Tendown. October 18, 2015

195 is here. This is Tendown 196.

1. So, what has Citizens United led to...

2. Every Week Until He Stops - Vote For Bernie Sanders.

3. Ah, the Trojans.

4. KITH

5.

6. The 2015 Giants Capsule.

7. The 100 Best Players in the NBA.

8. In case you forgot...

9.  Speidi 2k15

10. Drones.

And one more...

Scott Walker. Fiscal Conservative.

That's all for this time.  I'll be back next time.  If there is a next time...

Your pal,

Jim

NLCS Pick

I hit the Wild Card and split the two NLDS; I had the Dodgers going into the postseason to win the pennant but really liked whomever came out of the WC game as a close second choice.  That won't stop here - the Cubs swept the Mets this season, and while a sample size of 7 games isn't determinative I bet there aren't too many circumstances in MLB history where a team got swept in the regular season over the course of even that many games and then turned around and beat the sweepers in the playoffs.  The Cubs hit a bunch of homers, which are prone to variance and given their tendency to strike out a bunch you get concerned that the bats will go cold.  Russell's NLDS injury keeps him out here, and that hurts Chicago.

The best position players are Cubs - Rizzo and Bryant.  The best pitcher is a Cub - Arrieta, and when you add Lester to that, I'll say we are looking, albeit in 7 games, at a Chicago Cub pennant.

ALCS Pick

I hit the WC game and both ALDS - I'll keep rolling with the Jays; they had the best offense and defense in baseball this season.  They're solidly the best team in MLB and I'm picking them until the wheels fall off.

Any reason to think otherwise?

Tulowitzki's a hole right now; maybe too hurt to play.  There's some weirdness with Price given his relief appearance in game 4 that kept him from being available in game 5.  And the Royals have the significant late pen advantage.  The distance between the two teams isn't so great that you should be surprised if KC won their second straight pennant.

But I'll keep taking the Jays.  They're the best team in baseball.

2015 NFL Supercontest, Week 6

Week 5 is here.  I went 3-2 and am 13-12 overall.

KC +4 Minn loss
SD +10.5 GB win
Cle +4.5 Den win
Tenn -2 Mia loss
Jax over Hou loss

2-3
15-15

The 100 Best Players in the NBA: 2015-16

ESPN is counting down its list of the top 400 players in the NBA.  I'm not going to do that.

I do have my ranking of the top 100 players in the NBA for the upcoming 2015-16 season.  It's a projection.  Not a fantasy ranking.  For the first time in years, there's a new #1.

100. JR Smith SG Cle
99. Manu Ginobli SG SA
98. Markieff Morris PF Pho
97. Tobias Harris SF Orl
96. Monte Ellis SG Ind
95. Jared Sullinger PF Bos
94. Al-Farooq Aminu SF Port
93. Michael Carter-Williams PG Mil
92. Gorgui Dieng C Minn
91. Al Jefferson C Charl

90. Thaddeus Young PF Brook
89. Jordan Clarkson PG LAL
88. Jonas Valanciunas C Tor
87. Victor Oladipo SG Orl
86. Lou Williams SG LAL
85. Andrew Bogut C World Champion Golden St. Warriors
84. Kelly Olynyk C Bos
83. Jusuf Nurkic C Den
82. Brandan Wright C Mem
81. Ed Davis PF Port

80. Zach Randolph PF Mem
79. Robin Lopez C NY
78. Mason Plumlee C Port
77. Amir Johnson PF Bos
76. Deron Williams PG Tor
75. Rudy Gay SF Sac
74. Bradley Beal SG Wash
73. Giannis Antetokounmpo SF Mil
72. Reggie Jackson PG Det
71. Dirk Nowitzki PF Dall

70. Elfrid Payton PG Orl
69. Wesley Matthews SG Dall
68. Danilo Gallinari SF Den
67. Trevor Ariza SF Hou
66. Marcin Gortat C Wash
65. Patrick Patterson PF Tor
64. Chris Bosh PF Mia
63. Terrence Jones PF Hou
62. Dwyane Wade SG Mia
61. Khris Middleton SG Mil

60. Goran Dragic PG Mia
59. Nikola Vucevic C Orl
58. Robert Covington SF Phi
57.   DeMarre Carroll SF Tor
56. Nerlens Noel PF Phi
55. LaMarcus Aldridge PF SA
54.  Ty Lawson PG Hou
53. Dwight Howard C Hou
52. Jeff Teague PG Atl
51. Ricky Rubio PG Min

50. Joakim Noah C Chi
49. Kenneth Faried PF Den
48. Brook Lopez C Brook
47.  Jrue Holiday PG NO
46. Chandler Parsons SF Dall
45. Tyreke Evans SG NO
44. Marcus Smart PG Bos
43. Pau Gasol PF Chi
42. Kyle Korver SG Atl
41. Serge Ibaka C OKC

40. George Hill PG Ind
39. Isaiah Thomas PG Bos
38. Nikola Mirotic PF Chi
37. Tyson Chandler C Pho
36. Nicolas Batum SF Char
35.  Kemba Walker PG Char
34. Greg Monroe C Mil
33.  Klay Thompson SG World Champion Golden St. Warriors
32. Al Horford C Atl
31. Gordon Hayward SF Uta

30. Paul George PF Ind
29. Marc Gasol C Mem
28. Derrick Favors PF Utah
27. Tim Duncan C SA
26. Danny Green SG SA
25. Mike Conley PF Mem
24. Carmello Anthony SF NY
23. Hasaan Whiteside C Mia
22. Paul Millsap PF Atl
21. Draymond Green PF World Champion Golden St. Warriors

20. Eric Bledsoe SG Pho
19. Jimmy Butler SG Chi
18. Kyrie Irving PG Cle
17. Kyle Lowry PG Tor
16. Andre Drummond C Det
15. DeAndre Jordan C LAC
14. Rudy Gobert C Uta
13. Blake Griffin PF LAC
12. Kevin Love PF Cle
11.   Damian Lillard PG Por

10. John Wall PG Wash
9.  DeMarcus Cousins PF Sac
8. Kawhi Leonard SF SA
7. Russell Westbrook PG OKC
6. Kevin Durant SF OKC
5.  Chris Paul PG LAC
4. James Harden SG Hou
3. Anthony Davis PF NO
2. Lebron James SF Cle
1. Steph Curry PG GSW World Champion Golden St. Warriors