TRIPLE THREAT CLE: Houston Rockets

Showing posts with label Houston Rockets. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

2017-18 NBA Predictions

Randy Groce, Cleveland Cavaliers & NBA Writer (@Brownsareaweful)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs v Wizards
Western Conference Finals: Warriors v Rockets
NBA Finals: Cavs v Warriors, Winner: Cavs
MVP: Kawhi Leonard, changed to LeBron James
Most Improved Player: Joel Embiid
Rookie Of The Year: De'Aaron Fox
Cavs Wins: 57

Cliff Gulley, NBA Writer (@CLG2282)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs v Wizards
Western Conference Finals: Warriors v Thunder
NBA Finals: Cavs v Warriors, Winner: Cavs
MVP: LeBron James
Most Improved Player: Dante Exum, changed to Jaylen Brown
Rookie Of The Year: Ben Simmons
Cavs Wins: 62

Pat Luhta, MLB Writer & NCAA Football Writer (@PLuhta)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs v Celtics
Western Conference Finals: Warriors v Thunder
NBA Finals: Cavs v Warriors, Winner: Warriors
MVP: John Wall
Most Improved Player: Rodney Hood
Rookie Of The Year: Josh Jackson
Cavs Wins: 58

Jason Disantis, Ohio State Writer, UFC Writer (@JasonInCLE)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs v Wizards
Western Conference Finals: Warriors v Thunder
NBA Finals: Cavs v Warriors, Winner: Warriors
MVP: LeBron James
Most Improved Player: Kristaps Porzingis
Rookie Of The Year: Lonzo Ball
Cavs Wins: 57

Pat Tregoning, NCAA Basketball Writer (@PatNShaker)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs v Wizards
Western Conference Finals: Warriors v Rockets
NBA Finals: Cavs v Warriors, Winner: Cavs
MVP: James Harden
Most Improved Player: Myles Turner
Rookie Of The Year: Ben Simmons
Cavs Wins: 57

Katelin Marshall, Cleveland Browns & NFL Writer (@KatelinKnowsCLE)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs v Celtics
Western Conference Finals: Warriors v Thunder
NBA Finals: Cavs v Warriors, Winner: Cavs
MVP: LeBron James
Most Improved Player: Myles Turner
Rookie Of The Year: Lonzo Ball
Cavs Wins: 55

Jaison Roberts, Pittsburgh Steelers Writer (@Kratoslives)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs v Wizards
Western Conference Finals: Warriors v Spurs
NBA Finals: Cavs v Warriors, Winner: Cavs
MVP: LeBron James
Most Improved Player: Derrick Rose
Rookie Of The Year: Jayson Tatum
Cavs Wins: 70

Brandon Albright, Wrestling Writer (@B_Rock1978)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs v Celtics
Western Conference Finals: Warriors v Spurs
NBA Finals: Cavs v Spurs, Winner: Spurs
MVP: Russell Westbrook
Most Improved Player: Brandon Ingram
Rookie Of The Year: Lonzo Ball
Cavs Wins: 57

Raven Williams, Editor, Entertainment Writer, Host (@nevaRWilliams)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs v Wizards
Western Conference Finals: Warriors v Thunder
NBA Finals: Cavs v Warriors, Winner: Cavs
MVP: Kawhi Leonard
Most Improved Player: Devin Booker
Rookie Of The Year: Dennis Smith Jr.
Cavs Wins: 61

Full Court Press: 2017-18 NBA Preview

By Randall Groce, @Brownsareaweful

A lot has changed since the season ended last June. Six all stars from last year are now on different teams. Paul George went to the OKC Thunder. Paul Millsap went to Denver. Jimmy Butler is in Minnesota. Gordon Hayward moved on to Boston. Kyrie Irving joined him about a month later, which caused Isaiah Thomas to go to Cleveland. Did you get all of that?

After the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers to claim their second title in three years, many wondered what impact that might have on the direction teams would go about in building teams this past offseason with so many big name free agents available. In the East, the question is do you build to win immediately to try and take down the Cavaliers, or slowly put together a roster that will be ready to win once LeBron finally retires. A team that seems to have done both are the Boston Celtics.

In August, the Celtics acquired Kyrie Irving in a trade with the Cavaliers in exchange for fellow all-star Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and one of Boston's 2018 first round picks, by way of Brooklyn. The Cavs also added Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Jeff Green, and Jose Calderon. Good luck trying to dethrone them.

Three teams that seem to be waiting on LeBron to move on are the Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, and Milwaukee Bucks. They basically stood pat this offseason. The Philadelphia 76ers are hoping for good health. Everyone else in the East got worse. I'm not using hyperbole. Literally every team other than the six listed above got worse. Charlotte picked up Dwight Howard, so yea...they got worse too.

Now the Western conference is a completely different story. The fall of the Warriors empire doesn't seem likely to fall anytime soon, so waiting them out would not seem like the smart move. Instead, most of the teams in the West made moves this off season that will make the Warriors' path to the Finals a lot more difficult than it has been the last three seasons.

Carmelo Anthony and Paul George are now teammates with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook in OKC. On paper they pose the greatest threat to the Warriors. Again, on paper. Chris Paul was traded to the Rockets, which will allow the runner up in last year's MVP race, James Harden to go back to his natural position of shooting guard. The Spurs didn't gain a new all-star, but they have Kawhi Leonard and Greg Popovich. They'll be around when it matters.

Denver, Minnesota, Utah, and Portland will probably round out the rest of the playoff teams in the West but Sacramento, Phoenix, and the Lakers have pieces that'll be fun to watch while Dallas, New Orleans, and the Clippers try to sneak into the final playoff spot.

