Fans back in attendance at MSG

 Hello there New York Knick fans! I am coming to you live from Roosevelt Field Mall in Westbury, NY.  Tonight the 15-16 Knicks welcome in the 16-15 Golden State Warriors as both teams are fighting to remain in the playoff picture as the season carries on. They are presented with the task of containing Steph Curry and his lethal trigger from 3 point land. 

However, what will be different tonight is that there will be fans in attendance as we take another step towards normalcy.  New York has been granted permission to begin filling arenas to certain capacities and little by little we hope to get them filled to capacity in the near future.  

Coming into tonight’s action, we will be keeping an eye on (UDA) Isiah Quigley, rookie sensation out of Kentucky, along with Julius Randle who continues his push toward an all-star campaign. 

But if the Knicks are gonna be able to keep pace with the Warriors they are going to have to play man defense when it comes to handling Stephen Curry around the 3 point mark, as well as contain Draymond Green who is a force around the rim and just eats up rebounds. 

You can catch the action tonight at 7:30 pm et on MSG! 

Go NY Go NY Goooooo!!! Go NY Go NY Gooooo!! #NYK

Tommy B's Predictions For The Upcoming 2021 MLB Season

    Hello there baseball fans, your favorite blogger is coming to you live from a snowy Floral Park, NY.  As pitchers and catchers have started reporting that can only mean one thing.  Baseball is just around the corner. 

     Many MLB teams have high expectations coming into the 2021 season and that includes both local teams in the Mets and the Yankees.  This blogger here at Buckley Knows Best has the New York Mets sitting at 90 wins this year which may or may not result in a playoff berth, as the NL East has gotten progressively better over the past few seasons.  Although the Mets have made some big splashes this offseason, you don't know how it will translate on the field. 

As for your other local team up in the Bronx, the Yankees are bringing back key pieces in another quest to bring home championship number 28.  Some see the Yankees running away with the AL East, but this blogger views the AL East as open season this year.  You simply cannot overlook the additions the Toronto Blue Jays have made in the likes of George Springer, Steven Matz, Marcus Semien, Robbie Ray, and premiere closer Kirby Yates.  Additions like that seem to have the Blue Jays poised to take over the AL East, but it is not as simple as one might think, sometimes it just doesn't translate to on-field success.  

As for our awards predictions in the upcoming season.  Your National League award predictions read as follows:, MVP: Mookie Betts (LAD), CY Young: Blake Snell (SD), Comeback Player of The Year: Noah Syndergaard (NYM), Rookie Of The Year: Ke'Bryan Hayes (PIT) Batting Title: Fransisco Lindor (NYM).

Now for your American League predictions.  MVP: J.D. Martinez (BOS), CY Young: Shane Bieber (CLE),  Comeback Player of The Year: Luis Severino (NYY) Rookie of The Year: Randy Arozarena (TB), Batting Title: Tim Anderson (CHW).

As for the championship rounds of your 2021 MLB season, this blogger has the ALCS matchup set as New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox.

And now for your NLCS matchup, San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers.

And now our World Series predictions: San Diego vs. New York Yankees.  This would be a rematch of the 1998 World Series but with entirely different-looking lineups from top to bottom!

Coming out on top in the Buckley Knows Best Predictor Machine issssss......... 

       The prediction is the San Diego Padres will be crowned MLB's 2021 World Series Champion in a tight close series with our hometown New York Yankees.  

