Keefe Hosting Tonight & Tomorrow Night

Rich Keefe continues to fill in on The DA Show from 6-11pm on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston. You can listen at CBSBostonSports.com or download the Radio.com app on iTunes. Reach the show by phone: 617-779-0985, text: 69985, or twitter: @Keefe21.

The next two nights will focus on the Celtics and their start to the 66-game NBA season. The Patriots push for the #1 seed in the AFC, and the NFL playoff picture. Plus Red Sox offseason, Bruins domination of late, and UFC 141 on Friday. Tune in and be part of the show.

Merry Christmas from The Sports Brief & The Muppets

This is just part of the greatest Christmas movie ever made. A Muppet Family Christmas (1987) was a made for TV special and I have watched it every year since. It doesn't get better, you can probably find the rest of it online, or do what I do and pop in the VHS.

Merry Christmas!




-Keefe

2011-12 NBA Preview

The 2011-12 season tips off on Sunday, so now is the time to go on record with all my picks for the upcoming year. I'll take a shot at everything from MVP to All-Rookie 2nd Team to of course what team will be hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy this summer. Feel free to leave some of your winners in the comments section below. We'll start with team accomplishments followed by individuals awards.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Memphis Grizzlies
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. Portland Trail Blazers
7. San Antonio Spurs
8. Denver Nuggets

Western Finals: Thunder over Clippers

EASTERN CONFERECE:

1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Boston Celtics
4. New York Knicks
5. Indiana Pacers
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Orlando Magic/ New Jersey Nets (whoever Howard plays more for)
8. Milwaukee Bucks

Eastern Finals: Heat over Celtics

NBA Finals: Heat over Thunder

Eastern Conference All-Stars

F - LeBron James, Heat

F - Carmelo Anthony, Knicks

C - Dwight Howard, Magic/Nets?

G - Dwyane Wade, Heat

G - Derrick Rose, Bulls

Reserves:

Deron Williams, Nets
Amare Stoudemire, Knicks
Rajon Rondo, Celtics
Paul Pierce, Celtics
Chris Bosh, Heat
Danny Granger, Pacers
Al Horford, Hawks

Western Conference All-Stars:

F - Kevin Durant, Thunder

F - Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks

C - Marc Gasol, Grizzlies

G - Kobe Bryant, Lakers

G - Chris Paul, Clippers

Reserves:

Russell Westbrook, Thunder
Rudy Gay, Grizzlies
Blake Griffin, Clippers
Pau Gasol, Lakers
Steve Nash, Suns
Kevin Love, Timberwolves
Eric Gordon, Hornets

Rookie of the Year: Kemba Walker, Bobcats

All-Rookie 1st Team:

Kemba Walker, Bobcats
Ricky Rubio, Timberwolves
Jimmer Fredette, Kings
Enes Kanter, Jazz
Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers

All-Rookie 2nd Team:

Derrick Williams, Timberwolves
Brandon Knight, Pistons
Iman Shumpert, Knicks
Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
JaJuan Johnson, Celtics

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Magic/ Lakers?

All-Defensive 1st Team:

Dwight Howard, Magic
LeBron James, Heat
Rajon Rondo, Celtics
Serge Ibaka, Thunder
Dwyane Wade, Heat

All-Defensive 2nd Team:

Chris Paul, Clippers
Shawn Marion, Mavericks
Tyson Chandler, Knicks
Andre Iguodala, 76ers
Darren Collison, Pacers

6th Man of the Year: James Harden, Thunder

Most Improved Player: DeMarcus Cousins, Kings

Coach of the Year: Lionel Hollins, Grizzlies

MVP: Kevin Durant, Thunder

All-NBA 1st Team:

Kevin Durant, Thunder
LeBron James, Heat
Dwight Howard, Magic/ Mavs?
Chris Paul, Clippers
Dwyane Wade, Heat

All-NBA 2nd Team:

Blake Griffin, Clippers
Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
Marc Gasol, Grizzlies
Derrick Rose, Bulls
Russell Westbrook, Thunder

All-NBA 3rd Team:

Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Amare Stoudemire, Knicks
Al Horford, Hawks
Deron Williams, Nets
Kobe Bryant, Lakers

-Keefe

Rich Keefe Hosting The DA Show

The Rich Keefe Project will be sitting in for The DA Show on 98.5 The Sports Hub for the next week+. The show airs from 6-11pm Monday-Friday. 98.5 can be found on iTunes as well as at CBSBostonSports.com. You can contact the show by phone: 617-779-0985 and text: 69985.

