Author Archives: Admin

Fans Await Final Color Rush Game on December 17th

Posted on by Admin
Final color rush game
01 Apr

The NFL has made Thursday Night Football fun again lately, as they’ve teamed up with Nike to issue sweet custom football uniforms for the middle of the week games. Three matchups have already showcased color on color scheme uni’s, as the Bills and Jets donned all red and all green uniforms, the Jaguars and Titans had powder blue versus mustard gold and the Panthers and Cowboys took part on Thanksgiving Day, as well. While we’re headed for a lull in the Color Rush promotion, the fun isn’t completely over just yet.

We get a little break for the next couple of weeks, but Color Rush returns like a gift just before Christmas on December 17th, when the St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take part in the last scheduled clash of the color on color uni’s.

In that matched just a few weeks away, the Buccaneers will don all red jerseys, while the Rams are expected to wear all gold jerseys. As much fun as the colorful NFL uniforms will be, the bigger question is which team wins this fierce clash? It’s probably going to be a more important game for the Buccaneers, who have the better record (5-5) and with a win over the Colts this week, could be well on their way to being well over .500 by the time this game sounds off.

Disappointing Cowboys

Color Rush gives all teams involved the opportunity to go full color on color or wear a different uniform. Dallas opted to go with their classic Thanksgiving throwback uniform with the stars on the shoulder pads. It’s otherwise all white and while it’s a solid vintage look, it was also a tad boring in comparison to Carolina’s all blue uniforms. Carolina won in a blowout, but we won’t suggest the uniforms had anything to do with it. Besides, it would have been awfully difficult to see both teams donning any shade of blue. Confusing, it would have been, indeed.

Best Color Rush Uniforms

So, which Color Rush uni’s have been the best so far? Well, the Bills and Jets uniforms did look pretty slick, but they also gave off a negative impact to those who are color blind. Dallas was a loss for not even participating, and the Jaguars and Titans were borderline misses. To this point, the Panthers probably pulled off the color on color scheme the best, but there is obviously hope that an all gold Rams look or an all red Bucs look could take the cake.

Regardless of what happens, in addition to the colorful uni’s, this game will boast two star rookies in Jameis Winston and Todd Gurley. One way or another, fans will have plenty of reason to tune into NFL Network’s broadcast of TNF.

Like the idea of the all gold vs. all red uniforms or prefer a different color matchup? Want Color Rush to be a permanent fixture of the NFL’s weekly schedule? Let us hear in the comments below!

9 Teams That Could Trade For Johnny Manziel

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Johnny Mainziel trade rumors
01 Apr

The NFL has many disgruntled stars that simply don’t work out in their current environments for whatever reason. We’ve discussed guys like Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick in past articles and thanks to some recent changes, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel’s hat has been tossed into the ring, as well. It’s still possible the Browns keep backing the party boy and he ends up being their franchise passer, but his recent demotion makes that rather unlikely.

While his act may have worn thin in Cleveland, Manziel is still a marketable name that can and will sell both NFL jerseys , customizable football jerseys, and tickets. He also is still an interesting young talent that could easily develop into a very solid starting quarterback. That could have him on the move via trade following the season. But where could he go? We’ve got nine solid potential landing spots for the Johnny Manziel rumors to stop in:

Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones loves him some Johnny Football. Not only did the controversial owner think long and hard about drafting Manziel in the first round two years ago, but Manziel is from Texas and went to school there. If Manziel is done in Cleveland, the writing could be on the wall that a return home is in the works.

New York Jets

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been solid in 2015 but he’s not a long-term answer and it seems the Jets aren’t sold on Geno Smith, either. A talented defensive-minded team with a strong running game could be a competent quarterback away from competing for a title. Saying that’s Manziel could be a reach, but it’s not crazy to think he’d be the short and long-term fix the Jets have been looking for.

Houston Texans

If not Dallas, why not Houston? The Texans didn’t seem overly enamored with Manziel when they passed on him with the #1 overall pick two years ago, but if the price is right, they should consider the move. They haven’t had a true franchise passer since Matt Schaub and could use a jolt in the offense. Manziel hypothetically fits their system, but it is certainly worth wondering if they’d take a chance on another immature talent after parting ways with Ryan Mallett mid-season.

Kansas City Chiefs

Alex Smith seems entrenched in Kansas City, but it could be time for a change in what looks to be a second straight losing season for the Chiefs. Kansas City does have some talent behind Smith, but Andy Reid’s offense asks for an athletic passer who can take shots down the field. Smith has never brought the latter to the table, but Manziel certainly would.

