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Monta Ellis: All Star?

  For starters, Monta Ellis’ stats this year (entering Tuesday) are as follows: 20.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.7 SPG on 46% shooting, and 32.6% from 3. His defensive rating (points allowed by a team with given player on the court per 100 possessions) is 108, and his offensive rating is 106. By itself, this is quite a season. However, he plays in a tough Western Conference, and believe it or not, he has had seasons very similar to this one before, and he did not make the all star game.

  The better seasons he had were in Golden State in his final 2 seasons there, from the 09-10 season to the 10-11 season. In 2009-2010, he scored about 5 more points per game on 1% worse FG%, and had almost a whole assist more a game, as well as 1.5 rebounds a game more. In the next season, a similar result occurred. 24.1 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.5 RPG on 45% shooting. In neither of those years did he make the all star game, where not only his numbers were better, but the surrounding talent was worse. Some all stars from those years included Chauncey Billups in 2010 (19.5 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.1 RPG on 42% shooting) and Manu Ginobili in 2011 (17 PPG, 5 APG, 3.7 RPG on 43% shooting). Not to take anything away from them, but you can make a legitimate case that Monta Ellis had better years than both of them in the respective seasons.

  In the present though, here are his opponents he has to compete with for the likely last guard spot in New York for:

  Klay Thompson (24 PPG, 3.4 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 1 BPG on 46% shooting and 44% from 3, with a 111 offensive rating, and 107 defensive rating)

  Damian Lillard (22 PPG, 6 APG, 5 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 46% from the field and 39% from 3, and a 118 ORTG, 102 DRTG)

Russell Westbrook (26 PPG, 7 APG, 5.6 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 43% FG%, 26% from 3; ORTG of 109, DRTG 101

James Harden (27 PPG, 6.6 APG, 5.8 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 44% from the field, 36% from 3; ORTG of 117, DRTG of 100. Also carrying his team to a top 3 record in the West and is a strong MVP candidate)

Mike Conley (18 PPG, 6 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 46.6% FG%, 44% from 3; 115 ORTG, 106 DRTG; one of the top defensive point guards in the NBA)

  These are the guys I would honestly put in front of Ellis right now. Since Conley plays superior defense and gets more assists and shoots the three so much better, I would give him the edge before Monta. Missed games for Tony Parker helps Monta inch closer into the conversation. One thing that Monta has an advantage over Westbrook though is that his team is playing at a much better level, and Westbrook was hurt for a lot of the season.

Overall, I really struggle to see Monta make the all star game, unfortunately for Mavs fans. Maybe if Kobe didn’t get voted in, he would have a chance, but it may not be a bad thing. Monta is the Mavs’ best chance at an all star (you could make the case Tyson Chandler is having an all star caliber year, but he is unlikely to get in since the frontcourt is just as crowded as the backcourt). If the Mavs get no all stars, they will be well rested for the second half of the season and towards the playoffs. Maybe Monta getting snubbed could be a blessing in disguise.

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Chandler Parsons' struggles: legitimate concern or slump?

Chandler Parsons was one of the highest paid players this offseason, but has not lived up to that payday quite yet. As of Thursday, his basic stats were as follows:

  14 PPG/4.8 RPG/2.3 APG/ .8 SPG/34.8% 3P%/40.1% FG%

  These stats are not what one would expect out of someone being paid just short of $15 million. However, his defense has been solid overall, with a defensive rating of just under 103. Going on with the positives, he is averaging a hair under 1 turnover a game, which is very good for someone who has the ball in his hands so much and plays starters minutes. His true shooting percentage, according to NBA.com, is 51.9%, compared to Monta Ellis’ 55.6 TS%, with Monta shooting 48% from the field unadjusted. What does all of this mean? It means that while Chandler Parsons is struggling now, he just may be slumping, and he will pick it up as the season goes on.

Finally, he is shooting just about as many catch and shoot jump shots as he is inside shots and layups. This should not be happening, since driving is arguably his best strength on offense. His jump shot form is somewhat off, and thus he probably should not be taking nearly as many jumpers as he is now. There are a lot of times that Parsons is camping out on the perimeter waiting for a jump shot, but this is not what the Mavs need. He needs to look to drive more, and maybe not sit on the perimeter as often. Overall, his shot selection is poor, and hopefully coach Carlisle will get this to improve. If his shot selection becomes smarter, not only will Parsons’ individual production go up, but this already elite offense could get even better.

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Nikola Vucevic signs extension- overapid, underpaid, or fair value?

  Vucevic is the first of the players the Magic acquired in the Dwight Howard trade of 2012 to be extended. Considering that the cap size will increase by near $25 million in the coming years.

  Furthermore, Vucevic is worth $12 million no matter the current or future cap situation. One player that has similar stats is DeAndre Jordan (10 PPG, 13.6 RPG), granted Jordan plays significantly better defense. Vucevic averaged 14 PPG and 11 RPG, and has more range than Jordan. They are similar, yet different players, and Jordan will be making roughly $11.4 million this year. Vucevic still has a lot of room to grow on both sides of the ball, and to have him on the same contract as a near star is a really good value.

  Another similar player in terms of stats and production is Tyson Chandler. Chandler is making $14 million this year, granted a lot of people think he is overpaid. Chandler’s best year under his current contract was between the 2011-12 season and 2012-13 season, where he averaged about 10 PPG, and between the two years averaged roughly 10.5 rebounds, and like Jordan, Chandler averaged more blocks and is a significantly better defender.

Overall, if Vucevic can get locked up for the same price as elite defenders, who at the moment are able to do more than Vucevic at higher levels, is a very good deal. As mentioned earlier, Vucevic has potential due to length, and if he can continue to expand his jumper, he will gain a lot more value. This deal is a perfect price for both sides. Next, the Magic will try to extend Tobias Harris before the October 31 deadline. Harris could make near the same value, but do not be shocked if he makes slightly less. Vucevic has already had borderline all star seasons in his career, Harris has not.