Showtimes:

Monday - 12/19 - 6-6:30pm BRUINS vs. CANADIENS; 9:30-11pm.
Tuesday - 12/20 - 6-11pm
Wednesday - 12/21 - 6-11pm
Thursday -12/22 - 6-11pm
Friday - 12/23 - Following BRUINS vs. PANTHERS; 9:30-11pm

Sunday - 12/25 - Special Christmas post Celtics show with former Patriots TE Jermaine Wiggins from 2-6pm

Monday - 12/26 - 6-11pm
Tuesday - 12/27 - 6-11pm

Podcast: Jeff Green Out For Season

Rich Keefe joined Brian Robb from CelticsHub.com to discuss the upcoming Celtics season and the news that Jeff Green would miss the entire year and undergo heart surgery.


CelticsHub.com Podcast: Discussing the Jeff Green Situation by BRobb7

2011-12 Clippers: Point Guards Galore

The LA Clippers finally got the untradeable Chris Paul from the league owned New Orleans Hornets. All it took was Eric Gordon, Chris Kamen, Al-Farouq Aminu, and the T-Wolves 1st round (unprotected) pick in the 2012 draft. CP3 is now in Los Angeles, although he is not the only All-Star point guard who will be suiting up for the Clip.

Clearly Paul is one of, if not the best point guard in the NBA. But the Clippers must not have been sure he was going to land there (why would they be) as they also claimed Chauncey Billups after he was amnestied by the Knicks. The team also has Mo Williams (who they got in the Baron Davis deal with the Cavs) as well as 2nd year man Eric Bledsoe, and combo guard Randy Foye. That's 4-5 point guards out of your best 8 players. What to do?

Lucky for them, many of these guys are scoring point guards, therefore they do not need to immediately search out trades and sell low. CP3 is obviously the main man, but how will the rest of these guys fit in. I see the rotation looking something like this.

STARTERS:
PG - Chris Paul
SG - Chauncey Billips
SF - Caron Butler
PF - Blake Griffin
C - DeAndre Jordan

BENCH (from most mins to least):
Mo Williams
Ryan Gomes
Eric Bledsoe
Randy Foye
Free Agent Big Man X
Free Agent Big Man Y
Willie Warren

Trey Thompkins
Renaldo Major
Travis Leslie

Dealing Kamen, they got pretty small, but not something they can't overcome. They obviously need to add another big body to go along with Griffin and Jordan. The Clippers are going to be fast, quick, and exciting to watch. As long as Paul and Griffin stay healthy, there will be two playoff teams playing in the Staples Center this year.


-Keefe

All Eyes on Brandon Lloyd

It all comes down to Rams WR Brandon Lloyd.

In a match up of 2 former Gentlemen's Club Fantasy Football League Champions, Rich Keefe and Tristan Besse turn their attention to the one and only Brandon Lloyd.

Keefe and Besse are locked up in a nail biter of a Quarterfinal. Smell the Glove (Keefe) has a 6 point lead over Team Besse (Besse) going into the Monday Night game, where only Besse's Lloyd remains.

Both teams experienced setbacks this weekend. Injuries devastated Besse (Greg Jennings and DeMarco Murray) while Keefe simply out-coached himself, benching regulars Cedric Benson, DeSean Jackson, and painfully Lions D. (For Jonathan Stewart, Malcolm Floyd, Broncos D; the difference 27 points.)

Besse was hurt by the injuries, as well as Nate Washington going for 19 on the bench, while Michael Crabtree (sub par) and Jennings (injury) did little.

With all that said, it now comes down to WR Brandon Lloyd. It is not a point per catch league, 1 point for every 10 yards and 6 for a TD.

