2nd Loss Same as the 1st

Well my last post pretty much said it all, and nothing changed in the game against Vanderbilt.  Roy Williams insists on going with players that clearly aren't as good as their "backups," and as long as Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall continue to sit on the bench for more than half the game this team is going to be bad.  I just don't understand how a coach who has to be watching film of this team and analyzing it deeply every day can't see something that seems so obvious to me, but hopefully he will get it figured out soon.  I don't know if there will ever be any proof more obvious than the past two games, so at the very least one of his assistants should say something one of these days.  Until then, it's going to be frustrating to watch, and I may be turning the game off.  At least we shouldn't be able to play bad enough to lose to Asheville tomorrow night.

Roy Williams Overrated?...Advice for a Confused Coach

Ever since last year I've thought that Roy Williams wasn't quite as good of a coach as everyone gives him credit for, and after his suspect personnel decisions cost us yet another victory last night, I've never been less confident in him.  Don't get me wrong, after having been a student at UNC during the Matt Dougherty years, I'm as grateful that Roy decided to come back as anyone.  Roy Williams is a super-competitive guy who brings in great recruits and gets his players to play hard, but his in-game decisions leave a lot to be desired.  I think Ol' Roy lets emotion play too big a role in his basketball decisions, as it appears that he becomes attached to some players and has trouble realizing when they should be replaced.  It seems so obvious to me that Kendall Marshall and Reggie Bullock are definitely two of our best five players, and it's not a difficult choice to see who to take out (Larry Drew II for sure, and Dexter Strickland would be good in a supporting role off the bench).

When Reggie Bullock only played 13 minutes against Hofstra, I was very worried about what would happen if he played those same minutes against Minnesota.  My worst fears came true, as he only played 19 against the Gophers, many of them after it was already too late.  Along with Harrison Barnes (who had a horrible 0-12 performance to balance out his incredible outing against Hofstra), Reggie Bullock is one of the teams best scorers and has to play closer to 30 minutes a game.  He's just one of those guys that makes everyone better, and he can create his own shot to get a bucket when the team is struggling.  Kendall Marshall is much more under control than Larry Drew II, and last night he showed us a glimpse of the scoring and shooting contributions he could make as well.  Drew II clearly hasn't improved much from last year, as he's still making the same freshman mistakes a year later.  He's shooting terribly, and in general just not playing well enough in any aspect of the game to warrant major minutes. 

Tyler Zeller, John Henson, and Justin Knox all played solid games inside, and they really offset the production of Ralph Sampson III, Trevor Mbakwe, and Colton Iverson for the Gophers.  Coming into the game this is what I thought they needed to do for the Heels to get the win, and I think it would have been enough had Marshall and Bullock played more.  This young Tar Heel team just can't afford to have two of it's best five players sitting on the bench for over half the game and expect to beat good teams.  The UNC big men showed they can compete with one of the better frontcourts around, which is a great sign going forward for the Heels.  Now if someone can just talk Roy Williams into playing the guys that will give UNC one of the better backcourts in the country, this should be a very successful year.  If he continues with this lineup much further, the Tar Heels are going to lose several more games that they would have won otherwise, starting with Vanderbilt on Sunday.  Reggie Bullock is going to be a good NBA player, and keeping him on the bench at this point is a huge mistake.













UNC is now 2-1 and faces a Vanderbilt team with the same record.  The Commodores lost a close one to a very talented West Virginia team yesterday, and will be hungry to bounce back and avoid losing two in a row.  Guard John Jenkins had a bad shooting day against the Mountaineers but scored 27 points, while backcourt mate Brad Tinsley has a triple-double to his credit this season and is another player to watch out for.  Sophomore forward Jeffrey Taylor has been Vandy's best player inside this season, but UNC should still have a sizable advantage up front in this one.  The Heels should be able to control the boards and pound it inside, and if the other two freshman get some more time it should be a win for UNC.  If Roy decides to roll with the same unsuccessful backcourt, the Tar Heels could return home from Puerto Rico with a .500 record.

2-0: UNC Game 2, Hofstra

Hofstra came into the game at 1-0, but it was clear from the start they were outmatched against a much bigger UNC team.  Hofstra guard Charles Jenkins was great and will almost certainly play at the next level, but he didn't get much help as this one was over after the first few minutes.  It was an incredibly good shooting day for the Heels, especially in the first half, as they shot 56% from the field for the game and 70% from 3-point range.  While I was very encouraged to see everyone shooting so well from the outside, I certainly don't expect that kind of performance regularly.

