Posts by Jacob Taylor57

Is anyone watching Texas A&M and Alabama? I can't tune in myself, but I feel bad missing it.

It’s been a total bore since the championship. In the end, this season turned out even worse than the last one—it’s just the same old story over and over again after every loss.

I don't think they should have called that penalty. I realize it was only a two-yard difference, but they would have picked up the first down regardless...

Scott Collins30 said:Does anyone have a decent link for the Cotton Bowl? It isn't on ESPN America, and I was hoping to catch some Johnny football... 😁

Watch the Oklahoma game here: http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1616...-oklahoma.html

Johnny loses tonight... 😛

Alabama moves on to the championship. The matchup against University of Georgia was decent enough, featuring solid rushing attacks from both sides, though the clock management from both coaching staffs was absolutely abysmal.

Alabama :O And I already marked this week as a total wash...

dustypanther6 said:The question is, what's the point? Why use polls to pick teams for a championship game?

It might seem obvious to you, but it's actually quite complex and serves as a necessary compromise given the current landscape. Look at the current situation. You have 120 teams playing 12 or 13 games, leaving so many variables unresolved. It’s logical to want to crown a champion, but the inherent nature and physical demands of this sport make a massive tournament with more teams and games impossible.
However, since the playoff concept is the very essence of American sports, I don't understand how it took this long to happen in college football, even in this limited form we are about to see soon.

There are five BCS bowls—the elite tier. We’re talking the BCS Championship, the Rose Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, and the Sugar Bowl. Qualification is reserved for the champions of the six major conferences (SEC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and ACC) plus four at-large selections. The top two teams in the BCS rankings face off for the title, while the remaining teams are distributed among the other four bowls. In two years, we move to a four-team playoff, which will fundamentally shift how this level of competition works...
Other bowl games are open to any team maintaining at least a .500 record. Some carry significant history, such as the Cotton Bowl, often hosting runners-up from the powerhouse conferences, but most are essentially invitation-only, where eligible teams are simply slotted into available spots.

jadeskipper74 said:I'm not so sure. Even if Oregon goes undefeated in the Pac-12, they'll have a hard time overtaking Notre Dame.

True, but they still have two brutal road trips ahead plus the Pac-12 championship game. I'm pulling for Kansas State until the end.

Expect more contenders to be cleared out next weekend. LSU has a shot at getting back in the mix, though I suspect they lose decisively...

jadeskipper74 said:Georgia and Florida playing such a dark game, especially being ranked #2 and #10. This SEC is so overrated...

I didn't catch the game, but I see there were 9 turnovers total. 🤣 There are definitely overrated teams in the SEC; look at Mississippi State, they were ranked #11 without even playing a ranked opponent, and then Alabama—who aren't overrated—crushed them by 31 points yesterday.

I tuned in halfway through the Notre Dame and Oklahoma game, and I have to say, the Irish offense was a pleasant surprise. That win over USC four weeks ago will likely land them in the championship...

Yesterday delivered some high-quality matchups. LSU barely scraped by Auburn 12-10, Kansas State pulled the upset over Oklahoma, and Notre Dame handled Michigan with ease to slide right into the top 10...

It is high time we had a dedicated thread for college football so we stop cluttering the NFL topic.

I have no desire to write a manifesto. I will simply say the season kicked off two days ago, and I was thoroughly impressed by this move 🤣. Today, you should tune in for the matchup between George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, along with my two favorites, Andrew Jackson and Teddy Roosevelt.

shadowjackal27 said:So.. is this finally 100% for Allen Iverson?

https://twitter.com/#!/SeanGrandePBP...03537388011520

Looks like it...

Watch out for Dwyane Wade, he's a game-time decision. We saw something similar a few days ago when he played, I think it was against the Timberwolves. Wait for official word before you start complaining... 🙂

+ Allen is out

Monta Ellis is back in the lineup for tonight, but David Lee is out due to illness. I see some value in the Golden State Warriors, but there is far too much shuffling happening within their roster for me to trust a trade deal here.

Mmmmm, I'm feeling quite good about the Bulls @1.96 today. 🙂
The Clippers are playing their first home game after beating the Warriors—who had a desperate finish and struggled from deep—and then suffering a fairly convincing loss to the Spurs. Their starting five is high quality but lacks cohesion, and the bench feels thin; only Mo Williams can be considered a truly useful backup. Defensively, they look porous. While Michael Jordan provides decent rim protection when he's on the floor, the defense collapses once he sits. The Bulls, however, boast a strong starting lineup supplemented by solid bench depth in Asik, Gibson, Watson, Brewer, and Korver. They are undoubtedly the superior defensive unit, though I am slightly concerned by their high turnover rate in recent games. Looking at the matchup, Derrick Rose holds a 4-0 edge over Chris Paul, which isn't insignificant; I suspect the visitors will react better in a tight fourth quarter. So far this season, the Bulls lead in rebounds and assists per game, so in my view, they should be favorites by 2-3 points.

