Managing Expectations - Oilers mid-season report

The 2011-12 Edmonton Oilers enter the all star break and, of course, there needs to be a mid-season progress report. It's like high school - you and your parents/teachers set goals at the beginning of the year and midway through the school year you reconvene to see if you're on track or if you have succumbed to the "extra curricular" pressures of an innocent adolescent.

The preseason expectation was for the young Oilers squad to make the playoffs as a low seed. They were 9-4-2 in their first 15 games and optimism was high in Oil Country. Then the losses started piling up, injuries started finding their way back into the Oilers locker room and the Oilers plummeted down the standings. The optimistic Oilers faithful quickly turned into pessimistic hockey critics. Typical.

Before Oil Country gets their panties into a complicated cub scouts knot, lets re-evaluate our expectations. Did you expect the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup? If you did, there are local institutions to help with your mental disorder.

Did you expect the Oilers to win their division? Unless the defending Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks decided to forfeit the season to do community service after their fans destroyed their downtown last June, forget about it.

Did you expect the Oilers to make the playoffs? I'm sure you did because that was the expectation for the team. But was this expectation realistic?

Let's lay out the facts. The Oilers are the two-time defending champions of the Toilet Bowl after finishing last in the league for two seasons. That means they were 15th in the Western Conference. To make the playoffs, the Oilers would need to improve by seven spots in the standings from last season. That means seven teams, who are also trying to make the playoffs, need to have gotten worse from last season. Sounds simple, but very difficult to do in the post-lockout NHL. Can you honestly say there are seven teams in the west that have actually gotten worse? Or, can you honestly say the Oilers are better than seven other teams in the west?

Ryan Whitney is one of several Oilers
defencemen to suffer a significant injury
this season. 

The Oilers have been praised for their recent ability to collect cornerstone players. The offensive personnel has a bight future with the likes of Hall, Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins running the show for the next decade. The optimism surrounding these young, future all stars is warranted, but it does not warrant fans to start saving their money to purchase playoff tickets. The team has too many holes in their lineup, especially in their back-end, to contend for a playoff spot. Last year, the 8th seeded Chicago Blackhawks were icing a defensive corps consisting of all stars Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Brian Campbell. They managed to push the Canucks to a game 7. If we use that as the benchmark for playoff-calibre defence, would the Oilers pass?

My preseason expectation for the Oilers was a 10-12th place finish in the west and I believe that is still attainable. Why? Because I managed my expectations. I expect the Oilers to improve (since there is nowhere to go but up if you're last) but I also don't expect them to be better than seven other teams. Likewise, I don't expect our lineup to outperform seven other lineups. I expect the team to finish around 82 points which is a 20 point improvement from last season. This equates to 10 more wins which would give them, based on last season, a 35-35-12 record. That means they are average which is exactly what they are. They aren't a Stanley Cup contending team. They aren't a playoff team. They are an average team - with a bright future. Enjoy the peaks, be optimistic during the valleys, and support your Oilers.

PS: This will be the last entry for this blog. I've enjoyed sharing my KRAP with you and I hope you've enjoyed reading my KRAP. I've started a new blog that will still focus on sports with a social/digital media bend. Check out The Sport Social.

Destiny Fulfilled - World Champion Dallas Mavericks

I remember back in 2006 NBA finals and watching the Dallas Mavericks crumble. Dwyane Wade was abusing Devin Harris with some major help from the refs. With the amount of times Wade was going to charity stripe, you would have thought the refs lost some bet to Wade. (Can we check to see if Tim Donaghy worked games 3-6?)

I also remember Wade surrounded by teammates whose championship windows were closing quickly. Alonzo Mourning. Gary Payton. Antoine Walker. Jason Williams. Shaquille O'Neal. Even though the Mavs had the series under control, I guess it was just destiny that the Miami Heat won that year. It was destiny that Gary Payton avoided being in the same category as John Stockton, Karl Malone, and Charles Barkley as great players with no rings. It was destiny that Shaq could prove he could win without Kobe. It was destiny that Dwyane Wade's "coming-out"party was on the biggest stage and ended with a finals MVP. For a lack of a better word, it was Miami's "destiny" to win in 2006.

Since that epic collapse, the Mavs have had an agonizing road back to the finals. Three first-round exits including the embarrassing 2007 loss to the 8th seeded Golden State Warriors. Fast forward to 2011. Another 50+ season for the Mavs for the 11th consecutive year. Dirk playing at his usual all star level. Jason Terry was one of the best 6th man in the NBA. It seemed like every was going down the same path. Entering the playoffs, the Mavs were once again being labelled as the one-and-dones. Teams viewed the Mavs as an easy first round opponent, even prompting some teams to confess their desire to face the Mavs. Caron Butler, the second leading scorer, was lost for the season in January and had a marginally slim chance of playing in the postseason. He was replaced by an aging, one-trick pony in Peja Stojakovic who was chasing his first championship.

On paper, it seemed less likely than in years past that the Mavs can make a long title run. But also in comparison to years past, this team was different. The core was made up to grizzly veterans in Dirk Nowitzki (32), Jason Kidd (38), Jason Terry (33), Shawn Marion (33), Peja Stojakovic (34), Brenden Haywood (31), and DeShawn Stevenson (30). Seasoned veterans who were all still chasing their first title and for some their first appearance in the finals.

