What a day for basketball and hockey! It doesn’t look like there are any NBA games I can play straight but I still have a few teasers to do.

Hockey, on the otherhand, has produced quite a few nice plays, but the moneyline is a little too weak for some of them to actually be playable.  I don’t go less than -150.

By the way, the NHL game you can watch for free tonight is Chicago Blackhawks vs San Jose Sharks. It should be a good game.  Just click on that link once the game starts and you should see a “watch live” button somewhere.

Also, this is going to be a quick pick day again as I am too busy to write out the full details.  And I’m putting my O/U picks on hiatus until I find a good system for that.

First, my NBA picks:

DEN VS MIN; DEN -4.5 (bought 4)

NJ VS POR; POR -11.5 (bought 1)

GS VS SA; GS +17.5 (bought 4)

NY VS SAC; SAC +2.5 (bought 7)

I played Portland as a straight wager with a 1 point buy.  I also included the Blazers in a few teasers, which included the other teams:

4pt teaser: POR -8.5, DEN -4.5, GS -17.5

7pt teaser: POR -5.5, DEN -1.5, GS -20.5

7pt teaser: SAC +2.5, DEN -1.5, GS -20.5

And for the NHL games, I just did a 3-team parlay as that makes the most sense.  Why bet straight on a bunch of  -200 teams when you can combine them to give you a 3-to-1 payout? Normally it’s not quite that good of a payout, I don’t think.  I’m pretty sure sportsbook.com is doing some Thanksgiving promotion on parlays.

Parlay:

MON vs PIT

CAR vs ANA

TOR vs TB

There were others that showed up as strong games but since I’m just getting into the NHL again and this system is so new I didn’t want to get greedy.  I’ll call them on here, but just know I didn’t bet on these.

PHI vs NYI

OTT vs NJ

BUF vs WAS

STL vs DAL

NAS vs COL

PHO vs CAL

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Long gone are the days where 100% of my money was disposable. The days where $400 out of $600 made when straight to kicks or whatever other shit I was on.

But still. How long can one deprive themselves of the creature comforts which enrich are lives?

With that Said I will be making a list (fuck checking it twice) of shit that i’ve wanted that I’ve put off due to responsibilities, lack of disposable funds or guilt of actually spending money on ‘non-necessities’ while still living at home.

[living within and under my means]

The Bulls lost again on this road trip.  That’s 3 straight against LA, Denver, and Portland.  Again, the Bulls were dominated by a bigger and more talented team.  Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge tore up the front court.  Andre Miller woke up in the second half and sealed the game.  Again, there were problems closing out shooters just like in the Celtics game earlier this year.  The Bulls simply couldn’t keep up.  When they let up for even a second, the lead ballooned.  But it’s not totally hopeless.

When the Bulls were moving the ball, they looked fantastic.  Derrick Rose moves wonderfully off the ball as much as when he has it in his hands.  Salmons doesn’t look putrid anymore.  A quiet game for Noah is better than a good game for a lot of Bulls centers past.  There are real problems on offense, but there were enough flashes of brilliance to convince me that if they just worked on it (and Vinny drew up some real plays on offense), they can run with anybody.  Speaking of running, if the Bulls just outran their opponents, they could win some games.  The defense is good enough most of the time (except for closing out on shooters) that running up and down the court would favor the Bulls.  They have young, quick legs and they match up athletically with everyone in the league.  It all comes down to you, Vinny.

If you want to know, how I do this, check here.  Otherwise, cut to the chase:

Some observations:

Some of this week’s takeaways:

• Given that the Celtics last year started out 27-3, that there is not one 2 loss team left this early in the season is kind of striking. The teams we expected to suck out loud (Grizzlies, Griffin-less Clippers, I’m looking at you) are actually just ordinarily mediocre.
• A new #1 emerges in Portland.  The Celtics slip to #3 on the strength (weakness) of a ghastly shooting night against the Magic and a very mediocre effort against the Knicks (and frankly, a fairly desultory one against the Warriors).  As a fan, I was getting used to my Lester Hudson sightings.
• Blazers winning on the strength of an efficient 6th ranked offense, which might not be highlighted by announcers because of their very slow tempo (2nd to last in the league).  Their 2nd ranked defense has been a revelation too – Greg Oden is quietly having an outstanding season – and if he knew how to play without fouling, Bill Simmons’ homoerotic Kevin Durant love would be kind of unfounded.
• Wow the Timberwolves are bad.  With a good PG in Sessions and an interesting rookie in Flynn and a very capable post player, how they are so constipated offensively is hard to fathom.  At least the Nets have been ravaged by injuries. (btw: how can Lawrence Frank be on the chopping block when his entire starting five and only all star has been hurt most of the season?)
• Rockets are #6 still – and still, I am stunned.

from SI.com

I was 0-3 combined on my MNF picks.  I’m not terribly disappointed, however, because I still think it was a good call.  The Titans are just an underrated team right now.  And while the Texans did well stopping Chris Johnson from scoring, he still got 150 yards rushing.  Also, they forgot about the run threat from Vince Young which, in my mind, was the game changer here.  That, and the fact that the Texans couldn’t get their run game going enough to help out Schaub, who still had 305 yards and 2 TDs. No turnovers for the Texans, which is a huge plus, but this was a game

they really needed to win if they wanted a shot at the wild card.

