tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82817111694831030692024-03-13T08:08:02.376-07:00Blog Is My Medium, Sport Is My MessageAs Marshall McLuhan would say, "The medium is the message." This blog will take a look at various sporting aspects and I will provide my take on what it all means.Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-17826536255155495592015-04-16T00:39:00.001-07:002015-04-17T23:43:22.382-07:00Lakers Franchise Worst Season Finally Over (4.15.15)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's finally f****** over.<br />
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82 games, 61 losses, the worst season in Los Angeles Lakers history, expired. </div>
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The caustic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlnUWXBzATs" target="_blank">dread of winning</a> can finally be let go. The numbness of losing can be forgotten, and hopefully, lead to a catharsis of sorts as the Lakers have an 83% chance of nabbing a top-5 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. </div>
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83%, that's what this entire season has been all about. Either the Lakers land in the top-5 of the draft, or their pick will go to the Philadelphia 76ers, and this season will be even more of a worthless endeavor.</div>
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There was a time for optimism, but that came shattering down in the fourth quarter of the first game of the season. Julius Randle broke his leg, and it was clear, this season was going to be a purgatory of sorts. </div>
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Despite the lack of hope, and the terrible product on the court, I watched every single minute of the first 43 games, aka, the games (mostly) featuring Kobe Bryant and his (gulp) 37% shooting (after starting the first 27 games, Bryant sat out 8 of the next 16).</div>
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Since then, I've had every single game on, but my focus waned. Simply put, for the final 25 games or so, the game was on in the background, and I'd only really start paying attention if the score was close entering the fourth quarter. I'd perk up if I heard Stu Lantz get excited, but other than that, watching Jordan Hill isolations, Jeremy Lin turnovers, and Wesley Johnson clanks was just too much to take. It was nice to watch Jordan Clarkson play meaningful minutes and develop into a possible All-Rookie First Team guard, but watching his emergence always carried a stinging edge, as Randle should have been doing the same damn thing.</div>
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Oddly enough, I enjoyed watching those first 43 games. The Lakers were just 12-31, but Bryant showed that he still had a lot left in the tank. I felt that he displayed enough to prove that a halfway decent supporting cast around him could at least lead to a competitive race to the playoffs in the gauntlet known as the Western Conference.</div>
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But, then it happened, again. Bryant went strong to the rim, flushed home a two handed dunk, and tore his rotator cuff. Another basketball play that Bryant has made thousands of times, another season ending injury. Father time truly is undefeated. I thought Bryant had a chance to take him 12 rounds, but it seems he can't get out of the 10th. </div>
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Bryant can still be very productive, and I really love his transition to that of a playmaker, but long gone are the days of 50-point explosions and carrying a team on his back. Bryant needs help, and despite his erosion, he definitely has the tools to make others better. The best moment of the season had to be Bryant dishing out a c<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAa2JkDP3DU" target="_blank">areer-high 17 assists</a> against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, it is clear, a caving defense on a soon to be 37-year-old perimeter player is just too much to overcome without surrounding talent to keep the defense honest. </div>
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Sadly, Bryant won't be receiving that help this summer. Sure, another top draft pick, Randle, the emerging Clarkson, there's some real pieces there, but it won't all come together anytime soon, and Bryant is doomed to one last hellish season. For a player that went to seven NBA finals in a stretch of ten seasons, this sort of ending must be preordained. The man won his first championship at the age of 21, something only Magic Johnson can relate to (and possibly Kawhi Leonard if his career plays out as it should), but his last meaningful playoff game came at the age of 33. </div>
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There will be no Duncanesque renaissance, no Michel Jordan "Last Shot," Bryant's end will be, sadly, irrelevant (much like Jordan's Wizards tenure in fact - I remember watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE8fgi_3iDI" target="_blank">Allen Iverson hug Jordan</a> after blowing him out and hanging 35 on him, to Jordan's 15; it was such an odd moment, the love was profound, but the insignificance of the game clouded the celebrated ending, especially considering how Jordan called it quits the previous time). </div>
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Assuming guys like LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, Robin Lopez, and Greg Monroe aren't signed by the Lakers this offseason, Bryant's Lakers won't sniff the playoffs (if you are paying attention, I purposely did not mention Rajon Rando, his lack of shooting/spacing ability just won't work with the Lakers, and stunting Clarkson's growth would not be wise). Hell, with Bryant's recent injury history, it wouldn't surprise me to see him play about 50 games or so before having to shut it down again.</div>
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But, wait! Such season ending injuries, ironically, may actually extend Bryant's career. With 55,000 career minutes on his odometer, 8,600 of which are playoff minutes (which should count as double), is it possible that the 4,400 minutes played in the past three seasons may actually be a good thing for Bryant (3,000 of which were in 2012-13)? Is it possible that there could be a Duncanesque renaissance? It certainly won't be next season, but the season after? Bryant could finally shut up his detractors that have been dogging him for taking a two year, $48.5 million extension by taking a Duncan/Nowitzki deal in 2016-17, likely a one or two year deal on the cheap if he feels confident the Lakers can sign a superstar free agent and contend for one last run.</div>
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There certainly will be options for the 2016-17 season. Kevin Durant will be available in the summer of 2016, as will Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Al Jefferson, and mid-to-upper tier guys such as Goran Dragic, Danilo Gallinari, Thaddeus Young, and Mike Conley, and if they opt in for 2015, LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Brook Lopez, and if they opt out for the 2016 season, Chris Paul, DeMar DeRozan, and Chandler Parsons. That's a whole lot of talent that will be available in one summer. </div>
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Question is, will Bryant make it past his 20th season? He's given numerous indications that 2015-16 will be his final season, but I interpreted many of those comments as jabs at the front office to put some talent around him in a hurry. Assuming Randle turns into a real player, the Lakers land a promising rookie in the draft, Clarkson continues improving, and Bryant shows he still has enough in the tank, the Lakers would really be a prime spot for a marquee free agent (odd to say, considering the Lakers have always been a prime spot for marquee free agents). Not even the stink of Jim Buss could deter free agents if those scenarious play out.</div>
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If patience is something Bryant is willing to practice, it could pay dividends. Bryant certainly can't feel great about Duncan stealing his title as the "Best Player of His Generation," especially when it came so late in the game. Bryant held that title for so damn long, and then Duncan made two Finals runs, and beat James and the Miami Heat to match Bryant's five rings. Add up the years of 50+ consecutive wins, the years of steady playoff runs, and the title of "Greatest Power Forward of All-Time," and Duncan has pulled off an upset of sorts. In my eyes, Duncan can't touch Bryant's sheer magnetism, he can't touch repeat championships (a real knock in my eyes), and he can't touch seven Finals appearances in ten seasons, but in the eyes of others, Duncan's consistent winning, and his latest championship at the age of 37 have put him over the top. No doubt, the competitive drive of Bryant has to be churning. Bryant has mentioned his <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/11875566/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-envious-continuity-san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank">envy of Duncan's consistency,</a> from teammates, to coach Popovich, to the front office, so I'm quite sure he would like to prove that he can age just as gracefully.</div>
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Overall, Lakers fans that stuck with this team over the past couple of seasons can lay claim to being true fans. We've finally experienced the torment that every single franchise has had to undergo at one point or another. We've suffered the downturn. We've rooted for lottery odds. We've been disappointed by Clarkson game winning layups. No franchise has stayed up for so long, missing the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since the 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons isn't so terrible. We <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2014/05/mike-dantoni-resigns-rejoice-la-43014.html" target="_blank">no longer have Mike D'Antoni</a> parading the sidelines, at least that's a positive (Bryon Scott has taken some hits, but his player development of Clarkson, Tarik Black, Ed Davis, and Jabari Brown cannot be overlooked, and the effort he got from his squad despite the losing record was admirable). We have some young talent that may potentially serve as a damn good nucleus for years to come. And we still have Kobe. </div>
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At the very worst, next season will be our final terrible season in a long time. At the very best, the Lakers may turn this thing around and jump right back into contention in less than a year (come on Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook riffs, I'm counting on you <a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-russell-westbrook-kevin-durant-oklahoma-city-thunder-sports-media/" target="_blank">Oklahoma City media!</a>). Either way, this crappy season is over, and for the first time all season, great basketball will be on every night (at least in the Western Conference). Enjoy the playoffs everybody, we'll be back there soon enough.</div>
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Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-5006296378587780152014-05-01T02:08:00.004-07:002014-05-09T01:17:21.878-07:00Mike D'Antoni Resigns, Rejoice LA (4.30.14)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Los Angeles has yet another reason to celebrate.<br />
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On Wednesday, April 30, 2014, Mike D'Antoni tendered his resignation as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Pop bottles everyone!<br />
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Fresh off the heels of the historic Donald Sterling ban for life, and just prior to the Los Angeles Kings epic comeback from a 3-0 series deficit to win Game 7 against the San Jose Sharks, the announcement that D'Antoni decided to step down from his putrid reign rang loud, to considerable cheers<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;"> — </span>check <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2047500-magic-johnson-tweets-he-couldnt-be-happier-about-mike-dantonis-resignation" target="_blank">Magic Johnson's take</a> on Twitter.<br />
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While this proceeding isn't anywhere near as historically significant as championing civil rights, or becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to come back and win following a 3-0 series deficit, it sure does feel good.<br />
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How could it not?<br />
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The D'Antoni era was absolutely atrocious. Everything about it was just terrible. Seriously, it was awful <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>do I need to add more synonyms here? It was unprecedented, an abomination to the standard of excellence historically promoted by Lakers basketball.<br />
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First and foremost, D'Antoni was chosen over the greatest head coach in all of professional sports<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;"> — </span>it was all downhill from here.<span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span><br />
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This decision came after the <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/11/rapid-reaction-mike-brown-fired-11912.html" target="_blank">hasty, panicked decision</a> to fire coach Mike Brown just five games into the 2012-13 season.<span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span>To make matters worse, it was clear that Phil Jackson desired to return as head coach of the Lakers, thus making Jim Buss's skeevy decision to hire D'Antoni on a late Sunday night just hours before Jackson's final decision <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/11/lakers-hire-mike-dantoni-wrong-choice.html" target="_blank">all the more distressing.</a><br />
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Even worse, it was speculated that D'Antoni was chosen due to his relationship with Steve Nash, a 38-year-old point guard that fractured his leg in the second game of the season. Nash would not play for two months following the injury, and he would never fully recover to his former level of play, as nerve damage would wreck his body, and game.<br />
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Then, fresh off of knee surgery, D'Antoni could not even coach the team for just under two weeks. In this time, the interim head coach, Bernie Bickerstaff, led the team to a 4-1 record. Once D'Antoni finally arrived to the sideline, the team got off to a slow start with a 4-9 record in his first 13 games as head coach.<br />
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In fact, in just his third game of the season, D'Antoni benched Pau Gasol the entire fourth quarter of a close game against the Memphis Grizzles. After the game, D'Antoni bluntly stated, "I was thinking 'Oh, I'd like to win this game.'" Within a couple of weeks, D'Antoni would remove Gasol from the starting lineup in favor of Earl Clark. Who? Exactly.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><br />
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From there, the team kept sliding with a 12-20 record under D'Antoni by the midway point of the season, and an overall team record of 17-25, good for 12th place in the Western Conference. Rumors were rampant of team discord, especially among the newly acquired superstar, Dwight Howard, and the old guard, Kobe Bryant.<br />
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With Bryant delivering an all-time season for a 34-year-old shooting guard, and Howard clearly laboring from offseason back surgery, things were not cordial <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>on numerous occasions Bryant challenged Howard to essentially man up and play better, this was not taken well.<br />
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Stuck smack dab in the middle of it was D'Antoni, a man trying to suck up to Howard in an effort to make sure he re-signed with the Lakers, while truly knowing that he needed Bryant to carry the team to victories.<br />
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Then, things began to turn around. The Lakers actually began to play smart, cohesive basketball. The squad began to play hard, unwilling to become the first team featuring four future Hall of Famers to miss the playoffs, and they finished 28-12 in the second half of the season <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>sneaking into the playoffs in the ultra-competitive Western Conference with the seventh seed.<br />
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However, such stellar play would not last. In the 80th game of the season, Bryant <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/04/kobe-bryant-injured-torn-achilles-41313.html" target="_blank">tore his achilles.</a> Some attributed this injury to the heavy minutes D'Antoni was allotting Bryant <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>in the game prior to tearing his achilles, Bryant played all 48 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers on the second night of a back to back, delivering an epic, all-time performance in the process. I refuse to blame D'Antoni for Bryant's injury, however, such sentiment is held by a large faction.<br />
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Following that came a 4-0 sweep in the opening round of the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs, and Howard's departure in free agency. Clearly miffed that the team did not sign Jackson, Howard chose a new running mate in James Harden, and in an unprecedented move, he opted for $30 million less to join the Houston Rockets, leaving the Lakers in the dust despite some <a href="http://nba.si.com/2013/06/26/dwight-howard-free-agency-lakers-billboard-staples-center-los-angeles/" target="_blank">desperate ad campaigns.</a><br />
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This past season, 2013-14, just about everything went wrong. Injury after injury absolutely decimated the team <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>at one point, there seemed to be a point guard curse as Nash, Steve Blake, Jordan Farmar, and then wing-turned-point-guard Xavier Henry, all suffered consecutive injuries that kept them out for extended stretches, one after another.<br />
