Elsa/Getty ImagesKobe Bryant recently signed a three year extension that keeps him wearing a LA Lakers jersey at least until his 35th birthday. This is not only good for the NBA to keep Kobe in one of the league premier cities and franchises, but even better for the Lakers. The reason is simple: Kobe extension was a bargain. Yes, a total bargain. How can a $25 to $30 million new contract be a bargain? Simple reason: Championships. Do you realize Michael Jordan made $30million and $33million in his last two seasons, respectively, with the Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
Chicago Bulls. Like Kobe is attempting do, MJ snatched championships in each of those years, ending with a second three-peat. Of course, once you read that, youre thinking and even possibly screaming: MJ was better than Kobe!! Is this guy serious?? Listen: I don disagree, at least not yet (even with Kobe still having chapters to write in his NBA story.) MJ is better. Let just leave that fact alone. The Lakers getting a bargain isn about who is better between MJ and Kobe.But get this: MJ $33million was in 1997-1998, his last season with the Bulls. Do I need to say the year again? 1998! Remember that. Have you heard about a little word called inflation? That $33million is approximately $47million in 2012 dollars. (note: for you number types, take a look at the CPI index and were talking annual inflation over the span of time from 1998 to 2012, when this new contract kicks in, averaging conservatively, 2.54%, using an average of CPI from 1998 to 2009 and staying the same to 2012 to give us the inflation factor over the 14 year period. You do the math and that is the $47million.)So, compare $47million to $25million (Kobe new salary the 1st year of the extension) and you see the big difference. Is Kobe worth that much less than MJ? No way, especially with how valuable he is to his team, the league, and the final scoreboard, championships.This is why the LA Lakers got the deal of the last decade. The reason: Kobe signing the extension solidifies the team chances to win multiple rings. Will they? Well wait see, but no matter what, the team will be in the discussions, at or near the top of the standings. That alone was worth the money. On top of that, when the Lakers go super deep into the playoffs, they rack up the extra funds the NBA dishes out to teams. Last year, they received in excess of $20million. Kobe bringing them to the finals is almost a wash, not to mention keeping the Lakers as the marquee team in the NBA, the finely tuned marketing machine. You can slice and dice this transaction any number of ways and it is all a great business decision by Dr. Buss. (Don forget, this is the same guy who dealt away Shaq because he chose not to pay for deteriorating talent. Dr. Buss and his organization know what they are Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
doing.)Lastly, for all the haters who say Kobe on the backside of his prime, go right ahead. Ill actually join in. Let give a shout out right now on how he is declining. Now that weve done that, back to business.Sure, Kobe got a ton of minutes on that body (to steal from Indiana Jones, we know it not the years but the miles) but Kobe, more than anyone, takes amazing care of his body. I don see him breaking down. And, Ill point to MJ, again.Michael Jordan game changed as he aged. If you don believe this, just think of his patented moves. Early in the career, it was fly over everyone. Into his prime and beyond, MJ developed a deadly post-up game (Phil Jackson by admission stated MJ was the primary post threat in the Bull triangle O), and who can forget all of those fadeaways MJ took. I try not to remember nor think about when he went to the Wizards in his 3rd tour of duty (Ive struck that period from my brain), but even then, MJ averaged over 20 points per game, at 40 plus years old. He did that because his game changed. He put in the work.Kobe is a FedEx/Kinkos copy of MJ. He put himself under the scanner and out came a comparable game to MJ. Where Kobe lands as the greatest of all-time is another discussion (note: read our one-on-one matchup from an earlier post in March 2010 to see who we think would win in a head to head game.) But Kobe super dedicated to his body and to improving his game. There is no denying that. He keeps his body in top shape and that is the first step to maintain playing at the high level I know he will over the extension period. And, for the haters, Im already noticing this season, especially with the foot injury mid-season, that Kobe doesn quite have the lift he has had in the past. But, like MJ, that hasn stopped him and most people, even the so-called NBA experts and commentators, have failed to notice this change in Kobe game. He is still mamba quick, but doesn finish above the rim like before. Doesn't matter. He developed a post game that will only improve. Watch and see.The final score: There is no reason with the way the Lakers are currently assembled, barring that NBA curse word injuries, that LA doesn get or at least compete for a few more championships. The team is Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
simply too well built and the Buss organization too masterful that they won course correct if a new need arises. This is the reason the resigning of Kobe is both brilliant and a bargain. That is the cheapest $25 to $30million dollars the Lakers and Dr. Buss will ever spend. Let the Debate Begin!!Please leave me your comments and thoughts. And, Vote!Don forget to add me as a followed writer to keep informed of new articles!
2010年12月29日星期三
29 Dec 10 NBA Playoffs: Five Rookies Who Will Change the Postseason
Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesWhen the regular season comes to an end, the veteran, more experienced teams usually tend to rise to the top, filling out the eight playoff seeds. Because that is the case, there are likely very few teams with rookies handling key roles. With that being said, careers are made in the postseason, so here is our take on the five rookies who could change the outcome of various playoff series.Brandon JenningsIf there is anyone who could beat Kings star Tyreke Evans for Rookie ofReebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
the Year, it's probably Jennings. After starting the season with a 55-point game, Jennings has kept up a very high level of play. His game is more balanced than those who called him a chucker coming into the season could have imagined. On the year, Jennings has averaged 16 points, six assists, and three rebounds per game.The Bucks drew the Hawks as their first-round matchup, which based on past performance, may be a terrible matchup for Jennings. The load offensively will be even more on his shoulders with the injury to Andrew Bogut late in the regular season. Against the Hawks this season, Jennings has only scored nine points a game and shot only 28 percent from the floor and 18 percent from behind the arc. In his latest game against the Hawks, he scored 21 points, but took 23 shots to get there. Hopefully, Jennings can bounce back and lead the Bucks and keep their season alive.James HardenThe Oklahoma City Thunder are the best young team in the NBA, stealing that crown from the Portland Trailblazers. For their efforts this season, they get the Lakers in the first round. Harden has been a role player for the Thunder all season, playing third or fourth option depending on who he sharing court time with. In a limited role, he managed to score 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists in 22 minutes per game this season.The Thunder will matchup with the defending champion Lakers in their first playoff series in Oklahoma City. Harden, a California native, has struggled shooting the ball in the Thunder four games against LA, shooting just 27 percent from the field and 21 percent from behind the arc. In order to really make this a series, the Thunder will need Harden to step up. Kobe and Artest will try and put the shackles on Durant and Westbrook, so a third option is an absolute necessity.Taj Gibson Taj Gibson has been a welcome addition to this young Chicago Bulls squad. Entering the season, he seemed unlikely to receive large amounts of playing time. Through a good work ethic, strong defense, and steady play, Gibson has earned a consistent role in the Bulls rotation, starting 70 games this season. His minutes just kept going up, now playing 30-plus a night these last two months heading into the playoffs.With the trade of John Salmons and injuries to Luol Deng and Joakim Noah over the course of the year, Gibson also needed to increase his production and has largely delivered. He provides a consistent front court presence, averaging a near double-double and the defensive bonus of a block-and-a-half every night.By securing their playoff spot on the final day of Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
the regular season, Gibson and the Bulls won themselves a first-round matchup with LeBron James. Gibson will have his hands full with a deep Cleveland front court that includes Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao, and Shaq. The Bulls clearly have the toughest task of any team in first round.Wesley Matthews Wesley Matthews went from undrafted rookie to the starting shooting guard for a 53-win playoff team. Due to early season injuries of Utah wing players CJ Miles and Kyle Korver, Matthews was given a chance to prove himself and he delivered. When everyone came back healthy, Coach Jerry Sloan still found minutes for the rookie. His emergence even made the Jazz feel confident enough to trade away their previous starting shooting guard, Ronnie Brewer.Matthews has started in his place ever since and has hardly looked like an undrafted player. He an efficient scorer, shooting near 50 percent from the field and north of 40 percent from three. The long ball also adds another wrinkle to the offense that Brewer just couldn offer. Matthews presence should force defenses to play a little more honest with his jump shooting ability.By losing on the last day of the regular season, the Jazz dropped from third to fifth, setting up a first-round matchup with the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have terrific perimeter play, but Matthews primary task will be to keep reserve JR Smith from getting hot off the bench, as he always a threat to do so. He might also be called on to guard the veteran Chauncey Billups for stretches of the game so as to free up Deron Williams from the risk of foul trouble on the defensive end.DeJuan BlairFor reasons that not many fans understood, DeJuan Blair found himself in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft. That morning there were rumblings about Blair going No. 11 to the Pacers, even if he slid past Indiana, someone would jump on him, right? Well, the Spurs finally did with the 37th selection. Now Blair is going to be one of the few rookies playing a serious role for a playoff team.On the season, Blair has been asked to play both center and power forward for an aging Spurs team that has had some injuries. He is playing 18 minutes per game and contributing eight points and six rebounds. However, the minutes he kept off Tim Duncan's aging body is probably his biggest contribution.Against the Mavericks in the first round, hell be asked to bang inside with Erick Dampier and may see time on Dirk Nowitzki. We have little question whether he can handle Dampier down low, but if Nowitzki keeps playing around the perimeter, it a terrible mismatch Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
for Blair. In his career against Dallas, he has averaged eight points and eight rebounds. What the Spurs would like to see improve is his reboundingdouble digits should be a goal for Blair every game of the series. On the defensive end to limit extra possessions for the Mavericks, and on the offensive end to create second-chance opportunities. Anything they get from Blair offensively in the series is icing if he can rebound and defend effectively.For more on the NBA Playoffs and the 2010 NBA Draft visit The Rookie Wall!
the Year, it's probably Jennings. After starting the season with a 55-point game, Jennings has kept up a very high level of play. His game is more balanced than those who called him a chucker coming into the season could have imagined. On the year, Jennings has averaged 16 points, six assists, and three rebounds per game.The Bucks drew the Hawks as their first-round matchup, which based on past performance, may be a terrible matchup for Jennings. The load offensively will be even more on his shoulders with the injury to Andrew Bogut late in the regular season. Against the Hawks this season, Jennings has only scored nine points a game and shot only 28 percent from the floor and 18 percent from behind the arc. In his latest game against the Hawks, he scored 21 points, but took 23 shots to get there. Hopefully, Jennings can bounce back and lead the Bucks and keep their season alive.James HardenThe Oklahoma City Thunder are the best young team in the NBA, stealing that crown from the Portland Trailblazers. For their efforts this season, they get the Lakers in the first round. Harden has been a role player for the Thunder all season, playing third or fourth option depending on who he sharing court time with. In a limited role, he managed to score 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists in 22 minutes per game this season.The Thunder will matchup with the defending champion Lakers in their first playoff series in Oklahoma City. Harden, a California native, has struggled shooting the ball in the Thunder four games against LA, shooting just 27 percent from the field and 21 percent from behind the arc. In order to really make this a series, the Thunder will need Harden to step up. Kobe and Artest will try and put the shackles on Durant and Westbrook, so a third option is an absolute necessity.Taj Gibson Taj Gibson has been a welcome addition to this young Chicago Bulls squad. Entering the season, he seemed unlikely to receive large amounts of playing time. Through a good work ethic, strong defense, and steady play, Gibson has earned a consistent role in the Bulls rotation, starting 70 games this season. His minutes just kept going up, now playing 30-plus a night these last two months heading into the playoffs.With the trade of John Salmons and injuries to Luol Deng and Joakim Noah over the course of the year, Gibson also needed to increase his production and has largely delivered. He provides a consistent front court presence, averaging a near double-double and the defensive bonus of a block-and-a-half every night.By securing their playoff spot on the final day of Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
the regular season, Gibson and the Bulls won themselves a first-round matchup with LeBron James. Gibson will have his hands full with a deep Cleveland front court that includes Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao, and Shaq. The Bulls clearly have the toughest task of any team in first round.Wesley Matthews Wesley Matthews went from undrafted rookie to the starting shooting guard for a 53-win playoff team. Due to early season injuries of Utah wing players CJ Miles and Kyle Korver, Matthews was given a chance to prove himself and he delivered. When everyone came back healthy, Coach Jerry Sloan still found minutes for the rookie. His emergence even made the Jazz feel confident enough to trade away their previous starting shooting guard, Ronnie Brewer.Matthews has started in his place ever since and has hardly looked like an undrafted player. He an efficient scorer, shooting near 50 percent from the field and north of 40 percent from three. The long ball also adds another wrinkle to the offense that Brewer just couldn offer. Matthews presence should force defenses to play a little more honest with his jump shooting ability.By losing on the last day of the regular season, the Jazz dropped from third to fifth, setting up a first-round matchup with the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have terrific perimeter play, but Matthews primary task will be to keep reserve JR Smith from getting hot off the bench, as he always a threat to do so. He might also be called on to guard the veteran Chauncey Billups for stretches of the game so as to free up Deron Williams from the risk of foul trouble on the defensive end.DeJuan BlairFor reasons that not many fans understood, DeJuan Blair found himself in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft. That morning there were rumblings about Blair going No. 11 to the Pacers, even if he slid past Indiana, someone would jump on him, right? Well, the Spurs finally did with the 37th selection. Now Blair is going to be one of the few rookies playing a serious role for a playoff team.On the season, Blair has been asked to play both center and power forward for an aging Spurs team that has had some injuries. He is playing 18 minutes per game and contributing eight points and six rebounds. However, the minutes he kept off Tim Duncan's aging body is probably his biggest contribution.Against the Mavericks in the first round, hell be asked to bang inside with Erick Dampier and may see time on Dirk Nowitzki. We have little question whether he can handle Dampier down low, but if Nowitzki keeps playing around the perimeter, it a terrible mismatch Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
for Blair. In his career against Dallas, he has averaged eight points and eight rebounds. What the Spurs would like to see improve is his reboundingdouble digits should be a goal for Blair every game of the series. On the defensive end to limit extra possessions for the Mavericks, and on the offensive end to create second-chance opportunities. Anything they get from Blair offensively in the series is icing if he can rebound and defend effectively.For more on the NBA Playoffs and the 2010 NBA Draft visit The Rookie Wall!
