Basketball

BYU Takes Down West Virginia 73-69 On The Road In A Must-Win Game

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Egor Demin with the ball Facts about BYU and West Virginia.

BYU Men’s Basketball was coming off a two-game losing streak heading into this must-win game on Tuesday night. They are 7-6 in conference games and are on the bubble for the NCAA March Madness Tournament. 

They came into the game as slight underdogs needing a win. As the game progressed, neither team gained a big edge over the other, with West Virginia up 34-32 at the break. 

Richy saunders, playing basketball.
Richy Saunders hits a three for BYU.

This game wasn’t just important for BYU though, as West Virginia was in the same position as the Cougars, both teams had the same records in conference and out of it. So, this game was very important.

Coming out of half it was still a close game with both teams going back and forth at each other. But eventually, BYU started to pull away. Then like you would expect West Virginia brought it back to a 1-point game with about 20 seconds left in the second half. BYU had the ball with the shot clock running down. Their big man, Mihailo Boskovic set a screen and rolled, Richy Saunders the guard passed the ball and Mihailo got an And-1 to seal the game for the Cougars. The final score was 73-69 Cougars win.

Mihailo Boskovic, playing basketball.
Mihailo makes a layup in the BYU game.

Scoring Leaders/ Impact Players

The scoring leader in this game was BYU’s 5-star freshman recruit Egor Demin. Denim had 16 points in 24 minutes, with 2 assists, and 3 rebounds. Another big impact player was BYU’s other freshman with 11 points, and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes. Richy Saunders for BYU had a quiet night compared to usual with only 9 points in 36 minutes, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Richy Saunders has been BYU’s star over the past 10 games averaging 15 points per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field. 

With this win, BYU is now 7-6 in conference and 16-8 through all their games. But this win was just the first of a 4 game streak of playing really good teams. In their next game on Saturday, they are hosting Kansas State who is coming off a 6-game win streak with 3 of those games being to good teams including #3 Iowa State, #11 Kansas, and most recently #13 Arizona. Then BYU follows that game up with hosting now #17 Kansas. After Kansas, they go to Arizona to play a tough road game.

Why This Was A Must-Win Game

The reason this was a must-win game is because we are more than halfway through the season and March Madness is coming up in less than a month. BYU was on a 2 game-losing streak with 2 more hard games coming up in the next week and a half. So if they lost not only would they drop below .500(which means you are 50-50 in wins and losses so if you dropped below it, you would have more losses than wins.) in conference play, but they would also have the potential to go on a 5 game losing streak. With this win and boosted confidence BYU will have a much better chance to defeat Kansas State on Saturday.

As of right now, BYU has a 36 percent chance of making it into the March Madness Tournament. These odds could increase by a lot though if they win 1 or even better both of their next 2 games. They will need all of their players, especially Egor Demin and Richy Saunders to step up their game if they want to make it to the Tourney. If BYU makes it to the Tourney it would be the second year in a row, although they would want to have a better outcome than last year when they lost to the #11 seed Duquesne in the first round.

March Madness sign.

I believe BYU will make it to the Tourney if their players show up and play well. Even though the odds are against them, wins in these next 2 games could change everything.

 

WNBA Players

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Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark was born on January 22, 2002. She is 6 feet tall and weighs 152 lbs.  She is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women’s National Basketball Association Also known as The WNBA. Caitlin plays Guard. Clark played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes and is regarded as one of the greatest collegiate players of all time.  Clark is the NCAA Division and has the all-time leading scorer and was a two-time national player of the year with the  Hawkeyes. Clark has also hit three buzzer beaters. 

Angel  Reese 

Angel Reese was born on May 6, 2002. Angel Reese is 6 feet and 2 inches tall  and weighs 165 lbs. She is an American professional Basketball player. She played college basketball for LSU and Maryland. She now plays for the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National  Basketball League. Reese attended Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland where she was awarded McDonald’s All-American honors in 2020 she was ranked the number two player in her class by ESPN. Reese plays small forward and power forward.

