FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. Clyde Drexler Rockets Jersey . NBA FINALS PREDICTION - Spurs in 7: A major percentage of folks are rooting for the Spurs - so am I - yet, I feel that when its all said and done, both of these teams are pretty even when you compare/contrast their strengths and weaknesses. I do think the Spurs have a preparation edge, having had to play the tougher competition all season on a more nightly basis in both the regular season and playoffs in the Western Conference, and it helps that theyve gone through the fire on a more consistent basis. The Heat have the better "Big 3" from a talent perspective and the best player on the planet in LeBron James. Tony Parkers health status concerns me for San Antonio. So many variables that you can toss around and argue over, which Ive done, but Im just going to go with my gut here and take the Spurs. Last years series was terrific and I hope and think that this one will be even better. Enjoy! 2. RANDY WITTMAN (Wizards): A job well done in getting his team to the second round and figuring out how to win which led to a well deserved contract extension. This team was always a bit of a tease the past few years, yet Wittman pushed them to the next level and got nice buy in from them on how the game should be played. Now, they have to try and keep Marcin Gortat and Trevor Ariza who are both free agents. Regardless, I think the future is bright and on solid ground due to the leadership of Wittman. 3. CHANDLER PARSONS (Rockets): Houston has apparently declined to pick up the option on his contract. I love this guys game and hes still really improving. Parsons shoots it and plays with great energy and awareness. Hell be a restricted free agent and it will be interesting if they can make a run at another big free agent to team with Dwight Howard and James Harden and then try to match Parsonss offer sheet that hell surely get in the open market. Hes a guy that I consider a glue guy who you can win with and has lots of value because he backs it up with production as well. Its going to be a delicate situation to navigate for GM Daryl Morey and coach Kevin McHale with an important piece of the puzzle. Im quite curious to see how it unfolds. 4. JEFF BOWER (Pistons): Stan Van Gundy hired him as his GM and I really like this hire. Ive known Jeff for over 25 years and hes a good basketball man. Hes paid his dues as a NCAA Div. 1 assistant and head coach and has spent a great deal of time in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, as well as their move to New Orleans, as their assistant and head coach, scout, assistant GM and finally GM. He knows all the ins and outs of the business and is someone that Van Gundy can trust to handle the front office responsibilities for him. Van Gundy will have final say on all basketball matters, but you need someone to look after lots of details while youre busy coaching. This really makes sense to me. 5. LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE (Blazers): Aldridge was named to All-NBA Third Team today, but I really feel he should be on Second Team ahead of Kevin Love at the power forward spot. I strongly believe that winning should and does matter. You could argue that Aldridge has a little better supporting cast in Portland, yet when I give the eye test, I see Aldridge perform consistently at a high level against all competition and I see Love as a guy who gets nice numbers within the structure of the game, but Im still just a bit skeptical about what he brings to the table in terms of competitive production in the major moments of the game. I think Aldridge is a Second teamer and Love is a Third. Just my opinion, but winning has to mean something. Carmelo Anthony Rockets Jersey . Andrews, Scotland - Oliver Wilson fired a final- round, 2-under 70 on Sunday and he held on to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by one shot. Marquese Chriss Jersey . But its also a smart game. Theres more to the Kings than banging bodies. They take a toll mentally on their opponents. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Hakeem-Olajuwon-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Its the games against the leagues struggling franchises that have proved to be an issue.Brendan Taman still has plenty on his plate less than three weeks before the start of CFL free agency.The Saskatchewan GM has signed four pending free agents — including starting defensive linemen Tearrius George and Canadian Ricky Foley — but still has 19 players slated to hit the open market at noon ET on Feb. 10. That includes slotback Weston Dressler, offensive lineman Ben Heenan and safety Tyron Brackenridge, all major contributors to the Roughriders 2013 Grey Cup-winning team.Taman is hopeful he can re-sign one of those players before the deadline, possibly two. But Taman doesnt believe hell get all three before then because Heenan, a 24-year-old Regina native, has attracted significant NFL interest and Taman expects the six-foot-four, 310-pound tackle to test free agency.Two would be nice and one would be acceptable, I think, but theres a chance it could be zero, Taman said during a telephone interview Thursday. It all depends on how the whole business side works out in the next two weeks of negotiations.Were not going to get every guy back, we know that. Were just trying to minimize the hits on how many we lose and who it is.According to the CFL website, 30 of the 136 potential free agents have re-signed with their clubs. Nine have been released outright, with Toronto Argonauts cornerback Kalil Carter and Calgary Stampeders defensive lineman Shawn Lemon going on to sign NFL deals with Minnesota and Pittsburgh, respectively.On Thursday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers released linebacker Ian Wild so he could pursue NFL opportunities.Montreal receiver Duron Carter (75 catches, 1,030 yards, seven TDs) and Hamilton all-star cornerback Delvin Breaux are among the remaining 97 pending free agents but both have worked out for multiple NFL clubs and are expected to sign in the U.S. Also garnering interest south of the border is Calgary centre Brett Jones, the leagues top lineman in 2014 whose CFL deal also expires next month.Saskatchewan leads the CFL with its 19 pending free agents. Taman said the Riders and Brackenridges camp have narrowed the gap in their talks but another factor in the process is determining how Brackenridge fits into new defensive co-ordinator Greg Quicks scheme.The six-foot, 189-pound Brackenridge had 64 tackles and three interceptions last season after earning CFL all-star honourrs in 13 . Eric Gordon Rockets Jersey. Taman said the Riders have made the 29-year-old Dressler a contract offer his representatives are currently mulling over. The five-foot-seven, 179-pound native of Bismarck, N.D., has spent his entire seven-year CFL career in Saskatchewan and the five-time 1,000-yard receiver is a huge fan favourite.Dressler had 27 catches for 320 yards and a TD last season, rejoining the Riders after being released by the NFLs Kansas City Chiefs.Weve made an offer, theyre going to sit on it for a while and take their time to go over their strategy and plan things out, Taman said. At the end of the day theyll let me know where theyre at but weve thrown it out at them.I think every year we go through this, we have two or three guys that are pretty significant guys who can hit the market. Some weve kept, some we havent and this year is no different. If we lose all three, we just have to move on and figure out how to win games without them. Were hoping we dont get to that point with all three of them but if we do, we do.Another interesting potential free agent is running back Jerome Messam. The 29-year-old Toronto native, who grew up in Brampton, Ont., averaged a solid 5.5 yards per carry last season but only had 70 rushing attempts.The six-foot-three, 245-pound Messam was the CFLs top Canadian in 2011 when he ran for 1,057 yards with Edmonton. He has rushed for 1,115 yards the last three seasons combined with the Eskimos, Montreal and Saskatchewan but has averaged a solid 4.8 yards per carry.Last year, the Riders used multiple running backs as Anthony Allen rushed for a team-high 930 yards. Will Ford (452 yards), Messam and Hugh Charles (86 yards) also saw action in former offensive co-ordinator George Cortezs scheme.Fortunately for Saskatchewan, new offensive co-ordinator Jacques Chapdelaine is familiar with Messam from their days together with the B.C. Lions.Jerome is a talented kid and hes Canadian, Taman said. Hes got a lot of value but some teams might think that to.When he did play significant time I thought he did pretty well but there were reasons why he didnt play in the other games. Thats obviously a coaching thing weve got to sort through.Jacques has some familiarity with him from B.C. so I think theres some comfort there but again its up to me to try and get him back. ' ' '