JD's Sportscorner

The NHL Players association (or the NHLPA) voted two weeks ago to end the 2019-2020 regular season and go ahead to a 24 team playoff format. In this playoff format, the top four teams of each conference will have extra rest time, while the remaining eight in each have a short playoff round. the winners advance to play those top four teams.

The St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars will sit out the first round since they are the best four teams in the West, as Minnesota, Phoenix, Chicago and Winnipeg have a chance to compete. These four teams have been granted gifts, as some of their draft stock will be protected and they can see where they are at in terms of building solid rosters with enough depth to make playoff runs in the future.

It’s the match-ups in the first round that will make this exciting though, so here are predictions on the series once they get started.

#5 Edmonton Oilers v. #12 Chicago Blackhawks

Two points to make: the first one being just like all the matchups in the Eastern conference, all of these teams will have rust to shake off at least two games in, so expect sloppy play. The second one is on behalf of the writer: get over this matchup. No howling or whining on why the Oilers have to play the Blackhawks. Chicago had consistency in net with Corey Crawford playing for his life before the season stopped, and the Central Division was competitive the whole season. Edmonton just isn’t as good as the four teams ahead of them (coincidentally three of those four are in the Central) despite Dave Tippett doing everything he can with this roster. Leon Draisaitl and Conor McDavid are both up for MVP consideration, but the dynamic duo must show they aren’t the Toronto Maple Leafs and flounder in the first round against veteran clubs.

The matchup strangely favors Chicago in a lot of areas despite Jeremy Colliton trying to run them into the ground. A team filled with Stanley Cup winning veterans such as the aforementioned Crawford, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the defense solidified in the second half of the shortened season. The rest will bode well for the older vets as they will be back at full strength. Crawford, who’s a free agent at the end of the year, has much to play for if he wants to be a good 1B or number two goalie next season.

 

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Edmonton has much to prove despite having two of the top stars in the league. Depth started to show through for the Oilers as the third and fourth line took some attention from the first two. Like Corey Crawford, Mike Smith is older than a fair share of goaltenders, so the rest benefits the Oilers defense. This could help the team focus towards resurgence in offense.

Like the Pens-Canadiens series, the series could go either way depending on which team shows up. The Blackhawks have the smarter unit, a desperate net-minder trying to get onto a team next year and further playoff experience than the younger Oilers. This one could reach a full series depending on how the first two games go.

Upset prediction of the series: Blackhawks win series 3-2

#6 Nashville Predators v. #11 Phoenix Coyotes

Both teams don’t have the teeth their logos do. With the acquisitions these two teams made, they have little to show for it. Nashville made sweeping moves last offseason, and only got hot when their third coach in franchise history John Hynes brought defensive rhythm back. Like a number of teams before the league suspended play, the Predators were on a roll and looked like the team no one in the western conference wanted to play. With the elderly legend Pekka Rinne in net, Nashville can bring back what they’ve lost in the past three months: smash-mouth hockey with the remaining offensive push from former coach Peter Laviolette’s system.

If there’s any team that needed a three month break to get back their collective breath back in the western conference, it would be without a doubt the Phoenix Coyotes. Once in first place almost solely from the play of goaltender Darcy Kuemper, the team sputtered after he, then backup Antti Raanta, fell to injuries. Kuemper and Raanta not just back in the lineup, but given three months prep to get ready for the playoffs shows it’s quite possible the Coyotes look like the team to beat in this conference early on, barring anymore injuries. Phil Kessel and Taylor Hall need to improve chemistry together, since Predators coach John Hynes knows Hall’s strengths and weaknesses and the offense will be critical for the Coyotes to keep pace with whoever they play.

Conor Garland will be the big name player coming back from injury, as his knee should be fully healed. This will probably be the most physical series of the qualifying rounds in either conference since both teams lean towards defensive and smash-mouth play. Nashville has the better roster but Phoenix has the better goal-tenders, and that could be the most important factor as both Kuemper and Raanta needed time to recover.

Prediction: Coyotes win series 3-1

#7 Vancouver Canucks v. #10 Minnesota Wild

Probably the series a lot of people will want finished first, this one won’t be pretty. A team that many people expected to continue a rebuild (Vancouver) facing off against a team many considered to rebuild mid-season (Minnesota), the playoff matchup could be what either team needs moving forward in a direction which signifies growth for the decade. Vancouver’s issue is needed depth, yet showed they can stay at the top of the pack in the Pacific. At one point the Canucks lead the division twice before the Golden Knights took control and didn’t look back. Jacob Markstrom and Thatcher Demko in net will be pivotal players Vancouver trusts most, despite the top two lines powering them to 78 points in 69 games played.

Minnesota needs their key players Kevin Fiala, Mikko Koivu, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to show up since goaltending was the main reason the Wild plummeted. While Devan Dubnyk’s replacement Alex Stalock has been somewhat of an improvement in net, both are in the top 10 worst starters in the league. Vancouver will have to pounce and overwhelm the Wild in order to stay alive for a long post-season run, as the Wild did win the season series, albeit the last game in a shootout, 4-3.

Prediction: Canucks win series 3-0

#8 Calgary Flames v. #9 Winnipeg Jets

Talk about two teams who’ve underperformed this season. Yes, a lot of people including yours truly didn’t think the Jets would make the playoffs given the lack of depth on the backend/defense, but they stayed solid in the race thanks to Connor Hellebyuck’s outstanding performances. This isn’t the intimidating, big and physical Jets team we watched the past few seasons. While a shell of their former selves, Paul Maurice has done some of his best coaching by keeping his roster a few steps ahead of their opponents.

Calgary’s been the western conference Toronto Maple Leafs this season: a nefarious coach who’s brought drama and was exposed for poor coaching and tactics, a significant decline in play, and a roster that doesn’t look like it’s been put well together. It’s fine to shoulder a lot of the early season blame on Bill Peters, who was more a racist bully than a coach, but the Flames struggled to maintain consistency, mainly with who to start in net for critical games. Players from Johnny Gaudreau to Milan Lucic looked off, while Travis Hamonic and Noah Hanifin fell to injuries right when they looked sharper.

If there’s any series that needed a mulligan from both teams, it’s definitely this one. Both rosters have a lot of star-power that when they both get going, makes for the best watch in any of the qualifying matchups. The only meeting between these two teams took place in a thrilling October out-door game where Winnipeg won 2-1 in OT. A lot has changed since then and we all should expect both teams to light up the scoreboards at least in half the games they play. Whoever plays better defense consistently between these two teams will probably advance to the next round against a much harder and determined St. Louis Blues squad.

Prediction: Flames win series 3-1

The NHL Players association (or the NHLPA) voted last week to end the 2019-2020 regular season and go ahead with a 24 team playoff format. In this playoff format, the top four teams of each conference will have extra rest time, while the remaining eight in each have a short playoff round. Those winners advance to play the top four teams.

The Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers will sit out the first round since they are the top four teams in the East, while Columbus, Montreal, Florida and the New York Rangers have a chance to compete. These four teams have been granted gifts, because some of their draft stock will be protected and they can see where they are in terms of building solid rosters with enough depth to make playoff runs in the future.

