Play the game smart. Now is not the time to look for sleeper picks unless your starter is hurt. Wide Receiver Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers is an example of a very inconsistent starter. If you have him, you cannot risk not starting him in week 13 even though he did terrible in week 12. Quarterback Brady Quinn of the Cleveland Browns is another inconsistent starter. He did great in week 11, but had to leave after the first half in week 12 to let Quarterback Derek Anderson in to possibly spark any hope in coming back. The only difference between Brady Quinn and Hines Ward is, don’t not start Brady Quinn. Look for another quarterback asap. Quarterback Matt Cassel of the New England Patriots is an awesome quarterback and I’ve always believed he’d produce and he is. If he hasn’t been picked, pick him up NOW and start him if you are having quarterback problems.

     Running Back Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints is a keeper but I wouldn’t start him in week 13. Right now, Running Back Pierre Thomas of the New Orleans Saints is looking pretty good especially with week 12’s game ending with 87 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers. The Saints might let him get a few more carries over Reggie Bush if they let him play in week 14 to allow Bush to get the rest he needs. Wait for week 14 or 15 before you start Bush again. If you’re having problems with your running back position and you need to make the playoffs, you might want to consider dropping Reggie Bush. Look for Kevin Faulk of the New England Patriots, Mewelde Moore of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Peyton Hillis of the Denver Broncos if they haven’t been picked up.

     Running Back Tatum Bell of the Denver Broncos was expected by a lot of fantasy football owners as a potential sleeper pick but ended up as a fluke. I wouldn’t count on him for the rest of the season. Running Back Peyton Hillis will carry most of the rushes for Denver as long as he keeps doing what he has been doing for the past 2 weeks. In week 12, he carried 12 times for 74 yards with an average of 6 yards per carry.

     The Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Seattle Seahawks are a team you should stay away from. I wouldn’t start any of their players except for Tight End Kellen Winslow of the Cleveland Browns because they are struggling teams that aren’t going to produce for you. Quarterback Donovan Mcnabb of the Philadelphia Eagles is struggling right now and isn’t getting any support from his team, his coach, or his fans. Mentally, he will be down and until he can prove that he can come out of his slump, do not start him. A once first round draft pick, Running Back Brian Westbrook of the Philadelphia Eagles is also a player who you probably don’t want to start. He is still hurt and even though he’s playing through the pain, he obviously isn’t producing the stats he needs to for you to win. Look to sit him out for week 13.

     Look at your starters and keep them in unless you have the starters I’ve named in this article to bench. Remember, play the game smart and don’t risk anything yet. Your team is on the line and you NEED to make the playoffs! Leave comments and I’ll respond to them with any tips I can offer.

Monday Night Guarantee

So it hasn’t been a good year for me this year on my Monday Night picks but it still looks like my Superbowl choices have a chance (check out my pre-season prediction in the football section.)  This week is another tough one but… “I got this.”  Green Bay takes on New Orleans or “Norlens if ya from the bayou”.  These are two teams that can put up some points, so I am going to have to go with the team that is more complete and that is Green Bay.  Both teams will put points on the board, but while Green Bay’s defense is not playing that well it is still better than the Saints and that is going to be the difference.  Look for Green Bay’s defense to come up big late in second half and then again late in the fourth. 

Point spread Green Bay wins in a shootout (38-33)

Stephen Jackson was second on his team last night with 26 points behind newcomer Corey Maggette who had 27.

For the past two NBA seasons the Golden State Warriors have been an exciting team to watch. Their brand of run-and-gun doesn’t always ensure victory, but for what it’s worth, it provides a lot of entertainment. Even though Baron Davis has packed his bags and gone to the L.A. Clippers, after the performance that the Warriors with newly acquired Corey Maggette put on last night against New Orleans, this team promises to deliver.

If you watch the Warriors closely, you will notice that they are never out of a game. They tend to take shots in transition most of the time and it can prove to be killer for them as it was in their 108-103 loss against the Hornets last night, in the sense that it will keep them down by two to four points throughout a large portion of a game when they’re playing against contenders. But regardless, this is exciting basketball, and the way that they consistently keep it close, when they aren’t blowing their opponents out, further establishes their propensity for elite entertainment.

With the departure of Baron Davis, the Warriors are now led by Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette. Jackson hits threes and much like Gilbert Arenas will knock down some questionable shots, while he and Maggette can take it to the hole or shoot a smooth “J.” Aside from those two players, the supporting cast is high-flying and tenacious. If the Warriors can continue their place as one of the highest scoring teams in the league then the return of Monta Ellis, the player who made the decision not to resign Davis much easier, will really have this team rolling at the point guard position.

Monta Ellis, out with an injury he earned in a motorcycle accident, has increased his points per game in his first three season; 6.8, 16.5, and 20.2 respectively.

Either way, this should be an exciting matchup as both teams are fighting to keep pace with 4-2 Tampa Bay in the NFC South who faces a real barn burner at home against the Seahawks this weekend.

Kobe Bryant may have that same look on his face at the end of this season too.

You know, basketball is unlike pro football where your schedule can be favorable or brutal depending on whom teams are scheduled to play. But in basketball, you play every team. With that being said, I give you my top contenders for the title this season.

The Celtics have such a swagger. They have stifling interior defense and the stars are all leaders either by example or a mixture of that and charisma. They are a confident bunch from top to bottom.

The New Orleans Hornets are young, quick, defensive, and are lead by the best point guard in the league… Chris Paul. They let it slip against the Spurs, but they are young, and the Spurs are another year older.

The Lakers made it to the Finals, and they cruised in their Western Conference playoff matchups. However, the story was much different in the Finals.

The Lakers seemed to outmatch the Western Conference, but the Celtics won convincingly in the Finals against them so I’d put them ahead of L.A. The Hornets are good, but they are still younger than the Celtics, and ultimately the only have one true superstar against three in Boston.

I’d give the edge to Boston to win it all again.

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