Philadelphia Eagles

This one might hinge on Chip Kelly staying in town, but it doesn’t have to. Kelly actually originally recruited Manziel at Oregon and the athletic passer could be perfect for his up-tempo scheme. Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez have been utter failures and Manziel could give the offense a fresh, much-needed spark. Even if Kelly is on his way out of town, the Eagles sorely lack a real presence under center and could make a big move to land a talented passer with some upside.

Washington Redskins

RG3 is done and Kirk Cousins has delivered nothing but mixed reviews as a starter. If Cousins can’t finish the 2015 season strong, he could be on his way out. Whether or not head coach Jay Gruden gets another vote of confidence may not matter, as Manziel has potential and would also help sell tickets. The Redskins will probably be in the market for a quarterback upgrade and in a trade with the Browns, they could unload their own troubled passer in RG3.

Chicago Bears

This might be the best spot for both teams involved, as the Bears have been rumored to want to part ways with Jay Cutler and his hefty salary. Cutler has actually cut down on the turnovers this year and looks more the part of a seasoned veteran passer, but if first-year head coach John Fox wants to move on, trading Cutler for Manziel wouldn’t be the worst way to do so. On the flip-side, Cutler could enter Cleveland and give the Browns their best established arm talent since, well, ever.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams are a fairly well coached team with a stud running back and an elite defense. The one thing they’re missing? Competency out of the quarterback position. This might be my favorite landing spot for Manziel, as his speed could be showcased on the turf in St. Louis and with their beastly running game and defense, he wouldn’t be asked to cure all that ails them right away. Jeff Fisher could be on his last leg as head coach, too, so he may need a splashy move under center to save his job.

San Francisco 49ers

Last but not least are the Niners, who appear to be very much done with Colin Kaepernick. Blaine Gabbert isn’t really a long-term option, either, which could have them looking outside of the franchise for their next quarterback. Odds are they opt to get that guy via the 2016 NFL Draft, but Manziel could be a potential upgrade. Kaepernick could be included in the trade and the Browns could have a new passer to come in and compete with Josh McCown.

Think there is a better spot for Manziel or sold he stays with the Browns? Let us hear it in the comments below!

Panthers Give Sneak Peek at Week 12 Color Rush Uniforms

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Panthers NFL uniform
01 Apr

NFL fans are in for a lot of football come Thursday. Sure, Thanksgiving Day itself is cause for celebration and relaxation, but it also never hurts to get a whopping three pro football games on the schedule, either. The Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys are two of six teams performing on our beloved national holiday, and they’ll be taking the fun to a whole different level thanks to Nike’s Color Rush campaign with the league.

We got a sneak peek of the custom football uniforms when the Panthers hit the practice field this week, as they donned their blue pants. Carolina’s Twitter account took a snap shot of what we can prepare for, but we really only needed to see the previous two Color Rush games to have a pretty good idea.

The teams facing off each other in the two prior Color Rush clashes were all different colors, though, so it should be interesting to see how the Panthers and Cowboys take the field this Thursday. The game certainly won’t lack for intrigue apart from how their jerseys will look, of course. Tony Romo made his return to the field last week after missing seven weeks with a broken collarbone and immediately helped Dallas to a huge win. That win snapped an ugly 7-game skid without Romo, but kept the Cowboy’s faint playoff hopes alive and got them to 3-7.

Things get a little tougher in week 12, of course, as Romo and co. play host to the undefeated Panthers in front of the nation. Carolina can certainly afford to lose at 10-0, but they may have a perfect 16-0 record on their mind. Dallas will try to ruin that dream, while extending their own playoff hopes.

We can’t be sure which way that game will go, but with Color Rush taking the field yet again, we can probably expect a colorful showdown, one way or another.

Excited to see the third installment of Nike’s Color Rush promotion? Prefer one of the other turkey day NFL battles? Tell us in the comments below!

Anayzing Kevin Durants Top Potential Suitors

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Kevin Durrant jersey
01 Apr

Kevin Durant has been making headlines for the wrong reasons for the second year in a row: due to injury. Unlike last year, however, his recent hamstring issue isn’t a serious issue and before NBA fans know it, he’ll be back to dominating on the hardwood, just like we’re used to seeing. And come next summer, he’ll be owning the NBA rumor mill for very different reasons.

