Elsa/Getty ImagesPlease find the original at Loscy.com -- Yes. Weve finally heard it all from Doc Rivers this year, and this latest piece of brilliance is the last thing you want to hear coming from your coach: We played like a high school team at times. -Doc Rivers, after the loss to Houston... As a basketball fan, it always more fun and exciting to attend tightly contested games that come down to the stretch. But two close games in two nights with two losses might be a little bit too much for this blogger. From the plebe section up top, I had a great view of all of our offensive and defensive deficiencies.Unfortunately, they were plentiful throughout both evenings. Five things stuck out to me from both losses (along with many, many other losses against above-.500 teams this year): weGreen Bay Packers jersey
can finish quarters strong, we are missing defensive rotations when the opponent ball movement is quick/crisp, we can close out on long-balls, we can rebound in the stretch, and we can compose ourselves to recover when teams break our flow/tempo in the game. Shall we? We can finish quarters strong. Are the Celtics tired? Are the Celtics mentally not able to keep momentum going through an entire quarter? Is the Celtics mentality simply, well get em next quarter?Lord help us if the last question is truly embedded into their playing psyche. Telling themselves that they will make up ground later is simply rolling over and letting their opponent do whatever they want, whenever they want in the moment... Which is, unfortunately, what we as fans are seeing out of this team.This is nothing but bad news. It means that there is a loser mentality: if this is the case, they have resigned during moments that they just aren as good as the other team. We are missing defensive rotations when the opponent ball movement is quick/crisp.It so easy to see: when teams move the ball well in the half-court, we have some serious issues catching up with it and being where we are supposed to be.In recent strong-side, double-team/traps, the free-safety (often Kevin Garnett) doesn have the lateral movement to recover. Kendrick Perkins can pick up smaller, faster guys without fouling. Ray Allen doesn have the defensive awareness to know if he needs to switch or stay on when someone puts the ball on the floor. Rajon Rondo continues to gamble. Unselfish teams that pass a lot stand a great chance of shredding apart our defensive. We can close out on long-balls.This is like the last observation: we are too slow to move and catch up with the ball. While OKC was only 5/11 from behind the line, there were plenty of open looksincluding two Jeff Green daggers late in the fourth quarter that sealed the deal on Wednesday.Again, we are just too slow on defensive rotations and at times, even lacking that instinctual anticipation to close out on where the ball is going.Houston was a blistering 12-of-18 from the three-point line...12-of-18! Chase Budinger (what a freakin name) was 6-of-8 from long distance, and out of those eight shots, at least five of them were wide open, clear looks.Yes, trash-talking Celtics, a seriously white rookie by the name of Chase Budinger (giggle, giggle) lit you up last night. We can rebound in the stretch.Why even go into this? We can rebound for garbage. We can compose ourselves to recover when teams break our flow/tempo in the game. This is, perhaps, the most troubling observation made during the games. No one on the team, NO ONE, can compose this team when their run ends or when they Houston Texans jersey
have lost control of the tempo in the game.Aaron Brooks had the not-so-secret strategic move last night when the Celtics scored a bucket: push the ball as fast as possible down the throats of the Celtics defense, right up the gut or ripping down the sideline. From there, he would pull up a 24-footer, drive in for an easy lay up, or dish out. Brooks kept us honest and was converting more often than not: 30 points and nine assists.Whoa. We had no answers on offense. We had no answers on defense. What to take away from this? What are the essential points here?The Celtics are old, old, old. The team keeps talking about how they are a a team built for playoffs, and I sure hope theyre right. I have used that rhetoric before: the 2010 Celtics are built for the playoffs. In Marc Spear recent piece on the Celtics: "Through it all, however, Pierce remains confident the Celtics will get better in the playoffs. They won have to worry about playing back-to-back games in the postseason, a concern for any aging team. The playoffs also become more of a half-court game, which could benefit the defensive-minded Celtics. ;'To be honest with you, I think our team is really built for the playoffs,' Pierce said. 'You get into a series, the game slows down. The scoring isn as much. I just think that the way our team is built. We got a lot of older vets. That what playoff basketball is executing in the half court.'" The team has done a good job of selling me on this idea that they might be a better playoff team than a regular season team. But... is that just simply deferring the truth? That the Celtics just aren that good anymore?Bad habits are made in practice and they show up in games. Bad habits are made in regular season games and make their way into the playoffs. If you can steadily do something right, how is it going to suddenly fall into place when the calendar changes and your mind tells you one thing, but it so conditioned to do the opposite?So what if we don have to play back-to-back games? That just means more rest for the younger teams that will turn each game in the playoffs into a freakin track meet and just run.That it. There the blueprint for winning against the Celtics: just run. Run and pass the ball around the perimeter. Run and pass the ball to get it moving from outside-in-outside-in-outside. There you go.Milwaukee? They can run. Atlanta? They can run. Charlotte? They can run. Miami? They can run. Cleveland? They can run. Orlando? They can run. Boston? They cannot run. Im not giving up on this team. Im not. But Im frustrated.Im frustrated that the Celtics cannot consistently execute on either end of the floor. The offense looks out of tune, the defense is inconsistent.That doesn mean Indianapolis Colts jersey
there aren flashes of great basketball on either end...it just happening in small bunches, and the Celtics can maintain it.You can rule out a team like the Celtics, because theyre capable of playing great basketball and everyone has seen it...at times.That the thing, weve only seen it at times. If theyre going to rely on luck to make their good play habitual, then we will look forward to an early exit from the playoffs. If theyre waiting for the next quarter, in this case that next quarter being the playoffs...then, oh boy.Like I said, a bad mentality to have.
2010年12月30日星期四
2010年12月29日星期三
29 Dec 10 The Monta Ellis Dilemma
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesWarrior fans have survived through a strange collection of players throughout the years. From the slashing days of Latrell Sprewell to the short-lived success of the longball years with Stack Jack, Baron Davis, and company, the Warriors have had an eclectic collection of scorers.However, current Warriors guard Monta Ellis has caused more controversy among Warriors fans than any of these former players, all while rarely opening his mouth. Few question his scoring ability, Ellis is currently Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
sixth in the nation in points per game, but recently his defense, leadership ability, and fit in the Warriors system have all come under fire.Many were disappointed that he wasn swapped at the trade deadline, and the Warriors will certainly have more trading options for him when the season is over.Ellis supporters point to his clutch play, developing defense, and pure scoring ability as reasons to hold on to the young star.Fans that want Ellis traded fall into two categories; those that think he doesn fit the system and those that think his presence on the Warriors hampers the development of the Warriors other young star, Steph Curry.In my opinion, Warriors Management should learn from past mistakes and the success of teams in similar situations and keep Monta Ellis around, at least for another couple of years.In the past, Warriors fans have seen young and talented players leave before their primes for big paydays, while big name free-agents continually pass over offers from Oakland in favor of better offers in better locations.Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Tim Hardaway, and Chris Webber are some of the higher profile names that have left the Warriors before reaching their primes (and the playoffs) with another team. These players seemingly established a formula for success; establish your name with the Warriors, earn a bigger contract with another team, and become a star.The Warriors must stop bleeding talent. This starts with committing to players like Ellis, who are young and promising. We will not know for another three or four years if Ellis can become a complete basketball player. Fans often forget that he is 24 years old, at that age Chauncey Billiups was considered a tweener who could score but wasn much of a passer.Ellis faces a similar challenge; he must prove to the NBA and Warriors fans that he can be more than a one-dimensional player.Another recurring problem with the Warriors has been their inability to entice impact free-agents to come to Oakland. Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
This has been due to two problems, a lack of success and a lack of commitment to players already on the team. To correct the problems, the Warriors should examine their final opponent, the Portland Trail Blazers.As early as the 2005-2006 season, the Blazers were a team with no hope. They had just posted the worst record in the league, and had a much-deserved reputation as a team of troublemakers. Their turnaround has been stunning, and can be characterized by three key events:1. Commitment to young players: Brandon Roy and Lamarcus Aldridge are the foundation for the Blazers. Both were drafted in 2005, and both were given significant playing time in their rookie seasons despite being young and mistake prone.The Blazers also committed many minutes to role players like Sergio Rodriguez and Martell Webster. This commitment has been lacking for the Warriors; Anthony Randolph is taken out after every mistake, Morrow has been jerked in and out of the lineup, and Ellis has been subject to constant trade rumors.2. Shedding large and long contracts, especially veterans: By ridding themselves of large contracts like Zach Randolph, the Blazers made room to sign their young drafted players to larger deals. The Warriors have historically taken a different route, tying up their money in long-term deals only to watch talented players like Gilbert Arenas leave without an offer.3. Offering only short-term deals to free agents: This is where the Warriors have made their most grave mistakes, and have paid dearly for them. As most NBA fans will remember, the Blazers campaigned hard to get Hedo Turkoglu, a high profile free agent coming off of a NBA Championship appearance. In a surprising move, the Turk backed out of Portland offer in the final minutes, opting instead to go to Toronto.Instead of turning around and offering a similar deal to the next best free agent, the Blazers filled a need and improved their playoff aspirations by signing veteran point guard Andre Miller to a short term deal. This signing provides a stark contrast to the Warriors desperate signing of Corey Maggette after being shunned by Baron Davis in the summer of 2008.The outcomes are clear: while the Warriors struggle through another season of mediocrity, the Blazers deep bench of promising young draft picks and veterans with short-term deals have kept them afloat even after losing much of their starting 5 to injuries.In the end, Ellis success with the team hinges on his ability to Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
adapt to his role as Curry sidekick. Recent games have made it clear that Curry is a special talent, with an understanding of the flow of the game that is unmatched by any rookie of recent memory. Every great team needs a great distributor, and Curry promises to fill that role.But there no reason that Ellis can be the secondary scorer, attacking the weak side of the defense and creating offense through turnovers. If the Warriors commit to developing his talents within their system, they just might wind up with a two-guard combo that rivals any in the Western Conference, and the NBA.
sixth in the nation in points per game, but recently his defense, leadership ability, and fit in the Warriors system have all come under fire.Many were disappointed that he wasn swapped at the trade deadline, and the Warriors will certainly have more trading options for him when the season is over.Ellis supporters point to his clutch play, developing defense, and pure scoring ability as reasons to hold on to the young star.Fans that want Ellis traded fall into two categories; those that think he doesn fit the system and those that think his presence on the Warriors hampers the development of the Warriors other young star, Steph Curry.In my opinion, Warriors Management should learn from past mistakes and the success of teams in similar situations and keep Monta Ellis around, at least for another couple of years.In the past, Warriors fans have seen young and talented players leave before their primes for big paydays, while big name free-agents continually pass over offers from Oakland in favor of better offers in better locations.Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Tim Hardaway, and Chris Webber are some of the higher profile names that have left the Warriors before reaching their primes (and the playoffs) with another team. These players seemingly established a formula for success; establish your name with the Warriors, earn a bigger contract with another team, and become a star.The Warriors must stop bleeding talent. This starts with committing to players like Ellis, who are young and promising. We will not know for another three or four years if Ellis can become a complete basketball player. Fans often forget that he is 24 years old, at that age Chauncey Billiups was considered a tweener who could score but wasn much of a passer.Ellis faces a similar challenge; he must prove to the NBA and Warriors fans that he can be more than a one-dimensional player.Another recurring problem with the Warriors has been their inability to entice impact free-agents to come to Oakland. Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
This has been due to two problems, a lack of success and a lack of commitment to players already on the team. To correct the problems, the Warriors should examine their final opponent, the Portland Trail Blazers.As early as the 2005-2006 season, the Blazers were a team with no hope. They had just posted the worst record in the league, and had a much-deserved reputation as a team of troublemakers. Their turnaround has been stunning, and can be characterized by three key events:1. Commitment to young players: Brandon Roy and Lamarcus Aldridge are the foundation for the Blazers. Both were drafted in 2005, and both were given significant playing time in their rookie seasons despite being young and mistake prone.The Blazers also committed many minutes to role players like Sergio Rodriguez and Martell Webster. This commitment has been lacking for the Warriors; Anthony Randolph is taken out after every mistake, Morrow has been jerked in and out of the lineup, and Ellis has been subject to constant trade rumors.2. Shedding large and long contracts, especially veterans: By ridding themselves of large contracts like Zach Randolph, the Blazers made room to sign their young drafted players to larger deals. The Warriors have historically taken a different route, tying up their money in long-term deals only to watch talented players like Gilbert Arenas leave without an offer.3. Offering only short-term deals to free agents: This is where the Warriors have made their most grave mistakes, and have paid dearly for them. As most NBA fans will remember, the Blazers campaigned hard to get Hedo Turkoglu, a high profile free agent coming off of a NBA Championship appearance. In a surprising move, the Turk backed out of Portland offer in the final minutes, opting instead to go to Toronto.Instead of turning around and offering a similar deal to the next best free agent, the Blazers filled a need and improved their playoff aspirations by signing veteran point guard Andre Miller to a short term deal. This signing provides a stark contrast to the Warriors desperate signing of Corey Maggette after being shunned by Baron Davis in the summer of 2008.The outcomes are clear: while the Warriors struggle through another season of mediocrity, the Blazers deep bench of promising young draft picks and veterans with short-term deals have kept them afloat even after losing much of their starting 5 to injuries.In the end, Ellis success with the team hinges on his ability to Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
adapt to his role as Curry sidekick. Recent games have made it clear that Curry is a special talent, with an understanding of the flow of the game that is unmatched by any rookie of recent memory. Every great team needs a great distributor, and Curry promises to fill that role.But there no reason that Ellis can be the secondary scorer, attacking the weak side of the defense and creating offense through turnovers. If the Warriors commit to developing his talents within their system, they just might wind up with a two-guard combo that rivals any in the Western Conference, and the NBA.
2010年12月28日星期二
28 Dec 10 Schooling LeBron and Kobe: All Hail Michael Jordan's All-Time Playoff Dominance
Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesAnother NBA regular season is in the books and the playoffs are in full swing.People all over are still trying to find the next Jordan, to no avail. Ponder Kobe and LeBron, Durant and Duncan, Pierce and Nash, and then ponder these all-time Jordan records.Then pay homage to the untouchable greatest man who ever played the game: Michael Jordan.Players on fire keep in the zone and they may even break a record or two. Jordan played in such a way, especially in the playoffs, that he led his teams to an unbeatable 6-0 Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
finals record.The 2009-10 regular season saw a plethora of record-breaking opportunities in its 82-game schedule. NBA legend Jordan played in 1,072 regular season games over his career (not an all-time record).During those games, he set a record against Miami in 1992 when he made 20 free throws in a half; he took 23also an all-time regular season record.Once, Jordan recorded eight steals in a half, which is tied for an all-time regular season record. Defense was obviously one of his strong suits. Jordan holds the all-time record (tie) for leading the NBA in steals three times.Scoring was also a strong suit. Jordan led the NBA in total points scored in 11 different seasons.This is an all-time record.In his rookie year, Jordan averaged 28.2 points per game. He finished third in the scoring race behind Bernard King and Larry Byrd, but he played all 82 games and led the league in total season pointsas a rookie!Ten times, Jordan led the NBA in points per game: '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '92, '93, '96, '97, and '98.His 30.12 regular season scoring average (over 15 separate seasons) is the highest in NBA history, and neither LeBron nor Kobe will ever pass that.Jordan recorded 563 career regular season games where he scored over 30 points. This is an all-time NBA record, as is his all-time regular season record of 866 straight games scoring in double figures.Of course, Jordan shone even brighter in the playoffs, taking his team to an all-time NBA best 6-0 finals record with the Bulls.Everyone else lost in the Finals.In one playoff game against the Celtics in 1986 in Jordan second season, he scored 63 points, an all-time NBA playoff record. He set a record by making 13 consecutive shots from the field versus L.A. in the 1991 Finals, an all-time playoff record. Jordan made 24 shots from the field against Cleveland in 1988also a playoff record.Also a record-setter for playoffs was Jordan 13 free throws made in a quarter against Detroit in 1991.Jordan holds the three-game series total points record with 135 points, versus Miami. He averaged 45.0 ppg in that series. In the same series, he made a record 53 shots from the field.Jordan holds the five-game series record for total points with 226 in 1988 versus Cleveland (45.2 ppg). He hit a record 101 FGs in a six game series against Phoenix in 1993.In fact, Jordan has scored more points in the playoffs than anyone, ever, in NBA history, with 5,987 points.His amazing career playoff scoring average is an all-time high 33.45 points per game!He Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
set records by having the most 50-point playoff games with eight.His 38 games in the playoffs with 40-plus points is the most ever, and his all-time record of 30-plus point playoff games totals 109. He also had more 20-plus point games than anyone ever with 173.These are all amazing and unbreakable records.Jordan is the only player ever in NBA history to score at least 15 points in every single playoff game he ever played in. He played in 179 career playoff games (not a record).In the playoffs versus Cleveland in 1988, Jordan scored 50 points and then 55 the next game, which makes him the only player ever in the playoffs to score 50-plus points, consecutively. He did the same with three straight over-45 point games in the playoffs, also a record.In one span, Jordan tabulated over 20 points, 60 consecutive times, which is an all-time NBA playoff record. So is his 15-plus point playoff game record of 179 (all his playoff games ever).In fact, no other player ever has even scored 10-plus points in 179 straight games. Jordan lowest playoff points game was 15.He took more shots than anyone in playoff history with 4,497 FG attempts. He has made more playoff free throws than anyone ever with 1,463.In the finals, Jordan set himself apart from any player ever, because he never lost in the finals. He scored 35 points in a half versus Portland in 1992 Finals, which is an all-time finals record.So is making 14 FGs in a half and 13 consecutively. He ties for most three-pointers made in a half in the finals with six. He made nine free throws in a quarter, a finals record.He has the highest finals series scoring average ever with 41.0 ppg versus Phoenix in 1993.Defensively, Jordan set a finals record with 14 steals in a five game series in 1991.In a six-game finals (Jordan never let a finals get to Game Seven) series, Jordan holds all-time records with 246 points, 101 FGs made, and being the only player to ever score at least 20 points in every finals game he ever played in.The record is 35 times, every one of his finals games!!!Even as an old man, Jordan set all-time NBA records. He is the oldest player to ever score 50-plus points in a game when he scored 51 against the Hornets at 38 years and 315 days old. He scored 24 in a quarter that day, which is an opponent's all-time high points scored in quarter against the Hornets.Also, he became the oldest player to ever score 40 points in a game at 40 years old and 4 days in 2003, and became the only player over 40 to average 20 points per Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
game (in 2003, his 20.0 was his lowest season average).Jordan set records like the most 30-points-per-game seasons ever for one player, with eight and seven consecutively.Both are records.Jordan blocked more shots than any guard ever in NBA history, with 893 for his career and 131 in one season (also an NBA guard record). Jordan became the first player ever to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in a season, and he did it twice in 1987 and 1988.Kobe has neverand will never do eitherlet alone both.Jordan six-time Finals MVP awards are an all-time NBA record. and he was NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988) and an all-defensive first team player nine times, which is an NBA record.His teams, therefore, won a lot of games. The Bulls actually recorded the greatest regular season record ever in 95-96 at 72 wins and 10 losses (Next two years, they went 69-13 and 62-20).Jordan was named (the oldest ever at age 35) NBA MVP that year and also Finals MVP. They opened the season with a 41-3 record (a record).In fact, from '95 to '96, Jordan and the Bulls completed a 33-8 road win record, which is a record. They also notched a record with their 14-0 win-loss record month in 1996.In the finals, Jordan was the defensive and offensive catalyst in the all-time most lopsided finals game ever when his Bulls beat Utah by 42 points.In 1998-99, the season after Jordan left the Bulls, not only did NBA players strike for 32 games, but the Bulls only averaged 81.9 points per game, which is an all-time low record in the NBA!They obviously missed MJ, who was the oldest scoring champion ever at 35 for the Bulls the year before, putting up 28.7 points per game.We shall say, then, with authority, that Michael Jordan is the greatest ever and would do the same or Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
more today if he were in his prime.So, next time you flip on an NBA game and before you even try and say LeBron and Kobe are great, you must first recognize the untouchable master: Michael Jordan.And remember how life could be if we could bring the greatest ever back to school the little wannabes.
