Author: brian wallace

Detroit sports fan for life!!
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Michigan Wolverines basketball has an offensive problem

Embed from Getty Images Defense is not an issue for the 7th ranked Michigan basketball team. For two seasons Michigan’s defense has been at or near the top in the country. That is the good news. The bad news is the Wolverines offense lacks consistency.

All teams go through ups and downs of a season. The phrase used nowadays is “trust the process.” Okay. That is well and all if you have the players who can move the team forward. Sunday afternoon Michigan’s flaws were seen firsthand.

The Michigan State Spartans did not do anything different on defense. They did dare the Wolverines to hit outside shots as well as three point shots. Michigan State even gave Michigan players a good look at the hoop. One problem. Michigan could not take advantage.

Michigan has lived off of the defense. The offense has been trending down for most of the season. John Beilein has had no answers for his team. The players themselves have had no answers. It has been that way in all of the Wolverines losses this season.

One of the issues is that Michigan is better in the offensive zone when players are running and creating. Not having to stop set up and wait for someone to get open. Shooting 34.4% from three- point range as well as 51.5% from two-point range is down from one season ago.

This is not where Michigan wants to be with three regular season games left and the Big Ten Tournament coming. People will argue defense wins championships.  That is certainly a valid point. Defense is critical in every sport.

However, teams need to make shots. All the defense and no offense leads to games like Michigan State. Michigan will have a shot at redemption March 9 when they travel to East Lansing to face the Spartans. It will not be easy. There will be a lot on the line for both schools.

This will be a show me game for the Wolverines. Michigan coach John Beilein says “we have habits we need to break.” He is absolutely correct. If Michigan can not grow and learn from Sunday’s home loss to their in-state rival their season will be met with disappointment.

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Michigan State was locked in vs Michigan

Embed from Getty Images Tom Izzo and his Spartan basketball team invaded Ann Arbor and promptly handed the Michigan Wolverines a home loss. Izzo was masterful in his play calling. Michigan State was clearly the better team Sunday.

With only three games left in the regular season, 10th ranked Michigan State laid claim to the Big Ten’s top spot. Handing 7th ranked Michigan a 77-70 loss.  The win ended a three game losing streak to the Wolverines.

Michigan State was locked in from the opening tip. With two of the teams most productive as well as consistent players sidelined with injuries. The Spartans did not back down. Tom Izzo once again showed why is not only one of the Big Ten’s best coaches. But one of the best in the country.

The biggest take away for the Spartans is they got a game in which everyone chipped in. The Spartans had leaned heavily on Nick Ward (who’s left hand is currently in a brace) as well as Joshua Langford (who was on a scooter to protect his left foot from more damage.)

After the game Michigan State players used the words “Dialed in” to describe the afternoon’s upset of their in-state rival. The Spartans defense was so good. Forcing Michigan into three point tries.

Michigan threw up three after three after three yet hardly made any. Meanwhile the Spartans grabbed rebound after rebound and converted them into points.

The two teams will get another shot at each other. In less than two weeks Michigan State will play the part of the host in East Lansing. That March 9 game will be huge. Mix in the fact that Purdue is hanging around and it makes every game important.

Michigan will want revenge. Michigan State will want a top seeding in the Big Ten Tournament with their eyes on the NCAA Tournament. It should be another good game.

It was perhaps the biggest win of the season for the Spartans. Who after a three game losing streak is suddenly red hot. Perhaps Michigan State wanted to win for two injured teammates. They did.  Did anyone expect less from a Tom Izzo lead team?

 

 

 

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Detroit Tigers prospects giving hope for the future

Embed from Getty Images As the Detroit Tigers rebuild is moving along. The Tigers minor leagues are nearing top 10 status. Yet the 2019 Spring training is giving a look at what will be. Here is a hint. It looks pretty darn good.

This is the first Spring training the Detroit Tigers have had all of their top prospect together. Seasons past found prospects scattered. Some in instructional, some in advanced. The fact that the gang is all together shows how far prospects have come in a short time.

Top Tiger pitchers are in mid season form. Matt Manning has really stood out. In my opinion he will be the staff ace once the prospects invade Comerica Park. Casey Mize last seasons number one overall draft pick would be a staff ace anywhere else. That is a small glance at how deep and good Detroit minor league pitching is.

