Antonio Brown Is Being Robbed And Will Not Remember It

Antonio Brown is without question a top 2 receiver in the NFL and the league has been more pass heavy than ever. Yet he isn't even cracking 15 million/year. The NFL is easily the most violent professional sport, unless you're LeBron running on a fast break and run into a really mean Draymond. Running across the middle is child's play. Antonio Brown makes 15 million/ year while only having to deal with linebackers trying to eat his soul. 

Reggie Jackson makes 16 million/year and is mediocre at best when compared to other NBA players. This is the most ridiculous thing I've seen. If I'm an NFL player, I'm super pissed at our CBA and I'm going to lose my mind. The most vicious sport that has the shortest lifespan and they aren't making the money that basketball players or baseball players are. 

Professional football is the most watched sport, followed by baseball. Waaaaaaaaay down the list, you'll find the NBA (just behind NASCAR). It's bonkers that these salaries are able to happen. Yes, they make a ton of money and they make more in a year than I ever will in my life. I have come to terms with this, so please stop reminding me. But I'll be able to count to 5 when/if I make it to age 50, so I've got that going for me. These NFL deals coming through never cease to amaze me at the difference in them and NBA ones, but I only see the gap getting bigger in the years to come. We'll see how it goes though. Just remember Antonio, I had your back. Feel free to hook a brother up with some of that signing bonus.

All my love,

@corbeech

Apparently there was an NBA game last night

Oh wow, I guess there was an actual game last night. This was also news to Golden State because they took a massive dump on the court. They showed one glimmer of life in the second quarter and cut the Cleveland led down to 8 going into the half. This was impressive because Cleveland had come out of the gates strong and put a 20 point lead in the books early in the first quarter. Steph and Klay were tremendously terrible in the first half, and for the entire game if you want to get picky. LeBron and Kyrie were playing like their playoff lives depended on it (it actually was).

You ready for a hot take? Of course you are. The Cavs are better without Kevin Love. Oh, everyone is saying that? Well put me in the crew with the rest of them. In his two games, they lost by 33 and 15. They finally get rid of him and they win by 30. Coincidence? I think not! He has been a complete downer since going to the Cavs. His PPG is down by 3.0 and his RPG is down by 2.4. He is like Bosh in Miami. Maybe it's the curse of being a post player with LeBron or maybe everyone was right and he truly was just a big fish in a little pond while in Minnesota.

Apologies for the tardiness on this article. I have been trying to adult today and fully dreaded talking about these two trashy teams. Fuhrer Bird would have crushed them both by this point and I'm hyped for next season. GO PACERS!

All my love,
@corbeech

Warriors Destroy All of Cleveland

Who are we kidding? Golden State just took a massive dump on the entire state of Ohio last night. The 110-77 beat down was impressive, but just sad for the Cavs. Through two games, they have now been outscored by a combined 48 points. Things don't look so good for them. 

The Splash Brothers were held in check for most of the night. Steph Curry had 18 while Klay Thomspon contributed another 17. The player of the night was Draymond Green who led all scorers with 28. Cleveland didn't feel threatened by him from outside, and they paid for it. Green nailed five three-pointers, most of when he was wide open. Andrew Bogut had a good game defensively. Four of his five blocks came within the first few minutes of the game and set the tone for how it would be played. 

LeBron was held scoreless in the first quarter, but led Cleveland with 19. He also had 8 rebounds and 9 assists. He led the team in each of those categories. Kevin Love left the game early in the third quarter after complaining of dizziness. He took an elbow from Harrison Barnes to the back of the head in the second quarter. 

Saying that the Warriors dominated the Cavs is a huge understatement. The smaller team outrebounded Cleveland 46-34. They also shot the higher percentage, 54.3 to 34.4. Not suprising at all, the 15 three-pointers didn't hurt either. 

We're now in do-or-die mode. Cleveland can't afford to drop one at home if they hope to make a run at a title. For Golden State, if you go up 3-0, congrats, it's over. Hell, it might already be. Game 3 is Wednesday night in Cleveland. 