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Even worse, Bryant returned from his achilles injury in the 20th game of the season, with the Lakers sporting a respectable 10-9 record, only to fracture his kneecap just six games later, effectively ending his season. Nash would play in just 15 games. Gasol would soldier on, flanked by players on one year contracts and D-League call-ups, for 60 dispiriting games before finally calling it a season due to "vertigo."<br />
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With a 27-55 record, the Lakers finished with the worst record in the history of the franchise since moving to Los Angeles <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>and just behind the 19-53 record of the 1957-58 Minneapolis Lakers.<br />
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If that two year run isn't one of the worst ever, tell me what is,<span style="font-family: Cambria;"> e</span>specially for this franchise <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>from championship expectations to bottom of the West in dramatic fashion. Clearly D'Antoni did not get the fairest of shakes <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>Nick Young may have <a href="http://larrybrownsports.com/basketball/nick-young-iggy-azalea-shouldnt-be-legal-mike-dantoni/226408" target="_blank">said it best</a> nearly two weeks ago, stating in a drunken haze, "Damn man, that's a shame what happened to D'Antoni."<br />
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Obviously, everything was not D'Antoni's fault. His 67-87 coaching record in his near two full seasons were not completely his doing. He clearly did not have a team suited to his style of play.<br />
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He had to deal with a petulant superstar that refused to run the pick and roll <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">—</span> a staple of D'Antoni's system<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;"> —</span> and was far more interested in his long term future. He also had to deal with a win at all costs, stubborn, "I have five rings, let's do it my way," super-duper-star. He battled with a big man that did not fit his style of play at all, hindering his coveted stretch-four type of system. Lastly, he had a broken down point guard that likely could have provided the necessary rock for the team, but instead proved to be the first breakdown, and symbolic demise, of the entire operation.<br />
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No, it's not all D'Antoni's fault, that's safe to say. But that certainly does not mean that he should have coached next season either.<br />
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He struggled to adapt his coaching style to the type of team he had to work with. He clearly did not emphasize strong, sound defensive principles. He failed to make Howard and Bryant a devastating combo. He alienated Gasol in his third game as head coach. He hitched his wagon to a broken down point guard, and failed to have a reliable backup plan that could take the team in a different direction.<br />
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Furthermore, disinterest in the Lakers reached an all-time high under D'Antoni's reign. The Lakers suffered nine non-sellouts at Staples Center this past season, with the first non-sellout snapping a 320 home sellout streak. Even more damning, Time Warner Cable SportsNet's ratings dropped 55% compared to the prior season. To make matters worse, the Los Angeles Clippers, once the laughingstock of the NBA, became the darling of Los Angeles, posting their greatest season ever in what could be construed as a modern day Shakespearean comedy.<br />
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Overall, D'Antoni was clearly despised by the fan base, and with every loss, the calls for his firing grew <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>hell, listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piuYzD05tqw" target="_blank">these chants</a> just days before D'Antoni's hiring, the man had no chance. With a comparison to Jackson hanging over his head throughout his entire reign, D'Antoni could not come out on top.<br />
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Historically, the D'Antoni period served as the worst of the franchise. D'Antoni finished with the worst win percentage (minimum 100 games) in franchise history, amassing a deplorable .435 record. Furthermore, D'Antoni became the first Lakers coach to not tally at least one playoff victory in his first two seasons with the team.<br />
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With management making it clear that they would not be picking up his fourth year team option, a decision that would have relegated D'Antoni to lame duck status for next season before his assumed dismissal, D'Antoni, not wanting to be a pawn, and essentially, a scapegoat in the Lakers rebuilding process, chose the high road and resigned.<br />
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Thank goodness.<br />
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Honestly, that's the best move D'Antoni has made in two seasons <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>and hey, he settled for a compensation of more than half of his upcoming salary due next season.<br />
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Now the question is, who's next?<br />
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Thankfully there are plenty of great candidates: Byron Scott, Lionel Hollins, Kevin Ollie, John Calipari, George Karl, the Van Gundy brothers, Kurt Rambis, and recent Lakers such as Tyronn Lue, Mark Madsen, and possibly, even Derek Fisher, as well as an out of the box candidate, Ettore Messina. Any of these guys will be welcomed as a breath of fresh air.<br />
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After the disastrous run of the past two years, fresh air is about all Lakers fans can ask for <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>and, fortunately for the next guy, with Jackson clearly out of the running, the fan base can move forward. Whoever is hired, he will likely be the antithesis of D'Antoni in just about every aspect, from demeanor to style of play, expect major changes.<br />
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Just know, the Lakers probably won't be very good <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2014/03/its-not-ego-preventing-jim-buss-from.html" target="_blank">next season</a> <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>can't blame D'Antoni for that one. However, the following season, expect the Lakers to be right back in the thick of things <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">— </span>with Jimmy Buss's <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24533828/lakers-owner-jim-buss-says-hell-step-down-if-lakers-dont-return-to-contender-status" target="_blank">self-appointed contention mandate,</a> the pressure is on to make up for the D'Antoni disaster.<br />
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Next season, the new coach can develop the top lottery pick, and Bryant can prove that he is back as the "Mamba." The following season, Bryant, possibly in his final as a pro, will likely be teamed with one superstar free agent, possibly two, that lottery pick, and hopefully, some solid role playing talent.<br />
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It shouldn't be long before the Lakers are contending once again, and this head coaching change is the first step in that direction.<br />
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Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-84946789537738448822014-03-12T22:55:00.001-07:002014-05-09T01:17:10.617-07:00It's Not Ego Preventing Jim Buss from Hiring Phil Jackson (3.12.14)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With Phil Jackson's eventual signing as the president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks, a wave of criticism is being cast toward Jim Buss, the current executive vice president of player personnel for the Los Angeles Lakers <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">—</span> otherwise known as the bumbling son of the late, great, Dr. Jerry Buss.<br />
<br />
Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, two cornerstones of the franchise, are just the latest to make a call for action <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10596904/kobe-bryant-magic-johnson-challenge-los-angeles-lakers-management" target="_blank">"at the top,"</a> meanwhile, reporters and analysts have been hounding Jim's decisions since his promotion to a more prominent role in the franchise back in 2005.<br />
<br />
According to multiple reports, it was the dying wish of Dr. Buss for his son, Jim, to run the basketball side of the Lakers, while his adored daughter, Jeanie, would run the business side of the franchise. While not necessarily an oppressive form of patriarchy, this ruling has surely had its faults, and it has led to the demise of the Lakers organization, including what is amounting to be the worst season in the history of the franchise.<br />
<br />
Things have not gone quite so smoothly throughout the Jim Buss era, notably his failed head coaching hires of Rudy Tomjanovich, Mike Brown, and Mike D'Antoni, to the recent spurning from Dwight Howard <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">— </span>the first big name player to ever leave the Lakers with big money on the table. Jim's most egregious failure certainly has to be the dangling of a head coaching gig over Jackson's head in 2012 before abruptly hiring D'Antoni <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">— </span>this failure led to numerous, thundering, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqSiohj1h4E" target="_blank">We want Phil</a>," chants, including, memorably, the night Shaquille O' Neal's jersey was retired.<br />
<br />
Clearly, things have not gone quite as planned under Jim's reign. While the Lakers have enjoyed considerable success throughout his time, including two championships, and three consecutive NBA Finals appearances, many attribute such success to the efforts of Jackson in tandem with an all-time great in Bryant, and veteran talents such as Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Derek Fisher <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">— </span>and undoubtedly, Dr. Buss's willingness to spend money and pay the luxury tax.<br />
<br />
Now, with the Lakers at their lowest, Los Angeles is clamoring for Jackson's return, a beacon of hope, with the desire that he turn around the franchise. The claim that the Lakers are to be a "<a href="http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20130218/jerry-buss-family-will-honor-his-wishes-and-keep-lakers" target="_blank">family run business</a>," doesn't necessarily hold credence considering the fact that Jackson is engaged to Jeanie, and the two are soon to be married. His last name may not be Buss, but it is clear that Jackson carries the best interests of the Lakers with him. So what gives?<br />
<br />
Well, obviously, ego. Hiring Jackson at this point in time to be the president of basketball operations would ultimately mean that Jim would, essentially, be firing himself. Lakers fans surely want Jim to sacrifice such ego for the better of the franchise, and <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/jeannie-buss-describes-betrayal-she-felt-lakers-hired-213459038--nba.html" target="_blank">Jeanie has certainly endorsed Jackson</a>, but this just isn't going to happen. Jim is not going to step aside for his condescending brother-in-law. He clearly has problems with Jackson that run deeper than a workplace relationship, and despite Jackson's wealth of basketball knowledge, he simply has no interest in hiring him to take his place at the top of the mountain.<br />
<br />
And I can understand why. It really isn't all that difficult to comprehend. It's not just ego, or spite, that is holding Jim back, it is the almost certain promise of redemption. It is the, "I can do this, I can be great," mentality. It is the need to prove himself. It is the desire to live up to his father's dying wish, the hunger for credibility.<br />
<br />
Jim believes that in two to three years, the Lakers are once again going to be the marquee franchise of the NBA. Simply put, Jim does not want Jackson claiming credit for "turning the franchise around," he believes he can do it himself.<br />
<br />
And honestly, he's probably right. While the Lakers could definitely use Jackson as a head coach, that is not the position Jackson desires, thus making Jackson rather superfluous in the ability for the franchise to once again be a contender. The Lakers are set up rather nicely for a relatively quick reload, and Jim knows it.<br />
<br />
So how exactly are the Lakers going to turn this thing around?<br />
<br />
Well, this coming summer, the Lakers will land a lottery draft pick in what is considered one of the most talented draft classes in a long time <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">—</span> a first for the franchise since Andrew Bynum went 10th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. This pick is going to be the future of the franchise, whether it is Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, Dante Exum, or Marcus Smart. Each of these guys is considered to be supremely talented, and while none of them may be on the level of a transformational player such as LeBron James or Kevin Durant, each of them possess considerable upside.<br />
<br />
Then there's the summer of 2015 when it is all but assumed that Kevin Love is going to become a Laker in free agency<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> — </span>and if the Timberwolves are competent in any form, they should trade him before he straight up leaves them. If Love isn't nabbed, there are numerous talented options: Rajon Rondo, Kyrie Irving, LaMarcus Aldridge, Roy Hibbert, Marc Gasol, Nikola Vucevic, Klay Thompson, and Kawhi Leonard, among others. There's plenty of big names here, and certainly one of these guys won't mind a huge pay day while leading the turnaround of the franchise. With plenty of cap room, the Lakers can sign any of these free agents to a max deal.<br />
<br />
And that is just the beginning. That 2015-16 season will likely be Bryant's last, as his current two year extension will expire. With a top-flite free agent, a budding young draft pick, and an all-time great leading the squad, the Lakers will likely make some noise in the playoffs <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">— </span>not necessarily championship noise, but surely advancement in the postseason, a great building block for sure.<br />
<br />
Following that, comes the summer of 2016, with the likes of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Andre Drummond, Joakim Noah, Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, and Harrison Barnes all available as free agents.<br />
<br />
Depending upon Bryant, the Lakers may or may not have room for these 2016 free agents. Bryant's current extension will be expired, but he may not be ready to retire <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">—</span> especially if he feels that the first year of his extension was wasted. If he does retire, the Lakers, if wise in their signings, will certainly have the cap room to offer one of them a max contract to team with Love and the budding young draftee of 2014 who will still be on a cheap rookie deal. If Bryant decides to instead come back, he certainly won't cost himself a shot at championship number six by demanding top dollar, and instead, he'll much more likely be willing to accommodate the franchise in the hopes of bringing another max level free agent to the franchise.<br />
<br />
So let's run this down. Top level draft pick in 2014. Top level free agent in 2015. Possible top level free agent in 2016. Unfortunately, the Lakers will not accumulate a top draft pick in 2015, that pick belongs to the Phoenix Suns due to the ill-fated Steve Nash trade. Despite this blunder, and the unknown future of Bryant, the Lakers are set up to reload relatively quickly.<br />
<br />
Yes, a two to three year wait for greatness seems like a long time for Lakers' fans accustomed to championships, however, it's really not that long in the grand scheme of things, and as Jim sees it, it's not like Jackson is going to make this process move along any faster.<br />
<br />
If Jim truly felt that he wouldn't be able to turn the franchise around, I believe that he would bite the bullet, even with all of the past transgressions, but at this point in time, that just isn't the case. Jackson is sure to bring an aura of greatness to New York, but that is a franchise that hasn't done anything of importance since 1972-73. Jackson's impact will be far greater in New York than it would be in Los Angeles. The Knicks need Jackson to counteract the failure of Jim Dolan's ownership. Meanwhile, the Lakers are just four seasons removed from their last championship.<br />
<br />
No matter what, the Lakers are going to have to wait a couple of seasons to once again be great. Next season will likely be rough once again, but as soon as the 2014-15 season ends, things will be looking up. If you think free agents are going to avoid Los Angeles, a marquee franchise with championship pedigree, Hollywood endorsements, the night life, the weather, the beach, and everything else that comes with the franchise, you, simply, are wrong.<br />
<br />
Howard may have put a scare in the franchise, but he undoubtedly is an aberration, not the norm. Howard isn't necessarily a young star, and he saw the writing on the wall for the Lakers' problems, as well as the opportunity for immediate success in Houston. His decision had more to do with basketball reasons relative to his age than anything else.<br />
<br />
Simply put, Jim Buss will lead the Lakers back to prominence, and when everyone is kissing his ass, he'll beam with an "I told you so," arrogance, an air of intellectual superiority. In actuality, he may have more in common with his father than we know.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-47057165698060646552013-11-26T01:34:00.005-08:002014-05-09T01:16:55.991-07:00Mixed Reactions to Kobe Bryant's $48.5 Million Extension (11.25.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I wrote about 90% of it.<br />
