the over under check in

[mantypas/CavsCzar]

Since there was no pod, I thought to make it a over under check in article because ya boy needs some RP and its also a fun pulse check on everyone’s teams. Well everyone that answered the pick’em at the beginning of the year. Let’s dive in.

Bucks - 52 wins. Current record – 37-25 – on pace for 49 wins. Will they hit their mark? The numbers say no, and I also say no, under. The bucks have 8 homes games and a relatively tough schedule against, with 3 games against the redhot magic, and away games against contenders like the Bulls, hornets, sixers and nets. This team is still very much a problem to deal with, but the lack of great perimeter defenders is going to make it tough to compete with the likes of the lebrons, TPs, and Jamal Crawfords of the world. Positive shooting regression from Adam Morrison will help.

Sonics – 50 wins. Current record – 35-18 – on pace for 54 wins with 29 games left. Will they hit their mark? Numbers say yes and I do too, I say over. They have 17 home games and have a team that is quite balanced with depth and star power. I think the Wall acquisition hurts in the short term and may impact the team in the playoffs, but they will be there, and Paul Pierce and Greg Oden will continue to make it tough to get shots off, combining for over 5 blocks.

Suns – 44 wins. Current record – 39-22 – on pace for 52 wins. Will they hit their mark? Major and resounding yes, way over. I didn’t even look up home vs away games. Tyler created a team that is a clear playoff team, with great scorers protected by great defenders, and enough depth to support any injuries. The guy has Ray Allen and a better Ray Allen. Next!

Bullets – 47 wins. Current record - 31-26 – on pace for 45 wins. Will they hit their mark? The numbers say no and I wanted to say yes, but after a deep dive through the schedule, I think they’ll remain .500. Only five remaining games against tankers, with a pretty even home and away split. If CP3 can bring his 3pt % closer to 40%, and Manu keeps cooking, they have a chance.

Blazers – 55 – 42-17- on pace for 58 wins. Will they get their total? I’m saying far surpassing, potentially 60 wins. This team is just manhandling teams down low, with Dwight and big Al forming a terrifying duo, with high quality back up butts in Powe and Thabeet, not even mentioning Jameer looking like the MVP. However, pretty tough remaining schedule coming, so hitting 60 is going to be tough, though I have faith.

Grizz – 54 – 32-25 – on pace for 46 wins. Will they get their total? Love Josh and the Grizz, but sadly with their pace, they will be under. They just aren’t as dominant in the West without Pau and the west is tougher. Dwade is still the best 2 in the league, grit and grind Grizz D, and they are pretty deep in the butt department. Just not enough scoring from the SF duo of Prince and Nocioni.

Cavs – 15 – current record – 18-41 – on pace for 25 wins. LOL, seriously thought I could trade Redd and Duncan early for cheap and pull of a crazy tank job. Its not easy folks. Happy the rookies look pretty good though.

Bulls – 57 – current record – 37-22 – on pace for 51 wins. I’m going to say under due to unfortunate circumstances. Obviously the TP injury is one of the biggest story lines for the defending champs. He misses 7 more games for the Bulls, so won’t get to 57, but I do think they do beat 51. They don’t have the toughest schedule and Eddie G and McCants are still elite. Might need more defenders as Hedo and OJ Mayo are pretty one sided players.

Rockets – 53 – 46-13 – on pace for 64 wins. Huge over and big time win for Nolan, as the Rockets are back on top to being one of the most dominant teams the SLN has seen. They just mash you, averaging almost 39 FT attemps a game, while shooting a league best 47.1% from the field. You also can’t score against them, forcing the league worst 41.7% against. This team is modern defensively but old school offensively. They don’t have a starter under 6 foot 7. Shoutout to David Lee – still having a great season, someone should’ve paid me more RP than Nolan did. Oh well…

Magic – 48 – 36-24 – on pace for 49 wins. I think they to 50 wins, though they don’t have the easiest remaining schedule. They’ve been almost a different team with Deron at the SG and George Hill starting. One of the better rebounding teams, interested to see if Merv has any more magic tricks up his sleeves with trades and such. Yi is good, congrats China.

Nets – 22 – 11-51 – on pace for 15 wins. Swamp Steve knows how to keep his guys tanking, big time under pull from him. Though AD already looks like he’ll be pretty awesome, he isn’t fully there shooting it, but does just about everything else. You’d like to see more shooting efficiency from Kemba too. Shoutout to Royce white and mental health, I’d like to see Ty Lawson get more run, absolutely elite in the old 2k games on the nuggets

Mavs – 45 – 28-25 – on pace for 43 wins. I’m going to go under due to the Francis injury, though they do have a lot of home games at the end of the season, which will make the playoff race interesting. AK47 is still doing his thing everywhere, Jrue looks to be close to fully formed with B remaining potential, and Hassan Whiteside looks terrifying on the defensive end and with less than a TO a game. Okur’s 3pt has dipped a lot, and by golly goodness has my former boy Josh Smith fallen from the graces.

Timberwolves -33 – 17-37 – on pace for 26 wins. Pretty easy under here. Good news. James Harden is looking like baby Houston Harden, not there with the efficiency yet, but high volume, good FT shooting harden. Bad news, not a lot of great rebounders. It’s weird how good Marcus Morris looks but how bad Markieff looks. It doesn’t seem like Kris Clack will ever die, and I think that’s cool

Lakers – 24 – on pace for 24-25 wins. Tough position GX took over, but doing a great tank job so far, offloading players and getting picks and RP. Im going to with the under because even though I think Chauncey and EG are just going to some games from just putting up a lot of shots, this team has like no rebounding at all. Sorry All Star Charlie Villanueva. Should have a fun offseason with practically all of their space available.