Alex Faedo, who saw his velocity dip last season looks like he has found his groove again. The problem is where does he fit in? A starter? Possibly. A closer? He would be nasty out of the bullpen late in games. The Tigers will sort that out soon enough.

Then the position players. The one that stands out above the rest is short-stop Wenceel Perez. At 19 years old he can do it all. Slick with his glove and dynamite with a bat in his hand.

Detroit brought in 20 year Tigers short stop and MLB Hall of Fame member Alan Trammell to work with the young infielders. Trammell could be anywhere he chooses to be. He chooses to work with the young players. Not many better for a young player to learn from.

Detroit desperately would like one of the organizations to prospects to take better care of his body. Isaac Paredes. He can hit. Good Lord, can he ever. With a logjam at minor league short stop Paredes will either be placed at third base or outfield.

The Detroit Tigers are getting better where it counts. With prospects. While the parent club will have a bad season the growth of the prospects is what matters most. They are providing what will be a bright future.

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Do not look now but the Detroit Pistons are surging

Embed from Getty Images It was a sluggish, difficult December and January for the Detroit Pistons. Once February rolled around it is almost like a switch was flipped. Suddenly the Detroit Pistons look playoff ready.

The Detroit Pistons are hot again. As in how they started the 2018-19 NBA season. Hot as in this is a great time to get hot and on a roll. After what looked like would be a disappointing season. Suddenly the sun is out and things have brightened up in the Motor City.

After the NBA trade deadline was over the Pistons suddenly had something they desperately lacked, team chemistry. The Pistons biggest weakness was their bench. Now suddenly they are getting critical points solid minutes and good defense from a unit that was bad at best. A very good sign.

Winners of 6 of their last 7 games, The Detroit Pistons have surged to 7th place in the Eastern conference. Trailing the New Jersey Nets by a game and a half for 6th place. The Pistons need to continue to take steps forward. They have taken more than enough back during December and January.

The top 8 teams are headed to the 2019 NBA playoffs. Which is suddenly a real possibility. This does come with some caution. Detroit is doing this against weaker teams. The real test comes against better teams.

Daring to look ahead to the playoffs if the season ended today the Pistons would draw the Toronto Raptors. A team that Detroit matches up very well against. Still the playoffs are a ways away. There are many games still to be played.

The Pistons need to stay focused.

 

 

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Detroit Red Wings top prospect Filip Zadina set to make his NHL debut

Embed from Getty Images A 9- game sample size. That is what Detroit Red Wings 2018 first round pick Filip Zadina has. 9 small yet important games. This way the Red Wings do not burn up a year of Zadina’s contract.

The Detroit Red Wings front office and coaches have made it clear they want Zadina to get a feel for the speed of the NHL level as well as becoming aware how physical the play is.

Zadina, at the ripe old age of 19 was called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins Friday. He is feeling no pressure. He understands he is getting 9 games to see what he needs to work on in order to become the player that has been projected for him to reach.

Filip has 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in his last 10 games with the Griffins. After a slow start to the season that found the top pick a healthy scratch so he could reset Zadina’s game has improved. He has earned this short taste of professional hockey.

On the season to this point Zadina has 31 points (15 goals along with 16 assists) in 45 games played with a -9 rating. He will be surrounded by Red Wing veterans to help him along.

Thomas Vanek and Luke Glendening will be the only voices the Red Wings want Zadina to both hear and talk with. A good move. Using veterans who have been in the league for a while will only help the young winger.

There is zero pressure on Filip Zadina. However, the Red Wings want him to do what he does best. Fire the puck at the net. Create chances for teammates. They do not want him to be timid. Zadina has said he understands what is being asked of him.

For a young player who by all accounts will be on Detroit’s top line with Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha when the dust settles on the Red Wings rebuild. The Red Wings are taking the proper steps with the young prized pick.

Today at 3:00 in front of the home crowd at Little Caesars Arena the Detroit Red Wings welcome in the San Jose Sharks. There will be more than a few interested eyes tuning in to get a glimpse of the future.

