SpongeWorthy

Oh, I see bukie is using the Sagarin predictor. Isn't it entirely possible that a statistical model with less than 10 games of data would be a worse predictor than a more common sense approach (whatever that means)? If the Lakers/Heat or Heat/Celtics were to play a 7 game series starting tomorrow, I know I'd pick LA and Boston in a heartbeat. Who would pick over New Orleans over either of those teams? Not many.

How clear is it if the Heat are still statistically the superior team in the NBA? Sure, it's fun to bask in the schadenfreude, but the reality is that if this is the "struggling Heat", they're going to lap the league when things click. Based on what? Are you talking about Hollinger's power rankings on espn? It's even worse than the BCS. Look how well he predicts NBA standings. He's no better than anyone else, and goes out on a limb about as often as Dick Vitale does when he picks NCAA hoops. The Bulls just crushed a Golden State team which just beat the Knicks on the road. Yet the Knicks beat the Bulls at home. so how does this factor into his ratings? I just don't believe you can easily distill basketball to stats. More than a lot of media guys, Hollinger seems to have an increased interest in the Heat, because he and his PER predicted that the Heat should run away with a title. Him and his PER will end up looking bad if the Heat are a flop. He predicted 68 wins. I also happen to believe the PER is stupid. A decent player on a bad team can put up big numbers (Chris Bosh). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out he wasn't going to do it with the Heat. And no amount of math could replace common sense there. No, basically every predictive statistical measure has the Heat on top of the NBA right now. "Common Sense" is highly subjective, and everybody has an increased level of interest in the Heat. The statistics aren't massaged to make the Heat look good, the Heat look good, and it shows in the statistics. Four single-digit losses against good teams where they still played well aren't enough to sway them. The "eye test" is a far worse way of evaluating team performance than almost any statistical measure. As much as basketball can be a team sport, it's far less so of a "team is greater than the sum of parts" than the NBA, NHL or pro soccer. It is more team-based than baseball, though, so it has that going for it. How are the statistical models capturing how well the Heat "should" be playing? Are they going off of career numbers for guys like James, Wade, and Bosh? Because no one in their right mind thinks the Heat are the best team in the NBA, right now.

LOL

Naw, they've got first round picks for at least the next two years.

Joel Anthony will never be Perkins and Arroyo ain't Rondo. That I'm certain of. But I agree with what you're saying. They'll be fine and they'll add better secondary pieces moving forward. The MLE and draft will be big for them.

"You're a back up quarterback. You should know other back up quarterbacks."

72-10 will never be broken.

By the book, yeah, but the DB flopped a lot to try and buy the call...no way a guy just falls over that easily from a one arm push off.

Millen was "thinking" out loud that when the Ravens were driving for the go ahead score that Atlanta should just let them get a TD to preserve time on the clock. Of course you only do that if a field goal beats you...not when they absolutely have to score a TD to take the lead. God what an idiot.

I can only imagine how terrified this Turkish big guy on the Celtics is of KG.

Boston's passing is remarkable.

Atlanta's defense is quite good.

but it's all going to change when mike miller comes back! I'm just amazed that a guy like Carlos Arroyo can look all world in international competition but is D-league quality in the NBA.

Time for a lot of Asik, Scal, and JJ.

This Heat team is just boring right now. They're trying to get up tempo but they can't because their PG play is so bad.

Nice half. Naturally it's the first one I've missed all year.

I really want to see this happen.

The $100 million man: http://i54.tinypic.com/531rh2.jpg

bertrand was never going to be ahead of paul. he'll get some minutes. i have to change my opinion of tisdale, he's evolved into a pretty unstoppable offensive weapon down low. Change your opinion? I thought your opinion of Tisdale has always been to ridiculously overrate him. I didn't watch most of the game but that Toledo team looked suspiciously white.

Damn 19/10/13 and 6 steals for Wall.

Someone needs to tell John Salmons that it's January and he'll start playing well.

Sideburns McGee on Toledo air balling a free throw.

Good on the S-T to get that out there.

I'd say they're pretty comparable to Illini basketball actually. Outside the historical elite but solidly in the 2nd tier and no good reason that the right hire can't build a consistent winner that occasionally competes for titles.

They are probably just outside the top 10. But they played in and won a ton of huge games in the Tuberville era. ESPN's rankings from a couple years ago put them 21st. 7th of current SEC teams Just looked at the list and I don't really think 16-20 compare to Auburn when it comes to recent success and recruiting buzz. I don't think Auburn measures up against Iowa, West Virginia, Va Tech, Oregon, or Boise if that's how you're going to judge it, but all of them are below Auburn. I don't see how winning 7-8 games a year the past 15 years and having "recruiting buzz"(??) makes one a Cadillac program They're more in the 8-9 range since 2000 with an 11 win season and one 13-0 season (that counts for a lot). Iowa's a good comparison. The difference is that Auburn is in a much more fertile recruiting ground so them getting highly ranked classes isn't a surprise.