Giants suffer another injury, Knicks suffer another loss (sort of)

Another year, another injury for the Giants.  This time it's left tackle Will Beatty.  He apparently tore his pec while lifting weights.  Unfortunately this kind of news is becoming expected for New York.  They were the most injured team in the NFL the last two years.  And when they get injuries, they get em' big.  Last year, for example, they lost Victor Cruz, Jon Beason, Geoff Schwartz, Prince Amukamara....ok, that's enough, I'm getting aggravated.  The question everyone should be asking is--why?  Why are they sustaining 50 million injuries a year, and to their starters nonetheless?  The Giants front office needs to take a long hard look at the strength and conditioning coaches.  I understand injuries happen, and no, I'm not asking for anyone's head, but given that it's not even June and already they're down a major starter screams "problem" to me. 

Could it be they're drafting/signing injury prone players?  Certainly a possibility (Beason, Amukamara).  But there's just way too many injuries every season for that to be the major reason.  So what gets done?  Probably nothing.  Just pray there's no more devastating losses, because they'll never be able to compete if they keep losing starters.   

Speaking of losing, the Knicks just can't help themselves.  Yes, yes, I know.  They had no control over which ping-pong balls were going to be pulled on Tuesday night.  They certainly could have helped themselves by not winning a couple of late games, especially against the Hawks.  But they did win, and their odds of the 1st pick went down because of it.  They still had the second best chance of getting the 1st pick, but instead ended up with the 4th.  Is that terrible?  No, it might not be, but we won't know right away.  Unless the player they draft comes out and plays lights-out, we'll probably have to wait a couple of seasons before assessing whether or not he was a good pick. 

So who will still be there at number four for New York?  To me it's a guarantee that Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns will not be there.  So that leaves two point guards: Emmanuel Mudiay and D'Angelo Russell.  However, the Knicks will probably just have to take whomever the Sixers don't, because they're in the market for a point guard as well.  I think I'd be ok with either Mudiay or Russell.  Mudiay is more of a mystery since he played in China this past season, but the reports say that he's an explosive athlete in the mold of Russell Westbrook.  Well, if he can be half the player Westbrook is, then that would be a home run.  D'Angelo Russell gets high praise as well for being a play-maker who can read the court extremely well.  I think either guy would be a great addition to a depleted Knicks roster.  If they can draft one of those fellas, while bringing in some solid free agents like Greg Monroe, Tobias Harris, Wesley Matthews, etc., (sorry, no big name free agents will be coming to New York) to help out Carmelo Anthony, then there's no reason why this team can't be a playoff team next year.  Whether or not any of this happens is yet to be seen, of course, but it at least gives us Knicks fans a reason to be hopeful. 

NBA Playoffs Round 2 Recap/Conference Finals Predictions

That was a quality round of basketball!  Every single series went at least six games.  My predictions, however, were stink-a-reeno.  Let's recap the last round.

Clippers vs. Rockets

My prediction - Clippers 4-3
Actual results -  Rockets 4-3

Got the games right, but not the winner.  The Clippers had a 3-1 series lead, yet found a way to lose.  I can appreciate that any team, in any sport, can win on any given night.  But Los Angeles won games three and four by 25 and 33 points, then proceeded to lose the next three games by 21, 12 and 13.  I'll never understand that.  Oh, the inconsistency.

Warriors vs. Grizzles

My prediction - Warriors 4-2
Actual results -  Warriors 4-2

Well, would you look at that?  Nailed it!  This series was funny too, in that the Grizzles had a 2-1 series lead before getting their asses beat in the next three games.  I'm not sure if that was a testament to poor play by Memphis, or great play from Golden State.  Either way you slice it, the Warriors look legit.

Cavaliers vs. Bulls

My prediction - Bulls 4-2
Actual results -  Cavs 4-2

Oops.  I really thought the loss of Kevin Love would hamper the Cavs, and it may have if Pau Gasol didn't miss a couple of games himself.  I really think that swung the series in Cleveland's favor.  In keeping with the other series, the Bulls had a 2-1 lead but lost the next three games.  Why does that keep happening?

Atlanta vs. Washington

My prediction - Washington 4-2
Actual results -  Atlanta 4-2

Oops again.  Atlanta came off a tough series against Brooklyn while Washington took care of Toronto with ease, hence my prediction of Washington in six.  This was by far the most competitive series of the second round.  Only one game ended with a double digit final score.  The rest were 6, 2, 5, 1 and 3 points.  Now, that's playoff basketball (cough, Rockets and Clippers, cough). 

