NFC East Predictions

The NFC East has often been called the toughest division in the NFL. And this very well might be true. The NFC East are packed with playoff contenders and all have a desire to win.


Let me start of by naming the best team in the NFC East is..


1. The New York Giants - They are a reliable team that dominate the NFC East, with their great depth in their running game. Their elite QB and their always can count on Defense, it puts them above any team in the NFC East.

2. Dallas Cowboys - This was a bold choice, judging on last seasons horrible finish. But i believe Cowboys have allot of hidden talent, that they have been holding back these last couple of years. And without the EGO hungry Terrel Owens weighing the team down, theirs no real predicting how far the cowboys will go.

3. Philadelphia Eagles - I think everyone is over hyped about the arrival of Michael Vick and i believe they are overrating him as a player. Never the less, Eagles are a talented team with allot of heart. And pulled a Semi-Upset last year and i believe they can do that again.

4. Washington Redskins - They seem to be the team left behind this year. The rest are far ahead. Yes, they have some talent. And are a good team but they are not in the same league as the other three teams.

A.I's Decline

Think back to the late 90's. A kid name Allen Iverson had just come into the League and was trying to make some noise. His handles and his scoring ability made him an instant star and eventually became one of the best little man of all time. Even in his older years he was still an incredible scorer. A cancer ? perhaps, but their was no denying his ability as a play maker. But look at him now, is this the A.I. we all know and love ?. No, is A.I. declining ?. Perhaps or is he just being attacked by the media and is the media manipulating all of us to believe the A.I. we once thought as a deadly scorer, is now coming off the bench as a solid role player ?

. An intelligent NBA fan knows that every player declines, they all can't stay in their top form forever. But is now the time A.I. declines. Over the past year he has been tossed around, maybe the Pistons though giving up Billups for A.I was a good deal.
Now A.I. is in free agency talks once again. With teams like the Grizzlies and Bobcats showing interest. Why do the Grizzlies need A.I. when they have 2 young stars, especially in O.J. Mayo who is a shoot first player and very similar to A.I. If A.I. joins the grizzlies will he be playing point again?. A.I. on the Grizzlies would not work and the only way the Grizzlies can benefit from A.I. is from experience.

How can A.I. possibly have a comeback season on the Grizzlies, he cant. Another rumour floating around is that A.I. perhaps joining the Bobcats. Bobcats are a team looking to rebuild and they need a scorer. A.I. would most likely fit great with the Bobcats but in terms of team success. He wont do much and would most likely end his career of being that last resort option.

Their is no real spot on a team for A.I. to join and be as effective as he can be. Theirs teams in need of a scorer but A.I. wouldn't be good enough to help the team have any real success. What I'm trying to say is that A.I.'s time of being a superstar you want on your team, has passed. And that he should settle into a good role playing spot to finish his career.

Steve Nash Finished, Is it Just False Advertising

Steve Nash is a former two times MVP. One of the greatest Passers of the 21st Century. This is a very high standard, which may have come to haunt Steve Nash later in his career. He had produced a superman type figure. And when Steve Nash would have one or two bad games, the media would jump at it. Claiming he is done, overall the media has a huge effect. Media manipulates the fans and suddenly Steve Nash is done? According to the media, Steve Nash declined this year. Why? Is it because we didn’t make the playoffs, even though we had a slower offence and no Amare, it’s suddenly all Steve Nash’s fault that the Suns management made some wrong turns, Is it Steve Nash’s fault that Amare got injured. No, but it is Steve Nash’s fault that we didn’t make the playoffs, even though all these factors were reasons the Suns failed. According to the media, averaging 15.7 points a game (Even though Nash is a past first Point) and getting 9.7 assists per game is a declining year. The Suns barely missed those playoffs, in the toughest conference after losing Amare and a serious of bad management decision. And for some reason Suns will have a downfall next season. When Phoenix have Amare and a Run N’ Gun coach, how would next season be worse than this season. When it was obvious how Shaq didn’t fit in the Suns. Shaq would play good but the team would suffer. He would take touches from a much younger, faster and overall a much better athlete. Tell me next season that the Suns are falling, and Steve Nash is done. But for now, false accusations are just false advertising.

