Monday, October 7, 2024

Forecasting The 2024-25 St. Louis Blues’ NHL Season

I decided to preview and analyze this year’s St. Louis Blues team to see what their season could look like this year.  I assessed their preseason roster, and here is a look at who I think will make their team, as well as how their season will fare this year.

The Blues had won the Stanley Cup under then head coach Craig Berube in 2019, but the Blues have been in a slump, as they have missed the playoffs in two consecutive seasons, and they fired him midway through last season.  The new coach Drew Bannister won 30 games in 54 regular season games, while Robert Thomas scored 86 points last season, so the Blues have shown some promise for the upcoming season.  However, defenseman Torey Krug will be out, and others will need to step up in his place.  Regardless, it should be an interesting season.  

(For a reference on a previous Blues’ team, this was how I projected the 2021-22 St. Louis Blues, and I projected them as a very talented team that would lose in the second round, which was what happened that year.)  Anyways, without further ado, here is how I rate this year’s St. Louis Blues’ players and team for the 2024-25 season.


Star Players:

C Robert Thomas, LW Pavel Buchnevich, RW Jordan Kyrou

Robert Thomas is a tremendously skilled offensive center that has excelled on both ends of the ice, and he has shown that he can rack up assists in games.  Pavel Buchnevich is a skilled, two-way wing that has steadily been one of the Blues’ top point-getters.  Jordan Kyrou is a very skilled offensive player that has really excelled at producing for the Blues, but he will need to continue to improve on the offensive end.  All three amongst them are All-Star candidates, and Robert Thomas seems to be the surest bet amongst all of the Blues’ players to make the NHL All-Star team in 2025.


Robert Thomas scored 86 points and was quietly one of the best players in the NHL last season, but the Blues finished 5th in the Central Division in 2024 and missed the playoffs last year.  Still, Thomas is an emerging star that should be a fun player to watch this season.  (Photo: Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images, via St. Louis Game Time)

The St. Louis Blues' Forwards (14):

RW/C Robert Thomas
2024 (STL): 82 GP, 26 G, 60 A, 86 PTS, +9, 48 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 50.7%

Thomas is a skilled, two-way forward that plays on both ends of the floor.  He is a tremendously skilled passer that can dig out pucks, and he has proved himself to be one of the best players in the NHL.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 4 stars
Projected 2025 Role: 1st Line Center

LW/RW Pavel Buchnevich
2024 (STL): 80 GP, 27 G, 36 A, 63 PTS, +3, 48 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 52.8%

Buchnevich is a skilled scorer that also is willing to dig pucks out to help his team on both ends of the ice.  He has been a steady, very solid presence for the Blues on both ends of the ice.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 3.5 stars
Projected 2025 Role: 1st line Winger

RW Jordan Kyrou
2024 (STL): 82 GP, 31 G, 36 A, 67 PTS, -12, 22 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 52.3%

Kyrou is a very skilled scorer that does a very good job of putting pucks in the net, and setting up his teammates so that can do so, too.  He’s a skilled goal scorer and playmaker that has shown strong offensive skills in this league.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 3.5 stars
Projected 2025 Role: 1st Line Winger

LW/C Brayden Schenn
2024 (STL): 82 GP, 20 G, 26 A, 46 PTS, -22, 56 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 45.8%

Schenn is an offensively skilled forward that excels at scoring, and he also is a solid playmaker and defender.  He can play either at center or out on the wing, and he is a versatile playmaker that projects to be a solid top two line forward this season.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 3 stars
Projected 2025 Role: Top 6 Forward

LW Jake Neighbours

2024 (STL): 77 GP, 27 G, 11 A, 38 PTS, -16, 21 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 45.1%

Jake Neighbors is a gifted scorer that does a tremendous job of putting the puck in the net, and he does a very good job of helping his team score goals.  He is a 21-year old forward that has a vast amount of upside, and he has the skills to be a perennial NHL All-Star in the future.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2.5 stars (4 stars potential)
Projected 2025 Role: Top 9 Forward

LW Brandon Saad
2024 (STL): 82 GP, 26 G, 16 A, 42 PTS, -4, 20 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 43.9%

Saad is a skilled forward that can help score around the net, and can pass the puck. He’s a versatile forward that has proven to be a reliable presence at forward.

