Donald Sterling is an Idiot

Donald Sterling is apparently a racist.  He made comments on a recording that TMZ has recovered.  Sterling's words will not be printed here because they do need to be seen (although you can click on the link if you so desire).  

The Clippers coach Doc Rivers, a black man, and his players, are undoubedtly upset.  Chris Paul, the starting point guard is the head of the National Basketball Players Association and he will need to spend a lot of time on this issue.  Thankfully the Clippers have decided not to boycott game four.  

This is the best team the Clippers franchise has ever assembled.  It would be a shame for them to do anything that would compromise their chances at a championship.  They are one of the three teams most likely to win the title.  

What Sterling said is a complete disgrace.  He should be ashamed and should go as far as considering relinquishing his ownership of a team that is part of a league where the majority of its's players are African-American.  

Sterling has denied that his true feelings match what was said in the TMZ tape.  Save it Sterling, we're not buying it.  He is doing what he has to with his denial, but nobody should buy it.  Sterling is an idiot.  He deserves a harsh punishment and he deserves the hatred that will come his way. 

Tanking is Good for the NBA

Why does everybody get so worked up about tanking in the NBA?

Every year in the NBA people talk about tanking.  Analysts and fans alike state their disgust over this act that the teams, in turn, vehemently deny takes place (unless your name is Bryan Colangelo, former Raptors GM).  Why do fans and analysts get worked up and why do teams deny it? 

The word tanking has such a negative connotation.  What tanking really is, is rebuilding.  Shouldn’t fans appreciate that their team has the guts to tear something down so bad for the betterment of the franchise?  Lets dispel some myths about tanking. 

Myth 1:  Tanking Hurts the Integrity of the Game

Sure, some of the teams in the NBA trotted out rosters that embarrass their fan bases (we’re talking to you, Philadelphia), but you don’t have to watch.  If your home team is a joke, don’t give them your money.  If the money isn’t there it will motivate them to turn things around quickly.  Once a team gets a star player, the fans will forget all about the tough years.  Sports fans have a short memory.  Do you think Spurs fans are still upset about the tank year before they drafted Tim Duncan? 

Myth 2:  Tanking Works

This is the risk of tanking.  For every Tim Duncan, Spurs situation there is a Kings situation.  The Sacramento Kings have been mediocre at best since the Chris Webber days.  Tanking followed up by poor decisions kills a franchise.  The real problem here isn’t the tanking, it is the poor decision-making.  Even if a team tanks and gets the worst record, they may not get the first pick thanks to the draft lottery.  This is unlike the NFL where the Indianapolis Colts could completely lose their way into drafting Andrew Luck. 

Myth 3:  Tanking is Widespread

Not every team is tanking.  Some teams are just terrible.  Also, in a weak draft year, teams will not tank like they are this year or in other strong draft years. 

Myth 4:  Players Tank

Players don’t tank.  Players play hard.  Professional athletes have too much pride to lay down and lose a game on purpose.  They are playing for their jobs and their contracts.  The coaches don’t tank either.  They are trying to win games for their jobs and contracts too.  It is the front office that tanks.  While the players and coaches have to worry about the here and now, the front office is tasked with the responsibility of planning for the future.  Success hinges on star players and the front office puts the team in position to acquire star players. 

The bottom line is if you polled fans, there would be an overwhelming amount that would be willing to lose more games one year in order to have a franchise player for the next decade.  The way to lose games is to tank.  Again, the real word is rebuilding.  Teams tank in order to rebuild for a more successful future.

NBA 2013-2014 Third of the Season Report

LeBron James

MVP- In a shocker, it is LeBron James.  He is still the best player in the game today.  He is also the most valuable in the sense that he means the most to his team.  He will win this award until somebody gives the voters a reason not to select him and this season, nobody has done that, not even close.  Kevin Durant is the second best player in the league but second in the MVP voting should go to Lamarcus Aldridge.  He has vastly improved.  He shoots more efficiently and rebounds a lot more.  He is maxing out his talent right now for the first time in his career.  Chris Paul takes third.  He has been the constant in a year of change for the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Most Improved Player- Jordan Crawford gets the nod here.  He has put up decent numbers scoring the ball in previous years but he is really putting it together this year.  He scores with efficiency and dishes out assists at a surprising rate for somebody once labeled as a senseless gunner.  He has become a complete player.  Aaron Aflalo has an argument due to a serious uptick in his scoring. 

