Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesThe Big East, as a conference, is taking a break this week. Therefore, I thankfully will not have to write how the Big East needs to step up its game.Cincinnati, Syracuse and West Virginia are all on bye weeks, with three other schools playing Sun Belt opponents and Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
Rutgers taking on Tulane. Connecticut, however, is playing a BCS opponent in Vanderbilt in what should be a well-matched game.Over in the ACC, we have an in-state matchup with North Carolina and East Carolina, a few tough conference games and a Notre Dame sighting. I thought the Irish were supposed to play Big Ten teams? Wait, Notre Dame isnin the Big Ten?No. 16 Miami (FL) at Clemson (12:00 ET)THE LINE: Miami -3.5THE PLOT: Both teams had bye weeks after crushing losses to ranked teams. The Canes won at Heinz Field 31-3 over Pittsburgh after its bye, and this week it is Clemsonturn to rebound after the bye.This game brings with it huge ACC implications. Though there are seven teams without an in-conference loss thus far, the winner of this gameor quite possibly both teamswill most likely end up in the ACC title match.In terms of matchups, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney mentioned that the line play will be huge in this game. Theyre second in the nation in sacks and were not giving up many sacks.Clemson is coping much better with injuries than Miami, despite a small scare with quarterback Kyle Parker.THE PICK: Obviously both teams can put on an offensive performance, even against good defensessee Miami vs. Ohio State, and Clemson vs. Auburn. This game will pit a good Tiger defense against a scrappy, speedy and deeply talented Miami offense. Both coaches are relatively new to the ACC and have yet to supplant a name for themselves within the conference.I believe this game will end up being a lot bigger than it seems at face value. Playing in Clemson is nuts, and if the Tiger faithful can get to Jacory Harris like the Buckeye fans did on September 11th, then Clemson walks away with a win. But Miami demoralized what was supposed to be the Big Eastbest team last weekend.THE SCORE: Miami 30, Clemson 28--------------------Vanderbilt at Connecticut (12:00 ET)THE LINE: Connecticut -7.5THE PLOT: In their respective histories, neither team has been outstanding against the opposing conference. The Commodores are just 10-7-1 against the Big East, while the Huskies are only 1-2 against the SEC.Who wins this game?Who wins this game?Connecticut0%Vanderbilt0%Total votes: 0The only previous meeting between the two schools was former Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnsonfirst win over a FBS Division 1A school in 2002. Connecticutonly win over a SEC school came last year in the PapaJohns.com Bowl.Vanderbilt has lost both home games this season against Northwestern and No. 19 LSU, but won their only road game at Ole Miss. Saturdaymatchup with the Huskies is in Storrs.As for the Huskies, both home games have resulted in wins by an average margin of nearly six touchdowns. Both road games have resulted in losses, 20-points at Michigan and 14-points at Temple.THE PICK:To be fair, the Huskies have had quarterback problems. To be unfair, they have had quarterback problems for the past five years, averaging around 166 passing yards per game over that span.And if you will believe me, Vanderbilt has a worse passing game this year than Connecticut. Through its first three games, the Commodores have recorded just 383 passing yards. An anemic passing offense is tolerable, I Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
guess, if you can run the football. But the Commodores do not have a single rusher who averages more than 75 rushing yards per game. The Huskies? They have Jordan Todman.Todman is fifth in the nation in rushing yards per game behindbrace yourselfDenard Robinson, LaMichael James, Daniel Thomas and Mark IngramStreeter Lecka/Getty Images. Todman is going to elevate Connecticut past Vanderbilt at home and put the Huskies over .500 for the first time this year.THE SCORE: Connecticut 23, Vanderbilt 16--------------------Virginia Tech at No. 23 North Carolina State (12:00 ET)THE LINE: Virginia Tech -4.0THE PLOT: Here it is folks. This is the game that will put Virginia Tech back on the map a la Michigan in 2007. Losses to Boise State and James Madison to start the year killed the moral of Hokie nation. I would even argue that the loss to Boise State set the Hokies up for its loss to James Madison on a crummy and rainy day.N.C. State comes into the game at 4-0 sporting a legitimate Heisman contender in Russell Wilson. To put the Wolfpackstart into perspective, the last time they were 4-0 they had Philip Rivers in his prime. There is a lot of hoopla surrounding N.C. State with their unexpected start, which can only be cause for distraction.THE PICK: If you donthink Frank Beamer is treating this game as if it were the last game of his career, youre mistaken. All Beamer does is win ACC Championships. He understands that an ACC match is much more valuable of a win than a game against either James Madison or East Carolina.Who wins this game?Who wins this game?North Carolina State0%Virginia Tech0%Total votes: 0What did the Hokies do last week at Boston College? Virginia Tech shut out the Eagles in the first ACC game of the year.This Saturday, N.C. State walks into a slightly adapted trap game as Virginia Tech regains ACC dominance, despite Ryan Williams second straight absence.THE SCORE: Virginia Tech 31, N.C. State 23--------------------Notre Dame at Boston College (8:00 ET)THE LINE: Notre Dame -3.0THE PLOT: This game will be very evenly matched, in my opinion. Since Notre Dame lost Brady Quinn, the Irish have really played at the level of their opponent, be it up or down. Coincidentally, Boston College also plays at the level of their opponent. The only major difference between the two schools right now, besides history, is recruiting.The Eagles won six straight against the Irish until last year when Notre Dame took away a 20-16 win at home. That was the Eagles worst turnover performance, a -5 turnover margin.A win for either team could really help. Boston College is unproven really, and could use an emergence at quarterback to set the tone for the remainder of the year. Notre Dame could simply use a win, because a 1-3 record to start the year with your lone win coming against a Robert Marve-led PurdueWho wins this gameWho wins this gameBoston College0%Notre Dame0%Total votes: 0 squad in South Bend surely is not cutting it.THE PICK: While Notre Dame has some great playmakers on offense, they will really need the defense to step up. Through four games, the Irish have surrendered nearly 30 points per game. Boston Collegedefense is good enough to hold the Irish under 30 points, so whomever can score more points will win the gameYes, I reread that last sentence.That being said, this mini-rivalry has been awfully low scoring. The past eight games have seen an average combined 37 points per game. I think Ill keep with Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
that trend. Boston College nudges out the win in Chestnut Hill.THE SCORE: Boston College 20, Notre Dame 17LAST WEEKStraight up: 4-0Vs. spread: 2-2OVERALLStraight up: 11-1Vs. spread: 5-7(I failed to predict scores before Week One, but if you would like to count my predictions on Week One from an outside source, you can add the following: Straight up 2-1, Vs. spread 0-3)(Odds courtesy of SportsBook.com by way of our friends at NBCSports.com.)
2011年1月24日星期一
24 Jan 11 Oregon State Beavers Will Run Home To Victory Against Louisville
Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesThe Oregon State Beavers are poised for their home opener this Saturday against Louisville. Believe it or not, coming off a loss to #4 TCU must have given the Beavs confidence. Until a high snap over the head of quarterback Ryan Katz, the Black and Orange were ready to tie up the game.Despite an opening week loss, OSU still finds themselves in the AP Top 25, and a blowout win of the struggling Cardinals program could do wonders for the hype entering the Boise State game on September 25 on the blue turf.While the Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
TCU defense shut down a Beavers offense looking for an identity, look for the offense to come together against a weaker foe on the turf in Corvallis.Jacquizz Rodgers will likely see more touches against Louisville, with more success. While the Cardinals' defense has been stingy through two games this season, they were beat by the ground game of Kentucky and allowed far too many yards on the ground to Eastern Kentucky in their not-so-convincing 23-13 victory.Kentucky rushed for 230 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per rush against the weak Louisville defensive line and linemen core. With a speedy back like Rodgers handing the bulk of the running game for Oregon State, expect Rodgers and the Beavs to rack up close to 200 yards.The other major concern for Louisville is the amount of penalties they racked up Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
against Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky. Louisville racked up 100 penalty yards against Eastern Kentucky and looked disjunctive in the offensive line.For Oregon State, head coach Mike Riley will have to find the appropriate balance between run and pass. It appeared he leaned too heavily on the inexperienced Katz against TCU after the Horned Frogs initially shut down Jacquizz. Katz had 25 pass attempts and only completed nine, while Rodgers was held under 20 carries.Additionally, Jacquizz's older brother James was a non-factor, another sign Riley was uneasy using the normal play-calling. James was held under 100 yards receiving, and wasn't included in the running scheme.It would be foolhardy to think the Beavers' defense will give much to Louisville. TCU has one of the most dynamic offenses in the country, Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
and the Cardinals fail in comparison.Overall, these teams just don't match up well. Oregon State has too many weapons and the the Louisville Cardinals still need a few more rebuilding seasons to compete with elite schools. The Beavers should start the home schedule off right against Louisville, and a blowout would really help their national ranking.Catch the Beavers and Cardinals in action this Saturday, September 18 at 2:30 pm PST on Fox Sports local coverage.
TCU defense shut down a Beavers offense looking for an identity, look for the offense to come together against a weaker foe on the turf in Corvallis.Jacquizz Rodgers will likely see more touches against Louisville, with more success. While the Cardinals' defense has been stingy through two games this season, they were beat by the ground game of Kentucky and allowed far too many yards on the ground to Eastern Kentucky in their not-so-convincing 23-13 victory.Kentucky rushed for 230 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per rush against the weak Louisville defensive line and linemen core. With a speedy back like Rodgers handing the bulk of the running game for Oregon State, expect Rodgers and the Beavs to rack up close to 200 yards.The other major concern for Louisville is the amount of penalties they racked up Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
against Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky. Louisville racked up 100 penalty yards against Eastern Kentucky and looked disjunctive in the offensive line.For Oregon State, head coach Mike Riley will have to find the appropriate balance between run and pass. It appeared he leaned too heavily on the inexperienced Katz against TCU after the Horned Frogs initially shut down Jacquizz. Katz had 25 pass attempts and only completed nine, while Rodgers was held under 20 carries.Additionally, Jacquizz's older brother James was a non-factor, another sign Riley was uneasy using the normal play-calling. James was held under 100 yards receiving, and wasn't included in the running scheme.It would be foolhardy to think the Beavers' defense will give much to Louisville. TCU has one of the most dynamic offenses in the country, Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
and the Cardinals fail in comparison.Overall, these teams just don't match up well. Oregon State has too many weapons and the the Louisville Cardinals still need a few more rebuilding seasons to compete with elite schools. The Beavers should start the home schedule off right against Louisville, and a blowout would really help their national ranking.Catch the Beavers and Cardinals in action this Saturday, September 18 at 2:30 pm PST on Fox Sports local coverage.
2011年1月22日星期六
22 Jan 11 Iowa Vs. Arizona Football: Live Blog, Stats, Analysis
Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesFeatured Columnist Brett Stephen here to bring you live coverage of the Iowa vs. Arizona game. Tonight we'll get to see if Iowa is truly deserving of a top 10 ranking. A battle of two very good quarterbacks as Ricky Stanzi goes head-to-head with Nick Foles 02:14 AM Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
ETBall game! 02:14 AM ETone chance for Iowa. crazier things have happened. 02:10 AM ET2nd and 10 02:10 AM ETFirst down ends it. 02:09 AM ETI guess they did. 02:09 AM ETWhy is the clock stopped? Did Iowa use their last timeout? 02:08 AM ETBig win for Arizona. 02:07 AM ETAnd Arizona can now go into victory formation. 02:07 AM ETSacked again! Wow. 4 in a row! 02:07 AM ETStanzi is going to be sore tomorrow. 02:06 AM ETSacked again! 02:06 AM ETThe Iowa offensive line is getting killed. 02:05 AM ETAnother sack! 02:04 AM ET3rd and 12. Iowa timeout. 02:04 AM ETStanzi sacked! He's got to get rid of that ball. 02:03 AM ET2nd and 3 02:03 AM ETPass complete, but tackled immediately. 02:02 AM ETIowa will start near the 40. 02:00 AM ETalmost 4 minutes left on the clock. plenty of time for Iowa 02:00 AM ETTouchdown! 02:00 AM ETWright has to make that catch. 01:59 AM ETincomplete in the corner of the endzone. 01:59 AM ET2nd and goal from the 5 yard line. 01:58 AM ETFirst and goal at the nine. 01:58 AM ETFirst down. 01:57 AM ETI think Boise St and LSU might disagree. 01:56 AM ETDid Bob Davie just say that Iowa has the best defensive line in the country? 01:56 AM ETnice play on 2nd and 16. 3rd and very short. 01:54 AM ETArizona lineman down on the field. Hopefully just a cramp. 01:53 AM ETThat's a bad play call right there. 01:53 AM ETThe Wildcats aren't done yet. 01:50 AM ETFoles can show what he's made of here. Will he crack under this pressure or regroup and lead his team to the win? 01:49 AM ETMissed extra point? Wow.Iowa special teams are terrible. 01:47 AM ETPick-six. Iowa returns the favor. 01:45 AM ETArizona needs an answer here. 01:41 AM ETThat's a good call. 01:40 AM ETThis should be a touchdown 01:39 AM ETIowa needs to capitalize here. 01:38 AM ETThis will be pass interference. 01:38 AM ETCall overturned. Iowa ball. 01:36 AM ETIowa player was clearly down with the ball before Arizona took it away from him. 01:35 AM ETThey may review this. 01:35 AM ETWow! Almost a gift for Iowa. 01:34 AM ETTime is running out for the Hawkeyes. 01:34 AM ET4th and 15. 01:33 AM ETAnother sack! Wow. AZ defense is playing inspired ball right now. 01:29 AM ETNice patience on the screen, but not enough for the first. Punt unit on. 01:24 AM ETGood call. Foles was wrapped up and he took a cheap shot. 01:24 AM ETShot to the head. Should have been a penalty 01:22 AM ETI know it's early, but every second counts. 01:22 AM ETStay in bounds! 01:21 AM ETZona needs a long, sustained drive here that results in at least 3 points. 01:20 AM ETAnother sack! They are dominating the line of scrimmage. 01:19 AM ETHawkeyes again going the wrong way. 01:19 AM ETWildcat fans....15 minutes to the upset. 01:16 AM ETgood, hard tackling by the Wildcats. Iowa just cant get their running game going. 01:16 AM ETIncomplete pass. Over-thrown by Stanzi. 01:15 AM ETAnother pass interference call. 01:15 AM ETFlag down as defender maybe hit McNutt a little early. 01:14 AM ETBig tackle for a loss. 01:13 AM ETPass interference. First down Iowa. Stoops is not happy. 01:13 AM ETFlag down 01:12 AM ETHampton limps off of the field under his own power. 01:12 AM ETHampton, who missed last season with a torn ACL, is down on the field. 01:11 AM ETIowa doesn't seem to be panicing, still running the ball. 01:11 AM ETPunt barely passes the first down marker. 01:10 AM ETArizona lined up to punt. Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
