Author: Carter Huff

Three make or break shooting guards for the 2018-19 NBA season.

1.Devin Booker,Phoenix Suns
He’s got a bunch of young teammates that have gotten one year better.He’s got former number one pick in DeAndre Ayton and defensive specialist Trevor Ariza beside him.His effieciencies should improve with the talent he’s got beside him,and more time as the main ball handler will help him (maybe) reach his first all-star game next February.

2.Buddy Hield,Sacramento Kings
Is Hield the best out of Sacramento’s three wings between Bogdan Bogdanović and Justin Jackson.He will probably get more looks with most of the defensive attention being on Marvin Bagley inside.He will have some decent playmakers in De’Aaron Fox and Bogdanovic to pass to him as well.

3.Zach LaVine,Chicago Bulls
Lavine is making more money than he should be for the Chicago Bulls.He’s been an effiecient scorer most of his career (like back when he was back in Minnesota).LaVine should be a playmaker,and should improve at that.

Ohio State defeated TCU in Arlington,Texas 40-28 Saturday night.

Oklahoma and Notre Dame beat inferior opponents,Iowa State and Vanderbilt respectively by ten points or less.Oklahoma State surprised some people and defeated Boise State,getting them out of any Playoff discussion.Most notably in the SEC,Alabama crushed Ole Miss,62-7,but LSU stunned Auburn on the Plains,with a last second field goal to win,22-21.Most games were top teams against inferior opponents,like Clemson defeating Georgia Southern,and Georgia defeating Middle Tennessee.Wisconsin was upset by BYU.Oh yeah,I forgot to say,Texas defeated USC.

Today we are starting NBA 2018-19 previews with the Cleveland Cavaliers.Let’s get into it.

2017-18 Review
Record:50-32
Playoffs Result:Lost to GSW in Finals,4-0
Statistical Leaders (per game) (RG=Regular Season) (PS=Postseason)
Points:LeBron James (27.5 RG) (34 PS)
Rebounds:Kevin Love (9.3 RG) (10.2 PS)
Assists:LeBron James (9.1 RG) (9 PS)
Steals:LeBron James (1.4 RG) (1.4 PS)
Blocks:LeBron James (0.9 RG) (1 PS)

Key 2018 Offseason Transactions
LeBron James leaves for Los Angeles Lakers.
Sam Dekker traded from Los Angeles Clippers.
David Nwaba signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Channing Frye signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Projected Rotation
Point Guard
Starter:Collin Sexton
Sexton should fill the same ball usage as LeBron did but needs to develop a better shot.Expect a fourteen point,six rebound,and five assist per game season to open up his NBA career for Sexton.Projected stats per game:14.6 PPG,6.2 RPG,5.6 APG
2.George Hill
3.Isaiah Taylor
Shooting Guard
Starter:JR Smith
Despite having a bad postseason last year,I expect Smith to be focused,and someone who should be a better scorer and more important to the offense now that LeBron is gone.Expect a fifteen point,seven rebound,and three assist per game season out of JR Smith.Projected stats per game:15.4 PPG,7.4 RPG,3.2 APG
2.Jordan Clarkson
3.David Nwaba
Small Forward
Starter:Rodney Hood
While Hood could definitley play shooting guard,I see him fitting at small forward better.While he’s still young,it’s a make or break year for Hood in his first full year in Cleveland.I expect Rodney to shoot forty-five percent from three and average fifteen points,five rebounds,and four assists.Projected stats per game:15.3 PPG,5.8 RPG,4.7 APG
2.Cedi Osman
3.Kyle Korver
Power Forward
Starter:Kevin Love
Kevin Love should return as the player he was in Minnesota (26 PPG,12 or 13 RPG) but I think he has to have one year to grab a hold of the team in Cleveland.Ten plus rebounds are expected now that LeBron is gone and twenty-two points per game should be a goal for Love in 2018-19.I’m expecting Love to put up twenty-three points,ten rebounds,and three assists.Projected stats per game:23.4 PPG,10.6 RPG,3.2 APG
2.Larry Nance Jr.
3.Sam Dekker
4.Channing Frye
Center
Starter:Tristan Thompson should also be a guy who should average a double-double or close to one.He is an amazing offensive rebounder,so I expect a thirteen point,ten rebound per game performance out of Thompson in 2018-19.Projected stats per game:13.3 PPG,10.1 RPG,2.2 APG
2.Larry Nance Jr.
3.Ante Zizic

Projected 2018-19 Record:28-54
Why:The Cavs are now ina rebuilding stage but Collin Sexton should have flashes of a star and Kevin Love should go back to be being the double-double machine that he is.