Anyway, on the bright side, I was 5-1 combined on my NBA picks last night! I went 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS, and 1-1 O/U. That puts my Game Factor System at 8-1 this season! What gives me even more comfort in it is the Minnesota-LA Clippers game last night.  My system said to only play if you buy 4 points to make it -1.5 for the Clips

from SI.com

instead of -5.5 (and it told me to buy 3 points for the Blazers-Bulls game). So I decided to do a 4 point teaser, and lo-and-behold the Clippers won by 4! They covered my -1.5 point spread but failed to cover the -5.5! Seeing things work out like that make me happy.  Obviously I didn’t need help with the Blazers game as they won by 24 points but no system can predict that.  I was even nervous with a -3 point spread on that game.

Not all the spreads are out yet so I’ll be back later to give you tonights picks.

Sto guardando questa partita, Portland è tornata alla strutturazione con un solo play, quindi Miller in panchina. I preferisco questa formazione. Non amavo neanche il binomio West-Williams dei Cavs l’anno passato: avere 2 undersize può essere vantaggioso per il trattamento della palla, ma in un ottica di fisicità NBA ti espone troppo a squadre di superatleti che ti mettono sotto. Entrambe le squadre se ne sono accorte o ora in quintetto parte Webster e Miller entra dalla panchina per Blake. Il quintetto con 2 play può essere un’ottima arma, ma come quintetto di situazione.

Portland come squadra mi piace molto, ha un modo di giocare a metà campo davvero notevole e ha molte anime al suo interno, molte possibilità e giocatori diversi con caratteristiche diverse. Oden è in crescita, evidentemente la squadra gioca meglio senza di lui in attacco, ma è un giocatore da cui non può prescindere, il giorno che mette insieme il suo corpo e capisce come può usarlo al meglio è finita… per tutti. La buona notizia per gli altri è che non è detto che prima o poi completi la sua maturazione, per una serie di motivi molto complessi: primo gli infortuni, secondo la pressione addosso a una prima scelta assoluta, infine perchè l’NBA non è più una lega per centri vecchio stampo; questo vuol dire che nella sua fase di maturazione, storicamente più lunga per un pivot che per una guardia, ti trovi a giocare contro giocatori atipici che ti costringono a uscire dall’area e che tirano e si muovono come guardie. Non hai giocatori d’area con cui scontrarti e da cui imparare. L’altra faccia della medaglia è che dal giorno in cui diventi un giocatore nessuno ti può fermare.

Sul divino modo di giocare di Roy non perdo più parole… Fernandez è un giocatore molto sottostimato, Aldridge invece è sta facendo a pezzi la sua ex squadra, anche se solo per una notte. Non avrà una grande durezza mentale e non sarà dominante in post basso, ma al giorno d’oggi aver uno shooting big nella posizione di 4 è un’arma fondamentale.

Chicago invece… non c’è molto da dire, tanto talento, molti buoni giocatori ma nessuna identità, dopo il buon avvio di stagione ora si presenta in campo una squadra molle senza convinzione. Le potenzialità ci sono ma sono per me mal assortiti, l’assenza di Ben Gordon si sente eccome… Manca un leader, uno che si prenda le responsabilità nei momenti di difficoltà, e questo conta forse più di tutto il resto. Anche qui la buona notizia c’è: per quest’anno nulla da fare, se si arriva ai playoff è già una buona cosa, ma la stagione difficile era preventivata; però ci sono soldi da spendere in estate, e Chicago resta sempre una piazza rinomata. Poi c’è Rose che è sempre una sicurezza… anche oggi schiacciata in testa a Oden, e ho detto tutto. Però non sembra un leader, soprattutto caratterialmente.

Ora torno a vedere il secondo tempo, sembra che Chicago possa rimontare, e magari ne vien fuori una bella partita…

With about fifteen games in the books now, I have updated my by-possession numbers for every NBA team.

Despite its weak schedule, the numbers still look good for Portland. The Trailblazers are scoring exactly as many points per possession as their opponents have given up (on average) this season, which basically means they have an average offense. However, on the defensive side, Portland is second only to Boston in terms of least points allowed per possession. While the Blazers’ schedule has been pretty lame, the offenses they have played against are still scoring at the league average clip, preserving the significance of that defensive stat. In fact, the Blazers are also second in the league behind those Celtics for best point differential, thanks mostly to their tough defense.

So often we hear announcers talk about the pace of the game, as in, “The Blazers need to keep the score in the 90s to beat this Golden State team.”  I’m curious this season as to whether or not the pace of the game (meaning total number of possessions) matters all that much in the outcome. So far it seems that slower paced teams are able to also defend more efficiently. Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell whether it’s because good defensive teams tend to be slower teams, or conversely, because slower paced teams are able to play better defense.

