How will our teams fare this year? Do the Pistons have enough to get to the NBA finals? Can the Wings race toward the Presidents Cup and Stanley Cup? Will the Tigers lineup scare people all the way to the World Series?
Guyism looks at each of our beloved Detroit teams and gives you a glimpse into the odds they make the championship.
Detroit Tigers
Their lineup is scary and their starting pitching is solid 1-5. The biggest concern with this team is their bullpen. And while everybody complains about Todd Jones, it might be the innings leading up to him that spell doom and gloom for the Tigers. With Zumaya on the mend, Fernando Rodney is the only guy their who can make guys swing and miss.
But still, if this team stays healthy, they have a very strong chance of making the World Series:
Odds of Going to World Series: 45%
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Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are playing as well as they have in years. And its not only the starters that are contributing. They are getting solid minutes from two rookies and forward Amir Johnson. When you figure in that the Pistons may not play a solid team in the East until the Conference Finals, you have to love their chances. The only team standing in their way, the Boston Celtics. A clash of Boston-Detroit in a 7 game series would be epic.
Odds of going to NBA Championship: 40%
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Michigan State Spartans
This team has struggled in Big Ten play and may end up with a crappy seed because of it. They lay eggs on the road on a weekly basis. Is it possible that the Big Ten teams just know Tom Izzo too well? Perhaps, but there aren’t that many teams around the nation that can out coach Izzo in March. To get to the Final Four, this team will have to beat two very good opponents and not falter against a solid one. Can they do it? Would you bet against them?
Odds of going to Final Four: 33%
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Detroit Red Wings
Every Red Wings fan started praying to the high heavens when Nick Lidstrom limped off the ice. Without Nick, the Wings may as well pack up their bags and call it a season. But it looks like he will be “alright” after a week or two. Still, this team is in need of another defensemen. Last year, another healthy solid defenseman gets them into the Stanley Cup finals. You can’t put your trust in oft-injured Nikolas Kronwall or an aging Chris Chelios. The goalie situation is tenuous at best. The training staff is using duct tape to hold Hasek’s legs together and Ozzie seems more than content after signing that contract.
A trip to the Cup finals will probably mean going through Dallas or Anaheim.
Odds of going to the Stanley Cup finals: 25%
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February 19, 2008
#1
The odds that State goes to the final four is way to high. I’d set it at 8%. I don’t know if they will get out of the first weekend if they are a 4-5 seed.
February 19, 2008
#2
True statement, Chris. 8-10% sounds much more realistic to me.
I’ll give him a 50/50 shot to get to the Sweet 16.
February 19, 2008
#3
I just cant set it that low…25% or 20%….I just think this team has enough to get there….the half-court sets they run against teams that havent seen them usually works well
February 19, 2008
#4
My thinking:
There are five or six teams that are better than the rest. Memphis, Kansas, UNC, UCLA, Tennessee and Duke have created a permeable separation between themselves and the rest of the nation. So, each of them have a solid Final Four run in them.
There are eight or ten other teams that have “fair” shots, but have far from “great” shots to get there. Those would be Stanford, Wisconsin, Texas, Indiana, Connecticut, Georgetown, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Purdue.
I’d be giving the top six teams anywhere from a 33% to a 75% chance of advancing to April. The next ten? 15% max.
I think you can take the halfcourt set stuff almost entirely out of the equation. It’s quite obvious that you have to shadow the guy guarding Walton to Neitzel’s side; make Morgan play defense and make the other guys outscore you. State will have a much better shot next year provided RayMo doesn’t do anything drastic and Delvon Roe is healthy.
It’s science.
February 19, 2008
#5
Timothy Christopher Goergen is correct. It is Science.
We won’t even finish in the top 3 in the BigTen. I see us finishing the year 3-3 and in 4th or 5th place.
February 19, 2008
#6
with all do respect your percentage for the Tigers and the World Series is too low! I would go more like 65-70% Provided we stay healthy in the batting line up. State still needs another year. Too much pressure around Nietzel.
Jeff S.
February 19, 2008
#7
dang…70% is gutsy
February 19, 2008
#8
Jeff Simmons?
February 19, 2008
#9
This is how I would rate the chances of our teams this year:
Tigers: 30%
Pistons: 50%(Detroit or Boston)
Spartans: 8%
Redwings: 20%(Guess…I don’t watch as much hockey as Johnny)
Lions: -40%
UofM BBall: 1 fat bitch%
Shock: I don’t bet on horses.
February 19, 2008
#10
Fine, I’ll give my odds for each current team reaching the championship this year, too:
Tigers: 33%
Health concerns (of the starting pitching) and an inconsistent ‘pen make this 33% instead of 40 or 45.
Pistons: 50.1%
I give them a slight edge over the Celtics. I don’t understand you’re 40%, Isaac. It’s a two-horse race, especially if you don’t count the Shock.
MSU Hoops (Final Four): 12%
See above. This could be bad too. If State reaches the FF, that means that RayMo’s head is out of his rear, which means a potential leap to the NBA (good tournaments help stocks rise exponentially).
Red Things: 50%
Yzerman and Shanahan will lead them. But, they’ll really need Hasek or Osdecent to get hot.
scUM hoops (reaching the NIT): 0%
Suckers.
February 19, 2008
#11
Your 40%. SPEAKA DA ENGLISH.
February 19, 2008
#12
There are scenarios where the Pistons may have to play the Cavs in the 2nd round….
even though I think the Pistons are the much better team, the Cavs have the best player, which last year proved to be the difference maker…
that’s why the 40%
I have a feeling State is going to put it together real soon…in fact, Ill say they win the BTT…
yeah, I said it
February 19, 2008
#13
As a nutjob law professor once said, “EHHHHHHEYYYYYY, ya wishy washy,” concerning the Pistons.
First, they’ll never be championship-caliber again (last year). Then, you crowned them the best team in basketball. Now, you’re worried about a series that will be 1-on-5? With the confidence you exuberated over the past month and your Doc Rivers bashfest; I figured you’d say the Pistons would have a 95% to make the finals.
February 19, 2008
#14
Isaac, I agree with your 40% odds on the Pistons. Lebron deserves more credit, considering he got the job done last year.
Chris and Tim, I agree with your assessment on MSU hoops. If Magic’s visit can’t turn them around, they don’t make the sweet 16.
Line of the day: “I don’t bet on horses.”
I’m still laughing!!!