Merry Christmas everyone! I know it’s been awhile since my last post. I hope everyone is spending today with their families and love ones.
We have 5 NBA games and 2 NFL games today.
(Times are Central Standard Time)
Make sure to catch at least part of the action today!
JGOOD
I’m ranking the projected 32 starting quarterbacks entering the 2017 season. Obviously, parts of this list are debatable, but (I believe) this is the most accurate list to date.
Bottom of the Barrel
32) Bryce Petty – NY Jets
You have to start somewhere.
31) Jared Goff – LA Rams
Can’t wait to see what he’s made of.
30) Cody Kessler – Cleveland
It’s the Browns (future starting to look bright though).
29) Brian Hoyer – San Francisco
Somehow he finds his way on the field.
28) Tom Savage – Houston
We’ll see. He has a lot of weapons around him though.
27) Trevor Siemian – Denver
Not sure how long this will last, but he had some good moments last season.
26) Mike Glennon – Chicago
Hopefully, he’s mentally tough. He’s in a lose-lose situation.
Hot Seat
25) Blake Bortles – Jacksonville
He has more career pick-6’s (11) than career wins (10). Let that sink in.
24) Alex Smith – Kansas City
It’s not his first time on the hot season and won’t be the last.
23) Ryan Tannehill – Miami
Something has to give. He’s getting paid too much money to be this inconsistent.
22) Sam Bradford – Minnesota
Even though Teddy Bridgewater is still recovering from his injury, the Vikings gave up way too much to not make the playoffs.
21) Tyrod Taylor – Buffalo
The Bills Organization may not believe in Tyrod, but he has enough talent to keep them in games.
20) Joe Flacco – Baltimore
That Super Bowl win seems so far away…
Decent
19) Carson Wentz – Philadelphia
He should be higher on this list when the season is over.
18) Kirk Cousins – Washington
It’s Kirk Cousins or bust for Kirk Cousins. He won’t be back next year.
17) Eli Manning – NY Giants
Good Eli. Bad Eli. Ugly Eli. Which one will show up this year?
16) Carson Palmer – Arizona
Even though the offense is talent, the end may be near for him.
Promising
15) Dak Prescott – Dallas
Dak has given Dallas “hope” to end their two-decade Super Bowl drought.
14) Marcus Mariota – Tennessee
This offense should be fun to watch. He continues to get better.
13) Jameis Winston – Tampa Bay
He may end up in the top 10 by the end of the season. He has the potential to lead the Bucs into contention.
12) Andy Dalton – Cincinnati
Just needs to get it done in the playoffs.
Very Good
11) Andrew Luck – Indianapolis
He has the talent to be an elite quarterback (just needs an offensive line). He just needs to get it done.
10) Philip Rivers – LA Chargers
He has been consistent over his career but has yet to get over the hump.
9) Russell Wilson – Seattle
Russell has championship-pedigree. Will he be able to put it all together again is the question.
8) Cam Newton – Carolina
Overall, he’s possibly the hardest quarterback to bring down (even with that bad offensive line). He still has accuracy issues (misses high) but he’s still dangerous.
7) Matthew Stafford – Detroit
He proved that didn’t need Calvin Johnson to put up big time numbers. Just need the organization to change its culture.
6) Derek Carr – Oakland
He’s knocking on the door of elite status. He was having an MVP-caliber season before the season-ending leg injury. Expect big things from him and the Raiders.
Elite
5) Drew Brees – New Orleans
He’s been so good for so long. Just wished their defense would’ve been better over the years.
4) Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh
His window is closing to get his 3rd Super Bowl title with his elite offense. Super Bowl or bust right now.
3) Matt Ryan – Atlanta
He finally put his skills and potential together last season and lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl. Will they get back to the big stage?
Crème De La Crème
2) Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay
“The human cheat code” is way too talented to only have one Super Bowl ring in his career. The window will be closed sooner than later.
1) Tom Brady – New England
I don’t know how much more he has in the tank at age 40, but until we show signs of him coming down to Earth, he’s the best.
