There's a rumor circulating that this off-season we could see Deron Williams, Eric Gordon, and Dwight Howard end up playing together next year. According to some rumor mill, the Hornets might be looking to move the number one pick (Anthony Davis), Al-Farouq Aminu, and Jason Smith for Howard, and will have enough room to re-sign Gordon, and bring in Williams on top of that. Already seeing a profit from the Chris Paul deal, this rumor could mean such incredible things for the NBA if it's true.
The only problem is it isn't true. The other problem on top of that, is that you didn't have a problem with those three players joining forces to play together, so why do you have a problem with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh playing together, in their second finals in as many seasons, on the cusp of winning their first (of not one, not two...) championship?
As crappy of an example as I used (they're the top potentially available players this off-season), isn't it good for the NBA to see good players who aren't winning alone team up to win together? Even if deep down inside you're hating the Heat and their Big 3, that sure isn't what the ratings say. The Heat/Celtics Eastern Conference Finals drew the highest preliminary rating for an NBA playoff game on cable since records started being kept in 2003! And don't tell me it's because of the "historied" Celtics, they weren't drawing ratings like this when they were beating up on LeBron's Cavs a couple of years ago.
The Finals ratings so far have been even better, being the highest they've been since 2004. Whether it's because you love to hate the Heat, or you're just compelled by them, it's inarguable that Miami's Big Three, and everyone else's for that matter, joining forces is GREAT for the league. You could make the argument that the Celtics formed their own Big 3 (Pierce, Garnett, Allen, duh) first and that teams have been trying to emulate that formula, but it seems since LBJ, Wade, and Bosh joined forces it's become what every team's trying to do, or what the NBA is trying to portray their teams as having.
The Knicks went out and signed Amar'e Stoudemire, first they paired him with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups and that was a Big 3, then they amnestied Billups to sign Tyson Chandler, which became it's very own Big 3. Stoudemire and Melo go down and Jeremy Lin wins seven-straight games and it's Lin, Melo, STAT...until Lin goes down again and Chandler reassumes his spot.
The Thunder have their Big 3 (Harden, Westbrook, Durant), so do the Spurs (Parker, Ginobili, Duncan), the Lakers (Gasol, Bynum, Kobe), people even still talk about the Celtics Big 3 when you can argue Rajon Rondo's been the teams best player for the last three seasons.
The ratings are higher than ever for the NBA, and part of it is because the Heat, and other teams stacked with several all-star caliber players, turned the league into must watch television. Whether you have to tune in to see them lose, or you appreciate their defense, maybe you actually appreciate watching the best player in the league on a nightly basis, you're watching, and truth be told, you're loving what you're seeing.
Even if it's not Miami, even if it's the Knicks and the Bulls, or the Mavs and the Thunder, or the Lakers and the Grizzlies, you're intrigued because these good teams are piecing together talent, and stringing together high-profile players through free agency and trades because they have to keep up with the Heat.
Whether Miami accumulated its players through the draft, trades, free agency, it doesn't make a difference in a league where every team is playing with the same salary cap. In fact, it's almost more impressive to me that these guys wanted to win so badly (at least LeBron and Bosh) that they took a pay-cut (and a lime-light cut) to play together.
People always talk about how arrogant, how cocky, how Hollywood they are, what's Hollywood about sacrificing personal accolades to accomplish team success? Is LeBron really that bad of a person for leaving a team that he gave seven unbelievable seasons to without getting any legitimate personnel help? Bosh made the playoffs twice in seven seasons with Toronto, you knew he was out. And D-Wade, good for you, you did a better job than any other team with cap space playing the role of recruiter, and bringing your already championship-winning team the best player of our generation and a Bosh.
Personally, I would have liked to have seen LeBron win a championship without having to team with two other Olympic caliber players. Even if it wasn't with the Knicks, the last thing I wanted to see was him go to another team with BOTH Wade and Bosh. But he did, and you know what, they haven't exactly taken the league by storm like the 1995-96 Bulls. They are, however, one of the better teams in a pretty competitive league the last couple of seasons, and have worked as hard as any team to get as far as they've gotten, especially since they're a very, very thin roster after you get past the aforementioned Big 3.
I get that LeBron went from good to evil when he embarrassed the city of Cleveland on national television and chose the "easy" way out, he should rot in hell, I know. His unmatched arrogance (he's actually the first athlete to have an ego) combined with his overrated skill-set and lack of clutch play make him as easy of a player to root against as I've ever seen.
Either that or his unmatched intensity on both ends of the court, combined with some players who won't leave their games at home in big spots, makes the NBA the most exciting it's been since Michael Jordan was on his quest for his first ring. He absolutely choked last season in the finals, we saw, but right now he's outplaying the league's scoring champ on both ends, and doing everything he can to win a ring for not just himself, but his teammates. Just face it, you hate the Heat and say they're bad for basketball, but really, you're still salty that LeBron chose to be a better teammate than be a savior for a team. To me this is just unacceptable from basketball fans and journalists alike.
We saw seven years of LeBron trying to be a martyr, and as good as it was because it fully displayed how incredible he was playing with a bunch of zeroes, it's better now to see him bringing it on a bigger stage, with someone who could play Pippen to his Jordan. We may get upset when he has a bad night and Wade picks up his slack, but that's what makes this sport great.
Look around the league; if Durant's not winning games for OKC, Westbrook or Harden are. If it's not Pierce and Garnett, it's Rondo. The Spurs get a huge night out of Parker and 10 points or less even out of Duncan, and they can afford to do it because they're a team helping each other out. Why aren't LeBron or the rest of the Heat entitled to this luxury known as teammates?
While I know you're going to keep rooting against them, I also know you're going to be tuning in. So all I can say is, enjoy this, because one day when you get over LeBron spurning you, your team, or whatever dream you had in mind for the two highly anticipated years leading up to his decision, you'll be thankful that LeBron and his Big 3 teammates made the NBA as exciting as it's been in a number of years. Whether they're taking on Durant, Westbrook and Harden, or by some chance Williams, Gordon and Howard, these superstar match-ups and superstar rivalries make for better basketball.
Thank you Miami, and if you win, I sure as hell aren't mad at you.
Jun 18, 2012
Jun 14, 2012
We Talkin'...Bout Hockey
But not really. I just saw on SportsCenter that Bruins Goalie Tim Thomas's agent confirmed reports from a couple of weeks ago that Thomas was going to be sitting out the up-coming NHL season to "spend time reconnecting with family, friends, and faith." While I'm sure Boston is flipping a shit right now, I just wanted to add my two cents to what a majority of people will call a "selfish" "immature" "unprofessional" move.
Sure, at the age of 38, if you don't feel like playing maybe you should retire so you're not putting your team in a tough spot where they have an important position to fill without you. Imagine how pissed you would be if you were told that your Con Smythe, two-time Veniza Trophy winning, 4-time All-Star, unquestionable best player, randomly decided to take a year off.
Now imagine if you were 38-years old, and spent a little more than 60% of your professional career floundering around, from company-to-company, knowing you were incredibly talented but not getting the right chance to showcase your capabilities. What if you finally were given that one opportunity, made the most of it, achieved success in every way possible that you had never imagined, and woke up one day feeling like you had neglected everything that was important to you in pursuit of your job?
Sure, to most of us, career success is priority number one. It's the foundation for a lot of us. We chase it, and chase it and usually are never happy with the success we have because we're seeking something greater, something we grew up dreaming of. Tim Thomas sort of achieved that success after years of struggling. After four years of extremely competitive college hockey at the University of Vermont, Thomas bounced from the NHL, to the ECHL, to the IHL, to Finland, to the AHL, not to mention from city-to-city in America throughout those journey years.
After joining the pro-ranks in 1997, Thomas didn't play in more than 30 NHL games until the 2005-06 season. In 2006-07 he played 66 games, the next season he had his first of four (out of the next five) All-Star seasons. By the next season he had won his first Veniza (Best Goaltender) Trophy, and just a few seasons later he and the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, and the equivalent of the Stanley Cup MVP (sorry, this website isn't fluent in Hockey).
So what if at 38 he feels like taking a year off? So what if it's a year of his prime (some peak later in life)? So what if he's going to take a year off from his $5 million contract? Is that really your concern? Is it more important to you that a man who plays a sport for a living - it's not like he's saving lives - works a physically and mentally draining job instead of pursuing the meaning of happiness by reconnecting with what he values in life?
Not everyone has the same set of values, which is what leads me to questioning who the selfish and immature person in this equation really is. I'm not saying that I wouldn't be pissed if Carmelo Anthony or Darrelle Revis actually decided to sit a year out, oh wait, Revis may sit a year out, because the $5+ million he's due next season isn't enough for him to play. We support most football players who want to sit out because they don't feel a contract that they've signed is fair anymore, but we get all over a 38-year old man, who disregards the money, and just says he wants a short break from his job so he can spend time with his family. Right.
I don't remember Andy Pettitte being criticized, same for Roger Clemens, heck even Michael Jordan wasn't ostracized for leaving the league that he was the reigning 3-time MVP of. But we're going to get all over Tim Thomas, who actually said something humble, something you don't frequently here a professional athlete say.
