Yes it could happen.Three of the NBA's fivebest players could be teammates as soon as 2011.How?It's simple.Unless you live under a rock, you probably know by now that Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are free agents this summer.Unless you've been in a coma the last two years, you probably know by now that the New York Knicks would give anything to get them.When I say everything, I mean Zach Randolph, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill, Tracy McGrady, Cuttino Mobley, Al Harrington, and David Washington Redskins jersey
Lee, among others.Let's face it, the Knicks will not offer the most talented team at the beginning of the summer, but what they will offer is the life.The ability to cruise through Times Square and past Broadway knowing you are the man.You hear me Dwyane Wade?It's no secret that Wade is by far the NBA's most stylish player. As you can tell by his multiple ATT commercials where he is billed as, well, the man.Chicago is the clear favorites to acquire Wade's services, but if he wants to truly be the man, and everybody knows he does, then what would be a better match for Wade than The City That Never Sleeps?I don't think Wade himself understands exactly how perfect a match he and New York would be.If Dwyane Wade came to New York he would love every minute of it.Wade throws his body on the line every day, kind of like Paul O'Neill, whom New Yorkers fell for like a teenage girl for her boyfriend. If Wade came to New York he would become an idol quickly, and then comes the endorsements.Hint: Dwyane Wade + attention = Happy Dwyane Wade.Is New York the front runners for Wade?No.Could it happen?Absolutely.LeBron James would be the next acquisition to this unstoppable threesome.How would the Knicks bring him in?Well in case you haven't heard by now (if you haven't you need to get in touch with the outside world) LeBron James is a free agent this summer.It has become quite obvious that the Knicks and Cavs are the two front-runners to sign him.The Knicks would be a perfect fit for LeBron, they just need to let him know.They offer him the city, lifestyle, and ability to become New York royalty.Who wouldn't want to be mentioned in the same sentence as Messier, Reed, and Jeter?New York gives LeBron the chance to become more than legendary; New York offers LeBron the chance to become immortal.Coming to New York gives LeBron the chance to become the all time greatest.It also gives him the chance to play in The Worlds MostReebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
Famous Arena, and have his name chanted, which he has already made known is a lifelong dream of his.Much like Wade, bringing LeBron to New York will be no easy task, but it can most certainly be done.Then comes Carmelo Anthony.You're probably scratching your head right now and wondering how the Knicks expect to dethrone the King of Denver.With the legendary 2010 free agent class on the horizon people often fail to realize the strong 2011 free agent class headlined by Carmelo Anthony.There's no way the Knicks would be able to afford Carmelo Anthony with LeBron and D-Wade already on the roster, right?Wrong.This is where the stupidity of Isiah Thomas might pay off.Remember when Isiah traded two players and four draft picks for Eddy Curry?Well the man who was at the time dubbed "Baby Shaq" carried a long, HUGE contract with him to New York. That contract expires in 2011, the same season that Carmelo Anthony will be able to test the free agency waters.When the Knicks can finally ditch Eddy Curry and all the bad memories he brings, the Knicks can give Carmelo Anthony 11 million reasons to come to New York.In fact lets make that 11,000,001 reasons to come to New York, because Melo attended Syracuse Universitydo you know what state Syracuse is in?New York.Add in the chance of playing with The King and Flash, and the Knicks signing Melo would be a foregone conclusion.Much like signing Wade and LeBron it will not be easy, but it most certainly could happen.The chances of the Knicks inking all three would be unlikely, but just one three-way phone call between Wade, LeBron, and Donnie Walsh could make it all the more likely.Everybody wants to be a champion, and if these three guys can't team up to win one than nobody can.Donnie Walsh learned how to write a persuasive essay in the fourth grade much like the rest of us, but if he wants all three of these guys than he better get his notes out.Where would this team rank amongst the greatest of all time?Well why don't we compare it to the Bulls of the 1990s.Michael Jordan was on his own planet, Scottie Pippen was great, and Horace Grant was good.LeBron James is on his own planet, Dwyane Wade is punching Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
his ticket to that planet, and Carmelo Anthony is great.Combine those three with the sharpshooting Danilo Gallinari, the soon-to-be court general point guard in Toney Douglas, the up and coming swingman in Wilson Chandler, and you have maybe the greatest team in NBA History.Now lets not get ahead of ourselves because this team will probably never play a game together, but if they do, boy will they be fun to watch.Let's just hope there are enough basketballs to go around.
2010年12月29日星期三
29 Dec 10 Washington Wizards Season Wrap-Up: Here's Looking at Next Year
Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesThe 2010 season is finally over for the Washington Wizards and with it goes a number of difficulties they'd rather forget. Their 26-56 record gives them the fifth-worst record to close out the season.This day couldn't come fast enough for the Wizards.It is difficult to compare the way the season started with the way it ended because the cast is completely different, despite opening and closing with wins. I know the stories have been told before, but it bears repeating in the spirit of this retrospective. Chicago Bears jersey
Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the season following a December 2009 locker room incident involving multiple firearms as part of a joke. Not long after that scenario played out, the Wizards' front office orchestrated deals that sent Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas and Antawn Jamison to Cleveland.That equates to 80 percent of the starting line-up, with only Mike Miller remaining active with the team.All the familiar names and faces the Wizards had were gone, leaving a collection of youth and relative unknowns to soldier on through the rest of the season. Meet Andray Blatche, the consummate "potential" player who finally got his chance to shine in the changing of times.He made the most of his opportunity, proving once and for all that he was worth all the fuss made over his star potential.After opening the season as the starter for the injured Jamison, he averaged 14 points over the first nine games. He returned to his off-the-bench role once Jamison returned, and his performance was generally written off as a fluke. There was no way he could be THE guy for the Wizards.The very night Jamison was traded, Blatche scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Blatche has averaged 23 points and eight rebounds in 31 games since becoming a starter. He did have a brief run-in with head coach Flip Saunders after he was particularly lazy on defense. It looked like there might be a rift developing, but since that night, Blatche has been playing hard.Another player who benefited from the trade deadline roster purge is JaVale McGee.He logged minimal minutes through the first half of the season, but when Haywood was traded, McGee became the starter. He had an up and down season thereafter, but recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds against in an 18-point win over Golden State on Apr. 9 and logged six blocks in a single game against the Knicks on Apr. 12.But as I said earlier, the Wizards became a tryout team over the last 30 games or so, giving relatively unknown players a shot to make a name for themselves.Cartier Martin, an undrafted D-League player, was signed on March 30 and contributed to wins over Indiana and New Jersey. Alonzo Gee, another D-League signing, scored in double-figures three times before his 10-day contract expired. He has since been signed by the Spurs and may be valuable for their playoff run.The most intriguing player to don the blue and gold has to be Shaun Livingston.If you don't know Livingston, and aren't faint of heart, look up the video of his injury from 2007. He was a top five draft choice and missed substantial chunks of time due to various injuries before this season. After a stint in the D-League, Livingston caught on with the Bobcats, but was waived late last year.He was signed to a pair of ten day contracts before the Wizards signed him for the rest of the season, and showing he still has something to give the NBA.In the beginning of his time with Washington, Livingston didn't quite have the flow of the game yet. Eight games in, he scored 18 points with eight assists against Orlando. Over the last 11 games, he averaged 14 points and five assists in 35 minutes of Cincinnati Bengals jersey
play per night.If nothing else, the last handful of games served as a great platform for players who won't be around Washington next season.With the team's plans for resigning players unknown, it is safe to assume that most of the players the fans had grown familiar with down the stretch will be gone come next season. There are of course exceptions, but even that isn't completely certain.James Singleton showed a Marcus Camby-like ability to rebound on certain nights and a nose for the basket on others. Josh Howard looked like a decent second scoring option before his season-ending injury. Randy Foye ended his season with an injury, Quinton Ross gave good depth and Earl Boykins gave the Wizards a spark in some games.No matter who returns next season, and no matter how bad this season was, there was clearly a difference in the effort given over the first half of the season and the second half of the season.And as part of this season wrap-up, and keeping things positive, how about some unofficial awards?Best Moment of the SeasonApr. 9, 2010, vs. Boston Celtics, W: 106-96The Wizards pulled out a ten point win against the playoff bound Celtics, giving them their third win in four games and showing they can compete with the so-called great teams in the NBA. It showcased Blatche against Kevin Garnett, a resurgent Livingston, and a 42-point fourth quarter by Boston that wasn't enough to win the game.Blatche scored 31 points with 11 rebounds, complimented by Livingston's 25 points, Nick Young's 19 points and McGee's 19 points and 11 rebounds. (Honorable Mention: Blatche's near triple-double).Best Story of the SeasonShaun LivingstonSeriously, watch the video of his injury and tell me he didn't look great on the floor for the Wizards. If I wanted to be corny, he would win the "Give That Man a Contract" award for the performance he put on over the last several games.It is impossible not to like Livingston and hope his career can continue somewhere in the NBA, even if not in Washington. (Honorable Mention: Anything not related to Gilbert Arenas).Sixth Man AwardGiven that the entire roster became a sixth man towards the end of the season, this award is difficult to give to just one guy. I would have to split it between Boykins and Young. Between the two of them there is an entire season's worth of production. Boykins was good early for the Wizards and Young was good late. (Honorable Mention: Al Thornton).Most Improved Player Andray BlatcheHands down, Blatche wins this award. He started the season showing his abilities and got the chance to finish the season cementing himself as a real NBA player on the verge of stardom. (Honorable Mention: JaVale McGee).Most Cleveland Browns jersey
Valuable PlayerMike MillerEven though he missed all of December and most of January with an injury, it is impossible to deny that Miller helped the Wizards whenever he was on the floor. He was up and down for most of the season, but what he lacked in consistency he made up for in effort every night. He finished second in the league at 48-percent from beyond the arc and did all the little things when he couldn't scored. He rebounded, he defended, he got his teammates involved. (Honorable Mention: Blatche).
Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the season following a December 2009 locker room incident involving multiple firearms as part of a joke. Not long after that scenario played out, the Wizards' front office orchestrated deals that sent Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas and Antawn Jamison to Cleveland.That equates to 80 percent of the starting line-up, with only Mike Miller remaining active with the team.All the familiar names and faces the Wizards had were gone, leaving a collection of youth and relative unknowns to soldier on through the rest of the season. Meet Andray Blatche, the consummate "potential" player who finally got his chance to shine in the changing of times.He made the most of his opportunity, proving once and for all that he was worth all the fuss made over his star potential.After opening the season as the starter for the injured Jamison, he averaged 14 points over the first nine games. He returned to his off-the-bench role once Jamison returned, and his performance was generally written off as a fluke. There was no way he could be THE guy for the Wizards.The very night Jamison was traded, Blatche scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Blatche has averaged 23 points and eight rebounds in 31 games since becoming a starter. He did have a brief run-in with head coach Flip Saunders after he was particularly lazy on defense. It looked like there might be a rift developing, but since that night, Blatche has been playing hard.Another player who benefited from the trade deadline roster purge is JaVale McGee.He logged minimal minutes through the first half of the season, but when Haywood was traded, McGee became the starter. He had an up and down season thereafter, but recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds against in an 18-point win over Golden State on Apr. 9 and logged six blocks in a single game against the Knicks on Apr. 12.But as I said earlier, the Wizards became a tryout team over the last 30 games or so, giving relatively unknown players a shot to make a name for themselves.Cartier Martin, an undrafted D-League player, was signed on March 30 and contributed to wins over Indiana and New Jersey. Alonzo Gee, another D-League signing, scored in double-figures three times before his 10-day contract expired. He has since been signed by the Spurs and may be valuable for their playoff run.The most intriguing player to don the blue and gold has to be Shaun Livingston.If you don't know Livingston, and aren't faint of heart, look up the video of his injury from 2007. He was a top five draft choice and missed substantial chunks of time due to various injuries before this season. After a stint in the D-League, Livingston caught on with the Bobcats, but was waived late last year.He was signed to a pair of ten day contracts before the Wizards signed him for the rest of the season, and showing he still has something to give the NBA.In the beginning of his time with Washington, Livingston didn't quite have the flow of the game yet. Eight games in, he scored 18 points with eight assists against Orlando. Over the last 11 games, he averaged 14 points and five assists in 35 minutes of Cincinnati Bengals jersey
play per night.If nothing else, the last handful of games served as a great platform for players who won't be around Washington next season.With the team's plans for resigning players unknown, it is safe to assume that most of the players the fans had grown familiar with down the stretch will be gone come next season. There are of course exceptions, but even that isn't completely certain.James Singleton showed a Marcus Camby-like ability to rebound on certain nights and a nose for the basket on others. Josh Howard looked like a decent second scoring option before his season-ending injury. Randy Foye ended his season with an injury, Quinton Ross gave good depth and Earl Boykins gave the Wizards a spark in some games.No matter who returns next season, and no matter how bad this season was, there was clearly a difference in the effort given over the first half of the season and the second half of the season.And as part of this season wrap-up, and keeping things positive, how about some unofficial awards?Best Moment of the SeasonApr. 9, 2010, vs. Boston Celtics, W: 106-96The Wizards pulled out a ten point win against the playoff bound Celtics, giving them their third win in four games and showing they can compete with the so-called great teams in the NBA. It showcased Blatche against Kevin Garnett, a resurgent Livingston, and a 42-point fourth quarter by Boston that wasn't enough to win the game.Blatche scored 31 points with 11 rebounds, complimented by Livingston's 25 points, Nick Young's 19 points and McGee's 19 points and 11 rebounds. (Honorable Mention: Blatche's near triple-double).Best Story of the SeasonShaun LivingstonSeriously, watch the video of his injury and tell me he didn't look great on the floor for the Wizards. If I wanted to be corny, he would win the "Give That Man a Contract" award for the performance he put on over the last several games.It is impossible not to like Livingston and hope his career can continue somewhere in the NBA, even if not in Washington. (Honorable Mention: Anything not related to Gilbert Arenas).Sixth Man AwardGiven that the entire roster became a sixth man towards the end of the season, this award is difficult to give to just one guy. I would have to split it between Boykins and Young. Between the two of them there is an entire season's worth of production. Boykins was good early for the Wizards and Young was good late. (Honorable Mention: Al Thornton).Most Improved Player Andray BlatcheHands down, Blatche wins this award. He started the season showing his abilities and got the chance to finish the season cementing himself as a real NBA player on the verge of stardom. (Honorable Mention: JaVale McGee).Most Cleveland Browns jersey
Valuable PlayerMike MillerEven though he missed all of December and most of January with an injury, it is impossible to deny that Miller helped the Wizards whenever he was on the floor. He was up and down for most of the season, but what he lacked in consistency he made up for in effort every night. He finished second in the league at 48-percent from beyond the arc and did all the little things when he couldn't scored. He rebounded, he defended, he got his teammates involved. (Honorable Mention: Blatche).
29 Dec 10 Washington Wizards Season Wrap-Up: Here's Looking at Next Year
Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesThe 2010 season is finally over for the Washington Wizards and with it goes a number of difficulties they'd rather forget. Their 26-56 record gives them the fifth-worst record to close out the season.This day couldn't come fast enough for the Wizards.It is difficult to compare the way the season started with the way it ended because the cast is completely different, despite opening and closing with wins. I know the stories have been told before, but it bears repeating in the spirit of this retrospective. Chicago Bears jersey
Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the season following a December 2009 locker room incident involving multiple firearms as part of a joke. Not long after that scenario played out, the Wizards' front office orchestrated deals that sent Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas and Antawn Jamison to Cleveland.That equates to 80 percent of the starting line-up, with only Mike Miller remaining active with the team.All the familiar names and faces the Wizards had were gone, leaving a collection of youth and relative unknowns to soldier on through the rest of the season. Meet Andray Blatche, the consummate "potential" player who finally got his chance to shine in the changing of times.He made the most of his opportunity, proving once and for all that he was worth all the fuss made over his star potential.After opening the season as the starter for the injured Jamison, he averaged 14 points over the first nine games. He returned to his off-the-bench role once Jamison returned, and his performance was generally written off as a fluke. There was no way he could be THE guy for the Wizards.The very night Jamison was traded, Blatche scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Blatche has averaged 23 points and eight rebounds in 31 games since becoming a starter. He did have a brief run-in with head coach Flip Saunders after he was particularly lazy on defense. It looked like there might be a rift developing, but since that night, Blatche has been playing hard.Another player who benefited from the trade deadline roster purge is JaVale McGee.He logged minimal minutes through the first half of the season, but when Haywood was traded, McGee became the starter. He had an up and down season thereafter, but recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds against in an 18-point win over Golden State on Apr. 9 and logged six blocks in a single game against the Knicks on Apr. 12.But as I said earlier, the Wizards became a tryout team over the last 30 games or so, giving relatively unknown players a shot to make a name for themselves.Cartier Martin, an undrafted D-League player, was signed on March 30 and contributed to wins over Indiana and New Jersey. Alonzo Gee, another D-League signing, scored in double-figures three times before his 10-day contract expired. He has since been signed by the Spurs and may be valuable for their playoff run.The most intriguing player to don the blue and gold has to be Shaun Livingston.If you don't know Livingston, and aren't faint of heart, look up the video of his injury from 2007. He was a top five draft choice and missed substantial chunks of time due to various injuries before this season. After a stint in the D-League, Livingston caught on with the Bobcats, but was waived late last year.He was signed to a pair of ten day contracts before the Wizards signed him for the rest of the season, and showing he still has something to give the NBA.In the beginning of his time with Washington, Livingston didn't quite have the flow of the game yet. Eight games in, he scored 18 points with eight assists against Orlando. Over the last 11 games, he averaged 14 points and five assists in 35 minutes of Cincinnati Bengals jersey
play per night.If nothing else, the last handful of games served as a great platform for players who won't be around Washington next season.With the team's plans for resigning players unknown, it is safe to assume that most of the players the fans had grown familiar with down the stretch will be gone come next season. There are of course exceptions, but even that isn't completely certain.James Singleton showed a Marcus Camby-like ability to rebound on certain nights and a nose for the basket on others. Josh Howard looked like a decent second scoring option before his season-ending injury. Randy Foye ended his season with an injury, Quinton Ross gave good depth and Earl Boykins gave the Wizards a spark in some games.No matter who returns next season, and no matter how bad this season was, there was clearly a difference in the effort given over the first half of the season and the second half of the season.And as part of this season wrap-up, and keeping things positive, how about some unofficial awards?Best Moment of the SeasonApr. 9, 2010, vs. Boston Celtics, W: 106-96The Wizards pulled out a ten point win against the playoff bound Celtics, giving them their third win in four games and showing they can compete with the so-called great teams in the NBA. It showcased Blatche against Kevin Garnett, a resurgent Livingston, and a 42-point fourth quarter by Boston that wasn't enough to win the game.Blatche scored 31 points with 11 rebounds, complimented by Livingston's 25 points, Nick Young's 19 points and McGee's 19 points and 11 rebounds. (Honorable Mention: Blatche's near triple-double).Best Story of the SeasonShaun LivingstonSeriously, watch the video of his injury and tell me he didn't look great on the floor for the Wizards. If I wanted to be corny, he would win the "Give That Man a Contract" award for the performance he put on over the last several games.It is impossible not to like Livingston and hope his career can continue somewhere in the NBA, even if not in Washington. (Honorable Mention: Anything not related to Gilbert Arenas).Sixth Man AwardGiven that the entire roster became a sixth man towards the end of the season, this award is difficult to give to just one guy. I would have to split it between Boykins and Young. Between the two of them there is an entire season's worth of production. Boykins was good early for the Wizards and Young was good late. (Honorable Mention: Al Thornton).Most Improved Player Andray BlatcheHands down, Blatche wins this award. He started the season showing his abilities and got the chance to finish the season cementing himself as a real NBA player on the verge of stardom. (Honorable Mention: JaVale McGee).Most Cleveland Browns jersey
Valuable PlayerMike MillerEven though he missed all of December and most of January with an injury, it is impossible to deny that Miller helped the Wizards whenever he was on the floor. He was up and down for most of the season, but what he lacked in consistency he made up for in effort every night. He finished second in the league at 48-percent from beyond the arc and did all the little things when he couldn't scored. He rebounded, he defended, he got his teammates involved. (Honorable Mention: Blatche).
Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the season following a December 2009 locker room incident involving multiple firearms as part of a joke. Not long after that scenario played out, the Wizards' front office orchestrated deals that sent Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas and Antawn Jamison to Cleveland.That equates to 80 percent of the starting line-up, with only Mike Miller remaining active with the team.All the familiar names and faces the Wizards had were gone, leaving a collection of youth and relative unknowns to soldier on through the rest of the season. Meet Andray Blatche, the consummate "potential" player who finally got his chance to shine in the changing of times.He made the most of his opportunity, proving once and for all that he was worth all the fuss made over his star potential.After opening the season as the starter for the injured Jamison, he averaged 14 points over the first nine games. He returned to his off-the-bench role once Jamison returned, and his performance was generally written off as a fluke. There was no way he could be THE guy for the Wizards.The very night Jamison was traded, Blatche scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Blatche has averaged 23 points and eight rebounds in 31 games since becoming a starter. He did have a brief run-in with head coach Flip Saunders after he was particularly lazy on defense. It looked like there might be a rift developing, but since that night, Blatche has been playing hard.Another player who benefited from the trade deadline roster purge is JaVale McGee.He logged minimal minutes through the first half of the season, but when Haywood was traded, McGee became the starter. He had an up and down season thereafter, but recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds against in an 18-point win over Golden State on Apr. 9 and logged six blocks in a single game against the Knicks on Apr. 12.But as I said earlier, the Wizards became a tryout team over the last 30 games or so, giving relatively unknown players a shot to make a name for themselves.Cartier Martin, an undrafted D-League player, was signed on March 30 and contributed to wins over Indiana and New Jersey. Alonzo Gee, another D-League signing, scored in double-figures three times before his 10-day contract expired. He has since been signed by the Spurs and may be valuable for their playoff run.The most intriguing player to don the blue and gold has to be Shaun Livingston.If you don't know Livingston, and aren't faint of heart, look up the video of his injury from 2007. He was a top five draft choice and missed substantial chunks of time due to various injuries before this season. After a stint in the D-League, Livingston caught on with the Bobcats, but was waived late last year.He was signed to a pair of ten day contracts before the Wizards signed him for the rest of the season, and showing he still has something to give the NBA.In the beginning of his time with Washington, Livingston didn't quite have the flow of the game yet. Eight games in, he scored 18 points with eight assists against Orlando. Over the last 11 games, he averaged 14 points and five assists in 35 minutes of Cincinnati Bengals jersey
play per night.If nothing else, the last handful of games served as a great platform for players who won't be around Washington next season.With the team's plans for resigning players unknown, it is safe to assume that most of the players the fans had grown familiar with down the stretch will be gone come next season. There are of course exceptions, but even that isn't completely certain.James Singleton showed a Marcus Camby-like ability to rebound on certain nights and a nose for the basket on others. Josh Howard looked like a decent second scoring option before his season-ending injury. Randy Foye ended his season with an injury, Quinton Ross gave good depth and Earl Boykins gave the Wizards a spark in some games.No matter who returns next season, and no matter how bad this season was, there was clearly a difference in the effort given over the first half of the season and the second half of the season.And as part of this season wrap-up, and keeping things positive, how about some unofficial awards?Best Moment of the SeasonApr. 9, 2010, vs. Boston Celtics, W: 106-96The Wizards pulled out a ten point win against the playoff bound Celtics, giving them their third win in four games and showing they can compete with the so-called great teams in the NBA. It showcased Blatche against Kevin Garnett, a resurgent Livingston, and a 42-point fourth quarter by Boston that wasn't enough to win the game.Blatche scored 31 points with 11 rebounds, complimented by Livingston's 25 points, Nick Young's 19 points and McGee's 19 points and 11 rebounds. (Honorable Mention: Blatche's near triple-double).Best Story of the SeasonShaun LivingstonSeriously, watch the video of his injury and tell me he didn't look great on the floor for the Wizards. If I wanted to be corny, he would win the "Give That Man a Contract" award for the performance he put on over the last several games.It is impossible not to like Livingston and hope his career can continue somewhere in the NBA, even if not in Washington. (Honorable Mention: Anything not related to Gilbert Arenas).Sixth Man AwardGiven that the entire roster became a sixth man towards the end of the season, this award is difficult to give to just one guy. I would have to split it between Boykins and Young. Between the two of them there is an entire season's worth of production. Boykins was good early for the Wizards and Young was good late. (Honorable Mention: Al Thornton).Most Improved Player Andray BlatcheHands down, Blatche wins this award. He started the season showing his abilities and got the chance to finish the season cementing himself as a real NBA player on the verge of stardom. (Honorable Mention: JaVale McGee).Most Cleveland Browns jersey
Valuable PlayerMike MillerEven though he missed all of December and most of January with an injury, it is impossible to deny that Miller helped the Wizards whenever he was on the floor. He was up and down for most of the season, but what he lacked in consistency he made up for in effort every night. He finished second in the league at 48-percent from beyond the arc and did all the little things when he couldn't scored. He rebounded, he defended, he got his teammates involved. (Honorable Mention: Blatche).
2010年12月28日星期二
28 Dec 10 The Case for Amir Johnson: Toronto Raptors Offseason Decisions
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesAfter resolving the Chris Bosh situation, Bryan Colangelo offseason work may have just begun.Leaving aside the numerous trade scenarios that must be under consideration, the Toronto Raptors have five free agents to make decisions about, and only Sonny Weems is under the team control.At the top of this second list of priorities appears to be the Raptors' athletic big man, Amir Johnson.Johnson became a favorite of many Raptors followers this season because of his hustle and ability to run the floor. A cast-off from theBaltimore Ravens jersey
Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars finally gave up on the kid after four seasons, much to the delight of fans at the ACC.But Johnson run in Toronto has hardly been without its ups and downs. Like the team, he was a model of inconsistency, and after five seasons in the NBA, shouldn Johnson obvious potential have been realized to a greater extent by now?This past season Johnson averaged 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 3.1 fouls in 17.7 minutes. Johnson played in all 82 games and saw reasonably consistent minutes all season for the first time in his NBA career.But in all honesty, those aren even particularly impressive statistics for a decent rookie.And in a contract year, one would have expected this to be the best NBA season of Johnson young career. Arguably, this wasn the case.Ignoring the 11 NBA games Johnson played during his first two seasons, when he spent time in the D-league, this season Johnson had more fouls and fewer blocks than he did in Detroit. Plus, his free throw shooting plummeted to under 63 percent.And during those first two NBA seasons, Johnson looked like a better scorer from the field.But it wasn all downhill statistically for Johnson this past season. His rebounding bounced up to 4.8 per game from 3.7 the year before, and he shot 62 percent from the field.Plus Johnson sure is pretty to watch when he runs the floor. Johnson did add something the Raptors haven had in recent yearsa big man who can play like an athletic wing.And Johnson numbers didn move much when the Raptors played the better teams in the league.Against playoff-bound teams, Johnson averaged 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks.His numbers were only slightly worse against the league top eight teams with 5.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks.But against the big three in the East, Johnson looked over-matched, and it showed in his statistics. In 12 games against Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando, Johnson only managed 4.4 points, Buffalo Bills jersey
3.6 boards, and 0.4 blocks.Johnson's Best Games Portland, two games at 11.5 points and seven boardsNew York, four games at 11.5 points and 6.5 boardsGolden State, two games at 11.0 points and six boardsDetroit, four games at 10.8 points and four boards Atlanta, four games at 10.2 points and 7.5 boards. Johnson's Worst GamesUtah, two games at one point and three boardsHouston, two games at 1.5 points and 3.5 boardsSacramento, two games at two points and 1.5 boardsMinnesota, two games at two points and 5.5 boards Boston, four games at three points and 3.2 boardsSome might have noticed Johnson tendency to disappear at times in games in which the other team has effective big men.With Bosh late season injury, Johnson was afforded an opportunity to play more minutes and started four games. From a scoring perspective, he responded.Over the last six games of the season, Johnson averaged 15.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in 30.7 minutes. The only slight against his late season work was the three games with just two rebounds. But surpassing his career high in scoring twice in the last two games was impressive.However, late season success against teams out of the playoffs is not what a GM should be basing a new contract on.And there should be little doubt that Johnson was overpaid on his last deal. It was the $10 million contract from Joe Dumars that got Johnson shipped out of Detroit for virtually nothing.It has been suggested by some that Johnson is in line for a new contract for the mid-level exception. That would look like a mistake.There have been numerous unproven big men signed to deals like that in the past, and far too many of them resulted in salary cap hardship for the signing team. Carolina Panthers jersey
And there is a good argument that Johnson didn produce to the level of the contract that he was on this past season.Colangelo has stated that he intends to bring Johnson back to the Raptors for next season, and without much doubt, that would be a popular move with the fans.But Colangelo can afford to make the same mistake Dumars made three seasons ago and overpay for potential that may never be realized.Here hoping the young gun returns to Toronto anyway.
Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars finally gave up on the kid after four seasons, much to the delight of fans at the ACC.But Johnson run in Toronto has hardly been without its ups and downs. Like the team, he was a model of inconsistency, and after five seasons in the NBA, shouldn Johnson obvious potential have been realized to a greater extent by now?This past season Johnson averaged 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 3.1 fouls in 17.7 minutes. Johnson played in all 82 games and saw reasonably consistent minutes all season for the first time in his NBA career.But in all honesty, those aren even particularly impressive statistics for a decent rookie.And in a contract year, one would have expected this to be the best NBA season of Johnson young career. Arguably, this wasn the case.Ignoring the 11 NBA games Johnson played during his first two seasons, when he spent time in the D-league, this season Johnson had more fouls and fewer blocks than he did in Detroit. Plus, his free throw shooting plummeted to under 63 percent.And during those first two NBA seasons, Johnson looked like a better scorer from the field.But it wasn all downhill statistically for Johnson this past season. His rebounding bounced up to 4.8 per game from 3.7 the year before, and he shot 62 percent from the field.Plus Johnson sure is pretty to watch when he runs the floor. Johnson did add something the Raptors haven had in recent yearsa big man who can play like an athletic wing.And Johnson numbers didn move much when the Raptors played the better teams in the league.Against playoff-bound teams, Johnson averaged 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks.His numbers were only slightly worse against the league top eight teams with 5.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks.But against the big three in the East, Johnson looked over-matched, and it showed in his statistics. In 12 games against Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando, Johnson only managed 4.4 points, Buffalo Bills jersey
3.6 boards, and 0.4 blocks.Johnson's Best Games Portland, two games at 11.5 points and seven boardsNew York, four games at 11.5 points and 6.5 boardsGolden State, two games at 11.0 points and six boardsDetroit, four games at 10.8 points and four boards Atlanta, four games at 10.2 points and 7.5 boards. Johnson's Worst GamesUtah, two games at one point and three boardsHouston, two games at 1.5 points and 3.5 boardsSacramento, two games at two points and 1.5 boardsMinnesota, two games at two points and 5.5 boards Boston, four games at three points and 3.2 boardsSome might have noticed Johnson tendency to disappear at times in games in which the other team has effective big men.With Bosh late season injury, Johnson was afforded an opportunity to play more minutes and started four games. From a scoring perspective, he responded.Over the last six games of the season, Johnson averaged 15.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in 30.7 minutes. The only slight against his late season work was the three games with just two rebounds. But surpassing his career high in scoring twice in the last two games was impressive.However, late season success against teams out of the playoffs is not what a GM should be basing a new contract on.And there should be little doubt that Johnson was overpaid on his last deal. It was the $10 million contract from Joe Dumars that got Johnson shipped out of Detroit for virtually nothing.It has been suggested by some that Johnson is in line for a new contract for the mid-level exception. That would look like a mistake.There have been numerous unproven big men signed to deals like that in the past, and far too many of them resulted in salary cap hardship for the signing team. Carolina Panthers jersey
And there is a good argument that Johnson didn produce to the level of the contract that he was on this past season.Colangelo has stated that he intends to bring Johnson back to the Raptors for next season, and without much doubt, that would be a popular move with the fans.But Colangelo can afford to make the same mistake Dumars made three seasons ago and overpay for potential that may never be realized.Here hoping the young gun returns to Toronto anyway.
2010年12月27日星期一
27 Dec 10 Stuck on Cloud No. 9: Utah Jazz Forced To Take a Shot in the Dark at NBA Draft
Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesSo after all these years, this is it?After all these years of holding out hope that a monumental bonehead move by Isiah Thomas would prove to be another franchise savior, this is it.No. 9.Not even a team with a rotting Tracy McGrady and a bunch of "who's that?" question marks could help out the Utah Jazz.This shouldn't come at much of a surprise, though.Utah General Manager/Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin O'Connor held this pick so close to his heart, one could have confused it for a newborn grandchild.The chip that could have helped bring a proven veteran on board over the past few years proved to be the ninth-best pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.For those who were watching the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday, you saw the face ofReebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
what looked to be a downtrodden, scowling old man that didn't get the ball to bounce his way.That's not a bingo, Mr. O'Connor.Now what?With the future of the franchise as shaky as the earth's crust lately, this is the ultimate sink-or-swim moment for the Jazz and, more importantly, their front office.The second-highest pick in the last 27 years has to be a hit.It just has to.After watching O'Connor and his cronies flunk more tests than Floyd Landis and Jose Canseco combined, the time is now. If not, something's got to give.Desperately needing size to compete with the top-flight teams in the league, there's no doubt the Jazz will look to add size and length at the No. 9 spot.Who will be there? Who will they covet?Your run-of-the-mill NBA insiders have singled out Georgetown big man Greg Monroe as a "perfect fit" for Jerry Sloan's offense. A 6'11" big player who can make passes as well as spot up and hit the 15-foot jumper.Monroe is no doubt skilled and could be a good piece on a good team, but if it's defense and shot-blocking ability Utah is looking for, it wouldn't matter if Monroe was the second-coming. A softer, less-athletic Lamar Odom with less rangethat's Monroe.There's Cole Aldrich out of Kansas, who most Jazz fans view as a potential Greg Ostertag 2.0 disaster. Aldrich really bears no similarity to Ostertag, aside from the body type and hairdo.Standing at 6'11" and sporting a 7'4" wingspan, O'Connor would undoubtedly be tempted to nab the former Jayhawk and try and morph him into a two-way impact player.Rounding out the rest of the possibilities are Baylor's Ekpe Udoh, North Carolina's Ed Davis, and Marshall's raw youngster Hassan Whiteside.The dish on Udoh is that his athletic ability could help him be a lively defender at the next level, and his offensive game could morph and develop into something impressive over time.Davis has always been a lock to be a top-10 pick, but, for the life of me, I couldn't see why. Watching Davis for two seasons, there wasn't much to Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
gawk over. He wasn't the best player on the floor for a horrible Tar Heel team in 2009, and one can only wonder if he just benefited from being a cog on the 2008 national champion UNC squad.As for Whiteside, he's the guy with "character issues," as they so often say these days leading up to professional drafts. Scouts have compared his potential to a more athletic Marcus Camby, with a deft ability on the defensive end.Basically, all the guy needs is a swift kick in the ass and a good coach.Utah, you have something along those lines, right?The Jazz would unquestionably drool at the off-chance of a DeMarcus Cousins or Wesley Johnson falling into their laps at No. 9.That won't be happening.If you're looking for a dark horse, look to Butler's gangly star Gordon Hayward. A versatile 6'9" small forward with range and athleticism, coupled with a tireless work ethic. Not to mention he's an Indiana kid. I wouldn't be surprised to see his name at the top of Sloan's favorite-player list of this draft.Gun to my head, I'd say the Jazz will force their own hand and take Monroe. While the pick could turn out to be a decent addition for the team for years to come, Utah needs to take a long look at these big men and ask themselves, "Who can guard Pau Gasol, or attempt to pester him?"Seems silly to single out one player, but at this rate, the Lakers are going nowhere but up, up, up, and Utah has done nothing to show it can handle LA's size or even guard the post and contest shots at the rim in regard to playing any teamregular Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
season or postseason.I see Aldrich and Whiteside as ultimate boom-or-bust shots, but at this point it's time for the experts and fans to step back and allow O'Connor, Greg Miller, and the Jazz brass to make their move and take a necessary step forward in exorcising the demons of past first-round disasters.They have no other choice.Who'll be donning the new Utah digs come opening night of the 2010 NBA season?The jury is still out.But you can count on one thingO'Connor's trigger finger will be tentative. And for good reason.