<br />
It was a difficult piece to write. It was lengthy. It had to explain too much.<br />
<br />
It simply, was too much work, required far too much nuance.<br />
<br />
And I nearly got to the point of hitting "publish." But as I wound down to the end, I began to reconsider some things. I began to wonder, "Maybe this isn't so bad."<br />
<br />
As I recounted my years of perspective regarding Kobe Bryant, I realized, "This is the reality of the situation."<br />
<br />
I tried to write a piece that would explain my support of all things Bryant despite his complex character. It started in the beginning and wound up to the present. It dealt with his early showboating, his labels of "selfish," and "uncoachable," his alpha-feud with Shaquille O'Neal, his struggle to play "Robin" although he had the talent to play "Batman," his devalued championships as a "1B," his struggles as "The Man," his renaissance as a champion and a "mature" leader, his recent early postseason exits, and finally, his devastating achilles injury.<br />
<br />
I'll get to all of those topics one day with an exhaustive piece, but this wasn't the forum to examine Bryant's career in the context of questioning his worth.<br />
<br />
I was going to defend many of Bryant's polarizing topics, and then flip the switch and question Bryant's decision to sign a two-year, $48.5 million extension, something that seems to cripple the Lakers chances of winning a championship anytime soon. But as I wound down the piece, I just knew that questioning Bryant wasn't the answer. My cynicism regarding Bryant's championship aspirations quickly dissipated.<br />
<br />
Instead, I wondered, "What's the plan? What is management's plan?"<br />
<br />
I am interested to know the pitch management gave to Bryant regarding the two year forecast that must have been presented to him. Bryant is an intelligent, savvy individual, one that sees through bs.<br />
<br />
Regardless of what the pitch was, Bryant signed off on it. Could he be a money hungry former great looking for one last paycheck? Sure, I guess that is within the realm of possibility.<br />
<br />
However, this is Kobe Bryant we are talking about.<br />
<br />
This is a five time champion.<br />
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This is someone who has stated, "It's win a championship or everything is a complete failure."<br />
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This is a man after number six, after Michael Jordan, after the ability to flash rings on each hand.<br />
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So what's the issue?<br />
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Well, it appears that Bryant's large hold on the Lakers salary cap hinders the organization's ability to win another championship before Bryant's contract expires in 2016.<br />
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Unable to sign two max-player free agents in the coming summers of 2014 and 2015, the Lakers will be unable to give Bryant a "super-team." Say goodbye to the pipe dream of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony signing with the Lakers this summer. And depending upon what the Lakers do this coming summer, forget about landing Kevin Love in free agency in the summer of 2015.<br />
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Even worse, Bryant's extension likely spells the end of Pau Gasol as a Laker. Gasol could take a massive discount to stay with the team while keeping the cap open, but I doubt that is a realistic option given Gasol's talent and his generally unappreciated tenure with the organization. It also signals the end of Steve Nash. Nash will likely be waived this summer with a stretch provision that will clear $10 million in cap room, giving the Lakers $28.5 million in cap space this coming summer.<br />
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Essentially, it will be Bryant, and some other big name, and a collection of fringe talents. Or it will be Bryant, Gasol, some other big name, and a collection of fringe talents. Or it could disastrously just be Bryant, but I have serious doubts about that happening. Either way, it seems like Bryant isn't all that interested in piecing together a super-team.<br />
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All of this leads to the question of "Why didn't Bryant take a huge pay cut in order to free cap space for future free agents?"<br />
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Well, first let's get the math out of the way. Eligible to receive up to a 5% increase in salary under the current collective bargaining agreement, Bryant could have negotiated for up to $32 million for his 2015 salary and gone with an even bigger extension. So, technically, he did take a substantial pay cut with his $23.5 million and $25 million earnings for 2015 and 2016. In fact, he took $7 million less than what he is earning this season, and $8.5 million less than what he could have demanded for the 2015 season. Furthermore, the late Dr. Jerry Buss once revealed that he believed Bryant was worth $60 to $70 million a year to the Lakers, so let's not get caught up in the "worth" argument.<br />
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We cannot argue if Bryant took a pay cut or not, or if he is worth the contract, however, many question, "Was it enough of a pay cut?"<br />
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That is the true question, and it points to the new framework of the NBA. LeBron James upended the system of team building as he teamed up with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami as a member of the Heat. Each agreed to take less than their market value, and in turn, they won championships due to their elite talent. Many legends slammed James for his inability to get the job done on his own account, but after two straight championships, it is clear that the super-team build is a successful model.<br />
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While the Brooklyn Nets may refute that idea with their atrocious play this season, as could the Lakers from last season, it makes sense that having three, and even four, exceptional talents would increase the chances of winning a championship.<br />
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However, such a model does not seem to attract Bryant's attention. Instead, he understands that the Lakers can pair him with one elite talent, and then the rest will have to be figured out. He saw the plan before signing the extension. He understands that there are more moves to be made.<br />
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And that's what is really interesting. Bryant is a very intelligent being. He understands his basketball mortality, and he knows that 2016 will likely be the last year he ever plays professional basketball. He knows he has this season, the next, and the one after that, and then his playing days are all but over. By the time it's all done, it will have been 20 regular seasons, countless postseason minutes, and he'll be 37. The window for a championship, for matching Mike, is coming to a close.<br />
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So now it is time for Bryant get back on the court and give his all in that pursuit. He undoubtedly will give his all, but the question remains to be seen if that will be enough.<br />
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What makes Bryant so special is what makes a countless majority question his extension. He believes in himself, and he believes that he will get a ring with whoever his next running mate is, especially if they buy in to his championship wisdom. He believes that the organization may have found some deep gems this season with young, cheap talents such as Wesley Johnson and Jordan Hill. He believes that the organization can field a superstar such as Carmelo Anthony this summer. He believes that he can lead any group to the promise land.<br />
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Despite such deterrents as age and injury, Bryant has always pushed past limitations, and I fully expect him to do so in the coming years. Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if Bryant plays stellar ball and signs another two year extension following this one. The amount of criticism aimed at Bryant following this deal points to a disbelief in his ability to lead a squad to a championship. I will not question Bryant's ability, and it is clear that the Lakers, and Bryant himself, are not questioning that ability. If Bryant had countered the Lakers offer and asked for less money, I'd be far more worried about the Lakers future than I am at this point.<br />
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Simply enough, Bryant is the only superstar currently signed to the Lakers next season, and he has a deal paying him superstar money. He was offered the generous extension, and he signed it. There was no power play. There was no low-balling. There was no public split pitting the star versus the organization. The organization was not held hostage in a public relations nightmare. Things could have turned sour, real sour. Imagine the public standoff, with much of Los Angeles already turned against Jimmy Buss, imagine what it would be like if Jimmy proposed a take it or leave it deal. Imagine Bryant playing in another uniform due to spite, or principle, or whatever, just imagine it.<br />
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The Lakers could have asked Bryant to take a Duncanesque deal, somewhere around $12 million a year, but Bryant is not Duncan and the Lakers are not the Spurs. The Lakers have a $3 billion deal with Time Warner Cable, they understand big tickets. Hell, Bryant may have even accepted such a proposal, but the Lakers took a more generous route, and I'm not going to blame Bryant for signing the offer sheet. This was not hard-bargained stuff, this was a show of affection, a reward of loyalty. By the time it's all done, Bryant will surpass John Stockton as the longest tenured NBA player with just one franchise. Such longevity means a lot, and if a championship doesn't come, there will always be the 20 years of greatness to appreciate.<br />
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Honestly, Bryant hardly fails to deliver greatness. The man will be worth every penny he is paid. Was this decision arrived upon haphazardly? No. Was every possible option discussed? Likely, yes. The organization treaded lightly, and while some may feel they gave too much, they also showed a great amount of respect, a refreshing turn in today's "on to the next one" utilitarian model.<br />
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So here's to believing in Kobe Bryant, and in believing in Jimmy Buss and Mitch Kupchak. Kupchak has a stellar record, and despite all of the negative press he's received, Buss has had some highlights and made some pretty big power plays <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">—</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"> </span>Andrew Bynum was a hidden gem drafted out of high school, the Chris Paul trade came out of nowhere, as did last summer's signings of Nash and Dwight Howard.<br />
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In my opinion, the Lakers are signing Carmelo Anthony this summer. Anthony may not be the answer, but he's certainly worthy of teaming up with Bryant in an attempt to find the solution. If not Anthony, trust the organization to give Bryant at least one last chance at a ring. Honestly, they would not have signed him to this extension, and he would not have signed this extension, if they all didn't believe that winning a championship is possible.<br />
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Do you really think that being recognized as the "highest paid NBA player" is the distinction Bryant is looking to pad his resume with these last few seasons?<br />
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I think six rings is the more accurate answer.<br />
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And those of you clamoring he just wants the all-time points record, well then, he would have signed a three year extension, because he certainly isn't going to average over 32 points a game for the next couple seasons.<br />
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Kobe Bryant is a man obsessed with winning. The Los Angeles Lakers are an organization that wins. Nothing else matters. You may chuckle at the irony of Bryant's extension in relation to winning, but I certainly won't, and neither did the parties involved.</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-24752790705657791102013-10-29T16:01:00.003-07:002014-05-09T01:16:43.739-07:00Los Angeles Lakers 2013-14 Season Preview (10.29.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Almost a year to the day, <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/11/whats-wrong-with-lakers-11112.html" target="_blank">I preached patience with the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers.</a> They were coming off of an 0-8 preseason, and an 0-2 record to start the regular season. The arrival of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, along with the move toward the Princeton offense, had me believing that, over time, this team would work out the kinks and start tearing up the league. Many were fixated upon the problems of the Lakers, but I staunchly maintained an optimistic viewpoint.<br />
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Just over a week following that post, the Lakers' season <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/11/rapid-reaction-mike-brown-fired-11912.html" target="_blank">took the most blindsided turn</a> I can recall, as the Lakers fired coach Mike Brown. The decision reeked of panic, an uncharacteristic haste that the organization had never shown before. I felt that Brown was shortchanged, especially with Nash going down with a broken fibula in the second game of the season, and Howard unable to play up to his maximum level due to offseason back surgery. For me, and countless Lakers fans, the move to fire Brown only made sense if it meant that Phil Jackson would be hired.<br />
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Well, that obviously didn't happen. Instead, <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/11/lakers-hire-mike-dantoni-wrong-choice.html" target="_blank">the Lakers hired Mike D'Antoni,</a> claiming he was the best man for the current makeup of the team. They spurned the greatest coach of all-time, regardless of sport, for Mike D'Antoni. My thoughts upon the matter basically came to fruition as I wrote, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Essentially, D'Antoni will have to coach in a manner that he's never coached before. Honestly, that doesn't sound all that promising. I hope D'Antoni can get the job done, but his style certainly doesn't fit the makeup of this squad.</span>"<br />
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Clearly, I wasn't enamored with D'Antoni, and it turned out that he couldn't get the job done with the makeup of that 2012 team. The team went on a furious rally just to make the playoffs, finishing 28-12 over the second half of the season in order to nab the seventh seed <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span> it took an overtime victory over the Houston Rockets in the final game of the season for the Lakers to get that seventh spot<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">.</span></span><br />
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However, the promise of that second half charge evaporated <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/04/kobe-bryant-injured-torn-achilles-41313.html" target="_blank">the moment Kobe Bryant tore his achilles</a> against the Golden State Warriors in the 80th game of the season. With Bryant out, and Nash receiving epidural treatments, the Lakers were easily swept in the first round of the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span>oh, and let's not forget that Howard seemed to play as if he wished he had missed the playoffs and already been on vacation, which he cemented by getting ejected in the final game of the series just after halftime.<br />
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Now, Howard is <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/07/dwight-howard-signs-with-rockets-spurns.html" target="_blank">a member of the Houston Rockets</a>, Nash and Gasol are another year older, and Bryant is coming off of the most devastating injury of his career. Those facts would seem to point to a dreadful 2013-14 Lakers season, especially in the deep Western Conference.<br />
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Oddly enough, I believe that the 2013 Lakers won't suffer the disastrous decline that those facts indicate. In fact, I believe that the Lakers will finish in the seven or eight seed with somewhere around 44 to 48 wins <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">—</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span>Vegas has the Lakers at 33.5 wins, and ESPN has the Lakers as the 12th seed, so I'm taking the over, and then some.<br />
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Why? How? Am I insane?<br />
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Well, in a comedic turn of events, this 2013 Lakers team actually resembles a D'Antoni led squad, and, at this point, that is a good thing.<br />
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The plodding twin tower setup of Howard and Gasol will no longer be an issue. Howard refusing to run the pick and roll with the greatest pick and roll point guard of all-time <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span>a staple of the D'Antoni offense no less <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span>will no longer be an issue. Gasol being benched will no longer be an issue. Metta World Peace being left wide open to jack up three pointers will no longer be an issue. A lack of athleticism and three point shooters will no longer be an issue. A lack of reliable point guards will no longer be an issue. And finally, a general malaise in the locker room will no longer be an issue.<br />
