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  • AFC East 2025 Predictions

    AFC East 2025 Predictions

    1. Bills 11-6*
    2. Patriots 10-7
    3. Jets 8-9
    4. Dolphins 4-13

    Division Overview:

    • I like the building blocks in this division. I could see this being the deepest division in football in 2027, but as far as 2025 is concerned, I love the Bills, really like the Patriots and like the Jets. Miami, on the other hand, looks to be headed in the opposite direction.

    Bills

    • Losses: @ Jets, @ Falcons, @ Panthers, Chiefs, @ Texans, @ Patriots
    • I see this being the Bills best *postseason for the Bills. Admittedly, this is less analysis and more of a hunch/vibe-check, but I see a Chiefs-esque semi-sleepwalk through the regular season, with a turn up come the playoffs. My biggest concern for them is Sean McDermott. If this season doesn’t go how I think it’s going to go, Bills leadership should see a change.

    Patriots

    • Losses: Raiders, @ Dolphins, @ Bills, @ Bengals, Giants, @ Ravens, @ Jets
    • Man, I could see the Patriots being scary if they make the playoffs. When I picked every game of the NFL season I was disappointed at their tie-breaker losses because I could see them winning a playoff game. Mike Vrabel raises the floor of this team, so that this team should not fall on its face, coupled with an offense coached by Josh McDaniels, who, while is in the running for worst head coach of all time, might be on the Mt Rushmore of offensive coordinators in NFL history. I loved the draft and free agency from New England and only see improvement moving forward.

    Jets

    • Losses: @ Buccaneers, @ Dolphins, Cowboys, Browns, @ Patriots, @ Ravens, Falcons, @ Jaguars, @ Bills
    • Nobody is going to want to play the Jets. On the short list of best defenses in the league, with an offensive line that should be pretty damn good along with one of the toughest coaches in the league, the Jets will punch teams in the mouth. That being said, this team will go as far as Justin Fields takes them, if we see Fields make leaps forward, New York could challenge for the playoffs.

    Dolphins

    • Wins: Patriots, Jets, @ Browns, Bengals
    • I like Mike McDaniel, I like Jaylen Waddle, I like the running back room, I like Minkah Fitzpatrick, I like the idea of what their offense could be – there I said something nice. But the vibes of Miami are not very good, Tyreek should’ve been gone already, the offensive line is meh, Tua’s health is unreliable and their insurance policy this offseason was Zach Wilson. I just see this as the season that the wheels come off and we see changes across the board in the offseason.

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  • AFC South 2025 Predictions

    AFC South 2025 Predictions

    1. Texans 13-4*
    2. Titans 8-9
    3. Jaguars 6-11
    4. Colts 2-15

    Division Overview:

    • I see this division as the Texans, and a whole lot of unknowns. I’m a believer in Cam Ward, and I feel like the Jaguars have a lot of pieces to work with, but have become untrustworthy. The Colts might have squandered a good team and a good coach by butchering their quarterback position.

    Texans

    • Losses: Buccaneers, Broncos, @ Chiefs, Raiders
    • I love the Texans this season. It all starts with their defense, which I think will be the best in the league this season and will be scary. Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter coming off the edge with a top 2 corner outside with Derek Stingley Jr has the building blocks for a dangerous unit. CJ Stroud and Nico Collins should light it up this season and the changing of Offensive Coordinator should help the blocking scheme up front.

    Titans

    • Wins: @ Broncos, Colts, @ Cardinals, @ Colts, Jaguars, @ Browns, @ 49ers, Saints
    • I don’t know how I feel about Bryan Callahan, but I know I love Cam Ward. What was already a top defense in the league last season should be better complimented by a much better offense. Adding Tyler Lockett gives the offense a better level of maturity, and call me biased, but I think Gunnar Helm will end up being Cam Ward’s best friend. This should at worst be a very competitive fiery team at the end of the day and I would not be surprised to see them with a winning record.

    Jaguars

    • Wins: Seahawks, @ Cardinals, Colts, Jets, @ Colts, Titans
    • This is a team I might be too low on, but I’m just going to need to see it before I believe it. I don’t think Trevor Lawrence loves football enough to be truly great at it, and Liam Coen is a boom or bust candidate at head coach in my opinion. The receiving corps and the defensive front both have nasty potential, but there are too many question marks in Jacksonville for me to bet on.