what looked to be a downtrodden, scowling old man that didn't get the ball to bounce his way.That's not a bingo, Mr. O'Connor.Now what?With the future of the franchise as shaky as the earth's crust lately, this is the ultimate sink-or-swim moment for the Jazz and, more importantly, their front office.The second-highest pick in the last 27 years has to be a hit.It just has to.After watching O'Connor and his cronies flunk more tests than Floyd Landis and Jose Canseco combined, the time is now. If not, something's got to give.Desperately needing size to compete with the top-flight teams in the league, there's no doubt the Jazz will look to add size and length at the No. 9 spot.Who will be there? Who will they covet?Your run-of-the-mill NBA insiders have singled out Georgetown big man Greg Monroe as a "perfect fit" for Jerry Sloan's offense. A 6'11" big player who can make passes as well as spot up and hit the 15-foot jumper.Monroe is no doubt skilled and could be a good piece on a good team, but if it's defense and shot-blocking ability Utah is looking for, it wouldn't matter if Monroe was the second-coming. A softer, less-athletic Lamar Odom with less rangethat's Monroe.There's Cole Aldrich out of Kansas, who most Jazz fans view as a potential Greg Ostertag 2.0 disaster. Aldrich really bears no similarity to Ostertag, aside from the body type and hairdo.Standing at 6'11" and sporting a 7'4" wingspan, O'Connor would undoubtedly be tempted to nab the former Jayhawk and try and morph him into a two-way impact player.Rounding out the rest of the possibilities are Baylor's Ekpe Udoh, North Carolina's Ed Davis, and Marshall's raw youngster Hassan Whiteside.The dish on Udoh is that his athletic ability could help him be a lively defender at the next level, and his offensive game could morph and develop into something impressive over time.Davis has always been a lock to be a top-10 pick, but, for the life of me, I couldn't see why. Watching Davis for two seasons, there wasn't much to Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
gawk over. He wasn't the best player on the floor for a horrible Tar Heel team in 2009, and one can only wonder if he just benefited from being a cog on the 2008 national champion UNC squad.As for Whiteside, he's the guy with "character issues," as they so often say these days leading up to professional drafts. Scouts have compared his potential to a more athletic Marcus Camby, with a deft ability on the defensive end.Basically, all the guy needs is a swift kick in the ass and a good coach.Utah, you have something along those lines, right?The Jazz would unquestionably drool at the off-chance of a DeMarcus Cousins or Wesley Johnson falling into their laps at No. 9.That won't be happening.If you're looking for a dark horse, look to Butler's gangly star Gordon Hayward. A versatile 6'9" small forward with range and athleticism, coupled with a tireless work ethic. Not to mention he's an Indiana kid. I wouldn't be surprised to see his name at the top of Sloan's favorite-player list of this draft.Gun to my head, I'd say the Jazz will force their own hand and take Monroe. While the pick could turn out to be a decent addition for the team for years to come, Utah needs to take a long look at these big men and ask themselves, "Who can guard Pau Gasol, or attempt to pester him?"Seems silly to single out one player, but at this rate, the Lakers are going nowhere but up, up, up, and Utah has done nothing to show it can handle LA's size or even guard the post and contest shots at the rim in regard to playing any teamregular Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
season or postseason.I see Aldrich and Whiteside as ultimate boom-or-bust shots, but at this point it's time for the experts and fans to step back and allow O'Connor, Greg Miller, and the Jazz brass to make their move and take a necessary step forward in exorcising the demons of past first-round disasters.They have no other choice.Who'll be donning the new Utah digs come opening night of the 2010 NBA season?The jury is still out.But you can count on one thingO'Connor's trigger finger will be tentative. And for good reason.
2010年12月26日星期日
26 Dec 10 NBA Draft: John Wall to Set Gilbert Arenas Free
Jeff Gentner/Getty ImagesWith a brilliant stroke of luck, the Washington Wizards came behind from a 10% chance of landing the top pick in the 2010 draft to grabbing the top spot in the upcoming draft's lottery. With the first pick, they are set to take Kentucky freshman PG John Wall.No surprises Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
here.For the Wiz, the pick comes as a breath of fresh air after a tumultuous season in which superstar Gilbert Arenas was arrested on gun charges. To make things worse, the team decided to blow it up and trade away veterans Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Brendan Haywood.Selecting John Wall is going to help out the Wiz tremendously, especially if they opt to keep Arenas. With Wall in the lineup, Arenas can move to the shooting guard position. This move will give Arenas a license to shoot at will.Arenas will be able to readjust to his position as one of Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
the NBA's elite scorers and lead a young Wizard team as Wall matures into one of the NBA's best point guards.For the Wizards and Gilbert Arenas, John Wall could just be the change they need in Washington.This article is also featured onMockDraftHQ.com Draft Blog
here.For the Wiz, the pick comes as a breath of fresh air after a tumultuous season in which superstar Gilbert Arenas was arrested on gun charges. To make things worse, the team decided to blow it up and trade away veterans Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Brendan Haywood.Selecting John Wall is going to help out the Wiz tremendously, especially if they opt to keep Arenas. With Wall in the lineup, Arenas can move to the shooting guard position. This move will give Arenas a license to shoot at will.Arenas will be able to readjust to his position as one of Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
the NBA's elite scorers and lead a young Wizard team as Wall matures into one of the NBA's best point guards.For the Wizards and Gilbert Arenas, John Wall could just be the change they need in Washington.This article is also featured onMockDraftHQ.com Draft Blog
2010年12月25日星期六
25 Dec 10 Derrick Rose: Destined To Be Best Player in NBA
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesForget about all the MVP talk surrounding Derrick Rose; in two or three years,he willbe the best player in the NBA. This may sound crazy, but it is just a matter of time. Kobe is getting old, and LeBron squandered his top dog status by fleeing to Miami.Thunder fans areNew York Jets jersey
probably pulling their hair out right now, but Kevin Durant is less dimensional and athletic than Derrick Rose. In fact, Durant will be the second best player on the Thunder in a few years. Russell Westbrook is the only rising star who poses a legitimate threat to Rose becoming the best player in the NBA, and he is lagging way behind Rose emerging perimeter game.Derrick Rose contributions cannot be measured by stats alone, however impressive they may be. Derrick Rose is a field general who can lead the Bulls to a 130-128 overtime victory one night, and allow the Bulls to squeak by in a low scoring gamethe next. The only real knock on Rose is his lack of defense; however, if his perimeter shooting continues to improve, he could go for 35 points per game. That's right, Derrick Rose could flirt with statistics only Kobe and Michael have achieved recently.Rose has the potential to play defense as well as anybody. Up until this point, he has never needed to. On the defensive end, Derrick sometimes looks like he is out of position, but when he does get burned, he tends to burn several defenders on the next play. Rose just needs to recognize that he cannot take plays off on defense if he wants to be recognized as the NBA top player.Rose potential was never more visible than in a loss to the Lakers at the Staples Center. After a game in which Rose was unstoppable, an upset Rose was taken aside by Kobe Bryant. Bryant whispered something into Derrick Rose ear, and one can only speculate that he was saying, Oakland Raiders jersey
Derrick, don worry. In two years, this is your league.Of course, it's stillKobe, andhe probably added, But for now it still my league.Even though Durant has been anointed the successor to Kobe and LeBron, there is no set line of succession to determine who the NBA best player is. Kevin Durant lacks the explosiveness that will be needed more and more in the coming years of the NBA. Derrick Rose isjust as explosive as LeBron James, just in a smaller package. While James can lay out defenders on the way to the rim thanks to a six foot eight frame, Derrick Rose can maneuver between three players mid-air while taking the ball to the basket.Durant relies too much on the line. His most explosive move is hooking his elbow under a defender outstretched arm and going up with the ball to draw a foul even though he has created no shot. That is the key difference between Durant and Rose;Durant cannot create shots likeRose. His deadly aim creates shots thanks to the dynamic qualities of Westbrook, but Rose currently averages higher field goal percentages from the floor, and the three point line,than Durant this year. If Durant wants any hope of being as good as Rose, he will need to get strong like Rose. Once Rose starts getting superstar calls, his lack of talent at drawing fouls will be marginalized. Rose is so athletic that he completes drives that he is fouled on, while making it look like he has not been touched.Based on the improvement Derrick Rose has shown in his game this year, it is safe to assume he is one of the hardest working players in the NBA. If he continues to uphold that work ethic, he will become the best player in the league. Derrick Rose is developing a dependable three, and opponents should be wary of the day he becomes deadly from beyond the arc. Once this happens, we will no longer judge him based on his peers, but instead by how many rings he has won.Of course, Rose best characteristic has not even been mentioned yet. He is a born winner. He won Philadelphia Eagles jersey
two state championships in high school,and he was robbed of the NCAA Championship in his lone collegiate year by a coaching blunder that allowed Kansas to shoot a three, when they should have simply been fouled. In two NBA seasons, Rose has piloted a mediocre Bulls teams to the playoffs. Now they are good, and if Omer Asik can become a reliable member of the rotation in crunch time, the Bulls could win the NBA Finals this year. Crazier things have happened.
probably pulling their hair out right now, but Kevin Durant is less dimensional and athletic than Derrick Rose. In fact, Durant will be the second best player on the Thunder in a few years. Russell Westbrook is the only rising star who poses a legitimate threat to Rose becoming the best player in the NBA, and he is lagging way behind Rose emerging perimeter game.Derrick Rose contributions cannot be measured by stats alone, however impressive they may be. Derrick Rose is a field general who can lead the Bulls to a 130-128 overtime victory one night, and allow the Bulls to squeak by in a low scoring gamethe next. The only real knock on Rose is his lack of defense; however, if his perimeter shooting continues to improve, he could go for 35 points per game. That's right, Derrick Rose could flirt with statistics only Kobe and Michael have achieved recently.Rose has the potential to play defense as well as anybody. Up until this point, he has never needed to. On the defensive end, Derrick sometimes looks like he is out of position, but when he does get burned, he tends to burn several defenders on the next play. Rose just needs to recognize that he cannot take plays off on defense if he wants to be recognized as the NBA top player.Rose potential was never more visible than in a loss to the Lakers at the Staples Center. After a game in which Rose was unstoppable, an upset Rose was taken aside by Kobe Bryant. Bryant whispered something into Derrick Rose ear, and one can only speculate that he was saying, Oakland Raiders jersey
Derrick, don worry. In two years, this is your league.Of course, it's stillKobe, andhe probably added, But for now it still my league.Even though Durant has been anointed the successor to Kobe and LeBron, there is no set line of succession to determine who the NBA best player is. Kevin Durant lacks the explosiveness that will be needed more and more in the coming years of the NBA. Derrick Rose isjust as explosive as LeBron James, just in a smaller package. While James can lay out defenders on the way to the rim thanks to a six foot eight frame, Derrick Rose can maneuver between three players mid-air while taking the ball to the basket.Durant relies too much on the line. His most explosive move is hooking his elbow under a defender outstretched arm and going up with the ball to draw a foul even though he has created no shot. That is the key difference between Durant and Rose;Durant cannot create shots likeRose. His deadly aim creates shots thanks to the dynamic qualities of Westbrook, but Rose currently averages higher field goal percentages from the floor, and the three point line,than Durant this year. If Durant wants any hope of being as good as Rose, he will need to get strong like Rose. Once Rose starts getting superstar calls, his lack of talent at drawing fouls will be marginalized. Rose is so athletic that he completes drives that he is fouled on, while making it look like he has not been touched.Based on the improvement Derrick Rose has shown in his game this year, it is safe to assume he is one of the hardest working players in the NBA. If he continues to uphold that work ethic, he will become the best player in the league. Derrick Rose is developing a dependable three, and opponents should be wary of the day he becomes deadly from beyond the arc. Once this happens, we will no longer judge him based on his peers, but instead by how many rings he has won.Of course, Rose best characteristic has not even been mentioned yet. He is a born winner. He won Philadelphia Eagles jersey
two state championships in high school,and he was robbed of the NCAA Championship in his lone collegiate year by a coaching blunder that allowed Kansas to shoot a three, when they should have simply been fouled. In two NBA seasons, Rose has piloted a mediocre Bulls teams to the playoffs. Now they are good, and if Omer Asik can become a reliable member of the rotation in crunch time, the Bulls could win the NBA Finals this year. Crazier things have happened.
2010年12月24日星期五
24 Dec 10 The Chicago Bulls 5th Pre-Season Game: An Analysis
Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesThe Chicago Bulls lost for the third time in five preseason games 109-105 in their rematch with the Dallas Mavericks in overtime. Many factors worked against the Bulls including not having either of their natural power forwards in the game (both Carlos Boozer and Taj Seattle Seahawks jersey
Gibson did not play due to injuries). However, the contest marked bit of a regression for the Bulls. It also exposed some of the Bulls persistent issues that are magnified by their hole at the power forward position.The Bulls were surprised early in the game by the Maverick’s zone defense. It created a lot of shooting difficulty for Chicago who persistently tried to drill the ball in the paint, a part of the game they have experimented with having Joakim Noah playing power forward. Adjustment to the zone defense came quickly but disappeared just as quick in the second half. In addition, the Bulls were still vulnerable to cutting Mavericks players who ran behind the Bulls defense on hard cuts to the rim. Throughout the game, Dallas often beat Bulls defenders while driving the corners. The Bulls were initially able to build a sizable lead, primarily because the Mavericks underestimated the Bulls perimeter shooting. But late in the first half the Maverick’s closed the gap with Bulls bench on the floor. Again, Chicago’s attempts at feeding the ball in the paint became somewhat predictable and led to many careless passes to anticipating Maverick players. For a large part of the second half, the Bulls did not push the ball up the court which had worked well for them early and after starting with good ball movement; it slowed in the middle of the game. The Bulls also could not capitalize on Dallas mistakes including multiple illegal defenses. Chicago seemed to be standing around more in the second quarter looking for plays to come to them instead of making it happened, a result of not using their driving ability to attack the basket. Their offensive sets looked much more tentative after the first quarter. It seemed as though once the Dallas zone St. Louis Rams jersey
defense shut down the Bulls ability to feed it inside, they could have used Derrick Rose and James Johnson or even Ronnie Brewer to break down the Mavericks by slashing to the basket. That may have limited errant passes and perhaps put Bulls players on the foul line more often. Dirk Nowitzki was able to capitalize on the Bulls weakness at the power forward position and got plenty of assistance from the referees, one of which led to yet another dubious technical on the Bulls in the past two games this time on Coach Tom Thibodeau. After the Bulls struggled to score, Thibodeau made an interesting move putting Brewer, Rose, and Keith Bogans on the floor which seemed to suggest deference to defense in an effort to stop the Mavericks scoring. The Bulls did finish very strong and their defense had more energy later in the game.Chicago did a tremendous job in hitting perimeter three point shots especially in the first half. That was supposedly a weakness for the team going into the season. If they can consistently hit from the outside as they demonstrated against the Mavericks, they should be considered one of the elite three point shooting teams in the league. The three point threat has been shown significantly by Keith Bogans, Kyle Korver, and Luol Deng; with C.J. Watson and James Johnson providing a better than decent effectiveness from beyond the arch; and Derrick Rose now being more consistent and confident with his shot. During the beginning and the end of the game, the Bulls showed good momentum. Their speed off the ball was effective. On defense the Bulls showed good hands pursuing the ball and making a number of steals. They were also effective driving to the rim the few opportunities they took which may have tilted the game in their favor if they utilized their slashers more often.Individually the Bulls had mixed results. Derrick Rose shined hitting a three point shot to send the game into overtime. He had his almost now customary dramatic fast breaks especially a lightning quick burst in the first quarter for a layup. Luol Deng was equally as effective both from the three point line and the moderate number of times he drove the ball. He was 5-for-7 from behind the arc. Deng had a monster outing hitting beyond the arch. Both Rose and Deng scored 23 pointsOmer Asik is becoming a more potent weapon for the Bulls in the paint and showed particular strength off of a feed for a successful layup. In addition, another area that was Tennessee Titans jersey
considered a weakness for the Bulls, Asiks free throws, is looking less like a liability. Asik had a nice block in the first quarter which was unfortunately stolen back and ended in a three point play, however it demonstrated that Asik is pretty good at picking off passes and lobs. He finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 21 minutes of action. James Johnson provided contributions to the Bulls in a number of ways in limited minutes including a great toss to Rose who elevated and slammed the ball. In addition, Johnson took a timely charge towards the end of the game. His effectiveness when pushing the ball to the basket during overtime suggests that he should have been driving more often and drawing fouls. Johnson finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds. Noah again had a strong game and showed nice footwork. For the second straight contest he played heavy minutes (35). Bogans continued to be a three point mercenary with two connects in the game but that was on 6 attempts. Brewer’s athleticism was good and he also should have been allowed to try to get to the basket more often. His defense was also strong with him picking off a pass ball for a steal just as he entered the game. Kyle Korver had an off night missing several shots including a free throw on a technical foul. C.J Watson also had a terrible shooting night going 2-for-13. Brian Scalabrini seemed to be having problems handling the ball.Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesWhile the Bulls can point to numerous reasons why they lost the game one of the more frustrating must be the terrible officiating by the referees. There were a considerable amount of fouls called or not called which affected the outcome more than it should have. That included a no-call on Jason Kidd for obviously fouling Derrick Rose on a break; another obvious no-call late in the second quarter again involving Rose; what should have been a flagrant on Dirk Nowitzki on a breaking C.J. Watson, and a no foul call on Dallas Maverick Ian Mahinmi off of a blatant push off. Unfortunately the game of basketball is a competition where excuses don’t matter and bad calls must be endured. For the Bulls, this latest outing should be a wakeup call to remind them what it takes to Washington Redskins jersey
close out games. The Dallas Mavericks are arguably one of three best teams in the Western conference and the Bulls appeared to be competitive in a game that clearly both teams were somewhat focused on winning. But the Bulls were exposed for some of their enduring weak spots and must make adjustments in order to compete at the highest levels and reach the potential that they continue to show. For the game, I would grade the Bulls defense an B, and the offense a B-, coaching an A- and the team overall a B
