Ten Things I Think
1. I think Brad Stevens has somehow broken the player/coach blame continuum. It seems to me that when the Celtics win Stevens gets all of the praise, but that when the Celtics lose the players get all of the blame. Stevens is either the reason for Boston’s success or he isn’t, but if he is put on a pedestal when everything is rosy then he should also be held accountable when things go haywire.
2. I think Johnny Manziel will struggle in the CFL. After signing last week with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, many made it seem as though this was an intermediary step before he wound up back in the NFL. I am not saying that Manziel won’t have an opportunity to make an NFL comeback, but I think he will be challenged more so than people seem to think in Canada. Why? Manziel, in his two season with the Browns, had a 57% completion percentage. That isn’t good and in the CFL teams get three downs rather than four. Yes, the competition isn’t as stout as it is south of the border, but you cannot waste throws in the CFL. It is a game that values first downs over big plays and Manziel’s career has been built upon the latter.
3. I think I commend the Rays for thinking outside of the box. If you missed it, Tampa Bay started a reliever in two consecutive games against the Angels. Their thought process was multi-pronged, but essentially it boiled down to the fact that by doing so Sergio Romo, arguably the Rays most unhittable reliever, would be guaranteed to face the Angels most dangerous batters. I don’t think this strategy will catch on league wide, like say the shift, but the Rays experimented in attempt to gain an edge and for that they should be applauded.
4. I think the Yankees need to make a trade. Not because they need extra talent; they have plenty. I say that Brian Cashman needs to make a trade because as it stands now the Yankees have approximately 30 players in their organization that are of Major League caliber. The problem? Teams are only allowed to carry 25 players on a roster (until September). Sure, it’s nice to have a couple of guys in Triple-A who can be called up if there is an injury or emergency, but you don’t need five or six high-level players twiddling their fingers in the minors. Why not trade, say three of your fringe Major Leaguers, for a dominant starting pitcher- a Jacob deGrom or a Chris Archer. The Yanks are of the World Series or bust mindset this season so packaging a bundle of non-contributors for an ace makes all of the sense in the world.
5. I think the Timberwolves should move heaven and earth before they even consider trading Karl-Anthony Towns. If Minnesota needs to cut ties with Tom Thibodeau or if they have to deal Jimmy Butler, so be it. But Towns is a superstar. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. He is just 22-years old and has posted back to back 20 point, 10 rebound seasons while shooting at a clip similar to Steve Nash, an MVP point guard. Players such as KAT do not grow on trees. Thibs is replaceable; Jimmy Butler is replaceable. If the T-Wolves deal their big man they will live to regret it; he is not replaceable.
6. I think the Warriors are akin to a high-performance sports car. It is no secret: Golden State has the most potent offensive weaponry in the history of basketball. Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson all on the court at once feels indefensible. With that said, the Rockets are on the precipice of doing the unthinkable. Mike D’Antoni and Houston’s brass feel that in order to dethrone the defending champs that not only does the math have to be in their favor, but they have to rough up the Warriors a bit in the process. While CP3 and James Harden rightfully receive the lion’s share of the credit for the Rockets success, the efforts of Trevor Ariza, PJ Tucker, and Gerald Green defensively have really worn down the Warriors band of superstars. The longer this series goes, the more fatigue will play a major factor in deciding who advances to the NBA. Just remember that the Warriors are a Lamborghini: they’re mesmerizing and flashy, but they only get ten miles per gallon. Don’t be shocked if Steve Kerr’s squad run out of gas; depth is not their strong suit.
7. I think Mookie Betts is the best player in baseball. While I would still pick Mike Trout over any other player if I were starting a team, there is not a player in baseball currently producing at the level that Betts is. The Red Sox right fielder is hitting .370 with 16 home runs and 35 RBIs. He is also leading the MLB in hits, doubles, and runs. Not to mention, the scrawny 5’9” 180 pound 25-year old is boasting a preposterous 1.211 OPS for the surging Sox.
8. I think there isn’t a relationship in the world that $219 million couldn’t mend. Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs are reportedly at odds over the soon to be 27-year olds future with the franchise, but word out of San Antonio is that the organization plans to offer Kawhi a max extension this summer. If that is the case, Kawhi would be out of his mind to not take the 5 year/$219 million deal that would be on the table. He could always demand a trade down the road if he is that unhappy, but turning down that much money wouldn’t be smart business.
9. I think the Mariners are the most pleasantly surprising team in baseball. Seattle is currently 28-19 and just two games back of the Astros in the AL West. That is with Robinson Cano suspended/injured, Nelson Cruz injured, Kyle Seager hitting .222, and Felix Hernandez pitching to a 5.53 ERA. If the Mariners can continue their stellar play and get their batch of star players healthy and performing how they have over the course of their careers, Seattle could compete for the World Series.
10. I think the Chargers need to bring back Antonio Gates. Earlier this week, Phillip River’s tight end, Hunter Henry, tore his ACL leaving the offense with a void up the seam. Gates, who was not resigned by the Chargers after his contract expired after last season, is still a free-agent. This reunion makes all of the sense in the world. Not only is Gates familiar with the offense, but he has been productive even as he has aged. Over the past two seasons, the future Hall of Famer had 83 catches and 10 touchdowns.
