My Thoughts on the NFL's Week 6

1. Thad Lewis and the Bills put up a valiant effort but it wasn't enough to stop a Cincinnati team that may be just good enough to claim the AFC North Divisional Title. It's simply going to come down to who wins the divisional games and the Bengals look like they are that team right now.

2. Is Brian Hoyer that good? Browns are 3-0 in games Hoyer played in (now out for the season) and are 0-3 with Weeden at the helm. They have young talent in Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron but Weeden is the problem and definitely not the answer. Look for the Browns to use their top picks to find that Quarterback. 

3. The Detroit Lions are sitting at a silent 4-2. They have done this all without a truly healthy Calvin Johnson. When he returns at full strength this team could make a playoff push. I think it'll come down to the Bears and Pack but we'll have to wait and see. Which leads me to my next thought. 

4. Green Bay's offense took 2 major hits (Cobb and Jones both suffered knee injuries) and looked awful but Baltimore looked even worse. A combined salary between Rodgers and Flacco of $230 million dollars and we got an abysmal performance. Both these teams look mediocre (both 3-3) but definitely have the potential to make the playoffs. 

5. The Chiefs keep on rolling. It took 24 unanswered points but the Chiefs are now 6-0 after their 24-7 victory today. I'd say the promising thing for the Raiders is possibly that they've found their QB. 7 points you might think I'm crazy but Terrelle Pryor has some talent and his new handcuff, Denarius Moore, goes along well with him. Look for the Raiders to build around Pryor in the draft.

6. Cam Newton appears back in form. He totaled 4 touchdowns in a rout of the Vikings and has now won 2 straight. Meanwhile the defense has looked stellar in their past 2 performances. I'd say this team is rebuilding but the Falcons have been terrible and the Bucs don't have a win so as it stands the Panthers are 2nd in the division. Prayers out to AP whose son was just killed.

7. The Jets came out with a major letdown allowing Pittsburgh to notch its first W of the season. Pittsburgh still has a chance in this weak division but I wouldn't say its a great one. As for NY, I'd say they're not a playoff team but Geno is definitely their guy.

8. The Eagles have won 2 in a row and are all of a sudden in 1st place at 3-3 (Dallas and Washington are playing right now). The Bucs have the talent but not the Quarterback. Although he played excellent today, you can't win a SuperBowl with this guy. Right?

9. Cheering when your starting QB gets hurt. Stay Classy, Houston. 2 comments on the QB situation here. T.J. Yates came in and threw a pick sick totaling 5 straight games with one. 2nd, Vince Young tweeted that he's ready to come back and play and would love to for his home state. No chance Houston signs VY but I personally would love to see it. St. Louis though looked very impressive in the blowout win. They are definitely building and should end up around 8-8 this year. Promising for the Rams.

10. Denver didn't look impressive nor did they cover the spread but they got their 6th straight win and are now tied atop the division with aforementioned Kansas City. Knowshon Moreno is thriving with all these running lanes but Denver is vulnerable. The Jags received their participation ribbons in a valiant effort as well as giving the rest of the league game tape on how to exploit the corners. 2nd yr wideout Justin Blackmon came up with 14 catches for 190 yards.

11. Tennessee's lone touchdown came off the flukiest of plays. (The kicker was hurt so the punter who's the usual holder had to kick so the Seahawks brought in a new holder who muffed the snap then tried throwing the ball got stripped and the Titans took it to the house.) Besides this absurd play, Seattle's defense looked stout and Russell Wilson improved to 11-0 at home.

12. Tom Brady is still very very good. While he hadn't thrown a touchdown in the past two games, in the final 5 ticks of the game on Sunday, Brady pinpointed a pass to the rookie Kenbrell Thompkins to secure a win and a 5-1 record. The Patriots gutted one out and still don't have Gronk back. This team could be really good. The Saints took a rough loss but are still running away with the division.

13. My final thought is that Vernon Davis is also very very good. While Davis only totaled 1 catch for 10 yards in the second half, his monster 7 for 170 in the 1st was all that was necessary. San Fran doesn't look like the team that got to the Super Bowl last year but are still a healthy 4-2. They need to find their mojo and get back to hard nosed football. 

NFL Week 1 Reaction to Key Games

Here's my Week 1 Reaction to the Key or Important games.

Ravens vs. Broncos (49-27 Denver) 

The opening game of the NFL season debuted on Thursday night with the reigning Super Bowl Champs heading out to the Mile High City to compete in a rematch of last year's dramatic AFC Divisional playoff game. The Ravens looked good, holding a 17-14 lead at the half but it all went south from there. Peyton Manning ended up throwing for 7 touchdowns on the way to a bashing of the Ravens. Manning with his new weapons Wes Welker and Tight End Julius Thomas each had 2 touch downs and Demaryius Thomas added a pair of his own. The Broncos offense looked unbelievable and is why I can't see them not winning the AFC crown. They have 6 cup cake games against the Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders. A 13-3 or 14-2 record is in their future. The only question I have for them is come playoff time when it is time to grind out games. Who's their running back? Remember these 2 things. Once everyone went to bed, the Ravens started coming back because Denver started running the ball. Also, Denver ran 23 times for only 65 yards. That's not going to get it done come playoff time.