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NFL 2014 Predictions

AFC East:

  New England Patriots: 13-3

Miami Dolphins: 10-6*

Buffalo Bills: 7-9

New York Jets: 5-11

AFC North:

  Cincinnati Bengals: 11-5

Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6*

Baltimore Ravens: 10-6

Cleveland Browns: 6-10

  AFC South:

  Indianapolis Colts: 14-2

Tennessee Titans: 9-7

Houston Texans: 8-8

Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-13

  AFC West:

  Denver Broncos: 13-3

San Diego Chargers: 10-6

Kansas City Chiefs: 9-7

Oakland Raiders: 5-11

  NFC East:

  Washington Redskins: 10-6

Philadelphia Eagles: 9-7

New York Giants: 8-8

Dallas Cowboys: 7-9

  NFC North:

  Green Bay Packers: 13-3

Detroit Lions: 10-6

Chicago Bears: 9-7

Minnesota Vikings: 6-10

  NFC South:

  New Orleans Saints: 13-3

Carolina Panthers: 12-4*

Atlanta Falcons: 9-7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-11

  NFC West:

  Seattle Seahawks: 13-3

San Francisco 49ers: 12-4*

Arizona Cardinals: 11-5

St. Louis Rams: 4-12

  Super Bowl: Packers over Colts

  MVP: Aaron Rodgers:

Rookie of the year: Jason Verrett, Brandin Cooks

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2014 NBA Free Agency Predictions

Lebron James- Miami Heat

  Carmelo Anthony- Chicago Bulls

  Chris Bosh- Miami Heat

  Dirk Nowitzki: Dallas Mavericks

  Dwyane Wade: Miami Heat

  Kyle Lowry: Dallas Mavericks

  Eric Bledsoe: Phoenix Suns

  Luol Deng: Atlanta Hawks

  Greg Monroe: New Orleans Pelicans

  Pau Gasol: New York Knicks

  Lance Stephenson: LA Lakers

  Chandler Parsons: Orlando Magic

  Paul Pierce: LA Clippers

  Gordon Hayward: Utah Jazz

  Marcin Gortat: Washington Wizards

  Isaiah Thomas: Toronto Raptors

  Avery Bradley: Houston Rockets

  Evan Turner: Boston Celtics

  Spencer Hawes: Oklahoma City Thunder

  Shawn Marion: Dallas Mavericks

  Trevor Ariza: LA Lakers

  Shaun Livingston: Portland Trailblazers

  Vince Carter: Atlanta Hawks

  Nick Young: LA Lakers

  Josh McRoberts: San Antonio Spurs

  Boris Diaw: San Antonio Spurs

  Rodney Stuckey: Orlando Magic

  Andray Blatche: Indiana Pacers

  Channing Frye: Houston Rockets

  Greivis Vasquez: Toronto Raptors

  Ray Allen: Miami Heat

  Danny Granger: Denver Nuggets

  Glen Davis: Detroit Pistons

  Khris Humphries: Phoenix Suns

  Jodie Meeks: Dallas Mavericks

  Ramon Sessions: Minnesota Timberwolves

  Marvin Williams: New York Knicks

  Ed Davis: Phoenix Suns

  Patty Mills: Denver Nuggets

  Jordan Hill: Dallas Mavericks

  Mario Chalmers: Memphis Grizzlies

  Devin Harris: Dallas

  Brian Roberts: LA Lakers

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First and Last 2014 2 round mock

2. Milwaukee Bucks: Jabari Parker, F, Duke- Bucks get an elite scorer, and now have a great wing duo with the Greek Freak.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid, C, Kansas- Despite injuries, the Sixers will try to get a new version of Robinson and Duncan in the paint.

4. Orlando Magic: Dante Exum, G, Australia- The biggest enigma in the draft, Exum has too much potential to pass up.

5. Utah Jazz: Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona- Gordon- Tweener, but he has Blake Griffin potential, and could fit well with the Jazz, completing a great starting five compiled from the last 5 years.

6. Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma State- Strong guard that has great guard skills, he will learn a lot from Rondo.

7. Los Angeles Lakers: Julius Randle, F, Kentucky- Injury and skipping workouts lead him to fall to his childhood favorite team.

8. Sacramento Kings: Noah Vonleh, F, Indiana- The biggest fall, the Kings get a steal with Vonleh, who is arguably a top 10 talent.

9. Charlotte Hornets: Nik Stauskas, G, Michigan- A great shooter, not a top 10 talent, but would fit well here.

10. Philadelphia 76ers: Dario Saric, F, Croatia- Sixers are in rebuild mode, so they can afford to do an early draft-and-stash for someone that could become an all star.

11. Denver Nuggets: Doug McDermott, F, Creighton- high basketball IQ, and one of the greatest college players ever, but defensive and athletic concerns make him fall out of the top 10.

12. Orlando Magic: Rodney Hood, G/F, Duke- Athletic, shooting wing with tremendous potential on both sides of the ball.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves: James Young- I’ve mocked Young to the Wolves for a few months now, and don’t see it changing.

14. Phoenix Suns: Zach LaVine, G, UCLA: Athletic guard that, if Gerald Green is replaced, could easily fill his void at SG. Similar athleticism to Green, but questions about overall skill.

15. Atlanta Hawks: Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia: An overseas player that dominates the paint, he could help be the future center in Atlanta depending on the future of the frontcourt of the Hawks.

16. Chicago Bulls: Elfrid Payton, PG, UL-Lafayette: Young upperclassman that has drawn tons of comparison’s to Rondo. Would be a great compliment to a healthy Rose, and could become a quality starter.

17. Boston Celtics: Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State: The Celtics get a solid shooter in Harris. However, there are concerns that he could turn into a 1 dimensional player.

18. Phoenix Suns: Adreian Payne, F, Michigan State: Versatile big man that could be similar to Channing Frye, but better.

19. Chicago Bulls: TJ Warren, F, North Carolina State: The ACC player of the year, Warren might be the best second tier small forward. A poor man’s Jabari, Warren will have an impact right away.

20. Toronto Raptors: Tyler Ennis, G, Syracuse: Ujiri says he has a guy he wants at 20, and I think it is Ennis or a wing. Ennis is a Canadian, and the Raptors need a point guard if Lowry and Vasquez walk.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder: KJ McDaniels, F, Clemson: A solid defender and a good offensive player, KJ could be a solid backup to KD.

22. Memphis Grizzlies: CJ Wilcox, G, Washington: the Grizzlies need a shooter and defender, something Wilcox can do both of. Ideal 3 & D guy.

23. Utah Jazz: Glenn Robinson III, F, Michigan: The Jazz need athletic wings/ guards, and Robinson is that. This would mean that Gordon gets to be PF for Utah, and that they added a good amount of athleticism in the first round alone

24. Miami Heat: Shabazz Napier, PG, UConn. Lebron loves Napier, so maybe to keep him they take him, and Napier can replace Cole/ Chalmers

25. Houston Rockets: Damien Inglis, F, France: A solid defender and complete wing, Inglis is just 19, and would be a typical Morey pick.

