7 Reasons Why You Can’t Help But Love Stephen Curry

Why You Can't Help But Love Stephen Curry

There might not be a better or hotter player in the 2015 NBA playoffs right now than Golden State Warriors stud point guard, Stephen Curry. The league’s MVP for the 2014-15 season has only gotten better as the Warriors have advanced through the playoffs and capped yet another strong performance as the Warriors took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night.

Where do Curry and the Warriors go from here? That’s anyone’s guess. They’re facing a Rockets team that stormed back from a 3-1 hole in round two, so we can’t say they’re NBA Finals bound just yet. However, with Curry playing like he is, it certainly feels like a prediction worth vouching for. That being said, let’s sit back and enjoy the ride as we remind ourselves with a few reasons why Stephen Curry is so fun to watch:

The Black Mamba Approves

Kobe Bryant doesn’t hand out compliments very easily and definitely not very often. He couldn’t help himself last night, though, as Curry poured in 33 points and helped the Warriors beat the Rockets by one point. Bryant didn’t just approve, he made a fair point that defenses try to trick Curry into taking would-be tough shots. As Bryant notes, though, those so-called tough shots are the exact shots Curry seems to prefer. And then he knocks them down repeatedly.

He Breaks Records

His game alone is impressive (and in so many ways), but what do you say about a guy who sets records and then proceeds to break his own. Curry set the record for made three’s in a season two years ago (272) and that was astonishing enough. Then he broke it this year by hitting 286 from deep.

His Daughter is Cute as Heck

Hey, we had to throw it in here, right? Curry makes magic on the basketball court and he also played a hand in creating an adorable little girl. She even seems to have some of his swagger already. One has to wonder if one day she’ll sport something remotely close to her dad’s jump shot, as well.

All-Time List-er

Curry is so good, that at just 27 years old (in March), he’s already 50th on the all-time three-pointers made list for NBA history. Ray Allen sits atop the league with considerably more (2,973 to 1,191) but it’s arguable Curry has at least another 8-10 years to chase him down. Even if Curry somehow doesn’t take the career crown for three-point land, another season like this past year would already put him in contention for the top-25 in history. And he won’t even be 28 yet.

That Sweet, Sweet J

Does anyone have a prettier jumper? Not only does Curry have terrific shot mechanics, but he also can get his shot off as quick as anyone we’ve ever seen. In fact, he might have the quickest, most accurate release the league has ever seen. He’s not called the Baby Faced Assasin for nothing, after all.

Champion?

The best part about Curry might be that he’s playing a position that isn’t the easiest to dominate. There are a ton of elite point guards and what makes things even harder is that he’s carrying a strong team at this position. On top of it all, Curry is largely a jump shooter and defenses know his strengths, yet he continues to score at will. If he rides this play all the way to a title, Curry backers can suddenly put him in elite company as one of the best pure ballers we’ve ever seen.

Kid at Heart

Possibly the coolest thing about Curry is that he comes off extremely humble. He’s not cocky or arrogant, he loves to share the credit and success both on and off the court and overall he just seems like a good, genuine dude. Just as impressive, he seems to simply love the game of basketball and being part of a winning team – or just a team in general. His child-like reaction to an Andre Iguodala dunk probably says it all. Take a look.

Got another good reason why we love Curry? Let us hear it in the comments below!

MLB Predictions: Who Wins MVP in 2015?

MLB Predictions: Who Wins MVP in 2015

The 2015 MLB season is still pretty young. It’s only May, after all. We have a long, grueling regular season to enjoy yet, but with the first quarter of the year out of the way, fans and experts alike are already wondering which guys can keep up with their torrid paces and which will slide back to the mean. Even better, which guys are serious candidates to be crowned the MVP of their respective leagues? Let’s break down the top threats and make our own picks:

AL MVP Candidates: Nelson Cruz, Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera

Who has truly been better than Cruz? He’s almost single-handedly keeping the Seattle Mariners afloat, while converting on a remarkable .340 of his trips to the plate and also knocking out 16 dingers. If Cruz can keep this up, the Mariners could make some noise late in the year and he just might be a finalist for AL MVP.

Trout is closing in on Cruz, and if he hadn’t cooled down a bit in the month of May, he might already be all by himself in first on this AL MVP list. Even so, Trout is having himself another terrific season with 11 home runs and 22 RBI. The amazing thing is Trout is doing it largely by himself, as the rest of the Angels’ offense has been slow to catch up with his play. His hitting (.288) isn’t quite as impressive as some of the other candidates, but if he can heat up he’ll be more than in the mix later in the year.

