NBA March Madness

Naturally at this time of year, all anyone can talk about is the NBA! So I brought in another man, Charlie Osborn, a man who also has a great affinity for Pro Hoops, to have a discussion about a variety of NBA stuff with Brian Musto and I. So, here's our three-man weave. Come see me Bill Simmons!

ER: Hello fellas, 

I don't know if the two of you are acquainted, but I know the three of us are basketball nerds, and we have the power to form the Holy Triumvirate of NBA-obsessed losers in an e-mail chain. "Reply all" in this joint if you know what I'm sayin'!

Before we get to the playoff picture and three-quarters-into-the-season thoughts (as well as our picks for awards), Brian, please deliver a eulogy for the 2012-2013 Philadelphia 76ers, as well as ideas on the future of Doug Collins, Andrew Bynum's looming free agency (what team will he end up on/what kind of contract?), and the future of the organization in general.

Tracy Morgan meets Fred Douglass

BM: The 76ers season was over before it started, but no one saw it coming. The front office thought they fleeced the NBA by dumping Iguodala and prospects for the most talented offensive center in the NBA. (Look at those prospects now). Doug Collins nearly burst at the Olympics when Doc Rivers told him the big man that gives the Celtics the most trouble is the big bruiser from Jersey. Then, I drafted him eleventh overall in our fantasy league, effectively ruining his career. 

All jokes aside, Doug Collins runs an offense stuck in 1992 prefaced on mid-range jumpers and constraining Jrue Holiday. The 3-year Collins effect has kicked in and his time in Philly is over. The organization has finally got itself out of neutral... and in to reverse. Every egg they had was placed into the Bynum Basket (hey its almost Easter right?), which now looks as barren as a Portland buffet after Ray Felton had his way last year. Jrue Holiday is the only bright spot left and is locked up to a good contract for the next 4 years. 

Who goes after Bynum? Philly won't want to lose him. Houston and Cleveland will inquire about him. He belongs with the miracle medical staff in Phoenix but I doubt he goes there. From the guy who once said "Every city has a bank right?" this is going to come down to the money. I cant see him getting more than 2 guaranteed years with a 3rd year team option at $10 mil per. However, I would not surprise me if he gets overpaid by a team and snags $15 mil for a year or 2. If I had to predict I would say he stays in Philly because they invested too much to let him walk. Honestly though, who knows?

 

CO: Yeah, that's pretty well said.

Doug Collins needs to kick rocks, Jrue Holiday, Thad Young, Charles Jenkins (QUEENS!), and Lavoy Allen (even though he hardly plays anymore) might be the only keepers on the roster. In short, the Sixers, as a team on the lower end of the free agent desirability spectrum, needed to gamble for a home run like Bynum. So far, fart noises.

If I were them, I would unabashedly tank next year in the absolute worst way. If they can manage to get a quasi-hometown discount (nah) and grab Bynum for reasonable cash, I literally would not play him one game next season no matter what. I would just tell him to sit down until next year, so there's no pressure to come back. This would serve the purpose of getting Bynum healthy, as well as to put themselves in the running for the #1 overall pick. That pick will mean more in 2014, because it will carry with it Andrew Wiggins, who might be alright at basketball when it's all said and done. A kid of clownish proportions, Wiggins will go #1 in 2014, would go #1 overall this year if he were eligible, and would have battled for #1 with Anthony Davis in last year's draft as a 16-17 year old. If the Sixers get that guy, they'll be fine.

However, even if they don't they should look to that draft for a cornerstone. Julius Randle, one of the Harrisons; they need cheap difference-making players. There are two ways to do things in the NBA: keep paying tons of money to get great players, fluctuate between being considered very good and a "huge disappointment" (big market teams), or to stink so freaking bad for an extended period of time that you can accrue players who are actually assets to your organization. Philadelphia has been too reticent to accept this inevitability, so they've been trying to act like the Knicks or Clippers or Celtics or what have you. I'm not denigrating the city, but for some reason NBA players don't seem to love it there.

Fire Collins and tank like good honest Americans for a Canadian prospect whose game resembles Len Bias. What could go wrong?

 

ER: Only problem with the tanking proposition is they would need to sit Thad and Jrue as well, I think those guys would keep them in the 10-14 pick range.

Ryen Russillo had an interesting thought this week (although it would likely start a riot at the NBAPA offices). If he were a league executive, he would offer Bynum a 3 years, $30M contract, and if Bynum quickly accepts, rescind the offer. Point being, Bynum will likely receive somewhere between 4 years, $44M and 4 years, $48 (by a panicking front office), and it will be a shock if he does not get offered that. If that's the asking price, Philly can't sign up for that.