26. Charlotte Hornets: Mitch McGary, F, Michigan: A stretch four, McGary already supposedly has a promise from the Hornets, so this might be the easiest post-lottery pick.

27. Phoenix Suns: Kyle Anderson, F, UCLA: Anderson is a point forward that can do a lot. However, he doesn’t have a niche on most teams.

28. Los Angeles Clippers: Cleanthony Early, SF, Wichita State: Early, a senior who was a big part of Wichita’s success, is a good defender, but his jump shot has a lot of work.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jordan Clarkson, G, Missouri: Clarkson is a big point guard (might be able to play SG) that is too good to pass up at this point.

30. San Antonio Spurs: Bogdan Bogdanovic, G, Serbia: A big guard that can do a ton. He won’t come over right away, but is a perfect Spur.

  Second Round

31. Milwaukee Bucks: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, F, NBA D-League

32. Philadelphia 76ers: Semaj Christon, PG, Xavier:

33. Orlando Magic: Clint Capela, PF, Switzerland

34. New York Knicks: Vasilije Micic, PG, Serbia

35. Utah Jazz: Jordan Adams, G, UCLA

36. Milwaukee Bucks: Spencer Dinwiddie, G, Colorado

37. Toronto Raptors: Jerami Grant, F, Syracuse

38. Detroit Pistons: Nikola Jotic, PF, Serbia

39. Philadelphia 76ers: Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee

40. Minnesota Timberwolves: Khem Birch, PF/C, UNLV

41. Denver Nuggets: Walter Tavares, C, Spain

42. Houston Rockets: Markel Brown, G, Oklahoma State

43. Atlanta Hawks: PJ Hairston, G, NBA D-League

44. Minnesota Timberwolves: Nick Johnson, G, Arizona

45. Charlotte Hornets: Jahii Carson, PG, Arizona State

46. Washington Wizards: Artem Klimenko, C, Russia

47. Philadelphia 76ers: Joe Harris, G, Virginia

48. Milwaukee Bucks: Patric Young, PF/C, Florida

49. Chicago Bulls: Jordan Bachynski, C, Arizona State

50. Phoenix Suns: Alec Brown, C, Wisconsin-Green Bay

51. New York Knicks: Deandre Daniels, F, UConn

52. Philadelphia 76ers: Johnny O’Braynt, PF, LSU

53. Minnesota Timberwolves: Cristiano Felicio, F, Brazil

54. Miami Heat: Alessandro Gentile, F, Italy

55. Philadelphia 76ers: Deonte Burton, G, Nevada

56. Orlando Magic: Ionnis Papapetrou, F, Greece

57. Indiana Pacers: Jabari Brown, G, Missouri

58. San Antonio Spurs: Nemanja Dangubic, SG, Serbia

59. Toronto Raptors: James Michael McAdoo, F, North Carolina

60. San Antonio Spurs: CJ Fair, F, Syracuse

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Last second mock

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Andrew Wiggins, G/F, Kansas- best overall talent, Cavs will look long term over short term and go Wiggins over Parker.

2. Milwaukee Bucks: Jabari Parker, F, Duke- Bucks get an elite scorer, and now have a great wing duo with the Greek Freak.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid, C, Kansas- Despite injuries, the Sixers will try to get a new version of Robinson and Duncan in the paint.

4. Orlando Magic: Dante Exum, G, Australia- The biggest enigma in the draft, Exum has too much potential to pass up.

5. Utah Jazz: Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona- Gordon- Tweener, but he has Blake Griffin potential, and could fit well with the Jazz, completing a great starting five compiled from the last 5 years.

6. Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma State- Strong guard that has great guard skills, he will learn a lot from Rondo.

7. Los Angeles Lakers: Julius Randle, F, Kentucky- Injury and skipping workouts lead him to fall to his childhood favorite team.

8. Sacramento Kings: Noah Vonleh, F, Indiana- The biggest fall, the Kings get a steal with Vonleh, who is arguably a top 10 talent.

9. Charlotte Hornets: Nik Stauskas, G, Michigan- A great shooter, not a top 10 talent, but would fit well here.

10. Philadelphia 76ers: Dario Saric, F, Croatia- Sixers are in rebuild mode, so they can afford to do an early draft-and-stash for someone that could become an all star.

11. Denver Nuggets: Doug McDermott, F, Creighton- high basketball IQ, and one of the greatest college players ever, but defensive and athletic concerns make him fall out of the top 10.

12. Orlando Magic: Rodney Hood, G/F, Duke- Athletic, shooting wing with tremendous potential on both sides of the ball.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves: James Young- I’ve mocked Young to the Wolves for a few months now, and don’t see it changing.

14. Phoenix Suns: Zach LaVine, G, UCLA: Athletic guard that, if Gerald Green is replaced, could easily fill his void at SG. Similar athleticism to Green, but questions about overall skill.

15. Atlanta Hawks: Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia: An overseas player that dominates the paint, he could help be the future center in Atlanta depending on the future of the frontcourt of the Hawks.

16. Chicago Bulls: Elfrid Payton, PG, UL-Lafayette: Young upperclassman that has drawn tons of comparison’s to Rondo. Would be a great compliment to a healthy Rose, and could become a quality starter.

17. Boston Celtics: Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State: The Celtics get a solid shooter in Harris. However, there are concerns that he could turn into a 1 dimensional player.

18. Phoenix Suns: Adreian Payne, F, Michigan State: Versatile big man that could be similar to Channing Frye, but better.

19. Chicago Bulls: TJ Warren, F, North Carolina State: The ACC player of the year, Warren might be the best second tier small forward. A poor man’s Jabari, Warren will have an impact right away.

20. Toronto Raptors: Tyler Ennis, G, Syracuse: Ujiri says he has a guy he wants at 20, and I think it is Ennis or a wing. Ennis is a Canadian, and the Raptors need a point guard if Lowry and Vasquez walk.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder: KJ McDaniels, F, Clemson: A solid defender and a good offensive player, KJ could be a solid backup to KD.

22. Memphis Grizzlies: CJ Wilcox, G, Washington: the Grizzlies need a shooter and defender, something Wilcox can do both of. Ideal 3 & D guy.

23. Utah Jazz: Glenn Robinson III, F, Michigan: The Jazz need athletic wings/ guards, and Robinson is that. This would mean that Gordon gets to be PF for Utah, and that they added a good amount of athleticism in the first round alone

24. Miami Heat: Shabazz Napier, PG, UConn. Lebron loves Napier, so maybe to keep him they take him, and Napier can replace Cole/ Chalmers

25. Houston Rockets: Damien Inglis, F, France: A solid defender and complete wing, Inglis is just 19, and would be a typical Morey pick.