JGOOD
The NBA season is finally back after a historic NBA Championship victory by the Cleveland Cavaliers, and an offseason where Kevin Durant shook up the basketball world by signing with the Golden State Warriors. Phenoms were drafted in June and some NBA stars found different homes with contracts that would break the bank 20 years ago. My good friends Cello and Reap (yes, short for Grim Reaper), along with D.Reed and Chris helped contribute to this article. They will also be active on Twitter for this upcoming NBA season for your NBA news, updates, questions, and debates.
NBA WEST PLAYOFFS 2016-17 (Cello)
(Preseason Seed Predictions)
15. Denver Nuggets
Not much to this Denver team. They play hard even game, but it just won’t be good enough with such a tight race to the playoffs in the west.
14. Phoenix Suns
The Suns lost some players and no one on that roster really has what it takes to make them as good as they were last season. They are going to need to rebuild.
13. Sacramento Kings
On paper, this team looks like they should be in the playoffs yearly. DeMarcus Cousins is arguably the best big man in the West, but he seems to just not be able to get his team close to the playoffs. With him and Rudy Gay in the line-up, what is the problem? Seems that management just can’t surround him with the best supporting cast, and it’s only a matter of time before “Boogie” moves on to a new team.
12. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers will be in the playoff hunt in a few seasons, but there is going to be an adjustment period. The first season in 20 years without Kobe “Black Mamba” Bryant is going to be tough. At the same time, these young guys can now grow as players as last season held them back and didn’t allow them to get any real development on the court in order to celebrate Kobe’s retirement with the tour. No doubt they are better than everyone thinks. Ingram, Clarkson, and Russell are going to be exciting to watch.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are on the rise. This team will be in the playoffs within the next few seasons. Their starting line-up is scary. With some time under their belt, expect Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns to be All-Stars. Unfortunately, this team has no bench, and that will be the reason they do not make the playoffs this season.
10. New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans just doesn’t have the pieces anymore. A couple of years ago, they were on the rise. With Anthony Davis missing most of last season’s games due to injury and the departure of Ryan Anderson, this team is in need of new pieces and that isn’t coming this season.
9. Houston Rockets
With the departure Dwight Howard, this team may be better off without him. They have added Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, and Nene,but is it enough to get this team in the playoffs? Only time will team. Right now, I think they will just miss the playoffs due to Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder. May come down to a tie-breaker.
8. Oklahoma City Thunder
This team, of course, is no longer a title contender without Kevin Durant (we all know this). However, Russell Westbrook is the type of guy that will push his team into the playoffs this season. Look for him to have the best season of his career and lead his team to what would be a dream matchup between the Thunder and Warriors.
7. Utah Jazz
Seeds 7-11 will be in the mix of making the playoffs this season. Utah has progressively gotten better each of the past few years, and with their new added vets of Boris Diaw, Joe Johnson, and George Hill, these guys will only get better.
6. Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are going to fight and claw their way right into the playoffs again. Lillard and McCollum are one of the best backcourts in the league right now. With the struggles of the Western Conference teams through the past few seasons, Portland will get to the playoffs and make some noise.
5. Memphis Grizzlies
There isn’t much to say about Memphis. They always seem to hover around the five seed. Mike Conley should come in highly confident after that contract he signed (highest paid player in NBA history, for now), and they will just keep grinding.
4. Dallas Mavericks
This team has added some championship pedigree to the roster in Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut. These two alone will continue to keep Dallas in the mix. With Dirk Nowitzki’s career coming to an end soon, don’t expect this team to make it to the make it past the second round.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers starting lineup is good. Their problem, though, is they just don’t have enough to take them to the finals. As long as the core group stays together, they will be in contention, but unless they add another key piece, don’t expect them to get past the Spurs or the Warriors any time soon.
2. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are a great team, as usual (much like the NFL’s Patriots). It really doesn’t matter who is on the floor because the system is just great. The greatest PF to play the game is now retired, but they didn’t really downgrade the position as Pau Gasol is there now (he still averages a double-double).