finals record.The 2009-10 regular season saw a plethora of record-breaking opportunities in its 82-game schedule. NBA legend Jordan played in 1,072 regular season games over his career (not an all-time record).During those games, he set a record against Miami in 1992 when he made 20 free throws in a half; he took 23also an all-time regular season record.Once, Jordan recorded eight steals in a half, which is tied for an all-time regular season record. Defense was obviously one of his strong suits. Jordan holds the all-time record (tie) for leading the NBA in steals three times.Scoring was also a strong suit. Jordan led the NBA in total points scored in 11 different seasons.This is an all-time record.In his rookie year, Jordan averaged 28.2 points per game. He finished third in the scoring race behind Bernard King and Larry Byrd, but he played all 82 games and led the league in total season pointsas a rookie!Ten times, Jordan led the NBA in points per game: '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '92, '93, '96, '97, and '98.His 30.12 regular season scoring average (over 15 separate seasons) is the highest in NBA history, and neither LeBron nor Kobe will ever pass that.Jordan recorded 563 career regular season games where he scored over 30 points. This is an all-time NBA record, as is his all-time regular season record of 866 straight games scoring in double figures.Of course, Jordan shone even brighter in the playoffs, taking his team to an all-time NBA best 6-0 finals record with the Bulls.Everyone else lost in the Finals.In one playoff game against the Celtics in 1986 in Jordan second season, he scored 63 points, an all-time NBA playoff record. He set a record by making 13 consecutive shots from the field versus L.A. in the 1991 Finals, an all-time playoff record. Jordan made 24 shots from the field against Cleveland in 1988also a playoff record.Also a record-setter for playoffs was Jordan 13 free throws made in a quarter against Detroit in 1991.Jordan holds the three-game series total points record with 135 points, versus Miami. He averaged 45.0 ppg in that series. In the same series, he made a record 53 shots from the field.Jordan holds the five-game series record for total points with 226 in 1988 versus Cleveland (45.2 ppg). He hit a record 101 FGs in a six game series against Phoenix in 1993.In fact, Jordan has scored more points in the playoffs than anyone, ever, in NBA history, with 5,987 points.His amazing career playoff scoring average is an all-time high 33.45 points per game!He Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
set records by having the most 50-point playoff games with eight.His 38 games in the playoffs with 40-plus points is the most ever, and his all-time record of 30-plus point playoff games totals 109. He also had more 20-plus point games than anyone ever with 173.These are all amazing and unbreakable records.Jordan is the only player ever in NBA history to score at least 15 points in every single playoff game he ever played in. He played in 179 career playoff games (not a record).In the playoffs versus Cleveland in 1988, Jordan scored 50 points and then 55 the next game, which makes him the only player ever in the playoffs to score 50-plus points, consecutively. He did the same with three straight over-45 point games in the playoffs, also a record.In one span, Jordan tabulated over 20 points, 60 consecutive times, which is an all-time NBA playoff record. So is his 15-plus point playoff game record of 179 (all his playoff games ever).In fact, no other player ever has even scored 10-plus points in 179 straight games. Jordan lowest playoff points game was 15.He took more shots than anyone in playoff history with 4,497 FG attempts. He has made more playoff free throws than anyone ever with 1,463.In the finals, Jordan set himself apart from any player ever, because he never lost in the finals. He scored 35 points in a half versus Portland in 1992 Finals, which is an all-time finals record.So is making 14 FGs in a half and 13 consecutively. He ties for most three-pointers made in a half in the finals with six. He made nine free throws in a quarter, a finals record.He has the highest finals series scoring average ever with 41.0 ppg versus Phoenix in 1993.Defensively, Jordan set a finals record with 14 steals in a five game series in 1991.In a six-game finals (Jordan never let a finals get to Game Seven) series, Jordan holds all-time records with 246 points, 101 FGs made, and being the only player to ever score at least 20 points in every finals game he ever played in.The record is 35 times, every one of his finals games!!!Even as an old man, Jordan set all-time NBA records. He is the oldest player to ever score 50-plus points in a game when he scored 51 against the Hornets at 38 years and 315 days old. He scored 24 in a quarter that day, which is an opponent's all-time high points scored in quarter against the Hornets.Also, he became the oldest player to ever score 40 points in a game at 40 years old and 4 days in 2003, and became the only player over 40 to average 20 points per Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
game (in 2003, his 20.0 was his lowest season average).Jordan set records like the most 30-points-per-game seasons ever for one player, with eight and seven consecutively.Both are records.Jordan blocked more shots than any guard ever in NBA history, with 893 for his career and 131 in one season (also an NBA guard record). Jordan became the first player ever to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in a season, and he did it twice in 1987 and 1988.Kobe has neverand will never do eitherlet alone both.Jordan six-time Finals MVP awards are an all-time NBA record. and he was NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988) and an all-defensive first team player nine times, which is an NBA record.His teams, therefore, won a lot of games. The Bulls actually recorded the greatest regular season record ever in 95-96 at 72 wins and 10 losses (Next two years, they went 69-13 and 62-20).Jordan was named (the oldest ever at age 35) NBA MVP that year and also Finals MVP. They opened the season with a 41-3 record (a record).In fact, from '95 to '96, Jordan and the Bulls completed a 33-8 road win record, which is a record. They also notched a record with their 14-0 win-loss record month in 1996.In the finals, Jordan was the defensive and offensive catalyst in the all-time most lopsided finals game ever when his Bulls beat Utah by 42 points.In 1998-99, the season after Jordan left the Bulls, not only did NBA players strike for 32 games, but the Bulls only averaged 81.9 points per game, which is an all-time low record in the NBA!They obviously missed MJ, who was the oldest scoring champion ever at 35 for the Bulls the year before, putting up 28.7 points per game.We shall say, then, with authority, that Michael Jordan is the greatest ever and would do the same or Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
more today if he were in his prime.So, next time you flip on an NBA game and before you even try and say LeBron and Kobe are great, you must first recognize the untouchable master: Michael Jordan.And remember how life could be if we could bring the greatest ever back to school the little wannabes.
2010年12月27日星期一
27 Dec 10 Kobe Bryant Is No Michael Jordan, but He's the Best Player in the NBA
Harry How/Getty ImagesIn the continuing debate over who is better, Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, there is no debate. Michael Jordan is better.Michael was faster, quicker, leaped higher, had greater hang time, more body control, greater presence, was a purer scorer, was more creative, and was the greatest closer of all time.Although, Kobe is a better three-point shooter, statistically, and probably a purer shooter, Michael was the better player, and not by a small margin.Can you imagine what Michael could've done with the rules of today's NBA?You could probably add 15 points to his average and increase his shooting percentage by 10 percent.It's possible that he could've broken Wilt Chamberlain's record 100 points in one game.Scary.Pound-for-pound, Michael was the best NBA Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
basketball player ever.The fact that Kobe copied his moves, adopted his speaking pattern and facial expressions, andoccasionallyeven drives the lane with his tongue out, says it all.Kobe copied the best, but isn't him.That said, Kobe is the best player in the NBA today.We have to remember that Kobe is one of the elder statesmen in the NBA today. Though only 31 years old, he is a 14-year veteran of the league.His legs have a lot of miles on them, and he has accrued a plethora of injuries over the years; the last few years having to play through the season and playoffs with them.Whether it's been his knee, his back, or fingers, every year he finds a way to beat the other premier teams (and players) in the league.Let's compare him to some other players in the league.LeBron JamesLeBron is a physical phenomenon.His height, stature, athleticism, and basketball IQ is amazing, and night after night he is a human highlight reel.It would be fair to say that he is stronger than Kobe, and maybe a bit quicker than him, but killer instinct and heart count for a lot in sports.Kobe has bucket loads of both, in the regular season and the playoffs.LeBron has hit some game winning shots, but if it was the fourth quarter of Game Seven of the finals, and your team was down by one with nine seconds on the clock, who would you want with the ball?'Nuff said.Dwayne WadeWade is another complete player. Giving up a few inches to Kobe, he is lightning quick, is an explosive finisher on the drive, and plays stellar defense.Wade Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
has heart in bunches, and in many ways matches Kobe's nightly output. In the 2008/09 season he averaged more points, steals, and block averages than both Kobe and LeBron.Kobe is a much better three-point shooter, and with his height, can effectively guard more positions.It is also noteworthy that when looking at games that the Heat and the Lakers were down, Kobe's will to win seems more dominant, but not by much.While many fans lean towards LeBron being the better player, when taking into account the intangibles, Wade is the closest thing to Kobe in the NBA.Give Wade three more inches, and we wouldn't be having this discussion.Kevin DurantDurant is one of the up and coming great players in the league. At 6'9"/6'10", he is as nimble as a guard and has great ability to score in bunches.A pure shooter, Durant is a threat from anywhere on the court. He has good speed, and has learned how to draw fouls as well as his veteran counterparts.What Durant hasn't shown consistently is the ability to create his own shot. With his shooting percentage under .500 in the regular season, and under .400 in the playoffs, that is something he has to work on.Putting on a few more pounds will do him well. Working on getting better looks will also make him a better closer.He has all the talent in the world, but needs a few more years to put it together.Carmelo AnthonyCarmelo is a great scorer with everything he needs, except consistency and killer instinct.If you could mix Carmelo with Chauncey Billups, and make one player, you would have Kobe Bryant.Unfortunately for Carmelo, he isn't.Final thoughtsDespite 14 long seasons of wear and tear, injuries, and teams with younger superstars, Kobe is still the best player in the league.Beyond the media hype and highlight reels of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
other players, when the game is on the line, there is no better closer in the league today.He's still playing at a high level, entertaining us night after night and even if you're not a Lakers fan, enjoy him.Great players like Kobe don't come that often, and since Michael Jordan retired, no one has been better. No one.
basketball player ever.The fact that Kobe copied his moves, adopted his speaking pattern and facial expressions, andoccasionallyeven drives the lane with his tongue out, says it all.Kobe copied the best, but isn't him.That said, Kobe is the best player in the NBA today.We have to remember that Kobe is one of the elder statesmen in the NBA today. Though only 31 years old, he is a 14-year veteran of the league.His legs have a lot of miles on them, and he has accrued a plethora of injuries over the years; the last few years having to play through the season and playoffs with them.Whether it's been his knee, his back, or fingers, every year he finds a way to beat the other premier teams (and players) in the league.Let's compare him to some other players in the league.LeBron JamesLeBron is a physical phenomenon.His height, stature, athleticism, and basketball IQ is amazing, and night after night he is a human highlight reel.It would be fair to say that he is stronger than Kobe, and maybe a bit quicker than him, but killer instinct and heart count for a lot in sports.Kobe has bucket loads of both, in the regular season and the playoffs.LeBron has hit some game winning shots, but if it was the fourth quarter of Game Seven of the finals, and your team was down by one with nine seconds on the clock, who would you want with the ball?'Nuff said.Dwayne WadeWade is another complete player. Giving up a few inches to Kobe, he is lightning quick, is an explosive finisher on the drive, and plays stellar defense.Wade Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
has heart in bunches, and in many ways matches Kobe's nightly output. In the 2008/09 season he averaged more points, steals, and block averages than both Kobe and LeBron.Kobe is a much better three-point shooter, and with his height, can effectively guard more positions.It is also noteworthy that when looking at games that the Heat and the Lakers were down, Kobe's will to win seems more dominant, but not by much.While many fans lean towards LeBron being the better player, when taking into account the intangibles, Wade is the closest thing to Kobe in the NBA.Give Wade three more inches, and we wouldn't be having this discussion.Kevin DurantDurant is one of the up and coming great players in the league. At 6'9"/6'10", he is as nimble as a guard and has great ability to score in bunches.A pure shooter, Durant is a threat from anywhere on the court. He has good speed, and has learned how to draw fouls as well as his veteran counterparts.What Durant hasn't shown consistently is the ability to create his own shot. With his shooting percentage under .500 in the regular season, and under .400 in the playoffs, that is something he has to work on.Putting on a few more pounds will do him well. Working on getting better looks will also make him a better closer.He has all the talent in the world, but needs a few more years to put it together.Carmelo AnthonyCarmelo is a great scorer with everything he needs, except consistency and killer instinct.If you could mix Carmelo with Chauncey Billups, and make one player, you would have Kobe Bryant.Unfortunately for Carmelo, he isn't.Final thoughtsDespite 14 long seasons of wear and tear, injuries, and teams with younger superstars, Kobe is still the best player in the league.Beyond the media hype and highlight reels of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
other players, when the game is on the line, there is no better closer in the league today.He's still playing at a high level, entertaining us night after night and even if you're not a Lakers fan, enjoy him.Great players like Kobe don't come that often, and since Michael Jordan retired, no one has been better. No one.
2010年12月26日星期日
26 Dec 10 2010 NBA Playoffs: Phoenix Suns Face Elimination for the First Time
Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesPlanet Orange was smiling after the Suns pulled off a nine-point victory Tuesday night in Phoenix. Some Phoenix fans were left broken-hearted after Thursday night's loss in Los Angeles. Either way, tonight's game is the first must-win these Suns have faced in this post-season. Miami Dolphins jersey
After a thrilling game that saw its fair share of late heroics, Alvin Gentry and his team are faced with the prospect of elimination. Tonight, Suns fans, is the night that you will either celebrate one more win or agonize over what could have been.Hopefully, even in a loss, you won't think about what could have been this year.As opposed to those series in the past when Suns fans could have complained about injuries, suspensions, mysterious three-pointers, or any other cosmic forces depriving them of what they felt was rightfully theirs for the taking; this year, in this series, if the Suns lose, it will be because the Lakers won. That's right.Read it again if you need to.If we lose this series, it will be because the Lakers won. Does it feel awkward to think of someone other than the San Antonio Spurs Minnesota Vikings
eliminating us? Of course it does, especially those Lakers. But this year we'll be left with no excuses other than basketball.I hope the Suns will win tonight, but if they don't I'd like to thank the Suns for a great season. I'd like to thank Grant Hill for his dedication to our team, coach Gentry for his calm, collected leadership, our bench for their inspired play throughout the season, and Richardson, Stoudemire, and Nash for giving us reason to believe. Sometimes that's all we have.If we lose tonight, or go on to lose in seven, I'll consider this season a success New England Patriots jersey
and support our NBA Western Conference, Pacific Division rivals, and allies against Boston and I hope you will, too. That may be a little too much to ask, I know, but I'd always rather lose to the champions than anyone else.
