5 Questions With Anthony Parker

I talked with Cleveland starting swingman Anthony Parker prior to the Celtics-Cavs game tonight. Here is what the Bradley alum, who is averaging 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and a team best 2.4 assists per turnover, had to say.

1. From an outside perspective, what is your view of the Celtics, they are 9-9, but are they still an elite team?

Parker: You know, I think a lot of people had questions coming into this season with the condensed schedule and not a lot of time to prepare and everything, so does it favor them, does it hurt them? I think they are a veteran team that knows how to win, and regardless of injuries, you see now that they have the capabilities that come playoff team they are probably going to be a team that no one wants to see in the First Round.

2. How has the short preseason and limited practice time effected you guys? I think you've surprised some with your record to this point.

Parker: I think that it is something that everyone has had to deal with, everybody is on a level playing field. Coaches have done a good job of mixin in, getting in shape, and getting everyone after it, and putting in sets, but also knowing when we need a break. You know it's definitely something you have to teach on the fly, and there is a gradual chemistry and feel between the players that kind of evolves as the season goes on, but you know, everybody is dealing with it.

3. What kind of challenge is it for a player like you who has to guard both Ray Allen and Paul Pierce in the same night?

Parker: They are both great at what they do, and its completely different. And I think that is why they complement each other so well. Paul Pierce is really good on the ball, creating his own shot, and creating for other players, isos, and stuff like that. Ray Allen is just constant motion, players really look to screen for him, and he's one of the best are learning how to use the screens and getting his shots off. It's a different challenge, but equally tough.

4. How have the Cleveland fans been, now a full year removed from LeBron James?

Parker: Well I think last year the Cleveland fans have been great, this year they have been great. There is a new energy, a new hope, especially with the young guys we have in the organization now. I think this year we have kind of turned the corner, we haven't gotten as many questions about the last couple years. I know that is a sign of turning the corner and talking about the roster we have now.

5. I know he was the #1 pick in the draft, but are you surprised by just how quickly Kyrie has been able to come in and have success?

Parker: I mean the kid can play. And considering he missed most of his one year of college, he's only logged, I don't know how many hundreds of minutes since high school. So just his pace that he plays with, his ability, his natural talent and his feel for the game is far ahead of what I expected from him, his future is bright.

BONUS QUESTION

Who do you got, Pats or Giants in the Super Bowl?

Parker: (laughs) You know what, I'm a Bears fan. So one of the corny answers, I just want a good game. But either way, I think if Eli wins it, you know I'm happy for him in that market and kind of taking the beaten he's done. But then for Tom Brady to come back and win, what would it be, his 4th? (Keefe: Yeah, it would be his 4th win.) I think that would be awesome, and it would certainly cement him as being one of the elite quarterbacks of all time.

-Keefe

5 Questions with David West

I had a chance to talk with Indiana forward David West prior to tonight’s Celtics-Pacers game. Here is what the Xavier product, who is averaging 11.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game this season had to say.

1. Keefe: What has been the key to your team’s success against the Celtics this season?

West: I don’t know. We just try to have the same approach, regardless of who we playing. Try to be aggressive and set the tone defensively.

2. Keefe: How have you been able to fit in with the Pacers in your first year, just 15-17 games in?

West: Well you know, not trying to do too much. Took me my time in terms of learning these guys. Didn’t come in and try to impose who I am on this team. You know, this is a good core, good group. I still am trying to find the best way for me to fit.

3. Keefe: What is Coach Vogel like?

West: I mean he’s good. He’s young and energetic. He keeps things positive even when we don’t play well. He’s able to get us goin, get our mind away from the game we just had and go out and get another one.

4. Keefe: Do you consider you guys a top contender in the Eastern Conference?

West: No I don’t. Nah, it’s too early, and we haven’t done anything except win a couple games.

5. Keefe: What did you make of Tu Holloway and all that went on back at Xavier?

West: I mean the game was over. But you know. Sometimes it becomes more than basketball, and that was the effect of that.

BONUS QUESTION!

Patriots or Giants in the Super Bowl?

West: Giants.

You a Giants fan?

West: Little bit.

2012 Academy Awards Nominees

The nominees for the Oscars have been announced. Who will win? Or, perhaps a better question, have you heard of or seen any of these movies?

Best Picture:

The Artist

The Descendants

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

The Help

Hugo

Midnight in Paris

Moneyball

The Tree of Life

War Horse

(Wow. I must have slept through the last year. I saw.... 0 of those. Not even Moneyball. Least Eddie Murphy is hosting, wait what?)

