzaga (11-1)- Only loss to Illinois, Gonzaga gets Baylor this week.  Pangos vs. Jackson an intriguing match-up.
  11.  Georgetown (10-1)- Otto Porter does a little bit of everything well.  Could contend for Big East title.
  12.  Syracuse (10-1)- Did not look good against Temple, who were demolished by Duke.  This team is good, but not elite.
  13.  Ohio State (9-2)- Only losses to Duke and Kansas, this team this team is good, but not a match-up nightmare.
  14.  Oklahoma State (10-1)- An underrated team.  Beat NC State decisively.  A New Year's Eve game vs. Gonzaga will show us how good this team really is.
  15.  Michigan State (9-2)- Tom Izzo has this team competing at a high level.  A bad loss to Miami, but still the only team to beat Kansas.
  16.  NC State (9-2)- Haven't really beat anyone yet, but this team is deep and tough inside.  This team will beat Duke at home.
  17.  UNLV (11-1) Continues to beat teams even without Mike Moser.  Anthony Bennett might be the freshman of the year.  He reminds me of Arizona alum Derrick Williams.
  18.  Butler (9-2) Big win over a very good Indiana squad.  I would not want to face this team in the tournament.
  19.  Virginia Commonwealth (9-3) I would not want to face this team either.  Even with 3 losses, this is a top 20 team in the country.
  20.  Minnesota (11-1) Ranked too high by the AP.  Have lots of wins, but against no quality opponents.  Rodney Williams has some ridiculous athleticism.
  21.  Kansas State (9-2) Bruce Weber has this team playing good basketball.  Big win at Florida this week.
  22.  Florida (8-2) I am not impressed by this team.  The Pac-12 has been getting heat for not being competitive, but the SEC looks miserable this year as well.  This is the Big Ten's year.
  23. Kentucky (8-3) I am probably being too nice on John Calipari.  An unpcoming game against Louisville should show whether UK deserves to be ranked or not.  I'll take Louisville by 5. 
  24.  UCLA (9-3) Probably shouldn't rank this team either.  But Muhammad, Adams and Anderson are finally playing well together.  I'll say I told you so when they beat Missouri on the 28th.
  25.  Creighton (11-1) Good, but forgettable.  McDermott is playing some incredible basketball, but has he improved at all since last year?
Next 5: Temple, San Diego State, Notre Dame, Wyoming, Maryland

And taking a line from Buster Olney,
Today will be better than yesterday.  Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

NBA Christmas Trade Drawer

Christmas is a season of giving and receiving, marked by get-togethers with family and friends, maybe co-workers.  Maybe it's just me, but this sounds like NBA GMs making moves to me.  While these trades are unlikely now, as the deadline is not until February, keep an eye on similar moves as the deadline gets closer and a greater number of teams are established as contenders or pretenders.

Milwaukee Gets:  Rodney Stuckey, Jonas Jerebko
Detroit Gets:  Monta Ellis

Ellis and Jennings have not fit well as a tandem.  Stuckey is not an ideal fit next to Jennings, but a change of scenery, coupled with a full time transition to the 2, could help Stuckey realize some of the potential that Detroit saw in him.  At 6'5" he has better size to play the 2 than the 6'3" Ellis.  In Detroit, Ellis could be a perimeter scorer that Detroit needs, and take some pressure off of the developing Brandon Knight by handling the ball some.  Its not an ideal fit, but he fills a role better than Stuckey has.  Jerebko gives Milwaukee yet another combo forward in the mold of Ilyasova, but he is the type of player John Hammond might like to see in a rotation.

Boston Gets: Dorell Wright, Royal Ivey
Philadelphia Gets: Courtney Lee

Boston and Philadelphia should make the playoffs, but they are on the outside looking in at this point.  Boston could use outside shooting that Lee has been unable to give.  They miss Ray Allen a lot.  Wright is a solid outside shooter and decent defender.  Ivey gives them an additional ball-handler if Rondo has issues.  In Lee Philadelphia gets a perimeter defender that is desperately needed.  Holiday and Turner are both better on the offensive end, and Lee in the starting unit would fit better than either Richardson or Young provide.  Maybe starting would boost Lee's confidence to the point where he can score efficiently again too.