That could mean a lot of things, but unless KD and the Oklahoma City Thunder agree to a new contract extension before the 2015-16 NBA season dries up, it could mean that Durant will be looking for someone else to call home in the near future. The Kevin Durant rumors won’t quiet from now until then, and they could even give way to trade rumors. However, with a healthy Durant, OKC knows they have a shot at an NBA title, while their fan base would probably never forgive them if they mailed it in and traded away such a big star.

More likely than not, KD will either be back with the Thunder on a long-term deal, but that’s not lock if he makes it to the summer as a free agent. Once there, the possibilities seem endless. But let’s keep it in a realistic scope and take look at the top three spots Durant would be most likely to land (outside of OKC) as a free agent:

Washington Wizards

John Wall has already said he’d lobby for KD to sign with the Wiz, while most of us are aware by now that Durant hails from D.C. A LeBron James-esque return home could make some sense, as does latching on with a team that appears built to one day rule the Eastern Conference. With Wall, Brad Beal and Marcin Gortat in place, the Wizards as constructed are a top 5 team in the conference. Adding Durant could put them neck and neck with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are surely saying good-bye to Kobe Bryant after this year. His contract dries up and the 37-year old shooting guard looks completely done. He’s said himself if something “doesn’t change soon, this is it”. With The Black Mamba out of the picture, the Lakers would be free to make a run at a prized free agent. Why not Durant? There has even been some serious speculation that Durant could join the Lakers, and even though the Thunder star seems to have shot that rumor down, we can’t help but wonder about it.

New York Knicks

Carmelo Anthony dropped some potential hints about KD joining the Knicks, and even if they’re not actual crumbs of truth, Melo could have some lobbying in mind come next summer. New York has gotten a lot better in just one year, as they added future superstar Kristaps Porzingis to the mix, drafted point guard Jerian Grant, signed center Robin Lopez and still have Melo to hang their hat on. How Durant would fix in with those pieces (perhaps Porzingis would move to center and Melo would slide in at the four) is yet to be determined, but all the buzz suggests KD to NYC isn’t a crazy notion.

These are just three potential landing spots for KD. Outside of the Thunder, there are still 26 other NBA teams that could POSSIBLY have a hand in his final decision. Think it’s one we’ve discussed or a team no one is considering at all? Let us know in the comments below!

NFL May Switch Up Their Color Rush Approach

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NFL Color Rush
01 Apr

The NFL debuted their Color Rush campaign last week on Thursday Night Football, when the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills faced off while donning special color-on-color custom football uniforms. It was a cool marketing promotion for the league to spice up an often boring TNF stage, but it had a tiny hiccup. It didn’t consider the impact on folks that are colorblind.

Former Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes actually tweeted out before the game that fans may have a tough time deciphering what’s going on during the game, as the Jets were wearing all green and the Bills were wearing all red uniforms. With red-green being the most popular type of colorblindness, Tynes’ observation didn’t just make sense, but it ended up being true.

Those who deal with colorblindness that took in the game voiced their displeasure, suggesting the game was “torture”. That would make sense, since to someone that is colorblind, it would be rather difficult to follow the game with players from both teams looking nearly identical. The only real difference would be uniform design and helmet logos. However, when players are piled up or smashing together, that logic goes out the window.

Luckily that’s not going to be an issue tonight and the NFL also plans on addressing it for the 2016 NFL season.

In week 11 the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars face off for another intense divisional clash, one that will be enhanced with Tennessee wearing bold powder blue uniforms and the Jaguars gold uniforms. It’s a color combination that will be far less difficult to deal with if you’re color blind, and fans should have no problem enjoying the game.

Titans and Jaguars fans, at least. Last week gave NFL fans a pretty intense game with a lot on the line, but tonight’s game, not so much. The Titans and Jaguars are both surprisingly (and sadly) still in the race for the awful AFC South, but both are well below .500 and don’t always play an exciting brand of football.

Both sides will at least be colorful tonight, however, and in at least one sense, easy to watch.

Like the new Color Rush promotion or flat out hate it? Tell us in the comments below!

Posted in NFL

MLB Not a Fan of Fallout 4 Using David Ortiz Jersey

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MLB Boston Jersey
01 Apr

A video game recently used Boston Red Sox star masher David Ortiz’s likeness. MLB is none too pleased. Per reports, an independent video game developer modified “Fallout 4” to include a character in a Boston Red Sox uniform donning Ortiz’s name on the back. Apparently, that’s not okay.

“The use of these marks is an infringement of our rights. We plan to enforce those rights,” an MLB spokesman barked.

To that, we say, touche’.