26. Charlotte Hornets: Mitch McGary, F, Michigan: A stretch four, McGary already supposedly has a promise from the Hornets, so this might be the easiest post-lottery pick.

27. Phoenix Suns: Kyle Anderson, F, UCLA: Anderson is a point forward that can do a lot. However, he doesn’t have a niche on most teams.

28. Los Angeles Clippers: Cleanthony Early, SF, Wichita State: Early, a senior who was a big part of Wichita’s success, is a good defender, but his jump shot has a lot of work.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jordan Clarkson, G, Missouri: Clarkson is a big point guard (might be able to play SG) that is too good to pass up at this point.

30. San Antonio Spurs: Bogdan Bogdanovic, G, Serbia: A big guard that can do a ton. He won’t come over right away, but is a perfect Spur.

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First Post-Lottery Mock Draft

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Joel Embiid, C, Kansas: Rumor is that Embiid is who the Cavs are favoring right now, but a lot can change in the next month. While Embiid probably isn’t the best player, the Cavs do not need a wing as badly as they need a center.  Anderson Varejao is a free agent, along with fellow center Spencer Hawes. If they bring back Varejao, Embiid could play power forward along Varejao, or play center when Varejao is out.

2.Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Wiggins, G/F, Kansas: In my opinion, Wiggins is the best talent in this draft, and that is what the Bucks need. They have a lot of holes, but getting Wiggins would make a very solid core of Brandon Knight, Larry Sanders, and Andrew Wiggins.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: Jabari Parker, F, Duke: The Sixers are in an even worse situation (depending on perspective) than the Bucks in terms of talent right now. Grabbing Parker would give them a scorer, and a guy who is ready to have an impact right away.

4. Orlando Magic: Dante Exum, G, Australia: The biggest question mark in the draft, Exum is still an enigma, even after more of his play has been exposed. I personally am not a fan, but he said he wants to be a Magic or Laker, and he might just get his wish. His ceiling could be Penny Hardaway (without the injuries) 2.0, which fits since Penny is one of the greatest Magic players of all time.

5.Utah Jazz: Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona: The Jazz have 4 former lottery players starting (Burke, Hayward, Favors, Kanter), and Gordon would fill out the starting five of former lottery picks at small forward, and occasionally power forward. Gordon is a tweener, but could have a big height and physical advantage at small forward. While his offense is not strong at all, his athleticism and defense almost make up for his subpar offense.

6.  Boston Celtics: Julius Randle, F, Kentucky: While Randle still is pretty raw in my opinion, the Celtics could use a quick power forward that is an all-around player. He reminds me of Thaddeus Young, and with Sullinger, Olynyk, and Jeff Green, someone may have to be moved.

7. LA Lakers: Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana: The Lakers need a lot of things, but assuming Gasol walks in free agency, and even if he stays, they need a big man who can protect the rim. Vonleh is a solid defender already, and has the potential to be an elite rim protector. He can also crash the board very well, which will lead to constant double doubles. He is going to be a future star, and will fit right into the Laker culture.

8. Sacramento Kings: Dario Saric, F, Croatia: Saric is a point forward who has good size to be a stretch 4 or big 3, and I think stretch fours are going to become more valuable going forward. We almost saw a stretch four lead an 8 seed (Paul Millsap, Atlanta) to pull of an upset of the 1 seed, and I think Sacramento will see the value of a stretch four this offseason.

9. Charlotte Hornets: Doug McDermott, F, Creighton: McDermott is one of the smartest basketball players in this draft, and also has great range for his size. However, he doesn’t have a lot of upside, and his defense is a question mark. The Hornets though can use a forward who can space the floor, because outside of McRoberts and Tolliver the Hornets lack that.

10. Philadelphia 76ers: Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma State: The Sixers have rookie of the year Michael Carter-Williams, but do not have anyone to back him up or play the other guard position alongside him. Smart can do both, and as more teams adopt the 2 guard system, the more valuable the second guard becomes.

11. Denver Nuggets: Gary Harris, G, Michigan State: The Nuggets had very little backup guard play, and Gary Harris can become a very good 6th man for the early part of his career if he doesn’t start. He, like Ty Lawson, can drive and finish well, and is aggressive when going to the basket.

12. Orlando Magic: Jerami Grant, F, Syracuse: Grant is a giant for small forward, and had a great combine. This makes one of Harris and Harkless tradeable, and adds more depth to small forward, and maybe power forward.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves: James Young, SF, Kentucky: Young has great measurables and good athleticism, and is already a solid defender. The Wolves need a small forward and defense, so they get both with one pick.

14. Phoenix Suns: Nik Stauskas, G, Michigan: The Suns need a wing, and Stauskas is a scoring machine.

15. Atlanta Hawks: Adreian Payne, F, Michigan State: Payne is long, quick, athletic, and polished. He would work very well as a backup to Millsap, and help make the Hawks bench much stronger.

16. Chicago Bulls: PJ Hairston, SG, NBADL/UNC: One of the biggest problems for the Bulls this year was that they had trouble scoring at times. Hairston is a good scorer, and has good size, and has gotten experience playing vs the D-League.

17. Phoenix Suns: Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia: While Nurkic is very unathletic, he has good skills around the rim. He is raw right now, but could be an impact player on both ends of the rim.

18. Boston Celtics: Zach LaVine, G, UCLA: LaVine is similar to Westbrook in that he is a big guard (6-6) with great athleticism and explosiveness. LaVine had a great combine, but is still a raw talent. Working with Rondo will help his point guard skills, and he could be similar to Oladipo, playing both shooting guard and point guard in the first years of his career.

19. Chicago Bulls: Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia: Porzingis is a big power forward, standing at 6’11, and has risen a lot over the last month, which is the best time to rise. He is still young, so he may not come over right away, but either way, he is a good long term piece.

20. Toronto Raptors: Tyler Ennis, G, Syracuse: I have Ennis listed as the 2nd best guard in the draft- I just think other teams have him lower than guys like Smart. The Raptors have had private workouts with Ennis, so I expect them to move up and grab him if he doesn’t fall to them at 20. Ennis reminds me of Monta Ellis and Jeff Teague, both of which are great at getting to the rim.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Rodney Hood, G/F, Duke: Hood is amongst the most NBA ready players in the draft, but has some concerns about his defense. He is a great scorer already, and would be a great bench player for the Thunder.

22. Memphis Grizzlies: TJ Warren, F, NC State: The Grizzlies need a small forward badly, and Warren gives them a scoring boost as well as filling a positional need. Warren is a liability on defense, but it can’t be much worse than Mike Miller on defense.