1. Golden State Warriors
The GSW is expected to get back to the finals. The starting line-up can do that but what people don’t realize it to get Kevin Durant, they had to give up some of their key players like Harrison Barnes and Leandro Barbosa. That can be an issue later. Right now, they are the top team in the West, we shall see once the season starts.
NBA EAST PLAYOFFS 2017
(Preseason Seed Predictions)
15. Brooklyn Nets
This team has been on a downfall for the last few seasons. Stars like Joe Johnson left and free agents like Jeremy Lin have signed. After a terrible season last year, don’t expect any improvement this year.
14. Philadelphia 76’ers
With the addition of Ben Simmons to the Sixers, this team will be very exciting to watch. Joel Embiid, will finally make his debut and his looks good. They won’t be as bad as they have been in the past few years, but they are all still young and have some building to do. This team will be good in about 3 seasons.
13. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have the potential to a very good team. Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to be a superstar in the league, but the franchise just hasn’t surrounded him with the right people. Watching this team play will be better than their record will be.
12. Orlando Magic
The Magic have some good new additions like Bismack Biyambo and Serge Ibaka, but they just don’t have the necessary star power that it’s going to take to get to the playoffs. Look for them to be in the hunt within the next 2 or 3 seasons.
11. Charlotte Hornets
This team has the pieces to make the playoff race, but the East seeds are going to be close. Teams 5-11 will be within a few games apart.
10. Washington Wizards
They always seem to be good but just not good enough. With the East being so tight this year, the Wizards look like they may just fall out of the runnings. It will definitely be close.
9. Detroit Pistons
Detroit is just on the outskirts of the playoffs. This team can float anywhere from 6/7 seed to about the 12th seed. With the addition of the Bulls possibly making the playoffs this season, the Pistons are going to just barely miss their entry.
8. Miami Heat
With the loss of Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat will no doubt struggle to make the playoffs. With the weak of the East, they still do have enough pieces to make it to the playoffs but don’t be surprised if they slip into the 9/10 spot before season’s end.
7. New York Knicks
On paper, this team looks amazing or as D. Rose says, “super team” (but that’s on paper). The fact of the matter is the Knicks have a bunch of players who used to be stars. Now, they are a bunch of injury-prone players. I would love to see this team gel and succeed, but it seems more and more, less likely. Their playoff hopes strictly depend on whether the team can stay healthy OR if D. Rose can stay out of jail.
6. Chicago Bulls
Dwyane Wade is HOME!! But does that make the Bulls a contender? No, but this one of the most interesting teams entering this year’s association.
5. Boston Celtics
Al Horford, that’s all you need to know. This man is going to make the Celtics a tough team to beat. Last season, they played better than anyone thought they would, and this new addition can be scary with a few more additions.
4. Toronto Raptors
They Raptors will still be a decent team in the East after last year’s surprise performance to the ECF (Eastern Conference Finals). The loss of Bismack Biyambo will sting a little, but they will still be top four in the East.
3. Indiana Pacers
Paul George is a superstar and looks like he hasn’t missed a beat after that gruesome injury he had in the summer of 2014 (Team USA scrimmage). With Al Jefferson and Jeff Teague added to the roster, this may be just what they need to go deep into the playoffs.
2. Atlanta Hawks
With the Hawks acquiring Dwight Howard (where he can actively be used), he will be motivated to work hard in Atlanta (his hometown). The Hawks have some very experienced players on the roster, and they will succeed because of it.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
That’s a given. The defending champs have little competition in the East (but far more now than last season). Look for Lebron to continue to a 7th straight NBA Finals appearance. The Cavs roster hasn’t changed much but when you have Lebron James, it really doesn’t matter who else is on the team.
NBA Awards Predictions
D.Reed @freshprynce23 (Twitter and Instagram)
JGood @jgoodwithsports (Twitter and Instagram)
Cello @brimology101 (Twitter)
Reap @reapdareaper07 (Twitter)
Chris @mrwsa11 (Twitter)
One of my good friends, Chris (follow him on Twitter @mrwsa11), and I have compiled a list of contenders for this year’s Cy Young and MVP awards in each conference.