I must admit, when the 2017 Finals ended I was convinced there was really no reason to even pay attention to the upcoming season. What's the point? Cavs-Warriors part 4 was basically written in stone. While I still think that will be the match up next June, fans will on a nightly basis have exciting games to pay attention to. If you don't follow any team in particular the crop of young guys that just came in this season will be fun to watch as well. Dennis Smith Jr. in Dallas will probably win the Slam Dunk competition next February. De'Aaron Fox running the show in Sacramento on a team that features vets Vince Carter and Zach Randolph. Lonzo Ball dealing with the hype and pressure of playing in LA. Jayson Tatum will try to fit in with Kyrie and Gordon Hayward, and Josh Jackson will be the all-around player Phoenix is missing.

This season is going to be FUN. This is going to be a eight month journey. All that I am asking is that the regular season and the playoffs are just as entertaining as the off season was.

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Podcast 6/28/17: On Chris Paul Trade, Phil Jackson, NBA Moves & Lavar Ball

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

You can now download the latest episodes of "TripleThreatCLE.com's Podcast"!

DOWNLOAD: On Chris Paul Trade, Phil Jackson, NBA Moves & Lavar Ball (6/28/17) / SoundCloud Stream Here
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2017 Episodes Of Triple Threat CLE Radio Show
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2016 Episodes of Triple Threat CLE Radio Show

Friday, May 19, 2017

Radio Show 5/17/17: Cavs/Celtics, NBA Draft Lottery, Rompers & More

Monday, June 8, 2015

TV Tonight 6.8

By @nevaRWilliams

STANLEY CUP FINALS
Lightning @ Blackhawks, Game 3, Tied 1-1 (NBC Sports, 8pm)

FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
United States vs. Australia (FOX Sports 1, 7:30pm)
Japan vs. Switzerland (FOX Sports 1, 10pm)

NBA
"Clutch City", the Houston Rockets of the 90s (NBA TV, 9pm)

MLB
2015 First Year Player Draft (MLB Network, 7pm)

COLLEGE BASEBALL
NCAA Super Regional (ESPN 2, 7pm)
NCAA Super Regional (ESPN, 8pm)

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WWE Raw (USA, 8pm)
American Ninja Warrior (NBC, 8pm)
The Bachelorette (ABC, 8pm)
So You Think You Can Dance? (FOX, 8pm)

Major Crimes (TNT, 9pm)

The Island (NBC, 10pm)
The Whispers (ABC, 10pm)
TURN: Washington's Spies SEASON FINALE (AMC, 10pm)
Murder In The First (TNT, 10pm)
Guilty Pleasures (Food Network, 10pm)

Monday, April 28, 2014

Leadoff with Lee 4.28.14

-The Chicago Bulls were in Washington taking on the Wizards. This game was about making runs and turnovers. The Wizards started the game with a 14-0 run and at a point were up 20-4. Even without their center Nene, Washington was too strong for the Bulls winning 98-89 giving them a 3-1 series advantage. Trevor Ariza was a problem for Chicago ending the game with 30 points. John Wall added 15 points and 10 assists. Chicago's Taj Gibson was their only bright spot in scoring, with 32 points. Joakim Noah had a double-double, scoring 10 points with 15 boards. Game 5 is in Chicago on Tuesday as Washington tries to win their first playoff series since 2005.

-The LA Clippers wore their shooting shirts inside out and black arm bands, sleeves and socks in protest of the disturbing racial comments made by owner Donald Sterling. Unfortunately for the Clippers, it didn't motivate them to a win. The Warriors dominated the Clippers winning 118-97. Steph Curry had a game high of 33 points and 7 rebounds. He also added on 7 assists while shooting 7-14 from beyond the arc. Andre Iguodala had 22 points and a game high of 9 assists. For the Clippers, Jamal Crawford had 26 points coming off the bench. Blake Griffin contributed with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Golden State ties the series 2-2. Game 5 is in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Owner Donald Silver will NOT be in attendance.

-Toronto Raptors defeated the Brooklyn Nets 87-79 and tied the series 2-2. The Raptors were led in scoring by Demar DeRozan with 24 points, Kyle Lowery had 22 points. Guard play was too much for Brooklyn to handle last night. Paul Peirce was the Nets only glimmer of hope scoring 22 points.

-In another overtime game in these 2014 NBA Playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers held off the Houston Rockets 123-120. It was another very exciting, fast paced game that included what seemed to be a jump shooting contest between Nicholas Batum and James Harden. The Portland starters lit up the baskets. LaMarcus Aldridge led with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Batum had 25, while Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews had 23 and 21 points, respectively. The Rockets also had four players in double digits, with Dwight Howard leading the charge with 25 and 14 boards. James Harden had 28, Chandler Parsons had 26 and rookie 3-point hot hand, Troy Daniels knocked down 17 points of his own. But in the end of overtime, it was Wesley Matthews who sealed the game with a steal of the ball off James Harden as the buzzer sounded. Portland leads 3-1 and can close out the series Wednesday in Houston.

-The brooms were out in San Francisco, as the Giants swept the Tribe with a 4-1 victory on Sunday. With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th, Brandon Hicks hit a 3 run walk-off home run for the Giants. The Indians only scored 5 runs in 3 games. The Indians hit 2-20 with runners in scoring position with a .167 batting average for the series. The Tribe's next game will be tonight at 10 PM, as they take on the Angels in Anaheim.