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With so many issues turned around, this team should gel together as many of the players post career highs across the board.<br />
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Overall, the Lakers have taken an addition by subtraction approach, and while that approach won't lead to a championship this season, it will lead to enjoyable basketball, and possibly a fun little playoff run<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">.</span></span><br />
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Why such optimism? Especially with Bryant's return unknown?<br />
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Well, let me break it down.<br />
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My take is that Bryant returns sometime between late-November and mid-December. Once he does return, I expect Bryant to play at a high level, averaging around 24 points per game with his usual 4.5 assists and 5 rebounds. Although Bryant showed some astounding athletic flashbacks last season <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">—</span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P674MK3AwSk" target="_blank">just ask Josh Smith or Gerald Wallace</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> — </span>it is clear that his game is as refined as they come, and it just doesn't take that much athleticism to shoot a baseline fadeaway jumper. Bryant is the most fundamental basketball player in the world, and he's still going to have his multitude of jab steps and pump fakes in order to get off clean looks. Trust in the Mamba.<br />
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The key will be for the rest of the squad to maintain a high level of play as Bryant works his way back from injury. If the Lakers start off slowly with a losing record, you can toss my prediction out the window. But if the Lakers can float around .500 ball for the first month or two, the return of Bryant should work wonders toward a playoff push.<br />
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As for the rest of the squad, I believe that D'Antoni's system is perfect for the likes of Nick Young, Wesley Johnson, Jodie Meeks, Xavier Henry, Steve Blake, Jordan Farmar, Shawne Williams, Pau Gasol, and obviously, Steve Nash.<br />
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The starting five will likely consist of Nash, Blake, Young, Williams, and Gasol, giving the unit a blend of youth and experience with shooters spread all over the court.<br />
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Young and Gasol will be the primary beneficiaries of this up-tempo, spread offense.<br />
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Expect Young to do his best Bryant impersonation <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span>his favorite player when he was growing up. Known as a gunslinger, Young has shown an ability to pick his spots throughout the preseason. Young has done an excellent job of playing within the offense, and only turning to one-on-one ball in the waning seconds of the shot clock. A career .374% shooter from downtown, Young will be the beneficiary of numerous drive and kicks from Nash, and handoffs or swings from Gasol. Young's speed, athleticism, and long range shooting will bolster the wing position until Bryant's return, and following that, he may stick in the starting lineup if Bryant slides down to the three-spot.<br />
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The most integral player on the squad will be Gasol. I consider Gasol to be the most talented big man in the NBA <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span>or at least second, after Tim Duncan. Stuck in a no-win situation last season, Gasol gutted through injuries, demotions, and trade rumors all the while displaying class and professionalism that numerous modern athletes seem unable to grasp. This season, Gasol will be featured, and I expect him to put up some early season MVP level stats.<br />
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In the preseason, Gasol was featured in numerous isolations on the block <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span>something Lakers fans and pundits have been clamoring for <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span>often leading to a successful play. Gasol also ran the offense in a triple threat position from the high elbow, giving the offense multifaceted options: such as dishes or handoffs to open cutters for layups following weak-side screens, delayed swings for flare-screen three pointers, or a face up and attack for aggressive drives to the hoop. Overall, Gasol has looked pretty darn good, and I expect him to flourish this season.<br />
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Then there is old man Nash to steer the ship, and if his body cooperates with him, I have no doubt in his capability to do so. Unfortunately, Nash is 39 years old, making such a task quite difficult. In fact, Nash will start the season already banged up with an ankle and neck injury <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span>fortunately the Lakers have some solid backup point guards instead of Chris Duhon and Darius Morris. If Nash can play about 75% of the season at a high level, the Lakers should be just fine.<br />
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With Howard gone and Bryant out, expect Nash to be the primary ball handler and run the pick and roll on a consistent basis. Nash can still nail the three ball <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span>he shot .438% last season, his highest percentage in four seasons<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> — </span>and he still has great vision and a supreme understanding of the offense. This season, Nash will have greater playmaking opportunities, and he may look like the guy we fondly remember rather than the beaten down guy who played off the ball last season. It will be up to Nash to keep the offense rolling, and with so many shooters all over the court, doing so should be no problem.<br />
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The X-factor of the starting unit will be Williams. He is someone I have never heard of, but his three ball sure is sweet. An athletic four man in the mold of Earl Clark, Williams is 6'9" and 225 pounds. He is a versatile big man that can stretch the defense by hitting the three ball. Essentially, he is the "stretch four" that D'Antoni craves. In fact, he played under D'Antoni in New York in 2010-11 and he had the best season of his career, averaging 7.1 points while shooting .401% from deep.<br />
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A career .335% shooter from downtown, expect Williams to hit plenty of threes from the corner and wing. Furthermore, his presence on the court will allow Gasol to have greater freedom in the paint, and in turn will give the guards more space for driving angles to the rim.<br />
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Next up are the bench guys, a unit that may be top five in the league. Usually D'Antoni only relies upon a seven or eight man rotation, but this season, expect the Lakers to go ten deep. Such depth allows for an up speed tempo, multiple lineup variations, and overall team cohesion.<br />
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Considered a bust since being taken 4th overall in the 2010 draft, Johnson has a lot to prove this season, and the opportunity for him to breakout is promising. Legitimate size and length will allow Johnson to play anywhere from the two to the four for any number of lineup changes in D'Antoni's system. A career .336% shooter from downtown, expect Johnson to knock down threes from the wing with ease. Johnson seems to play a bit passive, but given an expanded role, and understanding that this is his best shot to truly make his mark in the NBA, I believe that Johnson will step up his aggression and deliver a solid season.<br />
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My take is that Johnson will thrive off the bench in a free flowing uptempo system. He may start the season at the three-spot, but ultimately, his role will be that of a knock down shooter off the bench. Given his athletic ability, Johnson may carve out even more minutes if he focuses upon wreaking havoc on the defensive end.<br />
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Moving on, Meeks and Blake showed how capable they are last season under D'Antoni. Each plays hard and can knock down three pointers. These two are consummate professionals, and their performances last season were some of the highlights of a rather disastrous season.<br />
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Blake shot a career high .421% from deep last season, pushing his career average up to .389%. Meeks continued his consistent shooting from deep, posting a .357% average, and maintaining his solid .367% career average. Each gives maximum effort, and plays tenacious defense despite being overwhelmed physically on a consistent basis.<br />
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You can never have enough hustle guys, and these two have that, and then some. Expect Blake to lockdown the backup point guard position <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">—</span> and probably start at shooting guard until Bryant returns <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">—</span> and Meeks to lockdown the backup shooting guard position.<br />
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Then there's the new additions of Farmar and Henry.<br />
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At first glance, it seems like the reunited Laker, Farmar, won't have much of a role on this squad, but with Nash likely under a strong minutes restriction, Farmar will get a decent amount of run despite being the third point guard. Even further, Blake may play some minutes at the two-spot, giving Farmar an even greater opportunity at the point. Just 26 years old, Farmar still has plenty of speed and athleticism, and his career .367% from deep is a perfect fit for D'Antoni. Farmar has always been a guy that plays tremendous ball when he is confident, and I expect D'Antoni to pump his confidence through the roof this season. Farmar is about as reliable a third-string point guard as they come.<br />
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Then there's Xavier Henry. Just 22 years old, Henry has a lot of potential on this squad. Henry will be the Lakers premier wing defender. Standing 6'6" and weighing 220 pounds, Henry is big and strong, yet surprisingly quick. So far in the preseason, Henry has shown an unexpected amount of offensive capability as well.<br />
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The 12th pick in the 2010 draft, Henry is left handed, and he has a knack for getting into the lane and finishing. Henry has the euro-step in his arsenal, and since he is left handed, he often gets to his dominant hand without the defender realizing it. Although he is a career .289% shooter from deep, from what I've seen, he has a nice stroke. Expect Henry to post career highs in about every category this season. Given his defensive capability, Henry is likely to play big fourth quarter minutes, and if he takes advantage of his opportunity with Bryant out, he may carve out a starting role at the three-spot, pushing Young to the two, and Blake to the bench.<br />
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As for the guys that I haven't mentioned, well, there is Chris Kaman, Jordan Hill, Ryan Kelly, Robert Sacre, and Elias Harris.<br />
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Kaman, Hill, and Sacre aren't exactly fits within the D'Antoni system, but they are serviceable big men.<br />
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Kaman is essentially a lesser version of Gasol. He has great vision, allowing him to pass out of the post for easy layups and open threes. He also has a pretty decent post up game, and he can shoot the midrange jumper. Although he is as slow as molasses, Kaman is a decent option as the backup big man.<br />
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Hill is one of my favorite players on the team. He plays hard, hustles, and rotates on point, something this team will need on the defensive end. Hill is limited offensively, but his main contributions should come from second chance opportunities and cuts to the rim. Hill has shown some improved footwork this preseason, and if he keeps working on his 12-foot jumper, his offensive game will jump through the roof.<br />
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Sacre likely won't have much of a role on this squad other than being a team guy that works hard in practice and pushes guys to give their all. He did show some talent last season, but hopefully the injury bug won't force regular minutes out of Sacre. If it does come to that, he is a pretty good defender and rebounder, and he can hit some baseline jumpers.<br />
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Lastly, there are two new rookies on the Lakers, Elias Harris and Ryan Kelly.<br />
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I know absolutely nothing about Harris other than the fact that Anthony <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24045526/video-nuggets-anthony-randolph-dunks-on-lakers-elias-harris" target="_blank">Randolph dunked on him</a> in the preseason. He is a a 6'8" 239 pound forward, that is all I know. Expect him to ride the pine.<br />
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Kelly may have some promise under D'Antoni. Kelly is a 6'11" 230 pound stretch four who can shoot the lights out. Kelly may get some run in the second unit, but I'm assuming his minutes will be quite limited this season. If Kelly gleans some of Gasol's post game, he could be a lethal offensive threat in due time.<br />
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Overall, the Lakers have some very promising offensive weapons and a deep bench. With multiple shooters and ball handlers, D'Antoni should be able to crank up the offense into overdrive, and this team should average somewhere in the 104-108 point range.<br />
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You have likely noticed that I haven't mentioned much of anything regarding defense. Well, there's a reason for that, simply put, the Lakers are going to be terrible on defense. This team is not built to stop people, and with D'Antoni at the helm, they are obviously built to outscore teams rather than play sound defense. Nash will give up penetration on just about every possession, and Gasol isn't exactly a formidable defender in the paint that is going to clean up mistakes.<br />
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Fortunately, the Lakers have shown in the preseason that they are at least committed to rotating, closing out, and playing hard on defense, something that the team lacked last season. With athletic wings, this team will likely gamble in the passing lanes in an effort to accumulate turnovers and easy fast break points. Opposing teams will destroy the Lakers with easy looks at the basket, but that is a given considering the makeup of the squad.<br />
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The bench unit may thrive defensively with Blake, Henry, and Hill, but other than those three players, defense will not be a strong suit. There is some promise due to the athleticism of Young, Johnson, Meeks, Farmar, and Williams, but I wouldn't exactly count upon a D'Antoni led squad to develop those guys into strong defenders.<br />
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Given the defensive makeup of the squad, expect the Lakers to push the tempo in an attempt to increase the number of possessions, and in turn, increase the amount of three pointers taken in order to compensate for the amount of easy field goals they are likely to give up.<br />
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Overall, the 2013 season is likely to be much more enjoyable than the previous one. The Lakers will be fast paced for the first time since the days of Magic and company. Three pointers will splash through the net regularly, and some fast break dunks might even be in the mix. There will be some cooky moments from the likes of Young and Farmar, and Nash and Gasol are sure to show their age at times, but overall, the season should be entertaining. If these 2013 Lakers can resemble those mid-2000's Suns teams, what's not to like?<br />
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Although the Lakers are unlikely to contend for a championship, the opportunity to play without championship expectations <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">— </span>a pressure that absolutely demolished last season's squad <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">—</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span>may give the squad an enduring appeal. Remember how fun it was rooting for Bryant to lead the underdog 2005-06 Lakers against Nash and the Suns? While that series didn't turn out the way Lakers fans wanted, it sure was exhilarating to watch that series go to seven games.<br />
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Imagine if the Lakers pull off a first round upset this season, with this squad, and possibly against the Howard led Rockets. Tell me that wouldn't be a successful season. Just try.<br />
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So here's to the 2013 Los Angeles Lakers. Overwhelming championship expectations are out the window, and in its place is a freewheeling, gunslinging, entertaining squad. Isn't that what the organization wanted when they hired D'Antoni? Such a plan has come to fruition, and now it is time to see how it all plays out.<br />
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And hey, if the season goes down in flames, there's always the loaded 2014 NBA draft.</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-19874550674069832282013-08-24T00:33:00.000-07:002014-05-09T01:16:30.016-07:00The Luck of the Draw: Fantasy Football Snake Drafts (8.24.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With the NFL season kicking off on Thursday, September 5th, much of the country will be participating in a fantasy football draft within the next two weeks. Hopefully, you are not some poor sap stuck in a league that drafts before the preseason even begins, and if you are, it is time for you to find a new league—and possibly, new friends. According to a <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/leighsteinberg/2012/08/28/fantasy-football-madness/" target="_blank">2012 Forbes publishing</a>, an estimated 32 million people in the US and Canada aged 12 and above partook in fantasy sports in 2010, with 90% of those users playing fantasy football. Add in three more years of fantasy fever, and an expanding global audience, and it can be surmised that the number of participants is even greater nowadays—and many play in multiple leagues. With that in mind, let's examine the most common fantasy draft, a snake draft.</div>