As for the Ravens, they just looked abysmal. Flacco actually played solid but between Dallas Clark and Ed Dickson's drops and Jacoby Jones freak injury, Flacco had no chance. Marlon Brown stepped in well as the 2nd wide out but Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce were ineffective. The defense couldn't cover or tackle especially the secondary. Their poor performance could force rookie Matt Elam into the lineup as well as rookie linebacker Arthur Brown. But with all the bad, I saw some hope for the Ravens. Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil each recorded a sack and as I mentioned above, the Broncos only rushed for 65 yards on 23 carries. The Ravens with Ray Lewis would be fine but going forward I'm not sure exactly what is in store for Baltimore. I believe they will murder the Browns but after that we'll have to wait and see.

Falcons vs. Saints (23-17 New Orleans)

All the hype going into the game was about Sean Payton's return after his Bounty Gate suspension. All the talk of the Saints offense getting their mastermind play caller back was great but what should truly be acknowledged is the addition of Rob Ryan as defensive coordinator. Set as a predicted shootout, Rob Ryan's defense allowed only 17 points in a spectacular effort. If before the game you told me Matty Ice would have the ball down 6 in the redzone on the last drive, 10 out of 10 times I would've said the Falcons would have come out victorious. Give credit to the Saints, they held and showed me two things. They improved magically over the offseason on defense. Their record setting defense (bad records) had greatly improved. And two. Bold prediction. The New Orleans Saints will win the division. The Saints just have their mojo back.

The Falcons will be fine. They should easily grab a playoff spot and it wouldn't shock me if they won the division. They have a stupid good offense and Roddy White was hobbled the entire game. The Birds will be fine just fine.











Packers vs. 49ers (34-28 San Francisco)

In a great sunday afternoon shootout, we saw Colin Kaepernick completely dominate the Green Bay defense. This time, though, he did it with his arm rather than his legs. Kaepernick threw for 412 yards and three scores and showed us again why Anquan Boldin was Joe Flacco's favorite target. Boldin could not be stopped. He quickly ridded all doubt that he would be able to fill in for the injured Michael Crabtree. Kaep also seemed to find a new connection with TE Vernon Davis. After not targeting Davis much in the 11 games they played together last season, Kaepernick found him for 2 scores. The defense was put to the test against Aaron Rodgers but faired alright. Especially rookie safety Eric Reid who picked off Rodgers and did well in his first career game.

The Pack will also be alright. People are really sleeping on the Bears who I think will be a solid squad this year but with that being said, Rodgers will claim the division title. They simply have too many weapons to be stopped. They totaled 28 points against arguably the best defense in the league. All I have to say is good luck Washington.






Eagles vs. Redskins (33-27 Eagles)

The score doesn't really tell the real story of this game. The Eagles ran an NFL record 51 plays in the first half with Chip Kelly's new up tempo offense. While I think there was a major over reaction to the Eagles success, I still think the Eagles may establish themselves as a very dangerous team. People saying they'll win the division now or McCoy will lead the league in rushing are nice thoughts but I think at least for now are a little quick on the trigger. The defense played great in the first half but struggled when RG3 shook off the rust. Also, Vick came up hobbled a few times and there's a slim chance he starts all 16 games this season. Would it surprise me if the Eagles won the division? Absolutely not. A weak division and a good looking offensive scheme. But talk to me at the quarter mark and I'll update my thoughts on the BirdGang.

Woah. The 'Skins defense looked horrible. They got thrashed by McCoy, Vick, and Bryce Brown. RG3 looked mediocre at best. And Alfred Morris struggled early and often. I can't see this team returning to the post season. You might say, and rightfully so, isn't that an overreaction. It may be but I believe all 3 teams in the NFC East made nice additions in the offseason and Washington did not. My prediction, the Redskins will finish LAST in their division.

Who's Ready for Some Football?

I'm finally back. After a nice hiatus, I am ready to talk some football.
In today's article, I'll be breaking down 2 teams that I think will surprise you this season and 2 teams I think will disappoint you this season.

SURPRISE
1. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs acquired former Number 1 pick Alex Smith this offseason for a second round pick. The extremely efficient Smith will be a major upgrade from the abysmal Quarterbacks the Cheifs had last year. Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn combined for an impressive 2-14 record (sarcasm) and earned their team the Number 1 overall selection. Quite a nice thing to do. With that pick, the Chiefs selected Offensive Tackle Eric Fisher out of Central Michigan. This pick will solidify whichever side of the line the Chiefs choose to place him on. May I add that Jamaal Charles will be fully healthy minus the ankle injury he just turned in the pre season. Nothing more than a minor injury. Complement Dwayne Bowe, Charles, Alex Smith with a defense that sent 4 pro bowlers to Hawaii last season and you have major room for improvement. The Chiefs also get to play the weak Chargers and Raiders twice this season as well as the Browns and Jaguars for finishing last in the division. To put the cherry on top the Chiefs signed former Eagle Head Coach Andy Reid to be their main man. Reid is an excellent offensive coach and could form this KC team into a very effective offensive squad. Don't be surprised when the Chiefs make an enormous improvement from last year's season.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got off to a very solid 6-4 record last season before losing 5 out of their last 6 games. Although finishing 7-9, the Buccaneers fell 7 times by only one score. This shows that while they may have been an immature team inept at finishing games, they were close in almost every game they participated in. Given they had a new coach, new schemes, and an inexperienced Quarterback this is not only understandable but it is actually promising. With a year under their belts, maybe the the Bucs win some of those close games and make a push for a playoff spot. Doug Martin was the breakout star last year for them and should continue as their game breaking back. The Bucs also made major improvements in solidifying their secondary. Adding lock down corner Darelle Revis will be an incredible advantage to the rest of the Buccaneer defense. Playing with second year safety Mark Barron and newly acquired Dashon Goldson behind Revis the Buc front 7 will have plenty of time to pressure the quarterback. The Bucs play in a tough division but definitely have the pieces to compete for a playoff bid this year.