After a thrilling game that saw its fair share of late heroics, Alvin Gentry and his team are faced with the prospect of elimination. Tonight, Suns fans, is the night that you will either celebrate one more win or agonize over what could have been.Hopefully, even in a loss, you won't think about what could have been this year.As opposed to those series in the past when Suns fans could have complained about injuries, suspensions, mysterious three-pointers, or any other cosmic forces depriving them of what they felt was rightfully theirs for the taking; this year, in this series, if the Suns lose, it will be because the Lakers won. That's right.Read it again if you need to.If we lose this series, it will be because the Lakers won. Does it feel awkward to think of someone other than the San Antonio Spurs Minnesota Vikings
eliminating us? Of course it does, especially those Lakers. But this year we'll be left with no excuses other than basketball.I hope the Suns will win tonight, but if they don't I'd like to thank the Suns for a great season. I'd like to thank Grant Hill for his dedication to our team, coach Gentry for his calm, collected leadership, our bench for their inspired play throughout the season, and Richardson, Stoudemire, and Nash for giving us reason to believe. Sometimes that's all we have.If we lose tonight, or go on to lose in seven, I'll consider this season a success New England Patriots jersey
and support our NBA Western Conference, Pacific Division rivals, and allies against Boston and I hope you will, too. That may be a little too much to ask, I know, but I'd always rather lose to the champions than anyone else.
2010年12月25日星期六
25 Dec 10 Cavaliers vs. 76ers: Triumph of the Meeks as Philadelphia Topples Cleveland
Sixers guard Jodie Meeks takes a break from his hot shooting to talk it over with the official.Marc Serota/Getty ImagesA win over the King-less Cleveland Cavaliers isn exactly putting the NBA on notice, but the Philadelphia 76ers and blossoming young guard Jodie Meeks will take it.A balanced team effort saw the Sixers take control in the first quarter and never look back. They led by nine after the first quarter and 14 at the break on their way to a trouble-free 117-97 win.Seven Sixers scored in double figures, led by Thaddeus Young 26 off the bench. Buffalo Bills jersey
Meeks contributed again with 16 points, including 4-of-9 three-point shooting, following up on his eye-opening 26-point performance against the Charlotte Bobcats Saturday night.On Saturday, Meeks scored 20 points in the first quarter, knocking down seven three-pointers in the game. He hit 21-of-44 three-pointers on the season, a .477 percent clip, well above his career average of .358. The 23-year-old out of Kentucky, acquired last season from the Milwaukee Bucks in an at-the-time barely noticed trade for Primo Brezec, Royal Ivey and a 2010 second-round draft pick, has replaced No. 2-overall pick Evan Turner in the starting lineup.He may be earning himself a longer look on a young team still searching for the right combinations.Off the bench, Turner scored only two points in 15 minutes, but Young shot a scorching 11-of-12 from field-goal range, finishing with 26 points to go along with his 11 rebounds. And don tell Young that a victory against this woebegone Cleveland team was meaningless.It's very refreshing, Young said. Any time we can go out there and get four out of five victories, it's big for the team. We need those wins that help us make a push for the playoffs and help get us in the mix for things.Laughers have been hard to come by in the Sixers now 7-14 campaign, Carolina Panthers jersey
but after starting the season 3-13, the Sixers have won four of their last five, including five in a row at the suddenly friendly confines of the Wells Fargo Center.The Sixers controlled the glass all night, winning the rebound battle 44 to 29. When the 7-14 Cavaliers lose, they lose big, having lost by 20 points or more six teams already this season. And they now lost five in a row, all by double figures, including their drubbing last week at the hands of LeBron James and his Miami Heat.J.J. Hickson team-high 18 points weren enough, and Mo Williams contributed 15 points and seven assists on a night when the overmatched Cavaliers gave a less-than-inspiring effort.We're getting beat off the dribble like we're not even there, Cavs coach Byron Scott said. Pride has to come into it. Guys go right down the lane for easy layups and nobody seems upset by it. Everybody has to do a lot of soul-searching."The Sixers, who were able to avenge two November losses to the Cavs, probably wish they played Cleveland every night. But their home winning streak will be put to the test when the Boston Celtics come to town Thursday night, and the New Orleans Hornets arrive for a Sunday afternoon contest.They may have only won one-third of their games, but the Sixers have been competitive. They lost four games by five points or less. Doug Collins is mixing and matching his parts, trying to find a mix that delivers victories on the potential inherent in his athletic, young team.Time will tell if he found a winning combination on a team that been perennially Chicago Bears jersey
filled with question marks. And the Sixers can play teams as moribund as the Cavaliers every night.But the Eastern Conference is flabby;the Sixers are, amazingly, only one game out of the No. 8 spot;and if players like Meeks keep stepping up and surprising people, that playoff gleam in Young eye might not seem so far-fetched
Meeks contributed again with 16 points, including 4-of-9 three-point shooting, following up on his eye-opening 26-point performance against the Charlotte Bobcats Saturday night.On Saturday, Meeks scored 20 points in the first quarter, knocking down seven three-pointers in the game. He hit 21-of-44 three-pointers on the season, a .477 percent clip, well above his career average of .358. The 23-year-old out of Kentucky, acquired last season from the Milwaukee Bucks in an at-the-time barely noticed trade for Primo Brezec, Royal Ivey and a 2010 second-round draft pick, has replaced No. 2-overall pick Evan Turner in the starting lineup.He may be earning himself a longer look on a young team still searching for the right combinations.Off the bench, Turner scored only two points in 15 minutes, but Young shot a scorching 11-of-12 from field-goal range, finishing with 26 points to go along with his 11 rebounds. And don tell Young that a victory against this woebegone Cleveland team was meaningless.It's very refreshing, Young said. Any time we can go out there and get four out of five victories, it's big for the team. We need those wins that help us make a push for the playoffs and help get us in the mix for things.Laughers have been hard to come by in the Sixers now 7-14 campaign, Carolina Panthers jersey
but after starting the season 3-13, the Sixers have won four of their last five, including five in a row at the suddenly friendly confines of the Wells Fargo Center.The Sixers controlled the glass all night, winning the rebound battle 44 to 29. When the 7-14 Cavaliers lose, they lose big, having lost by 20 points or more six teams already this season. And they now lost five in a row, all by double figures, including their drubbing last week at the hands of LeBron James and his Miami Heat.J.J. Hickson team-high 18 points weren enough, and Mo Williams contributed 15 points and seven assists on a night when the overmatched Cavaliers gave a less-than-inspiring effort.We're getting beat off the dribble like we're not even there, Cavs coach Byron Scott said. Pride has to come into it. Guys go right down the lane for easy layups and nobody seems upset by it. Everybody has to do a lot of soul-searching."The Sixers, who were able to avenge two November losses to the Cavs, probably wish they played Cleveland every night. But their home winning streak will be put to the test when the Boston Celtics come to town Thursday night, and the New Orleans Hornets arrive for a Sunday afternoon contest.They may have only won one-third of their games, but the Sixers have been competitive. They lost four games by five points or less. Doug Collins is mixing and matching his parts, trying to find a mix that delivers victories on the potential inherent in his athletic, young team.Time will tell if he found a winning combination on a team that been perennially Chicago Bears jersey
filled with question marks. And the Sixers can play teams as moribund as the Cavaliers every night.But the Eastern Conference is flabby;the Sixers are, amazingly, only one game out of the No. 8 spot;and if players like Meeks keep stepping up and surprising people, that playoff gleam in Young eye might not seem so far-fetched
2010年12月24日星期五
24 Dec 10 NBA: 2010 Fantasy Basketball Value Options for Blocks
Doug Pensinger/Getty ImagesJust because you can’t secure Dwight Howard, it doesn’t mean that your a lost cause in the blocks category. Here are some value players to help you win that category.Brendan Haywood, Dallas MavericksHaywood had 158 blocks in 77 gamesHouston Texans jersey
last year after missing all but six games in 2008-09. His minutes and rebounds went down following his trade to Dallas, but the blocks remained virtually unchanged.Chris Andersen, Denver NuggetsThe Birdman is a specialist. He doesn’t score much or even hit the boards very hard (6.4 rpg last year), but he is an eraser. He averaged 1.9 blocks per game last year, a year after averaging 2.5. He’s recovering from knee surgery so it may be best to hold off on him for a bit.Roy Hibbert, Indiana PacersHibbert battled inconsistency last year, but when he was on, he was really on. Look for the big man to continue to develop this year.Emeka Okafor, New Orleans HornetsHe’s not quite the player he used to be, and isn’t nearly the fantasy commodity, but he’s still good for 1.6+ blocks per game. Throw in a good field goal percentage and a bunch of rebounds, and you have a solid big man.Joel Anthony, Miami HeatYes, the Heat do have players outside of Miami Thrice. Anthony is Indianapolis Colts jersey
merely a shot blocking specialist at this point, but is the perfect remedy if that’s where you’re lacking.Taj Gibson, Chicago BullsGibson averaged 1.3 blocks per game, and gets an early season lift with Carlos Boozer sidelined.Other possibilities:Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City ThunderHasheem Thabeet, Memphis GrizzliesBen Wallace, Detroit PistonsAlso check out:2010 Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Point Guards2010 Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Shooting Guards2010-11 Fantasy Small Forward Rankings2010-11 Fantasy Power Forward Rankings2010-11 Fantasy Center RankingsValue Three-Pointer OptionsValue Steals Options
last year after missing all but six games in 2008-09. His minutes and rebounds went down following his trade to Dallas, but the blocks remained virtually unchanged.Chris Andersen, Denver NuggetsThe Birdman is a specialist. He doesn’t score much or even hit the boards very hard (6.4 rpg last year), but he is an eraser. He averaged 1.9 blocks per game last year, a year after averaging 2.5. He’s recovering from knee surgery so it may be best to hold off on him for a bit.Roy Hibbert, Indiana PacersHibbert battled inconsistency last year, but when he was on, he was really on. Look for the big man to continue to develop this year.Emeka Okafor, New Orleans HornetsHe’s not quite the player he used to be, and isn’t nearly the fantasy commodity, but he’s still good for 1.6+ blocks per game. Throw in a good field goal percentage and a bunch of rebounds, and you have a solid big man.Joel Anthony, Miami HeatYes, the Heat do have players outside of Miami Thrice. Anthony is Indianapolis Colts jersey
merely a shot blocking specialist at this point, but is the perfect remedy if that’s where you’re lacking.Taj Gibson, Chicago BullsGibson averaged 1.3 blocks per game, and gets an early season lift with Carlos Boozer sidelined.Other possibilities:Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City ThunderHasheem Thabeet, Memphis GrizzliesBen Wallace, Detroit PistonsAlso check out:2010 Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Point Guards2010 Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Shooting Guards2010-11 Fantasy Small Forward Rankings2010-11 Fantasy Power Forward Rankings2010-11 Fantasy Center RankingsValue Three-Pointer OptionsValue Steals Options
2010年12月23日星期四
23 Dec 10Miami Heat: What Do They Need To Do To Keep Chris Bosh Involved?
Marc Serota/Getty ImagesIt took 10 games, but the Miami Heat and Chris Bosh finally joined forces to lead the team to victory.An emphatic one at that, as the Heat beat the visiting Phoenix Suns in a 123-96 win where Bosh led the team with his first breakout performance of the season at 35 points, Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
six rebounds, and four assists. The entire big three contributed to the win as LeBron James put in 20 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Dwyane Wade relaxed for 17 points, six rebounds and six assists.It was easily the most well-rounded performance of the season from the team and was one of the most impressive outings by the big three. Considering the fact that they have yet to find a stable scoring balance between the three of them, Bosh netting 35, James scoring 20, and Wade putting in 17 are all you can ask for in a big win against a lethal team like the Suns. James was the only player to play the fourth quarter as he was on the court for the first two minutes before sitting out the rest.Bosh came into the Heat's game against Phoenix with his previous season high being 21 points in a win against the New Jersey Nets. He had originally struggled for most of the season when it came to scoring, rebounding and defense, as he was only averaging 14 points and six rebounds. He left the Suns game with a scoring average of 16.4, a little more modest than the 14 that was making him the center of NBA ridicule.The 35 points was just what the doctor ordered to say the least. The Heat forced the issue of getting Chris involved against an undersized Phoenix team as he scored the team's first eight points, as well as 12 of their first 15 on 5-of-6 shooting. He was hitting on all cylinders as he used his entire repertoire to get baskets. The majority came on a fair share of 15- to 20-foot jumpers, a few hook shots and a decent amount of easy lay-in's.Bosh received the ball in every one of the Heat's early possessions, as Wade or James gave him the ball to work his magic. Bosh realized the advantage he held over Hedo Turkoglu by hitting a few jump shots and nailing a hook shot before Suns coach Alvin Gentry switched Channing Frye onto him. The switch made little impact as Bosh continued to take advantage the defensively challenged team. He was constantly open Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
for his highlight shot at 20 feet.Could the 35 points be just a direct result of Bosh playing against the defense of the Phoenix Suns? The same Suns team that is currently allowing 108 points per game this season? They certainly didn't make it too difficult for Bosh to score 35, but the most important aspect of Bosh's scoring outburst, besides giving the Heat the win, was that it gave him a load of confidence.After listening for three weeks now to analysts and critics saying how he doesn't fit into the system, how he can't adjust to the role as third option, and how the Heat should cut their losses while they can, this was just the game the Heat needed. A weak defensive team with little to no inside presence will give Chris all the confidence he needs to carry on throughout the season. He refused to turn down shots that he had been hesitating on taking all season and as a result he only missed five of his 17 field goal attempts.Not to mention, we actually saw the Chris Bosh who attempted driving the ball. This was more like the Bosh who Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
was signed to a deal worth over $110 million over the summer. This was the Bosh who we have been waiting to see. This was the same Chris Bosh who averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds only a few months ago with the Toronto Raptors.So how do you maintain it and keep allowing him to remain involved in the offensive system?The game against the Suns was a jump-off point for Bosh as it gave him the confidence to prove his doubters wrong and get into the offensive groove that he had been missing since last season. With his confidence level at its peak, the Heat need to keep using Bosh to their advantage by having him start out the scoring for the Heat. The team needs to establish the post presence they have in the early going by feeding Bosh the ball.Much like how the Heat did with Jermaine O'Neal last season by feeding him the ball in the post in the first few possessions of the game, they need to continue to do that with Bosh. Unlike O'Neal who would either be feast or famine near the paint, Bosh is nearly guaranteed to drain a few buckets and give the Heat the early leads that have been escaping them for a number of games this season.James and Wade will get their points progressively over the game, but in the first few minutes of the first quarter it should be the Chris Bosh show.
six rebounds, and four assists. The entire big three contributed to the win as LeBron James put in 20 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Dwyane Wade relaxed for 17 points, six rebounds and six assists.It was easily the most well-rounded performance of the season from the team and was one of the most impressive outings by the big three. Considering the fact that they have yet to find a stable scoring balance between the three of them, Bosh netting 35, James scoring 20, and Wade putting in 17 are all you can ask for in a big win against a lethal team like the Suns. James was the only player to play the fourth quarter as he was on the court for the first two minutes before sitting out the rest.Bosh came into the Heat's game against Phoenix with his previous season high being 21 points in a win against the New Jersey Nets. He had originally struggled for most of the season when it came to scoring, rebounding and defense, as he was only averaging 14 points and six rebounds. He left the Suns game with a scoring average of 16.4, a little more modest than the 14 that was making him the center of NBA ridicule.The 35 points was just what the doctor ordered to say the least. The Heat forced the issue of getting Chris involved against an undersized Phoenix team as he scored the team's first eight points, as well as 12 of their first 15 on 5-of-6 shooting. He was hitting on all cylinders as he used his entire repertoire to get baskets. The majority came on a fair share of 15- to 20-foot jumpers, a few hook shots and a decent amount of easy lay-in's.Bosh received the ball in every one of the Heat's early possessions, as Wade or James gave him the ball to work his magic. Bosh realized the advantage he held over Hedo Turkoglu by hitting a few jump shots and nailing a hook shot before Suns coach Alvin Gentry switched Channing Frye onto him. The switch made little impact as Bosh continued to take advantage the defensively challenged team. He was constantly open Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
for his highlight shot at 20 feet.Could the 35 points be just a direct result of Bosh playing against the defense of the Phoenix Suns? The same Suns team that is currently allowing 108 points per game this season? They certainly didn't make it too difficult for Bosh to score 35, but the most important aspect of Bosh's scoring outburst, besides giving the Heat the win, was that it gave him a load of confidence.After listening for three weeks now to analysts and critics saying how he doesn't fit into the system, how he can't adjust to the role as third option, and how the Heat should cut their losses while they can, this was just the game the Heat needed. A weak defensive team with little to no inside presence will give Chris all the confidence he needs to carry on throughout the season. He refused to turn down shots that he had been hesitating on taking all season and as a result he only missed five of his 17 field goal attempts.Not to mention, we actually saw the Chris Bosh who attempted driving the ball. This was more like the Bosh who Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
was signed to a deal worth over $110 million over the summer. This was the Bosh who we have been waiting to see. This was the same Chris Bosh who averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds only a few months ago with the Toronto Raptors.So how do you maintain it and keep allowing him to remain involved in the offensive system?The game against the Suns was a jump-off point for Bosh as it gave him the confidence to prove his doubters wrong and get into the offensive groove that he had been missing since last season. With his confidence level at its peak, the Heat need to keep using Bosh to their advantage by having him start out the scoring for the Heat. The team needs to establish the post presence they have in the early going by feeding Bosh the ball.Much like how the Heat did with Jermaine O'Neal last season by feeding him the ball in the post in the first few possessions of the game, they need to continue to do that with Bosh. Unlike O'Neal who would either be feast or famine near the paint, Bosh is nearly guaranteed to drain a few buckets and give the Heat the early leads that have been escaping them for a number of games this season.James and Wade will get their points progressively over the game, but in the first few minutes of the first quarter it should be the Chris Bosh show.