    Colts

    • Wins: Dolphins, @ Steelers
    • Listen, I don’t necessarily fault the thinking that went behind drafting Anthony Richardson, taking the big swings at QB will get you further in the long run than going conservative. That being said, it’s time to call it. Richardson doesn’t do the little things well enough to stay on the field long enough to flash his ridiculous talent. There is talent around the quarterback, and the defense has dudes, but I could just see the floor falling out from under this team and players being discouraged by what they see from the signal caller(s).

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  • AFC West 2025 Predictions

    AFC West 2025 Predictions

    1. Chiefs 12-5*
    2. Chargers 10-7*
    3. Broncos 10-7*
    4. Raiders 10-7

    Division Overview:

    • What should be the hands down best division in football, I have all four teams winning double digit games. I believe all four teams should be better than last season, all should have better quarterback play this season, and, as I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the best coached division in football should have all four teams fighting for the playoffs late in the season.

    Breakdown

    Chiefs 

    • Losses: Eagles, Lions, Commanders, Broncos, @ Raiders
    • The Chiefs offense should be better this season. Josh Simmons will be an upgrade at left tackle, and a healthy Isiah Pacheco and Hollywood Brown should push the needle in the direction of returning to explosivity for KC in 2025. Couple that with the eventual return of Rashee Rice and I like Kansas City to continue their run of dominance over the AFC West.

    Chargers

    • Losses: Chiefs, @ Raiders, @ Giants, Eagles, @ Chiefs, @ Cowboys, Texans
    • Jim Harbaugh will have this Chargers team in every game this season. While losing Slater at left tackle for the season is a rough loss, I believe the rest of the O-Line will step up in his absence. While Ashton Jeanty gets all the hype coming into the season, Omarion Hampton is not far behind in the talent department. I like them to make the playoffs here.

    Broncos

    • Losses: Titans, @ Chargers, @ Eagles, @ Jets, Chiefs, Packers, Chargers
    • Everybody’s favorite team this offseason. Having what should be one of the best defenses in the league with a nasty pass rush, with what should be a very good “run the air out of the ball, quick game” offense should lead Denver to a playoff berth. I love the draft pick of RJ Harvey, and I anticipate a good season from Bo Nix with a solid receiving core.

    Raiders

    • Losses: Bears, @ Chiefs, @ Broncos, Cowboys, @ Chargers, Broncos, @ Giants
    • I’ve beaten this horse to death. Out with Gardner Minshew and Antonio Pierce and in with Geno Smith and Pete Carroll alone is worth a handful of wins. Ashton Jeanty should be a plug and play pro bowler and Brock Bowers is a stud. Couple what should be a fun offense with some of Pete Carroll’s secret sauce on what, admittedly, is a bad defense and Vegas can definitely win some shoot outs. I have them just missing out on the playoffs this season.

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  • NFL Preseason Predictions Week

    This week I’m going to announce all of my predictions for this upcoming NFL season. I went through and picked all 272 games of the 2025 season and will be sharing my predictions one division at a time. After I post all of my division picks I’ll share my postseason predictions, Super Bowl matchup and award winners. Whether a team has winning or losing record I will post the teams I have them losing/winning against, depending on which list is shorter. Stay tuned and hope y’all enjoy! 

  • NFL Draft Night 1 Takeaways

    NFL Draft Night 1 Takeaways

    1. It’s Line Of Scrimmage League

    16 combined OL/DL, 2 Linebackers, and 2 tight ends taken in the first round showcase that the the NFL is still built in the trenches. When in doubt, unless the skill position player is elite, the tie goes to the big boys up front.

    2. “Positional Value” is Overrated

    2 running backs, 2 tight ends and 4 guards in the top 24 picks shows that sometimes, getting a top 2-3 player at their position is better than getting the 5-6 best player at some of the premium positions.

    3. Shedeur Didn’t Fall… He Was Always a Day 2 Pick

    Shedeur was never seen as a first round pick by the NFL. And honestly other than Mel Kiper and Joel Klatt nobody was overly surprised. Shedeur will stay at the forefront of ESPN in the meantime.

    4. Still A Lot of Talent Left

    Will Johnson, Mike Green and Luther Burden are all still on the board early in the second for teams to scoop up.

