Who Improved the Most Over NFL Draft Weekend?

 

This passed weekend was the NFL draft. The draft is where teams build dynasties and stock up on draft picks for years to come. You will not know which teams had a successful draft for a few years because the players selected need a big enough sample size to produce. All that we can do until then is predict which teams we think have improved the NFL Draft.

Cincinnati Bengals

Last year the Bengals showed that draft picks can carry your team right away by selecting A.J. Green and Andy Dalton then going on to make the playoffs. Cincinnati went into this draft knowing what they had to do and they drafted great football players and guys that fit their system. The Bengals ended up two first round selections and used one on each side of the ball. With the 17^th overall pick the Bengals chose CB Dre Kirkpatrick out of Alabama. Kirkpatrick is a great zone corner who will step up and make tackles in the run game as well. Cincinnati has Leon Hall coming off injury and they brought in Terrence Newman but they need to get younger at that position and Kirkpatrick is a guy that can immediately step in and have an impact. With their second first round selection (27 overall) Cincy chose G Kevin Zeitler out of Wisconsin. Zeitler is a hard-nosed offensive lineman that is terrific in the run game and he can take on virtually any interior rusher. Zeitler is a great fit for Cincy because they lost G Shaun Livings in free agency and they managed to bring in smash-mouth running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. After making a splash in the first round, Cincinnati continued to have a successful draft. In the second round the Cardiac Cats selected DT Devon Still, he is an ideal NT in a 3-4 but they feel he can be a great DT in a 4-3 and he was one of the top players available. In the third round Mohamed Sanu was selected, a possession Wr out of Rutgers that will lineup opposite of A.J. Green. Sanu is not a speedster but he won’t have many drops and he is physical. The Bengals continued with this defense/offense draft pattern throughout this whole draft by selecting Brandon Thompson (DT-Clemson), Orson Charles (TE-Georgia), Shaun Prater (CB-Iowa), Marvin Jones (WR-Cal), George Iloka (S-Boise St.) and Dan “Boom” Herron (RB-Ohio St.). The Bengals had a ton of steals throughout this draft; Charles in the 4^th and Iolka in the 5^th are the two most notable. Orson Charles will not compete against Gresham for the starting TE spot but he is a gifted athlete that can come in on certain packages and stretch the defense. After cutting Chris Crocker, the Bengals created a whole at the safety position and managed to wait on George Iolka who many draft experts had him ranked as a top-3 safety. Iolka fits the Cincy defense by being able to go downfield and make plays but he can also step up in the run game and will make plays in the backfield. Even after the draft Mike Brown and the Bengals weren’t done. Right after the draft management went to work and signed ILB Vontaze Burfict (Arizona St.) who is one of the meanest guys in the game and WR Kashif Moore (Uconn). These are both guys that are very well capable of making the 53 man roster, Burfict has all the talent in the world, he just needs to get his head on straight. The Bengals went out and drafted a bunch of guys that are ready to start next year, this team is going to be scary a couple years down the road.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams were one of the worst teams last season but they used their #2 overall draft pick to their advantage and kept trading to create more picks. First the Rams traded out of their #2 spot with the Redskins receiving Washington’s first and second round picks for 2012 and first round picks for 2013 and 2014 as well. During the draft, St. Louis was sitting with the #6 pick and decided to trade back again; they ended up with the 14^th pick and late round picks. When the Rams were finally on the clock, they selected DT Michael Brockers out of LSU; a guy that Jeff Fisher said they had contemplated taking at number six. Fisher is a defensive-minded coach and he wants to solidify that side of the ball just like he did in his tenure with Tennessee. Brockers is a young, raw DT that Fisher could turn into a pro-bowler. Brockers was their top pick but they were not done on defense. In the second round the Rams took UNA cornerback Janoris Jenkins. Jenkins is a top-10 talent in this year’s draft class but brings a ton of baggage to the team. Jeff Fisher has worked through these problems before but is Jenkins going to be a Cortland Finnegan or another Pacman Jones? In the third round the Rams went out and took another CB, Trumaine Johnson, Montana. It was surprising to see Johnson fall to the third round because there are a bunch of teams that were looking for CB’s. Getting Johnson 65^th overall is a steal and Jeff Fisher already know how he plays not just form film but from his son; Fisher’s son played on the Montana team with Johnson. At 6’2 with great tackle skills, Johnson provides versatility to the Rams, they can choose to play him at CB or even move him back to FS. The Rams weren’t just making an impact on the defensive side of the ball though. With their second selection (33^rd overall) they selected Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian St. Sam Bradford has potential to be a fantastic QB but he needs weapons; Quick is 6’4 with huge hands and is electric after the catch. Quick is that big, sure-handed target that Bradford has been looking for. After the Quick pick, the Rams went out and selected slot WR Chris Givens out of Wake Forest in the 4^th round (96^th overall), they also took: OG, Rakevious Watkins (South Carolina) in the 5^th round (150^th overall) and RB Isaiah Pead in the 2^nd round (50^th overall) out of Cincinnati. The Rams went out and drafted a bunch of playmakers on offense, Pead is the type of RB that Fisher likes (great hands & quick burst of speed), he will be great to compliment Steven Jackson. St. Louis finished out their draft by selecting Greg Zuerlein (K-Missouri Western), Aaron Brown (OLB-Hawaii) and Daryl Richardson (RB-Abilene Christian) all in the 7th round.  They still have holes on their roster, but they have selected players that fit their system and athletes that will give them a chance to compete right away.

