How Was Your Week?

Posted: June 25, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in basketball, hockey, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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We had some drafting done to end the week and not the fantasy kind. On Thursday the NBA had it’s draft. That was followed up on Friday by the NHL holding it’s annual draft. I’ll start with the NBA draft since I saw more of that.

First the things that drive me crazy. Why does the NBA not allow teams to make trades during the draft so we can actually see where the player is going and not have to hear about it later. It drives me nuts when a player is drafted by a team and he goes up on stage gets the hat and the jersey from the team that picked him and does the picture thing with Commissioner Adam Silver only to find out that he’s not with that team now. There where a couple of occasions when the television announce crew would spend 5 to 10 minutes breaking down a player and how he fit with the team that drafted him only to have to turn around and do it again for the team who had already traded for him. It’s not like all these trades are happening right now and the league can’t keep up with them. How is it possible that the NFL can handle teams making trades while they’re on the clock t draft, but the NBA is lost and can’t find a way to do it. Moving on; streamline the draft coverage. Why was the television coverage so long? For whatever reason ESPN stretched out the actual draft itself to like four hours when it probably could’ve been done in have the time. Would it of been that hard for them to put a draft recap show on or something like that instead of just dragging out the draft and making it unwatchable. I get it they overpaid for their contract to cover the NBA so they’re going to do everything they can to keep them on television, but stretching out the draft coverage like this makes it boring. With the way they handle the coverage they don;t seem to understand that the majority of the fans watching will go away from the channel and the draft after a pick has been made and then come back and pick the coverage up when it gets closer to the next pick being made. Maybe this doesn’t reflect in the ratings; so it doesn’t hurt their numbers. If it did then they’d care about it.

As for the actual draft itself. It went like most experts had predicted it would. Ben Simmons (LSU) went #1 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers. Then Brandon Ingram (Duke) went #2 to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Boston Celtics on the clock at #3 with one of there 8 picks on the night did everything they could according to reports to deal this pick for some veteran help, but couldn’t find a trade partner and ended up selecting Jaylon Brown (California) with the pick. Most experts thought after the first two picks came off the board any of the top players could be picked by any of the teams in the draft lottery and that’s how it went. The first real surprised was when the Milwaukee Bucks selected high schooler Thon Maker with the 10th pick in the 1st round. Maker didn’t attend college or play overseas, but spent last season at the Athlete Institute in Canada and this had some people questioning his eligibility for the NBA draft. There is also some question about his age. Maker is listed as being 19 years old, but there where NBA teams that took him off there draft boards as there are reports that he’s actually between the of 21 and 23. After Milwaukee took Maker the draft kind of settled back in and the story became how far would Skal Labissiere (Kentucky) fall. Most if not every mock draft had Labissiece being selected in the Top 10. Labissece was eventually selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 28th pick, but was traded to the Sacramento Kings in a draft day trade; that we of course didn’t find out about until after the pick was made. In his one season at Kentucky Labissece didn’t produce like it was thought he would, but still entered the NBA draft. The down season along with his performance at the NBA Draft Combine contributed to Labissece fall to #28. Back to the Celtics and all there draft picks. Besides Brown at #3 the Celtics selected Guerschon Yabusele out of France with the 16th pick of the 1st round and then at #23 the Celtics picked Ante Zizic from Croatia. As of no it appears that they’ll be keeping all three of these draft picks. Of course when you pick a player from overseas he might not be eligible to play in the NBA right away depending on what his contract situation is with his current team. The Celtics where able to deal a couple of their 2nd round draft picks #31 and #35 to the Memphis Grizzlies, but still had three 2nd round picks of there own. At #45 they took Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame), at #51 they took Ben Bentil (Providence) and at # 58 Boston took Abdel Nader (Iowa State) to wrap up it’s draft night. I don;t think that the Celtics and there General Manager Danny Ainge thought they would walk away from the draft having picked six players. I guess will have to wait and see if there are some deals still in the works for the Celtics or if they’re going to open the 2016-17 season with quite a few rookies on their roster.

I’ll be the first to admit that I don;t know much of anything about the players that where drafted by the NHL last night. Auston Matthews get #1 overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs and I’d expect to see him with them in the 2016-17 season. I’m sure we’ll see a few of these 1st round draft picks playing in the NHL next season, but I just don;t know a whole lot about them. What I wanted to venture off into was some of the draft day trades that where made. The Detroit Red Wings traded Pavel Datsyuk; who I thought I heard was either going to retire or play next season in Russia along with the 16th pick in the draft to the Arizona Coyotes for 20th pick, the 53rd pick and Joe Vitale. I was a little surprise to hear that the St. Louis Blues broke up their goaltending tandem, but they did sending Brian Elliott to Calgary Flames for 2016 2nd-round pick (35th overall), 2018 conditional 3rd-round pick. The Chicago Blackhawks also made a move to help with there salary cap issues as they sent Andrew Shaw to Montreal Canadiens for two 2nd round picks #39 and #45. We’ll see if these deals impact any free agent signings or if some of the teams in these deals where so close to the salary cap that they just needed the relief.