Expected 2022 NHL Rating: 2.5 stars
Projected 2022 Role: Top 9 Forward

LW Zachary Bolduc

2024 (STL): 25 GP, 5 G, 4 A, 9 PTS, +0, 6 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 43.1%

Zachary Bolduc is a very skilled, two-way winger that can do a variety of things for the Blues.  He is a 21-year old forward that has a lot of upside, and he could be a top line forward in the future.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars (3.5 stars potential)
Projected 2025 Role: 3rd or 4th Line Forward

2024 (OTT): 72 GP, 11 G, 24 A, 35 PTS, -4, 51 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 48.5

Mathieu Joseph has continued to improve as a forward in this league, and he is a skilled playmaker that can pass the puck, and has the potential to be a very solid winger on both ends of the ice.  He could be expected to net plenty of playing time this season, and if he can continue to build on from last season, he could be a solid forward this year.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars
Projected 2025 Role: Top 9 Forward

2024 (CBJ): 78 GP, 12 G, 18 A, 30 PTS, -5, 38 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 48.9%

Texier is a skilled forward that can pass the puck or put some pucks in the net.  He’ll help the team offensively, but he isn’t very good at faceoffs, so he may be more suited to playing out on the wing.  Still, his versatility and skill set may make him a solid player on the one of the back two lines for this team.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars
Projected 2025 Role: 3rd or 4th Line Forward

2024 (DAL): 74 GP, 7 G, 12 A, 19 PTS, +0, 20 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 54.2%

Faksa is a veteran, puck possessing center that can win faceoffs.  He’s not expected to be a big point getter, but he’s shown he can contribute as a playmaking, defensive-minded center that can help the team with puck possession.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars
Projected 2025 Role: 3rd or 4th Line Center

2024 (STL): 82 GP, 14 G, 7 A, 21 PTS, -3, 30 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 40.0%

He is a big, physical forward that could contribute as a back line winger on the Blues team this year, and can be an intimidating presence, as he also can put the puck in the net.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars
Projected 2025 Role: 3rd or 4th Line Forward

2024 (EDM): 38 GP, 6 G, 3 A, 9 PTS, -1, 29 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 59.2%

Holloway is a defensive-minded center that has shown strong puck possession skills in this league, and while he has not seemed to contribute as much in relation to scoring, he has the skills to be a solid mid-line forward in this league.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 1.5 stars (2.5 stars potential)
Projected 2025 Role: 4th Line Forward

2024 (STL): 73 GP, 6 G, 16 A, 22 PTS, -5, 14 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 45.8%

Kapanen is a back-line forward that can provide some depth and versatility to this team.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 1.5 stars
Projected 2025 Role: Depth Forward

2024 (STL): 71 GP, 6 G, 15 A, 21 PTS, -6, 32 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 38.8%

He was a valued member of the 2020 St. Louis Blues team, and he is a defensive minded forward that has some scoring skills, but his numbers have declined and he’s struggled with injuries.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 1.5 stars
Projected 2025 Role: Depth Forward

The St. Louis Blues' Defensemen (8*, 7 Healthy Defenseman):



Justin Faulk has been a fairly solid defenseman for the Blues and will likely be their best defenseman this season, but while the Blues have plenty of serviceable role players, they seem to be missing an elite defenseman from their roster that they have had years ago.  (Photo: Getty Images, via NHLPA)

D Justin Faulk
2024 (STL): 60 GP, 2 G, 28 A, 30 PTS, -2, 39 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 47.2%

He is an offensively skilled defensive man that has struggled at times defensively, but he projects to be arguably the Blues’ best defenseman, or at least one of their best defensemen for the upcoming season.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2.5 stars
Projected 2025 Role: Top 6 Defenseman

D Nick Leddy

2024 (STL): 82 GP, 3 G, 25 A, 28 PTS, +14, 14 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 44.1%

Nick Leddy is a solid, reliable defenseman, especially on the defensive end.  His veteran expertise and skill set should help stabilize the Blues for the upcoming season.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2.5 stars
Projected 2025 Role: Top 6 Defenseman

D Colton Parayko
2024 (STL): 82 GP, 10 G, 16 A, 26 PTS, +4, 23 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 43.8%

Parayko is a tall, hard-shot defenseman that can excel on both ends of the ice, but has been inconsistent at times.  Still, he is a talented player that should be one of the best defensemen on the Blues’ team this year.

