What are the real odds, based on the numbers and how teams match up, that a team will win tomorrow?  Here is our latest predictions built on a proven model.  Note that plenty of variability exists on a game-by-game basis, but consistent picks based on these percentages will produce winning results.

vs. 84.02%
@ 81.21%
vs. 81.10%
@ 80.59%
@ 78.40%
@ :MIA-MLB: 75.44%
vs. 74.16%
vs. 66.10%
@ 62.49%
vs. 61.75%
@ 61.46%
vs. 59.82%
vs. 59.47%
@ 57.33%
@ 52.86%
vs. 47.14%
vs. 42.67%
@ 40.53%
@ 40.18%
vs. 38.54%
@ 38.25%
vs. 37.51%
@ 33.90%
@ 25.84%
:MIA-MLB: vs. 24.56%
vs. 21.60%
vs. 19.41%
@ 18.90%
vs. 18.79%
@ 15.98%

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No, Phil Jackson did not return to coach the Knicks nor will he do so anytime soon… He was just one of many who returned Friday night to commemorate the last championship team that the Knicks have had in four decades. What sort of reception would the most successful coach in NBA history receive from the Garden faithful?

It was almost a year ago, June 2012, that ex-Knick and 11 time NBA Championship coach Phil Jackson, scoffed at the notion of coaching the Knicks, stating, ” They have a clumsy team!” Personally, I feel that Phil was just saying that out of disappointment for the Knicks for not even offering him the post occupied by Mike D’Antoni before Mike Woodson was named the interim and later the head coach.

“There’s just too much work that has to be done with that team, they don’t fit together well. Phil Jackson stating his disinterest in the Knick's coaching job. Photo:
“There’s just too much work that has to be done with that team, they don’t fit together well.” Phil Jackson stating his disinterest in the Knick’s coaching job In June 2012.

If you remember, he also told the press that he didn’t want to travel because he wanted to spend as much time as possible on his Montana estate and New York was just too far away for his liking. The press here as well as countless bloggers, chastised the Knicks for not even extending Jackson an invitation to discuss the possibility of taking over the head coaching job.

Knick fans, after all of Jackson’s sound bites had filled the newspapers and the internet showcasing his ‘disinterest’ in the vacancy, turned sour on the Hall of Famer, especially once the season began. D’Antoni was soon shown the exit sign, and then Linsanity took over New York City and the sportsworld at large.

Fast forward to last night’s festivities at Madison Square Garden. Legends night. The commemoration of the 1972-1973 NBA Championship; the last one the Knickerbockers would win over the past 40 years. All the players from that legendary team, save for Dave DeBusschere who passed in May of 2003 at the age of 62, were there as speeches and awards filled the World’s Most Famous Arena.

The former superstars would be announced to the capacity crowd once halftime was underway and I thought to myself, “I wonder what kind of greeting PhilJ ackson will receive from the throng of Knick supporters on a night the team would be gunning for its 11th...

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For most of you, this week will represent the last one for fantasy owners out there. So this will be our last Waiver Wire Pickups for this fantasy basketball season. For those still alive, congratulations! For those who aren’t, the good news is that we get to do this all over again next season. Here are our final five playoff pickups for the week of  4/1-4/7. All of them are available in 15% of leagues or lower. Good luck!

C.J. Miles-SG,SF-Cavs - Given all the injuries on the Cavs, C.J. has been their most effective bench player over the last week or so. In four of his last five games, the former 2nd rounder has scored in double-digits and, in fact, scored a team high 19 points in Friday’s game vs Phoenix. Miles has averaged 14.4 points, 3.4 dimes, and 2.4 threes over those five games deeming him more than serviceable in deeper leagues. Cleveland plays four times starting on April 1st.

Tyler Zeller-C-Cavs - Another Cavalier to consider is their starting center who also has come on of late. The 1st round, 17th pick of the Mavericks out of North Carolina in last year’s draft, has been averaging 9.8 points and 8.8 boards over the past four games including a 14 point, 10 rebound night vs the the 76ers on Friday. Zeller also averages a block a game for those lacking in that category. He deserves a look-see in deeper formats and is available in under 10% of most leagues.

Wes Johnson-SG,SF-Suns - Since Johnson has been given a starting role back on March 8th, he has become fantasy relevant in three categories- points, threes, and steals. 8 of the 12 games in which he’s started, Johnson has scored in double-digits for an average of just under 14 points a game; 19 PPG over his last three together with 4 treys and 2 steals. A definite pickup candidate for those in most formats. As long as Johnson continues to see the minutes and is able to produce these kinds of numbers, there’s no reason to leave him on waivers with the playoffs on the line. Barely owned as well (13%).

Kyle O’Quinn-C-Magic - The Magic’s 2nd round pick in last year’s draft from Jamaica, N.Y. has been starting in place of Nikola Vucevic (concussion) and has taken advantage of the extra floor time. Last Wednesday vs the Bobcats, O’Quinn turn in a season high...

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The new league header is cleanly tied to the new league management system and showing above all boards.

I am not sure what the Fantrax league link is, so Kenny can update that through the system.

This article is brought to you by our friends at Fantasy Furnace.

We always suggest entering several mock drafts in anticipation of your real draft, if for no other reason than to familiarize yourself with the tenor of the rooms you draft in and to see who your fellow managers are avoiding and who they are snagging early or late in the drafts. After all, practice makes perfect, so take advantage of the mock drafts that are available where you regularly set up your leagues.


Even though the pre-season has not gotten underway yet, we have done enough of these drafts and have completed our research so that we are now able to offer you advice, suggestions, and options in two major categories: who to avoid drafting and who the sleepers might be this year. This post will deal with the hitters we suggest you avoid drafting or at best, ‘draft with caution’.

Stephen Drew-SS-Red Sox - Drew will start the season playing for his third team since April 2012. Boston signed Drew to a one-year $9.5 million contract in December while they wait for hot prospect Xander Bogaerts to become their SS of the future in 2014. Even when Drew is not injured, there’s a low upside as he has hit just 12 home runs and stolen 5 bases over his last 608 ABs (two seasons).

Alex Rodriguez-3B-Yankees - The biggest red flag for A-Rod has been his deteriorating health. His second left hip surgery in December will keep him off the field until the summer. He has averaged only 17 homers and 59 RBIs over the past two seasons and isn’t worth stashing until his return as his best years are behind him.

Danny Espinosa-2B-Nationals - We would label Espy as a “draft with caution” as his nearly 20/20 potential makes him an intriguing choice at a position that is lacking in those numbers. However, there’s two problems with Espinosa: He has a hard time hitting from the left side which could mean more ABs for Steve Lombardozzi, and his strikeouts (355 in the last two seasons) are out of control. Maybe an option solely for deeper formats.

Rafael Furcal-SS-Cardinals - The often injured Furcal put off having elbow surgery last season and that’s a concern for a player that has missed 60 or more games in four of the last five years. His stolen bases have dropped from 22 in 2010, to 9 in ’11, to 12 last year. He can still score runs but needs to play for that to happen and that’s a big question mark.

Brian Roberts-2B-Orioles - Talk about a walking *M*A*S*H unit, (for those old enough to remember the movie & TV show), Roberts has been a cash cow for the medical community in Baltimore with a recent concussion, hip, groin, back, shin, knee, and stomach problems. Injuries have limited his... Read more here...