2014 NFL Divisional Previews - NFC South

Sean Payton proved to be the real MVP of the New Orleans Saints as his return to the sidelines coincided with another playoff season for the Saints. The Saints lost some weapons on offense but as long as Drew Brees is throwing the ball, they will remain high powered. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a strong coaching hire in Lovie Smith, and are hopeful that he is the one that can return them to their glory years of the 2000s. The Atlanta Falcons plummeted to just four wins last season and are eager to prove that their struggles were just a one year aberration. The Carolina Panthers came out of nowhere to win the NFC South last season, but are basically replacing their entire wide receiver corps and enter the season with a ton of question marks.


1. New Orleans Saints

2013 Record: 11-5, 2nd place NFC South
Head Coach: Sean Payton (8th season New Orleans, 79-43 career, 1 Super Bowl championship)
Key Additions: FB Erik Lorig, WR Brandin Cooks, CB Champ Bailey, S Jairus Byrd
Key Losses: RB Darren Sproles, WR Lance Moore, C Brian De La Puente, DE Will Smith, ILB Will Herring, CB Jabari Greer, S Malcom Jenkins, S Roman Harper

2014 Outlook: The Saints were a tale of two teams in 2013. The Superdome version of the Saints was an unbeatable juggernaut. The road version of the Saints was a pedestrian unit that lost more than it won. They did manage to win a playoff game in Philadelphia but weren't able to win at Seattle. For the Saints to have realistic Super Bowl aspirations this season, they need to win the NFC South and also try to secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. 35-year old Drew Brees made news when he said he thought he could play until he is 45. Who knows if that is the case but one thing that is true is his play hasn't deteriorated in the least yet. It seems that as long as he and Sean Payton are teamed up, the Saints will always be dangerous on offense. The Saints are saying all the right things about wanting to be able to run the ball this year, but their true identity always seems to be a team that prefers to pass the ball. Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson are all capable backs, but none of them are above marginal. Lance Moore was allowed to leave via free agency so Kenny Still steps up to the number 2 receiver slot. Marques Colston remains the Saints #1 receiver but he had a disappointing season last year, capped off with an incredibly stupid play he made in the playoffs to end the Saints season. The Saints drafted Brandin Cooks, another speedster wide receiver that could make their offense even more dangerous. The Saints most dangerous weapon though is TE Jimmy Graham. The Saints got him signed to a long-term deal and the key to slowing down the Saints is slowing down Graham. Graham was invisible for most of the playoff game against Seattle and the Saints offense scuffled. The Saints are a pretty strong unit on the offensive line, with their best players being left guard Ben Grubbs and RG Jahri Evans. I admit to not expecting the hire of Rob Ryan as defensive coordinator last season to make much of a difference but I was wrong. The Saints had nowhere to go but up after the 2012 debacle but what Ryan was able to do in a season was still very impressive. The Saints let some defensive veterans go but did bring in Jairus Byrd and Champ Bailey. Byrd comes in with high expectations and should help immensely while Bailey is a question mark. Bailey showed his age last season and it will be interesting to see how he fares when he has to match up with a Vincent Jackson or Roddy White this season. The Saints are strong on the defensive front, led by Cameron Jordan and Brodrick Bunkley. Junior Galette is the Saints leader on the linebacking corps and coming off a 12 sack season. The Saints were excellent at getting pressure on the quarterback last year and with another year under Ryan's system could be even better. Journeyman Shayne Graham is the starting placekicker as Garrett Hartley missed his way out of town. Tomas Morstead is a strong, dependable punter the few times he is called upon. With the upheaval the Panthers went through this off-season, the Saints clearly seem to be the class of the NFC South. I expect them to reclaim their first division title since 2011 and make some noise in the playoffs this season.

Prediction: 11-5


2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2013 Record: 4-12, 3rd place NFC South
Head Coach: Lovie Smith (1st season Tampa Bay, 84-66 career)
Key Additions: WR Mike Evans, QB Josh McCown, TE Brandon Myers, LT Anthony Collins, RG Oneil Cousins, C Evan Dietrich-Smith, DE Michael Johnson, CB Alterraun Verner, S Major Wright
Key Losses: QB Dan Orlovsky, WR Mike Williams, OT Donald Penn, G Gabe Carimi, C Jeremy Zuttah, CB Darrelle Revis

2014 Outlook: It's the start of another new era in Tampa Bay. Greg Schiano and Josh Freeman are gone, replaced by Lovie Smith and Josh McCown. McCown is coming off an impressive season when he got inserted into the Bears starting lineup for an injured Jay Cutler. The Buccaneers offense will also be helped by the return of Doug Martin from injury. Martin never quite got on track last season before going down, and will be looking to reclaim his title as the "Muscle Hamster". The Bucsz have some depth at running back with Mike James and Bobby Rainey backing up Martin, as both saw significant playing time last season. The Bucs also feel they have a pretty solid 1-2 punch at receiver after drafting Mike Evans out of Texas A&M to go with Vincent Jackson. I didn't think Jackson would make much of an impact at Tampa but even with subpar quarterback play, Jackson has been worth the money the Bucs gave him a few years ago. Brandon Myers is the new starting tight end and hoping to rebound from a disappointing season with the Giants. Tampa did some pretty major retooling of their offensive line, bringing in three new starters with Anthony Collins, Oneil Cousins, and Evan Dietrich-Smith. Tampa Bay feels they have talent on defense and Smith will be the coach to get that talent to reach their potential. DT Gerald McCoy is excellent, and the Bucs are hoping for stronger seasons out of DE Adrian Clayborn and free agent acquisition from the Bengals, Michael Johnson. Lavonte David is a standout at linebacker, but his fellow linebackers Mason Foster and Jonathan Casillas are question marks. The Bucs ended the Darrelle Revis era after just one season and replacing him in the lineup will be Alterraun Verner. S Dashon Goldson was a major disappointment in his first season in Tampa Bay, and might have been made to look better than he really was because of the talent that surrounded him in San Francisco. The Bucs special teams are nothing special, pun intended. Punter Michael Koenen is overpaid, and Connor Barth returns after missing the 2013 season due to injury. I think over the long-haul the hiring of Smith will pay off but it will take time for him to implement his system and way of doing things and get result. I think the Bucs can certainly improve upon their 4-12 mark of last season, but not enough to earn a playoff berth in 2014.