Honorable Mention-Indianapolis Colts

The Colts were horrendous last year and losing Peyton Manning was insult to injury for the Indy fans. With the first overall pick in the 2012 draft the Colts selected Andrew Luck who should be able to fill the void for Peyton Manning one day. Drafting a young QB can be scary so you need to try to ease him into the role and surround him with weapons. Like they say in the NFL, a tight end is a QB’s best friend. In the second and third rounds the Colts went out and addressed their losses of Dallas Clark and Jacob Tamme by taking Coby Fleener (Stanford) and Dwayne Allen (Clemson). Fleener was heavily used by Mr. Luck at Stanford and he has a great repertoire of tools to offer the Indy offense. Fleener is very similar to Greg Olson, he is tall, fast, can run any route and can make catches in traffic. Dwayne Allen was selected in the third round and he offers a different skill set. Allen will have an immediate impact in the blocking game (Fleener’s weakness) and he can also release and become a security-type receiver for Luck. With the Colts’ fourth selection (3^rd round) they stayed on the offensive side of the ball and selected T.Y. Hilton (Florida International). Hilton is a slot receiver that can flat-out fly and create separation. Look for him to be used on bubble screens and a lot of crossing routes this year, he has big-play potential. The fifth round is where Ryan Grigson selected his first defensive player, Josh Chapman (DT/NT-Alabama). If Chapman had not missed the season due to a knee injury he could have gone in the first round. Chapman will help on the defensive line and take on blockers, allowing Mathis and Freeney to get to the quarterback.  In the fifth round Vick Ballard would become the newest Colt. Ballard is a tough RB out of Miss. St. who will provide diversity to a Colts offense. He can run between the tackles and he can also go out and make some catches; he should be a nice compliment to Donald Brown. The Colts also chose LaVon Brazill (WR-Ohio) in the 6^th and had three 7^th round picks: Jusin Anderson (G-Georgia), Tim Fugger (DE- Vanderbilt) and Chandler Harnish (QB-Northern Illinois). After the draft the Colts also scrambled to get some of the top undrafted free agents. They made two key signings in Griff Whalen (WR-Stanford) and Micah Pellerin (CB-Hampton). Griff Whalen is another guy who will make Luck comfortable because he is familiar with Whalen; this was Luck’s go-to-guy on third down in college. Micah Pellerin fills a need for the Colts and has great potential. Pellerin is 6’0 with fluent hips and plays tight coverage. The Colts will still be picking top 10 next year but they have a bright future.

Other Notable Draft Winners

Pittsburgh Steelers
1 (24)-David DeCastro-G-Stanford
2 (56)-Mike Adams-OT-Ohio State
3 (86)-Sean Spence-ILB-Miami
4 (109)-Alameda Ta’amu-NT-Washington
5 (159)-Chris Rainey-RB-Florida
7 (231) Toney Clemons-WR-Colorado
7 (240) David Paulson-TE-Oregon
7 (246)-Terrence Frederick-CB-Texas A&M
7 (248)-Kelvin Beachum-G-SMU

Philadelphia Eagles
1 (12)-Fletcher Cox-DT-Mississippi St.
2 (46)-Mychal Kendricks-ILB-Calfiornia
2 (59)-Vinny Curry-DE-Marshall
3 (88)-Nick Foles-QB-Arizona
4 (123)-Brandon Boykin-CB-Georgia
5 (153)-Dennis Kelly-OT-Purdue
6 (194)-Marvin McNutt-WR-Iowa
6 (200)-Brandon Washington-G-Miami
7 (229)-Bryce Brown-RB-Kansas St.