Let's move to the top of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, namely New York, Indiana, and Boston. Who gets to 6 games with Miami? Dare I say a 7th game in any series? Basically my question in regards to the EC playoffs is: Is there anything really to discuss?

CO: I wouldn't pay that clown a dime, but if it's their prerogative to continue this charade with a 7 foot man with two hurt knees who jumps up and down for a living, who am I to step in?

In my opinion, there's nothing to discuss about the Eastern conference playoffs at all. I'm going to marvel at every single Miami loss. This is the most boring part of the season for everyone; for them to motivate themselves to challenge a modern NBA nigh-unbreakable record, it's going to be fascinating to see what level they can reach in the playoffs.

I think their longest series will be five games until the Finals, and I think the only teams who could take them to six games from West are probably Memphis and San Antonio.

 

BM: As a proponent of great fundamental basketball I'd like nothing more than a Spurs-Heat final. The Heat are about to "2000-01 Lakers" the East on their run to the finals. The interesting series will be the ones without the Heat. I'm hoping for a 2nd round (or maybe even 1st round) NYK/BKN series. I'd like to see Indiana play Boston so that I can just avoid 6 games of the playoffs. I doubt D. Rose plays so I'd like to see Chicago out. Boston is the team no east team wants to face early on, but I think they are right in the pack behind Miami and are not appreciably better than any of the other teams. I'll still watch every Miami game because LeBron is giving me stories to tell my grandkids on a daily basis. 

I'll be glued to the Western Playoffs.  OKC has not been perfect as of late and Kevin Martin is marred in a semi-slump that has a lot to do with his minutes. Every matchup will be gold. From SAS or OKC against HOU or LAL to the way Denver is playing and a Memphis team that imposes its will I am stoked. I think the worst team in the West Playoffs will be Golden State, and they could always shoot themselves to a few wins especially against the Clippers. 

If Parker is healthy I like the Spurs because barring an insane shooting night from Perkins and Ibaka I think they would have won that series last year. However, if Parker has any trouble getting back to health it would not surprise me if any of the 5 seeds made it to the finals simply because of the possible matchups. The Nuggets are not afraid of the Thunder. We have seen what Memphis can do to the Spurs. The Clippers just have not been could against top teams. I can't wait. I love playoff hoops so I am curious to here what you guys think.  How confident are you in OKC MIA rematch Eddie?

 

LeBron vs. KD Part II?

 

ER: Not confident in a MIA-OKC series at all, but truthfully I wasn't last year either. People often bring up the Ibaka/Perkins game as the reason OKC won the series, but it was James Harden, who the Spurs had absolutely no answer to. His surge coincided with Thabo picking up Parker full-time defensively, but Harden's playmaking was the catalyst for the Thunder. He is no longer there. I liked Martin before Brooks started inexplicably giving some of his minutes to Fisher. If he plays over 8 minutes a game, the writing is on the wall.

I like San Antonio to make the finals, because they play playoff defense and have a guy who you trust to make a play or score a basket (Parker). A good reason to pick the Grizzlies as well, but they don't know they have that kind of guy (Gasol). OKC doesn't play postseason defense, overuse guys with overrated "intangibles" (Perkins, Fisher), and don't run enough set plays, favoring iso ball from one of their two scorers. I've been avoiding it for years, but this is Scott Brooks aka Scotty Brooks aka Liam Neeson's fault.

Charlie, who do you like to actually come out of the West? Then give me your regular season awards.

 

CO: A person could reasonably take Denver out West because of its homecourt advantage, they could take Oklahoma City because they have the pedigree, drive, and Durant has only gotten better. They could take San Antonio because they're amazingly efficient both defensively and offensively (same pedigree argument there, too), or you could argue the Clippers simply based on the merits of Chris Paul (you remember him two years ago vs. the Lakers in the playoffs? He's sort of motivated.). Lastly, you could argue Memphis because they're just plain mean and they have the best overall big man currently in the game.

I'll take San Antonio. Tony Parker, a former NBA Finals MVP (thanks for letting him play against eric snow, damon jones, and boobie freaking gibson, whose names I refuse even to capitalize), has only gotten better. Tim Duncan doesn't need elaboration. And their "x-factor," Tiago Splitter, is playing for a contract. Add in Popovich and you got yourself a spicy, delicious soup.

MVP: LeBron James. Any discussion of this award is to sell advertising.

Defensive player of the year: Tim Duncan. This award, to me, is between Duncan and Hibbert, each of whom averages 2.7 blocks on fewer than 30 minutes per game. While "blocks" shouldn't be a reason to vote for a guy coughIbakacough, these two players get the type that stay in bounds for teammates to acquire. The two difference-makers: Duncan plays with Tiago Splitter while Hibbert plays with David West; comparatively, Duncan never fouls to garner those blocks. He is so tall, lengthy and smart he just forms a wall.

