Primetime Preview: New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens (NFL Week 15)

Primetime Preview: New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens (NFL Week 15)

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by | Dec 12, 2019 | Featured, NFL

The Baltimore Ravens come in this game 11-2 fresh off their win against the Buffalo Bills. Lamar Jackson has taken the league by storm with his arm and his legs. On the year so far Lamar Jackson has 2,677 yards passing with 28 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. That’s just his passing stats on the ground he’s running for 1,017 yards with 7 touchdowns. This man is a human video game on the field as he’s been juking people out of their cleats. The way that Lamar Jackson plays the game has been a breath of fresh air for the league. Jackson has brought back the Michael Vick vibes and he’s proving to everyone that he can get it done no matter the opponent. The Jets will have their hands full trying to figure out the RPO from Lamar Jackson. The Jets have been banged up on the defensive end and it seems as if Lamar Jackson will continue to build on his MVP leading season. The way that Lamar Jackson has improved his IQ on the field to look through all his reads has been something special to watch. Last season he resulted in running without checking his reads and now he’s been lethal especially when he has time in the pocket to make a clear decision. Lamar Jackson will make this Jets defense look like they’re seeing “Sonic The Hedgehog” when he gets into open space. We can always talk about Lamar Jackson and all the amazing things that he’s done but his running back Mark Ingram has been a complete beast as well. This is Mark Ingram’s first season in Baltimore and he’s playing like he’s been in this offense for his whole career. Mark Ingram is one of those players that can block in the backfield and he’s a monster in the running game. Ingram is one of those players that like the contact and he’s one of the closest players to bringing back “Beast Mode” like runs. Mark Ingram has 887 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns on the season so look for him to add to that tonight. Anytime you have a running game that can go from quickness to beast mode like Jackson/Ingram it will be tough for any defense.

The Jets have suffered in the secondary and that’s where the Ravens will want to attack them. Luckily Mark Andrews wasn’t hurt too bad as the Ravens expect him to suit up tonight. Mark Andrews has been amazing this year and he’s been the clear cut number one receiver for Lamar Jackson. It doesn’t matter who the Ravens have in their receiving core because Jackson has been able to connect with Hurst, Snead, Boyle, and Brown. The fact that Lamar Jackson can buy extra time in the pocket and roll-out helps his receivers buy time to make the plays. The Ravens offense looks unstoppable but this defense has been able to step their game up ever since they got Marcus Peters. The Ravens have two of the best defenders in the secondary in Marcus Peters and Earl Thomas. Both of them lead this team with energy and leadership. This Ravens defense has been really good against some big-time teams this season (NE, HOU, SF). Defense wins championships and the Ravens are using their playmakers to their advantage. The Ravens defense will have their way against Sam Darnold especially since it’s on the road. The Ravens defense will have him seeing more ghosts as he did in the Patriots game. This Ravens defense has 11 interceptions on the season and they’ve run 2 back for touchdowns. They also have 33 sacks on the season and have forced 12 fumbles so look for them to be swarming all over the place against the Jets tonight.

 

 

The New York Jets are coming into this game off their win against the Miami Dolphins. The game against the Dolphins was a field goal fest and they will need to get touchdowns in this game tonight. Sam Darnold has had some great matchups down the stretch but they run into a Ravens team that’s on a mission trying to get that number one seed. Darnold has looked look this season as he’s had some ups and downs but this game will be a struggle. Darnold has been able to use his receivers all season as he’s made sure that Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder are getting fed. On the season both Anderson/Crowder combined for 1,280 yards this season with 7 touchdowns. The Jets wide receivers are going to have a tough night against the Ravens secondary. The Jets have one of the best running backs in the NFL with Leveon Bell in the backfield. He’s coming back from his sickness last week and will be trying to make things happen against the Ravens. Bell’s one of the best players in the NFL when it comes to catching out the backfield and lining up the as wide receiver as well. Bell hasn’t been able to run through those holes this season like he’s been able to do in the past but he can break one out at any moment. The Jets haven’t used Bell as much as he’s wanted to be used but he has grabbed those all-purpose yards. The defense has been banged up all year for the Jets and it will be tough for them to hold the Ravens running game down. This will be a lopsided game and the Jets will need for Lamar Jackson to miss his flight in order to have any chance. The Jets will need to slow down this high powered offense if they want any chance to survive on Thursday night and they will need Sam Darnold to bring his A++++++ game tonight against the Ravens.

