The Cleveland Cavaliers are a Dumpster Fire

I usually like to wait until I do my mid season redo of the sports I wrote about until it is near, or past mid season of said sport. But today, I have to eat a ton of crow because the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the worst basketball teams that I have watched this year.

For those that may have forgotten already, I picked them to finish 8th in the East and make the playoffs. That, most certainly, is not going to happen. They stink. They look like a group of people that hate playing the game of basketball together.

I purchased NBA League Pass a week ago and have made it a point to watch as much NBA as possible. I have tried to watch all 30 teams, if only for a few minutes. So far, I think I have seen about 20-22 of the teams play. The other day I happened upon a Cavs game. This was when Ty Lue was still their coach, and Kevin Love's health status was in question. People thought he may come back, others knew it was going to be awhile. So, I decided that I was going to watch this team that I picked to make the playoffs. Yes, they lost LeBron James, and that was a brutal blow, but they still had the majority of guys that played in the NBA Finals last year.

Well, this team, the way it is currently constructed, is abysmal. They stink. They do not know how to do the simplest things on a basketball court. They are ruining their young talent. They have already fired Ty Lue, who, good for him for getting out of that toxic place. The game that I watched, for about 5 minutes, was a mess. They looked discombobulated. As I said, they couldn't run the easiest of plays.

I have watched them one more time since, after Lue was let go, and it hasn't gotten better. And now, they have all these vets asking to be traded or let go. JR Smith was the first. He openly said he doesn't like playing there. He pulled an Eric Bledsoe, but did it in person, speaking from his own mouth. Now Kyle Korver is asking out. He doesn't want to be there anymore. Kevin Love is going to miss up to 6 weeks with his injury. The vets on this team are trashing their lottery pick, Collin Sexton, claiming he "doesn't know how to play at this level". Tristan Thompson, who is a scumbag, is not nearly the defender or rebounder he was a couple years ago. He has become a major liability on the offensive end of the court. Cedi Osmann plays hard, but he is not the dual threat the team thought he could be. Sam Dekker stinks. The team is in shambles.

This is what happens when LeBron leaves Cleveland. Notice that this didn't happen in Miami. That is because Erik Spoelstra is a hell of a good coach. The coaches before in Cleveland thrived with LeBron, but the moment he left, the team died. This team though, at least to me, wasn't supposed to die this easily. I legitimately thought they could put a playoff team, from the East, on the court. I didn't expect Kevin Love to get hurt immediately and miss so much time. He is well past his prime now. It is kind of sad how far he has fallen since he was traded to Cleveland. Sure, he has been an All Star as recent as last year, but he us not the guy he was in Minnesota. That is blatantly clear. JR Smith is cashed. He might be, might, able to help out a contending team with instant offense off the bench, but probably not. I'd rather have Jamal Crawford than him. Kyle Korver was cashed 2 years ago. I remember watching him in the Finals last year, and his shots were so short and he was so outmatched on defense it was sad. He should retire. Tristan Thompson is DONE too. He is an old school big man who would have been torched in the old school. I'm sure the Cavs regret that contract they gave him. Sam Dekker is a bust. Cedi Osmann is, at best, an 8th or 9th man off the bench on any NBA team.

And then there is Collin Sexton. I have made no bones about how much I like this kid, but I hate him being on this team. These vets, who aren't shit for real, are talking openly about him not being an NBA level point guard. That is insane. Sexton is a good basketball player, I will go to my grave believing this. He is in the exact wrong situation for him as an NBA player. This team is toxic. This front office is horrific. He is not going to get the chance he needs to play because of the vets and the front office. Playing in Cleveland will only stunt his growth as an NBA player. He will not be able to work through the kinks and the struggles that come to almost every rookie. And it is because the Cavs and Dan Gilbert and Tristan Thompson and Kyle Korver all stink and are horrible teammates and owners and GM's. He is the only good thing they have and they are on the path to making him hate basketball.

I'm sorry that I thought this team could win 35-40 games. I'm sorry that I picked them to make the playoffs. I'm sorry for Collin Sexton. This is a messed up situation, and it is only going to get worse. This team is awful. They have made horrible front office decisions. Their GM is atrocious.

The Cavs stink, and I would be shocked if they won 20 games this year. They are that bad. I will fully eat my crow for counting on this team. They're the worst team in the NBA. And it isn't even close.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on all the internet.

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Ty's Mid-Season NFL Redo

I've been teasing it for 2 days, and now I am ready to do my 2018 NFL mid season redo. Unlike my NCAA college football mid season redo, the NFL is actually in the middle of their season. Each of the 32 teams have played 8 of their 16 regular season games. I do need to say, right off the bat, I was very, very wrong about my Super Bowl pick for this season, which I will touch on when I get to them. I will re pick the divisions, the Super Bowl, but I will stick with my MVP. I will also talk about some of the new additions each team has made since the trade deadline, which was wild.

Okay, lets get to it.

I will start wit the AFC. The AFC East was in question for, maybe, one week, when the Dolphins were 3-0. Now, things are back to normal. The Patriots own this division. They are by far the best team, and will continue to be for some time. The Dolphins have crashed back down to Earth, the Bills are a mess offensively, but they do play solid defense and the Jets are mediocre at best, although I do like Sam Darnold. The Patriots are easily the winner of the East. Hell, they may wrap it up by week 10.

The AFC North is a different story. The Steelers started off horribly, seemingly unaware that they had to play defense. They have shored things up as of late, and they look solid, even without LeVeon Bell. The Ravens looked great to start off the year, especially their defense, but they fallen flat the past 2 weeks. They pass too much on offense, and the defense is getting no rest, thus causing them to struggle. The Bengals looked like a possible 10 win team, but they just got throttled by the Chiefs this past Sunday. The defense cannot hang with upper level teams, and Marvin Lewis is back to his choking ways. And the Browns, well, they have played better defense, but the offense is so far behind, they have rookies everywhere, and they just fired their head coach, deserved, and their offensive coordinator, also deserved. But, to promote Greg Williams, that is insane. The Browns are still a mess, and not a very good football team. I'm going to go with the Steelers still because I just don't trust the Bengals or Ravens.

The AFC South was the division I thought would be best. It is not. The Titans stink. They are not a viable NFL team. The Colts play very hard, but they don't have the talent. The Texans are starting to look better, and they just added Demaryius Thomas, but they cannot protect Deshaun Watson. And the Jags, my preseason pick for the Super Bowl, are an absolute, Browns level mess right now. Blake Bortles is awful. They have no run game with Fournette hurt. And the defense, which was my main reason for picking them, has been getting gashed and gutted week after week. The Jags are a tire fire, and I do not think they will get up from it. I'm going with the Texans because of Watson, but this division is nearly unwatchable again.

The AFC West is a 2 team race, but really, the Chiefs are the cream of the crop. Patrick Mahomes has been wonderful. He has been so much better than I ever imagined. So has the rest of the offense. I thought they'd be good, but they are great. The Chargers are their only "threat", but I don't see it with them. Sure, they are fine offensively, and they have an okay defense, but I wouldn't trust them in the playoffs. The Broncos are going full rebuild mode, trading Thomas and sticking with Keenum was wrong. They are wasting a great defense. And the Raiders, oof. The Raiders are absolutely awful. They are horrid. They got rid of any good player they had, and they have won 1 game. Hope you guys enjoy this as long as Jon Gruden is your head coach. The Chiefs are going to run away with this division.

So, my playoff teams are as follows, the Patriots, Chiefs, Texans and Steelers. My wild card teams are the Chargers and, oh I don't know, lets say the Ravens. In the AFC title game I will go with the Chiefs playing the Patriots, and the Chiefs getting their revenge. The Chiefs will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. God damn you Jags. You really made me look like a fool.

Now, the NFC.

The NFC East is a joke of a division. Washington is the "best" team, and their defense got better with the addition of Ha Ha Clinton Dix. They play all slug fest games, and they will find a way to win 10 of those. The Cowboys are as inconsistent as any team in the NFL. They also stink on defense. They also have no real receivers. I don't buy Amari Cooper as a number one. They have 8-8 written all over them. The Eagles, my other Super Bowl pick, have been almost as inconsistent as the Cowboys. They lost Jay Ajayi, their best running back, to an ACL injury. They did get Golden Tate, and that should help. And Carson Wentz is still not one hundred percent yet. And the defense has been underwhelming so far. The Giants are atrocious. This is one team I was totally right on in my preseason preview. Eli Manning is trash. They cannot run the ball. Odell Beckham is being wasted. And their defense is a sieve. They might be worse than the Raiders. Washington will win this division.

The NFC North has provided the NFL with some of the ugliest football all year. My team, the Packers, have been wildly frustrating to watch. They still cannot run the ball, they still cannot stop opposing offenses and Mike McCarthy is wasting Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams' best years. They seem to have thrown in the towel with the Clinton-Dix trade too. I don't know what to do with this team. The Vikings have looked better as of late, but let us not forget what happened when they played the Bills and Rams in consecutive weeks. The Bills destroyed them in Minnesota. It was as shocking a loss as I can remember. They then got ramshackled by the Rams on a Thursday night. As I said, they have played better as of late, but time will tell. Also, I think they will soon regret the contract they gave the highly overrated Kirk Cousins. The Lions are odd. They just got rid of Golden Tate, Stafford best receiver, they don't give the ball to Kerryon Johnson enough, and they have a bad defense. Matt Patricia is not the greatest head coach either. And the Bears, while they have a stout, top 5 NFL defense, they have the wrong QB. Guys like Tarik Cohen, Jordan Howard and a healthy Kevin White have to deal with Blake Bortles 2.0 in Mitch Trubisky. He is not a good QB. He should be a back up. But, this defense, especially Khalil Mack, can take this team to 8,9 or even 10 wins. I'm going to go with Minnesota, but I wouldn't be shocked if the Bears won the division. God damn you Green Bay.

The NFC South is competitive, but it is only 2 teams, not the three I thought it could be at the start of the season. The Panthers look a little bit like their 2015 team. They aren't as explosive, but Cam is getting into a groove, Christian McCaffery is being used properly, and Devin Funchess has turned into a solid wideout. The defense isn't great, but they get the job done. The Saints are great. They are so threatening on offense. They can seemingly do anything they want at any time. They are awesome. Their defense has also gotten better as the year has gone on. The Falcons are a mess. They lost their best defensive players to season ending injuries, and they just cannot stop anyone. The offense has been pretty good, but when you need to score 40 points just to stay in a game, that is a problem. And the Buccaneers aren't even worth my time. I'm going with the Saints, they are so good, but this division will get 2 playoff teams.

The NFC West is all about the Rams. No other team has any shot at this division. The Rams are so much further ahead of every team, and they just added Dante Fowler to their already stout defense. They also have Todd Gurley, who is amazing. The Seahawks have played better than I thought, but they are still not a real threat. They could sneak into the playoffs, but I doubt it. And then there is the Cardinals and 49ers. I mean, both these teams stink. They have no playoff aspirations. The 49ers lost their QB early in the year. The Cardinals waited too long to play Josh Rosen. These teams are dreadful. These teams are playing for next year. The Rams, who are still undefeated, are going to roll with this division.

So, as far as the playoffs go, the division winners are as follows, the Rams, Saints, Vikings and Washington. And my wild card teams are the Panthers and, I am going to stick with the Eagles here. Sorry Bears fans. Sorry Packers fans, me included. I just think the addition of Golden Tate will help the Eagles get to 10 wins. Carson Wentz is also starting to play better. In the NFC title I have the Rams and Saints, mainly because I want to see them play twice this year.(They play each other this weekend) I'm going to go with the Rams. They remind me so much of the 2015 Panthers, but with a better defense.

So, that means I have the Chiefs and Rams in the Super Bowl. And, I'm picking the Rams. They are devastatingly good. I also think the Saints will be a tougher matchup than the Chiefs. This would also be a fun Super Bowl.

As far as award winners, coach of the year should be Sean McVay. Offensive rookie of the year will be one of these QB's, lets say..... Sam Darnold. Defensive rookie of the year will be Jaire Alexander. Defensive player of the year will be, and damn well better be, Aaron Donald. Offensive player of the year, and MVP will be, and should be, Todd Gurley. I know that what Mahomes is doing is unheard of, but so is what Gurley is doing. Look at his numbers. They are comparable, and he is the best player on the best team.

There you have it, my NFL season redo. I was clearly wrong in the preseason, but I feel like my redo is much closer to what will happen. I'm still pissed at the Packers. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Red Sox Won a Sport I Do Not Really Care About Anymore

Many of you that come to SeedSing to read my sports writing might be wondering why I haven't touched on the Red Sox winning the World Series. Well, I didn't even realize it was going on, or that it was over, until this morning when my son told me that one of his friends was very happy that the Red Sox beat the Dodgers. It only dawned on me then that the World Series, and the MLB season for that matter, were over.

I hadn't even thought about baseball for a myriad of reasons. I only pay attention to baseball when my son plays, and his fall ball season ended in late September. The Cardinals didn't even make the playoffs, so that was another thing that made me tune out. College football is in full swing right now. We are in the thick of conference play. The NFL is at its halfway point, I will have my mid season redo of that tomorrow by the way. And, most exciting for me, the NBA started, and college basketball is right around the corner. Baseball took a big, big time step back from all of that.

Also, why would I care about a title between a team from Boston or LA? I don't like any team in any major pro sport from either of those cities. Also, aren't these big market teams always involved? Maybe if the Brewers had made it in I might have paid attention for may Dad's sake. That is the team of his youth.

The realization this morning, again, coming from my 6 year old, made me really look back at how far baseball has fallen off the map for me. As I child I lived and breathed baseball. That was all I wanted to do. That was the only sport, and thing, that I truly cared about. Baseball was life. Then I started to get older and started to get into basketball. I immediately fell in love with that sport. Baseball was still first, but basketball was beginning to take over. Then, when I was finally allowed to play football in high school, that immediately jumped to the top for me. It supplanted both baseball and basketball. But, I still loved, and played, both those sports too, along with football. As I have gotten older though, baseball has just fallen off.

I really stopped caring about baseball my senior year of high school. I was on the team, I enjoyed hanging out with my friends, but it started to become boring to me. I was a relief pitcher too, so I spent a lot of time just sitting and watching. That made it worse. This was when basketball started to jump ahead of baseball. I loved playing. I was on my high school team, and while I saw little playing time in games, I loved practices, and when I did get to play, it was so much more fun than baseball. Football was the same. I played a bit more, I got to tackle people, and the vast majority of my close friends were on the football team. Then, after high school and college, I just started to forget abut baseball completely. I stopped playing, so I stopped paying attention.