Prediction: 7-9


3. Atlanta Falcons

2013 Record: 4-12, last place NFC South
Head Coach: Mike Smith (7th season Atlanta, 61-40 career)
Key Additions: RT Jake Matthews, QB T.J. Yates, TE Bear Pascoe, RG Jon Asamoah, G Gabe Carimi, DE/DT Tyson Jackson, NT Paul Soliai, CB Josh Wilson, CB/KR Javier Arenas, S Dwight Lowery, KR Devin Hester
Key Losses: RB Jason Snelling, TE Tony Gonzalez, CB Asante Samuel, S Thomas DeCoud

2014 Outlook: The wheels fell off fast in Atlanta in 2013 and the Falcons went from the precipice of playing in the Super Bowl to one of the worst teams in football. Injuries played a huge role in that, most notably losing stud receive Julio Jones for most of the season. However, before Julio even went down the Falcons were scuffling. Matt Ryan still had a strong season, completing 67% of his passes and throwing for 26 TDs but on the negative side he threw 17 INTs and definitely needs to cut back on that number this season. Not surprisingly, RB Steven Jackson battled injuries all season and couldn't be counted upon. Jacquizz Rodgers is too small to be a featured back, so the Falcons drafted Devonta Freeman out of Florida State. The Falcons tout one of the best receive corps in football with Roddy White, Jones, and Harry Douglas. White appears to be fully healthy this year, which wasn't the case for pretty much all of last season. Douglas got to see an increase in touches and playing time when Jones went down and made the most of it and is a very strong #3 receiver to have. The Falcons convinced Tony Gonzalez to come back for one last chance at the Super Bowl, but instead Gonzalez returned to play for a horrific team. He is retired now and being replaced at tight end with something called a Levine Toilolo. They also signed Bear Pascoe to serve as Toilolo's backup. The offensive line was a mess last season so the Falcons made that position their number one priority in the off-season. They drafted RT Jake Matthews out of Texas A&M, and signed RG Jon Asamoah away from the Chiefs. Defense has been a weakness in Atlanta even when they were good, especially their secondary. So the Falcons let aging, ineffective vet Asante Samuel leave and are replacing Thomas DeCoud at safety with Dwight Lowery. They have also revamped the defensive line by bringing in Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai. LB Kroy Biermann is another player returning from injury this season and have moved Osi Umeniyora to linebacker as they are switching to a 3-4 defensive scheme. CBs Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford are both very young and the Falcons only expect them to get better. The Falcons special teams were already good and should receive a boost with the addition of Devin Hester. Hester isn't quite the fearsome returner he once was but he will still make opposing teams think twice about kicking it at him. Matt Bosher is a pretty good punter and kicker Matt Bryant is one of the most consistent and accurate kickers in the league. If the Falcons can avoid the injury bug this season I think they have a chance at returning to the playoffs. They have a lot of weapons on offense and some interesting pieces on defense. I just think they might struggle some within the division and they have some pretty challenging road games this season at Cincinnati, Baltimore, New York Giants and Green Bay. It looks like it could be another losing season for the Falcons.

Prediction: 7-9

4. Carolina Panthers

2013 Record: 12-4, 1st place NFC South
Head Coach: Ron Rivera (4th season Carolina, 25-24 career)
Key Additions: WR Kelvin Benjamin, WR Jerricho Cotchery, WR Jason Avant, WR Tiquan Underwood, WR/QB Joe Webb, TE Ed Dickson, CB Antoine Cason, S Roman Harper, S Thomas DeCoud
Key Losses: WR Steve Smith, WR Brandon LaFell, WR Ted Ginn Jr., WR Domenik Hixon, OT Jordan Gross, OT Bruce Campbell, CB Captain Munnerlyn, S Michael Mitchell, S Quintin Mikell

2014 Outlook: Cam Newton made a large leap in 2013 and helped carry the Panthers to an NFC South crown. For the Panthers to repeat as NFC South champs in 2014, he will have to make an even larger leap. The Panthers wide receiver corps and part of the offensive line was gutted this off-season due to a combination of free agency and retirement. Newton will be working with an entire new receiving corps, with the only returnee being his TE Greg Olsen. The Panthers trio of Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn weren't a murderers row or anything but Newton will be challenged to immediately find chemistry with Kelvin Benjamin, Jason Avant and Jerricho Cotchery. The Panthers invested heavily in their running game a few years ago by giving big deals to DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart but the return on that investment has been minimal. Stewart can't stay healthy and Williams isn't consistent. Newton's blind side will now be protected by Byron Bell as Jordan Gross retired. Bell gave up 9 sacks last season and if he plays that poorly this season Panthers fans might want to get used to seeing Derek Anderson under center. The rest of the offensive line is unproven and another in a long line of question marks for Carolina on offense. Carolina was an excellent defensive team in 2013, but trouble reached that side of the ball as well this off-season. Star defensive end Greg Hardy is dealing with legal woes and could be looking at a league suspension. Charles Johnson, the other defensive end hasn't had any off the field issues and is almost as much of a stud as Hardy. The Panthers also have young, rapidly improving defensive tackles in Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short. They also have arguable the best linebacker in football in Luke Kuechly. He gets lost in the shadow of Kuechly but Thomas Davis is a damn good player in his own right. The corners and safeties are mostly new this season with the only returnee being CB Melvin White. The aging Roman Harper, Thomas DeCoud and Antoine Cason will be the new starters in the secondary. Graham Gano joins a long list of former Redskin kickers that have found greater success elsewhere. Redskins fans would be shocked to know that Gano was a perfect 6 for 6 from over 50 yards last season. Punter Brad Nortman had a better 2013 season after a disastrous 2012 season. The Panthers will miss Ted Ginn's return ability and are hoping Kenjon Barner can adequately replace him. I expect the Panthers to fall from first to worst this season. Just way too many changes in important positions and I am still not sold on coach Ron "Riverboat" Rivera being able to consistently put out a winning team year after year.

Prediction: 6-10

2014 NFL Divisional Previews - AFC West

The Denver Broncos dream season ended in the most ugly fashion possible, being thrashed by 35 points in the Super Bowl. The offense couldn't do anything against the Seahawks defense, but the Broncos focused their off-season on improving on the defensive side of the ball. The Kansas City Chiefs started 9-0 under new coach Andy Reid, but then started facing teams with a pule and limped down the stretch, capping their season by blowing a 28 point second half lead to the Colts in the playoffs. The San Diego Chargers and most notably QB Philip Rivers enjoyed a career resurgence under Mike McCoy and are hopeful that they can return to their years of annually making the playoffs. The Oakland Raiders shockingly have the same coach for a third season but all Dennis Allen has proven so far is that he is good at leading them to a 4-12 record.