The much-heralded Freshman Harrison Barnes came out on fire with 19 first half points, and seemingly took the 2nd half off with the game clearly in hand.  John Henson had another double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Tyler Zeller also pitched in 11 points and 8 rebounds down low.

Leslie McDonald and Justin Watts had monster games off the bench.  McDonald scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers that touched nothing but net.  While I don't expect the team to shoot 70% from three all season, McDonald is proving that he has drastically improved his long range shooting and may be able to knock down open shots all year long.  Justin Watts scored 13 points on 6-6 shooting, and was flying around the court during his 15 minutes of game action.  I believe Watts' performance was more a result of the lack of size for Hofstra than anything else, but he does play hard and is very athletic.  He definitely got better in the offseason, but he still seems a little out of control to me despite the great game and I'm not sure he can play this way consistently against higher level competition.

Justin Knox was very effective in the low post once again with 8 points and 8 rebounds, and he's looking like a great last-second find for Roy Williams and the Tar Heels.  Kendall Marshall showed great leadership and tremendous passing skills for the 2nd straight game in a 9-assist performance, but his unwillingness to even consider a look at the basket for a shot concerns me just a little bit.  He doesn't need to be a big time scorer, but when he has an open look from 7 feet I would like to see him knock that down.

Dexter Strickland had one of his best games as a Tar Heel, with 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting and 4 assists.  This was a great performance for Dex, but I still think Reggie Bullock is a better player, and it concerns me that Reggie only played 13 minutes in the game.  Given UNC was up by a large margin from the beginning, but Bullock scored 6 points right away, and I really believe he's one of the top 2 or 3 players on this team.  Roy Williams has made critical mistakes with the lineup in the past, and I just hope he isn't doing it again with Reggie Bullock.  We're going to need him against higher level teams, and I'm not sure Roy understands just how good this kid is yet.  Hopefully it won't take him all season to give him some minutes like he did with John Henson last year.

Game 3 is tonight against Minnesota, who played very well in a 95-77 victory against Western Kentucky.  All 5 starters for the Gophers scored in double figures, led by 6'11" center Ralph Sampson III (yeah that Ralph Sampson), who had 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 blocks.  This team coached by Tubby Smith should provide a much stiffer test for the Heels, and we will get a chance to see how the UNC front line does against people its own size.  Junior Trevor Mbakwe has been a double-double machine inside as well for Minnesota, so the big guys for the Heels will definitely have their hands full in this one.

NBA Power Rankings

The NBA season is only 3 weeks in, but the top teams are already beginning to separate themselves.  The East appears to be a little more set, as it looks like the top 6 are near locks to make the playoffs, with only 3 or 4 teams fighting for the other 2 spots.  The West is much more complicated.  It seems clear that the Lakers are the team to beat, but the surprising New Orleans Hornets are still undefeated as well, with a host of other teams lurking right behind them.  There are 11 teams in the West with a shot at the playoffs, and I would include the Houston Rockets and say 12 but it looks like injuries have already started to decimate this team. All the spots behind the Lakers are up for grabs, and health could play the biggest role in who finishes where in the West.

East

1. Boston Celtics 9-2
This team is just tougher than the other top teams in the East, and they proved it by beating the Heat twice already this season.

2. Miami Heat 7-4
I still think the Heat will be the team to beat in the East by the end of the season, but they are clearly behind the Celtics at this point.  Miami is in desperate need of an inside presence.  Bosh is not strong enough to bang down low, and Ilgauskas is too slow to keep up with the tempo of their offense.  The Heat might want to try giving Dexter Pittman or Jamaal Magloire some more minutes, or look elsewhere for a serviceable center.

3. Orlando Magic 7-3
The Magic got off to a 5-1 start, then dropped two in a row at home (one of them to the Raptors).  They have since righted the ship with two straight victories, and they are getting everyone involved with 12 guys averaging 12 minutes are more on the season.  They will be one of the best teams in the East, and they're a lock to make the playoffs.



4. Chicago Bulls 6-3
The Bulls are already a pretty good team, and they will be much stronger once Carlos Boozer gets back.  Derrick Rose is a lock for the All-star game, and Joakim Noah is making a strong case as well.

