I'm not going to lie. I fell into a huge depression after Game 6 of the World Series. I knew the statistic going in: In the past 20 years, home teams went 12-2 in Game 6 and 7. I reflected back to 12 years ago in Anaheim and those rally monkeys. We had our Game 7 starter in Tim Hudson who didn't have a quality start this whole postseason. And we had the Kansas City Royals, with their Cinderella story, blowing us out in game 6: 10-0.
After Game 6, I decided to go to sleep early, forget about reality, and wake up with a more positive attitude. I started listing out the silver linings about the previous night. "Hey, it's better to be blown out in Game 6 than in Game 7." " Maybe Bumgarner will be able to pitch 2 innings, 3 innings in relief?" None of those were reassuring.
But then I remember that this was not the Giants' teams of the past. They weren't the 1989 Giants who got swept in 4 games. This team wasn't the Giants from 1997-2001, who continuously made the postseason but always fell short of advancing to the second round. And these weren't the Giants of 2002 who had an incompetent manager when it came down to pitching and lineup decisions.
Earlier in the series after the Royals took a 2-1 series lead, I was eating lunch at the Westfield mall in downtown San Francisco. I sat next to a Royals fan at the food court. The Royal fan complimented the Giants for the way they played, informed me that the Giants were his second favorite team, and emphasized sympathy for Buster Posey for his current hitting slump. At times, it's eye opening to see other team's fans' view of other baseball organizations.
Watching Game 7 felt like a roller coaster ride. The first two to three innings were nerve-wrecking, as Hudson lasted less than two innings and Affeldt got out of a few jams. But Bumgarner came into the game, and changed the whole complexion of this series and this season. All of a sudden, my stress level decreased significantly. Inning after inning went by, as each Royal batter became instant outs. Bumgarner was on his way to saving this postseason.
But as we all know, winning game 7 on the road is never easy. In the 9th, with 2 outs and Alex Gordon on third, Salvador Perez came up to the plate. At the time, I was at a noisy bar yet I can still hear my heart beating through my chest. Pacing back and forth, I thought of the next few game- changing scenarios. There could be a wild pitch or single to tie the game. Or worse yet, Perez can hit a home run to send us home packing.
Moments later, Bumgarner threw two quick strikes to the injured Royals catcher. Right then and there, I knew we were going to win the World Series. This hitter has no chance. One last high fastball later, you know the result. Perez pops up to Sandoval in foul territory. Posey gives his signature 'Buster Hugs' to the series MVP. And the Giants win their third title in five years.
The whole night I saw a lone Dodger fan sitting in front of me, yelling "Royals, Royals!" during the 8th and 9th inning. As I left the bar after the final out, this fan came up to me and quietly said 'Great Season'.
For a second I envisioned my encounter with the fan from Kansas City and I knew at that very moment, something special just happened.
It's been roughly forty years since this Golden State Warriors franchise have won a championship. To most of my readers out there, you were not even alive during that time. A lot of us have come to accept that winning an NBA championship are for big market teams. Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago are a few big market cities that come to mind.
We're too accustomed to settling for just having a "good time" at Oracle Arena. It's time to put this franchise on the map, and establish a winning culture- not just within the organization but with this fan base as well.
How Good is this Core?
I believe a lot of you are afraid of answering this question. But I'll answer it for you anyways. This is a 60 win team this season and one of the most balanced out there.
No other point guard has the shooting ability of Stephen Curry. Add the improved play making skills from last season, and you have a top five player in the Association.
Klay Thompson is the best sharp shooting two-guard in the league. And one of the best at defending his position.
Harrison Barnes will benefit significantly from Kerr's new motion offense and Andre Iguodala will be more assertive on the offensive end.
David Lee is considered to be the weak link in this starting lineup. But I think any team can use a forward who scores 18 points and 9 rebounds a game.
Andrew Bogut is the key component. If healthy, the Warriors are more than capable of beating the Clippers, Rockets, and Spurs in the West.
The addition of Shaun Livingston will create a more stable 3 guard rotation. Livingston is a solid role player who can handle the ball and defend shooting guards- something this team was lacking last season. Leandro Barbosa and Brandon Rush will add a little more punch to the end of their bench.
Current Competition
The San Antonio Spurs dethroning the Miami Heat last season showed the world that nothing lasts forever.
The Spurs are good, but are aging. The Heat will digress without Lebron James. Do we really believe Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving will play cohesive team basketball next season in Cleveland? The Thunder will be without Durant for a good portion of the year and Westbrook is too volatile to trust. Who knows if fragile Derrick Rose can play a whole season for the Bulls.
