tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43317177392169806632024-02-20T23:31:26.189-08:00The Sports ColumnistIf you're looking for snazzy pictures, then this isn't the site for you. If you're looking for colorful videos, then you should look elsewhere. But if you're in search of quality, colorful and insightful sports writing, then this is the site to check out. This is a talented sports journalist's home.
Please make yourself at home.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.comBlogger308125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-25518248470040819912011-09-12T18:54:00.001-07:002011-09-12T18:54:57.486-07:00Novak Djokovic cements the greatest year in men's tennis history<i>ON TENNIS<br />
</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Novak Djokovic stood on the trophy stand, decked out in a red polo shirt and an FDNY hat.<br />
<br />
He looked more like a fireman than a tennis player, and for a couple minutes at least, he could have been mistaken for one rather than the greatest tennis player in the world.<br />
<br />
Then he was handed the U.S. Open trophy, and there was no ambiguity. <br />
<br />
Standing in the middle of the largest tennis stadium in the world stood a 24-year-old who, undoubtedly, has put together the most impressive season in the history of men’s tennis.<br />
<br />
“The greatest year we’ve ever seen in the sport of tennis,” said John McEnroe, who had the only comparable season in 1984.<br />
<br />
After overcoming the incredibly resilient Rafael Nadal — in McEnroe’s words, “the greatest effort player” in tennis history — in a four-hour, four-set match 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1 Monday to win his first Open, Djokovic is 64-2 in 2011, has 10 titles and won three of the year’s four majors, becoming just the sixth player in history to accomplish that. <br />
<br />
Those numbers don’t do his year justice, however. Most impressively, he’s 6-0 against Nadal (all in finals), defeating the former world No. 1 and winner of three slams a year ago on every surface. On Monday, Djokovic imposed his will on Nadal, took the Spaniard’s best punch over and over again, suffered a back injury going into the fourth set, and then dominated and, ultimately, broke Nadal’s spirit at the end.<br />
<br />
This came just two days after, let’s not forget, hitting what McEnroe termed “one of the greatest all-time shots in tennis history” Saturday against Roger Federer when he faced double match point and rifled a return forehand crosscourt. On the following point, Djokovic fought off a Federer serve that was coming right at him, won the point to force deuce, and never looked back in completing an epic, improbable comeback from two sets down. <br />
<br />
No one could ever have imagined such a season from Djokovic. Three years ago, he was criticized and deemed childish for his impersonations of top players, who didn’t much like his mocking. Two years ago, he was swept in straight sets at the Open by Federer and, I wrote then, simply wasn’t as tough mentally as Federer or Nadal.<br />
<br />
Now? Djokovic has the mental fortitude that has won Federer 16 majors and Nadal 10. And, oh, by the way, Djokovic has four. <br />
<br />
“What this guy’s doing is an unbelievable thing,” the always-gracious Nadal said post-match. “What you’ve done this year is probably impossible to repeat.”<br />
<br />
That’s very possible, but Djokovic’s performances won’t begin tailing off anytime soon. He’s in his prime, and Monday he demonstrated why he’s been so dominantly consistent all season. <br />
<br />
Never showing signs of collapsing, Djokovic broke Nadal a ridiculous 10 times, influencing McEnroe to say he’s never seen a better returner of serve. His scintillating forehands dropping at the feet of Nadal and nicking the baseline didn’t disprove this. <br />
<br />
If Nadal didn’t get his first serves in, it was advantage Djokovic every time. <br />
<br />
Nadal has worn down players his entire career with long, grueling, side-to-side rallies. Not Djokovic. Instead, he dictated the majority of the points with his pinpoint, flat groundstrokes. <br />
<br />
Most importantly, Djokovic never let the pro-Nadal (or, rather, pro-“I want to see more tennis!”) crowd get to him despite constant outbursts during and before points. He never was mentally affected by the swings in momentum Nadal created with his incredible defense and shot-making. <br />
<br />
And when Nadal finally broke through to win the third set in a tiebreak with his best, most aggressive tennis of the afternoon/night, Djokovic — despite feeling back pain — pulled out a deuce game on serve to begin the fourth, took a medical timeout to tend to the back, and then proceeded to clinically destroy and finally dethrone the proud defending champion.<br />
<br />
By the final game, the ending had been written inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic’s forehands were too perfectly placed. His returns kept tangling Nadal’s feet. Djokovic has never been talked about for his fitness, but Nadal was the one who seemed worn down from the four hours, 20-shot rallies and multiple-deuce games Djokovic pushed him to on his serve. He was done.<br />
<br />
Not that he’ll get it with Davis Cup matches next weekend, but Djokovic deserves some rest. In three days, he played nine sets against the top two players of their generation, coming back from two sets and two match points down against Federer with the gutsiest shot-making you’ll ever see and then outlasting Nadal in what McEnroe called the most physical tennis match he’s ever seen at the Open.<br />
<br />
64-2. 3 major titles. 6-0 vs. Nadal. <br />
<br />
With those 2011 numbers, Novak Djokovic won’t be fading into oblivion anytime soon. <br />
<br />
Rather, he should be gracing the covers of magazines.<br />
<br />
Probably in his recognizable tennis outfit — not that the polo & hat didn’t fit.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-54649161701168786092011-04-16T09:29:00.000-07:002011-04-16T09:29:51.667-07:00NBA playoffs preview: Enjoy the high-level basketball while it lasts<a href="http://fancountry.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/derrick_rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://fancountry.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/derrick_rose.jpg" width="256" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ON BASKETBALL</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br />
</span><br />
In many ways, NBA fans will tell you, the Association has never been better off. Television ratings are soaring through the roof. There are several star-studded teams. And we are about to begin what could be one of the most entertaining playoffs ever.<br />
<br />
However, the league is also in big trouble. According to NBA Commissioner David Stern, it's losing money each year. Just eight franchises are pulling in profits. And there's no competitive balance — teams in appealing, big-market cities get all the big names (sorry Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana).<br />
<br />
NBA owners says a change must be made. The current system of players taking 57 percent of the revenue pool has to be adjusted. The collective bargaining agreement expires June 31, which doesn't give the sides much time to come to a new deal before the NBA joins the NFL in lockout city.<br />
<br />
Many people, myself included, think it's highly possible that a lockout will continue into next season and maybe, even, wipe out the entire 2011-12 season. That, of course, would bring to a screeching halt all the progress the league has made with the booming TV ratings and increased attendance for the seventh consecutive year.<br />
<br />
All this talk, however, can't overshadow what begins today. A NBA playoffs that couldn't be more hyped.<br />
<br />
A stacked Eastern Conference with four legitimate Finals contenders. A wild, open Western Conference with a shaky No. 1 seed. And a first-round matchup that Stern and company must be salivating about.<br />
<br />
So let's leave the lockout talk behind for a minute, take a seat on the couch, and enjoy what is sure to be a highly entertaining two months of playoff hoops:<br />
<br />
EASTERN CONFERENCE<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">First Round</span><br />
1 Chicago def. 8 Indiana (4 games): Sorry, Pacers, but this one's already over. No team is hotter than the Bulls and likely MVP Derrick Rose.<br />
2 Miami def. 7 Philadelphia (5 games): Has the Heat completely found its chemistry? Nope, not yet. Which is why the overwhelmed 76ers will steal a game.<br />
3 Boston def. 6 New York (7 games): Oh, what a series this will be. The (aging) Big Three + Rondo vs. A'mare, Carmelo & Chauncey. The Garden vs. The Garden. Of course it will come down to Game 7 in Boston. Edge goes to the more experienced, defensive team.<br />
4 Orlando def. 5 Atlanta (5 games): Is there a less inspiring team than the Hawks? All the talent, but minimal effort. No one's talking about the Magic, which makes it more dangerous.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Second Round</span><br />
1 Chicago def. 4 Orlando (6 games): The (somewhat) young Bulls' first real test will be passed, as Rose, only 22, runs circle around Jameer Nelson, and Joakim Noah & Co. handle Dwight Howard.<br />
3 Boston def. 2 Miami (6 games): Listen, we all know the Heat is younger and probably has more talent. But until it finds that balance, especially late in games, it's not ready to take down an opponent like the Celtics in a grind-it-out series.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Conference Finals</span><br />
1 Chicago def. 3 Boston (7 games): This will be another incredible series, which, ultimately, will be decided by role players. Everyone talks about Rose, but the Bulls' wings will step up and hit big shots and shut down Paul Pierce. And with the final game on the line, Rose will rise to the occasion.<br />
<br />
WESTERN CONFERENCE<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">First Round</span><br />
1 San Antonio def. 8 Memphis (6 games): This will be far from a walk on the hardwood for the Spurs, especially minus Manu Ginobili for at least the first game. But their experience won't let them go down yet.<br />
2 L.A. Lakers def. 7 New Orleans (4 games) The Hornets have really overachieved to get in the playoffs with David West out for the season. They have no size to deal with the Lakers' bigs, though. And Kobe will go into playoff mode.<br />
3 Dallas def. 6 Portland (6 games): The Mavericks know the truth: This could be their last go-around with the current roster; with Dirk holding the reins. That will be enough to get 'em past the pesky Blazers.<br />
4 Oklahoma City def. 5 Denver (5 games): I love what the Nuggets have become post-'Melo. Without a superstar, they're one of the best "teams" in the league. However, it still helps to have a Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. They'll be too much for the Nuggets to handle.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Second Round</span><br />
4 Oklahoma City def. 1 San Antonio (6 games): This, to me, isn't an upset. Prior to the season, I had the Thunder as the second best team in the West. I still believe that's the case. The Spurs have overachieved. Kendrick Perkins will handle Duncan, and Westbrook will neutralize Tony Parker.<br />
2 L.A. def. 3 Dallas (6 games): Name a position where the Mavs have a real advantage? They'll make this a series with a pair of wins, but the Lakers' size will wear them down and Kobe and Derek Fisher will provide the finishing touches.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Conference Finals</span><br />
1 L.A. def. 4 Oklahoma City (7 games): Oh, baby! This is what I'm waiting for out west. Remember last year when these teams met in the first round? The Thunder made it a series despite being newbies to the postseason. This time around every game will be competitive. The Lakers, though, will have a wee bit more urgency. They know this is probably their last good chance at a title<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">NBA Finals</span><br />
L.A. Lakers def. Chicago Bulls (6 games): Since the season began — and through the losing streaks — I've never doubted that L.A. will win this championship. I still believe it'll happen. For one, Phil Jackson only wins titles in sets of three, right? Secondly, as mentioned, the Lakers know that their current group isn't getting any younger and it would be a very tough task to win without Phil after this year. As brilliant as the Bulls have been on the big stage all year and, I predict, through three rounds in the playoffs, their role players will struggle — especially on the road. Toss in some clutch Derek Fisher 3s, a wild Ron Artest junk shot, and the usual brilliance of Kobe and Pau Gasol ... and you've got a third straight title for the Lakers.<br />
<br />
Enjoy the hoops while it lasts.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-69321008411291255982011-03-16T09:34:00.000-07:002011-03-16T09:34:09.845-07:00The healed toe effect: Blue Devils to win national championship<a href="http://acc.blogs.starnewsonline.com/files/2010/11/kyrie-irving-action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://acc.blogs.starnewsonline.com/files/2010/11/kyrie-irving-action.jpg" width="233" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
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One toe, ultimately, will decide a national championship.<br />
<br />
So what's new on Tobacco Road?<br />
<br />
In my mind, just how healthy Kyrie Irving is -- and how quickly he can return to pre-toe injury form -- will determine whether the Blue Devils cut down the nets in Houston, completing Mike Krzyzewski's second back-to-back titles run.<br />
<br />
If Irving doesn't regain his game, this tournament is wide open. Ohio State is probably the most well-rounded team. But the Buckeyes could lose as early as the Sweet 16 against an uber-talented Kentucky team. Kansas is the deepest team, but Louisville -- a potential round of 16 matchup -- is as dangerous as anyone.<br />
<br />
It's just hard to know. Impossible, really. That's the beauty of this tournament.<br />
<br />
But, ultimately, I'm expecting a healthy, productive Irving -- just like Ty Lawson for the Tar Heels two seasons ago -- and, thus, another national title for the Blue Devils (and the third in a row for North Carolina's Triangle).<br />
<br />
Here are the picks:<br />
<br />
EAST<br />
<br />
<b>First Round</b><br />
1 Ohio State def. 16 UT-SA-Alabama State: Um, yeah, I feel safe making this pick before the "First Four" game tonight.<br />
8 George Mason def. 9 Villanova: Name a team in the tournament that's looked worse than 'Nova recently...<br />
12 Clemson def. 5 West Virginia: Tigers have been playing extremely well coming in and give Mounties issues with their size.<br />
4 Kentucky def. 13 Princeton: This Princeton team doesn't even play slow-it-down Princeton basketball. Wildcats a little more used to running.<br />
6 Xavier def. 11 Marquette: Musketeers always find a way to win a few tournament games. This time, it's Tu's turn.<br />
3 Syracuse def. 14 Indiana State: Larry Bird isn't walking through those doors...<br />
7 Washington def. 10 Georgia: Huskies are one of country's most bipolar teams. I'm thinking the scary-good one shows up for this.<br />
2 North Carolina def. 15 Long Island: LIU bring the nation's longest winning streak into this one. UNC is a bit of a step up from the Northeast, however.<br />
<br />
<b>Second Round</b><br />
1 Ohio State def. 8 George Mason: No miracle this time for the Patriots. Sullinger dominates down low and home crowd helps Buckeyes pull away.<br />
4 Kentucky def. 12 Clemson: Wildcats win the battle of tempo, wearing out the three-games-in-five-days Tigers.<br />
3 Syracuse def. 6 Xavier: Orange's big guards give Tu fits, and Musketeers have nowhere else to turn.<br />
2 North Carolina def. 7 Washington: Huskies might be capable of this upset if it were in Seattle, not Charlotte.<br />
<br />
<b>Regional Semifinals</b><br />
1 Ohio State def. 4 Kentucky: Buckeyes bend but don't break, getting big 3s from veterans Diebler and Buford.<br />
2 North Carolina def. 3 Syracuse: In racehorse game, UNC's Mr. Clutch freshman Harrison Barnes does it again.<br />
<br />
<b>Regional Final</b><br />
1 Ohio State def. 2 North Carolina: Buckeyes are too solid for inexperienced Heels. Aaron Craft gives Kendall Marshall all kinds of fits and OSU's wings dominate UNC's.<b> </b><br />
<br />
WEST<br />
<br />
<b>First Round</b><br />
1 Duke def. 16 Hampton: My only interest in this game: How much will that Kyrie guy play?<br />
8 Michigan def. 9 Tennessee: One team is playing its best basketball of the season. The other is playing its worst.<br />
5 Arizona def. 12 Memphis: Derrick Williams is the least-talked-about All-American candidate in the country. Tigers have no one to match him.<br />
4 Texas def. 13 Oakland: The Grizzlies are scary (just like the bear) and are used to playing high majors. But they won't have an answer for Texas swingman Jordan Hamilton in this one.<br />
11 Missouri def. 6 Cincinnati: Tough call here because the Tigers have been horrible lately, but it's just a feeling. Their hectic style will fluster the Bearcats.<br />
3 Connecticut def. 14 Bucknell: Hard to pick against Kemba, although I'm tempted to go with giant killer Bucknell (remember, Kansas?).<br />
10 Penn State def. 7 Temple: DO NOT WATCH THIS GAME IF YOU LIKE POINTS. Why PSU? The Lions are excited to be in the tournament; the Owls are a bad tournament team.<br />
2 San Diego State def. 15 Northern Colorado: Congrats to Northern Colorado for making its first Big Dance. It will end quickly.<br />
<br />
<b>Second Round</b><br />
1 Duke def. 8 Michigan: Bring back the rivalry of the early '90s!! These Wolverines are tough and have played their share of top teams (OSU three times, Kansas), but beating Duke in Charlotte? No chance.<br />
<b> </b>4 Texas def. 5 Arizona: Plenty of talent on the court, but Longhorns' depth will be the difference. <br />
3 Connecticut def. 11 Missouri: Rematch of '09 regional final game. Same result. Kemba factor. Mizzou has no one close to him in talent.<br />
2 San Diego State def. 10 Penn State: Another low-scoring affair; against Aztecs' stingy 'D', Nittany Lions will struggle to hit 50.<br />
<br />
<b>Regional semifinals</b><br />
1 Duke def. 4 Texas: The potential guards matchup: Dogus Balbay and Cory Joseph vs. Nolan Smith and Kyrie. Mismatch!<b> </b><br />