Shakira Austin

Shakira Austin  was born on July 25 2000. She is 6 feet and 5 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds. Austin rated was fourth player in the nation in the 2018 recruiting class and the second ranked forward.  She plays for the Washington Mystics and plays center forward. She played college for Maryland and Ole Miss. It was announced on November 4,2024 that Austin was one of 13 athletes called up to participate in development camp for the U.S. women’s national team

Rebecca Allen 

Allen was born on November 6, 1992. Rebecca is 6-2 and weighs 162 lbs. She plays Guard. Allen was a member of the Australian Women’s basketball team (Opals) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Opals were eliminated after losing to the USA in the quarterfinals. She is a professional Australian player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association. Allen is ranked the number 11 player. In 2019, Rebecca was named to the final roster for the 2019 FIBA Asia Cup. After playing strong in the tournament, she was named that All-Star Five.

Aliyah was born on Dec, 11, 2001. She is 6-5 and weighs 220 lbs. She plays forward center. She played college basketball for South Carolina. Right now she plays for the Indiana fever WNBA team. She is an American professional Basketball player. Boston has won several gold medals representing the United States. She was born in Saint Thomas where she was awarded the McDonald’s All- American and a three-time Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year.    

Kamila Cardoso

Kamila  Cardoso was born on April 30, 2001. She is 6-7  and weighs 215 lbs. She is a Brazilian professional basketball player. She played college for South Carolina. She plays for The Chicago Sky team. As a senior, she averaged 24.1 points, 15.8 rebounds and 9.2 blocks per game. Cardoso was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic.  She was named the fifth number player in her class. She was rated a five star for recruiting. Cardoso received several offers from colleges like UConn, Ohio State, Mississippi State and South Carolina. She was the highest rated recruited player in program history.

 

Amy Atwell   

Amy Atwell was born on June 30. 1998. She is 6 feet tall and weighs 165 lbs. She is an Australian professional Basketball player. for the Perth Lynx. She played college basketball for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine, where she won the Big West Conference Player in 2022. She had briefs stints in the Women’s National Basketball Association in 2022 with the Los Angeles Sparks and in 2024 with the Phoenix Mercury. She plays the position of Shooting guard. In 2021–22, she was named Big West Player of the Year and first-team All-Big West. Before she started playing basketball she played softball.

Michael Jordan VS LeBron James

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Lebron Or MJ? The debate over who is the GOAT has had very good arguments and it can be very mixed opinions. The Debate over who is better or greater has been going on for many years now.

Who guards the throne?

LeBron was a Runner up for NBA Defensive Player of the year twice. So far in his career his defensive rating is 104.6. He has been named on the All-Defensive Team 6 times. Michael Jordan has won 1 NBA Defensive Player of the year. MJ’s defensive rating is 102.7. He was on the All-Defensive team 9 times. Jordan is a better defensive player than Lebron James only because of his 9 times on the All-Defensive team and his one DPOY award.

ALL STAR

Lebron has been in 20 All Star Games. He has 3 All Star MVPs.  Michael Jordan has 14 All Star Appearances. He has 5 All Star MVPs. And the only triple double in All Star history. MJ averaged a better stat line than Lebron James.

Lebron facing Michael Jordan

AWARDS

Lebron has 4 rings in 10 appearances and MJ has 6 rings in 6 tries. Jordan has 6 Finals MVPs, and Lebron won 4. MJ won 5 MVPs and Lebron only won 4. Lebron was the first cavalier to win rookie of the year. MJ also won rookie of the year.

TEAMMATES

MJ and Lebron both had some really good teammates, like Kyrie Irving, Scottie Pippen, Ray Allen, Toni Kukoc, and more. But who helped the most? The right answer is probably Scottie or Kyrie. People would definitely say Scottie, that would affect who is better.  

When MJ got drafted his career lasted 15 seasons, But Lebron is still going with his 22nd year and his son in the league. Lebron is #1 most total points ever, and he isn’t stopping yet. Lebron and Michael Jordan are inspirations to little kids, teenagers, and even adults. 

Lebron is 6’9 and 250 lbs. MJ is 6’6 and 216 lbs. Lebron is a Power Forward and Small Forward and MJ was a Shooting Guard. He was a great shooting guard and they have both earned the GOAT title. 