In Portland’s case, 12 of its 15 games have been played at a slow pace.* The Blazers are 8-4 in these slower games, 1-0 in medium games, and 1-1 in fast-paced games, so they haven’t played enough games at a faster pace to make any claims about their ability to adjust various teams. Portland did look pretty damn awful playing the fast-paced Warriors the other night, and in their two fast-paced games combined, the Blazers are shooting just  42.5% from the floor and turning the ball over as though it were smothered with Sex Panther Cologne (24.5 average/game). As the season progresses, the Blazers should play a few more fast-paced games so we can really see if it hurts them.

Taking a look at the rest of the league, the fastest teams by possession go, one through five, Golden State, New York, Indiana, Denver, and the LA Lakers. The slowest, ordered 30-26, are Detroit, Portland, Charlotte, Boston, and Miami.

The most efficient offensive teams are Phoenix, Toronto, Atlanta, Denver, and San Antonio. The least efficient are New Jersey, Minnesota, Charlotte, Chicago, Washington.

And finally, the most efficient defensive teams are Boston, Portland, Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Oklahoma City. The least efficient are Toronto, New Orleans, Memphis, Sacramento, and Golden State.

One final note: it’s interesting that the top two defensive teams, Portland and Boston, have some of the league’s best shot blocking combinations. Oden and Przybilla have combined for nearly 4 blocks a game, while Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett erase three shots every game. Interior defense is definitely more than just blocking shots. But the fact that the Blazers and Celts are first and fourth, respectively, in opponents’ field goal percentage suggests there is definitely something to having some shot blockers down low.

*The average possessions per game this season is 99. All teams/games that average 99 +/- 2 possessions are considered medium paced teams/games. Obviously the fast and slow paced teams/games are those that fall outside the range of 97-101.

Normally you watch your system for a few games to see if it works.  But I’m just jumping in and using it, so here it goes.

There weren’t any games I could as they were tonight so I decided to use a teaser which the system did accept. Keep in mind that while I’m sharing my SU and O/U picks, the spread is the only thing my system tells me about so that is what I’m actually betting on.

4pt teaser:

CHI vs POR; POR -3, o-184

MIN vs LAC; LAC -1.5, o-191.5

I like both of those picks. The system also called the Bucks covering their +9 point spread against San Antonio, and I normally would take that but with Redd and Bogut out I’m just not comfortable with making that call. 9 points is a lot and I really think the Spurs are overrated here, but with two of their stars out and Redd expecting to return shortly, I could see the Bucks tanking this one.

Un’altra settimana di regular season è trascorsa e ci avviciniamo a piccoli passi verso una situazione stabile. Ho avuto la possibilità di vedere diverse partite e vi riporto le mie impressioni:

• Atlanta vs. Portland
  Partita bella con molte emozioni: i Blazers grazie al nuovo schieramento a 3 guardie stavano andando forte e gli Hawks erano primi a est.. ne è uscita una partita in overtime. Portland ha dimostrato di essere molto competitiva, con molte opzioni, anche troppe; anzi… diciamo proprio troppe! Il potenziale è altissimo ma non c’è una vera gerarchia, nei momenti chiave la squadra la prende in mano Roy, e sono buone mani, la seconda punta è Aldridge, favoloso attaccante ma assolutamente non una personalità dominante, più adatto a essere il terzo di una gerarchia da squadra di livello… il vero problema è che dopo questi due c’è la confusione, e ciò non vuol dire che non ci sia supporting cast, anzi il contrario ce n’è fin troppo, ci sono altri 7-8 giocatori, con diverse caratteristiche ma stesso livello di importanza. La storia insegna che una squadra vincente deve avere una gerarchia ben stabilita con una strutturazione spesso a piramide. I Blazers devono ancora trovarla… da 2 anni la stanno cercando… mi ripeto ma hanno assolutamente bisogno di una trade!
  Che dire di Atlanta invece… Sorprendenti! Ci si aspettava un buon inizio, una buona squadra, ma non così. Estremamente discontinui, accendo e spengono in un attimo, ma quando si mettono a giocare, sia in attacco che in difesa sono fantastici. Hanno un gioco spettacolare e divertente, pochi schemi, diciamo pure che gran parte del gioco è improvvisazione, ma si divertono e fanno divertire. Ma allora la domanda è lecita: come fanno a vincere così tanto se sono una squadra così umorale? I motivi sono 3 a mio parere: 1. Si divertono e quindi giocano, attaccano in 5 e difendono in 5, quando decidono 2. Sono molto forti fisicamente, atletici e rapidi, Josh Smith ne è l’emblema 3. Joe Johnson dimostra come si può essere un leader senza spiccicar parola; con i giornalisti è un divo del muto, in campo non parla mai, ma nel quarto quarto, quando sono stati in partita giocando male, solo sfruttando il talento, dice 2 parole, schiaccia il bottone e come d’incanto la squadra cambia faccia… leadership silenziosa.
  Di fatto sono loro i favoriti per la quarta testa di serie dei playoff. Non credo vadano più su ma non è detto.
• Boston vs. Orlando
  Altra partita per cui potrei scrivere per pagine e pagine, cercherò di essere breve. Con Garnett per i Celtics è tutta un’altra musica, ma non è evidentemente un’intera partita nelle gambe dopo l’infortunio e deve amministrarsi. La squadra deve ancora trovare tutti gli equilibri ma per me è ancora la favorita. Prevedo che prima di natale arriverà una serie di vittorie consecutive da 10 o più per mettere in chiaro le cose.Ci sono degli automatismi da sistemare e giocatori da recuperare.
  Wallace riesce ancora a stupirmi. Per Boston è un lusso incredibile averlo dalla panchina, e per lui è un’ottima cosa data l’età non essere costretto a un minutaggio da titolare. In questa partita abbastanza sorgnone, fino a una brutta decisione arbitrale che lo ha fatto molto arrabbiare nel 4° quarto. Da li in avanti, per 3-4 minuti è stato il dominatore assoluto della partita, chiudendo su tutti i Magic in aiuto e ridicolizzando Howard in 4 possessi consecutivi, sia offensivi che difensivi. Che dire, se si scatena non ce n’è per nessuno. La buona notizia è che dopo la sfuriata ritorna tranquillo, ma giocare con lui e Garnett insieme dovrebbe essere illegale.
  Orlando: tornato Lewis e ricomincia la festa! Più o meno… Il gioco è tornato quello dell’anno scorso e l’efficacia pure, la cosa diversa è che Carter, come era previsto, si è dimostrato molto meno adatto di Turkoglu a questo sistema; soprattutto nel 4° quarto quando sentendo la responsabilità del suo ruolo nella squadra ha cercato di prendere in mano la squadra: ne sono usciti una serie di forzature, alcune andate anche a segno grazie al suo immenso talento, ma nulla creato per i compagni. Sta volta è andata bene, anche per via dei problemi di Boston, ma questo modo di giocare tende a non farti vincere nel lungo periodo.
• San Antonio vs. Dallas
  Altra partita molto sentita questo derby texano, e le 2 squadre hanno riservato sorprese in questo avvio di stagione: Dallas è partita molto bene, che era prevedibile, ma soprattutto esprime un bel gioco, come non si vedeva dal 2006, l’anno della finale. San Antonio invece attraversa un momento di crisi, ci si aspettavano problemi di infortuni, ma non così presto. Il più penalizzato è Jefferson che è un’ottimo giocatore ma non ha le caratteristiche per prendere in spalla la squadra, è stato preso per giocare con Parker, Ginobili e Duncan, con questi giocatori a esaltare le sue qualità, non per essere il primo terminale offensivo, e in questa situazione è in crisi soprattutto psicologica. A San Antonio prevale l’idea che meglio avere infortuni nella prima parte di stagione che nella seconda, e di fatto è vero, ma ora si stanno accumulando un po’ di sconfitte che, se la crisi non rientra potrebbe essere difficile assorbire.
  I Mavs invece sembrano giocare sul velluto e, come nel caso di Atlanta, sembrano divertirsi. In più c’è Nowitzky, che gioca come mai in carriera e lascia a bocca aperta per quanto grande è il suo repertorio.
• I Knicks continuano a perdere tranne una piccola parentesi con i Nets, e Gallinari continua a giocare alla grande, tranne una piccola parentesi con i Nets.
• Tornato Gasol, ora vediamo i veri Lakers… non che quelli visti fin ora facessero schifo, ma Pau da tutta un’altra dimensione alla squadra.

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How old are the contenders?

Okay, today we’re going to be looking at how old each of the contenders are.

I have chosen five legitimate contenders and one additional possible contender. Three in each conference. Those teams are:

• Boston Celtics
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Orlando Magic
• Los Angeles Lakers
• San Antonio Spurs
• Portland Trailblazers — the possible contender.

I’ll be looking at each team individually and checking these categories:

• Players at or above 35 years of age
• Players at or above 33 years of age
• Players at or above 30 years of age
• Average age of starting lineup
• Average age of team’s 9/10 man rotation
• Average age of squad overall

I’ll be looking at each separate section to both list the players who fit that category + the player’s ages + the player’s role.

I want to see both how old each team is respectively but also how dependent they are on some of their older players.

Boston Celtics

Thirty five years of age or older

The Celtics have one player in that age bracket and that’s Rasheed Wallace who is 35 years old.

Rasheed Wallace is the team’s sixth man.

Thirty three years of age or older

The Celtics have two players in this age group, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.

Ray Allen is 34 years old. Kevin Garnett is 33 years old.

Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are both key individual players for the Celtics. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are two of their top four players.

Thirty years of age older

Three players here for the Celtics.

Paul Pierce is 32 years old while Brian Scalabrine and Eddie House are both 31 years of age.

Paul Pierce is one of the Celtics two best players while House is their lead backup guard and Scalabrine is one of their insurance big men (not in rotation).

Starting lineup ages + average age

Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins are 23 + 25 years old respectively.

Rajon Rondo is one of Boston’s top four players and Perkins is a key glue guy.

Those two combined with Garnett, Pierce and Ray give Boston’s starting lineup an average age of 29.4 years.

Average age of 9/10 man rotation

Marquis Daniels and Glen Davis are 28 and 23 years old respectively.

