No NBA Predictions

Of the major sports, the NBA had become my favorite.  Note the past tense.

I understand that large corporations want to work with China because China is a gold mine for them.  I'm a capitalist, and trying to balance making money and the need to work with bad actors.  And I don't expect the owners and players in the NBA to give up that money because China is Imprisoning millions of Uighurs and violently attacking protesters in Hong Kong.

But I expect them to stand up for their own people's right to speak out.

Daryl Morey wasn't trying to change the world- he just supported the Hong Kong protests with his tweet.  And China got upset and told the NBA to jump.  And the NBA said 'how high?'

To be fair- Adam Silver said China told the NBA to fire Morey, and they haven't.  But seeing the NBA bow down to China- after making such a spectacle of using their fame as a soapbox on so many issues- is really unpleasant.

So, instead of giving you NBA predictions- or even caring about the sport- here's a picture to show you who is calling the shots in the NBA:

Congress' Hammer

(Fair warning:  This is a political post.  I speak for no one but myself.  I welcome debate and disagreement)

"I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail."-  Abraham Maslow, The Psychology of Science.

From everything I've read about President Trump's call to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, it's skeevy as hell.  President Trump all but tied Ukraine getting some anti-tank weapons to him investigating Hunter Biden, son of the former Vice President.

It reeks of corruption, no matter the circumstances.  No matter what Biden did, President Trump crossed a few lines and basically implied he'd leave an ally in trouble if Ukraine didn't help him politically.

Have other Presidents done worse?  I believe it.  Doesn't matter.

Is it impeachable?  Anything is impeachable if Congress will Impeach over it.

But here's my thought- Congress is going for the Impeachment because they think that is the only weapon they have to contain the President.  

Investigations don't stop Trump.  Congress cannot or will not pass legislation to stop his agenda.  They could always threaten to cut the funding- but that shuts down the government.

In the mind of Congress, Impeachment is the only tool they have.  And following Maslow's saying, when Impeachment is your only tool, everything you don't like becomes impeachable.

The problem is- this won't end with when Donald Trump leaves the Presidency.  Congress has become more and more impotent over the past generations, no matter which party controls the House or Senate.  When Congress is in the control of the same Party as the President, they rubber-stamp the President's agenda.  When Congress is controlled by the other party, they... don't do anything.  They never pass their own agenda, and the President merrily chugs along, running things through the executive branch.  

I don't think this is a party problem- it happens when the Democrats or when the Republicans win elections.  But if it doesn't change- if Congress doesn't start regaining some of the power and control they've lost over the past century- we're going to see Impeachments every time the House is a different party than the President.

This isn't healthy for the country.

MLB Playoff Predictions

National League:

Brewers over Nationals, 1-0

Braves over Cardinals, 3-2
Dodgers over Brewers, 3-1

Dodgers over Braves, 4-2



American League:

Tampa Bay over Athletics, 1-0

Twins over Yankees, 3-2
Astros over Tampa Bay, 3-1

Astros over Twins, 4-1



World Series:

Astros over Dodgers, 4-2

Star Wars and Villains

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker comes out this December.  The sequels have had mixed moments, and opinions vary on them.

My own opinion is that Star Wars: The Force Awakens was really well made, but the story was too similar to A New Hope.  Star Wars: The Last Jedi was the opposite- it was such a break from the Star Wars cannon that it broke new ground, but also left a lot of unanswered questions.

(side note:  I also agree with Nando in his one suggested change for The Last Jedi: )

I will be watching The Rise of Skywalker, but I'm asking for one thing in the next movie:  

A crowning moment of villainy from this guy:

This is General Hux.  If you saw The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi and don't remember him... well, that's part of the problem.

The original trilogy had multiple villains that were considered by fans to be a real threat to the heroes.  There was Darth Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, The Emporer, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt....  the villains failed and died, but the audience considered them a threat to the heroes.

For the latest trilogy?  There is Kylo Ren (and some people think he'll make a face turn).  And...

Snoke?  Didn't do anything and died.

Phasma?  Looked like an awesome character, but died before she could really do anything to show she was a threat (and this ticked me off- I wanted her around as the dragon for Finn to defeat in the final movie)

There's no other named villains threats except for Ren... and General Hux.  

And Hux has been treated as a joke in the previous two movies.  He stands around, makes snide remarks, and seems to be wrong on every choice he makes.

So do something with him in this movie that makes him a serious threat.  He doesn't have to be a fighting threat.  Show him to be a tactical genius- or a great leader- or a brilliant manipulator.  Something to make the audience acknowledge he is a threat.

To have great heroes, you need villains that are considered threats.  There's a ton of heroes in Star Wars- Rey, Poe, Rose, Finn.  Kylo Ren can't be the only enemy for all of them.  Build up Hux and the overall movie will be better.