Both MJ and LeBron are very consistent. but I think MJ is way more consistent because he is 6-0 in the finals. They are also both very successful. LeBron is worth 1.2 billion, and MJ is worth 3.2 billion.

When it comes to overall impact on the game, both players have had and had a lot of impact on the game. Michael Jordan made basketball into a global sport in the 1990s and became one of the most famous athletes in history. His “Jordan” brand is still popular today, and his success helped inspire a new generation of players to reach greatness. 

LeBron James has also made a lot of impact on the game, especially with his inspiration for kids. He has become a role model for athletes around the world. LeBron has shown the power of basketball by taking control of his career, choosing teams that would help him succeed, and setting an example for players in how they manage their careers.

In the end, choosing between Michael Jordan and LeBron James often depends on everyone’s personal perspective.  Jordan is praised for his rings and defensive ability, and his clutch scoring. But Lebron ,has had a longer career with better stats  and more inspiration. Both players are legends, and while people may continue to go back and forth, it’s safe to say that both Michael Jordan and LeBron James are among the greatest players the NBA has ever seen.

2024 NBA playoffs predictions.

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2024 NBA playoffs predictions.

At this point in the NBA playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves have beat the Phoenix Suns 4-0 and are the only team to move on to the second round. The New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Indiana Pacers are up in their series 3-1. The OKC Thunder are 3-0 in their series and the Boston Celtics are up 2-1 in their series. The LA Clippers and the Cleveland Cavaliers are both 2-2 in their series. 

Now my predictions are that in the New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers series, the New York Knicks will win in 6 games, move on to the second round, and play against the Indiana Pacers who will win in 7 games almost allowing the Milwaukee Bucks to win. My next prediction in the east is that the Boston Celtics will win in game 5  and go against the Cavaliers who will win in game 6. Heading to the west I believe the Nuggets will beat the Lakers in game 5 to play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. The Thunder will sweep the Pelicans in 4 games and play the Mavericks who will win in game 6.

In the second round, my predictions are that the Timberwolves will beat the Nuggets in 5 games and play the Mavericks in the conference finals who will beat the Thunder in game 6. I predict that the Boston Celtics will beat the Cavaliers in 6 games and go against the New York Knicks who will beat the Indiana Pacers in 7 games. Now the final teams in my prediction for the NBA playoffs are as follows. In the western conference finals Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks and the east conference finals are the Boston Celtics vs the New York Knicks. Now game 1 in the conference finals my predictions are that the Celtics will win by 7 and the Timberwolves will win by 12. In the next game ( game 2 ) the Knicks will win against the Celtics by 5 and the Timberwolves will win by 6. In the east, the Celtics are tied in their series 1-1, and in the west, the Minnesota Timberwolves are winning their series 2-0. Things aren’t looking good for Luka and the Mavs, there is a reason Mark Cuban sold the team. Anyways, In the next two games the Celtics will once again trade games with the Knicks and their series will go 2-2 but on the other hand, the Mavericks will take one game but then lose game 4. Celtics vs Knicks tied 2-2 and the Timberwolves vs  Mavericks, wolves winning 3-1. In the next game the Timberwolves will move on to the NBA finals and the Celtics will move on in game 6…

2024 NBA finals Boston Celtics against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In game 1 the Celtics will win 96 to 90 game 2 the Wolves will win 102 to 95 and in game 3 the Wolves will win again 89 to 78 Things are looking great for Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, they are up 2-1 in the finals and are 2 wins away from winning it all. But they can’t celebrate too soon, The Boston Celtics will win the next game and now the series is headed to game 5 with the series tied 2-2. In a nail-biting game the Wolves will win and will now go up 3-2 in the series. Heading to game 6 all the Wolves have to do is win one more game. In the 4th quarter of game 6, the Wolves are down by 6 with 75 seconds left and they somehow come back and win the NBA finals!!!!!! 

Anthony Edwards at the age of 22 won Finals MVP and his first ever NBA finals win.

