Thursday, October 31, 2013

NFL Picks 9


Last week, Greg, Andrew, and Judson were all playing paintball as opposed to watching football. So we missed the exciting finish between Detroit and Dallas among other games. But it helped Greg out, as he had a good week:

Andrew – 748 Points (85-35)
Greg – 694 Points (86-34) – Winner of Week 8
Guest Picker Judson – 678 Points (80-40)

This week is all about division rivalries. The headliner might be Bears vs. Packers on MNF, although Jay Cutler won’t be playing. Colts vs. Texans is another big game, but the Texans have been struggling. Falcons and Panthers should be fun, except Atlanta is without most of the weapons currently. And Pittsburgh/New England has lost its luster also. So maybe there aren’t too many epic matchups…

Below are our picks and confidence points for all the games (only 13 this week). Play along in the comment section if you want:

Greg’s Picks

13       Green Bay over Chicago
12       Indianapolis over Houston
11       Dallas over Minnesota
10       Seattle over Tampa Bay
9          San Diego over Washington
8          Carolina over Atlanta
7          Oakland over Philadelphia
6          Baltimore over Cleveland
5          New England over Pittsburgh
4          New Orleans over NYJ
3          St. Louis over Tennessee
2          Kansas City over Buffalo
1          Miami over Cincinnati

Andrew’s Picks

13       Seattle over Tampa Bay
12       Green Bay over Chicago
11       Dallas over Minnesota
10       New England over Pittsburgh
9          Carolina over Atlanta
8          Oakland over Philadelphia
7          New Orleans over NYJ
6          Kansas City over Buffalo
5          Indianapolis over Houston
4          Cincinnati over Miami
3          Baltimore over Cleveland
2          Tennessee over St. Louis
1          San Diego over Washington

Enjoy week 9!

By: The Sports Guys

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

NBA Preseason Playoff Predictions


On Monday we posted our projected standings for both the Eastern and Western Conferences. We’ll build on that today and give you our playoff predictions. Since we don’t know the real matchups, we’re basing these selections on our standings list from that Monday post. And just like those standings, each Sports Guy will make a prediction, and the combination of those will be our official pick. Here we go!

NOTE: Andrew’s predictions (A) and Greg’s predictions (G) will be noted in parenthesis for each series as we go along. The combination though is what we’ll use in subsequent rounds.

Eastern Conference

First Round

1 Miami Heat vs. 8 Cleveland Cavaliers

This is a series that would get a ton of headlines, starting with Lebron vs. his former team and potential team he’s on next year depending on free agency. Depending on injuries, there could be a big man battle between Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum in this one also. Throw in the fact this would be Kyrie Irving’s first playoff series ever, and you have yourself a great battle. Miami is likely too experienced though and they are the team that currently has “The King” plus a healthier Wade.

Prediction: Heat in 5 (A: Heat in 6, G: Heat in 5)

2 Chicago Bulls vs. 7 Washington Wizards

All eyes here on the point guard battle between Derrick Rose and John Wall. Each player is so important to his respective team, especially because each team lacks a true #2 on offense. They each have serviceable, scrappy big men, but the Bulls have more experience, will play more consistently, and they have the better coach.

Prediction: Bulls in 4 (A: Bulls in 4, G: Bulls in 5)

3 Indiana Pacers vs. 6 Detroit Pistons

This was a fierce rivalry ten years ago, but not so much recently. The Pacers have been a trendy championship pick in the media this offseason, but Detroit was the team that made the most noise of any this summer. Both teams have the personnel to be tough inside, but the difference in the series lies on the perimeter, where the Pacers will have a decisive advantage. Paul George in particular is a guy nobody on the Pistons can guard.

Prediction: Pacers in 6 (A: Pacers in 6, G: Pacers in 6)

4 Brooklyn Nets vs. 5 New York Knicks

This has the makings of a great series. Both teams have depth, both teams have experience, both teams made big moves this summer, and both teams have stars. It could go either way, but Brooklyn is the more balanced team and they have the home court advantage in Game 7 (if needed).

Prediction: Nets in 7 (A: Nets in 7, G: Nets in 7)

Conference Semi-Finals

1 Miami Heat vs. 4 Brooklyn Nets

I think this is a series that everyone wants to see ever since Brooklyn made the big trade this summer. Pierce and KG will bring the toughness and swagger they had in Boston into this series, which means these teams won’t get along. I think Brooklyn will have an advantage inside, but Miami will have superior athleticism outside.