Football was now more in the forefront, and my love for the Wolverines started to get very, very important. Then I fell back in love with basketball, mainly the NBA. Baseball was just an after thought. If the Cardinals were in the playoffs or World Series, I would peek in and out here and there, but a random Thursday night NBA game, or any Michigan basketball or football game took top priority, especially Michigan football. And now that I am a husband and father, the only baseball that matters to me is when my son plays. That is the only time I care about baseball. I still play pick up basketball and watch the NBA constantly. In fact, I just got League Pass, and that may be better than the Red Zone Network. And, as all of you know, I am fully obsessed with Michigan Wolverines sports, most notably basketball and football. Baseball just doesn't matter. I don't really care.

I am stoked for Red Sox fans, and I'm sure the parade and party will be fun, but I have totally checked out. It is kind of sad, but also seemed inevitable. Baseball isn't a sport you can just play pick up like basketball. You need, at least, 6-10 people to even play some form of baseball. Basketball can be played with 2 people. Hell, you can work on the game solo if you want. And football, even though it can be plodding, and there are so many things in and outside of the game that are disconcerting, is still much, much more enjoyable to watch than baseball. I have been to one college football game this year, and I am going to a second soon. I am going to go to an NBA game here very soon in either Memphis or Chicago. You know how many baseball games I went to this season, one of 2 pro sports teams we have in Saint Louis? One. And we didn't even stay for the first pitch. My son's team got to walk on the field before hand, we asked him if he wanted to stay, and he said no. That was my one MLB game this season. I wish I could say that I miss it, but I really don't. I just find the game very, very boring now.

Once again, nice job Red Sox. Now I do not have to worry about baseball until the head editor makes me write a season preview in March. See you baseball fans then.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. We asked Ty to name the last ten World Series winners. He mentioned the Red Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, and the Warriors. Ty really does not watch much baseball anymore.

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Ty's Mid-Season NCAA College Football Redo

I know that I am about a week or so late, but I need to do my mid season college football check up. Boy, was I very off on 2 of my four playoff teams. I was also wrong about a few teams, both good and bad, from the power 5 conferences. I'll go through each conference with a short little redo, and then I will pick my new winners, most should be the same, and my new playoff teams. I will also pick a new Heisman winner.

Okay, lets get to it.

First off, lets go to the ACC. I mean, does any other team matter in this conference besides Clemson? They are so far ahead of every other team. They are like the Warriors of the ACC. I thought Miami could give them a fight, but they have stumbled as of late. They can't find a QB and their defense, while still very good, cannot win all the games they play. FSU is a total mess. They looked to be getting back to normal, but then Clemson came to town and everything came crashing down again. UNC is mediocre. So is Pitt. Virginia Tech has stumbled big time since Old Dominion beat them. NC State has lost their last 2 after starting 6-0. Louisville, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Virginia are all at, or around .500. Duke is okay. But, Syracuse might be Clemson's biggest "threat". Clemson owns the ACC, and they will continue to for many years to come it seems.

The Pac 12 is a lot like the ACC, except they don't have a dominant team. At one point this season it looked like Oregon, Stanford or Washington could fight for a playoff spot. Oregon just got smashed by a 4-5 Arizona squad, Stanford, who is again making me look foolish, just cannot get it together, most recently losing to Washington State. And Washington might be one of the most disappointing teams in all of college football. They just got beat by Cal, and only scored 10 points in that game. USC is in a tail spin. Colorado just blew a 28 point lead to Oregon State, who is awful. Arizona State has some okay wins, but they are very blah. UCLA is STRUGGLING in Chip Kelly's first year. The only 2 teams that are kind of consistent are Washington State and Utah. Utah is solid in all three phases,  but they don't blow anyone away. Washington State throws and throws and throws the ball, and they have the best record, at 7-1, but their defense will doom them. I was made a fool again by Stanford, and they have no shot at the playoff or the Pac 12 title. So, I guess that I am going to go with WSU, but I have zero confidence in their defense. I wouldn't be shocked if Utah does find a way to win the conference.

Up next I want to go to the Big 12. The Big 12 is solid, but the Big 12 does not play defense. Oklahoma, even with the lone loss to Texas, is still the best team to me. They have a great, great offense. They play zero defense, but when you score upwards of 50 a game, that doesn't really matter. Texas was the darling of the conference for a minute, but they got beat by Oklahoma State, and Tom Hermann made an ass of himself in the process. Oklahoma State is okay, but they are no real threat to Oklahoma. West Virginia has a great QB in Will Grier, and they can run, but their defense is suspect. TCU has fallen off a cliff. Iowa State is still a tough out, but they are no better than a 7 or 8 win team. Kansas has won 3 games, which matches their total from the last three years, which says all I need to about their program. Kansas State is having a very down year. Baylor should not be allowed to field a team. And Texas Tech is the same every year. They can air it out and they can't stop anyone. Oklahoma has the best player and the game against Texas feels like an aberration to me. They will win the Big 12.

The SEC is all about Alabama. Sure, Georgia is a top 10 team, but they have their own problems. Florida is much, much better under Dan Mullen, but they are not at Alabama or Georgia's level. Texas A&M is better under Fisher, but they still have a long way to go. Kentucky is a top 15 team, but they needed a timeless down to beat Missouri. LSU has been very, very solid all year. Their offense isn't great, but they have signature wins and a tremendous defense. Tennessee is still trying t get back to relevance. Missouri has a very good QB, but a horrendous defense. Vanderbilt stinks. Arkansas is worse. Auburn is right there with Washington as a disappointment. South Carolina is average. So is Ole Miss, who should be sanctioned to hell soon. And Mississippi State has been wildly inconsistent. Alabama is Alabama. They seem unbeatable. They are top notch everywhere on the field. Tua Tigaviola is one of the best college QB's I have ever seen. They got Jalen Hurts to stay. They have threats all over the field. Their defense is amazing. Alabama is the Death Star of college football. LSU has the best "shot" to beat them, but they won't. Alabama is going to roll the rest of the season, especially through the SEC.

The final power 5 conference, is my conference, the Big 10. The Big 10 has been wild, disappointing and surprising this year. Nebraska is not very good. Sure, they have won 2 straight, but against real teams, they have been dominated. I think Scott Frost will turn it around, but it will take time. Minnesota is struggling to find an identity under PJ Fleck. They started 3-0, and are now 4-4, just barely beating Indiana last week after blowing a 4 score lead. Rutgers is a tire fire, but they did show signs of life 2 weeks ago against Northwestern. Indiana has a better defense than normal, but they cannot put together a full game. Maryland is about to go through the ringer with the NCAA, as they should, and they are mediocre. Illinois is bad. Lovie Smith looks like he now hates coaching football. I wouldn't be shocked if he steps down at the end of this year. Purdue started 0-3, then won 4 straight, one of which was a thrashing over the University of Ohio State. But, they just let Michigan State manhandle them. Michigan State, who also shouldn't be able to field a team with the offseason stuff, is average at best. They do have a good defense though. Penn State is all about their QB. They go as he goes, and luckily for them, he is usually pretty good. Wisconsin doesn't have a good enough QB, their O line isn't as stout as it was last year and their defense is a mess. They just got manhandled by Northwestern. Speaking of Northwestern, that team has just found ways to win their last couple of games, 2 over once ranked teams. They aren't the best, but they are currently in first in the Big 10 West. and I didn't forget about Iowa. Iowa should have beaten Penn State, but they didn't, and that may haunt them. They are a bit more fun on offense though. The University of Ohio State had an atrocious game their last time out. Apparently they have some inner turmoil with the staff. Urban Meyer is a liar and a phony. And the team is very average on defense. Their offense however is explosive. They are a very, very light version of Oklahoma. And then there is my team, the Michigan Wolverines, winners of 7 straight. First off, I still have my doubts about this team. It took them forever to pull away from MSU. I know that is a rivalry game, and it was on the road, but they were the much more talented team. I also watched them struggle mightily to beat Northwestern in person. They also didn't really blow out SMU like they should have. It took them until the third quarter to pull away from Wisconsin. They start off too slow. If that happens this Saturday, at home against PSU, that could be a problem. Now for the good. They are much better on offense this year. Shea Patterson has shown that he is easily the best QB in the short Jim Harbaugh era. They can run the ball. I love Karan Higdon. The receivers are big and strong, and Tarik Black could be back this weekend. The O line has been better. The defense, in their last game, absolutely shut down MSU. Since week one, the defense has been solid. They have the pieces in place to actually make a run. They have a tough game this weekend, they then have to travel to Rutgers, and road games are tough, then they get Indiana at home, but for the past 6 or 7 years it seems, Indiana plays them very tough, and they finish out the season in Columbus. Where we sit today the Wolverines are in complete control of their side of the Big 10. I am very curious to see how they play now that they are expected to win. That hasn't been the case sine Peppers was a Heisman finalist, and they stumbled to finish that season. Saturday will show me a lot about this team. That game will determine how they finish. They are now the team with the bulls eye on their back. Lets see which team shows up. Right now though, and I do not like doing this because I am a pessimist when it comes to anything Michigan related, I am going to go with the Wolverines to win the Big 10. They should.

As far as teams outside the power 5, Notre Dame is going to get in the playoff as long as they win out. They have the win over Michigan to open the year. They went to Blacksburg and won. And even with struggles against Ball State and Pitt, they still found a way to win. UCF still hasn't lost in a game in almost 2 years. They may not have a tough schedule, but you play who you play, and they have beaten all comers. Mackenzie Milton is awesome too. Houston is really good, and they have the best defensive player in football in Ed Oliver. And Utah State and Fresno State are having a flash back to the early 2010's, finding their way into the top 25.

As far as the Heisman, I had Bryce Love to start the year. I was very, very wrong. He, of course, has been perpetually hurt all year. Tua is going to win. He is putting up monster numbers on the best team in college football. Tua is the best QB Alabama has had under Saban as well. He is an amazing talent.

The playoff, this was tough for me. The first official rankings come out tomorrow, and while that will most definitely change, I know 2 of the teams that will be there will be in my final four. Going from 1-4 I have, Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, and number 4, the toughest one for me to pick, I am going to go with Oklahoma. Michigan will be the team left out. Oklahoma has the great, probably Heisman runner up QB, Kyler Murray. They also have an easier end of season schedule than Michigan. Oklahoma should run the table the rest of the way. Michigan could too, but they could also lose a couple of those games. Like I said, the last time they had expectations, they stumbled. Oklahoma is going to be able to outscore every team left on their schedule and in the Big 12 title game. They then get the unfortunate task of playing a rested Alabama team. Alabama is so much better than EVERY team in college football. They win with ease. So does Clemson in the 2-3 game. Notre Dame has not, and will not, face a team as talented as Clemson the rest of the year. Clemson will dominate that game. So, we would get, for the third time in the four year history of the college football playoff, a Clemson-Alabama game. And, Alabama will cruise. They are so, so great. They have stars all over the field. You know how I said that Clemson is the Warriors of the ACC? Alabama is the Warriors of all of college football. They are so dominant.

Now, with only 5 weeks of regular season games left, I think a lot of this could change. But, where we are now, at this point in the year, this is my redo. These are my changes. Lets see how these picks pan out.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. The Wolverines could every game the rest of the year, including the National Championship, and Ty would still not be optimistic on Michigan’s chances this year. The terrible life of a superfan.

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The Overrated Blake Griffin is Finished in the NBA

To round out my 2 weeks of basketball previews, I want to finish up talking about a specific player. This is not a young player. This is not a rookie. This is not a super star, not anymore at least. This is not a player that will matter come playoff time. This is not an all star. This player is Blake Griffin.

I want to ask a very specific question about him, and then I will try and answer it. And know this, I do not, and have never, ever like Griffin. Even with him going to the Michigan football game last weekend did not score him any points with me. The question, is Blake Griffin done?

Now, I have never thought he was as good as others used to say. I have always thought that he is/was wildly overrated. I have always thought that he is/was soft. I despise his constant complaining. I do not think he takes the games as serious as a supposed super star is supposed to. His win in the dunk contest, however long ago that was, was ridiculous. He did not jump over a car, he jumped over the hood. It was lame. I always thought he was the third wheel in the whole "Lob City" era with the Clippers. I do not think he is funny. I do not like his commercials. I just do not like Blake Griffin.

And before you think this piece is just to slander, you are 50 percent correct.

I have multiple signs that point to the fact that Griffin is cashed as a NBA player. Reason one, the Clippers gave him a max contract last year, and when the time to trade him came up, they did it without a second thought. And, they traded him to Detroit. For Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley. That is not the return you'd expect for a supposed super star. He then proceeded to do nothing to help the Pistons get to the playoffs. The one thing he helped do was get Stan Van Gundy fired as GM and coach. Van Gundy took that risk, and it blew up in his face.

Even before the trade, he was not the star the Clippers made him out to be. He was more known for his whining, dunking, doing stupid shit to fans and getting hurt. He missed his entire rookie year due to injury. He then wasn't much of a star in his next year, even if he won Rookie of the Year. Michael Carter Williams has also won that award by the way. He then got paired up with Chris Paul and Deandre Jordan started to come into this own, and while the Clippers were now a playoff team, it wasn't because of Griffin, at least not to me. Chris Paul pushed that team to the playoffs. Deandre Jordan was the defensive and rebounding stalwart they needed. Griffin was there to dunk. Sure, he developed a mid range shot, but in the modern NBA, most people don't want mid range shooting. Teams want threes, which he cannot shoot or dunks, which he is only getting worse at. The Clippers never made the conference finals with him as their supposed star player.

What really put this all into perspective for me was one instance in the preseason, and another that just happened the other night. Blake Griffin attempted to back down a smaller player, and then tried to elevate for a dunk. This happened against the same team, and the same player denied him, twice. When Griffin went up to dunk, to make the highlight reel like he used to do, his attempt was stopped cold by Jarrett Allen. Now, I know who Jarrett Allen is because I am a humongous NBA nerd. I like Allen. I think he is one of the better rim protectors in the NBA. But, he isn't Joel Embiid, Al Horford, prime Serge Ibaka or Rudy Gobert. Allen plays a smallish role on the awful Nets. And he stoned Griffin's dunk attempt twice. Griffin doesn't have the lift anymore. People aren't afraid to challenge him at the rim. He, of course, looked for a foul call, but both blocks were as clean as they come. These younger guys, that play modern NBA defense, are not afraid of a guy like Griffin anymore. I mean, Jarrett Allen made him look like a scrub. He stopped him cold two times in the matter of a week. Blake Griffin cannot do it anymore. It's either that, or he just doesn't care enough anymore since he is in Detroit, and he thinks no one is watching.

Well, I was watching. I saw the clips, then I watched them again and then I watched them a third time. I have told friends and family that like the NBA to check out the clips. I am writing an entire piece about his lack of explosion now. I have never though that Griffin was a star, and the 2 Allen blocks have just reaffirmed it for me.

