Predictions Are In: Patriots Odds to Win SBLIII

LESS THAN 100 DAYS TO KICKOFF

The countdown to the NFL season is officially on. We are now less than 100 days from the season opener. The 2018 season will kick off in Philadelphia with the SBLII Champions taking on the Atlanta Falcons. With the draft behind us and training camp just around the corner, predictions surrounding next season are flooding in.

The Patriots and their fans are no strangers to being favorites to win the Super Bowl, and this year is no different. Since the minute Super Bowl LII ended, before anyone even had a chance to sweep up the green and white confetti, predictions for next season began. Experts and fans love discussing who they think will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in 2019. No surprise here: the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles were two teams in the conversation almost every time. As the season gets closer, players get traded, and OTA reports come out, fans get a better feel for who they could see winning it all. It’s been a few months since early predictions were made, but the latest SBLIII odds are still weighing in the Patriots favor.

According to ESPN’s Football Power Index the Patriots, Steelers and Eagles are the top three favorites next season.

Today is exactly 100 days until the start of the 2018 NFL season.

According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Patriots have the best chance to win Super Bowl LIII. pic.twitter.com/xbGHGjysZ6

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 29, 2018

IGNORING THE NOISE

The offseason has been anything but quiet for Bill Belichick and company with drama circulating players, coaches and team chemistry. Uncertainties like Rob Gronkowski flirting with the idea of retiring, and Brady not officially stating that he will return have Patriots fans buzzing. New England fans tend to “Ignore the noise” as Belichick would say, but it always helps to know, despite the drama, their team still sits atop the NFL.

Super Bowl LIII is set for February 3, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Who will be there? For now, that’s up for debate.

Andrew Benintendi is Back

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The 2018 season did not start very well for Andrew Benintendi. He started off hitting in the low .200s. He just wasn’t the guy we all came to know and love. But after a cold April, it’s safe to say he’s on a roll. In his last 30 games, he’s slashing .333/.400/.615, which has bumped up his overall numbers on the year. Benintendi has been especially strong at home this season, slashing .306/.392/.492 with an .865 OPS at Fenway this year, meanwhile slashing only .202/.315/.330 with a .655 OPS on the road. He also has not hit lefties well this year, hitting .209/.306/.349, while having great numbers against righties. So there are some things he needs to work on, but overall he’s been much better.

Benintendi continued his success as he helped lead the Sox to a nice 8-3 Memorial Day win at Fenway. He went three for five with a triple, four RBIs, and three of those RBI’s coming from a three run opposite field monster shot off Aaron Sanchez in the fourth.

After the game, he talked about hitting at Fenway. “I’m seeing the (ball) pretty good. You know, its fun to hit (at Fenway Park) I feel like I see the ball well here… it’s going good right now and I’m just trying to help the team win.”

Well, whatever he’s doing at Fenway, just keep it going. One critique I have of Benintendi is the fact that he’s just so boring, and I think a lot of Red Sox fans can agree with me on this one. He doesn’t seem to have too much emotion and really has some boring interviews. Maybe he’ll break out of his shell one day, but as long as he keeps helping the team win, that’s all that matters.

To sum up Benintendi lately, he’s been awesome. To give you an idea of how much of a resurgence he’s had; on April 25, he was hitting .218. Ever since then? He’s hit .330. So as boring as Andrew Benintendi can be, he sure can hit. And a bat like Benintendi’s in this strong Boston lineup only makes it better.

Cassius Marsh: ‘No Fun in New England’

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Cassius Marsh Didn’t like the Drama in New England

Via Niners NationSan Francisco 49ers defensive end Cassius Marsh hated being with the New England Patriots last season. Marsh didn’t even enjoy his time just a little bit with the Patriots. Bill Belichick is known for running a tight ship in New England, and some players like it and others don’t. Even with the recent drama with the team, Belichick is still trying to run a tight and strict operation.

Marsh told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, “They don’t have fun there. There’s nothing fun about it. There’s nothing happy about it. I didn’t enjoy any of my time there, you know what I’m saying? It made me for the first time in my life think about not playing football because I hated it that much.” Marsh also added that he requested to be cut by the Patriots last November.

“I confronted [Bill Belichick] about all the things that were going on. I won’t get into detail, but it was B.S. things they were doing… And so I, basically, without asking to get cut, I kind of asked to get cut… I had confidence that I would have an opportunity elsewhere and I would take advantage of it.”