01:10 AM ETUmpire being checked for a concussion on the sideline. 01:09 AM ETIowa fans look to be a little more upbeat as their defense steps up this possession. 01:08 AM ETOfficial took a shoulder to the head as he was spotting the ball. Looks dazed but ok. 01:07 AM ETOfficial down on the field. 01:07 AM ETThird and 32 coming up. 01:06 AM ETOuch, big pressure and a big hit as Foles loses 12 yards on the blitz 01:06 AM ETUnless Zona scores again, this game isn't over. 01:05 AM ETExpect a heavy dose of Grigsby here. 01:05 AM ETFoles is efficient. 01:04 AM ETI think Stanzi may be dropped from those conversations after tonight. 01:04 AM ETIs Nick Foles in the conversation for one of the best QBs in the Nation? 01:03 AM ETAnother first down pass by Foles. 01:03 AM ETNwoko running hard for 5 yards. 12:58 AM ETCan they mount a comeback? 12:58 AM ETNice deep route and great pass by Stanzi. Touchdown. 12:57 AM ETwow, generous spot! 12:57 AM ETIowa just can't get anything going. Wildcats are living in the backfield. 12:56 AM ETYes! The penalties are making this game drag. Let em play! 12:53 AM ETBig defensive stop on third and short. Loss of four. Zona will punt. 12:53 AM ETVery Dwight Shrute of him! 12:52 AM ETMark Jones rockin' the short sleeve shirt and tie. Nice! 12:52 AM ETPlay stopped. Clock correction. 12:52 AM ET3 WRs for Zona. 12:50 AM ETAlso a morale hit to the Hawkeye defense. 12:50 AM ETThat's what they need to do! Big play. First down. 12:50 AM ETHopefully Arizona won't get too conservative with their play calling. They need to put the nail in the coffin. 12:49 AM ETBig break for Iowa. That could have been big. 12:48 AM ETPunt return being reviewed. If he wasn't down, this could be a back-breaker for Iowa. 12:45 AM ETnice job by the Iowa punt unit. 12:44 AM ETgain of 7, but only back to the original line of scrimmage. 12:43 AM ETStanzi sacked. Arizona doesn't look to be letting up. 12:39 AM ETIowa takes over at their 35 yardline. 12:38 AM ETIncomplete. Wildcats will have to punt. 12:38 AM ETBig third down for Zona 12:37 AM ETTimeout Arizona 12:36 AM ETA little fire in the Iowa defense? 12:35 AM ETFoles smartly throws the ball at the feet of his RB as the screen play was busted. 12:35 AM ETNick Foles continues to pick the Iowa defense apart. 12:34 AM ETIowa has a deep hole to climb out of in the second half. 12:33 AM ETTouchback. 12:26 AM ETI wonder how Iowa will respond on the opening kickoff. Their coach just called out their special teams on national tv. 12:10 AM ETHalftime. 27-7 Arizona. Will Iowa regroup in the second half? 12:09 AM ETSquib kick. Iowa will take over at the 41 yard line. 12:08 AM ET27-7 Wildcats. 12:07 AM ETField goal attempt from 47 yards. Kick is good. 12:07 AM ETAlmost picked. Foles needs to compose himself. 12:06 AM ETMissed that one too. A little too high for wide open Criner. 12:05 AM ETFoles missed that one. Good look though. 12:05 AM ETWide open Wright. Zona is moving the chains. 12:05 AM ETNice strong run by Grigsby. 12:04 AM ETGood, patient draw play by Zona. First down. 12:03 AM ETIowa needs a stop. 12:03 AM ETArizona looks like they want to put up more points before halftime. 12:02 AM ETAnother ridiculous punt! But out of the endzone. Touchback. 12:01 AM ETStanzi is begging to be picked off. 11:59 PM ETIowa moving the chains easily now. Can they keep it up? 11:58 PM ETStanzi chooses to stay in bounds and take the hit for an extra 5 yards. Like the passion but as a QB you have to be careful. 11:57 PM ET5 WRs, completes over the middle for a first down. 11:57 PM ETIowa starts at the 20. 11:57 PM ETYou're in college, you can't catch a ball on your knees and then get up. You have to be smarter than that. 11:56 PM ETIowa needs to get something going before halftime if they want any chance of winning this game. 11:53 PM ETWildcats will have to settle for a field goal. 11:50 PM ETAnother big run for Arizona. First and goal after the 18 yard run. 11:49 PM ETMichigan State just won in overtime on a fake field goal. WOW! 11:48 PM ETArizona moving the ball in chunks. 16 yard run. First down. 11:47 PM ETAnother first down on a nice Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
crossing route. 11:46 PM ETFirst down Wildcats. Every seconds that runs off is big for Iowa right now. 11:46 PM ETBig hit! gain of 5. 11:45 PM ETWow! That punt seemed to be in the air for 10 seconds. 11:44 PM ETAnother stop for the Wildcats. 11:43 PM ETDraw play doesn't fool anyone. No gain. 11:42 PM ETStanzi deep. Should have been caught. 11:39 PM ETIowa takes over at their own 44. 11:39 PM ETLooks like OT in East Lansing. 11:38 PM ETIncomplete. 3 and out for the Wildcats. Not good for their defense. 11:38 PM ETAntolin with a 3 yard run. 3rd and 5. 11:37 PM ETBobbled punt reception. Zona needs a long offensive drive here to give the defense a rest. 11:36 PM ET4th down for the Hawkeyes. 11:34 PM ETIowa should run the ball every play. The Wildcats defense is exhausted. 11:30 PM ET21-7. This is not good for the Arizona defense. They haven't had a rest yet. 11:29 PM ETWildcats take the Iowa kickoff to the house! 20-7. Extra point pending. 11:27 PM ETIowa had a great drive. Zona defense looks exhausted. 11:27 PM ETHampton comes out of the backfield to catch a touchdown pass. 11:25 PM ETComing out of a timeout, let's see what the Iowa offense does. They need a touchdown here to get some of the momentum. 11:23 PM ETTimeout Arizona. 11:23 PM ET3rd and goal from the 4 yard line. 11:23 PM ETHampton just blew up a linebacker on an absolutely incredible block by a RB. 11:22 PM ETPass in traffic. Tipped by Wildcat defender. 11:21 PM ETBarn burner in Michigan as Notre Dame and Michigan St are locked up at 28. 11:19 PM ETAt the end of the first quarter, Iowa trails 14-0, but looking better on this drive. 11:19 PM ET2nd and goal 11:19 PM ETZona defense tightens up on the goal line. 11:18 PM ETFirst and goal after another first down pass by Stanzi. 11:18 PM ETZona defense looks winded. They've been on the field a lot. 11:17 PM ETStanzi completes 10 yard pass to McNutt. First down. 11:17 PM ETPass Interference. First down Iowa. 11:16 PM ETGoes deep again. Almost picked but it looks like the receiver was held. 11:15 PM ETStanzi goes deep again and again over-throws it. 11:15 PM ETFirst down for the Hawkeyes on the Arizona 48. 11:15 PM ETDeep ball to McNutt. Great catch. Flag on the play, but it'll be declined. 11:14 PM ETIowa facing a third and 3. Big play here. 11:13 PM ETZona front 7 continue to be stingy. 11:12 PM ETFumble. Recovered by Iowa. 11:11 PM ETPlayaction works to perfection. 46 yard pass to Criner. 11:11 PM ETFoles looking confident. 11:10 PM ETChains come out. First down. 11:10 PM ETFoles hits roommate Douglas for an apparent first down. 11:09 PM ETZona runs the ball for 3 yards. Can they put more pressure on the Hawkeyes with a nice, methodical drive? 11:06 PM ETGets the punt off, but Iowa gunner runs into receiver as he fair catches the punt. Not smart. Iowa continues to make things more difficult. 11:05 PM ETIowa's punting unit is on. 11:05 PM ETStanzi nearly picked again. 11:03 PM ETSo far the Wildcats are shocking the world, or at least shocking the state of Iowa. 11:02 PM ETReview of the last run to see if Iowa fumbled. That would be devastating. 11:01 PM ETNothing happening there. No gain. third and long. 11:01 PM ETDidn't work as well this time. 2 yard gain. 11:00 PM ETStanzi escapes trouble and scrambles for 14 yards and the first down. 10:59 PM ETHawkeyes moving the wrong way.3rd and 8. 10:59 PM ETA cool 90 degrees on the field tonight. 10:56 PM ETThis is not what the Hawkeyes had planned for tonight. 10:56 PM ETIowa will start at the 20 for the third time. 10:55 PM ETCan Iowa regroup? 10:54 PM ETThe Hawkeyes find themselves in a big hole early on the road. They're in for a long night at this pace. 10:54 PM ETPick six for the Wildcats! 10:53 PM ETChanges the play at the line and it was a good call as they run the ball for 17 yards. 10:52 PM ETStanzi has all day to throw and completes it for a first down. 10:52 PM ETStanzi over throws the deep ball again. 10:51 PM ET2nd and 9. Crowd is deafening. 10:51 PM ET1st down on the 45 yard line. Short run. 10:50 PM ETNice safe play to get the chains moving. 10:49 PM ETRicky Stanzi is a great quarterback and a leader. Lets see if he can respond to the early deficit. 10:47 PM ETHawkeyes are on upset alert early. 10:47 PM ETTouchdown Arizona! 10:45 PM ETFirst play by the Wildcats was almost intercepted. 10:44 PM ETMomentum definitely in the Wildcats' favor. 10:44 PM ETPunt blocked. Wildcats will Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
take over inside their own 10 yard line. 10:43 PM ETThe Arizona cheerleaders looked "happy" 10:43 PM ETHad a man but over-threw him. fourth down 10:42 PM ETThird and long. Stanzi lines them up 10:42 PM ETStopped for no gain again by a swarm of red. 10:42 PM ETLoss of two yards. Arizona is fired up. Lets see how long they can keep it up. 10:41 PM ETTouchback. Ricky Stanzi comes out with his offense. 10:41 PM ETPAC 10 versus Big Ten. This should be a good one. Hawkeyes will receive. Wildcats tee it up and here we go. 10:38 PM ETIowa will get the ball first. 10:37 PM ETWildcats in red, Hawkeyes in white. 10:33 PM ETRicky Stanzi is having a great season thus far, completing over 70% of his passes. On the other side, Nick Foles is completing over 80% of his passes, so it is bound to be an air-it-out affair tonight. Kick-off at 10:40 PM ET.
ETBall game! 02:14 AM ETone chance for Iowa. crazier things have happened. 02:10 AM ET2nd and 10 02:10 AM ETFirst down ends it. 02:09 AM ETI guess they did. 02:09 AM ETWhy is the clock stopped? Did Iowa use their last timeout? 02:08 AM ETBig win for Arizona. 02:07 AM ETAnd Arizona can now go into victory formation. 02:07 AM ETSacked again! Wow. 4 in a row! 02:07 AM ETStanzi is going to be sore tomorrow. 02:06 AM ETSacked again! 02:06 AM ETThe Iowa offensive line is getting killed. 02:05 AM ETAnother sack! 02:04 AM ET3rd and 12. Iowa timeout. 02:04 AM ETStanzi sacked! He's got to get rid of that ball. 02:03 AM ET2nd and 3 02:03 AM ETPass complete, but tackled immediately. 02:02 AM ETIowa will start near the 40. 02:00 AM ETalmost 4 minutes left on the clock. plenty of time for Iowa 02:00 AM ETTouchdown! 02:00 AM ETWright has to make that catch. 01:59 AM ETincomplete in the corner of the endzone. 01:59 AM ET2nd and goal from the 5 yard line. 01:58 AM ETFirst and goal at the nine. 01:58 AM ETFirst down. 01:57 AM ETI think Boise St and LSU might disagree. 01:56 AM ETDid Bob Davie just say that Iowa has the best defensive line in the country? 01:56 AM ETnice play on 2nd and 16. 3rd and very short. 01:54 AM ETArizona lineman down on the field. Hopefully just a cramp. 01:53 AM ETThat's a bad play call right there. 01:53 AM ETThe Wildcats aren't done yet. 01:50 AM ETFoles can show what he's made of here. Will he crack under this pressure or regroup and lead his team to the win? 01:49 AM ETMissed extra point? Wow.Iowa special teams are terrible. 01:47 AM ETPick-six. Iowa returns the favor. 01:45 AM ETArizona needs an answer here. 01:41 AM ETThat's a good call. 01:40 AM ETThis should be a touchdown 01:39 AM ETIowa needs to capitalize here. 01:38 AM ETThis will be pass interference. 01:38 AM ETCall overturned. Iowa ball. 01:36 AM ETIowa player was clearly down with the ball before Arizona took it away from him. 01:35 AM ETThey may review this. 01:35 AM ETWow! Almost a gift for Iowa. 01:34 AM ETTime is running out for the Hawkeyes. 01:34 AM ET4th and 15. 01:33 AM ETAnother sack! Wow. AZ defense is playing inspired ball right now. 01:29 AM ETNice patience on the screen, but not enough for the first. Punt unit on. 01:24 AM ETGood call. Foles was wrapped up and he took a cheap shot. 01:24 AM ETShot to the head. Should have been a penalty 01:22 AM ETI know it's early, but every second counts. 01:22 AM ETStay in bounds! 01:21 AM ETZona needs a long, sustained drive here that results in at least 3 points. 01:20 AM ETAnother sack! They are dominating the line of scrimmage. 01:19 AM ETHawkeyes again going the wrong way. 01:19 AM ETWildcat fans....15 minutes to the upset. 01:16 AM ETgood, hard tackling by the Wildcats. Iowa just cant get their running game going. 01:16 AM ETIncomplete pass. Over-thrown by Stanzi. 01:15 AM ETAnother pass interference call. 01:15 AM ETFlag down as defender maybe hit McNutt a little early. 01:14 AM ETBig tackle for a loss. 01:13 AM ETPass interference. First down Iowa. Stoops is not happy. 01:13 AM ETFlag down 01:12 AM ETHampton limps off of the field under his own power. 01:12 AM ETHampton, who missed last season with a torn ACL, is down on the field. 01:11 AM ETIowa doesn't seem to be panicing, still running the ball. 01:11 AM ETPunt barely passes the first down marker. 01:10 AM ETArizona lined up to punt. Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
01:10 AM ETUmpire being checked for a concussion on the sideline. 01:09 AM ETIowa fans look to be a little more upbeat as their defense steps up this possession. 01:08 AM ETOfficial took a shoulder to the head as he was spotting the ball. Looks dazed but ok. 01:07 AM ETOfficial down on the field. 01:07 AM ETThird and 32 coming up. 01:06 AM ETOuch, big pressure and a big hit as Foles loses 12 yards on the blitz 01:06 AM ETUnless Zona scores again, this game isn't over. 01:05 AM ETExpect a heavy dose of Grigsby here. 01:05 AM ETFoles is efficient. 01:04 AM ETI think Stanzi may be dropped from those conversations after tonight. 01:04 AM ETIs Nick Foles in the conversation for one of the best QBs in the Nation? 01:03 AM ETAnother first down pass by Foles. 01:03 AM ETNwoko running hard for 5 yards. 12:58 AM ETCan they mount a comeback? 12:58 AM ETNice deep route and great pass by Stanzi. Touchdown. 12:57 AM ETwow, generous spot! 12:57 AM ETIowa just can't get anything going. Wildcats are living in the backfield. 12:56 AM ETYes! The penalties are making this game drag. Let em play! 12:53 AM ETBig defensive stop on third and short. Loss of four. Zona will punt. 12:53 AM ETVery Dwight Shrute of him! 12:52 AM ETMark Jones rockin' the short sleeve shirt and tie. Nice! 12:52 AM ETPlay stopped. Clock correction. 12:52 AM ET3 WRs for Zona. 12:50 AM ETAlso a morale hit to the Hawkeye defense. 12:50 AM ETThat's what they need to do! Big play. First down. 12:50 AM ETHopefully Arizona won't get too conservative with their play calling. They need to put the nail in the coffin. 12:49 AM ETBig break for Iowa. That could have been big. 12:48 AM ETPunt return being reviewed. If he wasn't down, this could be a back-breaker for Iowa. 12:45 AM ETnice job by the Iowa punt unit. 12:44 AM ETgain of 7, but only back to the original line of scrimmage. 12:43 AM ETStanzi sacked. Arizona doesn't look to be letting up. 12:39 AM ETIowa takes over at their 35 yardline. 12:38 AM ETIncomplete. Wildcats will have to punt. 12:38 AM ETBig third down for Zona 12:37 AM ETTimeout Arizona 12:36 AM ETA little fire in the Iowa defense? 12:35 AM ETFoles smartly throws the ball at the feet of his RB as the screen play was busted. 12:35 AM ETNick Foles continues to pick the Iowa defense apart. 12:34 AM ETIowa has a deep hole to climb out of in the second half. 12:33 AM ETTouchback. 12:26 AM ETI wonder how Iowa will respond on the opening kickoff. Their coach just called out their special teams on national tv. 12:10 AM ETHalftime. 27-7 Arizona. Will Iowa regroup in the second half? 12:09 AM ETSquib kick. Iowa will take over at the 41 yard line. 12:08 AM ET27-7 Wildcats. 12:07 AM ETField goal attempt from 47 yards. Kick is good. 12:07 AM ETAlmost picked. Foles needs to compose himself. 12:06 AM ETMissed that one too. A little too high for wide open Criner. 12:05 AM ETFoles missed that one. Good look though. 12:05 AM ETWide open Wright. Zona is moving the chains. 12:05 AM ETNice strong run by Grigsby. 12:04 AM ETGood, patient draw play by Zona. First down. 12:03 AM ETIowa needs a stop. 12:03 AM ETArizona looks like they want to put up more points before halftime. 12:02 AM ETAnother ridiculous punt! But out of the endzone. Touchback. 12:01 AM ETStanzi is begging to be picked off. 11:59 PM ETIowa moving the chains easily now. Can they keep it up? 11:58 PM ETStanzi chooses to stay in bounds and take the hit for an extra 5 yards. Like the passion but as a QB you have to be careful. 11:57 PM ET5 WRs, completes over the middle for a first down. 11:57 PM ETIowa starts at the 20. 11:57 PM ETYou're in college, you can't catch a ball on your knees and then get up. You have to be smarter than that. 11:56 PM ETIowa needs to get something going before halftime if they want any chance of winning this game. 11:53 PM ETWildcats will have to settle for a field goal. 11:50 PM ETAnother big run for Arizona. First and goal after the 18 yard run. 11:49 PM ETMichigan State just won in overtime on a fake field goal. WOW! 11:48 PM ETArizona moving the ball in chunks. 16 yard run. First down. 11:47 PM ETAnother first down on a nice Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