First, it was Portland. Then the two-time defending champions LA Lakers. Then the young guns of OKC. Finally, Miami. The stage was set only this time, destiny was on Dallas' side.

A 38 year old Kidd not backing down
against Wade. 

No one would have thought a 38 year old Jason Kidd could keep up with the tandum of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, let alone LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. But whatever physical shortcomings he had, he more than made up with his mental toughness and 17 years of wisdom. He managed the game and distributed the ball masterfully, something that was visibly missing for the '06 Mavs team. His defensive presence was stellar against younger, faster and more athletic players. But more importantly, he validated that calculated gamble that Mark Cuban took in 2008. A trade that no longer has any doubt on who won the deal. Yes, Devin Harris became a one-time allstar but has not played in a playoff since leaving Dallas. Kidd has avoided that list of "Greats without a ring" and joined Gary Payton on the list titled "Champions." It took 17 years and 2 failed finals appearances. But it felt like destiny for Kidd to be on that list.

Marion was a main reason why LeBron

only scored 15 total fourth-quarter pts 

in the finals.

Remember when Shawn Marion was a top 3 pick in fantasy basketball? How could he not when he was pumping out stat lines like 21.8pts/11.8rebs/2stls/1.7 blks/1.2-3s/52.5FG%/80.9FT%. The "Matrix" was an allstar and a huge part of the mid 2000s Phoenix Suns Seven-Seconds-Or-Less(SSOL) offense. But Marion never felt like he got the credit he was entitled to. He wanted to be "The Man" which lead to him being shipped out of Phoenix in 2008. And since then, he bounced from Miami to Toronto and finally to Dallas. Gone are the Allstar Game votes, All-NBA team votes, amazing stats and 1st round picks in NBA fantasy drafts. Marion quickly realized that being "The Man" was not as glamorous as it appeared. He landed in Dallas in 2009 and was ready to take the backseat to Dirk, Terry and Kidd. He lost his starting job to Caron Butler. He was no longer the high-flyer. But Marion's impact on a championship team cannot be understated. He didn't need to score 20points and grab 10 rebounds and block 5 shots. He needed to guard Gerald Wallace, Lamar Odom, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and LeBron James. He needed to focus on defence and pitch in offensively whenever needed. More importantly, he didn't need to be "The Man" to fulfill his destiny as a champion.

Jason Terry was under the microscope the minute he arrived in Dallas. He was the unknown replacement of Steve Nash, who went on to win two MVPs. He was the starting pointguard who averaged less than 4 assists in the '06 finals. He was the guy who talked big but never backed it up when it mattered most. But since '06, Terry's career has taken unexpected turns. The arrival of Kidd resulted in Terry losing his spot in the starting lineup. This demotion could have ended badly - Terry could have sulked, complained, and whined his way out of town. But he embraced the new challenge becoming one of the best 6th man in the league - eventually rewarded with the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2009. He became the Mavs' 4th quarter closer along with Dirk and they were the most clutch tandum this season. But the memories of '06 was always in the back of JET's mind. The crippling pain of '06 could have defined his career, but it didn't. He never wavered from his desire to be a champion. Terry never backed off the trashtalk in this series, not even with LeBron James shadowing him for the entire 6 games. He never questioned his ability to knock down big shots, proven with his 27 point performance in game 6. He never regretted tattooing the Larry O'Brien trophy onto his bicep, knowing that it would be validated one day. Terry has fulfilled his destiny with his clutchness, his mouth and a some ink.

Dirk reportedly never got one phone call from another team in trying to recruit him last summer. In the giant poker game last summer, Dirk played the hand he only know - staying in Dallas with a new 4-year $80million extention. What might be his last contract, Dirk wanted to finish what he started in Big D. He probably could've joined Derrick Rose in Chicago or his buddy Steve Nash in Phoenix. But he chose to stay in the city that adopted him 13 years ago when he was some unknown protege from Germany. Since the '06 collapse, Dirk has been the punching bag for the media. Dirk faced more criticism with every playoff failure - questions about his toughness, his clutchness, and ability to carry a franchise to a title. Questions about whether he could elevate his game to championship-level calibre. Yes, a player whose career playoff averages were over 25pts and 10rebs was being questioned about whether or not he could play big in the playoffs.

Dirk's 2011 playoff journey will go down in history as one of the greatest playoff performances of all time. You can look at some eye-popping stats. 27.7pts per game along with 8.8rebs. His shooting efficiency was legendary with a 48.6 FG%/46.0-3PT%/ and a record-breaking 94.1FT% (converting 175 of 186 FT attempts). But more importantly, Dirk has finally answered his critics about his clutchness. 33points in the clinching game against Portland, shooting 58% from the field in the 4-game sweep of the Lakers, averaging 32.2pts per game against the OKC Thunder including a shootout against Kevin Durant that saw Disco Dirk drop 48. The only small blemish may be game 6 against Miami in which Dirk went 1-12 in the first half. But he came through when it mattered most, going 8for15 in the second half including 10 fourth quarter points - which matches his 4th-quarter average for the entire playoffs. He rallied his team from a 15 point-fourth quarter deficit, twice. Not clutch? Please.