Michael Carter-Williams

Rookie of the Year- If he can stay healthy all season long it will be Michael Carter-Williams by a landslide.  He is stuffing the stat sheet like a seasoned vet with 17 points, seven assists, 5 rebounds, and three steals per game.  His shooting percentage could use a little work, but lets not be too picky, this guy is having a tremendous season.  Alphonso Burke (though you may know him by his nickname, Trey) takes second for how much he has meant to the Jazz.  Before he returned from injury, the Jazz were a mess, with him there is hope and fluidity on offense.  Victor Oladipo is just a smidge behind Burke.  He, like Carter-Williams, has contributed to the game in many different ways.  All three look to be great players in this league for years to come. 

Coach of the Year- Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics.  Did you think the Celtics would be this good?  If you answer yes then you are a liar.  They are just under .500 in the standings in a year where they were expected to be right in range for the number one overall pick.  Oh by the way, Rajon Rondo is not even back yet.  Stevens has inspired this rag-tag group to come together and play good basketball.  He has gotten the best out of his roster.  Refer back to Crawford and the most improved player section for proof.  Terry Stotts of the Blazers will also garner serious consideration and could even win it.

Defensive Player of the Year- Deandre Jordan.  This big, athletic center may not wow you with his on-ball defense but his help-defense has allowed the rest of the roster to spend most of their energy on the offensive end.  He provides a great security blanket for his perimeter defenders with his shot blocking ability.  He uses his athleticism to grab a lot of rebounds.  Dwight Howard looks to be in old form in Houston and could also contend for this award.  As could LeBron James who continues to dominate at both ends of the floor. 

Sixth Man of the Year- Jamal Crawford of the Clippers has provided a great scoring punch for his squad.  They would not have won nearly as many games without his contributions.  Crawford knows his role and executes it well.  Reggie Jackson has been great off the bench for the Thunder and will garner attention here as well.  You can also expect Harrison Barnes of the Warriors to contend here as well. 

Most Surprising Team- The Portland Trailblazers get this award and there should be no arguments here.  Aldridge and Damian Lillard have been fantastic for this team.  Terry Stotts has this team firing all cylinders but the biggest reason for their success is depth.  The Blazers had talent last year but got nothing from the bench.  Mo Williams and Thomas Robinson have provided much-needed depth.  Robin Lopez does not wow you with his ability but is a solid center.  Starters Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum have really stepped up their games and have contributed exactly where they are needed.  This team is for real, there is serious talent there.  The Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics are the next closest.  Both teams were expected to fight for the number one pick and now find themselves firmly in the playoff picture. 

Most Disappointing Team- This one is a tie between the Knicks and Nets.  What has gone wrong for these two teams?  Everything!  Injuries, coaching drama, aging stars, selfish stars, etc.  The Nets have just lost their best player, Brooke Lopez, for what looks like the remainder of the season so there is no fixing their situation.  The Knicks have a roster that just does not mesh together.  I do not see their situation improving either.  The Golden State Warriors have also been a bit of a letdown.  If the playoffs started today, the Warriors would not be participating.  If you are a Warriors fan, keep reading, it gets better. 

Finals Prediction- The Pacers over the Thunder.  Both teams have playoff experience.  You can expect the Pacers to overtake the Heat, they seem to want it more and have to talent to matchup.  The Thunder are more athletic than the Spurs, more experienced than the Blazers, and better than anybody else the West has to offer.  The Thunder are a much deeper team this year.  The Kevin Durant, Paul George matchup is going to be a great one.  A tag-team of George Hill and Lance Stephenson can at least slow down Russell Westbrook.  The difference in the series is Roy Hibbert.  Serge Ibaka can check David West, but both fake tough-guy (insert link) Kendrick Perkins and Steven Adams will be no match for the former Hoya. 

Who will Rise- The Warriors’ struggles will not continue and you can fully expect them to be in the playoffs.  Denver is currently in the eighth seed and there is just no way they will hold on.  There is too much firepower on Golden State’s roster for them to stay home after the regular season.  Once they are there, do not be surprised if they upset a team or two like they did last year.  The Cleveland Cavs and the Minnesota Timberwolves are two teams who are currently outside the playoff picture but have the talent to be one of the top eight teams in their respective conferences. 

Who will Fall- Look for Dallas and Denver to potentially fall out of playoff contention in the Western Conference.  There are a couple of teams below them in Minnesota and Golden State that have more talent.  In the East, it does not really matter if you are not the Heat or Pacers, but there is no reason to believe the Raptors will hold onto the eighth playoff spot. 