Prediction: Heat in 7 (A: Heat in 7, G: Nets in 7) – Tiebreak to higher seed.

2 Chicago Bulls vs. 3 Indiana Pacers

Rose said this is no longer a rivalry, but this series would change that. These teams are two of the most physical teams in the league, which will make this a defensive battle that could get chippy. The Pacers have the length to make it tough on Rose, but do they have enough scoring to overcome the Bulls defense? Which bench and role players will step up the most? Honestly, this is a toss-up.

Prediction: Pacers in 7 (A: Pacers in 6, G: Bulls in 7)

Conference Finals

1 Miami Heat vs. 3 Indiana Pacers

We all remember the series they had just a few months ago… it was a battle! There are two differences this year however…. 1. The Indiana bench is significantly stronger, which would help Indiana stick with the Heat significantly better. 2. Greg Oden (if healthy) could help give Miami some beef inside to withstand Hibbert and West. What will happen this year?

Prediction: Heat in 6 (A: Heat in 7, G: Heat in 6)

Western Conference

First Round

1 Los Angeles Clippers vs. 8 Denver Nuggets

This is a bad matchup for Denver, a team that is athletic and likes to play fast. LA can match their athleticism, particularly down low, and can outplay Denver at their game if they choose. Denver’s lack of star power will show up in the playoffs, just like it did last season.

Prediction: Clippers in 5 (A: Clippers in 5, G: Clippers in 5)

2 San Antonio Spurs vs. 7 New Orleans Pelicans

This is a matchup of completely different teams… The Spurs are old, the Pelicans are young. The Spurs will be methodical and can play in the half court, the Pelicans will likely play fast. The Spurs have been to the playoffs many times, this Pelicans have not. I think the Pelicans would be a feisty opponent, but they aren’t ready yet.

Prediction: Spurs in 5 (A: Spurs in 5, G: Spurs in 6)

3 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 6 Memphis Grizzlies

Similar to the series above, these teams are vastly different and have different strengths. The Thunder are a perimeter oriented team, particularly on offense, while the Grizzlies rely on their big men. I’m interested in finding out who the Thunder will turn to besides Westbrook and Durant. If they don’t find somebody, the Grizzlies could out-muscle them out of the playoffs.

Prediction: Grizzlies in 6 (A: Grizzlies in 6, G: Grizzlies in 6)

4 Houston Rockets vs. 5 Golden State Warriors

This is by far the toughest matchup to predict so far. Both teams made huge moves this summer, bringing in a star to join their already emerging teams. Each team has a big time scorer (Harden and Curry) and both teams should improve dramatically on defense this year based on the additions of Howard and A.I. I like each team to advance, but that can’t happen.

Prediction: Warriors in 7 (A: Rockets in 7, G: Warriors in 6)

Conference Semi-Finals

1 Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5 Golden State Warriors

This series will feature Chris Paul vs. Steph Curry… what more could you want? There will also be shooters on the outside and versatile bigs down low. This series would swing back and forth, but the 1 seed would have home court (plus a more experienced coach). That’s the only difference I see.

Prediction: Clippers in 7 (A: Clippers in 7, G: Clippers in 7)

2 San Antonio Spurs vs. 6 Memphis Grizzlies

In contrast to the series above, these games would take place more in the half-court and in the paint. The defense both teams play would be fun to watch, but there is one player who could change the series: Tony Parker. He’d be the difference.

Prediction: Spurs in 5 (A: Spurs in 5, G: Spurs in 6)

Conference Finals

1 Los Angeles Clippers vs. 2 San Antonio Spurs

Greg and Andrew expect this to happen, seeing as each of them had one of these teams ranked at #1 in their original polls (A: Spurs, G: Clippers). We’d also see two of the game’s best coaches on full display (Pop and Doc). A break here or a break there could flip this series one way or another.

Prediction: Clippers in 7 (A: Spurs in 7, G: Clippers in 7) – Tiebreak to higher seed.

