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[SPORTS] NBA SEASON PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: TEAMS 12 THROUGH 7

[SPORTS] NBA SEASON PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: TEAMS 12 THROUGH 7

What Are The Expectations For These Fringe Contenders?

We’re only one day away from NBA tip-off but before then I will be previewing and offering predictions for all 30 NBA teams for this upcoming 2018-19 season.

We last left off on teams 18 through 13 and today we will pick up with teams 12 through 7. The list today includes two teams who failed to make the playoffs last season but are expected to make it this season, one Eastern Conference contender, and three Western Conference playoff teams from a season ago.

LeBron James’ move to the West shifts the balance of power in a conference that from the third seed to the eighth seed were separated by only 2 games last season. That’s a reality that the West outside of Golden State and Houston is anyone’s guess in terms of finishes in the standing.

What is the outlook for LeBron’s Lakers, Popovich’s new-look Spurs, and the surging Indiana Pacers?

Without further or do, let’s get started!!!

12. Denver Nuggets

Photo by Getty Images

Record last season: 46-36

Win projection for 2018-19: 43.9 wins

O/U: Over

Successful season: Finish 5 wins better than win projection, Make Playoffs, Finish in top 20 in FG percentage allowed, Finish in top 20 in 3-point FG percentage allowed

Prediction: Nikola Jokic Makes First All-Star Team

The Denver Nuggets big man floats under the radar for his below the rim style of play, but he’s among the best at his position. Jokic will have an easier time making the Western Conference frontcourt with DeMarcus Cousins injured. The frontcourt in all likelihood will be made up of Karl-Anthony Towns, Draymond Green, Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic this season.

11. Indiana Pacers

Photo via wishtv.com

Record last season: 48-34

Win projection for 2018-19: 49 wins

O/U: Under

Successful season: Make Eastern Conference Finals, Win Central

Prediction: Victor Oladipo repeats his 2017-18 season

The Indiana Pacers stunned the NBA when they finished 48-34 last season after the departure of Paul George in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. A huge reason why was because of the breakout season by Victor Oladipo, who won the Most Improved Player award last season.

If there’s pessimism as to whether Victor Oladipo can replicate what he did last season — averaging 23.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.4 SPG — that’s reasonable.

One reason why he will though is because Indiana’s offense doesn’t rely on Oladipo to play out of character. Most of his shot attempts last season were in the flow of coach Nate McMillan’s offense, which bodes well for this upcoming season.

10. Portland Trail Blazers

Photo by Associated Press

Record last season: 49-33

Win projection for 2018-19: 44.1 wins

O/U: Over

Successful season: Make Western Conference Finals, Win Northwest Division, Make Playoffs, Finish Top 5 in FG percentage defense, Finish Top 10 in assists

Prediction: Damian Lilliard finishes in Top 5 in PPG

Last season was the first time that Damian Lilliard, one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers, finished in the top 5 among scoring leaders. He averaged 26.9 PPG, heating up in the second half like usual with 28.6 PPG after the All-Star break.

There is still a burden for him to carry the scoring load on most nights even next to an outstanding marksmen like C.J. McCollum. With that being the case, expect Lilliard to continue his high usage rate as a scorer.

9. San Antonio Spurs

Photo by Darren Abate/Associated Press

Record last season: 47-35

Win projection for 2018-19: 49.9 wins

O/U: Under

Successful season:

Prediction: The Spurs Finish No Better Than 6th In Western Conference

The San Antonio Spurs have been one of the most dominant sports franchises in the last 20 years, but times are a changing in the Alamo. This Spurs team will likely take a step back with the influx of rising Western Conference teams that now includes the Los Angeles Lakers.

While a playoff spot is a lock for Gregg Popovich’s club, don’t expect to see this very new-look Spurs roster that no longer has Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker or Kawhi Leonard gell like Popovich’s past teams.

8. Utah Jazz

Photo by Kristin Murphy/Deseret News

Record last season: 48-34

Win projection for 2018-19: 46.3 wins

O/U: Over

Successful season: Make Western Conference Finals, Win Northwest Division, Make Playoffs, Lead NBA in points allowed and FG percentage defense, Finish top 5 in FG percentage offense

Prediction: Utah Jazz Finish 3rd In Western Conference

The Utah Jazz play a brand of basketball on a nightly basis that’s tough on teams to combat. A styming style of defense in halfcourt sets combined with a very slow and methodical halfcourt offense can get teams out of their comfort zone.

While they will have nights where they can’t score offensively, there aren’t many teams that will be having great shooting nights vs this team. Finishing a spot higher than they did last year, Utah will have a strong regular-season.