2010年12月22日星期三
NBA Free Agency: Who Will Land With the Chicago Bulls?
Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesEvery team with cap space during this infamous "Free Agency 2010" has their sights on one man, LeBron James. Players like James just do not come around often, and especially as free agents. He has been linked to many different teams, one of those being the Chicago Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
Bulls.Of the teams with the money needed to sign King James, the Bulls are the most attractive destination, not just for James, but for any free agent searching for a new home. With young stars such as Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, the Bulls, in just one off-season could go from sneaking into the playoffs, to competing for an NBA championship. Yes, that is crazy, but with the available players, and the Bulls young talent, it just might happen.Nobody knows what is going through LeBron James' head, except for himself. If LeBron is committed to winning a championship, than Chicago is the most logical landing spot for him. However, it appears LeBron is torn between leaving his hometown or to continue to build on his legacy in Cleveland. After another season in which the CavaliersReebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
failed to make the NBA finals, the question begins to formulate if LeBron will ever win a championship in Cleveland.If he wins a championship in his hometown, he is a god. If he fails to win a championship, his legacy would not be the same. He would join Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and John Stockton, just to name a few as great players who were not NBA champions.LeBron James is not the only option for the Bulls though. With Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire off the market, the Bulls are hoping for either James, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh. Bulls fans (including myself) are anxiously waiting for the news as to which of these, if any will be wearing a Bulls uniform next season.If the Bulls are to land Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, it instantly turns them into championship contenders. On the other hand, if the Bulls strike out on the three biggest name free agents and settle with Carlos Boozer, they turn into a team who is good, but will not compete for a title.Right now, with the decisions of Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
LeBron, Wade, and Bosh looming, the Bulls future will be decided. Fasten your seat belts Bulls fans.
Bulls.Of the teams with the money needed to sign King James, the Bulls are the most attractive destination, not just for James, but for any free agent searching for a new home. With young stars such as Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, the Bulls, in just one off-season could go from sneaking into the playoffs, to competing for an NBA championship. Yes, that is crazy, but with the available players, and the Bulls young talent, it just might happen.Nobody knows what is going through LeBron James' head, except for himself. If LeBron is committed to winning a championship, than Chicago is the most logical landing spot for him. However, it appears LeBron is torn between leaving his hometown or to continue to build on his legacy in Cleveland. After another season in which the CavaliersReebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
failed to make the NBA finals, the question begins to formulate if LeBron will ever win a championship in Cleveland.If he wins a championship in his hometown, he is a god. If he fails to win a championship, his legacy would not be the same. He would join Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and John Stockton, just to name a few as great players who were not NBA champions.LeBron James is not the only option for the Bulls though. With Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire off the market, the Bulls are hoping for either James, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh. Bulls fans (including myself) are anxiously waiting for the news as to which of these, if any will be wearing a Bulls uniform next season.If the Bulls are to land Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, it instantly turns them into championship contenders. On the other hand, if the Bulls strike out on the three biggest name free agents and settle with Carlos Boozer, they turn into a team who is good, but will not compete for a title.Right now, with the decisions of Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
LeBron, Wade, and Bosh looming, the Bulls future will be decided. Fasten your seat belts Bulls fans.
2010年12月21日星期二
Rumors: Did Yankees Use Rule 5 Draft Against Red Sox?
The Yankees drafted right handed pitcher Daniel Turpen from the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft yesterday.It was an odd choice because Rule 5 drafted players have to stay on the 25-man roster all season or else you lose them, and judging by Turpen’s numbers, there wasn’t much chance for him to stick with the Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
Yankees all season long. Apparently, there could have been an ulterior motive at play though.Via Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus:Yankees: Daniel Turpen, RHP (from Red Sox): Reliever with low-90s sinker finished strong in Arizona Fall League with eight straight scoreless appearances; most entertaining rumor of the day involves the Yankees selected him as a jab at Boston, with Turpen thought to be on the list of potential PTBNLs to San Diego in the Adrian Gonzalez deal.Don’t look now, but the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is heating up again. It’s kind of died down a bit as of late, but ever since Theo Epstein offered Mariano Rivera a three-year deal, it has been back on.As far as this Turpen story goes, the Yankees heard that he might be the player to be named later, so they took him in the Rule Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
5 draft. The trade is over and done with, so this is not that big of a deal. It mostly just messes with the Sox.Hopefully, the Padres pick somebody better instead of him
Yankees all season long. Apparently, there could have been an ulterior motive at play though.Via Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus:Yankees: Daniel Turpen, RHP (from Red Sox): Reliever with low-90s sinker finished strong in Arizona Fall League with eight straight scoreless appearances; most entertaining rumor of the day involves the Yankees selected him as a jab at Boston, with Turpen thought to be on the list of potential PTBNLs to San Diego in the Adrian Gonzalez deal.Don’t look now, but the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is heating up again. It’s kind of died down a bit as of late, but ever since Theo Epstein offered Mariano Rivera a three-year deal, it has been back on.As far as this Turpen story goes, the Yankees heard that he might be the player to be named later, so they took him in the Rule Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
5 draft. The trade is over and done with, so this is not that big of a deal. It mostly just messes with the Sox.Hopefully, the Padres pick somebody better instead of him
2010年12月19日星期日
20 Dec 10 College Football Crapshoot: Auburn and Oregon Look to Avoid Final Choke
With only one week left for TCU to screw everything up should Oregon and/or Auburn falter, I hold my breath and make bold predictions of what should be an eventful weekend to cap off the college football regular season playoffs.Here's What I Know Will Happen...I Know West Virginia (-20) Will Cover vs. RutgersPlaying a defeated Scarlet Knights team, both figuratively and literally as the Knights have dropped five straight and seven of their last nine after a 2-0 start, the Mountaineers have the Big East crown in their sights.Playing an inferior team, and with more incentive, West Virginia should outclass Rutgers as the best team in a bad conference.I Know Virginia Tech Will Win the ACC ChampionshipAlthough the conference is flawed from top to bottom, VA Tech has proved be the least flawed team in the entire conference.Riding a white-hot 10-game win streak, Tech has Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jerseyshined against conference foes all season, and they will continue to feast on ACC opponents. As long as Virginia Tech isn't playing a quasi-talented team from outside of its conference, they should be fine.Here's What I Think Will Happen...I Think Oklahoma Will Win the Big 12 ChampionshipThe Sooners have been tough to figure out all year, but so have the Cornhuskers to some degree.I'm going to trust the more consistent, explosive offense in a game that should be pretty low scoring when it's all said and done.Bob Stoops, although horrible in the big game lately, has more big-game experience. And after seeing the show Bo Pelini put on in a losing effort against Texas A&M, I'm pretty weary of what his in-game composure will be should things go south early for Nebraska.Oklahoma wins by a field goal. I think.I Think Oregon State (+16.5) Covers in the Civil WarThis is one of those extremely rare cases where I take the points but still expect the favorite to win outright.Going into a hostile environment in an emotional game against their most bitter rival, Oregon will be in for a dogfight, as Oregon State will have incentive to spoil the Ducks' bid for a national title.Oregon State, while disappointing this year, still has talent, and has historically clicked more in the second half of the season.While that has not been the case this year, a talented team coached by Mike Riley, putting all its chips on Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey the table should give Oregon all they can handle before the Oregon Ducks eventually survive. I think.Here's What I'm Probably Wrong about...I'm Probably Wrong, but South Carolina (+5) Will Cover against Auburn in the SEC Championship GameAuburn has gone through a battle-tested schedule unscathed, and now they run into a team that really should have beat them the last time they played a few months back.In the annals of college football, there have been few coaches better in a big-game spot than Steve Spurrier. And if Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey Auburn is to stub its toe en route to a national title berth, it could very well be against a competitive Gamecocks team seeking revenge for a win that they let slip through their feathers.I'm Probably Wrong, but USC Will Beat UCLA OutrightMatt Barkley will return to salvage some sort of respect for a season that was lost from the beginning (when USC received that bowl ban). The Trojans have been involved in a series of close defeats this season, and playing against rival UCLA coming off of a heartbreaking loss to Notre Dame could be the perfect form of medicine for them to get over such heartache.Rick Neuheisel is steadily approaching lame duck status, while USC coach Lane Kiffin is coaching to hold down his job. A decisive win over rival UCLA would definitely help Kiffin's cause.Follow Big Nasty on twitter at twitter.com/ThisIsNasty.
19 Dec 10 Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Vick Breaks Records While Eagles Soar
Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesFor all the buzz that was happening in Washington today with the extension of Donovan McNabb there was also another big event booming our Nation's Capital, Monday Night Football. To say the least it did not go well for the Redskins or the fans. For those of you tuning into my articles after every game for the Gameday Grades, I'll make this article quick and easy for you. Overall, the entire Redskins team and coaching staff get a big, fat F. Michael Vick was able to pass and run at will. DeSean Jackson caught two passes the whole game but he didn't need any others after he caught the 88-yard bomb only fourteen seconds into the game. Jerome Harrison was running over the Redskins like he was in practice against the second squad. Vick threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers, including one pass that he had nearly eight full seconds to throw the ball because Albert Haynesworth decided to no longer pursue the play and laid on the ground. When you are looking at why the Redskins are not going to be Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
a playoff contending team this year, all you have to do is watch this game. Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesThe Redskins had two weeks to prepare for this game. Some used the bye week to rest, others played golf, others reworked theircontracts. At the end of the day, they lost and made an embarrassment of themselves on national television on Monday night. I've bashed them enough for the first section, let me just move onto the grades: QB: C. This is gracious for Donovan McNabb's play but I'm taking into account that the line played horribly, he had no run support until the fourth quarter when nothing mattered anymore and during the first quarter his receivers could not catch a cold in a doctor's office. Aside from that he made some good scrambling plays and a few good deep throws. He needs to learn to not put so much force behind his passes because he throws them through his receivers hands. RB: D+. Keiland Williams did run for two touchdowns and catch another. So what? When he needed to move the ball he could not. When they needed that extra three yards to make it third and short, he didn't get it. Sure he played well at the end of the game but the Eagles were on cruise control by that point. The blocking from the backfield overall and picking up the blitz was horrible. Enough said, moving on. FB: C. Decent blocking from Mike Sellers in this one and a mediocre kick return on the short kickoff but nothing spectacular either way. WR: F. They let the guy covering them run their routes better than they could, Joey Galloway. The first interception I cannot fault Santana Moss too much because he could only get one solid hand on the ball because it was behind him. Anthony Armstrong played the best of all of them and he got three catches. Something is wrong here. When did you quit watching?When did you quit watching?1st quarter25.0%2nd quarter20.4%3rd quarter19.4%4th quarter35.2%Total votes: 108TE: B. The one bright spot of the offense was Fred Davis woke up and made it to the game on time and caught a big pass for over seventy yards. Chris Cooley was barely noticed for most of the game but did manage three catches. OL: F. The whole unit sucked. Forgive the unprofessional language but I cannot think of a professional word to use for their performance tonight. Not enough time to throw. McNabb was knocked around again as usual. No true holes to run through and third downs were when they played the worst. P.S. I am making an appeal for Artis Hicks to be removed from the team, he cannot pick up a blitz and jumped at a critical moment in the red-zone and killed the offensive momentum for a bit. DL: D. This stands for decent job of creating penetration. Now to get this ranking higher all you have to do is wrap up the tackles you are attempting to make instead of trying to arm tackle and allowing them to get away. As a side note, anyone who lays on the ground and does not continue the play should be benched, oh wait... LB: C. It's hard to fault them. They are easily the most talented group on the defensive side yet they had to play all over the field from defensive line to sending London Fletcher back to the safety area. I'll give them the benefit of the Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
doubt but people not named London Fletcher need to learn how to hold onto a person or knock them off balance at least. CB: F. They got burned. I will not elaborate any more on the subject just look up Vick's stats. Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesS: D. The only bright spot here was LaRon Landry having to cover all thirty yards of field by himself while spying on Michael Vick for most of the game. He did a good job as usual but Kareem Moore missed way too many tackles. K: A. Look at that someone did their job on Monday night. Graham Gano was not called upon to kick any field goals but he did make all of the point after touchdowns. He also showed a little leg during the kickoffs. P: B: Hunter Smith was a busy man for most of Monday night. He had good average but needs to get the ball to hang up a little bit longer. One or two more kicks inside the twenty would be preferred as well. Return game: E. Yeah I meant to put that there. I'm giving Brandon Banks a whole lot of credit for trying. This guywas not supposed to be playing tonight because he is coming off of knee surgery that he had during the bye week. Yeah, he had knee surgery a little over a week ago and he played tonight so I'm giving him a pass this week whether or not his performance was average. The "E" stands for effort for those that do not know that old saying. Coaching: F. When you come out of the locker room after half-time and you ask ESPN Analyst Suzy Kolber if she has any ideas then you are completely lost. This coaching staff has not done a very good job of calling plays that will convert on third down and it did not get any better tonight. Zero for ten on third downs tonight. Pathetic. The Redskins were 1-1 on fourth down conversions but that was on a great play by McNabb and Armstrong. Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesThe Eagles set team records for total yards in a game, 592, points in a half, 45, and had the biggest lead after the first quarter for any NFL road team, 28-0 on Monday Night Football, since at least Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
1950. Vick became the first player in NFL history with at least 300 yards passing, 50 yards rushing, four passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a game. He hasn't thrown an interception or lost a fumble this season.Vick completed his first 10 passes and finished 20 for 28 for 333 yards andfour touchdowns. He also ran eight times for 80 yards and two touchdowns whichmoved himpast Steve Young and into second place in NFL history for yards rushing by a quarterback. All in all, it was a great spectacle to watch and a historic night to see but if you are a Washington Redskins fan you can only hang your head but so low.
a playoff contending team this year, all you have to do is watch this game. Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesThe Redskins had two weeks to prepare for this game. Some used the bye week to rest, others played golf, others reworked theircontracts. At the end of the day, they lost and made an embarrassment of themselves on national television on Monday night. I've bashed them enough for the first section, let me just move onto the grades: QB: C. This is gracious for Donovan McNabb's play but I'm taking into account that the line played horribly, he had no run support until the fourth quarter when nothing mattered anymore and during the first quarter his receivers could not catch a cold in a doctor's office. Aside from that he made some good scrambling plays and a few good deep throws. He needs to learn to not put so much force behind his passes because he throws them through his receivers hands. RB: D+. Keiland Williams did run for two touchdowns and catch another. So what? When he needed to move the ball he could not. When they needed that extra three yards to make it third and short, he didn't get it. Sure he played well at the end of the game but the Eagles were on cruise control by that point. The blocking from the backfield overall and picking up the blitz was horrible. Enough said, moving on. FB: C. Decent blocking from Mike Sellers in this one and a mediocre kick return on the short kickoff but nothing spectacular either way. WR: F. They let the guy covering them run their routes better than they could, Joey Galloway. The first interception I cannot fault Santana Moss too much because he could only get one solid hand on the ball because it was behind him. Anthony Armstrong played the best of all of them and he got three catches. Something is wrong here. When did you quit watching?When did you quit watching?1st quarter25.0%2nd quarter20.4%3rd quarter19.4%4th quarter35.2%Total votes: 108TE: B. The one bright spot of the offense was Fred Davis woke up and made it to the game on time and caught a big pass for over seventy yards. Chris Cooley was barely noticed for most of the game but did manage three catches. OL: F. The whole unit sucked. Forgive the unprofessional language but I cannot think of a professional word to use for their performance tonight. Not enough time to throw. McNabb was knocked around again as usual. No true holes to run through and third downs were when they played the worst. P.S. I am making an appeal for Artis Hicks to be removed from the team, he cannot pick up a blitz and jumped at a critical moment in the red-zone and killed the offensive momentum for a bit. DL: D. This stands for decent job of creating penetration. Now to get this ranking higher all you have to do is wrap up the tackles you are attempting to make instead of trying to arm tackle and allowing them to get away. As a side note, anyone who lays on the ground and does not continue the play should be benched, oh wait... LB: C. It's hard to fault them. They are easily the most talented group on the defensive side yet they had to play all over the field from defensive line to sending London Fletcher back to the safety area. I'll give them the benefit of the Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
doubt but people not named London Fletcher need to learn how to hold onto a person or knock them off balance at least. CB: F. They got burned. I will not elaborate any more on the subject just look up Vick's stats. Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesS: D. The only bright spot here was LaRon Landry having to cover all thirty yards of field by himself while spying on Michael Vick for most of the game. He did a good job as usual but Kareem Moore missed way too many tackles. K: A. Look at that someone did their job on Monday night. Graham Gano was not called upon to kick any field goals but he did make all of the point after touchdowns. He also showed a little leg during the kickoffs. P: B: Hunter Smith was a busy man for most of Monday night. He had good average but needs to get the ball to hang up a little bit longer. One or two more kicks inside the twenty would be preferred as well. Return game: E. Yeah I meant to put that there. I'm giving Brandon Banks a whole lot of credit for trying. This guywas not supposed to be playing tonight because he is coming off of knee surgery that he had during the bye week. Yeah, he had knee surgery a little over a week ago and he played tonight so I'm giving him a pass this week whether or not his performance was average. The "E" stands for effort for those that do not know that old saying. Coaching: F. When you come out of the locker room after half-time and you ask ESPN Analyst Suzy Kolber if she has any ideas then you are completely lost. This coaching staff has not done a very good job of calling plays that will convert on third down and it did not get any better tonight. Zero for ten on third downs tonight. Pathetic. The Redskins were 1-1 on fourth down conversions but that was on a great play by McNabb and Armstrong. Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesThe Eagles set team records for total yards in a game, 592, points in a half, 45, and had the biggest lead after the first quarter for any NFL road team, 28-0 on Monday Night Football, since at least Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
1950. Vick became the first player in NFL history with at least 300 yards passing, 50 yards rushing, four passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a game. He hasn't thrown an interception or lost a fumble this season.Vick completed his first 10 passes and finished 20 for 28 for 333 yards andfour touchdowns. He also ran eight times for 80 yards and two touchdowns whichmoved himpast Steve Young and into second place in NFL history for yards rushing by a quarterback. All in all, it was a great spectacle to watch and a historic night to see but if you are a Washington Redskins fan you can only hang your head but so low.