Raise your hand if you know someone that took a year off after college. Now raise your hand if you know someone who took a year off during college. How about a semester. Was it ok for them to make that decision? Did you judge them at all for making that decision, or did you say to yourself "it's their life, they can do whatever they feel is right, but I have to focus on me and what I think is right."
We all follow what we think to be the best paths for our lives. Most times that's driven by money, sometimes it's driven by other people, and sometimes it's driven around a certain plan, but it's always based on what we think is right. Whether it was not giving up on pursuing his dream, playing as much hockey wherever and whenever he could, or skipping out on going to the White House as a political statement after the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, Tim Thomas has always done what he felt was right. At this point in his life, Tim Thomas is doing what he thinks is right.
Too often we get all over athletes like they're not real people. We hold them to standards that we should hold our important decision-makers and world leaders to. When they don't meet our expectations they're somehow less than us. LeBron James is averaging 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists this season in the playoffs. The only other people to put up those stat lines in as many playoff games are Oscar Robertson and...LeBron James. But it's not good enough because he's not hitting game-winning shots on a nightly basis. Until LeBron does what YOU want him to do, he won't be as great as he really is, and that's sad.
Tim Thomas has been playing hockey all of his life. He's had his ups, and he's definitely had his downs. Why isn't he entitled to a year off? If someone you knew was sick of their job, and had the means to take some time off, wouldn't you want them to do what would make them happiest? I don't totally sympathize for Thomas, but I do think that we should all be able to do what we want with our lives.
If he doesn't play next season then he's the one that's going to miss a paycheck. He's the one that's going to lose a year off of his physically limited career. He's the one that's going to have to watch the games and deal with the guilt of leaving his teammates. And he's the one that's going to have to take the criticism from people who value his job more than he apparently does. At least he'll be spending his time pursuing his priorities, and living a life that he values.
Hats off to him.
Sure, at the age of 38, if you don't feel like playing maybe you should retire so you're not putting your team in a tough spot where they have an important position to fill without you. Imagine how pissed you would be if you were told that your Con Smythe, two-time Veniza Trophy winning, 4-time All-Star, unquestionable best player, randomly decided to take a year off.
Now imagine if you were 38-years old, and spent a little more than 60% of your professional career floundering around, from company-to-company, knowing you were incredibly talented but not getting the right chance to showcase your capabilities. What if you finally were given that one opportunity, made the most of it, achieved success in every way possible that you had never imagined, and woke up one day feeling like you had neglected everything that was important to you in pursuit of your job?
Sure, to most of us, career success is priority number one. It's the foundation for a lot of us. We chase it, and chase it and usually are never happy with the success we have because we're seeking something greater, something we grew up dreaming of. Tim Thomas sort of achieved that success after years of struggling. After four years of extremely competitive college hockey at the University of Vermont, Thomas bounced from the NHL, to the ECHL, to the IHL, to Finland, to the AHL, not to mention from city-to-city in America throughout those journey years.
After joining the pro-ranks in 1997, Thomas didn't play in more than 30 NHL games until the 2005-06 season. In 2006-07 he played 66 games, the next season he had his first of four (out of the next five) All-Star seasons. By the next season he had won his first Veniza (Best Goaltender) Trophy, and just a few seasons later he and the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, and the equivalent of the Stanley Cup MVP (sorry, this website isn't fluent in Hockey).
So what if at 38 he feels like taking a year off? So what if it's a year of his prime (some peak later in life)? So what if he's going to take a year off from his $5 million contract? Is that really your concern? Is it more important to you that a man who plays a sport for a living - it's not like he's saving lives - works a physically and mentally draining job instead of pursuing the meaning of happiness by reconnecting with what he values in life?
Not everyone has the same set of values, which is what leads me to questioning who the selfish and immature person in this equation really is. I'm not saying that I wouldn't be pissed if Carmelo Anthony or Darrelle Revis actually decided to sit a year out, oh wait, Revis may sit a year out, because the $5+ million he's due next season isn't enough for him to play. We support most football players who want to sit out because they don't feel a contract that they've signed is fair anymore, but we get all over a 38-year old man, who disregards the money, and just says he wants a short break from his job so he can spend time with his family. Right.
I don't remember Andy Pettitte being criticized, same for Roger Clemens, heck even Michael Jordan wasn't ostracized for leaving the league that he was the reigning 3-time MVP of. But we're going to get all over Tim Thomas, who actually said something humble, something you don't frequently here a professional athlete say.
Raise your hand if you know someone that took a year off after college. Now raise your hand if you know someone who took a year off during college. How about a semester. Was it ok for them to make that decision? Did you judge them at all for making that decision, or did you say to yourself "it's their life, they can do whatever they feel is right, but I have to focus on me and what I think is right."
We all follow what we think to be the best paths for our lives. Most times that's driven by money, sometimes it's driven by other people, and sometimes it's driven around a certain plan, but it's always based on what we think is right. Whether it was not giving up on pursuing his dream, playing as much hockey wherever and whenever he could, or skipping out on going to the White House as a political statement after the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, Tim Thomas has always done what he felt was right. At this point in his life, Tim Thomas is doing what he thinks is right.
Too often we get all over athletes like they're not real people. We hold them to standards that we should hold our important decision-makers and world leaders to. When they don't meet our expectations they're somehow less than us. LeBron James is averaging 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists this season in the playoffs. The only other people to put up those stat lines in as many playoff games are Oscar Robertson and...LeBron James. But it's not good enough because he's not hitting game-winning shots on a nightly basis. Until LeBron does what YOU want him to do, he won't be as great as he really is, and that's sad.
Tim Thomas has been playing hockey all of his life. He's had his ups, and he's definitely had his downs. Why isn't he entitled to a year off? If someone you knew was sick of their job, and had the means to take some time off, wouldn't you want them to do what would make them happiest? I don't totally sympathize for Thomas, but I do think that we should all be able to do what we want with our lives.
If he doesn't play next season then he's the one that's going to miss a paycheck. He's the one that's going to lose a year off of his physically limited career. He's the one that's going to have to watch the games and deal with the guilt of leaving his teammates. And he's the one that's going to have to take the criticism from people who value his job more than he apparently does. At least he'll be spending his time pursuing his priorities, and living a life that he values.
Hats off to him.
Apr 28, 2012
NBA Postseason: My First Playoff Thoughts and Regular Season Awards
I find it ironic that the last day I was so excited for NBA Basketball was Christmas day when the Knicks opened up the regular season with a win over the Celtics, but I find it ironic that I'm actually more excited today than I was on Christmas, oh the power of the NBA Playoffs.
This day is typically a top 5 day of my year, but this season's a little bit more special. With the Knicks winning 18 of their final 24, and with a top five defense, maybe they can win...a game (hey it's been 11 winless years) this go around. As excited as I am about the Knicks, it's very much bittersweet as they've drawn the Heat, probably the league-wide favorite to win the championship. As good as Melo and Chandler and "Mob(b) Deep" have been playing, they're looking at the league MVP, a former Finals MVP, and *insert Bosh joke here despite him(her) being a consistent 18 and 8 player* equipped with a bench loaded with shooters, who just so happen to play harder on defense than they do on offense.
Not to get corny but I almost feel like the Knicks are entering the Hunger Games, not quite as District 12, but sort of like Katniss. We have the capability to win this thing, but we really have to avoid getting caught face-to-face with the strongest competitor in the beginning, unfortunately, it's us against Cato in the first round and Cato's really really pissed.
*Is that a bad look? Incorporating The Hunger Games? Don't act like you don't have girlfriends that ask you to read books! At least it's not Twilight!!!*
Hopefully the Knicks playoff run can not only parallel Katniss's run in The Hunger Games, but also their improbably run in the 1999 Playoffs where they were the 8 seed, defeating the 1 seed Heat in the first round of the playoffs of a lockout shortened season. I'm not saying anything, but I'm just saying...
Here are my thoughts on the other first round match-ups:
East:
1. Chicago Bulls vs 8. Philadelphia 76ers
I don't want to come off like a hater, but I'm really not liking the Bulls chances this season. I don't think they've done anything to really differentiate themselves from last season (depth was never the issue), but I don't think they'll struggle with the Sixers. I don't think this is a terrible matchup for the Sixers, but I can't see them taking more than a game or two against an incredibly competitive team. I'll say Bulls in 5.
4. Boston Celtics vs 5. Atlanta Hawks
I think this is the final straw for the Celtics to win a playoff series or two. Atlanta is really thin up front, and I really look forward to Kevin Garnett and Ivan Johnson going at it just from an i like confrontations aspect. I don't know that the Celtics have an answer for Joe Johnson, but I expect Rondo and Pierce to dominate this series and get the ball rolling for the Celtics. These teams have a history of tough games, but I can't see this series taking Boston more than 6 games.
3. Indiana Pacers vs 6. Orlando Magic
This will be a great measurement of how ready the Pacers are for a playoff run. This should be a sweep, but if the Pacers get lazy, the Magic could shoot their way to a win. This is just the beginning of what's going to be an ugly couple of months for Orlando. Stan Van just keep your cool buddy. Pacers in 5.