The fact of the matter is that there's no dominant team out there, and any current NBA team is beatable in a seven game series.
Expectations for this Season and Beyond
It's time to put this notion out there. We have a narrow window to win it all with this core. To have a bay area perspective, the SF Giants had that window of opportunity in 2010. They clearly were not the best team by record but had a nice group of home grown players to make a run. They rewarded the franchise with two World Series titles, and on the brink of a 3rd parade in this decade.
The same can apply to this core. Curry, Thompson, Barnes, Green, Ezeli: homegrown players that the franchise will rely on to produce. And to produce now.
If you're waiting for another all star to play for the Warriors, via free agency or trade: Stop hoping for that dream. Salary cap restrictions will make it extremely difficult to nearly impossible to sign a top all star player, and trading for that dream player will require giving up Thompson or Curry.
It's time to stop settling for mediocrity within this fan base. Just getting to the second round is unacceptable.
This core is good enough to win the NBA Finals within four years, with the ability of making multiple Finals appearances.
Yes, you heard correctly. I expect this team to win it all, and so should you.
Brandon Marshall scored a surprising three touchdowns against the Niners this past Sunday. According to ESPN reports, there was a 75% chance that Marshall was not going to suit up for this game. Thousands of fantasy owners took the news to heart and benched him.
It goes to show that if you draft your top fantasy players- you play him. Especially in week two. If there's a 25% chance that my WR1 will play, I'll take that percentage over a borderline WR3/WR4 any day.
Its a lesson to be learned. Start your top guns.
Podcast Update
I've been asked by many if the fantasy football MJK podcast will be back this season. To answer your question, it has been put on hold. The three of us devoted our time last season- researching, collaborating, and also committing to our full time careers at the same time.
Major life changes happen. Jerry got married earlier this year. Kim moved and adapting to new life by the bay. We all switched companies in 2014, and I for one moved and adapting to personal changes as well.
Season one was a fun ride. No matter how it plays out, I believe we'll be back in some way, shape, or form. Stay tuned.
Changing After 30?
I recently met up with an old friend of mine, and we started talking about our current life, where we are now, and the good ol' days dating back to the early 2000's. We recollected some of our memories - adjusting to life after high school, the college experiences, and professional life after college.
The topic of romantic relationships came up and reached the point of the conversation about a person changing. My friend strongly believed that the person we are now, is how we're going to be for the rest of our lives. And since we have been in this planet for twenty-five plus years - our values, beliefs, and character all have been put in place for us.
What triggered this idea was my friend's belief that there's no turning back after a break up. Meaning there's no chance my friend will ever getting back with an ex. The person you had a relationship with is who they are, and the reasons why a couple breaks up in the first place will remain in-tact between the two of you for the rest of your lives.
Do you agree that you can't change after the age of 25-30? Or do you think positive changes can be made? Feel free to comment or PM me your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you.
Mark Jackson has been fired. If you didn't check your Facebook or Twitter feed (70k+ tweets in the past hour since news hit), now you know.
The Warriors front office made this internal decision unanimously and QUICK. The reason being is because they want to hire one candidate before he goes somewhere else.
That one candidate the Warriors want right now is..
Current TNT analyst Steve Kerr.
Looking back at Joe Lacob's hiring tendencies to this date:
- Likes to hire guys who are new to their role.
- Bob Myers: no GM experience prior to joining the Warriors but loads of contacts and great reputation around the league during his agent days.
- Mark Jackson: No prior coaching experience at any level and former NBA player who has a great rapport with current players around the league.
Steve Kerr fits the Lacob mode perfectly. Kerr is a former NBA player with prior relations with the Lacob family, new to coaching, and isn't a veteran coach who will undermine upper management.
Kerr's decision at this point are the Knicks or Warriors. Phil Jackson or Joe Lacob. Carmelo Anthony or Steph Curry. The Knicks' aging roster with Anthony and JR Smith or the Warriors' talented future with Curry and Thompson.
It must have been a tough decision to move on from Mark Jackson. The firing was necessary and quick, because management still has a chance to get the man they have been targeting for months.
The opportunity is here, and now its up to Kerr if he wants to coach this team.
Heartbreak happens all the time in the world of sports. With any game, winning a playoff series usually takes team talent, player confidence, and a little bit of luck. Unfortunately, the San Jose Sharks lost their confidence and luck wasn't on their side when the games mattered most.
Momentum is something that is overstated during games. A missed shot here, a made shot there. But when it comes to the playoffs, momentum is everything. After winning the first three games of the series against the LA Kings, the Sharks had a chance to finish off Los Angeles in game 4. After losing game 5, most fans knew in the back of their minds that the inevitable was coming.