This is pure joy for me, and I cannot wait to see the next back up center stone him at the rim again. Blake Griffin is done.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

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Ty's 2018-2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Season Preview

Today I have my massive NCAA men's basketball preview. I like to do this in one big chunk because I love college sports so much, and once I get going, I just cannot stop.

Now, a few things before I get into it. One, this whole FBI investigation can really throw a wrench in many of my predictions. Personally I do not think much will come of it. I have heard people call it the worst thing to happen to college basketball, and that it could be the death of the sport, but I don't buy it. Some teams might get some kind of sanctions, but I don't think it will crush college basketball. Also, I am once again not very well versed in the new players. I typically only watch Big Ten basketball, which some think is the worst form of college basketball, and with all the "one and done" guys, a thing I despise, it is hard to remember who is who anymore in college basketball. For example, I had no idea who Trae Young was when I did my preview last year. Then he blew up. So, I actually bought a college basketball magazine this year to do some research. It wasn't as helpful as I hoped, but I do know more now.

Two more things before I get into it. First, I know that I do not do a women's preview, and I always pick UCONN, and they haven't won it in 2 years, and they aren't the preseason number one team this year, but guess what? I'm picking them again. UCONN women's basketball is the Warriors or Patriots. They are the best. Second, and finally, I will do my men's NCAA basketball preview just like I do my college football preview. I will go through the power conferences, pick a winner, name a few "sleeper" and "surprise" teams. I will then pick my Final Four, my national player of the year, my title game and my winner. Again, this is all subject to change, and I will revisit all this at, or around the midway point of the season.

Okay, lets do it.

I'll start with the AAC, and yes, this is a "major" conference for college basketball. This is the conference that has Cincinnati, UCONN and Memphis. After that, not much else. Memphis has a ton of hype because they hired their prodigal son, Penny Hardaway as their new head coach. He is also getting big time recruits to come play there. Memphis may be better than anyone expects due to Hardaway's recruiting ability and staff. I don't know how good of a coach he can be, but if he gets top recruits, it won't matter. Cincinnati is always a solid regular season team, then they blow it in the tourney. They lost some key guys, but that doesn't matter. Mick Cronin is still the coach, they still have experience, and they will continue to be a tournament team. And then there is UCONN. They are in a regression right now. They, unfairly in my opinion, fired Kevin Ollie and hired Dan Hurley. This team will need time before we remember them as a perennial tournament team. Wichita State is also here, but they lost so much talent. They aren't going to be the darlings they used to be for awhile. Houston is a tournament level team, even if they lost their best player. I feel like this is a 2-3 team bid for the tourney. Cincinnati will get in and I feel like Houston is a near lock. After that, I would not be shocked if Memphis makes it. They have some real good incoming talent. In the end, Cincinnati will win the conference and probably lose on the first or second day of the tourney.

Next, lets move to one of the best conferences in college basketball, the ACC. This conference is loaded from 1-11, and there are 15 teams in the ACC. Duke is Duke. I loathe this team, and I do not get why Coach K gets a pass, but John Calipari doesn't, but he keeps pulling in top freshman. He has a class this year that is reminiscent of Michigan's Fab Five. He pulled in 4 of the top 20 recruits. He got RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, Tre Jones and Zion Williamson, the big get. This team is loaded with super talented 18-19 year olds. They don't play a whole lot of defense, and Reddish, Barrett and Williamson all play the same position. But, today's basketball is becoming more and more position less. I could coach this team to a sweet sixteen bid. UNC is back, has some returning key guys and has some incoming super talented freshman. Luke Maye gets picked on a lot because he doesn't look like a basketball player, but the dude can play. He is a very good shooter. Seventh Woods is finally going to get his shot to start. Cameron Johnson opted to come back. And then they got 2 great freshman, Nassir Little and Cony White. Roy Williams has the exact type team he likes, some vets with some young stars, and UNC will be a threat. Clemson is a solid bet to get in the tournament. They have a lot of experience. FSU lost some key guys, but they are now a team that is always a threat to get in the tourney, and maybe even win a game or two. Miami is good, but they lost Lonnie Walker after only one year. They have a good coach, they just need a little more talent. Louisville is one of the teams that will get hit by sanctions, but until then, they have some good players, and they got Chris Mack to leave Xavier and come coach this team. He is a great coach. NC State is a 20 win team and a tourney team. Notre Dame will be back in after a year away. Syracuse is still a team that confounds opponents with their zone, and that alone will lead to a tourney bid. Virginia Tech is a very good, top 15 level team. They will make noise. And even though they were the first 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed, Virginia will be back, and they still play that suffocating defense, and they have some shooters. They also lucked out when De'Andre Hunter chose to return to school. In the end though, I feel like UNC and Duke have the best talent. I want to pick UNC because they have veteran leadership, but Duke is so loaded, I just feel like they are going to win the ACC going away. Don't be surprised if this conference gets double digit teams in the tourney too.

I guess the Big East is still a power conference, but it doesn't really feel like it. In reality, this conference is all about Villanova. Sure, Xavier is good and Butler is a tourney team, but after that, the rest of the conference is kind of meh. Xavier lost Chris Mack and some talent, but they got some quality transfers and they play tough basketball. Butler is on the rise, but they just are not at the top of this conference yet. Villanova is the team to beat, as they should be. Sure, they lost a ton of guys from last year's title team, but who cares. They still have Jay Wright, they still have guys that played crucial minutes for them, and they are one of the best teams in the country. They will win the Big East with ease. Real quick before I move on, it is a shame that Syracuse is not in this league, and that teams like St. John's, Georgetown and Providence are non factors. It is a real bummer. This is a three team league.

Next we have the Big 12. The Big 12, for what seems like the one millionth straight year, will be Kansas' league. I know they are one of the teams that could get hit hard by the FBI, but until then, they will dominate this league. They have one of the best big men in Udoka Azubuike, 2 brothers transferring in from Memphis and three McDonald's All Americans on this roster. They are stacked and they will dominate. Kansas State shockingly made the Elite Eight last year, and they return pretty much everyone from last year. They will be good again. WVU plays that suffocating press, Bob Huggins is a good coach, and they will win 25 games easily. TCU is on the rise due to Jamie Dixon. They also have a roster of talented players. TTU surprised a lot of people last year, and even with Zhaire Smith opting for the draft, they should be a tournament team once again. Texas lost Mo Bamba, but not much else. They should be back in the tournament again. The Big 12 has a lot of talent, but it doesn't really matter. Kansas, until further notice, will continue to win this league, get a high seed and, most likely, blow a game they shouldn't in the tournament.

Lets move to the Pac 12. Remember how they didn't win a single tournament game last year? I sure do, because I picked Arizona to win it all. This conference will be okay, and hopefully they will be much better in this year's tourney, but who knows. Oregon is going to be good again. They got one hell of a recruiting class coming in, and that should be more than enough for this team to get in the dance. Arizona lost a TON of guys, including number one overall pick Deandre Ayton, but they reloaded, and they should be a tournament team. UCLA got rid of the Ball kid, and Jaylen Hands and Kris Wilkes return. The only thing holding them back is how bad of a coach Steve Alford is. USC should be much improved. Same for Washington. And Utah got into the NIT, and if that momentum carries over, they should be in the big dance this year. ASU AND Cal had their chance, but that seems over now. I'm going to go with Oregon because of their incoming class, and they have the best coach of the top three teams in the conference. But, this conference will get 3, maybe even 4 teams in. Hopefully they do much better.

Next we have the SEC. From 1-9, the SEC is good. After that, not so much. Kentucky is the cream of the crop. They had an "off" year for them last year. But, Coach Cal has one of his better classes coming in, and even though he is a poor X's and O's guy, he can recruit, and his talent will win out. Tennessee won the conference last year, and they have most of their team coming back. They are now a legit threat. Ben Howland has a solid squad, and a great back court in Mississippi State is back. Auburn is good, even if I think Bruce Pearl is one of the most overrated, and biggest cheaters, in all of coaching. LSU has a stunningly good class, and if they find a way to coalesce, they will be good. Florida has gotten to a point where I'm surprised when they don't win 20 plus games. Vanderbilt has that weird court which gives them a great home court advantage, and they have a pair of incoming freshman that appear to be real good. Missouri got one of the Porter brothers to stay, the better one in my opinion, Jontay, and they should make a return to the tourney. I actually think that, with Michael Porter Jr off to the NBA, they will play a lot freer on the court, which will lead to good things for them as a team. And Texas A&M has their 2 top scorers back, and if they hit shots like last year, they could easily make the tournament. What it all boils down to is Kentucky. Coach Cal is pumped about this team, and that is usually a good sign for them. Tennessee, Mississippi State, Auburn and LSU will be tough, but Kentucky is a cut above them all. Kentucky will return to being the SEC champs.

I'm going to end the power conference talk with my conference, the Big Ten. I adore the Big Ten because, as you all know very well by now, I love the University of Michigan. The title game was a let down last year, but the run to it was sure fun. But, they lose a lot of key guys from that team. Mo Wagner left early for the draft and Duncan Robinson, and my favorite player, Muhammed Ali Abdur Rahkman, both graduated. But, they do return a good chunk of talent, and John Beilen might have his best class coming in since he got Mitch McGary, Nik Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III and Trey Burke. They also return Charles Matthews and Zavier Simpson. They also get Jon Teske back, who was good in back up duty to Wagner. Jordan Poole can still shoot, and Isiah Livers comes back after being a starter his entire freshman year, where he was one of their better defenders. Two of the freshman coming in should see time right away as well. I'm curious to see how Beilen does with this squad, and early games against Villanova and UNC should be good early season indicators. But, I like this team. The only problem, Michigan State is going to be very good again. Sure, Miles Bridges is off to the pros, but much like Missouri's case with Porter Jr, I think MSU will benefit without him. They also have a very good class coming in, and they have vets. Tom Izzo should have been fired, and the program should be shut down after all the offseason stuff, but that didn't happen, and this basketball team should be one of Izzo's better ones in the past couple of years. Purdue is also very good, and while they lost their best big man, who is a disgusting human being, they get Carsen Edwards back. He is Big Ten Player of the Year level good. He is an exceptional scorer and plays hard defense. Matt Painter has also proven to be a good regular season coach. Indiana got the top point guard in the country to commit, and he alone will vault this team back to the tourney. This is Archie Miller's biggest coup since he started coaching. Nebraska has a load of talent coming back. That might be weird to say, but they will be good this year. I feel like an NCAA tourney bid is a foregone conclusion. The University of Ohio State lost their 2 best players, but they are a tough team and will play hard. Wisconsin should be much improved from last year, especially with Ethan Happ back. Maryland landed 3 top 100 recruits, and in this era of college basketball, that should be more than enough to get in the tourney. And Minnesota, while returning a good chunk of players from a team that started out red hot, then cooled way off, are very inconsistent. They should still be a tournament team. This conference will come down to MSU, Purdue, Indiana and Michigan. Also, Nebraska might have a say in the end. But, even though they should not even be able to field a team, I'm picking MSU to win the Big Ten.

As far as teams outside major conferences, SLU is due to return to being the top team in the A-10, Gonzaga might have one of the best teams in the country, and will definitely own their conference, Nevada is better than Gonzaga, and are coming into the year a top 5 team, I'm curious to see if Loyola-Chicago, who returns everyone from a Final Four team, can repeat their success and I'm going to keep my eye out for Harvard and San Diego State.

As far as my Final Four, and it needs to be stated that I'm going off my assumption that no real teams will get hurt by the FBI thing, I'll go with Kentucky, Kansas, Nevada and UNC. The title game will matchup UNC and Kansas, and I am going to go with UNC. They have better depth, more experience and better freshman, in my opinion. My player of the year will be, lets see, I'm sure it will be a freshman, I'll go with Zion Williamson. Everyone loves him, he is all over social media and he plays for Duke.

Okay, there you have my massive 2018-19 NCAA men's basketball preview. The season starts soon. Time to get excited.

One more thing, Go Blue.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Postseason and Awards

Now that we are officially in the NBA season, it tipped off last night, I come with you today with my post season and awards predictions. This is all subject to change, and I will do a mid season report, just like I do with the NFL, and NCAA football and basketball, which I will have a monster NCAA men's basketball preview tomorrow, but for now, this is what I think will happen.

The one thing that will 99 percent stay the same, the Warriors will win the title. Unless something catastrophic happens, like all 4 of their main starters would need to go down for me to change my mind. The Warriors are so far ahead of everyone else, and until they lose some key guys, they will continue to be the best.

Anyway, I may have a few surprises in there, and I have a sort of left field prediction for my rookie of the year. Okay, lets get to the postseason.

As far as the 8 teams from the East, in descending order from 8-1 I have the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. I know the Celtics destroyed the 76ers last night, but it was the first of 82 games. People need to calm down. Also, I think the Cavs will sneak in to the playoffs, this year. The teams around them, the Pistons, Knicks and maybe Nets have far too many question marks. As far as the East Finals go, I have the 76ers playing the Raptors, and I am going to go with the Raptors. Everyone else seems to be picking the Celtics, so I want to zig. I also think the Bucks have a real shot, especially with how much better Giannis keeps getting, to make it all the way to the Finals from the 4 seed. I wouldn't be shocked if they made a run. But, the Raptors had the second best record in the NBA last season, they unfortunately ran into the LeBron buzz saw and got swept. They then acquired Kawhi, and he is, as much as I like DeMar DeRozan, a much better overall player, and he is out to prove that he is still a top 3-5 player in the league. They also lost no one else except for DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl, which, so what. The Raptors will finally break though and own the East for one year, and then Kawhi will leave.

As far as the West, and the West is much, much, much better than the East, so much so I feel like the 8 seed could have as many as 45-47 wins. And from what I have seen other writers do, I have no caveat with the Timberwolves. I think they miss out with or without Jimmy Butler. That whole thing is a total mess. So, from 8-1 I have, the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, OKC Thunder, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. That means I am leaving out former main stays like the Trail Blazers and Clippers. I think the Blazers season will go one of 2 ways. They will win 45 games and miss out, or they will break up that back court and rebuild. I don't buy the Clippers at all as a playoff team. Tobias Harris, while he is a very good basketball player, he is not a star. And after that they have young guys or brittle vets. They might be .500, but they will not be in the playoffs. In fact I think, with 2 exceptions in the West, the Kings and my newfound favorite team, the Suns, will all have anywhere from 35- 60 wins. I think teams like the Mavericks and Grizzlies, 2 non playoff teams, can get to 38 wins. The West is loaded. And as long as Greg Poppovich is coaching the Spurs, I will forever put them in the playoffs. I flirted with leaving the Lakers out, but LeBron is the second greatest player ever, Brandon Ingram is going to make a huge leap and I think Luke Walton is a good coach. They will find their way to 47-50 wins and a 6 seed. But, in the end, the Warriors will beat whoever they face in the West Finals. I think they have a real shot at going undefeated in the playoffs, especially of Boogie is back and he buys in. I do not think it will be a rematch of last year's West Finals though. I LOVE the Jazz, and I think they are going to make the biggest jump. I have them as the 3, but I wouldn't be surprised if they get the 2, or if the Warriors play loose all regular season, the 1. Donovan Mitchell is a star, Rudy Gobert is the defensive anchor they need, and, I'm still shocked every time I write this, Quinn Snyder is a hell of an NBA coach. They have the goods. But it won't matter. The Warriors will sweep them in the West Finals.