Cabrera definitely deserves some recognition thanks to a staggering .313/.371/.524 line, along with a healthy 10 home runs and 30 RBI. He’s been the bulk of the power behind the explosive Detroit Tigers offense and is obviously a huge reason why they are in contention for the AL Central division title. If the Tigers take over first by the end of the year and his numbers still look this gaudy, he’ll be a strong contender to take home the AL MVP award.

AL MVP Winner: Mike Trout

Trout is arguably the most talented AL MVP candidate and he’s probably the least likely to experience a sudden, drastic drop-off. I think the fact that he gets such little help really beefs up his case, too, while the Angels’ rise in the standings over the course of the year should help, as well.

NL MVP Candidates: Bryce Harper, Adrian Gonzalez, Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo and Dee Gordon

Harper just got tossed from yet another game recently, but that doesn’t take away from the Nationals stud’s power hitting. Harper is on pace for a ridiculous 58 homers, and even though he won’t get there, his batting average (.338), on base percentage (.476) and slugging percentage (.729) all combine to make him one of the more well-rounded MVP options.

Few players have been as efficient or as explosive as Adrian Gonzalez, who is hitting a blistering .345 with nine home runs. Gonzalez has been an elite offensive force for the Dodgers since day one, as he started the season unbelievably hot and really hasn’t cooled down much at all. He’s a long shot to win the NL MVP at 33 years old, as many will expect him to slow down eventually, but the voters can’t ignore him if he ends the year as hot as he started it.

Goldschmidt can’t be left out of the running, as he’s been absolutely huge for an otherwise weak Arizona Diamondbacks squad. All they have is offense these days, and Goldschmidt’s 10 homers and .302 batting average are a huge reason why.

Anthony Rizzo and Dee Gordon also deserve to be mentioned, although both are less serious MVP candidates. Gordon thrives on simply connecting (64 hits with an insane .395 average) and stealing bases (12), but he has zero home runs and plays for a pretty weak Miami Marlins club. Rizzo has a great line of .333/.460/.587 with eight homers and 23 RBI on the year, and he’s also been a big reason why the Cubs are somewhat important again. He hasn’t displayed the power or consistency as some of the other big names, though.

NL MVP Winner: Bryce Harper

The brash hot head is everyone’s favorite player to hate, unless you’re a fan of the Washington Nationals. Not only is he an efficient, powerful stat-stuffer, but he also is on one of the best teams in baseball. If Washington continues their rise and his numbers remain even remotely this elite, he’s a lock to win the NL MVP.

Got a different MVP in mind for either league? Let us hear about it in the comments below!

2015 Fantasy Football: 5 ADP Values You Can’t Ignore

2015 Fantasy Football: 5 ADP Values You Can't Ignore

May is slowly coming to an end, which means summer is just around the corner. Once summer hits, we’re not even two full months from the NFL being back on our television screens. The preseason isn’t always exciting, but it’s the anticipation that accompanies it that should get the blood flowing – especially for fantasy football nuts.

If you’re not doing so already, now is a good time to start filtering through or compiling your own projections, rankings and mock drafts for the new fantasy football season also football uniforms. We’ve come to help, too, as we’re ready to dive into the latest ADP (Average Draft Position) results over at FFC to see which guys you’ll want to target that could be steals on draft day.

Let’s not waste anymore time. Here are five guys you’ll want to grab up if they are still around at their given ADP:

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers (ADP: 11th Round)

Say, what? It’s true that there are better pocket passers and the 49ers took a nose dive in 2014, but perhaps expectations for Kaepernick just got way out of whack these past two years. He wasn’t the stud we all thought he’d be, but he was still the 16th best fantasy passer in 2014 and was a top-10 guy (9th) in 2013. The regression warrants some pause, but he’s now being drafted in the middle of the 11th round in 12-team, standard drafts. That puts him on par with the sparest of spare fantasy quarterbacks and would have fantasy owners believing he’s no better than 16th again heading into 2015.

