Halloween Night

You'd think everyone had a mask on today...everyone didnt look like they did the other night...here's what I noticed

Golden State....2 games in...looks better than advertised..I mean I left them for dead in the post Baron era..but they pushed Toronto tonight to OT and NO in their 1st game as well...just something of note

Tyrus Thomas...2-17?....thats it

Andrea Bargnani made me really happy today...he looked like a real 7 footer...I think there was a stretch either in the 2nd or 3rd qtr where he had the ball on the perimeter and drove to the basket for a dunk 3x in a row...I hope its clicking

Is there anything more disrespectful than playing for less than a minute?...Well Marcus Williams should be fuming..he played 7 seconds for Golden State

I may think David Lee is a tad overhyped...I want to say if he was black he wouldnt be getting this overwhelming attention and nod to get more minutes and to start...

Marbury is inactive...ouch...

Darryl Arthur grabbed 10 boards while going 0-6....a nice surprise there..

NBA!

"So Ryan..what have you thought about everything you've seen thus far in the NBA?"

Funny you should ask that question...since I have free NBA league pass for a little bit...here's what I've seen

-The mohawk is back....here's who I've seen thus far with one...Kings Kevin Martin...T'Wolves Craig Smith...Heat's Shawn Marion and Dwyane Wade...theres more on the Heat but I havent ID'd them yet...

-Minnesota will have the award for ugliest court this year...its 2 toned....inside the 3 point line is light brown...and everything outside the 3 is dark..you have to see it...then shield your eyes because its ugly.

-The Knicks are actually moving the ball quite well so far...and you know who hasnt played? Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry...which is funny because D'Antoni has played the other 10 guys in the 1st half..

-Oden is out 2-4 weeks with a sprained foot...I wont say it....but you know what I'm thinking

-Rudy Fernandez is going to become one of my favorite players...quick

-Amare is sporting some awesome shades er..goggles?....

-I feel Mo Williams wont have much effect on helping Lebron this year...but it wont matter some how..Lebron will still be that amazing

-Watching Spencer Hawes and Kevin Love battle it out....I know there are sportswriters that are wetting themselves right now

-Michael Beasley looks dazed right now..but now that I think about it..he always does...but I like him..

-My goodness...what is Walt Frazier wearing?....I narrowed it down to Patent leather or plastic..

West

1-Lakers-This team in a sneaky way is really stacked..even more so than Boston..Andrew Bynum comes back from his knee injury....I think the hype was a little too loud last year about Bynum..but I do think he'll help the other players on defense.Odom and Gasol are back and shifted to their natural positions and 3 and 4...even though Odom seems to get alot of criticism lately..even more so than Gasol.Regardless Farmar,Luke,Ariza,Vlad,Sasha are all coming off the bench..geez..and you know..they have that Kobe guy...who from what I've heard is really good.

2-Hornets-This is the Steve Nash effect 2.0...everything will go based on Chris Paul...the guy is a monster, averaging 21 pts,11 asts,4 rebs and a shade under 3 steals....wow..add to that valuable playoff experience..I think this might be the team that will have the best chance to beat LA.Down low they have all star(yeah?) David West, who is still grossly underrated...as well as Tyson Chandler who was left for dead by Chicago..he was allowed to be himself again and it shows..he averaged about 12 pts and 12 rebs along with a block.The wing spot is a little weak..the shooting guards are Posey and Mo Pete with Peja playing opposite to them...I see those first 2 as bandaids until they find a real shooting guard somewhere..but Peja is still one of the best shooters on the planet.The bench is a little thin..other than Posey and maybe Julian Wright it gets really bare at the bottom..but I feel that they could mask that.

3-Jazz-This team is the wildcard..they have it all...superstar point guard(Williams) dirty work guys(Boozer,Kirilenko,Millsap) shooters(Okur,Korver) young guys who can run and jump(Brewer and CJ Miles) vets to fill in(Harpring and Knight) so whats the problem?....they've been the subject of alot of bad matchups at the wing position..the last few years the Jazz have been bounced by teams with really good wing players(Kobe-LA,Ginobili-SA) and they dont have alot they can do about those players and it really hurts them.Its one thing to guard these players ineffectively,its another to not be aggressive and not make those players work on the other end..in which I dont think they have yet.They'll be in the mix..but they need a break.