Toronto Gets: Pau Gasol, Steve Blake, Antwan Jamison, future rd.1 (lottery protected)
Lakers Get: Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon, Ed Davis, Linas Kleiza

This trade just makes too much sense for both teams.  Toronto has desperately needed a post scorer since Bosh left.  Valanciunas could still become the guy, but he is still 2 or 3 years away.  Gasol has 2 years and 39 million left on his large contract, but he is still one of the best scorers down low, as evidenced by his solid play in the Olympics for Spain.  Being a go-to guy for Toronto would help Gasol return to stats similar to 18-10.  Blake and Jamison would give them needed veteran role players.  In D'Antoni's system, 3 point shooters are needed, and they get 3 in Bargnani, Calderon and Kleiza.  Bargnani would also leave the paint open for Dwight Howard to play his game.  Calderon is a massive upgrade over Blake, and gives the Lakers some insurance in case Nash has a setback.  Ed Davis has improved a lot in Toronto, and gives the Lakers a better big man off the bench than Hill can offer.


College Basketball Notes- Pre-Christmas Week

Merry Christmas to all!  It has been a busy week in college basketball, filled with quite a few of the top unbeaten programs going down.  Some players have stepped up in big ways, and some teams could be looking at rises in the rankings.

-As Indiana and Syracuse lose, Duke and Michigan take the top two spots in the poll.  Both teams are incredibly balanced, and excel and both ends of the ball.  If I were to pick a number one now, it would be Duke, as they have beat 3 top 5 teams thus far, to only one ranked team that Michigan has taken down (A good NC State team.)  Both teams have potential to run very long undefeated streaks,  but neither team will be able to pull of an undefeated regular season.  For Michigan, Trey Burke is the best college PG in the country.

-After a slow start, UCLA looks poised to contend for the PAC 12 title with Arizona.  The freshman trio of Shabazz Muhammad, Jordan Adams, and Kyle Anderson plays very well together.  Muhammad is a deadly scorer with a relentless motor.  He is still number 1 on my big board for the 2013 NBA Draft.  Adams is explosive, and a great penetrator and shooter.  Anderson gets it done in a variety of ways, and is the best playmaker on the roster.  While Drew is averaging over 8 assists a game, the Bruin offense looks much better when run through Anderson.  I have high expectations for this UCLA squad.

-At the beginning of the season, I rated NC State above Duke and North Carolina as my pick to win the ACC.  While the expectations have slipped some, this is still a dangerous team that no one will want to face in March.  With exceptional balance, NC State has one of the top offenses in the country.  Lorenzo Brown has been solid as a point guard, helping keep his draft stock in the late first-early second range.  CJ Leslie has also been incredible.  On Saturday he scored 33 points, and could still be an ACC player of the year candidate.  He is an outside jump shot away from being a lottery pick.  Keep an eye on this team.

-Butler and Virginia Commonwealth have looked very impressive since their final four matchup.  It is foolish to ever count out Shaka Smart or Brad Stevens in any game.  Both teams look like they could contend for the A-10 title, and, both teams will be tough outs in the tournament.  Rotnei Clark, at times, has questionable shot selection, but his release is super quick and he is one of the top shooters in the country.  The defense and transition game played by VCU is tough to beat.  It will take a very good point guard on the court to navigate through it expertly.

-Ben McLemore has been sensational.  Against Ohio State, he was the best player on the court, scoring at will at times.  He is super versatile, and as important to Kansas offensively as Withey is defensively.  Elijah Johnson has not had his breakout season as anticipated, mainly due to the emergence of the redshirt freshman McLemore.  Instead Johnson is essentially a role player, and a fringe draft pick at all at this point.  Releford has been dependable as well.