NBA Draft booking

My Crazy Dream Booking:  Even I can’t find a booking that would allow Zion or Morant to drop to #5.  Top 3 go Zion-Morant-Barrett.  New Orleans takes Culvert.  Atlanta trades #8 and #10 to Cleveland for #5 to take Darius Garland.  Phoenix takes Cody White, Chicago takes Cam Reddish, Cavs take DeAndre Hunter with #8, Washington takes Brandon Clarke with #9, and Cavs take Jaxson Hayes with #10.

What Should Happen: Top 4 go Zion-Morant-Barrett-Garland (either NO or in a trade).  Cleveland takes Culvert

What Will Happen: Top 4 are Zion-Morant-Barrett-Culvert.  Cleveland takes DeAndre Hunter

What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Top 4 are Zion-Morant-Barrett-Culvert.  Cleveland takes Garland  (Cleveland doesn’t need another small point guard that needs help with defense)

If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: I don’t know if there’s a booking that I would HATE.  Maybe trading up, but I don’t see a feasible trade. 

Post-NBA Lottery Thoughts

NBA Post-lottery draft thoughts:

• I’m a Cleveland Cavaliers fan, so obviously I wished the Cavs had moved up instead of down.  But #5 is still good enough to get a starter, even in a ‘weak’ draft.  I’m hoping for Jarrett Culver, but it’s up to the front office to make the right choice
• Last year, the Western Conference received the top four picks in the NBA draft.  This year, they have… three of the top four.  I don’t see the talent gap between the Western and Eastern Conference shrinking.
• If I’m AD, I hire a PR firm to work on restoring my reputation to New Orleans.  Him AND Zion, with Jrue Holiday and a good GM?  That is a scary team.  If he insists on a trade… well, New Orleans should listen.  But I’m not sure what the best deal for them would be now
• I think Morant will be a great pick for Memphis
• The reformed lottery worked, in that tanking is not rewarded as much

NBA Lottery Predictions

My Crazy Dream Booking: 

1. Charlotte Hornets- Zion Williamson
2. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ja Morant
3. Atlanta- RJ Barrett
4. Memphis- Cameron Redish

Last year, the Western Conference ended up with the top 4 picks in the draft.  This year, the Eastern Conference gets the clean sweep. 

Charlotte gets a franchise player in Zion, Kemba has a good reason to stay with the team, and Zion both stays close to his college AND starts his career with a great point guard

Cleveland gets the second piece of their rebuild to creating a fast team

Atlanta gets Barrett to join Trae Young

Memphis (like Charlotte, a good organization that is due for some luck) get an outside shooter to help with their rebuild.

 
What Should Happen: 

1. Philadelphia (via SAC)- Zion Williamson
2. Chicago- Ja Morant
3. New Orleans- RJ Barrett
4. Cleveland- Jarrett Culvert

There are three teams that break the internet if they win the lottery:  The Lakers (see ‘If I was Booking This and I Hated You’), New Orleans (Now does Davis try to come back, or does New Orleans then trade Davis knowing they have Zion?), and Philadelphia.  Besides breaking the heart of Sacramento fans… what would Philadelphia do?  I can’t see a frontcourt of Embiid AND Simmons AND Zion working, so someone needs to be traded….

What Will Happen: 

1. New York- Zion Williamson
2. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ja Morant
3. Atlanta- RJ Barrett
4. Chicago- Darius Garland

New York starts their trio of KD, Kyrie and Zion, which on paper looks great and would be a potential train wreck.  I still love Morant to Cleveland.  Barrett goes to Atlanta, and the Bulls get their Point Guard

What I’m Terrified Will Happen: 

1. Phoenix- Zion Williamson
2. Washington- Ja Morant
3. Minnesota- RJ Barrett
4. Los Angeles Lakers- Cam Reddish

Phoenix gets their new frontcourt star to team with… their other frontcourt #1 pick.  Washington, stuck for years because of Wall’s injuries, get a new point guard.  Minnesota gets the new Andrew Wiggins to go with the existing Andrew Wiggins.  The Lakers get a shooter.  The West get three of the first four picks

If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: 

1. Los Angeles Lakers- Zion Williamson
2. Boston (via Sacramento)- Ja Morant
3. Miami- RJ Barrett
4. Phoenix- Cam Reddish

The Lakers have been in a three way race (with the Knicks and Phoenix) over the worst-run franchise in the NBA this past decade.  But their luck or deal with the devil continues to allow them to have things go their way.  It would be perfectly in line with the last 50 years for the Lakers to luck into the #1 pick and have Zion come to join this team. 

Boston gets their new point guard, because of course their trades work out for them.

The hot markets continue to hog all of the best players.  Reddish goes to one of the worst run organizations in sports.