The Strict Lifestyle in New England Wins Championships

Cassius Marsh, also told Branch, “They asked me to do a bunch of stuff that I had never done: Covering running backs and receivers and basically almost never rushing the passer, which is what I did in playing defensive line.”

After the Patriots released him in November, the 49ers picked him up on waivers. Marsh was upset with the whole Patriots’ operation. Marsh didn’t want to get into the detail of what was going on because it’s already been released. At the end of the day, though, if you don’t like the strict lifestyle of the Patriots, then it’s not the right team for you.

Looking Back on the Celtics’ Season

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The Celtics had a bitter end to the season by blowing a 3-2 lead in the Conference Finals. However, it was a fun and crazy season. Let’s take a look back at it.

The Offseason

The Celtics had a very eventful offseason, as Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier, Al Horford, and Marcus Smart were the only returning players. Boston exchanged draft picks with Philly and selected Rookie of the Year candidate Jayson Tatum. The Celtics traded Avery Bradley to Detroit for backup forward Marcus Morris. They signed star forward Gordon Hayward to a max deal, who was theoretically going to be their second best player. Boston also brought in backup players Shane Larkin, Aron Baynes, and Daniel Theis. The big splash of the offseason came when Danny Ainge sent Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Nets first round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Kyrie Irving. With all these moves, some Celtics fans and analysts, including me, predicted this team to go to the Finals.

Hayward’s Injury

Five minutes into the season, Boston’s star forward broke his ankle, and the Celtics dropped the first two games of the season. The Celtics rebounded from the injury perfectly, pulling off sixteen straight wins. Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown were the only four players who led the team in scoring during the winning streak. Horford and Irving (when healthy) were All-Stars. Jaylen Brown developed tremendously from his rookie season, and Tatum flourished a Rookie of the Year candidate.

Celtics Cooling down Before the All-Star Break

After the 16-2 start, the Celtics went 24-17 up until the All-Star break, which included a 1-4 stretch in the last five games. Kyrie Irving found himself having to carry the team to victory on some nights as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum cooled off. Al Horford was playing well, but nowhere near the way he played at the beginning of the season. On the bright side, Terry Rozier and Marcus Morris started to take off and became key pieces for the team.

Kyrie’s Injury

On March 11th, when Kyrie Irving exited the Pacers game with a knee injury, it felt like the Celtics hit rock bottom. They lost three of the next four, including a double-overtime game against Washington. After this, Tatum regressed, Morris continued to be a key player, and Rozier took over. It even got to the point where some Celtics fans actually want Kyrie to be traded. The Celtics ripped off six straight wins, which included impressive wins over the Thunder, Trail Blazers, Jazz, and Raptors. Their next loss came against Milwaukee, when deep bench player Kadeem Allen started at point guard. The Celtics finished the season losing four of six. With all the injuries, expectations were low going into the playoffs.

Squeaking past Milwaukee

The Celtics finished the season as the two seed in the East, so they took on seventh-seeded Milwaukee in the first round. Al Horford scored 24 points and racked up 12 rebounds as the Celtics survived Game 1 in overtime. In Game 2, they dominated from start to finish with a 120-106 win to take a 2-0 lead. The games in Milwaukee were much different, as the young Celtics team had trouble on the road all postseason. They were crushed in Game 3 by the score of 116-92, and almost came back but lost Game 4 104-102.

Marcus Smart came back from a thumb injury in Game 5, and his impact was huge defensively. Boston won 92-87 and took a three games to two series lead. They lost again in Milwaukee by the score of 97-86, which forced a Game 7. Al Horford was tremendous in the seventh game, and the Celtics cruised to a 112-96. Next up was Joel Embid and the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Dominating Philly

The guard play of Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart led the Celtics to a dominating 117-101 win in Game 1. In Game 2, the Boston squeaked by Ben Simmons’ masterful performance and won 108-103 to take a 2-0 lead. The Celtics finally won a game on the road, with a 101-98 win thanks to 21 points by Tatum. The 76ers were able to fight off elimination, and they escaped Game 4 with a 103-92 win. The Celtics shut up Joel Embiid in Game 5 to win the game 114-112 and the series 3-1. Awaiting them next was LeBron James and the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Final.