It’s the match-ups in the first round that will make this exciting though, so here are predictions on the series once they start.

#5 Pittsburgh Penguins v. #12 Montreal Canadiens

This should be said since every team will have issues in early games: these playoffs will be slow to start, especially the first two games considering play has paused for over three months. This is a series where the lesser team can have an advantage. The Canadiens only won 19 of the 71 games they played in regulation, showing yet again Claude Julien is working with a hollow roster highlighted by an aging Carey Price in net. An up and down team, Montreal will have to start fast and not let up, but this isn’t a team that has lived up to those expectations, at least, not consistently.

With Pittsburgh, the main guys who can put up points should be able to ease in a bit more. Goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Matt Murray make a great tandem, which can help both Sidney Crosby (who should be back at full health if he wasn’t already) and Evgeni Malkin. Key player Jake Guentzel who was ruled out 4-6 months after a shoulder injury against the Ottawa Senators will probably make his return to the team and add some much needed depth, as the Pens ranked third in the league this season with most games missed by injured players (298).

The series could be a clean 3-0 sweep or a full five games depending on which Montreal team shows up to play. Knowing the first two games could be full of uneven performances, it’s ok to give each team a win, but the superior team in this matchup will show up in the later games as they figure each other out. Pittsburgh does have the edge with better all-around players, and even took the regular season series 2-1-0.

Prediction: Penguins win series 3-1

#6 Carolina Hurricanes v. #11 New York Rangers

The Hurricanes desperately needed the season to stop as both goaltenders Petr Mrazek and James Reimer were seriously hurt in the infamous David Ayres Toronto Maple Leafs game. Although Mrazek returned and looked solid, he did suffer an upper body injury, and has had extra time to recover. As for James Reimer, his lower body injury has given the team time to add depth with the AHL season officially cancelled. The Canes can call up players from their affiliate Checkers, something the NHL says is ok to do. Carolina slipped down to the sixth seed because of injuries to those two players and while the offense wasn’t as problematic, the defense was porous without them.

As the season resumes, so will the speculation about who will start for the New York Rangers in net. Unlike the Hurricanes, the Rangers have three net-minders who are trying to stay on the roster. Igor Shesterkin should be back from his prior injuries in a car crash just before the pause, however, the starting job may possibly go to either Alexandar Georgiev or Henrik Lundqvist, given the magnitude of the offensively potent opponent.

Both offenses add a lot of spice since both were red hot before the break, especially the Rangers. Mika Zibanejad scored a career high 41 goals (five coming in one game), while Artemi Panarin is a finalist for League MVP. Carolina had around 300 even shots more than the Rangers in their regular season series, with the trio of Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov proving too much to handle for the Rangers defense.

While the Rangers were scorching at the beginning of March, it’s quite possible they’ve cooled down considerably during the hiatus. If David Quinn is smart, he could use this to his benefit and teach the players his system more. Either way, the Rangers defensively should plan how to block 35 shots a game defensively, and go from there.

Prediction: Hurricanes win series 3-1

#7 New York Islanders v. #10 Florida Panthers

I have to hand it to the state of New York for having two competitive teams in the playoffs, as both these series should be exciting, though this one is for different reasons. When last we left the New York Islanders, they’d come out of the trade deadline revamped and a bit better offensively, as Jean Gabriel Pageau began to make his mark, but dropped seven straight before play halted in early March. The Islanders have given up the second most even strength (five-on-five) shots, indicating they were falling apart in almost every facet. This team could be the one that benefits most for the playoffs, since their defensive strengths don’t have to be taught to be fully in gear when games start.

The Florida Panthers meanwhile are at the opposite end of the spectrum. Their loaded three lines consist of Aleksander Barkov, Evgenii Dadonov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Mike Hoffman, with career years for Noel Acciari, Brett Connolly and Frank Vatrano. The offense can create problems if the Islander defense isn’t sharp for the first couple of games. Coach Joel Quenneville is still figuring out how to get more out of this roster and the unexpectedly disappointing goaltender addition of Sergei Bobrovsky. Speaking of Bob, he’s had a discouraging .900 save percentage this season, and has been pulled or benched in almost a dozen games because of his struggles. One must wonder if Florida gets in a 2-0 hole early if he’ll be pulled, since his playoff save percentage is slightly better than his regular season percentage for this year.

The Erik Haula and Lucas Wallmark additions could prove useful as Florida needs a different look against the team that swept them in the regular season. Florida should benefit in another ironic way: the empty or not-so-filled stadiums will feel almost normal, since they’ve typically had small or half-filled home crowds. Most teams, aren’t used to this, so that could work in Florida’s favor. While Bobrovsky hasn’t had a good season, one must wonder at the other end if Semyon Varlamov is ready to face pressure in the playoffs.

Prediction: Islanders win series 3-0

#8 Toronto Maple Leafs v. #9 Columbus Blue Jackets

Hilariously, the last post written on here was about the lowest point probably in Maple Leafs history. I still stand by not only what I wrote in that article, but the probable need to hit that re-start button. This roster will not win a championship, because they consistently show they can only go so far. Hilariously, if this team wins this round and so do the other three teams (which will probably happen) ahead of them, the Leafs will yet again have to face the Boston Bruins in a best of seven game series.

Similar to the Islanders-Panthers series, these two teams are on opposite spectrums. Like the Panthers, the Leafs have a potent offense, this one led by Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares. Unfortunately, two of the three have shown they seem to play their best when they…actually want to. There’s red flag number one. Much like the Panthers, this team has a troubling situation in goal with Frederick Anderson, a goal-tender who they seem to plead with to play every game because the team has to find ways to stay alive. Anderson has a .915 save percentage, one of the five worst in the league for a starter. Call that red flag number two. Then we have Sheldon Keefe, the poor sad sack who took over unexpectedly early in the season as head coach for the heinous Mike Babcock. Keefe may have lost control over his locker room by February, as players were heard and seen doing things differently and taking matters into their own hands. Strike three. Ouch.

Like the New York Islanders, the Columbus Blue Jackets are defensive oriented, scraping and clawing for whatever they get. Coach John Tortorella knew he would have a roster that was purged of talent last season, and he followed it up with probably the best season of his coaching career, leading the team to 33 wins and fifth place in the Metropolitan division. One issue, albeit a positive that Tortorella could face is who to start in net. Both Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins have .926 save percentages or above. This tandem has kept Columbus alive in most of their games, considering the Jackets have both the highest amount of games lost to injury (352) and top three in lowest scoring five-on-five matchups.

The Jackets will have nearly the same benefits as the Islanders, namely that their defensive philosophies won’t be that hard to figure out when they come back. As an added bonus they’ll have a lot of their key players returning from injuries. Cam Atkinson, Seth Jones, Alexandre Texier, Oliver Bjorkstrand and possibly Josh Anderson should be good to fill the first two lines when play resumes. For the Leafs, Jake Muzzin comes back when he’s needed most, so he’ll have to live up to the hype and show he deserves a big pay-day when the season is over. Both teams split 1-1 in the regular season, with Columbus winning the last game in OT. This could well be the longest series of this round with games going to five.

