Saturday, April 30, 2016
2016 NBA Playoffs Second Round Predictions
By Rick Morris
NOTE: 6-0
record (so far) in the first round
CONFERENCE
SEMIFINALS
Cleveland over
Atlanta in 4
Miami over
Toronto in 6 OR Toronto over Charlotte in 6 OR Miami over Indiana in 6 OR
Indiana over Charlotte in 7
Golden State
over Portland in 7
San Antonio
over Oklahoma City in 6
CONFERENCE
FINALS
Cleveland over
Toronto in 6 OR Cleveland over Miami in 5 OR Cleveland over Indiana in 4
San Antonio
over Cleveland in 5
NBA FINALS
San Antonio
over Cleveland in 7
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round Predictions
By Rick Morris
NOTE: 5-2
record (so far) in the first round.
Pittsburgh over
Washington in 6
Tampa Bay over
New York Islanders in 7
St. Louis over
Dallas in 7
San Jose over
Anaheim in 6 or Nashville over San Jose in 6
CONFERENCE
FINALS
Tampa Bay over
Pittsburgh in 7
St. Louis over
San Jose in 6 or St. Louis over Nashville in 6
STANLEY CUP
FINALS
St. Louis over Tampa
Bay in 6
Monday, April 25, 2016
New York Rangers, end of an era?
By
Steve Kallas (posted by Rick Morris)
Well,
the Rangers went out with a whimper, not a bang, in the 2016 Stanley Cup
playoffs. They lost in five games to the
hottest team in the NHL, the talent-laden Pittsburgh Penguins.
As
we look back over the last few years, and look forward to the future, the
question has to be asked: Has this group
of Rangers peaked as Stanley Cup contenders?
IS
IT ALL ABOUT THE GOALIE?
For
most of the history of the NHL, your team has always had a chance to win the
Cup if they could just make the playoffs and have the hot goaltender lead them
to the promised land. Unlike the NBA,
where eighth seeds virtually never have a chance to win their first series, let
alone a championship, the NHL (like it or not) gives that lower seed a chance
when they ride the hot goalie and can even win a Cup coming from nowhere.
Which
brings us to Henrik Lundqvist. Still one
of the best goalies in the world, he’s probably been in the top three or top
five goaltenders for about a decade. He
came on the NHL scene in the 2005-06 season as a guy who was fighting for a
starting job. But after winning the gold
medal for Sweden in February 2006, Lundqvist became an international star and, soon
thereafter, an NHL star.
Lundqvist,
over the years, has been a supreme goaltender for the New York Rangers. But he’s put in a lot of years, a lot of
time, a lot of games and, especially, a lot of high tension, close playoff
games. Back in the 2013 playoffs, John
Tortorella’s last year as the Ranger coach, Lundqvist put on a performance for
the ages, shutting out the great offensive Washington Capitals in both games
six and seven, which propelled them to a series against the Boston Bruins.
Against
the Bruins, I thought Lundqvist played great but the Rangers were eliminated in
five games (see “If Your Goalie
Stands on His Head and You Still Lose, Then What?” at SteveKallas.com, May 28, 2013). At the time, there was such frustration in
Lundqvist’s voice (after the game 1 OT loss, Lundqvist famously said, “Can I
score? No.”), there was a thought that he might not stick around long term as a
Ranger.
Of
course, Tortorella wound up leaving and Lundqvist would eventually sign a
long-term contract. The milder (certainly
by comparison to Tortorella) Alain Vigneault came in and the Rangers made their
run to the Cup Finals, only to lose to the much bigger and stronger LA Kings.
THE
GOALIE IS HUGE BUT IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN THAT
While
nobody will argue that the goaltender and his play are almost always the key
factor in a big playoff run, this Ranger team needs more than that. If anything, this year showed the holes in a
Ranger defense that has been very good in recent years. In addition, the
scoring is simply not there. When the
Rangers went into the playoffs last year, the question was, “Who’s going to
score?” When the Rangers went into the
playoffs this year, the question was, “Who’s going to score?”
And
frankly, when (if?) the Rangers go into the playoffs next year, the question
will be, “Who’s going to score?”
The
answer still isn’t clear.
In
the 2014 run to the Cup Finals, the in-season acquisition of Martin St. Louis
was the sniper the Rangers needed but didn’t have as he scored eight goals and
seven assists for 15 ponts. But a year
later, after having a poor season (and only one goal in the playoffs), St.
Louis retired. Also, in 2014, the second
leading goal scorer in the playoffs for the Rangers was the mercurial Carl
Hagelin with seven goals. Today he’s
gone (but not forgotten).
Those
two are no longer here and were the offensive keys to a Cup run. Has anyone taken their place?
WHAT
ABOUT THE “BELL CURVE” FOR THE NEW YORK RANGERS?
Back
on December 26, 2015, I was fortunate to do a sports talk shift on WFAN. During that time, I received a fascinating
hockey call from Dante from Brooklyn, asking me if the Rangers had peaked in
2014. I told him that, much that I hoped
I was wrong, I thought they had (for the full seven-minute call, go to SteveKallas.com and click on the 5 AM hour – it’s
five minutes in and worth a listen).
So
you can look at the “bell curve” of the Rangers – lost in the conference semis
to the Bruins in 2013, lost in the Cup Finals to the Kings in 2014, lost in the
conference finals to the Lightning last year and lost to the Penguins in the
first round this year. That’s not
promising for next year, certainly if winning the Cup is your goal (which it
always is).