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  • The Padres are the Best Team in Baseball

    The Padres are the Best Team in Baseball

    San Diego Padres: 2025 Season Snapshot (as of April 19)

    Team Performance

    Record: 15–5 (.750) Home Record: 12–1 Run Differential: +35 (92 Runs Scored / 57 Runs Allowed) 

    Offensive Leaders

    Team Batting Average: .274 (2nd in MLB) Top Hitters: Luis Arraez: .307 AVG Xander Bogaerts: .257 AVG 

    Pitching Dominance

    Team ERA: 2.65 (Best in MLB) Home ERA: 1.10 Shutouts at Home: 6 (Historic feat matched only by teams in 1876 and 1981) Michael King: Complete game with 8 strikeouts; key contributor to a 34-inning scoreless streak 

    The Padres look dominant this season. Fernando Tatis Jr is 100% back to form and looking to challenge for NL MVP this season and coupled in a lineup with the batting average poster boy in Luis Arraez, future Hall of Famer Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill once he returns from injury the lineup is ELITE. Michael King is on a tear to start the season and the team ERA is 2.65 – leading the MLB. I’m not concerned about the road woes, those things have a way of working themselves out and returning to the mean, and if they can just keep 75% of their home dominance this team could win 100+ games, and that’s even cooling off of their current 110 win pace that they are currently on. Watch out for the Friars in 2025!

  • SEC 2025 Look Ahead

    SEC 2025 Look Ahead

    We’re going to look ahead to this upcoming 2025 college football season and preview each of the power four conferences. For the purposes of today’s article, I’m looking only at conference championship contention, and not national championship/playoff contention. I implemented a tier system for the 16 teams in the conference based upon floor, ceiling and likelihood to win the conference. So let’s dive in.

    Tier 1: Conference Championship Contenders

    South Carolina Gamecocks

    • The Gamecocks have my 2025 Heisman winner and possible top 5 pick, LaNorris Sellers at QB, an absolute freak of nature in Nyck Harbor and top sophomore edge rusher in Dylan Stewart. South Carolina finished last season strong and finished just short of making the playoff. I expect them to take another step forward under Shane Beamer and contend for the SEC Championship and beyond.

    LSU Tigers

    • Of all the teams in this tier, LSU is the one with the biggest variance in potential outcomes. LSU brought in the best portal class in the country, and return a possible first-rounder at QB in Garrett Nussmeier brings a dynamic ceiling to the Tigers – I could see a 2023 Florida State season from this group. However, I will say I could also see a 2024 Florida State-type season from this group, not as cataclysmic as the ‘Noles, but just one where the portal players don’t mesh all the way, and the underwhelming vibes out of Baton Rouge resurface for Brian Kelly’s group.

    Florida Gators

    • How many people would’ve thought Billy Napier would still be in Gainesville right now a few months ago? If DJ Lagway is healthy, this offense should be lethal. Couple Lagway with Baugh at RB, and spring game superstar Dallas Wilson – oh my! Florida’s defense is a work in progress, but if they can be serviceable on that side of the ball, Florida can win double digit games and be in SEC contention.

    Alabama Crimson Tide

    • I think year two under Kalen DeBoer will be better than year 1. While Jalen Milroe was dynamic, he wasn’t a good fit in DeBoer’s offense. Having a signal caller that matches better with the system in Tuscaloosa should bring more efficiency to the offense, making them a better team than in 2024.

    Texas Longhorns

    • The conference runner-up from 2024 loses a lot of production from their playoff run. However, I foresee a drastic upgrade at quarterback as Sark ushers in the Arch Manning era in Austin. Coupled with an offensive line that, while has to replace four starters, it’s not replacing them with young players. I see the guard-center-guard combo being lethal at the point of attack run blocking, which should lead perfectly into the play-action downfield passing game that Sark and Arch want to do. On the defensive side of the ball, the Longhorns boast the best edge room in the country, if the Longhorns get a lead, and Colin Simmons and co. are allowed to pin their ears back, watch out.

    Tier 2: Low Ceiling-High Floor (teams that are guaranteed 7-9 wins, no more, no less)

    Georgia Bulldogs

    • Not going to lie, I mostly have them here based off of their name. Georgia lost a ton of production on both sides of the ball, and Gunner Stockton didn’t show too much in his limited playing time at the end of the season last year. If Kirby can convince his team that they’re there on a football scholarship, and not one for F1 they can be dangerous, but their floor is a lot lower than in past years.