Rookie of the year: Damian Lillard. Davis is the better player, Lillard had more of an impact.

Coach of the year: Tom Thibodeau. The most provably-capable defensive wizard in history, this guy is fucking ridiculous. No Derrick Rose, no Omer Asik, dogshit guards, dealing with Carlos Boozer. There's really not enough you can say about this guy. Popovich is another choice because he's the best there ever was, and for him to manage Duncan's, Parker's and Ginobili's minutes the way he has has been appalling. You could argue Spoelstra, but no one ever will because DUDE HE BARLEY HAS 2 COACH HE HAS LEBRON. Mark Jackson is another name, because the two most useful basketball players on his team were either about to get hurt (Curry) or proactively injured (Bogut).

Sixth man of the year: If Tiago Splitter hadn't already started 45 games, I'd have picked him, but I suppose this is Crawford's award to lose. JR Smith will get tons of votes because he's been the Knicks' most useful overall guard this season, but his percentages will scare voters. Jack and Landry will cancel each other out in the Bay, Kevin Martin is the worst defensive player of all time, and JaVale McGee, active NBA leader in ratio of capital letters to lowercase letters in his name, has the type of reputation people don't vote for. Crawford.

Most improved player: Andray Blatche, the worst guy in the world.

Did I miss any? I'm at work, so I don't have the means to look much up, but those are what I got so far.

 

BM: MVP: The King. Will probably set the NBA record for most MVPs before it is all said and done. A guy everyone should make sure they appreciate. 

DPOY: Marc Gasol. Duncan is a solid pick but I honestly believe no player impacts the defense of their team more than Gasol. Fundamentally sound and an actual defensive player unlike Ibaka who makes all the wrong rotations and cheats for blocks. 

Rookie: This is Lillard in a landslide although Bradley Beal is an interesting player to keep an eye on going foward. He is markedly better with John Wall on the floor and looks like he might turn out to be the shooter many predicted. 

Coach of the Year: My toughest choice. Ever the contrarian I'd love to give it to Spo because the Lakers show just how hard it is to get a group of superstars to buy into each others games on a nightly basis and the Heat are on a tear. I'm giving it to Lionel Hollins. This Memphis team is not supremely talented but they work as hard as anyone and buy into Hollins tough defensive system. Team outside OKC and SAS with best chance to make a run in West. 

6th Man: Jarrett Jack. Surprised the heck out of me with the the season he has put together and makes Steph Curry so dangerous off the ball. Plus if you watch the end of GSW games it is Jack who is controlling the tempo and deciding who takes the last shots. 

Most Improved: James Harden. He won't win the award and by most standards he probably shouldn't. His teammate Omer Asik is probably more likely to win the award than Harden is. Want to know how much he improved in one year. In the offseason the Wizards refused to trade Bradley Beal straight up for him and the Warriors refused to trade Klay Thompson.

Always acting like total bros

CO: Great picks, but the reason the Warriors wouldn't trade for Harden it is because they couldn't afford to pay him. 

Harden is a good choice, but he is too good in the pick and roll to have that bad an assist to turnover ratio, and watching him play defense makes my eyes bleed like a Sam Raimi movie. But it's definitely close, and I wouldn't mind seeing him win. Great player, so fun to watch. He'll age like Paul Pierce, too.

Hollins and Gasol both rule, good calls.

 

ER: MVP: Plays for Miami, isn't Rashard Lewis. 

DPOY: SCREW YOU MUSTO FOR TAKING MY PICK. No offense Charlie, but I don't think it's close after Gasol and Noah, and it should be Gasol. In general, he is the most self-aware man on the floor, and makes every teammate better defensively. Great rotator, smart in transition, alters shots, LOUD communicator. Makes the Griz go on that end.

Rookie: It's Lillard, but I think both Davis and Beal will be better players when it's all said and done. This is coming from a guy who owns a shirt with 'ILLARD' on the front.

Coach: Spo. But I'm tempted to say Pop. I think he only has one in his career.

6th man: I also think it's Jack. This is his best season, and he's also the second best guy on the floor for that struggling team. Every time I watch them, seems like they force 30-footers to Curry every possession.

Most improved: Based on the last two weeks alone I would argue Monta Ellis (I won't get fooled by contract years). I guess it's Harden, but I'd rather talk about his teammate Chandler 'Handsome' Parsons. Man is that squad fun to watch.