23. Utah Jazz: Artem Kilmenko, C, Russia: This is a draft and stash pick, as Kilmenko is still raw, and I doubt he comes over right away. He will be good on defense and be a good shot blocker.

24. Charlotte Bobcats: Vasilije Micic, PG, Serbia: Micic has good size for a point guard, but still may not be ready to come over quite yet. He is a true point guard with shooting abilities, and would be a great compliment to Kemba.

25. Houston Rockets: Semaj Christon, G, Xavier: Christon has good size (6’3, with 6’6 wingspan), and is very athletic. He reminds me a lot of Reggie Jackson for the Thunder. They are both 6’3 and athletic, and are good distributors. Since I see Lin or Beverly being moved this offseason, Christon would make for a very serviceable backup.

26. Miami Heat: Kyle Anderson, F, UCLA: Anderson is a tweener, who can play both forward positions, but is a finesse forward, as well as a point forward. He could learn a lot from Lebron in that aspect.

27. Phoenix Suns: Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee: While Stokes is small for a PF, he is a great rebounder and has tremendous timing which helps him block shots. He wore orange in college, and will continue to wear orange in the NBA with the Suns.

28. LA Clippers: Glenn Robinson III, F, Michigan While Robinson did not perform like a first rounder in college, his athleticism gives him supreme upside. He will fit well in Lob City coming off the bench.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Clint Capela, PF, Switzerland: Capela has fallen a lot, and a lot of other guys have risen, which makes for a bad combo for Capela. He has good length, but is still very raw. He is not guaranteed to come over right away, since he is still very young. He needs to add strength, too, before coming over.

30. San Antonio Spurs: Bogdan Bogdanovic: The Spurs are known for taking European guys and making them good players, I see it happening again. Bogdanovic has a low ceiling, but has a high floor. He is a perfect fit with the Spurs.

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Why the Pacers are unable to get past the Heat

However, I think this is a time for evaluation of the Pacers. I made a post on reddit after the Paul George news, and this was my response:

This is why the Pacers cannot make it to the Finals nor win the Finals with this group. First, Stephenson opened his mouth yesterday, Paul George says stop, then George does the same thing. Earlier in the year, we saw Hibbert essentially rat out the Pacers by saying there are some guys in there that disrupt the locker room chemistry, or something along those lines. Things that do not need to be said. That is the downfall of this team. Stephenson trying to act all tough by "getting in Lebron's head", but in reality, it just makes them worse, and less likable on and off the court.

Look at the Thunder: when was the last time you heard or saw KD, Ibaka, or Westbrook make an excuse about losing?

Look at the Spurs: Quietest team by far and they are on the verge of making back to back finals, and by the way are probably the most successful org over the last 15 years.

Look at the Heat: In 2011 they were talking a lot (making fun of Dirk in Finals, the not 1 thing, etc). Now, they play with 100% respect off the court, and have tremendous team chemistry, and only give the media the bare minimum.

Point is, staying out of media drama is one of the most important things to do. All season long, the Pacers have had the spotlight, and most of the time it hasn't been positive. Just quit making excuses, because there are no excuses in sports, and move on and the Pacers should instead just try to better themselves and use this as motivation for game 5

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Pre-Draft Lottery Mock Draft

1. Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Wiggins, F, Kansas: The Bucks need everything, and Wiggins is the best overall talent.

2. Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid, C, Kansas: Yes, the Sixers have Noel. However, I believe that Noel could slide to PF, and Embiid plays center. This would make them a lethal force in the paint for years to come.

3. Orlando Magic:  Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana: I personally think Vonleh is going to climb as the draft approaches, and he is a safer pick than the guys in front of him like Gordon and Randle. The Magic need a big man who can start and play solid defense, which Vonleh can do. He is a double double machine, athletic, raw, and in my opinion, could be an all star frequently. I know it is odd that Orlando wouldn’t take Parker here, but the Magic already have two guys who can play SF and another position, in Harkless and Harris, they do not need another.

4. Boston Celtics: Jabari Parker, F, Duke: I’ve never been particularly high on Parker, and he has fallen lately in my opinion, but at 4 he is a decent pick. He can score and pass, but is a somewhat weak defender and can be easily intimidated. At best, he could be like James Harden one day, which isn’t badbut he has a higher floor than most.

5. Utah Jazz: Julius Randle, F, Kentucky: While Randle still has some glaring holes in his game, he is still an outstanding player. At 5, the Jazz get a good deal on a guy who fits a need for the Jazz.

6. LA Lakers: Dante Exum, PG, Australia: If not for the Lakers, I think Exum falls very hard. We are finally seeing that he is a quintessential question mark, and is a very risky pick. He has good size and athleticism, but we know very little about what matters- his in game play.

7. Sacramento Kings: Doug McDermott, F, Creighton: Mike Malone is a smart coach, and would benefit from a smart player in Doug McDermott. McDermott impressed scouts with a high vertical, topping 36 inches, and that could only help his stock.

8. Detroit Pistons: Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona: With the news that Monroe will not be a Piston next year, the Pistons will need a legit PF to replace him. Gordon is a tweener, but could play as an undersized 4. Van Gundy would make him a solid offensive player, which is his biggest weakness at the moment. His defense alone is worth taking in the top 10.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers: Dario Saric, F, Croatia: The Cavs need a forward with Deng leaving, and Saric can play as a large SF. He is a point forward too, and is a good rebounder.

10. Philadelphia 76ers: Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma State: Yes, the Sixers have MCW, but they need another guard to play with him, and that could be Marcus Smart. They could become what Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters are supposed to come, and could be a potential dynamic duo.

11. Denver Nuggets: Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State: One of the biggest issues for the Nuggets this last season was health. Their depth really wasn’t that good, so they need to improve their bench some. Harris would be a great bench player for the first couple of years of his career, then eventually start in the near future. He is a good finisher at the rim, and is fearless when driving.

12. Orlando Magic: Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse: I think my bias kicked in, as it would be hard for me to see Ennis going past 10. Jameer Nelson is getting old, and Oladipo as point guard may not be the best experiment. However, the Magic could try what the Mavs did this season, having two point guards, one that can play shooting guard (Monta Ellis) on the court at the same time. Ennis reminds me of Monta Ellis, and could be even better in my opinion.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves: James Young, F, Kentucky: Young has great measurables and good athleticism, and is already a solid defender. The Wolves need a small forward and defense, so they get both with one pick.