Gibson did not play due to injuries). However, the contest marked bit of a regression for the Bulls. It also exposed some of the Bulls persistent issues that are magnified by their hole at the power forward position.The Bulls were surprised early in the game by the Maverick’s zone defense. It created a lot of shooting difficulty for Chicago who persistently tried to drill the ball in the paint, a part of the game they have experimented with having Joakim Noah playing power forward. Adjustment to the zone defense came quickly but disappeared just as quick in the second half. In addition, the Bulls were still vulnerable to cutting Mavericks players who ran behind the Bulls defense on hard cuts to the rim. Throughout the game, Dallas often beat Bulls defenders while driving the corners. The Bulls were initially able to build a sizable lead, primarily because the Mavericks underestimated the Bulls perimeter shooting. But late in the first half the Maverick’s closed the gap with Bulls bench on the floor. Again, Chicago’s attempts at feeding the ball in the paint became somewhat predictable and led to many careless passes to anticipating Maverick players. For a large part of the second half, the Bulls did not push the ball up the court which had worked well for them early and after starting with good ball movement; it slowed in the middle of the game. The Bulls also could not capitalize on Dallas mistakes including multiple illegal defenses. Chicago seemed to be standing around more in the second quarter looking for plays to come to them instead of making it happened, a result of not using their driving ability to attack the basket. Their offensive sets looked much more tentative after the first quarter. It seemed as though once the Dallas zone St. Louis Rams jersey
defense shut down the Bulls ability to feed it inside, they could have used Derrick Rose and James Johnson or even Ronnie Brewer to break down the Mavericks by slashing to the basket. That may have limited errant passes and perhaps put Bulls players on the foul line more often. Dirk Nowitzki was able to capitalize on the Bulls weakness at the power forward position and got plenty of assistance from the referees, one of which led to yet another dubious technical on the Bulls in the past two games this time on Coach Tom Thibodeau. After the Bulls struggled to score, Thibodeau made an interesting move putting Brewer, Rose, and Keith Bogans on the floor which seemed to suggest deference to defense in an effort to stop the Mavericks scoring. The Bulls did finish very strong and their defense had more energy later in the game.Chicago did a tremendous job in hitting perimeter three point shots especially in the first half. That was supposedly a weakness for the team going into the season. If they can consistently hit from the outside as they demonstrated against the Mavericks, they should be considered one of the elite three point shooting teams in the league. The three point threat has been shown significantly by Keith Bogans, Kyle Korver, and Luol Deng; with C.J. Watson and James Johnson providing a better than decent effectiveness from beyond the arch; and Derrick Rose now being more consistent and confident with his shot. During the beginning and the end of the game, the Bulls showed good momentum. Their speed off the ball was effective. On defense the Bulls showed good hands pursuing the ball and making a number of steals. They were also effective driving to the rim the few opportunities they took which may have tilted the game in their favor if they utilized their slashers more often.Individually the Bulls had mixed results. Derrick Rose shined hitting a three point shot to send the game into overtime. He had his almost now customary dramatic fast breaks especially a lightning quick burst in the first quarter for a layup. Luol Deng was equally as effective both from the three point line and the moderate number of times he drove the ball. He was 5-for-7 from behind the arc. Deng had a monster outing hitting beyond the arch. Both Rose and Deng scored 23 pointsOmer Asik is becoming a more potent weapon for the Bulls in the paint and showed particular strength off of a feed for a successful layup. In addition, another area that was Tennessee Titans jersey
considered a weakness for the Bulls, Asiks free throws, is looking less like a liability. Asik had a nice block in the first quarter which was unfortunately stolen back and ended in a three point play, however it demonstrated that Asik is pretty good at picking off passes and lobs. He finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 21 minutes of action. James Johnson provided contributions to the Bulls in a number of ways in limited minutes including a great toss to Rose who elevated and slammed the ball. In addition, Johnson took a timely charge towards the end of the game. His effectiveness when pushing the ball to the basket during overtime suggests that he should have been driving more often and drawing fouls. Johnson finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds. Noah again had a strong game and showed nice footwork. For the second straight contest he played heavy minutes (35). Bogans continued to be a three point mercenary with two connects in the game but that was on 6 attempts. Brewer’s athleticism was good and he also should have been allowed to try to get to the basket more often. His defense was also strong with him picking off a pass ball for a steal just as he entered the game. Kyle Korver had an off night missing several shots including a free throw on a technical foul. C.J Watson also had a terrible shooting night going 2-for-13. Brian Scalabrini seemed to be having problems handling the ball.Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesWhile the Bulls can point to numerous reasons why they lost the game one of the more frustrating must be the terrible officiating by the referees. There were a considerable amount of fouls called or not called which affected the outcome more than it should have. That included a no-call on Jason Kidd for obviously fouling Derrick Rose on a break; another obvious no-call late in the second quarter again involving Rose; what should have been a flagrant on Dirk Nowitzki on a breaking C.J. Watson, and a no foul call on Dallas Maverick Ian Mahinmi off of a blatant push off. Unfortunately the game of basketball is a competition where excuses don’t matter and bad calls must be endured. For the Bulls, this latest outing should be a wakeup call to remind them what it takes to Washington Redskins jersey
close out games. The Dallas Mavericks are arguably one of three best teams in the Western conference and the Bulls appeared to be competitive in a game that clearly both teams were somewhat focused on winning. But the Bulls were exposed for some of their enduring weak spots and must make adjustments in order to compete at the highest levels and reach the potential that they continue to show. For the game, I would grade the Bulls defense an B, and the offense a B-, coaching an A- and the team overall a B
2010年12月23日星期四
23 Dec 10Toronto Raptors Acquire Peja Stojakovic and Bayless for Jack, Spare Parts
The Toronto Raptors have made a move for their future in acquiring Jerryd Bayless from the Hornets.Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesBryan Colangelo has done it again.Yes, I know some of us are still lamenting over the Michael Beasley debacle, but he was a potential locker room cancer, so lets all move onReebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
.Bryan Colangelo proved he has still got ‘it’ by acquiring a massive $14 million dollar expiring deal and our potential point guard of the future.The Toronto Raptors acquired Jerryd Bayless and Peja Stojakovic for Jarrett Jack, Marcus Banks, a trade exception and David Andersen.It was too quiet in Raptor land to begin the season with not even a rumour being bandied about, which led one to reason that Bryan Colangelo must be working on something big. This deal is big indeed.Now while there are conflicting reports on whether or not Bryan Colangelo acquired Peja merely as a trade asset to utilize at this year's deadline, as a massive expiring deal they would let come off the books this summer, or as someone he wants Jay Triano to use in his rotation.We are hoping he plans to use him as a trade asset to help expedite our rebuilding process.But Peja is not what or who this deal was about.This deal was all about Jerryd Bayless and his outstanding potential.Jerryd Bayless has the potential to be our Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
point guard of the future and possesses excellent quickness and is an excellent scorer.He is a fearless slasher in the Monta Ellis mold and is someone who has a unique ability to draw contact time and time again when he gets in the paint. He is the type of point guard we have been waiting and clamoring for and I for one could not be happier about this deal.Toronto Raptors fans are going to be pleasantly surprised.Our Full Trade Analysis. This article can also be found at Raptors Digest.
.Bryan Colangelo proved he has still got ‘it’ by acquiring a massive $14 million dollar expiring deal and our potential point guard of the future.The Toronto Raptors acquired Jerryd Bayless and Peja Stojakovic for Jarrett Jack, Marcus Banks, a trade exception and David Andersen.It was too quiet in Raptor land to begin the season with not even a rumour being bandied about, which led one to reason that Bryan Colangelo must be working on something big. This deal is big indeed.Now while there are conflicting reports on whether or not Bryan Colangelo acquired Peja merely as a trade asset to utilize at this year's deadline, as a massive expiring deal they would let come off the books this summer, or as someone he wants Jay Triano to use in his rotation.We are hoping he plans to use him as a trade asset to help expedite our rebuilding process.But Peja is not what or who this deal was about.This deal was all about Jerryd Bayless and his outstanding potential.Jerryd Bayless has the potential to be our Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
point guard of the future and possesses excellent quickness and is an excellent scorer.He is a fearless slasher in the Monta Ellis mold and is someone who has a unique ability to draw contact time and time again when he gets in the paint. He is the type of point guard we have been waiting and clamoring for and I for one could not be happier about this deal.Toronto Raptors fans are going to be pleasantly surprised.Our Full Trade Analysis. This article can also be found at Raptors Digest.
2010年12月22日星期三
AI could thrive with LeBron and Stoudemire
And the Knicks would instantly be the most dangerous team in the league.But even if the Knicks don't land LeBron, AI could still sign for the veteran's minimum, score 25 a night, get the Knicks into the playoffs, and set up a potential reunion with Carmelo Anthony in New York after next season.Top 5 teams that AI could play sixth man for:5.)San Antonio Spurs: AI would be able to get his 30 mpg on the Spurs, with Ginobili being the starter. Coach Popovich would be able to control Iverson and for once, with Tim Duncan on the team, Iverson would have a Green Bay Packers jersey
player that has done more than him on the team.AI could be instant offense off the bench and could give the Spurs plenty of firepower.4.)Los Angeles Clippers: AI could play 30 mpg off the bench at either the point or two guard spot for the Clippers.Now that Blake Griffin is ready to play, the Clippers could do some big things in the Western Conference. Iverson would be instant offense, and if the Clippers play freelance he could give them 20 points any night.Eric Gordon would learn a lot from Iverson, and if the Clippers land LeBron AI would have a chance at a ring with this team.3.)Orlando Magic: Although AI could probably start for this team, if he came off the bench and was set free he could give the Magic a lot of points. He could also help close games out, giving the Magic the go-to-guy and scorer they thought they had in Vince Carter.It would be Iverson's best chance to win a ring, and he would be respected by this organization. If Vince Carter is shipped out, he could even start.2.)Dallas Mavericks: If there is one gHouston Texans jersey
uy that has the guts to sign Iverson, it is Mark Cuban.Iverson could be the sixth man on this team or even a starter. But if the Mavs move Jason Terry into the starting lineup and bring Iverson off the bench for 30 mpg, he could really help.The Mavs have so many options that all Iverson would have to concentrate on is scoring. AI could give the Mavs 18 points off the bench and be a player that can take over in the playoffs. With Iverson in the fold, maybe the days of choking in Dallas would be over.1.)Los Angeles Lakers: If AI wants a ring, LA should be his top choice.Again, he would have a guy on his team that has accomplished more (Kobe), a coach that can control him (Phil Jackson), and he would get 30 mpg off the bench behind Derek Fisher.Phil Jackson has shown he trusts his bench a lot, and that was when it featured guys like Josh Powell and Jordan Farmar. Imagine if Iverson was coming off the bench for the Lakers, giving them 18-20 points a night.Farmar and Brown are expected to leave, and if Fisher re-signs than AI could be the sixth man, or seventh alongside Lamar Odom. This would be his best chance to win a title and Phil Jackson would never treat a former MVP, and one of the greatest players in league history, the way some of his coaches have lately. Indianapolis Colts jersey
Iverson helped himself immensely by making this statement on Twitter. He opened up a lot of opportunities for himself, and a number of teams could give him a look.AI has done it all in the league and is one of the greatest players ever. So if a scrub like Chris Duhon can sign a four year deal for $15 million with the Magic, I am pretty sure Iverson will get on a team by the end of this free agency period.It will be an interesting couple of months as we wait to see where Iverson lands. Hopefully it has a better ending than the last time Iverson was looking for a new home.
player that has done more than him on the team.AI could be instant offense off the bench and could give the Spurs plenty of firepower.4.)Los Angeles Clippers: AI could play 30 mpg off the bench at either the point or two guard spot for the Clippers.Now that Blake Griffin is ready to play, the Clippers could do some big things in the Western Conference. Iverson would be instant offense, and if the Clippers play freelance he could give them 20 points any night.Eric Gordon would learn a lot from Iverson, and if the Clippers land LeBron AI would have a chance at a ring with this team.3.)Orlando Magic: Although AI could probably start for this team, if he came off the bench and was set free he could give the Magic a lot of points. He could also help close games out, giving the Magic the go-to-guy and scorer they thought they had in Vince Carter.It would be Iverson's best chance to win a ring, and he would be respected by this organization. If Vince Carter is shipped out, he could even start.2.)Dallas Mavericks: If there is one gHouston Texans jersey
uy that has the guts to sign Iverson, it is Mark Cuban.Iverson could be the sixth man on this team or even a starter. But if the Mavs move Jason Terry into the starting lineup and bring Iverson off the bench for 30 mpg, he could really help.The Mavs have so many options that all Iverson would have to concentrate on is scoring. AI could give the Mavs 18 points off the bench and be a player that can take over in the playoffs. With Iverson in the fold, maybe the days of choking in Dallas would be over.1.)Los Angeles Lakers: If AI wants a ring, LA should be his top choice.Again, he would have a guy on his team that has accomplished more (Kobe), a coach that can control him (Phil Jackson), and he would get 30 mpg off the bench behind Derek Fisher.Phil Jackson has shown he trusts his bench a lot, and that was when it featured guys like Josh Powell and Jordan Farmar. Imagine if Iverson was coming off the bench for the Lakers, giving them 18-20 points a night.Farmar and Brown are expected to leave, and if Fisher re-signs than AI could be the sixth man, or seventh alongside Lamar Odom. This would be his best chance to win a title and Phil Jackson would never treat a former MVP, and one of the greatest players in league history, the way some of his coaches have lately. Indianapolis Colts jersey
Iverson helped himself immensely by making this statement on Twitter. He opened up a lot of opportunities for himself, and a number of teams could give him a look.AI has done it all in the league and is one of the greatest players ever. So if a scrub like Chris Duhon can sign a four year deal for $15 million with the Magic, I am pretty sure Iverson will get on a team by the end of this free agency period.It will be an interesting couple of months as we wait to see where Iverson lands. Hopefully it has a better ending than the last time Iverson was looking for a new home.
2010年12月21日星期二
Cliff Lee: Is It Possible That He Doesn't Care About Money?
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesThe title is not a joke. According to reports, the Cliff Lee sweepstakes are over. Cliff Lee has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for a five-year, $100 million contract. Yes, that's an expensive contract, but I am willing to bet Lee is worth every penny. For a player of his caliber to get $20 million a year is fair value, not the overpriced value that the Yankees give players.What's so amazing is that the Texas Rangers offered him at least $20 million per year and for six years with a possibility of seven years. The Yankees are rumoured to offer seven years for New York Giants jersey
at least $20 million per year. This means Cliff Lee has foregone at least $40 million. And for what? A championship.I am one who is extremely vocal that the spending in the MLB has gotten out of control. Where one team gets to spend more on one player than an entire team sometimes. But Lee decided to not accept these mega deals. He decided to be a winner. I thought he was one of those people who only cared about getting paid. Not that there's anything wrong with that (athletes have a short career so I don't know why people criticize them for following the cash), but I truly admire and respect Lee for taking less money to win.People are gonna come out and call him an idiot. They are going to say he could have won with the Yankees and gotten more money. To those I simply say one thing: stop letting your loyalty to the Yankees cloud your judgement.Does this move make the Phillies favourites to win the World Series?Does this move make the Phillies favourites to win the World Series?Yes93.1%No6.9%Total votes: 58Seriously, there is no way the Yankees are as good as the Philadelphia Phillies. Yes, the Phillies won a couple years ago, so what did they do? They restocked their starting rotation while all the Yankees could do is watch in awe. Seriously, the bluff with Crawford? What the hell was New York Jets jersey
the point? You should have been wining and dining Lee. In the meantime, the Phillies may have become a dynasty.Now, people won't believe me. To them, I simply respond: have you seen their starting rotation? I'm terrified of it. First, you have Roy Halladay, the best pitcher in the NL and in my opinion the entire league. Then you have Cliff Lee, a true terror in the playoffs. And finally, you have Roy Oswalt, an ace in his own right. You have these three players—add in Hamels and you have the best rotation for the playoffs, possibly in the history of the sport.The Red Sox may have created the best offense in baseball by acquiring Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. But remember the Yankees have been down that road before. They spent 10 years stockpiling brilliant hitters, and while they always had the highest budget in baseball they could not win a championship.The Red Sox have committed to their offense with solid pitching, the Phillies on the other hand have pitching set, and their offense is no slouch either. Ask me who the World Series favorites are Oakland Raiders jersey
now, and I say this move puts the Phillies over the top.As for Lee, if I said it once, I'll say it again: He is truly a unique player in this day and age. He chose to win over the almighty dollar. People kill for money—it can corrupt even the best of people. If he had taken the most money, nobody would've blamed him. But by choosing the Phillies, he has helped create a dynasty. Thank you.
at least $20 million per year. This means Cliff Lee has foregone at least $40 million. And for what? A championship.I am one who is extremely vocal that the spending in the MLB has gotten out of control. Where one team gets to spend more on one player than an entire team sometimes. But Lee decided to not accept these mega deals. He decided to be a winner. I thought he was one of those people who only cared about getting paid. Not that there's anything wrong with that (athletes have a short career so I don't know why people criticize them for following the cash), but I truly admire and respect Lee for taking less money to win.People are gonna come out and call him an idiot. They are going to say he could have won with the Yankees and gotten more money. To those I simply say one thing: stop letting your loyalty to the Yankees cloud your judgement.Does this move make the Phillies favourites to win the World Series?Does this move make the Phillies favourites to win the World Series?Yes93.1%No6.9%Total votes: 58Seriously, there is no way the Yankees are as good as the Philadelphia Phillies. Yes, the Phillies won a couple years ago, so what did they do? They restocked their starting rotation while all the Yankees could do is watch in awe. Seriously, the bluff with Crawford? What the hell was New York Jets jersey
the point? You should have been wining and dining Lee. In the meantime, the Phillies may have become a dynasty.Now, people won't believe me. To them, I simply respond: have you seen their starting rotation? I'm terrified of it. First, you have Roy Halladay, the best pitcher in the NL and in my opinion the entire league. Then you have Cliff Lee, a true terror in the playoffs. And finally, you have Roy Oswalt, an ace in his own right. You have these three players—add in Hamels and you have the best rotation for the playoffs, possibly in the history of the sport.The Red Sox may have created the best offense in baseball by acquiring Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. But remember the Yankees have been down that road before. They spent 10 years stockpiling brilliant hitters, and while they always had the highest budget in baseball they could not win a championship.The Red Sox have committed to their offense with solid pitching, the Phillies on the other hand have pitching set, and their offense is no slouch either. Ask me who the World Series favorites are Oakland Raiders jersey
now, and I say this move puts the Phillies over the top.As for Lee, if I said it once, I'll say it again: He is truly a unique player in this day and age. He chose to win over the almighty dollar. People kill for money—it can corrupt even the best of people. If he had taken the most money, nobody would've blamed him. But by choosing the Phillies, he has helped create a dynasty. Thank you.