2 San Diego State def. 3 Connecticut: Aztecs are getting tired of taking on national player of the year candidates. Jimmer, now Kemba? They shut him down and move on.<br />
<br />
<b>Regional final</b><br />
1 Duke def. 2 San Diego State: This will be a great game in Anaheim -- huge homecourt advantage for SDSU -- and it's tempting to pick the Aztecs. But the combination of Smith and Irving will be too much to overcome for D.J. Gay and company.<br />
<b> </b><br />
SOUTHWEST<br />
<br />
<b>First Round</b><br />
1 Kansas def. 16 Boston U: The 'U' has a great study abroad program. I went through it to visit Australia and enjoyed my time there. ... Their hoops program? Not so strong.<br />
8 UNLV def. 9 Illinois: The Illini have shown no interest, really, in pulling out games lately. The Rebels are battled-tested after a handful of games against BYU and SDSU.<br />
12 Richmond def. 5 Vanderbilt: An annual rite of mine? Choosing Vandy to lose in the 12-5 game. The 3-point shooting Spiders will take 'em down just like Murray State did a year ago.<br />
4 Louisville def. 13 Morehead State: Player to watch -- Kenneth Faried, the nation's ALL-TIME leading rebounder. He plays for Morehead. If only he had more of a team around him.<br />
6 Georgetown def. 11 VCU/USC: I don't really care whom they play. If Chris Wright plays like he's capable of, this Hoyas team is as good as any Big East squad.<br />
3 Purdue def. 14 St. Peters: The Peacocks -- great name! -- scored 30 points in their season opener and then improved. I expect the parabola to be completed against the defensively strong Boilers.<br />
10 Florida State def. 7 Texas A&M: Another "this guy is back and will make the difference" situation. In this case, Chris Singleton pushes the Seminoles into the second round.<br />
2 Notre Dame def. 15 Akron: The Zips are a tough, fighting outfit (see the end of the MAC title game). Speaking of toughness, only one team has a Hansbrough...<br />
<br />
<b>Second Round</b><br />
1 Kansas def. 8 UNLV: There's plenty of talent in the Mountain West, but nothing like the Morris twins.<br />
4 Louisville def. 12 Richmond: Cardinals' four-guard lineup will give Spiders fits on the perimeter, disrupting their long-range shooting.<br />
3 Purdue def. 6 Georgetown: Hoyas have no answer for JaJuan Johnson. None.<br />
2 Notre Dame def. 10 Florida State: Defensive Seminoles will be able to muck this one up, but Fighting Irish are quite used to such games. They won a few games in the Big East, ya know?<br />
<br />
<b>Regional semifinals</b><br />
1 Kansas def. 4 Louisville: Jayhawks have the ballhandlers to deal with Louisville's pressure. Cardinals don't have the answer for Jayhawks' big-time boarders.<br />
<b> </b>2 Notre Dame def. 3 Purdue: How 'bout that? A pair of strong NCAA teams dominated by seniors. Irish's five-senior starting lineup will outdo Johnson and E'Twaun Moore.<br />
<br />
<b>Regional final</b><br />
1 Kansas def. 2 Notre Dame: Kansas will keep throwing more and more speed and athleticism at the Fighting Irish, who will inevitably be worn down by 40 minutes of playing against fresh bodies. And the 3-pointers will start to fall short. <br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b>SOUTHEAST<br />
<br />
<b>First Round</b><br />
1 Pittsburgh def. 16 UNC-Ashville: I thought the Bulldogs showed a lot of heart in their "First Four" win last night. They'll need a little more than heart against the Panthers.<br />
9 Old Dominion def. 8 Butler: Gosh, I HATE the selection committee. "Why don't we put the scariest two mid-majors against each other in the first round??" Grr... This year is ODU's turn (see: second round).<br />
5 Kansas State def. 12 Utah State: Anyone remember that K-State was ranked in the preseason Top 5? Recently, the Wildcats have been playing like that.<br />
13 Belmont def. 4 Wisconsin: I was here in D.C. three years ago when the Bruins came within a point of knocking off second-seeded Duke. Taking down the 33-point Badgers won't be as difficult.<br />
11 Gonzaga def. 6 St. John's: INJURY ALERT! The Red Storm are still dangerous, of course, but losing leading rebounder D.J. Kennedy to a torn ACL hurts. The 'Zags are due for a tournament run.<br />
3 BYU def. 14 Wofford: One of those tempting upset games, but I think Jimmer might be able to take Wofford all by himself.<br />
10 Michigan State def. 7 UCLA: This will be an ugly, defensive game between two established programs. Only one team has Kalin Lucas, however.<br />
2 Florida def. 15 UC Santa Barbara: In Tampa, the Gators are playing 135 miles away from home; the Gauchos? 2,496 miles. Jet lag, anyone?<br />
<br />
<b>Second Round</b><br />
9 Old Dominion def. 1 Pittsburgh: My big upset of the opening weekend. Nobody in the nation hits the offensive boards harder than the Monarchs, who won't be intimidated. Pitt always seems a bit tight come tourney time.<br />
<b> </b>5 Kansas State def. 13 Belmont: Jordan Henriquez-Roberts (name drop!) is a 7-footer who's been giving good minutes off the Wildcats' bench. Look for him to dominate the boards against Belmont's small lineup.<br />
3 BYU def. 11 Gonzaga: In the Battle of the West, I'm going with Jimmer's crew. Why? Because of Jimmer, obviously. I have no other reason.<br />
2 Florida def. 10 Michigan State: Playing in Tampa with a senior-dominated lineup, the Gators outlast the inconsistent Spartans.<br />
<br />
<b>Regional semifinals</b><br />
5 Kansas State def. 9 Old Dominion: Remember the last time Jacob Pullen and "The Beard" played in the Sweet 16? Look it up. I expect a repeat performance.<br />
<b> </b>2 Florida def. 3 BYU: Jimmer's magic runs out against the balanced Gators, who, coincidentally, like to shoot 3s from Jimmer range but also have more of an inside presence than Brandon Davies-devoid BYU and rebound very well. <br />
<br />
<b>Regional final</b><br />
2 Florida def. 5 Kansas State: The Gators already beat the Wildcats this season. Of course, that was in December and means nothing. In a close game, however, Florida's chemistry and confidence will shine through.<b> </b><br />
<br />
FINAL FOUR<br />
<b>1 Duke def. 1 Ohio State: </b>This will be one heck of a game. The Blue Devils' bigs will be able to contain Jared Sullinger with their length. The teams' 3-point shooting will even out. The difference? Smith and Irving's ability to penetrate and make plays late in the game. <br />
<br />
<b>1 Kansas def. 2 Florida: </b>It was a good run for the Gators, but they'll be overwhelmed by Kansas' depth. Florida can rebound with Kansas, but its scoring guards will be hassled by fresh Jayhawks guards all game long. Jayhawks bench players Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson will be the difference. <br />
<br />
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME<br />
<b>1 Duke def. 1 Kansas: </b>It's been exactly 20 years since these powerhouses met in the Final Four during the Christian Laettner era, and the result will be the same. It will be an entertaining game full of playmaking. The Jayhawks have a huge advantage down low with the Morris twins. But if Duke's role players perform anywhere close to the level that they played at in the ACC tournament, the Blue Devils will come out on top with seniors Smith and Singler plus that Kyrie guy -- and his toe -- leading the way.<br />
<br />
The Big Dance is already underway. And it's wide open. Enjoy the madness, sports fans.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-14409934113745209722011-03-13T16:50:00.000-07:002011-03-13T16:50:09.364-07:00Reviewing my preseason Field of 68<a href="http://www.thesportsbank.net/core/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/2011-Final-Four-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://www.thesportsbank.net/core/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/2011-Final-Four-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
Before you even consider entrusting me with your toughest bracket picks, take a look at how my preseason prediction of the Field of 68 stacks up against the just-released bracket.<br />
<br />
And then if you think I'm your man (a crazy thought, I know), take the plunge:<br />
<br />
Total correct picks: 42 of 68 <br />
<br />
*Correct picks are in <b>bold</b>. Teams I didn't choose are in <i>(italics)</i>. <br />
<br />
Big East<br />
<b>Pitt</b>: Maybe no team in the country is better and more comfortable at grinding out close wins, and with the ball in Ashton Gibbs' hands, why not? This team is experienced and hungry for a title.<br />
<br />
Metro Atlantic<br />
<strike>Fairfield</strike> (<i>St. Peters)</i>: The Stags have improved their win total four years running, and now return four starters. That might just be enough to unseat those Siena Saints.<br />
<br />
America East<br />
<strike>Vermont</strike> (<i>Boston U)</i>: The Catamounts aren't loaded, but often in these smaller conference tournaments, the teams — and coaches — that have been there before prevail. <br />
<br />
Atlantic 10<br />
<b>Temple</b>: It's hard to pick against the Owls and their back-to-back conference crowns. Point guard Juan Fernandez returns to lead the way.<br />
<br />
Ivy League<br />
<b>Princeton</b>: People are pretty high on Tommy Amaker's crew at Harvard, but the Crimson will really miss Jeremy Lin. That's why I'm taking a flier on the up-and-coming Tigers.<br />
<br />
Patriot League<br />
<strike>American</strike> (<i>Bucknell</i>): Living in DC, I attend every Eagles home game. And this team is stacked. A team returning all of its top players from a year ago adds transfers Troy Brewer (Georgia) and Charles Hinkle (Vandy).<br />
<br />
Northeast<br />
<strike>Quinnipiac</strike> (<i>Long Island</i>): There are four new coaches implementing new systems in the league, but one player who knows how to win is the conference's POY Justin Rutty.<br />
<br />
ACC<br />
<b>Duke</b>: Only injuries could derail this from happening. These Devils are that good; the Tar Heels are still rebuilding; and the Hokies are still learning how to tough-out games they should win.<br />
<br />
MEAC<br />
<strike>Morgan State</strike> (<i>Hampton)</i>: Here's a small conference that could be devoid of drama — again. The Bears have claimed three consecutive titles and return enough talent and experience to make it four. <br />
<br />
Big South<br />
<strike>Coastal Carolina</strike> (<i>UNC Asheville)</i>: They had a phenomenal regular season only to watch — guess who? — Winthrop steal the tournament bid. Not this time. A pair of South Carolina transfers won't let it happen.<br />
<br />
CAA<br />
<b>Old Dominion</b>: The Monarchs return all but one key player from the squad that took down Notre Dame in the Big Dance. Yeah, they'll be back. <br />
<br />
Southern <br />
<b>Wofford</b>: After coming within a few hairs of taking down Wisconsin in the tournament, Wofford returns four starters and five seniors.<br />
<br />
SEC<br />
<b>Florida</b>: The Gators return a starting lineup that features three seniors hungry for some success considering their unmet expectations the past three years. Talented freshmen also are on the scene.<br />
<br />
Ohio Valley<br />
<strike>Murray State</strike> (<i>Morehead State)</i>: Easy choice. The Racers return eight contributors from the fun-to-watch outfit that took down Vandy in the Dance and almost snuck by St. Mary's.<br />
<br />
Atlantic Sun<br />
<strike>Lipscomb</strike> (<i>Belmont)</i>: Betcha can't guess who the nation's leading returning scorer is? Heard of Adrian Hodzic? Nope, me neither. But the dude dropped in 22.7 ppg a year ago.<br />
<br />
Sun Belt<br />
<strike>North Texas</strike> (<i>Arkansas Little Rock</i>): The Mean Green — best name ever, by the way — will make it to the Dance for the third time in five years thanks to double-double machine George Odufuwa (pronounce that!).<br />
<br />
Summit<br />
<b>Oakland</b>: Now that the talented Grizzlies finally got a brief taste of NCAA Tournament fever, they really want to return. NBA prospect Keith Benson (17.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg) will make sure of that.<br />
<br />
Big Ten<br />
<b>Michigan State</b>: Ohio State's going to present quite the challenge, and Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota will also be tough (and Northwestern!). But the Spartans will emerge from a loaded conference.<br />
<br />
Mid-American<br />
<strike>Ohio</strike> (<i>Akron</i>): One of the most entertaining games to watch on the first night of the crazy tournament was Ohio's thrashing of Georgetown. The Bobcats couldn't be stopped. With most of the catalysts back, expect similar results. <br />
<br />
Conference USA<br />
<b>Memphis</b>: The young Josh Pastner is quietly assembling a, um, young, loaded squad at Calipari's old stomping grounds. Expect a return to normalcy in the conference.<br />
<br />
Horizon<br />
<b>Butler</b>: They'll miss Gordon Hayward, no doubt, but don't think for a second that these Bulldogs will lapse during conference play. Under Brad Stevens, they'll continue to dominate the conference. <br />
<br />
Big 12<br />
<b>Kansas State</b>: Sorry, Kansas, but your rivals will be the ones to steal your grasp of the league. I love Jacob Pullen — fear the beard! — and his late-game heroics, and the frontcourt is loaded.<br />
<br />
Missouri Valley<br />
<strike>Wichita State</strike> (<i>Indiana State</i>): The Shockers return all but one key player from a team that came a win away from taking the place of Cinderella Northern Iowa in the Dance. <br />
<br />
Southland<br />
<strike>Texas State</strike> (<i>Texas-San Antonio</i>): Anytime you add a Kentucky transfer — A.J. Stewart — to a Southland team, things are usually looking up. Such is the case for Texas State. <br />
<br />
SWAC<br />
<strike>Jackson State</strike> (<i>Alabama State</i>): Despite an injury to preseason player of the year Grant Maxey, the Tigers won the regular-season crown by three games. Now Maxey, plus four other starters, returns. Watch out.<br />
<br />
WAC<br />
<b>Utah State</b>: The Aggies are one of the most consistent, and overlooked, programs in the country. Of course, that does happen when you don't play anybody. But within the league, they dominate.<br />
<br />
Big Sky<br />
<strike>Weber State</strike> (<i>Northern Colorado</i>): The Wildcats, I'm sure, have used the entire offseason to work as hard as possible to forget the sting of blowing a 20-point lead against Montana in the conference title game. No repeat. <br />
<br />
Mountain West<br />
<b>San Diego State</b>: I love Steve Fisher's squad, which returns five starters, including double-double guy Kawhi Leonard. The Aztecs could do some damage in the Dance. <br />
<br />
Pac-10<br />
<b>Washington</b>: Arizona and Freshman of the Year Derrick Williams are up-and-coming and will be back in the Dance, but the Huskies are clearly the class of the league led by G's Isaiah Thomas and Abdul Gaddy.<br />
<br />
Big West<br />
<b>UCSB</b>: The Gauchos have the returning POY (Orlando Johnson) and a dude who had nine 20-point games (James Nunnally). Enough said. <br />
<br />
West Coast<br />
<b>Gonzaga</b>: Speaking of enough said, guess who dominates their conference every year? The 'Zags might need to win the conference tournament considering their nonconference war zone: SDSU, Kansas State, Duke/Marquette, Illinois, at Notre Dame, Baylor, Xavier and Oklahoma State. Brutal!<br />
<br />
THE AT-LARGE BIDS (37 teams)<br />
*In order of higher-seeded teams<br />
<br />
ACC<br />
<strike>Virginia Tech</strike><br />
<b>North Carolina</b><br />
<strike>N.C. State</strike><br />
<strike>Virginia Tech</strike><br />
<strike>Maryland</strike><br />
<strike>Miami</strike><br />
(<i>Clemson)</i><br />
<i>(Florida State) </i><br />
<br />
Atlantic 10<br />
<strike>Dayton</strike><br />
<b>Xavier </b><br />
<b>Richmond </b><br />
<br />
Big East<br />
<b>Villanova</b><br />
<b>Georgetown</b><br />
<b>Syracuse</b><br />
<b>West Virginia</b><br />
<b>Marquette</b><br />
<b>Louisville</b><br />
(<i>Connecticut)</i><br />
<i>(Cincinnati)</i><br />
<i>(St. John's)</i><br />
<i>(Notre Dame) </i><b> </b><br />
<br />
Big Ten<br />
<b>Ohio State</b><br />
<b>Illinois</b><br />
<b>Purdue</b><br />
<strike>Minnesota</strike><br />
<b>Wisconsin</b><br />
<strike>Northwestern</strike><br />
(<i>Michigan)</i><br />
<i>(Penn State) </i><strike> </strike><br />
<br />
Big 12<br />
<b>Kansas</b><br />
<b>Missouri</b><br />
<strike>Baylor</strike><br />
<b>Texas</b><br />
<b>Texas A&M </b><br />
<br />
Missouri Valley<br />
<strike>Creighton</strike><br />
<br />
Mountain West<br />
<b>BYU</b><br />
<b>UNLV </b><br />
<br />
Pac-10<br />
<b>Arizona</b><br />
<strike>Arizona State</strike><br />
<b>UCLA</b><br />
(<i>USC)</i><b> </b><br />
<br />
SEC<br />
<b>Kentucky</b><br />
<strike>Mississippi State</strike><br />
<b>Tennessee</b><br />
<b>Georgia</b><br />
<b>Vanderbilt</b><br />
<br />
Other tournament teams I missed<br />
UAB<br />
VCU<br />
