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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Western Conference Predictions

By: Mitchell Clemons

And on opening night I'll decide what I think will happen this NBA season unbiasedly of course (yea right)

1. Dallas Mavericks - I dont expect another 67 win season because I think Avery Johnson realizes he doesn't have to press and grind on his players all season but more as the playoffs come around. I'm curious if the Mavs have found a good backup for Dirk in Brandon Bass or if we'll be subjected to newly acquired Juwan Howard, who's ok but he's not an inside presence and is rather soft. But at the start of the season the Mavs just need to stay healthy and we need Eric Dampier back soon (despite how often he's criticized) It must suck to be one of the top established teams in the league (San Anton, Dallas, Phoenix) to have to coast through the season when you know it doesn't mean shit until March comes around)

2. Phoenix Suns - The team gets rid of there only decent big man defender (Marion's better suited defending the perimeter) with Kurt Thomas and I'm supposed to think they'll be better off? Grant Hill aint gonna be able to make that big a difference either. I'm curious if rookie and son of cokehead Darryl Strawberry, D.J. Strawberry will contribute as the year goes on. I wanted the Mavs to draft him and I think he can be a solid role player. But as much as I hate the Suns I feel bad for them because of there ownerships unwilligness to pay the luxury tax. When you have a team that's so close to the title you shouldn't be doing everything in your power to remain cheap.

3. San Antonio Spurs - Same story every year, they coast through the season and turn it on as the playoffs get closer. They need to prove some people wrong this year by finally doing about the only thing Tim Duncan has been unable to do in his career, thats repeat a championship. Other than that nothing new here other than who the backup PG will be and when the playoffs come and if San Antonio faces Dallas can Francisco Elson stay with Dirk like some think?

4. Utah Jazz - One of the best young teams in the league with rising stars at the cornerstone positions, big man and point guard. Deron Williams proved he was for real last year and he and Carlos Boozer will continue to thrive under Jerry Sloan. The real weakness this team lacks is a sharp shooting, shooting guard. Matt Harpring and Gordon Giricek are ok but it's an area that can be improved. Maybe rookie from Rice Morris Almond can help, he was 3rd in the nation in scoring or 2nd year Ronnie Brewer. The problem is Sloan hates playing young players. Also will Jason Hart or Milt Palacio serve as good enough backups to replace Derek Fisher.

5. Houston Rockets - Plenty of people think this team could overtake the Mavs and maybe even the Spurs this season. I myself don't because I don't think they have enough depth. Luis Scola will provide tough defense and rebounding while taking the occasional charge. Rick Adelman was a great hire now that this team can play defense. Jeff Van Gundy is a great defensive coach, but that's partly because he plays the slowest pace in the league but he couldn't coach offense for the life of him. Hopefully Mike James can fill the role of Bobby Jackson as the 6th man since he rejoined the Rockets this offseason. And will Bonzi Wells or Steve Francis stepup this year, I expect Bonzi to but Francis already seems to be in the doghouse and could be out before the end of the year.

6. Denver Nuggets - It's possible they could take the division over the Jazz but I see the Jazz stepping up this season and am not sure how good a defensive team this Nuggets squad is. Sure they have the reigning defensive player of the year but Tim Duncan ate him up in the playoffs, Nene did a better job than him on Duncan. But people look at the blocks and his longevity as a good defensive player and feel it's his time. But Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony are both subpar defensively. I'm curious if Kenyon Martin can come back successfully and stay relatively healthy. Also just to mention Carmelo Anthony probably has the best all-around offensive game in the NBA.

7. Los Angeles Lakers - Why do I have them in the playoffs? I think Kobe's sticking around the whole year and if they can stay away from Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant being injured for a long period of time they're capable of being seeded higher. Andrew Bynum is improving by the day and people are expecting big things out of him, and Luke Walton is a perfect player for the triangle offense (I love his game) and Ronny Turiaf is a joy to watch. The Colonel (Phil Jackson, he will be adressed by this the whole season too) will have this team giving someone a scare in the playoffs this year.