The man responsible for Dirk's 

unguardable fadeaway jumper, Holger

Geschwindner.

Dirk is not your typical franchise player. He doesn't demand the spotlight. He doesn't do countless endorsements. He doesn't have the most marketable personality. He doesn't waste his time on things that didn't help him reach his goal of being a champion. Instead, he spends every summer working with his long time coach from Germany, Holger Geschwindner. He spent countless hours perfecting his legendary one-legged, fadeaway jumper. He became the greatest 7'0'' shooter of all-time.

As the last seconds ticked down in game 6, Dirk couldn't hold back the emotions. That's what happens when you've been doubted for years. When you fail, when you should have succeeded. When you lose, when you should have won. But as Dirk rejoiced alone, there were no hardships to endure. He has silenced his critics. He has put an exclamation mark on his hall of fame career. He has cemented his legacy. He's an NBA champion.

"I can always look back to the 2010-11 season and say we're the world champs and no one can ever take that away from me."

Destiny fulfilled.

Break Even Point - NHL Playoffs - Finals

Vancouver Canucks.

Are they Canada's team?

Boston Bruins.

Are they Canada's team?

Since 2004, four Canadian teams have made it to the Stanley Cup Finals (Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and now Vancouver). However, there was never a question as to which team Canadians cheered for during the finals for the Flames, Oilers, and Senators. So why is it not the same for the Canucks?

More importantly, can the Canucks finally bring the cup back to Canadian soil - with a team loaded with imported talent?

Let the team at the Break Even Point hammer out the 2011 NHL Finals. Check it out here.

Break Even Point - NBA Playoffs - Finals

One thing that everyone needs to know about Jason Terry is that he is very superstitious. 

• He wears the opponents shorts to bed the night before every game
• He wears kneee-high socks - in quantities of 5
• He has to indulge in some poultry before tipoff.

For someone who is so superstitious, you would be surprised by his most recent tattoo. JET tattooed a Larry O'Brien Trophy to his right bicep. Most athletes refrain from touching or going anywhere near the championship trophy as it may "jinx" their chances of winning it. Is JET's latest artwork going to "jinx" his chances of beating the Miami Heat in this year's finals? Or did he get it tattooed simply to kiss it for good luck before eating his pre-game chicken fingers?

The team at the Break Even Point will break down the 2011 NBA Finals. Will ASam finally cave in and put personal grudges aside and pick the surging Mavericks? Listen here. As always, feel free to comment and share!

Break Even Point - NHL Playoffs - Round 2

Can Ovie finally carry
the Caps to the Finals?

14 overtime games. 4 seven-game series. Numerous head-shots. And even a suspension.

That sums up the thrilling first round of the 2011 NHL playoffs. Each passing day in the first round was like grabbing a new handful of Bits&Bites snack mix - you just didn't know what you would get. The first round provided so much excitement and was truly a roller coaster ride from beginning to end. So the question is: can Round 2 live up to Round 1?

ASam and I have broken down the semi-finals matchups and let you know who will move on to the Conference Finals. Will Ovechkin and the Capitals finally make their first appearance in the Conference finals? Can Vancouver build on their momentum? How will Boston play against the team they gave up a 3-0 series lead to?

Check it out here! Break Even Point has all the answers!

Break Even Point - NBA Playoffs - Round 2

Who would have thought the 8th seeded Memphis Grizzlies would upset the 1st place San Antonio Spurs?

Or how about the enigmatic Atlanta Hawks taking care of business against the Orlando Magic? 

Many surprises and close games in the first round of the NBA playoffs which sets the stage for round 2 with some compelling match- ups. The cinderella team from Memphis will tackle the young, up-and-coming OKC Thunder. Can they pull off another upset with Zach Randolph leading the way? And what will happen in the first ever playoff encounter between Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki?

The team at the Break Even Point will give you everything you need to know about the Round 2. Check it out here! 

Break Even Point - NBA Playoffs - Round 1

The big question in this playoffs
is: Can the Lakers 3-peat?

"Where Amazing Happens." The slogan of the NBA for the last few seasons has become a somewhat sports-culture tagline. This past season we've seen the league go through several climatic events that have shaped this year's playoff scenario.

"Where Big-3s Happen" - with the formations of Big 3s in Miami and New York to go along with Boston, Los Angeles and San Antonio. "Where Last-Run-At-A-Title-Because-We're-Old Happens" - with the aging Spurs, Celtics and Mavs having a small window of opportunity to contend for a title because their go-to guys are nearing the end of their playing career. "Where Pending-Lockouts Happen" - with the expiration of the CBA and no resolution in sight. "Where Nothing Happens" - because of the lockout and the lost of the 2011-12 season and playoffs.

With the future of the NBA in limbo, more NBA fans are dedicating more time to watching this year's playoffs. With the pool of talent as good as its ever been, it's become very difficult to predict who will come out of the east and west.

The team at the Break Even Point will dissect each series and give our predictions on who will be contending for the Larry O'Brien trophy this spring.

Check it out here! As always, feel free to comment and share!

Break Even Point - NHL Playoffs - Round 1

The best 3 months of the NHL calendar is upon us. The team at the Break Even Point break down all the round 1 match-ups and give an early prediction on who makes it to the finals.