Expected 2022 NHL Rating: 2.5 stars
Projected 2022 Role: Top 6 Defenseman

2024 (EDM): 12 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PTS, -3, 0 PIM, Even Strength Corsi 49.5%

He is a young defenseman that didn’t play much on a very good Oilers team last year, but he is a puck-moving defenseman that can defend, and he could see plenty of ice time with the Blues this season.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars (2.5 stars potential)
Projected 2025 Role: Top 6 Defenseman

D Torey Krug
2024 (STL): 77 GP, 4 G, 35 A, 39 PTS, -31, 32 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 48%

He is an offensively skilled, but undersized defenseman that was once one of the best defensemen in the NHL, but he is currently injured and will likely miss the entire 2024-25 NHL season.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars

Projected 2025 Role: Injured Reserve, Out for the Season

D Ryan Suter

2024 (DAL): 82 GP, 2 G, 15 A, 17 PTS, +14, 28 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 51%

He is a savvy, veteran defenseman that has had a very long career, and he is a skilled puck mover and defenseman that will provide wisdom for the Blues this season.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars
Projected 2025 Role: 3rd Pairing or Depth Defenseman 

D Pierre-Olivier Joseph

2024 (PIT): 52 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 PTS, -3, 14 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 49%

He is a mid-tier defenseman that can move the puck and defend, and he will likely play some minutes on the Blues this season.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars
Projected 2025 Role: 3rd Pairing or Depth Defenseman 

D Scott Perunovich

2024 (STL): 54 GP, 0 G, 17 A, 17 PTS, +1, 12 PIM, Even Strength Corsi: 48.2% 

He is a mid-tier defenseman that can move the puck and defend, and he will likely play some minutes on the Blues this season.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars
Projected 2025 Role: 3rd Pairing or Depth Defenseman 

The St. Louis Blues' Goalies (2):


Jordan Binnington rebounded from a disastrous 2023 season by having a quietly solid 2024 season, and Binnington is an above average goaltender in the NHL right no.  That said, his sterling 2019 run to help the Blues win the Stanley Cup and 2020 All-Star appearance seems almost like a lifetime ago.

(Photo: Jeff Curry/USA Today Sports, via Buffa’s Buffet Substack)

G Jordan Binnington
2024 (STL): 57 GP, 28-21-5, 2.84 GAA, 91.3 SV%, 90 GA%-

He was one of the best young goalies, and he was able to lead the Blues to win the 2019 Stanley Cup as a rookie goaltender.  He’s fallen off a bit in the years following his Stanley Cup win, but Binnington rebounded from a lackluster 2023 campaign with a solid 2024 season, and has been a fairly solid netminder recently. 

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2.5 stars
Projected 2025 Role: Starting Goaltender

2024 (STL): 30 GP, 15-12-1, 2.65 GAA, 91.3 SV%, 90 GA%-

He is a tall, young goalie that played well in a backup role, and he could challenge Binnington for a starting spot this year, and he has a bright future in St. Louis.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2 stars (3.5 stars potential)
Projected 2025 Role: Backup Goaltender

The St. Louis Blues' Head Coach:


Drew Bannister did a commendable job as the interim head coach last season, and he is hoping to build off of that to try to get the Blues to the playoffs in 2025.

2021 (STL): 54 GP, 30-19-0-5, 65 PTS, 0-0 in the playoffs
Coaching Career: 54 GP, 30-19-0-5, 65 PTS, 0-0 in the playoffs

After Berube was surprisingly fired by the Blues after a couple of lukewarm seasons following his 2019 Stanley Cup win with the Blues, Drew Bannister was hired as the interim head coach, and he did a good job of motivating the Blues to win more games than expected down the stretches.  The Blues didn’t quite make the playoffs in 2024, but Bannister proved to be a more than capable head coach that has sound tactics, and the Blues rewarded him by making him the full-time head coach for the upcoming season.