SO,
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Well,
is Henrik Lundqvist still the answer? It
says here that he is but he seems to be showing the same frustration he showed
a few years ago against the Bruins.
Lundqvist, pulled from the last two playoff games (and giving up 15
goals while not finishing two games – his worst playoff performance since his
rookie year against the Devils), frankly stated, “I think the last two games I
just didn’t have it in me to make the difference.”
Frank,
but scary. He also said, “In the second
period, it was a feeling of embarrassment to give up that many goals, but also
a sense of hopelessness.”
It
says here Lundqvist is the guy.
Offensively, the Rangers need a sniper, a guy who can score in the
regular season and the playoffs.
The
biggest question mark, surprisingly, is on defense. Are they too old, too many miles, too many concussions,
too many injuries? They need health and help.
The
King can do a lot. But he can’t do it
all.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #720 – 2016 NFL Draft Preview
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #720 features our 2016
NFL Draft preview with FDH Senior Editor Jason Jones.
Lounge on YouTube: Better Call Saul Episode 2.10 preview
By Rick Morris
Here is
Mini-Episode #719 of THE FDH LOUNGE, previewing Episode 2.10 of Better Call
Saul.
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #718 – Sam Hinkie resignation analysis
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #718 features a
breakdown of the Sam Hinkie resignation with the Philadelphia 76ers with FDH
Lounge Dignitary Joe Staszak of 97.5 FM The Fanatic in Philadelphia.
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #717 – Villanova 2016 NCAA Hoops Title analysis
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #717 features a
breakdown of the 2016 Villanova basketball national championship with FDH
Lounge Dignitary Joe Staszak of 97.5 FM The Fanatic in Philadelphia.
Lounge on YouTube: Better Call Saul Episode 2.9 preview
By Rick Morris
Here is
Mini-Episode #716 of THE FDH LOUNGE, previewing Episode 2.9 of Better Call Saul.
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #715 – Steve Smith
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #715 features the program’s
third conversation with legendary drummer Steve Smith.
Lounge on YouTube: Better Call Saul Episode 2.8 preview
By Rick Morris
Here is
Mini-Episode #714 of THE FDH LOUNGE, previewing Episode 2.8 of Better Call Saul.
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #713 – WrestleMania 32 preview
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #713 previews
WrestleMania 32 with Evan Roberts of WFAN.
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #712 – 2016 Final Four preview
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #712 previews the 2016
Final Four with Evan Roberts of WFAN.
Lounge on YouTube: House of Cards Season 4 review
By Rick Morris
FDH Lounge Mini-Episode #711 reviews Season 4 of House of
Cards.
Lounge on YouTube: Better Call Saul Episode 2.7 preview
By Rick Morris
Here is
Mini-Episode #710 of THE FDH LOUNGE, previewing Episode 2.7 of Better Call Saul.
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #709 – Van Halen Rising book analysis
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #709 features analysis
of the book VAN HALEN RISING: HOW A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BACKYARD PARTY BAND SAVED
HEAVY METAL with its author, Greg Renoff.
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #709 – Van Halen Rising book analysis
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #709 features analysis
of the book VAN HALEN RISING: HOW A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BACKYARD PARTY BAND SAVED
HEAVY METAL with its author, Greg Renoff.
Lounge on YouTube: Better Call Saul Episode 2.6 preview
By Rick Morris
Here is
Mini-Episode #708 of THE FDH LOUNGE, previewing Episode 2.6 of Better Call Saul.
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #707 – 2016 NCAA hoops tournament preview
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #707 features a preview
of the 2016 hoops tournament with FDH Lounge Dignitaries Nate Noy and Steve
Kallas.
Lounge on YouTube: Better Call Saul Episode 2.5 preview
By Rick Morris
Here is
Mini-Episode #706 of THE FDH LOUNGE, previewing Episode 2.5 of Better Call Saul.
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #705 – 2016 presidential primaries analysis
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #705 features our analysis
of the 2016 presidential primaries with Colin Delany of epolitics.
Lounge on YouTube: Royal Rumble History – Part 7A - 2009
By Rick Morris
Here is Mini-Episode #703 of THE FDH LOUNGE, the 2008
chapter in our Royal Rumble Anthology with FDH Lounge Dignitary Kyle Ross.
Lounge on YouTube: Royal Rumble History – Part 6B - 2008
By Rick Morris
Here is Mini-Episode #703 of THE FDH LOUNGE, the 2008
chapter in our Royal Rumble Anthology with FDH Lounge Dignitary Kyle Ross.
Lounge on YouTube: Better Call Saul Episode 2.4 preview
By Rick Morris
Here is
Mini-Episode #702 of THE FDH LOUNGE, previewing Episode 2.4 of Better Call Saul.
Lounge on YouTube: Mini-Episode #701 – 2016 Oscars review
By Rick Morris
As we referenced previously, our
pals at Sportsology are hooking us
up for live segments that we’re doing with guests and remote FDH Lounge
Dignitaries these days. We’re happy to
report that we’ve been able to produce many segments on our own, but we’re
thrilled for the help on some of these with guests and the thanks all go to our
great friend Russ Cohen.
Mini-Episode #701 features our
review of the 2016 Oscars with fitness and pop culture expert John Basedow.
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