Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Unbalanced.
MVP So Far: Connor McDavid
We’ve reached the midway point of the NHL season, and there have been some great story lines so far. One of the most interesting has been the discussion surrounding who is most deserving of MVP consideration. As it stands, it seems there are at least two favorites. Even if some people don’t want to hear another option other than Sidney Crosby, the truth is that 20-year-old Connor McDavid is absolutely worthy of consideration.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
The Brooklyn Nets Are the Bizarro Golden State Warriors
Brooklyn and the Bay Area, on the surface may not seem similar at all as cities. Brooklyn has the reputation for being tough and gritty. The Bay Area is home to free spirit San Francisco — a stronghold of free thinkers. The Bay Area is hilly, with ideal views by the water. In Brooklyn, a Navy Yard and several shipping areas line the flat geography along the coast.
By Charles Maniego8 years ago in Unbalanced
334 Fans: The Story of the Crazies
On Tuesday, a game between the New Jersey Devils and the Winnipeg Jets had to be postponed due to a blizzard that hit most of the American Northeast. It was only the second postponed game this season, and there were only three last year.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
Ricky Rubio Is the Missing Link for the Cleveland Cavaliers
Before I begin let me get one thing out of the way. I’m very scared about this piece. Since May I have written approximately 345,002,394,920 words about the Oklahoma City Thunder. I have written a solid zero about any other team. Luckily for me, and not so luckily for you, The Unbalanced has given me an opportunity to publish my non-Thunder takes.
By Tony Heim8 years ago in Unbalanced
Tank Wars
Eight teams from each conference will make the playoffs. You know this. A few teams will try mightily to get into the playoffs but will ultimately fail. You know this as well. Some teams have no hope. Their demise is certain. A few of those teams know this. Some are the Knicks. The worst eight teams in the league should attempt to collect L’s with impunity. They should tank. Subtlety be damned. They should do everything short of putting up a statue of General Patton and renaming their teams the Tanking Tankers from Tankville. I am a generous soul, so I am here to help. This is how the worst eight teams in the league should tank.
By Jared Wheeler8 years ago in Unbalanced
Brodie, The Beard, and A King: The Quest For NBA MVP
As we steadily inch towards the NBA All Star Break, and thus the midpoint of the NBA season, there are many things that are starting to become clear about the association. For starters, it seems as though the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors are on an inevitable crash course for the NBA finals, resulting in a trilogy for the ages. Another thing that seems to be a prevailing trend in the league is the resurgence or re-emergence of the NBA big man, even though the skill sets and ways these big men are used may not be the exact same as it was in the past. Including and among the above trends, there are a plethora of other tidbits and interesting developments that have been made up until this point in the season, but in all honesty, there may not be another as entertaining as the race for the League MVP.
By Kenneth Wilson8 years ago in Unbalanced
Cleveland Browns Did It Right
Whew! The NFL Draft has finally begun. The drama filled soap opera that has been the Cleveland Brown’s lead up to the draft has finally climaxed. Analysts and fans alike knew the Browns were in the best position to take a step forward in the 2017–18 NFL season. However in the back of our minds, we all worried the Browns would mess up again. But after declaring they would choose Myles Garrett as the No. 1 pick, the story was clearer: the Browns can do it right.
By Kenneth Wilson8 years ago in Unbalanced
The End of an Era: Detroit Out of the Playoffs
For the first time in 25 seasons, the Detroit Red Wings will miss the playoffs. With a lockout season thrown in the timeline, that means this is the first time since the 1989–90 season that the NHL Playoffs will begin without Detroit.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
But How Will They Look in the Jersey?
Advanced stats are fine. WAR, VORP, +RC, HPV, WWII — all helpful as means by which we can view sports through a more precise and insightful lens. It also helps those of us who could never hit a step-back jumper over a human with go-go-gadget arms feel as though we have special access to the impossible. Analytics offer fans the comfort of science in the midst of mythology. Thus new analytic acumen must figure heavily into asset swaps. An analytically driven investigation of each NBA trade made during the past ten days would be extremely interesting…
By Jared Wheeler8 years ago in Unbalanced
Someone, Anyone Trade for Richard Sherman
The saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But apparently the Seattle Seahawks didn’t get that memo. The last few weeks of the offseason have been littered with talk that the Seahawks are fielding offers for their All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman.
By Kenan Goyette8 years ago in Unbalanced
