NBA Predictions Part VIII

This years MVP is Stephen Curry. James Harden, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, even Marc Gasol all have had great years, but Curry is the one. He plays on the best team in the league and means so much to what they do on offense. His energy is infectious, and its big momentum changing plays from Curry that give the team an extra boost every night. He has also picked up his play on defense as players are shooting around 40% when being defended by him. Curry is what the traditional MVP is: he is the best player on the best team, he has great statistics, and that "it" factor. The plays he makes are unlike anyone in the league.

NBA Predictions Part VII

This years defensive player of the year is Draymond Green. The man has meant so much to Golden State and teams success, especially on the defensive end. Green starts at the power forward position for the Warriors and is able to guard almost anyone on the court. He is averaging eight rebounds and a little more than a block and a steal per game. His defensive rating is near 100, and doing all this for the best team in the league makes him a clear candidate. Players like Anthony Davis, Tim Duncan and Tony Allen should get consideration, but none play for the best team in the league, and none guard as many different positions as Green.

NBA Predictions Part VI

My sixth man of the year goes to Louis Williams out of Toronto. The Raptors are having a great season, and it would be a shame for the team to not get any recognition, not that its a requirement for good teams. I'm giving it to Williams over Jamal Crawford, simply because his team has been better. Toronto need some bench scoring this year and they got it with Williams. He's averaging 15 ppg off the bench, and gives them a big time clutch performer down the stretch of tight games. Of course, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are go to guys, but Louis Williams has always been clutch wherever he plays. Don't be surprised if he hits a big shot or two come playoff time.

NBA Predictions Part V

The NBA's coach of the year is Steve Kerr. In just his first season as an NBA head coach, Kerr has led his team to the best record in the league at 45-11. He has taken a team that already had the talent, and turned them into one of the best offenses and defenses in the league. The team is more exciting to watch than it had been in recent years, and much of that is due to Kerr's coaching style. He wants his team to push the pace and move the ball in order to get great shots, and so far this season that has worked out. He also took players who were already great, like Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, and made them even better. Thompson is averaging career highs across the board, and Curry has gone from an exciting young player to an MVP candidate.

NBA Predictions Part IV

This years most improved player should be Jimmy Butler. It sure is tough this year with so many great players making such great strides in their respective games. Players like John Wall and Klay Thompson who were already established players have stepped up their games so much that they should too receive consideration. Butler's improvement has been so great, that he gets the nod for me. He went from a 13ppg 5rpg and 2apg guy, to a 20ppg 6rpg and 3apg guy in just one year. Not only are those numbers up but his shooting percentage has improved as well. Butler went from 40% from the field to 46%, and from 28% from three to now 35%. Butler also plays some of the most minutes in the league, and plays tenacious defense every night. His responsibility on offense is another reason he should get the award. Even before Derrick Rose went down with another knee injury, Butler had become a go to guy for Chicago. A player that they can rely on for big time plays in big time moments.

NBA Predictions Part III

I believe the rookie of the year will be Andrew Wiggins, and I do not think I am alone on this one. Wiggins was the number one overall pick of course, and was a part of the trade that brought Kevin Love to Cleveland shortly after. After getting off to a relatively pedestrian start, the young man has stepped up his game going for over 20 points on multiple occasions. Wiggins is averaging just under 16 points per game this season, shooting around 44% from the field and 35% from three.  For a rookie who was not thought to be a great shooter, 35% from three is pretty impressive. Just recently he went for a career high 30 points in a loss to Houston. The now Minnesota Timberwolves rising star is well on his way to becoming an all-star type player and maybe a future face of the league. His only real competition was Jabari Parker at the beginning of the season, but Parker's injury ruined any chance he had.

NBA Predictions Part II

Executive of the year I believe should be awarded to the Atlanta Hawks front office. I do not believe Danny Ferry should directly receive credit after the infamous email that leaked this past summer. However, the Atlanta Hawks have done an exceptional job putting together a team that holds the best record in the Eastern conference. Much of the team is the same as last year, but there were key acquisitions made to help boost the supporting cast. Players like Kent Bazemore, and the injured Thabo Sefolosha have been instrumental in creating the team atmosphere and chemistry. Credit is due for a team that was just an eight seed last year and considerably below .500.