2. Miami Heat vs 7. New York Knicks
This isn't a favorable draw for either team, but make no mistakes, Miami's the better team. As much as the Knicks have improved since Mike Woodson took over, it's still the Heat, who are absolutely on a mission that only ends with a championship. The Knicks are still a work in progress and with Shumpert having never played in the playoffs, Stoudemire still figuring out his role, and uncertainty at the point guard position. The Heat should trample the Knicks. I'm being kind, Heat in 6.
West:
1. San Antonio Spurs vs 8. Utah Jazz
The Jazz are probably happier with this matchup than if they would've drawn the Thunder or the Lakers. Not to say the Jazz stand a chance, but Ty Corbin's bunch plays a similar game and has similar athleticism. The Spurs have a lot to prove, and have a healthy Manu for these playoffs, and not to mention have been scorching since acquiring Stephen Jackson at the trade deadline. Good for the Jazz for making the playoffs, but it's gonna be at least another year until they win any games. Spurs in
4.
4. Memphis Grizzlies vs 5. Los Angeles Clippers
Yikes. This is the series that everyone is already hailing "must watch series of the first round," and with the players involved it has to be. The Grizzlies were one of the scariest teams in the playoffs last season upsetting the 1 seed Spurs in the first round then taking the conference favorite Thunder to 7 games in the semifinals. As good as they've been since, I think Chris Paul is the best player in the series and I think he will dominate and get the Clippers to the second round. We've seen him carry worse Hornets teams, and I think he continues his playoff prowess this year. Clippers in 6.
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs 6. Denver Nuggets
This is going to be a great series. I hate how enjoyable the Nuggets are to watch play because of all of the Knicks sentiment on that team, but they really play a high-energy, everyone gets involved, run hard score harder style of ball that a slightly disheveled Lakers team may not be able to handle. I'm not putting this on Ron Artest, but the Lakers don't have any depth on the wing, and that's where the Nuggets strive. Kobe and Bynum are still the two best players in the series, but the Nuggets are gonna give them a run for their money. Lakers in 7.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs 7. Dallas Mavericks
You don't often see Conference Finals rematches in the first round, but this year it's because the defending champs are a shell of what they were last season. You still can't rule Dirk Nowitzki out, but the Thunder are going to be one of the toughest outs this postseason and you can bet your bottom dollar that Kevin Durant will not allow his team to lose in the first round. The Mavs won't have any kind of answers for Westbrook and Harden, and Dirk sold his soul for last season, don't expect him to repeat his performance. Thunder in 5.
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: LeBron James
Yup, another season of 27, 8, and 6, but it's 14-1 that matters. While the Heat ran shit in the East for the second straight season, LeBron particularly took his team of role players and a Bosh to a 14-1 record in games without Dwyane Wade, proving that he's going to win games and be the most dominant player in the league no matter who he's playing with. If you take LeBron off of the Heat they're completely out of the championship picture, which you could probably also say about Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul (even though the Clippers probably aren't in the picture anyway).
Runner Up: Chris Paul
Rookie of the Year: Duh, Kyrie Irving
There wasn't another rookie to play this season, except Rubio who was a fake rookie, that you watched play and thought "this guy's going to be a star." As effective as Klay Thompson and Kenneth Faried were down the stretch for their teams, Irving dominated games as a scorer as well as a distributor (with a pretty weak cast). Irving absolutely lived up to the hype this season, and will make the Cavs one of the peskier teams in the East next year if they can draft a scorer to play with him.
Runner Up: Kenneth Faried
Defensive Player of the Year: Tyson Chandler
It could essentially be Dwight Howard every season as nobody dominates the paint like he does (if I'm not following this formula than why should LeBron be MVP? Cause he's LeBron), but Tyson Chandler took the Knicks from a bottom-three defense the last couple of seasons to a top-five defense this season. Props to Iman Shumpert and Mike Woodson for sure, but Chandler dominates the boards on both ends with tip outs and effort, and keeps the paint cleared out for the most part for his team. Despite Carmelo Anthony's scoring spree this past month, Chandler is the Knicks most important player and is a leader on the defensive end.
Runner Up: Serge Ibaka
*Note: I'd like to apologize for my East Coast bias on that last one. The Knicks are the 7-seed in the East and get covered more than almost any team in the league because they play in New York. Their best defensive player isn't necessarily more important than anyone else's best defensive player, and I apologize if I've offended anyone by not considering Ibaka or Howard. With that said, being able to watch him consistently and seeing the amazing turn around for the Knicks defense this year, he's more than a valid candidate for this award.
Most Improved Player: Ryan Anderson
While Andrew Bynum's numbers really spiked this season, I feel he's had the capability to score and rebound the way he did this year for the past couple of seasons. He didn't suddenly emerge as a different player for the Lakers, the Lakers started using him differently and he had a fantastic season. With that said, I think guys like Ryan Anderson and Ersan Ilyasova really were the most improved players this season, as they've been impactful role players the last couple of seasons but really stepped up big for their teams this year. Anderson became a 16 and 8 guy this season, and if he had a better player or two next to him the Magic might win a playoff game.
Runner Up: Ersan Ilyasova
Sixth Man: James Harden
Harden played almost 30 minutes a game for the Western Conference's most dynamic offense, and often ran the point when paired with Westbrook in the backcourt. He's not the fuel that makes that offense go, but he's one of the most important moving parts averaging almost 17, 4 and 4. He's not only an incredibly gifted athlete, he's tremendously efficient, finishing the season with a higher PER than guys like Paul Pierce, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, and Ty Lawson. Harden plays well at every tempo, and is a star in this league despite his bench status.
Runner Up: Al Harrington
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau
Gregg Popovich really doesn't make this choice easy at all, and you don't often see a guy win this award two years in a row, let alone his first two seasons as a head coach, but it's gotta be Thibs! Say what you want about Popovich brilliantly cycling out his role players season by season, but he's working with the same core of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and a less efficient Tim Duncan for the past 10 seasons now (with three championships for that crew), the rest is just fill in the blanks. The Bulls went 18-9 without Derrick Rose this year, and with Luol Deng and Rip Hamilton missing games, it's incredible that the Bulls were able to take home the Eastern Conference's best record. It's not a runaway, but give credit where credits due.
Runner Up: Gregg Popvich
First Team All-NBA
C - Dwight Howard
F - LeBron James
F - Kevin Durant
G - Chris Paul
G - Kobe Bryant
Second Team All-NBA
C - Andrew Bynum
F - Kevin Love
F - Paul Pierce
G - Russell Westbrook
G - Tony Parker
Third Team All-NBA
C - Tyson Chandler
F - Blake Griffin
F - Carmelo Anthony
G - Dwyane Wade
G - Rajon Rondo
First Team All-Defense
C - Tyson Chandler
F - Serge Ibaka
F - LeBron James
G - Rajon Rondo
G - Kobe Bryant
Second Team All-Defense
C - Dwight Howard
F - Shawn Marion
F - Josh Smith
G - Iman Shumpert
G - Tony Allen
First Team All-Rookie
G/F - Klay Thompson
F - Kenneth Faried
G - Isaiah Tomas
G - Ricky Rubio
G - Kyrie Irving
Second Team All-Rookie
F - Kawhi Leonard
F - Chandler Parsons
G - MarShon Brooks
G - Brandon Knight
G - Iman Shumpert
This day is typically a top 5 day of my year, but this season's a little bit more special. With the Knicks winning 18 of their final 24, and with a top five defense, maybe they can win...a game (hey it's been 11 winless years) this go around. As excited as I am about the Knicks, it's very much bittersweet as they've drawn the Heat, probably the league-wide favorite to win the championship. As good as Melo and Chandler and "Mob(b) Deep" have been playing, they're looking at the league MVP, a former Finals MVP, and *insert Bosh joke here despite him(her) being a consistent 18 and 8 player* equipped with a bench loaded with shooters, who just so happen to play harder on defense than they do on offense.
Not to get corny but I almost feel like the Knicks are entering the Hunger Games, not quite as District 12, but sort of like Katniss. We have the capability to win this thing, but we really have to avoid getting caught face-to-face with the strongest competitor in the beginning, unfortunately, it's us against Cato in the first round and Cato's really really pissed.
*Is that a bad look? Incorporating The Hunger Games? Don't act like you don't have girlfriends that ask you to read books! At least it's not Twilight!!!*
Hopefully the Knicks playoff run can not only parallel Katniss's run in The Hunger Games, but also their improbably run in the 1999 Playoffs where they were the 8 seed, defeating the 1 seed Heat in the first round of the playoffs of a lockout shortened season. I'm not saying anything, but I'm just saying...
Here are my thoughts on the other first round match-ups:
East:
1. Chicago Bulls vs 8. Philadelphia 76ers
I don't want to come off like a hater, but I'm really not liking the Bulls chances this season. I don't think they've done anything to really differentiate themselves from last season (depth was never the issue), but I don't think they'll struggle with the Sixers. I don't think this is a terrible matchup for the Sixers, but I can't see them taking more than a game or two against an incredibly competitive team. I'll say Bulls in 5.