Expected 2025 NHL Rating: 2.5 stars (3.5 stars potential)

Projected 2025 Role: Head Coach of the St. Louis Blues

The 2024-25 St. Louis Blues’ Projected Lines:

Forwards:

1st Line:

Pavel Buchnevich (LW), Robert Thomas (C), Jordan Kyrou (RW)

2nd Line:

Jake Neighbours (LW), Brayden Schenn (C), Brandon Saad (RW)

3rd Line:

Zachary Bolduc (LW), Radek Faksa (C), Mathieu Joseph (RW)

4th Line:

Alexandre Texier (LW), Dylan Holloway (C), Alexey Toropchenko (RW)

Defensemen:

1st Pairing:

Nick Leddy (LD), Justin Faulk (RD)

2nd Pairing:

Philip Broberg (LD), Colton Parayko (RD)

3rd Pairing:

Pierre-Olivier Joseph (LD), Ryan Suter (RD)

Goalies:

1. Jordan Binnington

2. Joel Hofer

Healthy Scratches:

D Scott Perunovich

F Kasperi Kapanen

F Oskar Sundqvist

Injured Reserve

Torey Krug

The St. Louis Blues’ 2025 Forecast and Grades:

Forwards: B
Defensemen: C
Goalies: C+
Head Coach: B

Overall: B-

The St. Louis Blues’ 2022 Season Projection:

Ceiling (Peak Projection): 2nd Round Playoff Exit
Floor (Lowest Level Outcome): Miss The Playoffs
Most Likely Season Outcome: Barely Miss The Playoffs

The Blues’ chances to win it all this year are not very high at all.  According to VegasInsider.com, in looking at where various sites rate their Blues’ chances, they have the St. Louis Blues going anywhere from being a 50-to-1 to a 75-to-1 odds to win the Stanley Cup in 2025.  And as the Blues have only won one Stanley Cup in their entire NHL history dating back to 1967, it doesn’t seem like it would be a very good bet to bet on the Blues to win the Cup in 2025, unless if you have a lot of money at your disposal and also feel like that would be a good bet.

As a Blues’ fan, I was tempted to rate this team as a playoff team in 2025, but after looking carefully at the group of defensemen and goalies, and as they don’t have an elite player at either position, especially with Binnington no longer the elite goalie that he was five years ago, it seems likely that the Blues could miss the playoffs once again this season in the tough and competitive Western Conference.  From a fan perspective, I’m inclined to rate the 2025 Blues’ team as a future playoff team, but after examining their roster extensively, especially in regards to their defense, objectively, I think this team probably will wind up missing the playoffs.

The Blues will be competitive, and they have a solid first two lines, as Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, and Brayden Schenn should provide the bulk of their scoring this season.  However, I’m concerned about their defense, and their lack of high-end talent at the other positions.  This team doesn’t seem to be as deep as the previous teams from 2019-22, but the Blues should compete for a back end playoff spot, and they will be entertaining to watch, especially at home.

They also have a couple of solid prospects that could get call-ups.  Dalibor Dvorsky is a 19-year old center that had a tremendous season in the WHL last year and has NHL All-Star potential, and Aleksanteri Kaskimaki is a 20-year old center that held his own in the tough SM-Liiga in Finland last season.  Also, 23-year old defenseman, Samuel Johannesson is a very skilled, offensive minded defenseman that played very well in the SHL, and he has the ability to make an immediate impact in the NHL.  Also, 6-4, 21-year old center Dylan Peterson is a two-way center that could project to be a solid mid-tier forward at the NHL level.

As for those that I have as barely missing the roster, the roster crunch probably will have Dvorsky and Johannesson start out in the minors, presumably in the WHL and AHL respectively, but Dvorsky could end up playing 9 games similar to Jake Neighbours did back in the 2021-22 season, when he was a 19-year old professional hockey player.  Also, Nathan Walker is another player that could possibly make the roster, as he is a versatile, defensive-minded forward that also is solid at winning face-offs.  Matthew Kessel is a defensive defenseman that could see some playing time in the big leagues this season.

For me, I'll stay optimistic at the St. Louis Blues' chances while trying to keep a healthy dose of realism at the same time.   Realistically speaking, this team probably won’t win the Stanley Cup, but if you’re a fan like me, it still would be a good experience to attend at least one or more hockey games at the Enterprise Center this season.

Anyways, thanks for reading, and the NHL season will begin tomorrow on October 8th.  Thanks for reading.

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Thoughts on HBO’s Winning Time, Revisited

So, Winning Time basically wrapped up in two seasons, and the final episode had an epilogue after Boston won Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals, which basically meant that Winning Time was getting cancelled.  Sure enough, HBO and David Zaslav decided to cancel Winning Time, so that means there won’t be a third season on their network.

So how good was it?  Let’s break it down.

I guess season 1 kind of had me hyped, more than I probably should have been.  Season 2 I felt had its good moments, but it was more disappointing overall, especially the finale. 


