***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 162- Who we thought they were?

Stacker_Sports

**Who we thought they were?**

The NBA playoffs have been great. There have been tight games, amazing individual performances, shifting momentum in games and series. Blowouts, blowups and everything in between. However, 4 games into the second round I still don't know who the Boston Celtics are. Are they one of the most dominant teams in recent memory with incredible stars and outstanding role players as their regular season suggests? Or are they a vulnerable, emotionally fragile house of cards just waiting for the inevitable collapse as their past couple playoff runs suggest. 

They won their first series 4-1 and they are up 3-1 in the second round series with another 4-1 victory likely, but I feel like we have been cheated from finding out if they are who we thought they were. Either way you slice it. Whether you consider them the dominant team or the playoff failing team ready for impending collapse. Both series now they have played against teams that did not have their star player for some or all of the games. The Cavs probably win last night if they have Mitchell and the series would be 2-2 instead of 3-1. 

At some point this playoffs I would like to find out who the Boston Celtics really are. Hopefully we will. 

SGA willed OKC to a win last night but I feel like Dallas beat themselves. How do you go 12/23 from the FT line in a playoff game? 

Speaking of Dallas. Wow the Dallas Stars are much better than I thought they were. Taking out the defending champs in round 1 and now a 3-1 series lead on the Champs from 2 years ago. I didn't take them seriously after the regular season but I am now. 

The NHLs dream Stanley Cup matchup Florida vs Dallas seeming likely. 

Sats for all,
GR



Stacker Sports- Day 162- Who we thought they were? 

grayruby

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 161- So You're Saying There's a Chance

**So You're Saying There's a Chance**

All the Atlanta Hawks needed was a measly 3% chance to win the NBA Draft lottery. So, how does everyone feel about this? Should a team that was in the play-in be able to get the number 1 pick? I don't think play-in teams should be eligible for 1. If you are rewarding teams by expanding the playoffs to give 9 and 10 seeds a chance to win their way in I think they should be excluded from 1. Maybe make the lottery the top 5 instead of 4 and only seeds 11-15 in each conference are eligible for 1 and then the teams that lost the play in become eligible to move up from picks 2-5 if they win the lotto. Thoughts?

The Pacers and Nuggets have both come back from down 0-2 to looking like they are going to win their series in 6. I expect the Knicks to bounce back in game 5 but I think they are too banged up at this point and it seems the TWolves woke up the sleeping giant Nuggets by beating them twice in Denver because Denver returned the favour in Minny. Maybe the TWolves D needs rarified air to slow down the Nuggets again or maybe they just need their second "star" KAT to show up. 

Congrats to @gnilma's Canucks on taking a 2-1 lead in the battle of western Canada series. 

Wild Sunday in baseball with many implications to our pool. Some of us escaped a strike by the skin of our teeth with extra inning victories yesterday. Others weren't so luck with Sunday games. I will be posting the week 6 recap from @MLBofficialscorer shortly. 

Sats for all, 
GR

 

Stacker Sports- Day 161- So You're Saying There's a Chance

Hope all the moms in your life have a wonderful ***day***.

Sats for all,
GR ... financially and time wise to keep a kid in competitive ***sports*** and activities. ... I think anyone who grew up playing ***sports*** is indebted to their mom for the sacrifice it requires both

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 160- Thanks Mom

**Thanks Mom**

Let's face it, moms are the MVP of the family. 

I think anyone who grew up playing sports is indebted to their mom for the sacrifice it requires both financially and time wise to keep a kid in competitive sports and activities. We tend to take these things for granted until we are older and have kids of our own. 

So today's post is just a shout out to all the moms out there that help their kids succeed on and off the field. I am forever grateful for everything my mom has done for me. Thanks mom. 

Hope all the moms in your life have a wonderful day. 

Sats for all,
GR



Stacker Sports- Day 160- Thanks Mom

It is Saturday, thus it is poll ***day***!

The NBA draft lottery takes place tomorrow at 3pm est.

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 159- Saturday Poll

It is Saturday, thus it is poll day!

The NBA draft lottery takes place tomorrow at 3pm est. The lottery is used to determine the drafting order of the first four picks in the upcoming 2024 NBA by luck of the draw. All 14 teams that missed the playoffs this year are entered into the draft lottery, however, the number of lottery balls for each team is determined by their proximity to the bottom of the standings, so the worst team in the league has a much better chance of winning the lottery than the last team to miss the playoffs. 

