Ebs’ Hot Takes: Buffalo Sabres, Carmelo Anthony, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams

November 15, 2018 DJ Eberle DJ Eberle, Featured 1

FROM THE PRESS BOX – I could wait and write some boring introduction, but I’m not going to.

Are the Buffalo Sabres a playoff team?

Yup. I just wrote that.

Here’s a fresh set of Ebs’ Hot Takes.

Enjoy.

The Sabres are most definitely a playoff team. Now, when I write about one of my favorite teams making the playoffs or having any type of success, it usually goes sideways.

But you know what? I feel confident in this one.

The Sabres have been the best stories of this short NHL season. If the regular season ended today, Buffalo would be a playoff team as the top wild card out of the East.

The Sabres have one of the best first lines in hockey, thanks to Jeff Skinner’s second-best 13 goals and Jack Eichel’s top-10 output of 15 assists. That mixed with a veteran-laden second line, which sandwiches Jason Pominville and Kyle Okposo with young gun Casey Mittelstadt.

Then there’s Carter Hutton, who stands on his head each and every night. Hutton has been incredible this far, and has won games on his own at times this season.

With a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, the Sabres took an important first step into this tough stretch of road games at Winnipeg, Minnesota and Pittsburgh.

Should be interesting.

Carmelo Anthony should go back to the Atlanta Hawks. If Vince Carter can succeed with the Atlanta Hawks, why can’t Carmelo Anthony?

I may be a Melo truther, but I believe there is still a place for Anthony in the NBA. If it’s not as a sharp shooter off the bench, it’s on a bad team looking where, honestly, results don’t matter as much. Anthony needs a chance to ball and prove he still can hang.

With a lack of size until John Collins comes back from injury, Melo’s old team could offer him a nice home.

The addition of Anthony won’t take away from the growth of the likes of Trae Young, Taurean Prince, Omari Spellman or Kevin Huerter either.

Not to mention, the Hawks rank 20th in offense. They could use a lift.

Are the New Orleans Saints unstoppable? The short answer? Yes.

They’ve already taken down the Los Angeles Rams this season, and their one loss came Week 1 in a shootout against the Ryan FitzMagic-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Since that 48-40 defeat, the Saints have won eight straight, beating the likes of the Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons. They have the best resume in the league.

However, it doesn’t get any easier for the Saints, with games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers (twice) and Falcons still on tap. But this defense is much improved and while I’m disappointed Dez Bryant won’t get to suit up for New Orleans, that offense is still in great, great shape.

While the Rams should be the Super Bowl favorites, the Saints are my pick until the LA defense can turn things around.

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About DJ Eberle 223 Articles
DJ Eberle: The youngest of our team, DJ is also the largest. Offensive Tackle Large. In fact, this Albany native used OT for Western New England University - until he graduated in May of 2014. Like Junoir Blaber, he's a regular on Rugby Wrap Up - his dad played rugby with The Matts. His cross to bear, however, is his love for the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. As for baseball and basketball, it's the Yanks and Atlanta Hawks. Follow him on Twitter: @ByDJEberle.