Sean Patrick Small and Quincy Isaiah play Larry Bird and Magic Johnson on HBO’s Winning Time.
(Photo: HBO, via The Chicago Sun-Times)

Winning Time’s Michael Chiklis and Sean Patrick Small as Red Auerbach and Larry Bird, in a rather humorously absurd scene of them both smoking cigars in the locker room after having won the 1981 championship.
(Photo: HBO, via Variety)

Positives

1) The acting was really on point.  The portrayal of the players really looked like the players, at least up close and if you don’t pay attention to players’ heights.  Also, their personalities seemed to really mirror their real-life counterparts, especially Quincy Isaiah’s portrayal of Magic Johnson, Sean Patrick Small’s portrayal of Larry Bird.  They were able to show their characters as complex, interesting, and complicated.  The only real egregious acting was Jason Clarke’s absurd, over-the-top portrayal of Jerry West, but it was toned down in Season 2.

2) Season 1 of Winning Time was bold, ambitious, and it didn’t care who it offended, even if they did.  I found it both refreshing and shocking at times, but it often tended to straddle the line of boldly interesting and downright problematic.  They really didn’t give a hoot about if people would like their show or not, they made it.  

Tracy Letts as Jack McKinney.  Tracy Letts did a masterful job of portraying the late Lakers’ head coach, Jack McKinney on Winning Time.
(Photo: HBO, via Variety)

3) I really liked how Season 1 went into some nitty-gritty details, some which I didn’t even know about prior to the start of the show.  That it actually made me look up head coach Jack McKinney, and for the most part, they seemed to do a really good and accurate job of portraying his time with the Lakers.  They emphasized that he was an important member of Showtime and helped engineer it, and he could’ve been remembered more had it not been for his untimely, gruesome bike accident that he suffered early in the 1979-80 NBA season that almost cost his life and caused his significant memory loss.  I also liked how they covered the Lakers’ interest in Jerry Tarkanian and how an incident involving a close friend of his led him to turn down the Lakers’ job and to stay at UNLV.  

Tracy Letts did a tremendous job of playing Jack McKinney in both seasons.  I also loved how in Season 2 that Jack McKinney shows up, tells his friend and coach Paul Westhead that he’ll expose him, and then he goes right back to inquire about his food, as if nothing happened.

4) The tensions they set up made for terrific entertainment.  Magic and Kareem, Magic and Norm Nixon, Magic and Paul Westhead, Magic and Larry Bird, Magic and Pat Riley (spoiler alert those who haven’t seen Season 2), Jerry Buss and Red Auerbach, you name it.  They were a master of weaving in tension, and it was great to see the characters at loggerheads with each other, especially with stakes on the line, and a championship up for grabs.

If you want to blame a legitimate reason for Winning Time’s cancellation, Jason Clarke’s obscenely odd portrayal of Jerry West might be a good place to start.  His portrayal of West looked like a downright fabrication and an exaggeration taken to extreme lengths, and his Season 1 portrayal was equal parts humorous and absurd, but also grossly vulgar and offensive to the real life Jerry West, especially when there really isn’t any indication that the real-life counterpart actually behaved that way.
(Photo: Warrick Page/HBO, via Los Angeles Times)

Negatives

1) Season 1 Jerry West was way too outrageous and absurd.  Jason Clarke’s portrayal of Jerry West was to portray him as a vulgar, cartoonish, resentful caricature of a man that loathed his NBA experiences, to the point where he would be humorously cursing up a storm, and one scene in season 1 has him having angry sex with his wife, which was completely outlandish and farcical.  As a basketball fan, I do not regard these sex scenes as essential to the plot.  As a fan of arts and entertainment, I found the scene absurd and kind of amusing, but also distracting, because it takes away from basketball.  Also, to me, Clarke’s season 1’s portrayal of him just looked like a completely irresponsible and reckless portrayal of Jerry West, because there doesn’t seem to be anything that would actually indicate that he did half the things he was shown to do in season 1.  Sure, that it’s a dramatization, but that doesn’t make their portrayal of him any less reckless.

2) Season 2 Magic Johnson whined way too much.  As fun as it was to watch him play on that series, there were some moments where it was really grating to hear that much whining.  It’s clear he and Paul Westhead didn’t get along in Season 2, and Westhead certainly overstepped his boundaries, but he did a lot of whining to Cookie in the second season.  Some less time whining on the phone would’ve been nice, and they probably should’ve established Magic and Cookie’s relationship better to ensure that the audience would root for both of them to be together, because for 1 1/2 seasons, it seems like their relationship was forced upon the audience, as it seemed like they were estranged acquaintances before Magic flew down to San Diego to meet up with Cookie in person.

