This is it.  Patriots vs. The Indianapolis Colts.  Bill Belichick vs. Tony Dungy.  Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning.  These are the type of games that a sports fan lives for.  With the history between the two teams and the stakes that are on the line, this makes for an exciting match-up.  .

 

The winner of this game will be the front-runner to win it all in February by most of the analyst and sports’ writers and I don’t agree with that.  Let’s wait and see.  Will the winner of this game have an edge on the majority? Yes.  Does it necessarily make them the champs before the season’s ends?  No. 

 

1pm games:

 

San Francisco 49ers (2-5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (1-6)

Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

 

Dear Coach Nolan,

My name is The Rowdy One and I have been a 49ers fan since I was 4 years old.  The 49ers are the reason why I love football.  So it saddens me to see our beloved 49ers in a state of flux.  On that note, if you’re going to win this game, you have to use RB Frank Gore.  You need take advantage of the fact that the Falcons have a hole in their D-line when they released DT Grady Jackson. 

 

Also, you need to find some kind of offensive spark.  The 49ers are last in the league in total offense.  You have some solid weapons on offense and you need to try to let them loose. Your players on offensive are starting to question your Offensive Coordinator’s play calling abilities and that’s not good for a team who has been struggling this season on offense.  Stay with your game plan, but spice it up a little

 

Since you’ve been known for you defensive intellect, then you should already know that all you have to do is stop the Falcons passing game.  The Falcons have the 25th ranked team in rushing.  Since their run game has been stagnant for the majority of the season, you should be able to force the Falcons to throw the ball and force them to make mistakes with your pass coverage.  None of the Falcons’ RBs have rushed for 100-yards this season and they only have 2 TDs between them.

 

Offensively, the Falcons will throw the ball all day.  With QB Joey Harrington returning to the starting role for the injured Byron Leftwich, the Falcons are going to test the 49ers Secondary and look for the big plays in the air.  If you want to win Coach Nolan, set the tone early in the game on the defensive side of the ball and shut down the Falcons’ WRs and bring the heat to Harrington.  This fan believes that you can pull off the win this Sunday and possibly get the ball rolling in salvaging a team that looks to be in the basement of the NFC for the remainder of the season.

 

Gold Rush for Life,

The Rowdy One

 

 

My Pick: 49ers

 

Cincinnati Bengals (2-5) vs. Buffalo Bills (3-4)

Location: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo, NY

 

 

The Bengals need to find their run game.  With RB Rudi Johnson back, the Bengals have a three-pronged running attack with Johnson, Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey.  We won’t know who will start at RB for the Bengals, but whoever gets the start will have to come out of the gates early and force the Bills to stop the run. 

 

We already know the Bengals can throw the ball, Carson Palmer is the 11th ranked QB in the league.  His numbers would suggest that the team would have a better record, but with no defense and a one-sided offense, there’s not much Head Coach Marvin Lewis can do.  All he can do is pray that his team finds a way to turn things around on the field and find some life for a team that has the tools and the “know-how” to get the job done.

 

The Bills are a ray of sunshine in a weak AFC East.  They may not have the best record, but they have come out each week with the testicular fortitude of a champion.  You can’t tell the bills that their record is 3-4 because they play each game like it’s their last.  Those are the type of teams you’ve got to respect.  Their record may not be the greatest, but they make you want to cheer for them because they give you their all.

 

The Bills have the better defense and the better RBs than the Bengals.  RB Marshawn Lynch is a work horse and he likes to grind it out on the field when he’s running the ball.  He can wear down a defense just as good as any other RB in the league.  J.P. Losman is back in the starting QB role for the injured Trent Edwards.  Hopefully, Losman paid attention to what the Bills have been doing on the offensive side of the ball and can come into Sunday’s game ready to keep that momentum flowing.  Defensively, the Bills have a solid Secondary that has been playing very well and will shut down the Bengals WRs from making big plays.  It looks like this is the week the Bills get to .500.

 

My Pick: Bills

 

Denver Broncos (3-4) vs. Detroit Lions (5-2)

Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI

 

The Broncos must like giving their fans heart attacks.  With the exception of the 18 point loss to the Colts and the 38 point stomping by the Chargers, the Broncos have won or loss by an average of 4.4 points.  They have the 7th ranked offense in the league, so they can make things happen with the ball.  But with WR Rod Smith out for the season with a hip injury, the offense will have to rely on their running backs to make it happen on offense. 