Chuck, lets hear your All-NBA teams (off and def)

 

CO: Gasol is a great player for sure. I think he has defensive player of the year pretty much sewn up, I know he has tons of momentum, so I suppose you could say my picks were contrarian. Noah is great against the pick and roll, and he has been much worse guards in front of him than any of Duncan, Gasol or Hibbert. Any of them are great picks; you saw that I referred to Gasol as the best all-around big man in the game right now. A huge portion of that is what he does defensively.

First Team All-NBA

Chris Paul

Dwyane Wade

Kevin Durant

LeBron James

Tim Duncan

 

Second Team All-NBA

Tony Parker

Russell Westbrook

Kobe Bryant

Carmelo Anthony

Marc Gasol

Third Team All-NBA

Kyrie Irving

Stephen Curry

James Harden

Blake Griffin

Brook Lopez

First Team NBA All-Defense

Avery Bradley

Tony Allen

LeBron James

Tim Duncan

Marc Gasol

 

Second Team NBA All-Defense

Chris Paul

Paul George

David West

Joakim Noah

Roy Hibbert

 

BM: I'm going to go traditional position by position to make this fun. Only admitted switch will be LeBron as first team PF.

First Team All-NBA

PG: Chris Paul

SG: Kobe Bryant

SF: Durant

PF: LeBron James

C: Marc Gasol

Second Team All-NBA

PG: Tony Parker

SG: James Harden

SF: Carmelo Anthony (I know he plays the 4)

PF: Tim Duncan

C: Dwight Howard

Third Team All-NBA

PG: Russell Westbroom

SG: Dwayne Wade

SF: Paul Pierce

PF: Blake Griffin

C: Joakim Noah

First Team NBA All-Defense

G: Tony Allen

G: Andre Iguodala

F: LeBron James

F: Tim Duncan

C: Marc Gasol

 

Second Team NBA All-Defense

G: Paul George

G: Chris Paul

F: Kevin Garnett

F: Larry Sanders

C: Joakim Noah

 

ER: Our teams don't vary too much.

First Team All-NBA
Chris Paul
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Marc Gasol

Second Team All-NBA
Tony Parker
Dwyane Wade
Carmelo Anthony
Blake Griffin
Tim Duncan

Third Team All-NBA
Russell Westbrook
Kyrie Irving
James Harden
Paul George
Joakim Noah

First Team NBA All-Defense
Avery Bradley
Paul George
LeBron James
Kevin Garnett
Marc Gasol

Second Team NBA All-Defense
Chris Paul
Tony Allen
Andre Iguodala
Larry Sanders
Joakim Noah

This was fun. Let's do this again sometime.

 

 

 

A Conversation Between Two Pals (Who Happen to be Basketball Junkies)

My pal Brian Musto and I recently had a back-and-forth throwing our thoughts on the young NBA season. Here are our incoherent yet sometimes profound thoughts:

Musto:

Hey Roses,

What is wrong with the Lakers? 

I'll tell you whats wrong, Kobe "Hero-Ball-Bean" Bryant is already sick of his teammates. He is already shooting glances around to people indicating that people are not playing up to his standards. Unfortunately for his stare it seems his personal standard includes playing "Ole" defense and watching Metta World Fleece rip the Lakers off with his contract. Dwight looks like DeAndre Jordan. Nash's body already shows major signs of age. Antawn Jamison is pathetic, and Jordan Hill needs a haircut. 

Happy Kobe

P.S. Did you ever notice how many pairs of glasses Mike Brown has? Fascinating.

Rose:

After DeAndre and Dwight's respective performances last night (11/7), I'd say Dwight has looked like a poor mans DeAndre... Regardless, this team needs Nash back, but the defense could continue to be a serious problem. The spacing has been the most disturbing part, especially with a lineup that traditionally should fit well together. Mike Brown is part of the problem, but the Lakers biggest issue stems from my next question:

IS THERE ANY CHANCE THE HEAT DON'T WIN?

Musto:

No. ... I feel so emphatically about that that I almost didn't write anything else. There are a few reasons they will win it all but I'll stick to the non-obvious ones (i.e. the T-1000 masquerading around as a Magic/Larry hybrid.)

The way the ball moves when you watch a Heat game is astounding. The open man gets every shot, almost nothing is forced. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole have played well enough that no one clamors for LeBron to play the 1. Rashard Lewis has some game left. Spo is the most underrated coach in the league. Oh yeah, they have LBJ, Wade, Bosh and Ray Allen.

There's no number 2 team in the East. There's the Heat and 7 number 8 seeds.

The spread offense... on a basketball court?

