Running The Spread Podcast 3

This week in the podcast we talk about LeBron and the NBA free agency. We dive into some Lance Stephenson talk and about how wide open the NBA eastern conference is. We also talk about last nights MLB all-star game, wether or not Derek Jeter is an all-time great.

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Monday Spread Option 07-14-2014

1. LeBron James left the Miami Heat and decided to go home to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Can the Cavs win a championship next year with the way the roster is currently constructed?

 

Ty-
I would like to gloat first and say that I thought that after the season I definitely thought that there could be a possibility of LeBron going back. I didn't say it was definitely going to happen by any stretch but most people were steadfast on LeBron staying and thought he would consider going back. But that's besides the point. I think that people are somewhat jumping the gun on the Cavs being surefire title contenders.



I think they will be a top 5 seed in the east but a lot has to happen. Kyrie Irving has to stay healthy and Wiggins as well as Bennett need to grow as players. I do believe that they will grow because LeBron has the ability to elevate other players games. He also takes the pressure off of the other guys. Instead of Wiggins having to live up to an insane amount of hype he will help the team if he plays the elite defense he is capable of and improves his 3 point shooting. Tristan Thompson is a good big man and Anthony Bennett just has to be a serviceable big man backup but he does have the potential to be a big man that can run the floor and shoot 3 pointers. 

If Bennett becomes a good stretch 4 than he is perfect for a system around LeBron James as it allow James to operate with space. Kyrie Irving in a way is a better Dwayne Wade because he can penetrate like D-Wade could but he is a far better 3 point shooter than Wade so it means that he can space the floor as well. The biggest challenge will be for a young team and new head coach to establish championship level defense and learn a winning offense in crunch time. So I think they could in theory but I would say it is extremely doubtful as of right now.  

Spencer-
I think with LeBron James on your team you can at least put them in the discussion as a championship contender, but personally I don't think they can win it as soon as next year. A lot of the Cavaliers' success hinges on the development of their young talent. We already know what Kyrie Irving can do, but can Tristan Thompson get even better? Can Anthony Bennett, whose been said to be making progress this summer, be more effective than he was in his rookie year? Can Andrew Wiggins develop into the talent he has the potential to be? Those are the questions that decide the Cavaliers future. I don't think that is all going to happen in one season but I do think they will make progress. LeBron makes everyone better so you know he will be able to mentor a guy like Wiggins and help him compete at a high level. That's why I at least give them a shot at it this year though because if things can fall into place I don't see why they couldn't. Nonetheless they will have some tough teams in the East to compete with in the Bulls, the Pacers, the Heat will still be good. And in the West, well we know how good many of those teams are. My prediction is they make a deep playoff run and don't win it this year, but long term will have a shot at multiple championships when this young team grows. 

LeBron returns home: My take on a once in a lifetime story

Alright, Alright. I'll be the first to admit I was wrong. If you had asked me a week ago if I thought a return to Cleveland for LeBron James was possible, I would have told you it was a fantasy that not even Disney could turn into a movie. I truly believed after watching LeBron be so comfortable and dominant as a player in Miami over the last four seasons that despite being outmatched in the NBA Finals, he would return with a revamped team to South Beach. When he, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all opted out it seemed even more likely, figuring that the trio would take less money to free up the cap space to build a younger, more competitive team. When things took a turn though for me, was when the news came out that James wouldn't settle for another pay cut, and wanted a max deal with whomever it was he decided to sign with.

Monday Spread Option 7-8-14

1. The Oakland Athletics made a blockbuster deal with Chicago Cubs trading away their number one prospect, shortstop Addison Russell, for pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. It was a bit out of characteristic for the A's who have perfected the money ball system, but was it a good move by them and what does it mean for their second half of the season? 

