AND NBA season is back ....

The start to the NBA season is right around the corner which means.... back to the sleepless nights.. buzzer beats and heart ache. I like many other basketball fans are looking forward to this season especially the Western Conference. If this season is as wild and adventurous as the free agency period NBA fans will be in for a treat.

The 2015 NBA draft showed fans where their team was on its NBA title aspirations. The Minnesota Timberwolves among the top headlined teams for their rebuilding process. With a young strong core, it is a strong possibility the Timberwolves could be vying for the Western Conference Championship in the next three to four seasons. Other teams that made a strong statement in this years draft were the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz. The Suns were left, right outside of a tenaciously talented Western Conference playoffs. This teams 3-pt field goal percentage last season was one of the worst in the league. By the team adding Devin Booker, a sharp shooter, to their lineup it will get the team into an offensive rhythm and get the moving up the floor a lot faster. The Utah Jazz on the other hand are in a rebuilding phase adding another weapon to their core during this years draft. Trey Lyles is one of the many young talented players the Jazz have  drafted over the past three years.

To the Finish line we go .....

And just like that the MLB regular season is in its final weeks. Crazy RIGHT?..... with the start to the NBA season on the horizon it is a clear indication the race to the MLB playoffs is just beginning.  The division winners seem to be in the drivers seat heading into the final month of the season but as witnessed before nothing is guaranteed especially in an extremely loaded American League. The true battle lies in the American League wild card spots.  The two final playoff spots most likely will go down to the final week of the season. The New York Yankees, the first place seeded wild card team, has a 4 game lead on the second seeded Texas Rangers. You might ask....., so where is the battle? The Rangers are only 1 game ahead of the third seeded, Minnesota Twins.  This will make for a interesting finish to the season. The Texas Rangers have been one of the hottest teams in baseball the second half of the season. Since July 17th  the Rangers have won 27 games to the Twins 20 games. Which poses the question.. will the Rangers sustain their winning? At this point every team (not including division winners) is pulling out every possible weapon they have to finish and possible grasp the wild card spot.

I think its obvious to say the New York Yankees are in the clear drivers seat to receive at least one of the AL wild card spots. I think its also important to point out the Yankees did not make any big trades before the trade deadline. This could pose an issue as we near closer to the playoffs. I would not be surprised if the Yankees weren't to make the playoffs at all. I know this might upset some fans or maybe half of the baseball world but in the past ..... as recent as last season this team has not be the decorated franchise in which it represents. (the post season). It will come down to who wants it more and the Rangers at the Twins have taken the first step (needed trades at the pitching position etc) to solidify their playoff hopes/spots.

P.S. I'm not saying the Yankees are a bad team. This season they haven't made the upgrades to address their  issues at pitching and offense (batting) as the other AL wild card contending teams.