NBA Finals

1 Miami Heat vs. 1 Los Angeles Clippers

Miami would be going for a 3-peat, while the Clippers would try to win a title for the “other” LA team. Both teams have the stars, the perceived role players, and the championship coaching that deliver titles. Both would have also had to get through very competitive conferences. Again this could go either way, which is why we’ll post both of our predictions separately:

Andrew:        Heat in 6
Greg:              Clippers in 6

The season has begun, so let’s get into it!

By: The Sports Guys

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Power Rankings 8


NFL Power Rankings
After Week 8

NOTE: Previous ranking is noted in the first parenthesis. Current team record noted in the second parenthesis.

1. (1) Denver Broncos (7-1) – Despite four turnovers by Manning, the Broncos still put up 45 points and won by a ton. The downer is that Julius Thomas left the game with an ankle injury, but the bye week will help heal it.

2. (2) Kansas City Chiefs (8-0) – The Chiefs got a solid game from QB Alex Smith and the defense did the rest. They don’t win fancy, but they continue getting it done.

3. (3) Seattle Seahawks (7-1) – It wasn’t the prettiest win the Seahawks have had all year, but they got it done on MNF. The defense continues to be dominant as the offense continues to find itself. Percy Harvin is set to return soon which will help.

4. (4) San Francisco 49ers (6-2) – This game shouldn’t have even counted, as Jacksonville is more like a college team. But I liked that Kaepernick is using his legs again, this time with two TD’s.

5. (5) New Orleans Saints (6-1) – So much for Jimmy Graham being injured. He still grabbed two touchdowns. Stills is an emerging deep threat for Brees as well.

6. (6) Green Bay Packers (5-2) – Eddie Lacy is completely changing this team (for the better). Green Bay finally has a running game that can keep opponents honest. The injured Bears defense will be the next victim.

7. (7) Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) – The Bengals continue to be impressive, and that starts with Andy Dalton. He’s been terrific for three straight weeks, this time utilizing Marvin Jones (4 TD catches).

8. (8) Indianapolis Colts (5-2) – They had a week off after their upset of Denver, and hopefully they used it to make a plan regarding their WR corps with Wayne now done for year.

9. (9) New England Patriots (6-2) – The Pats overcame their slow start to take out Miami. Brady was unimpressive again with only 116 yards, but the defense and running game was there in full force.

10. (12) Detroit Lions (5-3) – Calvin Johnson had one of his games that only he could have. He is a man among boys when healthy. Stafford played great down the stretch and he showed how clutch he can be on the last drive.

11. (11) San Diego Chargers (4-3) – Can Rivers and company keep it going after the bye week? They need to because they have Denver and KC ahead of them in the division.

12. (10) Dallas Cowboys (4-4) – Dallas played a solid game and had it won with one minute left. BUT, a penalty left extra time on the clock, and the defense was way too soft allowing Stafford to take the Lions down the field… Complete choke. But they still are in a good spot in the mediocre NFC East.

13. (14) Carolina Panthers (4-3) – Carolina is above .500 for the first time in the Cam Newton era. Their defense has been stellar all year, and Newton is finally bringing the offense around.

14. (13) Chicago Bears (4-3) – I dropped them a spot even during their bye week because their defense is just devastated by injury. And with Cutler probably out for the next few weeks during a tough stretch of games, it could get ugly in a hurry.

15. (16) Baltimore Ravens (3-4) – They get the bump up during their bye for the team in front of them (NYJ) simply looked atrocious.

16. (24) Arizona Cardinals (4-4) – Don’t look now but Arizona is .500, playing solid defense, and their offense finally is waking up. I credit Bruce Arians for having them here at this point, but this positivity could all change in a week in the NFL.

17. (15) New York Jets (4-4) – Where did the “Rex Ryan” defense go against the Bengals? They were terrible. The offense was just as bad too.

18. (17) Miami Dolphins (3-4) – Miami played a great first half, but a terrible second half. To make matters worse, WR Gibson is likely done for the year, just as he was starting to emerge.

19. (27) Oakland Raiders (3-4) – Pryor continues to spark this team as they are 3-3 with him as the starter. He’s looked decent as a passer, but his legs make him dangerous as evidenced by his 93-yard TD scamper.

20. (28) New York Giants (2-6) – The Giants have now won a couple times in a row. And their defense actually looked okay this week. Funny thing is, they are only two back in the division despite a 0-6 start.