There are many story lines that will make the first round worth watching.

Can Vancouver finally beat the Blackhawks?

Will retribution be at the forefront in the Bruins/Canadiens series?

Will the defensive-minded Capitals finally make a long playoff run?

Check out the NHL Playoffs - Round 1 podcast.  There's an interesting musical intro, courtesy of ASam and YouTube.

As always, feel free to comment and share!

2010/11 Edmonton Oilers - Season Review

Oilers GM Steve Tambellini wins the NHL Draft
Lottery. Points to the loser,  Avalanche GM Greg Sherman

Another season has ended for the Edmonton Oilers and what were the results?

30th place finish. Good enough for dead last.

Year 1 of the "Rebuild" is complete and needless to say there were a lot of ups and downs to the season. But does the 30th place finish mean improvement or regression? 

The team at the Break Even Point break down and look back on the Oilers season and evaluate how the youth movement performed, the impact of the veteran players, what GM Steve Tambellini should do with the 1st overall pick and what we expect for next season.

Check out the Oilers Season Review podcast. 

Turn up your volume. Comment. Share.

2010/11 NHL Awards

I think the 2010/11 NHL awards are harder to predict than in years past. And it's all because of one player: Sidney Crosby. Before going down with a season-ending concussion, Crosby was on a torrid pace with 66 points in only 41 games including a 25 game point streak. If he had finish the season, they would be engraving his name onto the Rocket Richard, Art Ross and Hart trophies. What a shame. 

Hart Trophy: Corey Perry

There is no way the hockey gods would let a Sedin take league MVP in back-to-back years especially with Perry's performance down the stretch. In his final 19 games, Perry registered 30 points and locked up the Rocket Richard trophy with his first 50 goal campaign. In addition, he carried the Anaheim Ducks to a playoff spot when it seemed like a long shot. The Ducks were on the outside looking in about a month ago and now have home-ice advantage for the first round. Some may give the MVP to Daniel Sedin with his league-leading 104 points on the President's Trophy winning Vancouver Canucks. But CP10 gets me vote.

Honourable Mentions: Daniel Sedin, Tim Thomas

Norris Trophy: Nicklas Lidstrom

If there is one thing that defines the 2010/11 season it's that it was the year of the 40. Lidstrom has put together another solid season and finished second in league scoring among defencemen with 62 points. He still quarterbacked the Red Wing's powerplay with perfection, finishing with 39 pp points and making it the 5th best powerplay in the NHL. He still logged well over 20 minutes of ice time per game (23:28) and played every important situation possible in a game. And he did this all at the tender age of 40. 

Honourable Mentions: Shea Weber, Keith Yandle

Vezina Trophy: Tim Thomas

Two seasons ago, Thomas has a coming-out party and dominated the competition on his way to his first Vezina Trophy at the age of 34. His follow-up season was more forgettable than memorable. He battled injuries, mediocre play and eventually lost his starting gig to Tuuka Rask. This season, at 36 years old, Thomas has regained his form, and the starting gig, to put on one of the best statistical seasons in recent memory. His 2.00 GAA and .938 SV% are tops in both categories. He finished with a 35-11-9 record along with 9 shutouts (second to Henrik Lundqvist's 11). He finished 9th with 35 wins compared to Carey Price's 38 wins. But here's the catch: Thomas appeared in only 57 games in comparison to Price's 72. Thomas gets his second Vezina. 

Honourable Mentions: Roberto Luongo, Pekka Rinne

Selke Trophy: Ryan Kesler

When your team finishes in the top spot, that usually means your team has committed to two-way hockey. If there is anything we learned from D3 The Mighty Ducks it's that defense wins championships. Kesler has been the two-way force all season for the Canucks. He finished with 74 points and a plus-24 for the season. He had a 57. 4 face-off percentage and won 859 face-offs, good enough for second behind Jonathan Toews' 937. He helped the Canucks finish with the 3rd best PK unit in the NHL this season. His effective two-way game this season would have made Coach Orion proud. 

Honourable Mentions: Jordan Staal, Manny Maholtra

Jack Adams Trohpy: Dan Bylsma

Any time you lose you two best players for a majority of the season and manage to put up a 106 point season is pretty remarkable. But when those two players are Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, that's just plain good coaching. Bylsma not only salvaged what seemed to be a lost season but almost managed to coach his team to a division title and first-place seeding the Eastern Conference. 

Honourable Mentions: Alain Vigneault, Barry Trotz

Lady Byng Trophy: Martin St. Louis

The guy is essentially on the ice all the time and racks up the points like he does with Air Miles. But somehow St. Louis only managed to accumulate 12 penalty minutes all season. To put that into perspective, Steve MacIntyre got 17 minutes in penalties last Friday in 44 seconds of ice time. My pick for the Jackie Chan "Mr. Nice Guy" Award goes to Marty. 

Honourable Mentions: Teemu Selanne, Loui Eriksson

Northern Advice

As a true Oilers fan, I hate the Calgary Flames. It's like how Yankee fans hate the Red Soxs and Lakers fans hating anything to do with the Celtics. You grew knowing that they're the enemy and their pain and suffering is your joy and bliss. It's pretty straight forward.