DISAPPOINTMENT
1. Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins may have been in my surprise section if not for some bad reports from camp and the recent loss of Tight End Dustin Keller. In the offseason, the Phins got speedster Mike Wallace from Pittsburgh and Middle Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe from the Ravens. Reports from the Dolphins training camp say that Wallace isn't as impressive as they had hoped and that he isn't quite on the same page as young Quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill should make improvements this season but just lost his security blanket to a season ending knee injury. Tannehill and Keller looked like they were on the same page in the pre season which was important for Tannehill who has yet to have any tight end take the pressure off with short dump off passes. Shifting to the defense, the Dolphins aren't a very good defensive squad and I don't think Ellerbe makes them that much better. Check Bart Scott or Adalius Thomas if you want proof that playing with Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis is what makes you a good Raven linebacker. Don't be surprised if the Dolphins finish worse than their 7-9 record last season.

2. St. Louis Rams

The Rams ended last season 7-8-1 and I don't see much potential for them to improve. The Rams now compete in the tough NFC West while 2 years ago it was the laughing stock of the NFL. The Seahawks and 49ers are the top two teams in the NFC and the Cardinals added Carson Palmer making them a decent team. Just playing within the division I can't see the Rams even going 3-3. 2-4 would be a success for them. St. Louis added an exciting receiver Tavon Austin in the draft but I can't see him making the impact that he's projected to make. While Danny Amendola was hurt for St. Louis most of the time he was there, he was still their best receiver and now they no longer have him. They also let veteran Running Back Steven Jackson go and didn't really add any important pieces on defense. Expect St. Louis to be back in the top 5 of next year's draft.

NBA Mock Draft Picks 6-10

Here goes my next 5 selections for the mock draft.

Disclaimer: Many sources have said that the Cavaliers are probably going to pick Nerlens Noel Number 1 overall. With that being said, I'm still sticking with my pick and hoping they select Otto Porter.

To recap the Top 5 as predicted by Sportacular Sports
1. Otto Porter
2. Trey Burke
3. Nerlens Noel
4. Ben McLemore
5. Victor Oladipo



6. New Orleans Pelicans 

The newly named Pelicans have one piece set. That's their big Center from Kentucky, Anthony Davis, who they selected with the first overall pick last year. He didn't quite live up to the hype but produced a solid first year. In an attempt to build on their team, the Pelicans can get better in a lot of places. I actually like their backcourt in Grevis Vasquez and Austin Rivers. I think it might be smart to hold on to Eric Gordon because he can fill the stat sheet but it might not be a bad idea to move him for some role players. So, I think the Pelicans might be set...for now..with the guards and will try to solidify their front court. While this forward from UNLV may go at 3 to the Wizards, the Pelicans will gladly select ANTHONY BENNETT with the 6th overall selection. Bennett can possibly develop at the 3 position but also bang with the bigs down low when needed. He is a nice versatile option that will help build this young team.

7. Sacramento Kings

Wow, did the Kings have a season in flux last year. First off, they didn't know where they'd be playing next season. Next, they were just awful. And finally, they traded their top draft pick from last year's draft in Thomas Robinson. The Kings, for some reason, are terrible. They actually have some pieces that you would think could place them at least in the middle of the West. Demarcus Cousins, even with the character issues, is a stud center. Tyreke Evans is electric. And the bench players can fill it up from outside. The Kings, I believe are going to take another big man to compliment Cousins down low and take away some double teams. Their man will be ALEX LEN out of Maryland. Residing from Maryland, I watch Len play often and I personally would hate this pick if I were a Kings fan. Len plays soft down low and can't really dominate a game. He's being purely picked by potential and will enter the season recovering from a broken bone in his foot. Nevertheless, the Kings grab Len with the 7th selection.

8. Detroit Pistons

Like the Kings, the Pistons actually have a few nice pieces. After a decade of dominance, Detroit has been awful for the past few years. With Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, the Pistons will look to strengthen their guards. Which is why I think they'll take MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS out of Syracuse. MCW, as they nickname him, is my pick for the steal of the draft and possibly the best player in the entire draft class. Yeah I said it. Carter-Williams stands at an enormous 6-6 for a point guard and has tremendous vision. In a draft class lacking in star power, I think Carter-Williams could be the guy. It may take him a few years to develop a more consistent jump shot but I believe he has the ability to be great. The NBA is becoming more dependent on athleticism than basketball skills this day and age and that is exactly what MCW presents.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

The T-wolves are just never healthy. They have guys like Kevin Love (all-star) and Ricky Rubio but they never ever seem to be on the floor together. Kevin Love, when healthy, is actually one of the best big men in the league. He gets the team 20 and 10 every night and can even stretch the floor with a trey ball. Rubio is the same but different. He obviously is a point guard who is an excellent facilitator. But he has two problems. He can't stay healthy and he has no one to facilitate to. Therefore, Minnesota will look for a strong wing. So for the second straight pick, a long name will be selected. KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE out of Georgia. He fits the team's need and can knock down the deep ball. Pope has great potential but will he fill out is the question.

