By: David Kay and Paul M. Banks 2008-09 Season Summary: Last year was a rough one for "Canada's Team." The Toronto Raptors front office thought they significantly improved a playoff team this last off-season when they made a blockbuster trade for Jermaine O'Neal. Despite O'Neal's arrival and much improved play from former #1 overall draft choice Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors … [Read more...] about NBA Power Rankings: #11 Toronto Raptors
Archives for October 2009
World Series predictions you can wager your 1st born on
By Jake McCormick This team has a lineup in which nearly every player is a threat for a long ball and plays in a hitter friendly park. They boast a veteran pitching staff that is led by a nearly unhittable left handed pitcher. Their bullpen is solid, except for the closer, who is as close to an October guarantee as anyone can get. Given that last sentence can easily be … [Read more...] about World Series predictions you can wager your 1st born on
TSB’s Western Conference preview
The basketball season began last night and five Western Conference squads opened up their season. Houston, Dallas and the L.A. Clippers began the year in the L column while the defending champion L.A. Lakers and Portland got started on the right foot against conference foes. Will the Lakers be accepting another ring during next season's opener? Can the Trailblazers take the … [Read more...] about TSB’s Western Conference preview
Red Wings finally win on the road in less-than-dominating fashion
By H. Jose Bosch As the saying goes, the third fourth time’s a charm! Last night the Wings broke their four-game road losing streak by going to Vancouver and completing a thrilling 5-4 win. And by thrilling I mean the Canucks did everything possible to give Detroit the game. OK, that wasn’t very fair. Despite the Wings’ scoring woes to begin the season (a mediocre 2.78 … [Read more...] about Red Wings finally win on the road in less-than-dominating fashion
Will Joakim Noah Make ‘the Leap’ this Season?
By Paul M. Banks On Monday, the Chicago Bulls announced that they picked up the 2010-11 season options for guard Derrick Rose and forward/center Joakim Noah. By exercising these options, both will be under contract with the Bulls for 2010-11. The Bulls -just like most of us who follow the team closely- realize that Noah has come a long way since June 2007, when he was … [Read more...] about Will Joakim Noah Make ‘the Leap’ this Season?
2009-2010 Big 12 Hoops Preview: Part 2 of 5
By: David Kay It’s week five of The Sports Bank’s college basketball previews. Next week, all you’ve read in these previews will finally be brought to the court when teams begin to play their exhibition games. Onto part two of the Big 12 preview which focuses on my predictions for the team that will finish in 7th-9th place, meaning they will likely be on the wrong side of … [Read more...] about 2009-2010 Big 12 Hoops Preview: Part 2 of 5
NBA Power Rankings: #12 New Orleans Hornets
By: David Kay 2008-09 Season Summary: Coming off the 2007-08 season the Hornets were the Belle of the Ball in the NBA. They returned to play in New Orleans full time for the first time in three years, won a franchise record 56 games, had one of the future stars of the league in Chris Paul, and were one game away from playing in the Western Conference Finals, making … [Read more...] about NBA Power Rankings: #12 New Orleans Hornets
The unscientific, non-expert Detroit Pistons preview
TSB blogger H. Jose Bosch is excited for the start of another NBA season and wonders whether or not the Pistons will repeat as the Eastern Conference No. 8 seed. By H. Jose Bosch If you read the blogosphere … OK if you read two blogs … you get two differing opinions on the upcoming Piston season, which begins tonight. TSB blogger David Kay gave Detroit a failing grade … [Read more...] about The unscientific, non-expert Detroit Pistons preview
Who Had The Worse Weekend, the Chicago Bears or the Illinois Fighting Illini?
By Paul Schmidt For most Chicago area football fans, the weekend wasn't a complete loss. For anyone who is a University of Illinois graduate and a Chicago Bears fan...let's say you've had better weekends, and leave it at that. During the awfulness that was the Bears' game on Sunday, it spawned somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 tweets on Twitter about just how bad the … [Read more...] about Who Had The Worse Weekend, the Chicago Bears or the Illinois Fighting Illini?
Is Derrick Rose Ready to Lead the Bulls?
By Paul M. Banks The Chicago Bulls announced Monday that the team picked up the 2010-11 season options for both Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. By exercising the respective player options, both will be under contract for 2010-11. This transaction occurred on the same day Rose practiced for the first time in….a long while. Aside from the opener, Rose missed every game this … [Read more...] about Is Derrick Rose Ready to Lead the Bulls?