Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Playoff Predictions

Today I have my 22-23 NBA playoff and awards for you all. I just finished my countdown, so this is the next logical step for me. I also love doing this to see how wrong I am at the end of the season. Let's start with the East.

There are three teams at the top, a cluster in the middle and then some fighting for the play in. The East is not as good as the West, but it is a much improved conference. The three teams at the top, from 1-3 I have the Bucks, Celtics and 76ers. I understand the 76ers haven't won yet, but I do not put a whole lot of stock into three games. They need to start winning now, and I fully believe they will. The next three teams that will firmly be in the playoffs, from 4-6 I have the Heat, Cavs and Nets. I do think the Nets will squeak in, I love the Hawks offseason and I'm tired of sleeping on the Heat. They are always good and they always find a way to win. To round out the playoffs I now have the play in teams. From 7-10 I got the Raptors, Bulls, Wizards and Knicks. I really wanted to pick the Pistons, but I think they are a year away. As for the play in, I got the Raptors beating the Knicks to grab the 7 seed and the Bulls winning two to get the 8th seed.

Now for the East playoffs. The Bucks will once again sweep the Bulls in round one. The 4-5 will be pretty fun. The Heat are the old standby and the Cavs are new and fun. I do like the Cavs to win this series in seven, but it will be tough and hard fought. The 3-6 will see the 76ers beat the Nets in six. Kevin Durant is good enough to get two wins, but Kyrie Irving is a flake and who knows what they will get from Ben Simmons. In the 2-7, the Celtics will beat the Hawks, but it will be closer than we all think. I think the Celtics will win in six, but each game will be close and fun to watch. The semi finals will feature the Bucks facing the Cavs and the Celtics facing the 76ers. I like the Bucks in 5 over the Cavs and the 76ers, I will probably regret this pick, over the Celtics in seven. Then I have the Bucks kind of cruising in the East Finals. The 76ers will be tired and the Bucks will be fresh. And Giannis is just that good. The Bucks will represent the East.

Now for the varsity, the Western Conference. The West is going to be an absolute bloodbath. The conference, for the most part, only got better this offseason. My 1-3 teams are the Clippers, Warriors and Suns. These three teams are loaded, deep, talented and one is the reigning champs. They are so good. As for 4-6, firmly in the playoffs, I have the Nuggets, Grizzlies and Mavs. Two of these teams I cannot stand, and obviously I love the Grizz. I do believe all three of these teams will have 50 plus wins too. That is how deep the West is this season. When we talk about the play in, from 7-10 I have the Timberwolves, Pelicans, Trailblazers and, I do not know who to pick between the Kings and Lakers, I guess I will go with the Kings. In the 7-10 matchup the Timberwolves will cruise to the 7 seed. And the 8 seed will end up being the Pelicans again. They are too fun to not pick.

As for the playoffs now, in the 1-8 the Clippers will beat the Pels in five games. It will be a good series, but the Clippers depth is too much. The 4-5 will feature the Nuggets taking on my Grizzlies. I really, really want to pick the Grizzlies. I love that team so much. But with Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray all back, I unfortunately have to go with the Nuggets in seven. Prove me wrong Grizz. The 3-6 will feature a West semis rematch between the Suns and Mavs. I have the Suns exacted a bit of revenge and winning this series in seven games. The 2-7 will have the Warriors taking down the Timberwolves in six. The Warriors have too much firepower. In the West semis we will have the Clippers taking on the Nuggets and the Warriors playing the Suns. These are two series that should be a ton of fun. I think the Clippers will dispatch of the Nuggets in six games. This should be revenge for the bubble. And the Suns will find a way to beat the Warriors. I think the Warriors will be tired by the time they get here, and it is hard to repeat in pro sports. As for the West Finals I have the Clippers taking down the Suns in six games. Again, the Clippers depth is otherworldly and Kawhi is a playoff killer. I also think the Suns will be spent. The Clippers are the West champs.

That means I have the Bucks facing the Clippers in the NBA Finals. I think Giannis will get his second ring. He is just that good and I think we will all be reminded this season. I have the Bucks winning in six games. Giannis will be the Finals MVP as well.

Now let's do the regular season awards. MVP is going to be Joel Embiid. Once he fully takes over the team he will be unstoppable. Coach of the Year is going to Chris Finch from Minnesota. They are going to be a very good team this season. Defensive Player of the Year is going to be Evan Mobley. He is going to be tremendous all over the floor this season, but especially on defense. Sixth Man of the Year is going to be Jordan Poole. He is going to blow up even more this season. And finally, my Rookie of the Year is Paolo Banchero. I have not seen a rookie so ready to compete in a long time. He is the real deal.

There it is, my 22-23 NBA playoff and awards predictions. Let's see how this all unfolds now.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Clippers, Warriors, Bucks

Welcome to day ten, the final day of my 22-23 NBA countdown. These are my favorites. These are the teams I believe in the most. I will do a playoff and awards prediction on Monday, and a men's college basketball preview on Tuesday. But this is the final day of my countdown.

At number 3 I have the Los Angeles Clippers. I have believed in the Clippers for a few years now, but this is the most I have ever believed in them. They have it all. Kawhi Leonard is back. He is amazing. He is the best overall defender in the NBA, he has become an incredible scorer and he is seemingly healthy again. He looked pretty good the other night, and I believe he will only get better and better as the season wears on. Paul George is also back. George is wrongfully hated by the media. He is a very solid two way player. He has had a solid career and he thrives being Robin to Kawhi's Batman. Ivica Zubac is okay. He can be frustrating at times, but he can also look very good. Reggie Jackson has found a solid home since leaving OKC. He fits very well with this squad. Robert Covington is a beast of a defender and can score here and there. Norm Powell is a great bench scorer and is one of the most important players on this title contending team. John Wall is back and I am so very happy. Wall was one of my favorite players and I wish nothing but solid health for the rest of his career. Luke Kennard can still shoot the three, and he is asked to do nothing else. Terance Mann is a promising young player. Marcus Morris Sr is their enforcer. Nic Batum still carries a little weight. This Clippers squad is loaded. They are deep and incredibly talented. They should be very good, depending on health. This team is legit.

At number 2 I have the defending champs, the Golden State Warriors. It is rinse, wash, repeat for this team. I feel like last season's title was so very fulfilling for this team. They did it their way on their own. I should despise this team but I just don't. They are fun to watch. Steph Curry is still amazing. He is a wizard on the floor. He has gotten better on defense. He is the best shooter of all time. He is in a class all his own. Klay Thompson is fully back and I couldn't be happier for him. It was such a sight to see him play last season and work out the kinks. I love that he is back. Jordan Poole got paid. We all know the offseason drama between him and Draymond Green, but that seems to have passed. And Poole is looking every bit like the next great shooter from Golden State. This is probably the last go round for Draymond Green here and I think he will relish it all. He loves this team, but they may not love him. He does great things that this team needs and this should be his final dance here. Andrew Wiggins proved he belongs. He was incredible in the Finals last year and he also got paid. James Wiseman adds depth and height to this squad. He just needs to stay on the floor. Donte DiVincenzo fits almost too perfectly with this team. It is gross. JaMychal Green brings offensive rebounding and grit. Kevon Looney is their center now and for the foreseeable future. Johnathan Kuminga and Moses Moody should get a chance to show they deserve playing time. And Andre Iguodala is their Udonis Haslem. The Warriors are very, very good and will be as long as Steph Curry is on this team.

And my number 1 team for the 22-23 NBA season is the Milwaukee Bucks. I love, love, love the Bucks. They are my father's favorite team and I find it hard to not root for them when they are not playing the Grizzlies. Giannis Antetokoumpo is the best player in the league. Full stop. He does it all, and is a very good player in the NBA. He is the one and only unicorn in the NBA. When healthy, Khris Middleton hits all the big shots, plays stout defense and has a very calm demeanor. Jrue Holiday may be the best perimeter defender in the league. He also hits big shots when called upon and plays a fun style of basketball. Brook Lopez will be there for the full season and that will benefit him and the Bucks. Bobby Portis has totally turned his career story around and has become a great energizer off the bench. He is awesome. Pat Conaughton can shoot the three and d up. Serge Ibaka can still give this team small minutes here and there. Jevon Carter brings toughness. Wes Matthews fits so well on this squad. This Bucks team has everything you could want in a modern NBA team. They are my early title favorites, and as the season goes on I think most will agree with me.

That is it, that is my 2022-23 NBA countdown. I hope you all have enjoyed it. The season is currently going on so enjoy the games. This should be a great season.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Suns, Celtics, 76ers

Welcome to day nine of my 22-23 NBA countdown. These are my top teams. These are the teams that I would bet on to win it all if I were a betting man. Any of these teams could win it all and I wouldn't bat an eye.