10. Portland Trailblazers

As the draft progresses, we see that the better teams have the better pieces. The blazers have Rookie of the Year, Damian Lillard, big man LaMarcus Aldridge, and a bunch of other solid complementary pieces. I think Portland has two options at the number 10 spot. First, they could go for another big man and push Aldridge to the 4 or select a big wing like the Timberwolves a slot before. If Minnesota does select Caldwell-Pope then I believe the Trailblazers go big man at #10. So, in the final pick of today's mock draft, the Portland Trailblazers select CODY ZELLER out of Indiana. This may be a reach at 10 but my argument for why this is a reasonable pick is this. The scouts and critics say Zeller should stay an extra season at Indiana to develop his game. While I totally agree with this, Zeller is still going to be able to develop his game in the pros. So essentially he may be wasting a year in the NBA but that doesn't mean he won't be a great player when he does become fully developed. Only about a quarter of all NBA drafts have an impact on their team in their rookie season. So I think Zeller will develop into an energy guy who can aid the team.

NBA Mock Draft- Picks 1-5

The NBA Draft is a month away, June 27th, and now that the lottery process (very confusing) has been completed, I will be doing my first ever Mock Draft in any sport. So, here we go!

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

For the 2nd time in 3 years, Dan Gilbert (Cavs owner) sent his son to the draft lottery and his good-luck charm claimed the Number 1 overall pick. After securing their franchise player, Kyrie Irving, this draft seems much different than 2 years ago. This draft presents, in my eyes, only one immediate superstar. Ben McLemore out of Kansas I think will have the most immediate impact, yet for the Cavs he doesn't fit their needs. With Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters in the backcourt, the Cavaliers really need a wing that can space the floor with shooting but then playing lock down defense on the other end, this is why I believe the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick will select Georgetown's Otto Porter.

2. Orlando Magic 

The Magic actually owned the best chances at owning the number 1 pick but much like their season, they lost it to the Cavs. But fortunately for the Magic, I don't think Porter would have been their guy anyways. The Magic don't have much anywhere but they are mostly lacking a point guard. With Jameer Nelson way past his prime, the Magic are going to select the top Point Guard in the draft, Trey Burke from Michigan. This is a scary pick in my mind. I love Burke, as a Michigan fan, but his draft stock has sky-rocketed purely because of a tournament run. This may or may not be a fair judge on Burke but this is a high-risk high-reward pick for the Magic. For an analogy, imagine if Joe Flacco's pass hadn't sailed over Rahim Moore's head in the AFC Divisional round. Does Flacco really get the $20 Million he earned after claiming a World Championship? No one knows, just like no one knows where Burke would have been drafted if he doesn't hit a 30 footer to tie the game against Kansas in the tournament. Just saying.


3. Washington Wizards 

The Wizards have a similar backcourt to the Cavaliers, in that they possess John Wall and Bradley Beal, two very strong guards. Also like the Cavs, they lack that wing player that is an integral part to the team. From my studying, I feel that the Wiz are leaning towards Antony Bennett. He's a 4 man out of UNLV currently recovering from injury. This is a perfect fit for both players but I feel that at number 3, Kentucky big man, Nerlens Noel, might be too good to pass up. So my prediction for Washington will be, if they don't trade back a few spots to grab Bennett, they'll settle for Noel. And when I say settle, I'm saying they'll gladly select the player with the biggest upside in the draft.

4. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats were not the main laughing stock of the NBA this season which is an improvement from the year before but holding the #4 pick usually means they didn't have a great season. I'll keep this prediction short and sweet. The Bobcats have Kemba Walker and Kidd-Gilchrist, need a 2 man. Ben McLemore is a 2 man. Perfect fit, no brainer, biggest superstar in the draft, book it. The Bobcats franchise will be ecstatic if McLemore falls to them at #4.





5. Phoenix Suns 

With the final prediction of my first Mock Draft, the Phoenix Suns have a lot of options. They could really use a player at any position which is why I think they'll take the best player remaining on the board in Victor Oladipo out of Indiana. While Oladipo may be a 3 year project, the least he'll do in his rookie season is lock down your top guard and bring highlight plays. The Suns actually are in the worst position out of any of these top 5 teams amazingly but I think Oladipo can help the healing process.

Attention D.C. Sports Area- I'm Sorry

In spirits of my Washington Capitals falling in the most of embarrassing ways last night, I want to write an article to preach my condolences for the fans of our Nation's Capital.

October 13th, 2012

The Washington Nationals had shut down their ace Stephen Strasburg for the season. Not to mention he has not returned to form but yet the Nats still held the top pitching staff-Starters through Bullpen- in the MLB. With Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, and a 7-5 lead heading into the top of the 9th in a winner-take-all Game 5, Nats' manager Davey Johnson called on Drew Storen (Recorded 43 saves during the season) to send the Nats to the NLCS. After winning a triple digit 100 games and holding the Number 1 seed in the National League, the Nationals allowed 4 runs in the top of the 9th and fell to the defending champs, the Saint Louis Cardinals.