4. Boston Celtics vs 5. Atlanta Hawks
I think this is the final straw for the Celtics to win a playoff series or two. Atlanta is really thin up front, and I really look forward to Kevin Garnett and Ivan Johnson going at it just from an i like confrontations aspect. I don't know that the Celtics have an answer for Joe Johnson, but I expect Rondo and Pierce to dominate this series and get the ball rolling for the Celtics. These teams have a history of tough games, but I can't see this series taking Boston more than 6 games.
3. Indiana Pacers vs 6. Orlando Magic
This will be a great measurement of how ready the Pacers are for a playoff run. This should be a sweep, but if the Pacers get lazy, the Magic could shoot their way to a win. This is just the beginning of what's going to be an ugly couple of months for Orlando. Stan Van just keep your cool buddy. Pacers in 5.
2. Miami Heat vs 7. New York Knicks
This isn't a favorable draw for either team, but make no mistakes, Miami's the better team. As much as the Knicks have improved since Mike Woodson took over, it's still the Heat, who are absolutely on a mission that only ends with a championship. The Knicks are still a work in progress and with Shumpert having never played in the playoffs, Stoudemire still figuring out his role, and uncertainty at the point guard position. The Heat should trample the Knicks. I'm being kind, Heat in 6.
West:
1. San Antonio Spurs vs 8. Utah Jazz
The Jazz are probably happier with this matchup than if they would've drawn the Thunder or the Lakers. Not to say the Jazz stand a chance, but Ty Corbin's bunch plays a similar game and has similar athleticism. The Spurs have a lot to prove, and have a healthy Manu for these playoffs, and not to mention have been scorching since acquiring Stephen Jackson at the trade deadline. Good for the Jazz for making the playoffs, but it's gonna be at least another year until they win any games. Spurs in
4.
4. Memphis Grizzlies vs 5. Los Angeles Clippers
Yikes. This is the series that everyone is already hailing "must watch series of the first round," and with the players involved it has to be. The Grizzlies were one of the scariest teams in the playoffs last season upsetting the 1 seed Spurs in the first round then taking the conference favorite Thunder to 7 games in the semifinals. As good as they've been since, I think Chris Paul is the best player in the series and I think he will dominate and get the Clippers to the second round. We've seen him carry worse Hornets teams, and I think he continues his playoff prowess this year. Clippers in 6.
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs 6. Denver Nuggets
This is going to be a great series. I hate how enjoyable the Nuggets are to watch play because of all of the Knicks sentiment on that team, but they really play a high-energy, everyone gets involved, run hard score harder style of ball that a slightly disheveled Lakers team may not be able to handle. I'm not putting this on Ron Artest, but the Lakers don't have any depth on the wing, and that's where the Nuggets strive. Kobe and Bynum are still the two best players in the series, but the Nuggets are gonna give them a run for their money. Lakers in 7.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs 7. Dallas Mavericks
You don't often see Conference Finals rematches in the first round, but this year it's because the defending champs are a shell of what they were last season. You still can't rule Dirk Nowitzki out, but the Thunder are going to be one of the toughest outs this postseason and you can bet your bottom dollar that Kevin Durant will not allow his team to lose in the first round. The Mavs won't have any kind of answers for Westbrook and Harden, and Dirk sold his soul for last season, don't expect him to repeat his performance. Thunder in 5.
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: LeBron James
Yup, another season of 27, 8, and 6, but it's 14-1 that matters. While the Heat ran shit in the East for the second straight season, LeBron particularly took his team of role players and a Bosh to a 14-1 record in games without Dwyane Wade, proving that he's going to win games and be the most dominant player in the league no matter who he's playing with. If you take LeBron off of the Heat they're completely out of the championship picture, which you could probably also say about Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul (even though the Clippers probably aren't in the picture anyway).
Runner Up: Chris Paul
Rookie of the Year: Duh, Kyrie Irving
There wasn't another rookie to play this season, except Rubio who was a fake rookie, that you watched play and thought "this guy's going to be a star." As effective as Klay Thompson and Kenneth Faried were down the stretch for their teams, Irving dominated games as a scorer as well as a distributor (with a pretty weak cast). Irving absolutely lived up to the hype this season, and will make the Cavs one of the peskier teams in the East next year if they can draft a scorer to play with him.
Runner Up: Kenneth Faried
Defensive Player of the Year: Tyson Chandler
It could essentially be Dwight Howard every season as nobody dominates the paint like he does (if I'm not following this formula than why should LeBron be MVP? Cause he's LeBron), but Tyson Chandler took the Knicks from a bottom-three defense the last couple of seasons to a top-five defense this season. Props to Iman Shumpert and Mike Woodson for sure, but Chandler dominates the boards on both ends with tip outs and effort, and keeps the paint cleared out for the most part for his team. Despite Carmelo Anthony's scoring spree this past month, Chandler is the Knicks most important player and is a leader on the defensive end.
Runner Up: Serge Ibaka
*Note: I'd like to apologize for my East Coast bias on that last one. The Knicks are the 7-seed in the East and get covered more than almost any team in the league because they play in New York. Their best defensive player isn't necessarily more important than anyone else's best defensive player, and I apologize if I've offended anyone by not considering Ibaka or Howard. With that said, being able to watch him consistently and seeing the amazing turn around for the Knicks defense this year, he's more than a valid candidate for this award.
Most Improved Player: Ryan Anderson
While Andrew Bynum's numbers really spiked this season, I feel he's had the capability to score and rebound the way he did this year for the past couple of seasons. He didn't suddenly emerge as a different player for the Lakers, the Lakers started using him differently and he had a fantastic season. With that said, I think guys like Ryan Anderson and Ersan Ilyasova really were the most improved players this season, as they've been impactful role players the last couple of seasons but really stepped up big for their teams this year. Anderson became a 16 and 8 guy this season, and if he had a better player or two next to him the Magic might win a playoff game.
Runner Up: Ersan Ilyasova
Sixth Man: James Harden
Harden played almost 30 minutes a game for the Western Conference's most dynamic offense, and often ran the point when paired with Westbrook in the backcourt. He's not the fuel that makes that offense go, but he's one of the most important moving parts averaging almost 17, 4 and 4. He's not only an incredibly gifted athlete, he's tremendously efficient, finishing the season with a higher PER than guys like Paul Pierce, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, and Ty Lawson. Harden plays well at every tempo, and is a star in this league despite his bench status.
Runner Up: Al Harrington
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau
Gregg Popovich really doesn't make this choice easy at all, and you don't often see a guy win this award two years in a row, let alone his first two seasons as a head coach, but it's gotta be Thibs! Say what you want about Popovich brilliantly cycling out his role players season by season, but he's working with the same core of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and a less efficient Tim Duncan for the past 10 seasons now (with three championships for that crew), the rest is just fill in the blanks. The Bulls went 18-9 without Derrick Rose this year, and with Luol Deng and Rip Hamilton missing games, it's incredible that the Bulls were able to take home the Eastern Conference's best record. It's not a runaway, but give credit where credits due.
Runner Up: Gregg Popvich
First Team All-NBA
C - Dwight Howard
F - LeBron James
F - Kevin Durant
G - Chris Paul
G - Kobe Bryant
Second Team All-NBA
C - Andrew Bynum
F - Kevin Love
F - Paul Pierce
G - Russell Westbrook
G - Tony Parker
Third Team All-NBA
C - Tyson Chandler
F - Blake Griffin
F - Carmelo Anthony
G - Dwyane Wade
G - Rajon Rondo
First Team All-Defense
C - Tyson Chandler
F - Serge Ibaka
F - LeBron James
G - Rajon Rondo
G - Kobe Bryant
Second Team All-Defense
C - Dwight Howard
F - Shawn Marion
F - Josh Smith
G - Iman Shumpert
G - Tony Allen
First Team All-Rookie
G/F - Klay Thompson
F - Kenneth Faried
G - Isaiah Tomas
G - Ricky Rubio
G - Kyrie Irving
Second Team All-Rookie
F - Kawhi Leonard
F - Chandler Parsons
G - MarShon Brooks
G - Brandon Knight
G - Iman Shumpert
Apr 1, 2012
My Letter to Mark...
Dear Mark,
Let's be honest, you thought of it probably before any of us Jets fans thought of it, and just like us, you thought of it half-serious/half-jokingly, right? I mean, the biggest circus in professional sports is available, why wouldn't the biggest circus of a franchise take a chance on him? Whatever the ratio of serious to kidding was for each of us, none of us really thought it would happen because we all knew it just didn't make that much sense. I mean, Woody, Mike, and especially Rex keep talking about how they're committed to you (they gave you a freaking extension the week before!), and as a sensible fan I'm committed to you too.
Everyone who watches you guys play consistently knows that you need another tackle to protect you, and it's no secret that your receivers and running backs are getting progressively worse. Even the defense, Rex's prized possession, hasn't made the evolution that we thought we'd see after the first year of this roller-coaster ride.