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While auction drafts are slowly increasing their numbers, it is the snake draft that dominates fantasy football. If you are unfamiliar with the term, a snake draft goes in ascending order, and then descending order (i.e. 1-12, and then 12-1). With the snake draft as the norm, I will put to rest the often expressed, "I hate my draft spot," notion. Every year, there is one owner—more likely two to three—who complains about his draft spot—often the final pick of the first round. With most leagues utilizing a computerized random draw to compile the draft order, there simply isn't anything that can be done about this. Someone has to draw the final pick of the first round, it is inevitable. Hell, some people even hate getting the first pick. With the draft order often compiled by a random generation, those that are satisfied with their spot will feel lucky, while those who are dissatisfied obviously feel unlucky. The sliding scale of dissatisfaction cannot be ignored; however, does the actual draft spot even matter? I believe that the best owners make do with their spot and draft accordingly—as George Lopez would say, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVjLuL3vijY" target="_blank">"Why you crying?"</a></div>
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Due to such complaints, I decided to participate in five twelve-team mock drafts, with each draft following a specific template. With five mocks to hopefully create my case, I entered with the first pick, the third pick, the sixth pick, the ninth pick, and the twelfth pick. I figured that these picks would give the strongest indication of the importance of a draft order, or lack thereof. Utilizing my own draft template, I drafted accordingly by round for each mock draft: RB (1st), RB (2nd), Best Available for Roster (3rd), WR (4th), WR/RB/Top 3 TE (5th), QB/Flex (6th), QB/Flex (7th), Flex (8th), Flex (9th), TE/Flex (10th), TE/Flex (11th), TE/Flex (12th), Flex (13th), Flex (14th), Def/K (15th), Def/K (16th). </div>
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So let's take a look at the results.<br />
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<br /></div>
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<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 22.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">1<sup>st</sup> Pick Tm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 22.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup>
Pick Tm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 22.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">6<sup>th</sup>
Pick Tm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 22.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">9<sup>th</sup>
Pick Tm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 22.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">12<sup>th</sup>
Pick Tm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 39.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">RB<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Adrian <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Peterson</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(MIN, RB, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Marshawn
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Lynch</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(SEA, RB, 3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jamaal
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Charles</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(KC, RB, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Alfred
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Morris</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(WAS, RB, </span><br />
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Steven
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jackson</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(ATL, RB, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">12)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.45pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">RB<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Chris <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Johnson</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(TEN, RB, 24)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Chris
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Johnson</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(TEN, RB, 22)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Frank
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gore</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(SF, RB, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">19)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Steven
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jackson</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(ATL, RB </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Matt
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Forte</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(CHI, RB, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">13)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 39.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Best
Available <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">for Roster<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Julio <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jones</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(ATL, WR, 25)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jimmy</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Graham</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(NO, TE, 27)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Vincent</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jackson</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(TB, WR, 30)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">David</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Wilson</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(NYG, RB, 33)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Wes</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Welker</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DEN, WR, 37)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 41.35pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">WR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Danny</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Amendola</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(NE, WR, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">48)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Reggie</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bush</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DET, RB, 46)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Victor</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Cruz</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(NYG, WR, 43)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Wes</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Welker</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DEN, WR, 40)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Victor</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Cruz</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(NYG, WR, 38)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 36.85pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 36.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">WR/RB/<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Top TE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 36.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Rob</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Gronkowski</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(NE, TE, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">49)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 36.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Steve</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Smith</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(CAR, WR, 51)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 36.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Tony</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gonzalez</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(ATL, TE, 54)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 36.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Eric</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Decker</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DEN, WR, 57)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 36.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Tony</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gonzalez</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(ATL, TE, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">60)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 38.65pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 38.65pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">QB/Flex<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 38.65pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Cecil</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Shorts</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(JAC, WR, 72)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 38.65pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Torrey</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Smith</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(BAL, WR, 70)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 38.65pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jordy</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Nelson</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(GB, WR, 62)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 38.65pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">James</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jones</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(GB, WR, 64)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 38.65pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Matthew</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Stafford</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DET, TE, 61)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">QB/Flex<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Russell</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Wilson</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(SEA, QB, 73)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Russell</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Wilson</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(SEA, QB, 75)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Andrew</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Luck</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(IND, QB, 76)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Tony</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Romo</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DAL, QB, 81)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Tavon</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Austin</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(STL, WR, 84)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Flex<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Mark</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ingram</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(NO, RB, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">96)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Mike
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Williams</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(TB, WR, 94)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Vick
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ballard</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(IND, RB, 91)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Shane
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Vereen</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(NE, RB, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">88)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Andre
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Brown</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(NYG, RB, 85)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 41.35pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Flex<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ronnie <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hillman</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(DEN, RB, 97)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ronnie
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Hillman</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DEN, RB, 99)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Kenny
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Britt
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(TEN, WR, 102)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Kenny
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Britt</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(TEN, WR, 105)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Le’Veon
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bell</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(PIT, RB, 108)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">TE/Flex<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Golden</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Tate</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(SEA, WR, 120)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Golden
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Tate</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(SEA, WR, 118)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bernard
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Pierce</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(BAL, RB, 115)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">L<b>e’Veon
<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bell
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(PIT, RB, 112)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Chris
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Givens</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(STL, WR, 109)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.45pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">TE/Flex<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Rueben <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Randle</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(NYG, WR, 121)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Malcom
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Floyd</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(SD, WR, 123)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ben
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Tate</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(HOU, RB, 126)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jermichael
Finley</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(GB, TE, 129)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.45pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ryan
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Broyles</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DET, WR, 132)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">TE/Flex<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Alshon <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jeffery</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(CHI, WR, 144)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Shonn
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Greene</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(TEN, RB, 142)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Alshon
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jeffery</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(CHI, WR, 139)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Shonn
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Greene</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(TEN, RB, 136)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Reuben
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Randle</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(NYG, WR, 133)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 39.55pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Flex<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jordan <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Cameron</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(CLE, TE, 145)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Andre
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Roberts</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(ARI, WR, 147)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Kenbrell
Thompkins</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(NE, WR, 150)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Brian
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Hartline</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(MIA, WR, 153)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 39.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Andre
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Roberts</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(ARI, WR, 156)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Flex<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Daniel <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Thomas</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(MIA, RB, 168)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jordan