Here is the hockey scene in southern Alberta. After a dismal start to the season, all signs pointed to an overhaul in Calgary with bodies being shipped out and entering a rebuild mode. Longtime GM Darryl Sutter was let go and rumors circulated about the possible departure of team captain, and greatest thing since Lanny MacDonald's mustache, Jarome Iginla. Then, something happened. The Flames started winning. A lot. The Flames were in the playoff picture and seemed virtually unstoppable and the plans of blowing up the team was put on the back-burner. The Flames brass decided they were "all-in" and postponed clearing salary and collecting draft picks to build a sustainable team for the future. 

Fast-forward to March, the Flames are in the playoff picture that is looking bleak. Currently in 10th place and having less games to play than the teams in front of them, the Flames' playoff chance are almost as slim as their cap space. The final nail in the coffin could be delivered tonight in the Battle of Alberta. Regardless of the outcome, the fate of the 2010-11 Flames is evident. 

The current state of the Flames' organization is well documented. Little to no wiggle-room in the salary cap. A cupboard of potential prospects that is running on empty. And past dealings have lead to little high-end picks in an already diluted draft class. The question is: What's next?

In my humble, non-I-Wish-Nothing-But-Years-Of-Suffering-For-Calgary opinion, the Flames need to look at their neighbors up north and perhaps adopt their game plan. A few years ago, the Oilers were in the same position as the Flames: maxed-out their salary cap, trying to contend for the playoffs with a inferior on-ice product, and was barely treading water in the competitive NHL. The Oilers were sinking. 

But before the Oilers drowned, they decided to hit the reset button. Oil Country is in full-throttle rebuild mode with a nucleus of young talent that brings hope for the future. House cleaning started last offseason with the departure of several veterans and the keys to the car have been handed over to the likes of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi. Along with the on-ice personnel, the Oilers are armed with draft picks, lots of cap space, and promising prospects in hopes of returning to the "glory days." Throw in the possibility of a new arena and excitement about what the future brings is contagious. Yes, the Oilers will miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. But instead of trying to find "quick-fixes", spend money freely, and build on a flawed model, the Oilers are developing a system and culture that has a shot at success in the long run. Instead of sinking beneath the waters, the Oilers are floating. And this has given its fans one thing: optimism. This is the hockey scene in northern Alberta.

So my question to all Calgary Flames fans is this: Do you want to sink or swim?

Break Even Point - Post Trade Deadline Edition

Final moves have been made. Dead weight has been shipped out. And the race for first (or last) place is in full throttle.

The team at the Break Even Point breaks down the aftermath of the NHL and NBA Trade Deadline. Who are the winners and losers? And who do we project to be lifting hardware in June? Check out our latest podcasts!

NHL Post Trade Deadline

NBA Post Trade Deadline

Family Reunion - The Return of LeBron

Akron's most famous son returns home.

Needless to say, the LeBron James-Cleveland family reunion tonight will not be anything of the ordinary. There will not be any family portraits taken. No reminiscing of old times. And definitely no handshakes, hugs or kisses.

Nearly five months after LeBron made his decision to leave his hometown Cavaliers for the warm beaches of Miami, he will be walking down the halls of the Quicken Loans Arena for the first time as the enemy. For the first time perhaps in his career, he will face an entire crowd that will spitting venom at him for an entire 48 minutes.

Since "The Decision", the Cavaliers and the Heat franchises have gone through radical changes and repositioned themselves in the NBA landscape. Miami has struggled out of the gate and currently sits on an 11-8 record. James along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have taken longer to gel than expected and have struggled to beat teams with .500 records or better. Several preseason concerns are coming to fruition. The depth of the Heat is in serious question as, outside the Big 3, production is minimal from the bench. Significant injuries have put more pressure on the Big 3 to produce especially with the injury to Mike Miller (has yet to make his season debut) and the loss of Udonis Haslem (reportedly, done for the season). And big question marks surrounding the point guard position and the front court has been exposed by elite teams.

Off the court, the Heat has had to face their share of criticism and internal issues. With no true PG on the roster, LBJ has been forced to play point-forward and run the offense Magic Johnson-style. Reports say he prefers not to be the distributor and has clashed with coach Erik Spoelstra which climaxed with the media-constructed BumpGate. A player-only meeting was held after a dismal performance against the Dallas Mavericks in which the details of the meeting were kept internally. And campaigns for the firing of Spoelstra are in full-swing with Pat Riley coming down from the front office.

The Cavaliers, as expected, are struggling but the lack of quality teams in the East have them in playoff contention even with a 7-10 record. The Cavs have not done a complete overhaul of the team and is content on competing with the pieces they have. Veterans like Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker are taking the leadership role and help guide the young core of JJ Hickson and Daniel Gibson. The spirit of the Cavs fanbase remains high despite the latest blow to their sports-culture. Their attendance is ranked second in the league and does not need their fans to "Fan Up" to make sure they're in their seats on time.

When LeBron decided to leave back in July, he was on a pursuit for championships and believe the grass was greener in D-Wade's backyard. The Heat's struggles are well documented but it's still too early to declare the experiment a complete disaster. The final evaluation of LeBron's decision cannot be made on the premise of a handful of games or even one season. He is in for the long-haul, for now.