21. (18) Philadelphia Eagles (3-5) – With Vick injured again, things are going to get worse in a hurry with Barkley leading the way. There goes the dynamic offense.

22. (23) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5) – Pittsburgh made it close down the stretch against Oakland but fell short. Why couldn’t they bring that desperation to start the game?

23. (21) Buffalo Bills (3-5) – The Bills had no answer on defense for Drew Brees. Most teams don’t though.

24. (22) Washington Redskins (2-5) – The defense and offense looked good early, but fell apart late. RG3 better not be injured seriously or it spells major trouble.

25. (25) Tennessee Titans (3-4) – With Jake Locker back (fully healthy after the bye?) they can remain competitive I think against most teams.

26. (22) Atlanta Falcons (2-5) – They got Steven Jackson back and their running game disappeared. They better hope it’s due to the score of the game and not a player issue. Also, they should trade Tony Gonzalez for sure.

27. (26) Cleveland Browns (3-5) – Josh Gordon was great again but the team lost. Familiar story? On a trade deadline note, they should NOT deal Gordon or Cameron, because even with first round picks you won’t do better at those spots than those guys. They should be apart of the rebuild in Cleveland. The Trent Richardson deal is looking nice though.

28. (23) St. Louis Rams (3-5) – Spirited effort against a superior team, but nothing but Stacy was clicking on offense. FG’s simply won’t cut it.

29. (29) Houston Texans (2-5) – If Houston found some magical pills and got healthy during the bye, expect good things. But that didn’t happen I’m sure.

30. (30) Minnesota Vikings (1-6) – Next QB up, and another one down. It doesn’t matter who they start because nobody can win with this squad.

31. (31) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7) – Maybe Josh Freeman wasn’t the problem. Maybe this team just sucks.

32. (32) Jacksonville Jaguars (0-8) – I’m running out of bad things to say about this team. Maybe they can unload MJD for a high pick at least.

By: The Sports Guys

Monday, October 28, 2013

NBA Season Preview


NBA Preview

It’s basketball season finally and the NBA is set to begin (tomorrow). Today we’ll project the Eastern and Western Conferences. Wednesday we’ll predict what will happen in the playoffs. Of course, this season could go in so many different directions I know we’ll be wrong!

NOTE: Andrew’s team ranking (A) and Greg’s team ranking (G) are noted in parenthesis. These were combined and listed in composite order below.

Eastern

1. Miami Heat (A:1, G:2) – This team has won the NBA Championship twice in a row and their core is still intact. They remain the favorite, not only in the conference, but also in the entire NBA. Lebron will win MVP again, and Wadecould return to dominance again this year. If Greg Oden can stay healthy, he’ll help them inside against physical teams like Indiana and Chicago.

2. Chicago Bulls (A:3, G:1) – With Derrick Rose back, the Bulls are a legit championship contender again. He’s looked healthy in the preseason, so if they can get perimeter scoring from the collection of Dunleavy, Deng, Butler, and Snell, they can beat anyone.

3. Indiana Pacers (A:2, G:3) – This is the same team that took Miami to 7 games last year, except they are better. Not only are they a year older (important for guys like Paul George and Lance Stephenson), but they get Danny Granger back, and they beefed up their bench with CJ Watson, Chris Copeland, and Luis Scola. The top three are all for real.

4. Brooklyn Nets (A:4, G:4) – This team looks stacked on paper, but it’s a lot of new faces mixed together to put them any higher than this in the standings. Still, they will be scary in the playoffs. Pierce, Garnett, and Terry bring an edge with them from Boston. Deron Williams should build upon his excellent second half last year, and Brook Lopez is just entering his prime. If Jason Kidd can cut it as a first year head coach, they too can win it all.

5. New York Knicks (A:5, G:5) – Even though I wouldn’t consider this team as big time a contender as the teams above, they are no slouch as a fifth seed. In fact, I believe their roster is stronger than last season (and they finished second in the East in 2013). Metta World Peace (AKA Ron Artest) will bring a defensive edge they’ve been missing, Bargnani and a healthy Stoudemire should give them more options inside, and they still have plenty of role players to form a very solid bench.

6. Detroit Pistons (A:6, G:7) – In terms of sheer talent and POTENTIAL stars, no team has more in their starting lineup than Detroit, and that includes Miami. This is a team that boasts four potential superstars in Jennings, Smith, Monroe, and Drummond. Now, I don’t know if they can blend on court together and do so sometime this season, but it will be fun to watch them try. Chauncey Billups was a key signing for them as he can provide the leadership necessary to contend.