A.L. Cy Young
Zach Britton (Baltimore)
The Orioles closer has been unreal pretty much all year. He has 40 saves, 62 strikeouts, and an insane 0.65 ERA. Since May 1st, Britton has only allowed one earned run, and is the clear cut favorite for the Cy Young.
Corey Kluber (Cleveland)
The Indians ace is sporting a win-lose record of 15 and 9, helping to lead the charge for the club’s rotation. With 198 strikeouts and an ERA slightly above 3, he may benefit from the fact that voters usually don’t consider voting for closers (i.e. Britton) for the Cy Young.
Rick Porcello (Boston)
With an outstanding 20-3 record, Porcello has the best record amongst all pictures. It has been a resurgent year for him as he leads the Red Sox staff.
N.L. Cy Young
Max Scherzer (Washington)
The Nationals ace is top 5 in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and ERA. He is also tied for the most wins in all of baseball. It’s hard to argue against him.
“The 3 Cubbies” (Chicago)
Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, and Jake Arrieta are all candidates for the Cy Young. Lester is top 10 in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts. Arrieta is tied for wins in the N.L with Scherzer and Lester (16). The surprise, Kyle Hendricks, leads all of baseball in ERA. His pitching isn’t as dominate as the others, but he still makes it difficult for opposing batters.
A.L. MVP
Jose Altuve (Houston)
The Astros captain and leader, is batting .339 on the year. He leads the MLB with 190 hits, and is boasting a career best with 22 home runs and 92 RBIs. He’s your complete player.
Josh Donaldson (Toronto)
The Blue Jays star continues to be a solid all-around player in the MLB. Doesn’t matter from his bat to his glove, he has the opportunity to win his second consecutive MVP.
Mike Trout (Anaheim)
The game’s best player continues to put on a show. With his amazing defense and great hitting, Trout has proved that he will continue to dominate the majors, night in and night out.
Mookie Beets (Boston)
Beets is hitting .315 on the year with career best in home runs and RBI’s. If Beets can lead the Red Sox to a division crown, he has a legitimate chance of walking away with his first individual award.
N.L. MVP
Kris Bryant (Chicago)
In only his second year in the league, Bryant has become one of the top hitters, fielders, and base runners in all of baseball. With his versatility in these categories, he has become a clear favorite for taking home the N.L. MVP.
Daniel Murphy (Washington)
Murphy leads the N.L. in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS. This makes him a viable candidate.
Nolan Arenado (Colorado)
He leads the N.L. in home runs and RBI’s for the second straight year. You can’t argue against those accolades.
Anthony Rizzo (Chicago)
Rizzo is on track to hit 30 homers and over 100 RBI’s for his second consecutive year. With him being the leader for the best team in baseball, he will continue to be a contender.
This is one of my favorite times of the year. From now until February, the NFL will be on every Sunday. With preseason starting up, fantasy football is just around the corner. With that being said, here are some tips that should help you on your draft day.
Antonio Brown Is Special
The golden rule in fantasy football is that you always take a running back in the first round. However, Antonio Brown has become an exception to this rule the past 2 seasons. In 2015, he scored 243 fantasy points in standard play by racking up 1834 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Brown has been the “go-to guy” for Big Ben and the number go to guy in fantasy football. It is okay to draft him with the first pick.
Don’t Waste Your First Round Pick On…
O’Dell Beckham Jr, Ezekiel Elliott, and Rob Gronkowski. As talented as ODB is, I rather draft Julio Jones. Atlanta’s only weapon in the passing game is Jones (He led the league in targets last season with 136). Eli Manning has the return of Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard to utilize as well. Please be cautious if you do decide to pick him in the first round.
I have nothing against Ezekiel Elliott’s ability, but I’m not drafting a player who hasn’t played a signal down in the NFL in the first round. The Dallas Cowboys has the best offensive line in football so it does seem enticing to draft Elliott early. However, in the famous words of Stephen A Smith, “The Cowboys are an accident waiting to happen”.
Last year was my first time taking Rob Gronkowski and it happened to be in the first round. By week 4, I’ve learned that tight ends are becoming a deep position. Plus, Tom Brady will miss the first 4 games. Taking Gronk in the second round is okay.