The Top 10 NBA Players Of All Time!!!!

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The Top 10 NBA Players Of All Time!!!!

  There have been roughly 4,000 to 5,000 NBA players and only ten of them made this list. From 5’’2 Mugsey Boges to 7’’7  Manute Bol, These are the greatest.

10.Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain is mostly known for his unbreakable records.  He once scored 100 points in a game and averaged 27 rebounds per game. He also played in an era where he was taller than 99% of the league so that is why he made it so low.

9. Bill Russell

 Bill  was born to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell and  lived in Monroe, Louisiana. Growing up everybody knew he’d be something special. He went to San Francisco to play college basketball and then got drafted to the Boston Celtics in 1956. He is mostly known for having the record of the most NBA finals won of all time being 11. But like Wilt he was taller than 99% of the league.

8. Larry Bird

Larry Bird “Bird Man” might not be seen like an NBA player physically but boy y’all are wrong. Bird was one of the best shooters in his era and was at the top of his game during the mid 80’s.  He won 3 NBA championships and won MVP 3 times as well.

7. Tim Duncan

People might be mad at me for this one but I’m telling you there are 6 NBA players better than Tim Duncan. Tim Duncan won 5 NBA championships and won 2 NBA MVP awards.

He was an elite defender and was an amazing post player.

6. Erving “Magic” Johnson

Magic Johnson was super blessed with amazing eye vision and an amazing sized body. Standing at 6’9” Magic was a very over sized point guard and regarded as Larry Bird’s rival. He won 5 NBA championships in the 80’s. He had to retire in 1991 due to his HIV. After some time then he returned in 1996 but retired the same year after losing to Houston in the playoffs.

5. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry, son of Wardell Curry, absolutely changed how basketball is played today. Coming into the league he showed some sparkes of the fire. But then in the 2015-2016 season Steph became different. He became the league MVP depending on the 3 point shot. The warriors have made it to 6 finals and won 4 of them.

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem was drafted in 1969 and won his first championship with the bucks in his second season. He went on to win 6 more NBA titles. He also won 6 MVPs and made the all defensive 1st team 11 times. But the reason he is so high in the list is because he had the scoring title up until last season when Lebron won it.

3. Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant was drafted straight out of highschool in 1996. He won his first championship in 2000 and went on to win 2 more and have the first 3 peat since the Chicago Bulls. Kobe won 2 more championships in his 20 year career and is regarded as one of the greatest.

2.Lebron James

Lebron James was born in Akron Ohio and raised by his single mother Gloria Marie James. He was the best NBA prospect of all time and  got drafted #1 overall in the 2003 NBA draft.  He has made it to 10 NBA finals and won only 4 of them. Like I said before, he has the scoring title scoring 40,000+ points in his NBA career and has won 4 MVPs.

1.Michael Jordan

 Micheal Jordan the son of Dellorious and James Jordan was born February 17, 1963. Micheal Jordan’s dad was a baseball player and it seemed Mike was gonna have the same career. But one day when Micheal tried out for the high school basketball team he didn’t make the cut. Micheal Jordan took it personally and didn’t stop playing basketball and practicing. Day after day shot after shot he didn’t quit and when the opportunity came he took it. He became an amazing highschool player and got a scholarship to play basketball to the D1 college the North Carolina Tar Heels. After two amazing seasons with North Carolina Micheal was drafted at the number three pick in the 1984. Micheal went on to win 6 NBA championships, 1 Defensive Player of the year, and 5 NBA MVPs.

The New Heads of the NBA.

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The New Heads of the NBA.

The NBA has new stars coming in every year and the “old” stars are decreasing day by day. But, this is a great time to watch and be an NBA fan because we are watching the new stars progress and become the next heads of the NBA . But there are 2 NBA players I want to talk about.

1. Anthony Edwards was drafted pick 1 in the 2020 NBA draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Growing up Anthony Edwards’ dad left the family and then when Anthony was in the 8th grade he lost his Mother and his Grandmother due to cancer. They both died on the fifth day in separate months and that’s why he wears number 5. Anthony Edwards was raised by his 2 elder brothers being his brother Antonie or Antony and his sister Antoniette. Anthony was a very hard worker and really wanted to go to the league to provide a better life for his family.

