Catching Up on NFL and NBA

NFL:

The New York Giants are celebrating their Super Bowl win with their ticker tape parade today.  I have to say congrats to them for a hard fought win against a good New England Patriots team.  I will say this though, I am not on board with this Eli Manning to the Hall of Fame and how he's become a top QB in the league.  I think a lot of that should be tempered as this great year that Eli had was the outlier.  His previous body of work has been somewhat middling (he's averaged 16+ INTs a year vs. 23+ TDs a year).  He's a good guy and has definitely grown as a leader, but let's all just hold off of this Eli is THE MAN for now.  (Take a look at the other QBs that we're talking about being the best in the game).

QB	Avg TDs (since 2004)	Avg INTs (since 2004)
Eli Manning	23	16
Drew Brees	31	14
Tom Brady*	28	9
Aaron Rodgers**	16	4
Ben Roethlisberger	20	12
Philip Rivers	20	9

*Includes a year of 0 TDs and 0 INTs due to injury

**Includes spot duty behind Favre; started in 2008

NBA:

LA Clippers - Count Chauncey Billups as the first person to encounter the Clippers Curse.  Billups has torn his left Achilles and will miss the remainder of the year (my opinion, but you'll see later today).  Mo Williams, now it's your turn to step in and see if you can help this team as a starter.  The big question is whether the Clippers can reach out and get JR Smith.  If so, let's just hope that he leaves his sister and girlfriend at home. 

LA Lakers - Kobe passes the Big Speed Bump (Shaq) on the Lakers all-time scoring list.  Shaq was effusive in his praise for the young Kobe, and maybe there is hope that the two of them can kiss and make up after a few years.  More importantly is Kobe is wishing for some kind of move that will get him Championship #6.  Can the Lakers pull a Howard trade, or maybe steal Deron Williams from the Nets?  If the Lakers get one or both of these deals done, look out for the Black Mamba in the playoffs. 

New York Knicks - Run out and get your Jeremy Lin jerseys now.  The Ivy League grad is actually balling for the Knicks and just helped them beat a Jazz team (above .500) without Amare and Melo (for most of the game, UPDATE - Melo will be out for 1-2 weeks with hammy injury).  I can easily say that Lin is the best POINT guard on the team.  Baron Davis is a shell of a shell of himself and no one knows if and when his back will work correctly.  Douglas and Shumpert, both ACC guys, are more scorers than true point guards.  I think going forward the Knicks gotta start Lin and bring Shump off the bench for scoring and defense. 

Dallas Mavericks - Jason Kidd is still shelved and although no one is rushing him back, one thing we can see is that this compacted schedule is no joke for these older players.  Dirk has been chided for being out of shape and we've seen from an overall level that the NBA off-season, really means what it says it means.

Denver Nuggets - Just as the creamy Nuggets were finding their legs in this compacted season they've been dealt a blow with the injury to Danilo Gallinari.  Gallinari chipped a bone in his foot and we're not sure how long he'll be out.  Gallo was ballin up until this point and although the Nuggets say they don't have that go to player, I think Gallo was that guy.  He's averaging a little over 17 pts per game and with his height and mobility he can provide several mismatches for opposing teams.  Get well soon Gallo, the Nuggets need you. 

NFL 2010 Super Bowl Pick

It's been a long two weeks since we've known the Packers would be facing the Steelers in todays Superbowl, but I think that I've finally made a decision about who to pick.  The short of it is, I gotta go with the Steelers and big (10 or more points) for my prediction. 

My reasoning, well let's start here:

QBs - Both Big Ben and Rodgers are good to great QBs.  The biggest thing is Big Ben's experience in this big game.  Yes, you have to win one to get experience, but I don't think that I'm worried about the normally unflappable Rodgers.  I think both of these guys are going to play well but I doubt it comes down to either of them winning the game.  With that said, I have to go with experience. 