Marquis Daniels is the first wing off the bench while Glen Davis is the team’s second big off the bench.

Those two players along with Eddie House, Rasheed Wallace and the Celtics starting lineup give Boston’s first choice rotation an average age 29.3 years.

Average age of team

The overall average age of the team is 25.9 years of age.

The final five players on the team were Sheldon Williams (26), Tony Allen (27), JR Giddens (24), Lestor Hudson (25) and Bill Walker (22).

Cleveland Cavaliers

Thirty five years of age or older

The Cavs have one player in that age bracket and that’s Shaquille O’Neal who is 37 years old.

Shaq was brought in to be the Cavs second best player. A legitimate sidekick to LeBron James.

Thirty three years of age or older

The Cavs have two players in this age group.

Anthony Parker and Zydrunas Ilgauskas are both 34 years old.

Parker is currently the team’s starting two guard and important rotation player. Whilst Big Z is the team’s backup center, second big off the bench, and important rotation player (role may decrease if Hickson continues to prove himself as a starter).

Thirty years of age older

No additional players here for the Cavs.

Starting lineup ages + average age

Mo Williams is 26 years old, LeBron James is 24 and JJ Hickson is a ripe old age of 21.

That gives the Cavs an average age of 28.4 years in their starting lineup. As we can see that’s considerably higher than three of their starters due to Shaq + Parker.

Average age of 9/10 man rotation

Four more rotation players here …

Daniel Gibson is the team’s backup point guard and is 23 years old. Delonte West has an uncertain role for now but let’s put him down as the team’s backup two guard. Delonte is 26 years old. Jamario Moon is the Cavs main wing off the bench and he is 29. Anderson Varejao is the team’s sixth man and first big off the bench and is 27 years of age.

That gives the Cavs ten man rotation an average age of 28.1 years.

Average age of team

The overall average age of the team is 26.9 years.

The five other players were Leon Powe (25), Daniel Green (22), Darnell Jackson (24), Jawad Williams (26) and Coby Karl (26).

Orlando Magic

Thirty five years of age or older

The Magic have one player in that age bracket and that’s Anthony Johnson who is 35 years old.

Anthony Johnson is Orlando’s third string point guard.

Thirty three years of age or older

The Magic have two players in this age group, Adonal Foyle and Jason Williams.

Both players are 34 years of age.

Adonal Foyle is Orlando’s third string center and Jason Williams is the club’s primary backup guard.

Thirty years of age older

Two more players here for the Magic, Vince and Rashard.

Vince Carter is 32 years old and Rashard Lewis is 30 years old.

Vince Carter is the club’s second best player and go-to guy offensively. Rashard Lewis is the team’s third or fourth best player.

Starting lineup ages + average age

Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Mickael Pietrus round out the starting lineup. They are 23, 27 and 27 years old respectively.

The average age of Orlando’s starting lineup is 27.8 years.

Average age of 9/10 man rotation

Orlando have five more players that should be mentioned as rotation possibilities. So we’re going with an eleven man rotation for the time-being (roles still in dispute).

JJ Redick and Matt Barnes are the club’s top bench players on the wing. They are 25 and 29 years of age respectively. Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass are competing for the backup power forward position. Anderson is 21 years old. Bass is 24 years old. Marcin Gortat is the club’s sixth man and backup center. He is 25 years of age.

The average age of Orlando’s rotation players is 27 years of age.

The only bench player that is above 30 years of age is Jason Williams. The starting lineup has two players, Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis.

Average age of team

The overall average age of the team is 28.1 years.

Los Angeles Lakers

Thirty five years of age or older

The Lakers have one player in that age bracket and that’s Derek Fisher who is 35 years old.

Derek Fisher is the starting point guard for the Lakers.

Thirty three years of age or older

The Lakers have no players in this group.

Thirty years of age older

Three players here for the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant is 31 years old while Lamar Odom and Ron Artest are both 30 years of age.

Kobe Bryant is the team’s best player. Lamar Odom is the team’s third or fourth best player and their sixth man. Ron Artest is the squad’s fifth best player and starting small forward.

Starting lineup ages + average age

Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol round out the starting lineup. They are 22 years old and 29 years old respectively.

That gives the Lakers starting lineup an average age of 29.4 years.

Average age of 9/10 man rotation

The Lakers have five more players worth mentioning here.

Jordan Farmer and Shannon Brown are the team’s backup point guards and have been playing alongside one another fairly often too. They are 22 and 23 years old respectively. Sasha Vujacic was a pivotal bench player (backup off guard) two years ago but his poor play has him in danger of being phased out altogether. He is 25 years of age. Luke Walton is the team’s backup small forward and is 29 years of age. Josh Powell is the club’s second big man off the bench and he is 26 years old.

That gives LA’s rotation, eleven players, an average age of 27.5.

Average age of team

The overall average age of the team is 27.3.

Adam Morrison (25) and DJ Mbenga (28) are two other bench players that hadn’t been mentioned yet.

San Antonio Spurs

Thirty five years of age or older

The Spurs have three player in that age bracket.