 

 

Prediction: The Baltimore Ravens will win this game 38-14 against the New York Jets tonight. Lamar Jackson and company will score so many points that they will sit Jackson down in the 4th quarter. The running game for the Ravens will punish the Jets in this one and the Jets won’t be able to create enough offense to make anything happen. 

Dec 12, 2019 No Comments
Nike Announces the Release Date for The KD 12 “Aunt Pearl”

Nike Announces the Release Date for The KD 12 “Aunt Pearl”

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by | Dec 12, 2019 | Featured, NBA, Sneaker Releases

Kevin Durant has included a special tribute to his late aunt Pearl in his shoe line since the KD 4. Alongside the Kay Yow Fund, KD continues to craft extremely personal and wondrously beautiful silhouette. Every year, KD’s Aunt Pearl colorway stands tall amongst the others, not just among his own colorways but throughout many of the Nike Basketball PEs. For this year’s iteration, KD and his team are reaching back to previous Aunt Pearl models for inspiration. The most notable part is the winged forefoot strap taken from the KD 7.

 This new model also revives the pearl graphic from the KD 4 on the collar foam, the KD 5’s sock liner graphic, the rose graphic on the heel from the K6, the heel’s embroidery is lifted from the KD 9, whereas the soft material on the tongue, collar, and Swoosh are originally found on the KD 10, the marbling on the outsole comes from the KD 11. Not only is this year’s ‘Aunt Pearl’ variation a tribute to a special person in Kevin Durant’s life but a reflection of his growth as a player. The ‘Aunt Pearl’ KD 12 is set to drop December 27th at select Nike retailers.

Nike KD 12 “Aunt Pearl”

Style Code: CT2740-900

Release Date: December 27, 2019

Price: $150  

Dec 12, 2019 No Comments
SR NFL Fantasy Football: Week 15 – Waiver Wire Advice

SR NFL Fantasy Football: Week 15 – Waiver Wire Advice

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by | Dec 12, 2019 | Featured, NFL

After the conclusion of the first week of the fantasy football playoffs, many owners are searching for someone to fill a void in their roster. Here are some last minute additions who could still be available that will definitely increase your chance at winning in week 15. 

A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans (55.0% Rostered)

After a rough start to the season, rookie WR A.J. Brown has really started to settle in with Ryan Tannehill as the Titans starting QB. Brown has totaled over 100 yards and a touchdown in two of his last three games. Brown faces the Texans in week 15 who just let rookie QB Drew Lock move the ball with ease. The Texans have also allowed the 8th most touchdowns to wide receivers this year. Brown is a must add for anyone needing a plug and play at receiver, and his availability in 45% of leagues is comical for how he has been performing recently. 

Zach Pascal, WR, Indianapolis Colts (36.1% Rostered)

The Colts are now without two of their best playmakers on offense as leading receiver T.Y. Hilton’s status for the rest of the season in doubt due to a lagging calf injury, as well as the placement of Tight End Eric Ebron to the Injured Reserve.  Zach Pascal has filled in very nicely as the number 1 receiver, with two straight games of over five receptions and 74 yards. The Colts head to New Orleans for a match up with the Saints in week 15. Although the Saints do pose a strong secondary, the Colts will need to throw the ball a lot to keep up with the Saints offense. Pascal is definitely a streamable flex option in week 15, but his value is slightly less than that of A.J. Brown. 