 

If the Broncos win this game, it’s going to have to come down to stopping the Lions passing game. Jon Kitna has been leading the charge by airing out the ball all season long to WRs Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams.  Johnson is returning this weekend from a back injury and will help give the Broncos’ Secondary headaches at Ford Field.  The Broncos have the 31st ranked passing defense. 

 

The Lions are a surprise this year with the way they have been playing on offense.  Kitna is at the half-way point with his promise of 10 wins and with 8 weeks of football left to play, it looks as though he may cash in that promise.  The Lions don’t have the greatest defense in the league right now.  They’re ranked 28th in the league and have to face off against the 11th ranked rushing offense.  It’s going to be a challenge for the Lions, but I see them pulling out the win this weekend.  

 

My Pick: Lions

 

Carolina Panthers (4-3) vs. Tennessee Titans (5-2)

Location: LP Field, Nashville, TN

 

Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher is doing a good job in managing a Titans’ team that has been under the radar this season.  Their defense is ranked 1st against the run and their offense is ranked 3rd in rushing. The Titans have been able to find ways to win when they have had their backs against the wall and their defense has steeped up big time in big moments. 

 

The Titans need to use their top ranked rush defense to stop the Panthers’ 10th ranked rushing offense.  They have to find a way to stop RBs DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams.  David Carr will probably get the start this Sunday due to Vinny Testaverde injuring his ankle last Sunday against the Colts.  With Carr coming back from his back injury, he may be a little rusty and it will benefit the Titans if they can make him throw the ball and force mistakes. 

 

The Titans must also find a way to shut down WR Steve Smith.  Smith is always consistence year in and year out.  Despite the fact he’s ranked 21st among the Top 25 WRs in the league, his numbers are still good. Smith has 37 catches for 514 yards and 6 TDs.  He’s averaging 73.4 yards per game.  The Titans have the better QB and the better O-line in this game; those two factors give them an edge against the Panthers this weekend and will help keep them close in the NFC South.

 

My Pick: Titans

 

Green Bay Packers (6-1) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)

Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

 

If Brett Farve could play all of his games on Monday Night Football, he would definitely go down as the greatest QB in the history of the NFL.  MNF to Farve is like the sun’s energy to Superman.  It gives him energy and it showed with the game winning touchdown in last Monday’s win in overtime.

 

Farve has to have the same magic this weekend against the Chiefs.  The Packers are 2nd in the league in passing, but last in the league in rushing.  With RB DeShawn Wynn out for the year with a calf injury, and Vernand Morency’s status up in the air, the Packers will have to turn to rookie RB Brandon Jackson to run the ball.  Thankfully, the Packers get back WR Koren Robinson for his suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.  If the Packers are going to live by the pass, the addition of Robison will make it easy for the Mississippi Gun Slinger.

 

The Chiefs have to do the opposite of the Packers and run the ball.  With RB Priest Holmes back in the line-up, the Chiefs have a run game that can possibly end up as the best in the league with Holmes and RB Larry Johnson.  It all comes down to how healthy Holmes can stay.  If Holmes can remain strong through the remainder of the season and there are no major injuries, the Chiefs may have the best chance of winning the AFC West crown.  I just don’t see the chiefs winning this game.  The Packers have the better WRs matching up against the Chiefs secondary.  It looks like it’s going to be a long day for the Chiefs this Sunday.

 

My Pick: Packers

 

San Diego Chargers (4-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (2-5)

Location: Metronome, Minneapolis, MN

 

The theme for this year in the NFL is “Pick a QB, any QB” and the Vikes have fallen right down that “rabbit hole”.  Tavaris Jackson is hurt and Kelly Holcomb is hurt.  It looks as though Jackson will play injured.  Not a good move.  Jeff George (Yes, that Jeff George) offered his services and Brad Childress made jokes about it.  He’s using a “QB by committee” game plan and you play down the possibility of signing a Free Agent QB as a precautionary measure.  Good Luck.

 

The only way I see the Vikes having a chance in winning this game depends on how well RB Adrian Peterson run the ball.  The Chargers defense is looking alive and it will be interesting to see what the Chargers D-line has in store for the rookie RB.  The odds of Peterson having a big game this Sunday are “slimmer than that chick in Calvin Klien pantses”.    

 

The Vikes defense has been nothing to brag about, so I won’t delve into what they need to on that side of the ball.  The only thing I can say is that the Chargers are starting to find their groove on offense and if Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, and the newly acquired Chris Chambers get the ball rolling, it’s a wrap for the Vikes.       