That means we will have one new team, the Raptors, facing the Warriors, who will be in their 4th straight finals. And as great a defensive player Kawhi is, he can only guard one guy, and that will lead to another Warriors sweep and another Warriors title. The Warriors are just too god damn good. They are the Death Star.

As far as awards and other weird stuff I want to point out, lets start small. I said I'd have a surprise at Rookie of the Year, a minor surprise, and that pick for me is Collin Sexton. It is no secret that I love this kid. I know that Luka Doncic gets most of the love, and many GM's and players voted Deandre Ayton as the winner. But, I think Collin Sexton, once he supplants George Hill as the starting point guard, will be the main reason the Cavs make the playoffs. It won't be because of Kevin Love or JR Smith or anyone else on that roster, it will be Collin Sexton. That dude is built for greatness.

Defensive Player of the Year is Rudy Gobert. I know it is boring to pick the same guy over and over again, but I think he has surpassed Kawhi as the best overall defender in the league. He is an amazing rim protector, and he can switch onto guards. He is awesome.

Sixth Man of the Year is always a guess for me. I never really know who is going to be a 6th man on the good teams, so again, I'm going to go with an old staple and pick Lou Williams. He will find his way on a playoff team, he will be their best option off the bench and he will fill up the stat sheet. He is this generation's Jamal Crawford.

My Coach of the Year, and I think this might finally happen after picking him 2 years in a row, especially if his team makes the jump I think they will, I have Quinn Snyder. He has proven he can coach the hell out of an NBA team.

And for MVP I'm going with Giannis. It was between him and Anthony Davis for me, and I think Giannis will push him team a bit further in the playoffs, he will have the city of Milwaukee praising him, he will put up monster stats and I think he will lead the league in scoring. Giannis is the man.

As far as some off the wall stuff, first off, I think my pick of the Jazz playing in the West Finals is kind of out there. I also think that Steph will finally win a much deserved Finals MVP. I think the Suns will be a horrible team, but they will be one of the most fun teams to watch. They have so much young talent and they will try to put on a show. I think the Blazers will be the biggest disappointment in the NBA, which will lead to Damian Lillard being traded. I think people are very much overrating the Lakers right now. I heard someone say they would be a 55 win team and I laughed out loud. I also think their roster will look drastically different after 40 games. I wouldn't be shocked if both Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma are on different teams after the All Star break. This whole Jimmy Butler thing is going to blow up in his face and Tom Thibodeau's face. Butler is on the other side of his prime, and he is oft injured. If I were a perennial playoff team I would not give him a max deal. That's what he wants, but I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. If he wants that he will end up on a team like the Knicks, Nets or Clippers. I also do not think Thibs will be the coach after Butler gets traded. He has been a disaster since he took that job, especially as a GM, and they will cut ties. I hope Kristaps Porzingis does not come back until he is 100 percent healthy because the NBA needs him in a big market. I think this rookie class is going to be a ton of fun to watch. And I think the faces of the league will start to shift to younger guys. Right now this is LeBron and Steph and KD's league, as it should be. But, I think people will start talking about Anthony Davis, Giannis and Donovan Mitchell as the new guys that will take over the league.

Okay, that does it for my 2018-19 NBA season preview. Please leave comments as to why I was wrong in my countdown, or why I was wrong with my post season picks. Or, let me know if you agree with me. The NBA is back. Time to celebrate and them watch the Warriors win again.

Ty

Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: 76ers, Rockets, Warriors

With the NBA season starting tonight, I have my final 3 teams for my countdown today. These are the best of the best in my opinion. These are the teams to beat. And I'm only going to do my three teams today. I will do a whole post season prediction and award winner predictions tomorrow. So today, we have our final 3. Lets get into it.

At number 3 I have the Philadelphia 76ers. I love this team. There was a point in time, on this very same website, when I chastised what this was doing. I hated what they put on the court. They were a tire fire. Now, all of that has changed. Brett Brown is a very good, very patient coach. Ben Simmons is a monster. That dude is a 6'10 point guard. I literally do not care that he can't shoot from the outside, everything else he does is wonderful. He is an elite passer. He is a great attacker of the rim. He is a solid defender. He is a terror for opposing players trying to guard him. Joel Embiid is a modern Hakeem. I know that is high praise, but dammit, he deserves it. He has some incredible low post moves. He can shoot fro the outside. He can pass so well out of the post. He plays great defense. He is an awesome rebounder. And he is just an overall fun guy. If he can stay healthy, much like he did last year, he and Simmons are going to be vaulted as the future faces of the league. Robert Covington is underrated and can shoot the rock. He also plays very solid D. He knows his role on this team, and he plays it perfectly. Dario Saric is much of the same. He is the perfect third or fourth option for this team. He is also a good rebounder and he, at least, tries on defense. TJ McConnell is a better, scratch that, a much, much better version of Matthew Dellavedova. He is a better shooter, a better playmaker and isn't annoying. I'm not giving up on Markelle Fultz yet. He sat most of last year, but doesn't every 76ers pick do that? Why was he so maligned for it? I saw the videos of his shot, and when he came back, he looked timid, but he is still only 20. He has looked better in preseason. He won't be asked to be the savior. I feel like he is going to be a solid player for this team. JJ Redick, while I think he is a wildly overrated defender, can still shoot the hell out of the ball. He is the floor spacer that Embiid and Simmons need. They also added Wilson Chandler, who is another instant offense off the bench for this team. Mike Muscala can shoot as well. Losing Zhaire Smith for the year will be a bummer, but they have another solid rookie to fall back on, Landry Shamet. The 76ers are back to being a top notch NBA franchise. I am fully buying in to this team being good to great again. I like watching this team, and I think they are going to be the best in the East.

At number 2 I have the Houston Rockets. I know, they lost some key guys. Losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah AMoute might sting, but, and correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't this team still have the reigning MVP James Harden, Chris Paul and Clint Capela? Don't they also have PJ Tucker still? Didn't they finally shed the horrible Ryan Anderson? Isn't former 6th man of the year winner Eric Gordon still there? Don't they still have Nene? The Rockets are still stacked, and people are freaking out about them losing 2 guys. Harden is amazing. I do not like watching him play, he is a total ball stopper, he draws to many fouls and shoots too many free throws, and is horrendous on defense, but the dude can shoot and slash. He is one of the best at getting to the rim and is one of the best at shooting the three. Harden is amazing. Chris Paul is super dirty and old, but he is still producing and has more freedom to shoot. He does get hurt far to much, especially at crucial moments. But, Paul is still one of the better pure point guards playing. Clint Capela might be the best rim runner in the league. He did the right thing in re signing there, because he gets so many open looks at the rim. He is also a great defender and rebounder. PJ Tucker is one of the toughest guys in the league, and he can shoot the three. Nene is another one of the toughest guys in the league, and even though he isn't what he used to be, he will fight a dude if need be. These 2 add the toughness this team has always lacked. Eric Gordon is a great, great bench player. He is the perfect instant offense guy. He, much like Harden, isn't a good defender at all, but he can fill up the stat sheet. Gerald Green is a high flyer and shoots a lot of threes, which means he fits in perfect for this team. They got Brandon Knight and Marquiss Chriss in the Anderson trade. While I don't think either of those guys will contribute much of anything, the best thing they did was help the Rockets get off Ryan Anderson. And they added Carmelo Anthony. This is about 5 years too late, but if he plays like Olympic Carmelo, and I know I said this exact same thing last year, he will fit in just fine. The Rockets don't play much defense, and they won't win 60 plus games again, but they are still great. They score and score and score. The Rockets are still the second best team in the league.

And at number 1 I have, of course, the Golden State Warriors. I mean, who else would it be? When Boogie Cousins comes back, they will be starting 5 all stars. KD is the best all around player in the league. He can score from anywhere on the floor, he has become a much better rebounder and passer, and when he plays defense, he is ferocious. I'm not down with his passive aggressive, wannabe bad guy mentality, he's not a bad guy, but the dude can play. Steph is the best pure shooter I have ever watched. He can shoot fro anywhere, and I mean ANYWHERE on the court. He is also a wizard with the ball. He isn't much of a defender, but he doesn't need to be. Klay Thompson is the second best pure shooter I have ever seen. He has the best shooting motion and he is such a threat to just go off at anytime. He has the ability to score 30 in a quarter. He has done it. Multiple times. He is also a lock down defender. He should always be on first team all defense. Draymond Green is the engine that runs this team. His headaches that he causes are totally worth it because the dude gives maximum effort. He is the best pound for pound defender in the NBA. He is also the only guy I have seen competently guard all 5 positions and do it well. He is also a decent offensive player. And when he gets back from injury, even if he is just 70 percent of who he was before, Boogie is an amazing modern center. He can shoot from three. He is a beast in the interior. He is nearly unstoppable down low. He is a great rebounder. And if he chooses to play defense, he is good. Also, I know there are worries about his presence in this locker room, but I don't buy it. This team is too well put together to let one guy screw it up. And I also love that people are saying the same nonsense that they don't have any depth. Well, they said that last year and they still won the title. They also still have Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston. I know they are older and have played a ton of basketball, but they are both perfect for this team. These 2 know exactly when to turn it on and off, and they will be crucial come playoff time. Jordan Bell also played a ton of minutes last year and was a great rebounder, defender and scored when he needed to. He fits too good with this team. Kevon Looney got key playing time last year, and he is back. The Warriors are going to continue to dominate this league as long as they keep guys like Steph, who is under contract, Klay, who has said he wants to stay, KD, who always flirts with leaving, and then signs on again and Draymond, who should never leave this team because it is far too perfect for him. What this lacked was a true center, and they got Boogie on a one year deal. Until further notice, I will always put the Warriors at number 1, and I will continue to pick them to win the title. The Warriors are the Patriots of the NBA, except they don't lose titles, they dominate and win them all.

That does it for my countdown for the 2018-19 season. Come back tomorrow for my post season and awards predictions. And also, get pumped. The season starts tonight. NBA basketball is back.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

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Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Raptors, Thunder, Celtics

Today we enter the top 5. It would not surprise me if any of the teams I have today finish as the runner up to the Warriors in either the West Finals, or the Finals. These teams have stars, they know how to win and they are ready to win. Lets go.

At number 6 I have the Toronto Raptors. They soared up the rankings when they acquired Kawhi Leonard. Now, the whole trade, the Raptors trading the much beloved DeMar DeRozan, has been met with plenty of scrutiny, as it should have been. But, when you have a chance to get a healthy Kawhi, and you play in the East, I really can't blame them. What they did to DeRozan was shady as hell, but Kawhi, when healthy, is a much better overall player. He is one of, if not the, best defenders in the NBA. He is one of the few that can "shut down" LeBron. He can pretty much shut down anyone. He has also really improved his offensive game as well. He can get to the rim, he can hit jumpers and he gets to the line. It may just be a one year rental, but a motivated and healthy Kawhi is a player every team should want. And while they traded away DeRozan, and Jakob Poeltl, they still have a very solid roster around them. Kyle Lowry, for all his playoff short comings, is an all star guard. He is a good scorer. He plays solid defense. He is a willing passer, and now that he will control the ball, I think he will have one of his better years. I hope that translate to playoff success for him. Serge Ibaka is not the player he once was, but he can shoot from the outside, thus stretching the defense. But, he doesn't protect the rim like he used to and isn't a very good rebounder. OG Anounoby is a budding star. The fact that the Spurs tried real hard to get him should speak volumes. He is due to break out. I really like Fred Van Vleet. He is a great second point guard, he knows what to do on the floor and he is a great leader. Danny Green came over in the trade as well, and while he is in his early 30's, he can still shoot, and he plays solid defense. They still have Jonas Valenciunas, and while he is a good banger in the post, he doesn't do much else for the team. He might be their best rebounder, but that is about it. I do really like Pascal Siakim. He is young, has bounce, can play D and will learn to score. He has a future. I'm not crazy about the Greg Monroe signing, he is a lot like Valenciunas, but he does give them a solid option at the 5 off the bench. Delon Wright is a big, good scoring 2 guard. Norman Powell can shoot. And CJ Miles is a good vet. This team got so much better when they acquired Kawhi. He may help them exercise their playoff demons. And if he stays, this team can be a threat for years to come in the East.

At number 5 I have the OKC Thunder. Getting rid of Carmelo was the best thing they could have done. They also finally got rid of Kyle Singler. Also, Nick Collison finally retired. This team is a classic example of getting better by players leaving. Addition by subtraction if you will. Oh, they also have Russell Westbrook. While he is wildly frustrating to watch, and I would not want to play with him, he is an amazing basketball player. He goes 100 percent every night. He gives his all. He plays hard and tough. He is a former MVP. Westbrook might be, next to Giannis, the most athletic player in the league. Paul George decided to stick around, and I think that was a good move on his part. He is much better as the second option, and he is a great defender. He can also shoot the three pretty well now. And with a year of playing with him, and 2 off seasons together, I think he and Westbrook will click now. Steven Adams has not lived up to my personal hype, where I thought he might become one of the best centers in the league, but the dude is still a beast. He is as good a rebounder as their is in the NBA. He plays solid post defense and can score in the post. Other than that though, he doesn't do much else, and he is constantly in foul trouble. I like the addition of Dennis Schroder, as long as he doesn't think he is the first, second or third option. He will be great for the second unit, if he buys in, and when he gets to play with Westbrook, George and Adams, that could be a dangerous lineup. Andre Roberson is still not fully recovered from his ACL injury, but he will be back in a few months. When he comes back, he and George may be the best back court defenders in the NBA. Roberson just cannot shoot. At all. I love that they got Nerlens Noel on a one year, prove it to the league deal. He will give his all every night, and with his ability in the pick and roll, he and Westbrook or Schroder could be lethal. He is also a nasty defender. Jerami Grant sticking around was a low key great move. He is a do it all guy off the bench, and the Thunder needed him to stay. Alex Abrines showed glimpses of his outside shit last year. He will definitely get more looks. Raymond Felton is back, and while I like chubby pro athletes, it will be hard for him to find minutes on this team. Patrick Patterson didn't really play up to the contract he got last year, but he was hurt for a lot of the season. If he is right, and ready to play, he could have a decent impact on this team. I like the Thunder. I love that George stayed. This team should be much better than they were last year.