crossing route. 11:46 PM ETFirst down Wildcats. Every seconds that runs off is big for Iowa right now. 11:46 PM ETBig hit! gain of 5. 11:45 PM ETWow! That punt seemed to be in the air for 10 seconds. 11:44 PM ETAnother stop for the Wildcats. 11:43 PM ETDraw play doesn't fool anyone. No gain. 11:42 PM ETStanzi deep. Should have been caught. 11:39 PM ETIowa takes over at their own 44. 11:39 PM ETLooks like OT in East Lansing. 11:38 PM ETIncomplete. 3 and out for the Wildcats. Not good for their defense. 11:38 PM ETAntolin with a 3 yard run. 3rd and 5. 11:37 PM ETBobbled punt reception. Zona needs a long offensive drive here to give the defense a rest. 11:36 PM ET4th down for the Hawkeyes. 11:34 PM ETIowa should run the ball every play. The Wildcats defense is exhausted. 11:30 PM ET21-7. This is not good for the Arizona defense. They haven't had a rest yet. 11:29 PM ETWildcats take the Iowa kickoff to the house! 20-7. Extra point pending. 11:27 PM ETIowa had a great drive. Zona defense looks exhausted. 11:27 PM ETHampton comes out of the backfield to catch a touchdown pass. 11:25 PM ETComing out of a timeout, let's see what the Iowa offense does. They need a touchdown here to get some of the momentum. 11:23 PM ETTimeout Arizona. 11:23 PM ET3rd and goal from the 4 yard line. 11:23 PM ETHampton just blew up a linebacker on an absolutely incredible block by a RB. 11:22 PM ETPass in traffic. Tipped by Wildcat defender. 11:21 PM ETBarn burner in Michigan as Notre Dame and Michigan St are locked up at 28. 11:19 PM ETAt the end of the first quarter, Iowa trails 14-0, but looking better on this drive. 11:19 PM ET2nd and goal 11:19 PM ETZona defense tightens up on the goal line. 11:18 PM ETFirst and goal after another first down pass by Stanzi. 11:18 PM ETZona defense looks winded. They've been on the field a lot. 11:17 PM ETStanzi completes 10 yard pass to McNutt. First down. 11:17 PM ETPass Interference. First down Iowa. 11:16 PM ETGoes deep again. Almost picked but it looks like the receiver was held. 11:15 PM ETStanzi goes deep again and again over-throws it. 11:15 PM ETFirst down for the Hawkeyes on the Arizona 48. 11:15 PM ETDeep ball to McNutt. Great catch. Flag on the play, but it'll be declined. 11:14 PM ETIowa facing a third and 3. Big play here. 11:13 PM ETZona front 7 continue to be stingy. 11:12 PM ETFumble. Recovered by Iowa. 11:11 PM ETPlayaction works to perfection. 46 yard pass to Criner. 11:11 PM ETFoles looking confident. 11:10 PM ETChains come out. First down. 11:10 PM ETFoles hits roommate Douglas for an apparent first down. 11:09 PM ETZona runs the ball for 3 yards. Can they put more pressure on the Hawkeyes with a nice, methodical drive? 11:06 PM ETGets the punt off, but Iowa gunner runs into receiver as he fair catches the punt. Not smart. Iowa continues to make things more difficult. 11:05 PM ETIowa's punting unit is on. 11:05 PM ETStanzi nearly picked again. 11:03 PM ETSo far the Wildcats are shocking the world, or at least shocking the state of Iowa. 11:02 PM ETReview of the last run to see if Iowa fumbled. That would be devastating. 11:01 PM ETNothing happening there. No gain. third and long. 11:01 PM ETDidn't work as well this time. 2 yard gain. 11:00 PM ETStanzi escapes trouble and scrambles for 14 yards and the first down. 10:59 PM ETHawkeyes moving the wrong way.3rd and 8. 10:59 PM ETA cool 90 degrees on the field tonight. 10:56 PM ETThis is not what the Hawkeyes had planned for tonight. 10:56 PM ETIowa will start at the 20 for the third time. 10:55 PM ETCan Iowa regroup? 10:54 PM ETThe Hawkeyes find themselves in a big hole early on the road. They're in for a long night at this pace. 10:54 PM ETPick six for the Wildcats! 10:53 PM ETChanges the play at the line and it was a good call as they run the ball for 17 yards. 10:52 PM ETStanzi has all day to throw and completes it for a first down. 10:52 PM ETStanzi over throws the deep ball again. 10:51 PM ET2nd and 9. Crowd is deafening. 10:51 PM ET1st down on the 45 yard line. Short run. 10:50 PM ETNice safe play to get the chains moving. 10:49 PM ETRicky Stanzi is a great quarterback and a leader. Lets see if he can respond to the early deficit. 10:47 PM ETHawkeyes are on upset alert early. 10:47 PM ETTouchdown Arizona! 10:45 PM ETFirst play by the Wildcats was almost intercepted. 10:44 PM ETMomentum definitely in the Wildcats' favor. 10:44 PM ETPunt blocked. Wildcats will Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
take over inside their own 10 yard line. 10:43 PM ETThe Arizona cheerleaders looked "happy" 10:43 PM ETHad a man but over-threw him. fourth down 10:42 PM ETThird and long. Stanzi lines them up 10:42 PM ETStopped for no gain again by a swarm of red. 10:42 PM ETLoss of two yards. Arizona is fired up. Lets see how long they can keep it up. 10:41 PM ETTouchback. Ricky Stanzi comes out with his offense. 10:41 PM ETPAC 10 versus Big Ten. This should be a good one. Hawkeyes will receive. Wildcats tee it up and here we go. 10:38 PM ETIowa will get the ball first. 10:37 PM ETWildcats in red, Hawkeyes in white. 10:33 PM ETRicky Stanzi is having a great season thus far, completing over 70% of his passes. On the other side, Nick Foles is completing over 80% of his passes, so it is bound to be an air-it-out affair tonight. Kick-off at 10:40 PM ET.
2011年1月18日星期二
18 Jan 11 Big 12 Football: Thursday Morning One-Liners
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq62/Pumchavas28/ChristineMichael.jpgBaylor will be heading to Houston to play Rice this weekend. It is safe to say that Colorado athletes are excited about the move to the Pac-10. One Iowa State offensive lineman is concerned with the number of penalties that the Cyclones have surrenderedHouston Texans jersey
thus far on the year. If Kansas wants to progress as a team, they know where to startthe offensive line. Kansas Statestarting center Wade Weibert prefers that he fly under the radar. Due to the passing game prevailing for Missouri, Tiger running backs will need to battle to shine. Redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez is playing perfectly well for Nebraska right now. Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini does not want to decrease the workload of his starting quarterback. (I have a feeling it wonbe too long before fans who dislike the Huskers and all analysts start to mention that Martinez has no future in the NFL, a la Eric Crouch.) No. 8 Oklahoma is one of three Big 12 teams on the precipice of the top 5, waiting for a mistake to be made. Oklahoma StateChris Donaldson has transitioned extremely well since transferring Indianapolis Colts jersey
from junior college. Whatgot Texas fans all hot and bothered, calling for the head of their offensive coordinator Mac McWhorter? What exactly has Texas AMChristine Michael done so far this year? Tommy Tuberville and Texas Tech are excited about their new jumbo video screen.
thus far on the year. If Kansas wants to progress as a team, they know where to startthe offensive line. Kansas Statestarting center Wade Weibert prefers that he fly under the radar. Due to the passing game prevailing for Missouri, Tiger running backs will need to battle to shine. Redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez is playing perfectly well for Nebraska right now. Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini does not want to decrease the workload of his starting quarterback. (I have a feeling it wonbe too long before fans who dislike the Huskers and all analysts start to mention that Martinez has no future in the NFL, a la Eric Crouch.) No. 8 Oklahoma is one of three Big 12 teams on the precipice of the top 5, waiting for a mistake to be made. Oklahoma StateChris Donaldson has transitioned extremely well since transferring Indianapolis Colts jersey
from junior college. Whatgot Texas fans all hot and bothered, calling for the head of their offensive coordinator Mac McWhorter? What exactly has Texas AMChristine Michael done so far this year? Tommy Tuberville and Texas Tech are excited about their new jumbo video screen.
2011年1月15日星期六
15 Jan 11 Detroit Lions Boss Bailey Derrick Brooks Georgia Bulldogs Tampa 2
When training camp starts, Detroit Lions linebacker Boss Bailey will finally take the field. He won't be able to until then because of an ailing ankle. However, when he does finally lace up his cleats, it won't be at his usual strong-side linebacker position; instead, he will make the transition to the middle linebacker spot.The Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
coaching staff is implementing the Tampa 2 defensive scheme, similar to that of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts. With the success the Tampa 2 has had in recent years, the Lions aren't the only team switching over to it this year. In fact, their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings, are also doing it.In this new defense, the job of the middle linebacker consists of many things. The main thing is dropping into coverage. It is imperative in the Tampa 2 scheme for the middle 'backer to be fast and have the ability to get deep quick, and have the agility to play the pass. Luckily for the Lions, their young linebacker, Bailey, has these skills, so he should be able to make the transition.Bailey was a second-round pick in 2003. In his rookie year, the Georgia Bulldogs product tallied 88 tackles, an interception and 1 1/2 sacks, displaying at times, his prowess on the field. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2004 season recovering from offseason knee surgery. He came back in 2005, but missed five games. In the 11 games Bailey started, he recorded his first touchdown when he returned an errant Jake Delhomme pass 34 yards for the score. He also finished third on the team in tackles, despite the missed time. His season ended on because of an injury he sustained toReebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
his ankle in a game against the Cardinals in November. Subsequently, the Detroit Lions placed him on injured reserve.While health concerns must be taken into consideration with the linebacker, when on the field, he has shown the propensity to come up with the big play whether that be a sack, tackle or interception. For the Lions' defense to get better, Bailey must be on the field--healthy. With the "Boss" manning the middle, Teddy Lehman will take over Bailey's strong-side spot, and rookie first-round pick Ernie Sims will play the weak side.With the importance of the middle linebacker in the Tampa 2 scheme, will Bailey be the Detroit Lions' Derrick Brooks? The blue and silver faithful can only hope.Get more Boss Bailey insights Eric Krupka can be reached at ekrupka (0
coaching staff is implementing the Tampa 2 defensive scheme, similar to that of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts. With the success the Tampa 2 has had in recent years, the Lions aren't the only team switching over to it this year. In fact, their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings, are also doing it.In this new defense, the job of the middle linebacker consists of many things. The main thing is dropping into coverage. It is imperative in the Tampa 2 scheme for the middle 'backer to be fast and have the ability to get deep quick, and have the agility to play the pass. Luckily for the Lions, their young linebacker, Bailey, has these skills, so he should be able to make the transition.Bailey was a second-round pick in 2003. In his rookie year, the Georgia Bulldogs product tallied 88 tackles, an interception and 1 1/2 sacks, displaying at times, his prowess on the field. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2004 season recovering from offseason knee surgery. He came back in 2005, but missed five games. In the 11 games Bailey started, he recorded his first touchdown when he returned an errant Jake Delhomme pass 34 yards for the score. He also finished third on the team in tackles, despite the missed time. His season ended on because of an injury he sustained toReebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
his ankle in a game against the Cardinals in November. Subsequently, the Detroit Lions placed him on injured reserve.While health concerns must be taken into consideration with the linebacker, when on the field, he has shown the propensity to come up with the big play whether that be a sack, tackle or interception. For the Lions' defense to get better, Bailey must be on the field--healthy. With the "Boss" manning the middle, Teddy Lehman will take over Bailey's strong-side spot, and rookie first-round pick Ernie Sims will play the weak side.With the importance of the middle linebacker in the Tampa 2 scheme, will Bailey be the Detroit Lions' Derrick Brooks? The blue and silver faithful can only hope.Get more Boss Bailey insights Eric Krupka can be reached at ekrupka (0
2011年1月13日星期四
14 Jan 11 Expectations for 2009 Detroit Lions
The unis have a sleeker look.The logo looks a little more menacing.That's all I got.After a historically dismal season in 2008 in which they went winless (in case you haven't heard), the Detroit Lions look to bounce back with baby steps this year and win a few games. There are new faces galore and some promise at certain positions, but depth issues and a daunting schedule likely may be Detroit's demise again this season.The Lions selected Matthew Stafford with the number one overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft. Although his long, St. Louis Rams jersey
shaggy hair and huge rookie contract (over 40 million in guaranteed money) may both look ridiculous, his talent and upside is not. Stafford is strong, athletic, mobile and possesses a cannon for an arm. Recently un-retired veteran Daunte Culpepper should get the starting nod over Stafford, but after an extended slide, expect Lions fans to start chanting "We Want Stafford!" faster than they did chant "Fire Millen!" Look for the rook to get sporadic playing time in 4th quarter blowouts, with his first start coming after the bye week.Outside of proven talents Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson, the depth at running back and wide receiver is a cause for concern. Veterans Avieon Cason, Maurice Morris, Keary Colbert and Bryant Johnson have all logged NFL games and stats, but none of them necessarily jump off the charts. Dennis Northcutt, picked up from Jacksonville, will be slated as the number two receiver. Rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew will get his share of footballs thrown his way and instant production should follow.The Linebacking corps of the Lions looks on paper to be the team's biggest strength. Larry Foote was picked up from the World Champion Steelers and Julian Peterson was acquired in a trade for Cory Redding. Throw in Ernie Sims into that mix, and the linebackers look formidable. Expect that unit to record more sacks than the D-Line, with former Falcon Grady Jackson signed as the only marquee name.The Lions also addressed their secondary. After giving up a ton of big plays last season, the signings of Anthony Henry, Tennessee Titans jersey
Marquand Manuel, Philip Buchanon and Stuart Schweigert can provide optimism and can limit those big plays. Three of those four are likely to start with Schweigert battling Daniel Bullocks for one of the two safety spots.After the defense, the most noticeable change to the Lions is their coaching staff. After 10 years in with the Tennessee Titans organization, Jim Schwartz has been brought in and immeadiately wants to preach defense. Scott Linehan and Gunther Cunningham have also been brought in at offensive and defensive coordinator spots, respectively.The smartest move this organization has made in recent memory is getting rid of former GM Matt Millen. Lions fans can attest that Millen sounds more credible on TV analyzing, than actually running a franchise; into the ground, that is, during his tenure. What's up with all the receiver draft picks? (Thanks for coming, Mike Williams and Charlie Rogers) Now, former defensive back Martin Mayhew takes the GM reigns, and although they're unproven, Stafford and Pettigrew look like solid choices.Let's be real Lions fans. You won't go to the Super Bowl, contend for the playoffs or the division and you will not get to .500 this season. Once the team gets that first W, the monkey is off your back. Then talk of a winning streak or even a road playoff win can begin to bubble up, but in a revamped division with a tough schedule, 4 wins is acceptable for a rebuilding team, but 6 wins or more would be considered a very good season.It's better than that bagel in the win column that Lions fans had to Washington Redskins jersey
endure last season, but when watching the games this season, whether it's on your couch or at the bar, if you're looking for loyalty towards your team, look no farther than placekicker Jason Hanson (18 seasons with the Lions). His longevity alone will give the team at least a couple game-winners this upcoming season.Hey, take what you can get.