Spencer-
This was a great move by Oakland, and both teams won in my mind. For the Cubs they get another top young prospect to use in their rebuilding project and get  rid of a star pitcher that was probably going to walk for more money at the years end anyway. Only thing working against them was that it gives them now three top shortstop prospects and obviously only one can play the position. Wouldn't be surprised to see Starlin Castro on one of the teams in New York next season. For the A's though this deal was a statement about the expectations for this team. They want to win a championship and they will do what it takes to do it, NOW. Obviously Addison Russell is a terrific talent and one that fit their mold for stock piling young talent and bringing in the right pieces around them. Acquiring Samardzija and Hammel though gives them two more pitchers to add to the mix with Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir. It was the first time we saw the Athletics be an aggressor in a trade and I absolutely loved it. This trade favors them in the long run for the rest of the season. It gives them now four starters who can dominate game in and game out. Justin Verlander brought up the point that he saw this as the A's trying to put together a rotation that can run with his own in Detroit and that is an interesting theory. We've seen Oakland fall to Detroit in the playoffs the last couple years and they saw this as a way to get over the hump. I think it gives them the last punch they need to chase a championship so the Tigers and the rest of the league better make necessary moves to compete with them.

Ty-
This trade made sense for both teams. The A's get more pitching to help a season that looks very promising at the moment. The Cubs are not very good and it was smart of them to deal Samardzija for something rather than lose him for nothing later. The Cubs got some intriguing prospects that they can hope develope. The A's already have great pitching and are 2nd in the league in ERA but the A's could definitely use another good starting pitcher. The person who has to be the happiest is Jeff Samardzija who goes from a team that seemed to always lack run support to a team that leads the league in runs. The A's might be a team known for moneyball but this deal could  be a crucial one that we look back at if the A's win the world seried.

2. With rumors circulating about free agent Carmelo Anthony narrowing his decision down to the Los Angeles Lakers and a return to the New York Knicks where will Anthony actually end up and are his two final choices a surprise? 

Ty- 
My mind is telling me that he ends up back in New York. But I think he is having a hard time deciding for a reason.

Monday Spread Option 06-30-14

1. The NBA Draft was Thursday night, what was the biggest surprise to you when it was all said and done? 

Spencer-

The Biggest Surprise for me had to be the 76ers. Like what exactly were they thinking? I understand Embiid could turn out to be a fantastic player but you just got an injured center who went through surgery last season in Nerlens Noel. I know he is supposed to be back this year but I just don't understand the move? That makes three centers in Philadelphia over the last 3 seasons who were hurt. You had Bynum, Noel and this year it's Embiid. Then after that they went out and Drafted Dario Saric who can't even play in the NBA for another two years. I just didn't get it. Maybe their game plan is to tank again and actually get the first pick this time but they basically conceded this season if not the next two seasons. For a team that had a lot of opportunities in the draft to get better it just felt like they made boneheaded decisions.

Monday Spread Option 06-09-14

1. The Heat tied the NBA Finals at one game apiece with the Spurs who will go on to win the series and in how many games? 

Spencer- 

Originally I picked the Spurs in six cause I felt the revenge factor was there since the Spurs should of won in six last year, and I know the two teams match-up well. However after all the criticism and hoopla from Lebron's leg cramps in game one I reversed my pick to the Heat in seven. As Lebron proved last night he's out to show the world he's the best player in this series and he took over late and made all the right decisions to push his team to a win. He knows it's always all eyes on him and he's out to prove everyone wrong so I feel he'll do similar things throughout the series especially with it heading to Miami for two. Last year the Heat proved they could beat the veterans, this year I think they prove it wasn't a fluke.

Ty- 
I'm going with the Heat in 7. These teams are evenly matched so I could see this series going either way. The one advantage that the Heat have is also the Spurs only weakness. The Heat is athletic enough to disrupt the Spurs offense. The Spurs don't really disrupt the Heat unless LeBron is out of the game. So I think that this series literally comes down to LeBron. Last year the Spurs were close to winning in 6 games because LeBron was hesitant to take and make mid range jump shots. They then lost the game 7 because LeBron was confident in his shot. If LeBron plays the way he did in game 2 then the Heat should be able to beat the Spurs and it might not even go 7. But I'm not counting out the Spurs who are hungry to avenge last year so I truly see this going 7 games again.