1.Lonzo Ball,PG,Los Angeles Lakers
Ball showed everything in his rookie season:passing,inside scoring,defense,and efficiency (in some parts of his game).With a new shot form,can he become a shooter with the ball being in LeBron’s hands.He will have a great player to pass to,and other things.We will see.

2.De’Angelo Russell,PG,Brooklyn Nets
Russell has flashes of being a forty-point scorer but on some nights he has been almost nonexistent.With Russell,time will tell whether he can run an offense and with fellow guard Spencer Dinwiddie to the playoffs.

3.Terry Rozier,PG,Boston Celtics
Rozier became the fill-in for injured star Kyrie Irving,and was a threat shooting the ball.He averaged almost twenty-points in place of Irving in the playoffs and won’t have a huge role,but could be a star if he switches teams.

Clemson survived on the road against Texas A&M.Not many upsets for top teams,including Alabama’s win over Arkansas State and LSU’s win over Southeastern Louisiana.Although Michigan State and Arkansas were upset by Arizona State and Colorado State respectively.Colorado defeated Nebraska to renew their rivalry,and spoil Scott Frost’s debut.Penn State crushed Pitt to renew their instate rivalry,and as you can see not many upsets happened in week two but a few.Stanford defeated USC,to end the day.

Notre Dame defeats Michigan,24-17.How will Michigan handle another bad start to a season?Can they pick it up and win a Big 10 championship for the first time in the John Harbaugh era?I don’t think so,the way this is going.

Tua Tagovailoa shined against Louisville as he scored touchdowns on three of the four drives he was in the backfield.Meanwhile,Jalen Hurst ahd one drive and passed for just thirty yards.Alabama defeated Louisville in Orlando,51-14.Tua will start in week two.

LSU,using the ground game defeated Miami in Arlington,33-17.

Other scores:Michigan State 38,Utah State 31,Arkansas 55,Eastern Illinois 20,Arkansas State 48,SEMO 21,Central Florida 56,UCONN 17,Stanford 31,San Diego State 10,Wisconsin 34,Western Kentucky 3,Oklahoma 63,Florida Atlantic 14,Ohio State 77,Oregon State 31,TCU 55,Southern 7,Maryland 34,Texas 29,Clemson 48,Furman 7,Penn State 45,Appalachian State 38,Georgia 45,Austin Peay 0,West Virginia 40,Tennessee 14,Auburn 21,Washington 16,USC 43,UNLV 21,Mississippi State 63,Stephen F. Austin 6,Oregon 58,Bowl Green 24

*=Conference Game

Week Opponent Proj. record after game
1 at.*Florida State 1-0 (1-0) ACC
2 William & Mary 2-0 (1-0) ACC
3 East Carolina 3-0 (1-0) ACC
4 at.Old Dominion 4-0 (1-0) ACC
5 at.*Duke 5-0 (2-0) ACC
6 Notre Dame 6-0 (3-0) ACC
7 at.*North Carolina 7-0 (4-0) ACC
8 Bye 7-0 (4-0) ACC
9 *Georgia Tech 8-0 (5-0) ACC
10 *Boston College 9-0 (6-0) ACC
11 at.*Pittsburgh 10-0 (7-0) ACC
12 *Miami 10-1 (7-1) ACC
13 *Virginia 11-1 (8-1) ACC

NOTE:I will be doing as many schedule predictions with one game already done as I can.

*=Conference Game

Week Opponent Proj. record after game
1 at.Notre Dame 1-0 (0-0) Big 10
2 Western Michigan 2-0 (0-0) Big 10
3 SMU 3-0 (0-0) Big 10
4 *Nebraska 4-0 (1-0) Big 10
5 at.*Northwestern 5-0 (2-0) Big 10
6 *Maryland 6-0 (3-0) Big 10
7 *Wisconsin 7-0 (4-0) Big 10
8 at.*Michigan State 7-1 (4-1) Big 10
9 Bye 7-1 (4-1) Big 10
10 *Penn State 7-2 (4-2) Big 10
11 at.*Rutgers 8-2 (5-2) Big 10
12 Indiana 9-2 (6-2) Big 10
13 at.*Ohio State 9-3 (6-3) Big 10

I can’t believe I’ve already made one hundred posts on cbhsports2.wordpress.com .When I made the switch around February to one main sports website,Throwball News,and swim sports I never thought I would stick with it (Like I haven’t done with anything).I just want to say thank you for the support to help pursue my dream of working in sports media.