*I'll join in keeping my own tracker. Currently, I'm sitting at 1-1 (Pacers, Warriors). Stakes will be one unit unless noted otherwise, making my current standing -0.05

Today I have a solid pick Pacers -3.5. I am really liking this Indiana squad; I expect significant progress this season, a top 4 seed in the East, and Coach Frank Vogel taking home Coach of the Year. 😁 They handled the Pistons at home with ease, though if you exclude Jerry West, Danny Granger, and Darren Collison—their primary shooters—the shooting wasn't exactly clicking. However, they were dominant on the boards; West, Roy Hibbert, and Tyler Hansbrough combined for 39 rebounds. Granger, George, and Collison provide a very balanced starting five, while Jones and Hill serve as useful bench pieces. They play disciplined, smart basketball without forcing plays; they only committed 10 turnovers against the Pistons. The Raptors seem much weaker inside, relying on Amir Johnson and Andrea Bargnani, who is a defensive liability, along with Davis and another Johnson coming off the bench. They shoot well from deep, but they look far less cohesive to me, even if their shooting percentage against the Cavaliers was high.
Over the last three seasons, the home team has won every matchup between these two, but Indiana has improved significantly in the interim, whereas Toronto hasn't. I expect a win by about 6-7 points.

Los Angeles Clippers

Last season, the Clippers became an attractive squad, drawing attention through the play of Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon. However, due to chaotic management, they finished 32-50 and remained far from the playoffs. Now, for the first time in a while, there are signs of actual progress...

There isn't much need to dwell on how the Clippers prepared for this new season—they pulled off a blockbuster trade to land Chris Paul, arguably the best playmaker in the league, while Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Chuck Kaman departed. They also picked up the veteran Chauncey Billups and free agent Caron Butler. Overnight, they transformed into the most talked-about team and a group that is actually fun to follow.

Chauncey Billups will likely start alongside Chris Paul, providing a lethal perimeter threat since he won't be the primary target for opposing defenses. Butler remains a question mark; we have to see how he looks coming off that knee injury. Under the rim, the young duo of Griffin and DeAndre Jordan looks excellent. As for Blake, there isn't much to say beyond expectations of another high-scoring season, perhaps with slightly better defense and teamwork. Jordan needs to step up; he should be the defensive anchor, increasing his blocks and rebounds. At the point guard position, Mo Williams and Eric Bledsoe serve as backups, though a trade is possible given how thin the bench is at other positions. The rotation includes Randy Foye, Ryan Gomes, and rookie Travis Leslie on the wings, with Hubbard, Cook, and Thompkins in the paint. Alongside the players, Coach Vinny Del Negro needs to increase his level of professionalism; if this fails, he will be the one held accountable...
Hype inherently carries a degree of bias, and that applies to this Clippers squad as well. While they certainly aren't lacking in star power, the real question is whether they possess the toughness required for big games and how they will handle the pressure. A high playoff seed is a realistic goal, but anything beyond that remains uncertain...

Sacramento Kings

The worst team in the Pacific Division last year, finishing 24-58, was the Kings. Beyond the lack of ambition, injuries, and poor results, the main concern for fans was the potential relocation of the franchise. Ultimately, the Kings stayed in Sacramento, left with a grim outlook and no clear vision...

In the first round of the draft, they selected Jimmer Fredette, presumably as a move to attract fans, alongside Tyler Honeycutt and Isaiah Thomas. The roster saw departures like Samuel Dalembert, Beno Udrih, Omri Casspi, Marquis Daniels, and Pooh Jeter, while bringing in John Salmons, J.J. Hickson, Travis Outlaw, and Chuck Hayes.

The core of the team rests on youngsters Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins, both of whom struggle with maturity. They can score plenty and improve their individual stats, but they primarily need to grow up. Following a sophomore season marred by inconsistency and injury, Evans needs to step into a leadership role. Coming off the bench at his position is the highly hyped rookie Jimmer, a player with limited team play and almost no defense. Marcus Thornton integrated well after being traded from the Hornets last season and looks poised for a starting guard spot. John Salmons should start at the forward position, rotating with Garcia and Honeycutt. In the frontcourt, the Kings look decent with Hickson and Cousins starting, supported by Hayes and Thompson. Improving their defense and reducing turnovers might help mitigate the inevitable struggles ahead...
The Kings look like a fractured team attempting to rebuild without cohesion or a true leader. With a heavy schedule of road games early in the season, their record, morale, and ambitions could suffer significantly. The Kings could very quickly find themselves looking toward next season, considering trades, and stockpiling draft picks...

The Los Angeles Lakers.

Last season's Pacific division champions finished with a solid 57-25 record, yet their campaign ended on a disastrous note. They were dismantled in the Western Conference semifinals by the eventual champion Mavericks. To make matters worse, they lost Phil Jackson, who decided to retire, and Andrew Bynum faced a five-game suspension following a flagrant foul on Bareia...

Mike Brown has been appointed as the new head coach. Lamar Odom, last year’s Sixth Man of the Year, has been traded to Dallas in exchange for a first-round pick. Ron Artest has rebranded himself as Metta World Peace. Kobe Bryant is dealing with a torn ligament in his right wrist, and he's a year older... However, the defining moments of this Lakers season were the two trades—the failed attempt to land Chris Paul, and the finalized deal that sent him straight to our crosstown rivals, the Clippers. The Lakers are wounded and demoralized. The competition is stronger than ever, and most analysts are predicting a complete collapse...