Notable Players From the Week:
-Jack Cooley/Notre Dame- Maybe I'm seeing double but Cooley is essentially a Harangody clone.
-Roosevelt Jones/Butler- At only 6'4", he showed against Indiana he is one of the toughest players in the country.  ESPN recently listed him on their "all-toughness" team as well.
-Erick Green/Virginia Tech- Has not been a fluke.  Scores efficiently and in high quantities.  If he can develop some more guard skills, he could land in the late first round in June.
-Michael Carter Williams/Syracuse- It's almost Christmas and he is averaging 10 apg.  I am impressed.  He is a 3 point jump shot away from being a top 5 pick.
-Arsalan Kazemi/Oregon- The Iran native has been relentless on the rebounds, not losing a step since his transfer from Rice.  Not sure he has pro potential, but he is the heart of a tournament contending Oregon Team.
-Eric Moreland/Oregon State- Up the highway 30 miles is another relentless rebounder in Moreland.  Moreland projects as a pro, though, as he has a freakish wingspan and is a fantastic shot blocker.  If he develops an outside jump shot he could be a first round pick in 2014.
-Doug McDermott/Creighton, Isaiah Canaan/Murray State, and CJ McCollum/Lehigh.  The 3 most important players in the country to their teams.  All are sensational college basketball players, and all 3 should eventually make it to the NBA.  McCollum is the best prospect, though is a tweener between a 1 and a 2.  Worst case scenario, he could be a scoring 6th man.  Canaan projects as a back-up at the next level, though his stock could easily rise, though any team (Including my Blazers) would love to have Canaan providing some instant offense off the bench.  Players like McDermott have struggled to find success in the pros.  What helps McDermott will be his ability to guard 3's.  If he can consistently provide at least average defense, he will find himself in a rotation.  He reminds me of more fluid Luke Babbitt with better guard skills

Oh and the Blazers are above .500.  At the beginning of the season I would not have guessed this.  I knew Lillard would be awesome, as he graded as a future All-Star, but I did not expect him to be This good, This soon.  He has been phenomenal.  Aldridge has steadily become the player we expected him to be.  He has been connecting on more jump shots, and has been better attacking during our win streak.  Batum and Matthews have looked impressive over the course of the season, and Matthews should play increased minutes tonight against Sacramento as he continues to heal his hip flexor strain.  Oh and JJ Hickson has been a MONSTER.  He is averaging over 16 points and 14 rebounds over the last few games.  He looks like a player who deserves a multiyear extension in June if he can continue his impressive numbers.

Keys for Tonight's game vs. Sacramento:
-Score 45 points in the paint:  SAC is without Cousins.  Aldridge should be able to score on both Thompson and Robinson, and Hickson should continue his double double trend, finding putbacks in the process.
-Shoot 40% from 3:  Sacramento can score in bursts, and, though their record does not indicate this, they have stuck around in some games due to their streaky scoring.  If Portland scores consistentyly and efficiently from beyond the arc, a late run by Sacramento will not be as threatening.
-Lillard scores 25:  Sacramento's point guards are better offensive players than defensive players.  While Brooks is known for his quickness, he can be a lazy defender.  Look for Lillard to score with his step back, drives and quick ball handling.

GO Blazers!!!

@ZRey12

Monday, December 17, 2012

Seahawks

I posted my NFL season review, but I would also like to dedicate a post to the Seahawks.  The future is bright, as are playoff odds for this season.  Outside of obvious success in the playoffs, what would I like to see Seattle accomplish the rest of this season and in the offseason?  I will break it down position by position:

QB- Russell Wilson is our franchise guy.  Flynn is an awesome backup, but we should look to move him for assets.  Maybe ARZ, NYJ or even SD would give up a rd. 2 + 5 for him?
RB-  Lynch and Turbin are a very solid tandem.  A change of pace speedy back would be a nice add towards the end of the draft.
FB- Michael Robinson has been ideal for Seattle.  NO changes
WR- Needs a lot of work.  Rice is solid, and Tate would be better suited as a 3rd of 4th wide out.  Giving Wilson better targets to throw to will make the offense much better.  Tavon Austin or Justin Hunter would be intriguing in the draft, or signing Greg Jennings from Green Bay would be amazing.
TE- Could be upgraded as well.  Zach Miller has not produced as highly as anticipated, and McCoy is below average.  Adding another target is needed.
OL- Right tackle has to be addressed if Carpenter is moving to guard.  Increased depth is needed also

DE- Clemons, Bryant and Irvin are keepers.
DT- Jones has been very good, and should be brought back.  Branch should be retained at the right cost.
LB- A replacement for Leroy Hill is needed to bolster the linebacking core.
CB- Sherman and Browner might be the best tandem in the league.  If Trufant, Lane and Thurmond are all retained, corner is not a need.
S-  Depth could be used late in the draft.
K/P- No need for change.
KR- Washington continues to be among the best in the game.