 

My Pick: Chargers

 

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) vs. New Orleans Saints (3-4)

Location: Superdome, New Orleans, LA

 

The Saints have won 3 games in a row and are looking to get to .500 this weekend.  The Jags pulled off a close win against the Bucs, so they’re feeling good and riding high.  Both of these teams look to make a statement this weekend.  The problem is only one team will make a statement and I’ll give you a hint which team won’t: their name rhymes with “The Ain’ts”.

 

As much as the Saints have somewhat turned the start of their season around, it won’t be enough to stop the Jags this Sunday.  The Jags have a better defense than the Saints and they have the capability to stop the Saints’ offense.  Plus, with the addition of Grady Jackson to the D-line, he will fill in nicely for the Jags if DT Marcus Stroud is suspended for violating the league’s steroids and related substances policy.  Stroud is facing a 4 game suspension.  That’s not good for a team who’s in the thick of a playoff hunt at the midway point of the season.

 

The Saints have to try to stop the Jags running game.  Quinn Gray will start again for the Jags this Sunday.  Although they won last week against the Bucs with Gray under the center, the Jags still have to rely on their running game with their passing game being below par.  I believe it shouldn’t be a problem for the Jags to score on the ground.  Chalk this one up the Jack Del Rio and the Jags.

                                                                                                                 

My Pick: Jaguars

 

Washington Redskins (4-3) vs. NY Jets (1-7)

Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

 

The Jets have made the switch.  Chad Pennington out, Kellen Clemens in.  I’ve got some extra stamps here in the house for the Jets that I sent to the Rams and the Dolphin.  They might as well find some envelopes and mail in the rest of their season also. To quote my man Stephen A. Smith, “They’re terrible!”

 

 

The ‘Skins need to keep doing what they’ve been doing to get them to 4 wins.  Have a solid mix of run and pass.  The Jets defense is weak and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better.  The ‘Skins defense has been solid and their Secondary will shut down the Jets WRs. 

 

 

My Pick: Redskins

 

Arizona Cardinals (3-4) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

 

The Cards had the week off.  They needed it.  Like most of the league, they’ve been banged up pretty bad this year.  Kurt Warner has to be 85-90% healthy in order to give the Cards a chance.  They also have to get Edgerrin James, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin involved in the offense early to get a feel of what the Bucs plan to throw at them. The Bucs are the 2nd ranked pass defense in the league.  So, Warner and the Cards have a tall task ahead of them.

 

On the defensive end, the Cards need to stop Jeff Garcia and their passing game.  The Cards need to put pressure on Garcia in the same way the Jags did last week and force him to make mistakes.

 

The Bucs need to make sure Garcia is protected and give him time to execute the play.  That’s it.  He’s the key to success for the Bucs.  Since he can move in the pocket, he’ll be able to avoid pass rushers and hopefully draw the defense to him.  That allows his WRs to be open for big plays.  The Cards have a good chance of winning, but the Bucs are probably still upset after last week’s loss and are ready to get the “Pirate Ship” back on track in Tampa.

 

My Picks: Buccaneers

 

 

4pm games:

 

Seattle Seahawks (4-3) vs. Cleveland Browns (4-3)

Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH

 

Wow, what a difference a year makes.  The Browns have the 6th ranked offense in the league.  The Browns’ Derek Anderson is the 6th ranked QB in the league.  They have had big plays from WR Braylon Ewards and TE Kellen Winslow, Jr.  The Browns still have their work cut out for them.  They are worst ranked defense in the league and should be thankful that they are in the thick of the AFC North.  They know they are hanging on by a string and they have to find a way to stop the Seahawks offense.

 

Despite the fact that RB Shaun Alexander is having a lack luster season; the Seahwks still have the lead in the NFC West. It’s been the Seahawks defense that has kept them alive and it’s going to have to be there defense if they plan on winning this Sunday.  The Seahawks have to pressure Anderson from jump. 

 

The Seahawks can’t allow any wiggle room for the Browns to get back in the game.  Their offense is good, but not that good.  The one advantage the Browns have this weekend is that they have the “12th man”.  Since they’re playing at home this weekend, you know the “Dog Pound” is going to be live.  If anyone knows the importance of the “12th man”, the Seahawks know. It looks as though the Seahawks are about to get a taste of their own medicine.     