Upset Prediction of the Round: Columbus wins series 3-2

February 22nd is a date sports fans remember as the day the U.S. Olympic hockey team upset the Russians in their quest for the gold medal in Lake Placid. Forty years later, that night was celebrated in another memorable game, this time in the NHL as the Carolina Hurricanes pummeled the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto.

As most of the world has heard by now, the star of the night was emergency goaltender David Ayres, who’s a Zamboni driver for the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies, as he held his own especially in the third period, and the Hurricanes surged to a 6-3 win. Ayres was honored at the latest Hurricanes home game, which resulted in a 4-1 loss against the Dallas Stars.

The two countries (U.S. and Canada), as well as hockey fans worldwide will not just remember the happy moment for Mr. Ayres, they’ll be wondering how the Maple Leafs, a star studded team which had a coaching change in the first half of the season, lost to a man they’ve shot at and scored on in practice for years.

Saturday night summarized why Toronto cannot win when it matters most.

Sheldon Keefe generated life into the team after Mike Babcock was fired, and the team looked like it would play better not just for the rest of the season, but long-term too. The issues Keefe had to deal with though haven’t gone away, most notably on defense. The Maple Leafs before Jack Campbell coming in for Michael Hutchinson had the worst goaltenders out of the top starting 66 (give or take). Braden Holtby, who’s been looking like a sieve most of the season averaging 3.1 goals against, was ranked four spots better than both of them. We witnessed the reasons for it come into play this past Saturday night.

The issues though go deeper than just Freddie Anderson and <insert name here> being awful in net. The worst parts of Saturday’s loss came from the bench. Sheldon Keefe screamed at his players as they looked on in disinterest. David Ayres had more shots than William Nylander and six others on the roster did at one point, and that doesn’t feel like the worst of it.

Ayres has a current contract with the Leafs, and he practices against them as often as possible. While Carolina and Toronto are different with their defenses, their respective cultures also vary greatly. Consider it this way, Ayres, who didn’t even play with the Canes for a whole game, was treated warmly and with more positivity by an American based team than the members of a  historic Original Six team in the heart of Ontario treat each other.

You can say that this was a slip up after the Leafs took it to the Penguins and shut them out in Pittsburgh 4-0 a few days before that, and yes, their road-trip to Florida this week is one they have to focus on since it deals with divisional play. The thing is though, that’s not going to help when the Leafs came within one goal of tying the game and gave up in the third period. While coach Keefe said it didn’t matter who the Canes had in net because of how well they played, the Leafs players didn’t seem to care that much about being out there to begin with.

There’s a reason why the Boston Bruins get over on this team in the playoffs, and the issue then comes to mentalities. It’s crystal clear now that John Tavares leaving the Islanders was better for New York long-term if he’s been a part of this. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and a good number of players are still young, but some of their roster such as Jake Muzzin should know when it’s time to step up, and have yet to.

So why then say this could be their lowest point in hockey history? It would be dramatic if it wasn’t for the fact that while Toronto hasn’t won a championship since the 1960s, much less with the star-studded roster they have. However, the other six teams have dropped the ball too many times to count and continue to show why, in the words of some analysts on the NHL Network, “players usually don’t pick a Canadian team as their first option.” The six other teams aren’t any closer to winning a Championship than Toronto, and a Canadian team hasn’t won the championship in almost thirty years.

The media have not helped the situation. What the U.S. public has to deal with in football about the NFC East and Patrick Mahomes, Canada does with the Atlantic/Pacific divisions and Conor McDavid. Most of the NHL teams in the U.S. have a lot of passion and great analysis, but they aren’t overtly zealous over two or three teams. That’s a major line of difference that has reared it’s head. Carolina knows while it’s fans and community support them, they have to win the Metropolitan division or somehow sneak into the playoffs. The Leafs have to be one of seven teams that has to deal with constant pressure and mud slinging, win or lose, and it has to stop. This psyche could go as far up as the owner, who feels there have to be constant tweaks, changes or re-builds.

When a loss like this comes along, you know there’s a certain ending for a lot of the roster, but for everyone else, there should be questioning on what else led up to this that goes beyond the roster and general decision making.

Spring football has been hit or miss depending on the decade, so it shouldn’t surprise those with mixed feelings on how the XFL will hold up their second go-around. Last year the Alliance of American Football held up well with viewers and attendance. Unfortunately, funding and poor financial planning killed that league.

The XFL had it right by waiting an extra year to get everything ready. Vince McMahon and the league have done a lot of great things. Let’s break down what has captivated fans in the United States for the past three weeks and what else could be in store.

Behind the scenes with official review.

One of the truly revolutionary ideas the XFL has unveiled is putting official review on  microphones and cameras to hear and see how plays aren’t just reviewed, but handled up in booths and on the field. While there was initial skepticism on this, that’s gone now. Audiences who’ve tuned into the past three weekends have seen and heard plays discussed on what is deemed irreversible and what stands as a right call. This is huge because of controversies in previous years during not just the NFL regular season but calls in critical playoff games that have been botched by multiple umpires and referees. Instead of on-air analysts discussing or guessing probable outcomes, the XFL shows us what goes on and helps the audience understand. If the NFL starts to be hammered by viewers wanting this kind of transparency on a consistent basis, the league could relent and allow it.

Better kickoffs

Kickoffs are a hot issue in not just the NFL but the football world. The XFL may have found a solution to that.

Kickoffs in the NFL have the kicker putting the ball into play at the 35 yard line in their own territory, and the rest of the defense is behind him. The fielding team is at the 50 yard line, and the kick can be fielded at least 10-15 yards away from where the ball is placed. Usually, it’s kicked deep into opposing territory, but it cannot go out of bounds on the sidelines, for that would result in a penalty.

XFL: the kicker stands at his 30 yard line and must put the ball into play between the opposing teams endzone and 20 yard line. The coverage teams must stand at both the 35 (kicker’s defense) and 30 (receiving team minus the receiver) yard lines.

The XFL method leads to fewer injuries and penalizes the kicker if the ball is not placed at a certain distance. There’s also a better chance for onside recovery. Best of all it preserves the kickoff for those who insist football isn’t football without it.

Not over-the-top

Catching live action interviews, reactions and celebrations seems to be the wildest part of the XFL right now, and it seems genuine and laid back. Thankfully, the theatrics of the XFL almost 20 years ago don’t seem to be around, which we really don’t need.

Viewership

Probably the most important plus outside of the officiating. Fan attendance has been great in cities such as Seattle, Washington D.C., St. Louis and Houston. Over two million people have tuned in to watch the games three straight weeks, showing that the sport is appreciated by a good number of people. The best thing Vince McMahon and the XFL did was choosing specific cities, either giving certain cities like St. Louis a shot at having a football team again, having teams in blockbuster, big money places like Seattle or Houston, or trying to pry interest and fans away from other teams such as the Washington Redskins or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sounds like these past three weeks have been fantastic. Could there be anything more in store for us?