The End

Game 1 was not competitive at all as Brown and the Celtics dominated the Cavs by the score of 108-83. It was the only game in the series when LeBron James did not lead the Cavaliers in scoring. Boston struggled in the first half of Game 2, but pulled away and won 107-94. They went to Cleveland with a 2-0 series lead but lost Game 3 by thirty and Game 4 by nine. This series was reminiscent of the Bucks series, with the Celtics dominating at home and looking scared on the road. The Celtics were dominant defensively in Game 5, holding the Cavs to 83 points for the second time. Game 6 was back in Cleveland, and the Cavs forced a game seven with a 109-99 victory. Unfortunately, the season came to a bitter end as the offense went cold in Game 7. The final score was 87-79.

The Celtics did not fail to wow fans this season through all the adversity they faced. Though it’s hard to see them lose so close to having a chance to win it all, this is a great snippet of things to come when this team is healthy.

Previewing the Sox: 5/28-6/3

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The previous week (5/20-5/27) for the Red Sox has been an encouraging one to say the least. They took two out of three from the Tampa Bay Rays and the first place (at the time) Atlanta Braves. The offensive player of the week is Andrew Benintendi (.353/.455/.824, 1.278 OPS, 223 wRC+). The pitcher of the week is Eduardo Rodriguez, who got two wins while posting up a 1.59 ERA with 14 strikeouts, three walks and two earned runs. This is evidence of two players who needed to have a great week like this. Will these performances kick-start the players into performing at a better rate? Only time will tell.

Glancing Ahead

Looking ahead to this week, the Sox play the Toronto Blue Jays at home for three games, and then travel to Houston for a four game showdown with the Astros. The Astros split their four game series with the Cleveland Indians, and will also be playing the Yankees for the first three game series of this week. Focusing on the Astros series, the probable pitchers look to be Pomeranz, Sale, Price, and Porcello. For the Astros, it looks to be McCullers Jr., Cole, Verlander, and Morton. The Sox seem to be facing the best of the best as both Verlander and Cole are ranked first and second in ERA in the American League (1.08 and 1.86 respectively). Also, George Springer and Alex Bregman are doing quite well in the month of May. Springer posting a .341/.383/.557 slash with a .940 OPS and Bregman with a .282/.396/.529/.940 line.

The Sox offense really needs to step up more than ever against Houston. The Astros, as a team, throw 43.9% of their pitches in the strike zone, and have the highest swinging strike percentage in the majors (12.6%). The Houston bullpen should not be undermined, as they have one of the lowest contact percentages in the majors (73.6%). They also have a 2.63 ERA, which is ranked third in baseball. All in all, this Astros pitching staff is no joke since they have the highest strikeout rates, along with a top 5 walk rate and a miniscule 0.86 HR/9 figure. The Sox need to be aggressive in the zone and attack early, because there is not a whole lot of relief once the opposing starters exit. Of course, there is the obvious payback feeling for being booted in the ALDS against this same Astros team. But here’s a catch: Alex Cora is leading the charge. He was on A.J. Hinch’s World Series winning coaching staff last year, which will prove to be an advantage. This series will be epic.

Notes for the week:

David Price has a career 1.088 WHIP with a 2.92 ERA while playing indoors (like Minute Maid Park).
The Astros lead the league in overall run differential, however Houston has a pedestrian +34 differential at home for the season.
The Sox will need Mookie Betts back in order to contend with the Astros this weekend. Don’t be shocked if Mookie misses the next few days.
The Red Sox have a 3.04 ERA as a team when playing away and the Astros have a 2.63 ERA when playing at home.
The Astros have a .235 batting average as a team when playing at Minute Maid park this season. The Sox have a .248 average when on the road.

This upcoming series with the defending champions is going to be a crazy experience. Don’t miss it.

@ELJGON

Cavs, Celtics Set for Showdown in Game 7

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Well, here we are folks.

The two greatest words in sports: Game Seven. The Celtics versus the Cavaliers. LeBron James will get his shot at an eighth straight trip to the NBA Finals as the two teams square off in Boston on Sunday, May 27th. The Celtics will do all they can to prevent a fifth straight loss at the hands of LeBron and reach the Finals for the first time since 2010.