These kind of letdowns occur all the time to sports franchises, especially franchises who keep the same set of players during their prime. It happens to certain star players during specific eras. Joe Thornton and Dan Boyle have been the face of the franchise for the past 7 years. Patrick Marleau for the past 15. Years of disappointment, years of talent, and a lack of killer instinct have hurt this trio and their team's chances of moving forward.
In history, teams have been able to over-come devastating playoff defeats. Often times, new players have to be put into place and a new culture and era have to be enforced.
I understand the disappointment, the anger, and shock after game 7 last night. But lets keep this series loss in perspective. The Sharks haven't sniffed a Stanley Cup appearance for decades. Titles are won with certain players and in certain eras. This era will come and go and new faces will arrive.
The Sharks will win a Stanley Cup title. Management will acquire the right talent in place for another run.
But for a city longing for a celebration down San Pedro square, San Jose will have to wait just a little bit longer.
What is your favorite sport? My answer may be surprising to some people. I grew up in a community where basketball, football, and individual games were more embraced than the game we call the national past time.
Many things have been said about the game of baseball. To many, baseball is a boring game. Baseball is too strenuous to watch. Baseball season is 162 games with four rounds of playoffs before crowning a champion. Baseball is a game that lasts for approximately three to four hours a day. Baseball is a game with no action. Baseball is a game that doesn't involve real athleticism. Baseball is a dying game. Baseball is a game that isn't engaging. And the list goes on..
Background
Listening to the game on the radio was always a passion of mine growing up. It was actually more of a necessity. Back in the 90's, it was common for households to not subscribe to cable television. I grew up listening to the radio and occasionally watching Giants and A's games on TV once a week. Instead of ESPN and Fox Sports Net, I had KNBR 68, Jon Miller, and Ted Robinson. Growing up, I collected baseball cards, inserting them into protective sleeves and binder collector albums. I was that kid who became overly excited about purchasing a pack of cards at the local store. The card shows at the mall were like theme parks to me- it was my escape, my Disneyland. I became infatuated with the statistics of each player and looked forward to receiving the local sports page to check on every box score from the night before.
It may be surprising to many, but I grew up as an Oakland A's fan. The team was stacked in terms of talent led by Canseco, McGwire, Henderson, Stewart, and Steinbach. Something changed after Canseco got traded during the summer of 1992. The team slowly lost its confidence suffering a devastating playoff loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993, and Oakland instantly dismantled their team shortly after. My family took me to Candlestick Park for Giants games, the team still had stars in Will Clark and Matt Williams, and they signed mega superstar-Barry Bonds.
High School Years AKA the Barry Bonds Years
Barry Bonds was a player who can do it all and in my opinion was the best player of our generation. Bonds was a five-tool player in the 90's- who hit forty home runs and steal forty bases in one season, and was a regular gold glove outfielder during his prime. People forget that Bonds' signing saved the Giants from moving to Florida and his presence swayed ownership to build a ball park near China Basin in San Francisco. As many kids do, they lose their passion for baseball card collecting and move onto other things. As technology expanded, I became more interested in online fantasy baseball. Fantasy baseball was a place for me to apply my statistical knowledge and use that knowledge to build winning virtual lineups. As I began to harness my fantasy skills, the Giants started to become consistent winners, reaching the playoffs and being competitive from 1997-2003.
Post-Bonds Era
Slowly, suspicions of steroids surrounded many of the game's best players. The Mitchell Report was released and players started to clean up their act. Today, you won't see 60-70 home run seasons or Alex Rodriguez hitting routine home runs to dead center field. My team began to change their identity and brand of baseball. Long gone were the Bonds', Durhams', Kleskos', and Tuckers' in the world. Those players couldn't run, couldn't hit for average, and were below-average defenders. In came up-and-coming stars named Lincecum, Cain, Posey, and Sandoval. These players laid the foundation for the Giants who played the game the right way. Lincecum was worth the hype, Cain was the horse of the rotation, Posey was a star the instant he arrived, and Sandoval was an up and coming switch hitter in the middle of the lineup. Most importantly, none of these players were linked to using steroids. Modern Day
San Francisco has won two World Series titles this decade. Would I still love the game without the Giants' titles and prestige? Absolutely. In some ways, the game has made me a third and fourth level thinker. Hence why baseball has always been intriguing to me. In other sports- athletic ability, natural talent, and first level thinking can lead a team to victory. While having talent certainly does help, it doesn't necessarily win you titles. I enjoy thinking about what the next baseball move will be- a runner trying to go from first to third. Hit and running on a 3-2 count with 1 out. Placing an infield shift on the most dangerous left handed hitter in the game.