George MasonJake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-31240898595740409762011-03-05T14:26:00.000-08:002011-03-05T14:26:01.891-08:00Michigan's incredible journey to the brink of the Big Dance<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.thesportsbank.net/core/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Tim-Hardaway-Jr-Michigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thesportsbank.net/core/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Tim-Hardaway-Jr-Michigan.jpg" width="289" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Before considering what Michigan’s 70-63 win over Michigan State Saturday means for their NCAA Tournament chances, ask yourself this:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Could you have ever imagined this prior to the season and especially six Saturdays ago?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On that afternoon, the Wolverines were dominated at home by Minnesota. They fell to 1-6 in the Big Ten. The team was a mess. The season wasn’t headed anywhere.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What’s transpired since then isn’t short of amazing. Fueled by a players-only meeting, the Wolverines traveled to East Lansing five days later and shocked the Spartans, winning at the Breslin Center for the first time since 1997. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And they’ve carried that momentum since then, winning seven of 10 games to finish the regular season 19-12 and 9-9 in the Big Ten.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The most incredible part? This is a young, inexperienced team. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You just don’t see this from freshman-dominated teams playing in such a difficult league like the Big Ten — easily the second toughest conference in the nation.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Maybe there is, but I’m having a difficult time thinking of a team nationally that has grown as much as the Wolverines during such a short time period.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">No victory has come easily to this young group — and many have had an ugly side — but the Wolverines have found a way to win ’em. Pulling out close games isn’t usually a trait of a green team, but these Wolverines have gotten it done.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The close losses might stand out more because of their heartbreaking nature — the two-point defeat at Illinois; the shot-put 3-point buzzer-beater delivered by Wisconsin — but seven of Michigan’s wins during the streak have been by nine or fewer points and four by four or less points.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This team knows how to win tight games.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Against the Spartans, the Wolverines were dominated on the boards (44-25), shot just 5-for-19 from 3-point range and missed the front ends of two 1-and-1 opportunities at the free-throw line. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And they won by seven! There’s no way that’s the case early this season. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is a complete team. It doesn’t need to make a ton of 3s to win — a central thought earlier this season. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It doesn’t rebound very well — although it’s been much better than Saturday’s pitiful performance — but makes up for it by taking great care of the ball (despite the rebounding disparity, Michigan State took just 11 more shots and Michigan attempted 11 more free throws; the Wolverines had just seven turnovers).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tommy Amaker’s biggest weakness as Michigan’s coach was his inability to develop players. They didn’t improve from game to game, year to year. That, clearly, isn’t a problem for John Beilein. In fact, it’s a strength.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Just watch Tim Hardaway Jr.., the player who has most fueled Michigan’s late-season success. During the first two thirds of Michigan’s schedule, Hardaway was a talented player with horrible shot selection, buttery hands, and an ineffective outside jumper.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Seriously. I know it’s hard to believe now, but I would cringe every time he attempted a 3-pointer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Against the Spartans, Hardaway was Michigan’s second-half offense. He scored all 20 of his points in the final 20 minutes and made the biggest play of the game, feeding Jordan Morgan for a dunk off a pick-and-roll after Michigan State cut its game-long deficit to 56-54 with 5 minutes, 48 seconds remaining and had all the momentum.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Spartans never got closer (although in typical Wolverines fashion, the game wasn’t decided, really, until the final 10 seconds).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now when Hardaway takes any shot, there’s no cringing. The kid’s a player and is only going to get better in Beilein’s system.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s the key. Every Wolverine is improving. Player development at its best.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And they’ve learned how to play cohesive defense. They were abysmal during the 1-6 start to the Big Ten slate. There was miscommunication on the court. Players didn’t talk and consistently left shooters open.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On Saturday, the Wolverines held the Spartans to 32.8-percent shooting. If they rebounded, they would have blown them out of Crisler Arena.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Did I mention they don’t win easily? Well, whatever. Bottom line: The Wolverines have developed into a tough, confident, NCAA Tourney-bound? team. (They could be in now, but beating Illinois in their first Big Ten tournament game would seal a bid.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And they’ve got a little swag. As Morris received the ball with a little over 10 seconds left in the backcourt, he shredded a pair of Spartans with behind-the-back moves then, seeing the lane wide open, took it to the hoop and finished things with a silky finger roll.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Necessary? Not at all. Classless? Perhaps. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But considering what this team’s accomplished in three fortnights, a little icing on the cake just seemed appropriate. </div>Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-33701167418344722812011-03-04T13:56:00.000-08:002011-03-04T13:56:48.979-08:00Carson Palmer is a Smart Man<a href="http://susanshan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Carson-Palmer-Bloody-Nose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://susanshan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Carson-Palmer-Bloody-Nose.jpg" width="320" /></a>Memo to young, talented quarterbacks: Your NFL career will, more than likely, be difficult and filled with mind-numbing injuries (literally). That's why it's not the dumbest thing to step away before too many limbs are snapped. <br />
<br />
You don't have to go all Brett Favre to have a successful career. If you're smart with money, in fact, you can control your career. Just look at Carson Palmer, Cincinnati's frustrated signal caller.<br />
<br />
Recently, the USC product has come out and blatantly said that if he's not traded, he will not play another down for the Bengals. He's serious. I don't blame him. <br />
<br />
It's hard enough playing QB in the league, regardless of how many rules are created to protect the position. You're going to get blasted. You're going to get beat up. And, yes, you'll probably suffer a concussion or 13. Fun? Not in my mind.<br />
<br />
When you're stuck with an incompetent owner in Mike Brown, however, who's only goal is to sign as many shady characters as possible -- Pacman Jones? I'll take him! And throw in Tank Johnson too, please! -- and who does nothing tangible to actually, you know, improve the team ... well, running the offense year after year doesn't seem so rosy. <br />
<br />
Sorry, forgot to mention the constant barking in your ears -- one for each -- from Ochocinco and T.O. Fun. <br />
<br />
So why, honestly, would Palmer play another down for the Bengals? What is there left to prove? He's played nearly six full seasons -- in addition to an injury-plagued, four-game campaign -- and taken the previously moribund franchise to the playoffs twice (somehow). The first time, he didn't survive the first quarter and was carted off the field.<br />
<br />
He's been to the Pro Bowl twice. He's survived the Chad Johnson-Ochocinco era. Seriously? What more could he do (and don't even mention Super Bowl and Bengals in the same sentence).<br />
<br />
Well, he's doing the smart thing. At 31, he knows he could probably play a few more productive seasons. But at the same time, he's invested wisely and has "$80 million in the bank." I think he, his family, his kids' families, and some more families are set for life.<br />
<br />
Recently, <i>Sports Illustrated</i> ran an illuminating <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1181772/1/index.htm">article about Jake "The Snake" Plummer</a>, who stepped away from the league early, completely separated himself from football, and now is living a fulfilling, healthy, financially stable life playing handball and raising a family. <br />
<br />
That makes perfect sense to me (well, except for the handball part).<br />
<br />
I find it hard to blame an athlete, even Favre, for hanging on to the game they've loved for as long as possible. After all, there aren't many "careers" that can end in one's 30s. But at the same time, we now know more and more the toll a long, bruising NFL career can have on one's body both in the near term and 10, 20 years down the road.<br />
<br />
So whenever a player walks away "early" -- or threatens to do so -- I admire his ability to be able to make that smart life decision. Even if he is leaving something on the field.<br />
<br />
Finally, I'm not always an advocate of players who demand trades. If a franchise is legitimately trying to improve and get to where you want to go, what's to complain about? Just play. But the Bengals under Brown haven't come close to doing that.<br />
<br />
So bravo, Carson, for standing up to the (bad) man. Your decision will look smart come the next NFL game regardless of whether you're behind center for a team with an owner who knows what he's doing.<br />
<br />
On that thought, just hope you're not traded to the Redskins.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-65151893421956650382011-02-18T20:32:00.000-08:002011-02-18T20:32:22.937-08:00Don't go east, Carmelo Anthony, if you want an NBA title<a href="http://www.gacksports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/carmelo-anthony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.gacksports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/carmelo-anthony.jpg" width="295" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
I'm no basketball insider, and I certainly don't have the connections of a Mark Stein or the ability to read a player's mind, so forgive me if this is completely naive...<br />
<br />
But what, exactly, is Carmelo Anthony thinking?<br />
<br />
If Anthony, as reported, accepts a three-year extension offer to join the lowly Nets — that is, if the Knicks can't get a deal done beforehand — he'd be, in effect, sabotaging any chance he has of winning an NBA championship. He'd be relegating himself to Karl Malone status.<br />
<br />
Sorry, Mailman. <br />
<br />
It's not that New Jersey — or New York — would be a worse team than Anthony's current employer, the Nuggets, who have managed to go 32-25 despite being asked trade-related questions for the last 1,479 days. If the deal goes through with the Nets, he'd be accompanied to Jay-Z's Empire State, or close to it, by his current point guard, Chauncey Billups, and would join a young, burgeoning big man in Brook Lopez.<br />
<br />
In the actual Empire State, there'd be the opportunity to play with Amar'e Stoudemire and an improving Raymond Felton. <br />
<br />
Either squad, with Anthony, would be an annual playoff participant. But, and here's the important part, also an annual playoff loser before the NBA Finals. Guaranteed.<br />
<br />
It comes down to one simple fact: The Eastern Conference, and the future of the East, is much better than the West. At least the teams at the top, that is. For the next six or seven years — the prime years for the 26-year-old Baltimore native — 'Melo's current Denver outfit would actually have a chance of making the NBA Finals, simply because the West's top dogs won't be great.<br />
<br />
A quick breakdown:<br />
<br />
In the East, we all know Miami will be stellar for several years to come. Boston might be aging, but I give the Celtics a couple more years of competing for a championship with their core group (Ray Allen looks like he could swish 3s over defenders' fingertips for another decade). Orlando is going to be tough for another decade with Dwight Howard finally playing some offense and deservedly garnering MVP consideration. And let's not forget the Bulls, who are becoming very scary with perhaps the MVP frontrunner, Derrick Rose, tearing up opponents. <br />
<br />
So that's a trio of teams — plus Boston — who should be very good for a very long time. It would be difficult for a 'Melo-led Nets team, especially with Billups aging, to get past the second round of the playoffs.<br />
<br />
Now for the West. In three years, who scares you? The Lakers, clearly, are not frightening even though they'll probably get things together and win another championship this year to give Phil Jackson some symmetry with those Three Peats. In five years, though, they'll almost be an afterthought. The Spurs are old (don't let this year's success, so far, fool you: they're not winning another title). The Mavericks are old. The only team with a lot of upside is Oklahoma City, but it's still missing pieces and hasn't won a playoff series.<br />
<br />
Not very scary, right? <br />
<br />
Amidst all this banter, people seem to forget that this is a Nuggets outfit that came within two wins of downing the mighty Lakers and heading to the Finals just two seasons ago. The team hasn't changed much since then, which might be a reason why Anthony wants out. But from watching a few Nuggets games, this is a team that can play with anyone in the West and is downright, yes, scary when Anthony is on his game.<br />
<br />
A team that, if focused, could make a run to the Finals. Seriously. <br />
<br />
Billups is still Mr. Clutch, and Ty Lawson is a serviceable and electric backup point guard. Arron Afflalo has come into his own as a shooting guard and made the game-winner the other night at the buzzer against the Mavs. Nene can produce down low, and Kenyon Martin is a defensive stalwart when healthy.<br />
<br />
Yes, sometimes they resemble their erratic, tattoo-covered character, J.R. Smith, and, yes, they're a couple pieces away from being a true contender. But that's not the point.<br />
<br />
Bottom line: Anthony would have a better chance of reaching the NBA Finals by staying put than signing with the Nets or even the Knicks. <br />
<br />
I know it isn't how superstars, likely, think. And a competitor like Anthony doesn't look at a Miami and back away. <br />
<br />
But in this case, a little pre-trade analyzing would do him well. If, indeed, winning a Larry O'Brien trophy is his No. 1 objective.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-53474961501292174012011-02-07T19:16:00.000-08:002011-02-07T19:16:44.564-08:00Wolverines have long way to go, but mental toughness improving<a href="http://isportsweb.com/wp-content/uploads//2010/12/Tim-Hardaway-Jr-Michigan-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://isportsweb.com/wp-content/uploads//2010/12/Tim-Hardaway-Jr-Michigan-10.jpg" width="289" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
This Michigan basketball team's season is likely headed toward a conclusion that many of recent memory have met — the Not Invited Tournament.<br />
<br />
It's fun and spine-tingling to talk NCAA Tournament this time of year, and at 14-10 and 4-7 in the Big Ten — with a trio of solid road wins (although beating suddenly pitiful MSU looks worse and worse by the day) — the Wolverines are a strong finish away from entering the bubble conversation.<br />
<br />
But for now, the more realistic topic to discuss should be just how much this young team has grown. Sunday's win at bubblicious Penn State was a perfect example. Used to be, when the Wolverines fell down double digits on the road, it was game over. They lacked the fight, the toughness, the savvy to turn things around in hostile environments.<br />
<br />
On Sunday, however, this group overcame not one, but two double-digit deficits. They didn't wake up until about 12:30 and found themselves, somehow, only down 11 points. A transition-fueled 14-0 run later, they were up three heading into halftime. They stuck to the pattern in the second half, looking lifeless in quickly falling down 10. But back they came, again, led by the inspired play of freshman Tim Hardaway Jr., whose facial expressions told the casual viewer, "I am not losing this game."<br />
<br />
Final score: Michigan 65, Penn State 62.<br />
<br />
"I think it's experience, just that we've been in these situations a little bit," coach John Beilein said. "They know now that first of all, it's not over when you go down nine (or 10 points).<br />
<br />
"You can get back in a game very quickly."<br />
<br />
A month ago, this concept seemed asinine when it came to this group of youngsters. Playing at Wisconsin in early January, the Wolverines put together a tough first half and led 28-26 at the break. However, when they quickly lost the lead early in the second half, I had no doubt that the advantage wouldn't change hands again. The Badgers, especially at home, were too tough.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> <br />
That started a six-game losing streak, which included the Wolverines' two most distressing games of the year — uncompetitive road losses at middle-of-the-pack Big Ten teams Indiana and Northwestern. In the pair of L's, Michigan seemed lost on defense, unable to provide any resistance as the Hoosiers and Wildcats ran roughshod over them.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> <br />
Many Michigan fans were ready to chalk up the season as a lost cause, and some were even calling for Beilein's head.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> <br />
But then came the inspired effort at the Breslin Center — it's amazing what a rivalry can do — during which ESPN's cameras captured a red-faced Zack Novak yelling at his teammates in a huddle. Not only did the Wolverines want the game more than the Spartans, they proved it with grittiness on the court.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> <br />
With two wins in their three games since, and the only loss at undefeated No. 1 Ohio State, the Wolverines have retained the momentum created by their first win in East Lansing in 14 years And now they get a second shot against the Hoosiers and Wildcats at home. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> <br />
"To a degree, it's not as foreign as it was when all these kids walked on a away court for the first time," Beilein said of winning away from Crisler Arena.<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> <br />
<br />
Michigan hasn't found a secret formula, but they've become a much more confident lot that doesn't get flustered when the lead is lost and the crowd is in a frenzy. Darius Morris runs the point with aplomb. Veterans Stu Douglass and Zack Novak hit the big 3s. And in perhaps the most positive individual development, Hardaway showed on Sunday that he's not afraid to be assertive in crucial situations. <br />
<br />
After riding the bench with foul trouble the first 33 minutes, Hardaway made up for lost time with all 13 of his points in the final seven and a half minutes. He found Douglass for a 3 then drained consecutive contested 3s from the wing to knot the score at 53; Morris put the Wolverines ahead for good just moments later.<br />
<br />
