From the "Talks too much" studios, enjoy the weekend and try to stay dry.
FILE- In this Nov. 10, 2014, file photo, Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose holds his head after being fouled during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Chicago. The news that Derrick Rose will have knee surgery again hit the Chicago Bulls and their fans hard and left them in a familiar spot _ trying to get by without their star point guard. The torn meniscus in his right knee was announced Tuesday night, Feb. 24, 2015, another tough twist for a franchise, a star, his sponsors and a fanbase that thought the Bulls were entering another golden era just a few years ago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) From Stewwie
Jay, for the bag, what are your playoff picks? Which 1st round series is most likely to be a sweep and which one is most likely to go to 7 games?
Stewwie -
My man, we wish we could blink and be through the first round of the playoffs. It takes too long. (And that fact will really help Chicago before seeing the Cavs in round two. All the time they can get for Derrick Rose, the better the Bulls chances.)
We think the favorites win every series but
We'll take the Spurs over the Clippers (in a series that will be aesthetically awful because Pop will foul DeAndre Jordan on the opening tip and then on every possession after that), the Griz over the Trailblazers (which is technically an upset by seeds but not by record), and Washington over Toronto. Welcome to the playoffs spotlight Mr. John Wall, who will get a ton of spotlight in the next three weeks. Dude is amazing with the ball in his hand.
So then we'll go Griz over Warriors (yep, this is counting on Tony Allen and Mike Conley being healthy, but if they are, the Griz are physical inside where the Warriors are vulnerable and if Allen is 80 percent he's Klay Thompson's worst nightmare) and Spurs over Rockets in the West second round. Then the Spurs over the Griz to get to the finals.
In the East, we'll take the Hawks over the Wizards in seven and the Cavs over the Bulls, and you know who we have then - Cavs cruising by Hawks to get to the finals.
As for first-round sweeps, we think the young Celtics could steal a game from the Cavs, and feel the same way about an inspired Pelicans team with Anthony Davis at home in New Orleans against Golden State. So we'll take the Hawks and most like the Bulls in a sweep in round one because the opponents do not feel playoff-worthy.
As for first-round series going the distance, there could be a couple. Toronto-Washington is the clear-cut favorite, but we think Dallas-Houston also qualifies, despite the fact the Mavs have kind of scuffled down the stretch.
Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Garnett reacts after an altercation with Houston Rockets' Dwight Howard during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, in New York. Garnett was ejected from the game as a result of the incident. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) One story line we mentioned above and that will be interesting to follow will be the intentional foul policy. We know San Antonio will do it to either get Jordan, who shoots less than 40 percent from the line and better than 70 percent from the field, out of the game or on the line. Dallas could do the same to Dwight Howard in round one, too.
Looking at the stats, the state of the game from the foul line is much better than you would think. Of the 125 players in the league that have attempted enough foul shots, 108 of them shot better than 70 percent. That's better than we thought, to tell the truth, and it magnifies Jordan's 39.7 percentage and Howard's 52.8 clip from the line.
Other sub-60-percent free-throw shooters in the playoffs include Brooklyn's Mason Plumlee (49.5), Houston's Josh Smith (49.8) and New Orleans' Omer Asik (58.2).
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From Mocs Lover
Why have you completely ignored UTC football practice in the 5-at-10? Seriously, when was the last time you even mentioned them on the radio?
Steve Pickren, front center, participates in Chattanooga Mocs football practice.You are getting too big for your self.
ML -
Well, we have put on a few pounds of late but we didn't think it was noticeable.
Oh, you were not speaking literally were you? Well, please accept our too-big-for-our-self condolences.
We had not noticed it, but if there's been a lack of Mocs discussion here, it's because there are few story lines of intrigue. And that's a good thing. No, that's a great thing.
When you head to spring and two of the biggest issues are finding a punter and who will be the back-up quarterback, well, there you go. That's a team with way more answers than questions.
That said, here are a few things to look for if you head to the Mocs spring game:
UTC's Toyvian Brand (#44) holds as Henrique Ribeiro (#40) kicks an extra point against VMI during the first quarter of play at the Moc's home field in Chattanooga on October 4, 2014.Enjoy the young guys who either redshirted or played limited snaps last year because of talented upperclassmen. Know this, as Russ Huesman has rebuilt the program, the talent has been stocked and nurtured. The plan to redshirt and build and grow was never compromised and it will pay dividends this year.
Enjoy the transfers such as Drae Bowles. Here's saying he makes a few plays that make you go "Hmmmm." He may no have the complexities of the offense yet, but there may be a situation or two that comes up.
Enjoy the attention to detail that bodes well for the present and the long-term.
In fact, just enjoy the moment ML, and try not to get too big with yourself.