Considering Jimmy Garoppolo is being drafted ahead of him (the heck?) and Teddy Bridgewater is just one spot behind him, we may have to balk at this a bit. Yes, Kaepernick wasn’t what we wanted a year ago, but he showed us his upside in 2012 and 2013, and he just inherited Torrey Smith in free agency. I tend to think the Niners will give him a little more freedom and his numbers will slowly tick back toward a positive spot. That should keep him inside the top-15 and should give him a real crack at the top-10. Translation: he needn’t be going as late as round 11, but if he’s there, snatch him up.

Todd Gurley, RB, St. Louis Rams (ADP: 6th Round)

Gurley needs to overcome a knee injury and isn’t a total lock to be “the guy” or even healthy come week one. Then again, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher already admitted he is the guy and his rehab from a torn ACL has gone just swimmingly. The point? He’s a stud rookie running back that is probably going to beat all of his insane expectations when it comes to the health of his knee, will start from day one and just might crush souls in fantasy football in 2015.

Running back is the easiest position to transition from college to the pros and Gurley is a generational talent. If he starts like the Rams suggest he will (he was drafted 10th overall, after all), we just might have a beast on our hands. Why, then, is Gurley being taken as late as the middle of round six? Let’s clarify. Not only is he dipping into the middle of the sixth round and often even later, but teammate Tre Mason is oddly going a full round ahead of him, while Gurley is also still on the board when Isaiah Crowell and freaking Darren McFadden are being drafted. There is risk involved, to be sure, but if Gurley is hanging around in round five even, you have to jump all over him.

Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets (ADP: 5th Round)

Last year wasn’t kind to Brandon Marshall. Jay Cutler couldn’t hit him, the stud receiver missed three games and was banged up for much of the season. Despite everything working against him, Marshall still caught 61 balls for 721 yards and eight scores. While those were low numbers for how good we’ve come to expect Marshall to be, he was still fantasy football’s 34th best wide receiver. This year he has a chance at being reborn in New York. The Jets don’t have the best quarterback situation, but Marshall is still a #1 target and projects well in that role for 2015.

Marshall is 31 and could be in mild decline, but Chan Gailey’s offense bodes well for him. If Ryan Fitzpatrick wins the job, things could look ever better, as we’ve seen Fitzpatrick do fine work with his top target in the past. Regardless, Marshall helps round out a solid passing game for Gang Green and still has the goods to make plays on the ball. He’s not the elite WR1 he used to be, but he’s better than a mediocre fifth round option. He’s a strong WR2 that could easily go a round or two earlier in drafts. If you find him in round five, you’re doing it right.

Vincent Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ADP: 7th Round)

It’s easy to see why people are scared of V-Jax going into 2015, as he tumbled to 38th overall among fantasy wide receivers after catching just two touchdowns in 2014. However, we know he’s better than that and that last year’s fall was far from all his fault. With a quarterback upgrade in Jameis Winston and Mike Evans around to take away double teams, we should see Jackson’s numbers rise back up in 2015. That may not make him a top-15 threat like he was just two years ago, but he’s too good to last all the way until round seven. At that ADP he’s being treated like the 29th best option. I think he’s closer to the top-25 due to his upside.

Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers (ADP: 13th Round)

A year ago a lot of fantasy football experts were talking up LaDarius Green and saying an aging Antonio Gates was on his deathbed. Green ended up being a total bust and Gates revived his fantasy value with an insane 12 touchdowns and a second place finish, just behind Rob Gronkowski. I’m not saying Davis is primed for a turn around like that, but he was not 100% last year and with just 50 targets, it’s beyond clear the Niners weren’t even trying to let him do big things.

Davis could surely be at the end of his rope, too. He’s past the age of 30 and 2014 had him looking pretty rough. But he’s better than that and I think he and the 49ers are going to find a way to help him be productive again. The top of the tight end position is shaky with multiple studs changing teams and we know Davis can still be good, as he popped off for 13 touchdowns just two years ago. With his ADP being all the way down in round 13, you can wait and take that chance.

2015 NBA Draft Lottery: Who Wins the #1 Pick Tonight?

2015 NBA Draft Lottery

The NBA is a cold, brutal beast. If you don’t have one or more superstar players, you’re left behind to rot. If you don’t have any, you’re probably the Philadelphia 76ers.

While it can be an ugly world when you’re not in the NBA playoffs, there is always hope in the form of the NBA Draft and free agency. We get to see that up close and personal on Tuesday night, as the league’s Draft Lottery gets underway and we finally learn the exact order to be seen live at the 2015 NBA Draft on June 26th. From there, anything can happen.