The first priority should be targeting a WR in free agency.  Adding Greg Jennings, Dwayne Bowe or even a lesser known guy like Ramses Barden would be ideal.  TEs in FA could be Dustin Keller of Jared Cook.  In the draft we should look at offensive playmakers, offensive line depth (RT especially), and outside linebackers.  KJ Wright and Bobby Wagner have been phenomenal, but Leroy Hill is on the downside of his career.

NFL Season thoughts

Week 15 wraps up tonight, and playoff races are very tight.  The northwest Seahawks are in a solid position to make the playoffs, and even win the division if the cards fall right.  At 9-5, I would think that one more win would be enough to clinch a wild card berth.  Over the course of the season, who has played well?  Here are my position ranks based off of the player's current value to win games and develop into a player who can win games over the next few seasons:

QB (Without a good one, kiss wins goodbye)             
1.  Aaron Rodgers- The most elite QB in the league, and the youngest of the elite tier.                     
2.  Drew Brees-  Will still be incredible for at least 5 years.
3.  Tom Brady-  35 years old, but as dangerous as ever.  Still a top 3 guy.
4.  Andrew Luck- Has led the Colts to a likely playoff berth with questionable talent around him.  He will be the best QB in the league in 5 years.
5.  Robert Griffin III- Griffin has been outstanding as well.  He has made the Redskins relevant again and is dominant as a duel threat QB.
6.  Peyton Manning- Injuries aside, he proved this year that he can still play at a high level.  The Broncos would be lost without him.
7.  Matt Ryan- Has become the franchise guy for a great Falcons team.  He will continue to be an awesome fantasy QB, but hasn't reached the top echelon just yet.
8.  Eli Manning- I'd take Ryan over him, though that takes nothing away from the 2 Super Bowls Eli has won.  He still throws the ball inconsistently at times.  If only he could play every quarter like it was the 4th.
9.  Russell Wilson- Maybe only Bill Simmons saw this coming.  I was excited about the Wilson pick, but he has been fantastic for Seattle this year.  If he gets better weapons to throw to I could look foolish for rating him this low.
10.  Tony Romo- He takes a lot of heat for bad plays, but he is a solid quarterback.  He won't win MVPs, but with the right defense and right staff behind him, he could lead a deep playoff run (not saying it will necessarily be for Dallas...)
Sleeper- Andy Dalton

RB (Very important, but shelf life must play into account for running backs)
1 Adrian Peterson- Could break records his season after his ACL tear.  Guy is a beast, rushing for 6.3 ypa so far this season.
2 Marshawn Lynch- A high rating, but he is nearly impossible to bring down.  He does not have breakaway speed, but he can still bust out 25 yard gains pretty easily.  As long as he stays healthy he will be the 2nd best RB in the league.
3 Arian Foster- A workhorse.  Lacks top notch speed, but is tough to bring down.
4 Jamaal Charles- Best player on an awful team.  Could do real damage behind a good offensive line.
5 Ray Rice- The most effective back in the passing game, and is still very good with the run too.
6 Trent Richardson- Took a lot of hits this year.  The Browns will continue to improve, and he will vault into the top 10 backs in the league.
7 CJ Spiller- Had an awesome season.  He would shine more without Fred Jackson.  He needs more carries.
8 Doug Martin- Fast and compact.  He will rush for 1000 yards many times.
9 Alfred Morris- A 6th round pick, exploded rather unexpectedly.  He will be a big time producer as long as Griffin stays healthy.
10 Frank Gore- Very consistent.  Hasn't had the down games many others (ie. Chris Johnson) have had.  Will continue to produce.
Sleeper- David Wilson

WR (Can make a average QB look very good)
1 Calvin Johnson- Megatron.  The most dominant receiver in the game.  He might reach 2000 yards with Rodgers or Luck.
2 Brandon Marshall-  Finally found a situation free of stress.  An incredible deep target, he is still a go to guy.
3 AJ Green- The next top receiver in the league.  The guy is scary good.
4 Julio Jones- Targets are even with White, and he has become a bigger red zone target.
5 Randall Cobb- His speed and shiftiness are tough to come by.  Think Welker with athleticism.
6 Andre Johnson- Might not be at the peak of his career, but he is still an incredible target to throw to.
7 Victor Cruz- Has incredible hands.  Good out of the slot or on the outside.
8 Dez Bryant- Might make Romo look better than he is.  Needs to increase work ethic, but his talent level is impressive.
9 Demaryius Thomas- Drafted ahead of Bryant, has become the top target for Manning.  Needs to run crisper routes, but he will continue to improve vastly.
10 Larry Fitzgerald- Still has caught almost 700 yards despite having awful QBs to throw his way.  If he sticks it out, Matt Barkley could be just what Fitz needs.
Sleeper-TY Hilton

Defensively I am going to rank slightly differently.  Based off of various skills, I will rank defensive players instead of just positions.