Raptors – 43 – 20-36 – on pace for 30 wins. Super easy under here, as intended by Jwoo after he had a tough start, sold Kobe, Okafor, Brand, and others, and kicked the can down a season. Ricky Rubio is very much him, and the young guys have had steady improvement through the year, just not enough rebounding post millions of trades. A year or two away as long as they get some help and good dice rolls for the young guns.

Spurs – 16 – 15-50 – on pace for 19 wins. I’m going to go with the over. I was surprised when they lost so many games after the key offseason acquisitions of Deandre Jordan and OJ Mayo. But I guess OJ didn’t play any defense, and the Isiah Thomas acquisition was an insane tanking strategy with his turnovers and no defense. Still Kawhi is quite good, Caron Butler is playing the defense that OJ never did, and IT is starting to figure it out a little. Not to mention MKG is looking like a steal of a draft pick already. Bright future, don’t let this team get Giannis

Warriors – 30 – 25-32 – on pace for 36 wins. They will beat 30 , but wont reach 36. Clint finally traded Monta as many were clamoring for. I thought he coulda done either, but pretty great haul from Clint, including Lin who I am very high on. Tobias looks quite good in year 2, BD is still a positive PG to have, Blatche and Lopez are a good defensive front court, but no other major talent in the front court, back court or wing department. Should have some cap space for a max slot in the offseason, so do something fun Clint!

Celtics – 49 – 30-29 – on pace for 42 wins. I say over 42, but If it weren’t for the nasty Bulging Disc from Kwame, this team could’ve hit their pick dead on the money or even hit 50+. However, without him, they still have a solid net dif of 3+, but have been losing a lot of close games. Also been a couple tedious injuries to other guys like Devin Harris, etc. Kwame is back though and I’m excited to see what they look like with him, already a top end rebounding team without him for most of the year. Could make noise in the playoffs if they make it.

Nuggets -52 – 42-14- on pace for 61-62 wins. Shattered it, Steph has already ascended, Melo hasn’t taken any step back, Monta Ellis makes the scariest three headed monster in the league – though the rockets have a four headed monster.. Anyways we are on the nugs. Shoots threes, plays great defense and board up – pretty much anti rockets. Would be a fun match up.

763rs – 52 – 44-15 – on pace for 61 wins. Another easy over. Lebron James is simply too good for the SLN with his few freebies. Fun to watch for Karaoke Legend Dmo. Let’s not take credit away from some of his other guys. Paul Millsap has turned into a fun player, Willie Green is a Ray Allen clone, The bigman trio of Oneal, Hawes, and Boozer mob the paint for boards. Well constructed team around the King

Jazz – 49 – 31-24 – on pace for 46 wins. I think they get to 47-48, but don’t hit 49. Similar Jazz to the ones seen in the prior years, with Darko and Al Jeff down low, and Ray Ray Dahntay Jones, and Marvin (who is having a fucking awesome season). They need one more guy off the bench, Jason Thompson and Korolev are a pretty solid 6th and 7th guys to have, need one more.

Clippers – 35 – 23-39 – on pace for 30 wins. Under unfortunately for Bobby. Only a -2 differential for this team, has a bunch of big names with Drose, Kobe, Derozan (who is probably still too young), and now Boogie, but the lack of defenders and rebounders hurt this team early on and still does. Fun Amare year though, and Vucevic should be good in a year or two.

Pacers – 19 – 10-48 – on pace for 14 wins. Super impressive tank job from a relative newcoming Tonger. Was able to offload Rudy Gay and pick up Teodosic, who has been throwing up all over himself. Jimmy Butler looks to be coming into form, and I have faith in Drummond. Not a lot else here though. Will have cap space and a very high pick, so I will be watching out for this Central divisional rival

Pistons – 42 – 32-29, on pace for 43 wins. I think they get to 43 or 44. Not the toughest remaining schedule, and I think their new acqiisution of Solomon jones will help their rebounding and defending woes right away. Lou will and Kyrie are as elite of a backcourt as you will see, and dirk is dirk (though has taken a slight step back).

Knicks – 50 – 35-25- on pace for 48 wins. Jamal crawford missed a bunch of games and this team didn’t completely fall over and hes the top scorer in the league. I think the Knicks hit 50 wins, they can score with anyone. Bosh is still mega elite, the knicks have somehow bandaided themselves with min pickups like Jaric (revival year) Udrih, and Scot Pollard just wont die. Fun year

Kings – 45 – on pace for 46. Pretty good guess from Jesse , I say push. Brandon Jennings looks to be pretty good, Metta is having a big revival, though still cant hit a three, and they play defense and get boards, with a couple white guys off the bench (the White Rs as they call they in Sactown) get buckets. Interested to see where Jesse goes from here

Hawks – 36 – Last one woof – 26-34 – On pace for 35-36 wins. I have no clue why this team is now on this big losing streak. -5 diff, but nic Batum has had a revival, just not enough shooting or a third big for this team. I’d try Russ at the 4, Pau at the 5 for shits and giggles, can Tyreke play the 1? Idk – Jonas needs another year it seems. Say something fun and nice about the hawks. Avery Bradley in limited minutes looks very good.

Alright, that’s a wrap, be well, and good luck to all for the rest of the season.

[Merv]

George Hill earning the blind faith I put in him last resignings.

[Clinton]

Must make trades to get to 30 haha

[SWAMP STEVEN]

I still have Lawson stock, delusional as it may be

[Joe]

Grade: 300RP

[Merv]

1 win short smh