*=Conference Game (Independents)

Week Opponent Proj. record after game
1 Michigan 0-1 (0-0) Independents
2 Ball State 1-1 (0-0) Independents
3 Vanderbilt 2-1 (0-0) Independents
4 at.Wake Forest 3-1 (0-0) Independents
5 Stanford 4-1 (0-0) Independents
6 at.Virginia Tech 4-2 (0-0) Independents
7 Pittsburgh 5-2 (0-0) Independents
8 Bye 5-2 (0-0) Independents
9 Navy 6-2 (0-0) Independents
10 at.Northwestern 7-2 (0-0) Independents
11 Florida State 8-2 (0-0) Independents
12 Syracuse 9-2 (0-0) Independents
13 at.USC 10-2 (0-0) Independents

IWSTBBACS Projected NFL Standings
()=Overall Seed in NFC Playoffs

NFC
East
1.Philadelphia Eagles 11-5 (3)
2.Dallas Cowboys 8-8
2.New York Giants 8-8
4.Washington Redskins 5-11

North
1.Green Bay Packers 11-5 (2)
2.Minnesota Vikings 11-5 (5)
3.Detroit Lions 9-7
4.Chicago Bears 6-10

South
1.New Orleans Saints 11-5 (4)
2.Atlanta Falcons 10-6 (6)
3.Carolina Panthers 8-8
4.Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-10

West
1.LA Rams 12-4 (1)
2.San Francisco 9-7
3.Seattle Seahawks 8-8
4.Arizona Cardinals 5-11

IWSTBBACS Projected NFC Playoff Picture and Projected Winners

Wild Card
4.New Orleans Saints
5.Minnesota Vikings

3.Philadelphia Eagles
6.Atlanta Falcons

Divisional Round
1.LA Rams
5.Minnesota Vikings

2.Green Bay Packers
3.Philadelphia Eagles

NFC Championship
1.LA Rams
3.Philadelphia Eagles

IWSTBBACS Projected NFC Champions 2018-19:1.LA Rams

AFC
()=Overall Seed in NFC Playoffs

East
1.New England Patriots 12-4 (1)
2.New York Jets 9-7 (6)
3.Dolphins 6-10
4.Bills 4-12

North
1.Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6 (3)
2.Cleveland Browns 8-8
3.Baltimore Ravens 7-9
4.Cincinnati Bengals 5-11

South
1.Jaguars 11-5 (2)
2.Houston Texans 10-6 (5)
3.Tennessee Titans 8-8
4.Indianapolis Colts 6-10

West
1.Denver Broncos 10-6 (4)
2.LA Chargers 9-7 (5)
3.Kansas City Chiefs 8-8
4.Oakland Raiders 6-10

IWSTBBACS Projected AFC Playoff Picture and Projected Winners

Wild Card
4.Denver Broncos
5.Houston Texans

3.Pittsburgh Steelers
6.New York Jets

Divisional Round
1.New England Patriots
5.Houston Texans

2.Jacksonville Jaguars
3.Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC Championship
1.New England Patriots
2.Jacksonville Jaguars

IWSTBBACS Projected AFC Champions 2018-19:2.Jacksonville Jaguars

Super Bowl
1.LA Rams
2.Jacksonville Jaguars

IWSTBBACS Projected Super Bowl Champions 2018-19:2.Jacksonville Jaguars

IWSTBBACS Pre-Season All-NFL Team

Offense
QB:Aaron Rodgers,QB,Green Bay Packers *IWSTBBACS Pre-Season NFL MVP* *IWSTBBACS Pre-Season NFL Offensive Player of the Year*
RB:Le’Veon Bell,RB,Pittsburgh Steelers
RB:Todd Gurley,RB,LA Rams
WR:Antonio Brown,WR,Pittsburgh Steelers
WR:DeAndre Hopkins,WR,Houston Texans
TE:Rob Gronkowski,TE,New England Patriots
OL:David Bakhtiari,OT,Green Bay Packers
OL:Tyron Smith,OT,Dallas Cowboys
OL:Zack Martin,OG,Dallas Cowboys
OL:David DeCastro,OG,Pittsburgh Steelers
Flex:Odell Beckham Jr.,WR,New York Giants

Defense
DL:Aaron Donald,DE,LA Rams *IWSTBBACS Pre-Season NFL Defensive Player of the Year*
DL:Calais Campbell,DE,Jacksonville Jaguars
DL:Geno Atkins,DT,Cincinnati Bengals
DL:Fletcher Cox,DE,Philadelphia Eagles
LB:Luke Kuechly,ILB,Carolina Panthers
LB:Von Miller,OLB,Denver Broncos
LB:Bobby Wagner,ILB,Seattle Seahawks
LB:Jadeveon Clowney,OLB,Houston Texans
CB:Jalen Ramsey,CB,Jacksonville Jaguars
CB:Patrick Peterson,CB,Arizona Cardinals
S:Earl Thomas,S,Seattle Seahawks
S:Landon Collins,S,New York Giants
Flex:Eric Berry,S,Kansas City Chiefs