But really, isn’t Major League Baseball just making a big deal about nothing? The video game itself is not marketing their product with infringement in mind. This was a choice by an independent developer to enhance the game, which is set in post-apocalyptic Boston.

Said the developer, Richie Branson, “Basically, I think it was the only thing missing from the game. You’ve got Fenway Park, the Green Monster, and all of Boston, but there weren’t any Red Sox jerseys.”

Tough to argue with that.

Branson went on to say that he wouldn’t fight the MLB if the league took the issue to court, and he just felt the patch was a fun addition to a game that was clearly centered in Boston, Massachusetts.

It’s worth noting that Branson isn’t making any money off of the move, either, while it’s not like he’s creating real life custom baseball uniforms and trying to sell them or promote them/himself. He simply added a fun twist to a game.

Branson expressed his surprise that Major League Baseball said anything at all, suggesting that game developers have added patches and new downloads to game for years. The makers of Fallout 4 and numerous games allow it and it’s much in the same vain of a created roster being uploaded into any sports game.

I don’t know about you, but if there is a post-apocalyptic world where Ortiz isn’t running around killing zombies for the betterment of us all, I’m not sure I want to know about it. It remains to be seen whether or not Branson has to pull back on his Fallout 4 enhancement, but it’s interesting to note that the laws of baseball uniforms stretch beyond game day itself.

What’s your take on Branson catching heat for using David Ortiz’s jersey in the video game? Let us know in the comments below!

Posted in MLB

DeMarcus Cousins Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Could Trade For the Kings Star

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NBA DeMarcus Cousin jersey
01 Apr

NBA rumors are a ton of fun, because unlike most sports leagues, the crazy trade chatter actually can lead to some blockbuster deals. Basically nobody is untouchable in the NBA, as we’ve seen guys like Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Rudy Gay traded over the years. There are probably even bigger names you can throw into the mix (Kevin Love, anyone?), but few can touch on DeMarcus Cousins, who has been engulfed in trade rumors pretty much ever since he was drafted.

It’s a little odd that DeMarcus Cousins trade rumors are so prevalent, but he’s a volatile star on a Kings team that has never been to the post-season during his time in Sacramento. The Kings are also questionably run in general, so it would make sense for the Kings to consider trading away their top talent. There is an argument that they may not have a choice, though. Considering the potential packages that could be offered, it could be in their best interest to get all the assets they can and just start from scratch.

Whether or not the Kings should or will trade Boogie is certainly open for debate. But if the trade rumors are real, the bigger question is where could he wind up? One team seems to be rising above the rest, but there are several options. Regardless of how realistic or what is involved, let’s take a look at the top 5 potential landing spots for DeMarcus Cousins, should the Kings decide to trade him this season:

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have long been tied to Boogie, as trade rumors heated up going into last summer’s draft. When L.A. opted to draft point guard D’Angelo Russell instead of a big man, the door stayed very much open to a huge deal that would net them DeMarcus Cousins. The Lakers’ lack of assets and the bloated deal of Kobe Bryant probably keeps this from happening, but if they’re willing to part with guys like Jordan Clarkson, Roy Hibbert and Julius Randle, it may not be out of the question.

Boston Celtics

Make no mistake about it – Boston leads the DeMarcus Cousins sweepstakes. There is no real evidence of a potential deal, but it doesn’t seem like any team is in better position in terms of draft picks and some solid young talent. Boston has a pile of big men to unload, numerous draft picks and would probably be willing to even part with Marcus Smart to get a deal done. Boston has a great young coach and a team that has bought in to playing tough defense and team-first offensive basketball. They just lack a true star, and Boogie could be it.

Houston Rockets

This would be unfair, but let’s consider the logic. Dwight Howard is breaking down on a yearly basis and is in a walk year, which means if the right deal comes, the Rockets may opt to send him off, rather than invest even more cash into him. Howard is still elite, but a 25-year old Boogie feels much more attractive as a long-term answer. Cousins paired with James Harden could be a real problem for the rest of the NBA, while the Kings could nab Ty Lawson, Howard and some picks in a fairly even deal.

New York Knicks

There have long been whispers about the Knicks wanting to move on from Carmelo Anthony, and what better way then to get rid of him to land the best young center in the game today? Melo could be reunited with former coach George Karl and the swap could include some picks and possibly Jose Calderon. Melo in Sac-town isn’t necessarily ideal at first glance, but this is a move the Knicks would/should make in a heartbeat.