14. Phoenix Suns: Rodney Hood, SG/SF, Duke: Hood is 6’8, which is giant for SG, so that is a huge advantage for him. There are few questions about his offense, but his defense does not have much potential. Since the Suns have three first round picks this year, this is a low risk pick to me.

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First Weekly Report of the season for AA,A+, A ball for Texas Rangers

Since this is my first report on the other levels of the org, I would like to provide some background information on Frisco, Myrtle Beach, and Hickory.

  First, Frisco is considered the most talented team, or at least were for the first month, of the Texas League. They had a rehabbing Matt Harrison make a few starts for them, as well as top prospects Rougned Odor, Luis Sardinas, Luke Jackson, Alec Asher, Keone Kela, 2013 breakout star Ryan Rua, and then former top prospects in Chris Grayson, Jake Skole, and Wilmer Font. Overall, this is a loaded team.

  Next is Myrtle Beach, who is also loaded, and has probably the most potent offense in the Carolina League. Notable names in Myrtle Beach include #1 Rangers prospect, Jorge Alfaro, the biggest power bat in Joey Gallo, slugger Nick Williams, 2013 first round pick Alex “Chi-Chi” Gonzalez, Victor Payano, Sam Wolff, Cody Buckel and some bust prospects, such as Zach Cone and Will Lamb.

  Lastly, the Crawdads have most of the raw talents in the organizations, but still have plenty of top prospects. Among these top prospects are: Nomar Mazara, Lewis Brinson, Jairo Beras, Travis Demeritte, and Ronald Guzman. Other names to note are: Yohander Mendez, Cole Wiper, Akeem Bostick, and Isaih Kiner-Falefa. All of these names mentioned will be relevant for the whole season, and I will likely focus mostly on these guys during most of the reports.

  So getting to the reports on the teams:

  Frisco went 4-5 this week, making them the second team go to .500 over the last week in the Rangers’ farm.

  Odor continued his surprising power streak dating back to last August when he got called up to Frisco. He has 6 home runs this year. It’s not just his power though that is excelling, he is also hitting the ball very well. He has a 9 game hitting streak, and over his last 10 days, his line is: .381/.409/.667. Do not expect him to have a 1.000+ OPS in the majors. In 3 of the 9 games, he got 3 hits, and also got 2 stolen bases. I firmly believe that he could reach AAA by August. His defense has been good, offense has been better than expected (possibly an overachievement), and his discipline has been great, taking a lot of pitches and working counts, even though his strikeout-walk ratio shows that he may not have that great of discipline. He reminds me Shin Soo Choo, as he will work counts, but also strike out (never without a fight), and can get hits. In the end, I would give Odor player of the week honors for the Rangers farm system if I had a say.

  The biggest storyline for Frisco this last week was that closer Matt West was promoted to AAA, and that allowed Keone Kela to get called up. In his lone appearance thus far with his short time with Frisco, he pitched 2 innings, allowing 2 hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. Kela is a hard thrower, and his fastball can easily reach and be controlled at near 100 mph.

  Wilmer Font pitched three times this last week, having one bad outing, but lowered his ERA to 2.70. He continues to light up the radar gun, throwing near 100 mph consistently, which helps him get strikeouts, but he still is having trouble controlling his pitches. This is his most obvious and largest setback is his control. He has stuff, just does not know how to make them the best they can be.

  Also of importance, Joe Saunders is rehabbing in Frisco. He pitched Tuesday vs Midland (Oakland), going 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 ER, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. Expect at least one or two more rehab starts for him, but this is disappointing for a major league starter, even if it is Joe Saunders.

  As for Myrtle Beach, Joey Gallo is by far the biggest story of this team. He is hitting over .320 with great power, still some strikeouts, and more walks. Overall what you want to see.

  Also a top 20 prospect for the Rangers, Sam Wolff had a decent week. 2 starts:

  5 IP, 2 H 1 ER 5 BB 5 SO, and 7 IP 7 H 3 ER 4 BB 4 SO

  As you can see, his strikeouts are there, but his control still needs work. However, this is more of a recent problem, not a year-long problem. His next start is in the coming days, and I plan to watch it, and have a report on what is wrong with his control if this trend continues.

  Making one start this week was Alex “Chi-Chi” Gonzalez, and he proved that quality is better than quantity. He went 8 innings, 5 hits, 3 walks and 5 SO without giving up any runs. I think he is very close to ready to join Frisco, so this may be one of the last times you see his name with the Pelicans.

  I would touch on Victor Payano, but there’s really not a lot to him. He’s wild, and will likely drop off the top 20 prospect list by July.

  However, on the opposite end, is Will Lamb. He was absolutely wild last year, but for the first part of this year has been relatively smooth. Tuesday he pitched a perfect inning, in only his 5th outing of the season. The Pelicans are using him cautiously, as he could blow up at any moment, but so far, he has been excellent out of the pen. He went from one of my favorite prospects to completely off the radar very quickly (other guys that did the same are Jake Skole and Zach Cone). I should probably fix my gut picks with prospects.

  Lastly is Hickory, who, even with some of the big prospects advancing to high a, still have a very potent offense. However, their biggest story so far has been pitcher Cole Wiper. He actually had a very odd start Sunday, going 3.2 innings surrendering 7 hits and 1 walk, but only giving up one run. However, he is not allowing runs to score after allowing runners to reach. He has a mid 90’s fastball, as well as a slider and a changeup. He’s still pretty raw, so him showing these early results is a great sign for the club. Expect his stock to increase as the season goes on.

The first player I want to talk about is Jairo Beras. His struggle has gone severely under the radar, and might warrant a demotion to short season ball in late June. He’s hitting .180/.237/.191. For a guy who is known for his power and strength, this is incredibly disappointing. No Hickory games have been available on MiLB.TV yet, so I can’t comment on his defense, but maybe that is what is keeping him in the lineup.

  Also struggling is 2013 4th rounder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.106/.192/.106). Very concerning considering he hit over .320 last year with an OPS of over .700. Both he and Beras are struggling mightily against lefties, even though they are both right handed.

  Lewis Brinson was put on the DL early last week, he was actually doing pretty well, and had played a key role in some of the Hickory wins.

  Lastly, the two players I always get mixed up, Nomar Mazara and Ronald Guzman, have been driving in runs for Hickory. A combined 22 RBI, but only one combined home run. However, it is nice to see that they have a combined 5 SB, and while that is a small number, neither guy is known for speed. It just adds to their prospect value.

