Port Jeff NY- Greetings, let’s talk some NY sports! Mets Season, World Series Update, NBA Finals/Awards Predictions
Mets Season
As some of you may have noticed, the Mets are not playing in the World Series. Their season ended last week. The Dodgers – as they’ve shown in the first two games of the WS – are the best team in baseball. The fact that the Mets were able to push them to six games was very impressive. Despite a disastrous start to the year, the Metsies never once quit, while enduring countless injuries to several key players. Heading into the off-season the one big question is whether or not Pete Alonso will return, as he enters free agency. Alonso had a subpar regular season -per his standards. However he had a terrific postseason that saw him deliver several crucial HRs. IMHO I think the Mets and Alonso come to an agreement fairly quickly and Alonso remains a Met for the rest of his career. Additionally, I think this team is in need of another top tier starting pitcher, alongside Kodai Senga. Corbin Burnes of the Orioles who is now a free agent, should be the top target for this team. I think Steve Cohen will look to make a big splash such as Burnes to put this team over the top.
World Series Update
The Dodgers swept the first two games in LA to take a commanding 2-0 lead, as the series heads to New York. The Yankees had every opportunity to win both games. In Game 1, Aaron Boone made several baffling decisions that ultimately cost the Yanks the game. The most damning decision Boone made was to leaving Nestor Cortes in the game to face Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded, rather then bringing in Tim Hill – who has been rock solid all year, particularly against lefties. What makes this decision even more odd is that Cortes hadn’t pitched in over a month and to throw him directly into the fire was a truly bizarre decision that cost the Bombers. A 2-0 deficit to this Dodgers unit is almost insurmountable, particularly with how poorly Aaron Judge has looked at the plate this series. However, the Yankees will get three games in the Bronx, and they’ve been better offensively at home this year.
NBA Finals/Awards Predictions
With the NBA season kicking off this past week let’s make some predictions!
Celtics over Knicks
I think the Celtics and Knicks are a cut above the rest in the East, with Boston being far and away the best team in the NBA. The only thing that slows this team down is injuries. For the Knicks, I do have some concerns re the fit for Karl-Anthony-Towns, at least early on. I expect there to be some growing pains the first few months. BUT once this team gels together they’re deep enough to have a punchers chance against the Celts.
Thunder over Lakers
To nobody’s surprise, the Western Confrence is loaded once again. I could be sold on any number of teams making the finals. It could be the Suns, who still have the tremendous big three of Beal, Booker and KD. The Nuggets who have the best player on the planet and three time MVP Nikola Jokic, or the Lakers who have built a very good team around LeBron and Anthony Davis. That’s only to name a few teams. I’ll go with the Thunder who are loaded with young talent all over the court that will only continue to improve as they mature. I think they take the next step and Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander leads them to the NBA Finals while winning the MVP.
NBA Finals- Celtics over Thunder
MVP- Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander
That’s all I have today. Please feel free to comment below and come back tomorrow for Sports Rain Man, Junoir Blaber.