2010年12月19日星期日
20 Dec 10 Philadelphia Eagles: Could Philly Bring Back a Familiar Face at Safety?
With Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid revealing that rookie safety Nate Allen will "struggle" to play this Monday against the Washington Redskins, the team is likely to start considering a safety to bring in for a week or two.As it stands, the team has only two healthy safeties on Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
the roster in strong safety Quintin Mikell and rookie Kurt Coleman, who stepped in for Allen after he was injured against the Colts.Coleman played well and will get the start this week, but the team will need more than two healthy safeties.The original plan was for Dimitri Patterson to kick back to safety, but he'll be starting in place of the injured Ellis Hobbs. Rookie linebacker Keenan Clayton played safety for two years at Oklahoma, but he has seen minimal snaps this season and likely isn't ready to step in if such a situation should arise.The team also has safety/cornerback Jamar Wall on the practice squad but, like Clayton, it's doubtful the team would trust him to fill in.So, with the guys on the roster ruled out, the next step is the free-agent pool. While it's a fairly thin market, it is worth noting that there are two familiar faces still floating around in NFL purgatory—Quintin Demps and Macho Harris.Demps and Harris both got the axe for essentially the same reasons. They played soft, showed almost no signs of improvement and the team had more pressing needs to address.Had the numbers been closer, it's possible one or both would have stuck around simply for depth, but it would have required going thin on either line (which Reid would never do) or parting ways with one of the team's young linebackers.It didn't take a lot of evaluation to see parting ways with Demps and Harris was the way to go.But now that the team is in desperate need of depth, it would make sense that Demps or Harris would get the call. Both guys know the defense, both have seen a lot of time in Sean McDermott's scheme and as backups looking to get maybe 10-12 snaps it would make sense to bring in a guy who already knows what he's doing.IfReebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
they bring in anyone else, it would mean cramming them with the scheme and hoping they pick it up in time. With Demps or Harris, that's a step they can skip entirely.So, if the choice comes down to Demps or Harris, who do they take?For my money, it's probably Harris. Demps is a guy who plays far too recklessly, gets himself wildly out of position, and seems to think he's more of a playmaker than he really is.With Harris, the biggest gripe was that he just had no interest in tackling. I'm not sure if he thought he was too good to tackle or if he was scared or if he just couldn't do it, but bringing down a ball-carrier was certainly not his strong suit.If it's either of the first two reasons, perhaps sitting at home for half the season has humbled him enough to the point that he'll be excited for the opportunity to tackle someone.In addition to being able to play safety, Harris could step in at corner in a pinch. Because let's not forget, the team is also thin there as well.Patterson and Asante Samuel are the starters with Joselio Hanson in the nickel, but with Hobbs injured the only reserve corners are rookie Trevard Lindley and Jorrick Calvin. Lindley has seen some time but is still very much in the developmental stage, and Calvin is about 99 percent special teams player and one percent corner.I'm not even sure Calvin has seen any reps at corner in practice, much less in a game.Of course, if the Eagles bring in a corner until Hobbs is healthy, Harris' versatility just becomes an added bonus for the team to keep in their back Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
pocket for a week or so.There's no guarantee the team will bring anyone in while Allen gets himself healthy, but if they should choose to do so, Demps or (preferably) Harris, are the only choices that make sense.UPDATE: According NBC-KECI in Montana (yeah, Montana) the Eagles are prepared to sign safety Colt Anderson off the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. He will take the spot of the recently-waived Joique Bell on the Eagles 53-man roster.The team also worked out free-agent defensive back Cary Harris. Absent from the workouts were Demps or Macho.This article is also featured on2 Minutes to Midnight Green
the roster in strong safety Quintin Mikell and rookie Kurt Coleman, who stepped in for Allen after he was injured against the Colts.Coleman played well and will get the start this week, but the team will need more than two healthy safeties.The original plan was for Dimitri Patterson to kick back to safety, but he'll be starting in place of the injured Ellis Hobbs. Rookie linebacker Keenan Clayton played safety for two years at Oklahoma, but he has seen minimal snaps this season and likely isn't ready to step in if such a situation should arise.The team also has safety/cornerback Jamar Wall on the practice squad but, like Clayton, it's doubtful the team would trust him to fill in.So, with the guys on the roster ruled out, the next step is the free-agent pool. While it's a fairly thin market, it is worth noting that there are two familiar faces still floating around in NFL purgatory—Quintin Demps and Macho Harris.Demps and Harris both got the axe for essentially the same reasons. They played soft, showed almost no signs of improvement and the team had more pressing needs to address.Had the numbers been closer, it's possible one or both would have stuck around simply for depth, but it would have required going thin on either line (which Reid would never do) or parting ways with one of the team's young linebackers.It didn't take a lot of evaluation to see parting ways with Demps and Harris was the way to go.But now that the team is in desperate need of depth, it would make sense that Demps or Harris would get the call. Both guys know the defense, both have seen a lot of time in Sean McDermott's scheme and as backups looking to get maybe 10-12 snaps it would make sense to bring in a guy who already knows what he's doing.IfReebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
they bring in anyone else, it would mean cramming them with the scheme and hoping they pick it up in time. With Demps or Harris, that's a step they can skip entirely.So, if the choice comes down to Demps or Harris, who do they take?For my money, it's probably Harris. Demps is a guy who plays far too recklessly, gets himself wildly out of position, and seems to think he's more of a playmaker than he really is.With Harris, the biggest gripe was that he just had no interest in tackling. I'm not sure if he thought he was too good to tackle or if he was scared or if he just couldn't do it, but bringing down a ball-carrier was certainly not his strong suit.If it's either of the first two reasons, perhaps sitting at home for half the season has humbled him enough to the point that he'll be excited for the opportunity to tackle someone.In addition to being able to play safety, Harris could step in at corner in a pinch. Because let's not forget, the team is also thin there as well.Patterson and Asante Samuel are the starters with Joselio Hanson in the nickel, but with Hobbs injured the only reserve corners are rookie Trevard Lindley and Jorrick Calvin. Lindley has seen some time but is still very much in the developmental stage, and Calvin is about 99 percent special teams player and one percent corner.I'm not even sure Calvin has seen any reps at corner in practice, much less in a game.Of course, if the Eagles bring in a corner until Hobbs is healthy, Harris' versatility just becomes an added bonus for the team to keep in their back Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
pocket for a week or so.There's no guarantee the team will bring anyone in while Allen gets himself healthy, but if they should choose to do so, Demps or (preferably) Harris, are the only choices that make sense.UPDATE: According NBC-KECI in Montana (yeah, Montana) the Eagles are prepared to sign safety Colt Anderson off the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. He will take the spot of the recently-waived Joique Bell on the Eagles 53-man roster.The team also worked out free-agent defensive back Cary Harris. Absent from the workouts were Demps or Macho.This article is also featured on2 Minutes to Midnight Green
19 Dec 10 NFL Week 11 Power Rankings: Michael Vick Helps Philadelphia Eagles Soar to Top 5
The Patriots light up the scoreboard with 39 against the SteelersChris McGrath/Getty ImagesIt seems as if the NFL gets crazier by the week. Week 10 signified the beginning of the weekly Thursday night game, and it started the week with a bang as Matt Ryan led the Falcons on an 80-yard touchdown drive in the final minute of the game to move Atlanta into first place in the NFC South. The rest of the weekend didn’t disappoint either as the Bills became the final team to get their first win of the season. The Jets and Browns came within 16 seconds of Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
giving us our first tie in three seasons, and the Jaguars’ prayers were answered. In other prime-time games, the Patriots laid the smack down on the No. 1 overall defense in the NFL, and the Falcons were ahead of Washington 35-0 just one play into the second quarter. It was another wild and wacky week in the NFL, and once again the top-ranked team took a tumble. Here are the rankings, as we look toward Week 11.Teams’ previous ranking in ( ).1. New England Patriots (5): Put up 39 points against arguably the best defense in the league—and did it without a strong running game and after trading Randy Moss—and you might find yourself No. 1 in the Rankings. 2. Atlanta Falcons (4): The defense played well enough against Baltimore to get the Falcons their seventh win. They are becoming a NFC favorite to make the Super Bowl.Vick made history Monday Night with over 300 passing yards and 4 TDs and over 80 rushing yards and 2 TDsChris McGrath/Getty Images3. Pittsburgh Steelers (2): Ugly performance by the Steelers D on Sunday Night Football. Don’t expect them to play that poorly again the rest of the season.4. Philadelphia Eagles (9): Say what you will about Michael Vick and his past. Considering what he has put behind him, he is playing some incredible football. Props to you, Mr. Vick for your hard work and dedication to return to the NFL after paying your debt to society. If he stays healthy, this just might be the Eagles' year to win a Super Bowl.5. Baltimore Ravens (3): Starting to lose ground in the AFC but still a top contender with an offense that can erupt at any time.6. New Orleans Saints (6): Reggie Bush is expected to return this week, and with the Saints finally getting their offense going, they could find themselves back at No. 1 in a matter of weeks.7. Green Bay Packers (7): A much-needed bye in Week 10. They look to sweep the Vikings and move to 7-3 on the season.Who is the best team in the NFC?Who is the best team in the NFC?Eagles54.2%Giants5.4%Saints5.7%Packers12.4%Bears5.4%Falcons14.4%other2.7%Total votes: 2998. New York Giants (1): The Giants were humbled by Jon Kitna and the 1-7 Cowboys. They are still a force to be reckoned with, and their matchup next week with the Eagles will be a dog-fight (no pun intended).9. New York Jets (8): Despite the win, the Jets lose ground in the standings. True, they have won back-to-back games in overtime; however, those games came Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
against the Lions and Browns. The Jets have not looked themselves on offense lately but should still be considered an AFC Super Bowl contender.10. Indianapolis Colts (10): The Colts nearly became the answer to a trivia question as they almost lost a game in which they had five takeaways. They continue to find a way to get the job done. Classic matchup next week against the Patriots.11. Chicago Bears (11): The Bears continue to win without playing great on either side of the ball. They are keeping Jay Cutler upright however, which is huge for their playoff hopes.12. Oakland Raiders (12): With a week off to prepare for the Steelers, and the Patriots exposing some holes in that Pittsburgh D, don’t be surprised if Oakland pulls the upset this week.13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14): Another win against a bad team. Let’s see how they do this week against the 49ers—a team with a bad record but good talent.14. Tennessee Titans (13): The Moss era in Tennessee began with just one catch. The Titans lost ground in the division, but with Chris Johnson and Vince Young (if healthy), they can catch fire at any time.15. Jacksonville Jaguars (18): Christmas came early for Jacksonville as they improved to 5-4 thanks to a game-winning Hail Mary pass caught by Mike Thomas after being batted down by a Houston defender. This team’s never-say-die attitude is keeping it in the playoff hunt.16. Miami Dolphins (21): Chad Pennington:hurt. Chad Henne:hurt. Tyler Thigpen? Best third-string quarterback in the NFL. He may or may not get to play this week depending on Henne’s status, but regardless, he kept the Dolphins in the playoff chase.17. Kansas City Chiefs (15): The Chiefs put up 29 points in Denver and still got beat down by 20. The defense never showed up, but WR Dwayne Bowe has quietly been one of the best wideouts in the entire NFL this year.18. Washington Redskins (16): How do you justify a $78 million contract with that performance? For once, Terrell Owens makes a great point that I agree with. However, Donovan McNabb had nothing to do with the ‘Skins giving up 59 points on Monday Night Football. Washington’s turnaround season is beginning to look similar to last season.19. San Diego Chargers (19): The second half of the season is upon us, which means it’s time for San Diego to win a bunch of games in a row on their way to another playoff appearance.20. Houston Texans (17): Even when they play perfect defense, at least for one play, they find a way to lose. Looks like another mediocre year for the Texans.21. Seattle Seahawks (25): Mike Williams’s career has been resurrected in Seattle, and he might just lead Seattle to the playoffs.22. St. Louis Rams (20): Tough loss on the road to the 49ers, but at 4-5 if St. Louis remains right in the thick of things in the NFC West.23. Cleveland Browns (22): You just can’t say enough about Colt McCoy and the Browns right now. They hung tough with the Steelers, beat the Saints and Patriots and took the Jets to overtime. They aren’t a playoff team this year, but with a few changes in the offseason, this team could be a contender in Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
a year or two.24. Minnesota Vikings (23): The Vikings lost a pivotal game against the Bears this week and face a must-win against Green Bay in Week 11. 25. San Francisco 49ers (28): I told you they still had playoff chances when they were 1-6 and you laughed at me. They are now 3-6 and two games back in the division. If they can get a win this week against the Bucs, they will be back in the playoff conversation. Troy Smith has this team playing confident on offense.26. Denver Broncos (29): Denver started the most important part of its schedule this week in dominating fashion against the Chiefs. If the Broncos have any desire of playing football in January, they need to keep it up, as two of their next three games are against divisional foes.27. Dallas Cowboys (30): One has to wonder where Dallas might be if they made this coaching change say, a month ago? Their playoff hopes would be slim, but they would at least have hope.28. Detroit Lions (24): After looking so good on offense all season, the Lions took a step back against Buffalo. It’s time to figure out if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, and if not it’s time to draft yet another franchise quarterback.29. Arizona Cardinals (26): The Cardinals defense had been a bright spot all season—that is, until the Seahawks came to town. The Cardinals are 3-6 and desperately need a win against the Chiefs this week to keep their playoff hopes alive.30. Cincinnati Bengals (27): Five turnovers simply isn’t going to get it done. Last Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
year’s AFC North Champions have been one of the biggest disappointments in 2010.31. Buffalo Bills (32): Congrats to the Bills on getting their first win of the season. They give 100 percent every week, which is more than a few other teams can say.32. Carolina Panthers (31): Matt Moore is already lost for the season and Jimmy Clausen suffered a concussion. Both its starting running backs are nursing injuries, and Julius Peppers joined Chicago during the offseason. Needless to say, it’s been a rough season for Carolina.
giving us our first tie in three seasons, and the Jaguars’ prayers were answered. In other prime-time games, the Patriots laid the smack down on the No. 1 overall defense in the NFL, and the Falcons were ahead of Washington 35-0 just one play into the second quarter. It was another wild and wacky week in the NFL, and once again the top-ranked team took a tumble. Here are the rankings, as we look toward Week 11.Teams’ previous ranking in ( ).1. New England Patriots (5): Put up 39 points against arguably the best defense in the league—and did it without a strong running game and after trading Randy Moss—and you might find yourself No. 1 in the Rankings. 2. Atlanta Falcons (4): The defense played well enough against Baltimore to get the Falcons their seventh win. They are becoming a NFC favorite to make the Super Bowl.Vick made history Monday Night with over 300 passing yards and 4 TDs and over 80 rushing yards and 2 TDsChris McGrath/Getty Images3. Pittsburgh Steelers (2): Ugly performance by the Steelers D on Sunday Night Football. Don’t expect them to play that poorly again the rest of the season.4. Philadelphia Eagles (9): Say what you will about Michael Vick and his past. Considering what he has put behind him, he is playing some incredible football. Props to you, Mr. Vick for your hard work and dedication to return to the NFL after paying your debt to society. If he stays healthy, this just might be the Eagles' year to win a Super Bowl.5. Baltimore Ravens (3): Starting to lose ground in the AFC but still a top contender with an offense that can erupt at any time.6. New Orleans Saints (6): Reggie Bush is expected to return this week, and with the Saints finally getting their offense going, they could find themselves back at No. 1 in a matter of weeks.7. Green Bay Packers (7): A much-needed bye in Week 10. They look to sweep the Vikings and move to 7-3 on the season.Who is the best team in the NFC?Who is the best team in the NFC?Eagles54.2%Giants5.4%Saints5.7%Packers12.4%Bears5.4%Falcons14.4%other2.7%Total votes: 2998. New York Giants (1): The Giants were humbled by Jon Kitna and the 1-7 Cowboys. They are still a force to be reckoned with, and their matchup next week with the Eagles will be a dog-fight (no pun intended).9. New York Jets (8): Despite the win, the Jets lose ground in the standings. True, they have won back-to-back games in overtime; however, those games came Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
against the Lions and Browns. The Jets have not looked themselves on offense lately but should still be considered an AFC Super Bowl contender.10. Indianapolis Colts (10): The Colts nearly became the answer to a trivia question as they almost lost a game in which they had five takeaways. They continue to find a way to get the job done. Classic matchup next week against the Patriots.11. Chicago Bears (11): The Bears continue to win without playing great on either side of the ball. They are keeping Jay Cutler upright however, which is huge for their playoff hopes.12. Oakland Raiders (12): With a week off to prepare for the Steelers, and the Patriots exposing some holes in that Pittsburgh D, don’t be surprised if Oakland pulls the upset this week.13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14): Another win against a bad team. Let’s see how they do this week against the 49ers—a team with a bad record but good talent.14. Tennessee Titans (13): The Moss era in Tennessee began with just one catch. The Titans lost ground in the division, but with Chris Johnson and Vince Young (if healthy), they can catch fire at any time.15. Jacksonville Jaguars (18): Christmas came early for Jacksonville as they improved to 5-4 thanks to a game-winning Hail Mary pass caught by Mike Thomas after being batted down by a Houston defender. This team’s never-say-die attitude is keeping it in the playoff hunt.16. Miami Dolphins (21): Chad Pennington:hurt. Chad Henne:hurt. Tyler Thigpen? Best third-string quarterback in the NFL. He may or may not get to play this week depending on Henne’s status, but regardless, he kept the Dolphins in the playoff chase.17. Kansas City Chiefs (15): The Chiefs put up 29 points in Denver and still got beat down by 20. The defense never showed up, but WR Dwayne Bowe has quietly been one of the best wideouts in the entire NFL this year.18. Washington Redskins (16): How do you justify a $78 million contract with that performance? For once, Terrell Owens makes a great point that I agree with. However, Donovan McNabb had nothing to do with the ‘Skins giving up 59 points on Monday Night Football. Washington’s turnaround season is beginning to look similar to last season.19. San Diego Chargers (19): The second half of the season is upon us, which means it’s time for San Diego to win a bunch of games in a row on their way to another playoff appearance.20. Houston Texans (17): Even when they play perfect defense, at least for one play, they find a way to lose. Looks like another mediocre year for the Texans.21. Seattle Seahawks (25): Mike Williams’s career has been resurrected in Seattle, and he might just lead Seattle to the playoffs.22. St. Louis Rams (20): Tough loss on the road to the 49ers, but at 4-5 if St. Louis remains right in the thick of things in the NFC West.23. Cleveland Browns (22): You just can’t say enough about Colt McCoy and the Browns right now. They hung tough with the Steelers, beat the Saints and Patriots and took the Jets to overtime. They aren’t a playoff team this year, but with a few changes in the offseason, this team could be a contender in Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
a year or two.24. Minnesota Vikings (23): The Vikings lost a pivotal game against the Bears this week and face a must-win against Green Bay in Week 11. 25. San Francisco 49ers (28): I told you they still had playoff chances when they were 1-6 and you laughed at me. They are now 3-6 and two games back in the division. If they can get a win this week against the Bucs, they will be back in the playoff conversation. Troy Smith has this team playing confident on offense.26. Denver Broncos (29): Denver started the most important part of its schedule this week in dominating fashion against the Chiefs. If the Broncos have any desire of playing football in January, they need to keep it up, as two of their next three games are against divisional foes.27. Dallas Cowboys (30): One has to wonder where Dallas might be if they made this coaching change say, a month ago? Their playoff hopes would be slim, but they would at least have hope.28. Detroit Lions (24): After looking so good on offense all season, the Lions took a step back against Buffalo. It’s time to figure out if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, and if not it’s time to draft yet another franchise quarterback.29. Arizona Cardinals (26): The Cardinals defense had been a bright spot all season—that is, until the Seahawks came to town. The Cardinals are 3-6 and desperately need a win against the Chiefs this week to keep their playoff hopes alive.30. Cincinnati Bengals (27): Five turnovers simply isn’t going to get it done. Last Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
year’s AFC North Champions have been one of the biggest disappointments in 2010.31. Buffalo Bills (32): Congrats to the Bills on getting their first win of the season. They give 100 percent every week, which is more than a few other teams can say.32. Carolina Panthers (31): Matt Moore is already lost for the season and Jimmy Clausen suffered a concussion. Both its starting running backs are nursing injuries, and Julius Peppers joined Chicago during the offseason. Needless to say, it’s been a rough season for Carolina.