Special Teams
K:Stephen Gostkowski,K,New England Patriots *IWSTBBACS Pre-Season NFL Specialist of the Year*
P:Brandon Fields,P,Miami Dolphins
KR:Jarvis Landry,WR/KR,Cleveland Browns
PR:Tarik Cohen,RB/PR,Chicago Bears

IWSTBBACS NFL Pre-Season Awards
MVP:Aaron Rodgers,QB,Green Bay Packers
Offensive Player of the Year:Aaron Rodgers,QB,Green Bay Packers
Defensive Player of the Year:Aaron Donald,DE,LA Rams
Rookie of the Year:Saquon Barkley,RB,New York Giants
Coach of the Year:Sean McVay,Head Coach,LA Rams

If Texas finds Sam Ehlinger as a reliable QB,they could be atop the Big 12 with Oklahoma,West Virginia,and TCU.

*=Conference Game
(DAL)=Game in Dallas,TX

Week Opponent Proj. record after game
1 at.Maryland 1-0 (0-0) Big 12
2 Tulsa 2-0 (0-0) Big 12
3 USC 3-0 (0-0) Big 12
4 *TCU 3-1 (0-1) Big 12
5 at.*Kansas State 4-1 (1-1) Big 12
6 at.*Oklahoma 5-1 (2-1) Big 12
7 *Baylor 6-1 (3-1) Big 12
8 Bye 6-1 (3-1) Big 12
9 at.*Oklahoma State 7-1 (4-1) Big 12
10 *West Virginia 7-2 (4-2) Big 12
11 at.*Texas Tech 8-2 (5-2) Big 12
12 *Iowa State 9-2 (6-2) Big 12
13 at.*Kansas 10-2 (7-2) Big 12

Bryce Love is the heisman front runner but can he focus and win it in December?

*=Conference Game

Week Opponent Proj. record after game
1 San Diego State 1-0 (0-0) Pac-12
2 *USC 2-0 (1-0) Pac-12
3 UC-Davis 3-0 (1-0) Pac-12
4 at.*Oregon 4-0 (2-0) Pac-12
5 at.*Notre Dame 4-1 (2-0) Pac-12
6 Utah 5-1 (3-0) Pac-12
7 Bye 5-1 (3-0) Pac-12
8 at.*Arizona State 6-1 (4-0) Pac-12
9 Washington State 7-1 (4-1) Pac-12
10 at.*Washington 7-2 (5-1) Pac-12
11 Oregon State 8-2 (6-1) Pac-12
12 at.*California 9-2 (7-1) Pac-12
13 at.*UCLA 10-2 (8-1) Pac-12

What if I was a college football god?What if I could make the next moves in conference realignment?We will start with the Big 12 edition,since they need the most of the power five conferences.

In the next big time of conference realignment,the Big 12 will need to convince their biggest money makers,Texas and Oklahoma to stay.But since I’m a college football god,I make them stay.Let’s say that West Virginia’s academics improve and they bolt for the ACC (or the Big 10 if that doesn’t work out),and Iowa State goes to the Big 10.Now the Big 12 wants four schools to join the conference.I would add Memphis,Houston,Tulsa (any other sports than basketball),Wichita State (basketball only), from the American and BYU from the Independents.While Tulsa is decent at basketball,Wichita State would be a huge addition in the sport.Tulsa would go back to the American for basketball.Find out who the American and the Indepedents would replace for Houton,Memphis,Tulsa,and BYU.BYU would be the new West Virginia,having to travel the most.Here would be the divisions:

South-Baylor,Houston,Memphis,Texas,TCU,Texas Tech
North-BYU,Kansas,Kansas State,Oklahoma,Oklahoma State,Tulsa (Any other sport than basketball),Wichita State (Basketball only member)

*=Conference Game

Week Opponent Proj. record after game
1 UMASS 1-0 (0-0) ACC
2 Holy Cross 2-0 (0-0) ACC
3 at.*Wake Forest 3-0 (1-0) ACC
4 at.Purdue 4-0 (1-0) ACC
5 Temple 5-0 (1-0) ACC
6 at.*NC State 6-0 (2-0) ACC
7 *Louisville 7-0 (3-0) ACC
8 Bye 7-0 (3-0) ACC
9 *Miami 7-1 (3-1) ACC
10 at.*Virginia Tech 7-2 (3-2) ACC
11 *Clemson 7-3 (3-3) ACC
12 at.*Florida State 8-3 (4-3) ACC
13 *Syracuse 9-3 (5-3) ACC