-Dug

@chansm1th

Warriors Take Game 1, 104-89

Who saw this coming? No, not that the Warriors would win Game 1, but how they won it? Had you told me yesterday that the Splash Brothers would combine for a mere 20 points, I would have thought that the names by the score would be switched. You probably would have too. 

Shaun Livingston had a career night. Coming off the bench, he scored 20 points. As mentioned, the same amount Steph Curry and Klay Thompson combined for. Crazy! This night was all about the Warriors' bench. They outscored their opponents 45-10. Andre Iguodala chipped in 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. The only bright spot from the Warrior starting five was Draymond Green who scored 16, pulled in 11 boards, and dished out 7 assists.

For the Cavs, things could have gone a lot better. Sure they held Curry and Thompson to poor shooting nights, but Golden State still shot nearly 50% from the field (.494, actually). The Cavs were beaten because they didn't play defense. The Warriors' motto is "Strength in Numbers". They went deep to their bench and it was a next man up type of deal. Double-doubles from LeBron James and Kevin Love we're not enough. The Big Three combined for 66 of the 89 points. If Cleveland hopes to climb back into the series, they'll need to do three things: 1) Play defense, like, actual defense. 2) Find a fourth man to share the load. Take some of the pressure off Kyrie Irving, Love, and James. 3) Win a road game, preferably Game 2. 

Up 1-0, the Warriors will look to continue their quest for back-to-back championships with Game 2 on Sunday. Cleveland shouldn't be in panic yet. One bad game isn't a good start, but the problems can be fixable at least. 

-Dug

@chansm1th

NBA Finals Preview

It All Comes Down to This

All season long, this has been the goal. Well, sorta. Two teams remain. Golden State and Cleveland, the top two teams in their respective conferences face off for the second year in a row for the NBA's crown jewel. Golden State is looking to repeat as Champs and also cap off the best season by an NBA team. Golden State looking to win their fifth NBA Championship while the Cavs are looking for their first ever. It is very notable that the city of Cleveland hasn't won a major sports championship since 1964 (the Browns did it). Before we get into predictions, let's take a look at how each team got here.

Golden State set an NBA record with 73 during the season. Steph & Co were supposed to roll through the playoffs. After Steph missing time for injury, they found their backs against the wall in the Western Conference Finals as they trailed the Oklahoma City Thunder three games to one. Against all odds, the Warriors won three straight to make it past the Thunder and into the Finals. All eyes are on them as they are the heavy favorites.

Cleveland is here because LeBron came back. He is making a sixth straight appearce in the NBA Finals as well as a repeat for Cleveland. With a decent (better than previous years) supporting cast, Cleveland might have its best chance yet at a championship. Throughout the playoffs, they were untested as they swept through the first two rounds. They toyed with Toronto in the Conference Finals, but now they have made it back to where they intended to be. Let's see what our experts predict,

Dug's Take:

I really dislike both teams. I was pulling hard for OKC against the Warriors, but they fell short. It was nearly agonizing to watch how they had the series and then lost it. I also don't give a shit for LeBron or Cleveland. Nothing would tickle me more than to watch Cleveland lose again and add to their woes. With that being said, you're bound to have a good guy (LeBron) versus the bad guy (the Warriors). I hate Draymond Green. He's dirty, and there is no room in the sport for what he has gotten away with. I think the Warriors were very lucky to get past the Thunder. They might have had the better record, but they weren't the better team. Cleveland has made mincemeat of their competition throughout the playoffs. The Raptors were by no means world beaters, but Cleveland took care of business. I think that LeBron has the better supporting cast. Steph and Klay Thompson can only shoot so much. I don't think they can do to Cleveland what they did to OKC. Cleveland is big where Golden State refuses to play big. As bad as I hate to say both of the following predictions, Cleveland in 5 with a darkhorse for MVP in Kyrie Irving. Damn Dukies.