My final team for the day, coming in at number 4, I have the Boston Celtics. This team is loaded. In fact, the reason that aren't in my top 3, they might be too loaded. They have very good players at all positions, but it may be hard for Brad Stevens to find minutes for everyone. Kyrie Irving is back from injury, and he should be the face of this team. He is a wizard with the ball he can score from anywhere and he has won a title. He is also on the last year of his contract, so I expect a big year out of him. But, the Celtics also have Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart, both of whom are point guards. Rozier is a fan favorite, and he is also in the final year of a contract. Will he see the minutes he needs to get paid next offseason? I don't think so, unless Irving gets hurt. Smart didn't get the big offer he was hoping this offseason, so he had to come back. Will this light a fire under him, or will he mope? Also, he is probably the third best point guard on this roster. He is the best defender, by a wide margin, but Rozier and Irving are much, much better on offense than he is. Gordon Hayward comes back. I am not a fan of his. I think he is wildly overrated. He is also a fan of the current "government", and a religious weirdo, so I am fully out on him. But, he is back. But, Jayson Tatum played fantastically in his absence, he is younger and he is not coming off a devastating injury. Who will Stevens go with in crunch time? Will he pick the kid he recruited in high school and coached at Butler, Hayward, or will he go with the younger and more crowd pleasing Tatum? That will be a tough call for him. Jaylen Brown is easily the most athletic guy on this team. He can also shoot the three. He also plays defense. The fact that people don't mention him that much when they talk about this team blows my mind. He has future all star written all over him. He is also, without a doubt, the best 3 they have on the roster. No one else is even close. Al Horford is probably the smartest player in the NBA. He may be boring, but he is exactly who the young players need. He makes the right decision every time. He knows exactly where to be and when. He is a great interior defender. He made Joel Embiid vanish in the playoff last year. Horford is great, but he is older. That is why I love that they took Robert Williams in the second round. He will greatly benefit from learning from Horford. I also love that Semi Ojeleye is learning from him too. Honestly, Ojeleye is a younger, and stronger, version of him. Marcus Morris is a great vet, but I kind of feel like he will get lost in the shuffle of the amount of talent on this team. Aron Baynes is strictly there for toughness and nothing else. And Daniel Thies is a pure scorer off the bench. The Celtics have loads and loads of talent. They are also a popular team to take over the East. I want to see how Stevens creates time for all these players. He proved me very wrong last year, and I expect him to now. But, you never know. It will be interesting.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the final three. The NBA season is almost here people. Time to get excited.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's NFL Quick Hits: Week 6

Some real quick NFL hits again before I get back to my NBA countdown.

Blake Bortles will be the death of the Jags, and he is making me look like an idiot. The Chiefs-Patriots game was awesome and I hope we see them meet again. The Vikings, at least on defense, seem to be figuring it out. The Falcons and Bucs are both pretty awful on defense, but their game was exciting. The Texans, against their coach's best wishes, keep finding ways to win games, albeit ugly. The Rams proved they can win outside in the cold. The Cardinals and Colts have some pieces, but they are very far away from being competitive. The Raiders should be dreading the deal they gave Jon Gruden. The Ravens dominated the hapless Titans. The Bears may be a mirage. The Dolphins have already exceeded their win total I though they'd have. The AFC is still confusing, and the NFC is owned by the Rams.

The Steelers and Bengals played an okay game, but I do not think either is a real threat. I will let the Head Editor address the Bengals.

HE: I have lived in Cincinnati for 12 years. My first few days saw the first playoff appearance by the Bengals in a really long time. It was against the Steelers. It was in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh is now, and has always been a dirty squad. Carson Palmer had his knee shredded by a dirty Steeler player, the Bengals lost, and I really did not care because I had no history with my new hometown team.

Twelve years later and the Bengals broke my heart yesterday. They are better than that crap Steelers team, and they lost, at home, once again. There is no hope in Cincinnati because our football team lost to Pittsburgh again, and every fan in this town knew it would happen.

No other games matter this year. Cincinnati will win 8-11 games and get bounced out of the playoffs.

Probably by the Steelers.

Again.

The Bengals kill hope.

Ty and RD

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Pacers, Trailblazers, Jazz

As move to day 8 of my countdown we are in the cream of the crop. It kind of started yesterday, with the Nuggets starting out the top 10. But from here on out, all these teams have a shot to play the Warriors in the Finals. And by all these teams, I mean the teams in the East. The West teams are still good, possibly great, but lets not get it twisted, the Warriors are still the leaders. Lets get to it.

At number 9 I have the Indiana Pacers. Some writers have asked if last year was an anomaly, or if this is the new norm. I feel like this is the new norm for the Pacers. They have a star. They have a top 20, maybe even top 10 guy, in Victor Oladipo. He can create his own shot. He has a solid jumper. He is one of the best defenders in the league. He really came into his own last year, and all I see is his growth from here on out. He is a really, really good basketball player. He has some weapons around him too. I still think Myles Turner is going to break out. He is a true modern big man. He can protect the rim, he can rebound, he is enormous, and his jump shot is starting to fall. If he stays healthy, I feel like, second only to Brandon Ingram, he will have the biggest breakthrough. Domantas Sabonis showed those flashes that made him a lottery pick 2 years ago. While he doesn't pass like his dad, he is still a solid passer. He can also shoot the three. And, according to offseason reports, he has really bulked up, in a good way. He looks like a real threat as the third option on a perennial playoff team. I love that they got Tyreke Evans. He finally seemed to figure it out last year, and he became an instant offense guy. That is exactly what the Pacers need. Oh, and he actually tried on defense last year and he was okay. Evans was a low key great signing. They have Thad Young, and he is a perfectly capable backup big. Bojan Bogdanovic is another outside shooting threat. Darren Collison is a true point guard, and he is in a great situation for him as a player. Corey Joseph is a good backup at point guard. He has also played in many an important game. Doug McDermott is there, but he has been very blah as a pro. He has stuck around, but he has a real Jimmer Fredette feel to me. I really like Aaron Holiday as the point guard of the future. He is quick, shifty and is pass first. I loved that pick. I think this current iteration of the Pacers is going to be a headache for the East, and they will build on their success from last year. The Pacers are back.

At number 8 I have the Portland Trailblazers. This is, most likely, the last go round with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. They are a lethal, lethal back court scoring duo. They can put up tons and tons of points. Lillard is a legit super star. McCollum is a legit Robin. But, as the playoffs showed us last year, they are horrific defenders. They got owned by Jrue Holiday in the first round. They really need to work on that. But, both guys are good enough to outscore opponents, even in the West, and I think they will hover right around 50 wins. The rest of the roster is solid enough to work around their 2 stars. Evan Turner has never been the player many projected when he left college, but he is okay. He has a bit of a too high opinion of himself, and if he passed a bit more, that would be great. Meyers Leonard keeps getting in better and better shape, but he is still soft and cannot really stay on the court. He also doesn't have much of a jumper. I really like Al Faroq Aminu. He is a do it all player and I don't think he gets the credit he deserves. He is very important to this team. I'm still on the fence with Jusuf Nurkic. At times he looks great, then he looks slow and disinterested. They need him to fully engage. There was a time that he was considered more important than Nikola Jokic to the Nuggets. That guy needs to show up. Zach Collins looked like a possible bust early, but then he started to really play quality basketball. He is still super young, but he is talented, and I think he will only get better. They drafted Anfernee Simons, and while he is a project, I think a year or 2 playing behind and learning from Lillard will do him wonders. They signed both Seth Curry and Nik Stauskas for some outside shooting. Stauskas is a bust, I hate saying it because of Michigan, but he has not been a good pro. Curry is fine, but he is so often injured, you just cannot count on him. These signings were odd. And Mo Harkless is solid. The Trailblazers know what they have to do to win, and as long as Lillard and McCollum are cooking, which they are a lot, they will win 50 games as I said before.

My final team for the day, coming in at number 7, I have the Utah Jazz. I almost, almost put this team in my top 5. I love this team. I never thought that I would say that about the Jazz, but they are fun to watch. Donovan Mitchell is tremendous. He is already, very early in his career, a top 15 player, and he will soon be a top 10 guy. He is hyper athletic, can shoot, can create, plays defense and always wants to get better. He is an amazing basketball player. The Jazz got a gift when he fell to them at 13 in the draft last year. Rudy Gobert is the best defensive player in the NBA. He is nearly impossible to score on. He does pretty decent at switching. He is a tremendous rebounder. He is a great finisher. He can't shoot, but he doesn't have to. I hope he stays healthy all year. Ricky Rubio has finally found a great place to play. He isn't needed to score, he can spread the ball out and he can get under other point guard's skin. It is nice to see him having fun and playing free and loose. I didn't think Joe Ingles would be able to sustain his solid play, but he proved me very wrong. He is a great three point shooter and a very solid defender. Jae Crowder got away from Cleveland, and landing in Utah was exactly what he needed. Guys like Rubio can find him for the open three, Gobert opens the paint for him and Mitchell takes the defense's focus away from him. Thabo Sefolosha is there for his defense, and that is a good thing. Derrick Favors can still get buckets. Dante Exum, while never living up to the hype, is a serviceable back up point guard, if healthy. Alec Burks is a pure scorer. The only thing I dislike about this team is Grayson freaking Allen. That kid is a punk, and I am so mad that a team I enjoy watching drafted him. He won't play any meaning minutes, but that won't stop ESPN from talking about him. This is Donovan Mitchell's team, and that is so wonderful. The Jazz are a good and fun team to watch, and the West should be afraid of this team. They are coming and they are young and they are good.

That's it for today. Come back next week. That is the best of the best.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Wizards, Spurs, Pelicans

As promised yesterday, from here on out, the rest of my teams are playoff teams. Some of today's teams are train wrecks, but they play in the East, so they have an easy route. Others on today's list have fallen due to injury or loss of star players. And the other, this may be their last shot to make an impression on their lone star player, and try to get him to stay. Time will tell. Anyway, lets get to it.

At number 15 I have my train wreck team, the Washington Wizards. First things first, I hope they change their name back to the Bullets. I know it has bad connotations, but the symbol was cool, and it isn't nearly as bad as some other team names in pro sports. As far as this roster, it is talented and it is wild. It may be one of the oddest group of players I have seen. These guys all seem to hate one another, but they don't have to hang out outside a basketball court, and if they buy in while on the floor, they can make it to the playoffs. I love John Wall. I know that his teammates may not like him, but I think he is great. He is fast and can get to the hoop. Yes, he has gained some weight this offseason, but I am one of the people who believes the stories about this being muscle, not fat. Star players always do something in the offseason to make them better, and Wall decided to put on muscle to play in the post. I fully buy that. Wall is good and will continue to be good. His teammates, as I said, may not like him, but they need him. Bradley Beal is one of the guys that doesn't seem to like him. But, Beal is an awesome young player that needs a guard like Wall to get him open shots. When Beal is on, boy is he good. He can score in bunches. He may not be a very good defender, but he is the type of player where I will take the scoring over the defense. He is such a pure shooter. From here on out, this roster gets wild. They traded for Austin Rivers. I am a big time hater of Austin Rivers. I do not think he is a good NBA player. But, he has had a mediocre career, which is better than I thought he would do. He does have one, maybe 2 nights a year, where he just explodes. But, he is super tough to play with, and a lot of people say he isn't fun to be in a locker room with. That spells doom for me. They also signed Dwight Howard. Why? I mean, his track record speaks for itself. He may play well with a guard like Wall, but he is already hurt. And, he is a locker room problem. Otto Porter Jr deserves better than this. I think he is one of the more underrated NBA players. The guy can score and play defense. He is good, but no one knows because of the toxic nature in DC. The same thing can be said for Kelly Oubre, but he isn't as good as Porter. He is the poor man's Porter. He also needs more playing time. The Wizards also fell for the Jeff Green experiment. This dude continues to stay in the league, and I don't know how. He is hyper athletic, but he is wildly inconsistent. Markieff Morris is there, but I'd rather have Marcus Morris of the twins. And then there is Ian Mahinmi. He might be the most overpaid player in the NBA. He makes Gorgui Dieng's contract look manageable. The Wizards have talent, but they are very toxic. They will make the playoffs, and maybe even win a round because Wall and Beal are so good, but this team is going to be drama filled all season long.

At number 14 I have the San Antonio Spurs. Now, it needs to be said, the Spurs were in my top 10 2 days ago. Then the Dejounte Murray injury happened. He was the new point guard to lead this team. He was ready. He waited his turn, and now he is out for the year. That is going to hurt them. What helps them, they have LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan and the best NBA coach ever, Greg Poppovich. He will get this team to 45-48 wins. He did it last year, and Kawhi was hurt, Ginobli was a million years old, as was Pau Gasol and Tony Parker. While the Murray injury is a blow, they have guys that can step in for one year. As I mentioned, Aldridge was so much better last year than his first with the team. He was an All Star. His jumper came back. He was rebounding at a solid clip. This is his team now, and I think that is good for him. They traded Kawhi Leonard, they had to, but they replaced him with DeRozan. DeRozan is nowhere near the defender that Kawhi is, but no one is the defender that Kawhi is. DeRozan can also get buckets. He will also be out there to prove people wrong that he isn't a star level player. I like that DeRozan. He now has a chip on his shoulder. Patty Mills will be the most likely replacement for Murray and while he isn't Murray, he has been in big games, played big minutes and is the perfect Spurs player. Lonnie Walker, who I love, is hurt right now,  but when he gets back, I think he will play real well. This was the perfect situation for him to be placed in, and as soon as he gets back from injury I want to see him play. Pau Gasol is still in the league, but I look at him like a lesser version of Dirk, without the shooting touch. They brought back Marco Bellinelli, and his best playing days where his first go around with the Spurs. He can still shoot too. Rudy Gay is still strong and can get to the rim and has bought into the Spurs system. They got Jakob Poeltl in the Kawhi trade, along with DeRozan, and I think he will be a fine back up center. I also like Derrick White's athleticism. This team will step back, they were bound to. They also lost Kawhi, Ginobli and Tony Parker. This was bound to happen. And losing Murray is a real bummer. But as long as Poppovich is coaching this team, I will continue to put them in the playoffs, even in the West.