The top pick is going to go to who it’s going to. Fate has that figured out, and by the end of tonight, we’ll all know who picks first and who shall follow. But who should it be? Let’s take a look at five teams that were pretty bad during the 2014-15 NBA season and why luck should fall their way:

Philadelphia 76ers

Some have dubbed them the “Tankers” for mailing in season after season, and rightfully so. But the Sixers seem to actually have a plan in play, one that involves stock-piling young talent and high draft picks. They can’t go any higher than number one, and with a 15.6% shot at this year’s top pick, they could be in for a fun night. It’d get even better if the rest of the draft lottery shook out their way, as protected picks by the Lakers and Heat could become Philly’s if their first rounders slide out of the top-five and top-10, respectively. Just like that, the awful 76ers could own three picks inside the first 11 picks.

The odds of the Lakers (82.8%) and Heat (88.9%) holding onto those picks seem pretty good, but it’s fun to think about the dream scenario for the Sixers tonight.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have been rumored to be interested in shopping their first round draft pick, but perhaps if it actually sticks inside the top-five this year, they may think again. They will lose the pick to the aforementioned Sixers if it’s not inside the top-five, but with an 11.9% chance at the top overall selection, they have great odds in securing a high draft pick. Even if it’s not the top pick, the Lakers could do some serious damage with a top-five talent, where guys like Justise Winslow, Stanley Johnson or Emmanuel Mudiay become relevant. Pair that with a healthy Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle and some moves in free agency, and the historic Lakers could come back to life this year.

New York Knicks

Non-Knicks fans are loving the death of the Knickerbockers right now, but it’s pretty obvious the Knicks being as bad as they are isn’t good for the NBA. It’s not good for the Knicks, and it’s just not good for anybody. If you like tradition and the top teams taking each other down, you’re for the Knicks at least climbing their way back up to mediocrity. They can start that if they land the top pick and secure one of the top two big men in this draft. With the second best odds to do so (19.9% chance), we just might see it happen.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota is a very interesting team, as they have the best odds (25%) at snagging the top pick, yet they actually have a lot of talent on their roster right now. They have true foundation pieces in point guard Ricky Rubio and swing man Andrew Wiggins, and landing a mean post presence could push them right back to the brink of the playoffs. That’d be pretty cool considering they just traded away Kevin Love last summer.

Oklahoma City Thunder

We could talk about the Orlando Magic finally getting a big break ever since Dwight Howard left them for dead, the offensively inept Hornets getting a spark or the Pistons getting an important piece to push them back into playoff contention. None of that is as fun as an already stacked Thunder team getting even richer, though. Of the 14 teams in tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery, they have the lowest chance (0.5%) at stealing the top pick. Doing so would be amazing, though, as they could then save a ton of cash at center by drafting the likes of Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns instead of paying up for Enes Kanter.

The Thunder have made a switch at coach and could be saying goodbye to Kevin Durant after this year, but landing a stud post player with the #1 pick could seriously turn things right back around for them.

Ultimately, we’d prefer if the winner of tonight’s lottery was a complete surprise, regardless of who it ends up being. That’d mean no Timberwolves, Sixers, Lakers or Knicks. However, that’s probably what we’re in for. The team with the best odds never wins, though, so we’re ruling out the T’Wolves. Instead, let’s pull for the 76ers to get that sweet trifecta.

Think the Thunder beat the odds, the Sixers get rewarded for tanking or someone else entirely snags the top pick? Tell us in the comments below!

NBA Rumors: Analyzing DeAndre Jordan’s Top Potential Suitors

DeAndre Jordan's Top Potential Suitors

Now that the Los Angeles Clippers have been eliminated from the 2015 NBA playoffs, it’s time for them to join the other NBA teams that will be forced to look ahead to the summer. That process begins immediately with the Clips focusing on bringing back soon-to-be-free agent, DeAndre Jordan.

The big question, of course, is whether or not DJ wants to stay in L.A. There have already been rumors regarding his status with the team, what he’d cost and where else he could wind up. Los Angeles can offer him the most money and he is said to be seeking a max five-year, $100 million deal, but if a recent spat with Chris Paul (over free throws) can’t be smoothed over, it’s possible Jordan could be on his way out of town. Will he stay in California, head back home to Texas or go somewhere else, entirely?