Cleveland Takes Game 6

LeBron James put on a clinic in Game 6, dropping 46 points to go along with 11 rebounds and nine assists. The Cavaliers displayed a team effort in the victory, getting major contributions from the bench, which outscored Boston’s bench 36-23. For the first time in the series Cleveland looked like a deep team, with four players scoring in double figures. George hill scored 20, Jeff Green contributed 14, and Larry Nance added ten and seven rebounds.

The three major factors in the game was the rebounding discrepancy, missed free throws, and Al Horford being a no-show. Boston was out-rebounded in the game by 13, 44-31 and gave up a whopping 15 offensive boards. In Boston’s three wins in the series they have out-rebounded Cleveland, and in the three losses it was the other way around. This will be a major factor going into Game 7. The Celtics also missed nine free throws, going 11-20 from the charity stripe.

Al Horford will need to play significantly better in Game 7 if his team will have any hopes of a victory. He produced six points on eight shots, and often looked out of sorts on the floor. He focused more on the ball than his man, giving up several offensive rebounds that resulted in second chance opportunities for the Cavs.

Kevin Love

The major storyline as Game 7 approaches is the announcement that Kevin Love will not play. After a collision with Jayson Tatum in the first quarter of Friday’s game, Love was sidelined with a concussion. Love is averaging 12.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in the series. He has been most impactful in Boston, averaging 17.6 points and 14.3 rebounds in the three match-ups.

Love has been the second leading scorer for Cleveland in these playoffs. His high IQ passing ability and double-double threat will surely be missed for the Cavs. He is also one of the most battle tested veterans on the roster as an NBA champion back in 2016.

Cavalier Role Players

With the All-Star big man out, Cleveland will need their role players to step up now more than ever. George Hill understands the circumstances and the need to fill a bigger role in Game 7.

“It’s gonna be tough,” Cavs point guard George Hill said. “No team has won there in these playoffs so far. We’ve got to try to be the first.”

LeBron James is taking a very level-headed mindset into the game. He said he doesn’t put “too much added pressure” on himself in Game 7’s.

“I just go out and play my game,” he said. “It’s just basketball for me. I know what I’m capable of doing.”

Boston’s Mentality

The Celtics have tied an NBA record as they have won ten straight games to start the postseason. The team has outscored their opponents by an average of 11.5 points per game thus far.

In spite of their recent success the team knows they are in for a battle.

“It’s about just winning the game now,” Marcus Smart said after Game 6. “It’s not going to be pretty. You got to be able to get down and get dirty… You have to be ready for a dogfight.”

Terry Rozier is confident going into Game 7, but understands LeBron James is going to give the Celtics all they can handle.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun, first and foremost. Obviously, we came up short tonight. But we need the whole city of Boston to be behind us. We know LeBron is different than a lot of other guys, but we’ve got to get the job done. That’s no excuse, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Boston has fed off of the energy their fans bring to the Garden each game, and they expect more of the same in Game 7.

“It’s going to be electric,” Horford said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to Sunday.

Down on the Farm 5/19-5/25

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*Every weekend, I will be updating you on weekly results from the Boston’s farm teams, which include Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), the Portland Sea Dogs (AA), the Greenville Drive (A), and Salem Red Sox (High A). After every team is recapped, individual stats are posted. Also, I will have a prospect of the week section at the end.

Down on the Farm- Pawtucket Red Sox

The Paw Sox 2-6 over the week, bringing their record to 19-25. The Sox started off the week with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Rochester. Justin Haley was brilliant once again, allowing two runs in six innings, lowering his ERA to 3.63. However, the Paw Sox only recorded five hits, which lead to the defeat. They followed up that loss with another loss by the score of 3-0. They rebounded from those two tough losses with an impressive 5-4 win over rival Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

Jalen Beeks gave up three runs in the first, but the Sox crawled back thanks to two RBIs from Cole Sturgeon. They had another impressive 7-6 win the next day. Aneury Tavarez and Ramon Flores hit in all seven runs. Scranton rebounded the next day and dominated the Sox by the score of 7-1. Chandler Shepherd struggled, giving up four runs in 3.1 innings. Their bats were shut down again as they were defeated by the Rail Riders 3-1. They closed out the week with another loss against Lehigh by the score of 6-4. Marcus Walden struggled in his start, but Robby Scott did have two innings of no-hit baseball in relief. It would not surprise me if he was back in the majors soon.