My final team for the day, the team that needs to really show out to keep their star, I have the New Orleans Pelicans. This may, most likely be, Anthony Davis' last year with the Pelicans. I don't want it to be, but he has signed with LeBron's agency, he wants to play in a bigger market and he wants to be more recognized by the casual basketball fan. I hope he pulls a Russell Westbrook and sticks around, but I don't think he will. He is probably the best center in the league. He is the most athletic. He can score from anywhere. He is one of the best defenders in the league. Davis is an MVP level super star. He is all the Pelicans have. And that is not a knock to the roster, he is just so much better than everyone else on that team by a billion miles. That being said, I like Jrue Holiday. He absolutely owned both CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard in the playoffs last year. He shut them down. He can score if need be. He is a great distributor. Holiday is a real good point guard, as long as he is healthy. Nikola Mirotic was a surprise solid addition to this team last year. He was that outside threat they needed. Solomon Hill is a bull dog defender and rebounder. He is the Pelicans James Johnson. They made some signings this year that like too. Julius Randle at the price they got him for was great. He will also want to show out so he can get a bigger contract. I also think him getting out of LA will benefit him majorly. They took on Elfrid Payton, and I think him backing up Holiday, or playing point while Holiday is the 2 will cause some problems for opposing teams. Payton hasn't lived up to his draft position, but maybe playing with Holiday and Davis will help him out. They also took a chance on Jahlil Okafor. They got all these guys for cheap, and if one hits, it could possibly sway Davis. This is Okafor's last shot I feel, and he is already hurt, but when he comes back, he brings an element to the low post, on offense, that will greatly benefit Davis' ability to step out. E'Twaunn Moore is a solid 7th or 8th man. Chieck Diallo could possibly break out and be the instant energy guy they could so sorely use. The Pelicans have an okay roster that is bolted down by a mega star, Davis, and a smaller level star, Holiday. Everyone else is a role player. I think this will be Davis' last year there, again, I hope not, and I think they will try and go out with a bang. They will be a playoff team, and they will be a tough out.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams. We are nearing the top 10.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Clippers, Timberwolves, Heat

As we move into day 5 of my NBA countdown, we finally get our first playoff team, and it isn't even a West team. The West is going to be heavily featured from here on out, but my first playoff team is from the East.

Coming in at number 18 I have the Los Angeles Clippers. Congratulations on, definitely now, being back to being the second, or maybe even third team, that anyone even talks about in LA or California. The Clippers are a shell of what was once the incredibly overrated "Lob City". None of those guys remain. They are all on new teams. They also got rid of Austin Rivers, which I think was one of their better moves in a long, long time. But, what is left over, I am not sold on. I do really like Shai Gilgeous Alexander. That kid became the face of the Kentucky team by the middle of the season, and he ran with it all the way to being a lottery pick. He has also looked good in preseason, and crushed summer league. He should be the point guard on opening night. But, they will roll out Patrick Beverly instead. I know that Beverly is a great and annoying defender, can run a team and doesn't need to shoot all the time. But, he is coming off some big time injuries, doesn't need to shoot because he can't really shoot and is old in NBA terms. If the over under until Danilo Gallinari gets hurt is 20 games, I'd take the under. That dude always gets hurt. Tobias Harris is a fine player, and has shown flashes of being a capable third or fourth option on a playoff team, but the Clippers are hoping he is their "guy". They replaced Deandre Jordan with Marcin Gortat, but what can he really do anymore than set a screen. He may not have liked John Wall personally, but he is going to miss him dearly when he is out there with Beverly or Milos Teodosic. As with Teodosic, he is old and will get hurt very quick too. Boban Marjanovic is their other option at center, but he is more known for his size than his game. He is the modern Gheorge Muresean. Lou Williams can score in bunches, but it won't matter for this team because they will not be playing for anything important after All Star break. I bet he gets traded. They resigned Avery Bradley, and while he was once a very good three and D guy, I think that was a one season deal. He has never played that well, and he is now coming off multiple injuries. Montrez Harrell is another option at the 5, but he is too plodding to face up against the top centers in the league. They also signed Luc Mbah AMoute, but he will not do for them what he did in Houston last season. The Clippers are back to being also rans. Maybe they will be able to lure Kawhi or Jimmy Butler, but that will not happen until next offseason. For now, they are a 38-40 win team at best.

At number 17 I have the Minnesota Timberwolves. Now, a lot of this depends on the whole Jimmy Butler thing. If he were to stay, as I think he should, they would be higher in my rankings. But, he has openly demanded a trade on way more than one occasion. That is why they are just outside of the playoffs for me. He will most likely get traded, I have heard that talks have been heating up, but if he doesn't, I still think, especially in the West, there are 8 better teams. And, who's to say that, if he stays, Butler would be fully engaged? He may tank just to get traded. As far as the rest of the roster, I love KAT. I think he is a great modern center. He can score from inside and out. He is a solid rebounder. He can score against the best of the best. But, he struggles defensively. Some of that is him, some of that is the coaching staff. He gets put in bad situations far too much due to their defensive scheme. Andrew Wiggins is one of the most bashed upon players in the league. I think he is okay, but others just seem to really dislike him. I think he is a very good slasher. I like his jump shot. I think he plays hard. But, just like KAT, he has not been able to play defense at any kind of level in the NBA. He is far too often on highlight reels for the wrong reason. I like both rookies they took, Keita Bates-Diop has looked great so far, and Josh Okogie is the point guard of the future. But, this staff will not play them enough. Thibs would rather play guys like Derrick Rose, he's washed, Luol Deng, I forgot he was in the league, Taj Gibson, who is okay, but real old and slow and Jeff Teague, who seems to hate playing in Minnesota and playing for Thibs. Thibs runs these guys into the ground for no reason. He is also taking on his former players about 5 years too late. Tyus Jones is okay, but he is much more suited for a back up role on a contender. And then there is the albatross that is the Gorgui Dieng contract. While this guy can play a little D and is an okay rebounder, he is making way too much money for a guy that cannot stay on the floor for more than 10 minutes a night. There is a reason they are trying to add him in the Butler trade talks. The Timberwolves are a mess right now. They finally broke their playoff drought last year, but now, they have so many problems, I just do not see them making a return, even if Butler sticks around for one more year.

My final team for the day, my first playoff team, coming in at number 16 I have the Miami Heat. Again, Jimmy Butler has a lot to do with this team, but I am going to judge them on my countdown as if he is not on this team because he isn't at the moment. I like the roster here, but they just don't have the guys to be any higher than this on my list. They have players, but they are mid level at their positions. I like Goran Dragic. I think he is a solid point guard. He is just fine running this offense. But, he is probably around the 10th best point guard in the league. Dwayne Wade is on his retirement tour all year. He will get a ton of the attention, and it is well deserved, he is a sure fire first ballot hall of famer. But, he is not the guy he was the first time around in Miami. Hasan Whiteside should be a top 5 enter in the league, but the dude has some issues. First off, he cannot shoot free throws and his jumper in nonexistent. What he does great is rebound and defend. But, he is too prone to getting into scuffles on and off the court, and he just isn't totally reliable. I like Whiteside's game, I just wish he didn't let the little things bother him. Justise Winslow can defend and can get to the hoop. But, he gets hurt far too much, and his jump shot has not looked good since he was drafted. He also may be traded at some point. Josh Richardson is a fine outside shooter. He's not too flashy, but the dude can fill it up if he needs to. Dion Waiters is coming off an ACL injury, and at his age, that may be the end. He won't admit it, he probably still thinks he is the best 2 guard in the league, but he is not, and I like Dion Waiters. I'm sure the Heat are regretting giving Tyler Johnson the contract the gave him 2 years ago. While he is a fine player, they over paid for him, and he has just not lived up to the money. I really like the high flying Derrick Jones Jr. All he needs is some playing time, and I think the Heat will give it to him. Watch out for this kid. He has been biding his time, and I feel like he is going to explode soon. James Johnson is a bad dude. He is big and mean and tough and I adore watching him play. He isn't anywhere near the best at his position, but I bet every star that has to go up against him dreads it. I think, especially with the uncertainty that Whiteside brings, that Bam Adebayo can be their center of the future, if he doesn't get traded. He has good feet, a nice touch around the rim and can rebound and defend his spot. Outside of those guys the rest of the roster is pretty blah. But, what makes the Heat a playoff team to me is Erik Spoelstra. He has a group of guys that know what they can and can't do, and he squeezes the most out of them that he can get. Spoelstra may be the most underrated coach in the league right now. The Heat will make the playoffs because of guys like James Johnson, Bam, Goran Dragic and Derrick Jones Jr. But, they will mainly make it because of the coaching job that Erik Spolestra does every year.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three. It is all playoff teams from here on out.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Cavaliers, Mavericks, Grizzlies

Lets get back to the NBA.

At number 21 I have the Cleveland Cavaliers. Whenever you lose a player like LeBron James, you are going to take a tumble. With that being said, I don't think they will be as bad as some think, but I still think they will miss the playoffs. They decided to give Kevin Love the mega extension, and they are making him the face of the team now, but we have seen this movie before, and it is mediocre. The Timberwolves did the exact same thing, and they never made the playoffs. Kevin Love put up numbers, which I fully expect him to again, but he is not a guy to build a team around. George Hill is only getting older, and his shooting and point guard play in general, is getting worse. They drafted his replacement, Collin Sexton, and I hope he takes over very soon. Sexton was my favorite player in the draft last year, I pined for him to go first overall, and I think he will be a star. He has the potential to be this year's Donovan Mitchell. I love Collin Sexton. Tristan Thompson is a scum bag as a person and a mediocre, over paid big. He also said some dumb ass stuff at media day. JR Smith is still there, and still making odd headlines. He was talked about more for being shirtless and getting a tattoo on his calf than anything about his game. He may be done. Jordan Clarkson became a shell of himself when he was traded there. Kyle Korver is somehow still in the NBA. Larry Nance Jr is going to be wasted on this team, playing behind Love. They resigned Channing Frye for some unknown reason. Rodney Hood is in a make or break year, and I would bet dollars to donuts he gets hurt. And Cedi Osman will not get the playing time he needs and deserves. Like I said, we have seen the highest a Kevin Love led team can do, and that is win 41 games. The Cavs are going to take a big step back.

At number 20, I have the Dallas Mavericks. Now, I think the Mavs will be better, but the people picking them to fight for a playoff spot, in the West, need to chill out. Look, I love Luka Doncic as much as anyone. I think he will end up being one of the better players in the draft. I feel like he is the most NBA ready player. He has been playing pro ball overseas for a few years now. But, he is still a rookie, he is still 19 and he still needs to get in shape. Give him time. Dirk Nowitzki is on the team he can still score, but he is old, plays no defense, cannot jump and cannot really run. His roster spot is simply because he is a legend in Dallas. They finally got Deandre Jordan, but it is about 3 years too late. He is still a solid rim runner and defender, but he brings nothing else, at all, to the team. Dennis Smith Jr is a budding star. He and Doncic can become one of the best back courts in the NBA. He is hyper athletic. He can get to the rim with ease. He is a hard defender. His jumper will get better. I love Dennis Smith Jr. Harrison Barnes is who he is. He is a 13-15 point a night guy. He will play solid defense. He will do what is asked of him. But, he is not the star we all thought he could be. He is an okay NBA player, but not a star, not a franchise builder. JJ Barea is on the team, but I think that is simply because he and Dirk are buddies. They also drafted Jalen Brunson, but Doncic is a much better player at the same position. Wes Matthews still hasn't fully recovered from his ACL injury, and you can tell when you watch him play. He was so great, but in a flash, he lost that athletic ability that separated him while he was in Portland. Outside of those guys, it is a bunch of youngsters and old vets. Devin Harris is still on this team. They drafted Giannis' younger brother. And they have no one else of note. The Mavericks, with Doncic and Smith Jr, will be good soon, but they are not ready yet, especially in the West.

My final team for the day, at number 19, I have the Memphis Grizzlies. This is another team, just like the Mavs, that are getting possible playoff buzz in the West. That all depends on the health of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. I don't have any faith that both can stay healthy. They will try, but one or both, will eventually get hurt. Conley is a great point guard, but he is older, not as bouncy and coming off an injury. Gasol is a great modern big, but he to is older and coming off a bad injury. He also doesn't get along with some upper office people. I think Jaren Jackson will be great, and the city will love him. He plays hard, can play defense, can shoot and play in the low post. They need to build around this kid for sure. But, just like Doncic, he is only 19, it will take some time. Chandler Parsons will get hurt. I do not care that he looks healthy now, he will get hurt. I really like the pick of Jevon Carter. He is the heir apparent to Conley, but Carter, in NBA terms, is old. He is already 22. But, he is the perfect fit for the city They signed Kyle Anderson away from San Antonio, and while I don't think he will be as bad as others to leave the Spurs, but I don't think he will play as they are expecting. He will do fine, but he is not the instant offense guy they need. JaMychal Green is in a contract year, but he hasn't really translated his game to modern NBA. Dillon Brooks had a solid rookie year, but he was just solid. H doesn't do much wrong, but he also isn't spectacular. I like Ivan Raab on this team, but he won't get the playing time he needs. And they signed Garrett Temple, who couldn't get on the floor with the Kings last year. The Grizzlies, just like the Mavs, will be good soon, once they turn the team over to Carter and Jackson, but it will take some time. I like this team, but their stars, Conley and Gasol, are old, and they cannot stay healthy. I wouldn't be shocked if both are on different teams before this season ends.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next 3 teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's NFL Quick Hits: Week 5

Before I get back to my NBA countdown, I have some very quick takes on week 5 of the NFL. The Rams are still the best team. The Chiefs may be just as good. The Packers are struggling. The Titans and Ravens may be frauds. The Bengals look legit, sorry RD. The Steelers looked for real. The Falcons are toast. The Patriots are back. The Bills are bad, but maybe not horrible. And the Browns have doubled Hue Jackson's win total as a head coach in 5 games. Things are still very murky, with the Rams and Chiefs the lone exceptions. Also, Jacksonville needs a new QB, and they need one now. One more thing, can the Cowboys finally fire Jason Garrett? He is a terrible head coach.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Knicks, Pistons, Hornets

On to day 3 of my NBA countdown. We are getting ever closer to teams that are better than the lottery, but not quite there yet. Some have star players, but they are often injured. Others have been in the playoffs recently, but they just don't have the goods anymore. Okay, lets get to it.

At number 24 I have the New York Knicks. Look, I am a big time fan of them letting Phil Jackson and Jeff Hornacek go, and I love that they hired a coach like David Fizdale. I was also super, super impressed with Kevin Knox in summer league. But, this team is still a ways away from being a playoff team. I have seen some writers pick them to go to the playoffs, but that talk  needs to ease off. The majority of their success all depends on the health of Kristaps Porzingis. And, while I love the way he plays basketball, he is the second best unicorn behind Giannis Antentokoumpo, he has not been able to stay healthy at all during his short career. If the Knicks want to be a playoff contender, they need Porzingis. Outside of him, I like some of the youth they have. Knox, as I already mentioned, really surprised me in summer league. Maybe he is more Devin Booker and less Nerlens Noel. Maybe not being coached by John Calipari will make him that much better. I really like Frank Nkilitina. He already defends at a high level, he is a pass first point guard, and he is very tall for his position. I think Mitchell Robinson can be one of the steals of the draft. I had him as a first round talent, but he fell to them in the second, and the Knicks need a big guy, and he played pretty well in the offseason. After that, it gets iffy. I am a Tim Hardaway Jr fan, mainly because he went to Michigan. But, he is nothing more than a shooter. That's where it begins and ends. Courtney Lee needs to be let free. He belongs on a contender, not as a third option. Trey Burke, another Michigan guy, has bounced from team to team, and finally played okay after a stint in the G League. But, was that a mirage, or a sign of things to come? I don't know. He has never really put it together for one full season. Ron Baker is somehow a player on this team. They signed Mario Hezonja, but who cares. He is who he is, which is a mediocre NBA player. And Enes Kanter and Noah Vonleh has little skills. Kanter can score, but he does nothing else. He is the big man's Ryan Anderson. And this has to be Vonleh's last shot. He has been a bust. I believe that Fizdale will turn this team around, but it won't happen right away. It is going to take some time, and some better players.