2010年12月18日星期六
18 Dec 10 Fantasy Football Week 10: Eagles vs. Redskins Monday Night Football Preview
Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesAfter tonight's game, every NFL team will officially be more than halfway through the season.Both these Monday nightteams have had an "eventful" first half. The latest drama affecting the Redskins was the benching of Donovan McNabb at the end of a winnable game in favor of Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
a cold Sexy Rexy Grossman.Sexy Rexy, doing what he does, promptly threw an interception.Game over.The McNabb debacle went through several iterations. Shanahan blamed McNabb's belly and an inability to run the two-minute offense (the latter reason was especially ludicrous because McNabb has been a QB for years, and he's been working with this offense since training camp).The real story was the fact that this slap in the face topped the previous top QB embarrassment of the season held by Alex Smith when the 49er faithful started a "DAVID CARR" chant.That was at least somewhat defensive; both QB's are atrocious. But McNabb is a Pro Bowl player, champion and consummate professional.We'll see if he can use this as motivation as he begins his final push for a fat contract.The rest of the Redskins' fantasy lineup is also questionable.Ryan Torain has been a solid fantasy player over the last few weeks. But he is coming off a hamstring injury, and Mike Shanahan is always a wild card and could put in Keiland Williams at any point in time.Will Brent Celek finally come alive tonight?Will Brent Celek finally come alive tonight?Yes 31.3%No68.8%Total votes: 48It looks like Portis is out for this week, but he'll be looming in the coming weeks.The Eagles are middle of Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
the road in points allowed to QB's and RB's, but top10 against WR's. So Santana Moss could be in for a long day.The best play for the Redskins might be Chris Cooley. The Eagles had a tough time against newly-minted starter Jacob Tamme, sowhat will they do against a solid professional like Chris Cooley?The Eagles are loaded with tasty fantasy starters.LeSean McCoy is a top 10 running back andDeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are just outide the top 10.Vick isn't a top fiveQB merely because he hasn't played enough. But check out his fantasy output in his games where he's played meaningful minutes (21, 22, 32, 25).Vick's emergence has been a solid development for everyone except Brent Celek,who has been relinquishedto nothing more than a blocking TE.The Redskins' defense Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
is not fantasy scary...they are generous to QB's and WR's and barely in the top half against RB's.Looking at all that, the Eagles, and their fantasy stars, should dominate.A thought to keep in the back of your mind—their first game was a 17-12 slugfest; where Vick didn't even finish the game.However, the Redskins always seem to be involved in ugly games, and I'd expect nothing less from tonight's clash.Written by Chris Summers,exclusively forTheFantasyFix.comFollow The Fantasy Fix on TwitterthefantasyfixorforFree Fantasy Sports Adviceuse ourQuick Fixto get help with your team!
a cold Sexy Rexy Grossman.Sexy Rexy, doing what he does, promptly threw an interception.Game over.The McNabb debacle went through several iterations. Shanahan blamed McNabb's belly and an inability to run the two-minute offense (the latter reason was especially ludicrous because McNabb has been a QB for years, and he's been working with this offense since training camp).The real story was the fact that this slap in the face topped the previous top QB embarrassment of the season held by Alex Smith when the 49er faithful started a "DAVID CARR" chant.That was at least somewhat defensive; both QB's are atrocious. But McNabb is a Pro Bowl player, champion and consummate professional.We'll see if he can use this as motivation as he begins his final push for a fat contract.The rest of the Redskins' fantasy lineup is also questionable.Ryan Torain has been a solid fantasy player over the last few weeks. But he is coming off a hamstring injury, and Mike Shanahan is always a wild card and could put in Keiland Williams at any point in time.Will Brent Celek finally come alive tonight?Will Brent Celek finally come alive tonight?Yes 31.3%No68.8%Total votes: 48It looks like Portis is out for this week, but he'll be looming in the coming weeks.The Eagles are middle of Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
the road in points allowed to QB's and RB's, but top10 against WR's. So Santana Moss could be in for a long day.The best play for the Redskins might be Chris Cooley. The Eagles had a tough time against newly-minted starter Jacob Tamme, sowhat will they do against a solid professional like Chris Cooley?The Eagles are loaded with tasty fantasy starters.LeSean McCoy is a top 10 running back andDeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are just outide the top 10.Vick isn't a top fiveQB merely because he hasn't played enough. But check out his fantasy output in his games where he's played meaningful minutes (21, 22, 32, 25).Vick's emergence has been a solid development for everyone except Brent Celek,who has been relinquishedto nothing more than a blocking TE.The Redskins' defense Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
is not fantasy scary...they are generous to QB's and WR's and barely in the top half against RB's.Looking at all that, the Eagles, and their fantasy stars, should dominate.A thought to keep in the back of your mind—their first game was a 17-12 slugfest; where Vick didn't even finish the game.However, the Redskins always seem to be involved in ugly games, and I'd expect nothing less from tonight's clash.Written by Chris Summers,exclusively forTheFantasyFix.comFollow The Fantasy Fix on TwitterthefantasyfixorforFree Fantasy Sports Adviceuse ourQuick Fixto get help with your team!
2010年12月17日星期五
17 Dec 10 Week 12 NFL Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice: Get 'Em or Don't Sweat 'Em
Tom Pennington/Getty ImagesThere were some unusual heroes on Sunday. There always are. Let’s take a look at them and see if they are worthy of your fantasy rosters.QuarterbacksShaun Hill, Detroit Lions Hill had another solid game throwing for 289 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He has multiple touchdown passes or 300+ yards in five of the six games he’s started and finished. Ruling: Get ‘em. Jon Kitna, Dallas Cowboys Kitna only threw for 147 yards, but he had three touchdown passes. He also ran for 40 yards and a score. With his arsenal, Kitna makes a nice option down the stretch. Ruling: Get ‘em. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks Hasselbeck threw for 366 yards and a touchdown. He’s had 699 yards in his past two games, and without a rushing attack, the Seahawks are going to have to pass. Ruling: Get ‘em.Running BacksMike Goodson, Carolina Panthers Goodson had another big game despite the thumping the Panthers took. He ran for 120 yards at a 5.5 yards per carry clip. Goodson also caught five passes for 31 yards. Jonathan Stewart may return next week, but Goodson has played too well to lose the starting gig. Ruling: Get ‘em. Keiland Williams, Washington Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
Redskins Though Clinton Portis returned, Williams was the workhorse running 23 times for 68 yards. He also caught six passes for 27 yards. If he was left on the wire because it was thought that his MNF performance was a fluke, make sure he’s added this week. Ruling: Get ‘em. Christopher Ivory, New Orleans Saints Ivory ran for 99 yards and a touchdown. He’s been quiet in recent weeks, and Reggie Bush is looming, but he still should be owned in most leagues. Ruling: Get ‘em. Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cadillac scored for the second straight week, but he had just seven carries for 51 yards. He’s not getting enough touches to warrant fantasy use. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Wide ReceiversJames Jones, Green Bay Packers Driver’s return limited Jones to five targets, but he managed to score a touchdown on three catches for 51 yards. With Atlanta, Detroit, and New England on his upcoming schedule, Jones is a nice option for WR depth. Ruling: Get ‘em. Nate Burleson, Detroit Lions Burleson caught six passes for 90 yards and a score. He has four touchdowns in his past six games. Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesRuling: Get ‘em. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Baltimore Ravens Housh caught two passes for 79 yards and a score. He’s not a fantasy option. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. David Gettis, Carolina Panthers Gettis caught an 88-yard touchdown to salvage his day. He finished with two catches for 92 yards. With Cleveland, Seattle, Atlanta and Arizona coming up, he can be useful in deeper leagues, but it’s hard to trust their passing game right now. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Donald Jones, Buffalo Bills Jones caught five passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. He had just two catches coming into the game. Look elsewhere. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Mike Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars We’ve been singing his praises, and Thomas continued to deliver. He caught five passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. It was his third straight game with a score. Ruling: Get ‘em. Brandon Gibson, St. Louis Rams Gibson caught five passes for 42 yards and a score. He’s averaging 6.3 catches for 60.3 yards in the past three games making him a decent bench option in PPR leagues. He can be added as WR depth in standard leagues as well. Ruling: Get ‘em. Ben Obomanu, Seattle Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
Seahawks Obomanu caught five passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. He had 60 yards last week. It appears he’s an option in deeper leagues. In 10-12 team leagues I’d hold off on him yet. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Blair White, Indianapolis Colts White caught five passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns. I would be surprised if Austin Collie plays next week, which makes White a decent option. Ruling: Get ‘em. Tight EndsJoel Dreessen, Houston Texans Dreessem caught four passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Despite the brilliant performance, I can’t see trusting him to be a regular fantasy option. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Evan Moore, Cleveland Browns Moore caught three passes for 69 yards, but he’s not a good bet to repeat. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Michael Hoomanawanui, St. Louis Rams Hoomanawanui caught four passes for 46 yards and a score. It was the first time he topped 20 yards all year long. Enough said. Ruling: Don’t Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
Sweat ‘em. Also check out: Sneaky Week 12 Fantasy Football Pickups Week 12 Fantasy QB Rankings Week 12 Fantasy RB Rankings Week 12 Fantasy WR Rankings Week 12 Fantasy TE Rankings Week 12 Fantasy K Rankings Week 12 Fantasy DEF Rankings Week 12 Fantasy IDP Rankings Week 12 Start/Sit AdviceWeek 12 Fantasy Sleepers Click here to enter the contest to win a cool fantasy football t-shirt.
Redskins Though Clinton Portis returned, Williams was the workhorse running 23 times for 68 yards. He also caught six passes for 27 yards. If he was left on the wire because it was thought that his MNF performance was a fluke, make sure he’s added this week. Ruling: Get ‘em. Christopher Ivory, New Orleans Saints Ivory ran for 99 yards and a touchdown. He’s been quiet in recent weeks, and Reggie Bush is looming, but he still should be owned in most leagues. Ruling: Get ‘em. Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cadillac scored for the second straight week, but he had just seven carries for 51 yards. He’s not getting enough touches to warrant fantasy use. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Wide ReceiversJames Jones, Green Bay Packers Driver’s return limited Jones to five targets, but he managed to score a touchdown on three catches for 51 yards. With Atlanta, Detroit, and New England on his upcoming schedule, Jones is a nice option for WR depth. Ruling: Get ‘em. Nate Burleson, Detroit Lions Burleson caught six passes for 90 yards and a score. He has four touchdowns in his past six games. Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesRuling: Get ‘em. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Baltimore Ravens Housh caught two passes for 79 yards and a score. He’s not a fantasy option. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. David Gettis, Carolina Panthers Gettis caught an 88-yard touchdown to salvage his day. He finished with two catches for 92 yards. With Cleveland, Seattle, Atlanta and Arizona coming up, he can be useful in deeper leagues, but it’s hard to trust their passing game right now. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Donald Jones, Buffalo Bills Jones caught five passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. He had just two catches coming into the game. Look elsewhere. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Mike Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars We’ve been singing his praises, and Thomas continued to deliver. He caught five passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. It was his third straight game with a score. Ruling: Get ‘em. Brandon Gibson, St. Louis Rams Gibson caught five passes for 42 yards and a score. He’s averaging 6.3 catches for 60.3 yards in the past three games making him a decent bench option in PPR leagues. He can be added as WR depth in standard leagues as well. Ruling: Get ‘em. Ben Obomanu, Seattle Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
Seahawks Obomanu caught five passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. He had 60 yards last week. It appears he’s an option in deeper leagues. In 10-12 team leagues I’d hold off on him yet. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Blair White, Indianapolis Colts White caught five passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns. I would be surprised if Austin Collie plays next week, which makes White a decent option. Ruling: Get ‘em. Tight EndsJoel Dreessen, Houston Texans Dreessem caught four passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Despite the brilliant performance, I can’t see trusting him to be a regular fantasy option. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Evan Moore, Cleveland Browns Moore caught three passes for 69 yards, but he’s not a good bet to repeat. Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em. Michael Hoomanawanui, St. Louis Rams Hoomanawanui caught four passes for 46 yards and a score. It was the first time he topped 20 yards all year long. Enough said. Ruling: Don’t Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
Sweat ‘em. Also check out: Sneaky Week 12 Fantasy Football Pickups Week 12 Fantasy QB Rankings Week 12 Fantasy RB Rankings Week 12 Fantasy WR Rankings Week 12 Fantasy TE Rankings Week 12 Fantasy K Rankings Week 12 Fantasy DEF Rankings Week 12 Fantasy IDP Rankings Week 12 Start/Sit AdviceWeek 12 Fantasy Sleepers Click here to enter the contest to win a cool fantasy football t-shirt.
2010年12月16日星期四
16 Dec 10 NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Top 7 Remain Unchanged
Brady and Co. are rolling againJim Rogash/Getty ImagesWeek 11 was a fantasy football lover’s dream week, unless of course you were facing Greg Jennings or Steve Johnson. Twelve NFL teams scored over 30 points and numerous players scored ‘garbage time’ touchdowns, including Larry Fitzgerald (with no time remaining and down by 25) and Brandon Lloyd (down 28 midway through the fourth quarter). Both the NFL and fantasy leagues everywhere, teams’ playoff hopes began to get crushed after Week 11. Thankfully for fantasy owners, there is no such thing as ‘home’ and ‘away.’ This is the year of the away team in the NFL as seven more road teams won this week and three others came within seconds ofReebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
joining that list.The contenders and pretenders are becoming more well known each week, and that is reflected in this weeks’ rankings. Only one team moved more than three spots, and the top seven remained unchanged. Teams’ previous ranking in ( ).1.New England Patriots (1): Losing to the Browns appeared to be just a hiccup for the Pats. At 8-2 there is no doubt they are once again a Super Bowl Contender. They are starting to get consistency in the running game; if they can get the defense to follow suit they will be scary.2. Atlanta Falcons (2): Atlanta continues to roll. Let’s see how their defense performs this week against a hot Green Bay offense.3.Pittsburgh Steelers (3): The Steelers steamrolled the Raiders making everyone forget their overall poor play in their previous three games. They face a trap game this week against the Bills; they need to make sure they aren’t looking ahead to their December 5 matchup with the Ravens.4.Philadelphia Eagles (4): The Eagles are 5-0 in games Michael Vick starts and finishes. If he can stay healthy the Eagles have to be a favorite to reach the Super Bowl.5.Baltimore Ravens (5): The Ravens turned a close game with the 1-9 Panthers into a blowout in a matter of seconds. Back-to-back pick-6’s showed why the Ravens D is still a scary unit (facing Brian St. Pierre didn’t hurt either).6. New Orleans Saints (6): The good news: New Orleans has won four of its last five and the offense appears to be clicking. The bad news: New Orleans plays four of its next five on the road including the Ravens and Falcons on December 19 and 27.7.Green Bay Packers (7): Last year the Vikings went 2-0 against Green Bay and reached the NFC Championship game. This year the Packers are 2-0 against Minnesota and have looked outstanding. Is this the year they put it all together, despite injuries to numerous key players?8.New York Jets (9): Since their Week 8 shutout loss to the Packers, the Jets have gone 3-0 winning all three games in dramatic fashion. The defense has given up at least 20 points in five of its last six games, but the offense has started to put it all together.9.Indianapolis Colts (10): Peyton Manning’s late fourth quarter interception still has people scratching their heads. Should the Colts and Pats meet in the playoffs and Manning needs to lead the Colts on a game winning drive, don’t expect him to make that mistake again.10. Chicago Bears (11): The Bears are 7-3 and tied in the NFC North for first place. However just one of their seven wins has come against a team with a winning record, and that came when Green Bay had 18 penalties.11. New York Giants (8): It looked like the Giants were about to march down the field and score the game-tying touchdown when Eli Manning inexplicably fumbled on a scramble up the middle in which nobody laid a hand on him.12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13): Yes they continue to win and are currently 7-3. However, their best win came against the Rams who are 4-6. The Bucs’ three losses have come against the Steelers, Saints and Falcons. To be talked about as one of the best in the league, you have to beat someone Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
sometime.13. Jacksonville Jaguars (15): Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Last week the Jags won on a lucky hail mary deflection as time expired, and this week they won despite turning the ball over six times. A win is a win, and they’ve won six times and put themselves right in the middle of the playoff picture.14. Kansas City Chiefs (17): Dwayne Bowe is the best receiver in the NFL. Even though that may not be true, you would have a hard time arguing it. The last time Bowe failed to find the end zone was Week 5 and he has 10 scores in his last six games overall, with multiple scores in four of those six games. 15. Oakland Raiders (12): Just when you thought Oakland wasn’t the same old Raider team, they decide to take an extra bye week. Except for Richard Seymour that is, who appeared to be the only Raider showing any passion against the Steelers, and even he didn’t show up for the whole game, as he was ejected for throwing a punch that knocked Ben Roethlisberger to the ground.16. San Diego Chargers (19): The AFC West is about as middle-of-the-road as a division can get, seeing that three of its four teams are ranked consecutively in the middle of the rankings. Despite the awful start, it appears as if San Diego is the team to beat and Philip Rivers is the reason why.17. and 18. Washington Redskins (18) and Tennessee Titans (14): The Redskins are lucky that the new overtime rule only applies to playoff games or their game with the Titans may have never ended. Both teams scored a touchdown in the first quarter, and one field goal apiece in the next three quarters. Both teams sit at 5-5 and remain on verge of playoff contention. The Titans however, look as if they will be relying on their third-string quarterback as starter Vince Young was placed on IR.19. Miami Dolphins (16): The Dolphins continue their struggles at home and at 5-5 have lost hope of a division title and now must get on track if they wish to make a run at the wildcard.20. Houston Texans (20): It looked like the Texans were going to make one last push at a playoff spot as they led the Jets by four with two minutes left. For the second week in a row Houston lost a heartbreaker and their playoff aspirations came to a screeching halt.21. Seattle Seahawks (21): Seattle is one of the six teams currently sitting at .500 but in their weak division and a schedule that has only one elite team left on it, they are sitting in prime position to win the division.22. Dallas Cowboys (27): Jason Garrett has won more games in two weeks than Wade Phillips won in two months. They’ve made it look easy so far but the Saints, Colts and Eagles are their next three opponents. If Garrett wins two of those games he is Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
almost a lock to become the full-time head coach.23. St. Louis Rams (22): St. Louise has struggled of late but remain just one game back in the division. Not time to panic yet for Rams fans.24. Cleveland Browns (23): Apparently beating the Saints and Patriots was too easy for the Browns. They decided to take on a bigger challenge; win the turnover battle by five, and still lose. Mission accomplished.25. Minnesota Vikings (24): The Vikings took a page out of the Cowboys playbook (which wouldn’t do them much good this year) and fired their coach after a blowout loss to the Packers. In my mind, there is no question this is Brett Favre’s last year and it would be nice to see him bounce back and end the season on a positive note.26. San Francisco 49ers (25): I kept faith alive that San Fran would pull off a huge turnaround and win the division, even after a 1-6 start. A win against the Bucs would have put them just a game behind in the division but at 3-7 the need to win out to have a shot at the NFC West.27. Denver Broncos (26): Getting outscored 35-0 after taking an early 7-0 lead shut the door on any playoff hopes the Broncos had. Kyle Orton has played well for most of the season, but don’t be surprised if Tim Tebow gets a little more playing time as the season winds down.28. Detroit Lions (28): Another disappointing year for the Lions. Young talent provides hope for the future however.29. Buffalo Bills (31): Trailing 31-14 at halftime, the Bills skunked the Bengals 35-0 in the second half to get their second win of the season. Who says Harvard quarterbacks can’t play in the NFL?30. Arizona Cardinals (29): The Cardinals are 31st in overall offense this season. Pair that with the fact they’ve given up over 30 points five times this season and it’s almost impressive that they have even managed to win three games.31. Cincinnati Bengals (30): How a team scores 31 in one half and gets shut out the next half, buy a below average team, Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
is mind boggling. The only thing more mind boggling is that Terrell Owens has yet to throw his quarterback under the bus.32. Carolina Panthers (32): The season can’t end soon enough for Panthers fans (or players for that matter). This team just doesn’t have any talent outside of Steve Smith right now.