Let’s take a look at DeAndre Jordan’s top potential suitors in free agency to find out:

Staying in L.A.

The Clippers can offer DJ the most cash, he’s third in the pecking order on a talented team and he was one win away from helping Los Angeles to their first trip to the Western Conference Finals in team history. Of course, there has been talk that a change of scenery could do him some good and if this rift with Paul is real, he could be looking for reasons to go elsewhere. But that may not mean he has to leave Los Angeles. That’s right, if DJ doesn’t want to return to the Clippers, he could just move over to the Lakers. The Lake Shows is trying to rebuild and if they want a quick fix at center, Jordan would certainly qualify.

Texas Bound

Jordan went to school at Texas A&M, so there has been logical chatter than he’d consider returning home to play for a Texas team. The Rockets have Dwight Howard so they’re out, but the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks could show interest. The Mavs are the real team to watch, though, as Tyson Chandler’s contract is up and the team could need an answer at the five spot. DJ could return home, keep a familiar role and continue to contend with a solid Mavs squad.

The Big Apple

If not L.A. or Dallas, why not New York? The Knicks are rebuilding much like the Lakers and they could use serious help anywhere. They’d prefer a quick rebuild and if they solidified the center spot for years to come (Jordan is just 26 years old), the rest could follow.

Other Options

The aforementioned locations are probably the front-runners to land DeAndre Jordan this summer. That being said, several other teams either could have a need for a new center very soon or already lack strength down low. The Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder are two teams that could quickly be on the lookout for a center, depending on what they do with their current guys – Brook Lopez and Enes Kanter. The Milwaukee Bucks also could make a move at center with Larry Sanders falling off the face of the earth, while the Boston Celtics badly need an upgrade.

A few additional teams could show interest depending on how free agency and the draft map out, but for the most part we should already have a good idea as to what Jordan’s free agency picture is going to look like.

Decision Time

Going to rebuild spots like the Lakers and Knicks sounds interesting, but Jordan would be taking less money and he wouldn’t be winning like he is right now. I think the Mavs are a real possibility if he decides to leave, but ultimately I think the rift with CP3 is overblown and he returns to L.A. with the Clippers. That’s where the money is and over time he’ll realize Paul is just competitive and that his heart resides in Lob City, too.

Think DeAndre Jordan is on his way out of town? Let us know where he’s headed in the comments below!

The 5 Worst Playoff Collapses in NBA History

The 5 Worst Playoff Collapses in NBA History

The Los Angeles Clippers could have made history on Thursday night by advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time ever. Instead, they made history for different reasons. Up 19 at one point in the third quarter and up 13 to start the final period, the Clippers appeared lifeless to end the game as they got demolished 40-15 in the final quarter. The Houston Rockets were toast, yet they stormed back behind role players Josh Smith and Corey Brewer, while stars Dwight Howard and James Harden didn’t score a single point in the fourth.

Luckily, the Clips still have a game seven in Houston to lean on come Sunday, so they could still exorcise these demons. Some others team in past NBA playoff collapses wouldn’t be so lucky, while this is far from the most epic collapse, all-time, either.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and take a quick look at quite arguably the five worst collapses in NBA playoff history:

5. Bullets Over Philly

This game is an old one not all of us can recall, nor was it one that really stood out in the general makeup of NBA history. It was truly insane, though, and it needs to make this list. The Washington Bullets were down 17 points to the #3 seeded 76ers with just over three minutes to go and they went on a crazy 18-0 run to end the game. The announcers don’t really do it justice, but the fact that Dudley Bradley banked in a game-winning three was just the icing on the cake.

4. Clippers Down Grizz

If we’re raking the Clips over the coals to start this thing, it only seems right to include their amazing comeback win over the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012. L.A. was down 27 points at one point in this game and still down 21 at the end of three. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin stepped up in the final quarter, though, as L.A. used a 26-1 run to win the final quarter (35-13) and steal the win.

3. The Truth Answers

Paul Pierce is one of the greatest NBA players in history. Love him or hate him, he’s been the definition of clutch time and time again, and that was absolutely the case in a crazy 2005 playoff game against the Nets. Down 26 at one point and down 21 to begin the fourth, Pierce went nuts and helped the Celtics storm back via a 41-16 drubbing in the game’s final period.