January 6th, 2013

After trading their future for what hoped to be their future, the Washington Redskins and Rookie of the Year, Robert Griffin III, jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs. As Washington saw their lead escape them, things got even worse for the Washington D.C. diehards. MarShawn Lynch scampered in for a 27 yard touchdown but worse was to come. On the Redskins ensuing possession, that Redskins' future buckled, literally, in front of them. Griffin, on some terrible playing surface, tore his ACL and is still questionable for next year. It comes without saying that the Redskins fell and the D.C. fan's nightmare continued. (Not to mention their cross-town rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, captured the Super Bowl title.)

March 22nd, 2013

Otto Porter, Big East Player of the Year, and his Georgetown Hoyas held the number 2 seed in the ever so famous March Madness tournament. Heading into their matchup with Florida Gulf Coast a David (15 seed) had taken down a Goliath (2) a mere 6 times total. But unfortunately for the most supported University in the greater D.C. area, the Hoyas became the 7th. While the FGCU Eagles became a lovable team and great underdog, the Hoyas have fallen to a double digit seed in the first round of the tournament 5 times out of the last 6 years. A truly harsh run for the District of Columbia.

May 13th, 2013

The run ends here, for now. To cap off the worst 9 months thinkable for a major sports town, last night my Washington Capitals fell 5 to NOTHING in a Game 7 game against the New York Rangers. Let's break down the series. The Capitals led 2-0 meaning that they would have to lose 4 out of their next 5 to not advance to the Conference Semis. Next we thought we had seen the revival of Alexander Ovechkin with his league leading 31 goals in a lockout-shortened season. Rather, we saw the Ovechkin from the recent past who posted his lone goal in Game 1 of the series. Finally, the Caps didn't even manage to put a puck in the net in the final 2 games of the Best of 7. The Capitals in fact tried to break the hearts of D.C. fans everywhere.

Now I understand that the city of Cleveland hasn't had a Championship in too many years to count but I think the D.C. fans have endured an absurd amount of disappointment in these short 9 months. Not to mention that they have an awful Wizard's team. Regardless of that, the D.C. fan's have experienced slow and painful heartbreak as well as a rip of the heart. So all I want to say is Sorry. Sorry to the fans that represent our Nation's Capital and next time you see a Nationals, Redskins, Hoyas, or Capitals fan, tell them you're there for them.

LeBron James- Are We Witnessing Greatness?

LeBron James-Are We Witnessing Greatness? 

If you haven't heard, LeBron James claimed his 4th MVP in the last 5 years officially Sunday afternoon. James averaged 27 ppg, 8 rebounds a game, and topped that off with 7 assists per contest. LeBron led Miami to the number 1 overall seed in the East, was obviously the key component of their 27 game win streak, and guided the Heat to a 1st round sweep over the Milwaukee Bucks. That's just a short statistical recap of James' unbelievable MVP season which is far from over.

James received 122 of the 123 1st place votes. Not really sure who had anyone else in the top spot...
Anyways, with James winning his 4th Most Valuable Player trophy in the past half-decade, the question must be asked is he the greatest or will he be the greatest?

Me personally, have never cared for LeBron after his shenanigans in leaving Cleveland but as a sports fan I would be doing a disservice to not at least respect him. LeBron James does not belong in the sport of Basketball. He is a physical specimen that the game has never seen before and quite possibly might never see again. He can guard your Point Guard one possession, than battle down low with your 7 footer the next. He can take the inbounds and run your offense one possession, than take you down into the post the next. He's a 6 foot 8, 250 pound machine which is why as sports fans we must appreciate what we have.

James in Cleveland had no supporting cast which is why he had to score 40 points a night for them to compete. Now that he has the talent around him like Jordan had we can see that he can truly do it all. He's the most powerful dunker in the league but can also hit the deep 3. The reason I'm writing this post tonight is to understand what we truly have in LeBron James. In your lifetime, you will never see another player like this which is why I think it's important to appreciate his greatness.

Now the most ridiculous part about LeBron James. How high is his ceiling? As I predict, the Heat will cruise, yes cruise, to their 2nd straight title with Bron Bron casually leading the way. But the crazy thing is, will he get better. Like most players in their prime, they gradually get better and it's a scary thought to think that Mr. James could be a more dominating force than he already is.

With all this being said, and we much more could be, I think their are still many but very possible goals for LeBron to reach before he is declared the Greatest of All Time.

Win a Title without another Star player (Dwyane Wade)- I understand that MJ won it with Pippen and Shaq with Kobe, but because of the way he left, the critics will never let that go until he does it himself.

Compete in the Dunk Contest- One of Jordan's most iconic moments is his Free Throw line dunk in the Dunk Contest. All LeBron has to do is show up and he'll win.

Hit the Big Shot in the Big Game- This final task would seal the deal for me. Michael Jordan's most famous moment is sinking a game winner in Game 6 of his last Finals with the Bulls. LeBron's whole career has been down played because he has been missing the "clutch factor". While James seems to be finding his confidence late in games, he still needs that Iconic Moment to be the best to ever play the game.