7. Los Angeles Lakers

James hopes to build with a young cast in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Photo via nba.com

Record last season: 35-47

Win projection for 2018-19: 50.9 wins

O/U: Over

Successful season: Make Western Conference Finals, Make Playoffs, Finish top 5 in points, Finish top 20 in points allowed

Prediction: LeBron James Wins NBA MVP

It’s been a while since LeBron James has won the NBA MVP award. You’d have to go back to the 2012-13 NBA season for the last time James won the NBA’s most prestigious individual award.

Now in Los Angeles and likely playing with a chip on his shoulder from not winning the award last season, James will dominate. Under the bright lights of Hollywood, James will flirt with averaging a triple-double this season as he brings home his fifth NBA MVP award.

What are your thoughts on the teams listed here heading into the 2018-19 season? Leave your comments below!

[MUSIC] Jacquees Explains Why He Remixed Ella Mai’s Song “Trip”

[MUSIC] Jacquees Explains Why He Remixed Ella Mai’s Song “Trip”

Jacquees is known for coming through with some of the best remixes in the business.

Quees puts his twist on some of the world’s popular songs, Jacquees’ “Quemixes” receive a decent amount of attention. When his version of Ella Mai’s “Trip” started doing better than the original, the remix was removed from YouTube and Soundcloud. Mustard, one of Ella Mai’s label representatives, explained that they had sent a cease and desist since he had monetized the remix without their authorization.

Jacquees went on a live stream to give his side of the story, describing why he remix his version to  “Trip” in the first place before giving a preview of a new Quemix of a Daniel Caesar track. He talks about why he decided to upload his version of “Trip.”

“I’m just remixing it because I like it,” said the singer. “I been doing this shit forever. And it’s all love. It ain’t no ‘I’m tryna be better than you’ or none of that shit. I do this shit. And people gon’ say what they wanna say. So it’s like, that’s just what it is”.

[Music] Drake Talks About His Son for the First Time, Kayne West Revealed His Secert

[Music] Drake Talks About His Son for the First Time, Kayne West Revealed His Secert

Drake spoke out about his 12-month-old son in a new interview on Friday, October 12, while discussing his feud with Kayne West.

The 31 year old Rapper said on HBO’s The Shop that he began to see stories online that included details of a conversation the two men had about relationship troubles Drake was having with the mother of his son, former porn star Sophie Brussaux.

“I tell him I’m having trouble with my son’s mother. We had a conversation,” he said. “I wake up, and all these dates are out … Then the next two days, whatever, I wake up now to this text from him, passive like, ‘Yo, I love you brother.’”

Rapper Pusha-T even came at Drake for his poor father skills and called him out as a deadbeat dad, Us Magazine Reports 

Drake’s response to that, “I knew something was going to come up about my kid, they had to add, like, the deadbeat thing to make it more appealing; Drake said to The Shop. 

Watch The Full Interview Here 

I’m sure we’ve all heard rumors of Drake having a Secert son, and wanting a family with Rihanna, but never knew he had a 12 month old with a former porn star but now we know the rumors are true and everything is now out in the open.

What do you think about Kayne betraying Drake? 

[SPORTS] NFL WEEK 6 RECAP: PATRIOTS WIN CLASSIC SHOOTOUT VS CHIEFS

[SPORTS] NFL WEEK 6 RECAP: PATRIOTS WIN CLASSIC SHOOTOUT VS CHIEFS

Patriots Victory Highlights Week 6 Slate

Week 6 of the NFL Season was in no better way to explain it … strange.

In Denver, we got a 25 degree game at kickoff between the Rams and Broncos … on October 14th. Had the game happened a day later, we may have seen a snow game as the City of Plains welcomed snowfall this past weekend.

Nathan Peterman threw a game-winning touchdown to … the other team. The Cowboys found an NFL offense vs Jacksonville, Baltimore turned Marcus Mariota into a human piñata and Miami pretty much kept it a tight to the vest that their secret weapon on Sunday would be Brock Osweiler (No kidding).

With so many headlines to cover from Sunday’s action, these four in particular standout (Steelers-Bengals didn’t make the cut, we’re on time constraints here).

Here is my recap of the Sunday that was in the NFL.

Brady Leads Pats To Wild Win Over Chiefs

Just as many fans tuning in would’ve expected, we got a barn burner of a game between two of the most prolific offenses in the NFL.

The New England Patriots were opposed by this upstart, dynamic offense led by 23-year-old quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was leading a 5-0 football team into New England guns blazing.

The old guard vs the team looking to stake their claim to the throne. That’s what we saw in the New England Patriots 43-40 victory over Kansas City on Sunday night.

After Patrick Mahomes’ (352 passing yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs) late game heroics to Tyreek Hill tied the game at 40-40 with 3:03 left to play, it would put the ball into a man all too familiar with just that.