2010年12月18日星期六
18 Dec 10 Jason Garrett: Why Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Should Remove Interim Coach
Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesYou heard it here first, folks. Jerry Jones needs to remove his interim head coach Jason Garrett and he needs to do it now. "But he had a great first week!" I know. "But he has already changed the culture around the Dallas Cowboys for the better!" Yep. "But he won his first game as head coach! He beat the New York Giants, the team everyone was calling the best team in the NFC, and he did it at the new Meadowlands in convincing style." You got me there. "Then what are you talking about? This is crazy talk." Maybe. Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
But I stand by it. Hear me out. If you check the archives of my website, you will find that I have almost exclusively reserved my criticism of this team's leadership for two people: Jones and Wade Phillips. Jones for his ego, which constantly interferes with his good sense. Phillips for his lack of leadership ability. Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesMy criticism of Garrett, however, has been sparse. At times, I have questioned his game planning or inability (or unwillingness) to make in-game adjustments. I have always believed in him as a leader. I have always believed in him as the single best candidate to be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Forget the re-treads. Forget the "big names." Forget Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden and company. The next head coach needs to be three things. First, he needs to be a bona fide, stand-up, take-charge leader. Second, he needs to be able to manage Jones. (Managing Jones is not the same as being Jones' puppet, Wade.) Third, he needs to be a football man, to understand the NFL game and what it takes to win in this league. There is no question that Cowher and Gruden exceed the first and third requirements. We have no idea, however, how they will do with No. 2, who happens to be No. 1 in the Cowboys pecking order. It matters not how great a leader or football man you are, if you cannot manage the Jones ego, you have no shot at long-term success in Dallas. Which means Garrett is a better candidate for this job than any of the big names you can throw out there. Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
Should Jerry Jones make Jason Garrett the permanent head coach of the Dallas CowboysShould Jerry Jones make Jason Garrett the permanent head coach of the Dallas CowboysYes38.5%No8.3%Maybe, but not yet41.7%Only if Cowher and Gruden both say no to the job11.5%Total votes: 156Moreover, this is not the time for another Bill Parcells-type interlude in team history. The last thing this organization needs is another three- to five-year stint from a head coach. Stability is wanting around here. It is difficult to imagine that any of the Super Bowl ring-wearing free agent coaches out there would stick around for more than five years. The next coach Jones hires needs to be the last coach he hires. Look around the league. Even in this environment of constant churning and turnover, the best franchises—the ones that remain competitive year after year—still have stability at the head coach position. The six-time Super Bowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers have had exactly three coaches in the past 50 years. The team of the 2000s, the New England Patriots, continue to contend for championships with Bill Belichick, who is in his 11th year as head coach of that team. Jones has a chance to hire the man the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons wanted. He has a chance to hire the man Troy Aikman says has been preparing himself for this opportunity since the early nineties. He has a chance to hire the man Jimmy Johnson says will change the culture of his team for the better. He has a chance to hire the man one Giants official said could be anything he wanted to be, including president of the United States. Those who know Garrett the best, those who have worked with him, watched him develop, believe in him most. Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
That seems to include the one man whose privilege it is to unilaterally select the next man to guide this football team. So, fire him, Jerry. Do it now. Remove Garrett as interim head coach and give him the job permanently. Rip that term "interim" off the plaque on the door. End the speculation. Make whatever phone call you have to make to satisfy that Rooney rule and then hire the man best equipped to give you one last glorious moment before that great stadium in sky calls your name.
But I stand by it. Hear me out. If you check the archives of my website, you will find that I have almost exclusively reserved my criticism of this team's leadership for two people: Jones and Wade Phillips. Jones for his ego, which constantly interferes with his good sense. Phillips for his lack of leadership ability. Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesMy criticism of Garrett, however, has been sparse. At times, I have questioned his game planning or inability (or unwillingness) to make in-game adjustments. I have always believed in him as a leader. I have always believed in him as the single best candidate to be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Forget the re-treads. Forget the "big names." Forget Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden and company. The next head coach needs to be three things. First, he needs to be a bona fide, stand-up, take-charge leader. Second, he needs to be able to manage Jones. (Managing Jones is not the same as being Jones' puppet, Wade.) Third, he needs to be a football man, to understand the NFL game and what it takes to win in this league. There is no question that Cowher and Gruden exceed the first and third requirements. We have no idea, however, how they will do with No. 2, who happens to be No. 1 in the Cowboys pecking order. It matters not how great a leader or football man you are, if you cannot manage the Jones ego, you have no shot at long-term success in Dallas. Which means Garrett is a better candidate for this job than any of the big names you can throw out there. Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
Should Jerry Jones make Jason Garrett the permanent head coach of the Dallas CowboysShould Jerry Jones make Jason Garrett the permanent head coach of the Dallas CowboysYes38.5%No8.3%Maybe, but not yet41.7%Only if Cowher and Gruden both say no to the job11.5%Total votes: 156Moreover, this is not the time for another Bill Parcells-type interlude in team history. The last thing this organization needs is another three- to five-year stint from a head coach. Stability is wanting around here. It is difficult to imagine that any of the Super Bowl ring-wearing free agent coaches out there would stick around for more than five years. The next coach Jones hires needs to be the last coach he hires. Look around the league. Even in this environment of constant churning and turnover, the best franchises—the ones that remain competitive year after year—still have stability at the head coach position. The six-time Super Bowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers have had exactly three coaches in the past 50 years. The team of the 2000s, the New England Patriots, continue to contend for championships with Bill Belichick, who is in his 11th year as head coach of that team. Jones has a chance to hire the man the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons wanted. He has a chance to hire the man Troy Aikman says has been preparing himself for this opportunity since the early nineties. He has a chance to hire the man Jimmy Johnson says will change the culture of his team for the better. He has a chance to hire the man one Giants official said could be anything he wanted to be, including president of the United States. Those who know Garrett the best, those who have worked with him, watched him develop, believe in him most. Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
That seems to include the one man whose privilege it is to unilaterally select the next man to guide this football team. So, fire him, Jerry. Do it now. Remove Garrett as interim head coach and give him the job permanently. Rip that term "interim" off the plaque on the door. End the speculation. Make whatever phone call you have to make to satisfy that Rooney rule and then hire the man best equipped to give you one last glorious moment before that great stadium in sky calls your name.
2010年12月17日星期五
17 Dec 10 Why Brad Childress Shouldn't Be Blamed for Minnesota Vikings' Lost Season
Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesThe story of the 2010 edition of the Minnesota Vikings is well known throughout the country.There are so many juicy storylines to follow that the Soap Opera Network has commissioned a new reality show pilot based around the Vikings to begin airing sometime next month. Well, that may not be true, but who wouldn't want to watch it?Everyone knows what was expected of this team. A team that was one play short of the Super Bowl last season. A team that sported eight returning Pro Bowlers. A team led by the best running back in the league in Adrian Peterson, and the legend at QB in Brett Favre.The season has not gone to plan.After Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings now sit at 3-7 on the season, and while not Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
mathematically eliminated, the season is pretty much over. The Packers and Bears now both sit atop the NFC North with matching 7-3 records, and would need a miracle to catch both teams.The chants in the crowd during Sundays home loss to the Packers were a deafening, "Fire Childress." The entire state of Minnesota seems to have turned on the head coach.Brad Childress should not be blamed for this season, and should not be fired.Childress may end up being the scape goat in this season from hell, but there have been numerous to blame.Favre Has Caused Dissention In The Locker RoomJim Rogash/Getty ImagesNumber one is Brett Favre.He led the franchise through yet another offseason waltz as he struggled with the big will they, won't they summer that would make Ross and Rachel proud. He missed most of training camp before he arrived on August 17. He clearly has been beaten up, and during the first four to six weeks of the season, appeared almost disinterested.But the biggest blow to the team that Favre has done is causing dissension in the locker room. The rift between Favre and Childress has been no secret. But when a veteran like Favre is as insubordinate to the coach as he as been, it's almost bound to divide a locker room. Causing other players to have to choose sides between their QB and coach.This may be editorializing, but I have a hard time believing that if New England of Indianapolis had a rough season, that Peyton Manning or Tom Brady wouldn't have their coaches back. They are leaders of the team and set a tone for the rest of the locker room. If your franchise QB won't listen to the coach, then the whole team will fall.Number two in Zygi Wilf.The owner of the Vikings, in his frantic attempt to build a new Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
stadium, has done everything he can possibly do to put a winner on the field. This includes pandering to every demand of Favre (of which Childress is also guilty).Who Is Most To Blame For 2010 Season?Who Is Most To Blame For 2010 Season?Brad Childress58.8%Brett Favre34.9%Randy Moss0.0%Zygi Wilf6.3%Total votes: 238However, by selling the farm, and putting so much into one season is a risky business. The pressure has been felt by everyone in that locker room to win now. When the season started out so slowly, the team seemed to panic. The panic then led to a bad decision to add Randy Moss.Which brings me to number three.Randy Moss. What can I say about the Randy Moss deal that hasn't already been written? Not much. Everyone knows the story by now. Childress made the right decision in cutting him. His behavior was deplorable during his time back in purple and gold. Also some validation in cutting Moss, in two games playing for the Tennessee Titans, Moss has one catch for 26 yards.Childress has gotten a bad rap this season for having an under performing team, that had perhaps unrealistic expectations for the season. In the years leading up to this season, he won eight, 10, and 12 games. Without that Favre hiccup in the NFC championship game, perhaps the Vikings go to the Super Bowl last season.One bad year should not lose an NFL coach his job, especially with what Childress has had to try and deal with this season. Viking fans have treated a good coach with very little respect this season and the "Fire Childress" chant is ridiculous.It shocked me since Minnesota has long been known for understanding from its sports leaders. Twins fans support Ron Gardenhire despite 12 straight playoff losses. Jacque Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
Lemaire lasted nearly a decade behind the Wild's bench. Flip Saunders was respected despite year after year of first round playoff exits for the Timberwolves.Childress is a victim of unrealistic expectations, under-performing superstars, and a fan base jaded after a disappointing end to the 2009 season. He definitely hasn't been perfect, but by no means deserves to have his head on a post outside Mall of America Field.
mathematically eliminated, the season is pretty much over. The Packers and Bears now both sit atop the NFC North with matching 7-3 records, and would need a miracle to catch both teams.The chants in the crowd during Sundays home loss to the Packers were a deafening, "Fire Childress." The entire state of Minnesota seems to have turned on the head coach.Brad Childress should not be blamed for this season, and should not be fired.Childress may end up being the scape goat in this season from hell, but there have been numerous to blame.Favre Has Caused Dissention In The Locker RoomJim Rogash/Getty ImagesNumber one is Brett Favre.He led the franchise through yet another offseason waltz as he struggled with the big will they, won't they summer that would make Ross and Rachel proud. He missed most of training camp before he arrived on August 17. He clearly has been beaten up, and during the first four to six weeks of the season, appeared almost disinterested.But the biggest blow to the team that Favre has done is causing dissension in the locker room. The rift between Favre and Childress has been no secret. But when a veteran like Favre is as insubordinate to the coach as he as been, it's almost bound to divide a locker room. Causing other players to have to choose sides between their QB and coach.This may be editorializing, but I have a hard time believing that if New England of Indianapolis had a rough season, that Peyton Manning or Tom Brady wouldn't have their coaches back. They are leaders of the team and set a tone for the rest of the locker room. If your franchise QB won't listen to the coach, then the whole team will fall.Number two in Zygi Wilf.The owner of the Vikings, in his frantic attempt to build a new Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
stadium, has done everything he can possibly do to put a winner on the field. This includes pandering to every demand of Favre (of which Childress is also guilty).Who Is Most To Blame For 2010 Season?Who Is Most To Blame For 2010 Season?Brad Childress58.8%Brett Favre34.9%Randy Moss0.0%Zygi Wilf6.3%Total votes: 238However, by selling the farm, and putting so much into one season is a risky business. The pressure has been felt by everyone in that locker room to win now. When the season started out so slowly, the team seemed to panic. The panic then led to a bad decision to add Randy Moss.Which brings me to number three.Randy Moss. What can I say about the Randy Moss deal that hasn't already been written? Not much. Everyone knows the story by now. Childress made the right decision in cutting him. His behavior was deplorable during his time back in purple and gold. Also some validation in cutting Moss, in two games playing for the Tennessee Titans, Moss has one catch for 26 yards.Childress has gotten a bad rap this season for having an under performing team, that had perhaps unrealistic expectations for the season. In the years leading up to this season, he won eight, 10, and 12 games. Without that Favre hiccup in the NFC championship game, perhaps the Vikings go to the Super Bowl last season.One bad year should not lose an NFL coach his job, especially with what Childress has had to try and deal with this season. Viking fans have treated a good coach with very little respect this season and the "Fire Childress" chant is ridiculous.It shocked me since Minnesota has long been known for understanding from its sports leaders. Twins fans support Ron Gardenhire despite 12 straight playoff losses. Jacque Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
Lemaire lasted nearly a decade behind the Wild's bench. Flip Saunders was respected despite year after year of first round playoff exits for the Timberwolves.Childress is a victim of unrealistic expectations, under-performing superstars, and a fan base jaded after a disappointing end to the 2009 season. He definitely hasn't been perfect, but by no means deserves to have his head on a post outside Mall of America Field.