But while it's been a roller-coaster ride, it's been a whole lot more ups than downs, and I want to thank you for that. Mark, I can't lie, you've had your pretty awful moments; where were you for the first half of the 2010 AFC Championship? And how about the end of this past season? We're counting on your leadership, we used to refer to you as the Sanchize, we need you to be the man! With that said, thank you for the playoff road wins, the fourth quarter comebacks, and quarterback play that a Jets fan really isn't used to seeing.
I mean, you've turned the ball over a lot, which we all know maddens Rex more than a gross, callus infested foot, but you're also just three years into your already successful career. Last year was the year that you were supposed to make the jump into the top tiers of quarterbacks. Little do people know that your third-year numbers were comparable if not better than those of Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and mister Jets critic Joe Namath. You've been good and getting better, but it hasn't been good enough for our shit-talking coach, the New York media, and our overhyped, under knowledgable fan base. I don't know what they expect out of you when your right tackle lets guys hit you like it's his job, your number two and three receivers your first two seasons are gone, and your offensive coordinator only knows how to call screen plasses, slants, and RB draws, but apparently you underwhelmed what was expected out of you.
Here's where you're gonna learn Mark, that no matter what you do, you can't win with this organization. You play well enough to win 28 regular season and four playoff games in your first three years (more wins than a Jets quarterback has compiled in a three-year span since Namath from 1967-69), with an intelligent and innovative offensive coordinator on everyday of the week but game day, making big throws after said coordinator keeps you on a short leash long enough to get behind, and it still isn't good enough.
Well here's what I'm going to tell you, keep your head up and let Tim take some of the pressure off of you. I, and most knowledgable football people know, that it takes more than three seasons to really grow into the quarterback position. You've been good more than you've been bad, something I can't say for your new teammate, adversary, whatever we're calling him these days. Let these "geniuses" figure out how to run a wildcat offense, and you just make your plays when you're in the game, which for the time being, has to be somewhere between 65 and 75 percent of the snaps.
I know that's not the number you want it to be, but contrary to popular belief, we believe in you! We don't really believe in Tim. Despite his success and moxy, he makes you look like Aaron Rodgers when it comes to pocket passing, which is what wins in this league. I'm going to be honest with you, the defense and running game have been pretty good the majority of your tenure, so we're not all as attached to you as I am, and Tim's going to come in and play his ass off because he doesn't know how to do anything less. I believe that you put in work, I believe that you want to win as bad as anyone, now you need to make your teammates believe it, and you have to really play smarter to avoid those dumb boo birds.
Stop dicking around with Santonio on Twitter and actually command his respect. Invite Tim to Jets West and get everybody on the same page. You're not going to win this QB battle with your good looks, you have the tools to beat him out and be the starting quarterback of this team. Remember how you made everyone fall in love with you before the 2009 draft? Well get back on that hustle, times 10. We've seen you at your best and we've seen you at your worst, unfortunately New York finds a way to bring out the worst in people, now's the time for you to overcome that!
If you were playing anywhere else you'd have at least this next season and maybe the one after to keep proving that you're developing, but with this organization you don't always get what you deserve. We consistently under appreciate the guys who need our support, and give more to the guys who suck but sell jerseys. It's a vicious cycle, but know it's not you, it's us. It is kind of part you, but it's not really you, it's the position you play and the lack of success the team had last season. Who else can say they beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in back-to-back road playoff games?
I guess essentially what I'm trying to say to you Mark is I'm sorry that you're in the middle of the same old Jets being the same old Jets, but we brought you and Rex in to differentiate from that pattern, and up until the end of last season, it seemed that the transformation was taking place. Just because Tim thinks he's a quarterback, know what Rex knows; he's going to be more of a running back that is (semi)capable of throwing the football from time-to-time. Keep putting in work, become Tony Sparano's best friend, and show us how badly you want to KEEP winning.
These three years have been the best three years of my life as a Jets fan. It's funny how quickly everything soured when we stopped winning games, but non prisoner of the moment needs to realize that par for the course would have been a 4-12 season last year, not one where we almost made the playoffs and competed against some good teams. As long as you're my guy I don't want to call your team the same old Jets, and I just want you to know that you have my support, and you deserve every Jets fans support this season moving forward.
Make this your team, keep making the progress that you're noticeably making every season, and lead the best way you can, by example. That first pick or that first 3-and-out is going to be tough, but it's not gonna be the end of your season or career even...hopefully. Then again, you are a Jet. Keep your head up buddy.
Best Wishes,
Jared Mintz
P.S. Please don't punch Rex in the face this season.
Jan 31, 2012
It's Super Bowl weekend but all I wanna talk about is Basketball!
Well it's Super Bowl weekend, but there are more pressing issues (not really) that I need to talk about! I've been seriously neglecting the sport of basketball, and I need to acknowledge some of the things that I can't believe are happening, and some of the trends that quite frankly, I can believe are happening. Let's get into it!
- I can't believe that I have to eat my words, but I can believe that Eli Manning is an elite quarterback and the Giants are a better team than the Jets. I shouldn't even be mentioning the Jets in the same sentence as the G-Men right now, but the Giants really pulled it together and it's mainly due to Eli putting the team on his back and leading on the field and on the sidelines.
I said I wanted to see Eli continue his strong season in the games when it mattered; in the last game of the season against a desperate Dallas team he threw for 346 yards, 3 scores and completed over 70% of his passes, clinching the division and a playoff birth for the Giants. In the Wild Card matchup against Atlanta, Eli was at it again throwing for 277 yards and 3 scores, again with a completion percentage over 70. Then against Green Bay and San Francisco (both road games), who went a combined 28-4 in 2011, he threw for 330 yards and 316 yards respectively with 5 total touchdowns. The key stats in these games is 4 wins and one total interception!
Eli's in the zone and ready to defend his elite status, against a less than stellar Patriots defense. If sports were all logic this game should go to the Giants and Eli should take home his second Super Bowl MVP trophy. I'm not going to make any predictions, but I think we're in for a good game between two of the elite quarterbacks in the game. You happy now Giants fans? Sorry, Eli.
- I can't believe that I have to eat my words, but I can believe that Eli Manning is an elite quarterback and the Giants are a better team than the Jets. I shouldn't even be mentioning the Jets in the same sentence as the G-Men right now, but the Giants really pulled it together and it's mainly due to Eli putting the team on his back and leading on the field and on the sidelines.
I said I wanted to see Eli continue his strong season in the games when it mattered; in the last game of the season against a desperate Dallas team he threw for 346 yards, 3 scores and completed over 70% of his passes, clinching the division and a playoff birth for the Giants. In the Wild Card matchup against Atlanta, Eli was at it again throwing for 277 yards and 3 scores, again with a completion percentage over 70. Then against Green Bay and San Francisco (both road games), who went a combined 28-4 in 2011, he threw for 330 yards and 316 yards respectively with 5 total touchdowns. The key stats in these games is 4 wins and one total interception!
Eli's in the zone and ready to defend his elite status, against a less than stellar Patriots defense. If sports were all logic this game should go to the Giants and Eli should take home his second Super Bowl MVP trophy. I'm not going to make any predictions, but I think we're in for a good game between two of the elite quarterbacks in the game. You happy now Giants fans? Sorry, Eli.
- While on the topic of New York teams, I can totally believe that the Knicks are off to the start that they're off to. I'm not going to say I'm not disappointed in their slow start, but to have expected them to be at the top of the standings at this point in the season, without a point guard, would have been incredibly wishful thinking. The fact of the matter is this is an incomplete team, playing in a lockout shortened season, in a system that really can't thrive without an offensive facilitator.
Look up and down the Knicks roster, who do they have that can successfully run an NBA offense? Toney Douglas is a shooting guard in a point guard's body, and quite frankly never played the point or has run an intricate offense. Mike Bibby's a dinosaur. Iman Shumpert has a tremendous skill set but hasn't been called on to be a distributor at any point in his basketball life. Jeremy Lin can't crack the rotation. It's sad but the Knicks last hope on their current roster is Baron Davis, who isn't going to be near 100% until around the All-Star break.
The Knicks had two main issues to address this offseason, point guard and big man. They did more than address the second of those issues, but if Baron Davis can't get healthy, or when he is healthy can't be the Baron Davis of old (which would make sense, because he hasn't gotten any younger and his work ethic probably hasn't gotten better), this Knicks team is going to disappoint a fan base that unrealistically thought they were further ahead in their rebuilding phase than they actually are.
And don't go blaming all of this on Carmelo Anthony. It doesn't look good for Melo when he takes the amount of shots that he takes and his teammates don't get the touches they need, but what do you expect when D'Antoni asks him to bring the ball up court and start the offense? The offense runs through Melo, so when he brings the ball up and gets to within 30-feet of the basket with the ball already, it's essentially Melo time. We've seen how efficient he and Amar'e Stoudemire could be together with a point guard getting them the ball, and without that catalyst for the offense, it could be a long, disappointing season.
But please be patient as this is a REBUILDING phase for the Knicks. Knicks fans all want them to be back to competing for a title because they have two all-star caliber players, but it takes a complete team to really compete in this league...unless you have LeBron.