My Sleepers Consist Of…
Lamar Miller, Donte Moncrief, Kevin White, and Markus Wheaton. In my opinion, Lamar Miller was underutilized in Miami. The last season and a half, Miller showed he can produce when he touches the ball. He’ll have his chance to shine in Houston.
With Andre Johnson departure and Andrew Luck, finally healthy, Donte Moncrief has a high ceiling to be productive this season. TY Hilton will see double coverage far more times than not. This will enable Moncrief for one on one match-ups in a pass heavy offense. Let that sink in.
We will finally see what Kevin White can do on the gridiron. After missing his first season with a shin injury, White looks to fill the void of what the Chicago Bears offense was missing last season. White is 6’3″ and runs under a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. With the attention on Alshon Jeffrey, the Bears first round pick in 2015 could be a playmaker.
When Martavis Bryant missed the first 4 games last season due to a suspension, Markus Wheaton didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. Now that Bryant is suspended all of the 2016 NFL Season, Wheaton will have all season to prove his value and explode on the fantasy football scene.
Just Stop
Matthew Stafford, Demaryius Thomas, and the San Francisco 49’ers. Stafford has talent, but he primarily benefited from having Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. Now that Johnson is retired, Matthew Stafford has lost his security blanket. With the lack of talent on offense, he might consistently struggle. I rather draft Ryan Tannehill.
Demaryius Thomas has the ability to be a top 5 wide receiver in the league. He has exceptional hands and speed. The problem with him in fantasy football this year is his new quarterback, Mark Sanchez. Sanchez hasn’t been the most accurate quarterback and is known for his “Butt Fumble” (CLICK HERE TO WATCH). Unless Sanchez gets him the ball consistently, Thomas may be a flex option at best.
Last year, the Cleveland Browns was the team I said to avoid drafting any players from. Now, I wouldn’t advise drafting anybody from San Francisco. Carlos Hyde has some potential but the way their offense is presently constructed, teams might give him the “Adrian Peterson treatment” (putting 8 players in the “box” on defense to stop the run). We’re not sure if Blaine Gabbert or Colin Kaepernick will start, but neither is worth starting in fantasy football. Torrey Smith is a deep threat but the quarterback play is insufficient for Smith to be productive. At least Cleveland has Josh Gordon coming back week 5, pending reinstatement.
Always Remember
Simple but important tips:
If nothing else, have fun!
JGOOD
Note: This list is who is the best wide receiver right now. Past accolades and accomplishments alone will not move you higher on the list. This list is based on skill, talent, age, and the ability to perform.
Honorable Mentions:
Mike Evans (Buccaneers), AJ Green (Bengals), Jordy Nelson (Packers)
5) O’Dell Beckham Jr., Giants
O’Dell Beckham Jr. might be the most gifted receiver in the NFL since Randy Moss. His ability to light up the hi light reel is second to none. Once he continues to put in more work he will climb this list.
4) DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
After the departure of Andre Johnson, the potential of DeAndre Hopkins blossomed despite having mediocre quarterback play from Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett. The addition of Brock Osweiler will help elevate him to the next level.
3) Dez Bryant, Cowboys
Dez Bryant has been an elite receiver in this league since the first day he walked on the field. When he was younger immaturity got in the way of his true potential. He has matured as he aged to become rguably the best wide receiver. The Dallas Cowboys are in win now more so I’m curious to see if Dez will take his game to yet another level.
2) Julio Jones, Falcons
Julio Jones, like Dez Bryant, has been in the elite category since his first day. Not only is Jones the quintessential deep threat, he also has the ability to burn you on a 5 yard slant pattern. Other defenses know this and he is consistently double teamed. That doesn’t stop Julio from making an impact on every game he is in.
1) Antonio Brown, Steelers
Antonio Brown is not the fastest, strongest, or the quickest person on my list. He also is under 6 feet tall. That didn’t stop him from topping my list. How? His work ethic is legendary. His route running and hands are flawless. His speed, acceleration, and agility is deceivingly underrated. That combined with a very high football IQ made him an easy decision.