At number 23 I have the Detroit Pistons. I mean, how can a team with Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson not be in the playoffs? Especially in the East? Drummond is a very, very good big man, and he has improved his free throw shooting, but he isn't translating into the modern big I hoped he would. I like Drummond a lot, but the Pistons might need to move on. Blake Griffin is still one of the most overrated players in the NBA. I love that people still think he can be the best player on a contender. He is oft injured, cannot shoot an outside shot, no matter what Bill Simmons says, he's a mediocre rebounder and he doesn't have the athleticism that he once had. Griffin is done being a top 20 player. Reggie Jackson got what he wanted when the Pistons gave him a huge deal, but since then, he has been mediocre at best. He is a below average shooter, a ball stopper and not a very good defender. He is not elite. He is getting paid far too much. Stanley Johnson has one more chance to be the player the Pistons thought when they took him in the lottery. He is good at talking shit, but he hasn't been able to back it up. He should be figuring it out, but he hasn't yet. For some reason this team signed both ZaZa Pachulia and Jose Calderon. I just don't get that at all. Luke Kennard is the new Jimmer Fredette. Henry Ellenson is the new Chris Kaman, except he will never be an All Star. I guess he is more like late career Kaman. Ish Smith is their version of Jamal Crawford, except not as good. They signed Glenn Robinson III, but he is the classic example of a player that should have stayed in school one more year. This is a team of former stars, guys that should be stars nd cast offs. They will not sniff the playoffs. Griffin will get hurt, Drummond won't get the touched he needs, Jackson will think he is the number one option, and every other player is blah.

My final team of the day, at number 22, I have the Charlotte Hornets. I so thought this team was going to be a perennial playoff team 2 years back. I was certain they would not only be a playoff team, but they would be a 4 or 5 seed regularly. But, that didn't happen, and I do not know if they are taking the right steps to get back to the playoffs. Kemba Walker is a star. He is one of my favorite players. He is a great scorer. He plays defense. He plays hard. He is a good dude. He deserves better than this. They signed Tony Parker as his back up, but why? He is washed, and I swore he was going to retire. It is so weird to see him in a uniform that doesn't have Spurs across the chest. Nic Batum is on the back end of his career. He is still a solid all around player, but he gets hurt a lot, and he seems like he cannot play more than 20-25 minutes a night anymore. They drafted Miles Bridges in the lottery, and while I think he is a fine player, he did not make that jump from his freshman to sophomore year in college, and that is worrisome to me. Malik Monk never really went off last year like he did at Kentucky, but he is too good a scorer for me to give up on yet. He should take a leap this year. If he doesn't, that could spell trouble for the Hornets. Michael Kidd Gilchrist is a very good defender, but he is way too injured and cannot shoot from the outside, He hasn't put it together. Jeremy Lamb is toast. He has a sweet stroke, but he cannot get open, cannot get to the basket and isn't very good on defense. Cody Zeller is somehow still in the league, and a starter. That is wild. Frank Kaminsky is very blah. Marvin Williams is still a good athlete, but that's about it. Dwayne Bacon can still be solid, if he goes hard every night. I'm not giving up on him yet. And they now have Bismack Biyombo. He cashed in on one really good playoff round a few years back, but he hasn't done much since. He can rebound with the best of them, but that is all he can do. The Hornets should be better, but they just aren't. Hopefully they find a way to get Walker back to the playoffs, or on a playoff team. That is what he deserves.

That's it for today. Come back next week for some teams that will fight, and be, in the playoffs.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Nets, Bulls, Suns

On to day 2 of my NBA countdown. We are still at the bottom of the barrel, but a few of these teams today I think could be kind of fun to watch. They will not win many games, but they will produce highlights, and I will enjoy watching one of these teams for sure. Lets get to it.

At number 27 I have the Brooklyn Nets. This team is still getting hammered by the trade they made with the Celtics years ago. They gave up so many high picks at the chance of getting a title with an old Paul Pierce, and an old and injured Kevin Garnett. They still haven't recovered from that horrific trade. They also gave Joe Johnson an absurd amount of money, and risked a ton of young talent when they signed Deron Williams to a huge deal. They have made bad mistakes, and they are really paying for it now. When I look at the current roster, and while there are some players I like, they are not a well constructed team, and they will not win many games. I love Caris Levert. He played at Michigan. I got to see his talent for 4 years. But, he is oft injured, just like he was in college, and he just cannot seem to stay on the court. Jarrett Allen is a good big man to build around, but I have heard and read things saying that basketball isn't the most important thing in his life. They signed Allen Crabbe, but his best days are behind him. There is a reason the Nets, and no one else offered him much. DeMarre Carroll had one great year in Atlanta, turned that into a big deal in Toronto, and then they offloaded him to the Nets, where he has majorly regressed. Spencer Dinwiddie is quietly a good player, and I hope he gets traded to a team that is in contention that needs a player like him. Kenneth Faried is there now, and while I used to bang the drum for him as a player, he has never really been more than a high motor guy. Rondae Hollis Jefferson is their best player, and if he and Levert and Dinwiddie could get some solid vets, maybe this team could push for a 7 or 8 seed in the East. Until then though, the Nets are bound to stay in this purgatory that they created. This team is still a long way away from being a playoff contender. Hell, they have a way to go to push for 35 wins.

At number 26 I have the Chicago Bulls. I will be the first to admit that I was completely wrong on Lauri Markanen. That kid played so much better in his rookie year than he did in his one season at Arizona. He stepped out and hit threes, went to the rim and played well in the post. But, he is still pretty awful on defense, and he needs to put on muscle. Kris Dunn played better with the change of scenery, but he was not a top point guard by any stretch. He was a guy I believed in coming into the league, but it just hasn't translated. Cristiano Felicio needs to get in shape and if he does, I think he could be okay. But, he is just soft right now. The decrepit remains of Omer Asik is there now. How is that dude still in the league? Justin Holiday is a solid shooter, and he plays hard, but he is just a mid to lower level guard in the NBA. They signed Jabari Parker, and while he can score, he plays no defense, doesn't rebound, isn't a very good passer and has 2 torn ACL's. Bobby Portis' game has not equaled success in the NBA. He is more known for beating the shit out of Nikola Mirotic than anything he has ever done on an NBA floor. Denzel Valentine is a bust. Cam Payne is a bust, who should be in the G League. And they gave Zach Lavine a near max contract. Why? What has he done to earn that? Isn't he pretty much the exact same player as Aaron Gordon? They are both hyper athletic dunkers, but that is it. He is also just one year removed from a torn ACL. The Bulls are not good, but with all the shade I just threw at them, I think, if they can stay moderately healthy, they might be fun to watch. Lavine is a highlight reel dunker, I love Wendell Carter, who they drafted in one of their smarter draft choices, Markanen is a solid modern big and Kris Dunn is a bull dog. I will watch them the rare occasion they are on TV. But, they will not win many games.

My final team of the day, coming in at number 25, is my new favorite team, the Phoenix Suns. This team will not win more than 25-30 games. They are too young, too inconsistent and not ready for primetime, especially in the West. But man oh man will they run up and down the floor, score a ton of points and are super, super athletic. I love Deandre Ayton. I am fully buying in on him. Once he gets an okay jumper, he will be a terror. He is already great in the post. He can rebound, he can protect the rim and he has great footwork for a big man. He looks like he is going to be real good real soon. Devin Booker, who I know is recovering from wrist surgery, is already an elite level scorer. The kid can shoot from anywhere. You don't score 70 points in one game if you aren't elite. He can handle the ball as well. He doesn't play great defense, but he more than makes up for that with his offensive ability. He is one of the best young scorers in the game. I love the signing of Trevor Ariza. They need that veteran that has been to the highest of heights in the NBA. He is also a knock down shooter, plays solid defense and will be a great mentor for the young guys on the team. I'm not crazy about the addition of Ryan Anderson, that guy can only shoot threes, other than that he is useless. Tyson Chandler, who is one of my all time favorite players, is still there, but he is more so in the Garnett role when he went back to Minnesota at the end of his career. He is there to help out the young guys, and if he retires at the end of the year, I wouldn't be shocked if he immediately becomes a bench coach for the Suns. I love in the Anderson trade they also acquired DeAnthony Melton. This team is lacking a true point guard, and even though he is a rookie, he was a first round talent that fell to the second round. He plays solid defense, and he should start on opening night for this team. Josh Jackson is now the hands down 4 on the team. The Suns got rid of both Alex Len and Marquiss Chriss, and I think this will only benefit Jackson's development. He can already play solid defense, is hyper athletic, but he cannot shoot. He needs to figure that out. And I really like TJ Warren. He plays hard every night, and the dude is good. I also think Dragan Bender can still be decent, but he has to prove it this year, or I'm out on him. I also like Darrell Arthur for toughness and rebounding. The Suns are building something special I think, it will just a few more years. They will not win much this year, but they may be the most fun team to watch, outside of Golden State. They have a ton of young, bouncy talent. They also have a super star in the making in Devin Booker. And if Ayton hits like I think he will, they will be a dynamic one two punch. The Suns aren't great now, but they are on their way.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

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Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Hawks, Kings, Magic

I was flipping through channels the other night and I came across a preseason NBA game. I watched for a bit, then I realized, holy cow, the NBA regular season is going to start soon. I was kind of shocked to be honest with you. I am fully in on football right now, the MLB playoffs are going on right now, and then pow, NBA season is getting ready to start, and college basketball practice has begun. So, as I have done since the invention of the website, I'm going to do my preseason NBA countdown. I'll go from worst to best, giving three teams a day. I'll do a short few sentences on why I have them ranked where I do, and if they have any shot at all at winning the title. After the countdown, I will do a postseason and awards predictions, and the following day, I will do my NCAA men's basketball preview. So buckle up, the next 12 days will be, with the occasional NFL quick hits or a movie or music review sprinkled in here and there, will be all basketball. Enough preamble, lets get to the rankings.

Coming in at number 30, dead last, I have the Atlanta Hawks. This team won 60 plus games a few seasons back. This team was a playoff team 2 years ago. Then, they traded Kyle Korver, Pau Milsap, Jeff Teague, pretty much everyone that was important to them. Then this offseason, they offloaded more talent. This team is in full on rebuild mode. They even, much to his delight I'm sure, let Mike Budenholzer go. When I look at their roster now, it has a bunch of retreads and rookies. What I do like about this team though, they have Taurean Prince, who is wildly underrated, and John Collins, who has the looks to be a very good modern big man. After that though, it gets rough. Vince Carter is there, and he is looking ever bit the 40 year old he is. Good on him though that he is still out there. Jeremy Lin is on this team now. I wanted Lin to be great after what he did as a Knick, but he cannot stay healthy and he is wildly inconsistent. Kent Bazemore is no more than a trade chip for a younger player or a pick. He will most certainly be a salary dump at some point. Alex Len was traded there, and he has been a total bust. Thomas Robinson, a former fourth overall pick in the draft, is back from the G League, and he will probably get big minutes on this team. Dewayne Dedmon left the Spurs for this team, and he has not been the same player. They drafted Kevin Huerter, who is a big time project, that will take a few years to develop, and Trae Young. They traded Luka Doncic for Young in fact. I think they will regret that. Young has a ton of pressure to score in bunches, and if summer league and the preseason are any indication, he is going to struggle. The Hawks are going to be real, real bad. I do not expect them to win 20 games. They will most certainly get a lottery pick next year. They have zero chance of making the playoffs, let alone the Finals.

At number 29, and this was a real tough choice to put them ahead of the Hawks, I have the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are the most moribund NBA franchise. This team is so, so , so bad. And they have been for a long time now. The days of Chris Webber and Vlade Divac and Jason Williams and Mike Bibby seem like forever ago. And when I look at their roster, I just do not see them being any better this year. They took Marvin Bagley number 2 overall this past draft, and he has bust written all over him. He is long and lanky and athletic, but he is way too skinny, doesn't like contact and his jumper is not a threat. All that can change, but he has not looked great in preseason and summer league. He should have dominated both, and he just hasn't. I hope he gets better, because he is so athletic, but I just don't see it, especially in the Kings culture. I love DeAron Fox. He is the only player on this team that I think is a real, legit future NBA star. He is fast, can score, can find the open man and play defense. He is too good a player to be on the Kings. He deserves so much better. I feel for him. Willy Cauley Stein has never developed into the rim runner and rim protector that some thought he could be coming out of Kentucky. His best highlight since he has been in the NBA is a missed dunk attempt. While it looked cool, that shouldn't be your career highlight. Imam Shumpert is there, but he was washed about 3 years ago. Harry Giles is still a work in progress, and who knows when, or if, he will get hurt again. He did show flashes in summer league. Ben McLemore is back, but I am done defending him as a player. He is not a very good NBA basketball player. Yogi Ferrell is here, but so what. Skal Labissiere is on the team, but that kid wasn't great in his one year at Kentucky, and that was just a sign of what was to come. I loved Buddy Hield in college, and I have stomped and yelled about how he was going to be great, but he hasn't been. He has gotten lost in the shuffle, and his scoring has not made it to the NBA level. Zach Randolph is the Vince Carter of the Kings. Frank Mason is a fine backup, but the Kings play him far too much. The rest of the roster is just blah. The Kings are a bad team with a bad culture. They have gotten used to losing, and that should not be the case. As I stated before, I fell for DeAron Fox. He should be the starting point guard on a team that has a winning record and in playoff contention. The rest of the Kings roster, I just don't care about enough.