2010年12月28日星期二
28 Dec 10 2010 NBA Playoffs: What Will The Cavaliers Do to Stop Rajon Rondo?
Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesRajon Rondo has been nothing but spectacular since the beginning of this series. Heck, he has been playing spectacular ball since the beginning of the season, and no one has realized this until now. Rondo has shown against the Cavaliers that their is Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
absolutely nothing they can do to stop him. If they defend him from scoring, he is able to make a pass. When they defend every player on the court, he is able to slice the defense and put in a lay-up.The Cavaliers have tried covering him with four different players. To Begin the series they began with Mo Williams on Rondo. Rondo Played a great game in the first half and scored 16 points, along with dishing out eight assists.Then in the second half of that game, the Cavaliers tried Anthony Parker out on him, this proved to slow him down. Rondo then only had eight points and four assists.The Cavaliers in Game Two tried Jamario Moon on him. With his lengthy arms and great speed, they thought he could cover Rondo. Boy, were they wrong. Later in the game the Cavaliers tried Delonte West on him. West was aggressive but unable to stop his passing abilities.This leaves the Cavaliers with very little options. They don't want to try Mo Williams again, but if they put Williams on Ray Allen, then Williams will struggle getting a hand in the face of the strong shooting Allen.Delonte West is a strong possibility due to his aggressiveness but the Cavs have simply no answer for Rondo.There is nobody on this roster who can cover Rondo, except for LeBron James. But Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
putting James on Rondo would leave Pierce to dominate the game.Pierce was, at first, viewed as the most dominant player on the Celtics coming into this series. But James has shut him down, leaving Rondo to take over.If the Cavaliers were toput James on Rondo, that makes Pierce open to score at will.Maybe Mike Brown should try this for half of a quarter and see how it goes, but if they do this for more than a quarter, the Cavaliers will get beat on very quickly, and LeBron will get tired from chasing the very agile Rondo around.The bottom line is this:Mike Brown must find his best defender who is a guard, whether it's West, Williams, Parker, or Moon.He needs to find a way to defend Rondo. Rondo has been scoring 50 PPG; 15.5 of those off of buckets, and the rest off of assists. Start the game with Williams on him, he is quick and can cover him for maybe eight minutes of a quarter. Then comes the last minutes of the first quarter, put Parker on him. Too begin the second quarter, bring West in to cover him until Williams is put Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
back in later on.Have Williams on him to finish out the first half. In the beginning of the second half, put Williams on him again, and halfway through, put Parker or Moon on him. Then beginning of the fourth quarter, put West on him. Then with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, let LeBron defend him, so he can do nothing to make the game closer, or extend a lead.That's just my thought, but who knows. It's Mike Brown's call.
absolutely nothing they can do to stop him. If they defend him from scoring, he is able to make a pass. When they defend every player on the court, he is able to slice the defense and put in a lay-up.The Cavaliers have tried covering him with four different players. To Begin the series they began with Mo Williams on Rondo. Rondo Played a great game in the first half and scored 16 points, along with dishing out eight assists.Then in the second half of that game, the Cavaliers tried Anthony Parker out on him, this proved to slow him down. Rondo then only had eight points and four assists.The Cavaliers in Game Two tried Jamario Moon on him. With his lengthy arms and great speed, they thought he could cover Rondo. Boy, were they wrong. Later in the game the Cavaliers tried Delonte West on him. West was aggressive but unable to stop his passing abilities.This leaves the Cavaliers with very little options. They don't want to try Mo Williams again, but if they put Williams on Ray Allen, then Williams will struggle getting a hand in the face of the strong shooting Allen.Delonte West is a strong possibility due to his aggressiveness but the Cavs have simply no answer for Rondo.There is nobody on this roster who can cover Rondo, except for LeBron James. But Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
putting James on Rondo would leave Pierce to dominate the game.Pierce was, at first, viewed as the most dominant player on the Celtics coming into this series. But James has shut him down, leaving Rondo to take over.If the Cavaliers were toput James on Rondo, that makes Pierce open to score at will.Maybe Mike Brown should try this for half of a quarter and see how it goes, but if they do this for more than a quarter, the Cavaliers will get beat on very quickly, and LeBron will get tired from chasing the very agile Rondo around.The bottom line is this:Mike Brown must find his best defender who is a guard, whether it's West, Williams, Parker, or Moon.He needs to find a way to defend Rondo. Rondo has been scoring 50 PPG; 15.5 of those off of buckets, and the rest off of assists. Start the game with Williams on him, he is quick and can cover him for maybe eight minutes of a quarter. Then comes the last minutes of the first quarter, put Parker on him. Too begin the second quarter, bring West in to cover him until Williams is put Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
back in later on.Have Williams on him to finish out the first half. In the beginning of the second half, put Williams on him again, and halfway through, put Parker or Moon on him. Then beginning of the fourth quarter, put West on him. Then with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, let LeBron defend him, so he can do nothing to make the game closer, or extend a lead.That's just my thought, but who knows. It's Mike Brown's call.
2010年12月27日星期一
27 Dec 10 Sympathy For Lebron James
Elsa/Getty ImagesThe past few seasons in the NBA have been dominated by one athlete, LeBron James. While Kobe Bryant's Lakers and Kevin Garnett's Celtics have won championships, the league still keeps James as the water cooler topic. He is the one player in the NBA with the biggest potential and upside. He is coming into his own and will soon be coming into a fortune that will make most athletes look poor. On July 1st, 2010, the NBA biggest player becomes their biggest free agent. No one will have as much pressure Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
as James on what team to sign with. Already, since his Cleveland Cavaliers have been eliminated from the playoffs just a few weeks ago, he has had many people weigh in on his final destination. This list of prognosticators includes Barry Cofield and Osi Umenyiora of the New York Giants, Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks, Steve Kerr of the Phoenix Suns and President Obama . Also, every New York Knicks', New Jersey Nets', Cavaliers' fan and just about every NBA fan as well, has an opinion. It is a never seen before media circus over a free agency that starts in less than 40 days. No free agent has ever had this much hype and debate. I, for one feel for him. He has all of his teammates and long time fans, most of which cheered for him as a teenager, begging for him to stay where he is. He also has celebrity friends asking him to come to New Jersey. He has fellow athletes asking him to consider New York. The leader of the free world, weighs in and requests James to go to his home town Chicago Bulls (as is they didn't have enough championships). He has owners and coaches in his league putting in their two cents on the matter. He is the ultimate tug of war rope. He must be so torn right now. The entire Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
world is at his feet. He has endorsements, sponsorships, legions of fans and mounds of money, but a decision confronting him that few could make. We all say "I'd love to have to make that decision....", but the truth is that we really wouldn't want to when you consider everyone's feelings involved. Someone will look at him as a traitor or selfish. In fact, only a certain number of people, who will be in the minority, will be happy with his choice. Therefore, he is in a lose-lose situation. He picks New York, he loses fans, he picks New Jersey, he loses fans, Cleveland, he loses fans. Anyway you look at it, he will be a bad guy to someone soon. Unfortunately, he can't make everyone happy. He needs to take his time and weigh every option very carefully. If not, he will be trapped in a bad contract with a team that can't afford to rebuild around him due to his long and massive contract. New York offers the spotlight like no one else can, along with the media scrutiny. They also may be able to afford him and another big free agent to play with him. New Jersey may in a few years be able to say this as well, after their move to Brooklyn. Until then, he will be responsible for rebuilding and choosing a team around him to command. That's enticing, but he is only so young. He is now getting into his prime and I'm sure he will not want to waste a few years in rebuilding mode after tasting the NBA finals last year. The Cavaliers offer him his home, as they have for years now. They represent what he knows and is comfortable with. The problem they may have, that I can see, is that after they spend most of their money on LeBron James, they will have little left to spend on players to go around him. Unless he Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
does a trade and sign to incorporate other teams, these three so far appear to be his main options. As the next 40 days pass by and we find out more, it will grow even more intriguing for the fans and media. Unfortunately, it will not be for LeBron James.
as James on what team to sign with. Already, since his Cleveland Cavaliers have been eliminated from the playoffs just a few weeks ago, he has had many people weigh in on his final destination. This list of prognosticators includes Barry Cofield and Osi Umenyiora of the New York Giants, Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks, Steve Kerr of the Phoenix Suns and President Obama . Also, every New York Knicks', New Jersey Nets', Cavaliers' fan and just about every NBA fan as well, has an opinion. It is a never seen before media circus over a free agency that starts in less than 40 days. No free agent has ever had this much hype and debate. I, for one feel for him. He has all of his teammates and long time fans, most of which cheered for him as a teenager, begging for him to stay where he is. He also has celebrity friends asking him to come to New Jersey. He has fellow athletes asking him to consider New York. The leader of the free world, weighs in and requests James to go to his home town Chicago Bulls (as is they didn't have enough championships). He has owners and coaches in his league putting in their two cents on the matter. He is the ultimate tug of war rope. He must be so torn right now. The entire Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
world is at his feet. He has endorsements, sponsorships, legions of fans and mounds of money, but a decision confronting him that few could make. We all say "I'd love to have to make that decision....", but the truth is that we really wouldn't want to when you consider everyone's feelings involved. Someone will look at him as a traitor or selfish. In fact, only a certain number of people, who will be in the minority, will be happy with his choice. Therefore, he is in a lose-lose situation. He picks New York, he loses fans, he picks New Jersey, he loses fans, Cleveland, he loses fans. Anyway you look at it, he will be a bad guy to someone soon. Unfortunately, he can't make everyone happy. He needs to take his time and weigh every option very carefully. If not, he will be trapped in a bad contract with a team that can't afford to rebuild around him due to his long and massive contract. New York offers the spotlight like no one else can, along with the media scrutiny. They also may be able to afford him and another big free agent to play with him. New Jersey may in a few years be able to say this as well, after their move to Brooklyn. Until then, he will be responsible for rebuilding and choosing a team around him to command. That's enticing, but he is only so young. He is now getting into his prime and I'm sure he will not want to waste a few years in rebuilding mode after tasting the NBA finals last year. The Cavaliers offer him his home, as they have for years now. They represent what he knows and is comfortable with. The problem they may have, that I can see, is that after they spend most of their money on LeBron James, they will have little left to spend on players to go around him. Unless he Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
does a trade and sign to incorporate other teams, these three so far appear to be his main options. As the next 40 days pass by and we find out more, it will grow even more intriguing for the fans and media. Unfortunately, it will not be for LeBron James.
2010年12月25日星期六
26 Dec 10 Lakers v Celtics: NBA Finals Preview
Jim Rogash/Getty Imageso we are in for another classic match up between the storied Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Boston has lifted the trophy 17 times with their most recent victory, a 4-2 defeat of the Lakers in the 2007/2008 finals. But who has the edge?The Lakers are the defending champions and have on their roster arguably the games best player in Kobe Bryant. The defending champions run to the finals saw them dispatch the Phoenix Suns in six games. They have had a relatively successful run in the regular season amassing 57 wins while suffering 25 losses in the regular season.Blistering and blazing Boston Celtics on the other hand have had a not so great regular season but have been peaking at just the right time. Their team boasts a record of Oakland Raiders jersey
50 wins against 32 losses but in the playoffs, they have earned the scalps of the Dwayne Wade's Miami Heat, the King's Cleveland Cavaliers and fittingly last years Eastern Conference champions and NBA finalists, Superman's Orlando Magic.No strangers to competing at the highest level and winning championships, the Boston Celtics were considered the team to beat in the previous season had they not lost the services of key players including the heart of the franchise, Kevin Garnett.Many felt, and I too, that had they been at full strength they would have successfully defended their title. Now that they seem to be stronger than ever, at least, the top four key players, what are their chances to prove the pundits right.Lets take a look at some of the likely key match-ups. I'll begin with an analysis of the Lakers starting players.LOS ANGELES LAKERSKobe BryantKobe is the heart and soul of the Lakers franchise. He has to be counted twice as his importance, consistency and contribution for the Lakers matches that of at least two Boston players. It is true that the Celtics have Paul Pierce but far too often he gets lost in a game and doesn't always deliver every night.The same may be said for Ray Allen as when he is on fire he is red hot but when he is cold, he is 30 below zero cold and out of the game.Doc Rivers is likely to have his best defensive player Kevin Garnett on the sharpshooter from LA with defensive duties rotating between Ray Allen and Tony Allen.Pau GasolAs far as big men are concerned, Pau Gasol is the best power forward playing in the NBA right now. yes, he is that good. His reach, quickness and offensive skills have been lethal for the Lakers and Doc Rivers will have to go to the drawing board to contain him.I expect to see a match up between Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace on Gasol with Glen Davis providing back-up when needed.Derek FisherFisher provided leadership and a cool head who is willing and able to take those critical shots to turn a game around as well as to win a game. We have seen him do it time and time again.His likely match-up however with the faster, aggressive and hungry Rajon Rondo will leave him breathless for sure. At age 35 plus, he is not only fighting against a player in his prime and peaking but he is battling with father time.Never the less, he is dangerous from the three point line and is a reliable back up to Kobe in leading this Lakers team to another title. He has the experience and the intelligence and knows how to win.Ron Artest"Don't you know who I am? I am Ron Artest." This statement is all too familiar to Kobe Bryant but only now he has the attack dog on his side and not the other way around.An unpredictable player, Artest brings a level of Philadelphia Eagles jersey
aggression to this Lakers team and as he proved in game 5 against the Suns. he too can win matches.A factor from behind the arc, Ron will be a keen match-up for another bad boy, Rasheed Wallace, and this will make for a most interesting match-up on the court.Andrew BynumThe Laker center has been a shadow of himself since returning from injury and appears to have trouble with his mobility and movement under the basket as well as in defense.Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom however are key players for the Lakers and their contribution will be vital for the defending champions to lift the trophy.BOSTON CELTICSKevin GarnettEvery team has its soul, that player that gets in your face and fire you up and lead you into battle. For the Boston Celtics, that player is Kevin Garnett.The 34 year old first team defensive player has lost some of his bite in recent times. But what he has relinquished as leader of the Celtics, Rajon Rondo has taken up and has inspired the team in the same fashion he has learned from none other than Garnett himself.Kevin provides intensity and a scoring option to Boston and having tasted victory two seasons ago, he likes the taste of it and with glory again in sight, it is hard to see the general going down without giving it his all.Paul PiercePierce is the leading offensive player for the Celtics and will be their most reliable source to go two to two with the Laker's shooter, Kobe Bryant.A dangerous player from behind the arc, Pierce is lethal when he is on his game. Expect to see him step up in the finals as he too has the desire to lift that NBA trophy once again before he departs from the game.Ray AllenA player in the mold of a Reggie Miller, an out and out shooter that when he is on, he is unstoppable. Ray's greatest vice is that he appears to be two players with his doppelganger often times turning up in critical games and suppressing the offensive potency of one of the games best natural scorers.He will have to ensure that his better personality or self turn up against the Lakers as his contribution is going to be vital to nullify that of Kobe's offense.Kendrick PerkinsThe Boston center is a bulldozer when needed and that characteristic will be needed against the defending champions. Averaging 10points and 7 rebounds a game, the 6ft 10" center will be needed to block out the likes of Gasol and Bynum under the basket and rebound the ball for point guard Rondo to do his thingRajon RondoQuite possibly the NBA finals MVP, Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Rondo has lifted the Celtics to where they are today. Competing for the NBA championship. He will be the X factor, the difference in the two teams vying for the title in their 12th match up.The point guard has raised his game to another level in the play-offs and is expected to lead Boston charges to their second title in three years.Gifted with speed, agility and durability, the 6ft 1" guard has posed a quagmire for all his opponents coaches so far in the play-offs. Brown didn't know what to do to contain him against Cleveland and we all know how that went.Not only did they reach the finals but the took perhaps the hardest router to get there. By beating the Miami heat who had won 13 of their last 14 games leading up to the playoffs.Then their was the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have on their roster, the league MVP in Lebron James. Cleveland also held the best record in the league with 61-21. Boston simply ignored that.Then there was the defending conference champions, Orlando Magic who had not lost a game leading up to the start of their conference finals. Surely Boston were in for it. Guess again.Lakers v CelticsBoth teams split their match ups 1-1 in the pre-season with each winning on their home turf. Both possess a strong bench that will be evenly matched come game time starting June 3rd in Los Angeles. Boston has already made history as few teams having finished fourth in their division have been able to make it to the NBA finals.They are the only team to have retained their starting five players since lifting the trophy in 2007/2008. They have the distinction of not having the same player being the leading scorer in every series. A sure conundrum for opposing teams and their coaches as to who do they concentrate on stopping?The Lakers are a bit more one dimensional. Kobe has to have a good night for them to be at their best and win. Gasol is the next best leading scorer and dominates against smaller teams. Small is certainly not a description for the Celtics.Nate Robinson had a break out game against the Magic and with his renewed confidence should play a part in the Celtic's run.He proved he is able to knock em down from behind the arc and so cannot be given too much space to roam. Yet another headache for Fisher and Farmer in a likely match-up.Farmer is a consistent player off the bench along and always proves to be a threat from the three point arc. Lamar Kardashian-Odom is also capable of knocking them down from behind the arc. As always, he will contribute vital points coming off the bench.The player formerly known as Big Baby Davis is capable of having a break out game and has proven so in the series against the Heat. I expect to see him providing much support to Seattle Seahawks jersey
Perkins in containing gasol. Rasheed Wallace as well is capable of hurting teams from behind the arc and under the basket.It is anyone's guess as to who will win but my bet is on the Celtics. They have proven themselves by beating some of the best teams in the NBA and also containing their best players: Wade, James and Howard. Kobe, are you next?They are more defensive, potent on offense and has the depth on the bench. but most importantly, never underestimate the heart of a champion!