2. The Winning Ticket

The Big Ticket (Kevin Garnett) went to the Boston Celtics via trade in 2008 and restored all things of greatness for the franchise. He was clearly a huge part of their 2008 title run, and no game was more important than their crazy game four that saw Boston come back from a 24-point hole. Had the Los Angeles Lakers held onto their huge lead, this game could have pushed them to a title. Instead, it was Boston that used game four to earn them a championship.

1. Flash in the Mavs

Dwyane Wade and his Miami Heat were down 2-0 in the 2006 NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks and were specifically down 13 with roughly six minutes to go. Wade took over (42 points on the night), Gary Payton hit a clutch jumper and Dirk Nowitzki missed a free throw that could have tied the game as the Heat stormed back and made it a series. This game was high in scrutiny due to shady reffing, but the Mavs had their chances to fend off the Heat and take a commanding 3-0 lead. Instead, they squandered them and the Heat never looked back in a 4-2 series win.

What is the worst NBA playoff collapse ever? Let us hear your take in the comments below!

NBA Gets it Right With Leaked Christmas Uniforms

NBA Gets it Right With Leaked Christmas Uniforms

The NBA is giving us an early Christmas present: NBA uniforms that actually look cool. After badly missing on the NBA Christmas Day uniforms in the past, leaked images of the new uni’s suggest the NBA has corrected it’s past mistakes and will be pushing out a much better product for the 2015-16 NBA season.

The guys at Uni-Watch.com unveiled the new NBA Christmas uniforms, and though we’re months away from seeing them on players when they’re live and in action, it’s still an exciting development.

No More Griping?

One of the biggest things about the new Christmas Day uniforms is that they should appease many of the star players that complained about the old jerseys that had the tight sleeves. LeBron James was one mega star that went public about his disdain for the sleeves, as he confessed it negatively impacted his shot. They looked a tad restrictive, so we won’t doubt King James on that note.

So, on top of potential improved performance on Christmas Day, we’ll also get less complaining. It’s a win-win!

Key Notes

Cursive! I’m personally torn on how I feel about the cursive font on the front of the jerseys for every single team, but it’s at least partially cool. It comes off feeling somewhat sophisticated and absolutely retro. That aspect has some of the Christmas uniforms feeling the same, but if you think about it, they probably should. Sophisticated appears to be the running theme here, too, as the fellas at Uni-Watch point out some other cool tidbits about the new uni’s.

In fact, the guys over at Uni-Watch make plenty of good observations and we don’t want to flat-out copy their opinions, so we went ahead and jotted our own down before reading their article. We did notice later that we agreed on some key notes, however. One big one was how these new Christmas NBA uniforms (some of them) pay homage to some NBA team’s traditional jerseys.

For instance, the Washington Wizards jersey has two stripes encasing their name on the front, just like they normally do with their current, regular jerseys. The Portland Trail Blazers also get their classic diagonal design around their name on the front of their jerseys, as well. Those are the two most obvious ones, while the Orlando Magic also have their usual blue pin stripe look, which looks pretty snazzy with the creamy white as the back drop.

The nicknames are also gone from the Christmas uni’s, which is good and bad, depending on how you look at it. Some people think it’s silly to use a nickname for a guy that basically is just his name (D-Will, D-Rose, etc). Names like King James, Flash or The Truth are where it’s at, but other guys don’t even have true nicknames, so it was probably a good idea to class Christmas Day up a bit this time around.

Best and Worst?

There are definitely some winners and losers in this group. We can’t be sure just yet which teams will actually grace the court come Christmas Day, but we know which ones we’d prefer and which should burn their jerseys right away. I’m not a fan of the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers when it comes to the new jerseys. Perhaps the alternates with color would bring more out of them, but as they stand in these photos, they come off very basic and quite bland.

The best have to be Portland and Washington, as they look very retro and rather slick. Miami’s rich red jerseys look solid, too, while you could chalk up the Kings, Magic and Timberwolves as winners. The rest meet somewhere in the middle. Then again, I’m only one set of eyes and we have a lot of time between now and Christmas to decide which jerseys are best.

Which new NBA Christmas uniforms do you love or hate? Let us know in the comments below!

Aaron Rodgers Owns Celebrity Jeopardy

Aaron Rodgers Owns Celebrity Jeopardy

Aaron Rodgers is easily one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He might just be the best one, overall. As it happens, the Green Bay Packers star passer is also a boss when it comes to Jeopardy.