Look up and down the Knicks roster, who do they have that can successfully run an NBA offense? Toney Douglas is a shooting guard in a point guard's body, and quite frankly never played the point or has run an intricate offense. Mike Bibby's a dinosaur. Iman Shumpert has a tremendous skill set but hasn't been called on to be a distributor at any point in his basketball life. Jeremy Lin can't crack the rotation. It's sad but the Knicks last hope on their current roster is Baron Davis, who isn't going to be near 100% until around the All-Star break.
The Knicks had two main issues to address this offseason, point guard and big man. They did more than address the second of those issues, but if Baron Davis can't get healthy, or when he is healthy can't be the Baron Davis of old (which would make sense, because he hasn't gotten any younger and his work ethic probably hasn't gotten better), this Knicks team is going to disappoint a fan base that unrealistically thought they were further ahead in their rebuilding phase than they actually are.
And don't go blaming all of this on Carmelo Anthony. It doesn't look good for Melo when he takes the amount of shots that he takes and his teammates don't get the touches they need, but what do you expect when D'Antoni asks him to bring the ball up court and start the offense? The offense runs through Melo, so when he brings the ball up and gets to within 30-feet of the basket with the ball already, it's essentially Melo time. We've seen how efficient he and Amar'e Stoudemire could be together with a point guard getting them the ball, and without that catalyst for the offense, it could be a long, disappointing season.
But please be patient as this is a REBUILDING phase for the Knicks. Knicks fans all want them to be back to competing for a title because they have two all-star caliber players, but it takes a complete team to really compete in this league...unless you have LeBron.
-Speaking of LeBron, I can totally believe that the Heat, Thunder, Bulls, and Nuggets seem to be the cream of the crop in the NBA this season. This is going to be (already is) one of the more wild regular seasons in NBA history, where the playoffs could have completely different results than the season. Obviously everyone expected for the Heat, Thunder, and Bulls to battle for supremacy all season long, but where are the Mavs, Celtics, and Lakers? It was surprising to see such experienced teams get off to such slow starts, but this season is going to be a grind where the more athletic teams with the younger, fresher legs really prevail and run away with better records.
Even teams like Indiana and Philadelphia are playing better than anyone expected because they're comprised of young talented players that are familiar with one another. This is the season for a surprise team to take the league by storm, and that team could end up either being the Sixers or the aforementioned Nuggets. I don't want to tie the Nuggets in with the Knicks, but adding guys like Danilo Gallinari, Corey Brewer and Al Harrington to an offense run by Ty Lawson, who's one of the most underrated players in the league, really works better for an up-tempo offense than having a very talented guy like Carmelo Anthony who tends to slow down an offense.
As for Philadelphia, the core of the Sixers have been together for 2-4 seasons at this point, and with young quick guards like Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams, veteran wing players like Andre Iguodala and and Thaddeus Young, and complimentary big men who demand attention on all parts of the floor like Elton Brand and Spencer Hawes, this is a dangerous team. Consider that they're playing in a division that neither the Celtics or Knicks seemingly want to win, and this could be the year that the Sixers end up getting past the first round of the playoffs.
-Last NBA topic, I can't believe how good the Clippers are already. I know how good Chris Paul is, and I knew he'd be the perfect guy to play alongside two athletically gifted (understatement) bigs, but the other offseason additions that the Clips made are the difference between them competing and contending this season.
Between Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler, the Clippers added two guys who can score in a variety of ways, offer veteran leadership to a team of guys who haven't competed at the highest of levels, and most importantly, fill out a roster. Those two guys with Chris Paul make up 3 of the teams 5 starting spots, and allow Mo Williams to come off the bench where he has already earned a spot next to Jason Terry and Jamal Crawford as the league's best spark plug scorer's. Add Randy Foye, Reggie Evans, and now Kenyon Martin to this equation and this team is as good on paper as any team in the league. Watch out!
-A little college charm: I can't believe how good Aaron Craft and Thomas Robinson are. I originally was going to go out on a limb and declare each the best at their position, but Craft really doesn't have the numbers. Robinson on the other hand, is averaging 17.6 ppg and 12 rpg (#2 in the NCAA), and has done everything in his power to make the Jayhawks faithful forget not one, but two Morris's.
At this point, Robinson has posted 15 double-doubles in 22 games, including lines of 30 and 21, 21 and 18, 20 and 17, and 27 and 14 against a Baylor team that may boast the best frontcourt in the nation outside of Kentucky. Robinson showed signs of his capabilities as a Sophomore, but with the offense essentially running through him, he has led this top-10 Kansas team and will keep them in every game through late March.
Speaking of leading, I just can't get over how incredible of a player Aaron Craft is. I've watched a fair amount of Ohio State games (as everyone's on Sullinger watch), and I haven't seen a point guard play like him since Steve Blake. He's the type of player that hits big shots, gets his guy the ball where they're the most effective, and plays lockdown defense. I'm sorry for comparing him to another white point guard, but he's possibly the most efficient facilitator (I know it's Kendall Marshall) in the NCAA, and possibly the best defensive guard as well.
The Buckeyes have stifled guard heavy teams like Duke, Michigan, and Florida, and part of that has been Craft's intensity on the defensive end. He single-handedly took Seth Curry and Erving Walker out of their respective games, and caused Trey Burke to commit 5 Turnovers, his second worst output of the season. As important as Jared Sullinger is to the Buckeyes and their title hopes, Aaron Craft is the engine that makes that team go.
Those are my quick thoughts, I hope to post my hoops thoughts a bit more frequently, and will definitely address the state of the NFL shortly after this weekend. As always, thanks for reading, and enjoy the Super Bowl!
Even teams like Indiana and Philadelphia are playing better than anyone expected because they're comprised of young talented players that are familiar with one another. This is the season for a surprise team to take the league by storm, and that team could end up either being the Sixers or the aforementioned Nuggets. I don't want to tie the Nuggets in with the Knicks, but adding guys like Danilo Gallinari, Corey Brewer and Al Harrington to an offense run by Ty Lawson, who's one of the most underrated players in the league, really works better for an up-tempo offense than having a very talented guy like Carmelo Anthony who tends to slow down an offense.
As for Philadelphia, the core of the Sixers have been together for 2-4 seasons at this point, and with young quick guards like Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams, veteran wing players like Andre Iguodala and and Thaddeus Young, and complimentary big men who demand attention on all parts of the floor like Elton Brand and Spencer Hawes, this is a dangerous team. Consider that they're playing in a division that neither the Celtics or Knicks seemingly want to win, and this could be the year that the Sixers end up getting past the first round of the playoffs.
-Last NBA topic, I can't believe how good the Clippers are already. I know how good Chris Paul is, and I knew he'd be the perfect guy to play alongside two athletically gifted (understatement) bigs, but the other offseason additions that the Clips made are the difference between them competing and contending this season.
Between Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler, the Clippers added two guys who can score in a variety of ways, offer veteran leadership to a team of guys who haven't competed at the highest of levels, and most importantly, fill out a roster. Those two guys with Chris Paul make up 3 of the teams 5 starting spots, and allow Mo Williams to come off the bench where he has already earned a spot next to Jason Terry and Jamal Crawford as the league's best spark plug scorer's. Add Randy Foye, Reggie Evans, and now Kenyon Martin to this equation and this team is as good on paper as any team in the league. Watch out!
-A little college charm: I can't believe how good Aaron Craft and Thomas Robinson are. I originally was going to go out on a limb and declare each the best at their position, but Craft really doesn't have the numbers. Robinson on the other hand, is averaging 17.6 ppg and 12 rpg (#2 in the NCAA), and has done everything in his power to make the Jayhawks faithful forget not one, but two Morris's.
At this point, Robinson has posted 15 double-doubles in 22 games, including lines of 30 and 21, 21 and 18, 20 and 17, and 27 and 14 against a Baylor team that may boast the best frontcourt in the nation outside of Kentucky. Robinson showed signs of his capabilities as a Sophomore, but with the offense essentially running through him, he has led this top-10 Kansas team and will keep them in every game through late March.
Speaking of leading, I just can't get over how incredible of a player Aaron Craft is. I've watched a fair amount of Ohio State games (as everyone's on Sullinger watch), and I haven't seen a point guard play like him since Steve Blake. He's the type of player that hits big shots, gets his guy the ball where they're the most effective, and plays lockdown defense. I'm sorry for comparing him to another white point guard, but he's possibly the most efficient facilitator (I know it's Kendall Marshall) in the NCAA, and possibly the best defensive guard as well.
The Buckeyes have stifled guard heavy teams like Duke, Michigan, and Florida, and part of that has been Craft's intensity on the defensive end. He single-handedly took Seth Curry and Erving Walker out of their respective games, and caused Trey Burke to commit 5 Turnovers, his second worst output of the season. As important as Jared Sullinger is to the Buckeyes and their title hopes, Aaron Craft is the engine that makes that team go.
Those are my quick thoughts, I hope to post my hoops thoughts a bit more frequently, and will definitely address the state of the NFL shortly after this weekend. As always, thanks for reading, and enjoy the Super Bowl!