1. Denver Broncos

2013 Record: 13-3, AFC West Champs, AFC Champs
Head Coach: John Fox (4th season Denver, 115-91 career)
Key Additions: WR Emmanuel Sanders, C Will Montgomery, DE DeMarcus Ware, CB Aqib Talib
Key Losses: RB Knowshon Moreno, WR Eric Decker, G Zane Beadles, DE Robert Ayers, DE Shaun Phillips, OLB Wesley Woodyard, CB Champ Bailey, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, S Mike Adams

2014 Outlook: The Broncos and Peyton Manning ran roughshod over the NFL last season. Manning set a new record with 55 touchdown passes and it looked like he was well on his way to claiming his second Super Bowl. But then the Broncos dream season turned into a nightmare, as they were lambasted by the Seahawks 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. The off-season saw Denver make some pretty big changes on both sides of the ball. On offense, they let Knowshon Moreno and Eric Decker walk. Montee Ball will take over as the lead back as the Broncos hope he works out some fumbling issues that plagued him his rookie season. Denver signed Emmanuel Sanders away from Pittsburgh to take Decker's place. Demaryius Thomas is Manning's favorite target and should be in line for another huge season. Wes Welker showed some signs of slowing down last season but also developed a rapport with Manning very quickly. Manning also found a new target in TE Julius Thomas, who was nearly impossible for defenders to stop with his massive size. The Broncos are pretty good at offensive line, although Manning's ability to get rid of the ball so quickly could make almost any line look good. The line did have its problems with Seattle and will be facing some tougher defensive lines this season than they did last season. Denver made some huge splashes on defense by signing veterans DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib. Ware has been injury prone recently and the Broncos are taking a bit of a risk bringing him aboard. There is no question that Ware is one of the best defensive players in football when healthy but his health has turned into a major question mark. Joining Ware on the line is DT Terrance Knighton who gained fame for being nickname "Pot Roast". The Broncos should have LB Von Miller all year this season as he isn't facing drug suspensions or injuries at this time. Talib replaces Champ Bailey at cornerback. He is definitely an upgrade over Bailey, but much like Ware there are questions about his durability. Kicker Matt Prater and punter Britton Colquitt are two of the best in football but the Broncos won't have Trindon Holliday returning kicks, as they allowed him to leave via free agency. Holliday was electrifying, that is when he could avoid fumbling. The Broncos schedule appears to be more challenging this year than last, but as long as Manning is under center, it's hard not to expect the Broncos to remain the class of the AFC. Manning is getting older and while I don't expect him to throw 55 touchdowns this year, he isn't showing any signs of slowing down. I think Ball will step in well for Moreno and I think the moves on defense will pay off for Denver and make them a more well rounded team on both sides of the ball.

Prediction: 13-3


2. Kansas City Chiefs

2013 Record: 11-5, 2nd in AFC West
Head Coach: Andy Reid (2nd season Kansas City, 151-108-1 career)
Key Additions: LILB Joe Mays
Key Losses: WR/KR Dexter McCluster, OT Branden Albert, G Geoff Schwartz, DE/DT Tyson Jackson, CB Dunta Robinson, S Quintin Demps

2014 Outlook: If you want to run with the lazy narrative then the reason that the Chiefs went from 2-14 to 11-5 last season was because of the additions of Andy Reid and Alex Smith. Those two played a part but if you looked deeper at the Chiefs season you would find that they were successful due to an easy schedule, Jamaal Charles, and an opportunistic defense. Two of those things could remain in play for 2014 but with the AFC West drawing the NFC West this season, an easy schedule will not be one of them. Alex Smith will be facing some tougher defenses and might be required to actually throw the ball further than 5 yards this year. He has pretty much the same weapons back that he had last year. Dwayne Bowe seems like a shell of his former self, and it was almost like Donnie Avery emerged as Smith's favorite target at times. The Chiefs offense will pretty much cease to exist if Jamaal Charles is hurt and misses anytime this season. Charles is an incredible talent and it was a huge blow to the Chiefs when he had to leave their playoff loss against the Colts. Charles and Smith could be in for some troubles this season as the offensive line saw some pretty major changes. Branden Albert and Geoff Schwartz are gone, so the Chiefs are hopeful the 2013 #1 pick Eric Fisher has a better season at his natural position of left tackle. The Chiefs defense was one of the best in the league during the first half of the season but along with the rest of the team they fell off a cliff in the second half of the year. Injuries were partially to blame, but tougher opposition also had something to do with it. The defense reached its nadir in the playoffs when KC blew a 38-10 second half lead against the Colts. Kansas City is strong at linebacker but the rest of the defensive areas are filled with question marks. Dontari Poe stuff things up front, but edge rushers Mike DeVito and Allen Bailey are only serviceable at best. To get any pressure on the quarterback the Chiefs count on their fearsome linebackers. Justin Houston, Joe Mays, Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali give the Chiefs one of the best linebacking groups in football. Eric Berry is fantastic at safety but the rest of the back four are major question marks. The leash might be thin for kicker Ryan Succup, who couldn't be counted on to make field goals of any sort of long distance. Dustin Colquitt is decent as a punter, and the Chiefs will miss Dexter McCluster's presence in the return game. I think the Chiefs we saw in the second half of the season is closer to the real thing than the team that started 9-0. The Chiefs have to pray they don't lose Charles at any point or Smith and the rest of the offense will be exposed badly. While I expect the Chiefs to put together another winning season, I think all the question marks mean anoter season without a playoff win for Kansas City.