3) Season 2 Pat Riley was portrayed as losing too much when initially hired, but in looking up his Basketball-Reference, that wasn’t actually true.  The 1981-82 Lakers actually reeled off four straight wins after Westhead’s firing and ballooned their winning record to 11-4, as that would’ve been in November 1981, and it would be months before Riley lost two games in a row, which would be in early January, and the most he’s lost in a row that season took place in the months of February and January.  That said, the Lakers did finish 57-25, and went on to become the 1982 NBA champions.

4) In regards to Season 2, Honey Kaplan (or Honey Buss) is not a real person, but rather is an amalgam based on real people.  But it’s shown that Jerry Buss was kind of lecherous and maybe not a great person, and he  was sued by multiple women in real life, so I’d rather they show real people rather than fictional characters that were based on real people in a show that is about real people. 

5) They missed a golden, comedic opportunity to explain away how they got James Worthy, as they immediately just put in only a single sentence, with Jerry West saying that Bill Sherman gave them a gift.  In real life, the Lakers traded Don Ford and a first round pick to be named later (which became Chad Kinch) for Butch Lee and the future 1st overall pick of the 1982 NBA Draft, James Worthy.

Normally, bad teams would get the first overall pick, but this is important because the Lakers had just won the 1982 championship, so they were the best team in basketball, and they then got the best player in the NBA draft.  That trade was essentially the Lakers trading away a middling role player (Ford), a first round pick that became a future benchwarmer (Kinch) to Cleveland for a little used, non-essential reserve on their 1980 championship team (1981) and…a future first round pick that became an All-Star, key player to their NBA championship teams, and future Hall of Famer in James Worthy!  

That was a terrible trade for the Cleveland Cavaliers, by the way, and an amazing trade for the Lakers, of course.  Also, I’m wondering, didn’t anyone protect their picks back then?!?  Who would allow themselves to give away future top five picks, let alone future first overall picks?

6) They zoomed too quickly through the 1982 and 1983 NBA Finals.   Also, Moses Malone ended up being a Hall of Fame center, as he was also on the 1981 Rockets’ team that beat the Lakers in the playoffs, and he was on the 1983 76ers’ championship team, so they should’ve made the media put Kareem and Moses Malone on more equal footing, as both should’ve been viewed as great players on the show.

7) They made the egregious error of ending Season 2 on a loss to Boston in the 1984 NBA Finals, even though the latter really did happen, especially when it was not guaranteed that they would be picked up for Season 3 (which they weren’t).  If a show is in danger of getting cancelled, they should always end the final episode on a win.  

While the final episode was well crafted for the most part (with the exception of Claire Rothman’s absurd yelling, which was extremely over the top), and the NBA Finals sequence really had me on my seat on edge, I thought that should’ve been a couple of episodes prior to the final episode.  That they ended the episode on a loss and rolled an epilogue really cheated viewers of the Lakers’ “Winning Time” experience, as the Lakers won 5 NBA titles in the 1980s, and we were only shown two of them.  That said, I was really concerned how they would handle Len Bias, as I was concerned that they would’ve handled that inappropriately. 

Other Thoughts:

In my opinion, Season 2 should’ve wrapped up in one of two ways.  They should’ve either had season 2 close with either the conclusion of the 1982 NBA Finals, or with the conclusion of the 1985 NBA Finals, and both of those would’ve resulted in Lakers’ wins, which would give fans the joy of the “Winning Time” experience, instead of having it seem like it was more of a Larry Bird, Red Auerbach, and Boston Celtics’ series without us viewers knowing it.  (And man, their portrayal of Larry Bird was a really impressively mean and talented basketball player that really owned 1984!)    

If they were to have delved into the 1985 season, they could’ve had Westhead fired sooner in the season rather than linger in the summer (even though Jason Segal is a really good actor, but Westhead was fired 11 games into the 1981-82 season), had less of the Jerry Buss-Honey Kaplan story, and end season 2 by showing the conclusion of the 1985 NBA Finals, which would’ve showed the Lakers ending that on a win, with the intention of showing the 1986 and 1987 NBA Finals for season 3. 

