Celtics to start run for title

After losing to the Magic in the playoffs, the Celtics retooled. They brought in vets like Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels and Sheldon Williams. I asked Doc Rivers on media day what these players bring to his roster. He told me they bring experience and great depth. Giving the big 3 a chance to rest. Glen Davis broke his thumb and will be on the shelf for a while. It could be up until the new year. Supposedly he was defending himself from a friend. Davis took up MMA in the offseason. I wonder if this is from an altercation with a friend messing around. It's too bad he was in great shape and looked like he could have a good year off the bench. I don't know at this point if it is his shooting hand. Rajon Rondo will be playing for a max contract. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season with dollar signs on his mind. Look for another big year from him. This team should be ready to make a title run. As long as the starting 5, Wallace and Daniels can stay healthy they wont just beat some teams, they will destroy them. I don't think the addition of Shaq makes Cleveland more of a threat. He is old, gets hurt a lot and his skills have diminished. The Magic added Vince Carter who makes them deeper. Atlanta should be a solid team again. They should battle Detroit and Miami for fourth overall in the east. The loss of Ben Gordon hurts the Bulls who looked like a legit up and coming team. Tyson Chandler's health could make Charlotte a playoff team if he can recover and play well. I don't see anyone even coming close to challenging the Lakers in the west. The addition of Artest makes them tougher and better.

England Patriots

The New England Patriots head to London England to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa is the second winless team the Pats have played in a row. This should be another one sided battle. Tampa Bay is giving up an average of 28 points a game. They are 31st against the run and 11th against the pass. The Patriots should be able to take advantage of Josh Johnson who is only in his 6th game as a starter and prone to throwing interceptions. Johnson did not play last season as a rookie. Carnell Willliams is running well as of late. so shutting down the running game should be priority number one. Especially with Josh Johnson being a mobile quarterback. The Tampa Offensive line is a good unit. Brady and the offense should be able to put up 35 points this week. I see a 38-14 game with the Patriots causing turnovers on defense. Brady should have 4 touchdowns. Aqib Talib will not shutdown Randy Moss. A rushing combo of BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Laurence Maroney should gain over 100 yards on the ground. With Kevin Faulk doing his part on third downs. Only Buffalo is worse at stopping the run. The passing attack should open up the run game. These two games should give the Patriots the swagger and confidence to start playing at the top of there game coming into the bye week. Setting up for a tougher run against Miami, Indianapolis, New York Jets, New Orleans and in Miami which is usually a tough place for Brady. But a much easier December awaits after that stretch of games.

Pats release Banta Cain

The New England Patriots released Outside linebacker Tully Banta Cain today. The move is a head scratcher. But after the two young corners Wilhite and Butler got the start yesterday and Adailias Thomas not even coming to the stadium. It seems the Patriots are sending a message to the defense. Get on board or get off. Banta Cain though i thought has done well this season. He is a situational player and a proven special teams player. he has 3 sacks this season which isn't a jaw dropper but is tied with Mike Wright for the team lead. I'm not sure why they did this. I don't think it makes the team better unless there are some plans we don't know of yet. Tully Banta Cain will never be an effective starter in the NFL but adds depth and can make plays at the right time.

Home field advantage

Sunday's game between the Patriots and the Titans was the text book example of home field advantage. Tennessee was clearly disrupted by the weather and New England was not. Tennessee looked like they were playing with roller skates on. It started early for the Patriots after Sammy Morris went down with a leg injury. Moroney came in and ran well. His usual stuttering and stopping was replaced by moving laterally and keeping his feet moving. Tom Brady torched a hapless Titans secondary. This is hopefully the confidence booster that sends him back to the old Brady. Things changed dramatically when McGowen laid a hit on Chris Johnson sending him out for the play. Len Dale White came in and fumbled the next play setting up the drive with the flea flicker and multiple other scores. Sabastian Vollmer was a beast. Is this the guy who can take the reins at left tackle. It looked like it yesterday. I think if when Light comes back, it's time for Vollmer to take over at right tackle. The defense looked great again. Mike Wright has been playing very well this season. We didn't see Adalias Thomas yesterday. He was listed out with an elbow injury. A.K.A. he's in the dog house. The secondary is shaping up to be a very solid unit. The addition of Seau will add a lot of depth to the linebacking core. The line play has been pretty strong. Things are looking good for the Patriots. Another blow out in London coming up before the bye week.