The winner will face the Regular Season Points Leader, but neither are concerned with that right now.

If the game ends in a tie, Besse will be awarded the victory based on being the higher seed. However, I think he should be penalized for never changing his team name. Maybe that's just me.

Mir Snaps Nog's Arm; UFC 140 Results

MAIN CARD:
Jon Jones def. Lyoto Machida via technical submission (standing guillotine choke) - Round 2, 4:26 (to retain light-heavyweight title)
Frank Mir def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira* via submission (kimura) - Round 1, 3:38
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Tito Ortiz via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 3:15
Brian Ebersole def. Claude Patrick via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Chan Sung Jung def. Mark Hominick via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 0:07

UNDER CARD:
Igor Pokrajac def. Krzysztof Soszynski via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:35
Constantinos Philippou def. Jared Hamman via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 3:11
Dennis Hallman def. John Makdessi via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 1, 2:58
Yves Jabouin def. Walel Watson via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Mark Bocek def. Nik Lentz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jake Hecht def. Rich Attonito via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 1:10
John Cholish def. Mitch Clarke via TKO (strikes) - Round 2, 4:36

^Tito Ortiz and Big Nog went to the hospital following their losses. Each fighter could very well be done.

*Big Nog refused to tap to a kimura. The results (below) aren't pretty.



-Keefe

Hornets Didn't Get Enough?

David Stern voided the big 3-team deal in the NBA last night involving the Lakers-Hornets-Rockets. Apparently the deal (negotiated by New Orleans GM Dell Demps) was not in the best interest of the Hornets... who agreed to the deal. The out cry was delivered to Stern by several pissed-off, sour-grape owners, led by Cavs cry-baby Dan Gilbert.

Forget the nonsense about Stern stepping in and calling off the trade. As ridiculous as this is, and how truly insane it is, let's focus on the players and teams involved in the "trade."

LAKERS - Chris Paul (from Hornets)

ROCKETS - Pau Gasol (from Lakers)

HORNETS - Lamar Odom (from Lakers); Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Goran Dragic, and a draft pick (from Rockets)

First off, the Lakers get their man in CP3. A top tier point guard to team with Kobe, and potentially Dwight Howard. They also shed cap space and avoid the luxury tax (for now). But the fact that people are saying the Lakers gave up nothing to get him is ludicrous. In my opinion the Lakers gave up their 2nd and 3rd best players (Odom is better than Bynum. Fact.) They gave up their height advantage and rolled with a new concept, a quality point guard for Kobe.

So the Lakers gave up an All-Star (Gasol), almost All-Star (Odom) to get back All-Star (Paul)... who did miss half the 2009-2010 season with a knee injury...

The Rockets traded away a lot, but their master plan was to acquire Pau Gasol and then throw their newly available money at former Nuggets center Nene. Ok, they want Gasol and Nene (I'm not a big Nene fan, especially for the money he is going to get), but if that's who Daryl Morey and the Rockets want, why can't they do it? Exactly.

Lastly, the Hornets. People are saying they gave away the best player in the deal and didn't even get the 2nd best player. On the surface, that is probably right. But to call what they got back "trash," "garbage," "Odom and crap," etc. is simply wrong. You are not going to get equal value in a trade for a megastar. Hasn't happened. (Examples below). The Hornets need to get something for a guy who is definitely going to bounce in 7 months.

They got (last year's numbers in parenthesis).

Lamar Odom (14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3 assists)
Luis Scola (18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds)
Kevin Martin (23.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists)
Goran Dragic (7.5 points and shot 52% from 3 after trade from PHX)

Again, the Hornets trade their All-Star point guard for 3 bonafide NBA starters, a back-up point guard with some upside, and a pick. What else were they going to do? That's a solid trade. They aren't winning the title, but they're gonna be competitive. Let's see how that trade stacks up to some of the other Superstar deals of NBA past.