Pass Rush
1 JJ Watt
2 Aldon Smith
3 Chris Clemons
4 Von Miller
5 Clay Matthews
sleeper- Justin Houston
Tackles
1 James Laurinitas
2 Navorro Bowman
3 Luke Kuechly
4 Patrick Willis
5 Clay Matthews
sleeper- Bobby Wagner
Cover Skills
1 Patrick Peterson
2 Richard Sherman
3 Darrelle Revis
4 Tim Jennings
5 Stephon Gilmore
sleeper- Janoris Jenkins
Overall most complete defensive players:
1 JJ Watt
2 Von Miller
3 Clay Matthews
4 Patrick Willis
5 Patrick Peterson

Kick Returns:
1 David Wilson
2 Jacoby Jones
3 Randall Cobb
4 Darius Reynaud
5 Percy Harvin

Thoughts?

@ZRey12

NBA Draft Stock

It has been a busy 2 weeks in college basketball.  Who has looked good over the past week to help their draft stock?

Stock up:
Trey Burke PG/Michigan-  Burke is the best college point guard in the country.  This does not necessarily mean he is the best NBA prospect at the 1 in this draft, but his ability to make plays for his teammates has been exceptional.  He has scored the ball well also, showing an impressive knack for taking the right shots at the right time.  He projects as a starter at the next level in the mold of Eric Maynor or even Mo Williams.  Current big board rank:  14

Richard Howell F/North Carolina State- Howell seems like a perfect "glue guy" at the next level.  Every season NBA teams try to find players that at the right fit for a team, and can play with any player in any system.  He rebounds the ball at a high level, and scores very efficiently.  He is not a great shooter, as most of his baskets come on putbacks or in the paint shots.  He reminds me of Dante Cunningham.  Cunningham could start for a team based off of fit more than talent, and Howell is a guy who could do the same in the NBA.  Current big board rank:  32

Others to keep an eye on:  Eric Moreland/Oregon State, Nemanja Nedovic/Serbia, Sean Kilpatrick/Cincinnati

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Game Preview vs. NO

The Blazers play the Hornets tonight in a battle between the two top rookie of the year candidates in Lillard and Anthony Davis.  Lillard has the edge right now, but with three quarters of the season still to play, Davis could explode onto the scene, especially defensively.  For Portland, there needs to be continued analysis on the play of JJ Hickson and Lamarcus Aldridge on the court together.  According to 82games.com, both players are more effective playing with the other on the bench.  Aldridge in particular has been better playing next to Meyers Leonard, and Hickson best next to Jared Jeffries.  With the continued improvement of Joel Freeland, including his solid D-League outing, expect Portland to continue to experiment with a variety of post units.  If Portland does not establish themselves as playoff contenders, Hickson could be a player on the move due to his potential and the status of his contract (A reasonable, expiring deal). 

Keys to Tonight's Game:
1.  LA gets 25.  New Orleans does not have the best interior defense, though Anthony Davis will be one of the best in the league by next year, and LA should take advantage.
2.  Win the 3 point shooting battle.  Both teams like to shoot from the outside, and, the team that makes the most from downtown will likely prevail.
3.  Commit less than ten turnovers.  New Orleans is not a team that will win lots of games based off of talent alone, they rely on their opponent's mistakes.  Look for Portland to be secure with the ball to win this game.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Updated NBA Draft Big Board

Here is an updated big board for the 2013 draft.  I have also included their subjective grade.  Here is the scale, though I can guarantee the ratings will change over the course of the year:
Grade Scale (Ceiling):  90-100 (Superstar) 80-89 (All-Star) 70-79 (Starter) 60-69(Contributor) 50-59 (Role Player) 40-49 (Draftable)