4-Spurs-This team is on a quiet slide as of late..but they'll always be in the mix as well.Duncan and Parker will have to do a little extra to get the scoring load sustained while Ginobili is recovering from ankle surgery.It will depend on the combination of Mike Finley, Roger Mason and bits from Ime Udoka(yes who?) to chip in from the off guard spots to help Parker and Duncan.You pretty much know what you are getting from this team as long as they defend(why wouldnt they?) so yeah..another postseason trip is coming.

5-Suns-I'm still down on this team because they broke up the fun,run and gun Suns...well they still have Amare and Nash which are always nice pieces to have in trying for a championship...Shaq is still there making $20 mil this year...ew..for small spurts he's decent..but I think other than that he's just a slow,plotting center.Robin Lopez is a nice backup center who blocks shots and rebounds so expect to see a good amount of him this year.The wings are a little older but yet still effective.Raja Bell,Grant Hill and Barbosa with new guy Matt Barnes should help score in theory..even thought Barnes has never had 10 points(close) in a season.I feel that this team will be depending on the health of Nash and Amare..which is funny because neither of them have been that in preseason...uh oh.

6-Rockets-This is another wildcard team....this team could be in the top 3 if they stay healthy..and by they I mean Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming....which I can go ahead and throw out because neither one of them has done that in recent years...so I'll just act like one of them is in and the other isnt most of the year...The addition of Ron Artest will help alot if(sorry when) Tracy is out..he's a legit 20 point scorer himself...the talent is there...I just need for them to be playing and using that talent.

7-Mavs-I for one think Avery Johnson held them back offensively..the defense was never really there like it should be...and you should be who you are...a high scoring team.And I think they can get back to that..a full year of Jason Kidd will help Dirk alot..as well as gelling with Jason Terry and Josh Howard...and they better..because if it isnt coming from those 3 as well as Stackhouse...its not coming at all...I think they sneak into the playoffs and get bounced 1st round..

8-Blazers-The dynasty starts here lol...no no...but you need that one playoff run where you give a team a little scare before you get sent home..I think this is that year...Brandon Roy is the household name everyone will get familar with(if you arent already) meanwhile Greg Oden will get adjusted to the NBA quickly at center...LaMarcus Aldridge is the power forward and the other forward has been given yet..but they have some really nice options.Anytime primetime players like rookies Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless as well as Travis Outlaw dont start...you are officially stacked.This is the team of the future if everything goes right.

9-Clippers-On paper(see what I did there..paper..clips?) this team is a pretty random collection of talent.They were really scrambling after the Elton Brand thing...so in comes Baron Davis and Marcus Camby..both are really good players,but come in with some injury concerns...and look...they are already living up to that billing already.Anyways Chris Kaman is an underrated quality center...Al Thornton is a really nice young swingman who got overlooked last year because they were terrible(so was Durant's team but no matter) the combination of Cuttino Mobley,Ricky Davis and rook Eric Gordon make a nice rotation of 2-guards..and Tim"paycheck" Thomas is still around doing whatever it is he does...but other than those 6 or 7 players...those other guys could be on a D-League team..and I'm being completely serious.They could be way lower than 9th.

10-Nuggets-This team is in cut cost mode...Camby was traded for a bag of balls(and not even Spalding ones) meanwhile players like Nene and Kenyon Martin are high priced injury risks...AI and Carmelo will have to do the bulk of the scoring again..and JR Smith will chip in when he gets off the bench(I dont understand still)...the big difference will be the defense...they werent very good prior to Camby leaving..now they should be on doormat status and you dont even have 5 quality scorers to compensate.The bench is another D-League team..so dont look for much from this team.

11-Warriors-This team would be a slight bit higher if Monta Ellis wasnt hurt..but even then his point guard sklls were questionable anyways....but yes..this team is stock full of swingmen...Corey Maggette and Steven Jackson are the notable players on this team...Al Harrington and Andris Biedrins are pretty effective at what they do and Ronny Turiaf should add some depth at both spots which is a nice move.Brandan Wright and Kelenna Azubukie are nice option guys..but the real reason they will be bad,again..is the point guard spot..Ellis is out...CJ Watson(who?) is out..and for some reason(unknown to me) Marcus Williams isnt getting a fair shot at it..so enter DeMarcus Nelson..I cant see it working..but just you wait to confirm it.