Prediction: 9-7


3. San Diego Chargers

2013 Record: 9-7, 3rd place AFC West
Head Coach: Mike McCoy (2nd season San Diego, 10-8 career)
Key Additions: QB Kellen Clemens, RB Donald Brown, CB Brandon Flowers
Key Losses: QB Charlie Whitehurst, FB Le'Ron McClain

2014 Outlook: Philip Rivers became rejuvenated last season and with his increase in effectiveness the Chargers fortunes improved as well. Rivers seemed to thrive under the new leadership of coach Mike McCoy and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. Whisenhunt left to coach the Titans, so we should find out this year whether McCoy or Whisenhunt was more responsible for Rivers improved play. Another offensive player that improved in 2013 was RB Ryan Mathews, who finally got through a season healthy. The Chargers and the world finally saw glimpses of why Mathews was a first round draft pick. The Chargers are pretty deep at running back with Mathews, Danny Woodhead and the addition of Donald Brown from the Colts. Another reason for Rivers finding renewed success was rookie WR Keenan Allen. Allen was tremendous in making plays after the catch and finding separation. Any time Rivers was in trouble he could count on Allen bailing him out and making a play. Eddie Royal also became a favored target of Rivers in the red zone. Malcom Floyd is returning from injury and Vincent Brown is slotted as the #2 receiver. Antonio Gates remains Rivers starting tight end but seems to be a shell of his former self, as age has begun to catch up to him. The Chargers are strong up front, which is especially important with Rivers inability to move much in the pocket. King Dunlap was surprisingly effective at left tackle last season, and Nick Hardwick remains one of the best centers in football. The Chargers defense showed improvement as the season went on last year but its mostly a unit of unknowns. No one on their defensive line really puts any fear into their opponents. DE Corey Liuget had 5 1/2 sacks last season, and fellow defensive end Kendall Reyes had 5, but neither are guys that an offense has to plan to stop. Playing in a 3-4, the Chargers rely on their linebackers to pressure the quarterback, but Jarrett Johnson and Dwight Freeney are getting up there in age. Manti Te'o was just average in his rookie season, so this year will be big for him as far as showing the Chargers he can make a leap. Eric Weddle is excellent at free safety, and helps carry a back four that is average at best. The Chargers added Brandon Flowers after the Chiefs gave up on him but he is currently slotted third on the depth chart at corner. Nick Novak is the latest in the line of former Redskins kickers that has found more success elsewhere. Mike Scifres is strong at punter and good at pinning opposing teams within the 20. The Chargers come into the 2014 season looking mostly the same as they did last year. I don't expect them to take a major step back but I also don't expect a huge leap out of them either. I think San Diego is a mediocre team that will just miss out on the playoffs.

Prediction: 8-8


4. Oakland Raiders

2013 Record: 4-12. last place AFC West
Head Coach: Dennis Allen (3rd season Oakland, 8-24 career)
Key Additions: SLB Khalil Mack, QB Derek Carr, QB Matt Schaub, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, WR James Jones, LT Donald Penn, RG Austin Howard, LG Keith Boothe, DE Justin Tuck, LDE LaMarr Woodley, CB Carlos Rogers, CB Tarrell Brown
Key Losses: RB Rashad Jennings, DE Lamarr Houston, CB Mike Adams, CB Tracy Porter, CB Phillip Adams

2014 Outlook: The 2013 season started promisingly enough for the Oakland Raiders. They started the year with Terrelle Pryor at quarterback and he turned heads with an impressive Week 1 performance at Indianapolis. Even while sitting at 4-6 after 10 games, they were still right in the thick of the Wild Card chase. But then they closed the season with six straight losses, giving coach Dennis Allen his second straight 4-12 campaign. Pryor turned out not to be the answer at quarterback and is now in Seattle and once again the Raiders are hoping that a veteran quarterback with his best days well past him can lead them back to the playoffs for the first time in twelve years. That veteran is Matt Schaub, who the Houston Texans couldn't get rid of fast enough. Schaub completely lost his confidence last season and went through a terrible string of throwing pick 6's in consecutive games, setting an NFL record. The Raiders went and added James Jones at wide receiver but Jones doesn't strike me as a guy that is a #1 receiver like he will have to be on Oakland. Rod Streater and Denarius Moore round out the Raiders underwhelming receiving corps, and some guy named Mychal Rivera is their starting tight end. Darren McFadden was brought back on a cheap one year deal, and the Raiders also added Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew seemed to have nothing left in the tank last season but fits the Raiders penchant for picking up former stars that are past their primes. The Raiders have some decent pieces on the offensive line including center Stefan Wisniewski and free agent pickup Keith Boothe. The Oakland defense was atrocious so they went out and added a bunch of new pieces. Keeping with the theme of picking up players past their prime, they signed Justin Tuck and LeMarr Woodley. The Raiders are expecting instant production from strongside linebacker Khalil Mack who they drafted fifth overall in the 2014 draft. Carlos Rogers and Tarrell Brown were added from San Francisco, so they could fortify things a bit, but incredibly old Charles Woodson is still in Oakland playing safety. Sebastian Janikowski is coming off one of his worst seasons as a pro and Marquette King, while having an awesome name, is a pedestrian punter. Taiwan Jones will be returning kicks and I only have heard him because for one week he was a waiver wire wonder at running back in fantasy football. The Raiders have finally let a coach hang around for more than a year or two but it doesn't appear that Dennis Allen will be able to solves the Raiders woes. If the Raiders had signed some of these players three or four years ago then you might be looking at a playoff team. Instead, I expect another 4-12 debacle to come out of Oakland this season.

Prediction: 4-12

2014 NFL Divisional Previews - NFC West

Forget the NFC West, the NFC Best is more like it. This division had three teams win 10 games or more last season, and one of those teams didn't even make the playoffs. The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks arguably hold the crown for best rivalry in the NFL right now. The 49ers added some offensive weapons and showed their faith in QB Colin Kaepernick by signing him to a long-term deal. The Seattle Seahawks and their Legion of Boom carried them to a Super Bowl title, causing Russell Wilson to become the latest overrated Super Bowl winning quarterback. The St. Louis Rams seem stuck in mediocrity and this might be Sam Bradford's last chance to prove he is a franchise quarterback. The Arizona Cardinals got a better than expected season out of QB Carson Palmer last year and also have a top notch defense.