shaggy hair and huge rookie contract (over 40 million in guaranteed money) may both look ridiculous, his talent and upside is not. Stafford is strong, athletic, mobile and possesses a cannon for an arm. Recently un-retired veteran Daunte Culpepper should get the starting nod over Stafford, but after an extended slide, expect Lions fans to start chanting "We Want Stafford!" faster than they did chant "Fire Millen!" Look for the rook to get sporadic playing time in 4th quarter blowouts, with his first start coming after the bye week.Outside of proven talents Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson, the depth at running back and wide receiver is a cause for concern. Veterans Avieon Cason, Maurice Morris, Keary Colbert and Bryant Johnson have all logged NFL games and stats, but none of them necessarily jump off the charts. Dennis Northcutt, picked up from Jacksonville, will be slated as the number two receiver. Rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew will get his share of footballs thrown his way and instant production should follow.The Linebacking corps of the Lions looks on paper to be the team's biggest strength. Larry Foote was picked up from the World Champion Steelers and Julian Peterson was acquired in a trade for Cory Redding. Throw in Ernie Sims into that mix, and the linebackers look formidable. Expect that unit to record more sacks than the D-Line, with former Falcon Grady Jackson signed as the only marquee name.The Lions also addressed their secondary. After giving up a ton of big plays last season, the signings of Anthony Henry, Tennessee Titans jersey
Marquand Manuel, Philip Buchanon and Stuart Schweigert can provide optimism and can limit those big plays. Three of those four are likely to start with Schweigert battling Daniel Bullocks for one of the two safety spots.After the defense, the most noticeable change to the Lions is their coaching staff. After 10 years in with the Tennessee Titans organization, Jim Schwartz has been brought in and immeadiately wants to preach defense. Scott Linehan and Gunther Cunningham have also been brought in at offensive and defensive coordinator spots, respectively.The smartest move this organization has made in recent memory is getting rid of former GM Matt Millen. Lions fans can attest that Millen sounds more credible on TV analyzing, than actually running a franchise; into the ground, that is, during his tenure. What's up with all the receiver draft picks? (Thanks for coming, Mike Williams and Charlie Rogers) Now, former defensive back Martin Mayhew takes the GM reigns, and although they're unproven, Stafford and Pettigrew look like solid choices.Let's be real Lions fans. You won't go to the Super Bowl, contend for the playoffs or the division and you will not get to .500 this season. Once the team gets that first W, the monkey is off your back. Then talk of a winning streak or even a road playoff win can begin to bubble up, but in a revamped division with a tough schedule, 4 wins is acceptable for a rebuilding team, but 6 wins or more would be considered a very good season.It's better than that bagel in the win column that Lions fans had to Washington Redskins jersey
endure last season, but when watching the games this season, whether it's on your couch or at the bar, if you're looking for loyalty towards your team, look no farther than placekicker Jason Hanson (18 seasons with the Lions). His longevity alone will give the team at least a couple game-winners this upcoming season.Hey, take what you can get.
2011年1月12日星期三
13 Jan 11 Portland-Milwaukee: Rudy Fernandez Returns as Blazers Hold Off Bucks, 120-108
The photo is from Krizzikinz on Twitter, who happened to win courtside seats from the Tweet-up.Despite giving away much of a 33-point second half lead to the Bucks last night, Portland righted the ship in the fourth quarter, beating Milwaukee 120-108.On a night where Rudy Fernandez returned to a monstrous ovation, the Blazers led by as many as 33 points, and shot a ridiculous 60 percent from the field, this game was out of hand early in the first half.Both teams spent the first few minutes shaking a little rust, but before we knew it, Portland had built a Cleveland Browns jersey
31-16 first quarter lead and never looked back. Milwaukee's defense could not handle Brandon Roy and company. They allowed every Blazer player open looks without much resistance.By the time the end of the third quarter came around, it was almost as though the Blazers were up by too much. In the NBA, no lead is really safe. But many of the bench players were in to finish off the game and I blame a lot of a 4-5 minute stretch of no field goals on the "Chalupa chant."I mean seriously, when your team is up by at least 20, and the home team has 97 points, they are not going to come down and fire threes just to get Chalupas. The Chalupa cheers should come after 100, not before. Don't jinx them! I'd also like to see Blazer stats at home when the score is within one, two, or three of 100 points. I bet Portland is shooting 19 percent?Overall it was a solid victory and the rout that Portland needed. The Blazers haven't had an easy win in a while and this is just a warm-up for Orlando at home tomorrow and an East Coast road trip next week. Solid work all around for theDallas Cowboys jersey
Blazers.Box ScoreThe GoodAnytime a team shoots 60 percent from the floor that's a good thing. When you look at the box score , every starter literally shot 60 percent from the floor as well. It bodes well for Portland if every player is finding a rhythm offensively, because there will be games where other guys must step up and score with Brandon doubled or LaMarcus having an off night.Rudy Fernandez came back last night, and when he checked in, the crowd went ballistic. I'm pretty sure Portland loves Rudy. It's almost unsafe, I watched more than a few people completely lose their minds when they saw him. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he's more popular than Brandon Roy.Jeff Pendergraph continues to impress me. It's really amazing how he flawlessly transitioned into his rookie year, following hip surgery, and now just seems to fit in. From the pregame huddle dance to the toughness on the floor, Jeff is finding a nice niche on this team.Last night especially, we saw him get even more comfortable on this team. Defensively he flew around and had two blocked shots, while on offense he had a baseline fade-away jumper and even hit a deep, top-of-the-key jumper. The guy looks good, his shot feels good, I like his chances. Tremendous effort.The BadThe only bad came for Portland in the fourth quarter. With the game nearly out of reach, Milwaukee began to press Jerryd Bayless and Steve Blake with much success. Bayless seemed confused and disoriented by this tactic and it led to the minor meltdown in that final period.Fortunately, Denver Broncos jersey
Nate had enough and put Andre Miller back in. Miller broke the double-team every time, found the open man, and eventually put the game back out of reach. Miller proved once again his worth to the team last night. He is fitting in nicely. Naysayers need to pay attention to Andre, he's quietly doing everything right.The UglyWoah, look at this gem. A 2-for-1 in this department! Really though, from my vantage point last night, Andrew Bogut is HUGE. He looks like the giant from Princess Bride compared to the rest of the players on both teams. Fortunately Portland held him in check tonight.
31-16 first quarter lead and never looked back. Milwaukee's defense could not handle Brandon Roy and company. They allowed every Blazer player open looks without much resistance.By the time the end of the third quarter came around, it was almost as though the Blazers were up by too much. In the NBA, no lead is really safe. But many of the bench players were in to finish off the game and I blame a lot of a 4-5 minute stretch of no field goals on the "Chalupa chant."I mean seriously, when your team is up by at least 20, and the home team has 97 points, they are not going to come down and fire threes just to get Chalupas. The Chalupa cheers should come after 100, not before. Don't jinx them! I'd also like to see Blazer stats at home when the score is within one, two, or three of 100 points. I bet Portland is shooting 19 percent?Overall it was a solid victory and the rout that Portland needed. The Blazers haven't had an easy win in a while and this is just a warm-up for Orlando at home tomorrow and an East Coast road trip next week. Solid work all around for theDallas Cowboys jersey
Blazers.Box ScoreThe GoodAnytime a team shoots 60 percent from the floor that's a good thing. When you look at the box score , every starter literally shot 60 percent from the floor as well. It bodes well for Portland if every player is finding a rhythm offensively, because there will be games where other guys must step up and score with Brandon doubled or LaMarcus having an off night.Rudy Fernandez came back last night, and when he checked in, the crowd went ballistic. I'm pretty sure Portland loves Rudy. It's almost unsafe, I watched more than a few people completely lose their minds when they saw him. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he's more popular than Brandon Roy.Jeff Pendergraph continues to impress me. It's really amazing how he flawlessly transitioned into his rookie year, following hip surgery, and now just seems to fit in. From the pregame huddle dance to the toughness on the floor, Jeff is finding a nice niche on this team.Last night especially, we saw him get even more comfortable on this team. Defensively he flew around and had two blocked shots, while on offense he had a baseline fade-away jumper and even hit a deep, top-of-the-key jumper. The guy looks good, his shot feels good, I like his chances. Tremendous effort.The BadThe only bad came for Portland in the fourth quarter. With the game nearly out of reach, Milwaukee began to press Jerryd Bayless and Steve Blake with much success. Bayless seemed confused and disoriented by this tactic and it led to the minor meltdown in that final period.Fortunately, Denver Broncos jersey
Nate had enough and put Andre Miller back in. Miller broke the double-team every time, found the open man, and eventually put the game back out of reach. Miller proved once again his worth to the team last night. He is fitting in nicely. Naysayers need to pay attention to Andre, he's quietly doing everything right.The UglyWoah, look at this gem. A 2-for-1 in this department! Really though, from my vantage point last night, Andrew Bogut is HUGE. He looks like the giant from Princess Bride compared to the rest of the players on both teams. Fortunately Portland held him in check tonight.
12 Jan 11 New York Knicks : Ready To Win Now Or Poised For Future?
Nick Laham/Getty ImagesEveryone talks about the 2010 NBA free agent market as if it will be the greatest of all classes ever. With the likes of Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, and of course Lebron James up for grabs, the potential to rebuild a team from the bottom upis unparalleled. New York Giants jersey
Yet, a certain amount of this hype surrounds Lebron James' possible acquisition by the New York Knicks. He is already the most marketable man on the face of the earth and he plays in Cleveland for gods sake. Yet, do the Knicks really need him? The answer is no. If the Knicks are able to retain their core of David Lee, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Al Harrington, they have the potential to be a winning team. As it stands now, they have a consistent double-double threat in David Lee (a player once again snubbed from the All-Star game)who at this point in the season is averaging almost 20 pts a game and almost 11.5 rebounds. Yet, he is only 6 ft 9'. If the Knicks could add a dominant center such asYao Mingor even an All-Star on the backend ofhis careers such asor Zydrunas Ilgauskas,it wouldpush David Lee to the power forward position (his natural position)where he can utilize the post moves he has developed and still allow him to shoot his solid 10-12 ft jump shoot that has become increasingly reliable. At the SF position, you have the perennially improving Danilo Galinari who is turning into a dead eye 3-point shooter putting up an incredible 40.2% from beyond the arc. Keep in mind, he stands at a solid 6 ft 10' maybe even 6 ft 11' and at the ripe young age of 20 years old, he stands to grow even more during his tenure with the Knicks over the next few years. By retaining Wilson Chandler and Al Harrington (both solid 3-pt shooters and post players), it allows for the high tempo offense of Mike D'Antoni to flourish allowing for quick substitutions and quick refreshing of the players. Between Galinari, Harrington, and Chandler, they are averagin almost 45 points a game and almost 15 rebounds. If the Knicks are able to do a roation between them to keep them fresh, those stats are New York Jets jersey
more inclined to rise. Chris Duhon, is a solid point guard who will consistently give you 5-10 assists per game (he is currently averaging 6.5 apg). He can score when neccesary, averaging almost 10 pointsper game and shooting an above average 35% from beyond the arc. The X factor for the Knicks is a dominant shooting guard or point guard who can control the game at the neccesary tempo set by D'Antoni, yet would also be able totake over and put the Knicks over the top at the end of games. With the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and Joe Johnson most likely out of the picture (near guarantees that they resign with their hometown teams), that leaves several options for the Knicks. The most attractive are those options of aging superstars who can still perform at high levels, yet would not command as much as others will, to perform at the same level. Prospects for the Knicks could be anyone from Ray Allen to Tracy McGrady to Michael Redd or even Allen Iverson. Each of these players while injury prone yes, could be huge additions if Oakland Raiders jersey
they can remain healthy and perform at even 75% of their prime. When you look at the Knicks roster now, you do not see neccesarily a championship team. With the addition of say Ilgauskas and Allen, the Knicks can go deep into the playoffs with a lineup boasting 4 perennial All-Stars. The Knicks are not built to win this season or maybe even the next one. But, adding two stars at lower cost and given two years to develop, the Knicks will be a contending beast in the east.
Yet, a certain amount of this hype surrounds Lebron James' possible acquisition by the New York Knicks. He is already the most marketable man on the face of the earth and he plays in Cleveland for gods sake. Yet, do the Knicks really need him? The answer is no. If the Knicks are able to retain their core of David Lee, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Al Harrington, they have the potential to be a winning team. As it stands now, they have a consistent double-double threat in David Lee (a player once again snubbed from the All-Star game)who at this point in the season is averaging almost 20 pts a game and almost 11.5 rebounds. Yet, he is only 6 ft 9'. If the Knicks could add a dominant center such asYao Mingor even an All-Star on the backend ofhis careers such asor Zydrunas Ilgauskas,it wouldpush David Lee to the power forward position (his natural position)where he can utilize the post moves he has developed and still allow him to shoot his solid 10-12 ft jump shoot that has become increasingly reliable. At the SF position, you have the perennially improving Danilo Galinari who is turning into a dead eye 3-point shooter putting up an incredible 40.2% from beyond the arc. Keep in mind, he stands at a solid 6 ft 10' maybe even 6 ft 11' and at the ripe young age of 20 years old, he stands to grow even more during his tenure with the Knicks over the next few years. By retaining Wilson Chandler and Al Harrington (both solid 3-pt shooters and post players), it allows for the high tempo offense of Mike D'Antoni to flourish allowing for quick substitutions and quick refreshing of the players. Between Galinari, Harrington, and Chandler, they are averagin almost 45 points a game and almost 15 rebounds. If the Knicks are able to do a roation between them to keep them fresh, those stats are New York Jets jersey
more inclined to rise. Chris Duhon, is a solid point guard who will consistently give you 5-10 assists per game (he is currently averaging 6.5 apg). He can score when neccesary, averaging almost 10 pointsper game and shooting an above average 35% from beyond the arc. The X factor for the Knicks is a dominant shooting guard or point guard who can control the game at the neccesary tempo set by D'Antoni, yet would also be able totake over and put the Knicks over the top at the end of games. With the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and Joe Johnson most likely out of the picture (near guarantees that they resign with their hometown teams), that leaves several options for the Knicks. The most attractive are those options of aging superstars who can still perform at high levels, yet would not command as much as others will, to perform at the same level. Prospects for the Knicks could be anyone from Ray Allen to Tracy McGrady to Michael Redd or even Allen Iverson. Each of these players while injury prone yes, could be huge additions if Oakland Raiders jersey
they can remain healthy and perform at even 75% of their prime. When you look at the Knicks roster now, you do not see neccesarily a championship team. With the addition of say Ilgauskas and Allen, the Knicks can go deep into the playoffs with a lineup boasting 4 perennial All-Stars. The Knicks are not built to win this season or maybe even the next one. But, adding two stars at lower cost and given two years to develop, the Knicks will be a contending beast in the east.