"We're trying to find new ways to get him involved," Beilein said of Hardaway, who continued his offensive explosion by finding Jordan Morgan off a pick-and-roll for a thunderous dunk and then made a layup on the next possession to push Michigan's lead to five with 1 minute, 39 seconds left. That was, just about, all she wrote. <br />
<br />
These are good signs. Of course, they shouldn't entirely overshadow the ugly, which is that at times the Wolverines look completely out of sorts on offense (example: the first 10 minutes Sunday) and still struggle on the defensive end.<br />
<br />
And, no, this isn't an NCAA Tournament team. They would need at least a 5-2 record the rest of the way and a pair of wins in the Big Ten tournament to reach the Dance. I don't see that happening.<br />
<br />
The Wolverines, though, are making strides. Perhaps most significantly, a road deficit no longer automatically equates to a road loss.<br />
<br />
In other words, hold that clicker steady. You don't want to miss another Michigan comeback.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-63300698830502507232011-01-30T08:47:00.000-08:002011-01-30T08:47:11.702-08:00Having matured, Djokovic proves himself as legitimate threat to the Big Two<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ddVBflq_ILA/TJNM8aOqBJI/AAAAAAAANk0/_5bL_ec8w5A/s400/NOvak+Djokovic+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ddVBflq_ILA/TJNM8aOqBJI/AAAAAAAANk0/_5bL_ec8w5A/s320/NOvak+Djokovic+3.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>ON TENNIS</i><br />
<br />
After cruising by Andy Murray Sunday night at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic grasped the championship trophy for the second time — exactly three years after he won his first grand slam tournament.<br />
<br />
In between, there have been many disappointments, a few close calls — especially his loss in the championship match of last year's US Open to red-hot Rafael Nadal — and a slew of frustrating injuries. Lost in all the negatives, however, is just how much better the Serbian has become.<br />
<br />
His serve's a little better. He has refined his groundstrokes. Most importantly, though, Djokovic has become mentally strong — a trait that, until now, separated Nadal and Roger Federer from the rest of the world's players even if they were just as physically talented.<br />
<br />
It used to be, Djokovic would become frustrated and angered quickly, yelling at his racket and staring at his player's box after consecutive poor shots. Such reactions rarely led to improved play. Meanwhile, on the other side of the net, Federer or Nadal coolly picked the youngster apart.<br />
<br />
Game. Set. Match.<br />
<br />
In Sunday's three-set victory, it was Murray, the young British hope, who was talking to his racket and who let a break toward the end of the opening set seemingly affect him poorly during the following less competitive sets. Djokovic, like an experienced champion, took advantage of Murray's fragile mental state.<br />
<br />
Is his game better than Murray's? Perhaps slightly — he hits his forehand down the line better. But it's not three-sets-to-love better. Mentally, he's light years ahead of the world's No. 4-ranked player.<br />
<br />
Djokovic knows just how far he's come since that first Grand Slam title, when he was having all kinds of fun — and got plenty of enjoyment out of mimicking other players — but was far from a complete player.<br />
<br />
"I feel like a better player now than I was three years ago, because I think that physically I'm stronger, faster, mentally I'm more motivated on the court," Djokovic said. "I know how to react in certain moments, and I know how to play on a big stage. I have been more focused and dedicated to the sport than I have ever been before."<br />
<br />
And now, with Federer edging toward 30, Djokovic clearly has the chance to move into the world's No. 2 spot and be a legitimate threat to win every major — even if he has to go through both Federer and Nadal (something he still hasn't done at a major).<br />
<br />
In Djokovic's three-set victory over Federer in the semifinals, he was, quite simply, the better player. In past matches, he was just as good physically but didn't win the big points, didn't execute shots when he absolutely needed to. That's changed now.<br />
<br />
Not only is Djokovic as talented as any player in the game; he's as mentally tough, too. Now the question is, Can he bring the same package to every tournament, especially the big ones? <br />
<br />
Only time will tell. As for Murray, Sunday illustrated that he's still where Djokovic was at least three years ago. And only time will tell if he can make the same transformation.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-3299704748362112492011-01-02T19:47:00.000-08:002011-01-02T19:48:05.846-08:00Novak shows leadership, shooting touch in Wolverines' win<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2009/12/Zack-Novak-122409-thumb-537x355-20965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2009/12/Zack-Novak-122409-thumb-537x355-20965.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>ON BASKETBALL </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With his team clinging to a precarious one-point lead, Zack Novak didn’t hesitate to step into the biggest shot of his best half of basketball this season.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Novak, who struggled to knock down open shots during the 2010 portion of this season, nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key Sunday afternoon to help Michigan pull away from Penn State for a 76-69 win.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was a much-needed victory for the Wolverines (11-3, 1-1), who couldn’t afford to lose their first two Big Ten games — both at home — with their next three games at Wisconsin, and back at Crisler Arena versus No. 3 Kansas and No. 2 Ohio State. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brutal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As good as Darius Morris was against the Nittany Lions (8-5, 1-1), accumulating 20 points and 10 assists for his fifth double-double of the season, we’ve come to expect that from him. What the season’s first 13 games hadn’t indicated was what Novak, the junior, provided — and Michigan needed — in Sunday’s final 20 minutes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Novak scored all 15 of his points on 5-of-6 shooting and grabbed all four of his rebounds after intermission. He entered he game shooting 33 percent on the season — yes, brutal — but finally found his stroke, making two 3-pointers and adding a pair of transition layups on which he simply outhustled everyone else on the court.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“That really felt good (for him). You could see the smile on his face,” coach John Beilein said of his upperclassman. “He’s such a leader on this team.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Until Sunday, for the most part, he was a leader whose impact hadn’t been felt. Going forward, Michigan will need more such performances. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As one of the Wolverines’ best defenders and rebounders, it’s important for Novak to be on the floor. But prior to Sunday, he had almost been an offensive liability, allowing defenses to focus more attention on Morris and Douglass, who has been the Wolverines’ most consistent outside threat (45 percent from deep).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If Novak is nailing open shots like he did against Penn State as well as pump-faking and driving — as he, Douglass and Matt Vogrich all did Sunday — it takes some pressure off Morris and makes the Wolverines that much more difficult to guard.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which, in turn, leads to works of efficacy like Sunday’s second half, during which Michigan outscored Penn State 45-33 and shot 60.9 percent. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“To score what we did in the second half is great for us because as we develop our defense, we’re going to have to score points,” Beilein said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And he’s right. Michigan’s defense was not great Sunday, but a lot of that had to do with facing a great offensive threat in Taylor Battle (31 points). Battle hit an array of difficult shots, and the Wolverines’ youth also showed through a slew of ticky-tack fouls on the perimeter that put the Nittany Lions in the bonus early. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“We need to do extra conditioning to keep from hand-checking,” Beilein said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That’s especially the case with talents such as Jared Sullinger and Kansas’ Morris twins on the upcoming schedule.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But Sunday was a big step in the right direction for the Wolverines. And Zack Novak had a lot do with that — on both ends of the court. </span></div>Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-83186505523833261362010-12-30T18:45:00.000-08:002010-12-30T18:46:20.459-08:00In brutal Big Ten, defense will make or break Wolverines<a href="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2009/12/John-Beilein-121409-thumb-537x348-19701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2009/12/John-Beilein-121409-thumb-537x348-19701.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
Despite most people saying that Purdue dominated the entire second half of its 80-57 thrashing-that-wasn't-a-thrashing-until-the-other-team-quit over Michigan Tuesday in the teams' Big Ten opener, the truth is that the Wolverines played the Boilers fairly even for the first 12 minutes of the half.<br />
<br />
Then coach John Beilein made his biggest blunder, calling timeout with the Wolverines trailing just 57-49 — four points worse than their 30-26 halftime deficit — and putting his team in its shaky 1-3-1 zone.<br />
<br />
Seconds later, Ryne Smith found himself wide, wide open on the right wing and proceeded, quite casually, to knock down his fifth 3-pointer in six tries.<br />
<br />
Purdue led by 11. Michigan's effort slacked off. And the game, just like that, was over.<br />
<br />
Afterward, Beilein wasn't asked about his decision to go to the zone. After a 23-point defeat, that might have seemed like too pointed a question. After all, it was one lousy possession of many on which the Boilers got what they wanted offensively.<br />
<br />
Rather, the best question asked was about how to get a young team like the Wolverines to remain focused on both ends of the floor.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">"It’s pretty difficult to go from one end of the floor to the other," Beilein said. And then he repeated himself: "It’s hard to do that. It’s hard to focus both ways for our team." </div><br />
<br />
Of course, he's right. <br />
<br />
If the Wolverines (10-3) are going to put together a respectable Big Ten record, they're going to need to meet that challenge and compete for 40 minutes on both ends. On Tuesday, they put together about 15-16 good 94-feet minutes.<br />
<br />
But doing that starts on one end for this group — the defensive end.<br />
<br />
Why? Because when the Wolverines play good defense, it will usually translate — against tough, defensive-minded foes like Purdue — into easier offense.<br />
<br />
Against the Boilers, Michigan looked lost and scared in its halfcourt offense against Purdue's set D. Even with Darius Morris running the show, the Wolverines often found themselves out near midcourt with the shot clock nearing expiration, forced to make a last-ditch effort at a decent shot.<br />
<br />
And each time Purdue scored on the other end, it meant another halfcourt possession for the Wolverines — not to mention a larger deficit to think about (Michigan led just once, for 10 seconds, 26-25).<br />
<br />
On the other hand, the Wolverines were most effective on the offensive end after a missed shot or turnover by the Boilers. While they didn't get many fast-break opportunities, they scored the majority of their buckets during a 19-4 first-half run on the secondary break, as Morris created open looks for teammates before Purdue's defenders got set.<br />
<br />
During Michigan's best stretch, Stu Douglass and Evan Smotrycz each drilled a pair of open, in-rhythm 3s, Douglas made a layup against an unsettled Purdue defense and Jon Horford got a transition dunk to give the Wolverines that short-lived lead.<br />
<br />
It all started with stops and forced turnovers on the other end.<br />
<br />
Beilein saw things the other way around, saying, <style>
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</style>"We had some really bad lulls offensively, which really led to some bad defense."<br />
<br />
Which, of course, is true. But getting stops on the defensive end, especially during a second half in which Purdue shot 63.3 percent, might have, in turn, created better offensive opportunities for the Wolverines.<br />
<br />
Michigan managed to almost keep pace for those first 12 minutes, and during that timeout I thought the game was far from over. But after that horrible defensive possession — Beilein was desperate for a stop so he tried to switch things up; the players weren't ready for it — the Wolverines didn't have enough gas and resolve left to continue trading barbs with one of the Big Ten's best.<br />
<br />
They'll get a short reprieve, if you can call it that, with another home game against Penn State Saturday. It's a must-win on a daunting schedule that is followed by a game at Wisconsin — I can't remember the last time they won there — and a nice non-conference break contest at Crisler against, oh, No. 3 Kansas.<br />
<br />
To survive such a haunting schedule, the Wolverines need to be much better on defense. Do that, and those offensive lulls might just take care of themselves.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-38707162369052887842010-12-18T14:53:00.000-08:002010-12-18T14:53:16.044-08:00Led by Morris, young Wolverines a pleasant suprise<a href="http://maizeandgoblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Darius-Morris-246x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://maizeandgoblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Darius-Morris-246x300.jpg" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
You know what's amazing? Let me explain...<br />
<br />
It's amazing, to me, that in today's sports world, a player can go from being relatively obscure and uninvolved one year to being an absolutely stud the next. And surprise everyone in doing it.<br />
<br />
Coming into this college hoops season, any fan knew that a Harrison Barnes, that a Kyrie Irving, that a Josh Selby would be impact players as freshmen for their respective teams. Everyone knew that a player like Tyler Zeller would be much improved as long as he stayed out of the training room.<br />
<br />
But what did anyone know about Michigan guard Darius Morris?<br />
<br />
Last season, I watched the majority of Michigan games, and Morris was never really a factor despite the fact that the Wolverines had a major need at point guard — Morris' natural position. Morris started 19 games, but averaged just 4.4 points and 2.6 assists per outing.<br />
<br />
He most often played off Michigan's go-to guys, Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims, taking spot-up jumpers that looked like misses — and were — the second they left his fingertips.<br />
<br />
He looked lost. Disengaged. Unassertive.<br />
<br />
In other words, the exact opposite of how he looks now. Because of an aggressive, confidant, creating Morris, the Wolverines (9-2) are easily exceeding the canyon-low expectations that were fairly set for them before the seasons.<br />
<br />
On Saturday, they cruised by an Oakland team, 6-6, that is playing a murderer's row non-conference schedule and was coming off its biggest win in school history at No. 7 Tennessee.<br />
<br />
Morris has breathed new life into these Wolverines, even if the half-full library crowds at Crisler Arena haven't indicated such a positive upswing. Maybe the fans still don't believe. Heck, I didn't believe my eyes the first three times I watched Morris effortlessly lead the Wolverines fastbreak and create something out of nothing with the shot clock winding down.<br />
<br />
But I'm a believer now. Darius Morris, averaging 14.9 points, 7.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, is one of the best point guards in an absolutely stacked Big Ten. And these young, overachieving Wolverines will go as far as he takes them.<br />
<br />
Morris worked out with John Wall over the summer, and when watching him, you can see similarities to the No. 1 draft pick. No, Morris isn't as explosive, or quick, or (fill in an exceptional skill of Wall's) — but the guard from California now plays with a great amount of confidence, loves to have the ball in his hands, and never shies away from a big shot.<br />
<br />
Michigan needed a leader to step up with Harris and Sims gone. Morris hasn't wasted a second in accepting that role.<br />
<br />
He's also been the leader of the Wolverines' biggest strength — their defense. He's put ball pressure on each opponent's PG, making it difficult to set up their offense. He's been the catalyst for Michigan's surprisingly good man-to-man D, which has been so effective, John Beilein hasn't even spent much time working on his patented 1-3-1 zone.<br />
<br />
These Wolverines have been far from aesthetic. They've gone through some ugly scoring droughts and built mansions out of 3-point bricks. But their defense has kept them in games, and their point guard has ended those droughts.<br />
<br />
Is Michigan an NCAA Tournament team? I would be shocked if that happened. But this extremely young outfit is achieving much more than anyone anticipated, and that's all that one can ask for.<br />
<br />
They've been led by their biggest surprise of all.<br />
<br />
If you haven't learned the name, you will soon.<br />
<br />
Darius Morris, the super sophomore.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-64348133686141710922010-11-21T19:56:00.000-08:002010-11-21T19:56:26.377-08:002010-11 belated college basketball preview: predicting the 68<div><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/photo_images/410338/34335_Illinois_Northwestern_Basketball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/photo_images/410338/34335_Illinois_Northwestern_Basketball.jpg" width="225" /></a>Yes, I'm a cheater. I already know that Minnesota and Vanderbilt have quality wins over North Carolina. I've already seen Duke crush three opponents by about 1,437 — and look damn impressive doing it. I've already watched Pitt tough out two games and Ohio State win in the Swamp.<br />