Dec 12, 2011
"I'm Really Sick Of..." and "Without a Doubt!" - NFL Late Season and NBA Offseason Edition
After 13 games of the 2011 NFL season, there are a few themes of the season that can be debated. Here are some topics that I don't think should make that list:
1) Aaron Rodgers is Without a Doubt the best quarterback in the NFL. I may come across like a clown by saying this but the way Aaron Rodgers has been playing over the past 20 games or so might be the best quarterbacking I've ever seen. Ever! Now I'm not calling Rodgers the greatest ever, not even the greatest of all-time amongst active quarterbacks, but this guy is making plays I've never seen made before. It's almost as if you took Tom Brady's arm and IQ and mixed it with Steve Young's athleticism and creativity.
I don't want to get too caught up in what he's doing just this year (see Manning, Eli), but he leads the league with 39 touchdowns, and he's throwing for around 317 yards a game, with a completion percentage just shy of 70, and here's the kicker, he's doing it with a QB rating of 123.3! The only other quarterback in NFL history to have a QB rating above 120 for a full season was Peyton Manning in his (then) record setting season of 2004. We're witnessing something special not just this year (in five playoff games : 67.8 % Comp, 303.4 yds/gm, 13 TD 3 INT, 112.6 QB Rating), but for many years to come.
Rodgers already has as many rings as fellow elite quarterbacks Manning and Drew Brees, and with a very talented defense and an abundant amount of skilled receivers catching his crisp passes, Big Ben and Brady better watch their backs or they'll be looking up at Mr. Discount Double-Check too.
2) Speaking of elite quarterbacks, I'm Really Sick of Eli Manning being called Elite. People, especially Giants fans, are always so concerned with where Eli Manning ranks amongst other quarterbacks in the NFL. Whether it's the younger brother complex, or the fact that fellow 2004 draft class QBs Phillip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger are both incredible, Eli Manning has probably been one of the more debated quarterback for the past few seasons, and this year shouldn't end that debate! If what you're really seeking is the classification of elite then how can you put Eli in that conversation? Because he has a Superbowl championship? Because the Giants seem to be in the mix every season? These are factors that definitely play into Eli being a "top" quarterback, but elite?
I don't mean to take anything away from Eli, who is having an absolute career year and is really one of the better quarterbacks in the game, but how many players can you really consider elite? Rodgers, Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Bress...maybe Roethlisberger. Those are unarguably the five best quarterbacks in the league (lets give Peyton the benefit of the doubt and allow him to be innocent until proven guilty). If you want to say Eli's one of the elite quarterbacks this season, that's fine, he's having a monster season, but when he performs this way over a stretch of multiple seasons, not to mention starts winning more playoff games (all of his playoff wins are from 2007) then he'll undoubtedly be elite.
You don't become elite by winning in the middle of the season, and as great as Eli's playing, this season for him (and the Giants) will only be remembered by how it ends. Now we'll see how elite Eli really is.
3. Can we say it yet? Tim Tebow is Without a Doubt an NFL quarterback! What are the two most important things you're looking for out of your quarterback? Arm strength and accuracy or wins and leadership? Because yes, you're clearly not getting top notch pocket quarterbacking out of Tebow, but you clearly are getting leadership, and MOST importantly, wins. Yes, they're ugly wins, they're wins that the defense keeps the hopeless looking offense in for the majority of the games, but they're also wins that wouldn't happen if Tebow doesn't make multiple huge plays that end up being deciding factors.
This isn't a conversation that needs any stats other than 8-3. While an 8-3 record isn't necessarily enough to put on a resume and expect to land any open quarterback position, it should be enough to put confidence in an organization that saw its last quarterback go 12-21 over the past three seasons. If the Broncos win the AFC West this year, which is looking like a real strong possibility, John Fox absolutely deserves Coach of the Year for throwing out his old playbooks and drawing his offense up around Tebow, but how can Tebow not at least walk away from this season as a legitimate starting quarterback?
I'm not asking for him to be considered elite (let's see how many more games he can win before we even think about opening that can of worms), but I am completely sold that he can play the position, and do so with at least mild success, which he's proven he can over his 11 career starts. I can't lie, I'm intrigued by Tebowmania, in fact, I've gotten over the fact that my Jets got Tebowed when they shouldn't have lost to that team. I've gotten over it because despite the fact that the Jets allowed him to lead a game-winning 95-yard drive, they knew all he was going to do was run, and he still did it, successfully.
Real recognize real, this kid's been a successful quarterback. I'm not really sick of Tebow, just sick of the Tebow haters.
4) I'm already Really Sick of hearing about Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Yup, I said it, get used to it, because it's clearly not going anywhere. You think you're sick of hearing about it during Week 14 of the 2011 season, wait until the season's over. Then wait until the NFL Draft. Then wait until Training Camp 2012, followed by the preseason where both Luck and Peyton Manning look great. Then it's going to get worse by the week, possibly by the day. Sports fans, we have entered our new Brett Favre is retiring saga.
If Andrew Luck is the LeBron James, Stephen Strasburg, Sidney Crosby can't miss talent that everyone's been saying he is for over a year now, then how can the Colts not take him? Idiot Owner Jim Irsay hasn't said one thing either pro Peyton for 2012, or anti Luck for 2012, and face it, this Colts team will be lucky to win a game, let alone two before the season ends. The Colts intentionally didn't place Manning on the injured reserve this season so he could receive his full contract, could they possibly be ready to move on?
If they are, I hope they trade Manning early enough so that we don't have to live with this annoying story, or at least I hope they commit to Luck spending a year on the bench so he can learn from the best. Just know that if the two are on the same team, every game will end with questions as to who could have done a better job, and with both Manning and Luck's fathers being former quarterbacks, expect an even uglier dimension of annoyingness added to this story. Get better soon Peyton.
5) Jim Harbaugh is Without a Doubt NFL Coach of the Year. Assuming John Fox won't get the recognition he deserves for getting a 9/10 win team into the playoffs, Harbaugh will get the recognition for taking a team that hasn't won more than 8 games since 2002 and winning 11-13 games. Harbaugh inherited pretty much the same team that Mike Singletary was showing his weiner to for the past couple of years, and has turned them into a smash mouth football team. The niners have given up the least amount of rushing yards, and boast one of the best o-lines in the league, and most importantly, know better than to ask more out of Alex Smith than he can deliver. It was never a secret that Frank Gore was a premier running back, nor that Patrick Willis was a top defensive player, but Harbaugh has gotten the guys around those two stars to play their roles and this team could be playing deep into the winter.
Alright if you read my writing you know I'm an NBA FREAK! Here are my 5 NBA "I'm Really Sick Of..." "Without a Doubt!" points:
1) I know that my team was the beneficiary of the "Melo Drama" that lasted literally from mid-summer of 2010 until February of 2011, but I'm Really Sick of this Chris Paul drama. Whether this is all happening now because Paul played hardball with David Stern and other NBA Owners during labor negotiations, or the owners really just don't want to see stars ganging up, this story is awful and may be with us for months to come. I think it's a really sensitive matter to trade Paul to a large market team seeing how the NBA owns and operates the New Orleans Hornets, but Hornets GM Dell Demps has agreed now to multiple trade offers, let me clear that up, he's agreed to multiple FAIR trade offers, and for a number of reasons the deals haven't been approved by the league.
This isn't the portion of my opinion where I provide a solution, rather where I continue to sulk over how sick this situation could potentially make me. While I was really hopeful that the Knicks would be able to land CP3, realistically I knew it would be difficult, and I was almost relieved when he was traded to the Lakers as I thought it would be the end of the rumors. This probably would have been the best move for the Hornets as they would've scored Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Lamar Odom, and Goran Dragic, four very talented, diverse players who could really help fill out a roster that's been depleted by free-agency and a lack of time to acquire new players caused by the lockout. The Hornets would've landed several solid contributors, as well as a draft pick to help start over, but as you know the deal was vetoed. And if a Lakers trade was vetoed, why wouldn't a Clippers trade be vetoed? After all it would end up landing Chris Paul in one of the two biggest NBA markets on either team. With that said, Golden State, maybe spend your efforts looking for someone else to trade Monta Ellis for.
At this point I don't know how or if the Hornets will be able to get Paul traded, which is a shame as they could really start rebuilding their team by letting go of their star. It's understandable that the owners are against players using leverage and dictating where their teams trade them, but this almost seemed like the league cutting its nose off despite it's face. Believe me, I don't want to see the Lakers end up landing Paul and still having the potential to bring in Dwight Howard, and maybe this will create some way for the Knicks to get back in the CP3 mix, but I think these trades being vetoed is just the beginning of what will be a long, dragged out saga with Chris Paul and the Hornets.
2) While on the subject of potential Knicks (sort of), Tyson Chandler was Without a Doubt the guy for the Knicks to add this offseason. It would have been sweet if the Knicks were able to bring in Chandler, and still add a point guard, but Chandler will give the Knicks something they haven't had in close to 15 years. Chandler is a relentless rebounder and feared shot-blocker (see LeBron's passiveness in the Finals, yeah I'm giving Chandler partial credit for it!), and at the same time is the perfect athlete for Mike D'Antoni's tempo. Chandler is also a great pick-and-roll defender, and with the teams point guard still to be named (come on, anyone but Mike Bibby), it's good to know that they'll have big Tyson defending the paint and picking up the slack for his other frontcourt-mates.