1-3 in my picks.  Yuck.  Big drop off from the first round (7-1).  Let's see if I can turn things around in the Conference Finals.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlanta vs. Cleveland

Atlanta won season series 3-1

Cleveland is coming off an impressive series win against Chicago.  However, they'll still be without Kevin Love, and now Kyrie Irving is banged up.  I can't see him not playing, but it could be really detrimental to the Cavs if he's not 100%.  Atlanta, on the other hand, is healthy and just keeps plugging along.  I don't think Atlanta is a great team, but they're very well balanced.  And with no Love, maybe more balanced than Cleveland.  It's really hard to bet against LeBron James, but...

Atlanta 4-3

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Golden State vs. Houston

Golden State won season series 4-0

For some reason I have a soft spot for the Clippers, so I really wanted to see them go against the Warriors. Not only that, but I thought it'd make for a competitive series.  Instead it'll be Houston taking them on.  As I mentioned above, both teams had to overcome series deficits to advance, and they both did so fairly convincingly.  Despite having the best record in the NBA, I never bought into the Warriors, but I have to admit that I am now.  All four Golden State wins against Memphis came by double digits.  That's impressive.  Speaking of impressive, Houston can score!  They averaged a hair under 110 points per game against LA.  That'll make for a great matchup against Golden State's high quality defense (94.2 ppg - 3rd in NBA).  Having said all that, I just don't think the Rockets can hang with the Warriors.  The season series ended with a sweep, and I think this one will too.

Golden State 4-0

Let's hope for some more good games in this round. 

Jets/Giants Draft Recap

This was a weird draft for me.  This was the first time since 1997 that both the Jets and Giants had picks in the top 10.  Usually I have to watch for awhile before they both make their selections, but this year I could have stopped watching after about an hour.  I didn't of course, because I'm a psycho, but I could have.  I already wrote about the 1st round picks for both teams, but in case you missed it, here it is.  Now onto the rest.

JETS

2nd Round - Devin Smith (WR)

Despite the fact that he's from (ugh) Ohio State (don't forget, I root for all things Michigan), this was a great pickup for Gang Green.  Smith is a guy that can take the top off a defense.  He was quite possibly the best deep threat in all of college football last season, with a catch average of 28.2 yards.  That means every time he caught the ball it was for roughly 28 yards.  That's ridiculous.  I don't, however, think he'll be a one-trick pony in the NFL.  He appears to be working very hard to learn all the routes, which would make him a superb slot receiver and compliment to Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. 

3rd Round - Lorenzo Mauldin (OLB)

This guy had to overcome a pretty rough childhood, but apparently did a lot of maturing in college.  He played defensive end at Louisville, but it appears the Jets signed him to be an edge rusher (OLB) for their 3-4 defense.  Scouting reports say he has good upper body strength, but lacks top-end speed.  With guys like Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and now Leonard Williams, he probably doesn't need blazing speed to help rush the passer.  

4th Round - Bryce Petty (QB)

Loooooooove this pick.  I can't believe he fell to the 4th round, but I'm glad he did.  I think the Jets got their future starting quarterback in Petty.  He has good size and a good arm.  He's accurate with the football and for the most part makes good decisions on the field (and off, which is always good).  He'll have a fairly steep learning curve, though, coming from Baylor's fast paced style of play, but I have no doubt that he'll work hard and eventually succeed.  Homerun pick. 

5th Round - Jarvis Harrison (OL)

A tackle in college, Harrison projects as a guard in the NFL.  According to reports, he's a good overall blocker who slipped because of effort concerns and some durability questions.  A big positive, though, is that he played at Texas A&M in the SEC, which means he went up against NFL caliber players on a regular basis.  That'll go a long way in easing the transition from college to the pros. 

7th Round - Deon Simon (DL)

Sounds like Deon had some issues in college.  He was ineligible his first two years due to poor academics, then battled weight issues and ended up with a severe knee injury forcing him to miss the last five games of the 2014 season.  All that being said, the Jets took a flyer on him because of his size (if he can manage it) and strength.  Hey, that's what the 7th round is for, guys with potential upside. 

 
GIANTS

2nd Round - Landon Collins (S)

This was huge for the Giants.  A lot of mock drafts had Collins going in the 1st round, so for New York to grab him in the 2nd is a steal.  Most of the experts are saying that he's a more "in the box" type of safety, meaning he's better at stopping the run than in coverage.  And even if that's the case, it's still ok, because the Giants were terrible at stopping the run last year.  However, I'm sure he'll improve at covering receivers with some coaching.  No matter how you slice it, this was a great pick.