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Cameron</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(CLE, TE, 166)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Robert
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Turbin
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(SEA, RB, 163)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Brandon
Pettigrew <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DET, TE, 160)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Michael
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bush
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(CHI, RB, 157)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Def/K<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ravens</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(BAL, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">D/ST, 169)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Dan
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bailey</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DAL, K, 171)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Cowboys</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DAL, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">D/ST, 174)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Greg
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Zuerlein</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(STL, K, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">177)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Greg
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Zuerlein</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(STL, K, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">180)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 64.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Def/K<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="104"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Greg <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Zuerlein</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(STL, K, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">192)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">Cowboys</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">(DAL, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt;">D/ST, 190)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Greg
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Zuerlein</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">(STL, K, 187)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="95"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">Buccaneers</span></b><span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">(TB, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 11.0pt;">D/ST, 184)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.75pt 0in 5.75pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">Buccaneers</span></b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">(TB, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660066; font-size: 11.0pt;">D/ST, 181)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
So, which team came out the strongest? Well, that is entirely subjective. As is the case with almost every fantasy team, each squad has its strengths and weaknesses. Personally, I think that the "3rd Pick Tm" came out with the best roster. However, let's put "strongest team" argument aside, and instead focus on the larger point, namely, each squad looks pretty legit on paper as of the time drafted. Would you say that any of these squads are monumentally inferior? I wouldn't. I see five strong squads, all ready to take care of business once the season starts.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, the next time someone in your fantasy league complains about how unfair it is that they ended up with their assigned draft slot, just tell them to make do, and if that doesn't work, send 'em on over here.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, they will realize that the true key to fantasy drafting success is a sound strategy, not which slot they landed in the draft order.</div>
</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-9029297077735824422013-07-05T16:21:00.003-07:002014-05-09T01:16:16.203-07:00Dwight Howard Signs With the Houston Rockets, Spurns Los Angeles Lakers (7.5.12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So long Dwight <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/10/dwight-purple-hills-howard-10912.html" target="_blank">"Superman"</a> Howard, it really wasn't all that nice knowing you.<br />
<br />
Rather than spilling vitriol all over the page, a la Cleveland and LeBron James, let me just say, Howard is nowhere near James' level. As much as James' detractors wished he would never succeed and win a ring, deep down, the majority understood that James would eventually lead a championship squad—I'd say it was inevitable. On the other hand, Howard's future is far less certain.<br />
<br />
Yes, Howard joining forces with James Harden in Houston is certainly intriguing—some think it may be the second coming of Shaq and Kobe, such blasphemy—and may even lead to a ring or two, but from the Lakers' side of things, I'm not so sure that Howard would have delivered much more than disappointment had he stayed in Los Angeles—especially with coach D'Antoni at the helm. Whereas James likely would have willed Cleveland and their <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hays/tortured_cleveland" target="_blank">unfortunate sporting history</a> to a championship, Howard's outlook as a Laker was far less certain.<br />
<br />
So let's not lament over a big man that likely wouldn't have delivered in a manner similar to George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, and hell, even Andrew Bynum! Howard is a defensive albatross, but after nine full seasons, he still doesn't have a go-to move offensively, and unlike the aforementioned centers, he doesn't draw double teams that lead to easy buckets for others—highlighting his inability to be a single, dominant offensive force. A common sentiment in NBA circles is that a player rarely reaches another level after a decade in the NBA—Steve Nash is one of the only players to ever do so—so the argument can be made that Howard <a href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9308573/searching-dwight-howard" target="_blank">has already peaked.</a> Furthermore, Howard is essentially unplayable in the final minutes of any close game due to his astounding free throw woes—.577 career percentage, with an awful .491 and .492 percentage these past two seasons. While Howard's defensive capabilities should not be discounted, shouldn't the consensus "best center in the NBA" punish any team that single covers him? Take a look at Howard's <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howardw01/shooting/2013/" target="_blank">shooting percentages from last season,</a> the man shot .422% from 3-10 feet. Have an idea what Howard's career shooting percentage is from 3-10 feet? .427%, with 1,320 makes out of 3,090 attempts. If Howard isn't dunking—shot at least .705% at the rim for the past seven years—he really doesn't do much on the offensive end.<br />
<br />
Speaking of dunking, Howard singularly relies on his athleticism more than anything else, and as that begins to fade, so will his game—including his greatest asset, his defensive capability. For a big man coming off of back surgery, and a torn labrum—an interesting injury considering Howard had been indestructible for his first seven years in the league, missing just seven games over that time—that athleticism may fade much more quickly than one may expect. Just remember, big men break down with age, and once the breaking down begins, it rarely turns the other way—the list is extensive, and it includes greats such as Shaq, Yao Ming, and Bill Walton, some who may have been great, Ralph Sampson, and even young bigs that have struggled to steer clear once the injury bug hit, hello Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum.<br />
<br />
Overall, Howard just wasn't the right fit in Los Angeles. His goofy smile coupled with Bryant's resolute court demeanor just never looked right. While Bryant's way of doing things certainly isn't the only path to success, it certainly works, and he certainly was groomed by the greatest coach in the history of athletics. If you're a Lakers fan, don't harbor the hate, just let it go. There's no need to root against Howard. There's no need to burn his jersey. There's no need to whine and complain, just let it go. The man made his decision, and that's that. He wasn't going to deliver for us anyways.<br />
<br />
Now the question is, what's next?<br />
<br />
Well, that's another topic for another day. Likely, the Lakers aren't going to be very good next season. That's the reality, but that reality will likely just be a one year hit. Summer of '14 isn't that far off, and with massive cap space, the Lakers will reload like they always do—take a look at <a href="http://www.hoopsworld.com/2014-nba-free-agents" target="_blank">all of these free agents,</a> obviously headlined by LeBron James. I understand that Los Angeles plays for titles, and the simple argument of, "Hey, just wait a year," isn't really all that compelling, however, were the Lakers going to win a championship next season with Howard? Realistically, unlikely, so what's the difference?<br />
<br />
Enjoy your time in Houston, Dwight. You are the first big name to willingly leave the Los Angeles Lakers, and with that you are a trailblazer. You may win a ring or two. You may shove that smile in the face of everyone that said you are too nice to win. You may go down as one of the greatest big men to ever play. But for the life of me, I will always believe that none of those possibilities would have been an option had you remained a Los Angeles Laker. You are free of us, and we are free from you; the "Dwightmare" is over, and now it is time for all parties to move on.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-27912557631042961222013-06-06T10:52:00.003-07:002014-05-09T01:15:38.210-07:00NBA Finals Preview, Legacy Talk, and Prediction (6.6.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fresh off dispatching
the Indiana Pacers in a grueling seven game series, the Miami Heat will host
the San Antonio Spurs for Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Finals on June 6th. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With Game 1 just around
the corner, here is my take on key points regarding the series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Team Matchup Analysis
and Breakdown</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When taking a glance at
the rosters of each squad, one would think that a team led by LeBron James,
Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh would significantly differ compared to one led by
Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. However, when taking a look at the 2012-13 regular
season statistics, it is clear that for 82 games, these teams were nearly
identical images. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here's a quick rundown
of each team's per game statistics from the regular season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heat</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"></td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spurs</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">102.9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Points
For<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">103.0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">95.0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Points
Against<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">96.6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.496<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fg%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.481<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.440<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Opposing
Fg%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.442<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.396<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3pt%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.376<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.350<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Opp
3pt%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.353<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.754<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ft%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.791<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.222<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Off
Reb Rate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.205<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.730<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Def
Reb Rate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.749<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.490<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tot
Reb Rate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.493<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13.3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Turnovers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14.1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14.7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Opp
Turnovers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14.3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
Notice any huge differences?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Just going by a
checklist, the Heat do win eight of the twelve categories, however, neither
squad outright dominates any single category.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">You could argue that the
Heat hold a significant defensive advantage considering they allowed 1.6 fewer
points per game, however, when looking at the opposing shooting percentages,
defensive rebounding rates, and opposing turnovers, the statistics essentially
produce a defensive stalemate. Defensively, these are two of the best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Even further, in the
postseason, each team increased the defensive pressure, with the Heat allowing
a stifling 87.6 points per game, and the Spurs just 91.5. Once again, the edge
goes to the Heat, but when taking a deeper postseason look, the shooting
percentages allowed (.429 Heat, .420 Spurs), defensive rebounding rates (.699
Heat, .728 Spurs), and opposing turnovers (16.6 Heat, 14.2 Spurs) paint a
familiar defensive prowess deadlock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On the offensive side of
the ball, each team thrives with high shooting percentages and an ability to
take care of the ball. The Heat carry a slight advantage in the field goal
percentage, three point percentage, and turnover battle, but once again, none
of these advantages is significantly noticeable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When taking a look at
the postseason offensive numbers, the stalemate continues. So far in the
postseason, the Heat have posted 97.2 points per game on a .472 shooting
percentage, including .356% from deep, along with just 13.5 turnovers. The
Spurs have posted 101.6 points per game on a .469 shooting percentage,
including .362% from deep, along with just 12.0 turnovers. While both teams
have experienced offensive dips in the postseason, they still matchup fairly
even (and Miami’s drop in points per game can be attributed to blowing out the
Bucks and Bulls in a couple of games, thus allowing James and the starters to
rest for long stretches in the fourth quarter). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In general, the numbers
depict a fairly even matchup on both sides of the ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With each team posting
eerily similar statistics, an even deeper regular season inspection reveals
why. Simply put, these teams play a similar style of ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heat</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"></td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spurs</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">38.4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fg
Made<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">39.1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">77.4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fg
Attempted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">81.4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3pt
Made<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22.1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3pt
Attempted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21.5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17.4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ft
Made<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16.6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23.0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ft
Attempted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21.0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.33<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Points
Per Possession<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.552<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assisted
Fg%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="266"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.531<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
So what can be gleaned from these statistics? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Well, both teams love
the three ball (with each ranking top seven in attempts and makes throughout
the regular season), both move the ball with purpose and load up on assists
(ranked one and two overall), and both execute strategic basketball
mathematics, thus focusing on risk/reward scoring opportunities that produce
efficient points per possession (ranked two and four respectively).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Judging from the
numbers, it is clear that each team utilizes the three ball as a weapon. Each
takes and makes a lot of three pointers. With shooters spread all over the
court, and Parker and James in the driver's seat, opposing defenses are stuck
in a lose-lose situation; they can either slide over and help, thus forcing the
ball out of Parker or James’ hands, and likely leading to a kick out and swing
for the three, or stay home on the shooter and give up wider driving lanes.