Rodgers appeared on Tuesday’s Celebrity Jeopardy episode and destroyed in a variety of ways, as he ultimately topped fellow celebrity competitors, Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary and astronaut Mark Kelly. A-Rod took the win with a final score of $8,399, which won him $50,000 for his charity, Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. While it was a noble cause and Rodgers’ win was impressive, it was perhaps his timely humor that stole the show.

After missing what some deem to be an easy answer late in the game, Rodgers later tweeted what he should have said.

Turd Ferguson references a character on Saturday Night Live’s parody of Celebrity Jeopardy, where SNL legend Norm MacDonald portrays iconic actor Burt Reynolds, who for some reason takes to the shows as a wise-cracking caricature of himself, better known as Turd Ferguson.

Rodgers did his best to offer his own jokes during his own stay on the actual Celebrity Jeopardy, as he photo-bombed Kevin O’Leary and also gave O’Leary a sharp look after answering a question with the word “shark”.

Rodgers was such a hit on the show, in fact, that long-time host Alex Trebek paid tribute by doing Rodgers’ well-known “discount double-check” move.

Aaron Rodgers took it to Twitter to mention that he’s now won a Super Bowl, been named MVP and is now even a game show champion. What’s next for the star quarterback? Perhaps winning another MVP as he leads his Packers to another Super Bowl title in 2015.

Think Rodgers was a hit on Celebrity Jeopardy or he should stick to playing football? We want to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Was LeBron James Right to Overrule David Blatt?

No one can fault LeBron James for his actions in game four on Monday night. The Cleveland Cavaliers star forward put the team on his back, overruled head coach David Blatt’s initial play call and sunk a jumper to tie their second round series with the Chicago Bulls, 2-2.

In this case, the end seems to justify the means.

One can’t help but wonder if James and co. could have gone about it with a little more tact, though. It’s fair to ponder how Blatt and the Cavs as a whole would look if James and the rest of his teammates opted not to throw their head coach under the bus.

Sure, James was supposed to throw the ball in from out of bounds and, being the superstar he is, wasn’t down with that. He told Blatt to “scratch” the initial play and let him get the ball, and for everyone else to “get out of the way”. He’s a superstar and probably still the best player in the NBA, so that only makes sense. NFL quarterbacks change plays all the time and in the NBA, star players overriding poor play calling in the final moments isn’t exactly news.

The fashion in which we all found out about it, however, might be.

Not only did James overrule his head coach in a crucial situation, but following the game, he and multiple teammates seemed far too open about how the final play call went down. Per reports, both Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith both openly admitted without much prodding that James stepped up and changed the play. James later admitted it himself, when asked by reporters.

To understand the full impact of this, let’s break it down:

Lack of Respect

At the very minimum, it’s become fairly obvious that James doesn’t have much outward respect for his coaches. We all remember the nice shoulder bump he delivered to Erik Spoelstra (he did it to Blatt, too)and we’ve seen countless instances of at least a minor disconnect between James and Blatt. Perhaps that’s just the maturation process between a star player and a first year coach, or maybe it’s something bigger. The more important question isn’t whether or not James respects his coaches, though. It’s when it really matters, does he even listen to them?

In game four against the Bulls, James didn’t. It worked out just fine, though, and that’s why this isn’t a bigger issue than it absolutely could be. More on that later.

Talking Head

Another take is if James is just going to overrule Blatt and the coaching staff in games, specifically late in games during crunch time, where is Blatt’s value? James has always been regarded as a head coach on the court and in the huddle, but if he can’t combine his efforts with a supposedly bright mind in Blatt, what is the point in having him around? The link above that breaks down the Blatt bump by LeBron also mentions a rumor where some assistants have more pull than Blatt.

The point isn’t necessarily in discovering what is true when it comes to rumors, but if there is any foundation at all in the first place. Is Blatt just a guy holding a title, or is he actually someone the Cavs are going to listen to?

Future Success

The latter question will be answered in time, but it’s possible it was already at least partially answered on Monday night. James ultimately made the right call and hit the game-winner, but what if he bricks it and the Cavs go on to lose? Suddenly they’re down 3-1 and his overruling doesn’t look so smart. Perhaps Blatt’s drawn up play that didn’t have James involved would have thrown off the Bulls, drawn a stud defender like Jimmy Butler to the ball (on Lebron, who isn’t in the play), and free up a play that leads to a far easier basket.