<br />
But, still, the college hoops season is extremely young. Which is why I feel it's fair to make my belated predictions for the new Field of 68. Without further ado — and without viewing the scores from tonight's games — my picks:</div><div><br />
THE CHAMPIONS (31 teams)</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Big East</span></div><div>Pitt: Maybe no team in the country is better and more comfortable at grinding out close wins, and with the ball in Ashton Gibbs' hands, why not? This team is experienced and hungry for a title.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Metro Atlantic</span></div><div>Fairfield: The Stags have improved their win total four years running, and now return four starters. That might just be enough to unseat those Siena Saints.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">America East</span></div><div>Vermont: The Catamounts aren't loaded, but often in these smaller conference tournaments, the teams — and coaches — that have been there before prevail. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Atlantic 10</span></div><div>Temple: It's hard to pick against the Owls and their back-to-back conference crowns. Point guard Juan Fernandez returns to lead the way.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Ivy League</span></div><div>Princeton: People are pretty high on Tommy Amaker's crew at Harvard, but the Crimson will really miss Jeremy Lin. That's why I'm taking a flier on the up-and-coming Tigers.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Patriot League</span></div><div>American: Living in DC, I attend every Eagles home game. And this team is stacked. A team returning all of its top players from a year ago adds transfers Troy Brewer (Georgia) and Charles Hinkle (Vandy).<br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Northeast</span></div><div>Quinnipiac: There are four new coaches implementing new systems in the league, but one player who knows how to win is the conference's POY Justin Rutty.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ACC</span></div><div>Duke: Only injuries could derail this from happening. These Devils are that good; the Tar Heels are still rebuilding; and the Hokies are still learning how to tough-out games they should win.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">MEAC</span></div><div>Morgan State: Here's a small conference that could be devoid of drama — again. The Bears have claimed three consecutive titles and return enough talent and experience to make it four. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Big South</span></div><div>Coastal Carolina: They had a phenomenal regular season only to watch — guess who? — Winthrop steal the tournament bid. Not this time. A pair of South Carolina transfers won't let it happen.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">CAA</span></div><div>Old Dominion: The Monarchs return all but one key player from the squad that took down Notre Dame in the Big Dance. Yeah, they'll be back. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Southern </span></div><div>Wofford: After coming within a few hairs of taking down Wisconsin in the tournament, Wofford returns four starters and five seniors.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">SEC</span></div><div>Florida: The Gators return a starting lineup that features three seniors hungry for some success considering their unmet expectations the past three years. Talented freshmen also are on the scene.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Ohio Valley</span></div><div>Murray State: Easy choice. The Racers return eight contributors from the fun-to-watch outfit that took down Vandy in the Dance and almost snuck by St. Mary's.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Atlantic Sun</span></div><div>Lipscomb: Betcha can't guess who the nation's leading returning scorer is? Heard of Adrian Hodzic? Nope, me neither. But the dude dropped in 22.7 ppg a year ago.<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sun Belt</span></div><div>North Texas: The Mean Green — best name ever, by the way — will make it to the Dance for the third time in five years thanks to double-double machine George Odufuwa (pronounce that!).</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Summit</span></div><div>Oakland: Now that the talented Grizzlies finally got a brief taste of NCAA Tournament fever, they really want to return. NBA prospect Keith Benson (17.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg) will make sure of that.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Big Ten</span></div><div>Michigan State: Ohio State's going to present quite the challenge, and Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota will also be tough (and Northwestern!). But the Spartans will emerge from a loaded conference.<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Mid-American</span></div><div>Ohio: One of the most entertaining games to watch on the first night of the crazy tournament was Ohio's thrashing of Georgetown. The Bobcats couldn't be stopped. With most of the catalysts back, expect similar results. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Conference USA</span></div><div>Memphis: The young Josh Pastner is quietly assembling a, um, young, loaded squad at Calipari's old stomping grounds. Expect a return to normalcy in the conference.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Horizon</span></div><div>Butler: They'll miss Gordon Hayward, no doubt, but don't think for a second that these Bulldogs will lapse during conference play. Under Brad Stevens, they'll continue to dominate the conference. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Big 12</span></div><div>Kansas State: Sorry, Kansas, but your rivals will be the ones to steal your grasp of the league. I love Jacob Pullen — fear the beard! — and his late-game heroics, and the frontcourt is loaded.<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Missouri Valley</span></div><div>Wichita State: The Shockers return all but one key player from a team that came a win away from taking the place of Cinderella Northern Iowa in the Dance. </div><div><br />
</div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Southland</span></div><div>Texas State: Anytime you add a Kentucky transfer — A.J. Stewart — to a Southland team, things are usually looking up. Such is the case for Texas State. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">SWAC</span></div><div>Jackson State: Despite an injury to preseason player of the year Grant Maxey, the Tigers won the regular-season crown by three games. Now Maxey, plus four other starters, returns. Watch out.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">WAC</span></div><div>Utah State: The Aggies are one of the most consistent, and overlooked, programs in the country. Of course, that does happen when you don't play anybody. But within the league, they dominate.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Big Sky</span></div><div>Weber State: The Wildcats, I'm sure, have used the entire offseason to work as hard as possible to forget the sting of blowing a 20-point lead against Montana in the conference title game. No repeat. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Mountain West</span></div><div>San Diego State: I love Steve Fisher's squad, which returns five starters, including double-double guy Kawhi Leonard. The Aztecs could do some damage in the Dance. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Pac-10</span></div><div>Washington: Arizona and Freshman of the Year Derrick Williams are up-and-coming and will be back in the Dance, but the Huskies are clearly the class of the league led by G's Isaiah Thomas and Abdul Gaddy.</div><div><br />
</div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Big West</span></div><div>UCSB: The Gauchos have the returning POY (Orlando Johnson) and a dude who had nine 20-point games (James Nunnally). Enough said. <br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">West Coast</span></div><div>Gonzaga: Speaking of enough said, guess who dominates their conference every year? The 'Zags might need to win the conference tournament considering their nonconference war zone: SDSU, Kansas State, Duke/Marquette, Illinois, at Notre Dame, Baylor, Xavier and Oklahoma State. Brutal!</div></div><div><br />
</div></div><div>THE AT-LARGE BIDS (37 teams)</div><div>*In order of higher-seeded teams<br />
<br />
<b>ACC</b><br />
Virginia Tech<br />
North Carolina<br />
N.C. State<br />
Virginia Tech<br />
Maryland<br />
Miami<br />
<br />
<b>Atlantic 10</b><br />
Dayton<br />
Xavier<b> </b><br />
Richmond <br />
<br />
<b>Big East</b><br />
Villanova<br />
<b> </b>Georgetown<br />
Syracuse<br />
West Virginia<br />
Marquette<br />
Louisville<br />
<br />
<b>Big Ten</b><br />
Ohio State<br />
<b> </b>Illinois<br />
Purdue<br />
Minnesota<br />
Wisconsin<br />
Northwestern<br />
<br />
<b>Big 12</b><br />
Kansas<br />
Missouri<br />
<b> </b>Baylor<br />
Texas<br />
Texas A&M<br />
<br />
<b>Missouri Valley</b><br />
Creighton<br />
<br />
<b>Mountain West</b><br />
BYU<br />
UNLV<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Pac-10</b><br />
Arizona<br />
Arizona State<br />
UCLA<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> SEC</b><br />
Kentucky<br />
<b> </b>Mississippi State<br />
Tennessee<br />
Georgia<br />
Vanderbilt<br />
<br />
</div>Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-38168089076292850602010-10-26T15:24:00.000-07:002010-10-26T15:24:48.308-07:00NBA Playoffs preview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i-3M3Wz0BMs/TMdVI3v_9nI/AAAAAAAAEUY/c-Dj11Ir5Vg/s1600/kobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i-3M3Wz0BMs/TMdVI3v_9nI/AAAAAAAAEUY/c-Dj11Ir5Vg/s320/kobe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
We're just minutes away from one of the most anticipated games that will, ultimately, mean close to nothing come mid-April. Miami-Boston has been dominating the airwaves all day -- I can say that with confidence, even though my ears haven't been tuned to the airwaves.<br />
<br />
Whatever happens, however, between the new and old Big Three won't matter until they meet, I believe, again in May.<br />
<br />
With that hint, my playoff predictions. Check back in, oh, eight months to see how I did:<br />
<br />
WESTERN CONFERENCE<br />
<b>First round</b><br />
(1) L.A. Lakers def. (8) Denver Nuggets: 4 games<br />
(5) San Antonio Spurs def. (4) Utah Jazz: 6 games<br />
(3) Dallas Mavericks def. (6) Phoenix Suns: 7 games<br />
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder def. (7) Portland Trail Blazers: 5 games<br />
<br />
<b>Second round</b><br />
(1) L.A. Lakers def. (5) San Antonio Spurs: 5 games<br />
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder def. (3) Dallas Mavericks: 7 games<br />
<br />
<b>Conference finals</b><br />
(1) L.A. Lakers def. (2) Oklahoma City Thunder: 7 games -- Remember last year? The Thunder dominated Games 3 and 4 to even the series, fell flat like most inexperienced teams would on the road in Game 5, then came a missed box-out away from taking Game 6. With that experience under their belt, they'll be much more scary on the road and better all around. New acquisition Matt Barnes, however, will do a good job of making Kevin Durant work for all his points, and L.A. will escape.<br />
<br />
EASTERN CONFERENCE<br />
<b>First round</b><br />
(1) Miami Heat def. (8) Detroit Pistons: 4 games<br />
<b></b>(4) Milwaukee Bucks def. (5) Chicago Bulls: 7 games<br />
(3) Boston Celtics def. (6) Atlanta Hawks: 7 games<br />
(2) Orlando Magic def. (7) Philadelphia 76ers: 4 games<br />
<br />
<b>Second round</b><br />
(1) Miami Heat def. (4) Milwaukee Bucks: 5 games<br />
(3) Boston Celtics def. (2) Orlando Magic: 6 games<br />
<br />
<b>Conference finals</b><br />
<b> </b>(1) Miami Heat def. (3) Boston Celtics: 6 games -- It's tempting to pick against the team with the win-it-all-or-else expectations, but, c'mon. In the NBA, the best teams, the teams with the best players, usually win. And you can't make an argument that these Celtics are more talented than the Heat. Plus, there's the huge factor that LeBron will be playing with a chip on his shoulder and will be much, much better than he was in last season's six-game loss to the Celtics when his lone sidekick was Mo Williams. Enough said.<br />
<br />
<b>NBA FINALS</b><br />
L.A. Lakers def. Miami Heat: 6 games -- Something tells me Kobe won't let his chance to be like M.J. and finish a second repeat slip through the cracks. He knows, we all know, this is probably the final year when his Lakers will be the favorites to take home the hardware, and he won't let the new guys on the block steal that opportunity. If everyone is healthy, the Lakers' size will give the Heat fits; Gasol will be his usual dominant self; and if Barnes plays smart defense -- read: no stupid fouls -- he should bother James and/or Wade just enough to help the Lakers send Phil Jackson in a pure state of Zen.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-91504625122140492422010-10-25T16:27:00.000-07:002010-10-25T16:27:08.169-07:00NBA Western Conference preview<a href="http://www.dailythunder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/kevin_durant_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.dailythunder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/kevin_durant_main.jpg" width="231" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
Even a year ago, the argument would have seemed ridiculous, preposterous, insane. Someone in the Western Conference better than Kobe Bryant?<br />
<br />
C'mon, man. Get a reality check.<br />
<br />
Not anymore, not after Kevin Durant's summer. The kid -- yes, he's still that -- was absolutely phenomenal, clutch and big-time in leading a U.S. team of B-listers to the World Championship. He was, in a word, unstoppable.<br />
<br />
And this was after a quite impressive third year in the Association.<br />
<br />
So, yes, Bryant has the five NBA title rings and all the experience in the world. But, no, he's not the best player in the Western Conference.<br />
<br />
Of course, he doesn't need to be this season. The Lakers return everybody from their back-to-back title teams and are the overwhelming favorite, at least in the majority's eyes, to represent the West in the Finals.<br />
<br />
But let's not forget that Durant's Thunder were a missed box-out away from taking L.A. to a Game 7 in round one last April. And the Thunder, undoubtedly, will only be better considering their youth.<br />
<br />
The West, quite simply, might be a little more interesting than people are forecasting. In other words, it shouldn't be completely ignored while 123 percent of league pundits are watching the Heat.<br />
<br />
(Finishing place in the conference is in parentheses.)<br />
<br />
SOUTHWEST DIVISION<br />
<b>(3) Dallas Mavericks, 55-27: </b>Yes, they're ancient. And, yes, some injuries could make this season catastrophic and convince Mark Cuban it's time to blow up the core. But as they stand now, the Mavericks will be damn good. Caron Butler and Braendan Haywood will be more comfortable within the system after a summer, and Jason Terry remains one of the league's most underrated players.<br />
<br />
<b>(5) San Antonio Spurs, 52-30: </b>Speaking of old, how 'bout them Spurs? Again, the question is health. Can Tim Duncan stay fresh? Can Manu Ginobili avoid the injury bug? If they stay injury-free, then the fortunes of this team -- as in, can they make a final push for a title? -- will ride on whether Richard Jefferson really is in shape and how well DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter help out the Big Fundamental down low.<br />
<br />
<b>(9) Houston Rockets, 46-36: </b>So Yao is back. But for how long? That's the issue surrounding this team and the difference between a borderline playoff team and a squad that could win a couple playoff series. The health of Yao's foot. I'm banking on him playing enough games to get them into the playoffs, but he won't be completely healthy. It should be noted that there is a lot of Yao-less talent here, such as Aaron Brooks.<br />
<br />
<b>(10) New Orleans Hornets, 42-40: </b>If Chris Paul is healthy, it's hard to pick this team to do that poorly. So, yes, they'll be thinking playoffs for most of the season. The addition of Trevor Ariza will help, as he's a solid buddy in transition for CP3 and is a decent defender. But Emeka Okafor and David West aren't exactly dominant or scary big men, and the defense will struggle.<br />
<br />
<b>(11) Memphis Grizzlies, 40-42: </b>Can they stop anybody? That's the question the Grizzlies will need to affirmatively answer if they're going to take that next step to the playoffs. For now, I'd say, 'Nope!' When Your main cogs are O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph, defense isn't the biggest priority. Scoring a lot of points and earning big contracts -- now, that's a goal to have!<br />
<br />
NORTHWEST DIVISION<br />
<b>(2) Oklahoma City Thunder, 56-26: </b>It's impossible, really, to overrate Kevin Durant right now. He's the consummate teammate. He's shown that he can take over games when needed. He has a diversified game. He plays solid defense. What else is there? Well, of course a division title ... and then conference title, etc., with an MVP thrown in. This team will only get better. As always, the potential downfall could be injuries.<br />
<br />
<b>(4) Utah Jazz, 54-28: </b>So nobody's talking about Utah. What's new? Jerry Sloan somehow, someway, still hasn't won a COY. Don't we say that every year? Bottom line -- with Sloan and Deron Williams running the show, the Jazz will be good. Just how good will depend on how well Al Jefferson replaces Carlos Boozer. I love the move because as solid as Boozer was, Jefferson has more upside. That'll be needed come playoff time.<br />
<br />
<b>(T-6) Portland Trail Blazers, 50-32: </b>I'm sorry, but it's hard to get excited about a team that's always hurt. I would never buy tickets before the season for a Blazers game because I could end up watching Jerryd Bayless, Nicholas Batum and Dante Cunningham (no offense). Even if this team is healthy, I don't sense a good enough chemistry to contend for the division or go far in the postseason. Not this year, anyway.<br />
<br />