12-T'Wolves-Al Jefferson and Mike Miller are the dependables....other than that?....you arent really sure..is Kevin Love ready for the NBA?..is Randy Foye a good point guard?....how is Corey Brewer coming along on his offensive game?...Where does Ryan Gomes play?...what about Rashad McCants?....I dont know many of these questions..and thats why they're here.

13-Kings-Let the Kevin Martin era begin....no seriously..the guy can score..he's like Mitch Richmond 2.0..the talent is a little bare here...Brad Miller can still play...Francisco Garcia and John Salmons are nice players coming into their own..Beno Udrih is...solid? and Spencer Hawes is coming along quite nicely..but..this isnt a defensive team..and offense isnt guarnteed other from Martin..so wait a few more years.

14-Grizzlies-The backcourt is pretty solid with the trio of Mike Conley,Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo holding it down...they have some depth at those spots too with Marko Jaric and Kyle Lowry but upfront is where they will have the most issue...Hakim Warrick is a decent option at the 4 and I like Mark Gasol..but the players like Darko who have to play alot I cant get behind.Darrell Arthur could be a solid option..but you never know..this team would have to play real uptempo to have a fighting chance...

15-Thunder-My last time referencing this team..they were really bad last year...they added Russell Westbrook who is in the combo guard mold..will help shoulder some of the offensive load off of Kevin Durant...who I feel will be really really good this year...but I dont think the other spots will be able to contribute like they should.Collison and Wilcox are okay,but not every night options and neither is Jeff Green(yet)...they need a real post player bad.

East

1-Celtics-They won..they didnt lose much(just Posey and PJ Brown)...KG,Pierce and Ray are still there..the bench is fairly deep..be prepared for another deep postseason run, or a finals run barring injury..

2-Cavs-Lebron James..thats enough to get you here lol...new guy Mo Williams is a good addition..I dont like him as a point guard..or defender but Lebron will finally(in theory) get another offensive weapon..

3-Pistons-Best starting 5 in the league..they have a deep bench too..I think I heard that Amir Johnson is starting in place of McDyess..and they have Maxiell,Kwame(joking but hes there) Afflalo and Stuckey getting good minutes as well..it remains to be seen if a new coach(Michael Curry) can get this crew to stop choking and playing lackadaisical in the playoffs..I doubt it

4-Raptors-This team has all the pieces to be this high..Bosh is becoming a force(not stat-wise,being noticed public-wise) they got rid of TJ Ford,enter Jermaine O'Neal..he's a legit defensive player..the elephant in the room is that he is always unhealthy..and with no Rasho(shipped to Indy) there might be an issue there..Andrea Bargnani can save their season if he starts to become anything better than what he was last year(10 pts,3 rebs)Give them half a point guard behind Calderon,there will be a real issue when playing this team.

5-Sixers-Elton Brand was the big addition to a young yet up and coming team..my only issue for this team is that they cant shoot...I dont know how you can mask that glaring issue,but they cant.They have shooters..but they are buried...and for the record I still cant trust Andre Miller like I should.

6-Magic-The starting 5 is solid..having the monster Dwight Howard will always help down low.They are depending on Jameer Nelson alot(let go of Dooling and Arroyo)..well..they are depending on their starters alot because they have no bench...JJ Redick is about it..personally there isnt any other player who could warrant ANY kind of playing time on any other team..they are really bare.

7-Wizards-Okay okay..I know what you are thinking...yes Haywood is out for a long time..yes Gilbert is out for a few months as well...but this team is still not bad as you think.Caron Butler is still there as well as Antawn Jamison..those are two 20 point scoring all stars..which is more than most teams have.Every one else is just role players..if you can somehow hold down the fort,play Nick Young more...and get Gil and Haywood back...I think you can still sneak into the playoffs like last year.

8-Hawks-Perhaps the 2nd best starting 5 in the league..this team still isnt ready to make the leap the way I see it. Yes they got back Josh Smith..but they lost super effective Josh Childress to Europe and they will really feel his loss.The bench isnt too good either with Acie Law,Maurice Evans,Flip Murray and Zaza..ew..alot of things will have to go right for this team(players maturing and playing better,injury free with key players) to make the playoffs at all..I dont for see all that happening...so 8 seems right.