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Cubs squeak by 1

Posted: June 24, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs seek to break thier four game skid against the Marlins with Kyle Hendricks taking to the mound against Tom Koehler.  Niether men would have an easy start both giving up 4 runs in the first inning.   

Kris Bryant starts it off with his 18th home run of the season then Wilson Conteras would do the same but it would be his 3rd of the year bringing Ben Zobrist in.  Chris Coghlan would send a line drive to right for his 1st triple of the year and would score on Javier Baez’s ground ball to center.  

Addison Russell would put Derek Dietrich with a fielding error.  Kyle would walk the Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton to load the bases.  On an 0-1 count Kyle would toss one up for Justin Bour for his 13th home run for a grand slam to tie the game.  

Hendricks would last four more innings before Trevor Cahill would enter the game.  Trevor Wood comes into the 7th makes it into the 8th to hold it for Hector Rondon.  

Koehler would make it through 6 to be replaced by Mike Dunn who would only last a third of an inning walking Bryant, then hits Zo.  Contreras would send a line drive to center field putting the Cubs ahead by 1.  Nick Wittgten gets the Marlins out of the inning. 

Aside from the one run, both bullpens would stop the other from adding more to the board but The Cubs break their losing streak.  

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

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Cubs Can’t Take the Heat

Posted: June 24, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Cubs head south to start the summer.  Jon Lester is on the mound taking on Wei-Yin Chen.  Lester is looking for win number 10 in his first meeting in Miami.

Lester would make it through three innings without any damage.  The fourth inning he would give up the first hit as a single but it would be Giancarlo Stanton’s solo home run for the first run.  He’d give up another solo shot in the sixth to Marcell Ozuna for the second run.  He’d only give up those 2 runs through 7 innings averaging 7 K’s per inning.

The Cubs would strike first in the 4th with a single by Jason Heyward that brought him to third on a fielding error.  Kris Bryant would drive him in a sac fly to left.  The Northsiders wouldn’t grab another run until the top of the 8th when David Ross would launch his 8th home run of the season tieing the game st 2 which should lead us to extra innings.

Pedro Strop enters the game in the 8th getting the first out but gives up a walk to Christian Yelich who scores on Stanton’s ground ball to right.  J.T. Realmuto would drive in Stanton to put the Marlins up by 2. Strop gets out of the inning without any further damage but ends up with a loss as the Cubs couldn’t rebound in the top of the ninth.

Thats four in a row, the bats are on a break but we still have time.

Go Cubs Go!

 Dan the Man

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Cubs Swept???

Posted: June 22, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in sports
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Game 69 of 162 has Jake “The Great One” Arrieta heading into game 3 of the Cardinals series in Wrigleyville with the Cubs down by 2 looking to avoid being swept.  Jake’s last outing against the Cardinals on May 25 in St Louis had him only go 5 innings giving up 7 hits and 4 earned runs, striking out 4.  The offense was able to keep him in the game and give him a W.  Today’s match up would see him going against struggling Michael Wacha with only 2 wins on the season.  His last outing was a Loss for the Cards going only 4 innings giving up 8 earned runs on 8 hits, striking out 4 batters.  As far as history goes, this should be the game the Cubs win to avoid the sweep.

The Cubs hitters would not land their first hit until the bottom of the fourth inning until Anthony Rizzo sends a line drive to left with two outs and Kris Bryant on.  After that Wacha would continue to mow the Cubs down until the bottom of the 7th when he would give up a one out double to Addison Russell who would score with two outs, when Wilson Contreras cranks his second home run of the season giving the Cubs 2 runs prompting a pinching change for the Cardinals.  Seth Maness would close out the 7th and get one out in the 8th to be replace by Tyler Lyons who gets Chris Coghlan to ground into an inning ending double play.  Tyler would be replace in the 9th after getting the first out by Jonathon Broxton who shuts the door on the Cubs.

It’s obvious at this point that Jake did not have a “Great” outing on a potential rainout.  Jake would start out the game with maybe not his best stuff but strrikes out 6 through 4 innings giving up two doubles Jhonny Peralta.  The fifth inning would see Matt Carpentar and Matt Adams getting on base by walks with Aledmys Diaz getting a single in between.  Stephen Piscotty would seemingly ground into a routine double play, Bryant to Zobrist but Ben’s throw to first is an error scoring Diaz, as Carpenter already scored.  

The Cubs would bring Justin Grimm into the sixth who immediately gives up a double to Brandon Moss, scoring on Yadier Molina’s fielders choice.  Bryant throws gone to try and catch Moss but trying to make the tag, Montero would bend his leg in the wrong way, bringing in Wilson Contreras.  Grimm would give up another run when Kolten Wong would score on Matt Carpenters double to center.  Maddon would visit the mound to bring in Carl Edwards Jr to give up a 2 run home run to Diaz putting the Cards up 7-0.  