NFL Draft

With the NFL Draft set to start Tomorrow night, rather than come up with an inaccurate Mock Draft or analyze the over talked about Quarterback debate, Sportacular Sports will look at the most intriguing NFL Draft storylines.

Tyrann Mathieu-Cornerback-LSU

Mathieu, the 2011 Heisman runner-up, was required to take a year off from football because of his Marijuana arrest. Although Mathieu has had a drug problem, no one is going to ignore his play making skills matched with his Heisman appearance. What people may not know, is that Mathieu is actually an undersized corner, standing at 5 foot 11 inches, and doesn't have blazing speed. But how are we going to ignore his play making abilities. Mathieu caused numerous turnovers, many for touchdowns, in the 2011 season and in an entertainment based league, Mathieu's punt return abilities, specifically his change of speed and vision, add to his draft stock. The major red flag I give to Mathieu is obviously the drug problem but more specifically my impression of him in an NFL Network Draft interview. The hours Mathieu has been coached seemed to have gone to waste. His never put the drug rumors away, he kept making excuses for himself, and admitted to chewing tobacco. If I was a team like the 49ers who have 13 draft picks and a very strong locker room, I would take a shot, otherwise no deal.

Manti Te'o-Linebacker- Notre Dame
Manti Te'o's draft stock was high and rising entering the National Championship game. As you all know, it took a tailspin from there. After an egregious appearance, the girlfriend scandal came about and nothing has been great for Te'o since. Add in an awful combine and you somehow still have a surprisingly highly rated prospect. Te'o is still projected to go in the first round and his endeavors may have improved the team in which he'll be playing for. Te'o should be an immediate starter and now may go to a team like the Ravens or Patriots late in the first round where he'd be playing on a championship team right out of College. While the money might not be there, the chance to play for titles will. Te'o is a guy I would want my team to take a chance at.

Star Lotulelei-Defensive Tackle-Utah

Lotulelei at one point in the draft process was projected to be the Number 1 overall pick in this very draft. This happened in last year's draft where Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers at one point was projected to go first overall but slipped into the second round. Lotulelei fell for a different reason though. Doctor's discovered a potential heart problem. Later though, the doctors confirmed that the heart condition was perfectly fine for playing. With that being said, I don't think Lotulelei should drop past his projected 14th selection to the Carolina Panthers. I think the NY Jets should take him though. They can go out and get their favorite player at Number 9 and then potentially steal the draft at 13. Lotulelei has drawn comparisons to Haloti Ngata and Ndamukong Suh and his name and playing style will both fit their production at the next level. Decent sized risk but amazing sized reward.

NBA Playoff Predictions- Sportacular Sports

I know all you NBA fans won't want to hear me say this, but I'm a College Basketball fan at heart. With that being said though, as I scanned the NBA Playoff matchups, I got a little giddy. In most first round matchups, the 4-5 and 3-6 games are of most interest but this season the 2-7 games are actually pretty intriguing.

Heat vs. Bucks
The Miami Heat have been by far the most dominant team all year. They have the best player in the world right now in LeBron James and his sidekick Dwyane Wade ain't that bad either. Throw in the knock down shooters off the bench and the playoff experience of the Heat veterans and you have a clear favorite. While I don't think the Bucks have any chance of taking down Miami, this series could be entertaining based off the fact that the Bucks can shoot the ball. They have Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, JJ Redick, and Ersan Illyasova to stretch the floor. Add Larry Sanders to protect the rim and I think this series goes farther than expected. Miami in 6.

Thunder vs. Lakers
If Kobe Bryant were playing in this series, I think it goes 7. Without their leader and top scorer the Lakers, you would think, should pose no threat. But think about this team without Kobe. They still possess the top 1-2 punch in the league between Howard and Gasol. L.A. has a 2 time MVP point guard in Steve Nash and the surprising play of Earl Clark to help them out. The Lakers aren't terrible without Bryant they're just not good enough to beat OKC. Thunder in 5.

Knicks vs. Celtics
Wow. A 2-7 matchup between two historical power houses. While NYK has only won one playoff game in the past 11 years, they are still always at the center of the basketball universe. Carmelo Anthony is blazing hot right now and so are the Knicks. After a promising start to the season, the Knicks slid a little but are now right back at the top. For the Celtics, they'll obviously be without their top Point Guard Rajon Rondo, but am I really going to doubt Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Shocker. Upset Alert. Boston in 6. (Melo please prove me wrong)

Spurs vs.Warriors
No one under 85 years old on this earth enjoys watching the San Antonio Spurs play. They aren't exciting, they play good defense, and they just win games. But if you are looking for some exciting basketball in a Spurs game, check out this kid Stephen Curry. He became big after he took Davidson to a magical Elite 8 run in his college days and hasn't stopped since. Curry can explode for 50 at any moment. I believe he's the best pure shooter in the game right now and he isn't afraid to fire. Golden State has plenty of decent players, David Lee, Klay Thompson, and Harrison Barnes. I think the Warriors win a few games, call it a season, and continue to build on their young team. Spurs in 5.