Patriots back home after loss

The Patriots are back home after an overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. Tennessee comes to town with an 0-5 record. Vince Young took over late last week for Kerry Collins who hasn't played well this season. Chris Johnson is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. The defense has been good and bad. They are in the top of the NFL against the rush and the bottom against the pass. This is good for the Patriots who are a pass heavy offense. They will have trouble containing Johnson on defense. I don't think this will be as easy as it should be against an 0-5 team. They key to the game for the Pats is forcing turnovers and containing Johnson. This is a team that went 13-3 a year ago with virtually the same team. At some point they are going to start winning games. I do not think it will be this week. They could give the Pats a good game, but in the long run I think the Pats will end up with some passing TD's and pulling away in the second half. I see a 27-14 win. Is this the week Brady finally breaks out? The Titans stats against the pass would say yes. We'll see on Sunday. I think Junior Seau will See some time this week. Not a ton but enough to get his feet wet.

Denver still perfect

New England lost an overtime battle in Denver today. Brady seemed very comfortable in the pocket. He was able to move around and avoid multiple sacks. He is still off with the long ball but that should come in time. The offensive line looked good until late in the game giving Brady sometime to throw. Sammy Morris ran hard, but dodged a bullet when the Pats recovered his fumble. I'd really like to see more Edelman. Moss is constantly double covered. Eyes are on Welker. Why not have him out there more running short and intermediate routes. They let the Broncos hang around to long and it came back to bite them. But I have to hand it to Denver. They played well. They reminded me of a Pats team from early in the dynasty. They bent but never broke and took advantage when they had to. They are a well coached team with quality players. I really thought they were a fraud but watching them play really opened up my eyes. They will be a playoff team. Orton and his receivers seem to be on the same page and the whole team looks like they are having fun. I'm not worried about the Pats. I just hope this game doesn't effect the playoffs and have New England travel back to Invesco were they have a hard time. Up coming games with Tennessee and Tampa should put them at 5-2 when the bye week approaches.

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2009 Fall Classic

The playoffs are here. here are my predictions...

American League:

Yankees sweep the Twins. Minnesota is coming off an emotional ride that ends quickly to a much better team all around. Even if Justin Morneau was healthy this would be a quick one. They just don't match up.

Red Sox beat the Angels in 5 games. This is going to be another classic late innings dramatic series. I think Boston edges them in the fifth game. I like Boston's line up and pitching slightly better than LAA. Especially late innings with Wagner, Bard and Pap. Look for JD Drew to be a big factor as he was last post season.

Red Sox in 7 over the Yankees. Call me a homer, but i think this will be a grind it out up and down series. Sabathia has never pitched well in the playoffs against the Sox. ARod still hasn't performed in the post season. We've seen Jon Lester go into the old Yankee stadium and almost throw a no hitter. I like the Sox to take this one.

National League:

Phillies sweep Rockies. Philly is stacked. They have a line up like an American league team. Far better starting pitching.

Cardinals win in 5 games over Dodgers. I have liked the red birds all season. Carpenter and Wainwright may be the best 1-2 punch in the game. Albert Pujols is the best hitter in baseball and adding Matt Holliday has been a great pick up. Manny Ramirez has not been the same guy since his suspension for failing the league's substance abuse policy for PED's.

Cardinals in 7 over the Phillies. This series could go anyway. The fact that the Phillies have home field actually is good for the Cardinals. They have hit much better at Citizens bank Ballpark than at Busch Stadium against Philly. This will be a series to remember.

World Series:

Red Sox win in 6 games over the Cardinals. The Sox have a deeper line up than the the cardinals do. They match up well in starting pitching. I think the key to this run is going to be Daisuke Matsuzaka. If he can pitch like he has, Beckett can get into playoff form and Buchholz can be serviceable. The Sox have a great chance to go all the way. This post season is going to be the final page turned for Jon Lester. He becomes the dominant starter for the rest of his career starting in the 2009 playoffs at some point.