2. Another amazing player in the NBA right now is Victor Wembanyama who was picked number 1 in the 2023 NBA draft to the San Antonio Spurs. Victor grew up in a suburban town 15 minutes away from Paris called Le Chesnay in France. His parents Felix Wembanyama and Elodie de Fautereau raised him alongside his 2 siblings Oscar and Eve. His parents were professional athletes and taught Victor how to play basketball. Victor was blessed with a very tall stature and amazing hand eye coordination. He would practice shooting and his post skills all day long and really tries to perfect his craft. People agree that he is the best NBA prospect since Lebron James.

Now both of these players are putting on amazing statlines but the one that stands out the most is Victor Wembanyama. As a rookie he is averaging 20.7 pts 10.4 reb and 3.5 blk per game! Here are Shaquille O’neal’s rookie stats compared to Victors. 23.4 pts 13.9 reb and 3.5 blk. These stat lines are nearly identical! Now Anthony Edwards is also looking amazing. He is already considered a superstar in his 4th season in the league. This season he is averaging 26.7 pts 5.4 reb 5.1 ast and 1.3 stl. Another NBA legend and one of the best guards of all time is Dwayne Wade. In his rookie year he averaged 27.4 pts 4.7 reb 7.5 ast and 2.1 stl. Both these NBA players are looking like they have an amazing bright career in front of them.

As we all know the biggest feat in any sport is winning the NBA championship and one of these players as a matter of fact is pretty close to winning it. Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves are the 3rd seed in the western conference with a 47-22 record. They are led by there big three Anthony Edwards, Karl Anthony-towns and Rudy Gobert. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next couple of years the Minnesota Timberwolves become NBA champions.

Unlike the Timberwolves the San Antonio Spurs are out of the playoffs and are dead last in the western conference. But this isn’t Wemby’s fault. In the beginning of the season Jeremy Sochan was the point guard and they were not winning games . when they changed it to Tre Jones they did way better. In the future if the Spurs get a new point guard it will make Victor even better.

So the next time you are free, turn on the TV and watch some of these young players become better and better, and the next heads of the NBA.

What Are The Best and Worst Basketball Shoes To Buy Today?!?!

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What Are The Best and Worst Basketball Shoes To Buy Today?!?!

There have been thousands of basketball shoes made from Walmart And 1’s to Jordan’s and these are the best and worst.

One of the worst modern basketball shoes made was the GT Cut 2’s. These shoes look great but have really bad traction and grip, making people slide all around the court. They were a big downgrade from the GT Cut 1’s. The GT Cut 1’s are basically affordable Kobe’s having amazing cushion, great grip, and  amazing traction. They are one of the most affordable at about $120 to $200.

The PG’s are one of the best basketball shoes to play in. The PG 6’s are one of the best Nike  basketball shoes because of the cushion. These shoes are so comfortable and great for playing basketball they have good grip . They are worn by players like Patrick Beverly, Tyrese Haliburton, and Clint Capela etc.

The first NBA player to sign with Nike was Micheal Jordan. Micheal Jordans are most known for being lifestyle shoes but back in 1985 Micheal Jordan debuted his first pair of Air Jordan shoes.  He would bleed in these shoes because of how tough these shoes were.  They would be full of blood after the game and Mike had a lot of foot problems because of them but Nike would pay Mike every time he would wear them. Now Jordans’ are one of the most famous shoe’s on the planet.

 Micheal Jordan is his own brand with Nike a part owner. Jordan has signed many great NBA players to have signature shoes, some being Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, and Zion Williamson. My personal favorite out of these three would be the Jayson Tatum 1’s. These shoes have an amazing cushion and a decent grip. Its air zoom on the bottom of the shoe makes jumping and landing easier. This shoe is very affordable at about $120 on nike.com.