Mike Woodson 

First Coach to Get Fired- This is a rather cynical category but it has to be Mike Woodson of the Knicks.  He has made questionable coaching decisions and seems to be a little fed up with the performance of his selfish team, though who could blame him?  The situation in New York is a terrible one and something needs to be done.  

LeBron vs. KG and Pierce is Good For Basketball

I first started watching basketball in 1999.  The season after Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls for the second time.

I fell in love with the game right away.  My favorite things to watch in the beginning were the Reggie Miller-led Pacers teams verses the Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell-led Knicks teams.  That was a rivalry.  It was interesting.  It was compelling.  It grabbed your attention.  It made you passionate about what you were watching.  These feelings are stirred up in any rivalry.

Outside of the Yankees verses the Red Sox, football is home to the greatest rivalries.  In college there are great ones like USC vs. UCLA, Auburn vs. Alabama and Ohio State vs. Michigan.  In the NFL you have the Cowboys vs. the Redskins, the Packers vs. the Bears and the Ravens vs. the Steelers.  I believe that this is the reason why football is so popular, there are big-time rivalries.  Rivalries that are deep-rooted, sure the names have changed over time, but the new faces in these organizations always seem to adopt the same hatred for their rivals.

The NBA is sorely lacking in rivalries.  The days of Bird and Magic are gone.  The days of the Pistons adopting the "Jordan Rules" are gone.  There is too much brotherhood in today's NBA.  Rivalries do not necessarily have to come from teams.  They can stem from players.  That is what has taken shape with LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.  KG and Pierce have been teammates on two teams now (The Celtics and now the Nets).  They have won a championship together and have bonded.  One foe that has stood in their way of multiple championships for this duo while with the Celtics is James.  KG and Pierce have carried this hatred over to the Nets.  The Nets and the Heat are both viewed as contenders in the Eastern Conference.

James has recently mocked KG and Pierce for leaving Boston after they got so angry with Ray Allen for heading south to Miami a year ago.  Garnett responded by telling James to worry about his own team.  He also reminded James that he and Pierce were traded away from the Celtics and that leaving was not their wish.  This is great for basketball.  In a meaningless preseason game on October 17, 2013, we saw Pierce commit a hard foul on James that was clearly meant to send a message.  Imagine how great the competition between these two teams will be in the regular season and how much more intense it would be if they met in the playoffs.

When you are about to face a rival, you seem to dig a little deeper and give it all you have.  The games become more intense.  It is better competition and in turn becomes better viewing for the fans.  This is what made players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant so great, they found reasons to have disdain for their opponents.  A rivalry must be kept appropriate.  Leave everything on the court or field and maybe say a few things in the media.

Part of the reason the NBA does not boast the rivalries is that players change teams so often.  This is why we need player-driven rivalries like we are seeing with LeBron and KG and Pierce.  The NBA would benefit from a few more rivalries like this.

Jim Irsay Strikes Again

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is an idiot. 

Irsay is getting to the point where is mostly known as a loudmouth.  When he is not tweeting way more than an owner of a professional sports team should, he is verbalizing his opinions through different channels of media.  I used to be believe that he just wanted attention.  I believed that he wanted as much celebrity status as the world-class athletes that he employs, or his buddy Rob Lowe.  After looking over his recent comments about Peyton Manning, in the week leading up to Manning’s return to Indy no less, we can all see that he is just a moron. 

Irsay’s exact comment was,

"(Tom) Brady never had consistent numbers, but he has three of these (championship rings," Irsay told USA Today. "Pittsburgh had two, the Giants had two, Baltimore had two and we had one. That leaves you frustrated.

"You make the playoffs 11 times, and you're out in the first round seven out of 11 times. You love to have the Star Wars numbers from Peyton and Marvin (Harrison) and Reggie (Wayne). Mostly, you love this (referring to his Super Bowl ring)."

In breaking down what Irsay said sentence by sentence, let’s start with him saying that Tom Brady never had consistent numbers.  For the last decade or so, Brady has been one of the top two quarterbacks in the league, along with Manning.  His numbers are fairly consistent with Peyton’s.  Irsay then goes on to imply that with a quarterback other than Manning, he would have advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs more often and won more Super Bowls. 

This is the most ridiculous statement Irsay has ever made, the main reason being that the Colts would have never been to the playoffs those 11 times without Peyton Manning.  Irsay could believe that with a different quarterback, a few breaks could have gone a different way.  I suppose that they could have, but the more likely scenario is that they find a significantly less amount of success. 