College Basketball Programs on the Rise

Each and every season teams are forced to rebuild due to players entering the NBA draft, transferring and even graduation. There are very seldom instances in division one, where teams have the majority of their starters for a four-year stint. Nowadays teams are fighting for the top recruits and all that is on the recruits’ mind is which college will give them the best opportunity to showcase their skills for the next level. Kentucky has proven that you can go out and win with a bunch of freshman; you do not need four years to create chemistry, just unselfish players. Lower-tiered schools have gotten better at recruiting and the players are starting to go there because they stand out. While bettering their chances of getting drafted early go down by going to a mid-major, the overall competition of the NCAA throughout the country has increased, the division one platform has turned into a level playing field and smaller programs will be making a splash in the future.

Providence College Friars

The Friars have been the bottom-dwellers of the Big East Conference along with Depaul for some time now. Just as the Friars seem to get their act together the Big East starts to fall apart. With one of the top recruiting classes in the country and possibility of bringing in transfers, PC could be a fun team to watch. Ricardo Ledo, an ESPNU top 20 recruit, has signed with Providence as well as the #24 prospect Kris Dunn. Ledo is an explosive 2-guard who can score from anywhere on the floor; there is no stopping him once he starts heating up. Ledo has the ability to break the double team and can make shots in traffic… just what you need to win in the Big East. The Friars also have commitment from 6’5 swingman Josh Fortune who lead his AAU team to finish 5^th in nationals. As for Kris Dunn, he is a highly touted point guard prospect, the second-best one in the nation behind UNC-commit, Marcus Paige. Dunn will be able to learn under veteran guard, Vincent Council, which will be better for the Friars in the long run. He is quick, confident and has the ability to make people around him better.

Vincent Council will be happy to finally get some offensive weapons.

Ledo and Dunn are recruited incomers, Providence is also being looked at as a transfer destination by Michigan forward, Evan Smotrycz and Wake Forest center, Carson Desrosiers.  Getting either of these two athletes would be a huge asset to a team that lacks size like Providence. Smotrycz is a guy that won’t do a whole lot on the stat sheet but he will make all the hustle plays and he has a great basketball I.Q. Carson Desrosiers is a 7-foot center who is a great interior defender and could help the Friars on the defensive end.

Final Thoughts: With Syracuse and Pittsburgh playing in the ACC and West Virginia moving to the Big 12 as early as next season, the Big East won’t pose the same competition as it used to. Providence should be a team that is playing in March Madness; UCONN is not eligible for post-season play, there will be a dogfight at the top of the Big East standings. After Louisville and Georgetown it is anyone’s game. Next year, PG Vincent Council will be a senior and he will lead this team. Last season he was fourth in the nation in assists and he will make all of the underclassmen better. Soon-to-be sophomores LaDontae Henton and Bryce Kofane will continue to get better and Ledo will be a great weapon for Council to utilize.

Memphis Tigers

The Memphis Tigers have been competing with the elite teams in the country since John Calipari and Derrick Rose were there back in 2007. The Tigers do not play in a power-6 conference but they have still be able to maintain a high level of play. The Memphis organization has begun to build consistency and a great recruiting resume, which will make them one of the top programs in years to come; not to mention they will need to be at their best since they are joining the Big East in 2013. Joe Pastner is one of the younger coaches in the nation and he gets his players to bring their A-game every night. Memphis will be losing their leading scorer, Will Barton, to the NBA Draft and also their leader in Wesely Witherspoon who was a senior this past season. Don’t write Memphis off just yet, they have commitments from power forward Shaq Goodwin (#31 recruit according to ESPNU Top 100) and small forward Damien Wilson, who is a 4-star recruit. Goodwin is a big-bodied athletic forward, which Memphis likes, who can run the floor and finish in traffic as a power forward.  Damien Wilson is a 6’6 slasher that can get to the hoop at will and can do a variety of things with the ball in his hand.