What is shaping up to be a very bright future in Motown.

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Detroit Lions remembering WR Jeff Chadwick

Embed from Getty Images He stared at Grand Valley State University. A small school approximately 11-12 miles west of Grand Rapids Michigan. From 1979-1982 Jeff Chadwick a wide receiver caught 75 passes for 1,512 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was also a track star.

Then it happened. Never drafted by an NFL team Chadwick, played for 10 seasons and 126 games. The football gods must have been smiling as Jeff Chadwick would earn a roster spot for the in-state Detroit Lions in 1983.

He would play in Detroit from 1983-1992. Chadwick would also play for the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. His career stats totaled 4,549 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns.

Was Jeff Chadwick a HUGE star? No. That does not matter. You see for a 13 year old Detroit Lions fan Jeff Chadwick represented us. The regular guy. Who got a break and ran with it.

To make it even better he was a guy from Michigan who went on to play for the Lions. Giving all young kids the feeling that anything is possible. You do not need to be Herman Moore or Calvin Johnson. Those are two great Detroit receivers no question.

But for me it was easy to identify with Jeff Chadwick. He was me running around on the Pontiac Silverdome astroturf. Coming up with a clutch catch to keep a drive alive or scoring a touchdown. At least in my mind. That is what Chadwick allowed me and others to dream.

We read and hear a lot about legacies. How we remember this person or that person. For me I remember #89 for what he allowed me to do. Dream. Dream of thinking why not me?

It did not happen for me. God had other plans. But, still somewhere I still hold on to that dream. The legacy that Jeff Chadwick had and has is he gave us all a local man to root for and dreams to reach for.

 

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Former Michigan Wolverines head coach Steve Fisher’s 1989 title team returning

Embed from Getty Images The calm before the storm. Michigan State vs Michigan a basketball game that has national implications for both schools is going to have special guests.

Steve Fisher has not coached at Michigan in over 20 years. When coached some group called The Fab Five. Yet, it was before that, that Fisher took over for Bill Frieder.

In 1989 on the verge of an NCAA Basketball Tournament, Frieder mad the fatal flaw of announcing his intentions of taking the Arizona State head coaching job. Former Wolverines football coach Bo Schembechler who was serving as Athletic director fired Frieder and said “only a Michigan man will coach Michigan.”

Enter Steve Fisher an assistant under Frieder who took over coaching duties. Michigan entered the Tournament an won the whole thing. 1989 National Champions. Now tomorrow at the big game matchup between the Spartans and Wolverines, Fisher will lead the unlikely group of Champions into Crisler Arena.

It will be a magical moment. To see the likes of Glen Rice, Loy Vaught, Terry Mills, Sean Higgins and Tournament M.V.P. Rumeal Robinson. A group that no one thought much of. Rallied together and got hot at the right time.

The team is still loved in and around Ann Arbor. Now on the cusp of another big game. It is the perfect time to bring out the ’89 Champs. To fire the crowd up. Not that, that will be an issue.

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Michigan State at Michigan who has the advantage?

Embed from Getty Images Tomorrow is a clash between two Big Ten giants. The Michigan State Spartans head to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines. In the seasons biggest basketball game to date.

Let’s start with two players all eyes will be on in this hotly anticipated matchup. Two players that are candidates for Big Ten as well as defensive players of the year. Michigan State’s Cassius Winston will be tasked with keeping Michigan State in the game with points. Michigan’s Zavier Simpson hopes to pace the Wolverines.

Simpson is Mr. do-it-all for the Wolverines. He is currently that favorite to win the Big Ten player of the year. Cassius Winston is not only Michigan State’s best in the Big Ten but is one of the most consistent as well. This is a must see matchup. Between these two scorers.

Zavier Simpson’s teammate, Jordan Poole gives Michigan a dynamic one-two punch. Poole leads the Wolverines with a 38.8% shooting from three point land. Poole leads the Wolverines by a large margin with 59 from beyond the arch.

As good as Cassius Winston is Michigan State boasts another great defensive player in Matt McQuaid. McQuaid is guilty of shutting down the best shooters in the conference. He held Purdue’s Carsen Edwards to 7-35. One aspect of the great defender’s game to watch is he can shoot the three as well. 44.1% from three point land.