2011年1月10日星期一
10 Jan 11 Tracy McGrady Can Make The Bulls a Contender
Even though the reports are saying that Tracy McGrady will be headed to the New York Knicks by Thursday, the Bulls still have time to get him and they should.The Bulls have nothing to lose and need to realize that T-Mac can still play. T-Mac has been training with Tim Grover, the same trainer who trained Michael Jordan. Grover is a proven trainer and recently helped Dwyane Wade save his career. Wade came back to the Olympics in 2008 and just dominated and then he went on to have one of his best seasons in 2008-09.McGrady is arguably the hungriest player in New Orleans Saints jersey
the NBA right now. This man has too much to prove and he is mad. McGrady can still average 25 in this league, but people don't believe that because he hasn't played a full season for so long. Tracy was a great player when he was healthy and never really got to showcase his abilities when he was out for so long and people just counted him out.Now he wants to show the world he can still play and still be effective. Tracy can still play and he will prove that no matter what team picks him up. But whichever team picks him up will be lucky because that team can make a serious run depending on who they are.The Knicks are a good team for McGrady to go to because in Mike D'Antoni's open offense he will be free to showcase his abilities and can show people he can still score. But the Bulls need him more than any team. They are currently 26-26 and are sitting as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Derrick Rose has been playing extremely well as of late and is already becoming a star.Rose is the perfect star to build around and can make this franchise super successful in the future but the Bulls have the pieces to win now and they are that one piece away from being that team that can beat anyone no matter what their record is. That piece is a guy like Tracy McGrady. A guy who can take games over with his scoring and can make plays because he is so big and athletic.McGrady is a match up nightmare and he would taken a lot of pressure off of Rose. T-Mac and Rose could make a great 1-2 punch and even though the Bulls can't be a first seed in the East they can still be a fifth or sixth seed and they would have enough firepower to beat teams like the Celtics, Magic, Hawks, and maybe even the Cavs in the playoffs.McGrady, who is not a selfish player, would be fine with Rose getting the shine and they New York Giants jersey
could really make things happen in the East. If the Bulls are serious about winning they need T-Mac NOW! This guy is going to make a lot of owners feel stupid once he plays, but the Knicks are playing meaningless basketball and probably won't make the playoffs.If T-Mac goes to Chicago and plays well they can even re-sign him in the offseason and they would be a big man away form being serious contenders for many years. McGrady is the perfect fit for the Bulls and it could be a magic season for the Bulls if they work out a trade for him in the next day.
the NBA right now. This man has too much to prove and he is mad. McGrady can still average 25 in this league, but people don't believe that because he hasn't played a full season for so long. Tracy was a great player when he was healthy and never really got to showcase his abilities when he was out for so long and people just counted him out.Now he wants to show the world he can still play and still be effective. Tracy can still play and he will prove that no matter what team picks him up. But whichever team picks him up will be lucky because that team can make a serious run depending on who they are.The Knicks are a good team for McGrady to go to because in Mike D'Antoni's open offense he will be free to showcase his abilities and can show people he can still score. But the Bulls need him more than any team. They are currently 26-26 and are sitting as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Derrick Rose has been playing extremely well as of late and is already becoming a star.Rose is the perfect star to build around and can make this franchise super successful in the future but the Bulls have the pieces to win now and they are that one piece away from being that team that can beat anyone no matter what their record is. That piece is a guy like Tracy McGrady. A guy who can take games over with his scoring and can make plays because he is so big and athletic.McGrady is a match up nightmare and he would taken a lot of pressure off of Rose. T-Mac and Rose could make a great 1-2 punch and even though the Bulls can't be a first seed in the East they can still be a fifth or sixth seed and they would have enough firepower to beat teams like the Celtics, Magic, Hawks, and maybe even the Cavs in the playoffs.McGrady, who is not a selfish player, would be fine with Rose getting the shine and they New York Giants jersey
could really make things happen in the East. If the Bulls are serious about winning they need T-Mac NOW! This guy is going to make a lot of owners feel stupid once he plays, but the Knicks are playing meaningless basketball and probably won't make the playoffs.If T-Mac goes to Chicago and plays well they can even re-sign him in the offseason and they would be a big man away form being serious contenders for many years. McGrady is the perfect fit for the Bulls and it could be a magic season for the Bulls if they work out a trade for him in the next day.
10 Jan 11 T-Mac Gut Feeling: No Trade Will Occur, Houston Happy with Current Team
Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesSome say the demands may be too high.But maybe it also because Houston doesn want to give up any major pieces of their current success, as Rockets general manager Daryl Morey seems more than happy with his current team.I could be completely wrong, as I am rarely correct when it comes to making calls such as this one.However, I do know one thing is certain: this Rockets team thrives on clubhouse chemistry and Morey isn about to screw that up.With Houston finally taking control late in the third quarter against Milwaukee, Green Bay Packers jersey
dominating the Bucks in the second half of play, tomorrow trade deadline still looms.Will Houston Rockets make a blockbuster trade and rid themselves of their disgruntled star in Tracy McGrady?Only time will tell, but at this time early reports indicate the Chicago Bulls have dropped out of the T-Mac sweepstakes and the New York Knicks may be bluffing in terms of their latest offers including draft picks.Regardless of what happens come deadline tomorrow afternoon, Morey and the Rockets are still in great position to make a solid run in the West.Until Thursday 2 p.m. CST ticker
dominating the Bucks in the second half of play, tomorrow trade deadline still looms.Will Houston Rockets make a blockbuster trade and rid themselves of their disgruntled star in Tracy McGrady?Only time will tell, but at this time early reports indicate the Chicago Bulls have dropped out of the T-Mac sweepstakes and the New York Knicks may be bluffing in terms of their latest offers including draft picks.Regardless of what happens come deadline tomorrow afternoon, Morey and the Rockets are still in great position to make a solid run in the West.Until Thursday 2 p.m. CST ticker
2011年1月9日星期日
9 Jan 11 Bulls Trades: A Good Or Bad Thing?
Bulls fans were excited when they heard the rumors of a trade swelling up during the All-Star break. But, many were disappointed once they saw who was traded away, and who they got back. Yet, there were still those who looked at the glass half full, instead of half empty. I was one of the ones looking at it half full. I was hoping we would get some productivity out of the new additions, and then land a top free agent over the summer. Well, so far my hope has become reality.The main concern going around when Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
were traded was that the Bulls organization was giving up on this year to land a top free agent prospect during the off-season. Some of the possibilities for them will be: Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Carlos Boozer. I do not believe they have a chance with James, but getting Wade, Bosh, or Boozer is a definite possibility. A lot of people have crossed off Wade, but I think if he goes out and looks for a new team Chicago would be one of his top destinations, because that is where he grew up as a kid.The trades that the Bulls acquired during the All-Star break will open up enough salary to land one of these prospects. The thing is, the Bulls trades have actually contributed to the Bulls success since the All-Star break. They have had a strong 6-3 record since the trades have occurred. Although it looked like giving away Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons would hurt them, it has not affected them as of yet.During the 8 games that Hakim Warrick has played, he has average 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. Flip Murray has also contributed, adding just over 10 points as well. The combination of these players, and existing ones such as, Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, and Joakim Noah, make this team dangerous if they get hot.So, what was the Bulls main reason Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
behind trading away Thomas and Salmons? I still believe it was just to get enough salary room for top player. But, so far the Bulls have lucked out, and these new players have had a key role in their success so far. The only question I have is, if these players continue to contribute, will they keep them, or just throw them out the window?
were traded was that the Bulls organization was giving up on this year to land a top free agent prospect during the off-season. Some of the possibilities for them will be: Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Carlos Boozer. I do not believe they have a chance with James, but getting Wade, Bosh, or Boozer is a definite possibility. A lot of people have crossed off Wade, but I think if he goes out and looks for a new team Chicago would be one of his top destinations, because that is where he grew up as a kid.The trades that the Bulls acquired during the All-Star break will open up enough salary to land one of these prospects. The thing is, the Bulls trades have actually contributed to the Bulls success since the All-Star break. They have had a strong 6-3 record since the trades have occurred. Although it looked like giving away Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons would hurt them, it has not affected them as of yet.During the 8 games that Hakim Warrick has played, he has average 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. Flip Murray has also contributed, adding just over 10 points as well. The combination of these players, and existing ones such as, Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, and Joakim Noah, make this team dangerous if they get hot.So, what was the Bulls main reason Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
behind trading away Thomas and Salmons? I still believe it was just to get enough salary room for top player. But, so far the Bulls have lucked out, and these new players have had a key role in their success so far. The only question I have is, if these players continue to contribute, will they keep them, or just throw them out the window?
2011年1月8日星期六
8 Jan 11 Rockets Money Crunch: Will Les Alexander Spend For a Contender?
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesWhether it was ponying up the $3 million in cold cash to acquire Ron Artest or the $8 million spending spree that netted the Rockets David Andersen, Chase Budinger, Jermaine Taylor, and Sergio Llull, Les Alexander has shown that he is willing to spend to improve his team.However, with an offseason that could prove to be the most important and expensive in recent franchise history, how much will Alexander be willing to spend?Vikram Dimba wrote an excellent piece on a similar subject, but this article will touch on the more Tennessee Titans jersey
fiscal ramifications of the fated summer of 2010.For some background information, the NBA's salary cap can be defined as a "soft" cap. While teams above the cap cannot sign whomever they want, there are variousexceptions that allow teams to exceed the cap.If a team's payroll exceeds the luxury tax threshold, they automatically trigger a dollar-for-dollar payment for as much as they are over the threshold. Because the tax payments are divided up between the non-tax paying teams, there is a multi-million dollar incentive to be below the threshold.The last few years, the Rockets have been over the threshold most of the year only to shed some salary near the deadline, allowing themselves to avoid the luxury tax and receive the tax payment.Currently, the Rockets have just over $58 million in payroll commitments for next year (according to HoopsHype ), and have two major free agents, Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola.With the luxury tax threshold most likely receding to about $65 million, will Les Alexander be willing to pony up the big bucks to try and spark a deep playoff run?That $65 million might not even be enough to just bring back Lowry and Scola. Scola's asking price is surely increasing with the number of 44 point exhibitions he puts on, and Lowry is just starting to get healthy.The wrinkle in this is the crapshoot that is restricted free agency. Often, top restricted free agents are overpaid when teams bid against themselves (i.e. Luol Deng and Andre Iguodala), and other times they struggle to get anything near market value for their Washington Redskins jersey
services (David Lee and Carl Landry) because of the potential for teams to tie up their precious cap space for a week only to be left with no player.Because of the uncertainty that surrounds restricted free agents, the Rockets financial plans are largely fluid. If the Rockets wait Scola and Lowry out and re-sign them on the cheap, they may even be able to make another low-level acquisition and still remain under the luxury tax.However, if their two free agents receive market value, the Rockets will have to go over the tax just to retain the two.Realistically, if the Rockets want to have any chance at a deep run in the playoffs, they will have to exceed the luxury tax. Sure a sign-and-trade for Chris Bosh would be nice, but sign-and-trades are so difficult to pull off that it is not likely a feasible option.The most likely option in the event that Alexander gives the OK to go for it all would be to sign a big man using the MLE who can play alongside Yao but also give minutes backing him up at the 5. Marcus Camby and Jermaine O'Neal would both be good fits, however, given their age it might not be the most prudent spending.So for a final number crunch in my "go for it all" plan:Around $58 million in previous salarycommitments, plus $10 million for Scola and Lowry, plus $4 million for a veteran big man, plus $7 million in Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
luxury tax payments gives a final budget of $79 million versus the less than $70 million he spent this year.Will the lure of a playoff run be enough to entice Les Alexander to open up his wallet and fork over the extra $10 million that it will take to make the Rockets a true contender, or will he be content to collect checks knowing the Rockets' ceiling is a first-round playoff win?If history is any indication, Les Alexander will go for it.
fiscal ramifications of the fated summer of 2010.For some background information, the NBA's salary cap can be defined as a "soft" cap. While teams above the cap cannot sign whomever they want, there are variousexceptions that allow teams to exceed the cap.If a team's payroll exceeds the luxury tax threshold, they automatically trigger a dollar-for-dollar payment for as much as they are over the threshold. Because the tax payments are divided up between the non-tax paying teams, there is a multi-million dollar incentive to be below the threshold.The last few years, the Rockets have been over the threshold most of the year only to shed some salary near the deadline, allowing themselves to avoid the luxury tax and receive the tax payment.Currently, the Rockets have just over $58 million in payroll commitments for next year (according to HoopsHype ), and have two major free agents, Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola.With the luxury tax threshold most likely receding to about $65 million, will Les Alexander be willing to pony up the big bucks to try and spark a deep playoff run?That $65 million might not even be enough to just bring back Lowry and Scola. Scola's asking price is surely increasing with the number of 44 point exhibitions he puts on, and Lowry is just starting to get healthy.The wrinkle in this is the crapshoot that is restricted free agency. Often, top restricted free agents are overpaid when teams bid against themselves (i.e. Luol Deng and Andre Iguodala), and other times they struggle to get anything near market value for their Washington Redskins jersey
services (David Lee and Carl Landry) because of the potential for teams to tie up their precious cap space for a week only to be left with no player.Because of the uncertainty that surrounds restricted free agents, the Rockets financial plans are largely fluid. If the Rockets wait Scola and Lowry out and re-sign them on the cheap, they may even be able to make another low-level acquisition and still remain under the luxury tax.However, if their two free agents receive market value, the Rockets will have to go over the tax just to retain the two.Realistically, if the Rockets want to have any chance at a deep run in the playoffs, they will have to exceed the luxury tax. Sure a sign-and-trade for Chris Bosh would be nice, but sign-and-trades are so difficult to pull off that it is not likely a feasible option.The most likely option in the event that Alexander gives the OK to go for it all would be to sign a big man using the MLE who can play alongside Yao but also give minutes backing him up at the 5. Marcus Camby and Jermaine O'Neal would both be good fits, however, given their age it might not be the most prudent spending.So for a final number crunch in my "go for it all" plan:Around $58 million in previous salarycommitments, plus $10 million for Scola and Lowry, plus $4 million for a veteran big man, plus $7 million in Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
luxury tax payments gives a final budget of $79 million versus the less than $70 million he spent this year.Will the lure of a playoff run be enough to entice Les Alexander to open up his wallet and fork over the extra $10 million that it will take to make the Rockets a true contender, or will he be content to collect checks knowing the Rockets' ceiling is a first-round playoff win?If history is any indication, Les Alexander will go for it.
