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DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
- Why the 2014 NFL Draft was great in terms of players, but awful in terms of decision making
- M!KEDROP MADNESS launched on Monday with the first article with everything you need to know about conference championship tournaments
- Now on YouTube – Why Zion Williamson should and will return to Duke this season
The Streaks that Define Us
James Harden’s incredible streak ended. Lebron James incredible NBA Finals and Playoffs streak is going to end. The Spurs consecutive playoff streak is in trouble. And Kansas Jayhawks historic streak was on life support, is now showing signs of life.
NFL Draft Predictions – All About the Quarterbacks
The NFL revolves around the QB position. Ahead of this week’s Combine, here are four early predictions related to QBs in this year’s draft
Cardinals take Nick Bosa
No, Nick Bosa is not a quarterback. But he is the best player in the draft and fills the Cardinals biggest need for a pass rusher. Josh Rosen wasn’t good as a rookie but neither were Mitchell Trubisky and Jared Goff when they played for older defensive-minded head coaches. Give Rosen some time with offensive guru Kliff Kingsbury and spend the resources on improving a dismal defense.
Raiders trade down and a QB goes #4
The Raiders are in an interesting position. In my opinion, they won’t make their pick at #4. I believe this is a prime spot for a QB. Barring trades the Cardinals, 49ers, and Jets won’t draft a QB 1-3. The leaves #4 as a prime trade target. With a dozen or so needs and two additional first round picks, it seems possible that Oakland moves back, collects more picks or perhaps players and maybe someone outside the top 7 leaps the Giants or Jaguars.
Giants won’t take a QB
They need to. They should. But they won’t. I could see a scenario where Jaguars, Broncos, even the Redskins all make moves ahead of the Giants to grab a QB. We’ve heard that the Giants franchise stays away from QBs less than 6 feet tall. Dwayne Haskins feels like the perfect fit but I have serious doubts. I think Giants go best player available (OL? DL?) but whether it’s because Haskins is off the board or because Dave Gettleman is just stupid, Giants will continue to proceed with Eli Manning.
4 QBs draft in round one
Giants, Jaguars, Broncos, Dolphins, Redskins are teams that could certainly draft a QB. Raiders and Bengals seem like wild card teams to do so. That’s 7 teams in total and four QBs likely to earn a round one grade throughout the process – Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, Drew Lock, and Daniel Jones.
M!KEDROP MADNESS CHALLENGE is an immersive NCAA fan accuracy competition to test your knowledge and prediction skills throughout the tournament, adding excitement BEYOND THE BRACKET
Dropping the mic on Monday’s NBA action
- Standing ovation for James Harden. His unbelievable streak of consecutive 30 point games ended on Monday after he scored “just” 28 points but was 0-10 from three. Harden deserves credit for carrying the Rockets from the bottom of the West earlier this year to where they are now. The problem is where they are now is still a middle-of-the-pack team who I don’t believe has a very high ceiling in this year’s playoffs.
- Speaking of this year’s playoffs, it’s going to be wild when Lebron James goes home in April for the first time since 2005. Lakers are not good enough and are not going to make the playoffs this year. They got just 7 points from their bench in a loss to the Grizzlies, their 4th loss in 5 games
- In all honesty, this may not be the worst thing in the world. Lebron’s season hasn’t ended before June since 2010. He has put so much wear and tear on his body that perhaps some extra rest this summer will do him well long term.
- This is a bad Spurs team. Beyond those LaMarcus Aldridge and Demar Derozan there’s some good youth but that hasn’t translated to great success. They will make the playoffs but get swept out of the first round.
- Steph Curry shot 4-14 from three, yet three Warriors scored 20 or more and Draymond Green was 2 rebounds shy of a triple-double. This team isn’t losing a playoff series in 2019.
- Speaking of losing playoff series, CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard combined for 56 points for the Blazers, in a win over the Cavs. Portland continues to get overlooked in the West and they are certainly good enough to advance to the second round this year. Enes Kanter and Rodney Hood were great additions to their bench.
- Heat are barely hanging alive for a playoff spot and losing at home to an awful Suns team is not a good sign. 71 of the 121 Heat points came from centers (Kelly Olynyk, Hassan Whiteside, and Bam Adebayo). In 2019, in this era of the NBA, getting 71 of 121 points from centers is not going to win many games. Heat lost at home to the Suns, which can’t happen for a team clinging to hope for a playoff spot. The top three scorers were Kelly Olynyk, Hassan Whiteside and Bam Adebayo.
I’m not crying, you’re crying
Actually, Dirk Nowitzki is crying. Amazing gesture by Clippers coach Doc Rivers on Monday
Kansas Streak
Jayhawks beat Kansas State on Monday night meaning their streak of 14 consecutive regular season championships is far from over, just one game behind the Wildcats. I stand by what I said on Monday, that this Kansas team simply isn’t good enough and I think they lose one of their final three (against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor) and the streak ends.
What to Watch For Tuesday
Exciting NBA doubleheader on TNT as the Celtics face the Raptors in Toronto. And the Thunder go to Denver to face the Nuggets, in what could be a second round playoff preview, should these teams finish 2-3 in the West.
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Mike Schneid
Mike is a member of the FWAA (Football Writers Association of America) and an alum of the University of Cincinnati.
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