Edwards would stay in for the seventh, striking out two for a quick inning.  A Southern Illinois Alum donning a Cubs uniform for the first time, comes into the 8th walking one batter but allowing no runs or any hits striking out Carpentar.   He stays in the for the 9th, striking out two and getting Molina to flyout to end the inning.  

The Cubs are swept for the first time since 1988 at Wrigley Field.  They leave for the heat down to play the Miami Marlins for a four game series. 

Go Cubs Go! 

Dan the Man

Let’s call it Wednesday

Posted: June 22, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in basketball, golf, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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The Golden State Warriors won 73 regular season games and there was a lot of talk about this was the best team ever. This 73 win team made it to the NBA Finals for the second season in a row. Now the issue becomes is this the best team ever or is this the best regular season team ever since they lost Game 7 and the NBA Championship 93-89 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. The record Golden State broke belonged to the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, but that Bulls team won the title. The next year the Bulls won 69 games to tie for the second most wins in a season at the time with 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers. Both of those 69 win team won the title. I guess the question is; what does a 73 win regular season mean when you don;t win the NBA title. The record is impressive in this NBA day and age where players are always looking to take regular season games off and not to mention staying healthy. Did setting the wins record in the regular season hurt Golden State in the playoffs. To be fair the NBA did everything in it’s power to make sure there was a Game 7. The NBA and the referees did quite a bit to stack the deck against the Warriors in Games 5 and 6, but Game 7 appeared to be on the up and up and they didn’t win. Without the NBA title on their resume where does this Golden State team rank in NBA history. Would they make it into the Top 5 or do they make the Top 10. Is there even a possibility that they’re outside the Top 10 because they didn’t win the title. Even if the Warriors had won the NBA title there where people who thought that the 1995-96 Bulls team led by the greatest player of all time Michael Jordan was still a better team. By not winning the championship Golden State made it easier for anyone and everyone who want to compare these teams to drop them down the list. If you’re making your list; where do you have this Golden State team on it?

While we’re talking about the Warriors they made some noise yesterday about who they might target in free agency. NBA free agency officially starts July 1st and there are reports that Golden State’s number one target is Kevin Durant. Now of course teams always need a back up plan and yesterday the Warriors back up plan may have opted out of his contract. While he is 38 wouldn’t Dirk Nowitzki fit nicely into the scheme that Golden State runs.  Nowitzki has spent his entire 18 year NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, but could he leave Dallas for a shot at another NBA title with Golden State. The Mavericks won the NBA championship in 2010-11 season and Nowitzki was voted finals M.V.P. Nowitzki won the league M.V.P. in 2007; he’s a 13 time All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA team 12 times all with the Mavericks. Nowitzki is the Mavericks all time leading scorer and is 6th in NBA history. Nowitzki is also the Mavericks all-time leader in games,  rebounds, field goals, three-point field goals and free throws. I think it would be tough for Nowitzki to leave Dallas, but is the allure of another championship enough for him to sign with Golden State.

While we’re on free agency Dwight Howard declined the $23.1 million dollar option in his contract and come July 1st will be a free agent. Now guys like LeBron James and Dwayne Wade will opt out of their contracts and sign max deals with their respective teams. With the increase of the salary cap and the influx of money do to the new television agreement there will be a lot of players opting out of there deals on a yearly basis to get bigger and bigger contracts. This move might make sense for a lot of those players, but is it the right move for Howard. Will the Houston Rockets or any other NBA team pay him more than the $23.1 million he just opted out of. Last season Howard’s scoring average (13.7 points per game) reached it’s lowest since his (12.0 points per game) in his rookie season. Howard is still a solid rebounder and shot blocker, but he’s also still a terrible free throw shooter. With the way the NBA game has changed it’s hard to see a team paying Howard upwards of $20 million, but it does only take one team to see something in Howard or have a use for him. Would you want your favorite team to sign Howard with the price tag of over $20 million.

The NBA draft is tomorrow and the Philadelphia 76ers have the 1st pick. Word has leaked out that the 76ers plan on selecting LSU forward Ben Simmons with that 1st pick. There was some talk that Simmons didn’t want to play for Philadelphia and would prefer to be drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 2nd pick. That talk seems to have passed as Simmons had his first workout for an NBA team and it was the 76ers. With Simmons now appearing to be a lock for the #1 pick this leaves the Lakers drafting Duke forward Brandon Ingram. It’s been reported over and over that Simmons and Ingram are clearly the Top 2 players in this draft. The Boston Celtics have the 3rd pick and they’ve dangled it in front of the Chicago Bulls in a deal for Jimmy Butler. Boston is a young team and adding a veteran for this pick would be a good move, but if they hang onto it I’m not sure who they’d draft. Could it be California forward Jaylen Brown, Washington forward Marquese Chriss or possible Croatian forward Dragan Bender. It pretty much seems that after Simmons and Ingram come off the draft board it’s kind of up for grabs on who goes next.