8 Jan 11 Teen With Cancer Meets Kevin Garnett Of The Boston Celtics
DORCHESTER, Mass. - A teenager suffering from cancer wishes to meet his hero, basketball star Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics. Through an amazing amount of guardian angel magic, his wish is granted through national children charity, Kids Wish Network.17-year-old Deon was having a normal Thursday at school when he felt his jaw crack a little bit. He ignored it and kept on with his day. By Friday, the pain was more severe and he made a trip to the dentist for an X-ray. The dentist took a look at his X-ray and sent Deon straight to the ER. There, heSan Francisco 49ers jersey
was diagnosed with having an osteoblastoma, which is a rare bone-forming tumor, in his jaw. He was rushed into surgery to try and remove the tumor; the surgery took almost 10 hours. Everything happened so fast, said Deon mother, Sherine. He suffers so much each day and it just breaks my heart.Since the initial surgery, Deon has undergone three other surgeries and has had the lower part of his jaw bone removed.During one of her many trips to the hospital with Deon, a social worker asked Sherine if she had ever thought of getting an organization to grant a wish for her son. She replied that she hadn and, when she got home, Sherine started looking into it; she found national children charity Kids Wish Network. Once in contact with a Kids Wish representative, Sherine was confidant that this organization was the only one who would be able to grant her son wish the way he wanted it to be. When it came down to actually wishing, Deon indulged his love of basketball and asked to meet his favorite player, Boston Celtics power forward, Kevin Garnett. The city of Boston came together with Kids Wish Network to make Deon wish come true; Mayor Thomas Menino, the Boston Police Athletic League, and the Laboure College of Nursing as well as some other outstanding sponsors worked hard to grant Deon wish. Before he knew it, Deon was in the Boston Garden eagerly waiting for the start of the Celtics game against the Memphis Grizzlies so he could meet up with Kevin Garnett immediately following the post-game press conference. Earlier in the day, he Seattle Seahawks jersey
and his family visited the New England Aquarium for a behind-the-scenes tour and enjoyed lunch at DJ at the Garden restaurant. The day before, Deon had the sports fan experience of a lifetime while dining at the famous Four Restaurant and Sports Bar. To top it all off, they were staying at the beautiful Onyx Hotel right in the middle of Boston. It was like some sort of awesome dream. For her son, Sherine said that the wish was a day for him of pure laughter, pure enjoymentit something I couldve never done for him.Right after the experiencing the thrill of watching a Celtics game in person, Deon was taken to meet his hero, where he was starstruck. Kevin Garnett shook Deon hand and greeted the teen. He even autographed a basketball for Deon, which, according to Sherine, Deon said he [Kevin Garnett] never autographed a ball for anyone, ever. Deon experienced a very special moment and received a souvenir that he will treasure for years to come. It was a day we didn have to go to the hospital, we didn have to worry, said Sherine of Deon wish. It been a long time since my children have smiled like that. It was something we all really enjoyed. Im so thankful for it all. Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for making Deon wish such a special experience: Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston Police Athletic League, Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church, Laboure College of Nursing, Kevin Garnett, The Boston Celtics, The Onyx Hotel, The Four Restaurant and Sports Bar and the New England Aquarium. Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children in crisis. Every child deserves a chance at happiness; a wish is just a way of bringing them that joy. If you would like to St. Louis Rams jersey
sponsor a child wish or if you know a child who is suffering from a life-threatening illness and may be in need of Kids Wish Network wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org Written by: Editorial Staff
was diagnosed with having an osteoblastoma, which is a rare bone-forming tumor, in his jaw. He was rushed into surgery to try and remove the tumor; the surgery took almost 10 hours. Everything happened so fast, said Deon mother, Sherine. He suffers so much each day and it just breaks my heart.Since the initial surgery, Deon has undergone three other surgeries and has had the lower part of his jaw bone removed.During one of her many trips to the hospital with Deon, a social worker asked Sherine if she had ever thought of getting an organization to grant a wish for her son. She replied that she hadn and, when she got home, Sherine started looking into it; she found national children charity Kids Wish Network. Once in contact with a Kids Wish representative, Sherine was confidant that this organization was the only one who would be able to grant her son wish the way he wanted it to be. When it came down to actually wishing, Deon indulged his love of basketball and asked to meet his favorite player, Boston Celtics power forward, Kevin Garnett. The city of Boston came together with Kids Wish Network to make Deon wish come true; Mayor Thomas Menino, the Boston Police Athletic League, and the Laboure College of Nursing as well as some other outstanding sponsors worked hard to grant Deon wish. Before he knew it, Deon was in the Boston Garden eagerly waiting for the start of the Celtics game against the Memphis Grizzlies so he could meet up with Kevin Garnett immediately following the post-game press conference. Earlier in the day, he Seattle Seahawks jersey
and his family visited the New England Aquarium for a behind-the-scenes tour and enjoyed lunch at DJ at the Garden restaurant. The day before, Deon had the sports fan experience of a lifetime while dining at the famous Four Restaurant and Sports Bar. To top it all off, they were staying at the beautiful Onyx Hotel right in the middle of Boston. It was like some sort of awesome dream. For her son, Sherine said that the wish was a day for him of pure laughter, pure enjoymentit something I couldve never done for him.Right after the experiencing the thrill of watching a Celtics game in person, Deon was taken to meet his hero, where he was starstruck. Kevin Garnett shook Deon hand and greeted the teen. He even autographed a basketball for Deon, which, according to Sherine, Deon said he [Kevin Garnett] never autographed a ball for anyone, ever. Deon experienced a very special moment and received a souvenir that he will treasure for years to come. It was a day we didn have to go to the hospital, we didn have to worry, said Sherine of Deon wish. It been a long time since my children have smiled like that. It was something we all really enjoyed. Im so thankful for it all. Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for making Deon wish such a special experience: Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston Police Athletic League, Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church, Laboure College of Nursing, Kevin Garnett, The Boston Celtics, The Onyx Hotel, The Four Restaurant and Sports Bar and the New England Aquarium. Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children in crisis. Every child deserves a chance at happiness; a wish is just a way of bringing them that joy. If you would like to St. Louis Rams jersey
sponsor a child wish or if you know a child who is suffering from a life-threatening illness and may be in need of Kids Wish Network wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org Written by: Editorial Staff
2010年12月30日星期四
30 Dec 10 Fantasy Basketball Box Score Breakouts
Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesWith the NBA season nearing its close, here a look at some fantasy basketball players that blew up the box score last night.Earl Barron, New York Knicks Barron had his second straight solid game for the Knicks with 15 points and nine rebounds.Toney Douglas, New York Knicks Douglas added 20 points. He averaging 12.8 in his last five games.Nick Young, Washington Wizards Young had another strong performance with 21 points. He worth using in most leagues.J.J. Redick Mickael Pietrus, Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
Orlando Magic Both Redick and Pietrus had 16 points. Both are only options in daily leagues.Sonny Weems, Toronto Raptors Weems had 21 points against the Celtics. He averaging 14 over his last five games.Antoine Wright, Toronto Raptors Wright had 17 points and seven rebounds. Hell be asked to step up his game with Chris Bosh out.Austin Daye, Detroit Pistons Daye had 13 points and 10 boards. He should get more run down the stretch in Detroit lost season.Carlos Arroyo Dorell Wright, Miami Heat Arroyo had 15 points and Wright added 19. Neither are fantasy options.Kurt Thomas, Milwaukee Bucks Thomas had 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Nets. He a decent option for rebounds in deep daily leagues.Jerry Stackhouse, Milwaukee Bucks Stack is not a fantasy Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
option despite the 18 he dropped on the Nets.Anthony Tolliver, Golden State Warriors Tolliver had 34 points and eight rebounds against the defenseless Wolves. He a decent option, but he won face many defenses quite as soft.Ryan Gomes Darko Milicic, Minnesota Timberwolves They didn play defense, but Gomes had 19 points while Darko added 16 and seven rebounds. Both are options for deep daily leagues only.Tyson Chandler, Charlotte Bobcats Chandler had 16 points and nine rebounds. He a low-end fantasy option.Marcus Thornton Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets With Chris Paul done for the year, look for these two to be big down the stretch.Arron Afflalo, Denver Nuggets Afflalo had 17 points.
Orlando Magic Both Redick and Pietrus had 16 points. Both are only options in daily leagues.Sonny Weems, Toronto Raptors Weems had 21 points against the Celtics. He averaging 14 over his last five games.Antoine Wright, Toronto Raptors Wright had 17 points and seven rebounds. Hell be asked to step up his game with Chris Bosh out.Austin Daye, Detroit Pistons Daye had 13 points and 10 boards. He should get more run down the stretch in Detroit lost season.Carlos Arroyo Dorell Wright, Miami Heat Arroyo had 15 points and Wright added 19. Neither are fantasy options.Kurt Thomas, Milwaukee Bucks Thomas had 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Nets. He a decent option for rebounds in deep daily leagues.Jerry Stackhouse, Milwaukee Bucks Stack is not a fantasy Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
option despite the 18 he dropped on the Nets.Anthony Tolliver, Golden State Warriors Tolliver had 34 points and eight rebounds against the defenseless Wolves. He a decent option, but he won face many defenses quite as soft.Ryan Gomes Darko Milicic, Minnesota Timberwolves They didn play defense, but Gomes had 19 points while Darko added 16 and seven rebounds. Both are options for deep daily leagues only.Tyson Chandler, Charlotte Bobcats Chandler had 16 points and nine rebounds. He a low-end fantasy option.Marcus Thornton Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets With Chris Paul done for the year, look for these two to be big down the stretch.Arron Afflalo, Denver Nuggets Afflalo had 17 points.
2010年12月29日星期三
29 Dec 10 Rajon Rondo Is Key to Boston Celtics' Playoff Run
Elsa/Getty ImagesRajon Rondo has what all the current crop of new age superstars wanta championship ring.Yet, NBA society keeps thinking that the Boston Celtics point guard is a mere by-product of the team's Big Three of PaulPierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. In spite of his accomplishments, Rondo Chicago Bears jersey
is considered a marginal star when compared to Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Derrick Rose. They get the accolades, but he keeps on being the one indispensable component on both sides of the ball for the Celtics.C's coach Doc Rivers let Rondo run wild in the last game of the 2008 season, and he rose to the challenge. In 2009, when Garnett was sidelined with injuries, he averaged a near double-double throughout Boston's playoff run. This year he was finally rewarded with a new contract and his first All-Star berth.He used to be a drama queenevery timehe got touched, writhing on the court as if he was hit by a Mack truck. Now he just bounces back up and accepts the challenge of going to the free-throw line.This playoff season will show if he is indeed the future of the Boston Celtics;Rondo must be a factor for four quarters.This has only happened when one of the Big Three has been sidelined. The Celtics continue to treat him like a replacement part when he is the one that can deliver them to the promised land.Boston's Cincinnati Bengals jersey
coaching staff laments how the ball stops moving during pivotal times in the game. When it does happen, Rondo can be seen on the periphery of the play directing traffic while Pierce or Allen look for their shots.Those are the moments that frustrate the team, because Rondo possesses the Celtics' best basketball IQ when it comes to finding the open man.He has now shot a respectable 70 percent in the past month at the free-throw line, and he is takingand makingshots within his range.Rondo showed his versatility in the final regular season game Cleveland Browns jersey
bysettingup shop in the low post against Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings. The Bucks didn't know what to do, and Rondo proceeded to pick them apart with his passes, forcing Bucks coach Scott Skiles to bench Jennings.Rajon Rondo is a basketball player who defends, passes, and has a surprisingly efficient offensive game.If the Boston Celtics want to make a deep playoff run, Rondo must be the catalyst.
is considered a marginal star when compared to Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Derrick Rose. They get the accolades, but he keeps on being the one indispensable component on both sides of the ball for the Celtics.C's coach Doc Rivers let Rondo run wild in the last game of the 2008 season, and he rose to the challenge. In 2009, when Garnett was sidelined with injuries, he averaged a near double-double throughout Boston's playoff run. This year he was finally rewarded with a new contract and his first All-Star berth.He used to be a drama queenevery timehe got touched, writhing on the court as if he was hit by a Mack truck. Now he just bounces back up and accepts the challenge of going to the free-throw line.This playoff season will show if he is indeed the future of the Boston Celtics;Rondo must be a factor for four quarters.This has only happened when one of the Big Three has been sidelined. The Celtics continue to treat him like a replacement part when he is the one that can deliver them to the promised land.Boston's Cincinnati Bengals jersey
coaching staff laments how the ball stops moving during pivotal times in the game. When it does happen, Rondo can be seen on the periphery of the play directing traffic while Pierce or Allen look for their shots.Those are the moments that frustrate the team, because Rondo possesses the Celtics' best basketball IQ when it comes to finding the open man.He has now shot a respectable 70 percent in the past month at the free-throw line, and he is takingand makingshots within his range.Rondo showed his versatility in the final regular season game Cleveland Browns jersey
bysettingup shop in the low post against Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings. The Bucks didn't know what to do, and Rondo proceeded to pick them apart with his passes, forcing Bucks coach Scott Skiles to bench Jennings.Rajon Rondo is a basketball player who defends, passes, and has a surprisingly efficient offensive game.If the Boston Celtics want to make a deep playoff run, Rondo must be the catalyst.
2010年12月28日星期二
28 Dec 10 Toronto Raptors Fans Have Told Chris Bosh What To Do
Noel Vasquez/Getty ImagesBosh's self-created Twittergate has made quite the stir amongst Raptors fans.Inferring that he doesn't know what to do and asking his 100,000 twitter followers to give 140 character answers to the Raptors biggest off-season question ever has created Cleveland Browns jersey
more buzz than just about anything else the five time All-Star could have done in the pre-Free Agency period.And from the articles, posts, and media commentary, it should be clear that Toronto Raptors fans are not speaking with one voice on this issue.But should anyone really be surprised?In the Raptors final home game of the season, fans were handed signs that read, "We Want More CB4". Many of which never made it into the stands! And when the in-game announcers tried to start-up a chant from the crowd during the game, the chant fizzled.In just three days, 344 respondents to a B/R poll, Have You told Chris Bosh What To Do?Yes - Stay27.9 percentYes - Go50.3 percentNo21.8 percentOver half of the respondents told Bosh to GO.And the poll seems to reflect the messages being sent to the Raptors All-Star. Many Raptors fans are ready to start over after seven unsuccessful seasons with Chris Bosh.It seems Chris Bosh has got the message. His twitter site http://twitter.com/chrisbosh now says he is located "Everywhere" and his personal webpage is down.There are also a few other changes to the information on Bosh's twitter page but any doubts about Bosh being "On-the-Market" should be (un)officially dispelled.But if one wants to be positive, Dallas Cowboys jersey
Chris Bosh still has not said that he won't be returning to Toronto however it should be apparent that Toronto is at best now just one of his many options.And webpages go down all the time for a variety of reasons.Before anyone reads too much into the poll or the comments they may have read, it should be remembered that Chris Bosh was a 22 and 10 player for the Raptors over the past five seasons and players with that kind of production are rare.Plus it is very hard to lay all of the Raptors less than successful seasons at the feet of the team's All-Star.Despite the Denver Broncos jersey
untimely injuries, the ominous leg brace, and missing the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, there should be no doubt that Chris Bosh would be welcomed back to the Raptors next season with thunderous applause.But with the lack of any real news on the Chris Bosh front, we are left with speculation about each of Bosh's cyberspace moves. At least he has provided us with something to talk about
more buzz than just about anything else the five time All-Star could have done in the pre-Free Agency period.And from the articles, posts, and media commentary, it should be clear that Toronto Raptors fans are not speaking with one voice on this issue.But should anyone really be surprised?In the Raptors final home game of the season, fans were handed signs that read, "We Want More CB4". Many of which never made it into the stands! And when the in-game announcers tried to start-up a chant from the crowd during the game, the chant fizzled.In just three days, 344 respondents to a B/R poll, Have You told Chris Bosh What To Do?Yes - Stay27.9 percentYes - Go50.3 percentNo21.8 percentOver half of the respondents told Bosh to GO.And the poll seems to reflect the messages being sent to the Raptors All-Star. Many Raptors fans are ready to start over after seven unsuccessful seasons with Chris Bosh.It seems Chris Bosh has got the message. His twitter site http://twitter.com/chrisbosh now says he is located "Everywhere" and his personal webpage is down.There are also a few other changes to the information on Bosh's twitter page but any doubts about Bosh being "On-the-Market" should be (un)officially dispelled.But if one wants to be positive, Dallas Cowboys jersey
Chris Bosh still has not said that he won't be returning to Toronto however it should be apparent that Toronto is at best now just one of his many options.And webpages go down all the time for a variety of reasons.Before anyone reads too much into the poll or the comments they may have read, it should be remembered that Chris Bosh was a 22 and 10 player for the Raptors over the past five seasons and players with that kind of production are rare.Plus it is very hard to lay all of the Raptors less than successful seasons at the feet of the team's All-Star.Despite the Denver Broncos jersey
untimely injuries, the ominous leg brace, and missing the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, there should be no doubt that Chris Bosh would be welcomed back to the Raptors next season with thunderous applause.But with the lack of any real news on the Chris Bosh front, we are left with speculation about each of Bosh's cyberspace moves. At least he has provided us with something to talk about
2010年12月27日星期一
27 Dec 10 Game 3 Orlando @ Boston Preview And Pick: Do You Believe In Magic?
Game 3: Orlando @ BostonThe Boston Celtics have a commanding 2-0 lead over the Orlando magic as they head into game three at Boston today. The Celtics won two games at Orlando with tough, physical defense and scoring bursts from Paul Pierce. After game two Paul Pierce also did his fair share of talking.Our fans aren going to let us relax, Paul Pierce said in an ESPN interview immediately following the Celtics Game 2 victory.Pierce added, Yall not going to let us relax. Were going to try to close this out in two games, you hear me? Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
Were coming home to close it out.He was also heard saying See ya next year! to fans in Orlando as he was walking out of the arena. It understandable that this team of veterans is confident being up 2-0 heading back home but did all this talk awaken a sleeping giant?***Bet the NBA Playoffs at Brobury Sports and get a 100% Bonus and VIP Service! Sign up today! Magic Vs Celtics Game 3 Preview and Pick:The Celtics were doing some big talking and that may be enough to give this Magic team some motivation heading into today game in Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
Boston. When the Celtics were talking Dwight Howard was listening. If they want to continue to talk, that fine. There no need to say were going down fighting because were not going down.Before we pencil in the Celtics for a return trip to the finals remember that the first two games were somewhat close and if not for a few Vince Carter missed free throws this may be a tied series.The Celtics opened as 3-point favorites at Just Bet.com, but have since been bet up a half-point to -3.5. This is right on but it may be surprising to know that the Celtics are not a very good road team against the number while Orlando thrives on the road. Orlando is 26-18-1 ATS on the road, Boston is just 17-29-1 ATS at TD Garden. That is just the start of the trends that favor the magic in this meeting. The Magic are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 vs. Eastern Conference and 39-17-1 ATS in their last 57 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5. The underdog is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 meetings and the Magic are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
Boston.This game is a must win for the Magic. They are being disrespected and insulted by Boston and they need to step up. Vince Carter will be aggressive on the offensive end to try and make people forget about those missed free throws. Dwight Howard will be a force down low and that will open the flood gates for a barrage of three pointers by the deep ball specialists of the Magic.I am taking the Magic +3.5 and to win game three in Boston.This series is far from over.*****Bet the NBA Playoffs at Just Bet.com and get a 60% first time player bonus!