Corbeech's Take:

For the moment, I'm still a Cleveland fan. That will soon change as the lottery nears. But as a Cleveland fan, I know how much it sucks to be a Cleveland fan and how they'll never win anything meaningful. LeBron is the only hope Cleveland has of being competitive in any sport. If you aren't following, Cleveland sucks and Dan Gilbert is an idiot. Golden State got lucky to get past the Thunder and I have believed all postseason long that whoever won the Western Conference would be able to make it fairly easily through the East in the playoffs. Everyone knows the West owns the East and this year is no different. As good as Cleveland is, I'd take Golden State, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio over them. I'm not really sugar coating this, but I don't think Cleveland has much of a shot vs Golden State and it makes me sad. I don't like the Warriors, but I HATE Steph and #23 for Golden State. I hope they never win another game in their careers. However, I think they've got four wins coming their way. I'll say Golden State in 6. For MVP, I'm saying it will be Klay Thompson edging out Andre Igoudala. I think Kyrie will give Steph issues and limit his takeover ability, so Klay is the next best choice. Prove me wrong Cleveland. Please.

Alty's Take: 

I think both conference championship series taught us two things.

1. The Cleveland Cavaliers can not play on the road.  

2. The Warriors do not play well when Draymond Green is agitated and playing poorly. 

Even though the teams are quite similar to what we saw in last year's NBA finals, I think position match-ups will determine the outcome of the series. 

LeBron James is going to do LeBron James things. He very well may end up averaging close to a triple double. A potential problem I see is Klay Thompson shooting the lights out of whoever plays the two position. That could be JR Smith or that could be Iman Shumpert. Either way I look for Klay to have a huge series. 

Andre Iguodala is going to have to guard LeBron James just like he did in last year series. Performances like Iguodala's Finals MVP really really set the tone for what this Warriors team was able to do and tried to accomplish this year. They wanted to hit you from all sides of the court, and not have one weak link in there starting five. Harrison Barnes was another player that may have played his way into a max contract starting in last year's NBA finals and continuing that this year.

My selection is the Warriors winning in 7 games. 

I would like LeBron James to win this series, but it's hard to see that happening. After writing my piece on James getting to his sixth straight NBA finals, I realized how much of a hater I had become. This saddens me, and I need to give respect where respect is due. I put a little respek on his name. 

Talking about position match ups: I think LeBron James dominates any player that lines up defensively on him. LeBron is just too good, he's too big, he's too tall, he's too fast, he's too strong, too many grammatical errors. I have a feeling that Steph Curry is going to have at least one if not two ankle breaking GIFS for Kyrie. Look for Draymond to take it to Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love. I just wonder about JR Smith and Iman Shumpert being able to guard anyone on the Warriors team. Sean Livingston may come in and score on both of those players.

I think the Cavaliers will win three games at home and lose all four in the Oracle Center in San Francisco. I agree with Corbett when he talks about Klay Thompson winning the Finals MVP, however I think this is Steph Curry's MVP to lose. He may have won the league MVP last year, but this is a new Steph Curry and I don't think he will let another MVP slip away from him. 

Sixth Straight Finals For Lebron

The Cavaliers put away the Raptors 113-87 in Game 6 in Toronto Friday night. The game wasn't close at any point past the 9 minute mark in the 1st quarter. The Big 3 in Cleveland scored 83 of those 113, and dominated every aspect of the game. The Cavaliers looked good. Really good. Good enough to beat whichever team comes out of the West good. But, bigger than the Cavaliers going to the Finals looking for their first championship there was another stat that really is mind blowing.

Love that hat.