The great thing about opening week is that every team has a chance, every fan has a dream, and it's never too late for anyone to learn the nuances of the game today.
My thoughts on.. Action: A resurgence of Stanford basketball this season and the Johnny Dawkins era My Reaction: There's a good shot that Stanford will make the NCAAs, even after losing three in a row and falling short against Colorado this past weekend. To Dawkins' credit, Stanford beat Connecticut on the road and four top-50 win teams. But can anyone be convinced that Dawkins can lead this team to the sweet 16? I sure can't. It's been a frustrating 6 years for a program that's been highly respectable under Mike Montgomery and Trent Johnson. 2008 was the last year Stanford has been to the big dance and Dawkins is the one to blame for that.
Action: EDC Las Vegas 2014 tickets have sold out My reaction:There's been a general consensus out there that EDM is fading away, but due to this report- quite the contrary. An increase in ticket prices and the declining economy have not stopped fans from pulling the trigger on this once-a-year Vegas extravaganza. Although the EDM lifestyle has slowed quite a bit in the bay area, it's still as popular as ever. How long will it last? My prediction- a few more years before the main-stream music festivals shut down for good. We're one unfortunate circumstance away from seeing the end of 'Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat' in the foreseeable future.
Action: I saw this tweet from my buddy this past Sunday: "@cylusballin Just watched a guy lose 12k while grading algebra papers. Good thing teachers make 70k a year in California. #1/6" My reaction: It's okay to lose about 6% of your salary at the poker tables in one session, but let's keep the math homework where it belongs- at home. Action: Daylight savings time sweeping the nation My reaction: We've been told Daylight savings conserves energy during the Spring and Summer time. Retail stores love it as customers stay out at the shopping centers longer. TV ratings and movie theaters hate it as people explore and enjoy nature during this time. I, for one, love it. Why don't we just leave it like this all year 'round?
Action: It's old news now but House of Cards released season 2 in spectacular fashion My reaction:Netflix has done well with House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. If I didn't know then, I know now: Kevin Spacey is one heck of an actor. I thought he was good, but not THIS good. Netflix's decision on releasing all the episodes for the season was a positive move for the popular streaming provider.
The Golden State Warriors have had some good players throughout the years. Most of us were too young to remember Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry. Chris Mullin was a great shooter during the 90s, an Olympian, and a Hall of Famer on his own right, but typically was not the best player in his era. Chris Webber was a talented big man but didn't play long enough in Golden State. Exciting players have passed us by -Sprewell, Ellis, Jamison, Richardson, and Hardaway. To some of us, they are a distant memory.
In the modern-day era, no other players in this franchise have created such a a buzz as Baron Davis and Stephen Curry during the past ten years. That being said, let's take a closer look how these two would fare against each other:
Who will win 1 on 1?
Many forget that Baron Davis was an offensive force. Davis can get to the rim, cross his man over, and had an under-rated fade-away J from 15-17 feet from the basket. Davis was able to post up most point guards in the league and take advantage of his body strength. He wasn't usually the quickest player on the floor, but he was one of the most confident and smartest at his position.
Stephen Curry is arguably the best shooter to ever step foot on a basketball court. His range is limitless and he can beat you in many ways- fast break 3s, spot up 3's, and even off a pick-and-roll step-back 3's. Curry isn't the strongest guy on the floor but he makes up for it with excellent ball handling skills, quickness, and vision of the basket.
Edge: Curry. Although Davis can post Curry up and try to slow the game down, Curry will make up for his deficiencies on the defensive end by driving past Davis if he played too close. If Davis gives him space, Curry can drain any shot he wants.
At their peak, who is the best player on the court?
Curry at this moment is a top 10 player in the NBA. Night in and night out, he's worth the price of admission alone. Curry can drain five threes in one night, dish out 8 dimes, and wow the crowd with one dazzling move after another.
Davis, when he put his mind to it, was a top 5 player during his hey-day. He threw down some nasty dunks, threw alley-oop passes to Richardson from half court, and was one of the most clutch players I've ever seen.
Edge: Davis. At one point in his career, Davis was arguably the best player in the world (although it was short-lived). In 2007 during the Dallas Mavericks series, Davis averaged 25 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 5.7 APG. At the time, he was the best player in the playoffs until they faced the Jazz as the Warriors simply ran out of gas.
Who makes their teammates better?
Curry's teammates are more traditional in a sense that they play better defense collectively. 2014 Warriors have a traditional center in Bogut and shut-down defenders in Iguodala and Thompson. This year's Warriors team also have great individual offensive talent. Each starter, besides Bogut, can take over a game at anytime.