Best Director:

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life

(Couple big names, still don't care.)

Best Actor:

Demian Bichir, A Better Life

George Clooney, The Descendants

Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Boy

Brad Pitt, Moneyball

(Love Gary Oldman, the guys might be the best actor out there aside from Daniel Day-Lewis. Check out some of the roles Oldman has played sometime when you're bored. I also find it very hard to believe that Pitt could win Best Actor for portraying Billy Beane. I mean come on.)

Best Actress:

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs

Viola Davis, The Help

Rooney Mara, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

(Powerhouse crew right here, still haven't seen a damn thing nominated.)

There are a lot of other awards including Nick Nolte getting a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Warrior, which I heard was good, but still did not see it.

The 84th Annual Academy Awards will air live on February 26th. I will be in at least one Oscar Pool, so I got one month to do some homework. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised with some of these, we shall see.

Movie side note: The Dark Knight Rises comes out in July! Pumped.

-Keefe

Keefe on J.T. The Brick 1/19/12

Rich Keefe was once again a guest on Fox Sports Radio's J.T. The Brick Show last night to help breakdown the Patriots, as they are only one win away from a trip to the Super Bowl. Check out the interview HERE. (Skip ahead to 19:00).

Team USA 2012 Finalists

The 20 finalists for the USA Men's Basketball Team for the 2012 London Olympics were announced today. Check out this ridiculous list. (The 12 man roster and alternates will be picked in June.)

Kobe Bryant, Lakers
LeBron James, Heat
Dwyane Wade, Heat
Chris Bosh, Heat
Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
Dwight Howard, Magic
Chris Paul, Clippers
Deron Williams, Nets
Kevin Durant, Thunder
Derrick Rose, Bulls
Tyson Chandler, Knicks
Eric Gordon, Hornets
Rudy Gay, Grizzlies
Kevin Love, Timberwolves
Lamar Odom, Mavericks
Chauncey Billups, Clippers
Russell Westbrook, Thunder
Andre Iguodala, 76ers
Blake Griffin, Clippers
LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers

Not sure how Odom snuck past security there but whatever. Billups is probably an easy cut too. I like their chances this summer.

-Keefe

UFC 142 Predictions

I'm back baby!

After a long hiatus, I've decided to try and commit myself to posting blogs more consistently moving forward. Work has taken a toll on me, but after starting a new job, moving apartments and getting settled after the holidays, the hope is I'll have some time to make occasional posts during the week and some on the weekends.

For the first blog back, here are predictions on the main card for the UFC 142 fight tonight:

Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes

Interesting take here. I actually work with a guy who is friends with a lot of members in and associated with Team Alpha Male: Urijah Faber, Mark Munoz, and none other than Chad Mendes. We've talked a lot about this card over the last couple weeks, and he firmly believes, bias or not, that Mendes' wrestling can be the difference in this fight.

I don't.

While I think he can find success in moments throughout the fight, I don't think he'll have the ability to wear down Aldo enough in this pockets to finish him. And when the fight is on the feet, Aldo has the significant advantage. Mendes packs power, but Aldo's striking is so versatile, fluid and devastating, Mendes could be worn down by the 4th and 5th rounds. In fact, my co-worker told me he was cageside for the Aldo vs. Faber fight, and the leg kicks were devastating from Aldo. They could see the impact on his legs from the 1st row, and after the fight Faber told him they hurt like hell. Expect Mendes to face the same difficulty.

Aldo will wear him down on the feet, and while Mendes will score in short spurts, Aldo will carry a lead in the championship rounds, where Mendes will be tired, sore, and not have the spring in his legs to score any takedowns. As a result, Aldo hurts Mendes with a flurry late in the 4th before finishing him on the ground.

Result: Aldo defeats Mendes via 4th round (T)KO stoppage.

Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson

"Rumble" came rumbling onto the scale at 197lbs, 11lbs over the contracted weight. Dana White just released his Day 2 Vlog and it's interesting to watch his conversation with Belfort, informing him of the predicament and his options to either stop cutting and rehydrate now or make weight and accept 20% of Johnson's purse. Vitor, ever the professional, accepted the latter.