At number 6 I have the Phoenix Suns. This team had quite the offseason. They got blown out in the West Semis. Then they waited forever to re-sign Deandre Ayton. Then he said he hadn't talked to his coach. Then Robert Sarver was suspended and eventually said he was selling the team. Then Jae Crowder asked to be traded. And they still came out, erased a 22 point lead and beat the Mavs on opening night. That is why I will not give up on this team yet. Devin Booker is a star. He is such a good scorer and is becoming a decent defender. Chris Paul is still one of the best point guards to ever play the game. He keeps getting older but his game stays relatively the same. Deandre Ayton, for all the offseason drama, is still a 20 and 10 guy, still plays sound defense, is still a solid rim runner and can stretch the defense. Mikail Bridges is awesome. He is going to win defensive player of the year soon, maybe even this season. He is becoming a reliable scorer. He goes up against the opponent's best player every night. Cam Johnson has earned his starting spot. He can shoot and is a solid team defense guy. Damion Lee just hit a game winner and looks like a solid bench guy. Dario Saric is back and he adds a ton to this roster. Cam Payne has proven to be a top tier backup point guard. Bismack Biyombo brings energy and defense. I like the Josh Okogue signing. The Suns have a very good roster, with a very good coach and will win a ton of games this year. They are still a legit threat.

At number 5 I have the Boston Celtics. Here is another team with some offseason drama who won their opener in very convincing fashion. Ime Udoka was doing some wild stuff this offseason, got suspended and who knows what is going to happen. Joe Mazzulla has stepped in, and the Celtics looked very good Wednesday night. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum just keep getting better and better. They are incredible wing defenders, they can get their own shots, they can get to the hoop and they are becoming one of the better duos in the league. I don't like the Celtics, but I like Brown and Tatum. Getting Malcolm Brogdon only makes this team deeper. He can score, pass and defend. He is a perfect fit. Blake Griffin doesn't add much of anything except experience. Robert Williams is hurt, but when he gets back he is a top level rim protector and lob threat. Marcus Smart is the reigning DOP and he looked every bit the part the other night. He can shoot too. Al Horford is still good and still contributes. Derrick White was a great acquisition. Grant Williams has been surprisingly decent in the NBA. The Celtics were in the Finals last season, won a few games and could very easily be back there this season and win it all. As much as I dislike this team, they are very, very good.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 4 I have the Philadelphia 76ers. They have a very good, very enticing roster. This team has fooled me in the past, maybe they will do it again, but I really, really like what they have going on. James Harden is in shape, looked good the other night and looks like he could be an all star again. He just needs to do it when it counts. Joel Embiid is awesome. He is one of my favorite players. He should have won MVP last season and has as good a shot to win it this season. He is just an awesome, awesome player. Tyrese Maxey is exploding on the scene. He is lightning fast and can shoot the lights out. I love the PJ Tucker addition. He is going to make this team tougher and he can hit corner threes at a very high rate. De'Anthony Melton was an underrated offseason addition. He is going to be wonderful off the bench for the 76ers just like he was in Memphis. I'm going to miss him. Tobias Harris still has nights where he can fill it up. Matisse Thybulle is a great defender. Montezl Harrell will bring energy off the bench. Danuel House can shoot and lock down perimeter players. This team is good. They have the potential to be great. They could win the title this year. They could do a lot. They just have to do it now.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for my last three teams, the top three. See you tomorrow.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Heat, Nuggets, Grizzlies

Welcome to day eight of my 22-23 NBA countdown. We are getting to the teams that I think all have the talent to make a deep playoff run. Hell, some of these teams could win it all and it would not surprise me one bit.

At number 9 I have the Miami Heat. They were one shot away from the finals last season and people said they weren't even whole. They get everyone back. Losing PJ Tucker will be a bummer, but pretty much everyone else is back and healthy. Jimmy Butler is awesome. He is old school mixed with new school. He wins everywhere he goes. He carries this team whenever he is asked. He is underrated and one of my favorite players. I love Bam Adebayo as well. He is a lunch pail dude. He does his work and he happens to be wildly athletic. He is also a great defender. Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson are both knock down shooters. They don't play defense, but they can shoot., Kyle Lowry is an amazing vet. He is also a very good point guard. He just has to stay on the floor. Victor Oladipo is in a prove it year, and he came on strong at the end of last season. He could feast on second units. Max Strus found a way into the starting lineup and never looked back. He is a two-way player, and he is solid. Caleb Martin has found a spot that works for him without his brother. Dewayne Dedmond fills in nicely as a backup center. And Udonis Haslem is another coach who happens to be on the team. The Heat have a system and that system works. They find ways to win, and they have for the last decade plus. This team is good. Do not be shocked if they find their way into the East Finals yet again.

At number 8 I have the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have the two-time MVP in Nikola Jokic. I did not think he deserved it last season, but here we are. Jokic is a very good passer and a solid guy to run the offense through. He is not much of a defender though. And I wish he would show up in shape. Jamal Murray is back, and if he can be 85 percent of who he was before the ACL tear, he should be great. He was becoming a go to scorer and leader for this team. He is an awesome player and I really like his game. Michael Porter Jr needs to shut up about vaccines, but he can shoot. He is tall, can score over anyone and likes to chuck it up there. Bones Hyland is a good microwave scorer. Aaron Gordon fits perfectly with this team and he is as high flying as ever. I like Aaron Gordon a ton. Bruce Brown is there, and he is solid. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has something to play for again and he thrives in that scenario. Zeke Nnaji is big and can shoot the three. Jeff Green is still there and still useful in certain games. I think, if he gets minutes, Christian Braun will contribute something. The Nuggets are a good team with potential to be great. They just need to stay on the floor and avoid long term injuries.

The final team for the day, at 7 I have my favorite team, the Memphis Grizzlies. Some say the Grizzlies overachieved last season, but I expect this to become the norm for this team. They should be expected to win upwards of 50 games every year. Ja Morant is a star. He does a bit of everything. His jumper can be better, but he can get to the rim with ease. He is also a wonderful team leader. Jaren Jackson Jr is hurt, again, but when he is out there, he is such a good defender and rebounder. He can also shoot. He needs to stop with the dumb fouls, but JJJ is one of my other favorite players. Steven Adams is big and imposing and a lunch pail guy. He is the enforcer. Desmond Bane continues to get better and better. He is a knock down shooter, is better at defense and becoming one of the Grizzlies best players. Dillon Brooks has a minor injury, but when he comes back, he is the team's best defender and can also shoot when asked. Brandon Clarke just got an extension, was awesome in the playoffs and does all the little things the Grizzlies want. Tyus Jones is an awesome backup guard. Ziaire Williams is getting better, and this team works. They like each other and have fun playing together. I expect big things this season. Now they have to deliver.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Cavaliers, Mavericks, Nets

Welcome to day seven of my 22-23 NBA countdown. We are at the teams that I look at as locks to make the playoffs as long as nothing goes too haywire.

At number 12 I have the Cleveland Cavaliers. They made a big time offseason splash when they went out and traded for Donovan Mitchell. He makes this backcourt especially explosive. Mitchell can score from anywhere. He can take on any defender. He is a walking bucket. His defense leaves a lot to be desired, but he will have another anchor helping him out. I was low on Darius Garland when he came into the draft a few years ago but he has proven me wrong. He is as good as advertised. He is an all star. He is a top point guard in the league. He does what you want a modern point guard to do. Evan Mobley is awesome. He was instantly one of my favorite players when he entered the league. He is so smooth. He is great in the post. He is a wonderful defender. He is an excellent rebounder. He has superstar quality written all over him. Jarrett Allen is great as well. Allen is a perfect modern big. He does not care about his stats as well. He just wants to win. Caris Levert is a pure scorer off the bench. He can feast on second units. Kevin Love was close to winning sixth man of the year. He has moved to his bench role with no problems. Ricky Rubio is coming off injury, but he is as good a passer as he ever was. Robin Lopez brings toughness off the bench in the low post. Isaac Okoro needs minutes, but he has the tools to be solid. The Cavs were close last year. They were in the play in, but they got hurt and faltered at the end of last season. They went out and got a big name and I think it will benefit them greatly. They are a playoff lock for me.