2010年12月16日星期四
16 Dec 10 Why Cleveland's Peyton Hillis Is Better Than You Think He Is
No, that's not The Hulk. That's Peyton Hillis.Matt Sullivan/Getty ImagesA lot can be said about Peyton Hillis, and much to the chagrin of Hillis haters, it's nearly all positive. But after this bruising, powerful back took the league by storm, I came to find a lot of animosity and negativity thrown his way. Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
Needless to say, he has some unfair tags considering his status in fantasy football and his ability to run over tough run defenses.Everywhere you look, you read that Hillis is slow, and if he's not slow now, that he'll be even slower as he ages in the NFL.If it's not his speed in question, or estimated decline in speed, then it's his tough, physical style that, although currently making him arguably one of the best running backs in the league, will ironically also be the downfall of a career seemingly set up for success.Naturally, if it's not his lack of speed or physical running style, then it has to be his fumble issues (four lost fumbles in 2010), his inadequate blocking, or lack of elite explosiveness.What else is wrong with Peyton Hillis? Seriously, naysayers, I would like for you to emphatically bring in the dirty, hurl the bad, and spew out the negative. Send it this way, one last time, and then read the rest of this article so you can find out why Hillis is still not getting the respect he deserves, much less is literally demanding, by beating the snot out of quality NFL defenses.In order to prove doubters wrong, we'll dive into a checklist of "problems" people have with Hillis, and even touch on things that only a few unintelligent souls dare be fickle about when it comes to the Cleveland Browns' running back's game.Is Peyton Hillis Slow?Is Peyton Hillis Slow?Yes6.2%No93.8%Total votes: 2731. Peyton Hillis Isn't FastTell that to Chris Wells and just about every other running back who runs a 4.50 40 time. Hillis may not be a "burner", but he damn sure isn't slow. If you think he is, then you just don't know the definition of fast and slow.Fast does not only equate to 80-plus yard touchdown runs. Many would argue and likely agree that one of the great running backs in the game, Barry Sanders, wasn't particularly "fast" but he was one of the shiftiest and quickest players of his era, or you know, ever.I'm not by any means relating Hillis to Sanders, as that'd be beyond foolish, but it illustrates a point. The Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
point that you can be extremely successful by not being an absolute burner. To further express that point, just look at the careers of, say, Curtis Martin, Eddie George, Jerome Bettis, and so many other backs who had decent (or even below average) speed, and found great success with punishing running styles.There's also the argument that cries out, "Well, 40 times don't always mean you're fast". To that I say touche, and also, that actually helps my argument in reverse, as many backs are hyped up to be something they're not, simply because they are "extremely explosive" and (insert potential-ridden hype adjective here).Peyton Hillis isn't a burner. He has decent speed. Then again, he doesn't have to be amazingly fast. Not now, and really, if we're being honest, not ever. As long as he can truck people over with his strength and power and be anything above the speed of a "not at all moving rock on a ground", he should be just fine.Are you concerned about Peyton's durability?Are you concerned about Peyton's durability?Yes29.9%No70.1%Total votes: 241Don't agree? That's fine, but there's not much evidence there for anyone to prove it wrong. Short of Hillis losing the speed he does have and dropping off into offensive tackle-mode, you'll just be stuck predicting (or hoping, shame on you) that this hard-working beast loses his speed and quickness faster than J.P. Losman lost his starting job in Buffalo.2. Peyton Hillis Isn't DurableOne hamstring tear on a fluke (and awesome) catch in 2008, plus a thigh injury in 2010, and suddenly this guy can't carry his weight as an NFL rusher in terms of durability.Firstly, go back and check the news wire from 2008. Hillis was placed on injured reserve with a torn hamstring, despite stating that he'd like to try to play, whether it be that next week, or at some point in the season.Then, with a thigh injury earlier this year, the bruiser didn't take a game off, he merely just had a bit of a lessened load for a couple of weeks.Translation: The guy has only missed time due to A) a freakingtorn hamstringand B) he was placed on injured reserve against his will.Which brings us to our next point...3. Peyton Hillis Is His Own Worst EnemyThis actually has some staying power, but again, like most of the knocks on Hillis, it has everything to do with crystal balls and psychics, rather than any actual evidence to prove something today.How many more season do you think Hillis will play?How many more season do you think Hillis will play?10.3%2-38.3%4-546.9%6+44.4%This season will be his last0.0%Total votes: 288Hillis runs hard, creates contact as much and as often as possible, and does his damndest to make sure one or two defenders come down to the earth with him.He chooses to inflict punishment and make contact, rather than evade rushers (oh, and we'll get to that, don't worry). However, just because his running style causes for some ice and band-aids for his opponents after the game is over, does not mean he's guaranteed to break down after one season of rugged play.But that's not what his haters will say. Believe it or not, Hillis isn't just a wrecking ball crashing into defensive lines. Well, he is, but he's so much more. He's also a really tough dude. He can handle the load, the punishment, and the injuries. He's proven it this season, and on top of his production in 2010 (and back with Denver), he also hasn't played enough for this to be a viable concern.In all reality, unless you're actively looking for weaknesses in his game, this is a silly thing to use against him. Think about that logic: Peyton Hillis won't be a good running back in three years because he's too good right now.Considering the average shelf life of the average NFL Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
player (or running back, for that matter), well, isn't very long, this is decent logic to start with. But you could say that about anyone.Boy, that Tony Romo won't last much longer if he keeps getting sacked, concussed, and having his collarbone broken in half. Really, are you sure?Common sense will only take you so far. Hillis is an unstoppable force, and whether or not that means he'll continue to be one in his 30s obviously remains to be seen. But with history and predictions to the side, are you really about to bet against this beast of a man being able to stay healthy for at least another 3-4 years? I'm not.4. Peyton Hillis Is One-DimensionalClearly, if this is a line of thinking you are subscribed to, you haven't seen much of Hillis on game tape. Contrary to the belief of his critics, Hillis can block, catch, run, and actually even throw.He literally does it all. More specifically, he has a pair of the softest hands you'll see in the NFL, and isn't just a great receiver out of the back-field (although he definitely is that, too), as he's shown on several occasions that he has the talent to make catches down the field, past linebackers, and over the middle in traffic.You name it, the guy has done it, can do it, and more than likely will do it. This also applies to the notion that his running style is limited and one-dimensional. If you watch tape on Hillis, you'll quickly find out that he doesn't merely lower his head like a battering ram and spear-dive into his opponents. While he does do that from time to time, he's actually a very gifted runner in the open field, showing solid agility and visions.More importantly, Hillis does a great job behind his run-blowing, is a patient runner, has a nice initial burst, and knows how to use his running lanes. He's not invincible or perfect, but he's also not even close, in any way, to being one-dimensional.Is Hillis one-dimensional?Is Hillis one-dimensional?Yes2.4%No97.6%Total votes: 2555. Peyton Hillis Will Drown in FumblesSure, Hillis could do a better job in protecting the football. But they said the same thing about Adrian Peterson. No, Hillis isn't as good as Peterson, and we're not comparing them to each other.However, Peterson got away with fumbles (a whole lot of them) for quite a few seasons, so it'd only be fair (considering how good he's been) to at least pretend to give Hillis the same mulligan(s). The fact is, he's lost four fumbles on the season. When factoring his running style and amount of touches, this shouldn't be that big of a surprise.Again, there's no doubt Hillis wants to hang onto the football and that he should work at finding ways to ensure that happens, but there's also little doubt that using this as a major knock is a bit of a joke.We're fairly certain everyone in the Cleveland Browns organization agrees, too.6. Peyton Hillis Needs HelpWell, he does and he doesn't. Many backs can carry the load by themselves, and continue to do so, so it doesn't make much sense that all of a sudden Hillis needs a speedy back to complement him.Sure, it wouldn't hurt to get another back in the mix, but if guys like Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Michael Turner (can I stop yet?) and so many other running backs are readily OK'd to carry massive loads all by their lonesomes, then why should Hillis be any different?Would you rank Hillis among the top 5 of the NFL's running backs?Would you rank Hillis among the top 5 of the NFL's running backs?Yes84.8%No15.2%Total votes: 316Could he use the Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
extra help? Sure. Does he need the extra help? Absolutely not.Seeing as this article has gone on a wild tirade, much like Hillis on the field on Sundays, it's time for a conclusion. If there's something left uncovered and you'd like to fight Hillis supporters to the death, the comment board below awaits you. However, much like defenders trying to take down Hillis on the first try, something tells me you don't stand much of a chance.For weekly fantasy football advice, head over to NFL Soup.
Needless to say, he has some unfair tags considering his status in fantasy football and his ability to run over tough run defenses.Everywhere you look, you read that Hillis is slow, and if he's not slow now, that he'll be even slower as he ages in the NFL.If it's not his speed in question, or estimated decline in speed, then it's his tough, physical style that, although currently making him arguably one of the best running backs in the league, will ironically also be the downfall of a career seemingly set up for success.Naturally, if it's not his lack of speed or physical running style, then it has to be his fumble issues (four lost fumbles in 2010), his inadequate blocking, or lack of elite explosiveness.What else is wrong with Peyton Hillis? Seriously, naysayers, I would like for you to emphatically bring in the dirty, hurl the bad, and spew out the negative. Send it this way, one last time, and then read the rest of this article so you can find out why Hillis is still not getting the respect he deserves, much less is literally demanding, by beating the snot out of quality NFL defenses.In order to prove doubters wrong, we'll dive into a checklist of "problems" people have with Hillis, and even touch on things that only a few unintelligent souls dare be fickle about when it comes to the Cleveland Browns' running back's game.Is Peyton Hillis Slow?Is Peyton Hillis Slow?Yes6.2%No93.8%Total votes: 2731. Peyton Hillis Isn't FastTell that to Chris Wells and just about every other running back who runs a 4.50 40 time. Hillis may not be a "burner", but he damn sure isn't slow. If you think he is, then you just don't know the definition of fast and slow.Fast does not only equate to 80-plus yard touchdown runs. Many would argue and likely agree that one of the great running backs in the game, Barry Sanders, wasn't particularly "fast" but he was one of the shiftiest and quickest players of his era, or you know, ever.I'm not by any means relating Hillis to Sanders, as that'd be beyond foolish, but it illustrates a point. The Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
point that you can be extremely successful by not being an absolute burner. To further express that point, just look at the careers of, say, Curtis Martin, Eddie George, Jerome Bettis, and so many other backs who had decent (or even below average) speed, and found great success with punishing running styles.There's also the argument that cries out, "Well, 40 times don't always mean you're fast". To that I say touche, and also, that actually helps my argument in reverse, as many backs are hyped up to be something they're not, simply because they are "extremely explosive" and (insert potential-ridden hype adjective here).Peyton Hillis isn't a burner. He has decent speed. Then again, he doesn't have to be amazingly fast. Not now, and really, if we're being honest, not ever. As long as he can truck people over with his strength and power and be anything above the speed of a "not at all moving rock on a ground", he should be just fine.Are you concerned about Peyton's durability?Are you concerned about Peyton's durability?Yes29.9%No70.1%Total votes: 241Don't agree? That's fine, but there's not much evidence there for anyone to prove it wrong. Short of Hillis losing the speed he does have and dropping off into offensive tackle-mode, you'll just be stuck predicting (or hoping, shame on you) that this hard-working beast loses his speed and quickness faster than J.P. Losman lost his starting job in Buffalo.2. Peyton Hillis Isn't DurableOne hamstring tear on a fluke (and awesome) catch in 2008, plus a thigh injury in 2010, and suddenly this guy can't carry his weight as an NFL rusher in terms of durability.Firstly, go back and check the news wire from 2008. Hillis was placed on injured reserve with a torn hamstring, despite stating that he'd like to try to play, whether it be that next week, or at some point in the season.Then, with a thigh injury earlier this year, the bruiser didn't take a game off, he merely just had a bit of a lessened load for a couple of weeks.Translation: The guy has only missed time due to A) a freakingtorn hamstringand B) he was placed on injured reserve against his will.Which brings us to our next point...3. Peyton Hillis Is His Own Worst EnemyThis actually has some staying power, but again, like most of the knocks on Hillis, it has everything to do with crystal balls and psychics, rather than any actual evidence to prove something today.How many more season do you think Hillis will play?How many more season do you think Hillis will play?10.3%2-38.3%4-546.9%6+44.4%This season will be his last0.0%Total votes: 288Hillis runs hard, creates contact as much and as often as possible, and does his damndest to make sure one or two defenders come down to the earth with him.He chooses to inflict punishment and make contact, rather than evade rushers (oh, and we'll get to that, don't worry). However, just because his running style causes for some ice and band-aids for his opponents after the game is over, does not mean he's guaranteed to break down after one season of rugged play.But that's not what his haters will say. Believe it or not, Hillis isn't just a wrecking ball crashing into defensive lines. Well, he is, but he's so much more. He's also a really tough dude. He can handle the load, the punishment, and the injuries. He's proven it this season, and on top of his production in 2010 (and back with Denver), he also hasn't played enough for this to be a viable concern.In all reality, unless you're actively looking for weaknesses in his game, this is a silly thing to use against him. Think about that logic: Peyton Hillis won't be a good running back in three years because he's too good right now.Considering the average shelf life of the average NFL Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
player (or running back, for that matter), well, isn't very long, this is decent logic to start with. But you could say that about anyone.Boy, that Tony Romo won't last much longer if he keeps getting sacked, concussed, and having his collarbone broken in half. Really, are you sure?Common sense will only take you so far. Hillis is an unstoppable force, and whether or not that means he'll continue to be one in his 30s obviously remains to be seen. But with history and predictions to the side, are you really about to bet against this beast of a man being able to stay healthy for at least another 3-4 years? I'm not.4. Peyton Hillis Is One-DimensionalClearly, if this is a line of thinking you are subscribed to, you haven't seen much of Hillis on game tape. Contrary to the belief of his critics, Hillis can block, catch, run, and actually even throw.He literally does it all. More specifically, he has a pair of the softest hands you'll see in the NFL, and isn't just a great receiver out of the back-field (although he definitely is that, too), as he's shown on several occasions that he has the talent to make catches down the field, past linebackers, and over the middle in traffic.You name it, the guy has done it, can do it, and more than likely will do it. This also applies to the notion that his running style is limited and one-dimensional. If you watch tape on Hillis, you'll quickly find out that he doesn't merely lower his head like a battering ram and spear-dive into his opponents. While he does do that from time to time, he's actually a very gifted runner in the open field, showing solid agility and visions.More importantly, Hillis does a great job behind his run-blowing, is a patient runner, has a nice initial burst, and knows how to use his running lanes. He's not invincible or perfect, but he's also not even close, in any way, to being one-dimensional.Is Hillis one-dimensional?Is Hillis one-dimensional?Yes2.4%No97.6%Total votes: 2555. Peyton Hillis Will Drown in FumblesSure, Hillis could do a better job in protecting the football. But they said the same thing about Adrian Peterson. No, Hillis isn't as good as Peterson, and we're not comparing them to each other.However, Peterson got away with fumbles (a whole lot of them) for quite a few seasons, so it'd only be fair (considering how good he's been) to at least pretend to give Hillis the same mulligan(s). The fact is, he's lost four fumbles on the season. When factoring his running style and amount of touches, this shouldn't be that big of a surprise.Again, there's no doubt Hillis wants to hang onto the football and that he should work at finding ways to ensure that happens, but there's also little doubt that using this as a major knock is a bit of a joke.We're fairly certain everyone in the Cleveland Browns organization agrees, too.6. Peyton Hillis Needs HelpWell, he does and he doesn't. Many backs can carry the load by themselves, and continue to do so, so it doesn't make much sense that all of a sudden Hillis needs a speedy back to complement him.Sure, it wouldn't hurt to get another back in the mix, but if guys like Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Michael Turner (can I stop yet?) and so many other running backs are readily OK'd to carry massive loads all by their lonesomes, then why should Hillis be any different?Would you rank Hillis among the top 5 of the NFL's running backs?Would you rank Hillis among the top 5 of the NFL's running backs?Yes84.8%No15.2%Total votes: 316Could he use the Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
extra help? Sure. Does he need the extra help? Absolutely not.Seeing as this article has gone on a wild tirade, much like Hillis on the field on Sundays, it's time for a conclusion. If there's something left uncovered and you'd like to fight Hillis supporters to the death, the comment board below awaits you. However, much like defenders trying to take down Hillis on the first try, something tells me you don't stand much of a chance.For weekly fantasy football advice, head over to NFL Soup.
2010年12月15日星期三
2010 NFL: Oakland Raiders' Promising Season Now Riddled by Impending Doom
Tom Cable Well, it was good while it lasted this season. After the Raiders fell flat against San Francisco, I thought the season was over. The Raiders then shocked the NFL world for the next three weeks with dominant wins over Denver and Seattle and then a thrilling victory over Kansas City that would put the Raiders in first place. For a week. Here we are again in Raider Nation, the wind taken out of our sails. The piss taken out of our vinegar. Now, the Raiders (5-6) will face the surging San Diego Chargers (6-5). As a fan, I will not rule out the possibility of an upset by the Raiders. As a writer, I do not expect it to happen. If the Raiders lose to San Diego, it will all but end the once glimmering hopes for the postseason. It is hard to say or speculate as to what happened with nfl jersey
the Raiders in the two weeks after defeating Kansas City. Whatever it is, the Raiders are once again playing like lifeless hacks. Perhaps, it was overconfidence.
Perhaps, they were over-hyped by destroying teams like Denver and Seattle. Or both. Ironically, the Raiders have had fewer penalties in the last two weeks against Pittsburgh and Miami than they had the weeks before it. Yet, now the Raiders are losing. They have also had injuries to top players in previous weeks and would still win. Thus, I do not buy the notion that the Raiders are simply reeling from injuries. Bull Trend The frustrating part is that, the Raiders have an otherwise solid foundation of players that could use some minor tweaking: right guard, center, blockers and a veteran wideout. A consistent quarterback would likely be the difference-maker for the Raiders. This progress however is contrary to previous years, in which the Raiders were a bundle of retreads and prospects that left much to be desired. The Raiders have done quite nicely in the NFL draft in finding current or future starters: 2007 (Zach Miller and Michael Bush), 2008 (Darren McFadden and Tyvon Branch), 2009 (Mike Mitchell, Matt Shaughnessy, and Louis Murphy) and 2010 (Rolando McClain, Lamarr Houston, Jared Veldheer, and Jacoby Ford).
The Raiders have also added a number of valuable contributors or raw prospects in those drafts to boot: Trevor Scott, Brandon Meyers, Desmond Bryant, Nick Miller, Bruce Campbell, Walter McFadden, Stevie Brown and Jeremy Ware to name some examples. The Raiders have also done well in free agency and trades by adding Richard Seymour, Kamerion Wimbley, Quentin Groves, and Marcel Reece. Fortunately, the Raiders selected promising offensive lineman Bruce Campbell in the 2010 draft, who is slated to be the future at right guard. Yet, the potential of center Samson Satele seems to have bottomed out. I expect that Campbell will be a significant upgrade over current starter Cooper Carlisle. Satele has been okay at center, but the position needs competition and depth. Nevertheless, Satele is slated to be a free agent, and so, that could be a prime opportunity for the Raiders to upgrade. Fullback Marcel Reece has shown flashes of brilliance as a blocker, but I remain convinced that he should specialize as a pass-catcher, where he has made some electrifying plays in recent weeks. Part of the problem for the Raiders in recent weeks has been lackluster blocking from the backs. The Raiders could allow Reece to specialize as a tight end and call-up rookie Manase nfl jerseys
Tonga and see what he can do as a blocker.