Were coming home to close it out.He was also heard saying See ya next year! to fans in Orlando as he was walking out of the arena. It understandable that this team of veterans is confident being up 2-0 heading back home but did all this talk awaken a sleeping giant?***Bet the NBA Playoffs at Brobury Sports and get a 100% Bonus and VIP Service! Sign up today! Magic Vs Celtics Game 3 Preview and Pick:The Celtics were doing some big talking and that may be enough to give this Magic team some motivation heading into today game in Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
Boston. When the Celtics were talking Dwight Howard was listening. If they want to continue to talk, that fine. There no need to say were going down fighting because were not going down.Before we pencil in the Celtics for a return trip to the finals remember that the first two games were somewhat close and if not for a few Vince Carter missed free throws this may be a tied series.The Celtics opened as 3-point favorites at Just Bet.com, but have since been bet up a half-point to -3.5. This is right on but it may be surprising to know that the Celtics are not a very good road team against the number while Orlando thrives on the road. Orlando is 26-18-1 ATS on the road, Boston is just 17-29-1 ATS at TD Garden. That is just the start of the trends that favor the magic in this meeting. The Magic are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 vs. Eastern Conference and 39-17-1 ATS in their last 57 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5. The underdog is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 meetings and the Magic are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
Boston.This game is a must win for the Magic. They are being disrespected and insulted by Boston and they need to step up. Vince Carter will be aggressive on the offensive end to try and make people forget about those missed free throws. Dwight Howard will be a force down low and that will open the flood gates for a barrage of three pointers by the deep ball specialists of the Magic.I am taking the Magic +3.5 and to win game three in Boston.This series is far from over.*****Bet the NBA Playoffs at Just Bet.com and get a 60% first time player bonus!
2010年12月25日星期六
26 Dec 10 2010 NBA Finals: Where Massive Payrolls Happen
Elsa/Getty ImagesThe utter disappointment of watching two teams that have purchased their way into the NBA Finals yet again is beginning to sink in. A Magic-Suns Finals would have at least provided some variety.The LA Lakers rode their league-leading $91 million payroll to first place in the West and the Western Conference championship for the third season in a row. Since saving the Memphis Grizzlies from Pau Gasol big contract, the Lakers have owned the West.Why couldn someone have saved us from the utterly predictable Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
arrival of the Lakers in the NBA Finals yet again?The Boston Celtics have the third highest payroll in the NBA at over $86 millionMark Cuban of Dallas barely managed to out-spend them by a few hundred thousand dollars.Boston purchased their place in league history two finals ago when they acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen as Minnesota and Seattle dumped those two huge contracts.After winning it all in 2008, Boston became beatable when Garnett missed last year playoffs. It looked like injuries were going to keep the Celtics from going deep again this season. But the team got healthy, and that All-Star-laden roster was just as good as in 2008.At least Boston arrival in the Finals was not a sure thing at the start of the playoffs.In fairness, a Magic-Suns matchup would also have been between teams that were willing to spend this past season.In fact, the teams with the 11 highest payrolls all made the NBA playoffs, except the Knicks. The only other teams with payrolls exceeding $70 million that failed to make the postseason were Washington (needs no explanation) and New Orleans.An NBA fan of a team not spending luxury tax dollars only has three things: the incompetent New York Knicks organization to make themselves feel better about their team approach, the success of an Atlanta or Oklahoma that have built through the draft and trades but will not likely be able to hold on to all of their players, and the blind luck of a team like Milwaukee that comes through with an unexpected playoff appearance. Repeating the success of the frugal Detroit Pistons franchise is not the norm. In today NBA, frugal equals mediocre or worse.The NBA playoffs are now the battle of the buck, where the team that spends the most has the best chance of moving onand it takes big bucks to give your team a shot at the Conference Finals.In the first round of the playoffs, the winners were:LAL $91m vs. OKC $58m LALDAL $87m vs. Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
SAS $79m SASPHX $75m vs. POR $55m PHXDEN $75m vs. UTA $75m UTACLE $84m vs. CHI $70m CLEORL $82m vs. CHA $69m ORLATL $66m vs. MIL $67m ATLBOS $86m vs. MIA $74m BOSOnly one non-luxury tax team survived the first round of this year playoffs. That was, arguably, in large part due to the fact that they played another non-tax team. Only Dallas managed to lose in the first round while significantly out-spending their opponent.In the second round, the battle of the big spenders continued.LAL $91m vs. UTA $75m LALPHX $75m vs. SAS $79m PHXBOS $86m vs. CLE $84m BOSORL $82m vs. ATL $66m ORLNot surprisingly, Orlando swept both their early series against the low payroll opposition. Atlanta just didn have enough to compete with the high-spending Magic.A healthy Boston proved to be too much for the Cavaliersmaybe the Cavs owner should have spent more last summer?The only slight upset was the Suns beating their long-term and slightly better funded nemesis.The Conference Finals confirmed that bankroll and dollars well spent will get you to the Finals.BOS $86m vs. ORL $82m BOSLAL $91m vs. PHX $75m LALThe Lakers never faced a challenger that came within $15 million of their payroll. The standard line in every Lakers series was how would their opponent match up with the Lakers' depth? It tough to match up with another team depth when they literally have one more max player on their Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
team than you do.Boston was challenged. Both Cleveland and Orlando have payrolls that are close to what Boston spent. Boston advantage was the All-Star level play of the inexpensive Rajon Rondo.The NBA Finals have come down to this.LAL $91m vs. BOS $86mLet all those teams who successfully stayed below the luxury tax level take note. In the NBA, it takes money to build championships
arrival of the Lakers in the NBA Finals yet again?The Boston Celtics have the third highest payroll in the NBA at over $86 millionMark Cuban of Dallas barely managed to out-spend them by a few hundred thousand dollars.Boston purchased their place in league history two finals ago when they acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen as Minnesota and Seattle dumped those two huge contracts.After winning it all in 2008, Boston became beatable when Garnett missed last year playoffs. It looked like injuries were going to keep the Celtics from going deep again this season. But the team got healthy, and that All-Star-laden roster was just as good as in 2008.At least Boston arrival in the Finals was not a sure thing at the start of the playoffs.In fairness, a Magic-Suns matchup would also have been between teams that were willing to spend this past season.In fact, the teams with the 11 highest payrolls all made the NBA playoffs, except the Knicks. The only other teams with payrolls exceeding $70 million that failed to make the postseason were Washington (needs no explanation) and New Orleans.An NBA fan of a team not spending luxury tax dollars only has three things: the incompetent New York Knicks organization to make themselves feel better about their team approach, the success of an Atlanta or Oklahoma that have built through the draft and trades but will not likely be able to hold on to all of their players, and the blind luck of a team like Milwaukee that comes through with an unexpected playoff appearance. Repeating the success of the frugal Detroit Pistons franchise is not the norm. In today NBA, frugal equals mediocre or worse.The NBA playoffs are now the battle of the buck, where the team that spends the most has the best chance of moving onand it takes big bucks to give your team a shot at the Conference Finals.In the first round of the playoffs, the winners were:LAL $91m vs. OKC $58m LALDAL $87m vs. Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
SAS $79m SASPHX $75m vs. POR $55m PHXDEN $75m vs. UTA $75m UTACLE $84m vs. CHI $70m CLEORL $82m vs. CHA $69m ORLATL $66m vs. MIL $67m ATLBOS $86m vs. MIA $74m BOSOnly one non-luxury tax team survived the first round of this year playoffs. That was, arguably, in large part due to the fact that they played another non-tax team. Only Dallas managed to lose in the first round while significantly out-spending their opponent.In the second round, the battle of the big spenders continued.LAL $91m vs. UTA $75m LALPHX $75m vs. SAS $79m PHXBOS $86m vs. CLE $84m BOSORL $82m vs. ATL $66m ORLNot surprisingly, Orlando swept both their early series against the low payroll opposition. Atlanta just didn have enough to compete with the high-spending Magic.A healthy Boston proved to be too much for the Cavaliersmaybe the Cavs owner should have spent more last summer?The only slight upset was the Suns beating their long-term and slightly better funded nemesis.The Conference Finals confirmed that bankroll and dollars well spent will get you to the Finals.BOS $86m vs. ORL $82m BOSLAL $91m vs. PHX $75m LALThe Lakers never faced a challenger that came within $15 million of their payroll. The standard line in every Lakers series was how would their opponent match up with the Lakers' depth? It tough to match up with another team depth when they literally have one more max player on their Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
team than you do.Boston was challenged. Both Cleveland and Orlando have payrolls that are close to what Boston spent. Boston advantage was the All-Star level play of the inexpensive Rajon Rondo.The NBA Finals have come down to this.LAL $91m vs. BOS $86mLet all those teams who successfully stayed below the luxury tax level take note. In the NBA, it takes money to build championships
25 Dec 10 Why LeBron's Decision Was The Best He Ever Made
Larry Busacca/Getty Images"What a difference a day makes"On July 7, 2010, LeBron James was still "LeBron James". He was the most iconic basketball player of his generation, a celebrity athlete adored and idolized not only in the America, but around the world, a near demi-god in his hometown of Akron, and on his way to becoming the most beloved sports figure in Cleveland history, and perhaps all of Ohio.He was arguably the most popular athlete in the country, and one of the most marketable, having signed endorsement deals with McDonald's, Sprite, Bubblicious, State Farm, VITAMINWATERreg;, Upper Deck, and Nike, which famously signed him to a $90 million endorsement deal before he ever played a NBA game. His appeal was so salable that Dan Gilbert, majority owner of Philadelphia Eagles jersey
the Cleveland Cavaliers, made plans to build a casino across the street from the Quicken Loans Arena to capitalize on LeBron's popularity.He had an appeal that extended beyond the world of sports, where he became a fixture in popular culture, appearing as a guest host of "Saturday Night Live", starring in a series of Nike commercials titled "The LeBrons" in which he played every character, and being only the third male and first African-American male to be featured on the cover of Vogue.Then on July 8, 2010, James uttered the now infamous words, "In this fall, I'm going to take my talents to South Beach..."With that announcement made on "The Decision",the ESPN show created specially for this moment, LeBron James went from being one of America's most popular athletes to one of its most vilified, virtually overnight.While it's unrealistic to think that LeBron did not expect some sort of backlash from his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team he had played for his entire career since being drafted in 2003, it's even more inconceivable that he could have anticipated the sheer volume and veracity of the backlash that did result. From having his Cavaliers jersey burned on the streets of Cleveland before "The Decision" show even ended to the nationwide ridicule and criticism in the media that's been unrelenting for weeks, with even his "The Decision" partner, ESPN, getting in on the act by featuring LeBron as the running punchline in their annual ESPYs award show, the reaction to LeBron announcing his decision on his one hour made-for-television special has been brutal.Perhaps the most hurtful commentscame from his childhood idol, basketball legend Michael Jordan, who expressed that given the same circumstances, he would have never made Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
the same decision that LeBron had. Other NBA greats such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird expressed similar sentiments.But while LeBron's decision to play for the Miami Heat, and perhaps more so how he chose to announce it to the world and to Cleveland, was an undoubtedly a public relations fiasco, the unexpected result may be that for the first time in his career, LeBron will have theright motivation, driven by the chorus of doubts from thenaysayers and the overwhelming desireto provehis critics wrong, to break free from the cocoon of stiflingadulation that has haunted him since high school,and finally reach his potential to become a champion.Consider that prior to this summer, LeBron had never been criticized so harshly for any aspect of his life, whether on or off the court. While adoration and praise for basketball skills is not uncommon for NBA superstars, unlike many of his peers, LeBron had never run afoul of the law. And while he has two out-of-wedlock children with his childhood sweetheart, who lives with him and their children, LeBron has never had a personal scandal or had been accused of committinga personal indiscretion or indecency.On the court, he was phenomenal. He had been a six-time NBA All-Star, four-time All-NBA First Team, two-time All-Star Game MVP, a league scoring champion, the Rookie of the Year, and had won an Olympic Gold Medal with the "Redeem Team" in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. From taking his team to the NBA Finals in 2007 in just his fourth year in the league, to winning back-to-back NBA MVP awards in 2008-09 and 2009-10, the same years he lead his team to the best regular season records in the league, he was the league's new shining star and the heir apparent to Michael Jordan. Other than Kobe Bryant, there was no other player that rivaled him for the title of "Best Basketball Player on the Planet".All that changed after "The Decision".Journalists and fans alike have sincebeen loudly questioning his competitiveness, his heart, and his will to win. The fact that he chose to play on the Miami Heat with two other young superstars in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh opened him up to criticism that he was taking the "easy way out", and that despite his talents, he was not skilled enough, or perhaps courageous enough, to "win a title by himself".With Kobe Bryant winning his fifth NBA title this summer, and allwhile staying withthe Laker franchise, LeBron has being compared unfavorably toBryant in almost every aspect of San Diego Chargers jersey
his game, from his maturity on the court andhis focus and desire to improve his skills, to his willingness to take over in clutch situationsand will his team to victory.Now for the first time in his career, being challenged by doubts on his ability to win, being questioned on his heart and desire to be a champion, and free from thebaby blanketcoddlingof adoration, praise, and expectations of a seemingly pre-ordained NBA championship, LeBron has created the opportunity for himself to prove that he is better than people think he is.By destroying people's perceptions of him and by lessening the expectations of him easily winning a championship, whichmight have hindered him most in his progress to develop his game and suffocating his desire to improve his play, LeBron can now rightly take on the mantle of the underdog with a chip on his shoulder, something that would have been unimaginable just a month ago.Through "The Decision", he has now placed himself in a similar situation to Michael Jordan beforehe won his first championship in his seventh season in 1991 NBA Finals. Prior to winning his first title, and despite having won the NBA MVP Award, appearing regularly in the NBA All-Star Game, and winning the league's scoring title numerous consecutive times, Jordan was not considered a "winner" by the media and the fans. Rather, his reputation was that he was a "ball-hog", "a selfish player", and someone that wouldn't "trust his teammates", and because of these traits, it was believed that "he would never win a championship".Perhaps most hurtful to Jordan, however, was that he was considered a "lesser" basketball player to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and even Isiah Thomas, his contemporarieswho hadeach lead their teams to multiple championships. And in the case of Bird and Thomas, their teams were the reasons why Jordan's Bulls were unable to advance to the NBA Finals, which further poured salt into his open wound.Using these criticisms as his motivation, and fueled by the desire to not San Francisco 49ers jersey
onlybe as good as Magic and Bird, but to be better, Jordan's already competitive nature andwill to winwas driven tounprecedented levels. By focusing on the doubts placedon him, Jordan found the fire to win not justa NBA Championship, but to win it multiple times,resultingin six NBA titles, six Finals MVP awards, andthe elevation ofhisstatustothat ofabasketball "god". The same scenario also happened to Kobe Bryant. Despite having won three NBA Championships with the Lakers early in his career, much of his success was attributed to having Shaquille O'Neal on his team, who was the NBA Finals MVP for all three of those titles, and having Phil Jackson as his coach, who had already won six NBA titles coaching Jordan's Bulls.When Shaq left the Lakers in 2004, leaving Kobe as the undisputed leader on the team, the Lakershad a terrible season the following year, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, and for the first time in Kobe's career.Coupled with a personal scandal from the previous year which resulted in a well-publicizedcriminal investigation andlegal hearings, on top of feelings of ill-will and public arguments with Shaq, Phil Jackson, and Karl Malone, his teammate during the 2003-04 season, Kobe saw his popularity plummet as his former "nice guy" image was transformed into that of a villain, both on and off the court. When his Laker team struggled for two more years, despite having Phil Jackson back as the coach from the 2005-06 season onwardsand making the playoffs though losing in the first round for consecutive seasons, many fans as well as the media madesimilar accusations of Kobe as they did of Jordan before he won his titles, namely that Kobe was a "ball-hog" and "selfish", that he didn't "trust his teammates", and that his pursuit of the NBA scoring title lead to his team losing critical games in the regular seasons andresulting in low playoff seeds.Similar to Jordan, Bryant crystallized these criticisms and doubtsfrom his cynics to not only improve his game, Seattle Seahawks jersey