Manning is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL.  In my amateur opinion, he is the greatest of all time.  He put fans in the seats and made his owner in Indianapolis a lot of money.  That nice new stadium the Colts play in and even hosted a Super Bowl in, was able to be built because of the success orchestrated by Manning.  Peyton meant so much to the Colts organization.  He handled his release with the utmost class and always had his former team’s best interest at heart. 

Fortunately Manning’s new coach, John Fox, had his back. 

Fox is absolutely correct.  These comments by Irsay are stupid.  When speaking of Manning he should be nothing but grateful of the time he employed his former quarterback.  Before Manning got there, the Colts were a terrible team, the year Manning was injured before his eventual release, the Colts were also a terrible team.  The reason that the Colts are now finding success is that they have a quarterback who will one day be at Peyton’s level and is already very close.  A quarterback that Manning himself spoke highly of to the organization. 

Both the Colts and Peyton Manning are in good situations right now.  Manning is running the NFL’s best offense and could possibly lead them to a Super Bowl victory this year.  Irsay’s Colts are a team on the rise and one day, Andrew Luck may get his owner another ring.  For now, both the Colts and the Broncos have benefitted from Mannings talents and let’s leave it at that.  

Who Will Finish On Top- Broncos or Seahawks?

Peyton Manning gets the offense ready.

Right now the talk of the NFL seams to be all about the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.  Four weeks into the young season these two teams are on top the league and it would not surprise anybody if this was the matchup that we saw in the Super Bowl at the end of the year, but which of these two teams will be on top at season's end?

The answer is the Denver Broncos.  They seem to be on a mission after a disappointing playoff loss last year to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens.  That game was more than winnable for the Broncos and they have started this season appearing highly motivated after that loss.  The Denver offense, through four games, is averaging an astounding 44.8 points per game.  Including a seven touchdown performance by Peyton Manning in the opener against the Ravens.  That game was not a fluke, and the Broncos have shown us that.  They continue to put up great numbers on offense behind the smartest, craftiest quarterback in the league, a stable of weapons for him to throw the ball too and a better than advertised running game.

Wide receivers Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas give Manning plenty of places to throw to.  Some have worried about how he will keep so many hungry targets happy but as long as they are winning games there should not be a problem.  Everyone seems to be getting their fair share as well.  Each wideout is averaging at least six catches a game and everyone with the exception of Decker, who has a total of one, is averaging at least a touchdown per game.  Julius Thomas is hitting his touchdown per game average but has only 18 catches to start the year.  The running game is led by Knowshon Moreno.  Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman have been good as well, and as soon as Ball can cut down his fumbles he may be the best of those three.  The offense does not have a real weakness.

The Seahawks secondary is something to be feared.

The Broncos will have a better regular season record than the Seattle Seahawks and should win in a head to head battle.  Seahawk fans will point to their daunting defense and especially their secondary as to why they would beat the Broncos and while that secondary is the best that we have seen in a while, the Broncos just have too many weapons on offense.

That being said, the Seahawks have been great. They can win in many different ways.  That defense is so tough to play against, so tough to complete passes against (they can even score) .  Marshawn Lynch is better than anybody thought he could be when he was in Buffalo and Russell Wilson continues to grow and mature as a leader and as a quarterback.  This is a team that is built to be good for many years to come and they will be.

The Broncos are a team with a star quarterback who is in on the back end of his career.  Both Manning and the team know they need to win now and I believe this mentality will carry the team to a Super Bowl victory this season.  Sure Lynch and the mobile Wilson could run wild on the Broncos 16th ranked defense in points allowed per game but this has all been without Von Miller and Champ Bailey. Once those two return the Broncos will become an even more complete team and while their defense won't be nearly as good as Seattle's, their offense is more than capable of picking up the slack and put up a higher number on the scoreboard than any other opposing offense they face.

Broncos for Super Bowl champs in a much too early prediction.

The Most Unfairly Treated Man in College Football

     Johnny Manziel is to college football what J.R. Ewing was to the television show Dallas- the man
you love to hate.

     It is very rare that somebody will defend Manziel, but I will.  This past off-season Manziel faced an
incredible amount of scrutiny, some of it was his fault and some of it was blown out of proportion by

the media.  The only NCAA rule that Manziel
was accused of violating was accepting money for
signing autographs.  The NCAA investigated this
allegation and could not prove any wrong doing
on Manziel's part.  He was suspended for the first
half of Texas A&M's season opener against Rice.