He certainly appeared to be a promising blocker during the preseason. Considering that, every rookie from the Raiders 2010 draft has started or has made significant contributions, I would like the odds of Tonga being the next on the list. The Raiders should either upgrade at wideout through free agency, or hire a new position coach for the wide receivers, such as Tim Brown. Or both. The 2011 free agency is expected to include such wideouts as Santonio Holmes, Vincent Jackson, Davone Bess and Donald Driver, amongst others. The Jets could tag Holmes, but I added him because his position with the team remains somewhat unclear, despite the big plays he has made this season. Jackson is likely to leave the Chargers for the highest bidder, after his lengthy and futile holdout with San Diego. Jackson though would fill the role long expected from the injury-prone Chaz Schilens. Driver would be a solid veteran presence for a promising group of young wideouts: Louis Murphy, Jacoby Ford, and even the much-maligned Darrius Heyward-Bey. The Miami Dolphins committed big money to wideout Brandon Marshall and might be unwilling to commit big money to Bess. Bess grew up as a Raider fan whose favorite player was Tim Brown. Speaking of free agency, one hitch in any plan to upgrade at wideout is that tight end Zach Miller is slated to be a free agent. Coaches and Quarterbacks The bottom line is that the Raiders still lack a legitimate quarterback. Jason Campbell has his moments as does Bruce Gradkowski, but neither of whom have been consistent. Yet, both would likely benefit from better blocking and receiving. The problem is that, there are few options to fix the quarterback situation in the offseason. The Raiders will be without their first-round pick, while free agency offers names like Chad Pennington, Kyle Orton, Alex Smith, Matt Moore, Kerry Collins, Shaun Hill and Trent Edwards. Uggh. I know that Michael Vick is also a free agent, but I expect that the Eagles will tag him. Most of the aforementioned quarterbacks are either injury prone (Pennington), system quarterbacks (Orton), retreads (Collins, Hill) or unfulfilled potential (Smith, Moore, Edwards). Another hitch in any effort to fix the quarterback situation is Raiders head coach Tom Cable. I can give him credit for a number of things about the Raiders with him at the helm, but he is not a quarterback guru. However, Raiders offensive coordinator, Hue Jackson, is a quarterback guru who groomed Joe Flacco for the Baltimore Ravens, so I would like to see what Jackson could do with a smart quarterback that is not injury prone. Without a top pick in the draft though, that might not be in the cards. The scary thing is that, Collins seems like the best choice. The only answer at head coach I would like if the Raiders fire or demote Cable, is that the new coach would retain the current coordinators, Hue Jackson and John Marshall. Stanford's Jim Harbaugh is a top Dallas Cowboys jersey
name as a possible head coach in the NFL. He has previously rejected head coach offers from the Raiders, but that was then, this is now. The overall Oakland personnel have improved significantly since then. The other possibility is to re-hire Jon Gruden. All that I would want Gruden to do is bring a more efficient offense (that has the talent to be that) and to groom a quarterback. Gruden originally developed Gradkowski as a sixth round pick in 2006, so there would be some continuity there. Al Davis was willing to admit his mistake in firing Art Shell by rehiring him 12 years later. Al Davis traded Gruden to Tampa Bay over eight years ago, so I suppose then that it is possible that Al Davis could once again admit a mistake. But not likely.
the Raiders in the two weeks after defeating Kansas City. Whatever it is, the Raiders are once again playing like lifeless hacks. Perhaps, it was overconfidence.
Perhaps, they were over-hyped by destroying teams like Denver and Seattle. Or both. Ironically, the Raiders have had fewer penalties in the last two weeks against Pittsburgh and Miami than they had the weeks before it. Yet, now the Raiders are losing. They have also had injuries to top players in previous weeks and would still win. Thus, I do not buy the notion that the Raiders are simply reeling from injuries. Bull Trend The frustrating part is that, the Raiders have an otherwise solid foundation of players that could use some minor tweaking: right guard, center, blockers and a veteran wideout. A consistent quarterback would likely be the difference-maker for the Raiders. This progress however is contrary to previous years, in which the Raiders were a bundle of retreads and prospects that left much to be desired. The Raiders have done quite nicely in the NFL draft in finding current or future starters: 2007 (Zach Miller and Michael Bush), 2008 (Darren McFadden and Tyvon Branch), 2009 (Mike Mitchell, Matt Shaughnessy, and Louis Murphy) and 2010 (Rolando McClain, Lamarr Houston, Jared Veldheer, and Jacoby Ford).
The Raiders have also added a number of valuable contributors or raw prospects in those drafts to boot: Trevor Scott, Brandon Meyers, Desmond Bryant, Nick Miller, Bruce Campbell, Walter McFadden, Stevie Brown and Jeremy Ware to name some examples. The Raiders have also done well in free agency and trades by adding Richard Seymour, Kamerion Wimbley, Quentin Groves, and Marcel Reece. Fortunately, the Raiders selected promising offensive lineman Bruce Campbell in the 2010 draft, who is slated to be the future at right guard. Yet, the potential of center Samson Satele seems to have bottomed out. I expect that Campbell will be a significant upgrade over current starter Cooper Carlisle. Satele has been okay at center, but the position needs competition and depth. Nevertheless, Satele is slated to be a free agent, and so, that could be a prime opportunity for the Raiders to upgrade. Fullback Marcel Reece has shown flashes of brilliance as a blocker, but I remain convinced that he should specialize as a pass-catcher, where he has made some electrifying plays in recent weeks. Part of the problem for the Raiders in recent weeks has been lackluster blocking from the backs. The Raiders could allow Reece to specialize as a tight end and call-up rookie Manase nfl jerseys
Tonga and see what he can do as a blocker.
He certainly appeared to be a promising blocker during the preseason. Considering that, every rookie from the Raiders 2010 draft has started or has made significant contributions, I would like the odds of Tonga being the next on the list. The Raiders should either upgrade at wideout through free agency, or hire a new position coach for the wide receivers, such as Tim Brown. Or both. The 2011 free agency is expected to include such wideouts as Santonio Holmes, Vincent Jackson, Davone Bess and Donald Driver, amongst others. The Jets could tag Holmes, but I added him because his position with the team remains somewhat unclear, despite the big plays he has made this season. Jackson is likely to leave the Chargers for the highest bidder, after his lengthy and futile holdout with San Diego. Jackson though would fill the role long expected from the injury-prone Chaz Schilens. Driver would be a solid veteran presence for a promising group of young wideouts: Louis Murphy, Jacoby Ford, and even the much-maligned Darrius Heyward-Bey. The Miami Dolphins committed big money to wideout Brandon Marshall and might be unwilling to commit big money to Bess. Bess grew up as a Raider fan whose favorite player was Tim Brown. Speaking of free agency, one hitch in any plan to upgrade at wideout is that tight end Zach Miller is slated to be a free agent. Coaches and Quarterbacks The bottom line is that the Raiders still lack a legitimate quarterback. Jason Campbell has his moments as does Bruce Gradkowski, but neither of whom have been consistent. Yet, both would likely benefit from better blocking and receiving. The problem is that, there are few options to fix the quarterback situation in the offseason. The Raiders will be without their first-round pick, while free agency offers names like Chad Pennington, Kyle Orton, Alex Smith, Matt Moore, Kerry Collins, Shaun Hill and Trent Edwards. Uggh. I know that Michael Vick is also a free agent, but I expect that the Eagles will tag him. Most of the aforementioned quarterbacks are either injury prone (Pennington), system quarterbacks (Orton), retreads (Collins, Hill) or unfulfilled potential (Smith, Moore, Edwards). Another hitch in any effort to fix the quarterback situation is Raiders head coach Tom Cable. I can give him credit for a number of things about the Raiders with him at the helm, but he is not a quarterback guru. However, Raiders offensive coordinator, Hue Jackson, is a quarterback guru who groomed Joe Flacco for the Baltimore Ravens, so I would like to see what Jackson could do with a smart quarterback that is not injury prone. Without a top pick in the draft though, that might not be in the cards. The scary thing is that, Collins seems like the best choice. The only answer at head coach I would like if the Raiders fire or demote Cable, is that the new coach would retain the current coordinators, Hue Jackson and John Marshall. Stanford's Jim Harbaugh is a top Dallas Cowboys jersey
name as a possible head coach in the NFL. He has previously rejected head coach offers from the Raiders, but that was then, this is now. The overall Oakland personnel have improved significantly since then. The other possibility is to re-hire Jon Gruden. All that I would want Gruden to do is bring a more efficient offense (that has the talent to be that) and to groom a quarterback. Gruden originally developed Gradkowski as a sixth round pick in 2006, so there would be some continuity there. Al Davis was willing to admit his mistake in firing Art Shell by rehiring him 12 years later. Al Davis traded Gruden to Tampa Bay over eight years ago, so I suppose then that it is possible that Al Davis could once again admit a mistake. But not likely.
2010年12月13日星期一
Pittsburgh Steelers Against the Baltimore Ravens Is the NFL's Best Rivalry
Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesOn Sunday Night Football, the Pittsburgh Steelers face off against the Baltimore Ravens in the most intense rivalry in the NFL. The latest sports betting line posted for this game by BetMania, has the Ravens listed as 2.5 point favorites.The Steelers and the Ravens Bears jersey
don’t like one other or at least play like they don’t like one another. When they meet on the football field, it is the most physical game of the year and players end up getting hurt.Both teams boast bruising warriors in star linebackers James Harrison of the Steelers and Ray Lewis of the Ravens. This rivalry adds another chapter to Sunday Night Football and is even more enticing considering that both teams have 8-3 records.Unlike the first meeting, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play in this game and, in the past, he has fared very well against their AFC North counterpart. Across the field from Roethlisberger will be a Ravens offense that has its share of superstars, with running back Ray Rice and quarterback Joe Flacco. With all due respect to the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, this is the best game of the week and the biggest rivalry in the NFL.Football historians may argue that the Dallas Cowboys against the Washington Redskins is a better rivalry or the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers should get the label of the best rivalry in the league. Those rivalries are fun to watch, but have lost their luster over the years. Until recently, with the revival of the Bears, these teams were not very good. A rivalry gets better when both the teams are potential Super Bowl champions.What is the Best Current rivalry in the NFL?What is the Best Current rivalry in the NFL?Pittsburgh vs Baltimore88.8%New England Vs Jets1.7%Dallas vs Chargers jersey
Washington0.0%New Orleans vs Atlanta0.9%New England vs Colts1.7%Raiders vs Chiefs0.0%Green Bay vs Chicago0.9%None of the Above6.0%Total votes: 116The AFC West has some good rivalries that have stood the test of time, but the division is horrible.The New Orleans Saints vs. the Atlanta Falcons is becoming one of the better rivalries since the Saints won the Super bowl and the Falcons drafted Matt Ryan. This series is fun to watch, but recently renewed and has not had the staying power of the Ravens against the Steelers.AFC East fans would argue that the Jets and the Patriots are deserving of the best rivalry in the NFL. Both teams are having a great season and Rex Ryan is always entertaining, but the Patriots and the Colts would seem to be a better rivalry in football. The Jets have recently stepped back into the spotlight as a good team in the league and usually end up on the losing side of the Patriots, led by Tom Brady.The Steelers and the Ravens series are always entertaining. The games are always close and filled with hard hits, smack talk and last minute drama. This is a fierce division battle and, in my opinion, the best rivalry in the NFL.Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
for sports articles, previews and predictions.
don’t like one other or at least play like they don’t like one another. When they meet on the football field, it is the most physical game of the year and players end up getting hurt.Both teams boast bruising warriors in star linebackers James Harrison of the Steelers and Ray Lewis of the Ravens. This rivalry adds another chapter to Sunday Night Football and is even more enticing considering that both teams have 8-3 records.Unlike the first meeting, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play in this game and, in the past, he has fared very well against their AFC North counterpart. Across the field from Roethlisberger will be a Ravens offense that has its share of superstars, with running back Ray Rice and quarterback Joe Flacco. With all due respect to the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, this is the best game of the week and the biggest rivalry in the NFL.Football historians may argue that the Dallas Cowboys against the Washington Redskins is a better rivalry or the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers should get the label of the best rivalry in the league. Those rivalries are fun to watch, but have lost their luster over the years. Until recently, with the revival of the Bears, these teams were not very good. A rivalry gets better when both the teams are potential Super Bowl champions.What is the Best Current rivalry in the NFL?What is the Best Current rivalry in the NFL?Pittsburgh vs Baltimore88.8%New England Vs Jets1.7%Dallas vs Chargers jersey
Washington0.0%New Orleans vs Atlanta0.9%New England vs Colts1.7%Raiders vs Chiefs0.0%Green Bay vs Chicago0.9%None of the Above6.0%Total votes: 116The AFC West has some good rivalries that have stood the test of time, but the division is horrible.The New Orleans Saints vs. the Atlanta Falcons is becoming one of the better rivalries since the Saints won the Super bowl and the Falcons drafted Matt Ryan. This series is fun to watch, but recently renewed and has not had the staying power of the Ravens against the Steelers.AFC East fans would argue that the Jets and the Patriots are deserving of the best rivalry in the NFL. Both teams are having a great season and Rex Ryan is always entertaining, but the Patriots and the Colts would seem to be a better rivalry in football. The Jets have recently stepped back into the spotlight as a good team in the league and usually end up on the losing side of the Patriots, led by Tom Brady.The Steelers and the Ravens series are always entertaining. The games are always close and filled with hard hits, smack talk and last minute drama. This is a fierce division battle and, in my opinion, the best rivalry in the NFL.Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
for sports articles, previews and predictions.
2010年12月12日星期日
Josh McDaniels Fired In Denver: What Happens to the Broncos Now?
Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesThe Denver Broncos have recently announced they have fired second year coach Josh McDaniels.The Broncos have promoted running backs coach Eric Studesville to be their interim head coach.Denver becomes the third team to change head coaches this year after Saints jersey
Dallas and Minnesota. Both of the previous teams have had success since firing their old leaders with a combined record of 5-1 since firing their old coaches.The Broncos are at 3-9 this season with a huge loss to Oakland and a huge win against Kansas City.One of the problems biggest problems is consistency at the quarterback position as Kyle Orton has throw away a couple of games on potential game winning drives.Now that there is a new head coach the team could possibly take a new turn with youngsters Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow on the roster to see if either has what it takes to lead the team next year.Don't automatically expect a quarterback change right away, but if Orton can't do something this week then Tebow might get his first NFL start.Wouldn't that be something?Personally, I think he could help this team in so many ways, especially since he can run the ball like a fullback. He would have defenses keeping an eye on him and the receivers, which the Philadelphia Eagles have shown can be deadly for opposing teams.The biggest beneficiary of the coaching change could be Knowshon Moreno. Moreno had more yards running this week than Orton had passing.That isn't bad if you win the game, but when you lose and this happens something needs to change.Since Studesville has been a running back coach for a while now, expect the Broncos to really lay on their running game to help them take off.With the running game Tebow could help it improve as well. In Tennessee last year the Titans Bills jersey
used Vince young and Chris Johnson in a dangerous option style offense, and Denver may be looking at the same thing.While this season may be lost for the Broncos, don't get down, because a new era could be rushing in with Moreno leading the way.What do you think of the firing of McDaniels?
Dallas and Minnesota. Both of the previous teams have had success since firing their old leaders with a combined record of 5-1 since firing their old coaches.The Broncos are at 3-9 this season with a huge loss to Oakland and a huge win against Kansas City.One of the problems biggest problems is consistency at the quarterback position as Kyle Orton has throw away a couple of games on potential game winning drives.Now that there is a new head coach the team could possibly take a new turn with youngsters Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow on the roster to see if either has what it takes to lead the team next year.Don't automatically expect a quarterback change right away, but if Orton can't do something this week then Tebow might get his first NFL start.Wouldn't that be something?Personally, I think he could help this team in so many ways, especially since he can run the ball like a fullback. He would have defenses keeping an eye on him and the receivers, which the Philadelphia Eagles have shown can be deadly for opposing teams.The biggest beneficiary of the coaching change could be Knowshon Moreno. Moreno had more yards running this week than Orton had passing.That isn't bad if you win the game, but when you lose and this happens something needs to change.Since Studesville has been a running back coach for a while now, expect the Broncos to really lay on their running game to help them take off.With the running game Tebow could help it improve as well. In Tennessee last year the Titans Bills jersey
used Vince young and Chris Johnson in a dangerous option style offense, and Denver may be looking at the same thing.While this season may be lost for the Broncos, don't get down, because a new era could be rushing in with Moreno leading the way.What do you think of the firing of McDaniels?
2010年12月11日星期六
The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran cornerback Chad Scott and tight end Jay Riemersma February 27 2005
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (Ticker) - The 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey White jersey
Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday released veteran cornerback Chad Scott and tight end Jay Riemersma. A starter since his rookie season in 1997, Scott had the second-longest tenure on the team behind running back Jerome Bettis. The 30 year-old CB had been a starter since his rookie campaign but lost his job at right cornerback to Willie Williams last season after suffering a quadriceps injury in an October 17 game against Dallas. Scott, who made $4.8 million last season, played in 91 games with 88 starts with the Steelers, collecting 19 interceptions. Riemersma, 31, played in 22 games over two seasons with the Steelers, catching 17 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. This past season, Riemersma suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in a December 5 4 Brett Favre White jersey
game against Jacksonville. He finished the campaign with seven receptions for 82 yards and two TDs in 11 games. A 1996 seventh-round pick of Buffalo, Riemersma has 221 receptions for 2,524 yards and 23 touchdowns in 112 games.
Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday released veteran cornerback Chad Scott and tight end Jay Riemersma. A starter since his rookie season in 1997, Scott had the second-longest tenure on the team behind running back Jerome Bettis. The 30 year-old CB had been a starter since his rookie campaign but lost his job at right cornerback to Willie Williams last season after suffering a quadriceps injury in an October 17 game against Dallas. Scott, who made $4.8 million last season, played in 91 games with 88 starts with the Steelers, collecting 19 interceptions. Riemersma, 31, played in 22 games over two seasons with the Steelers, catching 17 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. This past season, Riemersma suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in a December 5 4 Brett Favre White jersey
game against Jacksonville. He finished the campaign with seven receptions for 82 yards and two TDs in 11 games. A 1996 seventh-round pick of Buffalo, Riemersma has 221 receptions for 2,524 yards and 23 touchdowns in 112 games.