8. New Orleans Hornets - Surprisingly not that hard a decision for the 8th seed, I don't see the Warriors playing with the same fire they had last year and this team finished 2 games out of the playoffs last year with everyone of there starters missing at least 20 games. Peja appears healthy and David West and Chris Paul need to stay healthy too. I like the draft pick of Julian Wright too because I think he's an athletic freak who can at the very least be a solid defensive player.

9. Golden State Warriors - The fire won't be there this year and this might piss off Don Nelson and cause him to resign or be run out of time again by Golden State. I think Nelson can turn Brandon Wright into an exciting young big man, provided he can develop a decent perimeter game. It probably won't happen this year. I'm somewhat excited to see what happens when the Mavs matchup with them in the regular season this year. I've never seen a team go so unconscious against a team and then seemingly fall flat the next round, half the shots the Warriors missed vs. the Jazz were swishes against Dallas.

10. Portland Trailblzers - I hate seeing Greg Oden go down, I really liked the kid. I was going to put them on a 3 year plan for them to be contenders and that will be delayed a year with Greg's microfracture surgery. Next year they'll focus on making the playoffs, then get a higher seed the next year and in Greg's 3rd year playing they'll be contenders provided he's healthy. And even if he's not Lamarcus Aldridge tore up the Summer League and the Spurs tonight and if Martell Webster has taken the leap in his 3rd year they've got an even better core than they originally thought to go along with Brandon Roy.

11. Memphis Grizzlies - I don't see Mike Conley being as good as some people think he can be, sure his game rose as the game was on the line but so did Acie Law's but no one was thinking he could be the 3rd pick. I like the signing of Darko Milicic to go along with Pau Gasol and am curious if the athletic Hakim Warrick has improved in his 3rd year.

12. Los Angeles Clippers - I should probably put this team lower because there season ended when they found out Elton Brand will be out until at least January

13. Minnesota Timberwolves - This is the year Al Jefferson becomes the man, unfortunately his team's either to young or to crappy to help him out.

14. Sacramento Kings - I'm a big fan of Kevin Martin and have loved Ron Artest since his Indiana days (even with the brawl) and this team is certainly capable of making the playoffs I don't think they have enough front court help to go far especially with Spencer Hawes possibly being out the season. We'll see if newly acquired Mikki Moore can help or if he was just a contract year player. Oh and I hate Brad Miller forever for being such a bitch to Devin Harris, it's bullshit that he starts a confrontation and Josh Howard is protecting a teammate and yet Howard's the one getting in trouble and Miller gets nothing, FUCK HIM AND HIS CORNROWS!

15. Seattle Supersonics - Another situation where I just have to put someone here and I don't see Kevin Durant being the savior this season that some are predicting (see Simmons, Bill) I don't think they have a prayer at the playoffs but they can potentially finish around the 9 or 10 seed if things go well. I hope Jeff Green and Durant can become a solid duo. Am also wondering how much longer the Sonics will remain in Seattle. Oklahoma City will gladly host them.

Also thought I'd mention I like the new ad campaign the NBA is wheeling out, I hate the slogan, where amazing happens, but the commercials are pretty damn cool.

Playoff Predictions
Conference Finals:
Dallas vs. San Antonio = Dallas (I'm going to operate under the assumption that the Spurs can't repeat)

Bulls vs. Pistons = Bulls (They'll go to the finals without Kobe)

Finals
Chicago vs. Dallas = Dallas in 6 (Big time Homer but I dont care)

MVP: Lebron James
Defensive Player: Tim Duncan (it's a crime that he hasn't received it before)
Most improved: Al Jefferson (he'll probably win this though he made the big leap last year)
Coach of the Year: Scott Skiles

Eastern Conference Predictions

By: Mitchell Clemons

Well it's that time of year, baseball is over and football is nearing it's halfway point and that means it's time for the NBA to kick off. Alot of questions are out there for this season, from where Kobe might and could end up, how much integrity do these refs have for the game, will the Mavs be able to overcome obstacles that have gotten in there way from the past couple years and will teams like Boston or Houston be able to rise to the top and become legit contenders. So without further ado here are my NBA predictions (hope they're more accurate then my NFL predictions, they were awful)

Eastern Conference, this conference is still obviously weaker than the west but you can make a legitimate case for 11-12 teams making the playoffs.