3rd Round - Owa Odighizuwa (DE)

A guy with a tough name to pronounce, but an even tougher demeanor.  Reports say he's raw, but has a high-motor, good burst and violent hands.  So even though he may lack experience, there's a ton of room to grow, especially as a pass rusher.  I'm sure Steve Spagnuolo will be able to get the most out of him.

5th Round - Mykkele Thompson (S)

Thompson sounds a lot like Landon Collins.  A player that's above average at stopping the run, but somewhat inadequate in coverage.  I have to assume the Giants drafted him for depth purposes.

6th Round - Geremy Davis (WR)

Davis has good size and appears to be a decent athlete, but wasn't ultra productive in college.  Perhaps the Giants can coach him up to become a red-zone threat, but at the very least he should be able to contribute on special teams right away.

7th Round - Bobby Hart (OL)

All reports indicate that he's a fairly average player.  Like most guys, there's areas that he needs improvement in (agility, quickness), but I like the fact that he was a two year starter at Florida State, because that means he played in some pretty big games, including the 2014 National Championship game. 

All in all, I think both teams did pretty well in the draft, each selecting at least three players that could have huge impacts down the road, if not this season.

NBA Playoffs - Round 1 Recap/Round 2 Predictions

Well, I didn't get all of the series right in my first post, but I did go 7 out of 8, and for me that's amazing.  Let's recap the 1st round.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlanta vs Brooklyn

My prediction - Atlanta 4-0
Actual result   - Atlanta 4-2

Got the winner right, but was off on the number of games.  Brooklyn played them pretty well until the series-clinching 6th game.  I'm not sure if I should give more credit to the Nets, or be worried about the Hawks for the rest of the playoffs. 

Cleveland vs Boston

My prediction - Cleveland 4-0
Actual result  -  Cleveland 4-0

Bango!  Got the winner and games right.  Not much to say here, but I'd like to tip my cap to Boston for never really getting blown out in any of the games.  They played much tougher than I thought they would.  That being said, they were still swept.  :)

Chicago vs Milwaukee

My prediction - Chicago 4-1
Actual result  -  Chicago 4-2

Pretty darn close.  But much like Boston and Brooklyn, Milwaukee played some good basketball.  Until that last game and all, when they lost by 54 points.  Yeah, you read that right.

Toronto vs Washington

My prediction - Toronto 4-2
Actual result  -  Washington 4-0

(cue the sad music)
Holy smokes did I botch this series.  Not only did Toronto lose, but they got swept.  I think Washington is a decent team, but I'd be lying if I said I saw this coming.  Well, obviously that would be a lie since I just told you my original prediction.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Golden State vs New Orleans

My prediction - Golden State 4-3
Actual result  -  Golden State 4-0

Before any of you start laughing at me, hear me out.  There were two games that New Orleans absolutely should have won.  The Warriors had to overcome deficits of 20 and 13 points.  Had the Pelicans played actual basketball in the 4th quarter of those games, this would have been a totally different series and made my 4-3 prediction quite respectable.  Quite!

Houston vs Dallas

My prediction - Houston 4-1
Actual result  -  Houston 4-1

What, what, whaaaaatttt!  Yessir, nailed two series perfectly.  Props to the Mavericks for playing hard, but the Rockets were too much for them to handle. 

Los Angeles vs San Antonio

My prediction - Los Angeles 4-3
Actual result  -  Los Angeles 4-3

Get the fudge outta' here!  I'm on fire with these predictions!  This series was insane for the 1st round.  It had the look and feel of a conference finals matchup.  Tons of people were complaining that these two teams had to play each other so early, but that's the way the cookie crumbles, folks.  The NBA had better hope the rest of the playoffs pan out like this series did.

Memphis vs Portland

My prediction - Memphis 4-0
Actual result  -  Memphis 4-1

Portland played better basketball in the last three games, even pulling out a win, but this series was never in question.  

My picks weren't too shabby, huh?  Now let's get some round 2 predictions.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlanta vs Washington

I'm a day late on a couple of series, and this is one of them.  Washington has already taken game 1 from Atlanta.  Had Brooklyn not won two games against the Hawks, I would have most certainly picked Atlanta, but they were completely underwhelming in that series.  While I think the Wizards played a little above their heads in the sweep of Toronto, they just seem to be clicking right now. 

