Detroit, what is going on?
Four notable players miss shootaround, two arrive just at the end of it. You go out and beat the last playoff team in your conference, by six, with only six players. Good for you.
But I want to point my finger at the players who missed the shootaround. You are a professional athlete, you do not miss mandatory team activites with a headache. I can understand an occasional stomach bug, but a headache? That's how I got out of middle school baseball practice. I had a headache. I'm not buying the malarkey of the headache and the missing the team bus. I played high school sports, if a rag-tag bunch of coaches can gather up 20 uncaring, unpaid, high school kids, then I expect that a professional group of coaches, can round-up 12 professional basketball players, making at the least, hundreds of thousands of dollars for a mandatory shootaround.
And the players that missed the shootaround, if it is because of a protest. Grow up. John Kuester is your coach. Whether or not you agree with him, it is your job to follow him. He is your leader. As I mentioned before, I've played organized sports before. (I know High School Baseball isn't the same as the NBA, but I'm using it as a parallel.) There were PLENTY of times that I did not agree with the Head Coach, yet he was still my coach and despite my many qualms with how things were ran, I still listened and did as he said. Grow up, and act like the grown men that you are.
To top it all off, these players are getting paid millions of dollars to play basketball. Is it too hard to grow up and do your job? I can think of countless people who would drop anything on a dime and do as their boss said if it was their dream job. Grow up, you are the players of a 21-38 team. Maybe it's not all the coaches fault? It may be hard to believe, but YOU might be the reason for the .356 win percentage. After all, John Kuester can't go out on the floor and hit shots, and as the record shows, not many of you can.
Grow up.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
No Worries Knicks Fans
Attention New York Knicks fans, you have no need to worry about last night's shocking loss to the pitiful Cavaliers. The team will need a few days, maybe games, to get the chemistry down and to get the flow going together. Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups, and Landry Fields will all mesh together and play like a playoff team. It may not be in time to take on the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic on Sunday and Tuesday respectively. The Knicks will get another shot to take on the mighty Cavs on Friday night in the Garden.
The month of March is about on an even field as far as competition goes for the Knickerbockers. The Knicks will face NBA powers such as Boston (41-15), Dallas (41-16), Atlanta (35-23), New Orleans (35-25), and Orlando three times (37-22). They also play decent teams such as Indiana, two times (Indiana is only considered a decent team because they are on pace to make the playoffs despite a 26-31 record) Utah (32-27) and Memphis (32-27). Luckily, they also play a few teams currently in the NBA's cellar, Charlotte (26-32), Cleveland(11-47), and Milwaukee (22-35) twice.
This schedule will give the Knicks enough balance of good competiton and "pushover" games to have a good prep for the NBA playoffs. The Knicks are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, just one game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers. However, I believe that there is a large gap between the quality between the Knicks and the Sixers.
Look forward to a very entertaining month in the Big Apple, a lot of progression for the Knicks, and possible rise up the standings in the Eastern Conference.
The month of March is about on an even field as far as competition goes for the Knickerbockers. The Knicks will face NBA powers such as Boston (41-15), Dallas (41-16), Atlanta (35-23), New Orleans (35-25), and Orlando three times (37-22). They also play decent teams such as Indiana, two times (Indiana is only considered a decent team because they are on pace to make the playoffs despite a 26-31 record) Utah (32-27) and Memphis (32-27). Luckily, they also play a few teams currently in the NBA's cellar, Charlotte (26-32), Cleveland(11-47), and Milwaukee (22-35) twice.
This schedule will give the Knicks enough balance of good competiton and "pushover" games to have a good prep for the NBA playoffs. The Knicks are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, just one game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers. However, I believe that there is a large gap between the quality between the Knicks and the Sixers.
Look forward to a very entertaining month in the Big Apple, a lot of progression for the Knicks, and possible rise up the standings in the Eastern Conference.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Pujols in the Capital?
Picture it, Opening Day, 2012. The announcer's voice at Nationals Park booms the name Albert Pujols over the PA system, and the crowd cheers.
Now I know that the Nationals don't have the kind of money that that team up in the Bronx does, but their wallet is by no means thin. Just look at Jayson Werth's 7 year/$126 million contract. And to add on, who can pass up on Albert Pujols?
The Nationals have already made strong efforts in building a contending team in the future, with perhaps some of the most looked-forward-to prospects the game has seen in some time (Strasburg and Harper). What else would fit better than one of the game's greatest players? Long shot, yes, but I think that they will make a strong push for Pujols, and could potentially wrap him up for several years. The move would propel the Nats to the top tier of the National League, propel fans into the park in southeast DC, and propel Pujols to his desired contract.
The Nationals are already a young team, loaded with potential ready to burst and pour onto the field. Branding the superstar with the 'Curly W' would do wonders for the future stars of that team.
Now I know that the Nationals don't have the kind of money that that team up in the Bronx does, but their wallet is by no means thin. Just look at Jayson Werth's 7 year/$126 million contract. And to add on, who can pass up on Albert Pujols?
The Nationals have already made strong efforts in building a contending team in the future, with perhaps some of the most looked-forward-to prospects the game has seen in some time (Strasburg and Harper). What else would fit better than one of the game's greatest players? Long shot, yes, but I think that they will make a strong push for Pujols, and could potentially wrap him up for several years. The move would propel the Nats to the top tier of the National League, propel fans into the park in southeast DC, and propel Pujols to his desired contract.