Ron Artes; Key To A Dynasty?

In the 08 Finals Lakers look destined to be NBA champions. Then one thing lead to another and it wasn't meant to be. Basically the team crumbled and couldn't get by the Celtics defence. This Season things changed. Bynum came back and they went through the season convincingly owning the Western Conference. And when Finals came they won, convincingly like the Celtics did the previous year, Bynum being back made a huge factor in this. Now this off-season Lakers signed Ron artest as a FA and Ariza was also shipped to Houston. Lakers only benefit from this, although Ariza is very consistent he doesn't have nearly the defensive presence of Artest. But Ariza did provide some momentum of the bench and is an athletic beast. But quite obviously Lakers win. Having Artest on their team only improves them to become (On Paper) the best team in the league. Lakers defence got criticized allot during the season and Artest will help that allot. Also brining the same amount of talent Ariza brought, and more. Rockets get a young talented athletic player. But loose much more.

Now how will Artest fit in?. Artest being traded over the year multiple times, he would be used to having to adjust to a new team. Artest is a Shooting Guard/ Small Forward. But with Kobe at SG, he won’t be starting. So he looks to be taking Odom's starting spot, that’s if Odom resigns. And this move seems like a message the Lamar Odom won’t be resigning with the Lakers. Now how will Artest help make the Lakers win? And not just win, win convincingly. He is great on D, he is athletic, and he can shoot the 3, Drive and is a great overall player. He is much more consistent then Odom. Has a better offensive game, Odom is a player who can play the point and the forward position; a point forward. But Artest is clearly a better player who would help them allot more in going for a championship.

Artest is a versatile, athletic, a more the good defensive player and a great second/third option. Odom could help his team win a championship. But i believe Artest can help his team become a dynasty. Like MJ had Pippen. Kobe will have Artest. Like MJ had Rodman. Kobe has Pau & Bynum. I do believe it will take Artest at least a year to fit in and be able to win championships. I don’t think it is Lakers year, but it will come soon.

Whats stopping Suns from Signing Barnes?

barnes-suns-22

Last off-season Phoenix Suns signed free agent Matt Barnes with a veterans minimum of 1.2 million over one year. This was a clear steal, a very underrated small forward with a lot of talent and veteran experience. Barnes added depth into the Small Forwards position and provided a deadly rotation of Barnes & Hill. Barnes being a huge factor of the explosive start by the Suns and showing some of that 3 point shooting that people generally look by.

Barnes also was a huge help in keeping some depth on the bench when Bell and Diaw were traded. But Barnes is a stubborn type of player, who often got into fights and some of which resulted in suspension. Barnes is worth more then 1.2 mill and if you can sign him for an amount as low as that it can only benefit the Suns. Barnes would fit just as well in the Run N’ Gun as he did in Porters system. He also has alot more defensive capabilities then other guards and forwards on the Suns team. The Warriors system was similar and he was just as decent of a bench player in that system. Barnes also just came of a career year and is signed a veterans minimum at only 28.

This off-season Barnes has thrown under the radar with all the talk about Amare and Shaq trades and the talk about rebuilding ect. Has overshadowed the fact that Matt Barnes is a free agent and a pretty decent player who can provide a momentum spark of the bench. So Kerr what is stopping you from signing Barnes for a veterans minimum .

What's Next For The Suns

Four years ago, Phoenix Suns were one of the most deadly teams in the NBA. With their Run N’ Gun, fast paced style not only made them one of the most exciting teams in the league. But also made them one of the most deadly teams in the league. What Happened? Steve Kerr happened; his consistent bad decisions turned what was a contending team, into what it is now. On the verge of starting over. The suns Big 3 of Amare, Nash and Marion turned into Nash, Amare and Shaq. Shaq? On one of the fastest paced teams in the league? Luckily for Kerr it worked… Sort of. Kerr fired Mike D’Antoni and hired Terry Porter, in order for Suns to become a more Defensive oriented team.