How crazy is it that Lebron James has made 6 straight NBA Finals? The last time Lebron wasn't in the NBA Finals, Kobe won his last championship back in 2010, and Lebron left town with "The Decision". Since Lebron took his talents to South Beach, he's been destroying the East. In the previous 5 Finals appearances for Lebron, he's 2-3. Both wins were with the Heat, beating Thunder in 2012 and Spurs in 2013. The losses are the Mavs in 2011, Spurs in 2014, and Warriors in 2015.
Lebron has now done something that hasn't been done since the 1960's. Lebron is the only player to do this that didn't play for Boston when the Celtics won 11 championships in 13 years (1957, 1959-66, 1968-69). None of the greats has this accomplishment on their resume. The game has changed so much, but Lebron doesn't care. All Lebron cares about is being an all-time player, and he's making the case for just that.

In the last two years, Lebron has become sort of a pansy cry baby, and that saddens me. I was a huge Lebron fan when everyone turned on him for "The Decision". I agree that may not have been the best way to do a free agency signing, but you can't deny the charity money, and the way he changed any kind of signing for the rest of history (any recruitment signing). Ever since he's returned to Cleveland Lebron has been still ruling the NBA world. Even after writing this I'm changing the way I feel about Lebron.

I'd love to see Kevin Durant and the Thunder play Lebron and the Cavs again. That would be a battle against two teams that love to run and come right at you. Can't wait for the Thunder to beat the Warriors on Saturday.

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I, like most of America, forgot that James Jones of the Cavaliers is also in this 6 straight NBA Finals club. He has nowhere near the stats of Lebron James, but does deserve a mention.

NBA Lottery: Reborn

I'm slightly ashamed to say this, but I don't have a favorite NBA team. Up until this point, I have just cheered for LeBron and whichever team he was on by default. When he took his talents to Miami, I did too. Yes, that means I'm back on the Cavs bandwagon even though I hate them for being babies the first time LeBron bailed. As a rational human being, I see the issue with being a Cleveland sports fan and plan to remedy this.

This will not be as simple as just picking a new team and supporting them, no. I'm going above and beyond for you, our reader. I will be conducting a lottery to allow fate to decide who I should support. This lottery will be slightly different than the traditional NBA Draft lottery in that it will not be fully loaded to allow a bottom feeder to win. I want fate to decide if I deserve NBA misery or fun times.

My setup will be to have a drawing out of a hat and the last man standing is my new team that I pledge my loyalty to. I will give the bottom half of each conference 2 entries and the top half 1 entry. I'm going to do some adjusting so that I don't get an amazing team or the worst teams. For this, I will eliminate the 76ers, Nets, Cavaliers, and Warriors, passing their entries on to other teams. I will keep you updated as the lottery progresses in the coming days and we'll see where this takes us. We're in this together, so let's make it a good time.

All my love,
@corbeech

DeMar DeRozan/Kyle Lowry's Bromance Wake Up

Good Morning! It's a beautiful sunny morning here, and we're going to look at what happened while you were asleep. 

Toronto tied up their series with Cleveland last night as the Raptors took Game 4 105-99. The combo of Lowry and DeRozan, pictured above, continued to carry the weight of their country as the two combined for 67 points last night. Although the Cavs controlled nearly every statistical category, they forgot that the score was the most important one. LeBron James went for 29 points and 9 rebounds while his faithful sidekick Kyrie Irving chipped in 26. With the series being tied, the question now is who win win a road game. I think that for Torontp to win the series, Game 5 tomorrow night in Cleveland is a must win. The winner of that game will take the series, in my opinion. 

Let's take a look at what happened on the diamond last night. Baseball is possibly my favorite sport, but we don't talk near as much about it as we should. Last night, we were treated to a few good pitching performances. Our beloved Reds were on the Left Coast last night to pay a visit to the Dodgers. When you see Clayton Kershaw on the lineup card, you can be safe saying that one run will win the game. Last night saw that. Not Kershaw and Reds' starter Brandon Finnegan turned in complete games. Finnegan's line was 8 innings, 5 hits, and one earned in the losing effort. It was by far the rookie's best start. Kershaw, on the other hand, threw 9 scoreless innings while allowing three base runners and striking out 7. Hard one to lose, but if you like pitching, this was a beautiful sight. 