joining that list.The contenders and pretenders are becoming more well known each week, and that is reflected in this weeks’ rankings. Only one team moved more than three spots, and the top seven remained unchanged. Teams’ previous ranking in ( ).1.New England Patriots (1): Losing to the Browns appeared to be just a hiccup for the Pats. At 8-2 there is no doubt they are once again a Super Bowl Contender. They are starting to get consistency in the running game; if they can get the defense to follow suit they will be scary.2. Atlanta Falcons (2): Atlanta continues to roll. Let’s see how their defense performs this week against a hot Green Bay offense.3.Pittsburgh Steelers (3): The Steelers steamrolled the Raiders making everyone forget their overall poor play in their previous three games. They face a trap game this week against the Bills; they need to make sure they aren’t looking ahead to their December 5 matchup with the Ravens.4.Philadelphia Eagles (4): The Eagles are 5-0 in games Michael Vick starts and finishes. If he can stay healthy the Eagles have to be a favorite to reach the Super Bowl.5.Baltimore Ravens (5): The Ravens turned a close game with the 1-9 Panthers into a blowout in a matter of seconds. Back-to-back pick-6’s showed why the Ravens D is still a scary unit (facing Brian St. Pierre didn’t hurt either).6. New Orleans Saints (6): The good news: New Orleans has won four of its last five and the offense appears to be clicking. The bad news: New Orleans plays four of its next five on the road including the Ravens and Falcons on December 19 and 27.7.Green Bay Packers (7): Last year the Vikings went 2-0 against Green Bay and reached the NFC Championship game. This year the Packers are 2-0 against Minnesota and have looked outstanding. Is this the year they put it all together, despite injuries to numerous key players?8.New York Jets (9): Since their Week 8 shutout loss to the Packers, the Jets have gone 3-0 winning all three games in dramatic fashion. The defense has given up at least 20 points in five of its last six games, but the offense has started to put it all together.9.Indianapolis Colts (10): Peyton Manning’s late fourth quarter interception still has people scratching their heads. Should the Colts and Pats meet in the playoffs and Manning needs to lead the Colts on a game winning drive, don’t expect him to make that mistake again.10. Chicago Bears (11): The Bears are 7-3 and tied in the NFC North for first place. However just one of their seven wins has come against a team with a winning record, and that came when Green Bay had 18 penalties.11. New York Giants (8): It looked like the Giants were about to march down the field and score the game-tying touchdown when Eli Manning inexplicably fumbled on a scramble up the middle in which nobody laid a hand on him.12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13): Yes they continue to win and are currently 7-3. However, their best win came against the Rams who are 4-6. The Bucs’ three losses have come against the Steelers, Saints and Falcons. To be talked about as one of the best in the league, you have to beat someone Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
sometime.13. Jacksonville Jaguars (15): Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Last week the Jags won on a lucky hail mary deflection as time expired, and this week they won despite turning the ball over six times. A win is a win, and they’ve won six times and put themselves right in the middle of the playoff picture.14. Kansas City Chiefs (17): Dwayne Bowe is the best receiver in the NFL. Even though that may not be true, you would have a hard time arguing it. The last time Bowe failed to find the end zone was Week 5 and he has 10 scores in his last six games overall, with multiple scores in four of those six games. 15. Oakland Raiders (12): Just when you thought Oakland wasn’t the same old Raider team, they decide to take an extra bye week. Except for Richard Seymour that is, who appeared to be the only Raider showing any passion against the Steelers, and even he didn’t show up for the whole game, as he was ejected for throwing a punch that knocked Ben Roethlisberger to the ground.16. San Diego Chargers (19): The AFC West is about as middle-of-the-road as a division can get, seeing that three of its four teams are ranked consecutively in the middle of the rankings. Despite the awful start, it appears as if San Diego is the team to beat and Philip Rivers is the reason why.17. and 18. Washington Redskins (18) and Tennessee Titans (14): The Redskins are lucky that the new overtime rule only applies to playoff games or their game with the Titans may have never ended. Both teams scored a touchdown in the first quarter, and one field goal apiece in the next three quarters. Both teams sit at 5-5 and remain on verge of playoff contention. The Titans however, look as if they will be relying on their third-string quarterback as starter Vince Young was placed on IR.19. Miami Dolphins (16): The Dolphins continue their struggles at home and at 5-5 have lost hope of a division title and now must get on track if they wish to make a run at the wildcard.20. Houston Texans (20): It looked like the Texans were going to make one last push at a playoff spot as they led the Jets by four with two minutes left. For the second week in a row Houston lost a heartbreaker and their playoff aspirations came to a screeching halt.21. Seattle Seahawks (21): Seattle is one of the six teams currently sitting at .500 but in their weak division and a schedule that has only one elite team left on it, they are sitting in prime position to win the division.22. Dallas Cowboys (27): Jason Garrett has won more games in two weeks than Wade Phillips won in two months. They’ve made it look easy so far but the Saints, Colts and Eagles are their next three opponents. If Garrett wins two of those games he is Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
almost a lock to become the full-time head coach.23. St. Louis Rams (22): St. Louise has struggled of late but remain just one game back in the division. Not time to panic yet for Rams fans.24. Cleveland Browns (23): Apparently beating the Saints and Patriots was too easy for the Browns. They decided to take on a bigger challenge; win the turnover battle by five, and still lose. Mission accomplished.25. Minnesota Vikings (24): The Vikings took a page out of the Cowboys playbook (which wouldn’t do them much good this year) and fired their coach after a blowout loss to the Packers. In my mind, there is no question this is Brett Favre’s last year and it would be nice to see him bounce back and end the season on a positive note.26. San Francisco 49ers (25): I kept faith alive that San Fran would pull off a huge turnaround and win the division, even after a 1-6 start. A win against the Bucs would have put them just a game behind in the division but at 3-7 the need to win out to have a shot at the NFC West.27. Denver Broncos (26): Getting outscored 35-0 after taking an early 7-0 lead shut the door on any playoff hopes the Broncos had. Kyle Orton has played well for most of the season, but don’t be surprised if Tim Tebow gets a little more playing time as the season winds down.28. Detroit Lions (28): Another disappointing year for the Lions. Young talent provides hope for the future however.29. Buffalo Bills (31): Trailing 31-14 at halftime, the Bills skunked the Bengals 35-0 in the second half to get their second win of the season. Who says Harvard quarterbacks can’t play in the NFL?30. Arizona Cardinals (29): The Cardinals are 31st in overall offense this season. Pair that with the fact they’ve given up over 30 points five times this season and it’s almost impressive that they have even managed to win three games.31. Cincinnati Bengals (30): How a team scores 31 in one half and gets shut out the next half, buy a below average team, Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
is mind boggling. The only thing more mind boggling is that Terrell Owens has yet to throw his quarterback under the bus.32. Carolina Panthers (32): The season can’t end soon enough for Panthers fans (or players for that matter). This team just doesn’t have any talent outside of Steve Smith right now.
2010年12月15日星期三
Monday Night Football Week 11: 49ers vs. Cardinals Preview
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesTonight is truly a historic match-up.Two teams battling for the first overall pick AND to only be one game out of the division lead after 11 games.The people at ESPN must be going apoplectic trying to sell advertising revenue. Things being what they are, the winner of this game will have the sterling record of 4-7 and be a mere one game behind Seattle and St. Louis.Quick aside, where does Sam Bradford's season rank amongst the great rookie QBs? Peyton Manning and Dan Marino were both brilliant—if 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
Bradford continues at this pace, doesn't he have to rank with them? Hisbest receiver is Danny Amendola, no offense to Danny, but he wasn't even the first pick in his family's annual Turkey day game (ok, I made that up). Can you tell I'm trying to waste time and not talk about tonight's game?Let's be honest, neither team is very good, and that's coming from a life-long Niner fan, but facts are facts.The Niners have played better recently, winning three of their last five. Had they been more adept at closing out games they'd be in first place.Troy Smith has looked mostly adequate and sometimes spectacular. This up and down is all too common with Niner QB's named "Smith." Should the Cardinals let go of Leinart?Should the Cardinals let go of Leinart?Yes40.0%No37.5%Doesn't make a difference22.5%Total votes: 40Frank Gore has been solid all year despite the incredibly unimaginative play calling. At least five times a game they will run him right up the middle where he'll be stopped cold; at least twice a game they'll follow Jets 6 Sanchez Jersey
up that play with the exact same play and encounter the exact same result; basically the personification of the definition of insanity.The Niners' receiving targets are a pure gamble because the QB and play calling prevents them from reaching full potential. That being said, the Cardinals are middle of the road in points allowed to opposing QB's and WR's, so you have a puncher's chance.Do you think the Cardinals regret letting Matt Leinart go? Max Hall is not ready for prime time (hard to imagine considering he's an undrafted 25-year-old rookie) and Derek Anderson is somehow still dining out on a ten game stretch from 2007.Look, Leinart is not great, but he showed flashes as a rookie and since then, has never really been given a clear shot to start; why not give him a season? Honestly, was he any worse than what they've trotted out there each week? The QB's merry-go-round has destroyed the value of possibly the best receiver in the game, Larry Fitzgerald and has hampered a once decent 4 Brett Favre White jersey
running attack.As a Niner fan, I'll pick them to win on the road, but I don't feel good about it. Either way, tonight's fan bases will either be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes or in the hunt for the division crown. Are you ready for some football?Written byChris Summers,exclusively forTheFantasyFix.comFollow The Fantasy Fix on Twitterthefantasyfix, or forFree Fantasy Sports Adviceuse ourQuick Fixto get help with your team!
Bradford continues at this pace, doesn't he have to rank with them? Hisbest receiver is Danny Amendola, no offense to Danny, but he wasn't even the first pick in his family's annual Turkey day game (ok, I made that up). Can you tell I'm trying to waste time and not talk about tonight's game?Let's be honest, neither team is very good, and that's coming from a life-long Niner fan, but facts are facts.The Niners have played better recently, winning three of their last five. Had they been more adept at closing out games they'd be in first place.Troy Smith has looked mostly adequate and sometimes spectacular. This up and down is all too common with Niner QB's named "Smith." Should the Cardinals let go of Leinart?Should the Cardinals let go of Leinart?Yes40.0%No37.5%Doesn't make a difference22.5%Total votes: 40Frank Gore has been solid all year despite the incredibly unimaginative play calling. At least five times a game they will run him right up the middle where he'll be stopped cold; at least twice a game they'll follow Jets 6 Sanchez Jersey
up that play with the exact same play and encounter the exact same result; basically the personification of the definition of insanity.The Niners' receiving targets are a pure gamble because the QB and play calling prevents them from reaching full potential. That being said, the Cardinals are middle of the road in points allowed to opposing QB's and WR's, so you have a puncher's chance.Do you think the Cardinals regret letting Matt Leinart go? Max Hall is not ready for prime time (hard to imagine considering he's an undrafted 25-year-old rookie) and Derek Anderson is somehow still dining out on a ten game stretch from 2007.Look, Leinart is not great, but he showed flashes as a rookie and since then, has never really been given a clear shot to start; why not give him a season? Honestly, was he any worse than what they've trotted out there each week? The QB's merry-go-round has destroyed the value of possibly the best receiver in the game, Larry Fitzgerald and has hampered a once decent 4 Brett Favre White jersey
running attack.As a Niner fan, I'll pick them to win on the road, but I don't feel good about it. Either way, tonight's fan bases will either be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes or in the hunt for the division crown. Are you ready for some football?Written byChris Summers,exclusively forTheFantasyFix.comFollow The Fantasy Fix on Twitterthefantasyfix, or forFree Fantasy Sports Adviceuse ourQuick Fixto get help with your team!
Monday Night Football Week 11: 49ers vs. Cardinals Preview
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesTonight is truly a historic match-up.Two teams battling for the first overall pick AND to only be one game out of the division lead after 11 games.The people at ESPN must be going apoplectic trying to sell advertising revenue. Things being what they are, the winner of this game will have the sterling record of 4-7 and be a mere one game behind Seattle and St. Louis.Quick aside, where does Sam Bradford's season rank amongst the great rookie QBs? Peyton Manning and Dan Marino were both brilliant—if 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
Bradford continues at this pace, doesn't he have to rank with them? Hisbest receiver is Danny Amendola, no offense to Danny, but he wasn't even the first pick in his family's annual Turkey day game (ok, I made that up). Can you tell I'm trying to waste time and not talk about tonight's game?Let's be honest, neither team is very good, and that's coming from a life-long Niner fan, but facts are facts.The Niners have played better recently, winning three of their last five. Had they been more adept at closing out games they'd be in first place.Troy Smith has looked mostly adequate and sometimes spectacular. This up and down is all too common with Niner QB's named "Smith." Should the Cardinals let go of Leinart?Should the Cardinals let go of Leinart?Yes40.0%No37.5%Doesn't make a difference22.5%Total votes: 40Frank Gore has been solid all year despite the incredibly unimaginative play calling. At least five times a game they will run him right up the middle where he'll be stopped cold; at least twice a game they'll follow Jets 6 Sanchez Jersey
up that play with the exact same play and encounter the exact same result; basically the personification of the definition of insanity.The Niners' receiving targets are a pure gamble because the QB and play calling prevents them from reaching full potential. That being said, the Cardinals are middle of the road in points allowed to opposing QB's and WR's, so you have a puncher's chance.Do you think the Cardinals regret letting Matt Leinart go? Max Hall is not ready for prime time (hard to imagine considering he's an undrafted 25-year-old rookie) and Derek Anderson is somehow still dining out on a ten game stretch from 2007.Look, Leinart is not great, but he showed flashes as a rookie and since then, has never really been given a clear shot to start; why not give him a season? Honestly, was he any worse than what they've trotted out there each week? The QB's merry-go-round has destroyed the value of possibly the best receiver in the game, Larry Fitzgerald and has hampered a once decent 4 Brett Favre White jersey
running attack.As a Niner fan, I'll pick them to win on the road, but I don't feel good about it. Either way, tonight's fan bases will either be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes or in the hunt for the division crown. Are you ready for some football?Written byChris Summers,exclusively forTheFantasyFix.comFollow The Fantasy Fix on Twitterthefantasyfix, or forFree Fantasy Sports Adviceuse ourQuick Fixto get help with your team!
Bradford continues at this pace, doesn't he have to rank with them? Hisbest receiver is Danny Amendola, no offense to Danny, but he wasn't even the first pick in his family's annual Turkey day game (ok, I made that up). Can you tell I'm trying to waste time and not talk about tonight's game?Let's be honest, neither team is very good, and that's coming from a life-long Niner fan, but facts are facts.The Niners have played better recently, winning three of their last five. Had they been more adept at closing out games they'd be in first place.Troy Smith has looked mostly adequate and sometimes spectacular. This up and down is all too common with Niner QB's named "Smith." Should the Cardinals let go of Leinart?Should the Cardinals let go of Leinart?Yes40.0%No37.5%Doesn't make a difference22.5%Total votes: 40Frank Gore has been solid all year despite the incredibly unimaginative play calling. At least five times a game they will run him right up the middle where he'll be stopped cold; at least twice a game they'll follow Jets 6 Sanchez Jersey
up that play with the exact same play and encounter the exact same result; basically the personification of the definition of insanity.The Niners' receiving targets are a pure gamble because the QB and play calling prevents them from reaching full potential. That being said, the Cardinals are middle of the road in points allowed to opposing QB's and WR's, so you have a puncher's chance.Do you think the Cardinals regret letting Matt Leinart go? Max Hall is not ready for prime time (hard to imagine considering he's an undrafted 25-year-old rookie) and Derek Anderson is somehow still dining out on a ten game stretch from 2007.Look, Leinart is not great, but he showed flashes as a rookie and since then, has never really been given a clear shot to start; why not give him a season? Honestly, was he any worse than what they've trotted out there each week? The QB's merry-go-round has destroyed the value of possibly the best receiver in the game, Larry Fitzgerald and has hampered a once decent 4 Brett Favre White jersey
running attack.As a Niner fan, I'll pick them to win on the road, but I don't feel good about it. Either way, tonight's fan bases will either be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes or in the hunt for the division crown. Are you ready for some football?Written byChris Summers,exclusively forTheFantasyFix.comFollow The Fantasy Fix on Twitterthefantasyfix, or forFree Fantasy Sports Adviceuse ourQuick Fixto get help with your team!