50 wins against 32 losses but in the playoffs, they have earned the scalps of the Dwayne Wade's Miami Heat, the King's Cleveland Cavaliers and fittingly last years Eastern Conference champions and NBA finalists, Superman's Orlando Magic.No strangers to competing at the highest level and winning championships, the Boston Celtics were considered the team to beat in the previous season had they not lost the services of key players including the heart of the franchise, Kevin Garnett.Many felt, and I too, that had they been at full strength they would have successfully defended their title. Now that they seem to be stronger than ever, at least, the top four key players, what are their chances to prove the pundits right.Lets take a look at some of the likely key match-ups. I'll begin with an analysis of the Lakers starting players.LOS ANGELES LAKERSKobe BryantKobe is the heart and soul of the Lakers franchise. He has to be counted twice as his importance, consistency and contribution for the Lakers matches that of at least two Boston players. It is true that the Celtics have Paul Pierce but far too often he gets lost in a game and doesn't always deliver every night.The same may be said for Ray Allen as when he is on fire he is red hot but when he is cold, he is 30 below zero cold and out of the game.Doc Rivers is likely to have his best defensive player Kevin Garnett on the sharpshooter from LA with defensive duties rotating between Ray Allen and Tony Allen.Pau GasolAs far as big men are concerned, Pau Gasol is the best power forward playing in the NBA right now. yes, he is that good. His reach, quickness and offensive skills have been lethal for the Lakers and Doc Rivers will have to go to the drawing board to contain him.I expect to see a match up between Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace on Gasol with Glen Davis providing back-up when needed.Derek FisherFisher provided leadership and a cool head who is willing and able to take those critical shots to turn a game around as well as to win a game. We have seen him do it time and time again.His likely match-up however with the faster, aggressive and hungry Rajon Rondo will leave him breathless for sure. At age 35 plus, he is not only fighting against a player in his prime and peaking but he is battling with father time.Never the less, he is dangerous from the three point line and is a reliable back up to Kobe in leading this Lakers team to another title. He has the experience and the intelligence and knows how to win.Ron Artest"Don't you know who I am? I am Ron Artest." This statement is all too familiar to Kobe Bryant but only now he has the attack dog on his side and not the other way around.An unpredictable player, Artest brings a level of Philadelphia Eagles jersey
aggression to this Lakers team and as he proved in game 5 against the Suns. he too can win matches.A factor from behind the arc, Ron will be a keen match-up for another bad boy, Rasheed Wallace, and this will make for a most interesting match-up on the court.Andrew BynumThe Laker center has been a shadow of himself since returning from injury and appears to have trouble with his mobility and movement under the basket as well as in defense.Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom however are key players for the Lakers and their contribution will be vital for the defending champions to lift the trophy.BOSTON CELTICSKevin GarnettEvery team has its soul, that player that gets in your face and fire you up and lead you into battle. For the Boston Celtics, that player is Kevin Garnett.The 34 year old first team defensive player has lost some of his bite in recent times. But what he has relinquished as leader of the Celtics, Rajon Rondo has taken up and has inspired the team in the same fashion he has learned from none other than Garnett himself.Kevin provides intensity and a scoring option to Boston and having tasted victory two seasons ago, he likes the taste of it and with glory again in sight, it is hard to see the general going down without giving it his all.Paul PiercePierce is the leading offensive player for the Celtics and will be their most reliable source to go two to two with the Laker's shooter, Kobe Bryant.A dangerous player from behind the arc, Pierce is lethal when he is on his game. Expect to see him step up in the finals as he too has the desire to lift that NBA trophy once again before he departs from the game.Ray AllenA player in the mold of a Reggie Miller, an out and out shooter that when he is on, he is unstoppable. Ray's greatest vice is that he appears to be two players with his doppelganger often times turning up in critical games and suppressing the offensive potency of one of the games best natural scorers.He will have to ensure that his better personality or self turn up against the Lakers as his contribution is going to be vital to nullify that of Kobe's offense.Kendrick PerkinsThe Boston center is a bulldozer when needed and that characteristic will be needed against the defending champions. Averaging 10points and 7 rebounds a game, the 6ft 10" center will be needed to block out the likes of Gasol and Bynum under the basket and rebound the ball for point guard Rondo to do his thingRajon RondoQuite possibly the NBA finals MVP, Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Rondo has lifted the Celtics to where they are today. Competing for the NBA championship. He will be the X factor, the difference in the two teams vying for the title in their 12th match up.The point guard has raised his game to another level in the play-offs and is expected to lead Boston charges to their second title in three years.Gifted with speed, agility and durability, the 6ft 1" guard has posed a quagmire for all his opponents coaches so far in the play-offs. Brown didn't know what to do to contain him against Cleveland and we all know how that went.Not only did they reach the finals but the took perhaps the hardest router to get there. By beating the Miami heat who had won 13 of their last 14 games leading up to the playoffs.Then their was the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have on their roster, the league MVP in Lebron James. Cleveland also held the best record in the league with 61-21. Boston simply ignored that.Then there was the defending conference champions, Orlando Magic who had not lost a game leading up to the start of their conference finals. Surely Boston were in for it. Guess again.Lakers v CelticsBoth teams split their match ups 1-1 in the pre-season with each winning on their home turf. Both possess a strong bench that will be evenly matched come game time starting June 3rd in Los Angeles. Boston has already made history as few teams having finished fourth in their division have been able to make it to the NBA finals.They are the only team to have retained their starting five players since lifting the trophy in 2007/2008. They have the distinction of not having the same player being the leading scorer in every series. A sure conundrum for opposing teams and their coaches as to who do they concentrate on stopping?The Lakers are a bit more one dimensional. Kobe has to have a good night for them to be at their best and win. Gasol is the next best leading scorer and dominates against smaller teams. Small is certainly not a description for the Celtics.Nate Robinson had a break out game against the Magic and with his renewed confidence should play a part in the Celtic's run.He proved he is able to knock em down from behind the arc and so cannot be given too much space to roam. Yet another headache for Fisher and Farmer in a likely match-up.Farmer is a consistent player off the bench along and always proves to be a threat from the three point arc. Lamar Kardashian-Odom is also capable of knocking them down from behind the arc. As always, he will contribute vital points coming off the bench.The player formerly known as Big Baby Davis is capable of having a break out game and has proven so in the series against the Heat. I expect to see him providing much support to Seattle Seahawks jersey
Perkins in containing gasol. Rasheed Wallace as well is capable of hurting teams from behind the arc and under the basket.It is anyone's guess as to who will win but my bet is on the Celtics. They have proven themselves by beating some of the best teams in the NBA and also containing their best players: Wade, James and Howard. Kobe, are you next?They are more defensive, potent on offense and has the depth on the bench. but most importantly, never underestimate the heart of a champion!
25 Dec 10 The Wait For 2011: Will Help Ever Come For Danny Granger?
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesFor the 27 year old Danny Granger, its yet another year wasted in his prime. The lone All Star of the Indiana Pacers has been waiting for GM Larry Bird provide him with some kind of aid ever since he became the face of the franchise.Granger is only two years removed from being selected to the Detroit Lions
NBA All Star team and even though last season was a struggle he still averaged 24 points a game.Granger however has been stuck within a situation in Indiana that has been in total chaos since the battle at the Palace. With contract situations like Jermaine O'Neal's, Stephen Jackson's, Ron Artest's, and Jamaal Tinsley's, Bird has been relatively incapable of making any moves in the off-season.Granger has been playing along side T.J. Ford, Mike Dunleavy, Jeff Foster, Josh McRoberts, Soloman Jones, and Troy Murphey all of whom's contracts end at the end of next season.Granger has been the only bright spot for a Pacers team that features an Up-Tempo offense that you would think should flourish with speedy guard Ford at the helm plus Murphy and Dunleavy running along side.Ford however doesn't get along with head coach Jim O'Brien while Dunleavy and Murphy are just talent teases, players who fill up stat sheets but do so inefficiently and have never been winners.However the Pacers do have a solid running mate for Granger in former Green Bay Packers jersey
Georgetown center Roy Hibbert who has made legitimate strides since he entered the league.Also, Brandon Rush has proved to be a decent role player off the bench and former National Player of the Year and North Carolina Tar Heel Tyler Hansbrough has a lot of upside if he returns from last seasons leg injury.Also the Pacers made some wise decisions in the draft after signing Paul George and the second round steal in Lance Stephenson.George is a prototypical clone of Granger's skill set and Stephenson is young and rare but extremely talented. Both players show a lot of Houston Texans jersey
upside for the future if they're developed properly.Other than that however the Pacers must wait patiently and hope that their only All-Star does not get disgruntled to the point that he wants to be traded.This all rides on Granger's patience and confidence in GM Larry Bird because until next summer he's all indiana's got.
NBA All Star team and even though last season was a struggle he still averaged 24 points a game.Granger however has been stuck within a situation in Indiana that has been in total chaos since the battle at the Palace. With contract situations like Jermaine O'Neal's, Stephen Jackson's, Ron Artest's, and Jamaal Tinsley's, Bird has been relatively incapable of making any moves in the off-season.Granger has been playing along side T.J. Ford, Mike Dunleavy, Jeff Foster, Josh McRoberts, Soloman Jones, and Troy Murphey all of whom's contracts end at the end of next season.Granger has been the only bright spot for a Pacers team that features an Up-Tempo offense that you would think should flourish with speedy guard Ford at the helm plus Murphy and Dunleavy running along side.Ford however doesn't get along with head coach Jim O'Brien while Dunleavy and Murphy are just talent teases, players who fill up stat sheets but do so inefficiently and have never been winners.However the Pacers do have a solid running mate for Granger in former Green Bay Packers jersey
Georgetown center Roy Hibbert who has made legitimate strides since he entered the league.Also, Brandon Rush has proved to be a decent role player off the bench and former National Player of the Year and North Carolina Tar Heel Tyler Hansbrough has a lot of upside if he returns from last seasons leg injury.Also the Pacers made some wise decisions in the draft after signing Paul George and the second round steal in Lance Stephenson.George is a prototypical clone of Granger's skill set and Stephenson is young and rare but extremely talented. Both players show a lot of Houston Texans jersey
upside for the future if they're developed properly.Other than that however the Pacers must wait patiently and hope that their only All-Star does not get disgruntled to the point that he wants to be traded.This all rides on Granger's patience and confidence in GM Larry Bird because until next summer he's all indiana's got.
2010年12月24日星期五
24 Dec 10 Phoenix Suns Begin Life After Amar'e Stoudemire
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesSlowly, the foundation of a strong, competitive Phoenix Suns team is crumbling.That's nothing new to both the casual fan and pundit alike. What may be difficult to understand is the transition. From a franchise-tying mark of 62-20 in the 2004-05 season, the Suns' attempt to hang on as one of the NBA's elite franchises, but are clearly missing key components.When Amar'e Stoudemire bolted the desert for Madison Square Garden and the lights of Broadway, that represented a kind of death knell. Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
The center of the Suns' offense and defense was gone, and created a crater which could now be an abyss. Only Steve Nash remains from the glory years in the mid-2000s when the Suns, and their fans thought, they were on the verge of an NBA title.Now, the remake.Coach Alvin Gentry is left to play "small ball," and the Suns will likely survive on their ability to score from the perimeter. With no real power inside, teams will go to a trapping defense, and an attempt to slow down Nash and raise a fortress around the arc."Right now, we need to figure out our roles," forward Channing Frye told the local Phoenix NBC afflilate. "We need to know our niche."That may not be as impossible of it sounds. If the plan on paper is executed, the Suns will go with 6'10" Hedo Turkoglo, who came over from Toronto, in an attempt to shore up the middle. Turkoglo is not a traditional center and feels more comfortable at the forward slot. He can play both big and small forward and is coming off an 11.8 ppg season with the Raptors.While Stoudemire averaged 23.1 ppg last season and grabbed anaverage of 8.9 rpg, those numbers will not be easily replaced. With Toronto a year ago, Turkoglu averaged only 4.6 rpg, and Robin Lopez, the projected center, averaged 4.9 rpg. Lopez Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
appeared in only 51 games because of injury, and his presence in the playoffs was felt.Still, the key to the Suns offense lays with Nash, a 14-year veteran, and clearly the catylst. At 36 years old, the Canadian native has never average 20 ppg in any season, but saves his best for last. In postseason play, Nash averaged 23.9 ppg in the 2005 playoffs, and averaged 20.4 ppg in the 2006 postseason.This time, Nash is ready to assume the leadership role again."I love the players on this team, and we're prepared to do it together," he told the local FOX affiliate. "I know this team is ready to grow beyond an average NBA team, and take the franchise to another level."Nash should get help from a pair of bombers. Jason Richardson, 6'6" out of Michigan State, averaged 15.7 ppg last season, but buried 157 threes. Frye (11.2 ppgs) added 98 treys and should complement Richardson from beyond the arc.It's likely the Suns will survive on the acumen of Nash and some long-range bombing. For the team to be successful, theReebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
defense needs to limit the 100-plus points game from opponents, and run well in transition. Without any power in the middle, the Suns will likely live-and-die on how well they run the court, and take advantage of getting points in transition.
The center of the Suns' offense and defense was gone, and created a crater which could now be an abyss. Only Steve Nash remains from the glory years in the mid-2000s when the Suns, and their fans thought, they were on the verge of an NBA title.Now, the remake.Coach Alvin Gentry is left to play "small ball," and the Suns will likely survive on their ability to score from the perimeter. With no real power inside, teams will go to a trapping defense, and an attempt to slow down Nash and raise a fortress around the arc."Right now, we need to figure out our roles," forward Channing Frye told the local Phoenix NBC afflilate. "We need to know our niche."That may not be as impossible of it sounds. If the plan on paper is executed, the Suns will go with 6'10" Hedo Turkoglo, who came over from Toronto, in an attempt to shore up the middle. Turkoglo is not a traditional center and feels more comfortable at the forward slot. He can play both big and small forward and is coming off an 11.8 ppg season with the Raptors.While Stoudemire averaged 23.1 ppg last season and grabbed anaverage of 8.9 rpg, those numbers will not be easily replaced. With Toronto a year ago, Turkoglu averaged only 4.6 rpg, and Robin Lopez, the projected center, averaged 4.9 rpg. Lopez Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
appeared in only 51 games because of injury, and his presence in the playoffs was felt.Still, the key to the Suns offense lays with Nash, a 14-year veteran, and clearly the catylst. At 36 years old, the Canadian native has never average 20 ppg in any season, but saves his best for last. In postseason play, Nash averaged 23.9 ppg in the 2005 playoffs, and averaged 20.4 ppg in the 2006 postseason.This time, Nash is ready to assume the leadership role again."I love the players on this team, and we're prepared to do it together," he told the local FOX affiliate. "I know this team is ready to grow beyond an average NBA team, and take the franchise to another level."Nash should get help from a pair of bombers. Jason Richardson, 6'6" out of Michigan State, averaged 15.7 ppg last season, but buried 157 threes. Frye (11.2 ppgs) added 98 treys and should complement Richardson from beyond the arc.It's likely the Suns will survive on the acumen of Nash and some long-range bombing. For the team to be successful, theReebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
defense needs to limit the 100-plus points game from opponents, and run well in transition. Without any power in the middle, the Suns will likely live-and-die on how well they run the court, and take advantage of getting points in transition.