Definitely. Criticisms of consistent offensive play on teams such as the Tampa Bay Vipers and Seattle Dragons have been valid because those teams haven’t been able to finish. If those teams can not just learn their offenses by the sixth week, but also finish drives with consistent scores, both teams could be threats given they’re solid defensively.

 

The extra point change should be fun to watch. Surprisingly, a lot of the coaches haven’t tried to go for the three extra points after scoring touchdowns. While it’s ok to be aggressive, getting only one extra point when you’re down by ten doesn’t seem like a good plan. Expect more coaches to gamble the later the season goes on.

With coaches willing to go for it, we’ll see how defenses respond to the aggression, especially if they want to hit harder or shutdown offenses through tight coverage. The XFL has done a great job with letting defense have a chance to hit and play, so if games start to get low-scoring, it’s probably because the defenses have a lot of room to play their full game.

Is it possible that with league parity, this season was cursed before it started? The first half of the NBA season has been chaotic. The conversation about ratings has been hanging over the league’s collective head since the season began. Issues such as load management, international interests and the deaths of David Stern and Kobe Bryant have been bigger than the games televised.

There’s still hope for an exciting second half, especially the month before playoffs begin. A lot of fans will look ahead to the playoffs and how those teams that didn’t make it in will rebound for the upcoming season. Yet there’s a good number who’ve thrown in the towel and just want something without as much drama, intended or unintended.

Here’s what we’ve learned throughout the first half of this year’s NBA regular season.

There’s no clear winner for Coach of the Year

Just as we broke down in the NFL, at least half the coaches in the NBA are considered candidates for coach of the year. A good number of fans who watch the game know that Doc Rivers, Brad Stevens and Terry Stotts know how to run their teams well and get the best from their rosters, so any of those three have an excellent chance of being awarded that honor this year. There are at least a half dozen coaches who are on their heels or have surpassed these three. Monty Williams, who took a hiatus from head coaching for a few years, is doing an impressive job with the Phoenix Suns in his first year there. Erik Spoelstra may have put together one of his best years with Miami as not only are the Heat in the top five in the East, but as of this publishing have only three losses at home the whole year. Taylor Jenkins took control of a Memphis Grizzlies team that should have a slow re-build, but has found a way to put up a fight in the Western Conference and the Southwest division. Last but not least, coach of last year’s champion Toronto Raptors Nick Nurse has found a way to have the Raptors playing as well as last year, minus Kawhi Leonard.

The Warriors have won the year, even if their record says otherwise

If there was ever a year the Golden State Warriors could take off, this was the one. They were decimated by injuries in 2019, then were gashed in free agency with core players like Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala retiring or exiting to other teams. While D’Angelo Russell was cool to watch for half the season, most of us knew he wouldn’t be in the team’s future going forward once Steph Curry and Klay Thompson returned from their injuries. Trading him for a few players and first round draft picks was the smart thing to do.

There are other factors that go the Warriors way, most notably how people haven’t tuned in this year to watch games. The Warriors had a premier super team, now the field is balanced. In the division, the Clippers have had an up and down season, even with load management not being an issue at times (more on that later) while the Lakers, although they’re the best team in the West record-wise, don’t look completely there. The Warriors will have their best players back for next season with a young core that’s played a full season. Unless Daryl Morey shoots his mouth off bashing a foreign market, we should see interest come back to the Warriors and how fun the Pacific division will look in the offseason.

Daryl Morey should have been axed before obtaining Russell Westbrook

Say what you will about the firestorm Morey created over his Hong Kong tweets, the real red flag for him as a GM flew when the Rockets got rid of one of the best point-guards of our era because that point-guard called plays James Harden didn’t like. It’s one thing to unload a guy who doesn’t get along with the team, hey, it happens. To then turn around and bring in a volatile player like Russell Westbrook and basically let coach Mike D’Antoni know that they should start together is just a different level of stupid.

Kevin Durant spoke this past week on why he left Oklahoma City, and if people take their feelings out of it, they would know everything he said about his teammates was accurate. Westbrook is not that guy when it matters most, and the joke with Morey’s teams the past three years (at least) is that they couldn’t get out of their own way to get to the Championship. Not only did the GM make it that much harder for the team, he has set up a powder keg that a national audience could watch explode in the playoffs.

Kobe’s death is a worldwide loss

We’ve heard a lot of things involving Kobe’s death and reflections on his legacy, but the biggest one by far and away is how much international attention has been drawn to the NBA. Mike Wilbon said it best when he told audiences and stations days after he died that we’ve yet to process how massive the loss really is in the international community. Make no mistake that David Stern, who died in January, is the commissioner who made this possible business-wise, but entertainment-wise, Kobe’s name was the one that drew people in. It’s jarring to see how his death has pulled people back into the basketball world to reflect on how the sport has grown and evolved.

Now for what each of the 30 teams can do to improve upon or keep doing right the remainder of this season.

Atlanta: the worst team in probably the worst division in the NBA, the Hawks need depth to give Trae Young help. When Jabari Parker is your third best scorer, that says everything you need to know.

Boston: dumping Kyrie Irving and signing Kemba Walker has been one of their best offseason moves in a while. Granted, this team isn’t Milwaukee, but they look better and have a lot to look forward to.

Brooklyn: They’re in a pretty good position going forward despite looking average this year. Mostly a defensive team, they still qualify as a low-tier playoff team in the Eastern conference, with Kyrie Irving as the main player on offense. Kevin Durant will make this team better when he returns, though it is important for the Nets to add more to their offense this offseason.

Charlotte: There’s clearly nothing on this team to be happy about going forward, so securing a top draft pick for a few seasons and making sure to have a lot of cap space is something they couldn’t screw up. Right?

Chicago: Living in the Chicago market offers glaring insight into how awfully run this organization is. Firing Jim Boylen doesn’t fix anything. As a matter of fact, firing President and GM John Paxson and Gar Forman won’t either. Bulls fans need to pressure ownership to fix everything, but that can only happen if the top feels how uncomfortable everyone is. The Bulls are very close to being the NBA version of the Bill Wirtz Chicago Blackhawks of the 1990s to the mid 2000s. If you can’t or won’t fix it, sell the team.

Cleveland: It was no secret that Cleveland would be horrendous again when LeBron James and Kyrie Irving left. They’re just further ahead in the re-building process than Charlotte. Have to stick this out another year.

Dallas: my how things have changed. A few years ago, people thought Dallas was stale and hanging onto the old ways. Nowadays? Luka Doncic is the real deal, but he has to have playoff experience first. Speaking of guys who need playoff experience, Kristaps Porzingis should appreciate his first playoff year knowing that he shouldn’t have to toil with the Knicks.

Denver: Can this team still end up with the first seed in the West? Of course. This is still a middle of the pack team when you look at the roster and the stats though, and all of that rears its head in the playoffs. Portland was a team with two and a half superstars last postseason and took Denver down to the wire. Suffice to say, the Nuggets should hope they get a favorable playoff matchup for the first round.