I was wondering if or when we’d start hear Olympians bow out of the Rio de Janeiro games because of the Zika virus. World’s #4 ranked golfer Rory McIlroy has decided not to compete at this summer’s Olympics in Rio due to fears about the Zika virus. McIlroy joins a list including Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Marc Leishman and Vijay Singh having already said they will not travel to Brazil; while world #6 ranked golfer Rickie Fowler has also cast doubt on his participation. The situation is a difficult one for golf as it  returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1904. Concerns about the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects, have cast a shadow over Rio 2016, but the International Olympic Committee, with guidance from the World Health Organisation, has resisted calls for the Games to be moved or postponed.

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Down 2 

Posted: June 22, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Last night was not a W in Wrigleyville for John Lackey but Jason Hammel hopes to improve to 8-2 when he takes on Adam Wainwright.  Hammel owns a 2-0 record against the Cards this year in St. Louis and looks to make the first of his starts this year at home against the Cards a W.  While the veteran batting lineup seems to have his number, no one has reached 20 at bats against him.

Tonight would not be Hammel’s night going only 5 & 2/3 innings giving up 4 runs in the second and third innings.  Stephen Piscotty would lead off the second with a double scoring on Brandon Moss’s single to center.  In the third, Matt Carpenter would lead off with his 11th home run of the season.  Aledmys Diaz would reach on a single the reaches home on Matt Holiday’s 13th home run of the season giving the Cardinals the lead with 4 runs.  

With Adam Warren optioned to Triple-A Iowa and Clayton Richard on the DL, the contract of Gerardo Concepcion is brought up and the fastball pitcher immediately enters the game in the bottom of the 6th striking out Brandon Moss to end the inning and has a 1-2-3 7th inning.  Pedro Strop takes the 8th striking out 2 batters as Travis Wood closes the game out.  

The Cubs bats wouldn’t provide enough support for Hammel to get his 8th win of the season.  They would strike first with Chris Coghlan leading off with a single getting pushed to third then scoring on Anthony Rizzo’s sac fly for the first run of the game.  

Coghlan would then lead off the third with a walk and immediately scores on Jason Heyward’s 12th double of the year, a line drive to center.  Wilson Contreras and Addison Russsel would both single in the bottom of the 4th with Contreras ending up at 3rd base and then scoring when Albert Almora grounds into a double play.  

Cubs lose by 1 in their second straight loss to the Cardinals.  There’s always tomorrow as long as the rain doesn’t stop them. 

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

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A Loss for Lackey

Posted: June 20, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Game 68 has the St. Louis Cardinals coming to Wrigley for the first time this season with Jamie Garcia taking on John Lackey.  His last outing in St. Louis, he went 7 innings striking out 11 but giving up no runs for his third straight win to open the season.  Tonight he hopes to continue his domination of his former team.  He would get through the first inning giving up a single Aledyms Diaz and walking Stephen Piscotty but giving up no runs.  Jamie Garcia would do the same giving up a single to Ben Zobrist and waking Anthony Rizzo.  Lackey gets himself in to trouble giving up a solo home run to Brandon Moss, then gives up a single to Kolten Wong who moves to second on Garcia’s sac bunt.  Matt Carpenter would walk and end up at second on Diz’s single to left scoring Wong.  Lackey gets out of the inning but the Cards are up 2-0.  Baez would get a single but that would be all the action for the Cubs in the second.  Johnny Peralta leads off the third with a solo home run but Lackey gets out of the inning but not before giving up a single to Wong.

Zo would start off the bottom of the third with a single and scores on Kris Bryant’s 16th double of the season.  With Rizzo at the plate, Garcia would throw a wild pitch moving Bryant to third.  After Rizzo strikes out, Wilson Contreras would get his second RBI of his young career sending a single to center.  Cubs 2, Cardinals 3.

Lackey would score his first 1-2-3 inning with two flyouts and a ground out.  Jamie Grcia would do the same but with two ground outs and a K.  Both men would hit a batter in the 5th but Lackey would give up a single to Stephen Piscotty.  Lackey would score his second 1-2-3 inning of the game.  The bottom half would see a walk to Baez but all three batters would fly out.

Trevor Cahill would replace John Lackey in the top of the seventh getting all three batters out.  Garcia would stay in the game getting the first two outs but gives up a single to Jason Heyward bringing Tommy Pham into the game to face Kris Bryant who flys out to end the inning.

Travis Wood comes into the eighth making it a quick 1-2-3 inning.  Seung Hwan Oh enters the game giving up a single to Rizzo who ends being forced out on Contreras’s double play.  Baez would come up to the plate but goes down swinging.

Justin Grimm comes in the eighth striking out Pham but walks Matt Carpenter who gets caught caught stealing second.  Aledyms Diaz walks and that brings Maddon to the mound for a new pitcher.  Clayton Richard  would come into the game to face Jedd Gyorko giving up a double that Diaz would try to score on but gets caught on Kris Bryant’s relay to Russell.