Both schools have nearly identical front courts Michigan’s Ignas Brazdeikis and the Spartans Aaron Henry. Both schools count heavily on these two for good reason they are both game changers for the respective teams.

So with that in mind here we go:

BENCH, The edge goes to Michigan only because Michigan State has two big injuries and players that made up their bench have been pressed into action.

Front court, EVEN both schools have very good front courts. There is going to be a three point show put on by both schools tomorrow.

Coaches, EVEN there was a time Michigan State’s Tom Izzo was the best in the Big Ten. However, Since Wolverines coach John Beilein has gotten his program going. He has caught the great Izzo in both wins and talent.

Who wins? Michigan in a tight game. Sure Michigan State has injuries. History tells us never count out a Tom Izzo coached team. The game is in Ann Arbor that is enough to give the Wolverines a slight edge.

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Michigan State basketball is using injuries to galvanize the team

Embed from Getty Images The Michigan State Spartans have been without Joshua Langford for a few weeks. That was the first blow for a Michigan State team that was struggling with consistency. Now without the services of Nick Ward Michigan State is being tested.

Tom Izzo, is a very good basketball coach. Tom Izzo is not a wizard. There is no magic wand that can be waived to make injuries go away. If that was the case coaches would line up for one.

The Spartans are learning to fight through their limitations. Losing two top players can be crippling to a team. “It’s going to bring our team closer together,”  Izzo said. “Whether we’ll have enough, I don’t know. We’ll find out, but I’m not counting us out.”

Depth is  critical to the overall health of any team. Even when the depth is a young player who has yet to see major game action. Still in their past two games Michigan State has fought through and won.

That is the good news. They have found players that have been pressed into action and have responded in a short period of time.  They have struggled at times but that is to be expected.

Now Tom Izzo and his Spartans will be tested. Sunday in Ann Arbor. Michigan State minus their two stars will face top ten Michigan. It will be a very tall order for Izzo’s bunch. Michigan is very good. Not to mention the game is on the Wolverines home court.

If there is one thing to remember it is this. Never count a Tom Izzo coached team out. No matter the odds, no matter who is playing and who is not. The Spartans will be ready for their in-state rival in a HUGE Big Ten showdown.

Michigan State is more than capable of  providing a convincing response to any and all questions fans and media have about the health and depth of their team. Do not count Sparty out. It could be a fatal mistake.

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A recent poll at the Detroit Free Press has the Detroit Lions winning a title

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Free Press polled the four professional sports beat writers and asked which team would win the next championship for the city. The Detroit Lions were the winners.

As I read the pros and cons for each team winning a championship I looked at the state of all four teams. When I broken them down this is what I found.

The Detroit Pistons are a wreck. Stuck with bad contracts and a team that by and large has hit their ceiling. The team is years away from being a serious playoff threat let alone making it to the NBA Finals. The plan is to build around Blake Griffin. That is a start.

The Detroit Tigers are in mid rebuild. There is talent in the minor leagues. Serious talent. But most of the prospects are going to have to hit their ceiling and some are going to have to out play their projections. Still the Tigers are close to being competitive again. About 3 years.

The Detroit Red Wings are coming to the end of their rebuild. The Wings are set to win for a while. This is going to be a nasty hockey team. First they need to get into the playoffs and get their brains beat in. That is how it works in hockey. Young teams need to learn how to win the post season play. The Wings could make a playoff push next season. Even as bad as they have been. Young players have taken huge steps forwards and the Red Wings will have a league high $20 million in cap space.

Then we have the Detroit Lions. Rebuilding since 1957. Ask any Lions fan it is not a joke. It is how they view the team. For some strange reason the NFL is a league that sees teams turn around seemingly at the blink of an eye. L.A. Rams anyone? The Detroit Lions are actually a team that is 3-5 players away from becoming a very good team. Right tackle, edge rusher, tight end, wide receiver, backup running back and the Lions will be good.

So which team is in the best title position? The Tigers and Red Wings are set up for long term success. The Pistons need a direction. Leaving the Detroit Lions as the team that should bring the next championship to the city. I can not believe I just put that down.