24 Dec 10 2011 NBA Season: Is Kobe Bryant's Legacy Doomed To Michael Jordan's Shadow?
Is Kobe Bryant's legacy permanently fettered to the comparisons of him to Michael Jordan?Clive Rose/Getty ImagesAs a fan of NBA basketball, I believe myself incredibly lucky to have lived through, and witnessed, the entirety of Kobe Bryant's career.The evolution of media and the 24-hour news cycle has afforded the layperson an unnervingly in-depth look at athletes and entertainers.One athlete whose career began in the burgeoning of the information age, and persists to this day to define his generation, is Kobe Bryant—who will live on as one of the most fascinating NBA players to grace the hardwood.Not since the days of a racially divided America has there been a more polarizing player in the history of the NBA.His work ethic is fawned upon by Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
Laker fans and those able to perceive it.His seeming inability to coalesce with his teammates, a point critics seem to have belabored, and not without reason.2009 and 2010 were the years of Kobe Bryant. Hardcore pundits, and those looking for an argument against Bryant, will point to his atrocious performance in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals: 6-24. The league's allegedly most "clutch" player (a misconception, by the way; Carmelo Anthony is statistically the most clutch player in the NBA) failed to gather the gumption to will his team to victory.What the box score won't show is that Bryant tried his absolute best to push his team to victory. If you remember Game 7 (I tried to push it out of my mind as an admitted Celtics fan) it was all on the line; Kobe deferred to his teammates in the closing half and drew fouls, going an (admittedly questionable) 11-15 from the charity stripe.If it weren't for 2009 and 2010, Bryant's career might as well have been in the pipes. Casual fans would have wrote him off as Shaq's second banana, too selfish to share the ball, too egotistical and caught up in his own perception of greatness to bring his team back to the Larry O'Brien trophy.The closest career parallel I could think of would have been Rick Barry.Barry didn't win any popularity contests during or after his career: his accomplishments were certainly prolific, particularly on the offensive end; however, Barry's selfishness and immaturity ad absurdum (including the untimely "throwing" of the 1976 Western Conference Finals), ultimately prevented Barry from doing any significant damage in the "greatest ever" discussion.While astoundingly gifted, Barry's selfishness overshadowed the needs of the team in a very palpable way. By the way, Barry's number for the majority of his career? 24.The NBA: Where s#*& happens.Of course, Kobe's career is far from over, but it's clearly on the decline. Bryant has done everything he could to slow the incline of Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
that fall to a glide.Further scrutiny of Bryant as a player, and as a person, however, requires one to take a step back and become simply awestruck. Say what you will about Kobe's court hearings and sexual assault allegations during the 2003-04 NBA season, but comedian Dave Chappelle said it best, "Kobe look[ed] like he was playing for his freedom."Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant met on February 2nd, 1997, in one of two games (the other being the 1997 All-Star Game) many saw as the changing of the guard.Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesBryant started only two less games than Shaquille O'Neal (67), led the Lakers in scoring and gave forth full effort every night he was on the floor.Bryant should, and will, be remembered as the player who gave everything he had as long as he knew that the ultimate prize was within reach (I haven't forgotten the 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2009-10 seasons, where Kobe would seem out-of-sync during the regular season).His strength of will is mesmerizing as much as it is off-putting. When Kobe focused on scoring titles, he averaged the highest single-season average (35.4 ppg) since "His Airness" himself (37.1 ppg); when Kobe focused on winning titles, he found a way to contribute, Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals being a prime example.Ultimately, how will be Kobe be remembered?As second only to "His Airness" himself. Regardless of Kobe's accomplishments, whether he wins six or seven rings or not, he cannot climb out from underneath Michael Jordan's shadow.Quantifying rings, when Jordan took a two-year sabbatical, and when Kobe won three of them with Shaq (who won the Finals MVP all three of those times), is unreasonable. Kobe never had the lifts that Jordan had, was never as talented as Jordan was and to say otherwise is delusional. What is not disputable, however, is that Kobe did his best to make up for any shortcomings to Jordan (and believe me, that gap is unnervingly small) with a psychotic work ethic, being the first one in the gym and the last one out.Regardless of what one might do to take away from Jordan's legacy, Jordan's legacy remains. If Jordan hadn't "retired" for two years, the popular assumption is that Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
Jordan would have won eight consecutive titles, at least one more MVP, and two Finals MVPs.Kobe's resume, even in its current state, and Kobe's ceiling ('00-'01 to the end of '09) does not compare to Jordan's ('86-'87 to the end of '93, and a three-year renaissance from '95-'98).To say that Bryant is better than Jordan, in any capacity, is to flagrantly disrespect the history of the game.Among other perimeter players? Kobe stands just below Jordan, and above all others—for the time being.
Laker fans and those able to perceive it.His seeming inability to coalesce with his teammates, a point critics seem to have belabored, and not without reason.2009 and 2010 were the years of Kobe Bryant. Hardcore pundits, and those looking for an argument against Bryant, will point to his atrocious performance in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals: 6-24. The league's allegedly most "clutch" player (a misconception, by the way; Carmelo Anthony is statistically the most clutch player in the NBA) failed to gather the gumption to will his team to victory.What the box score won't show is that Bryant tried his absolute best to push his team to victory. If you remember Game 7 (I tried to push it out of my mind as an admitted Celtics fan) it was all on the line; Kobe deferred to his teammates in the closing half and drew fouls, going an (admittedly questionable) 11-15 from the charity stripe.If it weren't for 2009 and 2010, Bryant's career might as well have been in the pipes. Casual fans would have wrote him off as Shaq's second banana, too selfish to share the ball, too egotistical and caught up in his own perception of greatness to bring his team back to the Larry O'Brien trophy.The closest career parallel I could think of would have been Rick Barry.Barry didn't win any popularity contests during or after his career: his accomplishments were certainly prolific, particularly on the offensive end; however, Barry's selfishness and immaturity ad absurdum (including the untimely "throwing" of the 1976 Western Conference Finals), ultimately prevented Barry from doing any significant damage in the "greatest ever" discussion.While astoundingly gifted, Barry's selfishness overshadowed the needs of the team in a very palpable way. By the way, Barry's number for the majority of his career? 24.The NBA: Where s#*& happens.Of course, Kobe's career is far from over, but it's clearly on the decline. Bryant has done everything he could to slow the incline of Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
that fall to a glide.Further scrutiny of Bryant as a player, and as a person, however, requires one to take a step back and become simply awestruck. Say what you will about Kobe's court hearings and sexual assault allegations during the 2003-04 NBA season, but comedian Dave Chappelle said it best, "Kobe look[ed] like he was playing for his freedom."Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant met on February 2nd, 1997, in one of two games (the other being the 1997 All-Star Game) many saw as the changing of the guard.Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesBryant started only two less games than Shaquille O'Neal (67), led the Lakers in scoring and gave forth full effort every night he was on the floor.Bryant should, and will, be remembered as the player who gave everything he had as long as he knew that the ultimate prize was within reach (I haven't forgotten the 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2009-10 seasons, where Kobe would seem out-of-sync during the regular season).His strength of will is mesmerizing as much as it is off-putting. When Kobe focused on scoring titles, he averaged the highest single-season average (35.4 ppg) since "His Airness" himself (37.1 ppg); when Kobe focused on winning titles, he found a way to contribute, Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals being a prime example.Ultimately, how will be Kobe be remembered?As second only to "His Airness" himself. Regardless of Kobe's accomplishments, whether he wins six or seven rings or not, he cannot climb out from underneath Michael Jordan's shadow.Quantifying rings, when Jordan took a two-year sabbatical, and when Kobe won three of them with Shaq (who won the Finals MVP all three of those times), is unreasonable. Kobe never had the lifts that Jordan had, was never as talented as Jordan was and to say otherwise is delusional. What is not disputable, however, is that Kobe did his best to make up for any shortcomings to Jordan (and believe me, that gap is unnervingly small) with a psychotic work ethic, being the first one in the gym and the last one out.Regardless of what one might do to take away from Jordan's legacy, Jordan's legacy remains. If Jordan hadn't "retired" for two years, the popular assumption is that Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
Jordan would have won eight consecutive titles, at least one more MVP, and two Finals MVPs.Kobe's resume, even in its current state, and Kobe's ceiling ('00-'01 to the end of '09) does not compare to Jordan's ('86-'87 to the end of '93, and a three-year renaissance from '95-'98).To say that Bryant is better than Jordan, in any capacity, is to flagrantly disrespect the history of the game.Among other perimeter players? Kobe stands just below Jordan, and above all others—for the time being.
2010年12月23日星期四
23 Dec 10C.J. Watson: Why the Chicago Bulls Do Not Need Another Backup PG
Backup point guard CJ Watson is coming off an impressive performance against the Dallas Mavericks. Watson had 13 points and 2 assists.Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesThere has been a bit of a movement between sportswriters and Chicago Bulls fans that the Bulls need a better backup point guard than C.J. Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
Watson. During Friday's 88-83 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Watson dispelled that idea with a solid performance off the bench. Even though power forward Taj Gibson had 17 points and a career-high 18 rebounds and Derrick Rose had 22 points and 6 assists, Watson provided a spark off the bench to give the Bulls a half-time advantage. Watson played sizable minutes in the second quarter. He had some big shots and provided tight defense on the Mavericks' star point guard Jason Kidd to give Chicago a 39-35 edge going into the half. When filling in for Rose or shooting guard Keith Bogans, Watson scored 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting, had two assists and two rebounds in only 17 minutes and 33 seconds of action. He had some nice moves on Kidd for a couple baskets, including a nice running hook for nothing but net. Watson provided some decent passing too, as passing is his biggest weakness as he is a shoot-first point guard. He did have 2 turnovers, but he could have had a couple more assists if Noah and Gibson would not Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
have bobbled tight passes down low that cost two easy jams. Should the Bulls get a better point guard to backup Rose?Should the Bulls get a better point guard to backup Rose?No, Watson is a solid backup57.5%Yes, Watson does not make the cut20.8%Don't know, it could go either way 21.7%Total votes: 327When Rose was in the game with Watson, the two combined into a formidable duo. Rose and Watson were extremely fast in transition and opened up scoring options for their teammates. Watson's crucial role in Friday's victory should not come as a surprise. When the Bulls acquired him by trading a future second round pick to the Golden State Warriors, it was regarded as a steal. In 2009-10, Watson averaged 10.3 points and 2.8 assists in 27.5 minutes a game. He has a career shooting average of 45.6 percent to give Chicago a possible offensive spark off the bench they have been lacking in recent years. The 26-year-old Watson can also go on scoring binges, as he did last year. Last December, he scored 10 or more points in nine out of 10 games, averaging 13.2 points. Between February 10 and March 11, he poured in double figures in 12 of 13 games, including six nights with 20 or more points and 40 points against the Sacramento Kings. This is not too shabby for Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
a backup who is replacing an ineffectual Jannero Pargo. And that's all Watson has to be, Rose's backup. His role on the team is to play 10 to 12 minutes a game to spell Rose and provide an offensive spark. With Rose and Watson leading the offense, upgrading the point guard position is not a high priority.
Watson. During Friday's 88-83 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Watson dispelled that idea with a solid performance off the bench. Even though power forward Taj Gibson had 17 points and a career-high 18 rebounds and Derrick Rose had 22 points and 6 assists, Watson provided a spark off the bench to give the Bulls a half-time advantage. Watson played sizable minutes in the second quarter. He had some big shots and provided tight defense on the Mavericks' star point guard Jason Kidd to give Chicago a 39-35 edge going into the half. When filling in for Rose or shooting guard Keith Bogans, Watson scored 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting, had two assists and two rebounds in only 17 minutes and 33 seconds of action. He had some nice moves on Kidd for a couple baskets, including a nice running hook for nothing but net. Watson provided some decent passing too, as passing is his biggest weakness as he is a shoot-first point guard. He did have 2 turnovers, but he could have had a couple more assists if Noah and Gibson would not Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
have bobbled tight passes down low that cost two easy jams. Should the Bulls get a better point guard to backup Rose?Should the Bulls get a better point guard to backup Rose?No, Watson is a solid backup57.5%Yes, Watson does not make the cut20.8%Don't know, it could go either way 21.7%Total votes: 327When Rose was in the game with Watson, the two combined into a formidable duo. Rose and Watson were extremely fast in transition and opened up scoring options for their teammates. Watson's crucial role in Friday's victory should not come as a surprise. When the Bulls acquired him by trading a future second round pick to the Golden State Warriors, it was regarded as a steal. In 2009-10, Watson averaged 10.3 points and 2.8 assists in 27.5 minutes a game. He has a career shooting average of 45.6 percent to give Chicago a possible offensive spark off the bench they have been lacking in recent years. The 26-year-old Watson can also go on scoring binges, as he did last year. Last December, he scored 10 or more points in nine out of 10 games, averaging 13.2 points. Between February 10 and March 11, he poured in double figures in 12 of 13 games, including six nights with 20 or more points and 40 points against the Sacramento Kings. This is not too shabby for Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
a backup who is replacing an ineffectual Jannero Pargo. And that's all Watson has to be, Rose's backup. His role on the team is to play 10 to 12 minutes a game to spell Rose and provide an offensive spark. With Rose and Watson leading the offense, upgrading the point guard position is not a high priority.
2010年12月22日星期三
NBA Free Agency: Wade and Bosh to Miami, Will LeBron James Follow?