The other way would’ve been to show much more of the 1982 NBA Finals, and have them winning the 1982 NBA Finals as season 2’s finale.  Did we really need to fast forward through one of their championships?  By doing so, it seems as like they robbed the viewers a chance to really get a view of how tough that journey was and to really enjoy the title as much as they did.

Also a minor pet peeve, couldn’t they have shown Danny Ainge more, who did play for the Boston Celtics in that era, and would go on to become their championship winning GM?  As a fan of the Chicago Bulls growing up, I remember Ainge was a pesky role player that would get into some altercations with opposing players, and he was also a solid role player on some of those 1980s Celtics’ teams.  He is an interesting figure and that could’ve been mined for potentially some source of extra humor.  Also, I would’ve loved if they had shown a young Bill Simmons rooting for them too, even if he were just a fan in the crowd back then, since they also had someone portray Jack Nicholson on this show.  A potentially missed comedic angle somewhere in there, I think.

I’m also not sure how I feel about the alternating cuts of Lakers’ people chanting F*** Boston, and Celtics’ people chanting Beat LA in Season 2.  It was equal parts humorous, but also absurd and cheesy at the same time.

Winning Time’s Season 1 Grade: B (3.5 out of 5)

Winning Time’s Season 2 Grade: C- (1.5 out of 5)

Winning Time’s Overall Grade (Both Seasons): C+ (2.5 out of 5)

So essentially, what I’m saying is I liked season 1, low key thought season 2 could’ve been better and wasn’t as good as it could’ve been, and overall, it was okay.  So, I’m giving the show a mixed review grade overall.  Fans on Twitter were really down that there won’t be a Season 3.  

From a TV perspective, I found this show to be entertaining, though it certainly has its ups and downs, but I think I’m a little burned out from watching this show, so maybe we all could use a break.  But as an avid basketball fan, I really do think they should’ve made sure that they could have aired all aspects of the Lakers’ Showtime era, as it was a missed opportunity to show the Lakers in years 1985 to 1991, and also maybe later to show other eras and teams as well.

For those that are wondering, here is the key to my scale.

Scale:

5.0 - A or A+

4.5 - A-

4 - B+

3.5 - B

3 - B-

2.5 - C+

2 - C

1.5 - C-

1 - D+

0.5 - D

0 - D- or lower

Anyways, that is my review of Winning Time, a TV show that aired on HBO for two seasons in 2022 and 2023.  If a different network picks them up for season 3, maybe I’ll give it a watch, but it’s uncertain and probably doubtful if that’ll happen.  Thanks for reading this article and thanks for reading.

7/3/24 Update:

I have to downgrade Winning Time’s Season 1.  I’m sorry, but the portrayal of Jerry West is too ridiculous, outrageous, offensive, and inauthentic for that season to warrant a good score, and hiding behind “it’s a dramatization” is a serious cop out.  As for Season 2, speeding through the 1982 NBA Finals where the Lakers win the title and not showing enough screen time to highlight the importance of them winning the NBA title that year is inexcusable.

Winning Time’s Season 1 Grade: C+ (2.5 out of 5)

Winning Time’s Season 2 Grade: C- (1.5 out of 5)

Winning Time’s Overall Grade (Both Seasons): C (2 out of 5)

Anyways, that’s my review, and thanks for reading.

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Iask.ai Reviews My Fourth Album, The Time Jump

 Lastly, I asked iask.ai to review my fourth album, The Time Jump.  Though they didn’t seem to list any of the tracks and were missing some key details, I do appreciate their positive review of my fourth album, The Time Jump.  Here is what they said:

The album cover of my fourth album, The Time Jump.
(Photo: Amazon)

So here is what iask.ai wrote in their review of my fourth album, The Time Jump:


(Photos: iask.ai)

Definitely, it pleases me that they seem to like my fourth album, The Time Jump, and they called it “an impressive music album that showcases the artist’s talent and creativity.”  I also enjoyed that they seemed to enjoy it thoroughly, and it is a great endorsement for this album.

In fact, you can listen to it online on Spotify, YouTube, Pandora, and other online stores today.

Here is a link: 

So in total, iask.ai’s AI machine seemed to really enjoy Fun Elevator Music and The Time Jump, was not nearly as keen on Call For A Celebration, and doesn’t seem to know my second album, Hoopin’ and Beatmakin’ exists.  

Also, if I were to recommend listeners to one or two of my albums, I would also choose Fun Elevator Music and The Time Jump, and I’d have to say, AI did a good job of reviewing my albums.