Dallas Mavericks

You can’t have a high level trade rumor article without mentioning the Cubes. Mark Cuban tried prying DeAndre Jordan out of L.A. and also wanted LaMarcus Aldridge, so you know he desperately wants a young, talented big man. Dallas would be a very attractive destination for Boogie, as he’d be the focal point of the offense and he’d be on a good team that with his help, could contend almost immediately. The trick would be what the Mavs give up to get Cousins, as they’d almost certainly have to unload Chandler Parsons and some picks.

It’s anyone’s guess if Boogie gets dealt or if he does, where he goes. These five teams are as good a bet as any, though. Think he’s more likely to be traded elsewhere? Tell us where in the comments below!

Memphis Grizzlies Unveil Throwback Uniforms

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Memphis Grizzlies Unveil Throwback Uniforms
01 Apr

The Memphis Grizzlies haven’t missed the boat this year when it comes to style and history. While the team has struggled to a slow start out of the gates in the early going of the 2015-16 NBA season, they’ve gotten healthier recently and also are starting to look a lot sharper. That was very much the case on Monday night, when they debuted their sweet Hardwood Classic Nights throwback uniforms. These custom basketball uniforms give Memphis a soulful, vintage look and if Monday’s game was any indication, they might give them some extra pep in their step, as well.

Memphis donned the bright red jerseys in a 122-114 thumping of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night and will wear the new uni’s eight more times (five home games) this season. Memphis fans can’t wait, as the Grizz had been showing up lame more often than not to start the year, with their trademark defense seemingly nowhere to be found and their offense struggling more than ever.

Faith has been restored to a certain degree, and perhaps the Grizzlies’ new uniforms are to thank for it. They certainly put the “class” in Classic, as the bright red color combined with the cursive font says retro, all the way. It’s a great look for the now 6-6 Grizz, who have won three in a row and are slowly starting to look again like a true title contender.

Fans will get to see the Grizzlies in their new digs eight more times this season, with Memphis wearing the Christmas-y red jerseys five times on their home floor and three more times on the road. The next sighting comes fittingly in December, when the Grizz will take on the San Antonio Spurs. After that Grizzlies fans can plan to check the new jerseys out in live action in games versus the Heat, Knicks and Timberwolves at FedEx Forum.

It remains to be seen if Memphis can keep their recent streak going and if their new uni’s will have anything to do with it. Fans can’t be mad about the results so far, though.

Love/hate the new Memphis alternate uniforms? Let us know in the comments below!

Analyzing Top NFL Player Sales vs. Success

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Top NFL Player Sales vs. Success
01 Apr

Sometimes it’s good to reflect. One weird thing I was thinking about lately is the oddity of popularity versus reality. For example, Tim Tebow is a great guy and was super controversial in the NFL and hey, he even won in college, but he just wasn’t a very good pro passer. Yet he crushed in jersey sales. Even when he wasn’t in Denver, he still crushed in custom football jerseys sales and he wasn’t even a starter.

Tebow isn’t alone, though. It happens with rookies and it happens with other polarizing figures like Johnny Manziel. These guys come with lofty expectations, quickly rose to a certain level and/or are just exciting players that make you want to buy their jersey. But how much does that popularity roll over into the real NFL world? How much success do the guys that are able to profit off their brand actually have?

Longevity is one concern, to be sure, and one look at someone like Robert Griffin III will tell you that. He was a monster sensation as a rookie, hurt his knee, and has never been the same. Now he’s not even playing and Kirk Cousins is a thing.

But he’s also a great example. RG3 was immensely popular, and now he’s not. He was super successful for a short amount of time, and now he’s not. So, how much does the popularity and success correlate?

Not that much.

It probably shouldn’t shock anyone that way back in May when the NFLPA released their data for player sales, that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady topped the league. He had the highest selling jersey through the first couple of weeks at NFLshop.com, too. To what you end up attributing that is up to you, but it could be for several reasons: he’s good, the Patriots are good, he’s been around forever, he was in the news with his constant legal battle with the league, the list goes on.

I think the biggest thing is relevancy and when you add the statistics, the winning and all of that stuff, it cements it even more. Brady at the top, no one can argue that.

But the list gets interesting from there. Right away at #2 was…Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick was even on a downward slide, as the 49ers missed the playoffs last year and his play regressed sharply just one year after making the Super Bowl (and almost winning!).

Now Kaepernick isn’t even playing, as he got benched for Blaine Gabbert.

There is a specific case where player popularity drowns out success and real life impact. Because right behind him was Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers. Those guys make sense. They’re young, marketbale, productive and have won a Super Bowl.