Shaq Goodwin was the #2 HS player in Georgia, behind Tony Parker.

Bringing in Goodwin and Wilson will immediately help Memphis make a successful transition to the Big East. These are two types of players that fit in the Big East style of play, rough, tough and with attitude. Goodwin and Wilson won’t have to completely rebuild the program, they will playing with Will Barton’s brother, Antonio and Tarik Black if he does not declare for the NBA draft.

Final Thoughts: The Memphis Tigers have a surplus of athlete and will be swarming with talent next season. Shaq Goodwin fills one of the Tiger’s biggest needs with his presence on the glass. One of their leading 3-point shooters in Antonio Barton will be returning and Tarik Black has matured as a leader. With all that is going for the program of Memphis with top recruits coming in and moving to the Big East there is a lot of positive energy in Memphis. Look for the Tigers to scratch and claw their way to March Madness and have an immediate impact in the big east.

Bold Predictions For All 30 Ball Clubs

At the beginning of the of the 2011 season, if you would have said that Curtis Granderson was going to hit 40+ home runs and Ian Kennedy would reach 20+ wins people would have called you crazy. But those uncanny things happen each year; those players finished with 41 home runs and 21 wins respectively.

This year is going to be a big year for the MLB, more teams are starting to assemble superstar squads while other teams are calling up prospects getting ready for the future.  There will be something that happens to each team that no one has thought of, these will be my bold predictions of the 2012 season.

AL West

Seattle Mariners– Ichiro clubs out a career-high 17 home runs. He has always had pop in his bat but never used it because he was a leadoff hitter. Now he is batting third and knocking some runs in. Also, Jesus Montero will start less than 20 games at the catcher position.

Los Angeles Angels– Mark Trumbo struggles to get implemented/ keep his spot in the lineup (1B, 3B, DH, OF). He won’t even hit 19 home runs and he won’t be able to keep his average above .240. On a positive note, Kendrys Morales will stay healthy for the most part and knock out 26 home runs while C.J. Wilson gets a team-high 24 wins.

Texas Rangers– Mike Napoli ends up getting moved, again, at the trade deadline. Neftali Feliz has an impressive 13-8 record as a starter. Joe Nathan gets hurt (not bold) and Alexei Ogando becomes the closer getting 33+ saves.

Oakland Athletics– Yoenis Cespedes scorches 37 doubles and leads the team with 22 home runs and 89 RBI. Pitcher, Brandon McCarthy, makes the All-Star team and finished the season with 14 wins and a 2.96 ERA with a sub-1 WHIP. Manny Ramirez also takes the DH spot from Jonny Gomes after serving his 50-game suspension and he hits 13 dingers.

AL Central

Detroit Tigers– Alex Avila struggles on offense while the rest of the Tigers do not. Austin Jackson finally proves that the Tigers made the right choice in trading Curtis Granderson for him and company. Jackson steals 34 bases and hits a career-high .294.

Cleveland Indians– Josh Tomlin leads this team in wins with only 12.  Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore miss over a combined 210 games. Ubaldo Jimenez still can’t find his groove in Cleveland.

Minnesota Twins– Bottom-dwellers of the AL Central and the league for that matter, which ends up being the worst division in the MLB.  Mauer does play, and hits .318, but it doesn’t help the team. Ben Revere ends up taking Denard Span’s CF spot and steals 51 bases.

Kansas City Royals– Royals finish second in division with 88 wins. Eric Hosmer wins the AL MVP despite not making the playoffs. He bats: .330, 29 long-balls and 117 RBI. Mike Moustakas hits 26 home runs and Tim Collins makes the All-Star team as a setup man.

Chicago White Sox– Jake Peavy finally makes a comeback, dealing out a team-leading 14 wins. Matt Thornton finishes the season as the closer but not a good one and Konerko is the only player on the team to bat over .300.

AL East

Boston Red Sox (World Series Champs)– Mark Melancon was brought in to be a setup man but he ends up leading the club in saves (28).  Salty hits 23 home runs but Ryan Lavarnway will takeover as catcher by the end of July. Defensive prodigy Jose Iglesias gets called up and sent back down because he doesn’t know how to use a bad and Crawford is still irrelevant by the end of the season.