The Cubs last chance sees Trevor Rosenthal enter the game for the Cards to try and get the save and starts out by striking out Russell.  Albert Almora Jr would double and Chris Coghlan, pinch hitting would get hit to reach first.  Almora would get gunned down at third by Yadier Molina.  Zo would send a single to right field moving Coughlan to third.  Man on first and third with Jason Heyward at the plate but he pops out to end the game for the Cubs.

Not a win for the Cubs and only a small loss for Lackey.  He goes to 7 and 3 but the Cubs at 47 and 21 still hold the best record in the Majors.

Go Cubs Go.

Dan the Man

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The 2011 NBA draft

Posted: June 20, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in basketball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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Believe it or not the NBA Finals are actually over and the draft is this Thursday. Like we like to do we’re looking back to see who the 1st round picks where and if they helped the team that selected them.

#1 Kyrie Irving (Duke) Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving spent just one season in college and he was hurt for most of that. While he’s shown he can be a top player in the NBA the injury bug has continued to follow him as he has missed 101 games due to injuries since being drafted.

#2 Derrick Williams (Arizona) Minnesota Timberwolves. Williams spent two plus seasons with the Timberwolves before being dealt to the Sacramento Kings in 2013-14. Williams spent the remained of the 2013-14 season with the Kings plus one more. He played in 80 games last season for the New York Knicks. For being the 2nd overall pick you could say Williams is a bust.

#3 Enes Kanter (Switzerland) Utah Jazz. Kanter spent three and a half season with Utah and was averaging double figure points for them when he was dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2014-15 season. Kanter has continued to average double figure points for the Thunder. Kanter’s rebounding average has went up since going to Oklahoma City; plus he played in every regular season game last season.

#4 Tristan Thompson (Texas) Cleveland Cavaliers. With their second pick on the Top 5 the Cavaliers took a big body rebounder. Thompson has averaged 8.5 rebounds for his career and has averaged 9 plus rebounds a game during three of his five seasons with Cleveland. Thompson has never been a big time scorer; he averages 9.7 points per game, but he plays. Thompson has played in every regular season game the last four seasons.

#5 Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania) Toronto Raptors. It took a year for Valanciunas to join the Raptors as he was under contract to his European team, but in four seasons his scoring average has continued to climb; reaching a high of 12.8 points a game this season. His rebounding average also reached a career high of 9.1 per game last season. He’ll be looking to play a full season next year as injuries limited him to 60 games last season.

#6 Jan Vesely (Czech Republic) Washington Wizards. As the 6th pick in the draft you can clearly say Vesely was a bust. He spent a little over three season with Washington before being dealt to the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 3.6 points per game in his career along with grabbing an average of 3.5 rebounds per game. Vesely spent just three season in the NBA and played in 162 career games.

#7 Bismack Biyombo (Republic of Congo) Sacramento Kings. While being officially drafted by the Kings Biyombo never played for them as he was dealt on draft day to the Charlotte Bobcats. Biyombo spent four seasons with the Bobcats; who went back to the Hornets name his last season there. In 2015-16 he signed a free agent contract with the Toronto Raptors. Biyombo isn’t a huge scorer averaging 4.6 points per game in his career, but he is a solid rebounder 6.5 career average and can block shots averaging 1.6 per game in his career.

#8 Brandon Knight (Kentucky) Detroit Pistons. Knight has has a solid NBA career so far, but it’s been with three different teams. After two season in Detroit he was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks. Then after a season plus with Milwaukee he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. Knight averages 15.9 points per game in his career and has averaged 4.6 assists per game. He put up his career high scoring average last season at 19.6 per game.

#9 Kemba Walker (Connecticut) Charlotte Bobcats. The knock on Walker was that he was a shoot first point guard, but he has averaged 5.3 assists per game in his career. Don’t look at that the wrong way though Walker is a shoot first type of player. He averages 17.3 points per game and just put up his career high at 20.9 points per game last season. Walker has spent his entire career with Charlotte and has twice tied for the NBA lead in games played.

#10 Jimmer Fredette (Brigham Young) Milwaukee Bucks. Fredette was another one of those draft day deals. He never played for Milwaukee as he was dealt to the Sacramento Kings on draft day. Fredette was a high volume shooter and scorer in college, but his skills never translated to the NBA. Teams continue to take looks at him though as he’s been with four teams in five NBA seasons. He ended last season playing in two games for the New York Knicks after spending time in the D-League.

#11 Klay Thompson (Washington State) Golden State Warriors. Thompson is a key part to Golden State’s success. his scoring average has improved every season and reached 22.1 per game this past season. Golden State centers it’s offense around 3-point shooting and Thompson had his best career year behind the 3-point line. Thompson made 47% of the 3- point shots he took and for his career he’s shooting 45% from behind the 3- point line. Thompson has made the last two All-Star games and won the NBA title in 2014-15.

#12 Alec Burks (Colorado) Utah Jazz. While spending most of his time coming off the Utah bench Burks has averaged double digit points per game in the last three seasons. He was limited to just 31 games last season because of injury. Burks has gotten his career scoring average above the 10 points per game mark. Injuries have limited him though as he played in just 259 games over his five season with the Jazz.