Here are odds for each team to win the lottery:

Detroit	        14.0%
Washington	14.0%
Charlotte	        13.3%
Portland   	13.2%
San Antonio	10.5%
Toronto 	          9.0%
Memphis	          7.5%
Utah	          6.0%
Brooklyn            4.5%
Atlanta	          3.0%
Chicago	          2.0%
Houston	          1.5%
Sacramento	  0.8%
Golden State	  0.7%

Who is doing to win the draft lottery? (Can only fit 10 options so added other (comment) for anyone who wants to pick the bottom 5. 

Stacker Sports- Day 159- Saturday Poll

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 158- Mere Mortals

**Mere Mortals**

Last night we discovered the Boston Celtics are mortal after all. The Celtics have been winning games by astounding margins all season, including game one of their second round series with the Cavs, but the Cavs turned the tables last night and whooped them by 24. Now, it is only one game and clearly the Celtics had a terrible night shooting from 3 (which they take an abundance of), but with the series going back to Cleveland tied 1-1 I am interested to see how the next couple games play out. 

Mavs tied the series with OKC despite the fact that the real NBA MVP SGA was great again. 

The Rangers look like they will be the first team to make the semi-finals in the NHL. I guess no president's trophy curse this year. Colorado vs Dallas is shaping up to be a great series. 

It's Friday, so I will be posting the MLB survivor pool week 7 pick post from @MLBofficialscorer shortly. 

Sats for all,
GR

Stacker Sports- Day 158- Mere Mortals

The Name Game

The other ***day*** I made a post about Jalen Brunson and the Minnesota Timberwolves defensive ... Love me a good ***sports*** nickname.

So let's play the name game. ... Give me your favourite nickname or nicknames if you can't choose one from each major ***sport***.

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 157- The Name Game

**The Name Game**

The other day I made a post about Jalen Brunson and the Minnesota Timberwolves defensive unit, giving them both new nicknames. Stone Cold and the Wolf pack respectively. Love me a good sports nickname. 

So let's play the name game. Give me your favourite nickname or nicknames if you can't choose one from each major sport. I will go first. 

MLB- Frank Thomas "The Big Hurt" 
NFL- William "Refrigerator" Perry 
NBA- "The Black Mamba" Kobe Bryant
NHL- Maurice "Rocket" Richard 

So who you got? Extra zaps for awesome ones I forgot about. 

I am going to be offline for a bit to attend an appointment but I will be back on this afternoon to exchange some sats for some nicknames. 

Sats for all,
GR

Stacker Sports- Day 157- The Name Game

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 155- No Home runs, No fun allowed

**No Home runs, No fun allowed**

I had a different post planned for today but I could not pass this up. Although it probably should have been a separate post in the LOL territory, I am going to cheat and make it my daily. 

A buddy of mine just sent me a picture of this sign affixed to the fencing of a youth baseball field in Toronto that has gone viral on social media. 
![](https://m.stacker.news/30049)

Apparently this field is very small and the park itself has been shrunk to almost nothing beyond the baseball diamond due to condo developments in the area so it makes some sense as to why the city posted this "cover your ass" sign but it is too hilarious to pass up. No competitive play, No homeruns. How about just posting "no fun allowed"? 

I am sure this sign will totally not encourage kids to try to hit bombs over the fence. Haha. The field closest to me when I was growing up didn't have a home run fence but there was a tennis court about 280ft (my dad measured it out of curiosity once) away from home plate in left field. My friends and I used to spend our entire batting practice trying to hit bombs into the tennis court. So I am sure this sign will be highly effective. 

Free the Home Run I say!

Sats for all,
GR

Stacker Sports- Day 155- No Home runs, No fun allowed

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 152- Fore!

**Fore!**

Congratulations to the Toronto Maple Leafs on another outstanding season. Your consistency is something to marvel at. For the 56th consecutive season the hockey world is proud to present you this trophy: 

![Image-1 (1).jpg](https://m.stacker.news/29596)


Who could have predicted this outcome with Champions like this:

![Image-1 (2).jpg](https://m.stacker.news/29597)

![Image-1 (3).jpg](https://m.stacker.news/29598)

Enjoy the links, or Milan Fashion Week. Whatever floats your boat. Leafs Nation will be primed and ready for season 57 come October. 

Sats for all,
GR

Stacker Sports- Day 152- Fore!

It's Saturday, thus it is poll ***day***!

Everyone knows Canada is hockey country.

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 151- Saturday Poll

It's Saturday, thus it is poll day!

Everyone knows Canada is hockey country. However, it has been over 30 years since a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup. In 1993, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup and since then a Canadian team has reached the finals 6 times but never won. 