Driving into Kansas City territory, Tom Brady would find Rob Gronkowski deep on a 39-yard reception to set up New England at Kansas City’s 9-yard line with with under a minute to go.

Stephen Gostkowski would nail a game-winning 28-yard field goal for the Patriots as time expired to hand Kansas City their first loss.

Tom Brady finished the game with 340 passing yards and 2 TDs (1 rushing). Rookie running back Sony Michel would rush for 106 rushing yards and 2 TDs.

Kansas City’s defense on third down to begin the season was among the best in the NFL through the first five weeks but the team took a step back by surrendering seven third down conversions.

New England dominated much of this game during the first 30 minutes as they held Kansas City to three field goals while intercepting Patrick Mahomes twice as they led 24-9 at the half.

Andy Reid’s Chiefs battled back in the second half, using a 67-yard Kareem Hunt touchdown reception, forced fumble deep in New England territory, and 97-yard kickoff return to take a 33-30 lead in the fourth quarter.

The play of the game that everyone will be talking about is backup linebacker Breeland Speaks, appearing as if he didn’t want to pick up an unnecessary roughness penalty on third and goal, pulling back on trying to hit Brady as he thought Brady would release the ball.

Brady was dead to rights by Speaks, who had him wrapped up, but he let him escape to scramble for a 4-yard touchdown run which gave New England a 37-33 lead with 5:25 to play.

That play was huge as a field goal changes Kansas City’s offensive game-plan dramatically from going to the air to try to take the lead to trying to run out the clock for a game-winning field goal by Harrison Butker.

However, the play did happen and a game that produced high-drama saw missed opportunities on both sides.

A regular-season game that lived up to the expectations may provide viewers with a even greater piece of theater if Kansas City gets back Eric Berry and Justin Houston at full strength.

For the Patriots, so much for that 1-2 start.

Jaguars Humbled In Big D

No, the Dallas Cowboys offense was miserable through the first five games of the season.

One of the NFL’s worst units were expected to continue their trying start to the season vs the Jacksonville Jaguars top ranked defense on Sunday.

That didn’t happen.

Dallas dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars from start to finish in a emphatic 40-7 win at AT&T Stadium.

The Cowboys chose a great day to wake up offensively vs a Jaguars team that suddenly finds itself in a troubling stretch.

Dallas jumped all over Jacksonville early, establishing a 24-0 lead at the half. Dak Prescott channeled his inner-Michael Vick with s career-high 82 rushing yards.

The third year quarterback would have a stellar day through the air with 183 passing yards and 2 TDs.

Running back Ezekiel Elliot would finish the game with 106 rushing yards and 1 TD while wide receiver Cole Beasley had a season-high 101 receiving yards and 2 TDs.

It’s the first time Jacksonville’s defense has allowed back-to-back 30-Point games since the start of the 2017 season.

Jalen Ramsey and the Jaguars defense looked to be frustrated as a defensive unit as miscommunications on defense led to Dallas’ 28th ranked offense racking up their most points since Week 7 of last year.

Jacksonville’s problems along the offensive side of the ball are alarming as injuries to that side of the ball have affected them.

Blake Bortles can be a issue for Jacksonville when he feels uncomfortable in the pocket and in each of the last two weeks that’s been the case. The offensive line’s struggles have led to a total of six turnovers in by Bortles over the past two games.

Dallas on the other hand picks up a key victory in a crowded NFC East as the division has no clear favorite to win it through the first six weeks.

Todd Gurley, Rams Hold Off Broncos Late

The Rams got a scare late from the Denver Broncos, but in the end, they remain the same as they entered.

Undefeated.

The Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Denver Broncos 23-20 on Sunday in a bitterly cold day at Sports Authority Field.

Behind a career-high 208 rushing yards from running back Todd Gurley, Los Angeles extended their unbeaten record to 6-0.

It wasn’t a pretty win for Los Angeles as they nearly squandered a 17-point second half lead, but Sean McVay understands the difficulty in playing in Mile-High and that this would never be a easy game.

Denver chipped away at Los Angeles’ lead with Case Keenum going for 322 passing yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT, but it would not be enough.

A late drive in the fourth quarter that ended in a 21-yard field goal by kicker Cairo Santos would give Los Angeles a 10-point cushion with under four minutes to play with Denver without a timeout.

The Los Angeles Rams are 6-0 for the first time since 2001, the last time they reached the Super Bowl.

They will look to make it a perfect 3-0 on a difficult three-game road trip with a win next Sunday vs the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.

Osweiler, Dolphins Shock Bears In OT

For the Miami Dolphins, the next man up was the best man up vs the Chicago Bears.

The Miami Dolphins defeated the Chicago Bears 31-28 in overtime on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium to snap their two-game skid.

Miami Dolphins’ kicker Jason Sanders would nail a 47-yard field goal as time expired in overtime to hand Miami the dramatic victory.