Defense - I like the Packers defense because they are able to bring pressure, with the blitz, and they can cover with Williams and Woodson out there.  Like my coach once told me, the quarterback can't throw if he's on his back.  I expect the Packers to get some pressure on Big Ben, but for some reason he doesn't make a lot of bad throws.  As good as the Packers defense is, I just think the Steelers are better.  That 3-4 that they run is nasty with stopping the run and although the Packers' corners are better, I like the Steelers safeties.  Polamalu will be a big difference in this game.

Coaching - Mike Tomlin exudes a confidence that doesn't even border on cockiness.  He's been here before with this team and knows what it takes to be successful.  He directs this Steeler ship and they've won when no one thought they would (first 4 games of the year).  Mike McCarthy has done a great job with getting his team prepared to make the playoffs and then go on the road and dominate the Falcons and the Bears.  I have to think that he will prepare, as usual, but I think that the experience is the factor here.  He's got enough guts to take some chances with the way Rodgers and his defense are playing so that may end up biting him in the butt. 

Keys to Winning (Steelers) - Lots of Mendenhall on the ground to establish the running game, but to also keep Rodgers on the bench.  Look for a few big plays from Wallace and Heath Miller.  The defense will have to find a way to keep these explosive Packers wideouts in front of them and they have to make tackles.  Any misses can easily turn into TDs. 

Keys to Winning (Packers) - Find a way to run the ball.  This Steelers defense is about as dominant as you can get with stopping the run, but the Packers have had success in the playoffs with the threat of the run.  The offensive line will need to protect Rodgers and keep him from taking a lot of hits and sacks.  The Packers defense will have to get some takeaways and make them count (turn them into TDs).  The Packers are going to need another big game from their defensive line (Raji and Jenkins), especially with Legursky starting for Pouncey. 

All in all, I expect this to be a good game.  Two very good teams and the game will be inside so no weather issues to worry about.  Again, I am picking the Steelers and we'll see what happens. 

Who you got?

NFL 2010 AFC Championship Game Wrap Up

New York Jets @ Pittsburgh - Well, this game was a little different than I expected, but still close enough.  I said that Mendenhall will get a lot of carries, the Jets corners will have to cover all of the Steelers receivers, hat Heath Miller and Spaeth will have big games, that Brett Keisel and Harrison will be in Sanchez's back pocket, and finally that the Steelers would close out the Jets if they got out to a big lead. 

1.  Mendenhall has come a long way from the brash youngster who called out Ray Lewis in his first game against the Ravens (he ended that game with a broken collarbone or something after Lewis hit him).  He has now become the next name in line as the Steelers' starting running back.  Mendenhall had 27 carries for 121 yards, and 1 TD.  He also had 2 receptions for 32 yards.

2.  The Jets did a decent job covering everyone, but Big Ben was able to find 7 different receivers with Heath Miller leading the field with 2 catches for 38 yards.  Not your Don Coryell Chargers, but when the running game was as good as it was, you're really only passing for those longer 3rd down conversions. 

3.  Heath Miller (from above) and Matt Spaeth had good games, but it was more in the blocking and protecting of Big Ben.  Spaeth was only targeted once in the passing game but finished the game with no catches. 

4.  Brett Keisel and  Harrison spent a lot of time pressuring Sanchez and both ended the game with 7 tackles a piece.  Timmons and Farrior led the Steelers in tackles, 10 and 8 respectively, but as a whole this Steelers defense did their job.  They did let up at the end which could have cost them the game, but they were good enough for long enough. 


All in all the Jets' didn't play a bad game, they just started late. It was 24-3 at halftime and their defense didn't allow the Steelers to score in the second half.  They have to be kicking themselves for the first half that they played.  Had they be able to keep the Steelers to 17 or maybe even 20, this would have been a lot more tenuous down the stretch. 

Congrats to the Steelers for returning to the Superbowl with a chance to get number 7 for their organization.  It's been a tough year for the Steelers, but the good teams are able to bounce back.  Inquisitive Mind 2 - 0 for the week. 

NFL 2010 AFC Championship Game Pick

Now that we have that NFC Championship Game Pick out of the way, let's get to the next game.