Rose:

My power came back on just in time for me to watch Nets at Heat last night. LeBron is on another level. And this "Chip Kelly"/"No positions" offense is incredible. Not to act like like the Nets are the '04 Pistons on defense, but it doesn't look defendable. Not only does LeBron have a ton more confidence, but Bosh, Chalmers and Miller understand their roles and are thriving in them. Sucks to be a fan of any other team. Your only choice is to sit back and watch what should be a historic season for what should be an absolute legend.

Musto:

The Knicks are just too old to keep this up right? And there's no way Mr. Potato Head (Woodson) seamlessly works Amar'e back in the rotation is there?

Rose:

No, maybe as 6th man which Amar'e won't like anyway. I do love the way Carmelo has been playing, I just still don't like that team. However the East is wide open, and if they can continue to score, the 2 or 3 seed is conceivable.

We're avoiding the elephant(s) in the room. My favorite squad (OKC) and your favorite squad (the 76ers) are each without two vital chips. Luckily for you, that piece for the 6ers (Bynum) is hurt, while the chip for the Thunder (Harden) is no longer with the team. Regardless, as Officer Barbrady would say, "Move along people there's nothing to see here," with respect to either of these teams getting in the way of the Heat's finals chances.

Musto:

The 76ers are terrible right now and probably cannot rely on having a healthy Bynum for the next few weeks. While Jrue Holiday is racking up high assists totals with the absence of Iguodala and playing the best ball of his career, the jury remains to be out on Evan Turner. We do not even need a jury to know what to expect out of Nick Young and Kwame Brown. 

Swaggy P (Nick Young)

            OKC is not the same team, I do not care what anyone says. Kevin Martin will score because he'll be open but unless Eric Maynor finds 4th quarter minutes and can control Westbrook this team could be in trouble. I believe the best team in the West right now in San Antonio. If not for a ballistic game in the WC Finals last year by Ibaka and Perkins the Spurs might have hoisted the trophy. The Lakers are destined for a Jets like implosion. OKC has the talent but I think they made an awful move.

Rose:

I wouldn't say awful, but it was certainly a downgrade and seems unnecessary. I still think that they have the best chance to win the West, but as you said, without valuable 4th quarter minutes from Eric Maynor and legitimate contributions from (gulp) backup center Hasheem Thabeet, they have no chance against the Heat. And even then, they'll probably still lose.

 Let's check back in a month and say the same things to each other because we won't feel differently about the Heat, shall we? 

NBA Preseason awards!

Sorry for the delay on the posts! (though it's likely that only my mother and Chris Wagner care anyway.) I was dealing with too much nonsense in school. In other words I locked myself in my room in a depressed hibernation associated with the NBA lockout. BUT WE'RE BACK! And in a big way. So without further ado, my preseason predictions for the NBA hardware handed out at the end of the season not named after Good Ole Larry O'Brien!

Sixth Man

Tyler Hansbrough (IND) - the only reason I'm not going with my man James Harden here is I think Thabo Sefolosha will stink it up so bad that the Thunder feel they have to start the game with The Beard instead. New Pacers acquisition David West and backup Hansbrough will bring different strengths to the power forward position for their team this year. West will slowly develop his moves in the post and work with Darren Collison on the pick-and-pop (West's bread and butter). Hansbrough will sub in to provide energy, hustle, rebounding, and even nagging defense that will yield productive minutes on most nights, especially in a compact season where we will see old legs (such as West's) wear out in the course of a game.
(runners-up: Jamal Crawford (POR) and James Harden (OKC))

Rookie

Derrick Williams (MIN) - for most people choosing this award it's between Williams and Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving to take home the trophy from this mediocre draft class. And I like Williams to win, but more for worry about Irving than my fondness of Williams' skill set. I believe Irving will struggle out the gate. He is not not super-athletic like Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose, he is not strong like Deron Williams, and he does not appear to have the vision of Chris Paul or even Rajon Rondo. This year I expect to see Irving have a pre-Cav Mo Williams type of season, with more scoring than setting the table for his teammates. As for Williams, he has fallen into an interesting situation. Minnesota has more young talent than in the last few years and will be a tough game every night, though will not make the playoffs. He gets to play along side guys like Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Wes Johnson, and Ricky Rubio, who if nothing else will play an entertaining game and provide Williams with immediate success, at least from a statistical standpoint.
(runners-up Kemba Walker (CHA) and Kyrie Irving (CLE)