                                

    

NY Knickerbockers Keeping Pace in East

 Hello there NY Knick fans, I am coming to you live from the road again in Port Washington, Long Island where down by the water we’ve got ourselves a nasty, precipitation filled day as we brace for the ice storm predicted to hit this evening.   Coming into tonight’s game the Knicks are currently in sole possession of the 7th spot as the playoff push is heating up and they sit just under .500 at 13-15. But as we’ve learned in the East over the past few seasons a .500 record is all it takes to squeak into the playoffs! Tonight they get set to take on the 11-15 Atlanta Hawks who are losers of their last 3.  The Knicks will be without one of their big men Mitchell Robinson over the next 4 to 6 weeks as he is dealing with a fractured left hand he suffered in a Win  against the WiZards over the weekend. In order to fill the void left by Mitchell Robinsons injury, the Knicks will have to keep relying heavily on Julius Randle   who is in the midst of an all star campaign, as well as stellar play from the youngster Obi Toppin.  One of the more  interesting moves the Knicks made was bringing back veteran D Rose, who was a Knick 2 years ago and also is no stranger to coach Thibs system as they are familiar with eachother and their tendencies from their time in Minnesota as well as Chicago together. Matchups to watch this evening are D Rose and Trey Young, Julius Randle and John Collins, as well as the youngsters in Obi Toppin and Cam Reddish! 

In other Knicks related news, we’ve heard rumblings of possibly acquiring the likes of Bradley Beal (Washington) although he says Washington is where his heart is, Victor Oladipo (Houston) or Zach LaVine (Chicago). But as for now this is pure speculation, but is interesting none the less to monitor and determine whether the Knicks will give up assets of the future whether they be players or draft picks just to make a little noise in the NBA playoffs this year. But let’s face it, this team is a number of moves away from being a serious contender, which is why giving up future assets at this point would be nothing short of Ludicrous. 

You can catch tonight’s action on MSG at 7:30 pm et with Walt Clyde Frazier and Mike Breen, with the Knicks Pre-Game show @ 7pm et! 

Go Knicks Go Knicks Go Knicks GOOOOOO !!!!!!

This is Tommy Buckley signing off our hoops segment of Buckley knows best!! @NYK

Islanders look to make it 3 straight

 Hello NY Islander faithful, I am coming to you  live from the road on this wintery Thursday in February on Long Island.  Islanders have tallied two in a row as they look to build off of that as they get set to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins this evening. The Isles sitting at 5-4-2 are just inside the playoff picture as the Penguins are in a similar boat sitting at 5-5-1.  The Islanders got key scoring from some unexpected places on Monday evening as they took on the Rangers at MSG. It was the identity line coming up big as Czekas and Martin accounted for the scoring.  Due to unforeseen events in this case Covid-19 Pittsburgh hasn’t played since last week when they also met the Islanders, which was a victory as Anders Lee netted the game winner in a 4-3 a Islander victory!  Players to watch this evening are Matt Barzal, Jordan Euberle, Jake Guentzel, Anders Lee and of course the hot goaltender Varlamov. On the other side of the ice keep an eye on Sid the Kid Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and  Kris Letang who has been a top tier defender thus far in this early season. Casey Desmith will be in net for the Pens as the youngster hopes to continue to prove himself at the NHL level. You can catch tonight’s action with the Islanders pregame at 6:30 pm et on MSG+ with Shannon Hogan, AJ Maleszco, Brendan Burke, and Butch Gorin. With the puck drop at 7 pm et. 

 Let’s Go Islanders!!!! Go NY, Go NY, GOooo!!!! Bring home another big 2 points tonight! Yes! Yes! Yes!!!!

Showdown In The Big Apple

 

    Good evening New York hockey fans, Thomas Buckley coming to you from Floral Park, NY with the latest installment of Buckley Knows Best!!  We have a rivalry matchup renewed tonight at MSG, between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers.  Coming into tonight's action the New York Islanders and New York Rangers are both sitting towards the bottom of the now called East division as they both hope to right the ship in hopes of a potential playoff appearance in this modified 56 games schedule, both teams clearly have their work cut out for them as only the top 4 teams per division are eligible to qualify for the postseason.  