Michael Finley and Theo Ratliff are both 36 years old. Antonio McDyess is 35 years of age.

Antonio McDyess is a key glue guy for the team. Michael Finley is a rotation player for the club (almost 20 min a night) while Theo Ratliff is battling for a rotation job (looks like he’ll be the fourth big in the rotation, but not a certainty).

Thirty three years of age or older

The Celtics have one players in this age group, Tim Duncan.

Tim Duncan is 33 years of age. He is the Spurs best player.

Thirty years of age older

One more player here for the Spurs.

Manu Ginobili is 32 years of age. He is the Spurs second best player.

Starting lineup ages + average age

The starting lineup is still unsettled for the Spurs … I’m going to go with their best five players for the time being.

That is Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess and Tim Duncan. Tony Parker is 27 years old and Richard Jefferson is 29.

The average age of that lineup is 31.2 years.

Side note: Tony Parker is the only player who is currently in their prime. Everybody else is declining (Manu is a question mark due to injuries, but likely declining).

Average age of 9/10 man rotation

Five players worth mentioning here.

George Hill is 23 years old and the team’s primary backup guard. Keith Bogans is the Spurs best wing defender amongst the role players and looks to be an important role player. He is 29 years old. Roger Mason Jr is the team’s backup two guard (along with Finley) and is 29 years of age.

DeJuan Blair is the club’s first big off the bench and he is 20 years old. Then there’s Matt Bonner who is also 29 years of age. That is a total of seven players (Finley/Theo) after the starting lineup … due to the Spurs unsettled rotation.

The average age of the rotation players is 29.8 years of age.

The Spurs supporting cast has three players that are 29 years of age and two more who are 36. One other is 27 … and two are young players (Hill/Blair).

Average age of team

The overall average age of the team is 28.7 years.

Three players who so far have gone unmentioned — Malik Hairston (22), Ian Mahinmi (23) and Marcus Haislip (28).

Portland Trailblazers

Thirty five years of age or older

The Blazers have one player in that age bracket and that’s Juwan Howard who is 36 years of age.

Howard is an insurance big man for the Blazers (not rotation player).

Thirty three years of age or older

The Blazers have one player in this age bracket, Andre Miller.

Andre Miller is 33 years of age.

Andre Miller is an important role player for Portland. Currently he is their starting point guard but that role is still up for grabs.

Thirty years of age older

One players here for the Blazers.

Joel Pryzbilla is 30 years of age. He is the club’s backup center and an important role player.

Starting lineup ages + average age

Only one starter mentioned so far, Andre Miller. The four others are Brandon Roy (25), Nicolas Batum (20), LaMarcus Aldridge (24) and Greg Oden (21).

The average age of the starting lineup is 24.6 years.

Average age of 9/10 man rotation

Steve Blake is 29 years old (backup point guard). Everyone else on the Blazers who hasn’t been mentioned by name is under the age of 25.

Other rotation players — Rudy Fernandez is the team’s main backup two guard and is 24 years old. Martell Webster is 22 years old and the squad’s backup three. Travis Outlaw is 25 years old and the club’s backup power forward.

Portland runs a ten man rotation with an average age of 25.3 years.

The Blazers have only three rotation players above the age of 25 — Blake + Miller + Przybilla.

Average age of team

The overall average age of the team is …

Rest of the team — Jerryd Bayless (21), Dante Cunningham (22), Jeff Pendergraph (22) and Patty Mills (21).

Portland has only four players above 25 and only three of them are in the rotation. The two point guards and the backup center.

Thoughts On Ages

(1) The Boston Celtics have only one truly old player (Rasheed Wallace) and his game is still effective with less athleticism/mobility. Two others to keep an eye on in Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett (mostly due to the injury). The rest of the team is in good shape. A bunch of young players (Rondo, Perk, Davis) and a couple of well season vets (Marquis, House).

(2) The Cavaliers have three elderly players to watch out for. Their two centers, who are key offensive players for the team, who are 34 + 37 years old respectively. And Anthony Parker who’s role could be larger than expected due to Delonte West’s situation. The rest of the team is in good shape age wise.

Shaq and Big Z have been pivotal players for the Cavs this season (Shaq) and in past years (Z). Their contracts are up at the end of the season and they’ll need to be replaced by someone capable of being a star-like-figure (Hickson? Trade? Free Agency?) for the Cavs to remain a contender next season.

(3) The Magic have one old rotation player and that’s their backup point guard who is backed up by another old player. All in all, that’s a fantastic situation. Vince Carter is someone to keep an eye on in the future but not now.

(4) The Lakers key players are between 29-31 plus Bynum at 22 years of age. That’s a nice grouping. They have several years in them with this core. Only one rotation player who you would point out age-wise and that’s Fisher and Fish has two backup point guards behind him (solid depth).

(5) The Spurs really are quite old. Several role players who are getting on in years, two of whom are past their sell-by-date as rotation players. An old main five guys, only one of whom is in his prime. Only two young players in their rotation.

(6) Portland is amazingly young. Only three rotation guys above the age of 25 and only one of them could be considered past his prime, and that player is aging remarkably well.

Rambling on ….