Elsa/Getty ImagesESPN's Chris Broussard recently announced that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh would sign contracts with the Miami Heat, and the free agency dominoes everyone expected have finally began to fall.It's still not known whether Bosh will sign as a free agent or whether he will be Minnesota Vikings
subject to a sign-and-trade deal, but it appears two thirds of the rumored Miami super team is set.So, of course, the million dollar question remains—what about LeBron James?James is prepared for the drama as he has paired with ESPN to launch a one-hour special on Thursday night, which will culminate with his signing around 10:00 p.m. EST.What will James do?Heat fans would like nothing more than to see James ink his name on the dotted line with Bosh and Wade, but the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers still have more than a fighting chance to land James.The Toronto Raptors recently said they would not be opposed to a sign and trade sending Bosh to Cleveland, and the Knicks' recent offer to Amar'e Stoudemire could make New York more attractive to James.The Raptors' offer is interesting because in order to receive any compensation for Bosh they must trade him, but reports coming out of Canada make that seem less likely.The Raptors are upset because Bosh decided to talk with James and Wade about his future without including Toronto, and there have been whispers they would not trade Bosh to Miami.Broussard said Bosh would be willing to sign with Miami for $96 million over a five-year period, which is about $30 million short of a maximum deal, but it allows Bosh to dictate the terms of his future.If this is true, the chances of James re-signing with Cleveland would appear to be slim unless the Raptors totally disregard Bosh's intentions and force a trade to Cleveland anyway. New England Patriots jersey
There were rumors that Stoudemire would possibly sign with Cleveland at last season's trade deadline, so a Stoudemire and James pairing in New York is not out of the question.James' business partner, Maverick Carter, has said James would sign with the team which best suits his goal to completely brand himself, so Miami may not be in his best interests.Other teams such as the New Jersey Nets have nearly echoed Carter's sentiments by saying a proposed trio in Miami consisting of Wade, James, and Bosh would dilute the James brand.The Heat are clearly in the driver's seat with Wade and Bosh reportedlyalready in the fold, but could it be in Miami's best interest to quit while they are ahead and focus on the future?Bosh besideWade immediately makes Miami a contender in the East, and the Heat will have about $11 million left in their coffers to make offers to other free agents.If the Heat stand pat with Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley already under contract, then it would be easier to re-sign a player like Udonis Haslem in addition to adding another lower tier free agent.But the announcement by ESPN this morning gives more credibility to the rumors of a super team,and the chance to sign James would supercede anyimmediate roster concerns for the Heat.Who New Orleans Saints jersey
cares if Miami is only able to sign second round players and minimum wage earners if they also sign James?Most would say James, Wade, and Bosh would be a pretty good starting point for any team, and with that type of talent the caliber of the supporting cast becomes less important.Wade,James, and Boshmay not equal immediate NBA domination, but if James does sign with the Heat, next year's NBA regular season should be much more interesting
subject to a sign-and-trade deal, but it appears two thirds of the rumored Miami super team is set.So, of course, the million dollar question remains—what about LeBron James?James is prepared for the drama as he has paired with ESPN to launch a one-hour special on Thursday night, which will culminate with his signing around 10:00 p.m. EST.What will James do?Heat fans would like nothing more than to see James ink his name on the dotted line with Bosh and Wade, but the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers still have more than a fighting chance to land James.The Toronto Raptors recently said they would not be opposed to a sign and trade sending Bosh to Cleveland, and the Knicks' recent offer to Amar'e Stoudemire could make New York more attractive to James.The Raptors' offer is interesting because in order to receive any compensation for Bosh they must trade him, but reports coming out of Canada make that seem less likely.The Raptors are upset because Bosh decided to talk with James and Wade about his future without including Toronto, and there have been whispers they would not trade Bosh to Miami.Broussard said Bosh would be willing to sign with Miami for $96 million over a five-year period, which is about $30 million short of a maximum deal, but it allows Bosh to dictate the terms of his future.If this is true, the chances of James re-signing with Cleveland would appear to be slim unless the Raptors totally disregard Bosh's intentions and force a trade to Cleveland anyway. New England Patriots jersey
There were rumors that Stoudemire would possibly sign with Cleveland at last season's trade deadline, so a Stoudemire and James pairing in New York is not out of the question.James' business partner, Maverick Carter, has said James would sign with the team which best suits his goal to completely brand himself, so Miami may not be in his best interests.Other teams such as the New Jersey Nets have nearly echoed Carter's sentiments by saying a proposed trio in Miami consisting of Wade, James, and Bosh would dilute the James brand.The Heat are clearly in the driver's seat with Wade and Bosh reportedlyalready in the fold, but could it be in Miami's best interest to quit while they are ahead and focus on the future?Bosh besideWade immediately makes Miami a contender in the East, and the Heat will have about $11 million left in their coffers to make offers to other free agents.If the Heat stand pat with Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley already under contract, then it would be easier to re-sign a player like Udonis Haslem in addition to adding another lower tier free agent.But the announcement by ESPN this morning gives more credibility to the rumors of a super team,and the chance to sign James would supercede anyimmediate roster concerns for the Heat.Who New Orleans Saints jersey
cares if Miami is only able to sign second round players and minimum wage earners if they also sign James?Most would say James, Wade, and Bosh would be a pretty good starting point for any team, and with that type of talent the caliber of the supporting cast becomes less important.Wade,James, and Boshmay not equal immediate NBA domination, but if James does sign with the Heat, next year's NBA regular season should be much more interesting
NBA Free Agency: Dwyane Wade Again Shows Why He's a Miami Icon
Marc Serota/Getty ImagesDwyane Wade is coming home. In reality, he never left. It's been a tough week for Miami Heat fans. Over the weekend, it seemed possible the Heat could end up the odd team out in the free agency chase. The thought of Wade in a Chicago Bulls uniform made our stomachs San Diego Chargers jersey
churn, as did the prospect of going back to the bottom of the pack. Now, in a Flash (pun intended), Wade is re-signing, and he is bringing along his good friend Chris Bosh. Whether the lineup is rounded out with the coup of a LeBron James signing (doubtful), or the acquisition of lower-priced players such as Brendan Haywood and Raymond Felton (not unlikely), the Heat will emerge as one of the off-season winners in the NBA. Looking back, we really shouldn’t be surprised. Wade always said his goal was to stay in Miami. He never gave us a reason to doubt his word in the past. This time was no different. This is the Wade we know and respect. He’s a superstar who, despite his superior accomplishments, gracefully cedes the spotlight to the media’s favorite, King James. He’s a team player who, as it turns out, was the team’s most effective recruiter. He’s a scorer who understands that adding another scorer is a good thing because scoring titles don’t win championships. San Francisco 49ers jersey
On Wednesday morning, we learned about Wade’s return through the normal means. An ESPN report. An Ira Winderman Twitter tweet. No Thursday night special. No fanfare. Just a simple announcement, then back to work. That’s why Miami Heat fans love this guy. He’s our superstar.
churn, as did the prospect of going back to the bottom of the pack. Now, in a Flash (pun intended), Wade is re-signing, and he is bringing along his good friend Chris Bosh. Whether the lineup is rounded out with the coup of a LeBron James signing (doubtful), or the acquisition of lower-priced players such as Brendan Haywood and Raymond Felton (not unlikely), the Heat will emerge as one of the off-season winners in the NBA. Looking back, we really shouldn’t be surprised. Wade always said his goal was to stay in Miami. He never gave us a reason to doubt his word in the past. This time was no different. This is the Wade we know and respect. He’s a superstar who, despite his superior accomplishments, gracefully cedes the spotlight to the media’s favorite, King James. He’s a team player who, as it turns out, was the team’s most effective recruiter. He’s a scorer who understands that adding another scorer is a good thing because scoring titles don’t win championships. San Francisco 49ers jersey
On Wednesday morning, we learned about Wade’s return through the normal means. An ESPN report. An Ira Winderman Twitter tweet. No Thursday night special. No fanfare. Just a simple announcement, then back to work. That’s why Miami Heat fans love this guy. He’s our superstar.
2010年12月21日星期二
Flip, Flop, Flip: Adrian Gonzalez Acquired By Boston Red Sox...Again
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesThe past 24 hours have been quite a roller coaster for Red Sox nation. First they received news that one of the games premier sluggers, the coveted Adrian Gonzalez, was going to be the team's new first basemen. Then it was reported that the front office could not agree with the slugger on an extension and the trade was now dead, along with hope of a World Series contender next season. Now, according to a report, Gonzalez has been acquired, again.Assuming this deal does not fall through, as it did several hours ago, and Theo Epstein can manage San Francisco 49ers jersey
to get Gonzalez's contract extended (the inability to do so twice should make many question management's ability to get things done) this deal is too good to be true. Gonzalez, currently 28 years old, is a "lineup pillar," meaning you can build a lineup around him. Which means with hitters like Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury, this team has a world championship caliber top and middle of the order. One of Gonzalez's teammates was reported as saying the slugger would add about 10 home runs to his average total (about 35 per year the past four years) hitting in a park and lineup like the Red Sox have. Also, this finally makes up for the organization's inability to acquire Mark Teixeira before the 2009 season. Finally, Gonzalez is no slouch with the leather, having earned two Gold Gloves already in his career. Seattle Seahawks jersey
The Red Sox seemingly have never had a big time power hitter with Gold Glove caliber defense, at least recently. The magnitude of this trade cannot be understated. Before the trade through many members of the Boston media were praising the move, discussing how much of a steal and how brilliant it was. After it fell through it was almost a guarantee the front office would face vicious backlash from media and fans for being too inept to sign an MVP caliber player again. Fortunately, the Red Sox brass appears to have seen a flaw in their execution and will acquire Gonzalez for at least a season, with serious intentions on signing the extension (some numbers floating are seven years, $153 million).I said earlier in the off-season I believed Carl Crawford was a necessity, however, that was because it seemed Gonzalez St. Louis Rams jersey
was not available, at least not for this few prospects. Now Theo Epstein has filled a hole in the lineup and at third base (Gonzalez moves Youkilis across the diamond) it is time to fix the bullpen and make this previously flawed team a legitimate favorite for the title.
to get Gonzalez's contract extended (the inability to do so twice should make many question management's ability to get things done) this deal is too good to be true. Gonzalez, currently 28 years old, is a "lineup pillar," meaning you can build a lineup around him. Which means with hitters like Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury, this team has a world championship caliber top and middle of the order. One of Gonzalez's teammates was reported as saying the slugger would add about 10 home runs to his average total (about 35 per year the past four years) hitting in a park and lineup like the Red Sox have. Also, this finally makes up for the organization's inability to acquire Mark Teixeira before the 2009 season. Finally, Gonzalez is no slouch with the leather, having earned two Gold Gloves already in his career. Seattle Seahawks jersey
The Red Sox seemingly have never had a big time power hitter with Gold Glove caliber defense, at least recently. The magnitude of this trade cannot be understated. Before the trade through many members of the Boston media were praising the move, discussing how much of a steal and how brilliant it was. After it fell through it was almost a guarantee the front office would face vicious backlash from media and fans for being too inept to sign an MVP caliber player again. Fortunately, the Red Sox brass appears to have seen a flaw in their execution and will acquire Gonzalez for at least a season, with serious intentions on signing the extension (some numbers floating are seven years, $153 million).I said earlier in the off-season I believed Carl Crawford was a necessity, however, that was because it seemed Gonzalez St. Louis Rams jersey
was not available, at least not for this few prospects. Now Theo Epstein has filled a hole in the lineup and at third base (Gonzalez moves Youkilis across the diamond) it is time to fix the bullpen and make this previously flawed team a legitimate favorite for the title.
George Steinbrenner Can Wait To Be a Hall of Famer
Eliot J. Schechter/Getty ImagesI have no problem with sports figures who are the personality equivalent of a stiff drink. Ted Williams is one of my all-time favorites. To me, Bobby Knight is a genius coach. If I shut down the moral center of my brain, I can even appreciate Kobe Bryant and Ty Cobb for their statistics and work ethic.So it’s not out of character prejudice that I think George Michael Steinbrenner III can wait to get into the Hall of Fame. Mr. “breathing first, winning next” certainly has the credentials to have earned a spot. Consider these facts Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
and stats under his ownership:- Seven World Series championship teams- Eleven pennant winners- Seventeen division titles- Six no-hitters (and two perfect games)- Four MVP and three Cy Young winners- Eight 100-win seasons- Twenty-two first or second-place finishes from managers Billy Martin, Lou Piniella, Buck Showalter, Joe Torre, Don Zimmer and Joe GirardiAnd consider just a few of the Yankees who played during his years: Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry, Goose Gossage, Don Mattingly, Ricky Henderson, Wade Boggs, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mike Mussina, Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez.Under the glow of that shining record, it seems like a no-brainer that the Veterans Committee should have voted in George just five months after his death.Should George Steinbrenner be in the Hall of Fame?Should George Steinbrenner be in the Hall of Fame?Yes75.0%No25.0%Total votes: 8But, historically, the Veterans Committee hasn’t been what you could call “timely.” The last two executives they voted into the Hall, in 2008, were Bowie Kuhn and Walter O’Malley. Kuhn’s career ended in 1984, O’Malley’s in 1979.They should consider themselves swiftly blessed. The committee Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
didn’t recognize William Ambrose Hulbert—one of the founders of the National League and president of the Chicago White Stockings—until 1995.I should mention he died in 1882.I could give more examples of the committee’s history of giving late appreciations—including references to the Hartford Dark Blues and the Boston Beaneaters—but maybe it’s more important to note that the only executive they voted in the year he retired was Kenesaw Mountain Landis.The best reason I can think to explain the ice age it usually takes the Veterans to vote someone in is the reverence baseball has for time. Both they and the members of the BBWAA tend to like some dust on their inductees before they consider them fit for a Hall spot.I respect their patience. I mean, think of all the movies you considered awesome the year they were made, only to realize not even a decade later that, while arguably great by 2003 standards, “The Matrix Reloaded” doesn’t stand the test of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
time.Sometimes we need time not only to respect a list of accomplishments from an objective distance but also to let the likes of Pat Gillick through the door before the obvious guys are acknowledged.And for those of us with a sense of humor about the Yankees, there’s this sweet irony to enjoy: a man notorious for his impatience in all things will have to wait for his place in Cooperstown.
and stats under his ownership:- Seven World Series championship teams- Eleven pennant winners- Seventeen division titles- Six no-hitters (and two perfect games)- Four MVP and three Cy Young winners- Eight 100-win seasons- Twenty-two first or second-place finishes from managers Billy Martin, Lou Piniella, Buck Showalter, Joe Torre, Don Zimmer and Joe GirardiAnd consider just a few of the Yankees who played during his years: Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry, Goose Gossage, Don Mattingly, Ricky Henderson, Wade Boggs, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mike Mussina, Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez.Under the glow of that shining record, it seems like a no-brainer that the Veterans Committee should have voted in George just five months after his death.Should George Steinbrenner be in the Hall of Fame?Should George Steinbrenner be in the Hall of Fame?Yes75.0%No25.0%Total votes: 8But, historically, the Veterans Committee hasn’t been what you could call “timely.” The last two executives they voted into the Hall, in 2008, were Bowie Kuhn and Walter O’Malley. Kuhn’s career ended in 1984, O’Malley’s in 1979.They should consider themselves swiftly blessed. The committee Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
didn’t recognize William Ambrose Hulbert—one of the founders of the National League and president of the Chicago White Stockings—until 1995.I should mention he died in 1882.I could give more examples of the committee’s history of giving late appreciations—including references to the Hartford Dark Blues and the Boston Beaneaters—but maybe it’s more important to note that the only executive they voted in the year he retired was Kenesaw Mountain Landis.The best reason I can think to explain the ice age it usually takes the Veterans to vote someone in is the reverence baseball has for time. Both they and the members of the BBWAA tend to like some dust on their inductees before they consider them fit for a Hall spot.I respect their patience. I mean, think of all the movies you considered awesome the year they were made, only to realize not even a decade later that, while arguably great by 2003 standards, “The Matrix Reloaded” doesn’t stand the test of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
time.Sometimes we need time not only to respect a list of accomplishments from an objective distance but also to let the likes of Pat Gillick through the door before the obvious guys are acknowledged.And for those of us with a sense of humor about the Yankees, there’s this sweet irony to enjoy: a man notorious for his impatience in all things will have to wait for his place in Cooperstown.
2010年12月19日星期日
20 Dec 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Can They Steal a Playoff Berth?
Josh Freeman and Raheem Morris need to keep their magic mojo.Harry How/Getty ImagesYou have themid-term report.You've seen the grades.Now it's timeto deal with the next eight games.It all starts Sunday at Raymond James against a Carolina Panthers team that just lost quarterback Matt Moore for the season, which means it's the wonderful Jimmy Clausen or the Cincinnati toothpick, Tony Pike, calling the signals on Sunday.So let's get right to it, shall we?Carolina Panthers (11-14)Let's be serious for a moment. The BuccaneersReebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
really need to blow these guys out. They need to stomp them, dominate them, the defense needs to take either Clausen or Pike and blow them up big time. No messing around. No upsets. This is a team with no direction right now and using "youth" as an excuse for theirpoor performance. Panthers need to leave Ray-Jay at 1-8.It's time for the Buc "youths" to beat the bejeebers out of this Carolina "youth." No ifs, ands or butts about it. A MUST win to send the Bucs to 6-3.San Francisco 49ers (11-21)Now here's another team in turmoil. Mike Singletary is doing everything he can to get himself fired. This team has won two games and has been awful at best. It's a west-coast road trip, but most will deem this a very winnable game for the Buccaneers. They could get win No. 7.How will the Bucs finish?How will the Bucs finish?A: 11-5, playoff bound baby!22.8%B: 10-6, they win the Road To 10! 46.2%C: 9-7, darn great year!24.8%D: 8-8, way better than most thought.4.8%E: 7-9, second half collapse.1.4%Total votes: 145Baltimore Ravens (11-28)The Ravens are locked in a playoff battle and in the same league defensively with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Asking the Bucs to win on the roadin Baltimore is simply asking too much. Can't see the Bucs getting a win against that D.Atlanta Falcons (12-5)If the Buccaneers are 7-4 heading into this rematch with the Dirty Birds, then this might have a chance to sell out Raymond James. This is a game the Bucs have circled after what happened in Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
Atlanta. After that ending, this team has a good shot to get revenge at home. Yes, a chance for victory. An 8-4 record would simply be off the charts.Washington Redskins (12-12)At Washington, another team with major problems, and it couldn't happen to a nice owner. Ah, The Daniel. He's Jerry Jones without anySuper Bowl wins. These Redskins are living proof that you cannot buy a Super Bowl. Folks who complain about the Bucs payroll should simply look at this disaster inthe district.The Bucs should have a decent chance to win. A ninth win? Who knows?Detroit Lions (12-19)Things have changed drastically in Detroit with Matthew Stafford out. This is another game the Bucs need to win at home, a chance to beat another team in the rebuilding process. Great opportunity for a win. Couldthis winthe "race to 10"?Seattle Seahawks (12-26)It hasn't been a banner year for the NFC West, and that has helped the Bucs. Here's another game against a team that is in the playoff hunt only because the NFC West is pathetic. At home, good shot for the Bucs.This one will depend on who's healthy and who's not. Still, a winnable game for the Buccaneers.New Orleans Saints (1-2)Could this game possibly be for a playoff berth? Could be for both teams, it's entirely possible. If the Saints have already clinched a spot, then they might pull the old "rest your starters" bunk and open the door for the Buccaneers. Rumors have Drew Brees playing on a knee that may require surgery. A Buc win in New Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
Orleansis not impossible.How Will It End?There you have it, the remaining schedule.How will they finish?How about this:Best scenario, they get breaks, play well, improve, no key injuries: 11-5Worst scenario, they peaked, things don't go well: 7-9Possible/not-out-of-the question: 9-7Probable and not-the-end of the world: 8-8Tell us what you think.