Steve Kerr and Terry Porter

Shaq was killing them at the start of the 08 - 09 season. Amare was Amare and things were going great. Kerr, who originally was trying to make the Suns into a more Defensive team, went the opposite direction. He traded Raja Bell and Boris Diaw for Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley. How is this move going to help Suns defensive troubles? I don’t know. But it did help spark some offensive fire power and Jason Richardson would fit great in the Run N’ Gun which eventually did happen. When Kerr made the obvious decision to fire Porter and let the Phoenix Suns assistant coach lead the team, it was probably the smartest thing Suns management did all year. They had a number of 140+ games and the Run N’ Gun is back.

This unfortunately didn’t last and having Grant Hill at PF didn’t help either. The suns had multiple bad games. This ultimately knocked them out of playoff contention and left Suns fans with yet another disappointing year. The bright side about all this is that it is in the past. And we have to look to the future.

Reportedly Nash asked for Shaq to get traded. So Kerr being the genius that he is traded Shaq which would have been a decent move if he didn’t get Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic in return. Trading an All-star for two bench players was a terrible move. But rumor has it that Suns might shop Big Ben for Tyson Chandler. And Pavlovic would fit great in the Phoenix Suns Run N’ Gun style this year under Alvin Gentry’s Run N’ Gun with a defensive spritzer added. When you look over the Suns roster you would imagine it to be back. Now with J Rich in the scenario he could be just as good in the system as Matrix. I believe Nash will get power over the team and the Suns will be a better team next year with some exception being.

1. Amare stays healthy
2. No more mid season trades
3. Gentry stays as head coach
4. Run N’ Gun returns

Phoenix also needs to look at trying to secure a valid center. Robin Lopez is simply not good enough for the starting spot and likely still has at least another 2 years before we even consider it as an option. Phoenix also needs to decide not to rebuild. With Shaq out of the picture we can turn up the tempo to the way things used to be.

Patty Mills; Hit Or Miss?.

Patrick Mills is an Indigenous Australian basketball player from Canberra. He grew up in Canberra and attended the AIS (Australian Institute Of Sport). Which then lead him to St Mary's College. Which he played two seasons there and then decided to enter the NBA draft. After his Rookie season he played for Australian National Team the Boomers. Which he stunned Basketball fans and stars including Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant when he lead the Bogut lead Boomers in scoring which made a name for himself. And untimely his draft stock rose. Predicted to be a Top 25 Round 1 pick. Patrick Mills ended up falling to pick No. 55 which he was saved from falling out of the Draft by the Portland Trailblazers. For a predicted first round pick to fall all the way to No. 55. Is quite amazing and disappointing.

Don't get me wrong, as a proud Aussie i am great full to even see him in the draft. But i am also questioning if he can be success full or if his pick was where it was meant to be. If you look in depth with Patrick Mills. You see his game resembles a poor mans Tony Parker. But i believe a better comparison would be to Jordan Farmer. He is one of the Quickest players with a deadly first step, who rather drives then taking a Jumpshot. Who can also play the Shooting Guard well. And is a great offball player. His defence can improve but if you watch him play you will notice how he contesting every pass ect. Mill's main flaw in his game is his Jumpshot and critics say he is far from a pure Point Guard and needs to learn how to pass better and take less shots. But he comes from the Gaels, a team that isnn't a dominant team that needs a scorer. And Patrick Mills takes what he gets. He was best described when a commentator mentioned this " Patrick Mills is like a Punt returner, he's going to fumble but he will also come up with some big plays".

The kid has alot to learn, but so does nearly every rookie. If he gets minutes i firmly believe he will be an efficient scorer and a definant steal in the draft. As for hit in miss. Hit if he gets minutes, miss if he does not. Simple as that.