2010年12月13日星期一
2011 NFL Mock Draft: Do The Panthers Get Lucky Or Pass?
The draft order in this mock draft is based on the current standings.1. Carolina Panthers - Andrew Luck, QB, StanfordThe Panthers drafted two QBs last draft, but Jimmy Clausen hasn't played like a starter, and Tony Pike couldn't beat Brian St. Pierre to be the emergency starter, so he's clearly not the future, and if the Panthers end up being the first pick in the draft, it means Clausen continued to struggle, and a new coach will likely be hired, so he'll want to start fresh.The Panthers may give Clausen another chance next year, but drafting a defensive lineman or wide receiver first generally isn't a good idea.Also, in general, the early pick goes with the QB in the end, and it's the smart move. The Falcons took Matt Ryan over Glenn Dorsey. The Lions took Matt Stafford over Jason Smith. The Rams took Sam Bradford over Ndamukong Suh.2. Detroit Lions - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSUThe Lions are a decent pass defense away from becoming a playoff contender, and they generally draft the best player available. Peterson fits that category here.
3. Cincinnati Bengals - Robert Quinn, DE/LB, North CarolinaQuinn has had trouble with the NCAA along with other North Carolina players, but the Bengals aren't a team to put character concerns too heavily into consideration, and they have a glaring lack of a pass rush. They have the lowest amount of 6 Sanchez Green Jersey
sacks in the NFL with 11. Quinn would greatly improve their pass rush.4. Buffalo Bills - Nick Fairley, DE/DT, AuburnThe Bills miss out on a top five QB here, so the next best option for them is to draft a defensive lineman. They have zero pass rush, and their defense as a whole is terrible.Fairley has led Auburn's run defense, which has performed very well this season. His performance against Alabama shot his draft stock through the roof.5. Arizona Cardinals - Prince Amukamara, CB, NebraskaThe Cardinals' pass defense has been an embarrassment, possibly even more so than Derek Anderson lashing out at the reporter in his post-game interview.
Amukamara is the leader of Nebraska's defense and was always just as big a part of their success as Ndamukong Suh when he was there.Ryan Mallett will be the pick if they pass on Amukamara, but considering their pass defense woes, Amukamara will be too hard to ignore. They may sign a veteran QB, who knows? Maybe McNabb or Favre will come to Arizona.6. Denver Broncos - Marcell Dareus, DE/DT, AlabamaDefensive line is a glaring issue for the Broncos. They have no pass rush with Elvis Dumervil out and can't stop the run.7. Dallas Cowboys - Allen Bailey, DE/DT, MiamiIgor Olshansky and Marcus Spears don't belong in the starting lineup, especially Olshansky.Bailey would be an upgrade as a 3-4 defensive end. Offensive line is the most glaring issue for the Cowboys, but no tackles are worth taking in the top 10. Trading down is a possibility.
8. San Francisco 49ers - Ryan Mallett, QB, ArkansasTroy Smith was unspectacular against the Cardinals' pass defense, so he isn't the long-term answer at QB.Mike Singletary is in danger of getting fired, so the 49ers will likely draft a new QB.9. Minnesota Vikings - Jake Locker, QB, WashingtonLocker hasn't played like a top 10 pick, but his potential alone will make the Vikings give him a chance, and he can't be any worse than Brett Favre has been this year.Brad Childress' departure will also cause the Vikings to draft a new QB since new coaches usually start with QBs. Tarvaris Jackson won't be giving the starting job either and may not even be a Viking next season.10. Cleveland Browns - A.J. Green, WR, GeorgiaColt McCoy has surprisingly done well as a rookie, but he has nobody to throw to. Peyton Hillis has given the Browns a great running game, and Montario Hardesty's return will make it even better.
Green gives McCoy a true receiving threat, and some say he's one of 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
the greatest prospects in a long time.11. Seattle Seahawks - DaQuan Bowers, DE, ClemsonPatrick Kerney's retirement has hurt the Seahawks' pass rush greatly. Their defensive line is solid when healthy, but a defensive end is a pressing need.Bowers has finally lived up to his potential at Clemson, and he has 15 sacks this season.12. New England Patriots (from Oakland) - Mark Ingram, RB, AlabamaBenJarvus Green-Ellis has been a serviceable running back, but he isn't the long-term answer. They have little depth too, so Ingram would give them a better threat in the backfield.13. Washington Redskins - Julio Jones, WR, AlabamaMcNabb hasn't performed up to his $78 million extension, but having no receiving threat to throw to doesn't help matters. Santana Moss has been solid, but Anthony Armstrong and Joey Galloway are far from being No. 2 receivers.
Jones has been on fire lately, including a 10-catch, 199-yard game against Auburn. His potential is unlimited.14. Tennessee Titans - Cam Newton, QB, AuburnNewton's stock is rising every week. He's the frontrunner to win the Heisman, and ESPN has been talking about him as a top 10 prospect.Jeff Fisher and Vince Young aren't on the same page, so chances are a new QB will come to Tennessee, and Newton's upside will be too hard for Fisher to pass up.15. Houston Texans - Brandon Harris, CB, MiamiThe Texans' pass defense is even worse than the Cardinals'. Glover Quin should be benched. Harris is excellent in coverage, and if Kareem Jackson improves, their pass defense will improve greatly.Safety and defensive tackle are needs for the Texans too.16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
The Jaguars still lack a pass rush, and Aaron Kampman can't stay healthy, so defensive end is a major need.17. Miami Dolphins - Janoris Jenkins, CB, FloridaThe Dolphins' biggest need is at running back, but none of them are good enough to be drafted here, so the Dolphins are going with a cornerback. Vontae Davis has done well, but a threat across from him would improve their pass defense.18. Kansas City Chiefs - Von Miller, DE/LB, Texas A&MMiller's gone through injuries, but he's still having a solid year, and his potential as a pass rusher is sky high.Tamba Hali could use a threat across from him to take the pressure off of him.19. New York Giants - Travis Lewis, LB, OklahomaThe Giants could use some linebacker depth with Keith Bulluck aging, and Michael Boley is injury-prone.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Adrian Clayborn, DE, IowaThe Buccaneers started rebuilding their defensive line by drafting Gerald McCoy and Brian Price. Now it's time to complete it and take a defensive end.Clayborn hasn't done too well this season, but he's shown great potential in the past, so he'll be too hard to pass up.21. St. Louis Rams - Jonathan Baldwin, WR, PittsburghSam Bradford is somehow doing well as a rookie with no receivers to throw to.Baldwin has had a bad QB this year, so his stats look mediocre, but he'll shine in St. Louis, and Bradford's job will be much easier.22. Indianapolis Colts - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon StateThe Colts have a terrible run defense, and it's easy to get past them as long as you double-team Dwight Freeney since there's no threats up the middle. Paea is a great run-stuffer and can get some sacks, so drafting him would never allow 231 rushing yards in a game again.23. Chicago Bears - Anthony Castonzo, T, Boston CollegeThe Bears lead the league in sacks allowed, and they're lucky that no tackles are top Dallas Cowboys jersey
15 talents, so they might as well take advantage of that.24. Baltimore Ravens - Ras-I Dowling, CB, VirginiaDowling is a solid prospect who can play cornerback and safety, and cornerback depth needs to be filled for the Ravens with free agency looming.25. San Diego Chargers - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma StateVincent Jackson has been a huge pain for the Chargers this year, and despite his void, Philip Rivers has managed to be on pace to break Dan Marino's single-season yards record, so the Chargers may very likely opt to not re-sign him.Blackmon would replace Jackson as the true threat for Rivers, and he's posting incredible numbers at Oklahoma State. He has 102 catches, 1,665 yards, and 18 touchdowns.26. Philadelphia Eagles - Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi StateMichael Vick's comeback season has made it easy to forget how bad the Eagles' offensive line is. Jason Peters is aging and inconsistent, so a replacement at left tackle is the ideal choice for the Eagles.27. Green Bay Packers - Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia TechRyan Grant's injury has hurt the Packers' offense and forced Aaron Rodgers to carry it on his back, which he's done well at.Brandon Jackson is terrible, and Williams would make a much better backup to Grant. Their offense would be even more explosive with a better running game.28. Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Pouncey, G, FloridaThe Steelers have little depth on their offensive line, and they usually maintain depth in the trenches, and Maurkice would love to reunite with his brother.29. New Orleans Saints - Akeem Ayers, DE/LB, UCLAAyers is versatile, which fits the Saints' defense perfectly since they like to switch between the 4-3 and 3-4. Their pass rush could use some improvement.30. New York Jets - Cameron Jordan, DE/DT, CalThe Jets could use some more depth at defensive line, and Jordan has been having a solid season at Cal, worthy of being a first-round pick.31. Atlanta Falcons - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre DameRoddy White has been the best receiver in the NFL this year, and Matt Ryan has played like the franchise QB he was drafted to be, but he could use more weapons, especially considering Tony Gonzalez is contemplating retirement.Floyd isn't doing as well as last year with injuries, but he has first-round talent when healthy, and the offense could potentially become even more explosive than it already is.32. New England Patriots - Stefan Wisniewski, G, Penn StateThe Patriots will likely lose Logan Mankins, 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
and Stephen Neal said he's retiring after the 2011 season, so the Patriots will need depth at guard. As long as Brady stays protected, the Patriots' offense will continue to shine.If you have any writing tips, feel free to shoot me some, and leave your comments and discuss what you think of each pick and if you like your teams' pick. Tune in next week for another edition of a 2011 NFL mock draft.
3. Cincinnati Bengals - Robert Quinn, DE/LB, North CarolinaQuinn has had trouble with the NCAA along with other North Carolina players, but the Bengals aren't a team to put character concerns too heavily into consideration, and they have a glaring lack of a pass rush. They have the lowest amount of 6 Sanchez Green Jersey
sacks in the NFL with 11. Quinn would greatly improve their pass rush.4. Buffalo Bills - Nick Fairley, DE/DT, AuburnThe Bills miss out on a top five QB here, so the next best option for them is to draft a defensive lineman. They have zero pass rush, and their defense as a whole is terrible.Fairley has led Auburn's run defense, which has performed very well this season. His performance against Alabama shot his draft stock through the roof.5. Arizona Cardinals - Prince Amukamara, CB, NebraskaThe Cardinals' pass defense has been an embarrassment, possibly even more so than Derek Anderson lashing out at the reporter in his post-game interview.
Amukamara is the leader of Nebraska's defense and was always just as big a part of their success as Ndamukong Suh when he was there.Ryan Mallett will be the pick if they pass on Amukamara, but considering their pass defense woes, Amukamara will be too hard to ignore. They may sign a veteran QB, who knows? Maybe McNabb or Favre will come to Arizona.6. Denver Broncos - Marcell Dareus, DE/DT, AlabamaDefensive line is a glaring issue for the Broncos. They have no pass rush with Elvis Dumervil out and can't stop the run.7. Dallas Cowboys - Allen Bailey, DE/DT, MiamiIgor Olshansky and Marcus Spears don't belong in the starting lineup, especially Olshansky.Bailey would be an upgrade as a 3-4 defensive end. Offensive line is the most glaring issue for the Cowboys, but no tackles are worth taking in the top 10. Trading down is a possibility.
8. San Francisco 49ers - Ryan Mallett, QB, ArkansasTroy Smith was unspectacular against the Cardinals' pass defense, so he isn't the long-term answer at QB.Mike Singletary is in danger of getting fired, so the 49ers will likely draft a new QB.9. Minnesota Vikings - Jake Locker, QB, WashingtonLocker hasn't played like a top 10 pick, but his potential alone will make the Vikings give him a chance, and he can't be any worse than Brett Favre has been this year.Brad Childress' departure will also cause the Vikings to draft a new QB since new coaches usually start with QBs. Tarvaris Jackson won't be giving the starting job either and may not even be a Viking next season.10. Cleveland Browns - A.J. Green, WR, GeorgiaColt McCoy has surprisingly done well as a rookie, but he has nobody to throw to. Peyton Hillis has given the Browns a great running game, and Montario Hardesty's return will make it even better.
Green gives McCoy a true receiving threat, and some say he's one of 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
the greatest prospects in a long time.11. Seattle Seahawks - DaQuan Bowers, DE, ClemsonPatrick Kerney's retirement has hurt the Seahawks' pass rush greatly. Their defensive line is solid when healthy, but a defensive end is a pressing need.Bowers has finally lived up to his potential at Clemson, and he has 15 sacks this season.12. New England Patriots (from Oakland) - Mark Ingram, RB, AlabamaBenJarvus Green-Ellis has been a serviceable running back, but he isn't the long-term answer. They have little depth too, so Ingram would give them a better threat in the backfield.13. Washington Redskins - Julio Jones, WR, AlabamaMcNabb hasn't performed up to his $78 million extension, but having no receiving threat to throw to doesn't help matters. Santana Moss has been solid, but Anthony Armstrong and Joey Galloway are far from being No. 2 receivers.
Jones has been on fire lately, including a 10-catch, 199-yard game against Auburn. His potential is unlimited.14. Tennessee Titans - Cam Newton, QB, AuburnNewton's stock is rising every week. He's the frontrunner to win the Heisman, and ESPN has been talking about him as a top 10 prospect.Jeff Fisher and Vince Young aren't on the same page, so chances are a new QB will come to Tennessee, and Newton's upside will be too hard for Fisher to pass up.15. Houston Texans - Brandon Harris, CB, MiamiThe Texans' pass defense is even worse than the Cardinals'. Glover Quin should be benched. Harris is excellent in coverage, and if Kareem Jackson improves, their pass defense will improve greatly.Safety and defensive tackle are needs for the Texans too.16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
The Jaguars still lack a pass rush, and Aaron Kampman can't stay healthy, so defensive end is a major need.17. Miami Dolphins - Janoris Jenkins, CB, FloridaThe Dolphins' biggest need is at running back, but none of them are good enough to be drafted here, so the Dolphins are going with a cornerback. Vontae Davis has done well, but a threat across from him would improve their pass defense.18. Kansas City Chiefs - Von Miller, DE/LB, Texas A&MMiller's gone through injuries, but he's still having a solid year, and his potential as a pass rusher is sky high.Tamba Hali could use a threat across from him to take the pressure off of him.19. New York Giants - Travis Lewis, LB, OklahomaThe Giants could use some linebacker depth with Keith Bulluck aging, and Michael Boley is injury-prone.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Adrian Clayborn, DE, IowaThe Buccaneers started rebuilding their defensive line by drafting Gerald McCoy and Brian Price. Now it's time to complete it and take a defensive end.Clayborn hasn't done too well this season, but he's shown great potential in the past, so he'll be too hard to pass up.21. St. Louis Rams - Jonathan Baldwin, WR, PittsburghSam Bradford is somehow doing well as a rookie with no receivers to throw to.Baldwin has had a bad QB this year, so his stats look mediocre, but he'll shine in St. Louis, and Bradford's job will be much easier.22. Indianapolis Colts - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon StateThe Colts have a terrible run defense, and it's easy to get past them as long as you double-team Dwight Freeney since there's no threats up the middle. Paea is a great run-stuffer and can get some sacks, so drafting him would never allow 231 rushing yards in a game again.23. Chicago Bears - Anthony Castonzo, T, Boston CollegeThe Bears lead the league in sacks allowed, and they're lucky that no tackles are top Dallas Cowboys jersey
15 talents, so they might as well take advantage of that.24. Baltimore Ravens - Ras-I Dowling, CB, VirginiaDowling is a solid prospect who can play cornerback and safety, and cornerback depth needs to be filled for the Ravens with free agency looming.25. San Diego Chargers - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma StateVincent Jackson has been a huge pain for the Chargers this year, and despite his void, Philip Rivers has managed to be on pace to break Dan Marino's single-season yards record, so the Chargers may very likely opt to not re-sign him.Blackmon would replace Jackson as the true threat for Rivers, and he's posting incredible numbers at Oklahoma State. He has 102 catches, 1,665 yards, and 18 touchdowns.26. Philadelphia Eagles - Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi StateMichael Vick's comeback season has made it easy to forget how bad the Eagles' offensive line is. Jason Peters is aging and inconsistent, so a replacement at left tackle is the ideal choice for the Eagles.27. Green Bay Packers - Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia TechRyan Grant's injury has hurt the Packers' offense and forced Aaron Rodgers to carry it on his back, which he's done well at.Brandon Jackson is terrible, and Williams would make a much better backup to Grant. Their offense would be even more explosive with a better running game.28. Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Pouncey, G, FloridaThe Steelers have little depth on their offensive line, and they usually maintain depth in the trenches, and Maurkice would love to reunite with his brother.29. New Orleans Saints - Akeem Ayers, DE/LB, UCLAAyers is versatile, which fits the Saints' defense perfectly since they like to switch between the 4-3 and 3-4. Their pass rush could use some improvement.30. New York Jets - Cameron Jordan, DE/DT, CalThe Jets could use some more depth at defensive line, and Jordan has been having a solid season at Cal, worthy of being a first-round pick.31. Atlanta Falcons - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre DameRoddy White has been the best receiver in the NFL this year, and Matt Ryan has played like the franchise QB he was drafted to be, but he could use more weapons, especially considering Tony Gonzalez is contemplating retirement.Floyd isn't doing as well as last year with injuries, but he has first-round talent when healthy, and the offense could potentially become even more explosive than it already is.32. New England Patriots - Stefan Wisniewski, G, Penn StateThe Patriots will likely lose Logan Mankins, 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
and Stephen Neal said he's retiring after the 2011 season, so the Patriots will need depth at guard. As long as Brady stays protected, the Patriots' offense will continue to shine.If you have any writing tips, feel free to shoot me some, and leave your comments and discuss what you think of each pick and if you like your teams' pick. Tune in next week for another edition of a 2011 NFL mock draft.
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