Elsewhere around baseball, Johnny Cueto threw a complete game shutout. Cueto improved to 7-1 on the season while blanking the Padres. No walks and only two hits allowed, he struck out 6 en route to a 1-0 win. 

Breathe a Sigh of Relief, Scumbag

Looking forward to tonight, we have Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in Oklahoma City. As Corbeech noted yesterday, Draymond Green will be able to play for whatever reason. Punishment for his nut kick heard 'round the world wasn't enough to keep this prick off the court. $25,000 and an upgrade to a flagrant two is about as horribly wrong of a decision that could be made. However, Green now has three flagrant points meaning one more and he will automatically be suspended. Who has the betting odds on whether he will get one tonight? Take the no. 

Game 4 is at 9:00 tonight. If Karma is real, OKC will roll the Warriors again, and Draymond Green will get hit by an airplane. 

That's all that I have. Check back later for more news and updates. 

-Dug

@chansm1th

Looking Past the NBA Lottery

Last night, the NBA Draft Lottery took place will Philadelphia gaining control of the first overall pick. Now, we turn our eyes towards the NBA Draft. Underclassman now have one week to return to school should they not wish to enter the Draft. Be on the lookout for a few of these players to come back, but there shouldn't be any surprises when it comes to that. 

Having the number one pick is good for Philly, but now they have a big decision to make. There are really only two players who are seriously being considered for the pick: LSU's Ben Simmons and Duke's Brandon Ingram. Whichever way the organization goes, they are going to have a solid player. 

Ben Simmons

Freshman

Louisiana State University

6'10"  240 lbs

19 years old

Ben Simmons was undoubtedly the best college player this past season. He is long and very athletic. At 6'10", Simmons is a versitile post player who can square up nicely from mid-range. He also handles the ball like a top-notch point guard. The few times that I saw him on TV, and in person, he would dazzle you with his ball handling ability. Multiple scouts are comparing him, often, to both Magic Johnson and LeBron James. Anytime your name is thrown in with those two, you are very highly thought of. 

The only real issue with Simmons could be his attitude. He decided to skip the NBA Combine, which isn't common for players who will be highly selected. But one thing that stands out was in his lone year at LSU. Simmons apparently did not wish to play in the post season if the Tigers did not make the NCAA Tournament. This was a decision that drew a lot of backlash from the media. While the Tigers did not make the tournament, they were invited to the NIT. They declined. Just imagine if Ben Simmons had any other coach besides Johnny Jones!

Simmons has a lot of potential. He's an oversized point guard who can post you up, or posterized you. The attitude issues are flaws that can be easily fixed. Don't expect teams to overlook him based on that alone. If he isn't picked first, he would be a great fit in LA.

-Dug

@chansm1th

Golden State Ruined the NBA

 

Hear me out on this one. Yes, Golden State plays the fun brand of basketball that we all loved as kids where we could line up and jack 3s all day long. Does that make me jealous? Slightly. It reminds me of a time back in elementary school when my team had 4 shooters who lived behind the line and an overgrown 7th grader who lacked coordination. We were essentially the Dwight Howard teams in Orlando. We had strong performances and played the fun style of basketball. Did we win the title? Nah bro. We were just out there shooting 3s and having fun.

How does this relate to Golden State? Funny you should ask that. You aren't supposed to be able to have that much fun and dominate like they are. Have all of these years watching the boring Spurs dominate taught them nothing?! I want an investigation into the Warriors because something should be illegal out of this. These guys are jacking shots up that I don't even throw up in games of 21. It's madness!!

LeBron is my boy, but I don't see him even being able to mess with these Warriors barring a Steph injury. Coming off back to back MVPs, it seems like an injury is the only thing that could keep Steph from having his way with the league for years. The only other option would be a massive scandal that derailed him and the Warriors. I'm not recommending that you start a rumor about Steph, but I'm not going to stop you if you make that decision. Feel free to send all hot tips to smithbrossports@gmail.com.

All my love,

@corbeech