At number 11 I have the Dallas Mavericks. They do have Luka Doncic. I think he is wildly overrated personally. I think he gets far too much credit from every white sports writer in the country. I don't buy it and I don't buy him. But he is a solid basketball player. He is good on offense, but poor on defense. Christian Wood was a nice trade, but how will he mesh on a winning team? How will he feel coming off the bench? How will he deal with less touches? Time will tell. Spencer Dinwiddie shot the lights out last season, especially in the playoffs. I wonder which Dinwiddie we will see this year. Will it be the Brooklyn/playoff Dallas version, or the Washington Wizards version? Mavs fans should hope for playoff Dinwiddie. Tim Hardaway Jr is back from injury, and he is a solid scorer. Reggie Bullock plays wonderful defense and can shoot open threes. JaVale McGee has gotten all the bad basketball out of his system and has become a good bench player. Dwight Powell is barely playable anymore. Frank Ntilikina is very good on defense, but he is a zero on offense. Dorian Finney-Smith is solid. Maxi Kleber is fine. And Davis Bertans can still kind of shoot. I think making the West Finals was a bit of a mirage. But this team should still compete and make the playoffs.

The final team for the day, at 10 I have the Brooklyn Nets. On paper this team looks like a title contender. You look at the stars and they are big. You look at the city and it is enormous. The coach is famous, the owners are famous and this team should be a title contender. Hell, I had them winning it all with ease last season. And then last season happened. It was rough. Kevin Durant is still amazing. He is unguardable. He can score from anywhere. He is long and switchable on defense. But he doesn't always seem to be fully stable. He fights with internet trolls. He gets too much hate online, but he doesn't always have to respond. Kyrie Irving is a mess. He is a flat earther, he is anti vax, he sages the court. He is nuts. But the dude can hoop. Ben Simmons hasn't played in over a year. He says he has mental health issues. He has complained about former teammates and coaches. The last time he was on a basketball court he passed up a wide open dunk. He can't shoot free throws. But he is an amazing defender. He can run the point. He can do some things great and some things not so great. Seth Curry and Joe Harris are wonderful shooters, but both are hurt. Nic Claxton is a good rim runner, but barely touches the ball. TJ Warren hasn't played in forever. Patty Mills fell off a cliff last season. Markieff Morris is an okay enough vet who brings toughness. Look, the Nets have the guys, but those guys are so flaky that they can never be counted on. I mean both Kyrie and KD wanted out before the season and now we are to believe that everything is cool? No way. This team is a mess, but it is a talented mess.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Raptors, Timberwolves, Hawks

Welcome back to my 22-23 NBA countdown. I hope you all had a good weekend. I do understand that the season starts tomorrow night, but when you go on a vacation a week before, you gotta do what you gotta do.

At number 15 I have the Toronto Raptors. I do not know where to put my finger on this team. I like Nick Nurse. I like the roster. They have guys that have a ring. They are gritty and play awesome defense. They do not have one guy that can beat you, they have several. But they are low on superstars. They don't have a ton of guys that can create their own shot. They play an older style of basketball, and against the better teams, that doesn't always work. I adore Pascal Siakim. I think he is finally healthy. I think he is ready to become "the guy" for the Raptors. He can score and play defense. I just want to see it be put all together this season. The time is now. Fred Van Vleet is awesome. He has been an all star. He got paid. He plays hard every night. He is just small. Scottie Barnes is a star in the making. He will take over this team in a few years. He is such a great modern day NBA wing player. He has all the tools. OG Anounoby has the potential, but he is either hurt or plays a little too scared. Gary Trent Jr is a perfect role player for this team. Chris Boucher has taken a little step back, but he has the tools. Thad Young found his way to the team, and he seems to add a little bit to every team he has played for. I like Precious Achiuwa. I think he is a very good backup center. I like his toughness. Khem Birch is very underrated. I love the Otto Porter Jr addition. And I like the Christian Koloko pick, but I don't think he will get a ton of time. I put very little stock in their preseason. This is a tough, grind it out team that other teams hate to play. You will leave Toronto bruised. They should be a playoff lock, especially in the East.

At 14 I have the Minnesota Timberwolves. The T'Wolves are on the come up. They had a breakout season last year. They remind me a lot of the Grizzlies from two years ago. They also went out and swung for the fences in the trade market. They traded away a good portion of their future to land Rudy Gobert. Gobert is great. He is the best defensive big in the NBA. He is a wonderful rim protector and can cover the perimeter when asked. I love this deal for Gobert. It is perfect. Karl Anthony Towns is one of the best offensive bigs that the league has ever seen. He is so smooth, can score in the post and he won the three point contest last year. He is an amazing offensive player. But he is not great defensively and he makes the most inexplicable fouls ever. He needs to clean it up on that end. Anthony Edwards is a star. He is so good. He has amazing hops and can create a shot from anywhere. He is incredible. D'Angelo Russell is a bust, in my opinion. But on this team they do not ask him to do much. His three point shot has regressed, but he can pass and get to the rim. I was bummed to see Kyle Anderson leave Memphis. I was even more bummed when he signed with Minnesota. Anderson is the perfect role veteran. Jaylen Nowell is solid. Taurean Prince can do some things on both ends of the court. Jordan McLaughlin gets run on this squad. They brought in Austin Rivers and he is okay. Wendell Moore is a solid rookie. The T'Wolves have the guys they just have to put it all together now. Gobert and Towns are going to be tough in the post.

The final team for the day, at 13 I have the Atlanta Hawks. This is a put up or shut up year for Atlanta. They were in the East Finals two years ago. And last year they were swept by the Heat as the 8 seed. The Hawks do not play much defense, but they went out and mortgaged their future for Dejounte Murray. I love this move. I love Murray. He is going to explode this year. He is going to blow up on the scene. Everyone is going to be gassing him up all year. He is going to show out. Trae Young is an awesome offensive player. He is so good at what he does. He is crafty and shifty and a pain to guard. He also plays zero defense. John Collins is still there, and I still like his game. He is a good rim runner and he can shoot. He is also okay on defense. Clint Capela continues to be great when he has a great point guard throwing him lobs. He should be better on defense, but he is still good. When healthy, Bogan Bogdanovic is a knock down three point shooter. De'Andre Hunter has all the potential to be the Hawks version of an incredibly poor man's Kawhi Leonard. He can get there. I like that they went out and got Justin and Aaron Holiday. They are siblings and solid vets. Onyeka Okongwu is a good backup center. AJ Griffin could get some run. The Hawks have a very likable roster. There are no guys who I actively root against. They should also be a lot better this year than last year. And I am a big time fan of the Murray trade. The Hawks should be a playoff lock.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Pelicans, Bulls, Lakers

Day five of my 22-23 NBA countdown has us at my number 18 team, the New Orleans Pelicans.

I only have them this high because I am suspecting they are fully healthy, that every major player is ready to contribute a full season. And that all starts with Zion Williamson. Williamson is an incredibly talented basketball player. He is unguardable. He jumps like Kemp. He bullies people like Shaq. He out rebounds everyone as if he were Dennis Rodman. I mean, this kid is great. But he is always injured. He has never played a full season. He played 60 plus games in year two, but he wore down at the end. He can be great if he can stay on the floor. Brandon Ingram is the truth. This dude can score. He is a poor man's KD, and that is a major compliment. He has stepped up when asked to and he has only gotten better. CJ McCollum was a tremendous midseason trade for them. He brings stability, leadership and playoff experience. He was the main drive in getting them to the postseason last year. Jona Valincinuas fits with this team. He is big and nasty and mean. He bumps and bruises almost every other big man. Herb Jones is one of the best defenders in the league already. He also has a crazy wingspan. Seriously, it is nuts. Jose Alvarado flashed on the scene by making wild steals. He was a menace in the playoffs. Jaxson Hayes is a solid modern big off the bench. Larry Nance Jr is still one of my personal favorite players. Their coach is also very good at what he does. The Pelicans can and should be in the playoffs. The play in might not even suffice with how good this squad is on paper. They just have to prove it on the court and stay healthy.

At number 17 I have my son's favorite team, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are kind of in flux. I have tried to explain this to my kid. They started off last season like a house on fire. They were leading the East for a bit. But then some guys either got hurt or got COVID and they were never able to recover. I wonder what effect that will have on this year's squad. Lonzo Ball is still out and the healing process is taking way longer than anticipated. The Bulls need his defense and point guard skills if they want to be a playoff lock. Zach Lavine finally got paid, but he didn't really impress me a ton last year. He is an excellent scorer and leaper, but his defense and passing leave a ton to be desired. DeMar DeRozan, my son's favorite player, was incredible last season. He was a delight to watch. I saw him live and it was even better than I imagined. But he cannot carry this team again. I like the Andre Drummond signing. I'd start him over Nikola Vucvic, who feels like he is washed now. Alex Caruso brings good defense, but he gets hurt a ton. I love that they are starting Ayo Dosunmu. He had a great rookie year and looks like he is going to build off that. Coby White just cannot seem to figure it out, but I'm still a fan. I'd love to see a healthy Pat Williams because he looks like he would be awesome. The Bulls really floundered at the end of last season and that would have me worried if I were a fan. My son is worried. But they do have a talented enough roster to be in the play in in the East.