Currently there are 3 Canadian teams left in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, who will play each other in the second round, ensuring at least 1 Canadian team will reach the Western Conference Final but also ensuring one more Canadian team will be eliminated. And the Toronto Maple Leafs who still need to win game 7 of the first round or just become another eliminated Canadian team. 

So we know 1 Canadian team will reach the final four teams and 1 will not and we have the Leafs as an unknown (they could be eliminated tonight or move on). Odds don't look great for Canadian teams but anything can happen. Will this be the year a Canadian team finally ends the drought and hoists the Cup? 

Stacker Sports- Day 151- Saturday Poll

More potential elimination games in both ***sports*** tonight. It shall be fun.

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 150- Say it ain't so

**Say it ain't so**

I may have prematurely written off the Maple Leafs. With a little assist from the refs last night they managed to win their second in a row and push the series to game 7 in Boston. A change of fate for the Leafs or stringing their fans along for more heartbreak? Remains to be seen. Even if proven wrong, I do not regret any hate or mockery I have directed towards the Leafs. 

On the basketball side of things we had one laugher with the Pacers easily dispatching the Bucks and one incredible game between the Knicks and 76ers. Early it looked like the Knicks would make it a laugher jumping out to a 1st quarter lead of 18 points but Philly fought back and even took the lead in the second half. However, Jalen Brunson (who I am giving the nickname of Stone Cold Killer) was simply too much for the 76ers. Why again did the Mavs let that guy go? 

More potential elimination games in both sports tonight. It shall be fun. 

Friday has arrived quickly, so I will be posting the week 6 MLB Survivor pool selection post from @MLBofficialscorer shortly. 

Sats for all,
GR



Stacker Sports- Day 150- Say it ain't so

We can go back to the ***days*** of Koufax, Drysdale, Sutton and certainly there have been other teams that

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 149- The Best Rotation

**The Best Rotation**

After it was evident there was no longer much point in watching the Mavs vs Clippers game, I switched over to MLB network to see what game they were featuring. It was the Dodgers and DBacks. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the prized free agent pitcher from Japan the Dodgers signed in the offseason, was pitching, so I watched for a bit. I hadn't seen him pitch yet and he was great yesterday (6IP, 0ER, 5Ks). This had me thinking about the Dodgers rotation from next year when Ohtani is able to pitch again. 

Obviously much can happen between now and next April but the Dodgers 2025 rotation would line up something like this: 

Tyler Glasnow
Shoehi Ohtani
Walker Buehler
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Clayton Kershaw

That's ridiculous. 

On paper this is one of the best rotations of all time. It remains to be seen if it will turn out that way. Kershaw is getting old and a few of these guys have a questionable injury history but that looks like a rotation you would have in a video game with the force trade setting turned on. 

Now this is not the first time the Dodgers have had an incredible rotation. We can go back to the days of Koufax, Drysdale, Sutton and certainly there have been other teams that have had great rotations like the Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz Braves teams and even more recently- the Astros boasted a rotation of Verlander, Cole, Greinke, Miley a few years back. But this projected Dodgers rotation has a chance to be as good as any that came before it. 

On another note, I completely forgot UFC 301 was this weekend, so I will be rolling out a pick 'em for the event shortly. 

Sats for all,
GR

Stacker Sports- Day 149- The Best Rotation

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 148- Hanging on

**Hanging on**

I suppose it is fitting that while we see the Bitcoin price trying to hang on for dear life, we also saw a number of teams, who were hanging onto their playoff lives by a thread, extend their seasons last night. I don't like to talk much about bitcoin price in my posts but the synergies here were too great to avoid. 

Sadly, the Maple Leafs led the charge amongst teams that avoided elimination last night. Maybe "stay of execution" would have been a better title for this post. Also in the NHL, the Predators managed to postpone Vancouver's party and force game 6. Sorry @gnilma. 

The NBA was no different last night. After a night a couple eliminations on Monday, we had both the 76ers and the Bucks keep their playoff hopes alive. 

Out of the teams that forced game 6s last night, which one do you think has a legitimate chance to win the series? Your options are: Maple Leafs or Predators in NHL and 76ers or Bucks in NBA. 

My guess would be the Bucks. I suppose the Leafs could shock the world and come back from a 3-1 deficit now that they have gotten some momentum and are heading home for game 6, but the Leafs losing on home ice in some embarrassing fashion is to perfect a scenario to pass up. 