Detroit: 7th in the league in three point percentage but dead last rebounding the ball. The Pistons need a big man who can score and rebound. That’s a must, especially in the Central division.

Golden State: There’s absolutely no way Stephen Curry should or will make a return to the Warriors with this unrecognizable roster. He’d just get hurt again. Management should shut him and Draymond Green down after the All-Star break and focus on securing any top tier draft picks, any free agents who can add depth and eat as many losses as they can. You don’t want to say that out-loud if you’re the organization but it’s the best card they have remaining.

Houston: After the Rockets have another crushing yet spectacular end to their season in the playoffs, Tilman Fertitta needs to have an honest conversation with Daryl Morey. Morey clearly has built the Rockets into a better team than when he first came to Southern Texas, but his building has only gone so far. A GM in a good mental place doesn’t add Russell Westbrook to a roster that needs a sharp shooting guard and a center who should make free throws.

Indiana: If only another team in the central wasn’t a steaming pile outside of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers. Much like the Nuggets, they’re behind in critical statistics such as scoring compared to teams like the Bucks, 76ers and Miami Heat. They’re still a team that can compete, but they’re one big man who can rebound and score short of challenging the top teams in the East on a consistent basis.

Los Angeles Clippers: load management will pay off well the longer the season goes for the Clippers. Paul George will disappear but Kawhi’s legs are what could be more worrying. Regarding their game, they’re top ten in a lot of categories, so moving the ball consistently and not firing shots like the Rockets do will be key. We’ll see how they are by April with this.

Los Angeles Lakers: Earlier it was mentioned that while the Lakers seem fantastic, they don’t look completely there. Here are some things people should keep in mind with this team collectively

• only three players on this roster are averaging double digits in points this year. Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma.
• The Lakers are 28th out of 30 in free throw percentage at 73.5%.
• only one member of this team has a FG % of over 50.0%. That would be Anthony Davis.

This isn’t saying they’ll bow out of the playoffs early, but it highlights what they’ll have to fix so they don’t have to depend on one or two players to carry the load throughout the playoffs, and Frank Vogel should be making every player aware of this. Also, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to stop playing Rajon Rondo an average of 21 minutes a night.

Memphis: All of the issues brought up with free throws, scoring, rebounding and good coaching applies to this team. They’d qualify for the last seed in the west if the playoffs were held today, and that’s a miracle considering how bad they were last season. Hopefully they’ll keep adding to this roster so they can be a solid playoff team for the next few years.

Miami: If they start playing on the road like they do at home, look out and enjoy the show.

Milwaukee: They’ve locked up the regular season, so Mike Budenholzer should keep things steady and make sure his best players, especially Giannis, get playoff mentalities in gear.

Minnesota:There are two teams that no matter what they do, no matter who they add, no matter the stats or efforts, they’re just awful and hard to watch on a regular basis. The Timberwolves are one of those two teams.

New Orleans: Yours truly likes to be kind and say a team isn’t out of the playoffs until the losses really rack up, and by rack up, it has to be they won’t crack .500 or anywhere close for the rest of the season. The Pelicans aren’t there yet, but they probably won’t go on a run like Milwaukee or Toronto has. When the point comes to where they can’t keep up, they should be smart and deactivate Zion Williamson. Their prize asset shouldn’t have to put his body at risk if there’s no point. If they continue to add quality depth, this division as a whole will be fun to watch again.

New York: like the Chicago Bulls, this team’s issues are at the very top, and while the Knicks are worth $4.2 billion, the league should start finding rich people who covet owning the franchise and force James Dolan out. If they don’t, fans will go from chanting, “Sell the team” to firing water cannons from the stands.

Oklahoma City: So much for tanking this season. Billy Donovan may be another candidate for coach of the year, because this is a team that wants to play in the postseason and they’re proving it. Who would’ve thought that their leading scorer would’ve been Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the beginning of the season (not Chris Paul or Dennis Schroder) and would be in the top eight in the west trying to clinch a playoff seed? Those draft picks should help a bunch.

Orlando: Markelle Fultz coming back helps a team that’s dreadful to watch and with dumb luck, is second in their division. The Magic are flirting with a playoff spot right now, so getting the team as healthy as possible is key. It also helps to have players who consistently don’t disappoint when much is expected of them.

Philadelphia: of all the teams on this list, this team is sleep-walking the most through the rest of the regular season. The 6ers have had quality wins over the Lakers, Clippers and Bucks. This team is just itching for the postseason. That is on the coaching staff.

Phoenix: management has to decide what it wants: to win or to re-build. The salary cap space is huge, but what plans to genuinely develop this team does the front office have? Think of it this way; if Monty Williams is fired in a few years, and the roster is close to what it is when he came in, then he was neither the problem nor the solution.

Portland: Terry Stotts has done a great job with this Trailblazers team that has two great players, a few good players and nothing after that. This is why you can’t blow half your salary cap on two guys. There are no suggestions on how this team can improve, BECAUSE THEY CAN’T!!

Sacramento: There are two teams that no matter what they do, no matter who they add, no matter the stats or efforts, they’re just awful and hard to watch on a regular basis. This is the second of those two teams.

San Antonio: Remember when a good number of people said Pop should’ve retired with Tim Duncan? That’s looking more everyday like that should’ve happened. If your coach had a hard time telling who had talent during FIBA practice, that should be a red flag that he both shouldn’t be a coach of your team or that he should hang it up.

Toronto: These guys continue to win and find ways to improve with Nick Nurse as their coach. A lot of us assumed the Raptors would fall out once Kawhi Leonard left, but this team could put up a fight in the playoffs if push comes to shove. They probably won’t be as lucky as last year though. Either way, Toronto could entice key free agents in the future.

Utah: Much like the Lakers, the Jazz have a lot to like, but they aren’t there yet. Like the Lakers, they have some leaks too. They include:

• being middle of the pack when scoring. They’ve gotten lucky against teams like Portland at times, but a team like the Blazers that has playoff experience <insert Houston here> will win games like that nine times out of ten.
• speaking of Houston, the Jazz are 3-6 against top tier teams in the Western Conference, those being both Los Angeles teams, Denver and yes, Houston.

Washington: the Wizards appear to be the basketball version of the New Jersey Devils. Please fire Scott Brooks, start unloading talent and re-build. Might need to cut loose half the front office too. If it moves, let it go.

Well this was certainly an entertaining first half of the season. As the NHL All-Star break rolls into St. Louis this upcoming weekend, all of us can to look back on the first half and predict what could be a stellar push for the playoffs. While there may not be a Cinderella story like we had last year with the Blues, there’s a lot to keep an eye on and what teams can improve or work on going forward into the offseason. First, let’s start with what we’ve seen in the first half.

• Firing coaches mid-season will become the new trend

As if last year didn’t foreshadow, this year ramped up pressure on the coaches to perform heading into the All-Star break. We’ve had at least seven coaches fired, the most recent one being Gerard Gallant, where he had the rug pulled from under him and can’t coach the Pacific division in the All-Star game. Most of the coaches fired made the playoffs last year, and all of them made the playoffs two years ago. While we can debate on how three deserved their firings for issues away from the ice, the other 24 teams may use this as an excuse for years to come if they want to pull the plug early, just for a chance for a quick turn around and sneak into the playoffs.