The final team for the day, at 16 I have the Los Angeles Lakers. I truly do not know what to think of this team. They have LeBron James and he is an all timer. He is amazing. He is one of the best to ever do it. But he is having trouble staying on the floor. He is also asked far too much for someone who is going to be 38 this year. Anthony Davis is an incredible talent. He is a 7 footer that can play tough and play with finesse. He is an excellent defender. He is a great offensive player. He does it all. But he cannot put a full season together without some kind of long term injury. As much as I adore Russell Westbrook, the fit is bad and he is showing his age. It just doesn't work with the Lakers. It makes me sad. They traded for Patrick Beverly, who will help space the floor and be a tremendous help on defense, but he keeps moving teams. He may not be the most fun guy to play basketball with. They brought back Dennis Schroeder, who is an okay player. But he has regressed ever since he turned the Lakers down after their last title. Kendrick Nunn is supposedly healthy, but he hasn't played in over a full year. They brought on young guys like Lonnie Walker, Juan Toscano-Andersonand Troy Brown, which is fine. But none of those guys really move the needle for me. I'm already over any Austin Reaves hype. Thomas Bryant and Damian Jones are serviceable bigs, but I don't think they are the type of guys you win a title with. Look, LeBron and AD are otherworldly players. And when they are on the floor the Lakers can win any game. But they are rarely on the floor. And this roster just screams mediocre to me. They will be better than last season, depending on health. I'm just curious to see how much better.

That is it for today. Come back next week for the next three teams. We are almost to the start of the season everyone.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Wizards, Trailblazers, Knicks

Welcome to day four of my 22-23 NBA countdown. We are at the teams who could, and should, be, at the very least, in the play in tournament.

At number 21 I have the Washington Wizards. Bradley Beal got paid this offseason. He, and the franchise for that matter, may end up regretting it in the long run. But he got his money and it should be all good for this season at the very least. He also happens to be an incredible scorer. He has declined a bit, let's hope it is not a trend, but he can still fill it up. I have been over Kristaps Porzingis for about five years now. Sure he is tall and can shoot, but he is not a good defender and he is soft as tissue paper. I like Kyle Kuzma. He has grown on me. He is also a good player on both ends of the floor. He seems to have found a nice spot for himself as well. Rui Hachimura needs to have a good season. He has either been hurt or underperformed since he has been in the league. He has to prove it this season. Deni Avdija has been okay, but he has not played like the lottery pick many thought he could. He is solid, but not great. Will Barton and Monte Morris are both decent enough NBA players. I don't think they are starters, but they are okay. Taj Gibson is a solid veteran presence. And Delon Wright is serviceable. The Wizards should be an above average team. They should win 42 or more games. They should be in the play in. But they need to stay healthy and play better defense. They also need some dudes to step up as well. We will see.

At number 20 I have the Portland Trailblazers. The Trailblazers are whole again. Damian Lillard is back. He is healthy. He has something to prove. The team is fully, FULLY his. They traded CJ McCollum and traded and signed some dudes that fit his playing style. Lillard is sticking around and he has never been the type to shy away from the spotlight. I expect him to have a big season. One of the guys they traded for is Jerami Grant. Grant is good. He may be a bit overrated now, but he is such a plugable player. He is going to fit very smoothly with Lillard. I love this move. They drafted Shaedon Sharpe. They love this kid. He didn't play a second of college ball, but he was a big time recruit and was a lottery pick. If he suits up and plays he could do some nice things for this team. They went out and gave Gary Payton II a big payday. He is going to bring defense and toughness to this squad. Anfernee Simons got a big payday as well, and he has improved every year he has been in the league. Josh Hart is just an overall solid player and dude. I like him a lot. Jusuf Nurkic brings size and strength to the front court. Nassir Little keeps getting better. The Trailblazers have dudes and scorers, they just have to play better on the defensive end and not get hurt so much.

The final team for the day, at 19 I have the New York Knicks. This is RD's squad. I had high hopes for them last season and boy oh boy did they not live up to it. Julius Randle fell off a cliff. I think he will be better, but he was a shell of himself. RJ Barrett got paid, and he keeps getting better. He is not the all star some thought, but he is honing his game well. I love the fact that they went out and got Jalen Brunson. They have a true point guard now. He is good. He is tough. And he can play. Derrick Rose looks pretty damn good this offseason. He seems to finally be 100 percent again. He is a nice bench player. They signed Isaiah Hartenstein, and he will be a nice role player off the bench. Obi Toppin looks incredible so far this preseason. He just needs real minutes. Cam Reddish will probably be traded soon. Mitchell Robinson is what he is at this point. I'm over trying to make this dude as good as he could be. They refused to trade Quentin Grimes. I want to see why this season. Evan Fournier is somehow still here and still starting. Immanuel Quickley is solid. This team has a nice mix of players, they just need to find a way to gel. I would also like to see Toppin and Quickley get more minutes. We will see.

That is it for today. Come back for the next three teams tomorrow.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's 2022-2023 NBA Season Preview: Hornets, Pistons, Kings

Welcome to day three of my 22-23 NBA countdown. We are getting seriously close to teams with play in potential. We just are not there yet.

At number 24 I have the Charlotte Hornets. This team was already on the wrong side of the coin, then the awfulness happened with Miles Bridges. What he did was atrocious, he should miss a ton of time on the court and I would not be shocked if he winds up in court. He has much bigger issues than basketball right now. That being said, he may have been their number two guy. That is a big hit for this team. LaMelo Ball is a very good player. He has all the tools you want in a modern point guard and his shot is getting better. But he is hurt and is going to miss time at the start of the season. Gordon Hayward is washed and then some. Kelly Oubre is a fine player, but everywhere he goes and starts, they do not win much. Terry Rozier got paid, and is an offensive threat, but he has become more of a liability now. PJ Washington is good, but should be better. James Bouknight is not nearly as good as I thought he was going to be. Mason Plumlee is washed as well. Bryce McGowens has potential. Nick Richards is an okay big off the bench. Dennis Smith Jr is getting another shot. And JT Thor is a rad name. But the Hornets are not very good. They barely made the play in last season and they will be lucky to win 30 games this year. They are trending way, way down.

At number 23 I have the Detroit Pistons. I really, really like the direction they are trending in. They are like the opposite Charlotte Hornets. They are building something solid, but they are still a year or two away. I understand they have playoff hopes, but they are not there just yet. Cade Cunnigham is a star in the making. I have adored watching him since he was at Oklahoma State. I am buying all the stock that I can in Cunningham. He is great. I love the Jaden Ivey pick. Pairing him with Cunningham in the backcourt is a wonderful idea. When he slows down and learns the way of the NBA, he could be awesome. He is a great running partner for Cunningham. I also love the Jalen Duren pick. He is a very skilled big already and will only get better. He could be a solid starter on a very good playoff team. Marvin Bagley finally got a shot to play a lot and did some nice things. He did get hurt, but he avoided a serious injury and should be back soon. Saadiq Bey could be a Swiss army knife guy for this team. Isaiah Stewart is big and nasty and I love watching him play offense and defense in the post. I like that they got Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks. When they are healthy they can contribute. Isaiah Livers is healthy again and can provide bench scoring. I love that they went out and traded for Bojan Bogdanovic. He is another bench scorer. The problem is that they are just not ready yet. Give it a year or 2 and this team will be good, like playoffs good. They are not there yet though.

The final team for the day, at number 22 I have the Sacramento Kings. I fully understand that they have high hopes of being in the playoffs, that they think they are ready, that they had a great Summer League and that everyone is ready to go. But we are talking about a team that has not been in the playoffs for 16 years. That is the longest drought in professional sports. They do have a good team, and I love hiring Mike Brown as the new head coach. But again, this is the Kings. I still do very much like De'Aaron Fox. He is showing signs of improvement every year. When he is on the court he can play. He just needs to stay healthy. Domantas Sabonis is an awesome offensive player. He is such a good low post guy to run the offense through from time to time. He's just very poor on the defensive end. Keegan Murray was great in Summer League. Now it is time for that to translate to the real guys. Davion Mitchell is a very good on ball defender. He can guard every guard in the league. Kevin Huerter is kind of blah, but can shoot. Malik Monk has flashes but has never fully put it all together. Harrison Barnes is solid, but it is clear he cannot be the best guy on a playoff team. Richaun Holmes is somehow still underrated, but he is still doing his thing. Alex Len is washed. Josh Jackson is a bust. They signed Matthew Dellavedova and Quinn Cook for some reason. And Trey Lyles is still there. This is a weird roster and they are not as good as the front office and their fans may think. I like some pieces, but some others make no sense at all. The Kings may be the most confusing team in all of the NBA. That is it for today. See you all tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty's 2022-2023 NBA Season Preview: Rockets, Pacers, Magic

Welcome to day two of my 2022-23 NBA countdown. We are still on some teams that will be in the lottery, but some of them should be a ton of fun to watch this season.