The Ball brothers are very famous because of their high school careers. All 3 of them played on the same team in Chino Hills and were some of the best basketball players in high school. Their dad Lavar Ball made his own brand of shoe before Lonzo ( the oldest son) put in for the NBA draft called Big Baller Brand. He made his son wear these shoes during his  rookie season . However due to the shoes horrible traction and horrible ankle support Lonzo had many injuries during his rookie season. After these incidents he stopped using these shoes. In the next couple of years Lonzo looked like a good role player but couldn’t stay healthy. Later in his career Lonzo got a season ending injury in 2021 and hasn’t made his return yet.

Probably the best and more comfortable shoes are the Way of Wade 808’s. These shoes fit your foot like a glove. They feel amazing when running and making hard cuts. You won’t get your ankles broken or get juked out in these shoes because chances are you will probably recover quickly.

Arguably the best basketball shoe ever made was the Nike Kobe 6 Protro. These shoes have everything you’d need in a basketball shoe. They have amazing grip, great cushion, outstanding traction, and look amazing. These shoes first came out in 2011 and are releasing again this year in great colorways. The most famous colorway is the Kobe 6 Grinch’s . These shoes go for a retail price of $225 to $1000. You can find them on shoe apps like Stock x and GOAT.

So, if you want to buy new basketball shoes these are  the ones I would recommend and hope you play great in them.

How the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs Made It To The Super Bowl

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How the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs Made It To The Super Bowl

As most of us know by now the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers are headed to the super bowl. The odds are with the 49ers at (-120) and the Kansas City Chiefs are at a (+100) to win the game. It was a struggle though for both teams and here is how they made it.

 In the divisional games in the NFL playoffs the Lions beat the Buccaneers, the 49ers beat the packers, the Ravens beat the Texans, and the Chiefs beat the Bills in one of the most nail biting games of the season. The matchups coming into the conference championship games were the Detroit Lions against the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs against the Baltimore Ravens.

 On Sunday January 28 the Ravens started their game against the Chiefs. The odds were with the Ravens to win the game led by superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson and arguably the best defense in the NFL. But Patrick Mahomeses’ Chiefs would not go down easy in this game. The Chiefs got the ball first and had an amazing drive ending with a touchdown pass to Travis Kelce. The Ravens were down by 7 and on their drive it came to a 3rd and 17 play but Lamar Jackson had different plans and threw a 30 yard touchdown to wide receiver Zay Flowers. The game was back and forth by both teams punting then on one drive by the Chiefs Isiah Pacheco ran in for a 2 yard touchdown giving the chiefs a 14 to 7 lead over the Ravens And then there next drive to end the half they scored a field goal worth 3 points to give them a decent lead by the half.

 In the 3rd quarter both teams punted once but then on the ravens drive Lamar threw a 54 yard bomb right into his hands. After the catch he began taunting, sending the Ravens back 15 yds. The next Play Lamar dropped back and threw it once again to Zay Flowers who fumbled at the goal line as the Chiefs recovered the ball. The end as the chiefs go to the super for the 3rd time in 4 years. The Raven were eliminated and the team’s season was over. The players knew this was the season. The team will have over two dozen free agents, some being key players to the ravens season. 

After that game everyone kept there TV’s on to watch the NFC championship game as the 

The San Francisco 49ers hosted the Detroit Lions. The Detroit Lions owned the entire first quarter as the 49ers could not score a point and they scored 14 with rushing plays by Jameson Willioms and running back David Montgumery. The 49ers had the ball ending the 1st quarter and starting the 2nd. As they slowly made their way up the field they were just two yards away from the end zone and handed it of to arguably the best running back in the league 

Christian McCaffery for the 49ers first touchdown to give the Lions a one score lead at 14 to 7. The Lions again took over this quarter and handed it off to running back Jahmyr Gibbs for a 15 yard touchdown then they got the ball back and scored a field goal to end the half with a 24 to 7 lead.

 

 

The game looked like the Lions would take home the win but the 49ers had different plans. The 9ers were down by 17 and needed to score so Jake Moody made a field goal then the next drive Brock Purdy threw a bomb to Brandon Aiyuk and the ball bounced off the defenders head and was caught by Aiyuk for a 1 yard reception. Then on the next play Aiyuk ran a post to receive a 2 yard touchdown. The lions were contained and could not score so the 9ers had the ball once again. Brock Purdy was throwing great passes down the field and then handed it off to McCaffery for a touchdown to tie up the game all in one quarter. The 49ers Came out with the dub and sent the Detroit Lions back home.  