New York Yankees– Ivan Nova becomes the most consistent pitcher. Curtis “The Grandy Man” Granderson hits only 23 home runs while Jeter and A-rod combine for 26. Cano finishes third in MVP voting behind Hosmer and A. Gonzalez.

Toronto Blue Jays– Ricky Romero wins AL Cy Young Award, getting 227 K’s and 18 wins with 26 quality starts. Yunel Escobar hits .310 with 84 RBI and 22 steals. Kyle Drabek doesn’t make his way into the rotation either.

Tampa Bay Rays– Ben Zobrist hits 24 home runs while snatching 26 bases and he will start  games at 2B, 1B, LF, RF and DH. Desmond Jennings hits a shocking 26 HR and B.J. Upton gets traded to Houston.

Baltimore Orioles– Mark Reynolds moves to 1B, Brian Roberts comes back and Robert Andino plays most of the year at 3B. Jake Arietta wins only 9 games but has a 3.20 ERA. Adam Jones gets traded so Baltimore can stockpile on prospects… I don’t know why they want to though.

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks (Lose in World Series)– Trevor Cahill shows he misses pitching at the Coliseum and gets rocked. Ian Kennedy doesn not have the same type of season as last year. Tyler Skaggs gets promoted early and leads the team in strikeouts and ERA. Justin Upton hits 34 HR and steals 28 bases.

San Francisco Giants– Freddy Sanchez hits only .263, no one on the team hits over 23 home runs and Lincecum has a 3.49 ERA. Brian Wilson is lights out this year but he will have no save opportunities, only gets 31 saves.

Colorado Rockies– Dexter Fowler becomes a superstar. Jamie Moyer gets 13 wins, Tulowitzki wins NL MVP and Jordan Pacheco hits 24 home runs from the hot corner. Helton and Giambi both announce they will retire at end of season, freeing up first base for 3B prospect Nolan Arenado who will move to 1B.

San Diego Padres– Carlos Quentin hits only 16 home runs. Cameron Maybin leads the team with 26 bombs and 38 steals. Edinson Volquez and Corey Luebke both tie with 15 wins but the Padres still struggle.

Los Angeles Dodgers– Dee Gordon hits well over .300 but Andre Ethier becomes the team’s MVP. Ethier his .328 and knocks in 108 runs while Kemp struggles to hit 25 home runs and doesn’t even reach 100 RBI. Kershaw wins Cy Young by a landslide.

NL Central

Houston Astros– Jordan Lyles leads the team in wins with 13 and Jordan Schafer robs 23 bases. Unfortunately, a bunch of prospects get called up too early and end up having terrible numbers.

Chicago Cubs– Anthony Rizzo is a disappointment, hitting less than five home runs. Marmol gets traded along with Matt Garza (separate deals), leaving Jeff Samardzija to have the best season as a Cubs pitcher in 2012.

Cincinnati Reds– Aroldis Chapman eventually becomes the closer and strikes out over 100 as a reliever. Votto has a bad year after signing a monster contract, 20 HR and bats only .289. Chris Heisey leads the team as a platoon OF with 27 HR.

Milwaukee Brewers– Mat Gamel provides some pop with Prince Fielder gone. Braun has another 30/30 season, K-Rod gets traded and George Kottaras becomes everyday starting catcher.

Pittsburgh Pirates– McCutchen becomes elite, hitting 31 home runs and getting 34 steals, he earns the highest WAR (Wins Above Replacement). Erik Bedard doesn’t even start 21 games and James McDonald gets 197 K’s.

St. Louis Cardinals– Jon Jay has a breakout season and Wainwright gets 18 wins. David Freese loses his spot in the lineup and Matt Holliday only hits 18 homers. Jason Motte blows a bunch of saves and Fernando Salas takes over.

NL East

New York Mets– Jason Bay is back and hits 22 home runs.  David Wright knocks 19 out of the park before getting traded to the Chi-Sox in exchange for Gavin Floyd and Alexei Ramirez.

Atlanta Braves– Michael Bourn hits an abysmal .268 but still steals 59 bases and scores 99 runs. Jason Heyward stays healthy all season and knocks out 38 home runs and wins the Home Run Derby.