9-Pacers-A real question mark of a team here...but I like them somehow.They play uptempo..which helps mask anything usually...they have TJ Ford..who is questionable with his health concerns...Mike Dunleavy who has been questionable all career(until last year) with underachieving..Danny Granger is good,but can he be the number 1 option all year?...they have some pieces off the bench but frontcourt-wise is lacking...I still think somehow they answer most of these questions and push for a playoff spot...I think.

10-Heat-A healthy Wade will always have you in a right direction..but I dont know if it'll be enough to get into the postseason.Point guard is a glaring issue...Livingston should be it but he's still getting himself back into shape from injury...until then Mario Chalmers and Chris Quinn will...do whatever it is they do...another issue is Shawn Marion..with Michael Beasley and Udonis Haslem both viable spots at the forward...do you trade him?...go small with Haslem at center?...I dont think anyone knows yet.

11-Bulls-Remember when they were the up and coming team?...smacking around the Heat with all that young talent?...well they still got it..but..its not as up and coming...Ben Gordon isnt playing team player...Kirk Hinrich is the shooting guard..Derrick Rose is the point guard..new coach..oh yeah..Larry Hughes is still on the roster...I like them in theory..but there is no way you can have 6 legit guards playing at 2 spots..until they clear that logjam..I cant stand by them.

12-Knicks-Remember when I said "Uptempo masks almost anything?" yeah that could apply here...if they right pieces get moved around.Mainly Eddy Curry...he cant play here..thats really all I have...I need less Chris Duhon for this offense and more Stephon Marbury..yeah I know he's hated..selfish..and all that..but he's the best option they have...and hes due for 21 million THIS year...yeah..play him..Nate Robinson,David Lee,Jamal Crawford(in theory) should thrive in this offense...meanwhile if they ever get rookie Danilo Gallanari going...I think they could be something..other than god awful.

13-Nets-And the award for most random collection of average talent goes to New Jersey...its not looking good for them..anytime Vince Carter is your best player..and you arent winning.something will go wrong..really wrong..Devin Harris will help..but not enough to matter.

14-Bucks-This team could be..sorta better than where I have them...the talent is there..Luke Ridnour...Michael Redd..Richard Jefferson..Andrew Bogut..that should be enough right?...eh..the veterans on this team(Lue,Malik Allen) arent very good..Scott Skiles is the coach..and he depends way too much on veterans..which is where I can see how this team could be held back..also tempo could be interesting..Jefferson,Ridnour and Redd could benefit from a faster tempo while Bogut wouldnt..and Bogut is to good to be not involved in the offense.

15-Bobcats-...Again...the pieces arent right..the coach isnt right for this team...they arent going to be very good at all..Jason Richardson,Gerald Wallace and Emeka Okafor are pretty good players...but Larry Brown should ruin everything...I dont hear enough blame for Brown for the last 2 situations(NY and Detroit)...they all werent his fault..but he should get something..but here he goes again messing something else up by "playing the right way" just watch and see.

World Series

For the record...I'm picking the Phillies over the Rays...in 6..yeah

Week 7 picks(6-7 last week;38-32 overall)

San Diego over Buffalo
New Orleans over Carolina
Chicago over Minnesota
Pittsburgh over Cincinnati
Tennessee over Kansas City
Baltimore over Miami
NY Giants over San Francisco
Dallas over St Louis
Houston over Detroit
Indy over Green Bay
NY Jets over Oakland
Washington over Cleveland
Tampa over Seattle

Wait A..

Things have been a little weird in the sporting world...

-One of the most tortured sports cities(Philly;last title was 1983) gets a shot at the World Series with the Phillies...they pounded LA without a doubt and actually deserve to be there.

-Tampa meanwhile has to play game 6 later tonight because they choked away a 7 run lead going into the 7th inning against the Red Sox..momentum is a funny thing..you never know when it starts or stops..but for a young team...they really need all the momentum they can get.

-So..Romo is going to play?....with a broken pinkie in on his throwing hand?....seems kinda important to have right?

-But wait...the final decision will be made about Romo...not by the coach...but the owner Jerry Jones....wow...clearly you know whose running things....Al Davis 2.0 lol.

NFL picks and perhaps NBA mentions forthcoming