Down on the Farm- Portland Sea Dogs

The Sea Dogs went 1-5 over the week, bringing their record to 16-29. Despite six innings of one-run ball from Mike Shawaryn, the Sea Dogs started off the week with a 6-3 loss. The bullpen was awful, and the bats could not produce enough runs for the win. The next game was not any better as they were killed, 12-3. Dedgar Jimenez and Jake Cosart were awful on the mound, and the bats were mediocre once again.

They had an off day on the 21st and lost again on the 22nd. The game was tied at three because Kyle Hart gave up one earned run over seven innings, but then Josh Taylor gave up two runs in the eighth. The bats rebounded as they defeated Hartford 12-3. Teddy Stankiewicz was great in his seven-inning start and seven of the hitters in the lineup knocked in at least one run. The next game was the opposite as they lost 12-5. Jake Cosart gave up five runs in 1.2 innings to put the game away.

Down on the Farm- Greenville Drive

The Drive went 1-5 on the week, bringing their record to 11-35. They started off the week with a 5-2 loss at the hands of Augusta. Jhonathan Diaz had a decent start, but the offense only recorded six hits. The game on the 20th was suspended in the second inning. They had a tough 11-10 loss in extras against Asheville. Juan Florentino gave up the game-winning base hit in the tenth. The Drive lost again the next day by the score of 5-3. Denyi Reyes only gave up one run over five innings but the offense struggled.

They rebounded from the losses with a 4-3 win over the tourists. Kutter Crawford gave up no runs in six innings and Marino Campana’s two RBI’s led the offense. Greenville could not build off the momentum from the win and lost 4-2. Like last time, Jhonathan Diaz had a decent start, but the offense only recorded six hits. The Drive closed out the week with a 3-1 loss against Colorado. They only recorded three hits in the defeat.

Down on the Farm- Salem Red Sox

The Red Sox went 5-3 on the week, bringing their to 22-23. record to They opened up the week with a 6-5 win over the Blue Rocks. Matt Chatham knocked in three runs and Jake Thompson gave up two runs over six innings. Salem had a doubleheader the next day, winning both games 7-3. Bobby Dalbec had three RBIs in the night game. The Sox continued their momentum with a 5-1 win over the Frederick Keys. Tanner Houck was impressive, giving up just one run in six innings.

The bats exploded in the next game, as they won 13-11. Jordan Procyshen knocked in three RBIs, Brett Netzer knocked in two and Matt Chatham knocked in two as well. On Wednesday, their momentum was thwarted as they lost 15-6. Enmanuel De Jesus gave up 12 hits and eight runs over 4.1 innings. Salem lost again the next day, this time by the score of 5-1. The Sox only landed four hits and Jake Thompson struggled in the start. They closed out the week with a 4-3 loss against the Blue Rocks. Darwinian Hernandez gave up four runs in six innings and the bats only produced four hits.

Prospect of the Week- Bryan Mata

Age: 19
Position: RHP
Team: Salem Red Sox
Stats this year: 2-2 W-L, 3.51 ERA in seven starts, 25.2 IP, 19 strikeouts
Pitches: fastball, curveball, changeup

Bruins Prospects to Watch out For

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The 2018 season is over and the Boston Bruins are finally resting amid all the injuries they were playing with, GM Don Sweeney and Co. have been busy looking to make much-needed changes to the team‘s roster.

With rumors swirling about possible trades with the Carolina Hurricanes, the Bruins will be looking to help bolster their defense. The most exciting thing about this recent team was the important impact that the young prospects had. Even though the season ended shortly and, let’s be honest –exceeded everyone’s expectations, there’s no question that Sweeney and Neely will be faced with some tough decisions. They’ve made it no secret that they would love to keep everybody, however it’s just not reality. There’s a lot of young talent that’s being developed in Providence and they’ll be looking to earn a spot on the Bruins team. Let’s take a look at a few prospects that could very well shine through next season.

Photo courtesy of Ted Fitzgerald-Boston Herald

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins already have a promising group of young guys already in the lineup. Young superstars such as Jake Debrusk , Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, Sean Kuraly, Ryan Donato, Brandon Carlo and, even though he’s not a first-year guy David Pastrnak, who had a breakthrough season. As Don Sweeney looks make some moves on who stays, there are quite a few prospects looking to break through and earn a spot on the Bruins’ roster.