    Texas A&M Aggies

    • The Aggies took about half of the receivers in the portal to make up for the lack of explosivity (not a word, I know – but you still understood it) last year. The defense should be stout under Elko, and the offense is guaranteed to have a floor with a good college QB in Marcel Reed, but he is limited as a passer.

    Kentucky Wildcats

    • This is where the Wildcats, and Texas A&M coaching legend Mark Stoops live. Quarterback Cutter Boley has good tools to build around – coupled with that tough Kentucky defense and Kentucky should continue its trend of being a feisty, tough out, who pulls an upset or two.

    Vanderbilt Commodores

    • Diego Pavia brings a certain toughness and grit to a program that only a 10 year college senior like himself can bring, and one could argue he’s completely changed the personality and short term trajectory of this program. We’ll see if the program can build on a great 2024 campaign.

    Tier 3: Who the Hell Knows?

    Tennessee Volunteers

    • Tennessee is a talented team, that made the playoff last season. Right now, post-Nico their status is up in the air, and I’ll make a further decision on them once there’s more clarity.

    Ole Miss Rebels

    • I expect the offense to be dynamic as always, and I expect the defense to be disruptive. Overall, I expect a typical-Lane Kiffin season filled with very good, but not great.

    Tier 4: Low Floor-Medium Ceiling (Could win 4, could win 8 games)

    Oklahoma Sooners

    • Well, it can’t get worse than last year, can it? The offense has nowhere to go but up, and John Mateer is a definite upgrade over Jackson Arnold, and their offensive line should be improved as well, my biggest concern is over their weapons on offense. Deion Burks is the only pass-catcher of note, and just on an overall vibe check, Brent Venables doesn’t elicit the best. I just see a middling program, on the road towards Nebraska territory.

    Auburn Tigers

    • I would believe a lot more in Auburn if they weren’t going to be quarterbacked by Jackson Arnold. Jameis Jr, who was a turnover machine, that didn’t even make it to the conference opener for the Sooners last season is a prime example of recruiting the ranking over recruiting the player. We’ll see if they can lock in enough to get the ball to Auburn’s playmakers on the outside, but the more I type this, the less I like them.

    Tier 5: Bottomfeeders

    Arkansas Razorbacks

    • In what’s likely Sam Pittman’s last season, Arkansas has the best QB in this tier of teams, but lost a lot of their 2024 squad to the portal.

    Mississippi State Bulldogs

    • I don’t expect Jeff Lebby to make it to the Egg Bowl….

    Missouri Tigers

    • Mizzou has the best coach of this bunch, but lost a lot, and is looking at a rebuild year.

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  • NFL Regular Season Best Bets

    NFL Regular Season Best Bets

    I’m not somebody who generally gambles, but I know a great opportunity when I see one. Here are my 5 favorite bets for this upcoming regular season:

    1. Las Vegas Raiders OVER 6.5 wins (+120 via DraftKings)

    If you watched the first episode of the Mikes Hard Takes Podcast this should come as no surprise to you. The Raiders won 4 games last season with the worst head coach and quarterback situation in the league – enter Pete Carroll and Geno Smith. A last place schedule, playing the AFC South, and having the 6th overall pick to utilize on a playmaker is a recipe for playoff contention.

    2. Miami Dolphins UNDER 8.5 wins (-135 via DraftKings)

    Some of the worst vibes in the league currently. Having the 16th at best QB in the league in Tua, along with a suspect offensive line, middling defense, and receiving core up in the air with Tyreek Hill being uncertain with his desire to be a Dolphin. I’m a huge fan of Mike McDaniel, but everybody else in the division is getting better and Miami just seems to be declining each season. I could easily see them finishing 4th in the AFC East.

    3. Tennessee Titans OVER 5.5 wins (-150 via DraftKings)

    Tennessee is a sneaky playoff contender. They have a last place schedule where they play the Patriots, Browns and Saints, on top of being in a suspect division with the AFC South. If Cam Ward can be a serviceable starter, that is a massive upgrade from Will Levis creating new ways to turn the ball over every week. The defense should be stout, and this is a draft that, while is low in star talent, is loaded in starter talent – so the Titans should be able to add some playmakers around their likely-to-be rookie quarterback.