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From Moseshightower
What do you think those crusty dudes like Bo Ryan and coach Knight think of a college drop out like Spieth dusting a couple of lads from Ireland and Spain who (Gasp) never even attended school?
Serious question: The Masters is the only event that requires loopers to wear overalls instead of bibs. What do the numbers on them correlate too?
MH -
Different sport of course, but that's a fair question, especially when juxtaposed to the sports set-ups around the world.
Tennis players are routinely shipped to academies that focus on school and tennis from the age of 10. Heck, the IMG Academy in Florida is doing it with football here in the states. Side note: The IMG Academy has like eight of the top 100 Rivals.com prospects in the class of 2016 for what it's worth.
Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan reacts during the second half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game against Kentucky Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) The hand-wringing about the one-and-done in college hoops is hollow and self-indulgent. If Bo Ryan spent one year at Wisconsin and then the L.A. Lakers came calling, what in the heck would he do? Yep.
And it's the same across all walks of college life, whether you're a golfer, a freshman hoops star or a computer programming major. Seriously, you think Bill Gates 2.0 is going to finish for a degree if Microsoft sees his skills and offers him seven figures? It's about chasing the paper, and stacks of green backs will dominate sheepskin every day.
This is more about the state of college basketball and how the game is borderline unwatchable compared to 20 years ago. Or in Ryan's case about jealousy. Side note: Notice he did not have a huge problem with Kentucky's one-and-done brigade since his Badgers were able to beat the Wildcats, but that Duke group. well, they are bad for the game, right coach?
If those millionaire complainers about the one-and-done are so worried about it, either back up and go coach high school hoops (for the love of the game of course) or do your job better. The rest seems disingenuous to us.
That said, we think the baseball draft policy is far and away the best. You are eligible for the draft after high school. You are eligible for the draft after any year following junior college. But if you go to a four-year school, you have to wait until after your third year to be drafted.
Empty chairs sit around the 18th green before the fourth round of the Masters golf tournament Sunday, April 12, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. Fans get to the Masters early, waiting outside the gates for the doors to open. They set up their chairs, then leave _ walking to course to follow a certain golfer and when they come back, no one has moved their chair. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) As for the Masters, we answered this earlier but wanted to make sure you saw it.
The numbers on the caddies' coveralls are the order in which the players registered for the tournament starting with No. 2 on through. The No. 1 goes to the man on the bag for the defending champ.
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From Larry T.
I have read the 5@10 from almost the beginning. How do you come up with this stuff day after day? Man that's something.
Like you I really enjoy the NFL draft. When are you going to do your contest and what do you see happening in the top 10, especially with the Atlanta Falcons?
Thanks and keep up the good work.
Larry T. -
Not sure where we get every thing, but it's still fun. We started Oct. 26, 2010 and have done a 5-at-10 every Monday-Friday since. This is our 1,170 consecutive non-Saturday-Sunday with a morning rant.
The top 10 will be crazy, and dominated by talks of quarterbacks early then which receiver is better Amari Cooper or Kevin White and then the pecking order of pass rushers.
Ohio State defensive lineman Steve Miller (88) runs an intercepted ball against Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) in the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in New Orleans. Miller ran the ball back for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) All of that also changes with the trade discussions that could include the Titans (No. 2 overall), the Raiders (No. 4 overall) and the Jets (No. 6 overall) as teams look about moving up.
The Falcons sit at No. 8 and it's no secret they need a pass rusher. Names like Vic Beasley and Shane Ray have been frequently linked to Atlanta, and here's another one: Kentucky's Bud Dupree, who tested through the roof and offers the speed and versatility that Dan Quinn loves.
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From Scott
5, did you see this story this week? It's very interesting and the clip is great of former Hawk Josh Childress.
What would be your Rushmore of athletes gone broke?
Thanks and thanks for making the drive home more fun.
Scott -
First, when did Josh Childress go completely for the Sideshow Bob from The Simpson's look.
That story is interesting, and this quote was particularly clear (which makes sense since Sideshow Josh went to Stanford after all):
AP file photo / Mike Tyson"The first mistake is, people say, 'Okay, I've got $11 million. You've got five [million dollars after taxes] over four years. So that million-dollar house that you thought you had $11 million, that you had $10 million more, that house then becomes more expensive. Most guys buy their mother a house or a car or something. They buy themselves a car. You've got a 2-to-4% agent fee. You got the NBA escrow. So that check gets eaten up."
Rushmore of athletes that went broke, huh?
OK, we'll set the bar of guys that had at least nine figures. We'll go Mike Tyson, Antoine Walker, Allen Iverson and far left has to be Mike Vick since dude actually signed two contracts in excess of $100 million and just recently got out of debt.
Thoughts?