<b>(8) Denver Nuggets, 49-33: </b>This team is almost identical to last year's first-place squad, adds 17.7-ppg Al Harrington and returns head coach George Karl from cancer. But they'll lose more games, mostly because of the distractions surround Carmelo Anthony (and possibly a mid-season trade). And Harrington will be a horrible fit on a team with plenty of guys who love to shoot.<br />
<br />
<b>(15) Minnesota Timberwolves, 16-66: </b>There's no reason to think the T-Wolves can't be as bad as they were a year ago (15-67). Their roster remains a discombobulated mess that poor Kurt Rambis has to try to figure out. There are at least three mediocre point guards, malcontent Michael Beasley, and hugely overpaid scrub Darko Milicic. The only decent team guy is Kevin Love until Jonny Flynn learns how to run an offense better.<br />
<br />
PACIFIC DIVISION<br />
<b>(1) Los Angeles Lakers, 58-24: </b>They're going to take a page out of the Celtics' playbook, go figure, and decrease Kobe's minutes. Smart move. Of course, they'll try to mostly do this in lopsided games. You won't see him sitting in close games. He'd choke Phil Jackson before letting that happen. Even with a resting Bryant -- and maybe others -- this team remains loaded and will reclaim the top seed come April.<br />
<br />
<b>(T-6) Phoenix Suns, 50-32: </b>They're small and they're thin, but no team will be as fun to watch as these Suns. I'm anticipating a bounce-back season from Hedo Turkoglu who, like many before him, will be re-energized by the amazing Steve Nash. I also expect Robin Lopez to help Phoenix fans forget about Amar'e Stoudemire and increase his rebounding numbers twofold. Oh, and Josh Childress is back from Greece.<br />
<br />
<b>(12) Los Angeles Clippers, 39-43: </b>Can we please stop the playoff rumblings? Yes, Blake Griffin is going to be good once he takes the court and, presumably, stays healthy. He and Chris Kaman will form a pretty dominant frontcourt. But Baron Davis hasn't been inspired for a couple seasons now, and not even Griffin will get him back to his '07 Warriors form. Eric Gordon could blossom at the 2 spot.<br />
<br />
<b>(13) Sacramento Kings, 30-52: </b>It will be interesting to see if this team can develop a cohesiveness that breeds winning, because the talent is there. The frontcourt is loaded with DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, Samuel Dalembert, etc., but roles need to be established. Who will play what minutes. In the backcourt, there's the question of whether Tyreke Evans should run the point or play off the ball. Answers?<br />
<br />
<b>(14) Golden State Warriors, 28-54: </b>I'll say this for the Warriors -- I've never enjoyed watching such a bad team more. I remember catching the fourth quarter of a game last season that I got hooked on instead of the U.S. men's hockey team's Olympic game. That's how fun Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis and company can be. With Don Nelson gone, things might be toned down a notch under Keith Smart, meaning defense will be played. That's a good thing for the team, if not for TV viewers like myself.<br />
<br />
Playoff predictions still to come...Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-68505824114164317862010-10-24T20:31:00.000-07:002010-10-24T20:31:14.127-07:00NBA Eastern Conference preview<a href="http://images.sneakernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/f813278508bb4395954a3641f1559c3e-getty-102526428ms016_miami_heat_i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://images.sneakernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/f813278508bb4395954a3641f1559c3e-getty-102526428ms016_miami_heat_i.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
As we head into this most intriguing of NBA seasons, let's get one thing clear: The regular season really doesn't matter. At least in terms of crowning an NBA champion, it doesn't.<br />
<br />
The really good teams will make the playoffs. Whether they're a No. 1, 2, 3 or 4 seed won't affect how they perform in the postseason (just ask last season's Celtics). Sure, the middle-of-the-pack teams will duke it out for playoff spots/saving coaches jobs. But, ultimately, the NBA is a very predictable league. The teams you expect to be playing in June usually are.<br />
<br />
Just consider the recent past champions:<br />
<br />
2010 — Lakers, No. 1 seed<br />
2009 — Lakers, No. 1 seed<br />
2008 — Celtics, No. 1 seed<br />
2007 — Spurs, No. 1 seed<br />
2006 — Heat, No. 1 seed<br />
2005 — Spurs, No. 1 seed<br />
<br />
You get the point.<br />
<br />
So with that in mind, here is my short list of teams I actually think could win the 2010-11 NBA title:<br />
<br />
Miami<br />
Boston<br />
Orlando (very iffy)<br />
L.A. Lakers<br />
Oklahoma City (yes, Kevin Durant is <i>that</i> good)<br />
<br />
With all this being said ... the regular season is going to be very watchable. To start with, every Heat game will grab high ratings simply because of LeBron, D-Wade and crew. It'll be very interesting to see how the team comes together. And it'll be fun to monitor the receptions the team, especially a certain Cleveland outcast, receives in opposing arenas.<br />
<br />
So how will things shake out come early April? Let's start with the Eastern Conference.<br />
<br />
(Finishing place in the conference is in parentheses.)<br />
<br />
<b>ATLANTIC DIVISION</b><br />
<b>(3) Boston Celtics, 52-30: </b>The Celtics found a winning formula last season: Stink it up during the regular season, fooling everyone into thinking you're finished. Then start playing hard in the playoffs with a healthy, fresh squad and come within a horrid second half of winning it all. I expect a similar formula this time around with more depth in the frontcourt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>(7) Philadelphia 76ers, 39-43: </b>Hopefully Doug Collins paces himself with this team, because it's young and will wear on him constantly. The biggest question mark remains, What the heck has happened to Elton Brand? It's like he's still playing on West Coast time. The backcourt should be pretty strong if Evan Turner lives up to his hype; if not, it will be a long season and more gray hairs for Collins.<br />
<br />
<b>(T-11) New York Knicks, 34-48: </b>So the Knicks cleared out their payroll and ended up with Amar'e Stoudemire and ... Carmelo Anthony? Reportedly, 'Melo has been chatting it up with Spike Lee, which is the only reason Knicks fans can be hopeful that a decade of drudgery might end anytime soon. Because the current outfit won't play defense or rebound very well. Not a winning formula.<br />
<br />
<b>(13) New Jersey Nets, 32-50: </b>There is hope for the Nets. Devin Harris and Brook Lopez form a nice outside-inside combo, and Derrick Favors has as much upside — yeah, that confounding word — as anyone from the '10 draft. Oh, and they'll improve by almost 20 wins. Baby steps, baby steps. Carmelo would help, but it's not looking likely.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>(15) Toronto Raptors, 23-59: </b>Quick — name me two players on the Raptors (and spell their names correctly). Yes, it's officially rebuilding time, since Chris Bosh decided to take his talents to South Beach. Let's not forget that this team features a fairly recent No. 1 pick, Andrea Bargnani, who should now be the focal point of the offense. His progression will be about the most fun thing to watch.<br />
<br />
CENTRAL DIVISION<br />
<b>(4) Milwaukee Bucks, 51-31: </b>Nobody talked about this team during the offseason, big surprise. But it made some moves that have it on a path toward a division crown. For one, Andrew Bogut is almost fully recovered from the gruesome elbow/wrist/hand, broken-bone catastrophe. Also, John Salmons is back and Corey Maggette/Drew Gooden are in town. Good moves; improving and dangerous team.<br />
<br />
<b>(5) Chicago Bulls, 50-32: </b>Speaking of moves, the Bulls made some very solid ones, too. No, they didn't get the grand prize. But, hey, there's only one South Beach. Carlos Boozer fits perfectly into their lineup alongside defensive-rebounding behemoth Joakim Noah; Ronnie Brewer is a serviceable, team-guy shooting guard; and I have a feeling Kyle Korver will be in at the end of games making outside shots.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>(8) Detroit Pistons, 38-44: </b>They won't be as bad as last year, namely because no one wants to repeat that last-place disaster. This roster is better than that. Still, speculation will encircle the futures of Detroit fixtures Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. And Joe Dumars will, and should, continue to receive a lot of heat for completely ruining an annual championship contender.<br />
<br />
<b>(T-11) Indiana Pacers, 34-48: </b>This would be a pretty damn good college team, featuring Darren Collison, Mike Dunleavy, Roy Hibbert, Brandon Rush and, oh, Tyler Hansbrough — with Dahntay Jones and Josh McRoberts coming off the bench. On second thought, the Pacers are one Dukie/Tar Heel short of being able to put an all-Tobacco Road lineup on the floor. Not a good NBA team, though, even led by the stellar Danny Granger.<br />
<br />
<b>(14) Cleveland Cavaliers, 30-52: </b>Starting at small forward ... Jamario Moon!! Oh, Cleveland. Yes, this team has the potential (rather, lack thereof) to go from the best team in the East to the worst. It'll be up to Mo Williams, who (jokingly?) considered retirement in the offseason, and Antawn Jamison to carry the offensive load. The only player with "upside" is J.J. Hickson.<br />
<br />
SOUTHEAST DIVISION<br />
<br />
<b>(1) Miami Heat, 63-19: </b>No, they won't break the Bulls' 72-10 record for regular-season dominance. Injuries are already a problem before the season, as Mike Miller will be out for a few months. That will hurt the team's outside shooting, and, no, Jerry Stackhouse isn't an adequate replacement. I have a feeling the Big Three (do they have a nickname, yet?) also won't be together every night. But, ultimately, this team will be made or broken in the playoffs. Obviously.<br />
<br />
<b>(2) Orlando Magic, 55-27: </b>There's no team entering this season — at least teams with potential — with more of a chip on its shoulder. Dwight Howard is mad, and, like James, perhaps will drop a bit of his humorous side in favor of a more serious demeanor. The Magic have been fuming about all the attention their neighbors to the south have received. Howard has worked on a mid-range game. Their fate might depend on how furnished it is.<br />
<br />
<b>(6) Atlanta Hawks, 49-33: </b>Guess who received the largest contract during the offseason? Not LeBron, not Chris Bosh. Yep, Joe Johnson. The Hawks didn't really have a choice, either. Actually, the choice was: Stay relevant with Johnson or become irrelevant sans him. Unfortunately, they won't get much better than the team that's looked listless in the second round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons.<br />
<br />
<b>(9) Washington Wizards, 36-46: </b>The Positive: John Wall; he's been as advertised during the preseason and is a captain as a rookie. This is his franchise, and, thus, it's headed in the right direction. The Negative: Gilbert Arenas; what a horrible distraction. He's already talked about heading in another direction and parting ways with the Wizards. Well, that isn't happening. And, for now, neither is a playoff season.<br />
<br />
<b>(10) Charlotte Bobcats, 35-47: </b> So Charlotte let Raymond Felton go to New York this offseason and then tried to make a move for a starting point guard — and ultimately failed. And now, Larry Brown is stuck with D.J. Augustin, who spent much of last season in his doghouse. Not good. Brown's best teams have featured a point guard that understood what LB. wanted. Not happening here. <br />
<br />
Stay tuned for my Western Conference preview and, finally, playoff predictions.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-27276533206686891092010-09-27T20:16:00.000-07:002010-09-27T20:16:59.548-07:00Could Durant/Oden be the next Jordan/Bowie?<a href="http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumblings/files/2009/12/DurantAndOden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumblings/files/2009/12/DurantAndOden.jpg" width="266" /></a>Who imagined this in June of 2007?<br />
<br />
When 7-footer Greg Oden was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, there were few harsh critics. Sure, there were many basketball minds who thought Portland might have been smarter taking the skinny, bench-presses-like-a-ninth-grader Kevin Durant out of Texas. But there were no, "OH MY GOD. What are you thinking???" responses.<br />
<br />
After all, Oden was destined to become a great player at a position where they just don't produce 'em like they used to. A great center. While Durant was super talented, on the other hand, 6-9 wings were about as abundant in '07 as Facebook users.<br />
<br />
So the Blazers took Oden, the Supersonics-soon-to-be-Thunder took Durant, and both parties were pleased. In a perfect, happy world or 2004-draft-world-minus-Darko-Milicic that might be the case.<br />
<br />
Sadly for the city of Portland, however, we're instead looking at, gasp, a Jordan-Bowie repeat.<br />
<br />
Am I portending things to come? Absolutely. Could I be wrong? In some ways, possibly. But the facts and a set of basketball-watching eyes tell the story.<br />
<br />
Let's start with the MJ in this equation...<br />
<br />
Anyone who watched Durant dominate the World Championships this summer, leading a team of the NBA's B-listers to a convincing title, can't deny that he's en route to becoming the best player in the Association. Heck, he might even already be there. Better than LeBron. Better than D-Wade. And honestly, barring injury he's almost a shoe-in for MVP in 2010-11 now that the Miami Trio is official.<br />
<br />
Durant is two days shy of his 22nd birthday. (Yes, that's not a typo.) When I was 22, I was learning the fine art of staying up all night writing history papers. He'll only get better, and better.<br />
<br />
Jordan entered the league more mature and seasoned. After an injury-plagued second season, he put up 37.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in his third campaign with the Bulls. In Durant's third season with burgeoning Oklahoma City, he averaged 30.1/7.6/2.8. So, no, not quite Jordan-esque numbers, but good enough to compare to the 10-time scoring champion.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>As far as scoring, Durant is still learning the fine art of shot selection and isn't as selfish as M.J. -- especially young M.J. -- so he may never average as much as the five-time MVP, especially with explosive Russell Westbrook by his side. But I'm guessing he'll accumulate as many MVPs and we'll see about the titles.<br />
<br />
Now to the Bowie part of the equation. Oden, undoubtedly, has plenty of talent and has shown glimpses of it during his first two seasons. But even when he's at his best, he doesn't have close to the impact on a game that Durant has. This is a guard/ballhandler's league, and Oden isn't doing any of that.<br />
<br />
Mostly, sadly, he's been on the bench -- often in street cloths.<br />
<br />
During Bowie's first two seasons, the 7-foot-1 center played 114 games (missing 48) and averaged around 11 points and 8.5 rebounds. After missing his entire rookie season, Oden has played 82 games (missing a full season's worth of action) over the past two years and averaged about 10 points and eight boards.<br />
<br />
So Oden hasn't even been as good as Bowie. Can he be better, can he be consistently good? Yes, of course. But at this point, it's almost inevitable that Oden will not live up to his status as a No. 1 draft pick -- and this task is made all the more daunting by the production Durant is amassing.<br />
<br />
Many basketball experts say there will never be another Michael Jordan. And there's a good chance they're right. So perhaps the Oden-Durant draft will never quite get the same attention as Jordan-Bowie did (and continues to receive through books). But to be able to write pretty definitively after three seasons about the opposite fortunes of the two speaks to just how disparate their NBA careers have been.<br />
<br />
Of course, Portland never would have received so much backlash over the Bowie selection if Jordan hadn't gone on to win six titles for the Bulls while the Blazers haven't won a trophy since pre-ESPN. If Durant fails to lead the Thunder to championships in a stocked NBA and Portland does all right -- it's still a playoff team minus a healthy/great Oden -- this won't be a big deal.<br />
<br />
I'm not predicting that, though. Durant has 10 great years left in the league, and the Thunder are assembling a behemoth. I foresee multiple titles for KD & Co.<br />
<br />
Which will leave the entire Northwest -- don't forget about Seattle! -- feeling about as bitter as Cleveland.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-17135861791569211912010-09-10T20:33:00.000-07:002010-09-10T20:33:58.237-07:00For Wolverines, season's fortunes will depend on defense<a href="http://uvtblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/DenardRobinson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://uvtblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/DenardRobinson.jpg" width="211" /></a><i>ON FOOTBALL</i><br />
<br />
Believe it or not, the shoelaces of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denard_Robinson">Denard Robinson</a> won't be the main determining factor when it comes to Michigan's wins and losses columns this season. Yeah, I know -- it's a tough sell. I don't think shoelaces have ever gotten as much attention during a week. In fact, write it in ink — no untied shoelaces have ever gotten more pub. Period.<br />
<br />
And Robinson, and his shoelaces, looked pretty phenomenal last Saturday, as he pressed the turbo button and sped past hordes of helpless Connecticut defenders. But why did the Wolverines defeat the Huskies so handily, 30-10? Because of 11-plus young men in winged helmets who tied their shoelaces and pretty much shut down Connecticut.<br />
<br />
Yes, the defense.<br />
<br />
Last season, remember, the Wolverines were far from bad on offense. They were near the top of the Big Ten in all offensive categories, scored a ton of points and were fun to watch. But a combination of terrible defense and a horrible turnover ratio led to the collapse from a 4-0 start into a 5-7 season, officially making <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Rodriguez">Rich Rodriguez's</a> seat red hot.<br />
<br />
