Celtics Formula Smarter than 76ers

I think what the Boston Celtics are doing is admirable. Instead of tanking every year as a form of "rebuilding", they have decided to obtain assets. The Celtics have acquired many draft picks over the past couple years, and now are set up to do great things in the future. This team could very well make the playoffs, and maybe even give a team like the Atlanta Hawks a run for their money in the first round. The team is getting better, the coach is showing signs of improvement and the team will have many opportunities in the near future to improve through the draft and free agency. The chances of landing a franchise player in the draft are slim, we have seen many times teams like the Bulls and Cavaliers receive the number one overall pick and were no where near the worst team in the league. There is no point in tanking if the team is good enough to make the playoffs, even in the weak eastern conference. Go for it now, and continue to improve, make your team a more attractive spot for free agents, that's what the Celtics are doing.

A Few Reasons Why Kentucky-Wisconsin Could Be One of the Best Final Four Games Ever

Saturday's marquee match-up has to be between Kentucky and Wisconsin. with all due respect to the great programs of Duke and Michigan State, led by two all-time great coaches, the Kentucky-Wisconsin match-up is simply better. Not only does the game feature two of the best teams in the country, but it also provides great theater. It is a chance for Wisconsin to knock off the undefeated Wildcats team that is full of NBA talent. A chance for a great coach like Bo Ryan to upset John Calipari, with a cast of great players, but not quite an all-star studded cast like the Wildcats. Kentucky is by far the most talented team in the country, but Wisconsin may hold the best player, Frank Kaminsky. All this plus the fact that it is a rematch of last years Final Four game, a game that Kentucky won. The greatest stage in college basketball is set, and Saturday night should provide the game of the year.

Western Conference Contenders

Funny how a conference like the west is considered so deep and so good, yet when you really consider what teams can make a run to the finals, the list is short. As of now, because of so many injuries to so many key players, I can say that there are three contenders. The Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs. These teams are experienced (especially the Spurs), and deep teams who play well and as a team on both ends of the floor. Come May the western conference finals will feature two of these teams.

Potential NBA Players

Another reason to be excited for this weekends college basketball games is the potential pro prospects playing. Obviously Kentucky is loaded with them, but other schools like North Carolina and Arizona have great future pros. Stanley Johnson of Arizona is an athletic wing with size, who I believe will be a strong NBA player. Marcus Paige of UNC is an interesting prospect, because of his potential as a combo guard. Paige could be a great point guard or a skilled and undersized shooting guard in the NBA. Look to see how these players, along with Frank Kaminsky and everyone on Duke, perform this weekend.

Don't Forget About Chicago

The Chicago Bulls have been relatively quiet since the injury to Derrick Rose, and then Jimmy Butler. Chicago is still in the three seed in the east, three games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but with Jimmy Butler back and the potential for a Rose return (how many times have we said that?), the Bulls could have a shot come playoff time. The team is still great defensively and probably the most talented team coach Tom Thibodeau has had since he took over the team. This team could really give both Atlanta and Cleveland a run for their money in the playoffs, even if Rose is not at the top of his game. Jimmy Butler, Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic are enough offense for the Bulls to be a real threat to win the east this spring.

Should the NBA Get Rid of the One Year Rule?

It is no secret that college basketball has become a one year showcase for many freshman looking to enter the NBA draft. This is happening at all of the big time programs across the country, most notably the University of Kentucky. The rule that players must wait at least one year after high school before they can declare for the NBA draft seems pointless to me. Players without a doubt get a lot better in college, but how much of a difference can one year make? There are great coaches in the NBA too. I think the NBA should either get rid of the rule, or make it like the NFL, where players must complete their junior year before being able to declare. Recently coach Rick Pitino of Louisville said that he thought there is no point in holding back players from going straight to the NBA is that' what they want to do. We'll see what happens in the future, but I would be very surprised if this rule is not revisited often over the next six months and potentially revised.

MLB Needs a Change

Kind of funny how the sport of baseball has seemed less and less interesting over the last couple of years. It really seems to have become a regional sport. When the Boston Red Sox were making a world series run a couple of years ago, I followed every second. However, last year the team was in last place, and I could care less. Meanwhile sports like Football and Basketball have grown in popularity. In football the teams are throwing for more yards and more touchdowns than ever. In the NBA the teams are scoring more and more points, and taking even more shots from downtown. Meanwhile baseball has started to hit less and less home runs. The big plays matter to the casual fan, and if those big plays don't happen as much, then the casual fan will stop watching. Baseball needs to do something if they wan people to start watching again, and not just the old men who still consider it America's pastime.