 

My Pick: Browns

 

Game of the Week: New England Patriots (8-0) vs. Indianapolis Colts (7-0)

Location: RCA Dome, Indianapolis, IN

 

This is by far the best rivalry in pro-football right now. This is also the hardest game to pick a winner for in this season thus far.  A fan can pick either team and they wouldn’t be wrong.  Here’s my assessment:

 

1)      The Pats have the #1 ranked offense in the league

2)      The Colts have the #2 ranked offense in the league

3)      The Pats and the Colts are ranked #3 and #4 in total defense in the league in that order

4)      The Pats are 41-26 All-Time against the Colts

5)      The Colts have won the last 3 games against the Pats.  That’s including last year’s AFC Championship game.

 

With all of that in mind, there was one thing I didn’t mention; motivation. In that case, I’m picking the Colts.  As I mentioned in the opening at the top, we have all been so mesmerized by the Pats, and Brady’s numbers and the addition of Randy Moss; we have forgotten that the Colts are the defending champs and they’re going to come out Sunday and show the world why they are still the champs.  To me, that’s the best bulletin board material any team can have.    

 

My Pick: Colts

 

Houston Texans (3-5) vs. Oakland Raiders (2-5)

Location: McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, CA

 

Matt Shuab is out this Sunday.  Sage Rosenfels gets the start for the Texans at QB.  Daunte Culpepper is out; Josh McCown is back in the starter’s role for the Raiders at QB. Throughout all of this, JaMarcus Russell is still on the bench and is 4th on the Raiders’ depth chart behind QB Andrew Walter.  If that was the case, pay me $61 million dollars to ride the pine. 

 

As weak as the AFC West is, the Raiders will still remain in the basement.  They might as well play this kid now.  I still got some stamps left to mail in the season.  I do think the Raiders will win this game.  The Raiders have a better defense than the Texans and with Rosenfels starting this Sunday, the Texans might as well add another “L” in the loss column. 

 

 

My Pick: Raiders

 

 

Sunday Night Game:

 

Dallas Cowboys (6-1) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)

Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

 

The Eagles need to win this game and they need to win it bad.  Not just for the numbers, the stats, and the standings but for themselves.  This season had started with turmoil with Head Coach Andy Reid and his family.  Most of you are already aware of what’s going on in the Reid household, so there’s no need to get into that.  You add that with the comments Donovan McNabb made on HBO’s Real Sports and the plague of injuries the Eagles have gone through, and sometimes as a fan you wish their season was over right now so that they can start fresh next year.

 

 

The Cowboys had a very busy bye week with the team’s owner, Jerry Jones, extending QB Tony Romo’s contract.  Romo’s new contract is for 6 years, $69 million dollars.  Not bad for a 2nd year starter. So what does he do, goes out and parties with Britney Spears.  Ace of Spades bubblin.  Hopefully that will have no effect on his game play. 

 

The Cowboys have the better offense and it’s too explosive for the Eagles injured defense.  With Romo, T.O., and Barber; the Cowboys will try to embarrass the Eagles defense.  The Eagles just need to try to make it happen on offense.  McNabb’s injured knee is improving and it will be a factor this Sunday as he tries to fend off the Cowboys’ pass rush. The ‘Boys have too much to bring to the table this Sunday and should beat the Eagles easily.  This is the Cowboys’ game to lose.

 

My Pick: Cowboys

 

 

Monday Night Game:

 

Baltimore Ravens (4-3) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)

Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

 

I love the AFC North.  Everybody just hates each other in this division.  This division has their far share of rivalries and each year, they get better and better. 

 

First of all, don’t look for either team to run up the score board.  We’re looking at the Top 2 ranked defenses in the league.  The Steelers are #1, the Ravens are #2.  There won’t be a whole bunch of TDs in this game.  The TDs that will be scored on offense will come from the Steelers’ side of the ball. And that’s who I’m going with to win.

 

The Ravens have had too many issues with their offense at the QB position.  This week, Steve McNair gets the start.  Not a good week to come back from injury and start at QB if you’re the Ravens and Steve McNair.  Like the Ravens, the Steelers like to hurt people and with the rash of injuries McNair has sustained in the past, it’s not looking good for the Ravens.

 

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers know how to move the ball on offense.  The Steelers are the 4th ranked offense in the league.  They have the better WRs, RBs, and O-line.  The Ravens can run the ball with RB Clinton Portis, but that’s about it. In terms of the Ravens WRs, it’s not looking like the greatest right about now.  The Ravens are the 15th ranked offense in the league.  You tell me who has the upper hand in this game.