The Nationals are already a young team, loaded with potential ready to burst and pour onto the field. Branding the superstar with the 'Curly W' would do wonders for the future stars of that team.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
O's Potential Contenders?
Think about it...the Orioles in a playoff race. They aren't too far from it. They are a young team with a young core and a veteran here and there to balance things out. Given they do have a few holes that they need to fill, mostly in pitching, but you get a guy that the team can feed off of and shadow, the O's could make a push in years to come, maybe sooner.
They have made several pickups this past offseason that seem to be pushing their team in the right direction, adding on to their well bred, homegrown talent. Vladimir Guerrero, who is coming off of a resurgent 2010, is the veteran presence with the playoff and succeding experience that the O's need. Derrek Lee is another strong seasoned player that the Orioles could definitely use in the clubhouse.
The line up in Baltimore is strong. Vlad and Luke Scott will likely platoon in the DH role. Felix Pie, Adam Jones, and doubles king, Nick Markakis are a very strong outfield. Newcomers Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy are a major upgrade on the left side of the infield. Brian Roberts and Derrek Lee filling out the right side, with Wieters behind the dish, it's hard to find a hole in that lineup, it's weakest spot arguably being with a growing Pie in left.
However, the one spot that will drag the Orioles to mediocrity this year will be the pitching staff. Matusz, Arrieta, Bergesen, and Guthrie have not been doing the job. Justin Duchscherer is a step in the right direction, but he alone can't pull the O's. The one upside is that these pitchers are still young, and have a large upside.
Reliever Koji Uehara is a strong asset to the Orioles that will be turned to many times over the course of the year to hold opponents.
Look for the Orioles to make a large push at the trade deadline after manager Buck Showalter leads this team to contention once again.
They have made several pickups this past offseason that seem to be pushing their team in the right direction, adding on to their well bred, homegrown talent. Vladimir Guerrero, who is coming off of a resurgent 2010, is the veteran presence with the playoff and succeding experience that the O's need. Derrek Lee is another strong seasoned player that the Orioles could definitely use in the clubhouse.
The line up in Baltimore is strong. Vlad and Luke Scott will likely platoon in the DH role. Felix Pie, Adam Jones, and doubles king, Nick Markakis are a very strong outfield. Newcomers Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy are a major upgrade on the left side of the infield. Brian Roberts and Derrek Lee filling out the right side, with Wieters behind the dish, it's hard to find a hole in that lineup, it's weakest spot arguably being with a growing Pie in left.
However, the one spot that will drag the Orioles to mediocrity this year will be the pitching staff. Matusz, Arrieta, Bergesen, and Guthrie have not been doing the job. Justin Duchscherer is a step in the right direction, but he alone can't pull the O's. The one upside is that these pitchers are still young, and have a large upside.
Reliever Koji Uehara is a strong asset to the Orioles that will be turned to many times over the course of the year to hold opponents.
Look for the Orioles to make a large push at the trade deadline after manager Buck Showalter leads this team to contention once again.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals will likely need to find a fifth starter this season as Adam Wainwright will likely have season ending Tommy John surgery after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow after a throwing session. Luckily for the Cards, they do have a pitcher who is familiar with this role in Brian Tallet. Tallet is a lefty who, during his tenure in Toronto filled the role of long reliever/spot starter. Tallet will throw another lefty into the Cardinals' rotation alongside Jaime Garcia. This will give the Cardinals a three righties and two lefties as starters, with an average bullpen and an above average closer in Ryan Franklin.
There have also been other names heavy in the mix as the new fifth starter for the Cards. Kyle McLellan, a pitcher who has played for pitching coach Dave Duncan before, and one that Duncan likes, has a strong chance at the spot. Rookies Lance Lynn, Brandon Dickson, and P.J. Walters' names have all been thrown in as potential candidates for Garcia-esque rookie summers.
Much of this season and perhaps the path of the NL Central this year will be how Kyle Lohse and Brian Tallet both recover from forearm injuries they suffered last season. Jaime Garcia will need to take on a heavier workload this season as his rookie campaign was shortened by a pitching limit. Mid-season pickup Jake Westbrook will have to step up his performance as well to keep the Cardinals among the top tier of teams in the NL. They still have a solid enough offense to win the division.
Nobody really knows right now, probably not even La Russa. It should be decided during Spring Training.
Their answer this year will be the rotation of the Redbirds.
There have also been other names heavy in the mix as the new fifth starter for the Cards. Kyle McLellan, a pitcher who has played for pitching coach Dave Duncan before, and one that Duncan likes, has a strong chance at the spot. Rookies Lance Lynn, Brandon Dickson, and P.J. Walters' names have all been thrown in as potential candidates for Garcia-esque rookie summers.
Much of this season and perhaps the path of the NL Central this year will be how Kyle Lohse and Brian Tallet both recover from forearm injuries they suffered last season. Jaime Garcia will need to take on a heavier workload this season as his rookie campaign was shortened by a pitching limit. Mid-season pickup Jake Westbrook will have to step up his performance as well to keep the Cardinals among the top tier of teams in the NL. They still have a solid enough offense to win the division.
Nobody really knows right now, probably not even La Russa. It should be decided during Spring Training.
Their answer this year will be the rotation of the Redbirds.
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