#13 Markief Morris (Kansas) Phoenix Suns. Morris spent four plus seasons with the Suns before being dealt to the Washington Wizards last season. He’s a solid all around player. He averages 11.5 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game in his career. After being traded to Washington his field goal percentage jump to a career high 52.4%.

#14 Marcus Morris (Kansas) Houston Rockets. Yes that’s right the Morris twins went back to back in this draft. After a season and a half Morris was dealt to the Phoenix Suns where his brother was playing. After an off court incident he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. He averaged career highs with the Pistons in points at 14.1 per game; assists at 2.5 per game and in rebounds at 5.1 per game.

#15 Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State) Indiana Pacers. Here’s another one of those players who was drafted by a team, but never played there. Leonard has spent his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs and has become on of the top players in the NBA. Leonard won the NBA championship with the Spurs in 2014 and was named Finals MVP. He has also won Defensive Player of the Year the last two seasons. His 21.2 points per game average was the highest of his career.

#16  Nikola Vucevic (USC) Philadelphia 76ers. People may not remember that Vucevic was drafted by the 76ers and spent one season with Philadelphia before being traded to the Orlando Magic. Since being traded to Orlando Vucevic has averaged double figures in scoring. In 2014-15 he posted a career high averaging 19.3 points per game and last season he averaged 18.2 points per game. He also averages 9.8 rebounds in his career.

#17 Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech) New York Knicks. After a little over three seasons with New York Shumpert was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers where he just won the NBA title. Shumpert looked t be stepping into a starting role with the Knicks, but since being traded to the Cavaliers he has been coming off the bench. Shumpert has been looked at as a defensive player. He averages 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in his career.

#18 Chris Singleton (Florida State) Washington Wizards. Singleton played in 148 games over three seasons for Washington. He averaged 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds for his career. Since being let go by Washington Singleton has spent time in the D-League, the Chinese Basketball Association and has played professionally in Russia. In the NBA draft at this point it’s tough to call anyone a bust; so what would you describe Singleton as?

#19 Tobias Harris (Tennessee) Milwaukee Bucks. Harris spent a season and a half with Milwaukee before being traded to the Orlando magic where his scoring really improved. He never averaged more than 5.0 points per game with Milwaukee, but once he got to Orlando his average went right into double digits. Then after three plus seasons with Orlando Harris was traded again this time to the Detroit Pistons. Harris has a career scoring average of 13.2 points per game.

#20 Donatas Motiejūnas (Lithuania) Minnesota Timberwolves. Drafted by Minnesota, but traded to Houston on draft night Motiejunas took a year to join the Rockets. He has battled some injury issues as he’s played in 214 games over his four seasons with Houston. He proved when he’s healthy and playing he can score as he averaged a career high 12.0 points per game when he played in a career high 71 games in the 2014-15 season. He appeared in 37 games last season and was healthy enough to play in 5 playoff games for the Rockets.

#21 Nolan Smith (Duke) Portland Trail Blazers. Smith spent just two season in the NBA with the Trail Blazers. He played in 84 games starting 4 of them. His career scoring average is 3.3 points per game. Smith spent time playing in Croatia, Turkey and the D-League before joining the Duke coaching staff as a special assistant in February of this year.

#22 Kenneth Faried (Morehead State) Denver Nuggets. Faried has become a staple along the Nuggets front line since being drafted. He has been a double digit scorer and a tough rebounder since being drafted. Faried averages 12.3 points oer game and 8.7 rebounds per game in his career. Faried was a member of the United States national team that won the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup; Faried was also named to the All-Tournament team. In January 2016, Faried was announced as one of the 30 finalists for United States national team that will compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

#23 Nikola Mirotic (Spain) Houston Rockets. Another player drafted by one team, but sent to another right away as Mirotic is with the Chicago Bulls. Mirotic has played just two NBA seasons for the Bulls. He missed some time last season due to injury, but has averaged double digit points in his first two seasons. It was thought that Mirotic would be a 3-point shooting threat, but he’s shooting 35.5% from behind the 3-point line in his career. His percentage did improve last season; so maybe he’ll end up fitting that role.

#24 Reggie Jackson (Boston College) Oklahoma City Thunder. Jackson was with Oklahoma City for three and a half season, but with Russell Westbrook as the starting point guard it was tough for Jackson to get minutes. Jackson let the Thunder know he was unhappy and ended up being dealt to the Detroit Pistons where he’s found playing time and shown he can score. In his first partial season with Detroit Jackson averaged 17.6 points per game. Last season in 79 games Jackson averaged 18.8 points per game. Did he just need to play?

#25 MarShom Brooks (Providence) Boston Celtics. Brooks right to the New Jersey Nets in a draft day trade. Brooks played in 164 games over three seasons with four teams. He averaged 7.7 points per game in his NBA career. Brooks played with the  Emporio Armani Milano in the Italian League in 2014 and he signed to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Jiangsu Dragons in August of 2015. 