Pacers vs. Bulls
Unfortunately for basketball fans, it appears that Derrick Rose will NOT be returning this season. While I think it is the RIGHT decision, it's not going to make Bulls fans happy. With Rose, the Bulls can compete for an NBA title. Without him they'll fall in 7 to the Pacers. The Bulls will be happy to match Indiana's physical play, which has been deemed the way to beat the Heat. The Pacers are the favorite right now to take down the Heat if any team can do so but a grueling 7 game series with the Bulls won't help. Once again, Pacers in 7.

Nuggets vs. Rockets
This without a doubt will be your most exciting playoff series. If you like points, like most people do, your going to get a ton in this series. Denver and Houston both prefer to play offense and put up big numbers rather than lock each other down. Just check their last game on April 6. 132-114? Even for NBA standards that's a lot of offense. James Harden could be the deciding factor in the series but I think the Nuggets have too much depth. We'll have to watch and see how the loss of Gallinari hurts Denver in this series. For now, Nuggets in 5.

Nets vs. Hawks
Finally, we've reached the 4-5 matchups and I'm sad to say I'm not as intrigued as the games above. Don't get me wrong both these series should go no shorter than 6 or 7 games but I actually don't think they will. The Nets have a younger looking Deron Williams right now paired up with ex-Hawk Joe Johnson. While I don't think the Nets can compete for the title, they're making a step in the right direction. The Hawks have a Josh Smith who is a great player but would rather be playing somewhere else. I say Brooklyn in a sweep. 4 to zippo.

Clippers vs. Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies have held their own since trading their Superstar Rudy Gay before the deadline. Although they have held their own, I don't see them holding up in the playoffs. In a rematch of last year's first round matchup (Clippers in 7), I see Chris Paul calmly leading his team to the next round. If the Clippers do move on, I'm very excited to see the high flying LAC squad against the light it up Thunder team. Clippers in 5.

Thank you guys for reading (if you made it this far) comment below your predictions.

#PrayForBoston

NCAA Championship-Michigan Wolverines vs. Louisville Cardinals

The National Title game has been set! With that being said, Sportacular Sports will analyze and predict Monday Night's game.

Background:
CBS
9:23 PM ET
#4 Michigan Wolverines vs. #1 Louisville Cardinals

Final Four Recap:
In case you missed the two National Semi-finals, here is a quick recap.

Louisville-72
Wichita State-68

At one point in this game, the Shockers actually held a 12 point game. Unlike the Ohio State, Elite 8 game, this WSU lead slipped away. It was not the constant Louisville pressure that spurred a 15-0 crazy run (this did not happen), it was a more gradual comeback by the Cardinals. One you would expect from the Number 1 overall seed. The Shockers played a great game but the Louisville bench, led by Luke Hancock's 20 points, were the main reason the Cards play Monday night. The pivotal play of the game came after a missed Hancock free throw in which the ball was corralled by Wichita State. Unfortunately for WSU fans, Hancock clasped onto the ball and forced a jump ball. The rest is as they say history because Louisville owned the possession arrow and then the National Championship berth.

Michigan-61
Syracuse-56

The matchup between Michael Carter-Williams and Trey Burke could have been the greatest matchup of the Tourney, instead it was the role players who put on the show. Freshmen Spike Albrecht and Caris LeVert both hit important threes and the other freshmen big man Mitch McGary tallied his 3rd double double of the Tournament. With all those Freshman superstars, the MVP should truly go to Jordan Morgan. As McGary's play has improved, Morgan's minutes have diminished to the point where he didn't record a minute in their opening round game. After being a starter for most of the past two seasons, it is fitting Morgan owns MVP honors of the Semi-Final game. While it might not seem that he played a large part in the box score (3 points) it was his two charges taken that really won the game for the Wolverines. Michigan couldn't hit a Free Throw down the stretch connecting on only 3 of their Final 11 attempts but it was Morgan's charges that got them those extra possessions to save the game. He fittingly ended the game with a Monster slam to put Michigan in the Finals.

Now for the National Championship prediction!

To think that this is the National Championship matchup is a Hard Core fan's dream. The casual fan understands the Guard play matchup between Burke/Hardaway Jr. and Smith/Siva and that's a great storyline but for someone like me, sports lunatic, we see the real storyline. 

Michigan ranks #1 in Offensive efficiency while Louisville ranks #1 in Defensive efficiency. 
For a National title to have the top ranked offenses and defenses is hardly a reality. Fortunately for us that's what we have. Throw in that Louisville loves to force turnovers (2nd to VCU) and Michigan doesn't cough the ball up (2nd to none) and we have two amazing story lines. 

These two teams matchup as evenly as can be. For example, Russ Smith and Trey Burke. Both sporadic shot takers at time, can instantaneously take over and win their school a National Title. Hardaway Jr. and Peyton Siva. Both have amazing leadership and will will their to victory. Chane Behanan and Glenn Robinson Jr. Both slash the lane but have the ability to stretch the floor. 

Louisville has the edge in the experience department. Michigan has 5 Freshamn in their rotation, a Sophomore, a Junior, and a Senior (see above-Jordan Morgan). Louisville went to the Final Four last year and have plenty of Senior leadership. While people say experience doesn't really matter, check Louisville vs. Michigan's free throw shooting down the stretch. 

With the equality of both these teams, I am waffling a ton on my pick. I picked the Cardinals pre-season (I'm impressed with myself) but my favorite College Basketball team happens to be Michigan. Seeing both teams in action this weekend, I can't point out one thing that will separate one from the other.

