Another two weeks of NHL action is in the books and the elite are really starting to separate themselves from the pack. There are still some surprises in the league – just take a look at the Top 2 in this week’s Rankings and some teams that have definitely slipped inexplicably.
NFL Power Rankings – Where Every Team Sits After Week 8
Another week and another slate of storylines for football fans to chew on before it all starts again on Thursday night. There was a bit of movement in the top 5 this week mostly because of the dud-win that Seattle delivered on Monday night but strangely the Rankings remain eerily similar to last week.
The Los Angeles Lakers will open the 2013 NBA regular season campaign on Tuesday night at the Staples Center, when they host cross-town rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Chicago Bulls season is going to hinge on whether dynamic point guard Derrick Rose is back. He hasn’t played a game that matters in 18 months so all eyes this evening will be focused on him, hopefully he showcases the extra three inches he said he has gained on his vertical leap.
After making it to the Finals the year before the Thunder came up short last year. For some they are still the team of the future but they are more than ready to win big now. As good as they are it is still about consistency. Some nights they look great and others they look average.
The San Antonio Spurs made it to the Finals last year, again, though it appears the changing of the guard may have begun. That is what they do, transition players in and out and keep winning. You hate to use the word model franchise but what else would you call it at this point.
There is going to be a different flavour to things in Denver this season with George Karl out at coach. In is Brian Shaw, who has been well schooled in the Phil Jackson way of the force but has no head coaching experience.
The Toronto Raptors enter the 2013-14 season with plenty of optimism after some big time additions, and the loss of a player viewed as dead weight. With plenty of Eastern Conference teams, particularly Atlantic Division teams, tanking in hopes of a top draft pick, a playoff spot seems well within the team’s grasp.
The Indiana Pacers gave the Miami Heat a run for their money in the postseason last year, coming within a single win of the NBA Finals, and are now the sexy pick to make it to the NBA Finals out of the East this year.
The New York Knicks took a major step forward last season, and after running into a buzzsaw in the postseason last year, the team reloaded in the offseason and looks to make another run toward the NBA Finals this year.
Coming off a trip to the Western Conference Finals, the Memphis Grizzlies look to continue their upward trend with a roster that remains largely intact and a new head coach.
Forgetting how the final out was recorded the Red Sox did it again using one big blast to decide the game yesterday, in this case it was a three run homer off the bat of not even supposed to be in there Johnny Gomes – talk about building a legend.
The Boston Red Sox lost Game 3 under very controversial circumstances and now have to find a way to get momentum back on their side in a hurry with Game 4 on deck, and the St. Louis Cardinals ready to take a stranglehold on the Series.
Struggling Teams Look to Right the Ship – Rangers vs. Red Wings
Two teams currently riding modest losing streaks meet at Joe Louis Arena Saturday when the New York Rangers, losers of two straight and six of their first eight games meet the Detroit Red Wings who enter Saturday having lost their last three games.
The San Francisco 49ers get a gift when they travel to London to play in legendary Wembley Stadium, as they’ll be opposed by the winless Jaguars in the contest.
The New York Giants picked up their first win of the season on Monday night and look to continue that momentum on Sunday when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles, who look to get their offense back on track after an embarrassing performance in Week 7.