At 27 I have the Houston Rockets. The Rockets were bad last year. They are going to be bad this year. But they are going to be a blast to watch. I love Jalen Green. I have been a fan of his since he joined the G League over going to college. That was a baller ass move. He is also a wildly talented offensive player. He was putting up big numbers last season, so imagine what he will do in season two. Green has star quality, now it's time to show that ability. Kevin Porter Jr seems to have found a place that works for him. He gets to start, he gets to handle the ball and he runs the offense. He is young and has all the talent in the world. He just needs to stay on the floor. I thought Jabari Smith Jr was going to go first overall, but the Rockets snatched him up with the second pick. I love this pick for the Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr reminds me of a young KD. If he can be 50 percent of Durant he is going to be a star. Alperen Sengun is very raw but very good. He is a great passer, a decent low post scorer and can rebound. Tari Eason is a solid pick. Eric Gordon can still light it up from three. Tyty Washington needs time, but in the future, he can be a decent guard in the league. Usman Garuba is extremely raw, but I like watching him play. Willie Cauley Stein is the "veteran" presence, and he can still throw it down. This team is very talented on offense, but they will get scorched on defense. That will be their undoing. But I will enjoy watching them play this year.

At 26 I have the Indiana Pacers. They need to bite the bullet and go into full rebuild. I feel like they are still trying to act like a playoff contender, but they are not on that level. They did trade Malcolm Brogdon, and that was a good start. Now they need to offload Buddy Hield and Myles Turner. I like both those guys a lot. Hield is a great shooter, but he needs to be on a team that has a real shot at the playoffs. Turner is a great modern big, a very good rim protector and a solid three point shooter. But he is being wasted in Indy. He needs to be on a team with a real chance at the playoffs as well. What they need to do is lean fully into letting Tyrese Haliburton run the show. He is great. He is young but plays maturely. He has the look of a true number one on a high playoff seed, they just need to build a little more. I think Benedict Mathurin can be a very poor man's Kawhi Leonard. He can shoot a bit, and with some work, can be a lockdown defender. Chris Duarte can shoot, but that may be it. We will get a very good look at Jalen Smith this year. He could be Robert Williams or Anthony Bennett. This season should let us know. Aaron Nesmith had moments in Boston. In Indiana he will get a shot to make all those moments a nightly thing. Andrew Nembhard was good in college, but he may be a bit too much like Doug McDermott. Time will tell. James Johnson will provide toughness, but who knows how long he will stick around. When the Pacers finally relent and go full rebuild we will get to see Haliburton come on the scene, and this team will be bad for a season or two before they are back to being a .500 team.

The final team for the day, at number 25 I have the Orlando Magic. The Magic will be very bad, but they may be the most entertaining team to watch. I love this core. They are young and raw, but man oh man are they athletic. Paolo Banchero is looking very much the part of a number one overall pick. He has been everywhere this summer and preseason and he is already stirring it up. He is also a walking bucket. Franz Wagner can shoot, defend and seems like a blast to play basketball with. He was great at Michigan and I am glad it seems to be translating to the NBA. Mo Bamba is a very good rim protector and rebounder. He is also very skinny and very green on offense. The word out of camp is that Bol Bol is healthy and ready to contribute. I cannot wait to see him on the court. Jalen Suggs did not shoot it well last season, and he is coming off an injury, but he is a very good defender already. Markelle Fultz is finally free to just play basketball. Cole Anthony is cool as hell and I love watching him play. Chuma Okeke is one of the better players nobody knows about. Gary Harris Jr can still play. Mo Wagner is sticking around. Wendell Carter Jr looks legit. Again, this team is going to be bad this year, but they are building something that could be special in three or four years. They won't win just yet, but it should come soon if they stick together.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's 2022-2023 NBA Season Preview - Thunder, Spurs, Jazz

The NBA season is just over a week away, and you know what that means. It is time for my preseason NBA countdown. I remember how wrong I was last year when I picked the Nets to win it all. I will try to not make that mistake again. As always I will go from 30-1, pick the playoffs, award winners and do a men's NCAA basketball preview in a few weeks. Without further ado, let's get to the countdown.

At 30 I have the OKC Thunder. This team is in full rebuild mode. They have made that quite clear with the moves they have made the past few seasons. It also helps the tank job they will do that Chet Holmgren is already done for the season. This foot injury is one of the many reasons why I was so down on Holmgren coming into the draft last year. He is too skinny for his frame. He is going to get bullied by all of the vets that play center. He needs to get thicker and get tougher. But we won't even know what kind of player he is until next season. I adore Shai Gilgeous Alexander. He is awesome. That was a tremendous trade pickup by the Thunder. SGA could be an all star this season, as long as he plays a good amount of games. Lu Dort got paid, he is a good defender and he is getting better at his jumper. He is going to be very good for a long while. Then the roster just kind of falls off. Josh Giddey is fine, but he feels like a role player at best to me. I'm sick of hearing about Aleksej Pokusesvki. He has "been on the cusp" for too long now. He is what he is. Aaron Wiggins is a deep bench guy. Jaylin Williams could be solid, but he is a rookie. Darius Bazley is long and athletic, but hasn't put it together yet. Derrick Favors needs a trade. Kenrich Williams is good, but I want him to play for a good squad. And this has to be Trey Burke and Marquese Chriss' last shot to stay in the league. The Thunder are bad. But, they are bad on purpose. SGA and Dort will be fun to watch, but this team is not going to win more than 25 games this season.

At 29 I have the San Antonio Spurs. I adore Greg Poppovich. I think he is the best coach to ever coach the game of basketball. He is a genius. And the fact that he told people to not bet on the Spurs this season makes me appreciate him that much more. They are going to do everything they can to get the 7'4 French kid. I do like the Jeremy Sochan pick. He is a modern Dennis Rodman who can shoot the ball. But he is very, very young. Keldon Johnson is a solid player, but he is not the guy you want to be your top guy. Jakob Poeltl is slow and plodding and an okay rim protector. I would not be shocked if he gets traded during the season. Joshua Primo is very talented, but again, he is so young. Tre Jones is very average. Josh Richardson is washed. Devin Vassell is a fine player, but he should be coming off the bench. Romeo Langford has not lived up to the hype he had coming out of high school. Doug McDermott is just a shooter, nothing more. Malaki Branham was a homerun pick in my opinion, but he needs time to develop. Zach Collins cannot stay healthy. The true fact is, this team is not trying to win. They want the French kid, and with this roster, that may very well happen.

The final team for the day, at 28 I have the Utah Jazz. The moment they got beat by the Mavs in the first round you knew this team was going to rebuild. Quin Snyder bounced. They traded Rudy Gobert as quickly as they could. They got a great deal for Donovan Mitchell. Bogan Bogdanovic is now in Detroit. Mike Conley will soon be traded. As will Jordan Clarkson. That leaves this team with lots of unproven young guys, or guys trying to revitalize their careers. Colin Sexton will get a shot to lead a team. I really like Sexton, but he has to really show up this year. He got paid and he will be a first option. This is exactly what he wanted. Walker Kesseler is a rookie who will get abused in the post. Malik Beasely is a fine scorer, but he will be asked to do too much on this team. Rudy Gay should get traded relatively soon to a contender. Udoka Azubuike will probably start, and that should be fascinating to watch. Nickeil Alexander Walker should get a real chance to prove he can play in the league. Jared Vanderbilt and Jared Butler will be fun to watch shoot a ton. Lauri Markkanen is definitely washed. Talen Horton Tucker is probably relishing the fact that he will be the second option. And the jury is out on rookie Ochai Agbaji. I loved his game in college, let's see if it translates. The Jazz are going to be very, very bad this year. They know that and are going to run out a bunch of dudes who will be trying to prove things. Anything more than 25 wins would shock me.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

The SeedSing 2022 MLB Playoff Preview

The 2022 MLB season has come to an end. For myself here in Cincinnati Ohio it was a disastrous season. The Reds were bad, very, very bad. Thankfully I grew up in St. Louis, so I had something to cheer about with the Cardinals. The regular season is gone, and now it is time for the new six teams per league playoff tournament. Let’s do some predicting.