Behind them in 5th place was a living legend in Peyton Manning. Also in decline, there is plenty of good reason why Manning wasn’t #1 over Brady or over any of these guys. Good reason for why he was over Kap? Not really, but this is kind of the point.

Right behind Manning in 6th is one of two defensive players in the group – J.J. Watt. Watt’s Texans have been in decline and he’s a one-man wrecking crew. Naturally that’s impressive as he comes of as a living, breathing Hulk and has to “do it all” himself.

Rounding out the list is Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman, 2014 phenom Odell Beckham Jr., Titans rookie passer Marcus Mariota and Buccaneers rookie passer Jameis Winston.

What does this say? This tells us that, with half of this list being players that are unknown commodities or unproven winners in the NFL, popularity and prison of the moment thinking rules over actual success.

We already knew that in a sense, though. But it’s right there for us to see that player sales are more built on hopes and ideals than actual production or any real merit. That’s not a bad thing, either. And it’s nice to see legends like Brady and Manning stand the test of time, or true winners like Wilson and Rodgers crack the top 5. It is certainly interesting to note unproven players taking over the popularity of the league and leaving still popular and productive guys like Rob Gronkowski (14th), Clay Matthews (19th), Marshawn Lynch (24th) and Demaryius Thomas (50th).

The best part, though? Is Tim Tebow was 31st in player sales when that info was first released and no one even knew for sure if he’d play in the NFL in 2015.

Got your own interesting finding when it comes to player sales and popularity? Let us hear about it in the comments below!

Top NBA Finals Contenders Not Named Cavs, Warriors

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NBA finals and uniforms
01 Apr

The 2015-16 NBA season has been going on for a couple of weeks now and we’re really not that far off of what we expected going into the season. It’s early, some teams are banged up and the picture could really clear up in another month or two, but we still should have an idea as to who some of these teams really are.

The Warriors are undefeated and the Cavaliers have one loss. In fact, Cleveland hasn’t lost since their opener, having won eight straight. So last’ year’s NBA Finals reps are well on their way to a rematch.

But that might not happen. After all, it’s pretty safe to say no one expected the Warriors and Hawks to have the two best records in all of the NBA a year ago, and even fewer people would have given Golden State a serious shot at winning their first championship in 40 years.

That’s exactly what happened, though, so we need to continue to embrace the potential for the unexpected.

I doubt it’s to an extreme like that, however. That being said, it still makes you wonder which teams that weren’t in the Finals a season ago could get there now. The Pistons come off as an upstart unit, seemingly out of nowhere too, as they’ve got off to a solid 5-3 record. Detroit seems legit at first glance, as they have the inside/outside duo of Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond, while summer trade acquisition Marcus Morris has also fit in well. They’re in the same division as the Bulls and Cavs, though, so their path up the ladder comes off as quite difficult.

There are the Toronto Raptors out East, too. The Raptors got off to a hot 5-0 start, dropped three in a row and still sit atop the Atlantic Division at 7-3. When DeMarre Carroll suits up this is a balanced offensive team that can defend at a high level. In a cakewalk division that only boasts the Celtics and Knicks as true contenders to their crown, Toronto is a lock for the playoffs and probably a top three seed.

The Eastern Conference has some other mild gems like the veteran Heat, the rising Magic and others, but if you’re looking for two teams that could make some real noise and be mildly surprising while doing it, it’s Detroit and Toronto.

But that’s just in the Eastern Conference.

Out West things still have to come together for struggling teams like the Clippers, Grizzlies, Rockets and Pelicans (1-8!), but the top teams are still the top teams, for the most part. The Warriors keep the crown at 10-0, the Thunder are back at 6-3 and the ageless wonders that forever are the Spurs are a stellar 6-2.

Injuries and slow starts have pushed the competition down, and it’s quite possible this first month has a lot of teams showing their true colors. Odds are the Cavs will make it through an improving Eastern Conference, and hey, if Kyrie Irving (knee) can make it back and the Cavs are 100%, they’ll probably live up to their preseason odds and win the whole thing – for the first time ever. And odds are they’ll have to do it against the team that beat them last year – Golden State. And if not them, just like the early records suggest, it will probably be the Thunder or the Spurs they have to try to take down.

But if you’re looking for someone else to realistically root for, teams like the Raptors and Pistons sure don’t leave you short on the fun.

Toronto and Detroit probably aren’t winning it all this year, but you just don’t ever know. Got a sweet sleeper of your own? Tell us in the comments below!

Posted in NBA