Thank You, Greedy Old Men

We have just concluded our first full week of the 2011-2012 NBA season, and it was incredible. The Miami Heat are playing like the team we know they are, and it is scary. Kevin Durant is playing with a chip on his shoulder and James Harden's beard is better than ever. Ricky Rubio is already becoming one of the most exciting players in the NBA and with some help from Kevin Love and Michael Beasley the Timberwolves could have a legitimate chance at the playoffs this season. And, as much as it pains me to say it, the Raptors are still longshots in the playoff race. Yes, all this just sounds like normal headlines that would emerge at the start of an NBA season, so what makes this year different? To put it simply, the shortened schedule. With teams playing 4 games in 5 nights multiple times and the NBA's first ever back-to-back-to-back scheduled games, NBA fans will be treated to good basketball every single night.

One thing that the shortened season will bring us is upsets that would otherwise be impossible. Fatigue will have huge tolls on every team but especially older ones. The Celtics, Spurs and Lakers were three of the top 6 teams in the NBA last season but I would be surprised to see any of them finish in the top 4 of their respective conferences. With multiple games every single night and different factors playing into every different game (fatigue, travel schedule etc.) The NBA is going to have one of it's most exciting seasons in history.

In the NBA right now, there are essentially 8 superstars, Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitski and Carmelo Anthony. The NBA knows this, and as the great people that they are, they chose to have these players play each other a lot. Because of the shortened season, Eastern Conference teams only play 3 teams from the West twice, and vice versa. The Heat got OKC, the Lakers and Dallas, not the easiest schedule, but at least it's the most entertaining! OKC got Orlando, Boston and Miami. And to put this into perspective, the Kings will play the Pistons, New Jersey and Charlotte, (three of the worst teams in the East.) The point is, the list of title contenders playing title contenders in the regular season is going to be such a regular thing this season that we are almost going to spoil ourselves. There is only one day with fewer than two games until February and on that night the Knicks play the Celtics and OKC plays the Clippers.

Some early season things to look out for and a few predictions:

Rajon Rondo will challenge Derrick Rose for the title of best point guard in the East. He recorded the first triple double of the season on Sunday with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists.

Derrick Rose will notice that Rondo has gotten better, and he will then up his game to a totally new level. Look for Rose to average 25 points a game this season (he averaged just under 21 last season.)

Lebron and KD to duke it out for the scoring title. Both have already scored over 30 points in this young season twice.

The Heat, Trail Blazers and Thunder are all still undefeated and I don't think many people will be surprised to see the Thunder and Heat atop their respective conferences when the All-Star break rolls around.

Happy Holidays to all.
Until Derrick Rose throws an alley-oop to Demar DeRozan wearing a Raptors uniform
-Riley

Cross-Sport Power Rankings

I got this idea from ESPN, but they don't do a very good job. Cross-Sport Power Rankings are essentially a list that ranks players from different sports in terms of how well they are playing at the time I write the post. ESPN does like 500, I think I'll stick to a top 10.

1. Aaron Rodgers
He has a season Passer Rating at 122.4, second place is Tom Brady with 104.8. He is the only player in NFL history to have a passer rating of above 110 in 5 straight starts, he has done it in 7, and counting. He has a completion percentage above 70 percent and is averaging almost 10 yards a pass. He has already thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for 2, that gives him more personal touchdowns than 24 NFL team's have scored with their whole offense. He has thrown 3 INT's, and his team is 7-0. MVP, here we come, back to back Super Bowls? Why not.

 2. Mike Napoli
Napoli joined Mickey Mantle as the only player to have multiple RBIs in 4 World Series games. He made two game winning plays last night (he hit a two-run double to go up 4-2, and threw out Allen Craig at 2nd for the second last out of the game,)and who knew that was even possible!

 3. Phil Kessel
Maybe a little biased.. but he is leading the NHL in goals and points, and leading the leafs to a 5-2-1 start. I BELEAF

 4. Derek Holland
I am going to try to fit as many baseball players in here as possible because it is their last chance to be here until April. Either way, Holland deserves to be here. 8.1 innings of shutout ball against a team that had erupted for 16 runs the previous night. If this series goes 7, because of the off day, I would bet Holland will be the starter.

 5. Drew Brees
 31/35, 5 TDs, 325 yards, 0 INT's. Automatic? Unfair? Yup. The Saints are 5-2 and look like the early favourites to win the NFC South, and it is all to do with Drew Brees. He has only thrown under 320 yards once and has thrown for at least3 TD's in four of his seven games.

6. Johnathon Quick
Quick is 5-0-1 with a microscopical 0.81 GAA and a save percentage of .972. In six games, he has three shutouts. Dallas will not be able to keep up their hot start and the Kings will win the Pacific conference, and (Prediction) make it to the Stanley Cup Final.

 7. Neftali Feliz
This guy is so much fun to watch. He throws almost 100 MPH and walks enough guys to at least make his saves interesting. Other than the walks, though, he is lights out. In 3 appearances (2.2 innings) he has given up no hits and struck out five. He has walked one player in each appearance, but stranded them every time. Going against my previous prediction (sorry) Feliz will throw the last pitch of the 2011 World Serires.

 8. Albert Pujols
Ok, you must have noticed by now, I love Pujols. He probably doesn't deserve to be on the list given the last two games when he has been really quite. But three days ago he became one of three players to hit three home runs in a World Series game. Joining arguably the best clutch hitter of all time, Reggie Jackson, and dis-arguably the best hitter of all time, Babe Ruth. Pretty good company.

 9. Sergio Aguero
This guy plays soccer for Manchester City, they just beat Manchester United 6-1! I didn't know you could score 6 goals in a match. Well Sergio is leading he Premier League in goals with 9 in 8 games... keep it up!

 10. Dirk Nowitski
I miss the NBA, but i bet Dirk is still on fire.

 Just missed: Adrian Beltre, Nikolai Khabibulin, Allen Craig, Brodie Smith #21, every college football player.

Until Aaron Rodgers is the QB of the Toronto NFL team,
- Riley