Raheem Mostert, RB, San Francisco 49ers (45.5% Rostered) 

The San Francisco 49ers backfield is one of the most confusing, yet effective things in the National Football League. Every week they seem to feature a new back, whether it be Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida, or Raheem Mostert. Although they are very unpredictable, Mostert out snapped both Breida and Coleman by a heavy margin in week 14. Mostert has put together two outstanding performances in a row against two of the best teams in the league, averaging over 22 fantasy points (0.5 PPR) against the Ravens and Saints. Kyle Shanahan seems to prefer Mostert’s ability as the season is winding down. The 49ers play Atlanta this week, which does not pose that big of a defensive challenge. Even if Mostert only gets 10-15 touches, he has proven value in week 15 for someone only rostered in 45.5% of leagues. 

Patrick Laird, RB, Miami Dolphins (21.6% Rostered)

Everyone knows the Dolphins have struggled to run the ball with any consistency this year, but Patrick Laird seems to have carved out a big enough workload to have some fantasy relevance towards the end of the year. Laird has carried the ball 10 or more times the last two weeks and has posted greater than 10 fantasy points each week (0.5 PPR). The Dolphins head to the Meadow Lands to meet the Giants in week 15, which poses a favorable match up for the running back owned in less than a fourth of leagues. 

Dec 12, 2019 No Comments
SR – NBA Primetime Preview: New Orleans Pelicans Vs. Milwaukee Bucks

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: New Orleans Pelicans Vs. Milwaukee Bucks

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by | Dec 12, 2019 | Featured, NBA

For the second game of this ESPN Wednesday doubleheader, the 6-18 New Orleans Pelicans travel to Wisconsin to play the 21-3 Milwaukee Bucks at 9:30 p.m. EST.

Yes, the main attraction that is Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t be taking center stage on the second slot of tonight’s primetime showdowns, but the show must go on for the team that is tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the best record in the NBA. They’re 14 games deep into a winning streak – a franchise-best-yet record – but have all the confidence in the world to defeat a young-but-slipping team marred by injury and in-house controversy as they visit the Fiserv Forum.

We’ve yet to see what the Chainsaw-esque Bucks appear as without their league MVP, but don’t expect Mike Budenholzer fo fix what ain’t broken. Sure, Ersan Ilyasova is going to start in the place of the Greek Freek, but that doesn’t mean there are any insufficiencies in this lineup, barring Antetokounmpo’s probable 35+ points he’d more than likely be given going against a team that’s lost their two of their starting forwards to the injury report.

Brook Lopez is in a scoring slump. Tonight against the Pelicans, he’s probably going to get out of it. He and D.J. Wilson’s minutes and overall productivity will see a significant rise and their formula – albeit the team’s coast to coast gameplan – of protecting the rim and drilling threes at a surplus is going to be even more amplified tonight.

The player to watch for tonight for New Orleans just has to be Brandon Ingram, right? I mean, there isn’t much surrounding the former Duke forward and although he’s experiencing career-highs in just about every offensive statistic worth measuring this year (25 ppg., 7 asts. off 49.4 percent shooting) he isn’t supplied with much help besides Jrue Holiday.

The Pels have to be licking their chops in having the opportunity to snap their losing streak against a Giannis-less Bucks team, and they’ll especially want to get back on the winning track after a heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Pistons via a Derrick Rose game-winner.

Top overall pick Zion Williamson hasn’t played yet this year as team officials are further suspending the Duke phenom’s return to the hardwood. Problem is, that hasn’t been the only disappointment in the bayou this season.

At least there’s them LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints, I guess?

A big part of their struggles have been on offense in the clutch (T-22nd with Indiana, Memphis, Phoenix, and San Antonio) and at 6-18 it’s looking like starting 2 guard JJ Redick and Zion are going to have that awkward conversation about missing the playoffs for the first time in the Duke all-time leader in 3PM’s career.

Game two of the doubleheader takes place on ESPN at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Dec 12, 2019 No Comments
SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Toronto Raptors

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Toronto Raptors

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by | Dec 12, 2019 | Featured, NBA

Kawhi is in the 6ix to pick up more than his 2018-19 championship ring on Wednesday night, as his Los Angeles Clippers take a trip up north to battle with the upstart Toronto Raptors at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

In what was easily one of the most improbable couple of NBA offseasons in NBA history, the summer of 2018 saw then disgruntled Spurs All-Star Kawhi Leonard be dealt to Toronto in exchange for long-tenured homegrown talent in Demar DeRozan. It was a match made in heaven, and 2018 was a year Canadiens will keep in their hearts so long as they all shall live.