Miami Marlins– Hanley Ramirez is runner-up for the NL MVP Award, hitting 33 home runs and knocking in 114. Ricky Nolasco rings up 132 batters and gets 16 wins. Miami Marlins win the division. Oh yeah, Giancarlo (formerly Mike) Stanton leads the MLB with home runs, dropping 48.

Philadelphia Phillies– As Chase Utley comes back, Jimmy Rollins gets hurt, leaving Freddy Galvis in the lineup and moving him back to his natural shortstop position. Hunter Pence is the unsung hero and hits a quiet 30 home runs.

Washington Nationals– Bryce Harper is called up right after the All-Star break but is not successful in his first half-season. Ian Desmond gets traded and Strasburg gets shut down early for precautionary reasons. Washington finishes third in division.

Preseason Predictions

The NBA season is less than a week away and there is much to talk about. No awards are certain until the season is over but here are some things to keep an eye on.

Rookie of the Year: Bismack Biyombo- C- Charlotte Bobcats
Runner Up: Marshon Brooks- SG– New Jersey Nets
Bold Prediction: Jan Vesely- SF/PF– Washington Wizards

Hmmmm, I’m going to say this nicely, Bismack is a freak of nature. 6’9, 243, can run the floor, 7’6 wingspan and a raw talent. Bismack has a knack for defending and although he cannot shoot, he can still get the ball in the bucket. A center that can defend and run the floor is probably the most lethal guy in sports- behind a dual threat quarterback. The Congolese center has skill where it is hard to teach and it seems as if he is willing to learn. Michael Jordan has his hands full but is sold on this kid. Biyombo seemed to have been working on his offensive game in the offseason. Biyombo was the first player ever to record a triple-double in the Nike Hoops Summit. One thing this young talent does not lack is confidence, in a pre-draft interview Bismack said that one day he WILL lead the NBA in blocks and rebounds. Now that is a tall order to fill but you can’t blame the kid for being excited or wanted to be the best. However, there is a slim chance he won’t be able to play in the NBA his rookie season because he has one year left on his contract with his team in Spain. Biyombo is currently in negotiations with his team attempting to buyout his old contract. It will be a great disappointment if he doesn’t play this year because although he might not be locking down Dwight Howard or Andrew Bogut, he will still be competing every night and  making a name for himself.

If Marshon Brooks can mirror what he did at Providence College offensively then the NBA better watch out.This kid does not know what a slump is, he is not afraid to shoot and he will get to the hoop at will. Brooks is lanky, quick, he can slash and he can score in any way imaginable. Brooks could very well be the Nets’ leading scorer but in order to get the respect from his coach and his teammates, he will need to defend and become more of an all around player. At Providence, Brooks always had the ball in his hands, that will not be the case in NJ and he will need to learn how to play without the ball.

As for Vesely, I believe this kid is the most explosive player out of the draft. I guarantee that we will see him in a dunk contest before his career is over. Vesely will be playing  a little bit of both forward positions and his versatility helps him so much in the Wizards’ system. In recent years we’ve had the Nash and Dirk connection, the Marbury and Amare’ connection, the Kidd and Vinsanity tandem and last year we had the whomever is playing PG to Blake Griffin alley-oop fest. John Wall to Jan Vesely could top all of these. This kid is gifted both athletically and instinctively. Listed at 6’11 it is hard to imagine, but, Jan plays bigger than what he is. This Czechoslovakian moves like a 2 guard, flies like a Dr J., and brings the power of a Shaq. Vesely is not afraid to defend and the alley-oops he will be receiving from John Wall will be a nightly occurrence on Sportcenter’s Top 10.

Surprise Playoff Team: Utah Jazz

After last year’s untimely departure of both Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan, Tyrone Corbin seemed unprepared to coach the Utah Jazz. However, Corbin was the  assistant under Sloan for a number of years and with this being his first full season as the Jazz coach I expect him to surprise a lot people and I think the Jazz make the playoffs. The Jazz do not have a star player so to speak but they have a fantastic makeup for their style of play. Lottery pick Enes Kanter seems to be the starting center. Rebounding experts Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors will cycle the big men positions. The young players for the Jazz need to really step it up big time. Last year’s number one draft pick Gordon Hayward had a rough transition from college to the pros. Look for Hayward to make a name for himself in this offense, he and Devin Harris will be a quality back court with a lot of flexibility because of the strength of the men down low. Utah has always been about defense and this year will be no different. Raja Bell is a two-time All-NBA defender and C.J Miles is a great defender at the three position. They are both expected to start for Tyrone Corbin’s squad. Rookie Alec Burks was drafted out of Colorado in the first round, he is a great defensive shooting guard who can score and get to the free-throw line; but he will need to develop a long-range shot in order to be successful. The Jazz aren’t going to outscore people but they will defend strongly and keep every game close. I see the Jazz making the playoffs as a six seed and possibly going up against last year’s NBA champions.