 

My Pick: Steelers

 

 

Teams with Bye weeks: Chicago Bears (3-5), Miami Dolphins (0-8), St. Louis Rams (0-8), NY Giants (6-2)

 

 

To finish up our NBA Preview, we look at the star studded Pacific Division.

 

Phoenix Suns

 

 

Projected Starting Lineup:

C   Amare Stoudemire

PF Shawn MarionSF Grant Hill

SG Raja Bell

PG Steve Nash

Coach: Mike D’Antoni

 

The good: A focused Nash, Amare and Marion give them the tools to win a championship.

 

The Phoenix Suns left the postseason with a semi-final loss to the San Antonio Spurs, most memorable for the altercation in which Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw left the bench, netting them a suspension for Game 5, costing them the series in six games. The Suns were in the headlines all summer, most notably for being in the hunt to acquire now Celtics forward Kevin Garnett. The bait? Shawn Marion, who has been the subject of trade rumors all summer. Although the rumors haven’t calmed down, Marion is still a Sun, and that means trouble for the rest of the league. 

 

Two-time MVP Steve Nash nearly won a third one last season, being the glue that helps this team work. He’ll have many weapons at his arsenal, including Sixth Man of the Year Leandro Barbosa, who scored 18 PPG off the bench, becoming a major spark off the bench. Amare Stoudemire in his first full season back from microfracture surgery returned back to dominance and was on the All-NBA First Team. This team is not short of depth with draft picks Alando Tucker and D.J. Strawberry there to provide defense and complement All-Defense First Teamer Raja Bell.  This is a team that, when on all cylinders, looks like a team destined for greatness.

 

The bad:  Not being able to get to the Finals is becoming a mental hurdle. Those are the toughest obstacles to overcome.

 

As great as Steve Nash is, he has not been able to lead his team to the NBA Finals, leading some to question his validity as a former MVP.  The defensively challenged point guard isn’t exactly getting younger, so time is running out on their opportunity to win a championship.  If he wants to be compared to the greatest PG’s of all time, then he needs to be the facilitator to this championship team come playoff time. Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion need to coexist together in the same locker room and head coach Mike D’Antoni has to become peacemaker in that rift. Also, D’Antoni has to implement a sense of defensive urgency within this team. 

 

Relying on offense will not help when teams like the Spurs play suffocating defense.  Most of all, Shawn Marion cannot be worried about trades and about money.  He’s the most overrated player in the NBA. He benefits off of a great point guard as much as Mikki Moore did off Jason Kidd last season. If he wants to make $15 mil per season, tell him that Lamar Odom is Lamar Odom, not the second coming of Larry Bird. Marion needs to recommit to defense and attempt to create his own shot. If he does that, then the Suns are a lock to win a championship. 

 

The outlook: 1st in the West, 1st in the Pacific, my pick to win it all. Steve Nash finally gets his due from haters everywhere.

 

Golden State Warriors

 

 

Projected Starting Lineup:

Golden State Warriors

C   Andris Biedrins

PF Mickael PietrusSF Kelenna AzubuikeSG Monta EllisPG Baron Davis

Coach: Don Nelson

 

The good:  Nellie ball will continue to be a huge success. The pieces will just be different. 

 

The Golden State Warriors crept up on everyone last season and made the playoffs for the first time since 1994.  They didn’t stop there as they proceeded to have perhaps the biggest upset in the history of the NBA’s First Round as they upset the Dallas Mavericks in six games.  They managed to do spark the rebirth of the franchise by making a big trade that January where they acquired troubled guard Stephen Jackson and forward Al Harrington for forwards Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy. That trade transformed a team mired in mediocrity to a team fun to watch and with a mean streak. 

 

Baron Davis was healthy for the first time in years and it showed in his play averaging 20 PPG.  Monta Ellis will now get a chance to start and improve on his Most Improved Player status. The best thing about this team is that they can plug in almost anyone at certain positions.  Head Coach Don Nelson, not a believer in the traditional offense, will go with three, maybe four guards on the court at the same time in hopes of pushing the ball.  With rookies Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli on board, this team will be a highlight reel waiting to happen.

 

The bad:  Losing Jason Richardson will hurt. Not being able to match up well with slower teams will hurt more.