Last year ended on the most sugary of notes, concluding in an upset win over the Dynastic Golden State Warriors in a contentious six-game NBA Finals series where the Raptors would come out on top to claim their franchise’s first world championship (and emphasis on “World” – they were the first NBA franchise to raise a banner outside of the United States).

And it was all in part to some of the legendary performances and Heroics Leonard capitalized in producing for the Torontonians. But the truth was, as fans came to grips with, was that Kawhi felt and was misplaced, literally, in a foreign country some thousand miles from his polaric opposite warm home in California. He wanted to return home on his own terms and was granted the opportunity.

To say Kawhi’s emotional return tonight won’t display any dry eyes will be an understatement, so don’t expect the otherwise kind Canadians to boo and lament the only Finals MVP in their franchise’s 24-year history in the Scotiabank Arena tonight as team introductions, and more specifically Leonard’s receiving of his championship ring, commence.

As for tonight’s matchup, we’ll see a Toronto team that’s managed to scrape out a noteworthy 16-7 record through the season’s first month duel with a full-fledged, full-frontal attack from one of the league’s most complete and intimidating squads in the 18-7 Los Angeles Clippers.

This won’t be a trouncing victory or an easy road win for LA. Not by a long shot. Pascal Siakam is playing at an All-NBA level and has been doing so for just about the entire season, averaging nearly 25 points per game and 8 rebounds while shooting the three-ball at a respectable and improving 36.4 percent. His overall field goal percentage at 45.8 percent has steadily increased and will probably continue to rise now with a fully healthy starting five back on the floor with the Cameroonian.

The Raptors had lost three games in a row before their narrow, ugly victory over the Bulls this past Monday night,  which was unusual, considering that they’ve been a great team all season. It was probably a case of just one of those nights, but aside from that and their uncharacteristic loss on the road against Philly in not being able to complete their 18-point comeback, the Raptors are still an outstanding defensive team, bolstered by the size of length of OG Anunoby with Pascal Siakam on the perimeter and the equanimity and toughness of Kyle Lowry and Fred Van Vleet at the point of attack.

Their offense has sputtered a little of late with a blowout loss to the visiting Rockets a week ago but remains dangerous with  Lowry still at the helms of the offense. Their bench, too, is unpredictably dangerous, with seasoned veterans like arduous shot-blocker Serge Ibaka and team-dubbed “Hustle Man Chap” Rondae Hollis-Jefferson capable of impacting a game on both ends.

They haven’t backed down from anyone, preparing for this night since it’ll probably be the most substantial night so far this season. It’s a measuring stick of sorts to see just how close the Raptors are to being taken seriously as a title defender since the Bucks walked all over the PG-and-Kawhi-led Clips just nights before in a 28-point thrashing on their home floor in Milwaukee.

If they’re to follow in the footsteps of the Eastern rival, they’ll have to beat their old “Fun Guy” who has some serious help that is well superior to the teammates he had in Toronto. Leonard struggled mightily in their loss to Milwaukee, only scoring 17 points in a game that he was to go off in. His numbers this year have still been anything off-putting, scoring 25 points a game off 45 percent shooting.

The Clippers are 2-1 through the first half of their road trip and have bounced back strong from their blowout loss at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks with two nice (but expected) victories against the Wizards and Pacers. Paul George has been smoking hot, torching his former Pacers squad from beyond the arc while locking down defensively.

Their bench? Not so much. Lou Williams looked as if he caught a cold, shooting an icy 2-19 from the field against Indy. Montrezl Harrell has been superb coming off the bench in Doc Rivers’ rotation, showing off his growing game that’s graduated from just the low block and a tight handle that’s eye-opening for any big man to display.

This one’s gonna be good, so make sure you don’t miss it on ESPN at 7 p.m ET, live on ESPN as part of their weekly Wednesday doubleheader.

Dec 12, 2019 No Comments