Coach of the Year: Larry Drew- Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have been somewhat of a disappointment in recent years because they have been expected to go deep into the playoffs. This year with the emergence of the super-teams (Bulls, Knicks, Heat) the Hawks will be under the radar. They should make a run and possibly make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Comeback Player of the Year: Ben Gordon- SG- Detroit Pistons
Runner-Up: Tracy McGrady– SG- Atlanta Hawks

Detroit is an ugly place for basketball right now.  Rodney Stuckey has been a problem in that locker room, Ben Wallace is not exactly a leader and Rip Hamilton’s contract was just bought out. Now that Hamilton has gone to Chicago, look for ex-Bull, Ben Gordon, to become the leader of the team and go back to his old form of draining shots. I expect him to be the leading scorer of this team and to help out rookie point guard Brandon Knight.

It seems like every year T-Mac is a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. In recent years McGrady has been plagued by injury and inconsistency but he should have a solid season this year pending health. Maybe new scenery is all he needs to bring his game back to life. T-Mac has never been a great shooter but he has been a good scorer throughout his career and for he has terrific handles and passing ability for a guard his size. McGrady will get his chances in Atlanta when Joe Johnson is on the bench and maybe finally, just finally he will win a playoff series.

On the Verge of Super-Stardom: Josh Smith- Utility– Atlanta Hawks
Runner Up: Eric Gordon- SG- New Orleans Hornets
Bold Prediction: Luis Scola- PF- Houston Rockets

Josh Smith’s potential has been blocked by Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford controlling the ball 90% of the time. Now that Jamal Crawford has made his exit look for Josh Smith to finally breakout. I feel he is the most underrated player in the league and that he could be a top five player. Smith is gifted in all aspects of the game, he was first recognized as the insanely athletic dunker who took the Slam Dunk contest title from Jason Richardson in 2005. Smith is among the leagues best highflyers and shot blockers, look for him to put up crazy numbers now that he will finally be touching the ball because Joe Johnson is starting to decline and the team will need another scorer.

Eric Gordon is the new face of a struggling franchise. He was the main component of Chris Paul trade and he has tremendous upside. Going into his  ourth year he has improved his PPG, SPG, AST and 3PM each season. Last year he averaged 22 points per game and he played in the second half of the season recovering from a broken wrist but still put up ungodly numbers for the Los Angeles Clippers. Gordon can score from anywhere on the floor (even Jimmer range) and he can get to the basket at will.  Last season Gordon averaged 6.2 free-throw attempts per game and made 5.1, which is among the top 20 in each category. Gordon is ready to take over a team and now he won’t be outshined by a number one overall draft pick. Look for Gordon to dominate this year and he should average around 26 PPG where he will be in elite company.

Most Valuable Player: Kobe Bryant- SG- Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe has the most rings out of active players in the NBA and people are always anti-Kobe. Analysts and fans say he can’t win on his own, he’s too old, or he doesn’t have the hunger anymore. Truth of the matter is- you can never count Kobe Bryant out.  The Black Mamba has battled injuries in the past (thumb, pinky, knee) and no one has given him credit for playing through it or for playing at an all star level. Kobe recently had “miracle” knee surgery, also called PRP treatment. Although there is not much released information to the public about this type of surgery, Kobe has made it known that he will be back with a vengeance. Throughout this early training camp, Kobe has seemed to have gotten his hops back and thank the lord. The Lakers could be in for a long season and Kobe seems to be the only bright spot, I expect him to have multiple 40+ games this season.

NBA Champions: Miami Heat
They have a year under their belts, they’ve brought in a lock-down defender in Shane Battier. Haslem will be healthy and look for a healthy, slimmed down Dexter Pittman to get playing time. Rumor also has it the gun show could be going to South Beach… I mean… Gilbert Arenas. Simply there is too much talent on this team not to win. I will be disappointed if they don’t.