RYAN DONATO

As the Bruins were poised to make a postseason run, they received great news. 22 year old Boston-native Ryan Donato would sign an entry-level contract with the Black and Gold. In his debut for the Bruins, he scored his first NHL goal. In the regular season, he ended with a respectable nine points in the 12 games he played. Donato knows how to score: he posted 26 goals and 43 points in 29 games for the Harvard Crimson. A natural scorer, he potted five goals in six games while competing in the 2018 Olympics for the U.S.. This young star will be looking to make a huge impact in the 2018-2019 season.

ANDERS BJORK

One player that’s started the beginning of this past season on the first line with Bergeron and Marchand is 21 year old Anders Bjork. He posted 12 points, and was sent back to Providence before having season ending shoulder surgery. With the successful pairing of Pastrnak /Krejci at the recent IIHF tournament , will we see a repeat of Bjork on the first line? For this writer, it probably would not be a bad idea see how Bjork does in training camp first and if need be, send the young winger back down to Providence. Will be interesting to see if Coach Cassidy will break up the first line and insert Bjork alongside with Bergeron.

TRENT FREDERIC

The young prospect is making a name for himself as an all-around player; the 20 year old can score. For the Wisconsin Badgers, he posted 65 points and 66 games and the recent World Junior Championship against the Czech Republic, Frederick potted four goals in a 9-3 victory. He can handle the puck and find passing lanes, making him a threat offensively.

JAKOB FORSBACKA KARLSSON

Selected in 2015 by the Bruins, the Swedish Center skated alongside McAvoy at BU. Playing for the Providence Bruins, JFK potted 32 points in 58 games. As he gains more consistency in his play, JFK will be an effective center offensively. He plays with intensity, turning plays into scoring chances. As the young 21 year old continues to develop, there could a real chance he would get the call and replace Riley Nash when he becomes a free agent this July.

IN THE NAME OF DEFENSE

JEREMY LAUZON

In an effort in bolstering their defense, the Bruins will be looking at 21 year old Jeremy Lauzon. What the Bruins need is someone that can not only defend but move the puck. But if you look at his recent record in Providence last season in 52 games he only managed one goal and six assists. A slow start, but if he wants to play for the Black and Gold, he’ll need to work on more with the coaches as he continues to develop.

URHO VAAKANAINEN

Another defensive prospect is 19 year old Urho Vaakanainen. Drafted in the 2017, he’s been playing solid in the Finnish League, garnering 11 points in 43 games. The young Finn isn’t a splashy player, however he’s a safe bet; calm and steady with a few years of playing pro under his belt. As the Bruins defense make necessary transitions, you’ll need a composed player like Vaakanainen, especially on the blue line.

JAKUB ZBORIL

And lastly another star in the making is 21 year old Czech Jakub Zboril. Drafted in 2015, Zboril plays a solid game; his first season with the Providence Bruins posted 19 points and 68 games. Not the biggest body on ice (6 feet , 201lbs), however, he plays smart especially in the neutral zone. A two-way defenseman, Zboril will need to work hard and gain more experience playing professionally. He’ll be one to watch.

FINAL THOUGHTS

With harsh realities facing the management in regards to who stays and who goes (those Krug rumors won’t go away), every one will be gunning for a spot on the Bruins team. With recent trades that didn’t exactly pan out, Sweeney will have his work cut out for him; the lackluster performance of Rick Nash hasn’t gone unnoticed. The bar is set even higher for next season. The Bruins will need to keep some veterans to help the upcoming prospects. And let’s not forget, they need to make room to keep the young talent. In 2020, many will become restricted free agents. With tough decisions lingering on their minds, there’s no doubt the new season will bring new excitement as the Bruins work hard in their quest for the Stanley Cup.

Follow Liz Rizzo St Pierre on Twitter @pastagrl88

The Truth About LeBron James

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What is the Truth about LeBron James?

What he is.

The best physical Specimen in NBA History, if not all of sports history.

What he’s good at.

Really? Watch a game or just skip over this article and go back to the WNBA Home Page.

He does what he does at a very high level, and he is obviously one of the best to have ever done it. Don’t forget he’s done “it” for a very long time. He has been Cal Ripken consistent and Alex Rodriguez great.

I’m just NOT crowning him like everyone else. Kevin Durant is obviously better offensively and defensively. Durant is a more versatile player when it comes to being able to adapt his game to a different style system.