What is definitive is LeBron's perceived image by his hometown. He is the home-grown talent that made the Cavs relevant again. The player who brought the crowd to their feet every night. The marketing-gem who lured in big-name companies to the city and plaster his face on billboards.

But on this night, he will be perceived as the most recent blemish in Cleveland's sports history. The player who never lived up to the promise of delivering the city a championship. The man who ripped the heart out of his hometown on national TV.

When LeBron performs his pregame ritual of tossing the powder in the air, the Cleveland crowd won't be mesmerized by what his athletic greatness may bring tonight. They will see through the cloud of white powder and see an ex-relative.

This will not be a family reunion for LeBron James. It's judgement day.

Oilers Quarter Report

We have reached the quarter-mark of the NHL season and pretty soon everyone can stop using the phrase: "It's still early in the season." Time is ticking for teams to "figure things out" and "work out the kinks." The Edmonton Oilers season is quickly unfolding and needless to say its somewhat obvious where this season is heading based on the first quarter of the season.

The Oilers stormed out of the gate on opening night with the 4-0 win over the Flames. But since then, there has been little to cheer about as the team as hit a wall. Although preseason expectations were low, the margin of the Oilers' losses have been somewhat surprising. Everyone, myself included, are guilty of overhyping the influx of youth to the team. Their inexperience have come to the forefront and its evident that Hall, Eberle, and Paajarvi are prodigies that will need time to carve out their game in the big leagues. Here's a quick evaluation of Oilers thus far.

FORWARDS

The same story goes for the Oilers forwards: tons of talent but lack in size. Outside of Dustin Penner, the Oilers top 6 forwards don't have the bulk to win crucial battles. Oilers have had trouble sustaining pressure in the offensive zone due largely to their inability to win one-on-one battles in the corner and outmuscling opponents off the puck. In defence of the rookies, they are young and eventually will fill out their frames. The return of a healthy Ales Hemsky significantly boosts the offensive threat of this team but the forward has yet to find his stride. After a breakout year, Dustin Penner is already facing scrutiny in the media over his effort and desire to use his size to his advantage. Other Oilers such as Andrew Cogliano and Gilbert Brule have yet to make any positive impact on the team and may be on the trading block sooner or later. First year captain Shawn Horcoff has taken Hall and Eberle under his wing and form the first line. At times they are the most effective offensive line but with plus-minuses of -2, -7, and -8 more emphasis on two-way hockey needs to be instilled in the young Oilers. Paajarvi has shown flashes of maturity but has bounced around the lineup as of late. Unfortunately, it its of no fault of his own - the lack of size in the lineup has forced Tom Renney to downgrade Paajarvi to the 4th line in favor of the bigger and tougher Ryan Jones. It seems like in-game line juggling occurs as frequently as the Oilers let in powerplay goals. Until they can find the right combination of players and sustain some stability, they will be hard pressed to develop chemistry and offence. 

DEFENCE

Outside of Ryan Whitney, the defensive corps has been abysmal so far. At the forefront of media scrutiny is Tom Gilbert. After receiving the big contract in 2008, Gilbert has struggled to live up to expectations and deliver on both ends of the ice. With $11.5 million left on virtually an immoveable deal, Gilbert needs to find his game for the Oilers to turn this season around. Whitney has been the lone bright spot thus far. In his first full season in copper and blue, Whitney leads the team in scoring and logs huge minutes with his play on PP and PK. Even better, he has already taken a leadership role on the team and was named an alternative captain. Offseason pick-up Jim Vandermeer has been a disappointment. Brought in to be the "sandpaper" on the back end, Vandermeer has been a soft, defensive liability which has made him a healthy scratch as of late. Ladislav Smid and Theo Peckham have played a stay-at-home style and it was nice to see Peckham coming to the aid of Smid after the brawl in New York.

GOALTENDING

Although the stats show that the Oilers goaltending is a significant issue, the numbers don't tell the story. The Oilers have given up the most goals (79) and and the 4th most shots (711) which averages to about 36 shots a game. The lack of defense infront of Khabibulin and Dubnyk has really forced these two to stand on their heads and outperform the opposing goalie to give the Oilers any chance of winning. With the youth movement in full swing, one has to wonder when it is time to hand the starting job to Dubnyk. Khabibulin is the high-priced goalkeeper, but with the playoffs being a long shot this season, it may be time to let Dubs experience the highs and lows of a NHL starting goalie. 

Oilers' Stand

Another tough road game for the Edmonton Oilers where they were hammered on the scoreboard in an 8-2 loss to the New York Rangers. This ends a tough road trip for the copper and blue. But the buzz is not about the Oilers shortcomings on the road, or on the PK. Sunday's game saw a brawl between the two teams after Sean Avery sucker-punched Oilers Ladislav Smid. Watch the sequence of events.



No disciplinary action was handed out to Avery... no surprise. But without a doubt, Avery's gutless act was frowned upon around the league. He's developed a reputation for committing dishonorable acts that even his own teammates are ashamed of.