    4. Los Angeles Rams OVER 9.5 wins (+110 via DraftKings)

    Pardon my homerism here, but this over/under was laughable to me. The Rams dynamic defense is a year older, they upgraded at receiver in dropping Cooper Kupp for Davante Adams, and their division is filled with uncertainty. On top of everything, they get to play the AFC & NFC South divisions. I see 12+ wins here for the Rams.

    5. New York Jets OVER 5.5 (+120 DraftKings)

    While I don’t see a great season in the Jets future, I do see a functional team with a decent floor. Aaron Glenn and Justin Fields bring a level of hard nosed, professional football with them that should have the team ready to play every week. On top of that, the division is 75% up in the air, with the Bills being the only team guaranteed to be good. A solid 7-9 win season should be extremely obtainable for New York.

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  • NFL Mock Draft 1.0

    NFL Mock Draft 1.0

    As somebody loves the draft, doesn’t overthink things too much, and takes more of a “what they should do” over a “what they will do” approach with teams’ picks.

    🚨Before we start🚨

    1. I don’t see any elite receivers in this draft, a lot of future starters but I’m unsure if there’s any #1’s
    2. A lot of the top players in this draft are at non-premium positions and I put an emphasis on getting elite talent over positional value.
    3. One of my core principles with my imaginary NFL executive career and team is not drafting a QB in the first round that doesn’t have a ridiculous ceiling.

    The Mikes Hard Takes NFL DRAFT Big Board:

    1. Cam Ward
    2. Abdul Carter
    3. Travis Hunter
    4. Ashton Jeanty
    5. Tyler Warren
    6. Coleston Loveland
    7. Jahdae Barron
    8. Armand Membou
    9. Shemar Stewart
    10. Mason Graham
    11. Omarion Hampton
    12. Will Johnson
    13. Kelvin Banks Jr
    14. Will Campbell
    15. Mike Green

    MOCK DRAFT

    1. Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami
    2. Browns – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn St
    3. Giants – Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
    4. Patriots – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn St

    The Patriots have a myriad of holes on their team, but if I see a chance to grab somebody who when I squint looks like Rob Gronkowski for my young QB, I jump at it. Warren has the potential to be the best offensive player in this draft.

    5. Jaguars – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

    6. Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise St

    7. Jets – Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

    8. Panthers – Coleston Loveland, TE, Michigan

    Young QB + Athletic do-it-all TE is a recipe that works more often than not. While the Panthers need defensive help, if they can build their offense up they could stand a chance in a division full of bad defenses.

    9. Saints – Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M

    10. Bears – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

    11. 49ers – Kelvin Banks Jr, OT, Texas

    Trent Williams can’t play forever, the 49ers can stick Banks at right tackle until the Hall of Famer retires and then make the transition to the left side.

    12. Cowboys – Will Campbell, OG, LSU

    With Zack Martin retiring there is a chasm on the Dallas offensive line, luckily Campbell is the best guard in this draft by a mile and the Cowboys can shore up the interior of their OL with a Tyler Smith-Cooper Beebe-Will Campbell guard, center, guard combo that could be lethal.

    13. Dolphins – Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

    14. Colts – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

    15. Falcons – Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia

    16. Cardinals – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

    It might be malpractice here not to draft somebody for the defensive front, but the Arizona offense is in desperate need of an infusion of speed, and Matthew Golden will bring that with his addition.

    17. Bengals – Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

    18. Seahawks – Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

    19. Buccaneers – Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, BC

    20. Broncos – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

    21. Steelers – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

    The Steelers need a quarterback in the worst way, however I’m sorry, but I don’t believe Jaxon Dart or Sheduer Sanders are worth a first round pick.

    22. Chargers – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

    Jim Harbaugh and co. get Herbert and McConkey some much needed help. If Hampton falls here I could see that being the pick as well.

    23. Packers – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

    With the writing on the wall with Jaire Alexander, the Packers are going to be in the need of secondary help, and Will Johnson has elite, top corner potential.

    24. Vikings – Malachi Starks, S, Georgia

    25. Texans – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio St

    26. Rams – Jahdae Barron, CB/S, Texas

    As a Rams fan, this is my dream scenario. This secondary needs help, and Jahdae Barron more likely than not is not an outside corner, however I see a Cooper DeJean type player here who can be all over the field making plays.