Could LeBron take his skill set and do what Durant did in Golden State? I don’t think so. Physically he probably could, but he won’t because he is accustomed to doing what he wants and there isn’t a coach in the league that can check him. I’d even take a “Unibrow” over a “King” if I had the choice. However, this article isn’t about choosing or even arguing about who is the best player in the league.

It’s about renouncing the throne and circumventing the common folk that consider this incumbency the greatest of all time.

“King James: The One Man Show”

Lebron James’s stats are deceiving. You would think a guy that averages nine assists a game would be considered a team player. Think again. Let’s look at a typical Cavaliers possession. It either starts with a pass to LeBron or him crashing the boards off of the wing to steal a rebound from his power forward. “Power Forward Killing James” may be a more suitable nickname than “King”.

Back to the possession; which proceeds as such. Hold ball, pivot, hold ball, jab step, dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble, attack, shoot or pass, layup, dunk, brick, swish, record an assist or end with a turnover. For all of you “Erik Killmonger’s” out there using the turnover stat in your quest to challenge the KING’s reign is a common theme. Just about five a game for his career. I won’t mention the mediocre mid range game, low career three point percentage, sub par free throw numbers, and keen sense of deferment to other players in the most crucial points of the game. Oops, just did.

Meanwhile, back to the possession, everyone is in awe from LeBron’s rim-rocking attack or perfectly placed pass. Yes, indeed he attacks like none other has ever seen, maybe even better than Jordan. And yes, he sure does make a precise pass in which the shooter usually gets a super clean look.

What people don’t realize is that same breath-taking possession the ball is stagnant. “No Ball Movement James” sounds like a great nickname too. The shooter has to shoot whether it’s a clean look or not because there’s not much time left on the clock to move the ball around to anyone else. How about “LeBron, The Extra Pass Killer”?

Defenses don’t have to work hard. There is no rotating or closing out. The defense doesn’t have to move back and forth, from one side of the court to the other. That also means they are in good rebounding position and can break quickly after misses.

Do you think LeBron sprints back? He does when he thinks he can fool the common folk again with a highlight reel swat that sends the ball into the 17th row or pinned against the backboard so hard it almost simultaneously shatters the glass and deflates the ball. Hold that thought, but first let me finish the point about his ball-holding, team chemistry-killing style of play.

How about the fact that when LeBron dominates possessions he ruins team synergy? Ever played basketball with the older kids back in the day? How did you feel after the seventh or eighth up and back and you still hadn’t touched the ball? Insert anyone that has ever played with LeBron James HERE. It’s happened to me, and I know it’s happened to a ton of readers out there. It actually sucks, and after a few games like that you don’t even feel like playing basketball anymore. Try having it happen 82 times a season. Insert anyone that has ever played with LeBron James HERE. If you are not what LeBron considers the teams second or third option, good luck touching the ball, never mind getting a shot off.

Let’s look at the players that have come and gone and are still playing with the King. We’ll start with a couple of the most recent acquisitions: Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson. They were averaging about 17 and 15 points per game respectively with their old teams. Then they joined “The Land” and shazaam, they can’t even combine for ten a game. Coincidence? I think not. Let’s, for the sake of argument, throw out Clarkson because even I could average 15 a game while playing 38 minutes a game for the Lakers. However, Hood in my opinion was the best piece coming in that trade. He also averaged 17 PPG in the West on a highly competitive playoff team. What happened to Rodney Hood? LeBron James, that’s what.

As a matter of fact, anyone (outside of Dwayne Wade and Kyrie Irving) that has played with LeBron has taken a serious numbers hit. As mentioned DWade and Kyrie have been great with and without LeBron. Both are transcending players who excel on isolation plays. LeBron would actually share the ball with them because he understood they were great, and for some reason his ego allowed it. He probably needed a rest so he let Kyrie put the sauce and jelly on display. Plus he needed them to bail him out in the clutch. Anyone else just isn’t lucky enough to sit in the King’s court.

How about Chris Bosh or Kevin Love? People forget Love was a 26 and 12 guy in his final year in Minnesota. Let’s not count the 18 game year in 2012-2013 when Love was riddled by injury. Love posted 26.1 PPG and 12.5 RPG in 2013-2014, and had 26.0 PPG and 13.0 RPG in the 2011-2012 season. Since he’s been with LeBron, in his prime mind you, he’s averaged 17.1 PPG and 8.1 RPG. Did I mention Love and James teamed up when love was 26 years old?