Conversely, Davis had a bunch of castoffs during the 2007/2008 season. Matt Barnes, Andris Biedrens, and Stephen Jackson all had pivotal roles during the We Believe years. It's safe to say, those players in their prime would not be starters for this 2014 team.
Edge: Davis. While Curry is wonderful offensively and 8.9 assists to add to his stat line, he has committed a career high in turnovers, can be one dimensional during crunch time, and is enjoying the luxury of playing with highly skilled offensive teammates around him. Defensively, Bogut is there to defend the rim and Iguodala/Thompson are above-average defenders. Lastly, Curry does not have the daily responsibility of guarding the opposing team's best player, as Thompson usually takes on that responsibility.
Often times, Davis would have to put the Warriors on his back. The We Believe years had some offensively challenged players in Biedrens and Patrick O'Bryant, and Davis had a target on his back every game. Keep in mind that Davis would have to defend the opponent's best player, as Monta Ellis (as good as he was offensively) was a huge liability on the defensive end. Intangibles
Davis had a knack of making his teammates better. He brought leadership abilities and was a coach on and off the court. He brought out the best in Andris Biedrens (which led Biedrens to a new contract) and kept Stephen Jackson in check for those two years they spent playing with each other. Davis also brought that LA 'swag' to the bay area.
Curry's intangibles are mostly shown on the court. He's not the most vocal guy in the huddle, but when his team needs him to score, he'll score. His presence on the court elevate's every player's value. His teammates will see more open looks because of the attention being taken place on Curry. Often times, a good defense can also bog down the offense when Curry tries to take over a game all by himself.
Edge: Davis Final Thoughts
Was Baron Davis better than Curry in their prime? For a time in Davis' career, the answer would be yes. If we're talking about longevity and potential, Curry gets a slight edge here. The fact that Curry has many years left in him and is already a topic of discussion as the best Warrior of all time speak volume of his game. How good can he be? That's an answer only time will tell.
Curry is a superstar and we can all acknowledge that. At the same time, let's not crown him the best Warrior just yet. There was a time during the 2006-2008 era when Davis ruled the Bay Area and we shall not forget that.
If I needed to win game 7, Baron would be my guy . But it doesn't mean that Steph won't be able to supplant Davis and become a better overall player in a few years.
At the rate Curry has progressed in his short NBA career, that may very well happen sooner than we think.
It's been over two weeks since the Super Bowl and many fantasy owners are relaxing during this off season, as the football season can take a toll on everyone: real life football players, fantasy players, and yes even the analysts. But this doesn't mean we all should take it easy and forget about the game- far from it.
In order to be mentally ready for the upcoming season, I recommend the following activities that WINNERS do during this off season.
1) Evaluate from last season
You may have drafted all the right players, avoided all injuries, and went undefeated in your league. For many owners, that wasn't the case. Take the time to evaluate this past season's preseason rankings. Who did you underrate or overrate? Who did you over-look? What kind of strategies should you implement for the first 3-4 rounds of this coming draft?
2) Analyze the NFL draft
Draft content is available on a daily to weekly basis. Not only will this allow you to stay informed of all the current off-season news, but following the draft will allow you to be a few steps ahead of your competitors. The combine is a great way to know who the next great wide receiver is. In my opinion, first year wide receivers are vastly underrated and over-looked going into fantasy drafts. It's up to you to know who that emerging superstar player is.
3) Play on other fantasy sports formats
Personally, I play fantasy baseball, basketball and football. These games provide me a competitive outlet and keeps my mind sharp on sports and statistics all-year round. You can also play on sites such as FanDuel, which offers a daily outlet for your fantasy and gambling needs. Baseball season is coming up in late March. If you enjoy watching the game, I highly recommend giving fantasy baseball a chance.
4) Check Rotoworld every single day
But you may ask- isn't football season over? Why care about football news in March? Sites like Rotoworld give you insider information on current NFL and college prospects every hour of the day. You want to be informed about the next microscopic surgery procedure or DUI charge this off-season. That way you will avoid drafting that next injury prone player or headcase.
5) Target and monitor 5 underachieving players from last year
My list of under achievers from last season are Ray Rice, Trent Richardson, David Wilson, Roddy White, and RG3 to name a few. Compile your list and follow how they're progressing in the off-season. Some are coming off injuries while others are either getting up there in age or just flat out under-performed. Try to narrow your list down to 1-2 players you want to target on next season's draft board. You will be pleasantly surprised when that player exceeds this year's expectations.