The marriage of Chandler to the Knicks really works as Chandler will not only help Stat and Melo out on defense, his efforts will allow his star forwards to save more of their energy for the offensive end, where they'll both undoubtedly put in the majority of their energy. Chandler is without a doubt a top-five center in the league, and even higher if you're only talking about defense. Welcome to New York Tyson, now go clog the middle.
3) I'm Really Sick of Dwight Howard's inconsistency. I understand that Dwight's one of the game's nice guys, but you can't go around sending mixed messages day-in and day-out. One day Dwight wants to go wherever Chris Paul is, the next day he's illegally (NBA police are watching) being wined and dined by Nets brass, and then the next it's Orlando thats the place he wants to be for the rest of his career. What gives? Say what you want about Melo, but you knew all along where he wanted to be, and as much as Nuggets fans may dislike him for it, he kept it real. This is one of those situations where keeping it real, really can't go wrong.
Dwight will without a doubt give his all for whatever team he suits up for this season, but please, you know he's not resigning with the Magic. Whether he follows Shaqs suit and goes out West, or comes up North, he won't be with Stan Van Gundy's bickering ass or whatever underachieving wing players who are shying from the moment in Orlando come playoff time. When the long-standing president of the team steps down from his job after drunk-dialing you and begging you to stay, you know that he knows you're gone, and you too know that you're gone.
4) The Miami Heat will Without a Doubt win the NBA Championship in 2012. Who else? The Thunder? The Bulls? Come on, those teams were at least a year away come last spring/summer, and without a chance to really lure in free-agents or build team commodity this offseason, it's the perfect time for LeBron to come back and win his first championship. LeBron and Wade spent the whole summer together, Chris Bosh is ready for a bounce back season, the bench is filling out, they signed do-it-all Shane Battier, I'm not endorsing Eddy Curry at all, but he sounds motivated and definitely lost significant weight (we've heard this before), and they're just ready to start winning.
I'm going to stand by this statement all season, the NBA is without a doubt LeBron James' league. He's the best player in the league, and it's just not logical for the best player to be with another great player and not start winning championships. I think Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose are really giving everything they have to get on LeBron's level, but both are at least a season away. With several amnesties still to be applied, this Heat roster may not be final yet, but with LeBron and Wade, the Heat have enough. This is the year that they prove it.
5) I'm Really Sick of all of the rumors. This past weekend was overload! You just took months of free agency and crammed it into a weekend pretty much. I swear, I must've thought 20 different guys were going to be Knicks this weekend, maybe 2 of them are. I'm glad the NBA is back, but with that said, let's get the season started already!
Season Preview to follow soon...
Sep 29, 2011
What a night for Baseball!
Are You FREAKING Kidding Me???
Within fifteen minutes, both the Red Sox and Braves completed two of probably the five worst collapses in baseball history, and the Rays walked-off to put their stamp on the final Wild Card spot in the American League...after coming back from being down 7-0 in the bottom of the 8th inning!
If you were watching baseball on Wednesday night, night 162 of 162 games of the MLB season, you witnessed a night that won't be forgotten, truthfully until Friday night when the playoffs get underway, but in a historical sense for a really long time. Four teams competing for two playoff spots, two teams having blown tremendous leads throughout September, one night with the potential for two one-game playoff series if all four teams won.
Spoiler Alert! There won't be a 163rd night of the regular season.
We'll go chronological. The Cardinals took care of business as they should have, getting an 11 strike out complete game shutout out of their ace Chris Carpenter, the Cards smoked the wack-ass Astro's 8-0. Staying in the NL, the Braves, who led St. Louis by 10 games just a month ago, hosted the NL-best Phillies, and jumped out to a 3-1 lead through the first seven innings mainly thanks to Dan Uggla's 36th homerun of the season.
Jump over to the American League. You already know the story. The Red Sox held a nine game lead on the Wild Card earlier in the month! Well coming into today with wins in just 7 of their last 26 games, it's needless to say they had some problems on their hands, mainly the come-back kids, otherwise known as the Tampa Bay Rays. Both teams tied for the AL wild card, the Rays hosting the AL-best Yankees, and the Red Sox on the road against the lowly Orioles.
The Rays came hungry, going with hard-throwing ace David Price. Price got LIT-UP to the tune of two Tex-messages, translated into six runs in four innings, which led to a 7-0 deficit. With the Rays down early, the Red Sox failed to capitalize and fell behind 2-1 after three, until grabbing the lead back and ultimately taking a 3-2 lead through the middle of the game.
NL...the Braves held on to their 3-1 lead until the Phillies scrapped together runs in the seventh and the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra's. AL...while things took a turn into latter innings in Atlanta, rain started falling in the seventh in Baltimore with the Sox up 3-2, and AJ Burnett came into the game for a relief appearance in the bottom of the eighth in Tampa. Burnett got a ground ball out and was taken out of the game, and that's when things got weird.
While it was strange to see Burnett in that situation, it was even stranger to see what followed. With a 7-0 lead, the Yankees loaded the bases, then walked two runs in, then gave up a GRAND SLAM to Evan Longoria! Baseball caps turned inside out, fairweather fans going nuts, smiles and celebration prevailing from a recently depressing looking dugout, and a seven run lead reduced to just a one run lead, yup, we were in the midst of a rally.
With the Braves and Phillies duking it out, the Yankees survived the eighth and got the ball to Cory Wade with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Then the unexpected happened. Joe Maddon had seen enough of Sam Fuld, who pinch-hit just the inning before, and needed a big stick with two outs in the ninth and his team basically dead to rights. Enter Dan Johnson. The back-up catchers last hit came on April 27th, last long-ball on April 8th, this is your guy Maddon?
There's a reason he's a former Manager of the Year and I'm...not. Dan Johnson goes yard, ties the game up, the Trop's freaking out, except for the 75% of the stadium that're Yankees fans, this is baseball! Speaking of baseball...the tarp comes off the field at Camden and the Red Sox know the pressure's on.
NL...The Braves finally get a runner to third in the bottom of the 12th on a wild pitch, but can't bring him in. Sadly for Atl-iens, Hunter Pence bloops one in front of Jason Heyward and brings Brian Schneider home, Phillies take the lead, force Freddie Freeman into a 3-6-4 double-play in the bottom half, and complete the Braves collapse. Sorry Atlanta.
Speaking of sorry...the Red Sox get their guy Jonathan Papelbon into the game for the bottom of the ninth and a chance to at worst play for a playoff spot on Thursday. Paps fans Adam Jones and Mark Reynolds, two down, 163 here we come!
Tampa...top 12, Jorge Posada on first and Eric Chavez on second with one out. Rookie Jake McGee gets a Chris Dickerson strikeout and a Brett Gardner ground out, the Rays live to see another day.
Baltimore...two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the Sox up one. Chris Davis hits a bullet to right on the first pitch, double. Uh-oh. Nolan Reimold up next to try and keep Baltimore alive in their World Series. Reimold goes 2-0, Papelbon gets him swinging at the next two, 2-2, Sox up one...not for long, tie game. Reimold goes to deep center, ground rule double, double uh-oh! Papelbon's pissed, Boston's scared, I'm going NUTS!
B.J. Upton's going to the on-deck circle as he leads off the bottom of the 12th back in Tampa. Upton sees four pitches, foul-ball, ball, swings and misses at the last two, Evan Longoria your move. But before the man who changed the game with one swing earlier in the night comes up, we have a runner on second with two outs in a tie game back in Baltimore.
The slumping Robert Andino comes to the plate, extra's would be fine as it would extend the O's season, but Andino's not looking for an extension, he's looking for...a hit? Andino rips one to left, Carl Crawford makes the shoe string slide, ball in his glove, ball OUT OF HIS GLOVE! Ball laying on grass, Reimold rounding third, throw coming in late, Orioles...Winning!
Minutes later Tropicana Field is shaking! Everyone in the stadium knows this won't be their "beloved" Rays final game of the 2011 season, especially Evan Longoria. Unfortunately for the Yankees, reliever Scott Proctor knew it as well. After six tough pitches came clarity, this will be the Rays final game of the regular season. This team is going to the PLAYOFFS! Longoria hits a laser just feet to the right of the left field foul line over the left field wall, Rays win, Red Sox lose, somewhere Dick Vitale is acting like he found the lost 92 Duke porno.
Within minutes we saw the Braves crumble, the Red Sox collapse, and the Rays surge. For the Braves it tied for the worst collapse in September in National League history, for the Red Sox it was the largest September collapse in Major League history, and for the Rays it was the largest deficit overcome in September to clinch a playoff spot in Major League history.
What will this mean for the postseason? I'm not sure. Are the Mets off the hook just yet? That I'm not sure about either. But I am sure that this was the most incredible night that Major League Baseball has seen in years. Wow!
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