I want to start with where Ty and I were right in our preseason predictions and where we were oh so wrong. Both of us picked most of the playoff teams. We both did not see the Cleveland Guardians winning the AL Central, and I reached big time on Detroit, but most of the teams we hit on. We both overestimated the Milwaukee Brewers. I think Craig Counsel is done and Milwaukee may go into rebuild mode. I also want to give a shoutout to Albert Pujols and Aaron Judge. If not for their homerun chases, this season would have been fairly predictable and boring. I am very happy that both players reached their goals.

Now on with the playoff predictions.

The excitement kicks off with the Tampa Bay Rays going up against the slept on Cleveland Guardians. Tampa seems to always have a formula to make deep playoff runs, but Cleveland has Terry Francona. I’m going with the manager and taking the Guardians in three.

The other AL series has the young studs of the Toronto Blue Jays going against the other young studs of the Seattle Mariners. These two teams should be battling in the playoffs for the next decade, and this first meeting is a preview of the awesomeness to come. I think Seattle has the pitching advantage and come out on top in three great games.

The first NL series pits the “seemingly underachieving” San Diego Padres against the “choked the division away” New York Mets. Both teams have talent and great managers. The Mets have better pitching, that is why New York wins in two.

The last wild card series pits the old men of the St. Louis Cardinals against the big bats of the Philadelphia Phillies. This will be an easy two games and out series for St. Louis because the Phillies just do not have the talent or experience to match a Cardinals team chasing destiny.

That will set up a Cleveland Guardians vs New York Yankees Division series. I may be crazy here, but I think Cleveland wins in four. New York is the better team, but again Cleveland has the better manager. I also think the Yankees are tired from the Aaron Judge spotlight and manager Aaron Boone will not live up to the moment. He will be fired within hours of blowing this series.

The other AL Division series pits the Seattle Mariners against the Houston Astros. I really, really want Seattle to shock the world, but Houston is just way more talented. Also the cheating scandal has seemingly been forgotten by fans, or the boos just don’t bother the Astro players. Houston will win in a three game sweep.

In the NL the Mets face off against destructive force known as the LA Dodgers. This is a tough series to predict. The Mets have two great starting pitchers and a lights out closer. The Dodgers have a lineup filled with All Stars. I think after five beautiful games of baseball, the Mets will advance.

The last division series will be a throwback to the late 1990s when the St. Louis Cardinals take on the defending World Series Champion Atlanta Braves. I know the Braves won it all last year, but St. Louis has way more postseason experience. Add all that experience with a a lineup that can match the Braves hit for hit, I think the Cardinals win in four.

The ALCS will have the scrappy Cleveland Guardians up against the villainous Houston Astros. The Cinderella story ends here for Cleveland and Houston will win in five.

The NLCS will be a rematch of the epic 2006 series between the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright, and Yadier Molina all played in that series. Just like in 2006, the Cardinals will break the Mets hearts in seven games.

That means the 2022 World Series will be another postseason rematch between the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals. The last time these two teams met, Houston was in the National League and the Astros bounced the Cardinals out of the playoffs. Pujols remembers that series, as do Wainwright and Molina. Houston won the last game at Old Busch stadium and sent the old place off with a Cardinals loss. The three old men in St. Louis will not let Houston send them off to retirement with a loss. In six games the St. Louis Cardinals will win the 2022 World Series.

There it is, my 2022 MLB Post Season predictions. At the beginning of the year I picked the Cardinals to be a team of destiny and to win it all and I’m sticking with that prediction. Enjoy the postseason and let’s play ball.

RD

RD is the founder and Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.  

RIP Jim Redmond, Great Sports Dad

Jim Redmond passed away today at the age of 81. Outside of learning that Jim was a West Indian immigrant to the United Kingdom, I know exactly one thing about his life and that is I why I am memorializing Jim Redmond today.

During the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games, the British track team had some hope in the 400 meter race. Runner Derek Redmond had one a few medals in international competition and had posted the fastest time in his 400 meter heat. In the semifinal heat Derek came around the last turn and pulled up with a leg injury. Derek had torn his hamstring. Medical officials started to make their way to assist Derek off the track, but the runner wanted to finish. In agonizing pain, Derek hobbled his way to the finish line. It did not look like he was going to make it. Through the crowd on the track came Derek’s father Jim. He put his arm around his son and helped him finish his first, and last, Olympic race. Take a look for yourself.

Jim Redmond was not trying to be a hero, he was being a dad. He was there for his son all of his life encouraging and coaching. He was there at the beginning, and he made sure in worst sports moment of his son’s life, Jim was going to be there to pick him up. By being a dad, Jim Redmond gave us a moment of pure awe.

Recently my father in law passed away. He was my wife’s dad and my son’s grandfather. Over the last few weeks I have thought about how he supported his daughter, encouraged my son, and accepted me as an equal. My father in law, like Jim Redmond, was not an extraordinary man, he was one of the greatest men to ever live. In front of the public eye, or away from it, these men were great because they embodied the idea of being a dad. That is why I celebrate them today.

Rest in piece Jim Redmond. You set the bar for what it means to be a dad. Thank you.

RD

RD is the founder and Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.  

Should I Care Anymore About Blake Griffin the NBA Player

Earlier today, and I will be doing a full NBA preview soon, I saw that Blake Griffin signed a one year deal with the Celtics. The news kind of came and went for me. It had no real pull at all. I thought, good for him, but how does he help Boston? Then I got kind of sad for Blake Griffin. Let’s discuss.

There was once a time when Griffen was a real MVP candidate. He was one of the top 20 players, easily, in the NBA. He was on ESPN every night. The Clippers became relevant when he and Chris Paul were there. He was always on the All Star team, he was a perennial all NBA player, he was winning dunk contests and he was an all time heel for non Clippers fans. I could not stand him. I actively rooted against him. I do not dislike the Clippers, but I disliked the Lob City Clippers. But I also respected his game. He did the things that I liked. He dunked hard. He had amazing hops. He was a rebounder. He started to make his jumper. He reminded me of my all time favorite player, Shawn Kemp. He was the newer, and as much as this hurts to write, better, Shawn Kemp.

Then stuff kind of went haywire. The Clippers gave him a max deal, but then traded him in year two of that deal. And it is not like they traded him to a contender or even a nice city. They offloaded him to Detroit. When he went there I thought it might work, and I thought it was rad that Detroit was getting a star player via trade. None of it worked. He moped around. He never went too hard. He lost a step. He didn't try as hard on both ends of the floor. The Pistons never did much with Griffin. It was at this time when I started to forget about him. He was still in the league, but he was way off of my radar. I'd hear his name come up and kind of shrug. And this is only a few years after getting a max deal and being the force that he was in LA. Griffin was actually becoming more of a comedic voice than a basketball player in my eyes. He was showing up at Improv shows and on podcasts and I kind of forgot that he was this incredible basketball player at one point. Then last season he left Detroit as a free agent and signed with Brooklyn. The move was met with a whimper on my end. I did not even care that he was joining forces with Kyrie and KD. I could have cared less. I figured he would be a bench player, and he was. He lost all his hops. He lost every step. His jumper was erratic at best. He wasn't the heel anymore. No one was afraid of him. He was not the problem. It got bad enough for him that he was played out of playoff series at times. He could not be counted on anymore. And that made me sad. Again, I have never been a fan of his, but I respect his game, especially when he was young.

The news of him going to Boston feels very blah to me. But the more I have thought about it today, maybe he is going to do what Vince Carter did. Carter was a very similar player to Griffin. But Carter bought into being a bench player. He played his role. His jumper became very good. He tried on defense. He became a fan favorite all over again. Carter handled the back half of his career perfectly. Maybe that is what Griffin is going to do. Or maybe I hope that is what Griffin is going to do now in Boston. Hopefully he is ready to be a bench guy. Hopefully he is ready to be a full time role player. He is not the number one guy anymore. Hell, he isn't even a starter anymore. I hope that is the way he goes. I don't know, and I am not very hopeful. But hopefully he does more of a Vince Carter thing. That would be best. We will see.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Good Riddance to the Pro Bowl

I was reading some sports news yesterday and came across the news that the NFL was getting rid of the pro bowl.