    27. Ravens – Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida St

    28. Lions – James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee

    29. Commanders – Gray Zabel, OL, NDSU

    30. Bills – Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

    31. Chiefs – Josh Conerly, OT, Oregon

    I see the Chiefs as a trade up candidate in a draft filled with teams wanting to trade back, but for the purposes of the mock draft I didn’t do trades. In this scenario I see the Chiefs scooping up Conerly who flashed at Oregon and has plenty of room to grow.

    32. Eagles – Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

    One of my more controversial picks here, but after losing some key depth pieces from their Super Bowl team, the Eagles get a specimen of a DT (6’6”, 330lbs) in Alfred Collins who is disruptive and can continue the pipeline of developmental talents amongst the defensive front in Philadelphia.

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  • Look Ahead to NBA Playoffs, pt 2

    Look Ahead to NBA Playoffs, pt 2

    We talked about the junior varsity conference yesterday, but today we’re talking about the absolutely stacked Western Conference. You could talk me into any of the top 7 teams in the conference making a run to the NBA Finals if things broke right. With that being said, let’s dive in.

    The Play In

    #7 Warriors vs. #8 Grizzlies

    • I’ll keep it short, Memphis doesn’t beat good teams. Warriors win big.

    #9 Kings vs. #10 Mavericks

    • Lavine, Derozen and Sabonis is a sneaky good trio and the Mavs are just filled with bad vibes. Give me the Kings.

    #8 Grizzlies vs. #9 Kings

    • Grizzlies salvage their season and earn the right to warm the Thunder up for their second round series. Grizz win big.

    First Round

    #1 Thunder vs. #8 Grizzlies

    • Get your brooms ready….

    #2 Rockets vs. #7 Warriors

    • Man, this series will be undoubtedly entertaining. Ime Udoka’s squad is feisty and athletic. The key for Houston is going to come down to Jalen Green and Sengun and if they can get a bucket when they need one at the end of the game. Amen Thompson is the Rocket I trust the most, but when this team is in its first playoff series playing against the likes of Stephen Curry and Playoff Jimmy Butler and the wealth of experience they bring could prove to be too much. I think it goes 7, and the Warriors pull it off.

    #3 Lakers vs. #6 Timberwolves

    • The T-Wolves are hot, and Anthony Edwards might one day be the best player in the world, however a team comprised of Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle playing key roles is doomed to a first round exit. I see a gentleman’s sweep filled with close games that the Lakers close out in the 4th quarter.

    #4 Nuggets vs. #5 Clippers

    • I’m just going to be real, I don’t like either of these teams and want both to lose, that being said, I see a tough 7 game series. Nikola Jokic is poised to have a monster series, but the Clippers are just so deep. Couple that with “Playoff Russ” playing the Nuggets and the absence of a healthy Jamal Murray could be too much when playing one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Give me the Clippers to win a game 7.

    Second Round

    #1 Thunder vs. #5 Clippers

    • This is a great series. If I could trust James Harden in the playoffs I think I would pick the Clippers here. Even so, Zubac vs. Chet should be a matchup where the Clippers should feast, and if Kawhi remains healthy he could be dynamic as well. But the Thunder didn’t win 68 games by accident, I like them to be able to close out 4th quarters of close games. Give me the Thunder in a TOUGH 7 game series.

    #3 Lakers vs. #7 Warriors

    • A lot of pundits are going to be contrarians and pick the Warriors here. I’m going to be real, I don’t think it will be a close series. The Lakers have 3 of the 4 best players in the series and their length will be a struggle for a banged up Warriors squad. I see a 6 game series, but one where all of the Lakers wins are comfortable. Lakers win.

    Conference Finals

    #1 Thunder vs. #3 Lakers

    • OKC, UFC, KFC – Lakers in 5. Jokes aside, Luka is the Thunder’s kryptonite. While the Thunder boast the likely MVP, and are arguably the deepest team in the league, the Lakers have the best player in the series in Luka, plus LeBron and Austin Reaves who will be the 3rd and 4th best players in the series (maybe J-Dub proves me wrong). This might be bold, and I have the potential of getting laughed off the internet, but I like the Lakers in 5 games here.

    Stay tuned for my NBA Finals prediction!