With ALL this being said, I'm going with the...Wolverines...no Cardinals... tie?...OK

Michigan Wolverines!!!

I think the difference in the game is Mitch McGary down low and Trey Burke being the best player in the Nation. 


Wolverines-67
Cardinals-66

The Final Four is set! Early predictions

The extended tournament weekend started out excellent with another Ohio State buzzer beater, Syracuse's stifling defense taking down Number 1 Indiana, and Trey Burke and Michigan's improbable comeback. If you missed any of those games you truly missed out because the Regional Finals were a bit of a disappointment. I'll explain below.

Louisville vs. Duke

Louisville celebrating their Final Four berth. Pay tribute to teammate Kevin Ware.

Probably the most compelling Regional Final matchup in the past decade. Coach K against Pitino, Louisville vs Duke two perennial power houses, Siva and Smith against Seth Curry and his team of sharp shooters. The game started off with great energy but then it went all down hill after Kevin Ware's injury. If you didn't see this you don't want to. Ware suffered a compound fracture in his leg on an attempted blocked shot. Thankfully his surgery was successful and he has made the trip to Atlanta to be with the team. After the injury, Louisville went on to dominate the 2nd half and won the game by 23 points. Great game on paper, not so much on the court.

Michigan vs. Florida

Nik Stauskas after one of his 6 three pointers.

If your a Michigan fan like myself, you actually enjoyed watching the Wolverines beat down on Florida. But for the rest of the nation, this was just another blowout in the Elite 8. Michigan got off to a 13-0 start and never looked back. The Gators once again fell in the Elite 8 and can't seem to get over the hump since their Titles in '05 and '06. Trey Burke earned POY honors on Friday against Kansas thanks to his domination in the 2nd half as Canadian Nik Stauskas stole the show on Sunday in a punishing performance against Florida.

Syracuse vs. Marquette

Syracuse celebrating their first Final Four berth since 2003
when they won it all with Freshman Carmelo Anthony

If your an old-timer you probably enjoyed this game. Syracuse's 2-3 zone defense embarrassed Marquette on Thursday night. Being in the Big East, you would expect the Golden Eagles to have some sort of clue of how to perform against the zone but they showed no signs of that. They were terrible shooting 28% from the field. To show their offensive struggles note that the Golden Eagles accounted for 39 points in the game while Michigan put up 47 in the first half. Marquette bad, Syracuse good.

Wichita State vs. Ohio State

In what was probably the most exciting game of the Elite 8, Wichita State continued their run as Cinderella. Leading by 20 points at one point, the Shockers almost gave the game away. The Buckeyes got back in the game by pressuring an inexperienced Wichita squad. At one point, the Shockers went 14 possessions with only 1 Field Goal. With about 3 minutes to go, OSU had cut the lead to 3 when, and this bothers me, they called off the pressure. Ohio State had cut the lead down by 17 points with constant pressure but when they finally made it one possession they stop pressuring. This let the Shockers who two enormous shot. One by Teleke Cotton a clutch 3 and then a fall away jumper by the Freshman VanVleet which closed the game for the Shockers. I think Ohio State is going to regret those last 3 minutes as they were a great matchup with Louisville. 

Now, here is my analysis of the Final Four games and my predictions.

The early game tips off at 6:09 ET between Louisville and Wichita State.

Peyton Siva (left) and Russ Smith (right) are the most dominant
duo in the entire nation right now.

While many people though Ohio state would blow out Wichita State, myself included, I honestly believe this is an extremely lopsided matchup. If you read above, which I hope you did, Wichita State started to turn the ball over when they faced some defensive pressure. Now look what they have ahead of them. Besides maybe VCU, Louisville is the best defensive team at forcing turnovers. They also have the ability to speed you up and play their up tempo style of Basketball. Louisville will cruise to the Title game with Kevin Ware heavy in their hearts.

Louisville 78

Wichita State 65

Now for the more intriguing game. Syracuse's 2-3 zone vs. Michigan's sharp shooters.

Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Wolverines to their
first Final Four berth since the Fab 5 in 1993.

If you remember back to midway through the College Basketball season both these teams at one point reigned atop the College Basketball world. While both teams struggled, Michigan deemed too young and Syracuse struggled offensively, both these squads should not have been surprising picks. For Michigan it's the emergence of Freshman Mitch McGary who gives the Wolverines an inside presence and for Syracuse it's the stifling 2-3 zone. The Cuse' defense has caused more turnovers than they've allowed field goals, that stat tells a lot. With that being said, Michigan matches up very well with the Cuse. Michigan poses outside threats Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Nik Stauskas. If the Wolverines are hot from beyond the arc, Syracuse has absolutely no chance. Yet, if they are not, Syracuse has a great chance of advancing to a rematch of the Big East Championship game. This Syracuse team is more physical than Michigan and poses a ton of matchup problems. Almost every player in the Syracuse starting line up will be a few inches taller than their respective Michigan matchup. The key to this game will be whether Michigan shoots well from outside or whether Syracuse controls the game down low. I give the edge to the Wolverines but not by much.

Michigan 60

Syracuse 58

My title game pick will come later in the week, so keep checking back!!