• The Blazers are set to be contenders for the next decade
• The Lakers are good for another couple of years
• The Magic have one key player to watch (Vince) and how they handle that situation will decide how long they last as a contender. But they’re good for the next two year’s of Vince’s contract.
• The Cavs have uncertain player personnel issues. This will be the last hurrah for that core.
• The San Antonio Spurs need to revamp their supporting cast and breathe some life into that team. They’re the oldest team here but they’re aging well (Manu’s injuries aside). They have another year or two or three left in them … but it’ll be the quality of the supporting cast around their main three guys that decides whether they get over the hump and actually win a ring or not.
• The Celtics need to watched. Two of their Big Three may be aging too fast for the C’s to maintain their place in the East. They’re fine for this season … but next season? Maybe, maybe not. Something to watch closely. If they can make one clever trade they could open up a title challenge for the next 3-4 years though.
• In terms of this season … only three teams are potentially vulnerable to age related situations (decline or increased chance of injury effected play) and they are the Spurs, Cavs and Celtics. The Spurs look the most vulnerable and it’s a toss up between the Cavs and Celtics for second place.

Last year, it became clear in the playoffs that we needed to make some changes in order to go farther than the 1st round in 2009.  The main problems were that we didn’t have a PG who could keep up with Aaron Brooks and we didn’t have anyone who could create their own offense other than Roy.  I have to credit Roy because he did all he could, but the rest of the team always just stood around and allowed the Houston defense to key in on our playmaker.

During the summer, we acquired a new PG.  Maybe not everyone’s first choice, but he was definitely an upgrade.  I, for one, was pleased with the move.  Next came summer league.  Nate said he hadn’t decided on a starting PG yet.  Ok, ok, whatever Nate.  We all knew who the better PG was — the numbers spoke for themselves.  I won’t get into them, as others on BE already have, but Miller has had much better career averages.

Jump to the 2009 season.  So far this year, there have been exciting moments, there have been scream at your tv moments, and there have been moments of wondering just what the coaching staff has going through their minds.  The 3 guard lineup was an interesting idea, and I think it was worth trying, but it clearly wasn’t permanent.  Mostly, it hurt our rebounding numbers, made it more difficult to guard larger lineups, and made Roy uncomfortable by playing out of his natural position.

Kudos to Nate for recognizing that the 3 guard lineup wasn’t the answer.  However, is what we’ve gone to really the difference maker?  I think most people have high expectations for the team, even hopes for a championship.  Nate was quoted last night as saying that the lineup of Blake, Roy, Webster, Aldridge, and Oden is the lineup that he’s sticking with moving forward.  It’s my opinion that this lineup is really the same as what we had last year.  Sure, there are minor differences, like Webster instead of Batum and Miller instead of Sergio.

Right, but Miller instead of Sergio is a huge difference, isn’t it?  You’d think so, but I’d argue that the way Nate is playing Miller he might as well be Sergio.  Here are the pros of Miller: He can create his own offense, he creates offense for others, he opens up the fast break for the team, and he makes our bigs (primarily Aldridge and Oden) better.  I know he hasn’t been playing amazing, but I think that could partially be attributed to lack of playing time and frustration at seeing a lesser player start ahead of him.  Competition at a position is good to spur some players into playing harder, but it doesn’t always work.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Miller is beyond frustrated and maybe isn’t caring as much, as a result.

So what’s really going on?  Why is Blake starting?  Maybe the team thinks he fits in better with the starters while Miller fits in better with the second unit.  Maybe Nate is more comfortable with Blake since he’s been with the team longer and generally doesn’t make many mistakes on the court.  Maybe Roy likes playing with Blake more because it allows him to be the primary playmaker on the court.

As my title says, though, what we’ve reverted back to is what we already tried last year.  We already know it didn’t work.  The x-factor is Oden.  Is he the difference maker that will push the team to the next level?  I think he definitely could be, but I also think we need to put Miller in the starting unit.  YES, THE TEAM WILL NEED TO ADJUST, especially Roy, but if they’re able to, the team should be able to reap the benefits.

The Nike Blazer High continues to hit stores in alot of colorways. Here we poster detailed pictures of a pair created just for the ladies out there. They feature a mainly white leather upper, along with what seems like orange accents, but is labeled hot red. This bright accenting hue is seen on the toe cap, Nike swoosh, and heel tab. Finishing off the shoes are radiant emerald hues, which are seen on the tongue tag, sole, and shoe laces. Look for them now at Footaction retailers.

Kelli: grey tent dress with Peter Pan collar (Unique Thrift Store), black leggings (We Love Colors), grey booties (Payless).

Emily: black skinny jeans (Gap), Goboal Warming "Ouch!" tee (Anthropologie), plaid blazer (Unique Thrift Store), purple and grey plaid scarf (Urban Outfitters), black boots (random store, SC).

It’s difficult to see, due to the brightness of the flash and the distance from the camera, but the coral on my t-shirt is exactly the same color as the coral stripe in my blazer.  Small details like this completely make my day.  I felt like an early 80’s goddess in my new jacket, my skinny jeans, and my fun little tee.  The shirt (from Anthropologie) is the softest organic cotton and a portion of the sale goes to aid in global warming research.  Who wouldn’t be charmed by a little piece of coral saying, “Ouch!”?