1. San Francisco 49ers

2013 Record: 12-4, 2nd place NFC West
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (4th season San Francisco, 41-14-1 career)
Key Additions: S/CB Jimmie Ward, RB Carlos Hyde, QB Blaine Gabbert, WR Brandon Lloyd, WR Stevie Johnson, OT/G Jonathan Martin, CB Chris Cook, S Antoine Bethea
Key Losses: QB Colt McCoy, RB Anthony Dixon, WR Mario Manningham, C Jonathan Goodwin, CB Carlos Rogers, CB Tarrell Brown, S Donte Whitner

2014 Outlook: Injuries were a common theme for the 49ers in 2013, but like any great team, they overcame those injuries and still managed to win 12 games. Unfortunately for them, the Seahawks were just a little bit better in 2013. 2013 was Colin Kaepernick's first full season as a starter and he showed enough for the 49ers to reward him with a new contract this off-season. Last year he had to deal with injuries to Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree, leaving him with very little weapons. Thank goodness the 49ers acquired Anquan Boldin from the Ravens for practically nothing. Boldin showed no signs of slowing down last season and became the 49ers number one receiver. Crabtree enters the 2014 season healthy and ready to return to the productivity levels he showed in 2012. Davis had a ridiculous mini-holdout over his contract but is back in camp and remains an integral part to the 49ers passing game. The 49ers added Stevie Johnson in a trade with the Bills and he could be an excellent third option for Kap. They also brought Brandon Lloyd back and while not a ton will be expected of him, he did play pretty well in 2012. RB Frank Gore is 31 and it seems for about the past 3 or 4 years predictions of his demise have been in vogue. This year those predictions are reaching their apex but I have learned not to count Gore out. The 49ers had tremendous depth at the running back position but that has taken a hit the past few weeks. Dependable Kendall Hunter has been lost for the season after tearing his ACL. Marcus Lattimore sat out the 2013 season as planned but now is missing training camp practices so his status is up in the air. The 49ers drafted Carlos Hyde out of Ohio State, and still have LaMichael James, so those two could be pressed into duty if need be. The 49ers have one of the best offensive lines in football but have to be somewhat concerned about RG Alex Boone's prolonged holdout. Anthony Davis and Joe Staley are tremendous bookends, although Staley has had some injury scares the last few seasons. The defense is a bit of a question mark going into the season. The defensive line and linebacking corps is mostly the same, but the training camp injury bug struck Glen Dorsey last week and is he is now out for the season. However, Justin Smith is starting to get up there in age and the 49ers will be without NaVorro Bowman will miss at least half the season after his gruesome injury in the NFC Championship game. That means the untested Chris Borland will be manning the left inside linebacker position. Aldon Smith had an interesting off-season for all the wrong reasons and could be facing a suspension. Ahmad Brooks and Patrick Willis should still be their top notch selves in 2014. The 49ers secondary sees major changes going into the season, with Donte Whitner and Carlos Rogers gone, replaced by Antoine Bethea and Tramaine Brock. Chris Culliver will also be returning from injury but can be beaten like a drum at times. Eric Reid is quickly turning into one of the best safeties in football. Special teams remains a strength as Phil Dawson was as good as advertised last season, and Andy Lee just continues to boom the football when he punts. I'm biased as hell but I really think this is the year the 49ers break through and get that Super Bowl ring. They certainly have some question marks but I think Kaepernick will make a leap with some of the new weapons he has on offense and the defense will remain strong enough even with the changes.

Prediction: 12-4


2. Seattle Seahawks

2013 Record: 13-3, NFC West, NFC, and Super Bowl Champions)
Head Coach: Pete Carroll (5th season Seattle, 77-61 career, 1 Super Bowl championship)
Key Additions: DT Kevin Williams
Key Losses: WR Golden Tate, WR Sidney Rice, DE Red Bryant, DE Chris Clemons, CB Brandon Browner, CB Walter Thurmond

2014 Outlook: I'm going to do my best to not let my Seahawks seep through this preview. Seattle was clearly the best team in football last season and proved it with an exclamation mark by manhandling the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks success had led to people rushing to overrate QB Russell Wilson. Wilson is a nice player but if you were to list out the reasons Seattle won a Super Bowl he would come pretty low on the list. The truth is he is surrounded by an excellent running game, led by the Beast Marshawn Lynch and the best defense in football. He never got to enjoy Percy Harvin last season, as Harvin constantly battled injury but Harvin is injury free so far and will team up with Doug Baldwin as Wilson's two main receiving options. The Seahawks let Golden Tate walk, which is fine, as Tate was decent but nothing special and was overpaid by the Lions.Sidney Rice retired but he was never healthy anyway and not someone Seattle could count on.  Zach Miller is adequate at tight end. The Seahawks offensive line is decent but sometimes is made to look better than they really are because of Wilson's scrambling abilities. The most important offensive line position, left tackle, is always in doubt for the Seahawks because Russell Okung can never stay healthy. If the Seahawks repeat it will be because of their defense. They did lose some pieces this off-season, like Chris Clemons, Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond but that is normal to have happen to the core of a Super Bowl winning team. They locked up S Earl Thomas and CB Dick Sherman so the secondary should remain excellent. Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett do a nice job rushing the quarterback and are also helped by the stingy secondary. Special teams is a major strength for Seattle with strong performances always coming from kicker Steven Hauschka and punter Jon Ryan. Recent Super Bowl winners have a had a tough time following up their Super Bowl winning seasons with success. I think that hangover effect will hit Seattle some but I still believe they will be a playoff team. It is hard when each week you become your opponent's biggest test and they always bring their A game against you. I think Marshawn Lynch will suffer a bit from his mini hold-out and I think the added pressure on Wilson will effect him.

Prediction: 10-6


3. St. Louis Rams

2013 Record: 7-9, last place NFC West
Head Coach: Jeff Fisher (3rd season St. Louis, 161-143-1 career)
Key Additions: LG Greg Robinson, QB Shaun Hill, WR Kenny Britt, DE/DT Alex Carrington
Key Losses: QB Kellen Clemens, G Harvey Dahl, CB Cortland Finnegan