  Overall, Hickory is the home of most of the raw talents in the Rangers organization. Since that is the case, there are going to be extreme periods of slumps and winning streaks, since they can get going at any time, but also cool down and not heat up for a while. To me, the individual performances are much more important than the results of the games for Hickory. Once these guys improve their skill, expect some call-ups and demotions throughout the farm.

  As for Myrtle Beach, I think many of these guys are better than the competition they are facing. They too will go through extreme dry spells more than likely, but still, when they are on, they are one of the best A+ teams.

Similar to Myrtle Beach, Frisco is one of the best at their level. Frisco is the best team by a good margin (on paper) if you ask me. With Odor and Sardinas (who got called up last Thursday), this team is loaded. Definitely worth catching a few games of theirs this season.

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1st Round Mock Draft

1. Houston Texans: Jadaveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

2. St Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo

4. Cleveland Browns: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

5. Oakland Raiders: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

6. Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

8. Minnesota Vikings: Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, S, Alabama

9. Buffalo Bills: Odell Beckham JR, WR, LSU

10. Detroit Lions: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State

11. Tennessee Titans: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State

12. New York Giants: Zack Martin, OT, Stanford

13. St. Louis Rams: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

14. Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech

16. Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA

17. Baltimore Ravens: Eric Ebron, TE, UNC

18. New York Jets: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State

19. Miami Dolphins: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

20. Arizona Cardinals: Blake Bortles, QB, UCF

21. Green Bay Packers: CJ Mosely, ILB, Alabama

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State

25. San Diego Chargers: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri

26. Cleveland Browns: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State

27. New Orleans Saints: Marqise Lee, WR, USC

28. Carolina Panthers: Joel Bitonio, OT, Nevada

29. New England Patriots: Stephen Tuitt, DT, Notre Dame

30. San Francisco 49ers: Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana

31. Denver Broncos: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State

32. Seattle Seahawks: Dominique Easley, DE, Florida

  Notes:

  Clowney is best player available, and a Watt-Clowney line could be historically great

Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix will be a hot commodity Thursday night. The Vikings have been mocked to take Donald a lot, but I think they do not need him. DB is a bigger need, and Clinton-Dix is not much of a reach, and addresses a bigger need.

Barr has fallen on a lot of boards, but I still think he is one of the most talented players in the draft.

Bradley Roby’s OVI is minor in my eyes, but some team’s may not look past it. Broncos get a steal if they can get him at 31.

Seahawks love taking guys who aren’t as high on other people’s boards. If they get Easley, it will be the steal of the draft.

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NBA Playoffs predictions

East:

Pacers over Hawks in 6

Nets over Raptors in 5

Bulls over Wizards in 5

Second Round:

Bulls over Pacers in 7

Heat over Nets in 7

Eastern Conference Finals:

Heat over Bulls in 7

West:

Spurs over Mavs in 5

Rockets over Trail Blazers in 4

Thunder over Grizzlies in 6

Clippers over Warriors in 7

Second Round:

Rockets over Spurs in 7

Thunder over Clippers in 7

WCF:

Thunder over Rockets in 5

NBA Finals:

Thunder over Heat in 7

I think Kevin Durant is having too good of a year not to win the title. The Bench is finally performing well, and they are very deep. It'll be a hard path, but the Thunder will be crowned champions, and KD will win Finals MVP.

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2014 NHL Playoff Predictions

With the 2014 NHL Playoffs starting this week, CE has made out annual predictions. Read more to see who we think will win, and follow us for more on the NHL postseason!

-- Eastern Conference --

Boston Bruins vs Detroit Red Wings - Bruins in 6 Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens - Canadiens in 7 Pittsburgh Penguins vs Columbus Blue Jackets - Penguins in 5 New York Rangers vs Philadelphia Flyers - Rangers in 6

-- Western Conference --

Anaheim Ducks vs Dallas Stars - Ducks in 7 San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Sharks - Sharks in 6 Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild - Avalanche in 6 Chicago Blackhawks vs St. Louis Blues - Blackhawks in 7

-- Semifinals --

Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens - Bruins in 7 Pittsburgh Penguins vs Boston Bruins - Penguins in 6

San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks - Sharks in 5 Chicago Blackhawks vs Colorado Avalanche - Blackhawks in 4

-- Conference Finals --

Boston Bruins vs Pittsburgh Penguins - Penguins in 7

San Jose Sharks vs Chicago Blackhawks - Sharks in 7

-- Stanley Cup Finals --

San Jose Sharks vs Pittsburgh Penguins - Sharks in 7

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Pacers vs Hawks Preview

First, let’s address the bench. The Pacers have a talented bench, led by point forward Evan Turner, but the Pacers have been one of the worst bench teams this year. Against the Mavericks in early March, the Pacers bench scored 4 points. The Hawks bench only has one glaring weakness, which is big man depth. They have been plagued all year with big men, starting with Al Horford going down early in the season. However, another big man of theirs has played much better than expected this season, which is probably an understatement. Paul Millsap can space the floor, play inside, and even play some solid defense. Look for him to play heavy minutes, and the Hawks’ bench bigs to be relatively irrelevant. Pero Antic and Elton Brand will be the main bench bigs, and both can space the floor. Brand has a decent mid range shot, but is subpar on defense. Antic is a very good shooter for his size, and will give the Pacers’ bigs trouble. The Hawks also have a stellar bench guard group. Rookie Dennis Schroeder has been good off the bench, but has made some bad, risky plays in previous meetings. Shelvin Mack is another option on the bench, and is a good third option. Lastly off the bench is Louis Williams, who can get hot at any time from three. The Hawks have a major advantage with their bench.

Next, taking less risks. As I said earlier, Dennis Schroeder made some bad plays in the third meeting of this series, including the dagger turnover, where Paul George stole the ball to score and kill the Hawks’ momentum. Furthermore, Paul George plays the passing lanes incredibly well, and can cause tons of turnovers, so the Hawks cannot afford to make any risky passes, especially with Hibbert guarding the paint.

Next, DeMarre Carroll, who in my opinion will be the difference maker in this series, needs to play heavy minutes. In the third meeting of the season, Paul George struggled mightily against DeMarre Carroll. Carroll is probably amongst the most underrated defenders, and will give Paul George trouble. In order to play George constantly, Carroll will need to play heavy minutes. He averaged 32.1 minutes per game in the regular season, but will probably have to play upwards towards 40 minutes a game for the Hawks to have a legitimate chance.

Last is floor spacing, which the Hawks are one of the best at doing in the NBA. They are unique in the fact that they have a bench that can shoot from anywhere. As said earlier, Antic and Brand can both space the floor, and then there is also Kyle Korver, who is amongst the elite three point shooters. The Pacers will have trouble defending the Hawks on the perimeter at times, but the Pacers can resort to CJ Watson off the bench for three point shooting. No matter what, floor spacing will be crucial to this series.