1. Chicago Bulls - Luol Deng and Ben Gordon are going into contract years and looking for the big extension from the Bulls. They have the youngest core in the league and one of the brightest futures. Hopefully Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah will improve as the season goes on so they won't have to completely rely on there perimeter game.

2. Boston Celtics - I'm not seeing the championship aspirations that some people are expecting, but that could just be because of my disdain for Kevin Garnett. The Suns have one of the best rotations in the league too but when you're only playing 7 guys a night your team will feel the toll on them as the season goes on.

3. Detroit Pistons - they're getting older but they could be poised for 1 last run to the Finals. Need some bench players to step up so they don't have to overrely on there starters.

4. Miami Heat - I'd say the Heat had low seed to no playoffs written all over them until the Ricky Davis trade, Riley knows his team's time is now and if Wade can stay healthy this team will be dangerous come playoff time. Remember the name Dorrell Wright.

5. Toronto Raptors - Andrea Bargnani will take the leap this season or next to form a good 1-2 frontcourt duo with Dallas native Chris Bosh. They overpaid for Jason Kapono this offseason, it will be interesting if he can continue his sharp shooting or if it was all a fluke.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers - Lebron still has no one to play next to him, Zydrunas Illgauskas was vastly overpaid and is getting slower by the day, Drew Gooden is a serviceable big but makes boneheaded plays. Daniel Gibson is still young and unproven outside of 1 playoff series. Larry Hughes can't stay healthy to save his life and Anderson Varajeo and Sasha Pavlovic aren't signed yet. But they still have Lebron, unfortunately it will be a long season for him and another year wasted.

7. New Jersey Nets - This might be to low for them since they had injuries last year, but you still have to wonder if Nenad Krstic will be healthy and if Jason Kidd will breakdown eventually. There rookie bigman Sean Williams (from Boston College) has impressed people out of camp and should provide an okay front court rotation with Krstic and newcomer Jamaal Magloire.

8. Washington Wizards - I flipped a coin between them and Orlando, both these teams could be higher seeds but the East is very balanced this year, if I had to remove 1 team it would be the Cavs but you can't simply for the Lebron factor. I like Gilbert Arenas and they were on there way to a top 3 seed last year til injuries got the best of Arenas and All star Caron Butler. Brendan Haywood and 2nd year Andray Blatche will have to step up since Etan Thomas is out for the year with heart problems. I'm sure Haywood's fine with it, it's noted that Thomas and he fought constantly in practice.

9. Orlando Magic - I hate thinking the Magic wasted all that money on Rashard Lewis but they did and it's simply ludicrous, they crapped away there whole salary cap for a fringe all star who's getting paid like he's Kobe. They've still got Dwight Howard and he needs to step up his scoring game in order to help take them to the playoffs.

10. Miwaukee Bucks - I'm curious as to how Yi Jianlin will work out this year. Big year for Andrew Bogut too because from some Miwaukee fans I've talked to they can't stand the Aussie.

11. New York Knicks - Another potential playoff team if newly acquired Zach Randolph can mesh with Eddy Curry...and they decide to play defense. Insert Isiah Thomas sexual harrassment jokes here.

12. Charlotte Bobcats - Adam Morrison's out for the year and that's probably a good thing as he was one of worst starters in the league last year. So much for the great white hope II. Watch out for Walter Hermann from Argentina. He's 28 years old 2nd year player and looks like Fabio but once the Bobcats gave him playing time last year he shined shooting 52% from the field and 46% from 3 pt. land including a 30 point game vs. the Bucks where he shot 6-8 from downtown. I'm also curious how Jason Richardson will fit in with this team (acquired on a draft day trade for Brandon Wright) This team could also contend for one of the final playoff spots.

13. Atlanta Hawks - I hope they can make the playoffs this year so the Suns draft pick won't be as good, they'll probably trade it anyways since there owner is so cheap.