2014 Outlook: The Rams showed flashes in 2013 of taking the next step to becoming a playoff team but were never able to string together enough consistent performances. That also encapsulates the career of QB Sam Bradford. Bradford was having a pretty strong season through 6 games last year, throwing 14 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. But he was then injured in a loss to Carolina, robbing him of the rest of his season. The biggest knock on Bradford has been his inability to get the ball downfield as he always has a very low yards per attempt average. I don't think Bradford's struggles can all be blamed on him though as the Rams front office has done a poor job of surrounding him with skill players. One positive on offense was the emergence of Zac Stacy at running back. Stacy emerged after Bradford went down, and prior to that the Rams had no running game to speak of. The Rams are very thin at wide receiver even after attempting to address the position the last few off-seasons. Tavon Austin had moments but overall didn't show himself to be worthy of a Top 10 pick. Bradford will be relying on no names Chris Givens and Austin Pettis, and hoping for a career resurrection from Kenny Britt. Tight end Jared Cook had a strong start to the season but then disappeared from the offense. The Rams have some good pieces on the offensive line, and added left guard Greg Robinson in the draft. If the Rams are to make the playoffs it will be on the strength of their defense. The Rams have one of the most fearsome front fours in football, anchored by Chris Long and Robert Quinn, while defensive tackle Michael Brockers had 5 1/2 sacks last season. They are also strong at linebacker with James Laurinaitis. Where the Rams did have problems on defense was in their secondary, so they said goodbye to Cortland Finnegan, and are hopeful that corners Tanoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson are the answers. St. Louis has a strong punter/kicker combination with Greg Zeurlein and Johnny Hekker. Austin is a dangerous punt returner as well for St. Louis. I think the Rams have taken on the personality of their coach Jeff Fisher. Fisher is constantly overrated as a coach and largely had produced mediocre results throughout his career. People keep waiting for the Rams to break out but they keep churning out 7 to 8 win seasons. I expect another average year from the Rams, as the defense isn't good enough overall to make up for the underwhelming offense.

Prediction: 8-8


4. Arizona Cardinals

2013 Record: 10-6, 3rd place NFC West
Head Coach: Bruce Arians (2nd season Arizona, 19-9 career)
Key Additions: S Deone Bucannon, TE Troy Niklas, RB Jonathan Dwyer, WR Ted Ginn Jr., TE John Carlson, LT Jared Veldheer, CB Antonio Cromartie
Key Losses: RB Rashard Mendenhall, WR Andre Roberts, OT Eric Winston, ILB Karlos Dansby, ILB Jasper Brinkley, S Jeremiah Bell, KR Javier Arenas

2014 Outlook: Going 10-6 wasn't enough and Arizona was the best team to miss the playoffs last season. QB Carson Palmer was slightly above average and threw too many interceptions but he was a far better option at quarterback than the Cardinals had had since the Kurt Warner era ended. Rashard Mendenhall retired, which was good because it will stop Bruce Arians from using him more than the much more talented Andre Ellington. Arians refused to incorporate Ellington more into the gameplan, and kept giving the ball to Mendenhall who barely averaged above 3 yards a carry. Mendenhall's exit should also allow the Cardinals to get a better look at second year back Stepfan Taylor. Palmer's presence was show in the reemergence of Larry Fitzgerald as a top flight wide receiver. Fitzgerald's receiving yards were down but he had 10 touchdowns and 82 catches. Michael Floyd began to emerge as a star last year, which isn't surprising to me as someone who watched him plenty in college. The Cardinals added another former Fighting Irish, Troy Niklas in the draft and he has already earned the starting tight end position. Free agent Jared Veldheer and 2013 first round draft pick Jonathan Cooper figure to improve the offensive line, which is the most important area on the Cardinals since Carson Palmer is a statue in the pocket. Cooper missed the entire 2013 season so this year will make up for his lost rookie season. The Cardinals defense features some exciting pieces but also some players whose best days seem behind them. Darnell Dockett basically showed up for one game last season, recording 3 sacks, but only finished with 4 1/2 on the season. The Cardinals also have question marks at linebacker. John Abraham could face a suspension for a DUI, and they already lost Daryl Washington for the season due to a drug suspension. Larry Foote is getting up there in age and may not have much left in the tank. Where the Cardinals are very strong is in their secondary. They just re-upped Patrick Petersen to a big, long term contract, and added Antonio Cromartie via free agency. Tryann Mathieu looks like he was a steal after a strong rookie campaign at safety. Those three should provide plenty of help for rookie safety Deone Buccanon. Jay Feely and Dave Zastudil make for a pretty decent combo on special teams. Ted Ginn was also signed and should bolster the Cardinals return game. In any other division the Cardinals might be a playoff team, but to me, they are the fourth best team in a loaded division. I would be shocked if Palmer gets through the entire season unscathed and if he doesn't that would mean turning to Drew Stanton. I expect a slight regression from last season and another playoff season of sitting home for Arizona.

Prediction: 7-9

2014 NBA Finals

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs. #2 Miami Heat

Spurs vs. Heat II, the rematch. Last season's series was phenomenal, going to seven games and filled with memorable moments. You had Tony Parker hitting a buzzer beater in Game 1, Danny Green coming from out of nowhere and setting an NBA Finals record for most three pointers made in a series, the Heat looking dead and buried in Game 6 before Ray Allen hit a three to save their season, and then the Heat holding off the Spurs in Game 7. Each team is back this year with most of the same supporting cast and another long, thrilling series is anticipated.

The biggest question entering the series is the status of Spurs point guard Tony Parker. Parker left the Spurs series clinching win against Oklahoma City early, but all signs point to the break between the end of the Conference Finals and the start of the Finals as allowing him the necessary time to heal to be ready to go tonight. Parker had a strong showing in last year's championship and with him once again facing an overmatched Mario Chalmers the results should be the same this year, even if Parker is hobbled. You can bet that the Heat will be paying much more attention to Green this season than they initially were going into the series last season. Green was a huge difference maker in the series, and it is no coincidence that the Spurs lost the final two games of the series once Miami figured out how to defend Green and made him a non factor. The Heat are hopeful that with the rest they have given Dwyane Wade throughout the course of the season that he will be an effective player throughout the series. In last season's Finals he had his moments but it was obvious that he was hurt and looked a shell of his former self. All eyes will be on the LeBron James/Kawhi Leonard matchup. Leonard is a strong defender, excellent rebounder, and overall did an admirable job against James last season. One difference this year is that Lenoard has improved his offensive game, and will make James work harder on the defensive end. Shane Battier is headed towards retirement but is still a starter on the Heat because he can hit the occasional three pointer and he still flops and draws charges with the best of them. Tim Duncan is phenomenal at the age of 38. He took over Game 6 in overtime against the Thunder, and you have to think that missed bunny he had in Game 7 last year against Miami still haunts him. Duncan wants another ring bad, and I expect a very good series from him. Chris Bosh hasn't been talked about much this year in the playoffs as in previous years. He was having a strong playoffs but did have his problems with the Pacers. He has almost completely morphed into an outside shooter, and is not a traditional center in any sense of position. Thiago Splitter is that more traditional center, and he is one reason that the Spurs will likely have a major rebounding advantage.