really need to blow these guys out. They need to stomp them, dominate them, the defense needs to take either Clausen or Pike and blow them up big time. No messing around. No upsets. This is a team with no direction right now and using "youth" as an excuse for theirpoor performance. Panthers need to leave Ray-Jay at 1-8.It's time for the Buc "youths" to beat the bejeebers out of this Carolina "youth." No ifs, ands or butts about it. A MUST win to send the Bucs to 6-3.San Francisco 49ers (11-21)Now here's another team in turmoil. Mike Singletary is doing everything he can to get himself fired. This team has won two games and has been awful at best. It's a west-coast road trip, but most will deem this a very winnable game for the Buccaneers. They could get win No. 7.How will the Bucs finish?How will the Bucs finish?A: 11-5, playoff bound baby!22.8%B: 10-6, they win the Road To 10! 46.2%C: 9-7, darn great year!24.8%D: 8-8, way better than most thought.4.8%E: 7-9, second half collapse.1.4%Total votes: 145Baltimore Ravens (11-28)The Ravens are locked in a playoff battle and in the same league defensively with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Asking the Bucs to win on the roadin Baltimore is simply asking too much. Can't see the Bucs getting a win against that D.Atlanta Falcons (12-5)If the Buccaneers are 7-4 heading into this rematch with the Dirty Birds, then this might have a chance to sell out Raymond James. This is a game the Bucs have circled after what happened in Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
Atlanta. After that ending, this team has a good shot to get revenge at home. Yes, a chance for victory. An 8-4 record would simply be off the charts.Washington Redskins (12-12)At Washington, another team with major problems, and it couldn't happen to a nice owner. Ah, The Daniel. He's Jerry Jones without anySuper Bowl wins. These Redskins are living proof that you cannot buy a Super Bowl. Folks who complain about the Bucs payroll should simply look at this disaster inthe district.The Bucs should have a decent chance to win. A ninth win? Who knows?Detroit Lions (12-19)Things have changed drastically in Detroit with Matthew Stafford out. This is another game the Bucs need to win at home, a chance to beat another team in the rebuilding process. Great opportunity for a win. Couldthis winthe "race to 10"?Seattle Seahawks (12-26)It hasn't been a banner year for the NFC West, and that has helped the Bucs. Here's another game against a team that is in the playoff hunt only because the NFC West is pathetic. At home, good shot for the Bucs.This one will depend on who's healthy and who's not. Still, a winnable game for the Buccaneers.New Orleans Saints (1-2)Could this game possibly be for a playoff berth? Could be for both teams, it's entirely possible. If the Saints have already clinched a spot, then they might pull the old "rest your starters" bunk and open the door for the Buccaneers. Rumors have Drew Brees playing on a knee that may require surgery. A Buc win in New Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
Orleansis not impossible.How Will It End?There you have it, the remaining schedule.How will they finish?How about this:Best scenario, they get breaks, play well, improve, no key injuries: 11-5Worst scenario, they peaked, things don't go well: 7-9Possible/not-out-of-the question: 9-7Probable and not-the-end of the world: 8-8Tell us what you think.
19 Dec 10 Jeff Reed: Pittsburgh Steelers Kick Their Kicker To the Curb
Karl Walter/Getty ImagesJeff Reed went off in the Steelers locker room Sunday night moments after his team was throttled by the New England Patriots at Heinz Field. When he was done fragments of his career were found scattered about his locker. Anyone who had heard the Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
outburst and had seen his t-shirt which read "Haters Hate" knew that there was no saving Reed from himself this time.Reed was officially shown the door on Tuesday by the Steelers in part because of his sudden erratic kicking, but as much for his erratic behavior off of the field. Yes, there were seven misses this season including the high school-ish one Sunday night, but there was also that towel dispenser in New Alexandria, the cops on the South Side, and the torn up limo just to name a few.The Steelers had the most accurate kicker in the NFL in 2007, 2008, and 2009 which is saying quite something when you play in the Bermuda Triangle of kickers, Heinz Field. Footballs do strange things in the open ended grass field; plug like lawn darts when punted, swirl insanely off line Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
even when well struck and sometimes simply refuse to go through the uprights. For most of his career Reed had the place figured out.What Reed hadn't figured out was that kickers who miss gimme kicks but not towel dispensers quickly find themselves out of work.Reed has spent most of 2010 angry that the Steelers handed him the franchise tag and a one year check for $2,483,000 rather than the long term contract that he had demanded. Rather than be thankful to be taking home the largest paycheck of any Steeler kicker in history and kicking to prove a point, Reed suddenly went as erratic on the field has he has been off of it. Short kickoffs are one thing, seven misses another. Reed had set up an explosive situation and Sunday night he lit the match.Really good kickers are very hard to find in the middle of a season, a fact not lost on the Steelers. But they really had no choice with Reed after he threw Heinz Field, the media and a goodly chunk of SteelerNation under the bus Sunday night. There is one set of rules for afranchise QB, another for wide receivers (even if they are the Super Bowl MVP) andyet another for kickers. Good kickers are hard to find. Bad kickers can be replaced in a single workout.To that end theSteelers signed Shaun Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
Suisham Tuesday for the balance of the season. Suisham converted almost 86 percent of his kicks in Washingtonlast season but is only a temporary measure at best.Somewhere deep down inside there might still be a good kicker lurking within Jeff Reed. But until he kicks the anger to the curb he and we will never know.
2010年12月18日星期六
18 Dec 10 Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles Will Win the Super Bowl
Doug Benc/Getty ImagesBy the way this is a money back guarantee. If Kevin Kolb were to become the Eagles starting quarterback between now and the end of the season, I'm pulling out. The Eagles are 2-3 when Kolb either starts or plays most of the game. They are 4-0 when Michael Vick plays the Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
entire game. Most of the reason is because one is better than the other. Kolb has thrown 63.4% of his passes for 1,035 yards, 6TD and 4INT. Vick has yet to throw an interception, has thrown 11 touchdowns and has ran for 341 yards and 4TD. And it's not just the individual stats. Take the always effective eyeball test. With Vick, the team plays with so much more energy and the opponents have to prepare for so much more than they would for Kolb. Vick's running has opened up the running game for LeSean McCoy and J. Harrison, who had a 100 yard night against the Redskins. The Eagles will clearly make the playoffs and I don't think anyone is going to be beating Vick anytime soon.
entire game. Most of the reason is because one is better than the other. Kolb has thrown 63.4% of his passes for 1,035 yards, 6TD and 4INT. Vick has yet to throw an interception, has thrown 11 touchdowns and has ran for 341 yards and 4TD. And it's not just the individual stats. Take the always effective eyeball test. With Vick, the team plays with so much more energy and the opponents have to prepare for so much more than they would for Kolb. Vick's running has opened up the running game for LeSean McCoy and J. Harrison, who had a 100 yard night against the Redskins. The Eagles will clearly make the playoffs and I don't think anyone is going to be beating Vick anytime soon.
2010年12月17日星期五
17 Dec 10 Chicago Bears: No More 'Jay Cutler Equals Jeff George 2.0' Articles
Cutler is Jeff George 2.0 comparisons already. This comparison is premature to make and merit-less. Before the Bear’s went on a three game winning streak, a lot of writers were circulating a lazy comparison between Jay Cutler Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
and Jeff George.Now the Bears are 7-3, and it is time for a rebuttal. Jay Cutler will likely never be a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. That is acceptable, because he could be the guy to win the Bears a Super Bowl—not this year, but crazier things have happened. While it would be unexpected, the Bears could probably make the Super Bowl this year with a couple lucky bounces in a down year for the NFC.Cutler’s two years in Chicago have been marked by lousy receiving, dismal protection by the line, and inconsistencies on the part of the offensive coaching staff. The Bears have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, Forte is unable to carry the ground burden like the running backs do on most elite teams, and Cutler’s statistics are still respectable.Jay Cutler has completed over 60 percent of his throws, and averaged over seven yards an attempt throughout his career. This is typically a reference point on whether a QB is good or bad. If Cutler had elite receivers and the pass protection elite NFL quarterbacks not named Roethlisberger get, he would likely have better stats. Throw in a more effective running back than Forte who is actually a backfield receiver in disguise, and the Bears would be a team that deserved their 7-3 record.The Bears have looked downright terrible in a few games this year, and Cutler was definitely a key accomplice in these defeats. While his offensive line was equally as guilty, they were no where to be found, as Cutler was routinely sacked. He certainly held the ball too long on a number of these sacks, but look at the way the most effective passers are able to move around for seven to eight seconds at times. Most elite passers get much better protection than Cutler.Jeff George was a cancer to every locker room he was a part of. Jay Cutler is just a primma donna. Jeff Cutler’s record through his first five seasons was 21-44. Jay Cutler’s is 31-32. Jeff George completed over sixty percent of his passing attempts just two times in his first five season, while Cutler has done it four timesCutler has over twice the rushing yards George accumulated in his entire career. Cutler will not win any games with his legs, but at least he adds a dynamic George lacked, extending drives with a scramble. Cutler also already has more than half the passing yards George accumulated in 12 seasons.Jeff George was picked first overall, and received the richest contract in rookie history. Jay Cutler had hype, Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
but nowhere near the amount of hype George generated going into the NFL. Jeff George was immensely talented, everyone knew that, but he never had a statistically sound season until he was 27. Cutler is only 26.If you compare Cutler’s stats to Super Bowl winning quarterbacks Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, they are similar at this point in their careers. Manning and Roethlisberger both played on better teams than Cutler, yet Cutler’s numbers are pretty much the same as Manning, and Roethlisberger’s are only slightly better.Jay Cutler may never win a Super Bowl, but if you watched Kyle Orton nearly get intercepted on every one of his pass attempts Monday night in a drubbing against the Chargers, you cannot say Jay Cutler was a mistake. Orton has accumulated lots of stats in garbage time, and his lofty numbers have only earned the Broncos a 3-7 record. Orton’s face was constantly bearing signs of a quarterback aware that he may not start next year, although he is still a good fantasy option thanks to his fourth quarter “heroics.”Cutler may have been a baby during the whole situation with Josh McDaniels, but McDaniels did not handle it well either. McDaniels likely will be fired before next season. He led the Broncos to a pitiful record this year, and his ego cost the team the playoffs last year. How much does Josh McDaniels really know anyways? In due time, we will be hearing discouraged Denver fans longing for the Cutler days.Jay Cutler may never live up to the hype he gained following a Pro Bowl season in 2008, his third year in the league, but he will be the Chicago Bear’s quarterback for some time. Very few quarterbacks have ever held up to the hype Cutler received following his performances early in his career. He’s more than likely not going to the Hall of Fame, but he is the best quarterback the Bears have had since Jim McMahon. If the Bears ever get a good Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
offense around him you never know, Cutler could be one of the most famous quarterbacks in NFL history. If he brings a Super Bowl victory to Chicago, he will forever be a legend there, and last I checked there are far worst things for a quarterback from small town Indiana to amount too. Just ask Rex Grossman.
and Jeff George.Now the Bears are 7-3, and it is time for a rebuttal. Jay Cutler will likely never be a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. That is acceptable, because he could be the guy to win the Bears a Super Bowl—not this year, but crazier things have happened. While it would be unexpected, the Bears could probably make the Super Bowl this year with a couple lucky bounces in a down year for the NFC.Cutler’s two years in Chicago have been marked by lousy receiving, dismal protection by the line, and inconsistencies on the part of the offensive coaching staff. The Bears have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, Forte is unable to carry the ground burden like the running backs do on most elite teams, and Cutler’s statistics are still respectable.Jay Cutler has completed over 60 percent of his throws, and averaged over seven yards an attempt throughout his career. This is typically a reference point on whether a QB is good or bad. If Cutler had elite receivers and the pass protection elite NFL quarterbacks not named Roethlisberger get, he would likely have better stats. Throw in a more effective running back than Forte who is actually a backfield receiver in disguise, and the Bears would be a team that deserved their 7-3 record.The Bears have looked downright terrible in a few games this year, and Cutler was definitely a key accomplice in these defeats. While his offensive line was equally as guilty, they were no where to be found, as Cutler was routinely sacked. He certainly held the ball too long on a number of these sacks, but look at the way the most effective passers are able to move around for seven to eight seconds at times. Most elite passers get much better protection than Cutler.Jeff George was a cancer to every locker room he was a part of. Jay Cutler is just a primma donna. Jeff Cutler’s record through his first five seasons was 21-44. Jay Cutler’s is 31-32. Jeff George completed over sixty percent of his passing attempts just two times in his first five season, while Cutler has done it four timesCutler has over twice the rushing yards George accumulated in his entire career. Cutler will not win any games with his legs, but at least he adds a dynamic George lacked, extending drives with a scramble. Cutler also already has more than half the passing yards George accumulated in 12 seasons.Jeff George was picked first overall, and received the richest contract in rookie history. Jay Cutler had hype, Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
but nowhere near the amount of hype George generated going into the NFL. Jeff George was immensely talented, everyone knew that, but he never had a statistically sound season until he was 27. Cutler is only 26.If you compare Cutler’s stats to Super Bowl winning quarterbacks Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, they are similar at this point in their careers. Manning and Roethlisberger both played on better teams than Cutler, yet Cutler’s numbers are pretty much the same as Manning, and Roethlisberger’s are only slightly better.Jay Cutler may never win a Super Bowl, but if you watched Kyle Orton nearly get intercepted on every one of his pass attempts Monday night in a drubbing against the Chargers, you cannot say Jay Cutler was a mistake. Orton has accumulated lots of stats in garbage time, and his lofty numbers have only earned the Broncos a 3-7 record. Orton’s face was constantly bearing signs of a quarterback aware that he may not start next year, although he is still a good fantasy option thanks to his fourth quarter “heroics.”Cutler may have been a baby during the whole situation with Josh McDaniels, but McDaniels did not handle it well either. McDaniels likely will be fired before next season. He led the Broncos to a pitiful record this year, and his ego cost the team the playoffs last year. How much does Josh McDaniels really know anyways? In due time, we will be hearing discouraged Denver fans longing for the Cutler days.Jay Cutler may never live up to the hype he gained following a Pro Bowl season in 2008, his third year in the league, but he will be the Chicago Bear’s quarterback for some time. Very few quarterbacks have ever held up to the hype Cutler received following his performances early in his career. He’s more than likely not going to the Hall of Fame, but he is the best quarterback the Bears have had since Jim McMahon. If the Bears ever get a good Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
offense around him you never know, Cutler could be one of the most famous quarterbacks in NFL history. If he brings a Super Bowl victory to Chicago, he will forever be a legend there, and last I checked there are far worst things for a quarterback from small town Indiana to amount too. Just ask Rex Grossman.