Parker’s speed coupled with great decision making allows him to run a series of
pick and rolls until he sees an opportunity to thrive, whether it’s a strong
take to the rim, a kick out to the corner for a three, or kicking out to Duncan
for the midrange jumper. For the Heat, James runs the show, and his
overwhelming athleticism and skill forces the defense to constantly be aware of
him at all times. Like Parker, James uses superior decision making in order to
make the correct play, and with his size, he can fire off any pass he wants due
to his ability to see over the defense. In the postseason, each squad has
maintained their style of play, as the Heat have made 7.1 threes on 19.8
attempts, while the Spurs have made 7.4 threes on 20.5 attempts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Furthermore, excellent
floor spacing coupled with dribble drives allows each team to drain the long
ball with ease, thus accounting for such excellent points per possession
statistics. Coach Spoelstra and Popovich each emphasize the importance of
either getting to the rim, or firing up threes (almost always off of great ball
movement rather than jacking up contested threes). In doing so, these teams are
ahead of the curve in regards to scoring efficiently (they essentially abandon
the midrange jumper, with only Bosh and Duncan given that green light, two of
the best). While the Spurs utilize pick and roll sets with Parker and Duncan in
order to set up three point shots for Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Matt Bonner,
and Manu Ginobili, the Heat utilize James and his superior skills in order to
attract double teams and set up the likes of Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Mario
Chalmers, and Norris Cole for the long bomb. Each team thrives on the three
point shot, and with that, whoever can close out on shooters with the most
success will likely gain a noticeable advantage in the series. In the postseason,
each team has dipped in their points per possession efficiency, with the Heat
posting a 1.31 compared to the Spur’s 1.22. Such a dip is expected against
greater competition, but it is clear that the Spurs, while still excellent,
have struggled to reproduce their highly efficient results from their regular
season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With shooters on each
team waiting in the corners and wings, ball movement is also a strong suit of
each squad. Check out those assisted field goal percentages, the Spurs post a
great .531 percentage of all buckets assisted, while the Heat one up them with
a spectacular .552 percentage (thus serving as the top two teams in the entire
NBA for this category). While the Spurs rely heavily on the pick and roll with
Parker (and then Ginobili when Parker is on the bench) in order to set up just
about everything in their offense, the Heat rely on James and Wade to breakdown
the defense whether one on one or with a pick before attracting attention and
making the correct play. “Ball stopping” is not a term associated with
these teams. Although James and Wade can make plays individually in isolation,
the Heat prefer a free flowing offense rather than a stuck in mud isolation
set. In the postseason, each squad has maintained their stellar averages, with
the Heat posting a .520 assisted field goal percentage compared to the Spurs’
.513.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Judging from the
numbers, these teams are remarkably similar. Each prefers to space the floor
with shooters while allowing a dominant guard/wing to set up the offense. This
setup produces an efficient offense with weapons all over the court stretching
out the defense. With the defense stretched out, something has to give, and
each team excels with ball movement and three point shooting, thus producing an
efficient offense. Simply put, if Parker or James can’t get a layup, the likes
of Bonner and Allen are likely firing up an open three pointer, or Duncan and
Bosh are taking an open midrange jumper. These offenses excel at putting the
proper players in the correct position to succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Player Matchups<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With the general styles
of play covered, let’s take a look at some of the key matchups.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Point Guard,</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Tony Parker vs Mario Chalmers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Simply put, Parker will
dominate this matchup. Parker has been playing some of the best ball of his
career this postseason, and I fully expect that play to continue against the
likes of Chalmers and Cole. Parker will run a ton of pick and rolls, and it
will be up to Bosh and the bigs to hedge hard or trap in order to get the ball
out of Parker’s hands. This postseason, Parker is averaging 23.0 points, 7.2
assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game on .475% shooting, including .375% from
deep. Chalmers definitely has his work cut out for him. Chalmers can give a
nice lift with three point shots (although his percentage has significantly
dipped from .409 in the regular season to .306 in the postseason), but don’t
expect him to play Parker even. In fact, Chalmers won’t be asked to play Parker
even, so expect a clear advantage for Parker. And those of you who think
James may guard Parker, it won’t matter, simply because the Spurs run so many
screens, eventually James will get picked and have to switch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Shooting Guard,</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Danny Green vs Dwyane Wade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Clear advantage to Wade,
right? Well, considering what each is asked to do, Wade certainly has a bigger
role, however, injuries have clearly hampered him this postseason. The current
incarnation of Wade is no longer a superstar, and while he’s certainly a better
player than Green, his impact likely won’t be as significant as it would if he
were truly healthy. Green will continue with his expected role, namely, firing
up open threes (shot .429% from deep in the regular season and .431% in the
postseason). Wade will be asked to make plays with aggressive dribble drives, and
even hampered, he should be able to outplay Green. However, in the postseason,
Wade has certainly struggled, and his declining numbers prove it (21.2 points
to 14.1, .521 shooting percentage to .447, and 6.2 free throw attempts to just
3.9). Advantage Wade in an individual aspect, but in a team aspect, Wade’s
drop-off hurts the Heat far more than anything Green is asked to do for the
Spurs. If Wade can resume his normal aggressive game, offensively and
defensively, then he will be a nightmare matchup, and this contest won't be
close. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Small Forward,</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Kawhi Leonard vs LeBron James<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This may be the key
matchup of the series. Don’t expect Leonard to stop James, but with his 7’3.75”
wingspan, Leonard certainly has the frame to matchup with James and attempt to
slow him down. James is playing on another level right now, and if he has his
way with Leonard, then the Spurs will be placed in a nearly insurmountable
position. Statistically, James will dominate Leonard, but that is expected
considering the role of each player. Averaging 26.2 points, 6.4 assists, and
7.4 rebounds per game on .514% shooting, including .387% from deep, James is on
a tear this postseason. If Leonard can move his feet and stay in front of
James, while contesting every shot, and eventually disrupting James’ rhythm,
his impact will be far more valuable than his modest (but efficient) postseason
averages of 13.0 points, 1.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds on .565% shooting,
including .417% from deep. Leonard's biggest challenge will be to knock down
James' shooting percentage. Expect James to continue producing his MVP caliber
numbers, but don't sleep on Leonard's ability to be a difference maker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Power Forward, </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tim Duncan vs Chris Bosh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The winner of this
matchup will provide a significant advantage to his team. While Duncan has
enjoyed a sort of resurgence this past season, posting higher numbers than the
output of his prior two seasons, Bosh has seen his role diminish, and his
numbers have plummeted this postseason. Each serves as an integral cog in terms
of floor spacing due to their ability to hit midrange jumpers, and each serves
as the backline of the defense. This postseason, Duncan has averaged 17.8
points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks on .461% shooting. While
Duncan’s blocks and shooting percentage have dipped in the postseason compared
to his regular season numbers (17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.7
blocks on .502% shooting), his output has still been remarkably consistent. On
the other hand, Bosh has struggled mightily, watching his regular season
averages of 16.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 blocks on .535%
shooting drop to 12.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks on
.457% shooting this postseason. Bosh’s role as the third banana can explain his
modest regular season numbers (for his talent level); however, with Wade’s
decline in the postseason, Bosh has certainly failed to increase his production
in the postseason. Just judging their overall games, expect Duncan to have a
greater impact on the series. Duncan can attack Bosh in a myriad of ways,
whether it’s a pick and pop jumper, a low post hook, or a mid block bank shot,
whereas, Bosh has been relegated to a really big guard shooting three pointers
in the corner. If Bosh comes out aggressive, he certainly has the skill to play
with Duncan, but that is a big if. Expect Duncan to show the world why he is
considered the greatest power forward of all-time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Center,</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Tiago Splitter vs Udonis Haslem<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Due to Miami’s
preference for small ball lineups, they usually tend to slide Bosh to the
center position as James plays power forward (the Spurs do the same when they
slide Duncan to center and play Boris Diaw or Matt Bonner as a stretch
forward). However, in order to compare a traditional lineup, this will likely
be the most common matchup of centers. There’s nothing really exciting here.
Haslem is a great baseline mid range shooter. He hustles, plays solid
positional defense, provides an emotional lift, and hits baseline jumpers,
that’s about it. Splitter is a great screen setter. Splitter excels at setting
a pick on Parker’s man and then rolling to the rim. Splitter has decent hands,
thus allowing him to catch the ball in traffic and finish at the rim.
Offensively Splitter won’t score unless it’s a layup or a putback finish.
Defensively, Splitter is a key positional player that excels at protecting the
rim with Duncan as a twin tower setup. Expect Splitter to be on the receiving
end of a few powerful drives by James (whether those turn into dunks or charges
remains to be seen). Overall, these two may swing a game with a solid
performance (something like Haslem shooting 8-9, or Splitter scoring 14 points
on layups while blocking three shots or so). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Reserves</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Each team has a
reservoir of shooters. For the Spurs, it’s Manu Ginobili, Gary Neal, Matt
Bonner, and Boris Diaw. For the Heat, it’s Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Norris
Cole, and Mike Miller. Further bench guys that get some run are Corey Joseph
for the Spurs, and Chris “Birdman” Anderson for the Heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall, the best bench
player of the two squads is likely Ginobili. However, Ginobili has struggled
tremendously this postseason to find his shot. Ginobili is averaging 11.5
points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists on .383% shooting, including just .324%
from deep this postseason. While Ginobili has continued making plays for others
(utilizing the pick and roll), his shot has clearly abandoned him (he averaged
11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists on .425% shooting, including .353%
from deep in the regular season). While Ginobili certainly has the chops to
turn back the clock and provide a vintage performance, such an occurrence is
not a given.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instead, the most
impactful reserve may be the duo of Allen and Battier. If either of those two
can get hot from downtown, the Heat’s offense is unstoppable. Battier,
specifically, is the x-factor. With his size, Battier is big enough to play
power forward in a small ball lineup, and versatile enough to stretch out the
opposing defense with his shooting and intelligent ball movement. Battier has
been in a bit of a slump, much like Ginobili, but as a key veteran, never
underestimate his ability to swing the momentum of a game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall, each bench has
specialty players, with many of them serving as floor spacing shooters. Whoever
gets the most out of their bench will benefit tremendously. If “Birdman” goes
four games without missing a shot like he did against the Pacers in the Eastern
Conference Finals, watch out for the Heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With the matchups
covered, who has the advantage?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Well, James is clearly
the best player on the floor at all times. Parker is second. Whoever comes up
as third will determine the series. If Duncan dominates Miami’s frontline, the
Spurs’ chances of winning the series are significantly higher. If Wade returns
to his normal self, the one-two punch of him and James will likely be too much
for the Spurs to handle. Overall, I believe that the Parker-Duncan duo will be
better than the James-Wade/Bosh duo. In terms of the benches, both are rather
even, so this series will come down to the performance of the superstars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Legacy Talk</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With the team
statistics, and matchups covered, let’s tackle the legacy talk riding on this
series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Boy there sure is a lot
riding on this series in terms of historical context. With a fifth ring, Duncan
can challenge Kobe Bryant as the greatest post-Jordan player of that era, and
he can become the only player besides Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win an NBA Finals
MVP a full 14 seasons apart. With a consecutive championship ring, James can
join an elite club of back to back champs, and an even rarer club of
consecutive MVP awards with consecutive championship hardware. With a third
ring, Wade can cement himself as the third greatest shooting guard of all-time.
With a fourth ring, Parker can jump into the conversation as one of the
greatest point guards of all-time. With a Spurs victory, a fifth ring in
fourteen years would cement them as a modern dynasty. With a Heat victory, a
consecutive championship, coupled with a third straight trip to the Finals,
could be the required beginnings of a dynasty, and could help keep the team
together for future seasons. Lastly, the coaching legacies of Popovich and
Spoelstra can be enhanced to all-time levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Duncan's Legacy</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Recognized by many
former greats as the greatest power forward of all-time, Duncan has an
opportunity to grab a hold of the "Greatest Player of His Generation"
title.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the post-Jordan era,
Kobe Bryant rushed out to five championships in a span of ten seasons, including
seven trips to the Finals in that span. With his game adapting many of Jordan's
characteristics, Bryant has been the only guard to live up to the hype, and
challenge, of being labeled, "The Next Jordan." With Bryant being
"Like Mike," he captured the attention of many with an individual
greatness that eventually translated into team related championships. Bryant
also played for the big market Los Angeles Lakers, and with his worldwide
attention, he has built up a legion of supporters. Bryant's box office flair
coupled with his championship hardware has him in the eyes of many as the
favorite in this argument.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On the other hand,
Duncan has long been under appreciated as a member of the small market San
Antonio Spurs. Nicknamed, "The Big Fundamental," Duncan's game is
boring to the casual eye. He doesn't jump very high, or run very fast, he
doesn't have a flashy crossover, or a signature dunk; instead Duncan does all
the little things well. His footwork, his skill with each hand, his defensive
positioning, everything is fundamental, and it all leads to astounding
production down in the painted area. With a fifth championship ring in a span
of fourteen seasons, Duncan would join a rarified group of winners, and if he
were to win the Finals MVP award a full 14 seasons apart (cementing his superb
consistency), he would become just the second player in NBA history to do such
a thing (with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar solely holding that distinction). Duncan's
low key persona has kept the spotlight off of him, but with another ring, he
sure would be difficult to ignore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This debate can fill up
many more pages with in-depth statistics, awards, and extracurricular analysis,
but the greats play for hardware, and if Duncan gets a fifth ring, he would
certainly be on equal footing with Bryant’s five rings. With a win, Duncan
cannot be ignored as a candidate for the “Greatest Player of his Generation,”
but with a loss, Duncan will have to sit on the sideline during that
conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">James' Legacy</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chasing the title of
"Greatest of All-Time," James is hoping to pave a path past Michael
Jordan (and if not Jordan in your eyes, then Bill Russell or Abdul-Jabbar).
With a chance to win back to back titles in consecutive MVP seasons, James can
join Russell and Jordan as the only basketball players to ever do such a thing.
Even further, if James can win a consecutive Finals MVP, then he would join
Jordan as the only player to complete the trifecta of MVP, championship, and
Finals MVP in consecutive seasons (unfortunately for Russell, they didn't award
Finals MVP's until 1969, however, the award is now named after him). With an
unimaginable ceiling, and a chance at making history, James has a lot to gain
in this championship round. Surprisingly, James also has a lot to lose. If he fails,
he will have three Finals losses under his belt, and his fourth MVP award in
five years will ring hollow. With the words, "Not six, not seven,"
forever hanging over him, James must win, and any failure to do so will
irreparably harm his legacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wade's Legacy</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With his third
championship ring, Wade would have a legitimate claim as the third greatest
shooting guard ever behind just Jordan and Bryant. Who is in front of him
currently? None other than the NBA logo, Jerry West. The only player to ever
win a Finals MVP while playing on the losing team, West failed to rack up
championship rings due to Russell's Celtics. With just one championship to his
name (as a member of the 33 straight win '72 Lakers), West has all the
statistics, but none of the hardware. If Wade can triple West's ring count,
while eventually catching his statistical prowess, it will be difficult to not
favor Wade in this ranking. Currently, West's career averages of 27.0 points,
5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists on .474% shooting outpace Wade's career averages
of 24.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists on .489% shooting, but more
additions of hardware can skewer the argument. Factor in Wade's brilliance
during the 2005-06 NBA Finals, and this ring may just put him over the top
(keyword "may," West's brilliance is still undeniable... four rings
would certainly do the trick). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Parker's Legacy</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Aiming for his fourth
championship ring, Parker has an opportunity to jump into the all-time annals
of point guard. With only Bob Cousy and Magic Johnson ahead of him in the ring
count, Parker has a real opportunity to cement his status as one of the greats.