*For Reference, Anthony Davis was graded as a 93, Damian Lillard 84, Meyers Leonard 74, and Will Barton 65 in last years draft.
  1.  Shabazz Muhammed SG/UCLA      Grade:  82
  2.  Nerlens Noel PF/Kentucky              Grade:  81
  3.  Cody Zeller C/Indiana                       Grade:  81
  4.  Alex Len C/Maryland                         Grade:  79
  5.  Alex Poythress F/Kentucky              Grade:  78
  6.  Michael Carter-Williams G/Syracuse   Grade:  77
  7.  Rudy Gobert C/France                       Grade:  75
  8.  Archie Goodwin G/Kentucky           Grade:  75
  9.  Otto Porter SF/Georgetown             Grade:  74
  10.  CJ McCollum G/Lehigh                       Grade:  74
  11.  James McAdoo PF/North Carolina   Grade:  72
  12.  Ben McLemore SG/Kansas                Grade:  72
  13.  Anthony Bennett F/UNLV                  Grade:  72
  14.  Isaiah Austin C/Baylor                        Grade:  71
  15.  Mason Plumlee PF/Duke                    Grade:  71
  16.  Tony Mitchell PF/North Texas           Grade:  70
  17.  Trey Burke PG/Michigan                     Grade:  69
  18.  Marcus Smart PG/Oklahoma State   Grade:  68
  19.  LeBryan Nash SF/Oklahoma State    Grade:  68
  20.  Sergey Karasev SF/Russia                   Grade:  67
  21.  Myck Kabongo PG/Texas                     Grade:  67
  22.  BJ Young PG/Arkansas                         Grade:  66
  23.  Kyle Anderson SF/UCLA                      Grade:  66
  24.  Dario Saric F/Croatia                            Grade:  66
  25.  Ricardo Ledo G/Providence               Grade:  65
  26.  Brandon Paul SG/Illinois                     Grade:  65
  27.  CJ Leslie F/NC State                              Grade:  65
  28. Andre Roberson F/Colorado              Grade:  64
  29.  Mike Moser F/UNLV                             Grade:  63
  30.  Victor Oladipo SF/Indiana                 Grade:  63

    Next 5:  Steven Adams PF/Pittsburgh, Isaiah Canaan PG/Murray State, Adonis Thomas SF/Memphis, Jamaal Franklin SG/San Diego State, Nemanja Nedovic G/Serbia


    Who would you want to select?

    @ZRey12   and as always, Go Blazers!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Weekly Basketball Thoughts

NBA
- Aldridge has been playing better.  He is finally comfortable within the offense and has been getting better looks down low.  If our starting unit continues to score, Portland will fight for a playoff spot.
- While LA and Hickson both have good individual stats, I am concerned by their ability to play with each other.  Neither are ideal compliments for each other.  With Leonard or Jeffries alongside Aldridge, I think LA's efficiency would improve.  Could this lead to a Hickson trade at the deadline?  Unlikely, as he is still our best rebounder, and our bench needs to show improvement over a longer period of time.  If we fall out of contention, though, expect Hickson to switch teams at the deadline. Speaking of Portland's bench...
- Can Portland's bench keep it up?  For 2 straight games, the bench for Rip City has looked decent, which is a massive upgrade over recent play.  Babbitt looks like a role player, in the mold of Steve Novak, that this team could use for spacing, and Will Barton looks like a useful player as well.  Nolan Smith still needs to get more comfortable, and Freeland needs continued looks as well.  Leonard still has been having his ups and downs, though it does appear that he has starter level potential as a player.  Don't count out Claver yet either.
- Rondo went to Mexico to sit out his suspension, and has not touched a basketball for a week.  I'm not sure Blazer fans would go for this...

College
-Indiana is the best team in the country.  Zeller and Oladipo, with improved play from Hulls and Watford, have been scoring well as a unit.  They are very unselfish, and an awesome college basketball team.  Zeller and Oladipo will both be in the NBA one day.
- Otto Porter (Georgetown) looks like an ideal "glue guy" in the NBA.  He can do everything (except shoot the 3...), and his hustle has been very important for Georgetown.  He has an NBA body, and could be in the league right now in a Jared Dudley type role, though he is a 3 man at 6'8".  If he ever learns how to shoot we could be looking at a Luol Deng or Nicolas Batum quality player.
- Michael Carter Williams continues to impress at Syracuse.  He is a solid scorer, and is leading the nation in assists per game.  If Syracuse can find clutch play from MCW in Big East play, they will challenge (and possibly overtake) Louisville for the Big East Title.
- Shabazz Muhammed can score, but he has been underwhelming as a team talent for UCLA.  I still think he compares to James Harden, in that he is not an ideal #1 scorer for an NBA team.  Will his lack of star power for UCLA cause him to slip from the number 1 draft pick?  It's possible, as Noel and Zeller have played very well for their schools.