I was inexplicably excited upon reading the headline. I have never liked the pro bowl. I am not a fan of all star games in general. They are glorified scrimmages. No one really wants to be there, they have to because they've been voted in. Sure, they may get a nice bonus and a trip to a nice location, but it feels like a waste of time. I watch the NBA all star game every year and I am usually disappointed. I do like the new Elam ending they changed to, and it makes the final quarter exciting. The players actually look like they are trying. They are going hard. But for three plus quarters prior to that, it is not great. I have not watched the MLB all star game in years. I used to like it because every single team has to send a player. But the game is boring, like most baseball games. I do not watch hockey, so I have no idea what the all star game is like. And then we have the pro bowl. The pro bowl might be the worst of them all.

My son has gotten into football the last year plus and was adamant about watching the pro bowl this year. I tried to talk him out of it, laying forth everything I just told all of you. But he was determined. So we watched, and he convinced me to watch with him. And we were both so very disappointed. He kept asking me why they weren't tackling people, why everyone was falling down or going out of bounds, why they were not going after punts and field goal blocks. He was just totally confused. I tried to tell him that none of these guys wanted to get hurt. That they were saving themselves for next season. He also wanted to know why no one from the Rams or Bengals were playing. I had to explain that they were playing in the Super Bowl in the following week, so the pro bowl was not even a thought for them. That only further angered him. It sucked.

Now the NFL has decided to strip the whole game. They are going to do some skills competition and a flag football game. This is the perfect idea. Flag football is fun. It is fast paced, hard to grab flags and very high scoring. I love it. My son played flag football for two years before starting tackle this year and it was awesome. I am also a big time fan of skills competitions. I adore the skills stuff during the NBA all star weekend. It is the best. It has replaced the dunk contest as the most exciting part of the whole weekend. I hope that it will be the same thing for the NFL pro bowl weekend. I am curious to see how many balls a wideout can catch in a minute. I want to see these exceptional athletes do obstacle courses. I want to know how far these NFL QBs can throw the ball. I would love to see defensive players tackle a dummy and have a way to determine how hard they are tackling it. I want to see kickers kick 60 yard field goals. I crave skills competitions. They are way more fun than watching professional athletes go 25 percent and do live interviews on the field during a pointless all star game.

I would love it if every professional sports leagues did away with all star games and just made it a weekend of skills competitions. That would be best. I have a lot of faith in the NFL doing this. Hopefully this starts a trend. Time will tell.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Let's Cheer on Pujols Chase for 700

I have said it many times before and will say it many more times, but I am not the baseball expert here at Seedsing. That is RD's domain. He knows the game better than anyone I know personally. He loves the MLB and I do not. But I live in Saint Louis. It is hard to not notice the Cardinals, especially when they are playing well.

The Cardinals are having a good year. They sit at 84-59 right now. They are eight games ahead of the Brewers with thirteen games left in the year. They are going to be in the playoffs. It is almost assured. The only teams with a better record in the NL are the Dodgers, Mets and Braves. That's it. This also happens to be the last season for Yadier Molina, who I believe is the greatest catcher to ever step on a baseball field. I believe Adam Wainwright is going to retire too. He has been a wonderful pitcher who has won big, big games and multiple World Series rings. And then we brought Albert Pujols back for one last ride. I wasn't thrilled when they signed him, but it seemed like a cool idea. Why not bring a former MVP superstar back. Sure he is in his 40's, but he can still swing that bat. And it was cool to see him teamed up with Waino and Yadi. It is like a blast from the past.

The thing that has made this season so special, why I am kind of paying attention at this current moment, is that Pujols has 697 career home runs, just past Alex Rodriguez and is only three away from 700, a holy grail number in the MLB. Pujols has also kind of been on a tear lately. He is not an everyday player anymore, but it seems like every other game he is hitting a homer. He may get in to pinch hit, and bam, he hits a homer. Or he will get the start at first, and in his second or third at bat he will hit another bomb. When he got to 695 I got involved because he was close to passing A-Rod, who I am not a fan of at all. I cannot stand him. I wanted Albert Pujols to pass him. I feel like he had tied him up immediately. It may have been the very next game after 695. I was pumped. He was tied, and I was certain that he was going to pass A-Rod. It took a few games, but when he did it, I loved every second of it. I soaked it all in. It was great. I was coaching my son's ball team that night, but we were all following the news on our phones. Then Pujols hit 697. Even more distance between him and Rodriguez. Awesome.

Now I am at the point where I almost need him to get to 700. I just do not know how anyone could walk away from the game when they are that close to history. I remember being a kid and being angry that Emmit Smith stayed in the NFL so long just to break the rushing record. Now I get it. He was always going to be a Hall of Famer, but breaking the rush record means he is always going to be mentioned as an all timer. That would rule. Now if athletes maybe stick around too long, I do not blame them. When they are this close to history I want them to go for it. If I were an MLB pitcher I would groove Pujols fastballs. There are thirteen games left, as mentioned above, and I would be playing Pujols as much as he wanted. If he asked to get in the game, you better believe I would put him in. It is not like the Cardinals need to win X amount of games for positioning. They are pretty much set where they are going to be set. And, the way Pujols has been swinging the bat lately, he would only help the team.

I do not watch the MLB anymore. It is too boring. But with Pujols chasing 700, you better believe I will be watching and rooting for Albert Pujols to get 700. That would be amazing, but also fitting if he were to do it with the Cardinals. I'm here rooting for you Albert. Let's get to 700. Good luck.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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A Nice Run Helps Chase the Blues Away

Yesterday was an exhausting and annoying day. I had a good amount of stuff to do. Some of it was fun. Other stuff, not so much.

I started the day by getting coffee with my dad, which was great. I got to see him and my mom. I spent the whole morning over there. That was nice. When I got home I got some stuff done. I went for a run. I had a good lunch. I got the laundry folded and put away. I did accomplish some things. But the rest of the day was just frustrating. I was late to pick up my daughter at school. My son got out of his fancy school later than normal. I ate a snack that I shouldn't have. I had to pick up my son and his buddy early from football practice for a baseball game. The baseball game was where it all boiled over. I lost it. I had to remove myself at one point because I thought I was going to holler at a bunch of 10 year olds. But I didn't. I just went home annoyed and went to bed angry.

I woke up this morning and I still felt kind of off. But then I went for a trail run. Wednesday is my day for a longer run during the week. I went to one of my favorite trails here in the STL, DeClue out in Wildwood. This is a good trail with technical areas, nice hills, lots of flats and it is flat out beautiful. I got there a little after 9am and got started on my run. I was going slow at first, to work out the sleep kinks. As I got about a mile in, my mind wandered to what I was currently doing. All the frustration from yesterday disappeared. I was out in the woods by myself. I only saw three other people and they were all riding bikes. I basically had the trail to myself.

As I got further along in the run, it is just short of eight miles, I found that I had forgotten all about yesterday. I was happy. I was doing something that I love. I was taking it all in. It was glorious. As I was driving home I caught myself thinking about how much better I felt. I let all the nonsense wash away. I realized it wasn't all that important. There is no reason to get so upset at useless things. I have been walking on a cloud since finishing my run.

That was when it all hit me, running is my sanctuary. I feel so much better when I go for a run. I get angry when I haven't gone on a run for awhile, but when I get that run in I'm instantly better. The trail is even better. I can really escape when I am in the woods. Sometimes I bring headphones, and other times I am alone with my thoughts. Both are great. When I have headphones I can listen to music or a podcast. It depends on the mood. Podcasts are good for keeping pace. Music is good if I want to go a bit faster. When I go without headphones I get to listen to nature. I love hearing all the animals. I saw a ton of deer eating and running this morning. I also like to hear the ground below me. I also like being out there in nature. It is the best distraction. I see a therapist, and he is great. But the woods are almost, almost as good. Running can be great to clear my head. I can let it all out and I instantly feel better. That was how it was this morning.

Running is the best. I love the way it makes me feel. It is wonderful for health, both physical and mental. I have been amazed at what I have been able to accomplish since I started running about 8 years ago. I am also amazed at the community that I have become a part of. I also like seeing people I know accomplish new goals. Running is the best. It has changed my life and I wanted to give it a shout out today. It all came to a head this morning and I was stunned at how much it changed my attitude. Running rules. It is the best.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist"

I recently finished the Netflix two part documentary on Manti Teo called "The Girlfriend who Didn't Exist". It was fascinating.

I remember living through all of this. I am an avid college football fan as you all know. This story was everywhere in 2012. but I knew of Teo before all of this. He was a major recruit. Every big team wanted him. When it was down to USC and Notre Dame I just assumed he'd pick USC. Hell, I thought he would go to BYU, since he is Mormon, before he'd go to Notre Dame. But in the end, he picked the Fighting Irish. I was stunned and so were many other people. But he kept getting better and better every year. He could have left after his junior year and been a high first round draft pick. But he came back. Then he played very well. Then Notre Dame kept winning games. Then his grandma died. Then, on the same day, so did his online girlfriend. It was all a lot. But he kept playing and playing well, and his team was winning.