The problem with this trend is coaching changes in the NHL happened too often with little value going forward last decade. This season and this decade accelerated the trend, which means everyone could be on the hot seat even if their team reaches the playoffs.

• The Pacific Division is clearly the worst division in hockey, while the Central is probably the best.

The first part of that statement is accurate, because the point total is bunched together between five of the eight teams, which mostly are mediocre at best. The second part may cause fighting words with fans of an eastern conference team. To this I say one thing of both those divisions:

1). Half of the Atlantic division is pretty good, the other half is just as miserable in the standings, so there’s balance.

2). The top two teams in the metropolitan will solidify what power they have with little opposition in the second half.

The Central however could have five, possibly six teams reach the playoffs by the time the season ends. The Minnesota Wild, in last place with 50 points, have the possibility of keeping pace with the third place Dallas Stars, a team they crushed last Saturday night 7-0. While Nashville could be one of the few teams who may not make it, Chicago and Winnipeg have exceeded expectations, and we know St. Louis and Colorado won’t have a problem clinching early.

The divisional games within the Central are must-watch for hockey fans for the second half of the season.

• The Devils are in the worst situation possible.

Going into the season, yours truly thought the New Jersey Devils would be in a pretty good situation to make one of the lower seeds in the playoffs because of who they added to their roster. Then, a lot of that roster amassed injuries not long after, and the team never recovered. This year, audiences can tell that the Devils are not competitive and are nowhere close to playoff contention. While the Ottawa Senators have had jokes made at their expense (and with good reason, but more on that later), they have looked better and are further ahead in their process than the Devils can say.

The Devils did the right thing by firing their coach and GM before the end of the first half of the season. The Taylor Hall experiment proved to be one of the most lopsided deals of last decade, and after all of this, the team must tear everything down, brick by brick. This decade will be a long one New Jersey.

Brian Boucher is a wonderful addition to Doc and Edzo’s announcing crew

There have been valid complaints about Inside the Glass reporter Pierre McGuire on NBC for years, and it intensified last season after he made sexist comments and couldn’t stop injecting himself in play-by-play calls. NBC made the switch before last season ended to putting Brian Boucher by the ice with Mike “Doc” Emrick and Eddie Olczyk in the booth. Not only has Brian added some polish and youth, the audiences seem relieved knowing it’s one less game without the afore-mentioned McGuire. Boucher adds fresh views about what it’s like being on the ice in the last 25 years, goalie play, coach and captain mentality and using his time wisely in other areas in ways the audience can comprehend. Viewers hope this trio lasts for the rest of the 20s.

31 Takes for the 31 Teams

Now for what each team can improve on or keep doing right in the second half of the season.

Anaheim: conflicted about this team. Gibson could wind up having his pretty years spent during this re-build. Trading for defense is a must at this point. Buffalo could help with that if the Ducks want to clear space and go for some trades.

Arizona: They’re the true division winners if Darcy Kuemper never got hurt. They need a solid backup behind Antti Raanta. Better yet, someone who has proven they can start and take the reins if Raanta gets hurt again.

Boston: Even when Rask got hurt, this team was starting to slip. Their loss Sunday in Pittsburgh has summed up what could be their season: a white hot start but fading fast and then an exit to a much more motivated team. They have to get that early season magic back and have better depth past the second line.

Buffalo: Because the Atlantic has four sensational teams, they can’t do what the Oilers have. Too many defensemen and not enough offense is their recipe for not making the playoffs.

Calgary: Strangely this team knows what improvements they’ve had to make and have executed. Racist and bully of a coach? Fire him. David Rittich slips in performance? Replace with a better coached Cam Talbot. Milan Lucic staying consistent? Current work in progress.

Carolina: Many people leered when yours truly said the Canes couldn’t have a run like last year. While they started off as the best team in the league, they’re now fifth in their division behind the Columbus Blue Jackets. Justin Williams could be a spark and they could turn it up in the second half, but the signs are there this could be rough.

Chicago: The open secret is that Robin Lehner is the clear starter if you live in Chicago. The team defense has shown much improvement with him not just in net but with the culture of the players. Still, it would be bad to let either Lehner or Crawford walk after this year considering how few consistent goalies there are in the NHL. However, it is widely thought that Jeremy Colliton is not the coach this club needs, even if he is someone Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is comfortable with. Colliton couldn’t pull an injured Robin Lehner during a high-scoring 7-5 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on January second. It’s a bad look.

Colorado: last year yours truly wrote a wonderful piece on why the Avalanche are the real deal. They need to stay healthy and Jared Bednar is a top candidate for coach of the year.

Columbus: so is John Tortorella if we have to be fair. Didn’t think goalie play was going to be a strength this year since Bobrovsky took off for Florida. This will be one of two teams (the other being Minnesota) that will be interesting to watch if they can keep up the pace they ended the first half with.

Dallas: a shame Jim Montgomery had to be fired. This team needed the rest after beating Colorado, because they gave up eleven goals in two games to teams that might not make the playoffs. All but two had Ben Bishop in net. Could be disturbing if they enter the second half still playing like that.

Detroit: There’s a really good take on what the Wings can do that would be great….just not this woeful season. Finish this agonizing year, cut the guys loose who are 28 and above (minus Jonathan Bernier), and keep re-building.

Edmonton: There was an article that was never published nor written on this site involving how the Oilers are playoff contenders with coach Dave Tippett at the helm. Regrettably not typed up, the article said most of the things that has happened this season. Tippett has come in, taken what he has and turned it into something opponents are almost scared to face night in and night out. The Oilers should feel good about him being their coach and add depth in after the season.

Florida: this year’s Sergei Bobrovsky is last year’s James Reimer. Keep an eye on Coach Q recruiting Corey Crawford to the Sunshine State if this keeps up.

Los Angeles: it is a shame Jonathan Quick’s body has deteriorated faster than expected. Although the talent on the ice with him isn’t much better. This re-build needs to speed up. Now.

Minnesota: as mentioned with Columbus earlier, this team was scorching as the first half of the season ended. What’s peculiar about both teams is how we as a collective audience assumed the goal-tending would sink them. For this team, that’s still in play. Devan Dubnyk has thrown the towel in on any remaining talent, but if Alex Stalock can keep improving, maybe there’s something. Don’t bet too much on it though.

Montreal: stop infuriating the public by being good and then bad every two weeks.

Nashville: Like Boston and San Jose, this team has to play well to get to the playoffs with the talent they have. The way their goaltenders play though is not encouraging. The Wild and Preds will be on the hunt this offseason.

New Jersey: The main take is above, but this club should play Louis Domingue for the rest of the season to see what they have to work with. There’s a clear need for a starter, but a quality backup would give them a boost.

NY Islanders: this team got worse in the offseason and it’s shown throughout January. Take the eight goal slaughter against Detroit out and this team has scored four goals in three games, two of which were against teams that probably won’t make the playoffs. The other in a 6-4 loss to the Capitals. This team needs better offensive performances if they want to make a run.