@ZRey12

Blazers play again tomorrow night, time for another win!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

NFL Mock Draft 2.0

There are quite a few teams atop the draft board with needs for quarterbacks.  Unfortunately, the two top quarterbacks have been playing themselves out of the top 5 of the draft.  What will they do?
Draft order updated as well (this week's games not taken into account).
  1.  KC- Manti T'eo ILB/Notre Dame
  2.  JAX- Jarvis Jones OLB/Georgia
  3.  OAK- Star Lotulelei DT/Utah
  4.  CLE- Damontre Moore DE/Texas A&M
  5.  PHI- Luke Joekel OT/Texas A&M
  6.  CAR- Barkevious Mingo DE/LSU
  7.  BUF- Bjoern Werner DE/Florida State
  8.  SD- Matt Barkley QB/USC
  9.  NYJ- Taylor Lewan OT/Michigan
  10.  TEN- Ezekiel Ansah DE/BYU
  11.  ARZ- Geno Smith QB/West Virginia
  12.  DET- Dee Milliner CB/Alabama
  13.  STL- Justin Hunter WR/Tennessee
  14.  MIA- Keenan Allen WR/California
  15.  STL*- Chase Warmack OG/Alabama
  16.  NO- Dion Jordan DE/Oregon
  17.  DAL- Alec Ogletree ILB/Georgia
  18.  CIN- Sam Montgomery DE/LSU
  19.  TB- Jonathan Hankins DT/Ohio State
  20.  MIN- Barrett Jones OL/Alabama
  21.  PIT- Sylvester Williams DT/North Carolina
  22.  SEA- Tavon Austin WR/West Virginia
  23.  IND- Eric Fisher OT/Central Michigan
  24.  NYG- CJ Mosley ILB/Alabama
  25.  GB- Dri Archer RB/Kent State
  26.  DEN- Jonathan Banks CB/Mississippi State
  27.  CHI- Dallas Thomas OT/Tennessee
  28.  NE- Jordan Poyer CB/Oregon State
  29.  SF- Chase Thomas OLB/Stanford
  30.  BAL- Matt Elam S/Florida
  31.  HOU- Robert Woods WR/USC
  32. ATL- Tyler Eifert TE/Notre Dame
*Pick from WAS
Round 2
  1. KC- Terrance Williams WR/Baylor
  2. JAX- Eric Reid S/LSU
  3. PHI- Jonathan Jenkins DT/Georgia
  4. CAR- Sheldon Richardson DT/Missouri
  5. CIN- Anthony Barr OLB/UCLA
  6. SD- Corey Lemonieur DE/Auburn 
  7. NYJ- Markus Wheaton WR/Oregon State
  8. TEN- Kenny Vacarro S/Texas
  9. ARZ- DJ Fluker OT/Alabama
  10. DET- Monte Ball RB/Wisconsin
  11. BUF- Oday Aboushi OT/Virginia
  12. STL- Kawann Short DT/Purdue
  13. WAS- Marquess Wilson WR/Washington State
  14. DAL- Zach Ertz TE/Stanford
  15. MIA- Desmond Trufant CB/Washington
  16. TB- Brennan Williams OT/North Carolina
  17. MIN- Denard Robinson WR/Michigan
  18. CIN- Giovani Bernard RB/North Carolina
  19. SEA- Khaseem Greene OLB/Rutgers
  20. PIT- David Amerson CB/NC State
  21. NYG- Xavier Rhodes CB/Florida State
  22. MIA- Jonathan Cooper OG/North Carolina
  23. GB- Tank Carradine DE/Florida State
  24. CHI- Da'Rick Rogers WR/Tennessee Tech
  25. NE- Shane Skov LB/Stanford
  26. DEN- Kenjon Barner RB/Oregon
  27. SF- Jake Matthews OT/Texas A&M
  28. BAL- Akeem Spence DT/Illinois 
  29. HOU- John Simon DE/Ohio State
  30. ATL- Kevin Reddick ILB/North Carolina
    Cleveland and NO forfeit picks