The Spurs have a major advantage with their bench against the Heat. Manu Ginobli, Boris Diaw, Patty Mills, Marco Belinelli, and hell even Matt Bonner are all capable of logging significant minutes and contributing. Diaw led the Spurs in scoring in their Game 6 win at Oklahoma City. I will be watching Ginobli closely in this series. His sloppy play really hurt the Spurs towards the end of last season's series. It got so bad that I was openly questioning why Ginobli was still playing late in games. He has to make the smart passes and avoid turning into a turnover machine. He has to let the game come to him and not force the action like did last season. For the Heat the guys that will see the most time off the bench are Ray Allen and Chris Andersen. Rashard Lewis was resuscitated in the Pacers series and actually was able to hit some shots, so he could see some extended playing time as long as he is helping on offense.

This is a series that is very tough to call. I think most people agree that they would be surprised if it goes less than six games. Both teams have their reasons of motivation, but what makes the difference in my mind is I think the Spurs have gotten better as a team since last year, while the Heat have slightly regressed. I also think that homecourt advantage, something the Spurs didn't have last year and cost them, will make a difference this year, especially if the series goes seven as I expect. James is Superman and he will get close to pushing the Heat to a three-peat but ultimately I expect Ginobli to play better this year, Duncan to play better this year, and Parker to be MVP as the Spurs win their fifth NBA championship.

Prediction: Spurs over Heat, 4-3

2014 NBA Playoffs - Western Conference Finals

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs. #2 Oklahoma City Thunder

The Spurs received all they could handle from the Dallas Mavericks in the First Round and then barely had to break a sweat to dispatch the Portland Trail Blazers in five games. The Thunder didn't have quite as easy a road. Like the Spurs, they were taken to seven games in their First Round series, but although they only had to play one more game in the Conference Semi-Finals, each game with the Los Angeles Clippers was a grind. Then the news got worse for Oklahoma City as it was learned that Serge Ibaka will miss the rest of the playoffs with a calf injury. For whatever reason, the Spurs are skeptical that Ibaka really isn't available but all signs point to Ibaka not playing in this series.

The Spurs had an injury scare of their own against Portland in their Game 5 win as Tony Parker had to leave the game early with an injury. However, the time off between series has given Parker time to heal and he should be 100 percent for the Conference Finals. He is the Spurs leading scorer, facilitator and best player. He will matchup against Russell Westbrook of the Thunder. It will be Parker's task to limit Westbrook's scoring opportunities and try to force Kevin Durant to shoulder the scoring load for OKC. Danny Green starts at shooting guard but Manu Ginobli usually gets more playing time than Green off the bench. Thabo Sefalosha doesn't contribute much on offense for the Thunder but he is one of their best defenders and with Ibaka out, even more pressure will be on him to perform well defensively. Kawhi Leonard has the unenviable task of trying to slow down Durant. Durant played superbly against the Spurs in the regular season and is a major reason why the Thunder swept all four games against the Spurs. Durant has struggled with his shot at times this postseason but ever since being challenged by the local media in OKC, he has been nearly unstoppable and put the Thunder on his back in the series against the Clippers. With Ibaka out for the series that means that veteran Nick Collison will see much more playing time. I also expect Steven Adams and Kendrick Perkins to perhaps play at the same time to try to match up with the size of Tim Duncan and Thiago Splitter. Adams, Perkins and Collison are all very limited offensively but one of them will have to step up and replace Ibaka's 12 points per game in these playoffs.

Caron Butler, Reggie Jackson, and Derek Fisher will see the most time off the bench for Oklahoma City. Jackson has turned into a reliable bench player, and the Thunder don't see a lot of drop off when he is on the floor. For the Spurs, Boris Diaw, Patty Mills and Marco Belinelli will see a good amount of time coming off the bench. Diaw is another big man at the Spurs disposal and also another Spurs big man with better offensive skills than the Thunder's big men.

Unless you're a Spurs fan, you have to feel for the Thunder. For the second straight season they have lost a key contributor in the playoffs. They couldn't overcome the loss of Westbrook last season and without Ibaka in this series, I don't think they will be able to get past the Spurs. Ibaka is mostly known for his shot blocking presence and defense, but his offense will be missed as well. Unless someone from the Thunder like a Collison, Adams, or Perkins can find some offense, I think too much pressure will be on Durant and Westbrook's shoulders in this series to score the ball. The Spurs are playing with a ton of confidence right now and they smell blood with the Thunder hurting. Defense will be the difference in this series, as the Spurs defensive prowess will overcome the scoring power of OKC.

Prediction: Spurs over Thunder, 4-2

2014 NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference Finals

#1 Indiana Pacers vs. #2 Miami Heat

The Indiana Pacers might have just completed the bumpiest road ever to a Conference Finals. The Pacers are a respectable 8-5 in the playoffs this year, but when they lose, they like to lose in spectacular fashion. But despite their late season struggles, they are right where they want to be, with homecourt advantage against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat have taken a much more comfortable road to the Conference Finals, losing just one playoff game so far. When these teams closed the regular season, the Heat basically decided to concede the #1 seed to Indiana, hedging their bets that it didn't matter whether or not they had homecourt advantage. Now, we get to find out if that was a smart move or complete arrogance by Miami.

This is a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference finals and these are two teams that know each other quite well. The single most important player in this series might just be Roy Hibbert of the Pacers. In last season's Conference Finals with Miami, Hibbert gave the Heat nightmares throughout that series and was the main reason the Pacers nearly knocked off the Heat. Hibbert has shown his importance to the Pacers even more this year. Some of the Pacers worst playoff performances have come when Hibbert has inexplicably disappeared. But when Hibbert has been on his game, the Pacers have looked like one of the better teams in the NBA. Chris Bosh was badly outplayed by Hibbert in last year's matchup, but he seems to be playing with far more confidence this season. He can't let Hibbert get too comfortable down low, but he also doesn't have the body to match up with Hibbert when Hibbert is in the zone. Another crucial component of the Pacers starting lineup is David West. West is the Pacers leader, and his clutch performance in Game 6 against the Washington Wizards helped propel Indiana to be able to close out that series. The Wizards had no one that could match up with West, but the Heat are hopeful that Shane Battier can stay on West and limit his offensive game. Paul George is the Pacers best player and his one on one matchup with LeBron James will once again take center stage in this series. George is important as the Pacers best player, but he isn't good enough to single-handedly will the Pacers to wins. They will need Hibbert, West, and especially Lance Stephenson to provide strong play for them to have a chance in this series. Stephenson is a wild player, and he seems to be off in his own world sometimes, but he is so valuable to the Pacers when he is playing well that coach Frank Vogel has no choice but to play him major minutes. Dwyane Wade isn't the player he once was but he still makes the Heat a more formidable team when he is on the court. His presence alone takes pressure off of James to feel like he has to do everything. Each team doesn't have exceptional point guards. The Pacers George Hill is solid but not spectacular, and Mario Chalmers of the Heat is mostly known for being James, Wade, and Bosh's whipping boy. But both players are capable of scoring and playing strong defense and any contributions they provide are a welcome addition.