I love to wear stylish jackets and as a tall woman, sometimes my options are limited. This fall there are plenty of women’s trendy tall jackets and tall blazers. Here are a few of the current trends in tall jackets and tall blazers I have found by shopping online.

1. Long length tall jackets look terrific on tall women and there are plenty of options this fall. The long length jacket is similar to a duster length. They give you a tall, slimming effect that is not only beautiful but exudes confidence when worn with a classy pair of tall jeans or trousers.

2. Another option for trendy tall jackets and tall blazers for fall are glamorous fabrics such as leather and suede. Tall leather jackets and blazers give the tall woman an edgy and stylish appearance. Today’s tall leather jackets are available in many colors from classic browns to rich purples.

3. Tall corduroy blazers are a definite must have item for fall. Available in solid colors, prints and quilted patterns, corduroy tall blazers are durable and will stand the test of time.

4. Tweed tall jackets and tall blazers are very trendy for fall. You can find them in varying length and colors. Tall tweed jackets have been in style for a few years and we expect this classic style to continue for many more. Tweed tall jackets are a great way to add some texture and fun to your tall wardrobe.

As you can see tall women have some great options in trendy tall jackets and tall blazers for fall. We are not stuck with having to buy the same old navy blue tall blazer, but can experiment with some texture and different lengths of tall jackets and tall blazers.

Jos. A. Bank offers a wide variety of quality clothing options, from classically tailored suits and tuxedos to business casual and sportswear wear fit for all occasions.

JOS A BANK THANKSGIVING SALE! UP TO 70% OFF

I love to wear stylish jackets and as a tall woman, sometimes my options are limited. This fall there are plenty of women’s trendy tall jackets and tall blazers. Here are a few of the current trends in tall jackets and tall blazers I have found by shopping online.

1. Long length tall jackets look terrific on tall women and there are plenty of options this fall. The long length jacket is similar to a duster length. They give you a tall, slimming effect that is not only beautiful but exudes confidence when worn with a classy pair of tall jeans or trousers.

2. Another option for trendy tall jackets and tall blazers for fall are glamorous fabrics such as leather and suede. Tall leather jackets and blazers give the tall woman an edgy and stylish appearance. Today’s tall leather jackets are available in many colors from classic browns to rich purples.

3. Tall corduroy blazers are a definite must have item for fall. Available in solid colors, prints and quilted patterns, corduroy tall blazers are durable and will stand the test of time.

4. Tweed tall jackets and tall blazers are very trendy for fall. You can find them in varying length and colors. Tall tweed jackets have been in style for a few years and we expect this classic style to continue for many more. Tweed tall jackets are a great way to add some texture and fun to your tall wardrobe.

As you can see tall women have some great options in trendy tall jackets and tall blazers for fall. We are not stuck with having to buy the same old navy blue tall blazer, but can experiment with some texture and different lengths of tall jackets and tall blazers.

One change you may notice from here on out is I will not be making every pick for every game.  Only the ones I am comfortable with.

I am not doing much else but researching NFL games right now but I wanted to throw out 3 NBA picks for tonight.

MIA vs TOR; MIA (+2.5), o-200

WAS vs OKC; OKC -3,o-193.5

POR vs GS; POR -7.5, o-206

We have heard enough about her sister, now we see Stephanie Pratt looking super adorable at a movie premier.   Her look is simple but still classic and adorable. Here is how to get it……

1. Skinny Jeans

2. Stripped Top

3. Cardigan

4. Black Knee High Boots

5. Black Tote

6. bangles

7. Big Ring

I am a fan of matching a cardigan with skinny jeans during the fall weather.  It’s the perfect style for the chilly weather without having to bust out your heavy jacket.  The knee-high boots are perfect for matching with your skinny jeans as well.    Stephanie adds just the right amount of accessories for this look.  The bangles and the ring have just enough shine for Stephanie’s look.  A small necklace wouldn’t hurt with this outfit though.

Trend alert! Boxy boyfriend blazers have hit the scene and celebrities like Lauren Conrad, Rihanna, and Kate Bosworth have been photographed in this fashionable piece. Boyfriend blazers get their name after the male significant other because of its boxy menswear inspired shape. In contrast, feminine clothing seems to add definition and is more tailored to fit the curves and shape of the female body.

You, too, can be apart of this trend and Bleu Dame makes it possible. You might be a little unsure about how to sport such a jacket, but never fear. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Pair the boyfriend blazer with sleek pencil jeans and a satin lacey cami.

Wear the boyfriend blazer as a topper with a short mini dress, mucho jewelry, and fabulous platform booties.

Be casual and wear comfy jeans and scarf with the boyfriend blazer.

Consider wearing the boyfriend blazer with a summer dress or tunic, leggings, and boots in an effort to move along with the fall season.

Here are a few boyfriend blazers that can be found on our website:

What are you waiting for? Don’t delay! Get suited up in a boyfriend blazer today!