     Another situation he was criticized for was being sent home from the Manning Passing Camp.  This was bad.  It was a great opportunity for Manziel to network and learn from other great quarterbacks as well as spread good will by teaching high school kids about the nuances of playing quarterback.  Also, he should have been there to respect some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, he could have really helped his reputation with a good showing at the camp.  It was said that he missed meetings at the camp because he was "dehydrated".  Dehydration is often code for being hung over.  As a 20-year-old, he shouldn't be drinking.  It is against the law to consume alcohol, but lets be honest, he is only doing what almost every college kid his age is doing.

     Among other things that people had problems with Manziel over were playing in a golf tournament
and sitting court side at a Miami Heat game.  This is extremely blown out of proportion.  Manziel
comes from a wealthy family and who would turn down opportunities like those?  The answer is
nobody in their right mind.

  
     Right now everybody needs to back off of Manziel.  The media and fans
need to stop criticizing him and appreciate him.  We are witnessing greatness.
After almost beating Alabama for the second time in as many meetings, he has 
gained a fan in Nick Saban at least.  Last year Manziel became the first
freshman to win the Heisman trophy when he passed for 3,706 yards while
completed 68 percent of his passes and throwing 26 touchdowns to only nine
interceptions.  That is not even going into his rushing statistics which were unbelievable for a quarterback.  This year he has improved as a passer while still showing all of the elusiveness that makes him a special quarterback.

     A lot has been made of his off-the-field struggles but nobody can argue that no matter what is going on in Manziel's life, he shows up ready to perform on Saturdays.  Lately people have also been analyzing what type of quarterback Manziel will be in the NFL.  The style of play that NFL coaches are employing today gives him a better chance to succeed than he could have had in the past.  We all need to stop criticizing Manziel and over analyzing him, it is about time that we just enjoy the show.

Time to give up on Brandon Weeden

           I hate when we as sports fans overreact to situations but I believe its already time for the Cleveland Browns to give up on quarterback Brandon Weeden. 

            Weeden will turn 30 years old on October 14^th and is two games into his second season as an NFL starting quarterback.  He underwhelmed enough in his rookie season to find himself in an offseason quarterback competition with the painfully average Jason Campbell.  Through the first two weeks of his second year in the league, he has led the Browns to two losses, 16 measly points and what looks like yet another season in the AFC North cellar.  Oh yeah, he is also injured now. 

            The Weeden injury is a minor one, a sprained thumb that should only keep him out a week or so, but it just goes to show that it is always something.  More importantly is the opportunity cost.  In the college ranks you currently have Aaron Murray at Georgia, Tajh Boyd at Clemson, Teddy Bridgewater at Louisville, Brett Hundley at UCLA and even Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M who are all much more tantalizing options to be a franchise quarterback than Brandon Weeden.  The same could also be said Christian Ponder and Blaine Gabbert, but that is for another discussion. 

            We have seen what a good quarterback can do for a bad team.  Look no further than RG3 and Andrew Luck.  We have even seen that an exciting, yet not-so-talented quarterback can make an unwatchable team suddenly watchable (We’re talking about you Terrelle Pryor). 

           Weeden supporters will point to the fact that his top three pass-catchers are guys you 

probably haven’t heard of in Jordan Cameron, Davone Bess and Greg Little.  Not a good enough 

excuse.  Pryor has found a way to be exciting and win nearly two games with an even lesser 

receiving corpse.  In Cleveland, things are bad.  They might even want to gut the team, but 

there are a few bright spots like Josh Gordon, Barkevious Mingo and Trent Richardson.  The 

most important thing for a bad football team to do is to either get a quarterback who adds 

excitement or a quarterback who adds offensive production.  Weeden does neither and, as has 

already been written in this article, there are many quarterbacks in the college ranks who 

appear very likely to add at one or both of those things to an offense. 

Josh Brent Probably Didn’t Drive Himself to Cowboys' Stadium on Sunday

-Brian Fagan

briandfagan@gmail.com

Josh Brent on the sideline as the
Cowboys took on the Steelers.

            DALLAS, TX - - Josh Brent was on the sideline of the Dallas Cowboys’ overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.  If you don’t know who Josh Brent is, he’s this guy.  The Dallas Cowboy offensive lineman had a blood alcohol level of .18 when he chose to drive home from a nightclub with teammate, Jerry Brown, riding shotgun.  That decision would prove life changing, and life ending, when he crashed the car, killing Brown in the process.
            Anytime someone dies, its sad.  Car crashes in their abrupt nature, are especially hard to handle. But when the death comes at the hands of the deceased person’s own friend, your heart has got to be aching.
            Brent, facing manslaughter charges and serious jail time, is sure to be at a low point in life right now.  Everyone had to be surprised to see him show up on the sideline this past Sunday.  Brent was not dressed out for the game.     