The Pacers need more out of their bench in this series than they got against the Wizards. Luis Scola, Evan Turner, and Ian Mahinmi have to play much better in this series. Even C.J. Watson who was a complete non-factor against Washington, will be needed to spot Hill some in this series. Miami's best bench contributor is the ageless Ray Allen, and the energetic Chris Andersen. I wouldn't be surprised if you see Andersen and Bosh out on the floor at the same time quite a bit in this series. Andersen is the type of energy player that could really get into Hibbert's head and throw him off his game.

Predicting any series the Pacers are involved in this year seems fruitless. You just have no idea which Indiana team will show up from game to game. That level of inconsistency will be their downfall against Miami. Indian has the homecourt advantage but are just 3-4 at home in the playoffs this season and have been blown out multiple times. I expect Miami to take Game 1 on Sunday and control the series from there. The Pacers will have their moments in this series but it is clear that the Heat are the top dogs in the East and destined to make their fourth straight trip to the NBA Finals.

Prediction: Heat over Pacers, 4-2

2014 NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

#1 Indiana Pacers vs. #5 Washington Wizards

The Pacers inexplicable free-fall at the end of the regular season carried over to what many thought would be an easy First Round series against the Atlanta Hawks. After being embarrassed at home in Game 5, the Pacers had to go to Atlanta to save their season. They were trailing late in Game 6, when David West put the team on his back, leading them to victory. Then at home in Game 7, the Pacers controlled the game and looked more like the dominant team they had been for the first half of the season. Now the question is, did that come from behind series win over Atlanta reignite the Pacers, or did they just luck out against an overmatched opponent? They will find out quickly when they take on the Wizards, the newest "it" team in the NBA. The Wizards took out the Chicago Bulls in five games and have many calling them a bigger threat to the Miami Heat than even the Pacers are.

The Wizards will have the edge for sure at point guard with John Wall going against Indiana's George Hill. Hill is serviceable, but the question is will he be able to keep up with the speed of Wall? The Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson is in a contract year and sometimes that shows as he attempts to play hero ball. Bradley Beal is mature beyond his years on the basketball court and quickly becoming one of the better shooters in the NBA. The Pacers will have the best player on the court, Paul George but George will be facing off with an excellent defender in the Wizards Trevor Ariza. The big man battle should be fascinating to watch as David West goes up against Nene and Roy Hibbert and Marcin Gortat face off. Nene has been key for the Wizards all season and he proved to be a matchup nightmare for Joakim Noah in the First Round. As mentioned above, West came up huge for the Pacers in their series with the Hawks. A lot was asked of West because of how miserable Hibbert was for most of that series. Hibbert did have his best game in Game 7 and Indiana has to hope that he has snapped out of whatever funk he has been in. If he isn't, Gortat could have a huge series. Gortat should be able to get Hibbert in foul trouble as Gortat is much more of a threat offensively than any big man Atlanta could throw against Hibbert.

The Wizards mostly employ Andre Miller, Trevor Booker, and Martell Webster off the bench, while veterans like Al Harrington and Drew Gooden could see spot duty. Ian Mahimi and C.J. Watson are employed by Pacers coach Frank Vogel, and Mahinmi outshone Hibbert in most of the First Round. Luis Scola fell out of the rotation the last two games of the series against the Hawks, but with the Wizards throwing a lot of players out there, I expect him to see some more time. Evan Turner has seen his minutes reduced drastically as that trade the Pacers made earlier in the season looks worse and worse.

I certainly underestimated the Wizards in the First Round but don't plan on making that mistake this time around. I still think the Pacers are a mess and got lucky that they played such an atrocious team in the Hawks. The Wizards have much more talent than Atlanta, and unless Indiana gets back to early season form, they are going to have their hands full with Washington. I believe the Wizards will make the Conference Finals for the first time in 36 years. I believe the edge they have at point guard with Wall and what Gortat should be able to do to Hibbert will carry Washington past Indiana.

Prediction: Wizards over Pacers, 4-2


#2 Miami Heat vs. #6 Brooklyn Nets

The Heat wrapped up their series against Charlotte in four games, which feels like weeks ago. The Nets grinded out a seven game series victory over the Toronto Raptors. Once again, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will get a chance to try to take out LeBron and the Heat. The Nets beat the Heat in all four regular season meetings this year, so that does give them some added confidence coming into this series.

The Nets have the advantage at point guard with Deron Williams being superior to the Heat's whipping boy Mario Chalmers. Even at 60% or whatever he is these days, Dwyane Wade is superior to the much traveled Shaun Livingston. Joe Johnson played excellently for the Nets in their Game 7 win over Toronto, and is becoming the Nets go to scorer and ball handler late in games. But the focus for him will have to be on the defensive side of the ball as he attempts to not let LeBron James go crazy. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are far removed from their prime and play far less minutes than they used to, but their playoff experience has proven invaluable so far. Shane Battier is out there for the Heat to play solid defense and hit the occasional three pointer. Chris Bosh should be able to outmuscle and outhustle Garnett but might have some problems facing Andray Blatche when he comes off the bench,

Jason Kidd likes to employ his bench as much as possible, meaning you should expect to see guys like Mason Plumlee, Alan Anderson, Mirza Teletovic, Marcus Thornton, and even Andrei Kirilenko could see some time. For Miami, regulars off the bench include the ageless Ray Allen, the high energy Chris Andersen, Norris Cole and James Jones has somehow found his way back in the rotation.

I wouldn't read too much into Brooklyn sweeping Miami during the regular season, that will be thrown out the window once these two tip off tomorrow night. The Heat become a different, more focused team on the playoffs and if anything, those regular season losses will ensure that the Heat are ready to play the Nets. I think the Nets can defeat the Heat once or twice, but overall, don't have the skill to beat the Heat 4 times in a series.

Prediction: Heat over Nets, 4-2