NY Rangers: the Rangers have to decide what they want to do with their goalies. Reports were Alexandar Georgiev was going to be shopped, so if they decide to do that, they better request a massive haul. Nashville could be just the team.

Ottawa: DJ Smith has his club buying in, and the Senators, rather than doing nothing before the trade deadline, seem to have bargaining chips for some teams in need. Popular talk is Craig Anderson, who is sure to leave with the rise of Marcus Hogberg playing a factor, could be traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Strangely, this could be something that benefits both teams, as Toronto has a lot of offensive pieces to spare, and they desperately need a backup netminder.

Philadelphia: there’s still a good chance they can make the playoffs, but they have to play better in games against playoff caliber teams. It’ll be interesting to see how Carter Hart can bounce back when he returns from his injury.

Pittsburgh: There go any Evgeni Malkin trade rumors. Mike Sullivan too should be up for coach of the year. For the battle in net, Matt Murray has to want the job back to keep it, though it’s possible the play of Tristan Jarry’s made that a little too late.

San Jose: the easy answer is to say get someone in goal who is not Aaron Dell or Martin Jones, but maybe you have to just re-build. While the Pacific is trash this year, the defense was a growing problem last year, and now it can’t be ignored.

St. Louis: while most expected the injuries to Vladimir Tarasenko and Colton Parayko would be huge, this team needed rest more than anything. The two losses to the Avs could sting going forward though.

Tampa Bay: Andrei Vasilevskiy basically told the press last week, “I play better and am more focused when I face more shots. I don’t zone out as much”, and it’s good he did because that may have been a factor in some of Lightning’s critical losses in the past year. The pace they’ve been playing at not only makes them the favorites to win their division, but also sharper heading into the postseason, knowing that’s where the adversity is.

Toronto: Craig Anderson will be available. Having an Anderson every night in net should bring consistency.

Vancouver: Jakob Markstrom is putting together a fantastic season, and this team deserves a lot of credit for coming as far as they have with not a lot of depth to use. Thankfully for them their division is terrible, so the depth part may not matter until the offseason.

Vegas: Yours truly will take a gamble and break with the public on this issue and side with general manager Kelly McCrimmon on not just firing Gerard Gallant, but hiring rival coach Peter DeBoer. McCrimmon was right about at least one thing: the Knights weren’t playing with the passion they had even last year when Mark Stone was acquired. If hiring the coach of the team you loathe gets the team going, then yeah, it’s worth it. DeBoer needs to know what defense is though.

Washington: the Braden Holtby question won’t stop despite their wins. He has allowed an average of just over three goals a game. While that may be overlooked because of the Capitals’ offense, Ilya Samsonov’s average is one full goal less. Keep in mind Holtby is a free agent and it’s looking more likely he won’t return if he continues this play.

Winnipeg: As yours truly predicted at the beginning of the season, they wouldn’t qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today. That remains probable looking at how they have minimal defense and how awful their back-up goaltender Laurent Brossoit is. If Connor Hellebuyck caves in, this team is done.

Last Saturday’s AFC wildcard match-ups were really fun and worth the watch! The Houston Texans’ second half surge was epic and deserved overtime. The Titans went punch for punch with the Patriots, frustrating Bill Belichick. One wonders what would’ve happened if Tom Brady didn’t throw that interception at the one yard line, as that sealed the deal for the Titans (hmm, where have we heard this before?).

This week looks even better, so without further ado, here are my AFC Divisional round picks.

#6 Tennessee Titans v. #1 Baltimore Ravens

This game just feels like an upset waiting to happen. The Titans were in the top five against the run, and while they didn’t play the Ravens this season, Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff are probably still bitter about last year’s shutout to Baltimore at home. Ryan Tannehill is not inconsistent like Marcus Mariota. Baltimore’s pass rush is different especially with Terrell Suggs gone. Tennessee’s offense should not disappoint this week.

Many people will look past this, but a quarterback like Lamar Jackson hasn’t gone far in the playoffs for a very long time. Don’t misunderstand, he will win the Most Valuable Player award for this season, and will continually prove people wrong for passing over him and his skills. Unfortunately, he proved last year in the playoffs that compared to another veteran quarterback, that he can struggle, especially if the other team stays one step ahead. Tennessee was built to get physical, run the ball and gut out games, and in the playoffs, this is what gets teams to the championship final.

JD’s Upset Pick of the Week: Tennessee wins 24-16

#4 Houston Texans v. #2 Kansas City Chiefs

The first matchup between these two teams was exhilarating and gave us a boat-load of unexpected results. DeShaun Watson proved he can come up clutch and win big games on the road early in the regular season. Yes, Patrick Mahomes can do the same, and showed us how, but a lot of people knew when these two were drafted, it’s Watson who stands out and plays the best when pressure arises.

Kansas City’s defense has yet to play a quality offense in over a month and a half. They have shown improvement, but after having a bye week, Houston’s offense is the right test for Steve Spagnuolo’s crew. A key note here: these are basically the rosters that played in week six. This game could probably be closer than the last game; again coming down to the last possession.

JD’s Pick: Houston wins 27-24

JD’s Picks from Wildcard Weekend: 3-1

Last Sunday’s wildcard games shocked football fans around the country. Who would have thought that Carson Wentz would get injured in the first quarter? How many thought Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota offense would’ve not just performed better against New Orleans, but play their finest game of the season? How about Seattle winning by the same score against Philadelphia as they did in the regular season? Did you know the Saints are the first 13 win team eliminated from the playoffs on wildcard weekend history?

Both road teams Sunday will face their next challenges by playing the top two seeds in their conferences. Most analysts, including yours truly, didn’t give Minnesota a chance to win in New Orleans, and yet they have the daunting task of knocking off the 49ers in Santa Clara to open the divisional round of the playoffs. Which road team has a good shot to advance to the conference championship round?

#6 Minnesota Vikings v. #1 San Francisco 49ers

What’s still impressive about Minnesota’s win isn’t just how the offense showed up and did their job, but how the defense set the tone and dominated against the Saints’ front five. Coach Mike Zimmer did everything right, and the confidence level of the team will be felt for the start of this game. Running the ball consistently with Dalvin Cook, Mike Boone, Alexander Mattison & Ameer Abdullah can expose and possibly gut the 49ers interior if they have the chance.

There aren’t too many six seeds that match up well and have a good chance to take down a one seed, and this matchup is no different. The 49ers are the most complete team outside of their division, and they pummeled the NFC North winner Green Bay Packers on Sunday night months ago. The biggest issue the Vikings will have to face is the return of three 49er starters on defense who have been out for an average of a month and a half. Dee Ford, Jaquiski Tartt and Kwon Alexander are the boosts San Francisco needs to put away away their opponent and advance to the Championship game. Expect all three to look a bit rusty, but to pick up the pace around the second quarter and take control in the second half.