    These 2 teams are no stranger to each other, and just because they share a city, does not mean there is any love loss between the 2 storied franchises.  Coming into tonight's matchup these 2 teams have split the 2 decisions they have played on this young season.   While the Islanders are the veteran group who made an appearance in the ECF last year seem to need a stutter step as they come out of the gate this year.  After a short win streak to start the year they have put together multiple losses in a row which is the reasoning behind their current spot in the East division, (6th place).  While the Rangers on the other hand are still wrapping up rebuild mode as they try to get their top draft picks acts together to see what this young team is really capable of.  As the days go on, the pressure mounts more and more to complete the development of the Rangers' young stars in the likes of LaFreniere, Kakko, Miller, and goaltender Shasterkin.  

    Some key matchups to keep an eye on this evening in New York City are Matt Barzal (NYI) and Mika Zebanijad (NYR).  Both are relied on heavily to generate scoring offense and that is exactly what both teams will look for out of their key goal scorers this evening.  

    As for some other Islanders who will be depended on to provide a spark this evening, keep your eyes on Anders Lee

who the Isles will look to to provide a spark on this cold evening in the big apple.   

    As Semien Varlamov mans the net tonight, the Islanders will look for yet another gritty and shutdown performance as Varlomov carries a (4-2) record into tonight's action, providing one of the few bright spots on a sluggish Islanders team as of late.  

    The Rangers goaltender this evening is still TBD as no reports have been made official as of yet.  Whoever it is scheduled to start between the pipes will have to be sharp as the Rangers, like the Islanders have some ground to make up if they have any hopes of being apart of the 2021 NHL Playoffs.  

You can catch all of tonights high flying action with your choice of broadcast whether it be Butch Goring, Brendan Burke, Shannon Hogan, and AJ Malesco on MSG+ the home of the Islanders.  Or you can enjoy it all on MSG with Sam Rosen, Joe Micheletti, Don Maloney, and Ansen Carter!! Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm et sharp, we will see you there New York Hockey fans!!! 

MLB Off-season Moves

 Hello there MLB fans, it is your favorite sports reporter coming to you live from a snowy Floral Park, NY, bringing you the latest MLB news as we approach Spring Training which begins on February 17th.  Let’s start by breaking down the moves within the Big Apple.  First,  over in Queens, the newly owned New York Mets have opened their wallets in a huge way! Acquiring Francisco Lindor from the Cleveland Indians, along with Cookie Carrasco. Not giving up very much, but hoping to ultimately sign one of the premiere players in the game! The Mets have also signed Catcher, James McCann to a 4 year contract worth up to 40.6 Million dollars. After a potential trade with Kris Bryant seems to have hit skids, the Mets have dealt homegrown once highly touted prospect  in Steven Matz to Toronto in order to free up cap space in hope maybe of signing a bi time arm to go along with Jacob Degrom and Noah Syndergaard.

Now for the news out of the Bronx, where the Yankees have not exactly been in hibernation mode signing 2 arms in Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon as  both pitchers  are looking to revitalize their careers here as they put on the pinstripes. In other Yankee off-season news they have finally reached an agreement to bring back “The Machine” DJ LeMahieu who has posted MVP caliber numbers over the last 2 seasons. That deal is in the neighborhood of 6 years and 90 million  dollars guaranteed. 

Probably one of the biggest trades in recent years Nolan Arenado moved from Colorado to St . Louis for prospects. The incentive for St. Louis is to clearly add another championship trophy to their case, while Colorado is hoping to shed salaries and have someone take over the obsurd contract they so foolishly  extended Arenado to some years back. 

As for some other notable signings we have Toronto making all kinds of splashes in free agency signing highly soughted after free agent in George Springer to a   6 year deal, Steven Matz and budding shortstop from Oakland in Marcus Semien to a 1 year deal. 

Also we have Kyle Schwarber coming over to the 1 year removed World Series Champs down in DC, and Joc Peterson has set out for greener pastures leaving the Dodgers to fill the bat void that Schwarber has left in the Chicago Cubs roster. 

For all your other free agency and sports news, keep up with my latest installments of Buckley Knows Best! Until next time my friends, yours truly, Thomas Buckley.!.!.!.!.!.!