If Oilers fans can take one positive out of this situation is how Smid's teammates reacted. As Avery is being escorted off the ice, Ryan Whitney continues to give him an earful which leads to an on-ice brawl. Fraser fought. Peckham fought. Stortini fought. In years past, the Oilers have been criticized of not sticking up for one another and allowing their superstars to be bullied by other team's goons. It's refreshing to see that there is a strong sense of pride in the Oilers locker room when one teammate goes down it is an obligation for another to defend his honor. As the Oilers continue to rebuild and establish the proper culture, this element needs to be on the forefront and enforced with the right character players.

"I definitely made a little bit of a mistake and went a little wonky there, but we're a family and sometimes you just have to make a stand for yourself." - Theo Peckham

Raptors Roundup

Following a remarkable victory over the Orlando Magic and previous franchise player Vince Carter, The Toronto Raptors are getting prepared to go against their most recent departed all-star. The player formerly known as CB4 will face-off against his old teammates after leaving T.O to chase championships in Miami.

Franchise player leaves under negative circumstances, Raptors forced to rebuild, new season with very low expectations. Sound familiar? The Raptors entered 2010-2011 with possibly the lowest expectations since their inaugural season. They will hit the 10 game mark tonight and the forecast for this season is very black and white.

In terms of skill, this team severely lacks an uber-talented player who can take over games (and win them) single-handedly. It's assumed that Andrea Bargnani will take over the team and he the cornerstone for years to come. Labelled as being the next Dirk Nowitzki during his draft year, Bargnani has not come close to resembling Disco Dirk as he continues to find consistency in his game. Will he ever average 8+ rebounds in a season?

The PG platoon of Jarret Jack and Jose Calderon has been frustrating at times so far. Neither player has seized the opportunity to become the primary PG due to inconsistent play and turnover issues. Having two quality PGs is never a bad thing, however, but more efficient games from those two will go along away in making the Raptors competitive and preventing them from getting blown out every night.Since Coach Jay Triano has taken over the team, he has been preaching a defence-first mentality that has never materialized to on-court performance. The team currently gives up the 10th most points and, with a roster like the Raptors, that just won't cut it. Turnovers has been a major issue so far as they give up the 7th most turnovers and forces the Raps to play from behind on most given nights. The offence can usually manage to carve out 100-point games but more consistency on the defensive-end could swing games in their favor.

The youth movement is in full swing and with that comes with a roster full of athletic players. The likes of DeMar DeRozen, Sonny Weems and Amir Johnson gives the Raptors a lot of speed to play their up-tempo style. So far, Double D has shown glimpses of his potential as he has put together some solid games, such as the Orlando game (26pts, 7rebs), and may be the player the Raptors build around in the next few years. New additions Leandro Barbosa and Linus Kleiza have made minimal impacts so far. Barbosa is hampered with an wrist injury that is destined for surgery but his injury has given extra minutes to Weems and Julian Wright to show what they can do.

The Raptors firmly know that they won't win because of style, skill or talent for this season. Triano has made the team buy into his hard-nosed, bang-it-out, win-dirty game plan. To put it plain and simple, the Raps will win from working a lot harder than the other team. No player has embodied that more than Reggie Evans, the doppleganger of rapper Freeway. Significantly undersized at 6'8, Evans has managed be a top 5 rebounder that has given the Raps numerous second chance opportunities in games. His level of effort is something to admire and as a fan, you can only hope it is contagious amongst his teammates.

With the team facing Chris Bosh for the first time, there are a lot fo questions surrounding his departure and how it was handled. CB1 has been accused of not being a true leader, mentally checking out, and having negative opinions about Toronto and Canada. A lot of this criticism has come from the Raptors front office especially GM Bryan Colangelo. Bosh has been defending his reputation and saying there is no truth behind those claims. Either way, the path that the Raptors management took in bashing their former all-star has nothing but bad consequences attached to it. We have seen Cavaliers GM Dan Gilbert send out a public hate letter after LeBron left town. Although it was accepted by Clevelanders, the public image of Gilbert and the Cavs organization took a hit. The Raptors cannot afford to go down the same route. The team already faces a disadvantage in luring in free agents and selling them on the team, city, and culture of playing in Canada. Their biggest recruiting resource has left town and publicly bashing him, whether the facts are true or not, does not paint a better picture of the franchise in the eyes of others.

If I can summarize this Raptors season in one word or phrase it would be: Grind It Out. Grind it out in those games when you have games where you aren't suppose to have no chance of winning. Grind it out when you face injuries. Grind it out when you are in a slump. Grind it out through the long 82 game season and see what's the next step to put this team back to having to meet high expectations.

State of Affairs - Oilers and the Taylor Hall Era

So we're about a handful of games into the 2010-11 NHL season and how are those Oilers doing?

Youth movement is in full-swing and yours truly and ASam talk about the new-look Oilers. How have they done so far? Are we optimistic of pessimistic? Can Taylor Hall handle the Edmontonian, hockey crazy pressure cooker?

Check out the podcast here. Keep in mind the podcast was made before they faced-off against the San Jose Sharks. Turn up your volume and enjoy!

Break Even Point - The Greatness of HUT

EA Sports has done it again!

An integral part of every male Canadian's childhood is the beloved EA Sports NHL series. The 2011 version is back, better and still way too expensive. The usual is there - game play, online, Be a Pro mode, etc. But rather than staying completely status quo, EA has introduced the HUT!