2010年12月16日星期四
16 Dec 10 Vince Young: 50 Ways To Quit the Tennessee Titans
Grant Halverson/Getty ImagesSATIRE ; "The problem is all inside your head," Jeff once said to me.The answer is easy if you take it logically.And he said he'd help in my struggle to be free.There must be 50 ways to quit the Titans.He said it's not to my advantage to dish out this advice.But this isReebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
what you wanted, don't say I wasn't nice.I'll repeat myself, cause with you I need to say things twice.There must be 50 ways to quit the Titans.Fifty ways to quit the Titans.Just bust up your thumb, DumbToss off your pads, DadThrow 'em in the stands, ManJust get yourself freeWalk out in a huff, RuffTurn your back on your mates, MateJust drop off your key, LeeJeff Gross/Getty ImagesAnd get yourself freeJust bust up your thumb, DumbToss off your pads, DadThrow 'em in the stands, ManJust get yourself freeWalk out in a huff, RuffTurn your back on your mates, MateJust drop off your key, LeeAnd get yourself freeHe said it grieves me so to see you in such pain.Having to think and use my mind, it always is a strain.Cause I failed the Wonderlic, don't think Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
I need explain.About the 50 ways to quit the Titans.Just bust up your thumb, DumbToss off your pads, DadThrow 'em in the stands, ManJust get yourself freeWalk out in a huff, RuffTurn your back on your mates, MateJust drop off your key, LeeAnd set yourself free
what you wanted, don't say I wasn't nice.I'll repeat myself, cause with you I need to say things twice.There must be 50 ways to quit the Titans.Fifty ways to quit the Titans.Just bust up your thumb, DumbToss off your pads, DadThrow 'em in the stands, ManJust get yourself freeWalk out in a huff, RuffTurn your back on your mates, MateJust drop off your key, LeeJeff Gross/Getty ImagesAnd get yourself freeJust bust up your thumb, DumbToss off your pads, DadThrow 'em in the stands, ManJust get yourself freeWalk out in a huff, RuffTurn your back on your mates, MateJust drop off your key, LeeAnd get yourself freeHe said it grieves me so to see you in such pain.Having to think and use my mind, it always is a strain.Cause I failed the Wonderlic, don't think Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
I need explain.About the 50 ways to quit the Titans.Just bust up your thumb, DumbToss off your pads, DadThrow 'em in the stands, ManJust get yourself freeWalk out in a huff, RuffTurn your back on your mates, MateJust drop off your key, LeeAnd set yourself free
2010年12月15日星期三
Buffalo Bills: Steve Johnson Tweets About Game, Clears Air on God Tweet
Rick Stewart/Getty ImagesAfter the Buffalo Bills 19-16 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Orchard Park on Sunday, wide receiver Steve Johnson, who dropped the game-winning touchdown in the endzone during the extra session, sent out a controversial tweet that many thought was aimed at nfl jerseys
God, citing the Lord himself as the reason why he didn't come up with the football.Many were rubbed the wrong way.Johnson did voluntarily meet with the media following his heart-breaking drop and was teary-eyed during his press conference.The tweet was discussed by many non-sports media outlets, but on Monday evening, Johnson cleared the air via Twitter. Johnson has a huge presence on the social networking site is constantly engaging with fans.Here are his tweets as he sent them out...."I learned A lot Within 24hrs. Saw Both Sides.(Ups&Dwns) I AM HAPPY & THANKFUL 4 YESTERDAY! w/out Sunday iWldnt have grew closer w/The Lord!!"And No I Did Not Blame God People! Seriously??!? CMon! I Simply Cried Out And Asked Why? Jus Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Like yal did wen sumthin went wrong n ur life!""So Before Yall..well I'm pretty sure you've already judged me. I hope you guys look n the mirror. I dnt blame u 4 being mad my gm I WAS 2!""Spoke To Friends Fam Teammates and Most Importantly I Spoke With My Wife. I Honestly Believe Evrything Happens For A Reason! Everything!""S/O To My Real Friends And Fanollowers! Also Major S/O To Them Bills Fans! I Don't Play For Myself and AnyOne who know ME knows"I PLAY W/PASSION AND EMOTION! I HURT WEN I DNT MAKE A PLAY BKUZ iKNO THAT'S WHA MY TEAM,FAM,N MY CITIES WANT TO SEE! N THAS A WINs N PLAYS!""I can continue but ill leave it at that! N THANKS AGAIN! Oh Yea And S/O To the Bills Fans That football jerseys
Bash Bills Players! Real Talk Its Still Luv!!"Take those how you want, but if you ask me, Steve Johnson is a passionate and competitive football player with class.Hard not to root for him to rebound. He's got all the potential to be a star in the
God, citing the Lord himself as the reason why he didn't come up with the football.Many were rubbed the wrong way.Johnson did voluntarily meet with the media following his heart-breaking drop and was teary-eyed during his press conference.The tweet was discussed by many non-sports media outlets, but on Monday evening, Johnson cleared the air via Twitter. Johnson has a huge presence on the social networking site is constantly engaging with fans.Here are his tweets as he sent them out...."I learned A lot Within 24hrs. Saw Both Sides.(Ups&Dwns) I AM HAPPY & THANKFUL 4 YESTERDAY! w/out Sunday iWldnt have grew closer w/The Lord!!"And No I Did Not Blame God People! Seriously??!? CMon! I Simply Cried Out And Asked Why? Jus Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Like yal did wen sumthin went wrong n ur life!""So Before Yall..well I'm pretty sure you've already judged me. I hope you guys look n the mirror. I dnt blame u 4 being mad my gm I WAS 2!""Spoke To Friends Fam Teammates and Most Importantly I Spoke With My Wife. I Honestly Believe Evrything Happens For A Reason! Everything!""S/O To My Real Friends And Fanollowers! Also Major S/O To Them Bills Fans! I Don't Play For Myself and AnyOne who know ME knows"I PLAY W/PASSION AND EMOTION! I HURT WEN I DNT MAKE A PLAY BKUZ iKNO THAT'S WHA MY TEAM,FAM,N MY CITIES WANT TO SEE! N THAS A WINs N PLAYS!""I can continue but ill leave it at that! N THANKS AGAIN! Oh Yea And S/O To the Bills Fans That football jerseys
Bash Bills Players! Real Talk Its Still Luv!!"Take those how you want, but if you ask me, Steve Johnson is a passionate and competitive football player with class.Hard not to root for him to rebound. He's got all the potential to be a star in the
2010年12月13日星期一
Denver Broncos: Could They Be Poised for an Upset at the Kansas City Chiefs?
The Broncos might have more in the tank than people think for the game in KC.Justin Edmonds/Getty ImagesGiven the week that was, it’s hard to fathom the Denver Broncos pulling off a big road win following another week of drama at Dove Valley.Last Friday the Denver Broncos and head coach Josh McDaniels were fined for their part in what is now known as Spygate II.It was a situation that saw the team terminate video director Steve Scarnecchia, who now faces a lifetime ban from the NFL.Certainly earlynfl jerseys
in the week following the home loss to the St. Louis Rams, the situation began to take its toll on the Josh McDaniels regime.Without a doubt McDaniels' popularity in Denver is at an all-time low, so much so that by late Tuesday Broncos owner Pat Bowlen had statements that both endorsed Josh for another season and stated that he was still under review.Don’t be fooled—while Spygate II did not have an immediate impact on the Broncos players for last week’s game, this week it certainly has. For any team to have their current coaches' job on the line, along with their own, that sort of pressure can be a tipping point.Mr. Bowlen himself is spending his days at practice, something he has always done, but certainly it’s the thing he has done more of Dallas Cowboys jersey
historically speaking when he felt his team needed a change. In McDaniels' case that may be reformulating the front office and coaching staff to better support the head coach, who clearly needs to relinquish some of the control over his team.With such a foggy situation and winter essentially here and on the way, you’d think it would be dark and gloomy in the Mile High City this week, but it wasn’t. It was sunny and cool, just like the blaring music heard Thursday afternoon as much as a block away from the facility.What that indicates is the team was working to shake off the early criticism of the week. The Denver Broncos are probably going to show up in Kansas City as a very loose bunch with an “us against the world” mentality.Don’t be surprised if the Broncos are poised and ready. They do have the knowledge of their prior beatdown of the Chiefs in Denver, and what a motivator that will be for Kansas City.If ever Josh McDaniels was going to salvage his time in Denver, it is now. It has to start now; he is up against it with a 3-2 count and two outs, down by a lot of runs, but it’s not insurmountable. McDaniels, however, has no choice but to deliver with some consecutive hits. His only out is in trusting his team.The weather in Kansas City is forecasted to be a very cool 36 degrees and cloudy.It’s a perfect way to face the cloudy issues head-on in what promises to be an interesting game.The Kansas City Chiefs appear to be a team on the way up, and the Broncos have been tanking more than the Titanic, only the captain has refused to go down with the ship. Perhaps he’s in denial, but his competitive streak won’t allow him to surrender either. That is something that gives McDaniels and the Broncos more than a shooter's chance to win in old KC.Currently the Broncos are a nine-point dog to the Chiefs, yet Kansas City has acted like they already own the division, even after losing so football jersey
handily to Denver just three short weeks ago. Keep in mind Josh’s team is largely filled with Josh’s guys who won’t go down without a fight.So if you think KC has this game hands down, you might be right, but don’t be surprised if Denver is poised for the upset.
in the week following the home loss to the St. Louis Rams, the situation began to take its toll on the Josh McDaniels regime.Without a doubt McDaniels' popularity in Denver is at an all-time low, so much so that by late Tuesday Broncos owner Pat Bowlen had statements that both endorsed Josh for another season and stated that he was still under review.Don’t be fooled—while Spygate II did not have an immediate impact on the Broncos players for last week’s game, this week it certainly has. For any team to have their current coaches' job on the line, along with their own, that sort of pressure can be a tipping point.Mr. Bowlen himself is spending his days at practice, something he has always done, but certainly it’s the thing he has done more of Dallas Cowboys jersey
historically speaking when he felt his team needed a change. In McDaniels' case that may be reformulating the front office and coaching staff to better support the head coach, who clearly needs to relinquish some of the control over his team.With such a foggy situation and winter essentially here and on the way, you’d think it would be dark and gloomy in the Mile High City this week, but it wasn’t. It was sunny and cool, just like the blaring music heard Thursday afternoon as much as a block away from the facility.What that indicates is the team was working to shake off the early criticism of the week. The Denver Broncos are probably going to show up in Kansas City as a very loose bunch with an “us against the world” mentality.Don’t be surprised if the Broncos are poised and ready. They do have the knowledge of their prior beatdown of the Chiefs in Denver, and what a motivator that will be for Kansas City.If ever Josh McDaniels was going to salvage his time in Denver, it is now. It has to start now; he is up against it with a 3-2 count and two outs, down by a lot of runs, but it’s not insurmountable. McDaniels, however, has no choice but to deliver with some consecutive hits. His only out is in trusting his team.The weather in Kansas City is forecasted to be a very cool 36 degrees and cloudy.It’s a perfect way to face the cloudy issues head-on in what promises to be an interesting game.The Kansas City Chiefs appear to be a team on the way up, and the Broncos have been tanking more than the Titanic, only the captain has refused to go down with the ship. Perhaps he’s in denial, but his competitive streak won’t allow him to surrender either. That is something that gives McDaniels and the Broncos more than a shooter's chance to win in old KC.Currently the Broncos are a nine-point dog to the Chiefs, yet Kansas City has acted like they already own the division, even after losing so football jersey
handily to Denver just three short weeks ago. Keep in mind Josh’s team is largely filled with Josh’s guys who won’t go down without a fight.So if you think KC has this game hands down, you might be right, but don’t be surprised if Denver is poised for the upset.
2010年12月12日星期日
NFL SpreadSHREDDER, Week 14 East and Eaten: Oakland Raiders To Fail vs. Jaguars
SpreadSHREDDER Week 13 Record ATS: 0-3Overall Record ATS: 17-18-1Overall Record vs. Wagering Total: 2-2The SpreadSHREDDER went 0-3 for the second time in history, but that simply means we now must do our best impression of GM by bouncing back and then shooting a commercial telling 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
people about how we bounced back.JACKSONVILLE (-5) OVER OAKLANDWhile it is unacceptable for the No. 1 teams in the NFC and AFC West to have such perennially weak divisions, there is a plausible reason as to why these divisions catch such annual hell in NFL.The Eastern time zone is the geographical authority in the NFL, and oftentimes teams from out West must adjust to these time zones, negative body clocks and all.Come Sunday, the Raiders must travel across two time zones to play the Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 p.m. EST, which is really 10 a.m. Raider time as opposed to the Raiders' regular start time of 1 p.m. PST.This is bad news indeed, as in their last seven games in the Eastern time zone, the Raiders are 1-6 ATS. Keep in mind that of their last six losses in the Eastern time zone, the Raiders lost those games by an average of 24.67 points.Now, while handicapper stats like that are for marks, it is the fact that these particular stats are able to be explained (see first three paragraphs) that intrigues us to pick against the Raiders in this spot.The Raiders will be coming off of an emotional divisional win against the Chargers, and must now try to stop the second-best running team in the league with a piss-poor run defense that ranks 23rd in the NFL.Expect a flat Raider team to get blown-out by a Jacksonville Jaguars team with playoff hopes as Oakland continues its Jekyll (PST) and Hyde (EST) act. JACKSONVILLE, 37-7CLEVELAND (+1) OVER BUFFALO All the Cleveland Browns do is run the ball with a superior running back in Peyton Hillis, and all the Buffalo Bills do is give up big yards and touchdowns on the ground.The Browns have been fantastic against the spread vs. teams from the AFC East this season (their only loss came in 36 Bettis Black Jersey
overtime against the Jets in a fluke finish), mainly because Eric Mangini used to coach in this division during his days as head coach of the New York Jets.Sure, the Bills have a new coaching staff, rendering some of Mangini's intel virtually useless. But this should play even more into the Brown's hands as this team hitting its stride gets to play a Bills team under a first year coaching staff in a game that has proved to be Cleveland's specialty this year: Smash mouth, cold weather football. Peyton Hillis should have a big day as the Browns roll in Buffalo. CLEVELAND, 28-10ATLANTA (-7.5) OVER CAROLINA The Atlanta Falcons know that a win in Carolina will bring them one step closer to a division crown, and they cannot afford to slip up with the Saints coming on strong late.The Falcons will look to run the ball, with a surging Michael Turner, against one of the worst run defenses in the league, and an improved secondary will look to take advantage of poor quarterback play from Jimmy Clausen.Despite this being a road contest for the 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
Falcons, there's value in the current line as the Falcons play a meaningful game against a lame duck coaching staff within their own division, and we're jumping on the line early before it inflates to near-double digits.Many may feel that this is a 'trap' spot for the Falcons, but fear not Falcon fans: Your choke job is waiting for you in Seattle next week.ATLANTA
people about how we bounced back.JACKSONVILLE (-5) OVER OAKLANDWhile it is unacceptable for the No. 1 teams in the NFC and AFC West to have such perennially weak divisions, there is a plausible reason as to why these divisions catch such annual hell in NFL.The Eastern time zone is the geographical authority in the NFL, and oftentimes teams from out West must adjust to these time zones, negative body clocks and all.Come Sunday, the Raiders must travel across two time zones to play the Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 p.m. EST, which is really 10 a.m. Raider time as opposed to the Raiders' regular start time of 1 p.m. PST.This is bad news indeed, as in their last seven games in the Eastern time zone, the Raiders are 1-6 ATS. Keep in mind that of their last six losses in the Eastern time zone, the Raiders lost those games by an average of 24.67 points.Now, while handicapper stats like that are for marks, it is the fact that these particular stats are able to be explained (see first three paragraphs) that intrigues us to pick against the Raiders in this spot.The Raiders will be coming off of an emotional divisional win against the Chargers, and must now try to stop the second-best running team in the league with a piss-poor run defense that ranks 23rd in the NFL.Expect a flat Raider team to get blown-out by a Jacksonville Jaguars team with playoff hopes as Oakland continues its Jekyll (PST) and Hyde (EST) act. JACKSONVILLE, 37-7CLEVELAND (+1) OVER BUFFALO All the Cleveland Browns do is run the ball with a superior running back in Peyton Hillis, and all the Buffalo Bills do is give up big yards and touchdowns on the ground.The Browns have been fantastic against the spread vs. teams from the AFC East this season (their only loss came in 36 Bettis Black Jersey
overtime against the Jets in a fluke finish), mainly because Eric Mangini used to coach in this division during his days as head coach of the New York Jets.Sure, the Bills have a new coaching staff, rendering some of Mangini's intel virtually useless. But this should play even more into the Brown's hands as this team hitting its stride gets to play a Bills team under a first year coaching staff in a game that has proved to be Cleveland's specialty this year: Smash mouth, cold weather football. Peyton Hillis should have a big day as the Browns roll in Buffalo. CLEVELAND, 28-10ATLANTA (-7.5) OVER CAROLINA The Atlanta Falcons know that a win in Carolina will bring them one step closer to a division crown, and they cannot afford to slip up with the Saints coming on strong late.The Falcons will look to run the ball, with a surging Michael Turner, against one of the worst run defenses in the league, and an improved secondary will look to take advantage of poor quarterback play from Jimmy Clausen.Despite this being a road contest for the 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
Falcons, there's value in the current line as the Falcons play a meaningful game against a lame duck coaching staff within their own division, and we're jumping on the line early before it inflates to near-double digits.Many may feel that this is a 'trap' spot for the Falcons, but fear not Falcon fans: Your choke job is waiting for you in Seattle next week.ATLANTA
2010年12月11日星期六
Pittsburgh Steelers "Sitting on the black-and-gold bubble
The Pittsburgh Steelers are halfway through the preseason, which means the next round of cuts isn't far off. With just a few moments left for some players to earn a roster spot, let's see who's sitting on the black-and-gold bubble.Quarterback Charlie BatchBatch has been a solid backup, mentor and extra coach in Pittsburgh, but his collarbone injury and the subsequent signing of Byron Leftwich have put the team in an awkward position. Batch is in the last year of his contract, so it doesn't make sense to put him on Jets 6 Sanchez Jersey
injured reserve this season. Meanwhile, rookie Dennis Dixon has shown the skills to earn a roster spot. That leaves the Steelers two choices: Keep four QBs or cut Batch. Retaining the extra quarterback seems like wasted roster space.Safety Tyrone CarterCarter has been with the Steelers since the 2004 season, but when he filled in for an injured Troy Polamalu last year, it was obvious that he wasn't of the same pedigree. If he was only competing with this year's sixth-round draft pick, Ryan Mundy, he may have the roster spot locked down. But the Steelers have been letting some corners take reps at safety, including Deshea Townsend, William Gay and Roy Lewis. Pittsburgh likes players who are flexible at different positions, so the organization could be willing to let Mundy develop if it has some others who could slide in if Polamalu gets hurt again. Carter's future with the team may rest on the relative health of the rest of the secondary. Returner/receiver Willie ReidThe Steelers drafted Reid in the third round two years ago with the hope that he would specialize on returns. His rookie season was hindered by injury and last year's campaign was plagued by mistakes and lackluster performances. So far this preseason, Reid hasn't really done anything impressive as either a returner or receiver. Four Pittsburgh receivers -- Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Nate Washington and Limas Sweed -- are already all but guaranteed roster spots; to grab that fifth WR spot, then, Reid is going to have to finally live up to his rookie expectations in the return game and beat out Eddie Drummond, who currently appears to have an upper hand (but not by much).Receiver Dallas BakerThere were high hopes for Baker coming into camp. The 2007 sixth-round pick turned some heads last season by making plays on the practice squad, and he spent a lot of time with coaches in the offseason learning more about the offense. When Pittsburgh cut wideout Cedrick Wilson, it left the door open for Baker. However, in the first preseason game, Baker was nowhere to be found against the Eagles. In last week's game against the Bills, he made more of an impact, snagging three catches for 57 yards. 4 Brett Favre White jersey
He's going to have to do that and more in these final exhibition games if he wants to convince the Steelers to keep him as a fifth receiver, especially because Baker doesn't contribute on returns.*In other news, the five-year contract extension the Steelers gave defensive captain James Farrior this week means he'll be 38 when the agreement expires; who says Pittsburgh doesn't keep its older vets?