 

So, this is how the Kansas City Chiefs and The San Francisco 49ers are in the Super Bowl for the second time in 4 years and will play at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday Feb 11.

How Good are NBA Players Compared to the Average Guy?

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Some NBA players posing for their draft picture.

How good are NBA players? NBA stands for National.Basketball.Association. This is the highest level and league of the sport. The NBA is where the best, of the best, of the best, players play. Every single one of these guys are elite and have been that way in every league they have played in. There is a 0.03% chance you play in the league. Also the average height of an NBA player is 6’7. So you gotta be pretty tall too. But how do you actually make it to the top?

Early Years

 Well for most players they have been playing since they have been born. Right when they have been able to hold a ball, they have played the game. A lot of NBA players’ parents also played basketball. Their parents can teach them the fundamentals of the game from an early age. Going forward, players can start to join AAU or highschool teams.

AAU/High School

Most players start playing AAU and High School ball next. Most High Schools have programs for younger grades that can help them develop and learn what offenses, or defenses, their High School runs. AAU can get you noticed and much better. AAU basketball can go all year round, but mostly in the summer where there’s many tournaments, and leagues you can sign your team up for. Even in High School, AAU has tournaments and leagues all around the country for scouts and recruits to watch prospects play. So most players usually are playing on two, maybe three teams at some point, when they are young. Around their junior, and senior year, kids can start to really get noticed. College recruits can reach out and start giving them offers to schools. Scholarships can be a huge boost of confidence and a goal achieved for most players. The next step for players is College basketball.

College Career

Once they hit their College years, it’s much different. There is no AAU, but there are multiple levels of college basketball. Lower divisions like Juco, D3, D2, are all still very competitive. All college basketball is, and there’s many very good players at those levels that can still make the NBA. But D1 is the highest level for college basketball. That’s where most NBA scouts watch games, and players. Collegiate players can start getting NBA scouts to notice them when they play well in big games, or tournaments like “March Madness”. But to make it to that point you have to be way better than anyone else on your team. Even if your team is a very high caliber squad. After the players’ college years, they can start thinking about playing professionally.  

Professional Basketball

Now after college they can put their name in the NBA draft. If you were extremely good in college, you might get drafted, and have a shot at the NBA. But being that great is very, very hard. So most good players in college try to go pro. But even that is very hard to do, because now you are getting paid to play the sport. For most players that’s a dream come true. Your job is to literally play the sport you have been playing since you were born. But also that means the stakes are higher, and you can’t mess up nearly as much. It’s easy to stop paying a player, if they aren’t contributing to the team, and for some that happens to them. But if you do play professionally, and keep getting better, your chances of making the league go up.

Taking your Shot

Now all of those hours practicing, shooting, dribbling, playing, etc, all lead up to you getting a possible shot in the NBA. The chances of you making the NBA are 0.03%. But it is still possible. If you have an amazing college career or pro career, you can make it. When you’re playing at the highest level possible, it’s just that much harder to get minutes and playing time. If you want to even be a rotational player, it’s hard. But if things fall in place, you can be even more.

How Can I Make it

In conclusion, NBA players are way, way, better than the average hooper. Showing this path that most players go down to make it to the league, helps you understand the difficulty of playing at that level. But if you really want to make it, go watch films of greats, and work really hard. Whoever does that wins.