Hockey Ultimate Team -  the nostalgic feature that has brought together fantasy hockey with our childhood.

Break Even Point returns with ASam and yours truly to break down this revolutionary new feature. What's great about it? How could it be better? Did you ever wonder what ever happened to Dominic Pittis?

TURN YOUR VOLUME UP!

A Season for the Ages: 2010-11 NBA Preview

Another NBA season is upon us and it'll will be one to remember. Why? Its inevitable that a lockout will be happening in 2011-12 so you might as well remember as much of this season as possible to get you through those hoop-less months next year. Here's a few reasons:

1) Owners want to cut players salaries by 1/3 and pocket that money for themselves. Can you blame them? Player salaries have gone out of control and the owners want a hard salary cap to swing things back in their favor. I guess it only takes contracts like Eddy Curry's $11 million per season to make them realize this. 

2) Players are telling the owners to go eff themselves. A lot of NBA players grew up in poverty and disadvantaged circumstances and now make more money then they ever dreamed of. And you expect them to just give that up? Its like watching TV in HD on a flatscreen and trying to rip that away and replace it with a TV with bunny ear antennas. 

But regardless of what happens in 12 months from now, this upcoming season will be one to remember. The talent is at an all time high. So many story lines (did you hear what happened in Miami?). So many questions with no answers...yet. 

Will the Lakers 3-peat?

How will the Big 3 in Miami on in its inaugural season together?

Can the Celtics drag Shaq to the Finals for his 5th ring?

Will Kevin Durant supplant LBJ for the MVP?

Will Blake Griffin or John Wall win the ROY?

Will Jay Triano be completely bald by the end of the season from the dreadful upcoming Raptors season?

We'll have our answers soon enough. Here is a divisional preview for the 2010-11 NBA season.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic

Central

Southeast

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Northwest

Pacific

Southwest

My Finals Predictions:

Boston Celtics v. LA Lakers

Lakers in 6

2010-11 NBA Preview - Northwest Division

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Reasons for Success:

Jumped on this bandwagon after they left the turmoil in Seattle and glad that I did. They have a strong core of young players to build around in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green. Great supporting cast and lots of cap room to keep their stars and tinker with the lineup to push for a championship one day. There are no head-cases and they play so unselfishly. This is how every team in sports should build a contender with longevity.

Causes for Concern:

Coming off his first of many scoring titles, KD is a heavy favorite to dethrone LBJ for MVP honors. OKC pushed the Lakers immensely in their first round matchup last season and are expected to make a quantum leap this year. Too much expectation? KD and Westbrook had long summers playing for USA in the FIBA tournament and may run out of gas. Remember, these guys have never had a long playoff run before.

Prediction: 1st Division 3rd Conference

UTAH JAZZ

Reasons for Success:

After losing Carlos Boozer, the Jazz replaced him (and potentially upgraded) with Al Jefferson. Paul Milsap is slated to be the starting PF and may finally have the breakout season everyone has been waiting for. AK47 is in a contract year and if he can regain his 2005-6 form, this team can challenge for a top 3 spot in the West. Deron Williams will remain the 20-10 threat he always has been. When will Jerry Sloan win Coach of the Year?

Causes for Concern:

Like many other teams, the Jazz had a lot of turnover during the offseason. They lost effective role players in Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer and Wesley Matthews. Al Jefferson is finally out of the Minny and is poised for an allstar-calibre season playing alongside D-Will but he needs to stay healthy.

Prediction: 2nd Division 4th Conference

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

Reasons for Success:

This team is littered with talent in all positions. This team is poised for a playoff run with Brandon Roy running the show with LaMarcus Aldridge as his sidekick. Having Marcus Camby for a full season will pay huge dividends and may help the team contend for a top 3 spot in the conference. Breakout seasons from Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews will certainly help that cause.

Causes for Concern:

Everyone starts off the season healthy, but how long will that last? Greg Oden is being Greg Oden. What is the over/under on when the Trailblazers give up/get rid of this bust? 2 seasons? Sidenote: How did Matthews get a $34million contract when he averaged less than 10 points last season?

Prediction: 3rd Division 7th Conference

DENVER NUGGETS

Reasons for Success:

They still have Melo as of now and he is one of the best scorers in the game today. If they manage to keep him until the trade deadline they may be in position to lock down a playoff spot.

Causes for Concern:

The Carmelo saga may take a turn for the worst at any given moment. If Melo decides to mentally check out than it jeopardizes the season and the value they can get in return via trade. The frontcourt has already been hit with long-term injuries in Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen. Throw in the fact that K-Mart and JR Smith are already bitching about getting new contracts and you cannot help it but to see this team being blown up and start from scratch.

Prediction: 4th Division 8th Conference

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Reasons for Success:

The key to the team has been handed to Kevin Love to lead this team back to respectability. Underachiever Michael Beasley was brought in and if he reaches his potential that warranted him being picked 2nd overall then they may have a foundation to build on.

Causes for Concern:

They have no point guard and their supposed franchise PG is chilling in Barcelona after a dreadful showing at the FIBA tournament this summer. They essentially replaced Al Jefferson's double-double production with Darko Milicic. David Kahn is the new Isiah Thomas.

Prediction: 5th Division 15th Conference