2010年12月9日星期四
San Francisco 49ers Frank Gore
The 2-11 San Francisco 49ers have absolutely nothing to lose these days. That is exactly why they should turn to rookie running back Frank Gore. In 11 games Gore has carried the ball 73 times for 353 yards. If you do the math that equates to a solid 4.8 yards per carry average. Stats like those make you wonder how the heck Gore is still cooped up behind the incumbent, Kevan Barlow, on the 49ers' depth chart.In twelve starts Barlow has rushed 176 times for just 581 yards. His yards per carry? 3.3. That is currently 1.5 less than Gore. 4 Brett Favre White jersey
Barlow has surpassed 100 yards only once in his 2005 campaign, and managed to eclipse the 60-yard mark only four times.After seeing those numbers it's hard to determine why 49ers head coach Mike Nolan doesn't pull the trigger and give Gore an equal opportunity. Maybe the rookie head coach doesn't want to alienate the veteran Barlow. Well, perhaps the five-year veteran needs to be demoted to motivate him to do better on the field. After all, Barlow might be auditioning for other teams since the team may very well draft USC's star running back, Reggie Bush, with the first or second pick in April's draft. That's another story for another day.After Barlow's 2003 breakout season, everyone expected him to have an elite, Pro Bowl caliber year in 2004. Instead he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry and totaled just 822 rushing yards. Of course, it wasn't all Barlow's fault. He had to deal with defenses that stacked seven and eight in the box because the team had no passing game, as well as a banged-up, inexperienced offensive line.It's clear that Barlow isn't experiencing the kind of success that most expected him to. Meanwhile, Gore, a third-round pick from the University of Miami, has waited patiently behind the struggling Barlow all season. Last week, in the 49ers' embarrassing 38-point loss to the Seahawks, Gore was given just two hand-offs for 5 yards. Barlow was given the ball 11 times for a measly 33 yards. Why not flip it and give Gore the 11 carries next time? Isn't it worth giving the rookie a look so you know what you have? Why spend a third-round draft choice on a player that you're not going to use? It fails to add up.The 49ers' next game is a Sunday matchup with the 10-3 Jacksonville Jaguars. If they at least give Gore Jets 6 Sanchez AFL50th jersey
some more carries they might be surprised with their result. The Jags clearly aren't as good as their record as they continuously eek out wins against teams with lesser records. Last week the 4-9 Cleveland Browns gave Jacksonville all they could handle in a 20-14 loss. If Gore can keep the Jags' defense off the field and give his team a nice change of pace, San Francisco might put up a fight in this game instead of facing another week of humiliation. Connor Byrne can be reached at . (0)
Barlow has surpassed 100 yards only once in his 2005 campaign, and managed to eclipse the 60-yard mark only four times.After seeing those numbers it's hard to determine why 49ers head coach Mike Nolan doesn't pull the trigger and give Gore an equal opportunity. Maybe the rookie head coach doesn't want to alienate the veteran Barlow. Well, perhaps the five-year veteran needs to be demoted to motivate him to do better on the field. After all, Barlow might be auditioning for other teams since the team may very well draft USC's star running back, Reggie Bush, with the first or second pick in April's draft. That's another story for another day.After Barlow's 2003 breakout season, everyone expected him to have an elite, Pro Bowl caliber year in 2004. Instead he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry and totaled just 822 rushing yards. Of course, it wasn't all Barlow's fault. He had to deal with defenses that stacked seven and eight in the box because the team had no passing game, as well as a banged-up, inexperienced offensive line.It's clear that Barlow isn't experiencing the kind of success that most expected him to. Meanwhile, Gore, a third-round pick from the University of Miami, has waited patiently behind the struggling Barlow all season. Last week, in the 49ers' embarrassing 38-point loss to the Seahawks, Gore was given just two hand-offs for 5 yards. Barlow was given the ball 11 times for a measly 33 yards. Why not flip it and give Gore the 11 carries next time? Isn't it worth giving the rookie a look so you know what you have? Why spend a third-round draft choice on a player that you're not going to use? It fails to add up.The 49ers' next game is a Sunday matchup with the 10-3 Jacksonville Jaguars. If they at least give Gore Jets 6 Sanchez AFL50th jersey
some more carries they might be surprised with their result. The Jags clearly aren't as good as their record as they continuously eek out wins against teams with lesser records. Last week the 4-9 Cleveland Browns gave Jacksonville all they could handle in a 20-14 loss. If Gore can keep the Jags' defense off the field and give his team a nice change of pace, San Francisco might put up a fight in this game instead of facing another week of humiliation. Connor Byrne can be reached at . (0)
San Francisco 49ers "NFC West offseason title"
No doubt you've heard the old joke about the two hunters being pursued by an angry grizzly."What are you doing?" gasped one desperate hunter to the other as the grizzly grew ever closer. "You can't outrun a bear""I don't have to," replied the other hunter. "I just have to outrun you."Similarly, the San Francisco 49ers will only have to outrun the other three teams in the NFC West to get some postseason action in 2007. A wild card is always a possibility, of course, but if the Niners don't emerge on top of a relatively undistinguished NFC Dallas Cowboys jersey
West heap, chances are they won't win enough other games to qualify.Last season, San Francisco was third in its division at 7-9, trailing Seattle (9-7) and St. Louis (8-8) and ahead of Arizona (5-11). So who improved the most during the offseason? It's hard to vote against the 49ers.True, Arizona set the improvement bar rather low last year. And by drafting Penn State tackle Levi Brown, as well as signing tackle Mike Gandy and center Al Johnson as free agents, the Cardinals did seemingly improve an offensive line that got both of its quarterbacks hurt and created little room for running back Edgerrin James (3.6 yards a carry, his worst average ever, and just six touchdowns) last season.If that line can, indeed, be stabilized, the Cardinals have some offensive weapons in sophomore quarterback Matt Leinart, James, and wideouts Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Besides Brown and Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch, the draft yielded some speed in WR Steve Breaston and possible help at linebacker in Buster Davis. Overall, though, it peaked with the first two choices.St. Louis will look pretty much the same on offense this season, QB Marc Bulger throwing to Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, with Steven Jackson getting the bulk of the carries. Except for perennial Pro Bowler Orlando Pace, however, the offensive line was often overmatched, and the addition of 36-year-old Todd Steussie may not help much. Another free-agent pickup, 6-foot-5 WR Drew Bennett, will offset the loss of Kevin Curtis to the Eagles. TE Randy McMichael was another decent free-agent acquisition, while Travis Minor and second-round draft pick Brian Leonard will give Jackson a little more rest. If kick returner Dante Hall has anything left in the tank, he could add another dimension -- but the fact that Kansas City let him go for a fifth-round draft pick says a lot.The Rams did help themselves on defense by drafting DE Adam Carriker from Nebraska to team with Leonard Little, La'Roi Glover and James Hall up front. Hall, another free-agent acquisition, was hurt a lot last year and is 30 years old, however. Todd Johnson was added to the secondary mix, but he didn't start in Chicago.This might well be the year the Seahawks slide off the NFC West pinnacle. The offensive line regressed last season without Steve Hutchinson, making Shaun Alexander work a lot harder for his yards (when he wasn't injured). Matt Hasselbeck was inconsistent, and the receiving corps of Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram and D.J. Hackett doesn't have a proven No. 1 receiver in the bunch.Free-agent signees Deon Grant, Brian Russell and Patrick Kerney should help stiffen the defense (although Kerney had to struggle through a succession of injuries as a Falcon last season), but the Seahawks' draft was puzzling. With their first pick (in the second round, thanks to an earlier trade), they chose DB Josh Wilson out of Maryland, who is only 5-9. Some of their other picks included Auburn LB Will Herring, who doesn't seem to have a definable NFL position, and OL Mansfield Wrotto, who only spent a year on offense at Georgia Tech. The plum could turn out to be DE Baraka Atkins out of Miami, who is 6-4, 271 and ran a 4.6 at the combine.All of this makes the 49ers look good by comparison. Their free-agent crop of Nate Clements, Tully Banta-Cain, Michael Lewis and Aubrayo Franklin all fit neatly into holes that needed to be plugged, and the team snagged two All-Americans (LB Patrick Willis from Ole Miss and OT Joe Staley from Central Michigan) in the first round of the draft. San Francisco also drafted well-regarded WR Jason Hill of 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
Washington State and a potentially strong pass rusher in DE Ray McDonald of national champion Florida. Cornerback Tarell Brown, a "character issues" risk, could see a lot of playing time.So give the 49ers the NFC West offseason title. Now, they just have to do it on the field.
West heap, chances are they won't win enough other games to qualify.Last season, San Francisco was third in its division at 7-9, trailing Seattle (9-7) and St. Louis (8-8) and ahead of Arizona (5-11). So who improved the most during the offseason? It's hard to vote against the 49ers.True, Arizona set the improvement bar rather low last year. And by drafting Penn State tackle Levi Brown, as well as signing tackle Mike Gandy and center Al Johnson as free agents, the Cardinals did seemingly improve an offensive line that got both of its quarterbacks hurt and created little room for running back Edgerrin James (3.6 yards a carry, his worst average ever, and just six touchdowns) last season.If that line can, indeed, be stabilized, the Cardinals have some offensive weapons in sophomore quarterback Matt Leinart, James, and wideouts Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Besides Brown and Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch, the draft yielded some speed in WR Steve Breaston and possible help at linebacker in Buster Davis. Overall, though, it peaked with the first two choices.St. Louis will look pretty much the same on offense this season, QB Marc Bulger throwing to Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, with Steven Jackson getting the bulk of the carries. Except for perennial Pro Bowler Orlando Pace, however, the offensive line was often overmatched, and the addition of 36-year-old Todd Steussie may not help much. Another free-agent pickup, 6-foot-5 WR Drew Bennett, will offset the loss of Kevin Curtis to the Eagles. TE Randy McMichael was another decent free-agent acquisition, while Travis Minor and second-round draft pick Brian Leonard will give Jackson a little more rest. If kick returner Dante Hall has anything left in the tank, he could add another dimension -- but the fact that Kansas City let him go for a fifth-round draft pick says a lot.The Rams did help themselves on defense by drafting DE Adam Carriker from Nebraska to team with Leonard Little, La'Roi Glover and James Hall up front. Hall, another free-agent acquisition, was hurt a lot last year and is 30 years old, however. Todd Johnson was added to the secondary mix, but he didn't start in Chicago.This might well be the year the Seahawks slide off the NFC West pinnacle. The offensive line regressed last season without Steve Hutchinson, making Shaun Alexander work a lot harder for his yards (when he wasn't injured). Matt Hasselbeck was inconsistent, and the receiving corps of Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram and D.J. Hackett doesn't have a proven No. 1 receiver in the bunch.Free-agent signees Deon Grant, Brian Russell and Patrick Kerney should help stiffen the defense (although Kerney had to struggle through a succession of injuries as a Falcon last season), but the Seahawks' draft was puzzling. With their first pick (in the second round, thanks to an earlier trade), they chose DB Josh Wilson out of Maryland, who is only 5-9. Some of their other picks included Auburn LB Will Herring, who doesn't seem to have a definable NFL position, and OL Mansfield Wrotto, who only spent a year on offense at Georgia Tech. The plum could turn out to be DE Baraka Atkins out of Miami, who is 6-4, 271 and ran a 4.6 at the combine.All of this makes the 49ers look good by comparison. Their free-agent crop of Nate Clements, Tully Banta-Cain, Michael Lewis and Aubrayo Franklin all fit neatly into holes that needed to be plugged, and the team snagged two All-Americans (LB Patrick Willis from Ole Miss and OT Joe Staley from Central Michigan) in the first round of the draft. San Francisco also drafted well-regarded WR Jason Hill of 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
Washington State and a potentially strong pass rusher in DE Ray McDonald of national champion Florida. Cornerback Tarell Brown, a "character issues" risk, could see a lot of playing time.So give the 49ers the NFC West offseason title. Now, they just have to do it on the field.
2010年12月2日星期四
Tennessee Titans "Albert Haynesworth, Travis LaBoy are MVPs"
There's a school of thought that basically states if you have a problematic situation and replace one element with another, thus solving the problem, then the elements in question brought about the solution. Consequently, if you have a good situation and a certain element changes, and things go bad, then you can deduce that the element change is what caused the problems.Nothing epitomized this theory more in the NFL this past Sunday than Tennessee's humbling 28-13 home loss to Jacksonville.In spite of the team's serious offensive woes (most critically the utter lack of 6 Sanchez Green Jersey
touchdown production), the defense, ranked second in the league, has been quite stellar. That's clearly attributed to the run defense, currently the fourth-best in football. A run 'D' that, up until the Jacksonville game, held its opposition to 66 rushing yards per game.Now, fast forward to the Jacksonville game -- defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, the Titans' second-leading tackler (56), and end Travis LaBoy (five sacks) didn't play for the first time this season.Not so coincidentally, the defense, without its two stalwarts on the line, gave up a whopping 166 net rushing yards (101 from Maurice Jones-Drew), which is the first time this year the unit allowed an enemy team to surpass the century mark on the ground. It's pretty clear the Titans' defensive problems this past Sunday stemmed from the absence of Haynesworth and LaBoy. Therefore, it stands to reason that Haynesworth and LaBoy are the two biggest keys to Tennessee's success -- even more so than Vince Young and LenDale White. Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young is the apple of the NFL's eye, it seems. And for good reason.In just three games this season, the ex-Texas Longhorn and Heisman Trophy candidate has a 62.7 percent completion rate, 426 aerial yards and three passing touchdowns. Additionally, he has one rushing touchdown and an average of 4.6 yards per run. At this rate, Young will surpass most of his accomplishments from last year, his impressive rookie campaign.In the Titans' win over the Saints in Week 3, Young really shined, throwing two touchdowns in front of a national audience that watched the game on ESPN.Despite Young's heroics, the Titans are currently ranked 30th in the NFL in passing yards per game 149.3). Given Young's abilities, that stat is a bit surprising, but head coach Jeff Fisher recently said Tennessee's offensive emphasis is on the running game, which is the reason why huge vertical numbers aren't being amassed. However, the running game hasn't produced a ton of yardage, either, in spite of talented backs LenDale White and Chris Brown, so it appears the offense isn't living up to expectations.Given the immense talent Young has, the only way to bring Tennessee's offense around is by letting Young pass more. Wideouts Eric Moulds and Brandon Jones have pretty good hands and should be used downfield.The offensive line is key to Young's success but appears marginal. During the first three games of the year, the unit has allowed five sacks, and the 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
average rushing yardage has dwindled in the same time period -- the Titans' backfield averaged almost 6.0 yards a touch in the opener, 4.0 yards and under 3.0 against New Orleans. Thus, there appears to be a serious blocking and running problem. Ergo, the time to pass is now.Young was a consummate leader while at Texas. He can pass, run and lead his teammates -- all the things a coach wants in his quarterback. With Young's youth and potential, it's time to put him to the test and see what he can really do through the air.Get original Tennessee Titans insight
touchdown production), the defense, ranked second in the league, has been quite stellar. That's clearly attributed to the run defense, currently the fourth-best in football. A run 'D' that, up until the Jacksonville game, held its opposition to 66 rushing yards per game.Now, fast forward to the Jacksonville game -- defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, the Titans' second-leading tackler (56), and end Travis LaBoy (five sacks) didn't play for the first time this season.Not so coincidentally, the defense, without its two stalwarts on the line, gave up a whopping 166 net rushing yards (101 from Maurice Jones-Drew), which is the first time this year the unit allowed an enemy team to surpass the century mark on the ground. It's pretty clear the Titans' defensive problems this past Sunday stemmed from the absence of Haynesworth and LaBoy. Therefore, it stands to reason that Haynesworth and LaBoy are the two biggest keys to Tennessee's success -- even more so than Vince Young and LenDale White. Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young is the apple of the NFL's eye, it seems. And for good reason.In just three games this season, the ex-Texas Longhorn and Heisman Trophy candidate has a 62.7 percent completion rate, 426 aerial yards and three passing touchdowns. Additionally, he has one rushing touchdown and an average of 4.6 yards per run. At this rate, Young will surpass most of his accomplishments from last year, his impressive rookie campaign.In the Titans' win over the Saints in Week 3, Young really shined, throwing two touchdowns in front of a national audience that watched the game on ESPN.Despite Young's heroics, the Titans are currently ranked 30th in the NFL in passing yards per game 149.3). Given Young's abilities, that stat is a bit surprising, but head coach Jeff Fisher recently said Tennessee's offensive emphasis is on the running game, which is the reason why huge vertical numbers aren't being amassed. However, the running game hasn't produced a ton of yardage, either, in spite of talented backs LenDale White and Chris Brown, so it appears the offense isn't living up to expectations.Given the immense talent Young has, the only way to bring Tennessee's offense around is by letting Young pass more. Wideouts Eric Moulds and Brandon Jones have pretty good hands and should be used downfield.The offensive line is key to Young's success but appears marginal. During the first three games of the year, the unit has allowed five sacks, and the 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
average rushing yardage has dwindled in the same time period -- the Titans' backfield averaged almost 6.0 yards a touch in the opener, 4.0 yards and under 3.0 against New Orleans. Thus, there appears to be a serious blocking and running problem. Ergo, the time to pass is now.Young was a consummate leader while at Texas. He can pass, run and lead his teammates -- all the things a coach wants in his quarterback. With Young's youth and potential, it's time to put him to the test and see what he can really do through the air.Get original Tennessee Titans insight
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