Then the team's top two defenders, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Graham_%28American_football%29">Brandon Graham</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donovan_Warren">Donovan Warren</a>, bolted for the NFL, starting cornerback <a href="http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/woolfolk_troy00.html">Troy Woolfork</a> busted his leg before the season, and things were looking extremely grim for an inexperienced, no-reason-to-be-confident, undersized defense learning a new 3-3-5 scheme from career unsuccessful coordinator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Robinson">Greg Robinson</a>. Not good at all.<br />
<br />
But in the new Big House Saturday, the defense looked OK, which could be enough to win seven or eight games — yes, Wolverines fans, an eight-victory campaign would be very good for this group.<br />
<br />
Before you go serenading Michigan a Top 25 team, however (and that talk, really, is ridiculous after just a game), let's see how it handles Notre Dame's offense tomorrow and then, down the road, the Big Ten's top dogs. Let's not go anointing this team special as the national media did last year after a measly two wins, with a <i>Sports Illustrated</i> article and everything.<br />
<br />
Lost in all the excitement of the season-opening blowout was the fact that Connecticut played really poorly. The Huskies dropped several balls, fumbled away the pigskin inside the Michigan 10-yard line and generally were out of sorts. The offense was far from sharp. So it's difficult to get a gauge of just how good, or bad, the Wolverines' D is.<br />
<br />
The best word to characterize the performance — encouraging. If nothing else, the unit definitely has more confidence going into this weekend, which it will need against the Fighting Irish on the road.<br />
<br />
There's no doubt Michigan has talent on the defensive side of the ball. Rodriguez's zealous recruiting hasn't suffered despite his 3- and 5-win seasons to begin his (maybe very short) career in Ann Arbor. There are several players who could quickly make names for themselves this season.<br />
<br />
But at this point, be hesitant in giving these Wolverines too much credit. We all know Robinson is a mega talent, not to mention personality, who will probably do more of what he did Saturday the rest of the season (although things will get much more difficult as opposing coaches view film of him and come up with game plans hellbent on confusing him). The offense will be good, possibly very good.<br />
<br />
It won't matter, however, unless the D is, well, fine, OK — just not bad.<br />
<br />
Its first big test will come at South Bend. Shoelaces tied or not.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-80503587638116149532010-08-29T12:19:00.000-07:002010-08-29T12:20:21.296-07:00Not done yet: Federer will win more majors<a href="http://www.sportskeeda.com/wp-content/uploads/roger-federer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://www.sportskeeda.com/wp-content/uploads/roger-federer1.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>ON TENNIS</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_federer">Roger Federer</a> is old. Old for the highest level of tennis, at least, at 29. He's small and anemic compared to the young, tall and muscular behemoths blasting 140-mph serves left and right.<br />
<br />
He's over the hill. Past his prime.<br />
<br />
But done? Not a chance.<br />
<br />
Anyone who watched Federer battle <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Fish">Mardy Fish</a> last weekend in Cincinnati, coming back from a set down to win consecutive hard-fought sets over a guy who hadn't lost to a top-10 player all year, knows the Greatest of All Time is far from finished. In fact, as the U.S. Open begins tomorrow, I'd pick only one guy over Federer -- his rival <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Nadal">Rafael Nadal</a>, who happens to have won the last two major championships.<br />
<br />
And that's, really, a coin-flip pick for me.<br />
<br />
Is Federer the same player he was two, three, five years ago? No, of course not. He is a bit slower than his competition and not as strong. But he has a HUGE mental edge, having navigated his way to a record 16 majors. He, more than any player in history, knows how to win a grueling match, a match in which he might not be hitting the ball as hard as his opponent or moving as nimbly.<br />
<br />
Many experts are picking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Murray">Andy Murray</a> to finally break through and win his first major in New York. He's a solid pick. After all, just a couple weeks ago he took care of Federer -- 7-5, 7-5 -- on hard courts in Toronto. But that was Toronto. Federer has owned Murray under the microscope of the year's final grand slam, and I wouldn't bet against him in a rematch.<br />
<br />
Even taking Nadal over Federer is a bit of a shaky pick considering Nadal's record on hard courts. He's still chasing that elusive U.S. Open title, which I think he'll finally get in two weeks. Nadal is the only player on tour who can match Federer in the mental category. So it's only appropriate that he's seeded No. 1 and Federer No. 2 entering the tournament.<br />
<br />
What makes Federer a scary player to face in New York is that by his standards, he's having a down year. He won the Australian Open, but was ousted in the quarterfinals at the French Open and Wimbledon -- early exits ... by his standards. Not only that, but he's had to hear all this talk about him being over the hill, about the window closing. Even with two more career majors than anyone else, he's as motivated as ever. He's adjusting his game to best fit his athletic abilities. He's only playing in the tournaments -- 16 to 20 a year -- that he cares about.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, he really only cares about winning more majors, and he recently told the BBC that he believes he can add four more to his resume -- reaching a sterling 20 for his career. That quest begins now. The young guns will be spraying serves all over the place and ripping winners. <br />
<br />
But let's not forget who the No. 2 seed, deservedly, is. I won't be betting against him anytime soon.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-73469192019623334702010-08-19T10:42:00.000-07:002010-08-19T10:42:35.211-07:00Vikings' trio did the right thing -- after all, it's about winning, right?<a href="http://www.thenegroworldinc.com/brett-favre-minnesota-vikings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thenegroworldinc.com/brett-favre-minnesota-vikings.jpg" width="269" /></a>In our Ford-tough, I'd rather get lost in a cornfield than ask for directions, hard-hitting society for men in America, asking for a favor -- or, gasp, pleading with someone -- is not very cool. After all, we don't need anyone, right? We're strong and independent.<br />
<br />
So, naturally, the Vikings trio of <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AlleJa22.htm">Jared Allen</a>, <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/longwrya01.htm">Ryan Longwell</a> and <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HutcSt00.htm">Steve Hutchinson</a> received some grief for their trip to Mississippi Monday night with the purported goal of getting an answer out of that <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FavrBr00.htm">Brett Favre</a> guy -- ever heard of him? -- about his football-playing answer. They were hoping, of course, that the 39-year-old Hall-of-Fame gunslinger would agree to play one more year, but really, they just wanted a "yes" or "no."<br />
<br />
(It's nice to know whom you'll be sacking other quarterbacks for so they can return to the field; whom you'll be protecting; and whom you'll be kicking for, respectively -- at least a couple weeks before the season.)<br />
<br />
Former Patriots linebacker and ESPN analyst <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrusTe99.htm">Teddi Bruschi</a>, among others, was highly critical of the mini summer vacation, saying he lost respect for the Vikings and that the mighty Pats would never do such a thing. Yeah, and if <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradTo00.htm">Tom Brady</a> wasn't so loyal and willing to play hard, at least for now, for much less money than he deserves, he'd be gone and New England would be a very subpar team.<br />
<br />
The three Vikings, bottom line, did the right thing. They wanted to know, now, who's going to be behind center this fall, so they forced an answer out of Favre. And now that No. 4 is back in the saddle, anyone who's ever watched him on the field knows that he'll give his all to the organization and his teammates, risking his aging body on every offensive snap.<br />
<br />
This is Brett Favre, people, not some clown who might quit after four games, take snaps off, or disrupt the team's chemistry. While he might not be as incredible as his 33-touchdown, seven-interception gem of a season in '09 -- the best of his career -- he'll give the Vikings a much better chance to get to the Super Bowl than <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JackTa00.htm">Tarvaris Jackson</a> or <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RoseSa00.htm">Sage Rosenfels</a> would.<br />
<br />
Minnesota has never won a Super Bowl. Neither have Allen, Longwell and Hutchinson. The city wants one badly. So do the three of them -- all veterans without too many years left, by the way (except for Longwell, who, as a kicker, should play until he's 51).<br />
<br />
So why not give yourself the best chance to win now?<br />
<br />
This isn't a baseball team shipping away its prospects for one chance at the World Series. This is a good team becoming, possibly, great. The only sacrifice it's making is a year of "development" for Jackson and/or Rosenfels and, possibly, the realization that neither is the answer to the team's future at quarterback.<br />
<br />
Could this thing backfire? Could Favre get knocked down in Week 1 and finally "retire?" Absolutely. Obviously. He might have a poor season.<br />
<br />
But the odds are that he'll definitely take the Vikings back to the playoffs, and in January whom would you rather have...<br />
<br />
Yeah, rhetorical question<br />
<br />
Kudos to Allen, Lonngwell and Hutchinson for putting their "pride" aside and making that trip Monday night. They got a lot more out of the trip than some southern home cookin'.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-22466989834306027242010-07-29T17:10:00.000-07:002010-07-29T17:11:36.757-07:00Wait ... Chris Bosh quit on the Raptors?<a href="http://layupdrill.com/wp-content/uploads/bosh-rap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://layupdrill.com/wp-content/uploads/bosh-rap.jpg" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
Forgive me for writing about this, but I wanted to say something before it's completely forgotten. After all, it happened in Toronto -- the one NBA city which is basically ignored because, well, it's in Canada (anyone remember the Vancouver Grizzlies?).<br />
<br />
However, before we completely move on to covering Miami's "Big Three" or "Terrific Trio" or "<a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wadedw01.html">D-Wade</a> and Co.," it should be noted that <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html">LeBron James</a> isn't the only member of the "insert name" that has been ripped since his departure from his previous team. Since Wade didn't leave the Heat, that leaves, yes, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boshch01.html">Chris Bosh</a>, the seemingly inoccouous All-Star -- but, no, not superstar -- who somehow, it appeared, held the most power during the free-agent negotiations in bringing all three to South Beach.<br />
<br />
Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5416808">said recently</a> that Bosh, basically, quit on the Raptors as the team battled for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference this past season, not coming back as quickly as he could from an injury.<br />
<br />
The Raptors missed the playoffs by a game. One game.<br />
<br />
(Side note: Of course, all a playoff spot would have meant was a bludgeoning at the hands of James' Cavs. But still, there's a big difference in fans' eyes -- and others' -- between being the eighth or ninth best team in a conference and making or missing the playoffs.)<br />
<br />
Colangelo said that Bosh was cleared to play "subject to tolerance on his part," but instead chose to sit out an additional six games. Upon further examination, Bosh missed seven games in late February and early March -- a period during which Toronto went 3-4 -- nursing a sprained left ankle. He also missed the season's final five games, and most of a sixth, after fracturing two bones in his face. I'm assuming Colangelo isn't referring to that injury.<br />
<br />
So Bosh sat out when he could have played on his ankle with the team still having more than 20 games to lock up a playoff spot. Then when he returned, he wasn't quite the same player the rest of the season -- with his point and rebound numbers both dipping -- which, I'm sure, is part of what Colangelo was referring to when he said:<br />
<br />
"Whether he was mentally checked out or just wasn't quite into it down the stretch, he wasn't the same guy," <br />
<br />
I wouldn't call it a reason to bash Bosh too badly. It wasn't the end of the season. Maybe he wasn't quite in that panicked playoff mode yet. That's somewhat understandable. Still, this kind of action has to be wondered about, especially when a respected GM like Colangelo speaks out and we're talking about a place in Toronto where <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cartevi01.html">Vince Carter</a> admitted to slacking during games and <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcgratr01.html">Tracy McGrady</a> gotouttatownquick. <br />
<br />
I'd like to hope Bosh becomes a better team player, winner and hard worker than those cousins. And I'm pretty sure we won't hear about him taking it easy when injured in Miami now that he'll play alongside James and Wade.<br />
<br />
Still, this really leaves a sour taste in the mouth. As Colangelo mentioned, here was an organization that had worked really hard to surround Bosh with complementary players, mixing and matching and putting forth a lot of effort to try to build a winner. This is a team that lured a very good player (although he just had a down year), <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/turkohe01.html">Hedo Turkoglu</a>, from Orlando to Toronto. What?<br />
<br />
Bosh has never had a reputation for taking it easy or sitting out when he can play. Although during four of his seven seasons abroad, he played 70 or fewer games (not by much, however: 67, 69, 70, 70). He only played more than 77 games once. He never played in all 82 games.<br />
<br />
Perhaps that's just who he is -- a 75-regular-season-games-a-year player. And for the Heat, that should be just fine. Any lock-for-the-playoffs team knows that it's not what you do during the regular season; saving a little energy for the playoffs isn't a bad strategy. Just ask this past season's Celtics.<br />
<br />
So Bosh will have that option now. Miami, with a healthy trio of stars, will never be in danger of coming close to missing the playoffs. That must be nice.<br />
<br />
But for Bosh to sit out a half-dozen games for a team battling to stay in the playoff picture -- a team that ultimately missed them by a single game -- doesn't leave a good impression. So, yes, Toronto fans, boos are acceptable when he makes his return next season. Just no jersey burnings.<br />
<br />
That's my analysis, thanks. Now let's get on with the good stuff. I heard there's going to be this pretty good team down in South Beach...Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-9047423319833346882010-07-25T13:51:00.000-07:002010-07-25T13:51:37.893-07:00Major League Baseball leading the battle against performance-enhancing drugs<a href="http://smartasssports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bud-selig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://smartasssports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bud-selig.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>ON BASEBALL</i><br />
<br />
There are a lot of former baseball fans out there. People who used to love America's (past) pastime when it was "clean," when players looked like normal people and played because of a love for the game, and when no one even considered the thought of 70 home runs in a season.<br />
<br />
Of course, the sports lost thousands of fans after the brutal 1994 strike. And just when its popularity was soaring again around the turn of the millennium, the steroids scandal rocked the game. And rocked it. And rocked it some more.<br />
<br />
Many fans who turned their focus to other sports and endeavors may never come back to the game. However, everyone must admit this regardless of their disgust for the sport — it's done a very good, thorough job of cleaning up the game the last few years.<br />
<br />
The latest news? Last week, MLB implemented random drug testing in the minor leagues for Human Growth Hormone, or HGH as it's commonly referred to. HGH has been a go-to drug for cheaters of recent years because it can't be detected by a urine sample. Now, that elusive blood test will be arbitrarily administered to minor leaguers.<br />
<br />
It will be a little more difficult to get the testing implemented at the highest level because of collective bargaining, but most experts believe that it's not far away — that it's going to happen. Of course, there are always new, undetectable drugs out there. So it'd be naive to say that an HGH test would mean a completely clean sport. That's never going to happen.<br />
<br />
But watch an MLB game today, and you'll notice how different it is from a decade ago. Players are noticeably smaller. And the biggest storyline of this season has been the dominance of pitchers, who have posted better numbers across the board than they have since 1992 — when steroid use was minimal (check out a <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bondsba01.shtml">Barry Bonds</a> picture from that season and compare it to the '01 Bonds portrait).<br />
<br />
Criticize <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Bud_Selig">Bud Selig</a> all you want, but he's done more as a sport's commissioner than anyone else to clean up a game that was dirtier than a kid after a mud football game. MLB has in place penalties for steroid use that include a 50-game suspension for a first offense, a 100-game suspension for a second offense and a lifetime ban from the game for a third. Other disciplinary actions are in place for lesser crimes against the game.<br />