Verdict: Pacers in 6. Overall, the Hawks have the tools to give the Pacers hell and make the Pacers play 48 hard minutes every game this series. The Pacers are cold since the all star break, but without Horford, the Hawks cannot win this series. Roy Hibbert underperformed this season, but playoff Hibbert and regular season Hibbert are two entirely different players.

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Elfrid Payton Scouting Report

Strengths:

Size- Great length for point guard

Defense- plays passing lanes, can guard both 1 and 2 guards

Rebounding- Good at boxing out, good rebounding stats

Playmaking- Good at creating for others and himself

Athleticism- Not elite, but better than average

Good at driving- loves to penetrate and create contact (at times), creating foul shot attempts

Great passer- Vision is good because of height; driving ability makes his passing game better; excels at drive and kick

Junior, but same age as most top prospects from this class.

Weaknesses:

Bad 3 point shooter

Relies too much on overpowering guys at inferior level of play

Struggles with turnovers

Can get to the rim, but can’t always convert- should have done better for a mid-major

Poor shooting form, no follow through. If fixed, could have same form as Nick Young

Comparison: Ricky Rubio/ Jeff Teague. His defense and passing will allow him to always have a job in the NBA. If he can get better at finishing and be more aggressive towards the basket, and improve his jump shot, he will be a starting level player. His shot is already similar to Nick Young’s, and if he can score like Nick from three, and fix his follow through, he could average 15-8 a game. He probably should work on catch and shoot to expand his game. Payton also has the rebounding abilities of Westbrook, as he can use his athleticism to get rebounds, plus he also has good box out skills, which could help him get 5 rebounds a game. Something else he has going for him is experience. He has played 3 years of college ball and played for the FIBA U19 games this past summer, and is the same age as Joel Embiid. I have always been a fan of guys who have 2+ years under their belt in college, as they can make a more immediate impact in the NBA than one and done guys, unless they are elite players like Anthony Davis.  

Payton can create for others just as well as he can create for himself. His quick hands work on both sides of the ball, as he can cross over guys easily, as well as play passing lanes and on ball defense. He can drive into the paint and draw a double then dish the ball out to a big man very easily. Furthermore, his height plays a key role in his passing ability, as he can see over most guys that are guarding him.

Like most young guys, he is turnover prone, but so are some of the best players in the league. I personally don’t think that is a huge deal, but it is something that he needs to work on.

While he can drive, he doesn’t always convert. He is shy at times around the rim, and also just makes shots more difficult than they need to be at times.

Overall, Elfrid Payton reminds me of what Ricky Rubio is now with more athleticism. Good passer (Payton will never be what Rubio is in terms of passing, however), good defender, bad jump shot, great vision, good at creating for others, and has impressive athleticism. If Payton fixes his flaws, namely his shooting and finishing, he could become like Jeff Teague. Both are very athletic and good slashers (not necessarily right now for Payton, but down the road could be as good of a slasher as Teague is now) . Expect to see Payton around in the league for a while.

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Texas Rangers Opening Day and Season Preview

I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My oldest memory dates back to sports, when I went to an Orlando Magic game at age four. I can’t remember too much about the game, but I still remember that Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson, and Bo Outlaw all played in that game.

That being said, sports are what I live and breathe, and if you follow me on Twitter (@RichStay1), you know that this is true. So with opening day for my favorite professional sport, today is probably my favorite day of the year. I am lucky enough to be attending the first two games of my favorite sports team’s season. Last year I attended my first opening day, and it was probably to this day the best sporting event I have ever attended. It was Josh Hamilton’s return to Texas, and every single person that attended would probably say it was the best home opener in Rangers history. I still get goosebumps when I watch the highlights of that game. The opening day atmosphere is unbelievably unique.

Now, moving on to this year’s opening day, I decided I would do a preview for the Rangers. I woke up about six hours earlier than I normally do on a Monday, and early mornings for me mean production.

Today is a big day at the newly named Globe Life Park. Cliff Lee’s return to DFW, and Tanner Scheppers’ first career MLB start. I, for one, will be giving Cliff Lee a standing ovation, since he played such a key role in the 2010 postseason, even if the entire team forgot how to play in the World Series.  Cliff Lee will be 36 by the end of the season, but still throws like a 29 year old. Although he doesn’t get run support that often, he is going to be a tough guy to hit not just in game one, but throughout the year. Don’t expect Texas to put up more than two runs against him today.

As for Scheppers, I’m not sure many people know what to expect from him today. He was drafted as a starter, but after injuries and depth, he was moved to the bullpen. If you can recall, last season he held a sub-2 ERA, and was on the final vote ballot for the 2013 All Star Game. He was arguably one of the top 5 setup men for the first half of last year. While his final ERA of 1.88 was still good, it just felt like he was less reliable in the second half of the season. Personally, my expectations are low for Scheppers. If he allows less than 2 runs, which against a weak Philadelphia offense is definitely possible, I will be pleased. I would also like to see him get a quality start, but I don’t know how his arm will hold up, or if he can pitch six innings today. Usually in the early part of the season, the starters are just getting their arms loose for the rest of the season.

Another big question mark for today and until the All Star Game is second base. I don’t know who will be the answer for that time, but I personally do not think it will matter. Whoever it is that replaces Profar will likely bat ninth and only get a couple at bats a game, and most of the guys on the bench such as Michael Choice and Jim Adduci likely get many pinch hit opportunities in place of whoever plays second base in the later parts of the game.

Also for half the season, another injury going into the season is starting pitching health. This part concerns me, but the Rangers bullpen is one of the best in the majors, in my opinion. Robbie Ross and Tanner Scheppers are big question marks, but Darvish is only going to miss one start to start the year, and Harrison should be back before schools gets out. Holland of course is in the worst condition, being out until close to the all star game. I think the Rangers have enough depth though to make it through the season with very little repercussions from the early season injury bugs. I think Perez will break out, and he will make up for the absence of Holland.

All in all, I predict this team to finish at or better than 90 wins, and get hot towards the end of the year. I strongly believe the A’s will fade, making the division much easier for the Rangers. When everyone is healthy on this team, I think they are a top 3 team in baseball. I am among the optimistic group, and think that the Rangers could win very possibly win the World Series. I see Dallas becoming Title-town USA by next year, with the Mavs still relevant, the Stars rising, and the Cowboys potentially making the playoffs.