5. Atlanta Hawks 8-4
The Hawks cooled off after a 6-0 start, losing 4 straight before winning their last two.  The 4 losses were all to good teams, so there's really no reason to panic.  Atlanta is still a solid playoff team, and should have no problem being one of the top 8 teams in the East.

6. Milwaukee Bucks 5-6
The Bucks got off to a horrible start, but it seems they now have their act together.  Ersan Ilyasova needs to play more because when he does, Milwaukee wins.  As long as this team stays healthy, we should see them in the playoffs.


7. Indiana Pacers 4-5
Roy Hibbert has been really good at the center position this year, and the rest of the team has plenty of talent to be one of the top 8 teams in the East.  They beat Denver by 31 points, and that's enough to make me a believer.



8. Charlotte Bobcats 4-7
The Bobcats haven't beaten anyone good, but they have played everyone close and won on the road against several of the teams below them in the East.  This team isn't great, but they might be good enough to sneak in the playoffs.  For that to happen, they have to get better at closing out games.  Their lack of a superstar player is very evident late in the game, and they can't continue to blow 4th quarter leads and expect to be in the top 8.


9. New Jersey Nets 4-7
After winning their first two games, the Nets dropped five straight before winning two of their last three (with the loss by one to the Magic).  The production of Brook Lopez dropped off tremendously during the losing streak, but he has picked it back up in the last two games.  New Jersey will need him to do a better job on the glass if they hope to make the playoffs.

10. Detroit Pistons 4-8
The Pistons have had a brutal early season schedule, and it shows in their record.  They did beat Golden State and get a few nice wins on the road on the West coast, but their schedule doesn't do them any favors for quite a while.  If Detroit can avoid losing confidence early in the season, they will have a chance to go on a nice run later on and make a solid bid for a playoff spot.

11. New York Knicks 3-8
The vagaries of the New York Knicks continue.  They seemed to have things figured out after a big win in Chicago and a beatdown of the Wizards, but they followed those two victories with 6 straight losses, with 4 of the 6 to teams with losing records.  Toney Douglas started the season out on fire, but his production has fallen off dramatically during the current losing streak.  Wilson Chandler have been a pleasant surprise all season long, but the Knicks have to start playing defense if they want to win consistently.  Coach Mike D'Antoni has never been one to preach defense, so it might be up to Raymond Felton to show the way.  Felton and Stoudamire need to watch videotape of Steve Nash and get the pick and roll figured out as well, because right now Amare is not being used effectively.  Stoudamire was the best in the league at the pick and roll with Nash in Phoenix, so there is no reason they shouldn't be able to run it successfully in New York.

12. Toronto Raptors 3-9
This team has been much more competitive than the names on their roster would suggest.  The Raptors got a shocking win in Orlando on Friday night, and with two spots up for grabs in the East, maybe they have an outside shot at the playoffs.  Andrea Bargnani has been great, and with solid contributions from DeRozan and Weems, this team has been much better than expected despite their record.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers 5-5
The Cavs have been better than everyone thought, but making the playoffs still seems like a tall task.  They've been getting nice contributions from Daniel Gibson, J.J. Hickson, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, Ramon Sessions, and Anderson Varejao, but they still may need more if they hope to sneak in one of the last 2 spots in the East.  Their solid 5-5 record is due much more to an easy schedule than good play.

14. Washington Wizards 3-7

John Wall is great.  He has been every bit as good as advertised and then some, and right now has to be the leader for rookie of the year honors.  His team might be a little too young to contend for a playoff spot, but there is no doubt this team is loaded with talent.  If they can all get on the same page soon and take better shots, they might have a chance.


15. Philadelphia 76ers 2-10
The 76ers had a terrible start to the season, but they have shown signs of improvement despite not getting the wins.  Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, Jrue Holiday, and Evan Turner have all shown flashes of brilliance, but they will have to find some consistency for this team to be successful.




West


1. Los Angeles Lakers 10-2
The Lakers are on cruise control, and look poised to enter the playoffs as the team to beat yet again.

2. New Orleans Hornets 9-1
This might be the surprise team of the season so far.  They finally lost their first game of the season on Monday after an 8-0 start, but they avenged the loss to the Mavericks tonight in New Orleans.  Chris Paul has to be high on the list for MVP of the league.


3. Utah Jazz 8-4
After an ugly 0-2 start to the season, the Jazz started reeling off wins (including consecutive road victories at Miami, Orlando, and Atlanta) and look more like the team I expected coming into the season.  Deron Williams is on the short list of MVP candidates at this point in the season, and Paul Milsap has played at an all-star level as well.  