but to improve the play of his teammates. When the Lakers were able to pick up Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in a tradefor Kwame Brown, they added the "missing piece" to their team, someone that was not only a great defender in the low-post, but could provide much-needed scoring and assists to compliment Bryant's perimeter game.Coupling the addition of Pau Gasol to the Lakers with his revitalized desire to prove the "haters" wrong, Kobe was able to lead his Lakers team to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances, resulting in two championships in the last two years.And by winning his fourth and fifth championships, Kobe rehabilitated his public image to not only that of a winner, butclaimed the honor of being the"best player in the game" in the eyes of the public, and tied for the #1 ranking with Tiger Woods as "America's Favorite Sports Star" in a nation-wide poll conducted by Harris Interactive.LeBron James has now created a similar opportunity for himself. By internalizing all the negativity, doubt, disrespect and ridicule that he has receivedin thepast month and will continue to receive in the foreseeable future from the media and the fans, he has made availableto himself an almost unlimited source of motivation to tap intofor improvinghis game and reaching the highest apex of his profession, that of winning the NBA Championship.While it isbeyond a doubt that LeBron is a talented basketball player, it is also withoutquestion that he has not reached anywhere near his potential. And should he had stayed in Cleveland, never making "The Decision" that has now completely altered the public's perception of him, his potentialmay have been perpetually stuntedby the undying fawning of the media and the public, particularly in hishometown,and St. Louis Rams jersey
thus neverhaving tochallenge himself, neverneeding toelevate his play, and never having to winthe NBAchampionship in order to be prematurely anointed "King James". And by no longer being a "king", LeBron James might finally become a "god".* * *Despite LeBron's potential redemption, here's "How Dan Gilbert's 'Open Letter' Will Bring The Cavs Back Into Contention"
the Cleveland Cavaliers, made plans to build a casino across the street from the Quicken Loans Arena to capitalize on LeBron's popularity.He had an appeal that extended beyond the world of sports, where he became a fixture in popular culture, appearing as a guest host of "Saturday Night Live", starring in a series of Nike commercials titled "The LeBrons" in which he played every character, and being only the third male and first African-American male to be featured on the cover of Vogue.Then on July 8, 2010, James uttered the now infamous words, "In this fall, I'm going to take my talents to South Beach..."With that announcement made on "The Decision",the ESPN show created specially for this moment, LeBron James went from being one of America's most popular athletes to one of its most vilified, virtually overnight.While it's unrealistic to think that LeBron did not expect some sort of backlash from his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team he had played for his entire career since being drafted in 2003, it's even more inconceivable that he could have anticipated the sheer volume and veracity of the backlash that did result. From having his Cavaliers jersey burned on the streets of Cleveland before "The Decision" show even ended to the nationwide ridicule and criticism in the media that's been unrelenting for weeks, with even his "The Decision" partner, ESPN, getting in on the act by featuring LeBron as the running punchline in their annual ESPYs award show, the reaction to LeBron announcing his decision on his one hour made-for-television special has been brutal.Perhaps the most hurtful commentscame from his childhood idol, basketball legend Michael Jordan, who expressed that given the same circumstances, he would have never made Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
the same decision that LeBron had. Other NBA greats such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird expressed similar sentiments.But while LeBron's decision to play for the Miami Heat, and perhaps more so how he chose to announce it to the world and to Cleveland, was an undoubtedly a public relations fiasco, the unexpected result may be that for the first time in his career, LeBron will have theright motivation, driven by the chorus of doubts from thenaysayers and the overwhelming desireto provehis critics wrong, to break free from the cocoon of stiflingadulation that has haunted him since high school,and finally reach his potential to become a champion.Consider that prior to this summer, LeBron had never been criticized so harshly for any aspect of his life, whether on or off the court. While adoration and praise for basketball skills is not uncommon for NBA superstars, unlike many of his peers, LeBron had never run afoul of the law. And while he has two out-of-wedlock children with his childhood sweetheart, who lives with him and their children, LeBron has never had a personal scandal or had been accused of committinga personal indiscretion or indecency.On the court, he was phenomenal. He had been a six-time NBA All-Star, four-time All-NBA First Team, two-time All-Star Game MVP, a league scoring champion, the Rookie of the Year, and had won an Olympic Gold Medal with the "Redeem Team" in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. From taking his team to the NBA Finals in 2007 in just his fourth year in the league, to winning back-to-back NBA MVP awards in 2008-09 and 2009-10, the same years he lead his team to the best regular season records in the league, he was the league's new shining star and the heir apparent to Michael Jordan. Other than Kobe Bryant, there was no other player that rivaled him for the title of "Best Basketball Player on the Planet".All that changed after "The Decision".Journalists and fans alike have sincebeen loudly questioning his competitiveness, his heart, and his will to win. The fact that he chose to play on the Miami Heat with two other young superstars in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh opened him up to criticism that he was taking the "easy way out", and that despite his talents, he was not skilled enough, or perhaps courageous enough, to "win a title by himself".With Kobe Bryant winning his fifth NBA title this summer, and allwhile staying withthe Laker franchise, LeBron has being compared unfavorably toBryant in almost every aspect of San Diego Chargers jersey
his game, from his maturity on the court andhis focus and desire to improve his skills, to his willingness to take over in clutch situationsand will his team to victory.Now for the first time in his career, being challenged by doubts on his ability to win, being questioned on his heart and desire to be a champion, and free from thebaby blanketcoddlingof adoration, praise, and expectations of a seemingly pre-ordained NBA championship, LeBron has created the opportunity for himself to prove that he is better than people think he is.By destroying people's perceptions of him and by lessening the expectations of him easily winning a championship, whichmight have hindered him most in his progress to develop his game and suffocating his desire to improve his play, LeBron can now rightly take on the mantle of the underdog with a chip on his shoulder, something that would have been unimaginable just a month ago.Through "The Decision", he has now placed himself in a similar situation to Michael Jordan beforehe won his first championship in his seventh season in 1991 NBA Finals. Prior to winning his first title, and despite having won the NBA MVP Award, appearing regularly in the NBA All-Star Game, and winning the league's scoring title numerous consecutive times, Jordan was not considered a "winner" by the media and the fans. Rather, his reputation was that he was a "ball-hog", "a selfish player", and someone that wouldn't "trust his teammates", and because of these traits, it was believed that "he would never win a championship".Perhaps most hurtful to Jordan, however, was that he was considered a "lesser" basketball player to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and even Isiah Thomas, his contemporarieswho hadeach lead their teams to multiple championships. And in the case of Bird and Thomas, their teams were the reasons why Jordan's Bulls were unable to advance to the NBA Finals, which further poured salt into his open wound.Using these criticisms as his motivation, and fueled by the desire to not San Francisco 49ers jersey
onlybe as good as Magic and Bird, but to be better, Jordan's already competitive nature andwill to winwas driven tounprecedented levels. By focusing on the doubts placedon him, Jordan found the fire to win not justa NBA Championship, but to win it multiple times,resultingin six NBA titles, six Finals MVP awards, andthe elevation ofhisstatustothat ofabasketball "god". The same scenario also happened to Kobe Bryant. Despite having won three NBA Championships with the Lakers early in his career, much of his success was attributed to having Shaquille O'Neal on his team, who was the NBA Finals MVP for all three of those titles, and having Phil Jackson as his coach, who had already won six NBA titles coaching Jordan's Bulls.When Shaq left the Lakers in 2004, leaving Kobe as the undisputed leader on the team, the Lakershad a terrible season the following year, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, and for the first time in Kobe's career.Coupled with a personal scandal from the previous year which resulted in a well-publicizedcriminal investigation andlegal hearings, on top of feelings of ill-will and public arguments with Shaq, Phil Jackson, and Karl Malone, his teammate during the 2003-04 season, Kobe saw his popularity plummet as his former "nice guy" image was transformed into that of a villain, both on and off the court. When his Laker team struggled for two more years, despite having Phil Jackson back as the coach from the 2005-06 season onwardsand making the playoffs though losing in the first round for consecutive seasons, many fans as well as the media madesimilar accusations of Kobe as they did of Jordan before he won his titles, namely that Kobe was a "ball-hog" and "selfish", that he didn't "trust his teammates", and that his pursuit of the NBA scoring title lead to his team losing critical games in the regular seasons andresulting in low playoff seeds.Similar to Jordan, Bryant crystallized these criticisms and doubtsfrom his cynics to not only improve his game, Seattle Seahawks jersey
but to improve the play of his teammates. When the Lakers were able to pick up Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in a tradefor Kwame Brown, they added the "missing piece" to their team, someone that was not only a great defender in the low-post, but could provide much-needed scoring and assists to compliment Bryant's perimeter game.Coupling the addition of Pau Gasol to the Lakers with his revitalized desire to prove the "haters" wrong, Kobe was able to lead his Lakers team to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances, resulting in two championships in the last two years.And by winning his fourth and fifth championships, Kobe rehabilitated his public image to not only that of a winner, butclaimed the honor of being the"best player in the game" in the eyes of the public, and tied for the #1 ranking with Tiger Woods as "America's Favorite Sports Star" in a nation-wide poll conducted by Harris Interactive.LeBron James has now created a similar opportunity for himself. By internalizing all the negativity, doubt, disrespect and ridicule that he has receivedin thepast month and will continue to receive in the foreseeable future from the media and the fans, he has made availableto himself an almost unlimited source of motivation to tap intofor improvinghis game and reaching the highest apex of his profession, that of winning the NBA Championship.While it isbeyond a doubt that LeBron is a talented basketball player, it is also withoutquestion that he has not reached anywhere near his potential. And should he had stayed in Cleveland, never making "The Decision" that has now completely altered the public's perception of him, his potentialmay have been perpetually stuntedby the undying fawning of the media and the public, particularly in hishometown,and St. Louis Rams jersey
thus neverhaving tochallenge himself, neverneeding toelevate his play, and never having to winthe NBAchampionship in order to be prematurely anointed "King James". And by no longer being a "king", LeBron James might finally become a "god".* * *Despite LeBron's potential redemption, here's "How Dan Gilbert's 'Open Letter' Will Bring The Cavs Back Into Contention"
2010年12月24日星期五
24 Dec 10 Fantasy Basketball Projection: How Good Can Tyreke Evans Be In Year Two?
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesTyreke Evans put together a very impressive rookie season on his way to winning the rookie of the year award and making fantasy basketball players around the world wonder just how high this kid’s ceiling could be. Now it’s time for an encore and the Green Bay Packers jersey
question is; Will Evans hit a sophomore slump or can he continue to get better and improve on last year’s numbers? Before we address year two, let’s look back at his stats from his rookie campaign:20.1 points per game5.3 rebounds per game5.8 assists per game1.5 steals per game47.5% FG percentage74.8% FT percentage0.5 3-Pointers made per gameEvans was a true across the board contributor last year, as only Evans, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James went 20-5-5 last season. Though if you look the holes in his game are still noticeable. He will certainly benefit from a little bit more range, and hopefully that’s something he has been working on this summer. The other thing he needs to shore up is his free throw shooting. It wasn’t that bad, but he is getting to the line over six times per game, so if he can bring that percentage up over 80 he can give you a boost in yet another category.Looking ahead to this season, one thing I think that will play into Evans’ favor is that the Kings seem to finally realize that Evans is a natural 2 guard and will play him the year all year with Beno Udrih at the point. Initially that might make you wonder if Evans assists totals will go down because of this, but I don’t think they will. EvansHouston Texans jersey
and Udrih played together a lot last season once Beno took over the point and it never slowed Evans assists totals down. In fact March was Udrih’s best month for assists getting 7.4 per game that month, and it also ended up being Evans’ best month for assists getting 7.5. Udrih isn’t an elite passing point guard and Evans is still the true playmaker on this team, and Evans will still be the guy with the ball in his hands the majority of the time.The benefit of having Udrih in the game with Evans is that it frees up Evans to play off the ball a little bit more and he doesn’t have to create shots for himself every time, as Udrih can find him for some good looks that he can’t get constantly playing off the dribble.While is nice is that Evans is the go to guy in Sacramento, and really far an away the top scoring option, he may be helped by Demarcus Cousins down low if he can pick up the NBA game quickly. Defenses are going to key in on Evans and plan their defense around stopping him, but if Indianapolis Colts jersey
Cousins can establish himself as a scoring threat down low early it will help take some of the heat off from Evans and hopefully stop defenses from collapsing everyone down on Tyreke when he drives to the hoop.There is always the potential for a sophomore slump as defenses learn to react and adjust to a player, but Evans showed no signs of tailing off last season and I don’t think he will this year either. I expect Evans to take another step forward this year, especially if he can add a better shooting touch to his already impressive skill set.Projected Stat Line: 22.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.8 spg, 0.8 3pg, 48% FG, 77% FTI think Tyreke Evans is a future top 10 pick and he’ll take the next step towards that this season.What do you think about Tyreke Evans in his second NBA season? Is he in line for a sophomore slump or will he continue to excel at the NBA level? I’d love to get your thoughts.For more player analysis check out these links:Lebron JamesRobin Lopez
question is; Will Evans hit a sophomore slump or can he continue to get better and improve on last year’s numbers? Before we address year two, let’s look back at his stats from his rookie campaign:20.1 points per game5.3 rebounds per game5.8 assists per game1.5 steals per game47.5% FG percentage74.8% FT percentage0.5 3-Pointers made per gameEvans was a true across the board contributor last year, as only Evans, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James went 20-5-5 last season. Though if you look the holes in his game are still noticeable. He will certainly benefit from a little bit more range, and hopefully that’s something he has been working on this summer. The other thing he needs to shore up is his free throw shooting. It wasn’t that bad, but he is getting to the line over six times per game, so if he can bring that percentage up over 80 he can give you a boost in yet another category.Looking ahead to this season, one thing I think that will play into Evans’ favor is that the Kings seem to finally realize that Evans is a natural 2 guard and will play him the year all year with Beno Udrih at the point. Initially that might make you wonder if Evans assists totals will go down because of this, but I don’t think they will. EvansHouston Texans jersey
and Udrih played together a lot last season once Beno took over the point and it never slowed Evans assists totals down. In fact March was Udrih’s best month for assists getting 7.4 per game that month, and it also ended up being Evans’ best month for assists getting 7.5. Udrih isn’t an elite passing point guard and Evans is still the true playmaker on this team, and Evans will still be the guy with the ball in his hands the majority of the time.The benefit of having Udrih in the game with Evans is that it frees up Evans to play off the ball a little bit more and he doesn’t have to create shots for himself every time, as Udrih can find him for some good looks that he can’t get constantly playing off the dribble.While is nice is that Evans is the go to guy in Sacramento, and really far an away the top scoring option, he may be helped by Demarcus Cousins down low if he can pick up the NBA game quickly. Defenses are going to key in on Evans and plan their defense around stopping him, but if Indianapolis Colts jersey
Cousins can establish himself as a scoring threat down low early it will help take some of the heat off from Evans and hopefully stop defenses from collapsing everyone down on Tyreke when he drives to the hoop.There is always the potential for a sophomore slump as defenses learn to react and adjust to a player, but Evans showed no signs of tailing off last season and I don’t think he will this year either. I expect Evans to take another step forward this year, especially if he can add a better shooting touch to his already impressive skill set.Projected Stat Line: 22.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.8 spg, 0.8 3pg, 48% FG, 77% FTI think Tyreke Evans is a future top 10 pick and he’ll take the next step towards that this season.What do you think about Tyreke Evans in his second NBA season? Is he in line for a sophomore slump or will he continue to excel at the NBA level? I’d love to get your thoughts.For more player analysis check out these links:Lebron JamesRobin Lopez
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