New York Jets @ Pittsburgh - People are talking about how these two teams are somewhat identical, but I have to kindly disagree.  The Steelers come into this game a little banged up (Polamalu and some of the offensive lineman) but basically in pretty good shape.  Big Ben is on his game and that gives the Steelers the option of running or passing against you.  I am a little concerned with the injuries to the O-line during the Ravens game, but they should be ok.  Mendenhall will get lots of carries and we'll see how good the corners from the Jets really are as they battle (literally) Hines Ward.  The more quick passes to give their receivers some space to run will loosen up that Jets defense and keep them guessing.  Look for big games from Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth (in those double tight-end sets).  On defense the Steelers will have their hands full with the resurgence of Shonn Greene and 'The Closer' in LT.  Polamalu has to play in this game to take away anything in the middle of the field.  I'm looking for Brett Keisel and James Harrison to be in Sanchez's back pocket.  Nothing that much different from the regular season.  If the Steelers get up on the Jets, they will definitely close them out, Mike Tomlin will accept nothing less.  I wonder what he said to them at half time of the Ravens game.

The Jets come in as quiet as church mice this week, an extreme turnaround from the bravado prior to the Patriots game last week.  Not sure if this really fits them.  The Jets played a knock out drag'em game concentrating on the run last week, which is probably the best thing for them.  Shonn Greene has become that power runner that the Jets need (and even had a little bit of speed), who also doesn't fumble the ball.  LT comes in as a change of pace, but is dangerous as ever when given more carries.  Mark Sanchez has struggled a bit with his play, but he has played well enough to actually help his team win.  If he can turn back the page a few weeks, when he was scorching hot and playing extremely well, the Steelers will be in trouble.  On defense the Jets will need to mix it up in an effort to confuse Big Ben.  At times Big Ben holds on to the ball in order to escape a sack or make a big play and if the coverage can confuse him enough to allow the pass rush to get to him, they can create turnovers.  The defensive line will sub often so look for strong play from the vets Jason Taylor and Trevor Price.  Revis and Cromartie (and Eric Smith when the Steelers go 3 or 4 wide) will need to be big for the Jets to win this game.  They are going to have to cover Mike Wallace, Ward, Randle El, and Sanders. 

In the end, the Jets are a little more finesse than power on the offensive side of the ball and the Steelers are power on both sides of the ball.  The Jets have played well to get to this point, but I think the dream ends this weekend.  Winner - Steelers.

Despite Boos, Steelers Win

What a game last night between the Eagles and the Steelers? Who would have thought that one call would change the whole momentum of the game? The Ravens started the games last night by punishing EVERYONE with a Steelers jersey on. I'm sure there will be lawsuits coming shortly (just jokes). Rashard 'I'm going to have a big game' Mendenhall met Ray Lewis in the hole and came out with a cracked shoulder blade (out for the season), Carey Davis sprained his ankle and was out for the rest of the game, and Kendall Simmons tore his right Achilles (out for the season). The Ravens O was led by rookie Joe Flacco and they put up 13 points going into halftime. This was really my first chance to watch Flacco this closely but I liked what I saw. He has a good arm, some mobility, and a good head on his shoulders. This game all came down to one 15 yard penalty against the Ravens by Jarrett Johnson for some after the play pushing. After this call the Steelers were able to get in the end zone and make the score 13-10. On the Ravens' next possession, Flacco was sacked and fumbled and the Steelers ran it in for a TD to make it 17-13. After that Flacco was still able to drive his team down the field in the final minutes to tie the score at 20.

I don't know about you guys, but I watched the best linebacker in the game last night. We all know about Ray Lewis' intensity and ability to motivate his teammates, but a 33 year old LB who hits like that shouldn't still be in the league. Yes, he's better than Urlacher, he's better (by a smidgen) than Derrick Brooks, and last night he just proved how good he was. Lewis led his team with 13 tackles last night, 7 solo.

We all know that the Steelers ended up winning this one in overtime by a field goal by Jeff Reed. But for some reason, I just think the better team walked away with a loss last night. I know Ray would agree with me that the only W's that count are the ones on your record. It's a short week for both teams, so they better get ready. Thanks for a great game.