My final team for today, at number 28, I have the Orlando Magic. This team reminds me a lot of the Kings, in the same sense that they are forever rebuilding. They haven't been relevant since Dwight Howard was their center. They seem to pop up from time to time as a supposed "sleeper" team, and then they shit the bed. The Magic are not good. They just gave Aaron Gordon an inordinate amount of money, and while I love his freakishly athletic dunking, that is all he does. He isn't a great shooter, rebounder or defender. Yet the Magic seem to think he is the guy to build around. That doesn't make much sense to me. Nikola Vucevic is clearly a good stats bad team guy. Evan Fournier is known much more for his hair than his game. He is the French version of Jeremy Lin. Johnathan Issac didn't look great last year, but early reports about him from this season say he has bulked up and his game has improved. We just haven't seen it yet because he didn't play in summer league and I have not seen him in any preseason action. DJ Augustin is somehow still in the league, and he is on the Magic. So what. Johnathom Simmons is exactly like Dewayne Dedmon. He left the Spurs and he is not as productive on a different team. They signed Timofey Mozgov. Why? Why is he still in the league? Terrance Ross is hyper athletic, and can dunk the shit out of the ball, but they already have Aaton Gordon to do that. And they drafted Mo Bamba. I love Bamba, but he is going to take some time to develop. This team needs a ton of help. I do think Bamba can be their center of the future, but they will have to be patient. Gordon is a fine power forward, but he isn't an All Star caliber player. They don't have a real point guard. They don't have a real 2 guard. They don't have a real small forward. I mean, who on this team can guard LeBron or KD or Steph or Klay or Kyrie Irving or Ben Simmons or Jeol Embiid or James Harden or Kawhi Leonard or, even a player like DeAron Fox. The Magic need a lot more help. Until then, they will be stuck in 20 win land and picking in the lottery again. That has now been the case for about a decade now.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The SeedSing 2018 MLB Playoff Preview

The MLB playoffs start tonight, and while I have admitted many, many times that I do not know much about the MLB, I'm going to go ahead and give my post season predictions. I will first start with the AL because I have a little more certainty about this side.

The A's and the Yankees face off in the Wild Card game. As much as I want to pick the A's, and as shocked as I am that they made it in the playoffs, I cannot pick against the Yankees. They have a great, home run hitting lineup, and they can get a pitcher to win one game if needed. The A's are a nice story, but their season ends in one game. I don't want it to, but the Yankees will win.

This will make the matchups Boston-New York and Cleveland-Houston. Boston has the best record in baseball by a wide margin. They have a great lineup and a great pitching staff. I know people are up in arms abut Chris Sale lately, and David Price hasn't been good in the post season, but they are a better team than the Yankees. These might be the 2 teams I despise most in baseball, but Boston is too good to screw this up. The games might be all very high scoring, but Boston will outscore the Yankees to death. Boston wins in 4. Cleveland faces the defending world champs, and a team that won 100 plus games this year. I still think the Astros are the overall best team in baseball, they have a tremendous lineup and a great, great pitching staff. But, and I don't know why I do this to myself, but I am going to go with Cleveland. It's going to be a 5 games series. The games will be close. The drama, for those that watch, will be intense. This could quite possibly be the best first round matchup. But, for as good as the Astros pitching staff is I think the Indians match it. And, the Indians can play small ball with the Astros. This is like 2 old NL teams facing each other. As I said though, in the end, I think the Indians will win in a tight, hard fought 5 games.

So, the ALCS will pit Boston against Cleveland. Terry Francona versus the team that let him go. And, just as he proved 2 years ago, I feel like he will outcoach, and his team will outplay, the team with the best record in baseball. Maybe this is my was of picking the A's, without picking them. I feel like Boston should win, and win handily, but there is just something about Francona going up against his old team. And in the playoffs, better pitching beats better hitting, and the Indians have a way better pitching staff. So, the Indians will be the ALCS champ and represent the AL in the World Series.

The NL is not so easy to pick. There are new, young teams and I cannot really get a hold of who will win. But, I'm going to try to pick anyway. In the Wild Card game, which is tonight actually, we have the Cubs and the Rockies. I look at this game the same as the AL Wild Card game. I want to pick the Rockies, but the Cubs are just a better, more seasoned playoff team. They have a better lineup, a better pitching staff, and I feel like, in a one game series, the team with better talent will win out. The Cubs are also getting healthy at the right time. While I will be rooting for the Rockies, the Cubs will win. That will set up the Cubs and Brewers and the Braves and Dodgers. The Cubs and Brewers are no strangers to each other. They are in the same division, they played an extra regular season game to get a division winner and the Brewers beat them. The Brewers are also peaking at the exact right time. But, as I said, the Cubs are getting back to full health, and they are the team that has been here before. It should go 5 games, and I want to pick the Brewers because that is the team of my father's youth, but I do not see the Brewers being able to pull it off. They remind me a lot of the Mariners team that won 114 games and got beat in the first round almost 20 years ago. Again, I will be rooting for the Brewers, but I have the Cubs winning in 5 games. The Braves and Dodgers is a whole different story. The Dodgers are the Yankees of the NL. They have all the glitz and glamour. They are the Hollywood team. They have the stars. They have the names. The Braves, well they remind me of the NL's version of the Indians, except younger. They are way ahead of schedule. They should still be rebuilding, but here they are. And you know what, with the way the Dodgers squeaked in, I'm going to go with the Braves. Something crazy always happens in the MLB playoffs, and I'm going to make that crazy thing be the Braves winning the first round match up against the Dodgers. And not only do I have them winning, I have them sweeping the Dodgers.

So, that gives us Chicago-Atlanta in the NLCS. And you know what, I'm going to continue to ride with the Braves. Maybe they will be the team I root for since the Cardinals are out. No one expected them to be here, they have no big names, no one like me can name one player on their team, but I think they will find a way to win. This series will go 7 games, but I feel like people will start to get behind the Braves, root for them, and they will be the NL representative in the World Series.

In the World Series is where it will all come crashing down for the Braves. I know, I always seem to pick the Indians, and I am going to pick them again. They are going to win it one of these years, and if my predictions are right, I feel like they will sweep the Braves. The Indians are the superior team in every phase. They will crush the Braves. Terry Francona will exercise the loss 2 years ago, and win another Series as manager. This will be the year. The Indians will finally prove me right. Now, people who watch baseball, enjoy the playoffs, hopefully they are fun.

Ty

Editor’s picks

The American League Playoffs.

The wild card game will produce a true wild card when the “how in the hell did they do this” Oakland A’s shock the world and beat the Yankees. Everyone on ESPN will demand a more than one game playoff because their favorite team is out.

The A’s will not win again because the Boston Red Sox will sweep Oakland. The dream season will be over.

The Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians divisional series will be awesome. It will go five games. In the end the Astros will emerge because they are like the Indians, but just a little bit better. Oh, they are also the defending champs.

The Red Sox spotty pitching will hurt them against the Astros. The ALCS will look a lot like last years World Series where the flashy star studded Dodgers could not beat the consistent Astros. The same thing that happened to the Dodgers will happen to the Red Sox. The Astros win the American League Pennant in seven games.

The National League Playoffs.

Ty is right, any of these teams could win the pennant. With that being said the Rockies will make the ESPN people upset when they beat the Cubs. Because the Yankees and Cubs will get knocked out early, MLB will look at making the wild card round a best of three.

The Rockies against the Milwaukee Brewers will be a close series. The Brew Crew will pull it out in four or five really close games.

The LA Dodgers against the Atlanta Braves is a changing of the guard type series. The Dodgers are experienced and near the end of their championship window. They were one game away from a title last year, and most of that team is returning to the playoffs. The Braves are young, talented, and inexperienced in October baseball. The Dodgers will emerge victorious, but the Braves will get that much needed playoff experience and this team will be a force for years to come.

The Brewers and Dodgers are two teams that look almost exactly alike. The Brewers have Christian Yelich, and that will be the difference. After six games, the Milwaukee Brewers will go to the World Series.

The World Series

The Brewers are the newcomers with a lot of balance and a superstar on the roster, the Astros have balance, a few superstars, and a World Series title. With that being said, the Brewers remind me of the Kansas City Royal teams from a few years back that went to back to back series and winning one. That is why I am picking the Milwaukee Brewers to win the 2018 World Series in seven games over the Houston Astros.

Enjoy the playoffs.

RD

Ty's NFL Quick Hits: Week 4

Week 4 is done after tonight's Broncos-Chiefs games, and I'm back with some quick takes. FYI, I'm going to save the Vikings-Rams for last.

First, lets get to my team, the Packers. Yes, they won. Yes, they shut out the team they played. Yes, they won by 3 scores. So, why am I not pleased? Well, the offense looked like it was slogging through mud. Rodgers looks more hurt than he is letting on. They still don't really have much of a run game. And yeah, the defense shut out a team, but it was the Bills. Josh Allen played like I expect his career to turn out, and the Bills have nothing else to save them. The Packers won, but they have a lot of searching to do to be the team I thought they could be coming into this year.

Sticking with the NFC North, holy cow did the Bears look good. Mitch Trubisky played his best game, probably since high school yesterday. He was on fire. Tarik Cohen was finally properly used. The receivers made catches. And that defense is wonderful. That was the given for them, especially after they traded for Mack. If the offense plays like this the rest of the year, they will be a real Super Bowl threat. But, I tend to look at Trubisky's game as an aberration, not a sign of things to come. The Bears are good, but they aren't as good as that. And the Buccaneers, how does it feel to get slammed back to Earth? "Fitzmagic" is done, their defense is horrid, they have no run game and their head coach said he should be fired after the game. The Bucs, especially since they are going back to Winston, are going to be as bad as I thought at the beginning of the year.

The Lions, well, last week was definitely a mirage. They couldn't stop the Cowboys, who looked awful in the first 3 weeks. The Lions made them look like they did 2 years ago, Stafford returned to his poor play, they couldn't run again and the receivers are just not great. The Lions stink. So do the Cowboys, but they stunk a little less than the Lions yesterday.

Some other notable games, the Falcons cannot stop anyone. They have a great offense, I mean, they scored 36 points yesterday, but they gave up 37 to Andy Dalton and the Bengals. The Bengals aren't bad offensively, but they aren't as good as they showed yesterday. It hurt the Falcons to lose 3 key guys to injury, and that will doom them the rest of the year. Also, good for Dalton to finally get the ball to AJ Green. And, Tyler Eifert's injury was horrific. That may hurt them. But, if they continue to get the ball to Green, and let Gio Bernard play running back, they could win their division.

Speaking of their division, the Steelers stink right now. I know that the Ravens have a very good to great defense, but with the weapons they have, and only score 14, come on. They still have plenty of time to turn it around, but their QB stinks, Antonio Brown isn't getting the looks he deserves and they sorely miss Bell. The Ravens are way better than I thought they'd be too. Joe Flacco looks revived. They are getting Lamar Jackson snaps. Alex Collins is doing what he needs to do. The receivers are solid. And I already mentioned the defense.

The Saints stumbled into 33 points and a win in New York yesterday because the Giants are horrendous. The Saints did everything they could to blow that game, but the Giants never took advantage. It finally got to the point where Kamara just decided to take over, and that is exactly what he did. That dude is awesome. I hope, with Mark Ingram coming back next week, they don't diminish his role. He is the key to what they do. The Giants are bad. I actually feel bad for Saquon Barkley. He didn't asked to be drafted by a team that thought they could make the playoffs this year with Eli Manning. Odell Beckham got paid, but he is not getting the looks he needs. The O line is horrendous and their defense is old and slow. They are a bad team.

The team I thought was worse than them, the Browns, I need to eat a little crow on so far. First off, they got screwed out of a win. There was no fumble. That was a first down. That was complete nonsense. The Browns, while I still don't think they are a .500 team have a good defense, a decent run game, and Baker Mayfield, after a game and a half, looks much better than I figured he could be. Maybe they are building something. The Raiders need to thank the refs for that win. Jon Gruden should personally send each one a thank you note. That being said, the Raiders are bad. I do not care that they won, they are a bad team with a poor coaching staff. And they have to deal with Gruden for awhile. Hope you are happy Raider fans.

The Jets are also not very good. I know they faced my Super Bowl champs, the Jags yesterday, and they got their faces stomped in. Blake Bortles, who barely cracked 100 yards passing last week, went for nearly 400 and 3 TD's. Oof. Leonard Fournette got hurt, but Yeldon seems like a suitable person to fill in for him. And that Jags defense just dominated Sam Darnold, every writer's week one darling. That kid looked frightened.

The Titans beat the Eagles, in overtime, which kind of surprised me. They actually looked like a competent football team. They looked like they were running a semblance of an NFL offense. Their defense is solid too. The Eagles look off right now. But, I do not read much into that right now because they are still getting Wentz fully acclimated again. While they should be better than 2-2 right now, I think they will be fine come week 6 or 7.

Deshaun Watson and the Texans finally woke up. Sure, they almost blew it, but Watson looked like the QB of the future that I think he can be. He was running and throwing the best I have seen since last season. He is good. Deandre Hopkins is great. Andrew Luck looked great yesterday too, but it wasn't enough, and that will be the case for the Colts all year. Both teams are not very good right now, but they played an entertaining game yesterday.

The Seahawks eeked out a win over the winless Cardinals. Josh Rosen finally got the start, and while he didn't look great, he is a much, much better option than Bradford going forward. David Johnson also looked solid. The Seahawks won, but it was ugly. Russell Wilson has no O line, and he is not a guy to build a tea around. Their running back was why they won. Also, props to Earl Thomas for giving them the finger after hurting his leg. That dude has given that team his all, and they refused to pay him. Now, he is going to leave ASAP in free agency, but he has to come back from a bad injury. Stuff like that injury makes me hate the NFL. Screw the Seahawks for what they did to Thomas.

The Chargers barely beat the CJ Beathard led 49ers. I feel like this game should stop anymore talk of the Chargers being a "sleeper" or a "threat". They stink. So do the 49ers. I didn't think they were that good with Garropolo, but they looked ten times worse yesterday, and they still almost won.

Finally, the Vikings and Rams. The Rams are for real elite. They are the best team in the NFL. They cannot be stopped Todd Gurley, Jared Goff, Cooper Kuup, Brandin Cooks, they have weapons everywhere on offense. Then on defense, they were without Aqib Talib, and Marcus Peters was hurt, but they still did enough to win. That D line is ferocious. They can eat. The linebackers are solid. Sure., Kirk Cousins threw for a lot of yards, but I never thought that the Vikings had a shot to win that game. The Vikings have not looked good the past 2 weeks. They need to figure it out on defense, which was supposed to be their strength. They also need to use Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray more. I know they gave Cousins all that money, and Thielen and Diggs are great wide outs, but they need a run game too. They have some searching to do.

I have said it the past 2 weeks, and I will say it again, the Rams are, head and shoulders above the rest of the NFL. Even with the Patriots destroying the Dolphins, I still think, at a neutral site, the Rams would destroy any team from the AFC. They are legit.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He forget to mention that this week in football also brought him his first loss in fantasy football. Who did he lose to? Even with the end of Fitzmagic, the Head Editor won because his favorite team had a terrible week on defense. Damn, and thank, you Vikings.

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