Mike Brown arrives following a five-year tenure with the Cavaliers. During that stretch, he steered them to the Finals and secured the top seed twice. At the Lakers, he will encounter nearly identical conditions to his time in Cleveland: a roster built around a single superstar, immense pressure, and sky-high expectations. Replacing Phil Jackson won't be an easy feat, nor will establishing authority over the team's primary star—especially considering Kobe would have preferred Brian Shaw in that role...
With Gasol and Bynum—whose suspension was just cut down to four games—the Lakers possess one of the most formidable frontcourts in the league, both offensively and defensively. Once again, the weight of the world falls on Kobe’s shoulders, though I see no reason for him to fail. He’s dealt with nagging injuries for several seasons now; playing through discomfort won't be a new experience for him. World Peace can still hold his own on defense, and Derek Fisher remains a reliable option for perimeter shooting and playmaking. However, those two might actually lose their starting spots, as Matt Barnes and Steve Blake are making strong cases for more minutes. While the core of this roster is undeniably high-quality, the bench is where things fall apart. There isn't a true sixth man or any legitimate depth behind the starters—just a handful of serviceable players like Josh McRoberts, Jason Kapono, and Troy Murphy, alongside some inexperienced youngsters...
With an accelerated pace expected this season, the Lakers' roster—given their high veteran age and lack of depth—could run into significant trouble. However, once they make it to the playoffs, which they will, they become a dangerous threat. They shouldn't be overlooked when considering the top tier of Western Conference contenders...

The Phoenix Suns.

In their inaugural season, without Studemir, the Suns fell short of the playoffs with a 40-42 record. This year, the outlook is even bleaker. It’s safe to say the sun has set on Phoenix...

During the lockout, Aaron Brooks signed with the Guangdong Southern Tigers and won't be back until March. Vince Carter was waived before eventually signing with the Mavericks. Mickael Pietrus has also departed. We’ve brought in three free agents—Shannon Brown, Sebastian Telfair, and Ronnie Price—and selected Markieff Morris in the draft...

Alvin Gentry won't be under any real pressure this season, mainly because nobody is actually expecting them to make the playoffs. Steve Nash is still on the roster, which is a double-edged sword. His experience and playstyle offer clear benefits to the squad, but that contract is a massive anchor dragging down an otherwise poorly defined rebuilding process. After struggling as the weakest unit in the paint last year, the interior looks like the team's biggest strength right now. Marcin Gortat has finally earned a starting spot, and he’s more than justified the trust placed in him. Alongside Nash, they form a high-quality offensive duo, supplemented by solid defense and dominance on the boards. With Channing Frye slotted in at the four, and Robin Lopez and rookie Morris providing quality depth at the big man positions, the frontcourt is set. The small forward spot will be handled by veterans Grant Hill and Hakeem Warrick, while Jared Dudley will likely lock down the starting shooting guard role. Expect decent minutes from Brown, Childress, and Telfair off the bench. It’s an offensively potent group, even if they aren't anywhere near the level they were a few years ago... though their defensive lapses remain the most glaring issue...
The Pacific Division is stronger than last year, but that isn't because of the Suns. A decline is inevitable for them. They can forget about the playoffs for a few seasons; all their fans can do is enjoy

Golden State Warriors

The team with arguably the best jerseys last season failed to defend anything, finishing 36-46—well short of the playoff contention even they didn't truly believe in. However, it appears they viewed that as a final growing pain and are approaching the new season with significantly higher ambitions.

The Warriors have a new head coach—Mark Jackson left his role as an analyst at ESPN to launch his coaching career. They signed free agents Kwame Brown and Brandon Rush, while parting ways with Radmanović, Amundson, Wright, Williams, and Lin. On the draft, they selected shooting guard Klay Thompson and playmaker Charles Jenkins. Bell was waived, and Monta Ellis faces sexual harassment allegations.

Mark Jackson has promised to build the system around defense, which is quite odd considering he didn't practice much defense during his own playing days. He also aims for a playoff berth, which is ambitious but not unrealistic given the talent on this roster. Specifically, looking at the backcourt, the duo of Curry and Ellis is excellent. Steph Curry should take another step forward in his third season to become the true offensive engine of this squad, while Ellis should be sufficient to maintain the elite scoring level he has shown over the last couple of years. Dorell Wright is one player who showed significant improvement last season; beyond his great shooting, he provides solid defense. What the Warriors absolutely must improve is their interior presence. David Lee and Andris Biedrins need to play more aggressively on offense and tighten up defensively after a lackluster prior season. Kwame Brown and Ekpe Udoh look like defensively capable backups.
The bench seems thin, but this is one of those rare teams that might actually benefit from a shorter, faster-paced season. If Jackson truly prioritizes defense, if the team increases its level of professionalism, and if Curry matures into a leader, the Warriors could be a pleasant surprise in the West. Still, it wouldn't be the first time they disappointed...