NBA Post Trade Deadline Thoughts

 

1. Jimmy Butler is not my guy. He seems to be the exact opposite of a team player, and he's someone who's said outright that he's not comfortable with authority. A toxic personality who's not worth the basketball prowess he brings to the table. At this age, his ability to take over games is severely limited.

2. The Luka-AD trade was a bad idea for Dallas and a steal for L.A., but at the same time I don't know how seismic it is for either team's title chances. Both are a little above average this year, and I don't think this drops Dallas out of playoff contention, or lifts the Lakers into championship quality.

3. The Spurs are going to keep getting better, and I'm guessing they'll raise a banner or two in the next decade. Then the real question will become whether Wembanyama wants to find some greener grass away from old curmudgeonly Coach Pop.

4. The Cavs improved a little - they're looking for that extra edge come playoff time. I'll stand by my assessment: Finals-ready but not quite Championship-ready. But please, prove me wrong!

5. The Browns are probably going to be looking at how good the Cavs are and thinking, hey, maybe we should start winning some games every now and then. They should sell the team to Kenny Atkinson; he'd have them in the Super Bowl before the 2020s are over. Ownership is just stupid, and I'm worried about what they're going to do come draft day. I think Jeanty is the best choice, and Cam Ward if not. (And they won't take Jeanty). Don't pass up on an actually solid, red-flag-free young offensive anchor. Please.

Super Bowl Preview

 

We've seen this before. Just two years ago, Kansas City beat Philadelphia 38-35 to win LVII. Now, contrary to both of my predictions, both teams are back for a rematch.

I think the most significant difference for two teams with the same coaches and same quarterbacks is the Running Back position in Philadelphia. Saquon Barkley has been instrumental in each of Philadelphia's postseason wins - and Super Bowl Sunday is his 28th birthday! He's going to bring it, and no one knows for sure how Kansas City will handle it. The two teams did not meet in the regular season, so the direct matchup between Barkley and Kansas City does not have precedent this season.

My predictions have been wrong thus far, but that won't stop me from trying again! My Super Bowl prediction is a 38-34 victory for the Philadelphia Eagles - almost the reverse of their score two Super Bowls ago. I would love to see Nick Chubb barreling over Andy Reid's defense to bring an AFC title to Cleveland. But if I can't have that, I would have no problem seeing Barkley do the same in the Super Bowl - and he's certainly capable. The Eagles smothered the Redskins with 55 points of offense in the NFC Championship game, and three of those touchdowns (along with 118 yards on 7.9 yards per carry) are thanks to their running back. While Kansas City will probably be a stiffer challenge, I think the Eagles will get enough breakthroughs in the run game to make up for Mahomes and the refs. 

UPDATE:

Eagles won! 40-22, and a lot of that 22 from Kansas City was in garbage time. Very impressive and well-earned by Philadelphia.

NFL Playoff Preview

 

The NFL playoffs are down to just four teams - each with a legitimate path to victory. The Eagles have Barkley, the best running back in the league this year. The Commanders have Jayden Daniels, a sensational rookie quarterback looking to make history. The Chiefs have the refs and Patrick Mahomes. And the Bills have likely MVP Josh Allen looking to avenge past playoff losses. This should be fun.

Conference Championship Predictions

The Eagles have been perennially strong, while the Commanders are the upstart team. My head says the Eagles will take this one, but my heart would prefer Washington. Actually, my heart would prefer the Browns but here we are. My prediction is 34-31 for Washington.

The Chiefs have seemingly had everything going their way this season, despite not playing stunningly good football. Their sloppy execution has been counterbalanced by occasional quarterback heroics and frequent assists from potentially corrupt officials. The Bills, on the other hand, look very much like the best remaining team right now - they take care of the ball and have a multifaceted attack in terms of being able to run or pass. They may be able to do enough to make up for the Kansas City mob or whoever's paying these refs. My prediction is 27-24 for Buffalo.

Super Bowl Prediction

Buffalo vs Washington would be a fun matchup. Two refreshing newcomers in recent memory. A Super Bowl run would be a long time coming for the Bills, while it would be a genuine shock for any preseason prognosticator from Washington. While I think Jayden Daniels and his team have a genuine shot at making the big game, I don't think they would be able to overcome a determined Bills team that has waited so long for this moment. My prediction is 38-28 for Buffalo.

What about the Browns?

Nick Chubb broke his foot a few games into his return from MCL / ACL injury, signaling the official end of Cleveland's season. My dream is for the Browns to take Ashton Jeanty with the Number 2 pick, but the odds are very low. As I've said before, I don't think we're likely to make any significant ground until the Browns come under competent ownership. Chubb, though, I think is capable of one more big comeback to help raise the Browns from being terrible to mediocre next season.