Josh Brent Speaks to the media.

            The media had a field day with this act, some called the move some called the move insensitive and others questioned the Cowboys’ motives behind Brent’s presence.  But teammates seemed to support the decision, and by all accounts point to the decision to include Brent on the sideline to have come from his teammates themselves.  Who, mind you, are also the teammates of the man he “killed.”
            So was this the correct move by the Cowboys?  To let your offensive lineman turned media labeled murderer roam your sidelines as a free man. Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboy’s outspoken owner, defended the move http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/17/jerry-jones-defends-having-josh-brent-on-the-cowboys-sideline/.  Brown’s own mother has publicly forgiven Brent and even invited him to be at her side during her son's funeral
            All in all, there is no reason to criticize the Cowboys, or Brent, for appearing at the game.  His teammates wanted him there.  They feel for him.  Of course they miss Brown and surely mourn his loss. But in football, like in any sport, your teammates are your brothers.  And Brent made a mistake, albeit a fatal one.  That being said, we all make mistakes.
            Driving drunk is an insensitive and reckless crime to commit, and those who are found guilty of such a crime deserve to be punished.  Especially, as is the case with Brent, when it is a second time offense.  Brent was convicted of a DUI in 2009.  The legal consequences coming to Brent will be deserved, but perhaps will be no match to the emotional consequences Brent is going to have to live with for the rest of his life.
            We are all free to formulate an opinion of Brent, what he did, and what kind of man he is.  With disgusting reports of Brent ignoring his teammates’ last cries for help as the car reportedly went up in flames, it is easy to judge Josh Brent, and he will get what is coming to him, no doubt.
            However, his teammates wanted him at the game; he was reportedly even driven by a fellow member of the Cowboys.  It has come out that Brent thought it was a bad idea, but that his teammates urged him to attend the match so that he may be with his friends, his brothers.  Dallas ownership and management wanted him there to support his team, and in turn, support Brent through this troubling time in his life.  Due to all of the trouble that it caused with the media and the public opinion, Brent has since been banned from appearing on the Cowboys’ sideline.  As controversial as it may seem, there is nothing wrong with him attending his team’s game.  After all, it will likely be his last one. 

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are for Real

Head coach Mark Jackson

            When Mark Jackson was hired as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors during the 2011 offseason, he guaranteed that his team would make the playoffs.  It turns out that he may have only been one year off. 

            The Warriors are currently in the playoff picture a quarter of the way into the 2012-2013 NBA season.  They have a 16-8 record, which is good enough for the second in the Pacific Division and fifth place in the Western Conference, 3.5 games behind the first place Oklahoma City Thunder.  The Warriors seem to following the Thunder’s blueprint for success: draft your core and acquire key role players that fill specific needs. 

            The Thunder drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and James Harden, who turned into Kevin Martin through trade.  Those are their star players who they build the team around.  Other players such as Kendrick Perkins, who fits the role of veteran leader and defensive stopper, were acquired through trade or free agency.  The Warriors have gotten, Stephen Curry, their young, star point guard through the draft lottery, where they also picked up starting shooting guard Klay Thompson and promising rookie small forward Harrison Barnes.  All three of those players are sure to be cemented into those positions for years to come. 

Jarrett Jack and Stephen Curry celebrate
 while David Lee looks on.

            David Lee is one of the unsung heroes of the season.  Every year, Lee has produced good numbers.  The Warriors acquired Lee via trade in the 2010 offseason.  As of December 16, 2012, Lee is averaging 19.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.  He has manned the post quite efficiently for the Warriors this season.  Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry came to the team before the start of the season and both have played key minutes all season long.  Jack has done a great job of mentoring Curry to be a better point guard and Landry has provided depth in the post.  When and if Andrew Bogut is able to return from injury and play at a similar level that he is capable of, this will only make the Warriors stronger.  They also have a collection of role players that figure prominently into their success, such as Draymond Green, whose layup was the bucket that gave his team a victory of the Miami Heat on December 12, 2012. 

            Many will doubt the validity of the Warriors success, due to their disappointing play since the days of Tim Hardaway and his “killer crossover”.  However, the Warriors are for real.  They have an average defense, but their offense ranks eleventh in points per game and third in rebounds per game.  There is no reason to think that these numbers cannot continue with players like Curry and Thompson on the wing and Lee manning the boards inside.  Among their 16 victories are wins over the Heat, Nets, Timberwolves, Hawks and Mavericks, who all sit in the playoff picture of their respective conferences.  On their previous seven game road trip, the Warriors came home with a 6-1 record. 