 

The Golden State Warriors on draft night traded Jason Richardson, the star forward who had become their franchise guy, to the Charlotte Bobcats for North Carolina forward Brandan Wright.  Letting go of J-Rich will hurt because you knew what you were getting from him.  Always good for 20 PPG, the Warriors are now faced with the task of having to replace that production with their bench and rookies. Monta Ellis could provide that as a starter, but who’s going to replace him on the bench? A revolving door at certain positions means there is more opportunity for a player to fail. For a team that came off of that playoff appearance, tinkering with success might not be a good thing.

 

It’s usually too early to say if a first round player is a bust after one year, but center Patrick O’Bryant has no fit on this team. If they see he has some value, they should move him for a forward who can run up and down the court quickly. The Warriors need to play their style of basketball because if they are ever in a position where they cannot play their up-tempo style, they will not have the personnel to adjust, making their offense gimmicky at times. Don Nelson will have to make the team a bit better-rounded before they get to the next level of the postseason.

 

The outlook: 6th in the West, 2nd in the Pacific, this time a first round loss. The inexperience of the new guys will hurt.

 

Los Angeles Lakers

 

 

 

Projected Starting Lineup:

C   Kwame Brown

PF Ronny TuriafSF Lamar Odom SG Kobe BryantPG Derek Fisher

Coach: Phil Jackson

 

The good:  As long as Kobe Bryant is there, the Lakers will always have a chance.

 

Well, much has been made clear over the last few months.  For starters, the Lakers cannot beat the Phoenix Suns. Next, no reputable journalist could get the inside scoop on how superstar guard Kobe Bryant really feels about his team, but an amateur guy outside of a supermarket could.  Lastly, Kobe wants out of L.A., the team he has been on his entire career.  After a summer of questions and outrage on the part of Kobe, the Lakers front office, and fans everywhere, it all leads back to the present moment, where Kobe Bryant is still a Laker. The team can count on Kobe Bryant good for at least 30 PPG each time he is on the court. He is that prolific of a scorer to the point where he alone is the biggest game changer in league. 

 

Head Coach Phil Jackson has never missed the playoffs, and doesn’t plan to with this group of guys.  Ronny Turiaf will get a chance to start and maximize the energy he puts forth.  Forward Lamar Odom will be out for the first couple of weeks recovering from a bum shoulder, but once he’s back, he has shown that he is one of the more versatile players in the league when he is not scared. They are banking their future on center Andrew Bynum and guards Jordan Farmar and 2007 first round pick Javaris Crittenton.  In the meantime, Derek Fisher has returned to the Lake Show to give them much needed leadership.  Kobe alone will give the Lakers a chance every night.

 

The bad: As long as Kobe continues to whine and complain and Phil refuses to play the future stars, this team will be in disarray until the other shoe drops.

 

The one man army that is #24 on the Lakers does have pieces around him if he utilizes them.  The problem is, Kobe is not too fond of his teammates.  In many ways, neither is Phil Jackson, who has lobbied for trades in the past to acquire more veteran talent since he is horrible at developing talent on his own. Kobe averaged over five assists a game, but at many points last season, the team played a lot more cohesively when Lamar Odom was leading the team and Kobe was not playing.  Odom is talented, but he is the most scared star I have ever seen play. He needs to be assertive on the court. Also, Phil Jackson needs to trust the young guys. Bynum, Farmar, and Crittenton need to be thrown into the fire in order for their development to steady out. By benching them and giving playing time to the likes of Kwame Brown and Maurice Evans is just not smart, especially for a team building for the future while trying to win now. 

 

What will ruin this team more than anything will be the constant speculation about Kobe possibly moving to another team. He has become their biggest distraction and ultimately it just seems like Kobe will never win in L.A. The team looks determined to build around youth and Kobe is trying to win while he is in his prime. They have failed to get players such as Kevin Garnett, Ron Artest, and Carlos B#####. Instead, it looks like Kobe will not be long for the City of Angels.

 

The outlook: 9th in the West, 3rd in the Pacific. They will miss the playoffs, but Kobe will not be traded during the season. However, this will be Kobe’s last season as a Laker.  I got my money on him going to the Atlanta Hawks. Your guess is as good as mine.

 

Sacramento Kings

 

 

Projected Starting Lineup:

C   Brad Miller

PF Shareef Abdur-RahimSF Ron Artest

SG Kevin Martin

PG Mike Bibby

Coach: Reggie Theus

 

The good:  Kevin Martin is ready to become one of the best pure scorers in the NBA.