Right before the Heisman ceremony, he was a finalist, the whole online girlfriend thing exploded. According to the doc, Teo knew about the news before the Heisman trophy was given out. I did not know this. This was all news to me. But after the ceremony, before the BCS title game, the story broke everywhere. Deadspin was the first to report it and then everyone jumped on board. Teo was giving interviews to Katie Couric with his folks. The person that catfished Teo was going on Dr Phil's show to show him how he did it all. Then it was on every news report everywhere. This was not just sports broadcasts, it was national news. CNN, MSNBC, local news stations, I mean it was EVERYWHERE.

This is where the doc became truly fascinating to me. All the stuff beforehand, the football and the girlfriend and his family life, it was all out in the open. But after the fact, after he found out he was being catfished, that was when it became truly nuts. Teo started to suffer from panic attacks and true anxiety. He said that football used to be his outlet, that he could let it all go when he walked out there. But after all the shit hit the fan he was not the same. He tried too hard. He had to prove he wasn't just the guy that got catfished. He wanted to show he could still be an elite level linebacker. But he was too in his head. He was thinking too much. He wasn't just playing the game. It became a problem. And seeing him interviewed, hearing him talk about that time in his life, I felt for him. That had to be absolutely brutal for him to live through. I found myself thinking, as gross as it may sound, about how much money he lost by falling to the second round. He had to reprove how good he was. He had to start all over again. That is not fair. Teo was one of the best defensive college football players to ever step on the field. He had all the tools coaches craved. He was a great locker room guy. His teammates and coaches all like him. There was hardly anything to dislike about Teo. I am a lifelong Michigan fan, and I even found myself rooting for Teo. Let me make this clear, I rooted for Teo, not Notre Dame. And to see the lady who catfished him, she was a man at the time, but she is now transgender, to show a little remorse, but not much, kind of made me flinch a bit. This person was taking advantage of someone who was listening and helping them out with their issues. She could have stopped at any time, but she kept going. I get that she was confused at the time and trying to find out who she really is, but she took this way, way too far. I get that Teo forgave her and he has moved on and is living as normal a life as he can. But she could have been a bit more remorseful or showed some kind of regret. I don't know, I expected more I guess.

All of that being said, this two part doc was incredible. Again, I remember this whole thing so vividly, but this doc gave me so much more info, and new info at that. I cannot recommend it enough. It is a fascinating watch, and not just for sports fans. There are tons of real life stories in this and it is great. Check it out.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Pac 12 is Once Again Overrated

Within two weeks of college football being on I already have to eat crow. I expect this to happen from time to time, but never this early on. I mean, most teams have only played one game. But after the first full weekend of college football, and isn't it wonderful that it is back, I am already on the chopping block. It came quicker than I expected.

Why the crow for dinner? The Pac 12 is exactly who we all thought they were. I had faith in the conference this year. I thought they were going to be better. I thought they had a shot to get a team in the playoffs. I was almost certain that team was going to be either Utah or Oregon. I was very, very wrong. USC looked good. Stanford cruised. Arizona got a big win. Arizona State overcame some early struggles. The rest of the conference fared pretty well. But the two top dogs, the two preseason favorites, the two highest ranked teams in the Pac 12 both got beat.

Utah had a tougher game. It was on the road in Gainesville. I understand Florida is not the powerhouse they once were. But they have a new coach. I expect big things soon from Billy Napier. Gainesville is always a tough spot to play. Utah had a big time zone change. They had to wait all day to play. But still, they were the preseason number 7 team. They were coming off a Rose Bowl game they had every shot to win. They had a returning QB. They have a good run game and a solid defense. But they shot themselves in the foot. They let Anthony Richardson, who looks like a budding star, do whatever he wanted. They could not stop Florida in the fourth quarter. They never really got the run game going. And in the end, with a chance to win the game, they threw a pick. It was a cluster of bad things. Utah was under prepared, got outcoached and outplayed and got beat because of it. They pretty much have to run the table from here on out, winning big in every game, and they still might be on the outside looking in come playoff conversation time. Utah blew a golden opportunity.

Utah’s loss wasn't as bad as Oregon. Boy oh boy did they get absolutely annihilated. This game was never, not for one second, in doubt. Georgia is very, very good. I get that. I did not expect Oregon to win this game. Georgia is loaded on both sides of the ball still, even with all the talent from last season's title team in the NFL. But Oregon laid a total egg. They were lifeless. They showed no fight. They got down early and never fought back. They looked like they wanted to be anywhere else then on that football field. Their new head coach looked severely overmatched. The team was just listless. They looked like a freshman team playing a Varsity team. A bad freshman team at that. I mean, the final score was 49-3. I watched this same Georgia team dismantle Michigan in the playoff last season, but at least Michigan showed a little heart. Oregon was not only outmatched, they had nothing good come from this game. This is the type of blowout that can derail a season. Again, I expected Georgia to win, win comfortably at that, but for Oregon to make it feel a little closer. I thought Oregon could score some points and this game would catapult them to go on a long winning streak. I figured it would have them more than ready for Pac 12 play. I put them in the playoff. Now there is almost no shot they get in. You cannot take a beating like that and expect the committee to take you seriously. This was not a good look for the Pac 12, but it was even worse for Oregon. They are the Gonzaga of college football now. They are the paper champions. They always look good, but when they have to play a real team, they almost never show up. This was rough. I mean, I do not know how they recover from this. It is embarrassing. I have always kind of liked Oregon, they may be the only team besides Michigan I do not actively root against, and this was just a real tough watch.

We will see what the rest of the season has for us, but this is not a very good start for a conference that a lot of people are already writing off. Maybe USC or UCLA will go on a roll and save the conference. Right now though, Utah and Oregon have made it harder than it should be.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I Love This Donovan Mitchell Trade

Donovan Mitchell was finally traded. And it wasn't to the Knicks or Lakers or the Warriors. He is going to the Cavs.

This is shocking to me. I love it, but it is wild. Donovan Mitchell got what he wanted, the Cavs got instantly better and the Jazz got a young guy trying to repair his game and a bunch of more picks. Now Utah just has to find a trade partner for Mike Conley and they can go into full rebuild mode. But let's look at this trade primarily.

I love, love, love this deal for the Cavs. I was, and still am, a Collin Sexton fan. But his time in Cleveland was over the moment Darius Garland became an all star last season. The backcourt was going to be Garland's from here on out. They are going to build the backcourt around him. Adding Donovan Mitchell makes them an immediate threat. He and Garland can both handle the ball, score at will, find scoring lanes where there may not be any and are a matchup nightmare for other teams. This instantly props the Cavs as a playoff contender. Hell, I'd say you could write it in pen. They will be a playoff team and could be a top four seed. This puts them on par with Miami, Toronto, Chicago and Atlanta, all playoff teams last season. I'd only put the Bucks, 76ers and Celtics ahead of them now with the addition of Mitchell. What makes it even better is they got to keep their core guys. I mentioned Garland, but they also kept Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. They still have Cedi Osman and Caris Levert coming off the bench. They only had to give up Sexton and three unprotected picks, which will most likely be later first round picks since the Cavs should be good for awhile now.

This is the best the Cavs have looked since LeBron James was there. I love that the Cavs are going for it and trying to be relevant again. They have this great group of young guys, a great frontcourt and, now, one of the best backcourts in the East, hell, maybe even the NBA. This is an absolute homerun.

As for the Jazz, they traded a disgruntled all star, got more picks and got a reclamation project in Sexton. Sexton will get all the shots and touches he could ever want. He should, and most likely will, be their number one guy. He will be the focal point of the offense. He will get every single chance to redeem himself and show everyone why he was such a prize draft pick. I love that for him. But the Jazz also got more picks, which I think is what they wanted even more. With these three unprotected picks, the Jazz now have thirteen picks through 2029. That is a goldmine of picks that only the Thunder can match right now. The Jazz want to start over and build through the draft. They get to do just that. And I wonder how many picks they can get for Conley at some point. After trading Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, I cannot imagine a world where they keep Conley around. That would be a nightmare for him, and a mistake by the Jazz. They can definitely get more picks and maybe another young player.

This trade is a win-win for both squads. Both teams got what they wanted. And if I were Mitchell I would be absolutely stoked to go play for this up and coming Cavs team. They are going to be one fun team to watch next season. I love this so very much and it makes me even more excited to watch the NBA this year. What a deal. Wow.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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