JGOOD.
Note: This list is who is the best wide receiver right now. Past accolades and accomplishments alone will not move you higher on the list. This list is based on skill, talent, age, and the ability to perform.
Honorable Mentions:
Doug Martin (Buccaneers) David Johnson (Cardinals), LeSean McCoy (Bills)
5) Matt Forte, Jets
Forte is one the most complete running backs in the NFL. From day one he’s showed his elite ball carrying vision. He has excellent hands and exceptional speed in the open field. He should adjust well in New York’s run heavy offense.
4) Todd Gurley, Rams
This phenom has the rare combination of strength and speed. He missed the first 3 games last season due to recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in college. However, once he was fully recovered he made and immediate impact for the Rams Organization.
3) Jamaal Charles, Chiefs
When healthy, he’s the fastest running back in the league. Once he sees a hole, it’s “curtains” for the opposing defense. You add his ball carrying vision, agility, and above average hands, you have yourself an elite threat out the backfield.
2) Le’Veon Bell, Steelers
When I think of Le’Veon Bell, I see a younger, stronger Matt Forte. Bell is the most complete running back in the NFL. He can run and catch effectively. His pass blocking is exceptional for his position. The torn MCL injury that he suffered last season and the 4-game suspension to begin this season are the only reasons why he’s number 2 at the moment.
1) Adrian Peterson, Vikings
This specimen is the LeBron James of the NFL. He’s strong, fast, elusive, and has a high motor. Similar to recently retired Marshawn Lynch, it usually takes more than one defender to take him down. One such hi light, Peterson threw a Cleveland Browns corner out of bounds as he kept running down the sideline for a touchdown. Another time he ran through a Pittsburgh Steelers corner as if he wasn’t there to pick up 13 more yards. He is the elite of running backs and tops my list.
JGOOD
When Michael Jordan retired, Tracy McGrady became my favorite player in the NBA. He was unguardable. When you’re 6’8 with a long wingspan, that can shoot, attack, post-up, rebound, and create for others, you can’t be stopped. The only that did stop him was injuries. Besides the fact he was never the same player, he never played for my favorite team.
When Derrick Rose was drafted to the Chicago Bulls in 2008, I instantly became a fan. Once I saw his energy and heart, him and McGrady shared being my favorites in the NBA.
Rose became the engine of the organization. He gave hope to a franchise that has been in the cellar since the Jordan era. I mean, yes we had the “Baby Bulls” but we weren’t a title contender then. D.Rose elevated the expectations in the city. We, as Chicago fans, “Bullieved” that we can return to the glory days. Nobody was more important and had a bigger impact for a team than Rose was during his MVP season in 2011.
Rose has had his number of injuries including a torn ACL and a torn meniscus. Even then, Rose showed his efforts of fighting through rigorous rehabilitation to try to get back to MVP form. This past season, he looked like his explosiveness was back to elite status more times than not.
It’s sad that he has carried the weight of his city on his back for so many years (he didn’t have any help for multiple seasons) that when he finally has help, his career is derailed by injuries. Also, a lot of fans have turned on him because he’s not the Derrick Rose that they are used to seeing (even though he’s been in the top 5 in jersey sales since his MVP season).
The fact that my favorite player, who happens to play on my favorite team (also born and raised in Chicago), is traded away, it takes something out of you. My Bulls didn’t play well last year and that probably won’t change this year (pending something drastic). With Rose gone, that extra nudge… that determination, dedication, motivation… that initial spark that generated hope for the city just died.
And what a lot of people don’t know is that not only he was humble on the court, he was humble off the court as well. Rose was active in the community. He paid for a funeral for a kid that was murdered. He spoke up for the teachers of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) who went on strike. D.Rose also donated money to help bring up the community.
Now that he belongs to the New York Knicks, I’m torn. I will always be a Bulls fan, but I will buy a Derrick Rose Knicks jersey and/or shirt. He will continue to be my favorite player. Also, I hope he has career nights against the Bulls just to show management that they made a mistake. He has too much heart to give up and too much motivation to fail.
JGOOD
JGoodWithSports 