 

The Sacramento Kings missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1997-98 season.  It’s funny that a team associated with futility was able to turn it around and become a constant in the playoffs. Although things may look bleak for this team, Kevin Martin has become a pleasant surprise for this team. Draft #27 overall in 2004, no one was really expecting much from him. Since then he has improved every year to the point that he is now the primary scorer on the team. Signing an 5 year extension, Kevin Martin looks to be the franchise here for a long time. Also, the Kings drafted the heir apparent at the center position held by Brad Miller in Spencer Hawes out of Washington. Mikki Moore who made his career last season off of playing alongside Jason Kidd will now be paid to play alongside defensive stalwart Ron Artest and guard Mike Bibby. This is a team that can be a playoff contender if everything clicks.

 

The bad: This team is the epitome of mediocrity. Until they figure out what to do with some of their players, they have no plan.

 

The Sacramento Kings are like a runner in a treadmill.  They’ll exert energy but they really won’t be going anywhere. First year Coach Reggie Theus will soon learn that this is not his old show Hang Time. This will be an uphill battle for him. The names on the team do not yell “really good team” to you. Kenny Thomas. Orien Greene. John Salmons.  Mikki Moore. Am I lulling you to sleep with these names? 

 

Mikki Moore will show everyone this season that Jason Kidd basically feeds a good population of big men in the NBA as Moore signed a 3 year, $10 mil deal to sign there.  Moore will show like former Net Kenyon Martin that Moore will miss Kidd. They have young pieces such as Francisco Garcia, Quincy Douby, and Justin Williams, but they all sound like role players on good teams, not potential stars on a team that can’t just get by with Kevin Martin for the future. The status of Mike Bibby is in the air and don’t be surprised if he and Ron Artest get traded if the Kings get off to a slow start. Their best bet is to play the role of spoiler come March and April.

 

The outlook: 12th in the West, 4th in the division, and a pull of the plug on whatever they have going on as they finally begin to start rebuilding themselves.

 

Los Angeles Clippers

 

 

Projected Starting Lineup:

C   Chris Kaman

PF Al Thornton

SF Corey MaggetteSG Cuttino Mobley

PG Sam Cassell

Coach: Mike Dunleavy

 

The good:  Al Thornton may not be Elton Brand, but when you see him play, you might very well confuse the two.

 

Al Thornton may be one of the biggest steals in the draft.  Questions about his size and his age (note: he will turn 24 this December) at Florida State caused his stock to slip. Luckily for the Clips, he fell to them at #14. Thornton will be able to fill the void left by Elton Brand who is out for most this season with an Achilles injury. Sam Cassell is back healthy and for reinforcements signed veterans Brevin Knight and Dan Dickau. This is going to be the breakout season for Corey Maggette. Alternating between starter and bench player for most of his career, Maggette will now have the small forward job all to himself. He is capable of being a consistent 20 PPG scorer in the league and he has incentive to do so. He’ll be up for a new contract soon.

 

Another player signed to help offset Brand is forward Ruben Patterson. The Kobe-Stopper himself will now be playing in the same building as #24 (maybe not for long), but Patterson adds a veteran presence on this team that will be needed to bring upstarts like 2006 second round center Paul Davis along.

 

The bad: The injuries to Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston ended their playoff dreams before fans had a chance to dream.

 

When the news of Elton Brand suffering a ruptured Achilles surfaced, I knew their season was over. This is their franchise player and team MVP. Without him, they will have to rely on Tim “I play hard when I have a contract to get” Thomas to help them get through this.  Also, let’s not forget the injury that occurred to PG Shaun Livingston last season. That gruesome injury caused his knee to be everywhere except where it should have been. He’ll be out as well, and questions will arise as to whether he will ever play in the NBA again. 

 

Sam Cassell is getting old and injury prone and someone will have to come in for him long term. Chris Kaman signed a five-year extension last season to be their center for the future.  He has to start earning his pay because last season was very underwhelming. The caveman look may have worked for Johnny Damon, but Kaman looked complacent and slow. He needs to be more assertive offensively to not dump too much of the scoring load on Thornton. After a great 2005-06 season where they made the semi-finals in the West, the goal is to not revert back into the Clippers we all know and make fun of.

 

The outlook: 13th in the West, 5th in the Pacific, rooting for the Minnesota Timberwolves to do well so they can get their first round pick as well and retool some more for next season.