Defensive Player

LeBron James (MIA) - get the boos out now. I think Dwight Howard, the unquestioned biggest defensive difference maker and most dominant player on that side of the floor, will take himself out of the running with his future uncertain and the likelihood of checking out of games due to indifference on any given night. On the other hand, Miami, last years best defensive team, will likely come back better this season, adding defensive specialist veteran Shane Battier to scrappy players like Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony. LeVron will be the anchor of this defense. Charged with locking down Chicago's most dominant scorer Derrick Rose in last season's Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron bothered and disrupted the explosive point guard. LeBron can guard positions 1-4, and will return to shut down opposing defenses for the NBA's villain Heat.
(runners-up DeAndre Jordan (LAC) And Joakim Noah (CHI))

MVP

Kevin Durant (OKC) - Yes, I acknowledge that I am a fan of the team that KD plays for. But some often forget that Durant was many NBA writers' favorite to take home the award before last season. What hurt him last year was the emergence of Russell Westbrook as a bonafide star. The Mavericks and the Lakers have lost key contributors from their recent title teams and the Clippers and Grizzlies have some questions to answer. The West is Oklahoma City's conference to lose this year. Durant and Westbrook, in their 5th and 4th years in the league, respectively, will play to compliment each other's strength instead of ignore them, and quiet the questions about their youth and inexperience hindering a deep playoff run or spurts of league domination. Durant, one of the games best scorers, and maybe more importantly, teammates, will help but the Thunder in the driver's seat to go past the Western Conference Finals, where their season ended a year ago. With many of the "super-teams" lacking a clear number one guy, Durant will emerge to win this years Most Valuble Player.
(runners-up Chris Paul (LAC) and Rose (CHI))

First Team All-NBA
G Derrick Rose - CHI
G Dwyane Wade - MIA
F Kevin Durant - OKC
F LeBron James - MIA
C Dwight Howard - ORL/LAL?/NJ?/DAL?

Second Team All-NBA
G Kobe Bryant - LAL
G Chris Paul - LAC
F Carmelo Anthony - NYK
F Blake Griffin - LAC
C LaMarcus Aldridge - POR

Third Team All-NBA
G Russell Westbrook - OKC
G Deron Williams - NJN
F Kevin Love - MIN
F Zach Randolph - MEM
C Tyson Chandler - NYK

The Picks Are In!! (NFC West)

NFC West:

1. St. Louis Rams

The question becomes whether this year’s NFC West leader can enter the playoffs at 6-10 this year. It’s honestly a pathetic division and it didn’t seem to get better from last season, even with all the money the Seahawks spent. But whatever. Here we go. Sam Bradford has a great offensive coordinator this year in Josh McDaniels (as well as a great mentor to quarterbacks.) The team lost OJ Atogwe but they replaced him with Quintin Mikell, a more than able safety who can fit in with the team philosophy.  Add Mike Sims-Walker to Sam Bradford’s weapons and they become closer to complete as an offense with star running back Steven Jackson. But this team is the least inept in a division of ineptitude, if you catch my drift.

2. Arizona Cardinals

Well Kevin Kolb is about 80 steps up from the likes of Derek Anderson, John Skelton, and Max Hall. But I don’t know if he transforms this team to contender as his contract may suggest. If Andre Johnson is the number 1 receiver in the league, Larry Fitzgerald is 1a. It’s hard to find great talent beyond that, especially with the trading of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. But in the end, second place in this division is surely just first place for losers.

3. San Francisco 49ers

For these next two teams, I’ll explain the positive things about each team and then the negatives. I’m getting lazy.

Pros: Patrick Willis (absolute star), Michael Crabtree, Braylon Edwards’ hands (just kidding again), Mike Iupati, chance for Andrew Luck

Cons: Alex Smith, Braylon Edwards’ hands, Alex Smith, first year coach from college, Alex Smith, defensive line, Alex Smith, Frank Gore’s health, Alex Smith

4. Seattle Seahawks

Pros: Brandon Mebane, Aaron Curry’s potential, Russell Okung (if healthy), Marshawn Lynch (if sane)

Cons: Pete Carroll’s honey-moon period history, Russell Okung’s health, Sidney Rice’s contract, Tarvaris Jackson (worse than Alex Smith), departure of Hasselbeck, Marshawn Lynch (if insane)

Wild Card:

(3) Green Bay def. (6) Tampa Bay

(5) Atlanta def. (4) St. Louis

Divisional:

(1) Philadelphia def. (5) Atlanta

(2) New Orleans def. (3) Green Bay

NFC Championship:

(2) New Orleans def. (1) Philadelphia

Super Bowl:

New England def. New Orleans

The Picks Are In!! (NFC South)

NFC South:

1. New Orleans Saints

The Saints had one of the best offseasons in the league this time around. They landed one of most valuable guys on the market in DT Aubrayo Franklin, formerly of the 49ers. Franklin clogs holes and makes it easier for quick linebackers to make plays, as Patrick Willis so often did and Jonathan Vilma and company will have a chance to do this season. The Saints also got a bargain with running back Darren Sproles, paying less than Reggie Bush for a rich man’s Reggie Bush (only in professional sports does stuff like this happen). Add rookie Mark Ingram into the mix, and the Saints have a ton of depth and talent on the offense, including receivers Marques Colston and Robert Meachem (an underrated but excellent touchdown threat), and Brees is going to go to sleep easy every night even if the team suffers an injury here or there. The Saints seem like they are in contention for another Super Bowl run. (And don’t forget about coach Sean Payton, possibly the second best coach in the league after the Hoodie. You can never count a dominant coach out.)