One thing I caught in the video, which you can view below, is that the fight will take place around 3am in Brazil. Vitor is from Brazil, so he's used to the time zone and has a sense of what needs to be done to be ready by fight time. I can't assume Johnson, far from the professional Belfort is, has the same awareness. So while Johnson may have the advantage from weighing much heavier than Belfort, he also went through some serious medical issues that caused him to miss weight, and I think Belfort will actually be fresher when they enter the cage.

In terms of tangibles, it's an interesting matchup of styles. Both are prolific strikers. Belfort has the faster, crisper strikes, while Johnson brings power that may not be matched at 170, 185, or possibly even 205. This guy throws bombs, plain and simple. But the quickness of Belfort on the feet could force Johnson to consider packing up his ego and relying on his wrestling. The "Phenom" will have to watch out for that.

Picking this fight is tough. The weight thing really throws a wrinkle into the mix, but ultimately I think Belfort prevails. He's fighting in his home country, has quick, fast hands with power, and has fought guys just as big if not bigger than Johnson. It's not something new to a guy with a wealthy of experience. Johnson will be a legitimate threat while the fight lasts, but I think Belfort wobbles "Rumble" and closes fast with a shocking flurry of strikes that puts Johnson down and out in the 2nd round.

Result: Belfort defeats Johnson via 2nd round KO

Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio

This won't take long. I'm not sure how Massenzio wins this fight. And he won't. Palhares will bully him to the mat within the first couple minutes of the fight, land some strikes from the top, then latch onto a leg as Massenzio tries to scramble. He'll tap, Palhares will hold the submission a few seconds after the ref steps in, Massenzio will get hurt, and there will be a massive scrum in the cage as UFC brass try to restore order.

In other words, just another day in the life of Palhares.

By the way, does Palhares have the biggest arms in MMA? Holy christ.

Result: Palhares defeats Massenzio via 1st round submission (kneebar)

Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater

Prater looks like a badass, but he's actually just a veteran fighter with a ton of experience. Silva, meanwhile, is an up-and-coming prospect who is looking to pass yet another test as he tries to climb the ladder.

My knowledge of Prater goes back to his days in the WEC. A failed title attempt against then 170lb. champ Carlos Condit, and another loss to former WEC welterweight contender Brock Larson. He was wiped out in both fights, and while he's fought a lot of tough, top guys in the sport, he's never really found success at the highest of levels.

Silva, meanwhile, is a guy who has finished 10 of his 13 professional victories, 7 by submission. He's also trained with fellow Brazilians Anderson Silva and the Nogueria brothers. The guy can attack, and against Prater I think he continues his climb to contendership with relative ease. He'll soften Prater up with strikes, then after being wobbled, Prater will try and scramble for a takedown. On his knees while reaching for a leg, Prater's neck will be exposed and Silva will pounce on it, locking up the guillotine and finishing the longtime MMA vet with the tapout.

Result: Erick Silva defeats Carlo Prater via 1st round submission (guillotine choke)

Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza

This should be a barn burner. I love to watch Etim. Long, lean and athletic, and he has a fantastic submission game. Great threat on the ground. Barboza, meanwhile, is an undefeated prospect with some serious striking on the feet. He's coming off a split decision win against Ross Pearson, a guy who's pretty talented on his feet, as well.

Both guys should bring it, and this is my early pick for Fight of the Night honors. As far as the result, Etim is going to need to get this fight to the ground and be on the attack, not fighting in a scramble. If it stays on the feet, he's tough and will be game, but it'll be the best way for him to lose a decision.

Ultimately, I think that's how it goes down. Etim won't be able to sustain any success on the mat against Barboza, and the majority of it will showcase the superior striking of the undefeated talent.

Result: Barboza defeats Etim via unanimous decision

That's all I'll weigh in on, as the undercard fights have kicked off. Just wanted to get this up as I want the end of the 49ers-Saints game and get ready for the Pats. A great weekend of sports, and more exciting UFC action coming this month, a lot of which has been featured on FOX during this game which has been pretty cool to see.

Enjoy the games and the fights!

-Bess

Saturday Parlay

Been gone for a couple of weeks, figured I would bounce back with a Saturday parlay for all you gambling fans.

Winners: Patriots, Saints, Jose Aldo, Vitor Belfort, Bruins, Pacers (over Celtics).

You're looking at a lot of favorites there, but put them all together and see what happens.

Goodluck!


In fact, I can get you: Broncos (+14), Saints outright, Aldo, Belfort, Pacers (-3.5), Bruins outright.... $100 bet wins you $1,796.20. Niiiice.

-Keefe