Weekly Blogger Debate:

Join our favorite bloggers in a debate of the top 5 sports questions this week!  Give your answers below!  This week thanks to Howard, Rob & Tyler for joining Steveo in the debate!

 1.  Make your prediction:  What 3 other teams (in addition to the Packers) will have a first round bye in the NFL Playoffs?

Will Brady and the Pats have a bye in first round of playoffs?

HOWARD TICKER:

Saints from the NFC and the Texans and Ravens in the AFC. I think all teams will win out.

ROB YUNICH – STORMING THE CREASE:

Patriots, Ravens, Saints

TYLER DALY:

The Saints, Pats, and Ravens. Saints should have no problem with the Vikings or the Panthers (although Carolina did give them a game the first time around). The key matchup will obviously be against Atlanta, where I think Brees will shine in a crucial division deciding game. The Pats will devise a way to stop Tebow this week, and have two easier matchups with the Dolphins and the collapsing Bills. Ravens have a tough roadie this week at San Diego, but I think their defense proves to be the difference in the win. Then a homer against the Browns shouldn’t give them much trouble, and I think they will have the division on lock by the time they play Cincy.

STEVEOSPEAK:

I’ll go bold and say the Steelers win the North, and the Pats get a bye as well. In the NFC the Saints will get the other bye.

2.  Do you think there is any point to firing an NFL coach DURING the season?

HOWARD TICKER:

I think there is a point if you want the guy you name “interim” head coach to see how he works for the rest of the season. But if you intend to bring someone new in after the season no matter what (like an experienced well known coach) then I see no point.

ROB YUNICH – STORMING THE CREASE:

Any time a coach (in any sport) has lost his or her team, then it’s time to fire them. So, unfortunately, yes, it can happen during the season and probably will always be that way.

TYLER DALY:

I think it depends on the situation. In the particular cases of Todd Haley and Tony Sparano, I didn’t really see the sense in it. The only way I really see a mid-season firing being appropriate is if some misconduct was done or if the coach is becoming a distraction.

STEVEOSPEAK:

Unless an NFL coach commits a crime, there is no reason for him to be fired during the season. You are doing the interim coach and the players a disservice, and I think it can only hurt your team long term.

3.  Pre-Season NBA Prediction:  Give your NBA Finals predictions and Champion!  If you’re so bold, give your prediction for top 2 teams in each conference.

Can Mavs repeat? Or will Heat win it all this year?

HOWARD TICKER:

Eastern Conference Finals- Bulls vs. Heat. Heat win. Western Conference- Spurs vs. Thunder. Thunder win. Heat win over the Thunder. Lakers may slide in if they make a big trade. Dallas I don’t think will return after losing Barea, Butler, and Chandler and only adding Odom.

ROB YUNICH – STORMING THE CREASE:

Chicago over San Antonio in the Finals… Boston and Dallas are the Conference Finals losers….

TYLER DALY:

The Eastern Conference will be dominated by the Bulls and Heat again I believe. Once again, I see the Heat in the Finals unless Chicago can add another dynamic scorer to compliment Rose and help him in the playoffs. As for the West… well 🙂 haha I like my Dallas Mavericks to be a top team once again. Despite losing Chandler, they were able to add Lamar Odom (who now has a vendetta against the Lakers organization) and Vince Carter. Them, plus a healthy Roddy Beaubois to fill in for Barea, should allow them to compete again for a title this year. I think we will likely see a rematch of the Mavs and Thunder in the Western Conference finals. The Lakers are just getting too old and there’s not enough fresh blood on the team, it seems as if they’re almost getting sick of each other. I think there is an extremely high likelihood that we see Mavs vs. Heat part deux. And that’s all I’m saying on the matter 🙂

STEVEOSPEAK:

I’ll say Dallas vs Thunder out West and Miami vs Celtics in the East, Thunder vs Miami in the finals with the Thunder winning it all.

4.  How will Sidney Crosby’s concussion symptoms affect the Pens the rest of the season?  How will this affect him long term?

HOWARD TICKER:

They should be worried that his symptoms are still there. But they have proved they can play without him.Financially it hurts in the long run becuase of his contract but they are a talented team and will be good with or without him.

ROB YUNICH – STORMING THE CREASE:        

How long will Crosby be able to play...this season and beyond?

Crosby most likely will never be the same. Yes, he’ll have spurts of greatness – as he demonstrated earlier this year when he played – but he won’t be able to play a complete season ever again, in my opinion. That being said, the Penguins are still one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference (or whatever it’s going to be called next season), if not the league, so they still have a great shot at winning the Stanley Cup – despite the protests of many detractors from Washington, New York and Philadelphia.

TYLER DALY:

This whole situation is confusing to me. I don’t read up on the NHL as much, but from what I’ve seen from the Pens they really struggle without their main playmaker, as do most teams. He made it obvious from his first night back that he changes the entire complexity of a game. I don’t think they can compete for a title without him, but they are still a playoff team regardless. I just find it weird how NFL players sit out a week, if that, for concussions and Crosby is suffering a year later from one.

STEVEOSPEAK:

I think the Pens will still be fine for a playoff berth this year, but they might not go too far if Crosby doesn’t return. With him they are legit Stanley Cup contenders. His long term outlook is the real question, I really hope he doesn’t have to end his career over something like this. He has the chance to be the the next Great one, and it would be so sad for that to be over.

5.  In YOUR opinion, who are the top 5 teams in College Basketball right now?

HOWARD TICKER:

Ohio State, Syracuse, Kentucky, UNC, Louisville

ROB YUNICH – STORMING THE CREASE:

Top five (in no particular order): Syracuse, North Carolina, Ohio State, Kentucky, and U-Conn.

TYLER DALY:

1- Syracuse 2- Kentucky 3- Ohio St 4- UNC 5- Duke

STEVEOSPEAK:

I won’t get too crazy: I’ll say Syracuse, Kentucky, Ohio State, Baylor and UNC