T7. Washington Wizards (A9, G:6) – The Wizards made a bold trade over the weekend acquiring Gortat from the Suns for Okafor and a pick. They’ll waive the other players in the deal. But this gives them a legit, healthy center to pair with Nene inside. The real threat of the team lies in the backcourt however, with Wall, Beal, and rookie Otto Porter. They are young but if they mature quickly, they could snag one of the last playoff spots.

T7. Cleveland Cavaliers (A:7, G:8) – The upside with this team leans on their health and maturity. Can Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, and Tristan Thompson grow as players? Can Andrew Bynum stay healthy or even play? Will Anthony Bennett be a factor at all as a rookie? The answer is probably yes to some of those questions and no to others. Either way, this is a team I look at as vastly improved.

9. Charlotte Bobcats (A10, G:9)– I think Charlotte made some positive moves this offseason (finally). I loved that they drafted Zeller and paired him with newly acquired Al Jefferson inside. I expect bigger things this year from MKG and Kemba Walker too. Plus, remember Jeff Taylor, who could be a good player off the bench.

10. Atlanta Hawks (A:8, G:13) – This is another new look team that could challenge for a playoff spot. Horford, Teague, Millsap, and Korver will give them some consistency, while Schroder and Lou Williams provide upside. Elton Brand will be a great glue guy for them also.

11. Milwaukee Bucks (A:11, G11) – The Bucks had one of the more confusing offseasons of any team in the league. But, they could pull things together and honestly finish sixth. They could also struggle and finish something like 13th. I love the young frontcourt of Ilyasova, Sanders, and Henson, but I hate the fact that Mayo will be the primary scorer for the team. Will Brandon Knight break out to help?

12. Toronto Raptors (A:14, G:10) – It will be the Rudy Gay show up in Canada, but don’t sleep on Jonas Valanciunas, for he could end up being their best player. DeRozan needs to keep developing for them to finish any better.

13. Orlando Magic (A:13, G:12) – This is a young team with a lot of youthful talent now. Oladipo, Harkless, O’Quinn, Nicholson, and others will need time to grow, but they could end up being good players. Afflalo, Nelson, and Davis can still provide a veteran presence.

14. Boston Celtics (A:12, G:15) – What will Brad Stevens bring to this team? He still has Rondo to lead them, but who are those other guys… He could go with vets inside with Wallace, Bass, and Humphries, or he could lean on young guns Green, Sullinger, Olynyk. I’d pick the latter due to the upside.


15. Philadelphia 76ers (A:15, G:14) – The rebuild is on for this year at least. It could be ugly, especially given the news that Noel likely won’t play. But with multiple first round picks next year, including the inside track for #1 overall, this could be a team that features Wiggins, MCW, Noel, Turner, and another potential lottery pick in a loaded 2014 draft. Give this squad a couple years and they could be extremely dangerous.

Western Conference Projected Standings

1. Los Angeles Clippers (A:2, G:1) – It was a great summer in LA as they welcomed Doc Rivers, JJ Redick, Jared Dudley, and some nice pieces for the bench. Doc was the key addition, because he can coach at a championship level. None of the added players individually are stars, but their roles are critical. Not only did they remain a deep team, but they also added shooting which will spread the floor for CP3, Griffin, and Jordan.

2. San Antonio Spurs (A:1, G:3) – Let’s not overanalyze this… The Spurs could have (and should have) won the NBA Championship over the Heat in six games. They essentially have the same roster coming back so they should contend again. The minimal regression they’ll have due to Parker, Manu, and Duncan aging, will be washed out by the growth of Green, Leonard, and Splitter.

T3. Houston Rockets (A:3, G:5) – This was already an improving team due to the superstar status of James Harden. Now they added a fellow star in Dwight Howard. They did this while keeping the roster full of young role players and a few key vets. They are only third (tied) because it will take time to gel, but they’ll be fine as long as Harden remains the go-to player in the fourth quarters.

T3. Golden State Warriors (A:4, G:4) – Yet another team that overhauled for the better in the offseason. They dumped bad contracts and brought in Andre Iguodala. He isn’t a typical star on offense, but he adds so much to their defensive outlook. As long as they don’t have any injuries to their frontcourt (which is a little thin), they will be a formidable out in the playoffs again this year.