Washington 4-2

Cleveland vs Chicago

This would have been a great series had Kevin Love not gotten hurt and JR Smith not been suspended two games.  The Bulls are finally at 100%, which they haven't been for a couple of years now.  When it's all said and done, though, I really think the Love injury will prove to be too much for Cleveland to overcome. 

Chicago 4-2

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Golden State vs Memphis

This is the other series that already played its first game.  Shockingly, Golden State won.  Let's just cut to the chase.  Golden State is going to win, it's just a question of by how much.  To me it depends on the health of Mike Conley.  He already missed the first game, and if he misses more time, this could very well end up being a sweep.  For the sake of my predictions, I'll assume Conley ends up playing.

Golden State 4-2

Houston vs Los Angeles

This should be a great series.  James Harden, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.  It's packed with all-stars, but will all of them play?  Chris Paul hurt his hamstring in the last game of the Spurs series.  Though the MRI came back clean, a hamstring injury is still hard to bounce back from.  Despite that, Paul shouldn't have a problem scoring on the likes of Jason Terry.  This should be a fun, high scoring and entertaining series.

Los Angeles 4-3

This 2nd round should be a good one.  Enjoy the games and let's see if I can keep my good predictions rolling. 

Jets and Giants 1st Round Recap

Well, round 1 of the NFL draft is in the books, and for the most part it was fairly straight forward.  No monster trades like a lot of people predicted.  As usual, most of the talk revolved around the two quarterbacks, which has been the case for all of the shows leading up to the draft.  I'm sure they'll still somehow be the topic of conversation tonight.  But before I go off on a tangent, let me get to the reason for this article: the Jets and Giants picks from last night.

First the Jets.  They were able to snag, who some believe to be the best prospect in the entire draft in Leonard Williams.  Even though the Jets didn't need another defensive lineman, his value and upside were too good to pass up.  I'm sure New York was just as surprised as I was when Williams fell into their laps at pick #6.  This could be fate, though, because Muhammad Wilkerson is looking for a new contract, and a hefty one at that.  There was talk even before last night about the Jets possibly trading him.  I think that would be a mistake, but since he's already choosing not to show up for voluntary workouts, this could prove to be a viable option if he continues to be difficult.  Assuming he doesn't get traded, the Jets, who already had one of the best d-lines in the NFL, just got even stronger.  Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison and now Leonard Williams.  Wow.  They're going to be nightmares for offensive linemen.

I'm extremely curious to know who the Jets would've selected had Williams not been there.  Maybe WR Kevin White or OLB Vic Beasley?  We'll most likely never know.  In today's 2nd and 3rd rounds, the Jets can still grab a WR or OLB or even both.  Someone I wrote about in my Jets draft preview, OLB Randy Gregory, is still available.  Yes, he had the marijuana incident, but in round 2 he could be a steal.  Gregory could be the pure pass rusher the Jets have been desperate for.  Or if it's a receiver they're after, guys like Jaelen Strong and Devin Smith are still around.  Plenty of talent to be had. 

As for my New York Giants, they went with the very unsexy pick of Ereck Flowers.  It felt like crickets were chirping when the selection was announced.  Maybe that's just me.  The first thing I'll say is that this felt like a big reach.  They could have easily moved back 5 spots and still grabbed him.  Then again, maybe they couldn't find a trade partner.  Who knows.  I read every article I could find on Flowers when they drafted him, and have to say that most of it was positive.  He sounds like a mammoth of a human being, who has a passion for the game, and a mean streak to finish off defenders.  The only knock on him is that he's still a bit raw.  His technique and footwork can be sloppy at times.  That seems fixable, though, with a little NFL coaching.  It sounds like the Giants drafted him to be their left tackle, but I doubt that will happen right away.  What I'm hoping will happen, is he can step in at right tackle immediately, moving Justin Pugh inside to guard.  If that's the case, this line has the potential to be dramatically improved in a matter of a year.

As for today, there's still a guy available that I think the Giants must get, and that's safety Landon Collins.  He was a guy linked to New York in the 1st round in some mock drafts, so to get him in the 2nd would be a huge coup.  Safety is a big position of need for the G-men, so grabbing Collins would be a need and value pick.  Another name out there that's been mentioned with the Giants is DL Eddie Goldman.  He seems to be a staunch run defender who would pair up with Jonathan Hankins and help lower the 4.9 yards per rush New York allowed last season (worst in franchise history).

Can't wait for tonight.  Let's see which players end up in New York.