We can’t know any of that. All we know is what we saw break down at the end of that game, the tension we’ve witnessed all year long and the chatter about James trumping Blatt following the game.

Will it play a hand in Cleveland losing this series, losing next round or getting beat in the Finals? It’s tough to say. However, it’s at least arguable that there is a sign of clear disrespect here and it could bleed into something bigger and much worse as the playoffs go on. Or, even worse, if the Cavs don’t move on to the next round.

Think the rift between James and Blatt is over-hyped or even non-existent? Let us hear your take in the comments below!

2015 NBA Playoffs: Can the Clippers Really Win it All?

2015 NBA Playoffs: Can the Clippers Really Win it All

We’ve seen a few surprises so far during the 2015 NBA playoffs. The defending champion Spurs getting ousted in round one is one of them. The league’s two top-seeded teams could see the same fate in round two. With all of the craziness that’s already gone down, it’s fair to wonder what other unlikely happenings are on the horizon.

The Los Angeles Clippers advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time ever could be one of them. With a massive win in game four, the Clips took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Houston Rockets. With three chances to take the series and move on, an even crazier notion is organically proposed: can this Clippers squad make a run at the title?

It does sound crazy, but perhaps it’s not quite as ridiculous as it may have sounded last year or the year before. L.A. certainly hasn’t had a rich history in the league – specifically in the playoffs. But there is something different about this year’s team. Let’s break down the key reasons why we just can’t write the Clippers off going forward:

Paging Doctor Rivers

Of all the coaches remaining in this year’s playoffs, only one has an NBA title. That’s Doc Rivers, and he coaches the Clippers. Naturally, Rivers has the experience to guide L.A. through the murky waters of the playoffs and he also has excellent in-game management. On the off chance things aren’t going the Clips’ way, Rivers can adapt on the fly.

Shake and Blake

Blake Griffin has been everything for the Clippers, as he’s been scoring, rebounding and dishing dimes at an alarming rate. Griffin was huge versus the Spurs, even bigger with Chris Paul out against the Rockets in the first two games and he’s only blown up more at home in games three and four. If he can keep this up, it’s hard not to favor L.A. to reach the Finals. And even if his numbers die down a bit, he still is part of an extremely potent offense.

Fading Field

The rest of the field just isn’t imposing. Out east you have the Cavs without Kevin Love, the Wizards without John Wall, a suddenly banged up (again) Bulls squad and a seemingly weak #1 seeded Hawks team. In the West, the top-seeded Warriors remain but have come out flat, the Grizzlies lack a consistent offensive punch and the Rockets haven’t proven to be worthy competition just yet.

Inside/Outside Attack

The best thing about the Clippers is that they have the goods from top to bottom to play anyone’s game. They had the balance to upset the Spurs, the scoring to take down the Rockets and they have the point guard play and interior man-eaters to take down just about anyone else, as well. That doesn’t make the Clips a total lock to beat the Warriors or Grizzlies in round three, but it gives them a fantastic chance.

Depth, Rising

The funny thing about L.A. is their horrid depth has somehow come alive at exactly the right time. There is surely concern about wearing down Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan too much, but Glen Davis can be useful in about 12 minutes per game and the Clips look for the rest of their spark via the bench out of Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers. That wasn’t necessarily working during the regular season, but it surely has been lately. If that can keep up, the Clippers would have the bench help they’d been looking for.

Eye Test

If nothing else convinces you that the Clippers could finally be turning the corner, take a look at what they’ve already done in these playoffs. Not only did they take down the defending champion Spurs in seven games in round one, but they’ve also made it through a Chris Paul injury and have largely destroyed what figured to be a good Rockets team. If the Clippers can edge out the Spurs and blast the Rockets, it’s reasonable to think they can beat just about anyone.

Ultimately, L.A. isn’t guaranteed anything. Title contenders don’t usually come out of nowhere within a year in the NBA. It’s happened before, but it’s come with bigger names on bigger teams. However, L.A. grouped together to take down the Spurs in a grueling first round series and it looks like that made them believers in themselves. Now that they’re one win away from the Western Conference Finals, they just might be adding more believers behind them.

Disagree that the Clippers could be title contenders and think someone else is a lock to win the 2015 NBA Finals? Let us hear it in the comments below!