14. Indiana Pacers - I loved the Pacers when Reggie Miller was there (my favorite player ever) and it seemed once the brawl happened the team fell apart and they've shipped off everyone. I'm still convinced they would've won the title that year. I don't like Jermain O'neal either, wouldnt be shocked if he's traded before next off-season.

15. Philadelphia 76ers - Sorry Philly fans, they did play better at the end of the year last year but someone had to go here and I couldn't do it to the Pacers.

Western Conference Preview coming when I get home...

Dan in Real Life

Hey, it's Tyler here, coming to you from Los Angeles. I’ll be dropping in occasionally to give you the scoop on what movies to go see, and what to wait for to come out on DVD, if even at all. Today I bring you a review of the movie Dan in Real Life.


First let me just get it out of the way. I am a huge Steve Carell fan. I knew who he was when he was a correspondent for the Daily Show with John Stewart and have followed him through his TV show The Office and his breakout movie The 40 Year Old Virgin. So with that said, lets talk about Dan in Real Life.


Going into the movie, I wasn’t expecting a raunchy comedy that I would be embarrassed to watch with my parents, and if that’s what you are expecting, you will be solely disappointed. Dan in Real Life is a romantic comedy that basis its moral theme on family values and being around with you loved ones. But don’t get me wrong. It’s got its laugh out loud funny parts, most thanks to Steve Carell and his outstanding performance. Dane Cook, who plays his brother often feeds off Steve and contributes with his own style of humor.


But this film also has some weaknesses. While I watched it, there were certain points where I wasn’t sure where the story was going. Most of this takes place in the beginning and I think some of it is just the development of the many characters this story involves. One of the other weaknesses I think is towards the end of the film. Everything just seemed to fit together too perfectly and ended too fast. But that’s not to say it doesn’t have a good ending.


So my final thoughts are that this movie isn’t a dirty comedy as are some of Steve’s other work, so don’t expect one. This is a family-romantic comedy that makes you feel as if you are really watching a family’s reunion unfold. It has parts that will make only the girls laugh, only the guys laugh (thanks to the fact that all the siblings are brothers), and then parts that both will find amusing. While this movie won’t be as talked about as The 40 Year Old Virgin or Knocked Up, in my opinion, it is still worth a viewing, and will leave you feeling upbeat when it’s over. I give it 7 out of 10.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Romo-Sexual

There really isn't a subtle way to start a blog, it's like being asked to lay the first brick of an Egyptian pyramid, but I figured with the news today on Tony Romo it was as good of a time to start as ever...

On Monday Ed Werder reported on ESPN that Tony Romo and the Cowboys agreed in principle on a 6 yr./67.5 million dollar deal (31 one of that being guaranteed) and the news seemed to be received fairly well throughout the media and people I've talked too. Many people were raising the yellow flag at the idea of signing him to an extension this summer after the tailspin at the end of last year (which is somewhat understandable). Then, with the news today of the extension I've already heard a few complaints that Peyton only makes about 3 million a year more on average, that Romo doesn't deserve to be the highest paid Cowboy ever, or that Dallas should have waited until the off season; let me be the first to say to anybody who disagrees with Jerry Jones decision... you are crazy.

The guy signed a contract for 10,000 dollars as an undrafted rookie out of Eastern Illinois and played behind a sandbox of scrub quarterbacks in the likes of Quincy Carter, Drew Henson, Vinnie Testaverde, and Drew Bledsoe before getting his chance after a few years of grooming. He seized his opportunity and did nothing short of shocking the sporting world by playing pro bowl caliber football. Sure he tapered off towards the end of the year and blew the playoff game versus Seattle with the botched snap but he proved the pro bowl numbers last year were no fluke. He worked hard in the off season (despite having to stare at Carrie Underwood and deal with his contract extension all summer) and came back this year to be the best quarterback not named Brady or Manning. Sure it's a lot of money, but the Raiders just ponied up 30 million guaranteed to a player who has never taken a snap and the Rams just gave a very similar deal to Bulger, a player who may have seen his best days. In Tony Dallas gets a player who is still young and only getting better but still a known talent who has performed at a high level in limited time. Only time will tell if he elevates to the level of other Cowboy quarterback legends, but the road looks promising.