#26 Jordan Hamilton (Texas) Dallas Mavericks. Another deal here as Hamilton went to the Denver Nuggets on draft day. Hamilton spent three plus seasons with Denver before being dealt to Houston Rockets. After finishing the 2013-14 season with Houston Hamilton signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. After spending  a few seasons in the D-League Hamilton is now playing for the Bucaneros de La Guaira in the Liga Profesional de Baloncesto in Venezuela.

#27 JaJuan Johnson (Purdue) New Jersey Nets. Another trade here as Johnson went from the Nets to the Boston Celtics in draft day. Johnson played just one season with the Celtics. In 36 games he averaged 3.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Johnson spent some time in the D-League before heading overseas to play. He’s spent the last three seasons playing overseas and is currently with Pallacanestro Cantù in the Italian League.

#28 Norris Cole (Cleveland State) Chicago Bulls. Cole was dealt to the Miami Heat on draft day and spent four plus seasons with the Heat. Miami traded Cole to the New Orleans Pelicans. Cole posted his highest per game scoring average of 9.9 with New Orleans. Cole is the Pelicans back up point guard. Cole was part of two NBA championship teams while with the Heat.

#29 Cory Joseph (Texas) San Antonio Spurs. Joseph spent four seasons with the Spurs coming off the bench before signing a free agent deal with the Toronto Raptors. Joseph played in a career high 80 games for the Raptors; starting four of them. He also posted his career high in points per game 8.5, assists per game 3,1 and rebounds per game 2.6 with Toronto last season. His deal with Toronto was for four year and $30 million.

#30 Jimmy Butler (Marquette) Chicago Bulls. With the last pick of the 1st round the Bulls found a quality player in Butler. He has battled some injuries as he’s played in all 82 games just once in his career. He had his best season last season posting career highs in scoring average with 20.9 points per game and assists with 4.8 assists per game. Butler received a five year $95 million dollar contract from the Bulls in July of 2015.

There you go! How did your favorite team do in this draft. Did they find a guy they could build around and win a title with? Or is the guy they picked playing in another country right now.

@Burketime

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Wrigleyville Father’s Day

Posted: June 19, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs/Pirates series would see another main event this time on the mothership AKA ESPN.  James Taillon would be taking on Kyle Hendricks who would have a quick first inning.   Chris Coughlan would be replacing Dexter Fowler leading off with a walk and moved to third on Heyward’s single.  Bryant would strike out but Rizzo would send a soft liner to short scoring Chris.  But Taillon would get out of the inning.  Cubs up by 1.  

In the top of the second, Kyle would give two singles but would get out of the inning. In the bottom half with one out, Javier Baez would send a fly ball to left for his sixth home run of the season.  The inning would end but the Cubs would put themselves up by 2.  The Pirates would get a hit in the top of the third by Kyle would strike out 2.  

Taillon would start the bottom of the third with back to back home runs to Bryant and Rizzo to put the Cubs up by 4.  Zobrist would flyout.  Miguel Montero would reach on a soft grounder to second and then steals second but gets thrown out trying to score on Baez’s single to right.  

After striking out the first two batters, Josh Harrison would send a long fly ball to center for his third home run of the season but Kyle would get out of the inning but he’d strike out to start the bottom half of the inning and the Cubs wouldn’t add to the board.  The Cubs 4, Pirates 1.  

Kyle would give up a two out single and gives up a two out double to Gregory Polanco but strikes out McCutchen to end the inning.  A.J. Schugel enters the fifth to get the Pirates second 1-2-3 inning.  Kyle would start off the top of the 6th getting the first out but would give up a single to Jung Ho Kang and Jody Mercer would reach on an error but Kyle would get out of the inning without putting the Pirates closer in range.  A.J. would stay in the bottom of the sixth getting the first two outs but Javier Baez would single to third and would score on new comer Wilson Contreras’s pinch hit two run home run.  Cubs are up 6-1.  

Justin Grimm enters the seventh to get the first out to be replaced by Clayton Richard putting Matt Joyce with a single and walks Palonco.  Adam Warren would come in to get McCutchen to force out Polanco at second.  With two outs, Starling Marte would triple to left scoring Joyce and McCutchen.  Jung Ho Park would send a soft grounder to Baez who bare hands it but pulls Rizzo off first scoring Marte but Harrison would ground out to end the inning.  Curtis Partch enters the game for the Bucs giving up a single to Heyward and walking Bryant.  Rizzo would single to center scoring Heyward.  Jorge Rendon would enter the game putting Zobrist on by fielders choice scoring Bryant.  Montero would get two outs by grounding into a double play.  Russel would blast his sixth home run to left center.  After 7 it’s Cubs  10 Pirates 4.  

The 8th inning would only see Heyward grabbing a single in the bottom half but neither team would score.  Adam Warren stays in the game for the top of the ninth giving up a leadoff double to David Freese who makes it to third on Polanco’s ground out to Rizzo and then scores on McCutchen’s soft ground ball to short stop.  Marte hits one in the hole reaching first and that would bring Maddon to the mound for the swap.  Pedro Strop enters the game to get a force out and strikes out Harrison to end the game. 