            Perhaps the biggest reason for their success is the health of Stephen Curry.  After Curry missed most of the 2011-2012 season with serious problems to his ankle, some doubted that he could return to have a healthy career free of setbacks and also regain his athleticism that made him such an intriguing prospect.  Curry had missed 40 of 66 games last year and averaged career lows in points and assists per game.  This season, Curry has bounced back quite nicely and is averaging 19.7 points, 6.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.  Curry is shooting 41.8% from beyond the arc.

            The Warriors are a good basketball team and have the makeup to be good, possibly even great, for years to come if they can keep their core intact.  

Can the Lakers Come Back? Or is This Collection of Superstars a Failed Experiment?

Don’t lie: whether you are a fan of the purple and yellow or a hater, you thought the Lakers were going to be better than this.  With a couple of big time additions, LA looked like a serious threat to dethrone the Heat, who after adding leprechaun-turned-ring-seeker Ray Allen, appeared to be a lock to repeat as NBA champions in 2013.

However, that doesn’t seem to be the case 24 games into the season.  As we approach the once highly anticipated NBA Christmas Day, the Lakers sit at 10-14. They are losing by an average of 8 points, and have dropped 8 of their last 12. The projected dynasty in LA, led by the pairing of newcomer Dwight Howard and Laker legend Kobe Bryant, isn’t panning out. The Lakers aren’t the Lakers, and do not look like a threat to win a title, at least right now.

So are the Lakers out of it already?
No, definitely not.

Lets look at the some stats from a recent Laker game:

Bryant: 42 points, 5 rebounds

Howard: 19 points, 20 rebounds

Having all five of the regular starters on the floor
has been a rare occasion for the Lakers this season.  

Metta World Peace: 13 points and 9 rebounds.

Pretty good numbers, right?  Figures like these certainly look like the beginning of a stat line that would equate in a Laker victory, but these numbers are from the Lakers ugly loss to the Cavaliers the other night in Cleveland. How on earth did the Lakers lose a game where Kobe scored 42 and Howard dominated the boards?

Well, they’re missing a few starters who would play key roles for this team. Here they are, your current starters at point guard and power forward for your Los Angeles Lakers and their numbers in that game against the Cavaliers:

PG: Chris Duhon- Two points and two assists.
PF: Jordan Hill- Two points and one assist.

And that is why the Lakers lost that game. Now, what if Gasol and Nash were both active, and playing at their 2011-2012 averages instead of Hill and Duhon in that game.

Gasol: 17 points and 10 boards.

Nash: 12 points and 11 assists.

Needless to say, the whole game changes for the Lakers with such valuable additions.  Many people would have you believe that the Lakers are hopeless. The media talks as if the return of Nash wont be the return of a former NBA, MVP point guard who, keep in mind, did this under newly hired Lakers’ coach Mike D’Antoni, and that Gasol will never be himself ever again. By the end of the season, Gasol will be Gasol, and Nash will be Nash.  Line those two up with Howard and Bryant, and I believe the Lakers will be a championship contender when the playoffs roll around.  



-Brian Fagan
briandfagan@gmail.com

Angels Sign Hamilton, Win the Battle of the Media

           The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have signed Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 million contract, making them the talk of the MLB for the second straight offseason. 

            In the 2011 offseason the Angels signed Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson to big contracts.  This also makes the second straight offseason that the Angels have signed a star player away from the Texas Rangers.  The signing of Hamilton heightens two rivalries; the Angels’ rivalry with the Dodgers and a rivalry with the Rangers. 

            The Angels and the Dodgers seem to be battling for Southern California supremacy.  The Dodgers have been spending money like crazy as of late and it seems that the Angels have felt the need to make a splash as well.  Hamilton adds a huge name and a huge bat to the Angels lineup.  He joins Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo and Pujols.  Hamilton is one of the biggest storylines as well.  The big news begins to heal the wound that Zach Greinke delivered to the Halos when he signed with their LA rival.  Hamilton flanking Trout in the outfield will surely put extra fans in the seats at Angel’s Stadium and will increase attention that is paid to the Angels. 

            Hamilton has made headlines for overcoming his drug and alcohol addictions to become an MVP and one of the game’s most dangerous hitters.  Hamilton can mash homeruns, but he has also made headlines for his extreme slumps and his two relapses.  Questions have been raised about Hamilton’s durability.  This is why it was believed that he would not get a huge contract, but the Angels were apparently not scared. 