Anyways, this was fun, and thanks for reading.

Iask.ai Reviews My Third Album, Call For A Celebration

 Iask.ai had praised my first album when I typed in “Review The Offseason Hobbyist’s Fun Elevator Music music album,” but it had no response when I asked it to review my second album.

I was initially only going to put on three albums, with The Time Jump planned for the third one, but when the 2019 St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup in the NHL, I was inspired to make another music album.
(Photo: Amazon)

Sadly, they were not quite as kind in reviewing my third album, as they gave it mixed reviews, but I do understand where they’re coming from.

Here’s what they said about my third album, Call For A Celebration:




(Photos: iask.ai

 According to www.iAsk.ai Ask Ai Search Engine:

The Offseason Hobbyist's Call For A Celebration is a music album that was released on [insert release date]. The album features [insert number of tracks] tracks and is the [insert number] studio album by The Offseason Hobbyist.

Tracklist:
1. [Track 1]
2. [Track 2]
3. [Track 3]
4. [Track 4]
5. [Track 5]
6. [Track 6]
7. [Track 7]
8. [Track 8]
9. [Track 9]
10. [Track 10]

The album has received mixed reviews from both critics and fans alike. Some praise the album for its unique sound and experimental approach, while others criticize it for being too disjointed and lacking cohesion.

One of the standout tracks on the album is "Track 1," which showcases The Offseason Hobbyist's signature blend of genres, combining elements of rock, electronic, and hip-hop. The track features catchy melodies, intricate production, and thought-provoking lyrics.

Another notable track is "Track 5," a slow-burning ballad that highlights the band's ability to create emotional and introspective music. The song is characterized by its haunting vocals, atmospheric instrumentation, and poignant lyrics.

However, not all tracks on the album resonate with listeners. "Track 3" has been criticized for its repetitive structure and lack of originality, while "Track 8" fails to make a lasting impression due to its generic sound and uninspired lyrics.

Overall, The Offseason Hobbyist's Call For A Celebration is an ambitious album that showcases the band's willingness to experiment with different genres and sounds. While it may not be a cohesive or universally acclaimed release, it offers glimpses of brilliance and demonstrates the band's potential for growth and evolution in their future work.

In conclusion, The Offseason Hobbyist's Call For A Celebration is a music album that elicits mixed reactions from listeners. It features standout tracks that highlight the band's strengths, but also includes some forgettable moments. Fans of The Offseason Hobbyist may appreciate the album for its experimental nature, while others may find it lacking in certain areas.

Top 3 Authoritative Reference Publications or Domain Names Used in Answering this Question:
1. [Publication/Domain Name 1]
2. [Publication/Domain Name 2]
3. [Publication/Domain Name 3]”
-iask.ai
Their previous review of Fun Elevator Music would be considered a generally favorable review, iask.ai’s review of Call For A Celebration were undoubtedly mixed.
Since I have a track list of my own songs, Here’s what they would be.
Tracklist:
1. One For The Ages
2. Call For A Celebration
3. Comin’ In Waves
4. Bring It Home
5. Keep This Bangin’
6. Lay It On Thick
7. Making The Climb
8. Making The Climb, Pt. 2
9. At The Game
10. We Finally Won!
11. We Finally Won! (The Extended Version)
___
They didn’t quite get all of the details right, and it’s kind of an imperfect review from them, since there are no actual vocals on this album, and it’s electronic.  But they do sort of capture the essence of what they were trying to say, that it boils down to that my third album was ambitious, but at times repetitive (which admittedly was kind of true).
In analyzing iask.ai’s review of my third album, they would have given “One For The Ages” and “Keep This Bangin’” glowing reviews, but they came down hard on “Comin’ In Waves” and “Making The Climb, Pt. 2.”   That they came down hard on my third track was surprising, but the latter was not, as the eighth track of that album was very similar to the seventh.  
There were some tracks I liked significantly better than others, especially in a re-listen.  (Honestly, to me, the sixth song I made on the my third album, “Lay It On Thick” was what I would feel was the weakest track of this album, and I probably wouldn’t have included the track it if I made this album now.). 
I don’t exactly disagree with their assertion that this album was kind of mid, even if it was of the kind of fun variety, but the criticism still cuts deep. 
Anyways, this was another edition of iask.ai reviews one of my albums.  Thanks for reading.