4. Dallas Mavericks 7-3
No one is really talking about Dallas, but Dirk Nowitzki is once again leading this team to one of the best records in the West.  Jason Kidd is still playing great despite his age.  All the weapons he has at his disposal in Dallas make it much easier for him to continue putting up staggering assist numbers, even at 37 years old.

5. Denver Nuggets 6-5
Denver is one of only two teams to beat the Lakers this season, and they have as much talent as anyone in the league.  As long as Carmelo Anthony plays for the Nuggets, this team will be a contender.


6. San Antonio Spurs 8-1
The Spurs have quietly (as always) started the season 8-1, but they have had one of the West's easiest schedules.  Despite that, the Spurs are one of the best run franchises in the NBA, and they find a way to get it done year after year.  I don't expect 2010-2011 to be any different.


7. Oklahoma City Thunder 7-4
I expected the Thunder to make a jump up the standings in the West this season, but it appears they might not be in the upper half of the playoff picture just yet.  Kevin Durant is once again leading the league in scoring, and Oklahoma City is getting great contributions from Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka.  With the West being so close, there is still a chance this team could get homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.


8. Portland Trail Blazers 7-5
Portland is an extremely talented team, but they can't ever seem to escape the injuries that do major damage to their playoff seeding.  Greg Oden has already been ruled out for the season, and Brandon Roy is once again having trouble with his knees.  The Trail Blazers are getting good contributions from a lot of different players this season, but they made need a few guys to step up even further if they want to make any noise in the Western Conference playoffs.


9. Phoenix Suns 6-5
The Suns have been surprising this season.  I thought they might have a pretty steep dropoff after losing Amare Stoudemire in the offseason, but Hakim Warrick has filled in admirably in the high-flying-dive-to-the- basket-off-the-pick-and-roll-from-Steve Nash-role, and Jason Richardson and Nash have both increased their scoring from last season.


10. Memphis Grizzlies 4-8
The Grizzlies have endured a brutal schedule to start the season.  Rudy Gay has played great in trying to live up to his huge contract, but Memphis still isn't beating the top teams it needs to if it wants to make the playoffs.  There's still plenty of time to turn it around, but with all the talent in the West, they can't afford to fall too far behind.


11. Golden State Warriors 7-4
The Warriors are off to a great start, but part of that is due to a very favorable early season schedule.  Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry are playing at a very high level in the backcourt, but Golden State can't afford to be without David Lee for too many games.  He has already missed several games due to surgery on his elbow after Wilson Chandler's teeth gave him an infection, and the Warriors will need him back soon to avoid tumbling down the West standings.


12. Houston Rockets 3-8
The Rockets would be in the playoffs in the East, but their very difficult early season schedule has them in a big hole in the West.  The Rockets have lost a lot of close games, and they will have to start winning most of those if they want to make a run at the top 8.  Luis Scola should be an all-star if he keeps up his current level, as he is averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds on the season.


13. Minnesota Timberwolves 4-9

Minnesota has been very competitive of late, and they've even won three of their last five games.  Michael Beasley has turned up the scoring in that stretch, and he's now averaging 21 on the season.  Kevin Love is leading the league in rebounding with over 14 a game, and he's coming off a legendary 31-point, 31-rebound performance last Friday against the Knicks.  If the T'Wolves can find some consistent production at the point (ironic since they seemingly drafted a point guard with their last 10 draft picks), they might be able win some games this year.  Luke Ridnour was doing a serviceable job before he was injured, and they will need him to stay healthy if they want to stay competitive.  Sebastian Telfair is just too inconsistent to be the answer for this team.


14. Los Angeles Clippers 1-11
The Clippers have started the season 1-11, but they too have had an extremely difficult early season schedule.  Injuries have once again hurt the "other team from L.A., " as veterans Baron Davis and Chris Kaman have both missed several games.  The Clippers have no chance at the playoff this year, but they have a good nucleus of players that should be ready to compete for a playoff spot in the next few years.



15. Sacramento Kings 3-6
Just as I suspected, the Kings fast start was just a facade.  They had a very easy schedule to start the season, but they've lost lost 5 straight and haven't really been close to winning any of them.  Tyreke Evans is a great player, but Sacramento is inconsistent and I expect the losses to pile up all year.