Brock Osweiler (380 passing yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) would guide the Miami Dolphins in place of an injured Ryan Tannehill.

Miami survived a fumble down on the goal line by running back Kenyan Drake on the first possession of overtime to squeak by Chicago as Miami is now 3-0 at home this season.

Playing for his fourth NFL team, Osweiler would lead Miami to a season-high 541 total yards and end the Chicago Bears’ three-game winning streak.

The Dolphins announced right before kickoff that quarterback Ryan Tannehill would be out for Sunday’s game vs the Chicago Bears with a undisclosed injury.

After the game, Adam Gase would not address just exactly what injury Ryan Tannehill sustained that resulted in him not playing today.

While getting 541 yards of offense and 31 points with Brock Osweiler might serve as more of an anomaly than anything else, beating a red-hot team coming off a bye week says a lot about the Miami Dolphins.

Miami used a fourth quarter surge that included two touchdowns by wide receiver Albert Wilson (6 receptions, 155 receiving yards, 2 TDs) to tie the game in regulation.Chicago had numerous opportunities to seal this game.

The Bears would commit three turnovers on offense, with two coming down in the redzone. Head coach Matt Nagy will be second guessed for seemingly taking the ball out of Mitchell Trubisky’s hands on Miami’s side of the field.

Keeping the ball on the ground would lead to Chicago settling for a 53-yard field goal attempt by Cody Parkey, who missed wide right following the two-minute warning of overtime.

The Bears may have been caught looking ahead to New England as their defensive performance on Sunday was uncharacteristic and surprising, but Miami deservingly won this game in the end.

What are your thoughts on Sunday’s NFL Week 6 games? Leave your comments below!

[SPORTS] RED SOX BOUNCE BACK WITH GAME 2 WIN, TIE SERIES

[SPORTS] RED SOX BOUNCE BACK WITH GAME 2 WIN, TIE SERIES

Betts, Bradley Jr. Key Red Sox Game 2 Win

Boston remained a team confident and sure heading into Game 2 following a disappointing loss to open the series.

Making up for their failed opportunities in Game 1, Boston won their most important game of the 2018 season.

The Boston Red Sox defeated the Houston Astros 7-5 on Sunday night at Fenway Park in Game 2 of the ALCS to tie the series at 1-1.

The Red Sox offense had a breakthrough against the Astros arms, tallying seven runs on nine hits.

Mookie Betts would lead the way for Boston with two hits, driving in one run while scoring two.

Boston, in a spot where they could ill afford to fall behind 0-2 in the series, jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead vs Gerrit Cole and the Astros.

The Red Sox would get five men on base in the inning with Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers driving in runs with RBI singles.

Just as was the case in Game 1 vs the Boston Red Sox, George Springer would deliver with two outs in the second inning.

The center fielder would tie the game at 2-2 with a two- run double off David Price to silence the Fenway Park faithful.

Like cardiac cats, the Astros would strike again vs Boston in the third inning as Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run home run to give Houston a 4-2 lead.

In need of a response, Jackie Bradley would deliver one in the third inning as he hit a two-out bases clearing double to put Boston back ahead 5-4 in a wild start to Game 2.

David Price would exit the game after four and two-thirds innings after a walk to Tyler White. Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes would keep Boston in front after striking out Marwin Gonzalez to end the fifth inning.

Gerrit Cole would make it through six innings as he failed to continue his strong postseason in a rough outing at Fenway Park.

Boston would add a run in the seventh inning as Mookie Betts would score from third base on a passed ball by Astros’ reliever Lance McCullers Jr. to make it a 6-4 game.

Mookie Betts would give Boston a 7-4 lead on a two-out RBI double in the eighth inning. After Rick Porcello pitched a scoreless inning in the eighth, Red Sox’ closer Craig Kimbrel would enter in the ninth.

Kimbrel would record the save as he got third baseman Alex Bregman to fly out to end the game after surrendering a two-out RBI single to Jose Altuve.

After a quiet offensive night in Game 1 where they failed to get a hit with runners in scoring position, Boston would show up clutch in a game they had to win.

Boston would go 4-for-10 with RISP with Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr.’s two-out RBI hits huge for them.

Alex Cora’s team will have their work cut out for them heading to Houston for three games as they look to take back home-field in the series.

The Houston Astros failed to make much happen offensively after the third inning as they were limited to only one run from the fourth inning while going 1-for-6 with RISP.

Houston accomplished the goal of winning a game in Boston to take home-field advantage from the Red Sox going to Minute Maid Park.

A.J. Hinch will hope for a bounce back for his club in Game 3 when they send Dallas Keuchel to the mound looking to take a 2-1 series lead.

What are your thoughts on the Boston Red Sox Game 2 win? Leave your comments below!