injured reserve this season. Meanwhile, rookie Dennis Dixon has shown the skills to earn a roster spot. That leaves the Steelers two choices: Keep four QBs or cut Batch. Retaining the extra quarterback seems like wasted roster space.Safety Tyrone CarterCarter has been with the Steelers since the 2004 season, but when he filled in for an injured Troy Polamalu last year, it was obvious that he wasn't of the same pedigree. If he was only competing with this year's sixth-round draft pick, Ryan Mundy, he may have the roster spot locked down. But the Steelers have been letting some corners take reps at safety, including Deshea Townsend, William Gay and Roy Lewis. Pittsburgh likes players who are flexible at different positions, so the organization could be willing to let Mundy develop if it has some others who could slide in if Polamalu gets hurt again. Carter's future with the team may rest on the relative health of the rest of the secondary. Returner/receiver Willie ReidThe Steelers drafted Reid in the third round two years ago with the hope that he would specialize on returns. His rookie season was hindered by injury and last year's campaign was plagued by mistakes and lackluster performances. So far this preseason, Reid hasn't really done anything impressive as either a returner or receiver. Four Pittsburgh receivers -- Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Nate Washington and Limas Sweed -- are already all but guaranteed roster spots; to grab that fifth WR spot, then, Reid is going to have to finally live up to his rookie expectations in the return game and beat out Eddie Drummond, who currently appears to have an upper hand (but not by much).Receiver Dallas BakerThere were high hopes for Baker coming into camp. The 2007 sixth-round pick turned some heads last season by making plays on the practice squad, and he spent a lot of time with coaches in the offseason learning more about the offense. When Pittsburgh cut wideout Cedrick Wilson, it left the door open for Baker. However, in the first preseason game, Baker was nowhere to be found against the Eagles. In last week's game against the Bills, he made more of an impact, snagging three catches for 57 yards. 4 Brett Favre White jersey
He's going to have to do that and more in these final exhibition games if he wants to convince the Steelers to keep him as a fifth receiver, especially because Baker doesn't contribute on returns.*In other news, the five-year contract extension the Steelers gave defensive captain James Farrior this week means he'll be 38 when the agreement expires; who says Pittsburgh doesn't keep its older vets?
2010年12月9日星期四
: San Francisco 49ers Keys to Stopping San Diego Chargers Offense
The San Diego Chargers' offense is ranked sixth in the league. The unit averages over 350 yards and 25 points per game, and is loaded with weapons at each of the skill positions.Phillip Rivers is proving each week that he was worthy of a top five selection in the 2004 draft, having passed his way to a 94.5 efficiency rating through four games. Tight end Antonio Gates is second on the team in receptions and is always a threat inside the red zone. Keenan McCardell and Eric Parker are sure-handed, capable receivers. Running back Michael Turner is averaging an astounding 6.8 yards per carry in spot duty. And, of course, there's LaDainian Tomlinson -- arguably the best dual-threat back in the entire NFL.Then there's the San Francisco defense. Ranked 26th in the league and allowing more than 350 43 Polamalu white jersey
yards and 29 points per game.So how can the much-maligned 49er defense keep the Chargers out of the end zone? What does it need to do in order to keep the Bolts from turning the game into a carbon-copy of the debacle in Kansas City? It all comes down to three things:1. The defense needs to pressure Phillip Rivers. Sacks are not really necessary (though they will obviously help), they just need to make him rush a throw or two. He's not the most mobile quarterback in the league, so they should be able to affect a few of his throws if they can get a decent pass rush from their D-line.2. Manny Lawson needs to impact the game in some way; however, having him cover savvy veterans like Tomlinson and Gates one-on-one is not going to produce the desired results. Remember what happened with Tony Gonzalez? He's still learning his new position. Remember, he was a speed-rushing defensive end in college. 3. They need to account for and match up with the speed of Gates and Tomlinson on passing downs. They can not allow either of these two to be matched up on a slower linebacker.But how can the 49ers accomplish all this? What type of defense would be the most effective against the Chargers' offense? How can they pressure Rivers, use Manny Lawson to their advantage, and still match up with the speed of Tomlinson and Gates - San Diego's two leading receivers?To answer the question, I'm going to play the role of NFL defensive coordinator, but first a quick disclaimer. The following paragraphs were written by a member of the media. They are his opinions and do not reflect those of the San Francisco 49ers' coaching staff, front office or players. No coaches were harmed in the writing of this column.With that out of the way, this is what I would do.Despite claims that it runs the 3-4 defense, San Francisco has been lining up in a 4-3 on occasion. So why not keep the idea of the four down linemen but try something a little different against the Chargers?As I mentioned earlier, Manny Lawson needs to impact the game in some way, but he's not ready to cover elite players like Gates and Tomlinson, right? So in order to use his best attribute (speed) to my advantage, I would line him up as a defensive end in obvious passing situations to give the defense a legitimate speed-rush threat off the edge of the line. After all, that's what he did in college. That is why he was taken in the first round of last April's draft. Think about this for a moment, Carolina's Julius Peppers and Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney are arguably the two best pass-rushing defensive ends in the league right now. Yet in their pre-draft workouts, Peppers ran a 4.77 40 and Freeney clocked in at 4.48. Lawson ran a 4.43. Nearly every offensive tackle in the league has trouble stopping Peppers and Freeney when they come off the edge at full speed, so how many of them would be able to slide out in time to block Lawson? "Very few" is the correct answer. In order to help guard against Lawson's speed rush, the offense would be forced to keep a tight end on the line or shift a back to his side during the plays where he was lined as a defensive end. That's one less potential receiver that the rest of the Niners' defense would have to cover. Against the Chargers, that means one of their two leading receivers (Gates & Tomlinson) would potentially be taken away on passing plays.Granted, moving Lawson to the D-line would decrease the overall speed of the linebackers, but an easy fix for that would be to move strong safety Tony Parrish into a hybrid safety/linebacker position. After all, he is good enough at defending the run to help out if the offense were to throw in an unexpected running play, and, aside from Lawson, he's faster than just about any linebacker on the team. Furthermore, by lining Parrish up underneath the secondary, it would allow him to play short to intermediate coverage rather than trying to occupy a deep zone...something he has been inconsistent with all season long.With Parrish lining up next to one of the 'backers, I would bring in Mark Roman or Chad Williams to fill in at the safety position opposite Mike Adams. Let's assume it would be Mark Roman. Along with that, I would bring in even more speed to the formation by lining up CB Sammy Davis as Tomlinson's shadow. If L.T. released on a pass route, Davis would follow. If he stayed in to block, Davis would blitz.This personnel grouping would be accurately described 43 Polamalu black jersey
as a 3-2-6 dime package, but they would line up in a base 4-2-5 nickel formation. It would look something like this:DE: Manny Lawson DT: Bryant Young DT: Anthony Adams DE: Marques Douglas LB: Derek Smith LB: Tony Parrish CB: Walt Harris CB: Shawntae Spencer CB: Sammy DavisS: Mike AdamsS: Mark RomanBy lining up in this type of formation on third-and-long, the Niners would be able to match up with any personnel grouping the Chargers' offense might throw at them. With Lawson rushing off the edge and Tomlinson accounted for at all times, it would ease the burden on the secondary tremendously and help them keep San Diego's offense from getting too comfortable.Then again, I'm just a journalist. What do I know?Have a question or comment? Want to be a part of the next 49ers' Mail Call? E-mail Thomas Sorrell at tsorrell .
yards and 29 points per game.So how can the much-maligned 49er defense keep the Chargers out of the end zone? What does it need to do in order to keep the Bolts from turning the game into a carbon-copy of the debacle in Kansas City? It all comes down to three things:1. The defense needs to pressure Phillip Rivers. Sacks are not really necessary (though they will obviously help), they just need to make him rush a throw or two. He's not the most mobile quarterback in the league, so they should be able to affect a few of his throws if they can get a decent pass rush from their D-line.2. Manny Lawson needs to impact the game in some way; however, having him cover savvy veterans like Tomlinson and Gates one-on-one is not going to produce the desired results. Remember what happened with Tony Gonzalez? He's still learning his new position. Remember, he was a speed-rushing defensive end in college. 3. They need to account for and match up with the speed of Gates and Tomlinson on passing downs. They can not allow either of these two to be matched up on a slower linebacker.But how can the 49ers accomplish all this? What type of defense would be the most effective against the Chargers' offense? How can they pressure Rivers, use Manny Lawson to their advantage, and still match up with the speed of Tomlinson and Gates - San Diego's two leading receivers?To answer the question, I'm going to play the role of NFL defensive coordinator, but first a quick disclaimer. The following paragraphs were written by a member of the media. They are his opinions and do not reflect those of the San Francisco 49ers' coaching staff, front office or players. No coaches were harmed in the writing of this column.With that out of the way, this is what I would do.Despite claims that it runs the 3-4 defense, San Francisco has been lining up in a 4-3 on occasion. So why not keep the idea of the four down linemen but try something a little different against the Chargers?As I mentioned earlier, Manny Lawson needs to impact the game in some way, but he's not ready to cover elite players like Gates and Tomlinson, right? So in order to use his best attribute (speed) to my advantage, I would line him up as a defensive end in obvious passing situations to give the defense a legitimate speed-rush threat off the edge of the line. After all, that's what he did in college. That is why he was taken in the first round of last April's draft. Think about this for a moment, Carolina's Julius Peppers and Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney are arguably the two best pass-rushing defensive ends in the league right now. Yet in their pre-draft workouts, Peppers ran a 4.77 40 and Freeney clocked in at 4.48. Lawson ran a 4.43. Nearly every offensive tackle in the league has trouble stopping Peppers and Freeney when they come off the edge at full speed, so how many of them would be able to slide out in time to block Lawson? "Very few" is the correct answer. In order to help guard against Lawson's speed rush, the offense would be forced to keep a tight end on the line or shift a back to his side during the plays where he was lined as a defensive end. That's one less potential receiver that the rest of the Niners' defense would have to cover. Against the Chargers, that means one of their two leading receivers (Gates & Tomlinson) would potentially be taken away on passing plays.Granted, moving Lawson to the D-line would decrease the overall speed of the linebackers, but an easy fix for that would be to move strong safety Tony Parrish into a hybrid safety/linebacker position. After all, he is good enough at defending the run to help out if the offense were to throw in an unexpected running play, and, aside from Lawson, he's faster than just about any linebacker on the team. Furthermore, by lining Parrish up underneath the secondary, it would allow him to play short to intermediate coverage rather than trying to occupy a deep zone...something he has been inconsistent with all season long.With Parrish lining up next to one of the 'backers, I would bring in Mark Roman or Chad Williams to fill in at the safety position opposite Mike Adams. Let's assume it would be Mark Roman. Along with that, I would bring in even more speed to the formation by lining up CB Sammy Davis as Tomlinson's shadow. If L.T. released on a pass route, Davis would follow. If he stayed in to block, Davis would blitz.This personnel grouping would be accurately described 43 Polamalu black jersey
as a 3-2-6 dime package, but they would line up in a base 4-2-5 nickel formation. It would look something like this:DE: Manny Lawson DT: Bryant Young DT: Anthony Adams DE: Marques Douglas LB: Derek Smith LB: Tony Parrish CB: Walt Harris CB: Shawntae Spencer CB: Sammy DavisS: Mike AdamsS: Mark RomanBy lining up in this type of formation on third-and-long, the Niners would be able to match up with any personnel grouping the Chargers' offense might throw at them. With Lawson rushing off the edge and Tomlinson accounted for at all times, it would ease the burden on the secondary tremendously and help them keep San Diego's offense from getting too comfortable.Then again, I'm just a journalist. What do I know?Have a question or comment? Want to be a part of the next 49ers' Mail Call? E-mail Thomas Sorrell at tsorrell .
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