            The Angels play the Rangers, Hamilton’s former team, 19 times per year.  Those 19 games are sure to be very highly watched and there will be much drama surrounding them.  The Angels and Rangers have already had a fierce rivalry, and this will only accelerate it. 

            The troubling story that came from this was that former Angels outfielder, Torii Hunter, was apparently deceived by the Angels organization.  Hunter took to Twitter to announce that Angels’ owner Arte Moreno told him that there wouldn’t be enough money to resign him.  If this is true, it is a shame to see.  Hunter meant so much to the Angels organization.  An athlete of his caliber should not be treated as such. 

            Storylines like this make the MLB offseason more compelling than the bulk of the regular season.  Surely more eyes will be on the Angels’ new star-studded batting order.  Now it remains to be seen if the Angels put together a complete team, one with a rounded out rotation and a fixed bullpen that was awful in 2011.  If the Angels can do this they will be a scary team for anybody to face for years to come. 

Damian Lillard Takes the NBA by Storm

           Coming into the 2012 NBA draft, Damian Lillard was a little-known prospect out of Weber State University.  All the talk was about Anthony Davis and his fellow Kentucky Wildcat national champions.  Through the first quarter of the 2012-2013 NBA season, Lillard has clearly been the most impressive rookie. 

            Lillard leads all rookies in points and assists, averaging 18.4 ppg and 6.4 apg respectively.  He plays beyond his years, leading the Blazers team and being much more than just a scorer.  He is far more than just a volume shooter, looking to pad his stats and boost his numbers.  He shoots 42.1% from the field, 36.7% from beyond the arc and 83.1% from the free throw line.  He is a pure shooter and is proving to be a better floor general than most anticipated.  Lillard has scored in single digits only twice in 22 games. 

            On December 13, 2012 Lillard scored a career-high 29 points as he led his Blazers to their third straight victory and an upset win over the San Antonio Spurs.  In the game, Lillard also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out six assists, while only turning the ball over twice.  He also shot 11/22 from the floor and made all five of his free throw attempts.  Against one of the best teams the NBA has to offer, Lillard played his best basketball of the season.  This shows what kind of player he is, rising to the occasion and not being afraid. 

            Lillard has taken the NBA by storm and is not only the best rookie in the league, but one of the best point guards.  This is a golden age of point guards in the NBA with youngsters like Russell Westbrook, Jrue Holliday, Kyrie Irving, Rajon Rondo and Stephen Curry dominating the league and joining the likes of superstars Derrick Rose, Chris Paul and Deron Williams.  It is clear that Lillard clearly belongs in this group.  In years to come he will surely develop into one of the leagues top lead guards.  

NBA Top 5/ Bottom -5 12/13/12

TOP 5:

1.  Oklahoma City Thunder- It’s always been so hard to stop Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.  Kevin Martin can also light it up and now Serge Ibaka is playing much better.  This team has only gotten better as Erick Maynor works his way back into shape. 

2.  New York Knicks- The play they get from their two starting point guards in Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton. 

3.  San Antonio Spurs- They never seem to age do they?  Tim Duncan is having a great season thus far, but will he break down?

4.  Los Angeles Clippers- Deepest team in the NBA.  Lamar Odom seems to be rounding into form, which will only make them better. 

5.  Miami Heat- They have not been overly impressive to start the season, but Dwyane Wade hasn’t been healthy.  They’ll be fine.

Outside Looking In:

The Golden State Warriors are playing out of their minds right now.  There is a lot of talent on that roster.  The Memphis Grizzlies are another team similar to the Warriors, but they have more experience and less health issues.  

BOTTOM 5:

5.  Detroit Pistons- There is hope in Detroit.  They are just a young team and it isn't coming together yet.  Who is their point guard?  Brandon Knight or Rodney Stuckey?  Greg Monroe is turning the ball over too much as well.  

4.  Toronto Raptors-  Six straight losses for the Raptors.  The silver lining is that they are losing to good teams.  They will be without Andrea Bargnani indefinitely as he nurses an injured elbow.  

3.  Sacramento Kings-  DeMarcus Cousins was suspended for a game for punching O.J. Mayo in the groin.  Cousins needs to grow up, and the Kings need to get more talented.  

2.  New Orleans Hornets- Austin Rivers needs to step it up.  This team will surely move up in the standings now that Anthony Davis is back.  

1.  Washington Wizards- They desperately need John Wall to return.  The Wizards offense is awful.  Bradley Beal has been playing better as of late.