2. Atlanta Falcons (wild card)

I feel like Julio Jones is a deciding factor for where the Falcons end up. The offense is already very good, but Julio Jones being as breath-taking as Tony Gonzalez is leading us to believe than this offense could be unstoppable. Obviously the defense is a concern, leaning on the age of DE John Abraham and no other dominant starter (Ray Edwards is a good pickup but a product of the system in Minnesota, Brent Grimes is a good ballhawk but not very physical), but if the Falcons score as much as they have the potential to, the play of the defense will matter less. We’ll see if the conservative head coach Mike Smith allows Matt Ryan to let the ball fly more this season.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (wild card)

My man Josh Freeman looks to put up another impressive season in his second year as the unquestioned started and leader of this team. It is difficult to point to one specific player on this team as a dominant guy, they just play well as a team and the players on the field complement each other very smoothly. LaGarrette Blount was a phenomenal downhill runner in college, so I wasn’t surprised to see him post big numbers in his rookie season after being undrafted. I was surprised to see the number of teams that passed on him or didn’t keep him around. If Aqib Talib can get his act together off the field, he can get back to giving the opposing quarterbacks fits. Raheem Morris keeps this group focused and motivated.

4. Carolina Panthers

The bad news is they will likely finish last in their division for the second straight season. The good news is they will likely finish better than 2-14! The record is not the important thing for this franchise going forward. Obviously it is the development of rookie quarterback Cam Newton. I don’t really understand why the Panthers shelled out so much guaranteed money to the oft-injured DeAngelo Williams or the unproven Charles Johnson, players who were part of that 2-14 season, but I still have high hopes that the season won’t be as disastrous as last year. Lock them up for 4-12.

The Picks Are In!! (NFC North)

NFC North:

1. Green Bay Packers

I can't leave the defending champs out of a division title this year. They return every major player in that super bowl run besides Cullen Jenkins; they even brought James Jones back. Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley are back from their season-ending injuries last year. Aaron Rodgers is the future of the NFL at this position. He just flat out puts the ball in the right spots, but it doesn't hurt to have Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson. Even James Jones and his slick gloves are back. Rodgers is also the best quarterback at extending a play after Vick and Roethlisberger. Clay Matthews just bull-rushes the opposing tackles and punishes the quarterback. Tramon Williams was a breakout star last year at corner and is also a speedy return-man. Nick Collins, Sam Shields and Charles Woodson round out a solid secondary. The biggest worry for this team is the age of players such as Driver and Woodson (especially with Woodson’s injury-ridden past), but we've seen Ted Thompson’s knack for drafting guys to fill those positions.

2. Detroit Lions

This team is most analysts' darling and playoff sleeper this year. I'm not ready to give them a playoff spot, but this is for sure an up and coming team with loads of talent. The season really depends on Matthew Stafford's health. But if he does keep it going, he's got Calvin Johnson and Jahvid Best, two electrifying players that make big plays and keep defenses on their toes. People are really talking about their defense, however. Nick Fairley joins a defensive line that includes breakout star Ndamakong Suh and veteran workhorse Kyle Vanden-Bosch. This could, if not the best, one of the better D-lines in the league and put less pressure on defensive-minded coach Jim Schwartz to send extra guys at the quarterback. It already looks like when its all said and done, Suh could be one of the best to ever play his position.

3. Minnesota Vikings

It was hard for me to decide whether the Vikings would fall at the bottom at the North this year. But there are still some bright spots to this team. Donovan McNabb has a huge step up from Washington in terms of running back, clearly, in Adrian Peterson, who still has at least two or three years in him as the best back in the league. The defense still has some of the pieces that made it such a terrifying unit two years ago: the bullish defensive end Jared Allen, the always-underrated and never under-performing cornerback Antoine Winfield, and the brick wall linebacker Chad Greenway. I’m obviously not saying this is a playoff team, but I would not be surprised to see 8-8 or 9-7 for a team led by a smart guy in coach Leslie Frasier and a once-elite and now with something to prove quarterback in McNabb.