Predictions for NBA Regular Season Awards

We have about a quarter of the regular season to go, and the battle for title favorite has really heated up. The Golden State Warriors still hold the leagues best record, but the Atlanta Hawks are hanging around along with the Memphis Grizzlies. Teams like Houston and Cleveland are really starting to catch a lot of peoples eyes because of the teams success, along with the elevated superstar play of MVP candidates James Harden and LeBron James. While the recipients of home court advantage are yet to be determined, individual awards are what is the focus today. I will predict, at this point in the season, who I believe will win the individual awards for the NBA regular season.

Kevin Durant Might Be Back

The Oklahoma City Thunder won in Denver last night with the help of Kevin Durant's 40 points. The win combined with a New Orleans loss to Utah without Anthony Davis, and the teams are now tied for ninth in the Western conference. Durant now seems to be back from his injury and ready to go on an MVP type run. Look for this next month, including the all-star, to be Durant's best so far this season. I wouldn't be surprised if the team gets back in the playoff picture and Durant averages 30 over the stretch. Russell Westbrook will still be dominant at the point guard but much like last night, he will look to feed the beast that is Kevin Durant more often, especially now that his legs seem to be back.

New NBA Playoff Systems

Adam Silver this past week expressed that the league could look at changing the playoff system in the future. One idea I have heard of is taking all of the division winners and have those teams automatically earn a top six seed. Then, the ten remaining teams would be seeded in order of the best records. This would eliminate the bottom teams in the east from making the playoffs, and allow teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder to make the playoffs despite being in the loaded Western Conference.

Brady vs. Montana

It is tough to compare eras, but I think Tom Brady has surpassed Joe Montana now. Not only his Super Bowl appearances and wins, but also his statistics and accolades have helped him jump Montana for that title of greatest quarterback of all-time. Peyton Manning is perhaps the greatest regular season quarterback, John Elway the most talented and Montana the most clutch, but Brady put all of those together to make up one of the most remarkable stories in sports history. Drafted just 199th overall, and now one of the faces of the league.

Still Waiting on the Celtics

The Boston Celtics are in a strange position of being a subpar team, yet still in position to make a run for one of the bottom two seeds in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The team has looked solid over the past coupe of weeks, winning some tough games on the west coast and giving the best team in the NBA a run for its money in Golden State. The coach and some of its young players give hope to Celtics fans that this team could be right in the middle of the playoff hunt next year, and perhaps even stronger in the years following. If a few draft picks and free agent signings workout, the team could be back where it wants to be a little sooner than expected.

Pats Next Season

I wonder if the Patriots will be just as good next year. I don't see why not, unless the team is not able to re-sign any of the free agents it has. Although, that has never been a problem in the past. The Patriots have a history of letting players leave for more money, and those players not being as successful. The Pats will still be playing in the AFC East, and still have one of the best quarterbacks and coaches of all-time. So, I think they'll be fine. In fact, look for the team to improve on its regular season record of 12-4 and perhaps win another game or two.

MVP Race

If the season were to end today, I still believe that Stephen Curry is the MVP of the NBA. However, LeBron James is not too far behind now. The impact he has had during the teams recent 12 game winning streak (which ended at the hands of the Indiana Pacers last night), was incredible. Not just scoring but playmaking, defense and leadership. All traits that make James so great. I also think James Harden is not far behind, nor are players like Marc Gasol, Jeff Teague and John Wall. I think that Curry and James are the clear top 2 right now, but all it takes is a strong week long run by Harden or Gasol to change my opinion.

Brady's Best Yet

It was important for Tom Brady and the Patriots to win the Super Bowl Sunday night. Not only for the organization, but for the legacy of Brady. If the Seahawks would have run the ball on second and goal, and went on to win the game, Brady would be three and three in Super Bowls. That record would simply not do justice for how good both he and Bill Belichick have been over the course of this 15 year run. Now the two are 4-2 in Super Bowls, and two incredible plays by New York Giants away from being 6-0. This Super Bowl was perhaps Brady's best, as he carved up the NFL's best defense going 37-50 and throwing for four touchdowns to four different receivers. His fourth quarter is on the short list of all-time Super Bowl performances, and (if it was not official) cements him as one of the best quarterbacks of all-time.