Orange, Green, Red

As of this moment, Cuse is ranked fifth in both of the basketball polls, and as if that weren’t crazy enough, ESPN places them in the number four spot in their power rankings. The number four team in the country? This is the same team that barely beat William & Mary, a well-known basketball powerhouse; that led Canisius, another hoops powerhouse, by only three at the half; that trailed Detroit by three at the half; I think you get the point. Their zone has kept them in games, and in fact, enabled them to beat Michigan State. But will the 2-3 zone be enough in Big East play? Especially on nights when no one can hit an outside shot? Although the zone has rounded into form, there still isn’t anyone who can consistently hit from the outside. Perhaps the Orange are better than I first thought this year, but at number four or five in the country, they still are in the running for Coach Boeheim’s most-overrated-of-all-time award. Either that, or he is doing the best job ever of motivation, by giving them something to prove at all times. They still have another couple weeks before the conference season begins, and they’ve had some quality wins away from the Dome, wins that will help their RPI later in the season. But I’m still really nervous about the conference schedule.

The C’s, on the other hand, look about as good as anyone in the NBA, and that’s without a center on their roster. KG is healthy again, and the team D is solid as a result. Plus, that means the big three are all scoring, especially with Rondo finding the open man at every opportunity. Shaq has looked good, in those minutes he’s played; and I’d like to think that had he been on Boston’s bench last season, when K-Perk went down in the finals, the C’s would have managed to hold on and win Game Seven. The big thing for this year is to stay healthy. Rondo in particular. Doc is sitting Rondo now for a couple weeks, or more, to heal his ankle, and his hamstring, and whatever else might be bothering him. So Nate Robinson, and Daniels will have to fill in, to play good D, and to distribute the ball to whomever among the big three seems to be hot that night, or open at that moment, or whatever. And then come springtime, if Perkins is back, and if one or both of the O’Neal brothers is able to fill in, to give Doc a dozen or so quality minutes off the bench, I think this bunch can do better than last year. In fact, right at this minute, after a tough game just last night in the Garden, and without Rondo, the C’s are about to beat Atlanta, a pretty good team in its own right. Six guys are in double figures, and no one has more than twenty points.

And while Boston’s hoopsters are playing this well, the RedSox front office has been hard at work trying to plug the holes that appeared in last year’s team. Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford are two great additions, both in the field, and at the plate. Assuming Ellsbury is healthy next summer, Boston could have the fastest duo in baseball leading off every game. It’s hard to picture the Sox as a running team, but that could very well be the case next year. Plus, putting those two guys in the lineup ahead of Pedroia, Youk, Papi and Gonzalez creates the potential for a lot of runs. But of course, everyone has to stay healthy. No more freakish injuries. The other weakness last year was the bullpen, and Theo today picked up Bobby Jencks, in an effort to shore up that part of the roster. The big question remains Papelbon. Did he have an off-year in 2010, or is Pap’s career in premature decline? I’d like to think the former. And with free agency on Pap’s horizon, I’d also like to think he’ll have a great year, if for no other reason than to enhance his market value. But if Pap returns to form, with Bard and Jencks working set-up, the bullpen could be solid once again. And how important is that? Everyone recalls Papi’s clutch hits in 2004, and Beckett’s dominating post-season in 2007. But Boston doesn’t win either of those championships without their bullpens. Foulke, Okajima, Papelbon. Those were the guys who made sure that the trophies ended up in New England those two years.

So there you have it. Skeptical about the Orange; confident about the Green; and hopeful for the RedSox. That’s how 2010 is coming to a close.