1992: 76ers trade Charles Barkley to the Suns for Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang, & Tim Perry

(I don't need to tell you that Barkley then won the MVP with Phoenix and led them to the Finals)

2004: Lakers trade Shaquille O'Neal to the Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, a 1st & 2nd round pick

2007: T-Wolves trade Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, and two 1st round picks

2008: Grizzlies trade Pau Gasol (and 2nd round pick) to Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, ammo, Marc Gasol (who no one knew would be this good), and two 1st round picks.

There are more. Those are just the ones that come to mind. You aren't going to trade CP3 for Deron Williams or Derrick Rose. You also aren't going to re-sign him after this season. The league just hurt the Hornets going forward. Maybe the team should not exist. If no one buys the team in the next few months, I say contract them. One less team would help the NBA.

There is still a chance this deal gets done (or one similar), let's hope it does. The league looked bad during the lockout, but this is worse.

-Keefe

Bowl Games Worth Watching

The Bowl Schedule has been out for a few days, but it takes at least that long to truly digest the fact that there are 35 different bowl games. 70 of the 120 Division 1-A teams will play in a bowl. Let that sink in. Quick math says that over 58% of the teams in the country make it to a friggin bowl game. I know that's not new this season, but it doesn't make it any less ridiculous. So with a plethora of 6-6 teams (even a 6-7 UCLA team which got in cause it lost in the Conference Championship game) which games are worth watching this year? Here is the list.

New Mexico Bowl- Wyoming (8-4) vs. Temple (8-4)
December 17, Saturday, 2:00pm ESPN

What the hell? Yes I start with Wyo vs. Temple. The reasons are simple. 1. My Dad went to Wyoming and we don't get to see them on TV very often. 2. It's the first Bowl game of the year. 3. Well, that's it.


Las Vegas Bowl- Boise State (11-1) vs. Arizona State (6-6)
December 22, Thursday, 8:00pm ESPN

Boise State had a real shot at the BCS Title Game this season. The loss to TCU bumped them for that, and little did we know at the time, also knocked from any BCS Bowl, or even one after Christmas! Coach Peterson was outspoken about the BCS, does this mean they beat the balls off the coach-less Sun Devils? I say yes. Also the final college game of one of the great QB's of all time Kellen Moore.


Alamo Bowl- Baylor (9-3) vs. Washington (7-5)
December 29, Thursday, 9:00pm ESPN

My Heisman winner Robert Griffin III leads his Bears against Sophomore QB Keith Price and the Huskies. I say Griffin wins the trophy, plays one last college game, and heads into the 1st round. This is the game for you if you've missed Baylor this year.


Rose Bowl- Oregon (11-2) vs. Wisconsin (11-2)
January 2, Monday, 5:00pm ESPN

It's the Pac-12 Champ vs. the Big 10 Champ. Oregon's high flying offense led by head coach (and New Hampshire native) Chip Kelly square off against Heisman finalist RB Montee Ball and Heisman candidate QB Russell Wilson. Ball will be going for the TD record in this one (although he will have played 3 MORE games than Barry Sanders). Teams like this also make you long for a playoff.


Fiesta Bowl- Oklahoma State (11-1) vs. Stanford (11-1)
January 2, Monday, 8:30pm ESPN

Andrew Luck vs. Brandon Weeden. Toss in the best WR in the nation, OK State's Justin Blackmon and I am in. I also believe the Cowboys should be in the title game vs. LSU. If OSU can blow out Stanford they will definitely garner some 1st place votes (if LSU loses).


Cotton Bowl- Arkansas (10-2) vs. Kansas State (10-2)
January 6, Friday, 8:00pm FOX

It may not be the SEC vs. Big 12 match up that I wanted to see, but it's still pretty intriguing. Conference bragging rights will be on the line.


BCS Championship Game- LSU (13-0) vs. Alabama (11-1)
January 9, Monday, 8:30pm ESPN

I was going to boycott the game, but the fact is, at worst its a match up of 2 of the top 3 teams in the country. I don't like it, but I'll watch. My biggest problems.
-We already saw this game.
-It was 9-6.
-Alabama had their chance.
-There are other deserving teams. (See: Oklahoma State)
-If Bama wins a close game (say by 3) then what?
-You can win a National Championship without winning a Conference Championship?