T3. Oklahoma City Thunder (A:6, G:2) – They enter this year differently. While the other predicted playoff teams out West improved (or at least remained the same), OKC got worse. They struck out in free agency, and they no longer have a third scorer. Their bench is soft, Perkins and Thabo still can’t score, and Westbrook is coming off a major injury.  That’s a lot of question marks. They have Durant though.

6. Memphis Grizzlies (A:5, G:6) – This is a team that has been a mainstay recently in the middle of the Western Conference playoff picture. With their roster essentially untouched, they’ll be right in the 3-6 range again. Mike Miller was a sneaky good pickup for them to help off the bench.

T7. New Orleans Pelicans (A:7, G:10) – It’s time for some new blood in the Western Conference playoff race, and this team fits the bill. Anthony Davis is ready for a monster breakout year, and Jrue Holiday was the best draft-day get for any team. They kept some other young, emerging talent on the roster and added Tyreke Evans to the mix. The key will be the health Eric Gordon, who could be a big time player if he remained healthy.

T7. Denver Nuggets (A:8, G:9) – There will be a lot of contenders for these last couple playoff spots, but Denver seems to have the inside track on one of them. They are fairly deep, particularly in the backcourt, and will be able to play fast. They once again lack an offensive star, but if everyone contributes they won’t need one. They proved that last year.

T9. Dallas Mavericks (A:12, G:7) – If you followed us in the offseason, you know we weren’t fond of their moves (just like Milwaukee’s). They had dreams of becoming a major player in the West again, but they likely didn’t do enough. This is now a team with a ton of perimeter guys that can’t play defense (Calderon, Ellis, Harris, Carter, etc.), an old star in Dirk, and a thin frontcourt around him. Our rankings suggested they could finish anywhere from 7th to 12th in the conference.

T9. Portland Trailblazers (A:11, G:8) – There was a lot of talk about trading Aldridge, but by keeping him they held onto they’re outside chance as a low seeded playoff team. With he and Lillard, they have two stars. These two are surrounded by shooting (Crabbe, Matthews, McCollum, Williams, Wright), a legit #3 in Batum, and young bigs in Lopez, Leonard, and Robinson.

11. Los Angeles Lakers (A:10, G:11) – It’s criminal not to have Kobe’s Lakers in the playoffs, but that’s because he won’t be playing the whole year. And we truly don’t know how he’ll return from injury. Throw in the fact that Pau and Nash are on the decline (that’s an understatement), and it’s a recipe for a mediocre team.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves (A:9, G:14) – This team was snake bitten last year when it came to injuries. But if Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio remain healthy, this team could finish 4-5 spots higher. I love the fact that they signed/re-signed quality wings (Martin, Budinger, Brewer, Williams) and retained their inside meat (Love and Pekovic). On the flip side, we doubt they can stay healthy, gel/mature quickly enough this season, and click on all cylinders to grab a playoff spot.

13. Sacramento Kings (A:14, G:12) – It will be interesting to see where this team goes over the next couple years. I know they have their building blocks in place now with Boogie Cousins and Ben McLemore, but their roster is full of young players and vets that may stay or go. They won’t be completely atrocious this season, but they won’t finish much higher than this even if everything goes great.

T14. Utah Jazz (A:13, G:15) – Now we come to a team clearly in a rebuild. They let two stars go (Millsap and A. Jefferson) and replaced them with Golden State’s bad contracts (R. Jefferson, Biedrins, Rush). The good news is that those will be off the books soon, and they can continue building around Trey Burke, Gordon Hayward, Favors, Kanter, and Rudy Gobert. But they’ll have to wait on Burke a bit longer, as he’s out two to three months with a finger injury.

T14. Phoenix Suns (A:15, G:13) – And now the team that is full of young assets and could make noise… in a few years. We know Bledsoe and Dragic will be good at guard, but they just traded their best big man (Gortat). Everybody else is a young talent that may need more time to develop (such as their top draft choices Alex Len and Archie Goodwin). The good news is that they have time to grow since they don’t expect to be competitive for a couple more years. They could have up to four first round picks in the loaded 2014 draft too if things go right.

By: The Sports Guys