JD’s Pick: San Francisco wins 27-17

#5 Seattle Seahawks v. #2 Green Bay Packers

This matchup seems to be the polar opposite of the Minnesota-San Francisco matchup. While again we see an NFC West v. an NFC North showdown, there isn’t really a clear-cut winner. It’s been almost two decades since Seattle has won in Green Bay, but the Packers have struggled to win at home in the playoffs during that span. Russell Wilson has struggled against Green Bay throughout his career, especially in Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers has shown regression at a pace many didn’t expect. How do we find a winner here?

Green Bay ranks 23rd against the run defensively and offensively has looked mediocre at best. Running back Aaron Jones seems to be the most dangerous player for the Packers, and the Seahawks have proven to stop the run against their opponents. While Marshawn Lynch may not be the main back unless it’s near the endzone, Travis Homer has proven he can be a great first option. It’s possible that Duane Brown can return for this game. The left side of the offensive line played well against a great front for Philadelphia last Sunday, and anything that can help the interior bodes well for Russell Wilson and his timing.

Seattle’s receiving corp is another advantage. Davante Adams is the big target for Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Graham can handle some of the load, but outside of those two names, it’s a question of who may step up. Seattle won’t have to worry about a battered receiving corp. They can just disrupt past the line of scrimmage. On the flip side, Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf will create problems against a mid-league defense regarding the pass. Jacob Hollister and David Moore are trusted to make clutch plays when neither Lockett or Metcalf have been open.

JD’s Prediction: Seattle wins 24-20

JD’s Postseason Picks so far: 3-1

Unlike the AFC, the NFC’s playoff teams were locked into the playoffs after Week 16. Seeding however wasn’t determined until San Francisco escaped with a win in Seattle in the final seconds of Week 17. Both San Francisco and Green Bay will have the first round off as they get to recover some depth and have much needed rest. Without further delay, here are the predictions for these upcoming NFC wildcard weekend games.

#6 Minnesota Vikings v. #3 New Orleans Saints

There is truly no more lopsided matchup than this one. Kirk Cousins, who has struggled most of his career against teams with winning records will have to be close to perfect if the Vikings are to beat New Orleans in the Superdome. Minnesota’s defense has been suspect for a good part of the season, especially in the secondary with Xavier Rhodes having poor performances in must-win games.

If this wasn’t enough, Drew Brees and New Orleans’ offense has stepped up the second half of the season and has looked like their old selves. There are valid concerns with the receiver talent and depth, however it appears as if Drew Brees has figured part of that out by developing better chemistry with tight end Josh Hill and receiver Tre’Quan Smith. Coach Sean Payton has also found better ways to use Taysom Hill when it matters most.

On the flip side, New Orleans’ defense has stayed stout, showing why they’re in the top five against the run and are in the upper half of teams that have given up the least amount of yards per game. The linebackers and the secondary will be key to keeping Cousins and company in check.

JD’s Pick: New Orleans wins 31-17

#5 Seattle Seahawks v. #4 Philadelphia Eagles

There aren’t too many disappointing teams in the playoffs, but these two are the big ones. Seattle gave up not just first place in the division, but the first overall seed twice in the second half of the season. Injuries have piled up on the offense, with three running backs and some of their best offensive linemen done for the year. The return of veterans Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin provide desperately needed running back presence, and flexible big man George Fant’s move to left tackle will also help, but the pass rush remains a concern.

The Philadelphia Eagles meanwhile, have the most major injuries heading into Sunday. The receiving corps has been battered throughout the season, meaning the tight-ends have stepped up. While Zach Ertz didn’t have physical contact in practice this week, he could possibly be a game-time decision since he’s cleared to play. Their offensive line has been banged up too, with starting tackles Lane Johnson and Jason Peters both injured for a good part of the season. Defensively their secondary has been hit-or-miss, while ranking third in the league against the rush. The Eagles need a strong start, propelled by the defense holding Seattle in order to get a win.

 

Both teams are battered, but one has been consistent. Seattle is 7-1 on the road, with a slugfest win against the Eagles after their bye week. The Seahawks saw more from the defense that they can exploit, especially since their receivers are getting better. The same can be said about Philadelphia, however with Ertz and Johnson’s injuries being a factor, this might have the same result.

JD’s Pick: Seattle wins 23-13

JD’s 2019 regular season picks record: 56-50

What a wild finish the AFC playoff picture turned out to be. There weren’t many pundits who thought the Ravens could even win their division, let alone be the number one seed. Almost next to no one thought the Patriots would fall to the third seed after starting off 8-0. Then there’s the comeback of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who led the the Tennessee Titans to the playoffs and made the offense dangerous. Baltimore and Kansas City will have the week off to heal and watch their conference games. So without any further delay, here are the AFC wildcard weekend picks.

#5 Buffalo Bills v. #4 Houston Texans

Wow what a fun matchup this looks to be. Houston’s offense mirrors well with Buffalo’s defense, with Tre’Davious White v. DeAndre Hopkins as one of, if the not the featured highlight. A week off for DeShaun Watson will pay off, and the defense gets an added boost with J.J. Watt coming back from the injury report.

Say whatever you want about both these teams (especially the Bills not appearing exciting on offense), the best part of this game will be the effort and determination of both teams. Sean McDermott is a great candidate for Coach of the Year, leading the Bills to ten wins in a season for the first time this century. Josh Allen has progressed behind his offensive line, looking more like the shot caller the Bills wanted him to be when they drafted him.

Both teams will have to face a strong running game from the other, though when it comes down to it, it’s who can throw down field and make the plays on the run with more creativity. This leans more towards DeShaun Watson as he proves to exceed, if not become a much different and dangerous player. If Watson takes control of this game early, Buffalo may be in trouble.

JD’s pick: Houston wins 27-23

#6 Tennessee Titans v. #3 New England Patriots.

Well, that was quite a surprise from New England for Week 17. Not only did they lose to a division rival that had nothing to play for, they lost out on a bye week they really needed. New England has to not just play one home game, but probably two road games if they win this saturday, making things harder on an offense that’s looked anemic for at least the last eight weeks. The Patriots have yet to take full advantage of Mohamed Sanu’s receiving skills. This could be the game he breaks out since Tennessee’s pass defense is ranked 24th in the league.

Tennessee on the other hand has turned the heat up on offense, and it hasn’t just been with Ryan Tannehill. Mike Vrabel’s offensive staff has finally figured out how to use rookie receiver A.J. Brown and to plug in Derrick Henry as the starting runningback. The results couldn’t have been better, as the Titans are number three in the league running the ball. The defense has been hit or miss this season, though there’s been consistency against the run (the defense ranks 12th in the league).

There are other non-statistical factors that give the Titans the edge. Mike Vrabel comes directly from the Bill Belichick coaching tree, and when the Titans played the Patriots in 2018 (with Marcus Mariota as the starting QB no less), they thumped them. Vrabel was able to take away multiple key pieces for Brady on a consistent basis and knock him around. While the result could be different, New England’s offensive line has struggled a good part of the season, which should give the Titan pass rush optimism.

JD’s Upset Pick of the Week: Tennessee wins 23-21

JD’s overall record the regular season: 56-50