I’m not doing the same number-crunching thing with Chris Bosch, but take a look for yourself. The guy went from Hall of Famer to almost forgotten when he left Toronto to team up with LeBron and the Miami Heat back in 2010. Poor Chris didn’t know what he was signing up for.

“LeBron: the Highlight Reel Defender”

What else would you expect from “LeBron, The Me Guy”? He’s an overrated defender, but because a handful of Highlight Reel defensive plays overshadows his lack of effort, the common folk once again fall victim to betrayals from the throne. In all actuality, in most cases he takes off more plays than Randy Moss and Manny Ramirez combined! Maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but you get the point. “Go Hard or Go Home James”, is all I’m saying.

No big deal, it’s all forgiven because he blocks a shot or two in dramatic fashion. That should definitely make up for the fact that he doesn’t get back in transition, (usually crying to a ref about a non-call), close out on shooters or rotate on defense.

Well, he shuts people down right? No. Evident by last year’s Finals when Durant dropped almost 40 every night. What’s the argument now? He didn’t cover Durant that much? Why not, King James? Shame on you for letting someone else on your team guard, the other best player on the planet. It’s not just Durant either. Pretty much every small forward that he goes against has averaged the same amount of points for their career or more when head to head with the King. Don’t believe me? Google it! I’m not doing the work for you!

With all that said, he’s obviously very good at what he does, but his greatness doesn’t make anyone on his team better. His style of play allows defenses to focus on him and not have to exert themselves by over-rotating. He needs another iso player to help him reduce his turnovers and give him a break once in a while, so all the stress isn’t on him. He should team up with PG3 in LA or Westy in OKC. God knows he’s leaving his kingdom defenseless once again.

We have all heard the Spurs rumors, and honestly James going to a team that actually plays team ball, dare I say it, would actually make that team worse. Picture the King in San Antonio or trying to hog up the T.O.P in a Celtics uniform. “What you mean Pop you want me to catch and pass?” or “Hey Danny Ainge, Brad is really asking me to do a lot with this whole swing it thing, let’s get D Fish in here”.

If the King just played Stevens, Kerr, or Popovich type of ball, he could have created a true dynasty that surpassed Michael Jordan’s teams. That is what Durant is doing in Golden State. That is why “Durantula”, in my opinion, is better than Bron Bron. Instead, the King’s Dynasties are short-lived, as players leave his super teams in search of new lands to conquer, on their own, or at least with team players that are not sitting on a condescending throne as a shadow casting self-indulged KING.

Aaron Matteos
@haildigital on twitter

NBA Super Teams- No End in Sight

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Super Teams

The NBA has become a haven for super teams. NBA stars can decide their own fates and choose wherever they want to play via free agency. Sure it makes NBA Live a more fun game to play, but it leaves the NBA reality in turmoil as players jump ship to chase championships. Can we really blame them? The pressure to be one of the greatest ever carries a heavy weight, and championships are part of the burden.

This whole thing happened because LeBron James is so obsessed with being considered the greatest of all time, that he made “The Decision” to take his talents to South Beach. The team up with Dwayne Wade, arguably the best player in the league at the time, or at least a top five player and MVP candidate still in his prime, was monumental. It’s all because King James could not beat the big three Boston Celtics.

Let’s clarify something right now. The 2008 Celtics team was created by the GM via trade, not by ring chasing players. King James jumped ship, and the rest is history.

Then came Kevin Durant. I really liked KD until this move. I still think he’s better than LeBron, but come on, really? The move to Golden State was drastic. It shifted the balance in the league and made it virtually impossible for anyone to overcome the Warriors, especially in a seven game series.

The Chain Reaction

Now this chain reaction of a series of moves made by players signing with teams to hopefully compete with the Warriors begins.

Chris Paul to Houston, Gordon Hayward to Boston, LaMarcus Aldridge to the Spurs, etc. You get the idea. All of this because LeBron couldn’t beat the Celtics.

The unfortunate truth for the NBA is that there is no end in sight. This will continue to happen. Superstars will jump ship and go to larger markets as free agents and team up with other superstars. It has become a reality of the NBA. Some fans will enjoy it, and others will not. I personally hate the concept of free agents creating super teams. However, I do love it when I’m playing NBA Live.

Aaron Matteos

@haildigital on twitter

Can’t Forget These Guys…