<br />
<br />
The list of steroids, abusive drugs and stimulants that result in a penalty is long — very long. It reads more than 60-deep, and it's never a surprise to me when a player is suspended for taking something he had no idea was banned. Of course, it's the player's fault for not doing his research. But it also speaks to the thoroughness of MLB's movement against PED use.<br />
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Maybe some fans were lost for life during the ugly Steroid Era and its aftermath. Well, too bad for them. Because baseball today is as clean as it's been in quite some time.<br />
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Just watch the product on the field and you'll know right away.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-1395910751386862922010-07-14T15:11:00.000-07:002010-07-14T15:11:11.046-07:00Re-evaluating LeBron James' possible legacy<a href="http://media.cleveland.com/cavs_impact/photo/lebron-james-dwyane-wadejpg-2399f2b17dd005d1_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://media.cleveland.com/cavs_impact/photo/lebron-james-dwyane-wadejpg-2399f2b17dd005d1_large.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
Hypothetical: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html">LeBron James</a> plays the next 11 years for the Miami Heat alongside <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wadedw01.html">Dwyane Wade</a> and <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boshch01.html">Chris Bosh</a>, winning four championships. Each team features a balanced scoring attack, and the big shots are split pretty evenly between James and Wade, with Bosh throwing in a few and even <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/millemi01.html">Mike Miller</a> draining some huge <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/fishede01.html">Derek Fisher</a>-esque 3-pointers.<br />
<br />
James retires with the four rings, four MVP trophies and hundreds of millions in cash.<br />
<br />
How does his legacy stack up?<br />
<br />
Since James' ridiculous one-hour TV special a week ago, which, by the way, got spectacular ratings -- yeah, ESPN did all right -- there has been a huge backlash against James. Some of it, criticizing him for the way he made his decision, he deserved. And a lot of it, bashing him for his free-agency choice, was, of course, just silly. It's his choice; he has no obligation to stay in Cleveland.<br />
<br />
What's also been said, however, and deserves more thinking about is this -- that James severely tarnished his potential legacy by signing with the Miami Heat and Wade, arguably the third best player in the Association, and 20-10 guy Bosh. In essence, that he called for "HELP!!" instead of digging down to try to lead his own team to a championship.<br />
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Some say that any title James wins in Miami won't mean as much, won't garner him as much respect in the history books as if he had carried the Cavaliers to a championship. Others say that's garbage, pointing to <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsma02.html">Magic Johnson</a> winning four rings playing with <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/abdulka01.html">Kareem</a> and <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html">Bird</a> gaining three with a loaded Celtics team.<br />
<br />
Here's where I stand: James set expectations so high, anything he does in Miami likely won't exceed them. Sure, if the above hypothetical works out, he'll likely be mentioned in the same breath as Bird and Magic. But it was just this past season that everyone was comparing James -- not his style of play, mind you -- and his potential to carry a franchise to Michael Jordan.<br />
<br />
In joining up with Wade, a player who will likely possess the ball just as much as The King and take as many last-minute shots, James distanced himself from a chance at ever reaching M.J. status. When asked this week who the best player in the league is, Jordan's response was quick and short: "Kobe." James is not his type of dude -- that's clear.<br />
<br />
And not the similar player, either.<br />
<br />
One argument that I just had to laugh at involved comparing James' and Jordan's teammates. It was mentioned, in contrasting Jordan's Bulls to Wade and company, that <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pippesc01.html">Scottie Pippen</a> was a top-five player in the league when playing with Jordan. Arguable, but maybe true. Still, how often did Pippen have the ball in his hands in the final seconds of a close game?<br />
<br />
Very rarely. It was almost always Jordan's rock. Pippen was a great player, but he was no Wade when it comes to being clutch and making big plays. That might have had as much to do with playing alongside Jordan as anything else, but it's the truth.<br />
<br />
Bryant, of course, relied heavily on <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/onealsh01.html">Shaquille O'Neal</a> for his first three titles. But now he's furnishing his legacy by leading the Lakers, and taking almost all the big shots, to back-to-back titles -- and, I think, a third next season.<br />
<br />
James, if he wins three or more titles, will go down as a great champion. There's no doubt about that. And who knows, really, how things will work with the Heat? Maybe Wade will play off the ball most of the time. Maybe he'll defer to James and be a Pippen-like spot-up shooter.<br />
<br />
But until the Heat become "LeBron's team," it will be difficult for him to crack the pantheon of the top five players of all time. Every headline that reads "Wade and James lead Heat to NBA title" hurts, just a tad, James' legacy. Just a tad.<br />
<br />
I love the fact that this trio made selfless moves to gang up and give themselves the best chance to win championships. It's rare that you see something like this, especially in the NBA. And I believe their heads are all in the right place and they all have the same priorities -- winning, winning, winning.<br />
<br />
So who really cares if James doesn't go down as The Greatest of All Time or The Best Since Michael? It should be a joy to watch how this duo of superstars -- plus an All-Star -- works together, and we'll see how many titles they can ring up.<br />
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And about that legacy? Well, we've always said there will never be another Jordan.<br />
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More and more, that's looking like the truth. In fact, Bryant might be as close to the next M.J. as we'll ever see.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-74583403934332617002010-07-09T06:10:00.000-07:002010-07-09T06:10:42.284-07:00How a non-superstar dictated the NBA free agency drama<a href="http://andrewmendler.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/chris-bosh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://andrewmendler.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/chris-bosh.jpg" width="266" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
<br />
I don't condone it, but it certainly can be understood why some angry, bitter Cleveland basketball fans were burning <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html">LeBron James</a> jerseys in the streets of his former city Thursday night. After all, he had just announced, on national TV, his decision to leave the Cavaliers for South Beach -- in essence, leaving an economically depressed city with nothing to be excited about sports-wise.<br />
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Heartbreak.<br />
<br />
But perhaps the inflammatory rioters should have been lighting flames to another jersey as well -- that of <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boshch01.html">Chris Bosh</a>, one of two high-profile players whom James will join in Miami. The other, of course, is <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wadedw01.html">Dwyane Wade</a>, who, along with James, is one of the game's top three players.<br />
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Over the past week, one of the 1,073,294 storylines surrounding the free agency bonanza was that James was interested in having Bosh join the Cavs via a sign-and-trade from the Raptors that would have given him a maximum contract to play alongside the King on a team that led the league in wins last season. Bosh would be just the low-post player Cleveland needed to perhaps push it over the top and get James that championship -- a solid 24-point, 10-rebound guy who is only getting better.<br />
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Bosh, however, was having none of it. He didn't want to play in Cleveland, was not attracted to the city. He had done his time in Toronto, played his butt off for the fans there, made it his home. Now, he was ready for a big city with big lights, an attractive city.<br />
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Cleveland? Hell no!<br />
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(Tangent: This goes back to something that must be noted about free agency, especially in the NBA: Warm-weather cities have a huge advantage. How many big names leave the south to go north, especially to cities outside of the Big Three of New York, Chicago and Boston? Detroit, Cleveland, Minnesota, New Jersey -- they're all at a huge disadvantage. What are they going to say -- there's great skiing? Not to be stereotypical, but when was the last time you heard of NBA players going on ski trips together? OK, that's enough.)<br />
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So Bosh dismissed that possibility. He had zero interest in joining James in Cleveland. Instead, he would gladly move down to the beaches, warm weather, and trendy clubs of South Beach to join his other boy, Wade.<br />
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Now consider this -- it's not a definite, but if Bosh had joined James in Cleveland, leaving the Cavs with no cap room after the trade, Wade would have been left with nobody in Miami. And he has gone on record since Bosh agreed to play for the Heat Wednesday as saying that he wouldn't re-sign until he had a guarantee from management that a big-name player would be joining him.<br />
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Wade might have gone to Chicago, might have returned home to play on a very talented, very complete Bulls team. Seriously -- a squad with Wade, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rosede01.html">Derrick Rose</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boozeca01.html">Carlos Boozer</a> and <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/noahjo01.html">Joakim Noah</a> would have been the favorite in the East (as would have been the case had James chosen the Bulls Thursday; and it would have made the most basketball sense, as all the experts said).<br />
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So we would be looking at quite a different landscape in the Eastern Conference -- and there would be no jersey-burning in Cleveland; just jersey buying.<br />
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None of the players can be blamed for their decisions. In fact, all of them are taking pay cuts to make things work in Miami (although the cuts might not be as big as talked about due to the state's lack of an income tax; I'll let the math whizzes crunch the numbers).<br />
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Everyone knows that this conversation started when the trio signed identical three-year deals to allow themselves to enter the Summer of 2010 in the same boat. And the bond probably got stronger in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, where they were all key cogs in the U.S.'s run to the Gold Medal. Apparently, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/paulch01.html">Chris Paul</a> was a a part of the mix as well. And don't look now, but he's a free agent in 2012 -- yes, New Orleans, I'd be sweating at this very moment.<br />
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The only mistake made during this process was James' horrific decision to hold a one-hour TV special, "The Decision," to announce where he'd play. Cleveland fans may never forgive him for his overly public, unemotional, ugly divorce from the team. Owner Dan Gilbert definitely doesn't, considering the absolutely <a href="http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html">scathing letter</a> he wrote to his fan base Thursday night.<br />
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But historians shouldn't forget that this all came to fruition because of the decision of a guy, in Bosh, who has never been first-team all-NBA and has played in all of 11 playoff games, failing to win a series.<br />
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He should win a few starting next season, and he deserves a lot of credit for helping to form this terrific trio that should wow NBA audiences, win a few titles -- and keep Cleveland fans, sadly, in a state of dismay and bitterness for many years to come.Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331717739216980663.post-68681642857183702932010-06-30T15:33:00.000-07:002010-06-30T15:35:57.900-07:00LeBron's legendary status could depend on this decision<a href="http://drewporter.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/lebron-james.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://drewporter.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/lebron-james.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>ON BASKETBALL</i><br />
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The options must be enticing, like walking a buffet lined with Filet Mignon, the best ribeye and the freshest seafood.<br />
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Play in Chicago alongside one of the best young point guards for the next 10, 15 years.<br />
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Head to South Beach to run cats up and down the floor with <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wadedw01.html">D-Wade</a>, one of the top five players in the game.<br />
<br />
Compared to whom he's played with in Cleveland, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html">LeBron James</a>' options come the opening of free agency at midnight tonight are ridiculous. Put James next to Wade, or receiving alley-oops from <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rosede01.html">Derrick Rose</a>, or in a frontcourt with <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boshch01.html">Chris Bosh</a>, and he's undoubtedly on the favorite to win the next 13 NBA championships (give or take).<br />
<br />
But aren't we forgetting about one less glamorous option? Yet an option that James still has the most to gain from in terms of his place in NBA history.<br />
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Yes, Cleveland.<br />
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Over the last couple months, I've been reading Bill Simmon's gigantic "Book of Basketball," an epic, thoroughly thorough history of the NBA. In it, Simmons ranks his different pyramids of the league's top players from 1-100. I believe James was somewhere in the 20s.<br />
<br />
With the talent James possesses, there's no way he shouldn't end up in the top 5 with <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01.html">Jordan</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/russebi01.html">Russell</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/abdulka01.html">Kareem </a>and <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsma02.html">Magic</a>/<a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html">Bird </a>(although <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01.html">Kobe's</a> making a bid for a top spot, now, as well). The only way James could sabotage his legacy, to an extent, would be to play his best years alongside another top-five current player in his prime, such as Wade. <br />
<br />
Think about it -- nobody was talking about Bryant as one of the best Lakers when he won three consecutive championships beside <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/onealsh01.html">Shaquille O'Neal</a>. Only when he ditched Shaq -- or had management do it, to be politically correct -- and finally won a couple as the team's unquestioned leader did this conversation of Bryant as the Greatest Laker begin.<br />
<br />
If James plays alongside Wade, he'll have to share the praise after each championship. Wade is that good. This wouldn't be a<a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pippesc01.html"> Scottie Pippen</a>-M.J. situation in which Pippen was a great player, but no one ever questioned who the leader was or whose hands the ball belonged in at the end. This would be completely different if James played with Wade or even the younger Rose, who will only get better and always want the ball in his hands.<br />
<br />
To a lesser extent, the same would be true if James were to pair up with Bosh, as many experts have speculated. While Bosh wouldn't be handling the ball at the end of games, I'm sure the ball would go through him on plenty of possessions.<br />
<br />
I have no idea what's going to make this decision for James. If I had to guess, I'd think he will pair up with another star. He hasn't shown the Jordan or Bryant singular thirst for championships, and at times during crucial games has seemed content to let the <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willima01.html">Mo Williams</a> of the world run the offense. Maybe he doesn't care so much about always being the alpha dog, about everything being about him.<br />
<br />
But if James truly wants to be remembered in the same breath as Jordan and Bryant -- and, no, he won't reach Russell status even if he plays with a Wade, Rose or Bosh, because no one in this era is coming close to the legend's 11 titles -- he needs to stay in Cleveland, be the man all the time, put up ridiculous numbers and start winning championships.<br />
<br />
It's the most difficult route he could take, but it would also certainly be the most fulfilling road to legend status.<br />
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Oh, and Cleveland might just name itself after him.<br />
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So what's it going to be, LeBron?Jake Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11166074135183586498noreply@blogger.com0