UNC Season Opener

UNC opened its 2010-2011 season with an 80-66 victory over Lipscomb.  The Heels struggled with Lipscomb for most of the game, before finally putting them away late in the 2nd half.  A few things jumped out at me from this game...

1. All 3 freshman have to start
Reggie Bullock and Harrison Barnes are probably the best two players on this team already.  Reggie Bullock's game reminds me of Rashad McCants plus a few extra inches and much less drama.  At 6'7" he will be a matchup nightmare for everyone at the 2 guard position, and he played a near flawless game in his 15 minutes on the court.  If he's not in the starting lineup from now on it's inexcusable.  Dexter Strickland playing over him is a total joke.  Harrison Barnes looked like he was rushing it a little bit in his first collegiate game, but he showed the flashes of brilliance that made him a preseason All-American selection (not sure he's quite at that level yet).  Kendall Marshall had a rough start with 2 turnovers almost immediately, but from that point on he played much better than Larry Drew II.  He just seemed much more under control and his passes were much easier to handle.

2.  John Henson has the longest arms on the planet
Henson was great, as he finished the game with 10 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 blocks.  He seemed to snatch down every rebound in the game, and he blocked or altered most shots inside the lane, forcing Lipscomb to jack up shots from the outside all game long.  He could very well lead the ACC in rebounding this season.

3. Tyler Zeller has to get stronger with the ball
Sure Zeller had 15 points and 7 rebounds, but I'm not sure he caught the ball cleanly once the whole game.  He seemed to bobble the ball constantly, but luckily for him he had a huge height advantage and drew a bunch of fouls.  He needs to get much stronger to be able to handle post players in the ACC.

The Rest
Leslie McDonald and Justin Knox both gave nice contributions off the bench.  Knox was a huge pickup for the Heels at the last second, because without him they are very thin up front.  I was very happy with his play, and I believe he will be a serviceable sub for the other towers inside.  Justin Watts probably shouldn't see much action this year, and Larry Drew II and Dexter Strickland should see their minutes greatly reduced in favor of Marshall and Bullock.  The sooner Roy makes these changes, the faster UNC can work on catching up to Duke.

Midseason NFL Playoff Projections

The power rankings are getting a little repetitive, so it's time for something new.  We've reached the halfway point of the season, and by now we know who the playoff contenders and the bottom feeders are, and in the NFC West a few teams could be classified as both. The NFC is pretty much set in my opinion, with only the order of finish left to be determined.  The only spot that really looks up for grabs is the one designated for the NFC West Champion, with all 4 teams still in contention.  The AFC is much more complicated, with as many as 11 teams still with a shot at the playoffs.

NFC

1. New York Giants 6-2
The Giants have been by far the best and most consistent team in the NFC.  With Eli Manning at the helm, Hakeem Nicks having a Pro Bowl season at receiver, Ahmad Bradshaw running well out of the backfield, and the defense drilling quarterbacks at a high rate, this team has all the pieces to make another run at a Super Bowl.

2. Green Bay Packers 6-3
Despite their slow start and plethora of injuries, the Packers have taken back control of the NFC North and look poised to cruise into the playoffs.  Aaron Rodgers is still underrated somehow, as he isn't given credit for being in the same class with Manning, Brady, Brees and the other best QB's in the league even though he clearly has to be in the conversation. I picked Green Bay to make the Super Bowl before the season started, and it once again looks very possible after a rough start to the season.

3. New Orleans Saints 6-3
Despite playing without their top 2 running backs for most of the season, the Saints are quietly right there in the race for the NFC South.  They have one of the best QB's in the NFL in Drew Brees, and the defense has really picked it up the last few weeks.  I look for them to overtake the Falcons in the second to last game of the season.

4. Arizona Cardinals 3-5
I picked the Cardinals to win the NFC West for 2 reasons.  One, they have the easiest schedule, and two, they've been to the playoffs recently.  Basically no one on the other 3 teams knows anything about the playoffs, so I'm going with Arizona to get back there and bow out in the first round.  They have plenty of weapons at receiver, and the defense has been extremely opportunistic.  That said, it wouldn't surprise me to see any of the other teams in their division in this spot.


5. Atlanta Falcons 7-2
The Falcons have been squeaking out victories all year, and I think it will catch up to them late in the season and in the playoffs.  Roddy White has been spectacular, and Michael Turner keeps the defense honest by providing a solid ground game.  The pass defense is one of the league's worst, and I think that ultimately be their undoing come playoff time.