4. Chicago Bears

The defense is getting older and the offense didn't get any better, unless you put a lot of stock in the additions of Roy Williams and Marion Barber. I don't even know if I can get deeper than that. I just don't like the feel of this team. But here’s the list of issues: Cutler has his leadership problems (maybe it’s because he’s always on his back), Mike Martz’s honeymoons with teams as offensive coordinator never seem to last long, the middle of the offensive line is hurt with the departure of Olin Kreutz (from an already sack-friendly O-line), the team doesn’t have an elite threat at wide receiver (Johnny Knox and Devin Hester are just deep threats, not every down guys, although Earl Bennett is improving as a position receiver), and Matt Forte is unhappy with his salary, which more often than not can hurt a season (see Jackson, Vincent).

The Picks Are In!! (NFC East)

NFC EAST:

1. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are poised to win their division again with new pieces that should fit in well. They landed the biggest free agent and the only true guaranteed difference maker on the market in Nnamdi Asomugha. Nnamdi's stats may not wow you given his lack of interceptions, but they are not high because quarterbacks don't throw the ball is way. In the NFL Revis and Asomugha are in a class by themselves in shutting down receivers and forcing the QB to look elsewhere on the field, as well as increasing the effectiveness of the pass rush. Also, they potentially traded a clipboard (Kevin Kolb) for an electric, ball-hawking cornerback in Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick. Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie's styles on the field complement each other perfectly. Michael Vick, should he stay healthy (REVERSE JINX!), will likely once again be an MVP candidate. He's got all his weapons from last year back (DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy Brent Celek) and the Eagles brought in Ronnie Brown on a one-year deal, who, like McCoy, is incredible catching passes out of the backfield. I hate this team, but there might not be a better team on paper this year.

2. Dallas Cowboys

Romo should be healthy this season. Dez Bryant is one of the NFL stars of tomorrow and with Miles Austin and Jason Witten will give Romo plenty of options. I don't love Felix Jones but he should have a decent season. But on to the defense. This unit has immeasurable talent that was not on display last season mainly due to bad coaching and bad field position. But Rob Ryan is here. Ryan improved a Cleveland unit last year that pounded New England to become one of only two teams that defeated the Patriots this past season. DeMarcus Ware has the best pass rushing moves in the league, and many tackles are too slow to keep him out of the backfield. Dallas has some young talent in the defense backfield that at times got torched last season but should improve. I don't think Dallas will dominate this season, but they have a good chance to get back to 10 wins and not a laughingstock of the league.

3. New York Giants

I know there were some good reasons for letting Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert go, but I hated that for the team. For the past 5 years the offensive line of the Giants was the most consistent thing going for them. I hated almost everything about the Giants offseason. I understand retaining Ahmad Bradshaw what somewhat of a necessity, but they overpaid for someone with a serious problem holding onto the ball and injury concerns. Steve Smith, should he resign, has a serious injury that may be career threatening. Nicks and Manningham are both big play threats, but losing Kevin Boss to Oakland creates a big hole in the middle of the field. On the other side of the ball there are a lot of concerns. I still don't trust a single linebacker and I don't see how they haven't made serious attempts to improve this unit. Antrel Rolle is one of the most overrated players in the league and I'm confused as to how he made the Top 100 NFL Players list. He's simply a "right place at the right time" guy. Prince Amukamura was positioned to improve a weak defensive backfield, but a foot injury will keep him sidelined until at least October. I do, however, have a million good things to say about Justin Tuck. Tuck is the ultimate team player and will line up wherever he is told if it is for the better of the team. He is too strong and physical for most lineman and can dominate the run and pass game in a single game. Unfortunately, the guy lining up opposite him, Osi Umenyiora, is unhappy and will likely bring the energy and attitude of his teammates down with him. I think the Giants are going to disappoint this season.

4. Washington Redskins

Even better than the Chad Henne/Matt Moore show is the John Beck/Rex Grossman show! The difference is they don't even have someone nearly as talented as Brandon Marshall (Santana Moss is over the hill; his numbers are inflated because there is no one else) to sadly watch a ball sail over his head. Fortunately for the Redskins, they're the favorites for the Andrew Luck sweepstakes! There is something to look forward to during an otherwise bleak season. The offense, even beyond the quarterback, is punchless, from an oft-injured Clinton Portis to the 500 receivers they have over the age of 46. Ryan Torain is a nice running back though. The defense, which got absolutely torched last season, has a nice safety combination with Laron Landry and OJ Atogwe and a great blitzing linebacker in Brian Orakpo but plenty of holes in the defensive line. The defense will be able to make some stops but Beck/Grossman might not be able to cross the 50 even if they started at the 49.