Sats for all,
GR

Stacker Sports- Day 148- Hanging on

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 147- Another two bite the dust

**Another two bite the dust**

The NBA playoffs are starting to look like one of our survivor pools with teams dropping like flies. The Thunder eliminated the Pelicans last night and the defending champion Nuggets ousted the Lakers. The Western Conference is going to be fun to watch. 

If the Clippers can manage to stay afloat (see what I did there) until Kawhi comes back the West may get very interesting. 

I am not so certain the East will prove to be as thrilling. Once the Celtics exercise their Heat demons they probably have a clear path to the Finals but who knows. 

On another note, I am really enjoying playoff basketball compared to the regular season brand. Better D, refs allowing more contact. Are you guys enjoying the playoff action?

Switching to hockey, hopefully we will all be able to rejoice in the defeat of the Maple Leafs tonight as well. 

Sats for all, 
GR




 

Stacker Sports- Day 147- Another two bite the dust

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 146- Ant Man and the Wolves

**Ant Man and the Wolves**

The NBA playoffs have produced a couple surprises. First, being the Pacers on the verge of eliminating the Bucks in the first round and the second being the Minnesota Timberwolves looking like actual contenders. 

I know the TWolves finished tied for first in the West, so clearly they were a good team, but I did not think they were a real contender. I thought they could beat the Suns, but I did not expect them to dominate the Suns and sweep them, winning mosts game handily. Anthony Edwards is just on another level right now and the Wolves D is tenacious (IYKYK). Great recipe for playoff success. Maybe it is just recency bias but I think the TWolves might be a real contender. My field vs the front runners gentleman's wager with @Undisciplined is looking bleak. (for context, he had Celtics, Nuggets, OKC, Minny and I had the rest of the playoff field). 

We should have known the TWolves had this in them when noted basketball savant @siggy47 selected them in the NBA pool. 

Shout out to the Canucks and Oilers who are both playing very well in the NHL playoffs. While I may despise the Leafs, I do hope a Canadian team (not named the Leafs) can make a run at the cup this year. It has been 3 decades since a Canadian team won and the last one that did it was the Canadiens (which is almost as bad as the Leafs). Bring it home Western Canada. 

MLB survivor pool week 4 recap will be posted shortly from @MLBofficialscorer.

Sats for all,
GR





Stacker Sports- Day 146- Ant Man and the Wolves

I haven't done one of these in awhile, so today seems as fine a ***day*** as any to roll one out.

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 145- Falling Leafs

**Falling Leafs**

Most of the world that lives in a climate with 4 unique seasons, are used to leaves falling from the trees in the fall season, but here in Ontario, Canada we get to experience this phenomenon twice a year. The beautiful transition of fall to winter with vibrant colours and falling leaves and then again in spring when the Toronto Maple Leafs fall early in the NHL playoffs. 

It's an annual tradition around these parts to watch the boys in blue play wonderfully in the regular season and then fall flat on their faces come playoff time. This phenomenon and its rich history is so well noted and studied even people in other countries talk about it https://stacker.news/items/512536. I don't want to jinx anything here but down 3 games to 1 and heading back to Boston for game 5 it looks like the Leafs season might be coming to a close even earlier than expected this year. It shall be as beautiful as the fall colours to watch these Leafs fall. 

I haven't done one of these in awhile, so today seems as fine a day as any to roll one out. It's time to shill. Other than the Leafs, shill me a team that is perennially good in the regular season but falls on their faces in the playoffs. 

Sats for all,
GR

 

Stacker Sports- Day 145- Falling Leafs

Thus it is poll ***day***. ... Streaming services are definitely making a run at ***sports*** content. ... you weren't already a member, would you sign up for a streaming service to get access to professional ***sports***

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 144- Saturday Poll

It's Saturday. Thus it is poll day. 

With the current NBA broadcast rights deal expiring after next season, it was announced yesterday that Amazon Prime will be one of the league's broadcast partners starting in 2025-26. Amazon's deal would likely be for 10 years and include both regular season and playoff games. 

Streaming services are definitely making a run at sports content. If you weren't already a member, would you sign up for a streaming service to get access to professional sports games? 

Stacker Sports- Day 144- Saturday Poll

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 143- Round 1 goes to...

**Round 1 goes to...**

Who won the first round of the draft? 

Three teams had 2 picks. Bears, Cardinals and Vikings. Out of these 3 teams who had the best first round? I like what the Vikings did getting their QB and an Edge but hard to argue with the Bears getting Williams and Odunze. 

And out of the remaining teams that only had one pick who did the best? Chiefs trading up to get Worthy was likely unnecessary but didn't cost much and they are reloading with receiving weapons for Mahomes. Bad news for the league. I think the Lions got awesome value at a position of need taking Arnold at 24 and I am not too pleased at the prospect of Byron Murphy destroying the 49ers suspect IOL twice a year for the Seahawks. 