6. Philadelphia Eagles 5-3
The Eagles are arguably the most dangerous team in the NFC when they are healthy, and it appears most of their stars are finally starting to shake the nagging injuries that have held them back at times this season.  It's going to be tough for them to win the NFC East, but no one is going to want to play this team in the playoffs.


Others in contention:  Seattle Seahwaks 4-4, St. Louis Rams 4-4, and San Francisco 49ers 2-6 (entire NFC West)  Playoff Chances on Life Support: Tampa Bay 5-3, Chicago 5-3

AFC

1. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-2
The Steelers have been my #1 team for most of the year, and they haven't done anything to change my mind.  Pittsburgh has all the weapons on both sides of the ball, and they remain the favorite to win it all.

2. New York Jets 6-2
The Jets have been struggling recently, as Mark Sanchez seems to have come back to earth after his nearly perfect start to the season.  They're in a dogfight with the Patriots for the division championship, a fight they will lose if they don't pick up their level of play.  I expect them to start looking more like the Jets team at the beginning of the season in the coming weeks.


3. Indianapolis Colts 5-3
Injuries are really starting to take a toll on this team.  When Peyton Manning looks down the field, most of the familiar faces he's used to seeing aren't there.  Despite playing with mostly backups, the Colts just find a way to get it done.  I'm sure they will be around come playoff time.


4. Kansas City Chiefs 5-3
This one is close.  The Chiefs have played extremely well this season, and boast one of the games best rushing attacks to go with a solid defense.  That said, the Raiders and Chargers are right on their heels, so KC will have to keep it up if they want to hold on in the NFC West.


5. Baltimore Ravens 6-3
No one would want to play this team in the playoffs.  They have all the tools to win a title, but will likely drop to the 5 seed since they are in Pittsburgh's division.

6. New England Patriots 6-2
This season is a real credit to the coaching staff.  The Patriots' defense was terrible at the beginning of the season, and no one has ever heard of any of the guys running the ball for New England.  Brady lost his Hall of Fame receiver, but the offense didn't miss a beat when Deion Branch was brought in to replace him. This organization just knows how to win.

Others in contention:  San Diego Chargers 4-5 (have all the talent to overtake KC) and Oakland Raiders 5-4 (NFC West battle), Tennessee Titans 5-3, Miami Dolphins 4-4, Houston Texans 4-4

Care to Place a Wager? A Gambler's Guide

If you're a gambling man or woman, and you like to try to earn a little extra cash on the side by beating the books in Vegas with your sports expertise, then this column is for you.  I won't actually be placing any wagers on any of these games, but if I were going to these would be the games I would take.

NFL 

Buffalo Bills +3 vs. Chicago Bears
The Bears are turning the ball over at an alarming rate, and the Bills have come agonizingly close to getting their first win of the season the past couple of weeks.  I think they not only cover this spread, but they win the game.

Houston Texans +3 vs. San Diego Chargers
I'm a little shocked the Texans are underdogs in this game.  I'd happily take the Texans and the points, and I expect Houston to also win the game at home.

New Orleans Saints -6.5 at Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are awful, and the Saints seem to have found a little something in their win against the Steelers.  Anyone that can beat Pittsburgh should have no problem with Carolina.

Green Bay Packers -7 vs. Dallas Cowboys
This one scares me slightly, but I think the Packers are improving while the Cowboys are going the other way.  We've heard a lot about all the talent in Dallas, but as long as they continue to turn the ball over I'm picking against them.


NBA

New York Knicks -5.5 vs. Philadelphia 76ers
-My apologies to Danilo Gallinari.  He started the season off in a terrible slump, but he's broken out of it and is shooting well.  The Knicks are playing some good ball, with Raymond Felton running the show, Toney Douglas producing big points off the bench, and Amare Stoudamire consistently being one of the best players on the floor.  Amare is producing quite what he was in Phoenix, but I look for his stats to increase as the season goes on. 

Atlanta Hawks -6 vs. Phoenix Suns
Atlanta's off to a great start this season, and the Suns still could be a little weary after an incredible win against the Grizzlies on Friday, followed by a cross-country flight.

Oklahoma City -1.5 vs. Boston Celtics
Just have a feeling Kevin Durant and company are going to pull this one out.  The Celtics have been playing a lot of close games, and I think this one will be no different.  KD comes up big in the clutch.