Kyle Hendricks would go 6 innings giving up 7 hits and 1 earned run with 12 strikeouts.  Great putting for Kyle and Cubs would sweep the Pirates on this home stand.  

@DanZeeeMan

Take Your Pick

Posted: June 19, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports
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The San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs are each on a course which will most likely see them oppose one another in the playoffs this coming October. If we are to believe MLB’s power polls, then the Cubs will be winning their first World Series in more than one hundred years.
That is a pretty big “if.”

For the most part power polls reflect the current standings and little more. Yes, the Cubs (45-20) have the better record than the Giants (42-26), but how about if we go back a month or so, and see how each team has done during that span?

In the last 33 games, the Cubs are 20-13 while the Giants have posted a 25-8 record. You can take those power polls and plaster them all over the Cubs’ locker room for all the difference they make in the individual locker rooms.
There are seven reasons why I do not see the Cubs beating the Giants in a head-to-head confrontation in October, despite the overwhelming feeling in baseball that, well, you know, it’s the Cubs’ turn. Giants fans would respond, “It’s an even year.”
Take your pick.

Let’s begin with defense because-on the big stage-defense is what separates the very good from the excellent. The Cubs are nineteenth, overall, in Major League Baseball; that is very good. In 65 games the Cubs have had 2,484 total chances and 1,761 put-outs. They have accrued 683 assists and committed 40 errors, for a fielding percentage of .984
The Giants are second in all of MLB; that is excellent. In three more games (68) than the Cubs, they have had 2,599 total chances with 1,848 put-outs. San Francisco has racked up 722 assists and been charged with 29 errors, for a fielding percentage of .989.

The Giants have proven under the brightest lights, that they can produce the big play. I have seen Joe Panik try that back-handed flip of the ball to second base, while falling away with his back to the play, twice since Game Seven of the 2014 World Series. Once it worked to perfection-once the ball went askew. It’s all about timing.
The second reason the Giants have the advantage is speed. The Giants have out-stolen the Cubs, 41 bases to 28, despite being caught only twice more than Chicago, 18 to 16. Additionally, though both clubs have identical team batting averages (.285), the Giants have 22 triples to the Cubs’ nine.
Speed is deadly because it throws off the timing of the defense. Aside from the in-the-park home run, the triple is the most exciting offensive play in baseball. It electrifies the offense and causes conniption fits on the part of the defense.

Yes, the Cubs have clubbed 78 home runs to the Giants’ 56, but we have already seen San Francisco win a world series with the fewest number of home runs in all of MLB. The year was 2012 when the Giants finished dead last and it wasn’t even close. The Los Angeles Dodgers were second-to-last with 116. 

San Francisco went on to defeat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. How many homers did Detroit hammer out in 2012? 163, which is sixty more than the Giants. A lot of good it did them in the World Series.
Thirdly, the Giants have a pitching staff that has more savvy when it comes to preventing stolen bases. San Francisco has allowed 24 stolen bases to Chicago’s 51. That would be the influence of one Buster Posey, Esq. I might imagine. 

Together, Posey (14) and Trevor Brown (4) have caught eighteen base-stealers. The Cubs’ Miguel Montego (9) and David Ross (2) have nabbed eleven. I am more interested in the number of stolen bases allowed (51) by the Cubs, compared to the 24 allowed by the Giants. That’s huge.

Fourth, whereas the Giants and Cubs may be on a par as far as front office leadership is concerned, with Theo Epstein and Brian Sabean working behind GM’s Jed Hoyer and Bobby Evans, San Francisco has the best manager in baseball.

I have heard of the wonderful rapport Joe Madden has with his players, and how comfy all the rookies are. How nice for them. How many rings has the man earned? Zero. 

How many rings has Bruce Bochy won? With essentially the same crew as he has this year? Three. 

‘Nuf said.
Fifth, the Giants have experience as a team. They have earned at least 31 world series rings amongst them, with Javier Lopez leading the parade with four. I don’t know how many rings the Cubs have earned, but it does not approach 31.

Sixth, the Giants have that chemistry thing going for them. It doesn’t matter what is happening inside the Cubs’ locker room, or how loosey-goosey Joe Madden has his rookies, the Giants have taken the concept and brought it to a new level. After all, San francisco still has Hunter Pence, even if he is on the disabled list, the best motivator in the game.

Finally, the Giants, as I pointed out above, are the underdogs to the Cubs. It just so happens that San Francisco embraces this concept. They work it to their advantage, as they have done EVERY step of their way to their three recent titles. Madison Bumgarner has helped make this happen, as has Buster Posey.
I am not going to put it all on these two foundation pieces, but if the cap fits, flaunt it, Baby. Not to dis on Jake Arieta and his ongoing streak of quality starts, but Jake’s playoff repertoire is nothing like his regular-season record. 
So I’m fine with MLB and the latest power polls. In fact it works to the Giants’ advantage. Just don’t try to convince me that they mean anything.

Mark O’Neill

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