Those are my notable winners from the draft, outside of the teams that got top QBs and WRs. 

I am still scratching my head about the Falcons. 

6 more rounds to go, so I am sure there will be much more to discuss. 

MLB Survivor Pool Week 5 pick selection post will be coming up shortly. 

Sats for all,
GR

Stacker Sports- Day 143- Round 1 goes to...

The other ***day*** we talked about the worst draft in recent memory, so it is only fitting that on the ***day*** ... The Best Draft

Draft ***day*** is finally here. I am excited to see how the first round shakes out. ... I have been busy doing chores and family stuff the past couple ***days*** but I will be online tonight during

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 142- The Best Draft

The Best Draft

Draft day is finally here. I am excited to see how the first round shakes out. I have been busy doing chores and family stuff the past couple days but I will be online tonight during the draft if anyone is around. 

The other day we talked about the worst draft in recent memory, so it is only fitting that on the day of the draft where hope springs eternal and when childhood dreams come true, we focus on the best draft in recent memory today. 

My pick is 2017 and I don’t think it is particularly close. Tons of pro bowlers, all pros and future hall of famers in this draft. 

Mahomes, Garrett, TJ Watt, CMC, Kittle, Reddick, Lattimore, Marlon Humphrey, Buddha Baker, Matt Milano and so on. 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2017/draft.htm

I think you will be hard pressed to find a better draft than this in the last 15 years but give it a shot. 

Sats for all, 
GR

Stacker Sports- Day 142- The Best Draft

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 141- Mock Bell_curve

**Mock Bell_curve**

This is the final edition of a series of posts heading into the NFL draft.

Last week you guys mocked @Public_N_M_E (Vikings) and this week @Bell_curve graciously stepped up to be mocked, so your mission should you choose to accept it, is a mock draft of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Mock Draft parameters: minimum 5 rounds. You can make one trade if you want but you can't trade any 2025 picks to move up.
Positions of need: WR, CB, OC, OT, DT

You can use any mock draft simulator you want but I recommend
https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/mock-draft-simulator
https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mockdraft
(you don't need an account to use these- ads are annoying though)

Screenshot your mock in the comments. Best Chargers mock submitted today, as determined by @Bell_curve, gets 1000 sats (from me).

Hoping we get a few good ones.

Sats for all,
GR

Stacker Sports- Day 141- Mock Bell_curve

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 140- The worst draft

**The worst draft**

It's draft week so I want to post draft content but can we all take a moment to recognize NBA champion and future olympic gold medal winning Canadian basketball star Jamal Murray? Ice in his veins. 

Alright on to the draft. Looking for your ideas on some of the worst drafts in recent memory. Maybe due to recency bias, I wanted to pick the 2021 draft class due to the debacle that was the Quarterback class that year but upon review, there were actually some really good players drafted that year. So, I needed to do some more digging and I found the utter disaster that was the 2013 NFL draft. 

Like any draft there are some great players: Travis Kelce, Lane Johnson, Deandre Hopkins, Keenan Allen but for the most part this draft is just a complete mess. Take a gander https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2013/draft.htm

What do you think of 2013? Worst draft in the last 10-15 years or do you have something uglier? 

We will do the best draft on Thursday.

@Bell_curve can you comment with your positions of need for our Chargers mock contest tomorrow. 

Sats for all,
GR

Stacker Sports- Day 140- The worst draft

I love ***sports*** but at times the wide world of fun and games can be a lot to keep up with.

***Stacker*** ***Sports***- ***Day*** 139- Circuses all the way down

**Circuses all the way down**

Give them bread and circuses. I don't know about bread but we certainly had an abundance of circuses for our viewing pleasure this past weekend. 

I love sports but at times the wide world of fun and games can be a lot to keep up with. NBA playoff games, NHL playoff games, MLB games, NFL draft coming up. It's kind of like the March edition of Million Sat Madness, occasionally you just have to take a step back and pick your battles. 

With the NFL draft coming up I was having a bit of fun looking at recent drafts last night while I was watching OKC squeak by the Zionless Pelicans. I think it would be fun to talk some draft hits and misses tomorrow. 

One interesting thing I did note from all this weekend's playoff action. There were 8 games in NBA and 6 in the NHL and not one road team won. Home court/ice advantage huge, at least for game 1. 

MLB pool post coming up shortly and NFL Draft contest coming out today as well. 

Sats for all, 
GR