Who I Think Will win the NBA Finals

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Who I Think Will win the NBA Finals
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday

#1: Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have the best record in the NBA right now, led by MVP caliber player Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis does have some help from 2nd time all-star Jrue Holiday. They have a record of 52-20, and are 25-5 in their last 30. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 10%

 

 

 

#2: Boston Celtics

The Celtics are second in the nitty gritty eastern conference, at a 50-23 record. They are led by 2 time all-star Jaylen Brown and MVP caliber player Jayson Tatum. Together they have led the Celtics to the 2021-22 finals, but ultimately lost to the Golden State Warriors in 6 games. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 122%

#3: Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are 1st in the Western Conference, at a 49-23 record. They are led by MVP caliber player, playmaking center, Nikola Jokic. 3.5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, they have already clinched the NW division title.  Odds to win the NBA Finals: 12%

#4: Philadelphia 76ers 

3rd in the Eastern Conference, this team has a league-high 2 MVP contenders. Led by MVP-ladder leader Joel Embiid and 9th place James Harden, they have a record of 49-23, 0.5 games away from the Boston Celtics in 2nd place. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 13%

#5: Phoenix Suns 

With recently requiring superstar Kevin Durant, the Suns have a bright future ahead, with a few championships in sight. 4th in the Western Conference with a 38-34 record. Since KD started playing on the Suns, they’ve had a 5-5 record. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 5%

#6: Memphis Grizzlies

2nd in the Western Conference, this team is led by all-star starter Ja Morant, an explosive, young guard who plays alongside potential DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr. Jaren Jackson Jr. was a 1st time all-star this season. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 10%

#7: Sacramento Kings

3rd in the Western Conference, they are led by 1st time all-stars Domantos Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox. They have the best offense in the league averaging 120.9 points per game and have the league/season high points 176. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 5%

#8: Cleveland Cavaliers

Currently 4th in the Eastern Conference, this team is led by 3rd time all-star and first time all-star starter Donavon Mitchell, who has been a standout in the “Land” since he got traded out of Utah. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 14%

#9: New York Knicks

5th in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks are in a time of prosperity. MVP candidate Julius Randle and underrated star Jalen Brunson have led the team to a 43-33 record. Just 2 years ago, they had finished 4th in the Eastern Conference, but got 1st rounded by the Hawks. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 5%

#10: Golden State Warriors

Led by all-star Stephen Curry, they have the 6th best record in the Western Conference, but have the 4th worst Road game record at 9-29. They still have an overall 38-36 record. A slight disappointment after last year’s championship winning team. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 1%

#11: Minnesota Timberwolves

Currently riding a 4 game win streak, they are 6th in the Western Conference. Their end of season boost may carry momentum over to the playoffs and help them power over the tough Kings, Grizzlies, and Nuggets. Led by 1st time all-star Anthony Edwards and crazy frontcourt duo of Rudy Gobert and Karl Anthony-Towns, they have a 39-37 record. Odds to win the NBA Finals: <1%

#12: LA Clippers

5th in the Western Conference, they have an opportunity to step out of the Lakers shadow as the “Other LA team”. Led by 8 time all-star Paul George, 2 time DPOY winner Kawhi Leonard, and former MVP Russell Westbrook, they have a 40-36 record.Odds to win the NBA Finals: 1%

#13: Miami Heat

7th in the Eastern Conference at 40-35, they are led by 2 time all-star and DPOY candidate Bam Adebayo. Jimmy Butler took a step forward from last season when he averaged 21.4 points to where he now averages 22.8 points. Not named to an all-star team, Jimmy is still a defensive force, being 2nd in steals at 1.9. Odds to win the NBA Finals: <1%

#14: Oklahoma City Thunder

Led by 1st time all-star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this team is changing the narrative for young teams. Most young teams are tanking for “Unicorn” VIctor Wembamyama, this team is a serious play-off contender. 10th in the Western Conference, Shai is that guy. He could lead the Thunder to the NBA Finals this year, if everything goes right. Odds to win the NBA Finals: <1%

 #15: Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks lost depth when they made a blockbuster trade for Kyrie Irving. Kyrie hasn’t yet found his place on the team, because with Kyrie they are 6-13 with Irving on the team. Irving is known to make teams have a downfall, but the Mavericks are hoping to break his streak. They are 11th in the Western Conference at 37-39. Odds to win the NBA Finals: <1%

And there you have it! My top 15 teams to win the NBA this year. The NBA will be a completely different place next few years with multiple superstars starting to emerge.

Odds from nbarankings.theringer.com

Standings and stats from nba.com