In summary, I am interested in 7/35 of the Bowls. (20%). And that might be high compared to you.

What about something different, like, oh, I don't know, a PLAYOFF!

8- Team Tournament: (Higher seeds host games until Title Game)

1. LSU
8. Kansas State

4. Stanford
5. Oregon

3. Oklahoma State
6. Arkansas

2. Alabama
7. Boise State

Good Lord! I am in on that! (How bad is KSU, ARK, Boise missing out on this and a Top 5 Bowl Game, brutal.)

WE WANT A PLAYOFF!

-Keefe

Keefe's Heisman Ballot

Believe it or not, I actually DON'T have a Heisman vote. I'm just as surprised as you are. Apparently the Heisman people(?) take The Sports Brief as some kind of "amateur blog." Whatever. If I had a vote this is how my Top 10 would look.

10. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
113 receptions (2nd in NCAA), 1,336 yards (7th), 15 TDs (t-3rd)

9. Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
2,879 yards passing, 31 TD - 3 INT, 191.6 QB Rating (2nd)

8. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
3,507 yards passing, 41 TD (2nd) - 7 INT, 176.8 QB Rating (4th)

7. Tyrann Mathieu, CB/PR, LSU
71 tackles, 2 INT, 1.5 sacks, 2 punt return TDs

6. Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
1,759 yards rushing (1st), 32 rush TD (1st), 38 total TD (1st)

5. Case Keenum, QB, Houston
5,099 yards passing (1st), 45 TD (1st) - 5 INT, 177.9 QB Rating (3rd)

4. Matt Barkley, QB, USC
3,528 yards passing, 39 TD (3rd) - 7 INT, 161.8 QB Rating (8th)

3. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
3,170 yards passing, 35 TD (5th) - 9 INT, 167.5 QB Rating (5th)

2. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
1,583 rushing yards (6th), 20 TD (5th) 23 total TD

1. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
3,998 yards (6th), 36 TD (4th) - 6 INT, 192.3 QB Rating (1st), 644 rushing yards, 9 TD rush


There you have it. The finalists in New York should be Griffin, Richardson, Luck, Barkley. If Houston could have capped off a perfect season I would have invited Keenum, but after losing to Southern Miss, sorry you got to sit home.

Also while we are on the subject of college football, what a joke the bowls are. I mean Virgina Tech is in the Sugar Bowl?? They suck. They lost twice to Clemson and didn't beat a good team ALL season. Meanwhile Boise State, Arkansas, Kansas State, and Baylor are all in weaker (less profitable) bowls. And how about Michigan getting in over Michigan State to a BCS Bowl. Awful. Not to mention I am not looking forward to a rematch of a game that was 9-6 for our National Championship. Sucks.

-Keefe

UK + UNC = Ridiculous

#1 Kentucky and #5 North Carolina squared off on Saturday afternoon at Rupp Arena. UK won the game 73-72. It was a great college basketball game, but the NBA fanatic in me could not get over the number of legit 1st round talent participating in the game. We know both these schools have storied histories and both coaches (John Calipari - UK and Roy Williams - UNC) can recruit as well as anyone in the country.

(The last few years Calipari has coached: Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall, Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, and more.)

Check out the NBA prospects (with ESPN's Chad Ford's rankings) that played in this game.

1. Anthony Davis, Kentucky, Freshman
2. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina, Sophomore
9. John Henson, North Carolina, Junior
11. James McAdoo, North Carolina. Freshman
12. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky, Freshman
13. Terrence Jones, Kentucky, Sophomore
17. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina, Senior
18. Marques Teague, Kentucky, Freshman
29. Doron Lamb, Kentucky, Sophomore
40. Kendall Marshall, North Carolina, Sophomore
45. P.J. Hairston, North Carolina, Freshman
96. Reggie Bullock, North Carolina, Sophomore

That's insane. As you can see, 12 of the Top 100; 11 of the Top 50; and 8 of the Top 20 players in the country play for either Kentucky or North Carolina. What a game. Won't be surprised if we see this one again in late March/ early April.

-Keefe