Considering he won the 2006-07 NBA Finals MVP, Parker has certainly been just
as integral to the Spurs success as Duncan. In fact, in the past couple of
seasons, the team has been turned over to Parker and he has not disappointed.
Running the show confidently, Parker has turned a corner that some thought he
would never reach. Blazing fast, intelligent, a master of the pick and roll,
and possibly the greatest little man finisher in the lane, Parker has an
opportunity to truly jump ahead of point guard greats such as Gary Payton,
Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Walt Frazier, and maybe
even Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson (probably not past the "Cooz" or
the "Big O" yet, even with another ring). Parker definitely won't be
catching Magic Johnson anytime soon, but winning a fourth ring wouldn't hurt
his case for advancing up the greatest point guard ladder. As for losing? Well,
he would still have more hardware than many of the all-time point guards, but
his statistical production would pale to many of the greats. Without a fourth
ring, Parker is not an option for a top five point guard discussion (at this
point in time).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Spurs Dynasty?</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Five championships in
fourteen seasons, all under the same coach, and four featuring a main core of
three players, with five featuring one mainstay player; sounds an awful lot
like a dynasty. Even though it has been six years since the Spurs last trip to the
NBA Finals, a championship this season would cement a run unlike any other,
especially as a small market franchise. Rare is the sight of one coach coaching
one franchise for 17 seasons (especially with the Spurs last Finals appearance
coming in 2006-07, most other coaches would have been fired during that
drought). Rare is the sight of one player sticking with one team throughout the
duration of his entire career (Duncan nearly became a member of the Magic at
one point). Rare is the sight of a talented core of three sticking together for
a decade (not since Magic's Lakers and Bird's Celtics). Rare is the sight for a
franchise to keep a core together, especially as a small market (Duncan,
Parker, and Ginobili each could have bolted for more money and fame). Overall,
the Spurs have defied the odds, and in doing so, they have been a model
franchise for small markets. With Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili on the court,
and Popovich on the sidelines, the Spurs have jumped into the discussion as one
of the greatest basketball dynasties of all-time. With Russell and Bird's
Celtics, Johnson and Bryant's Lakers, and Jordan's Bulls serving as competition
for the label of "Greatest Dynasty Ever," Duncan's Spurs are
certainly in elite company. With such historical context at stake, a loss would
provide a sobering closing chapter, whereas a win would move the conversation
into undeniable heights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Heat Dynasty?</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With a third straight
trip to the Finals, and a chance for a consecutive championship, the Heat have
a chance to truly embark on something special. With the Indiana Pacers and
Chicago Bulls nipping at their heels in the Eastern Conference, the Heat will
have a lot of tough decisions to make in the upcoming seasons due to
prohibitive salary cap taxations. With three guys capable of commanding maximum
contracts, Heat ownership will have to decide if they are willing to pay top
dollar in order to keep the team together. A loss in this Finals could trigger
a foundational break up. But, if the Heat win the championship this season, and
possibly three-peat the following season, ownership will have no choice but to
keep the team together in an effort to four-peat (something unseen since
Russell's Celtics). With a triumvirate core of James, Wade, and Bosh, the Heat
certainly have enough skill to become one of the greatest dynasties of
all-time, now all they have to do is win.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coaching Legacies</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">If coach Popovich leads
the Spurs to a fifth ring, he will trail just two coaches in the all-time ranks
according to hardware, and he will tie two others. Leading the Spurs in a small
market, in the modern age no less, another ring for Popovich would catapult him
into the greatest coach of all-time discussion (although he probably is already
there). With just Phil Jackson (11 rings as coach), Red Auerbach (9 rings as
coach), Pat Riley (5 rings as coach), and John Kundla (5 rings as coach, one of
them in the BAA) wearing more hardware, Popovich is in rarified air, and his
possible outcome of five rings in five tries would certainly be impressive.
Furthermore, a loss wouldn’t necessarily damage Popovich's legacy. He would
still have four rings, and he would still trail the same greats. Essentially,
Popovich is playing with house money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On the other side is
coach Spoelstra. Spoelstra is aiming for his second ring as head coach, and
third ring overall (assistant coach on the '06 squad). Just 42 years old,
Spoelstra has the opportunity to enjoy a meteoric rise in the coaching annals.
Coaching and managing high end talent is not simple, and if Spoelstra can
follow the tips of his superior, and mentor, Pat Riley, he may end up on just
as successful a career path. A handful of rings is not out of the question for
coach Spoelstra. However, a loss here could mark a significant change upon his
career path. If the Heat lose, and the core is broken up (a realistic
scenario), Spoelstra could no longer have James delivering him titles, and that
would certainly hurt his chances to join the greats on the all-time coaching list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Series Prediction</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With everything up for
grabs, let me provide my series prediction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Judging from the
statistical evidence, it is clear that the Heat seem to do everything that the
Spurs do, but just a little bit better. With the best player in the world
guiding the Heat, it is especially difficult to pick against them (the Vegas
odds have the Heat heavily favored at 5-12).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, I am predicting
that the Spurs will win the series in six games. That's right, the Spurs will
close out the Heat in Miami in Game 6 (2-3-2 Finals format). I expect Duncan to
dominate the painted area offensively and defensively, but it will be Parker
who walks away with the NBA Finals MVP. I expect Parker to average 25 points, 9
assists, and 3 rebounds per game while shooting .470% from the field. With Popovich
at the helm, the Spurs are masters at playing their brand of ball, and if they
can impose their will with high quality looks in the post, and open corner
threes, the Spurs will give the Heat fits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With Wade and Bosh
disappearing in the Eastern Conference Finals, I expect the Spurs to severely
limit the performance of everyone except James. James will put up stellar
numbers, but the Spurs will shut down his teammates, and in doing so, James
will fail to come up with four wins all by himself. Popovich instills defensive
schemes to take away what the other team does well, and if the Spurs can limit
the role players, they will gain a significant advantage. Picking against James
is not the wisest thing to do, but when judging the overall team play throughout
the postseason, I believe that the Spurs have the better team. If Wade and Bosh
play up to their capabilities, the Heat can win this series in five games, but
I don't believe that either will do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your 2013 NBA champions
everyone, the San Antonio Spurs!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">** For further analysis, check out http://tucktompodcast.tumblr.com/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">** I will be a regular contributor to this podcast, and blog, so check it out!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-82487654447113049562013-04-13T15:11:00.002-07:002014-05-09T01:15:20.104-07:00Kobe Bryant Tears His Achilles (4.13.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The scene was surreal, a juxtaposition of contradiction.<br />
<br />
Kobe Bryant down. Kobe Bryant out. A wounded warrior unable to continue.<br />
<br />
In grand terms, a basketball god suffering the fate of a mere mortal.<br />
<br />
There he was, crumbling to the floor as he tried to make a routine plant-and-push off of his left foot. With a postseason berth pending, and three and half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the eightieth game of the season, his body finally broke down as he tore his Achilles tendon.<br />
<br />
Seventeen seasons, with the eighteenth uncertain, and the seventeenth a disappointing grade of incomplete. An incomplete that stings even more considering the challenges posed to Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers throughout this season. Injuries have plagued this roster, knocking out key contributors for significant stretches all season long. The rash of injuries, a severely mishandled coaching change, and even the absence and eventual passing of the great Dr. Jerry Buss have led to uneven play and poor results. Despite this, it still comes as a surprise to see Bryant befall the same outcome as his teammates. So often he has been able to just get up and walk it off. Bryant's steadiness on the court kept the season from slipping away, but now, he's the one missing, he's the one who can't contribute.<br />
<br />
Coach Kobe will come out, but the player will be unavailable. Whether he would have led them to glory, or gone down in defeat, it doesn't matter. What matters is that now we will never know. We will never know if this roller coaster season would have finished with three loops and a double corkscrew, or just a slight decline that reeks of mediocrity and boredom. For Bryant, the chapter on this season has ended, and there is nothing he can do about it.<br />
<br />
While no one has ever defeated Father Time, this just felt different. It felt cheap. Its sudden nature delivered an unexpected punch to the stomach, one that takes your breath away. It leaves you grasping for air, unable to think about anything other than breathing again, when the truth is, you don't know what's coming next. As Bryant clutched his heel, he also clutched his mortality. Although he had already shaken off two separate scares prior in the game, with each involving awkward landings and the pressure they put on his knees, including a hyperextension of one knee, Bryant described the deciding moment as, "I was just hoping it wasn't what I knew it was." An unwilling acceptance of a realized truth.<br />
<br />
So was it Father Time that defeated Kobe Bryant? Or how about just a freak accident? Maybe it was fate, a sort of karma police, I'm sure there are many detractors pushing that angle.<br />
<br />
Whatever it was, Bryant delivered a season unlike any other in 2012-13, doing things players half his age wish they could do, and performing at a level that no other player with his advanced age and mileage has ever reached. In a season full of amazing performances, Bryant has carried the Lakers on his back by consistently performing as a top five NBA player, and possibly even a top three player behind just LeBron James and Kevin Durant. As recently as two nights prior to his final game of the season, in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in which he played all 48 minutes despite the game being on the second night of a back-to-back, Bryant delivered an all-time historic performance by becoming the first player in NBA history with at least 47 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and three steals. Such performances throughout this season earned him a fan appointed, and aptly titled nickname of "Vino" due to his stellar progression over time, a graceful aging like a fine wine.<br />
<br />
One could argue that Father Time strikes in a similar fashion to Bryant's trademarked "Black Mamba," quickly and deadly, but when looking at Bryant's season as a whole, I'd say it was pretty obvious that he was still winning his battle with Father Time. Father Time may have leveled the playing field, but after seventeen seasons, I'd say that passes as a fair handicap against Kobe Bean Bryant.<br />
<br />
Although this injury is serious, especially for an older player such as Bryant who is 34 years old, with his track record, expect to see him ready to go next season. In fact, just this past season, Terrell Suggs, a 30 year old linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, was able to come back from a ruptured Achilles in just six months. Over twenty years ago, Dominique Wilkins ruptured his achilles midway through the 1991-92 season. 'Nique was able to come back in eight months, start 70 games, and average 28.8 points per game in the 1992-93 season at the age of 33, and he followed that up with a 26.3 average the subsequent season. Although Wilkins began to bounce around teams and even play in European leagues as his career dwindled down, he showed as far back as two decades ago that an advanced player can continue to play at a high level despite this injury.<br />
<br />
In a mythological sense, Bryant ironically parallels the Greek demigod Achilles. The central character of Homer's <i>Illiad, </i>Achilles was an unbelievable warrior, one that was nearly immortal, save for his left heel. Able to unleash a rage powerful enough to destroy countless adversaries, Achilles excelled in battle and flourished as a Greek hero. However, Achilles' biggest strength also exposed his only weakness, and with each battle, he pushed beyond this vulnerability. One day, mortality finally seized Achilles when Paris was able to shoot an arrow into his heel, the only part of his body that was not lowered into the river Styx and made immortal. This poisoned arrow led to Achilles death, and according to some texts, the arrow was actually guided by the god Apollo, a foe that had been disrespected by Achilles. Brash, confident, and universally feared, Achilles harnessed his powers to become a great warrior, and in doing so, he made countless enemies.<br />
<br />
Like Achilles, Bryant has destroyed the competition on countless occasions with his great skill, and an aggressive, unrelenting will that drives him to be the best that he can be. In doing so, Bryant has held himself to a standard that few others can reach. Sometimes, this led to feuds with teammates, management, media, opponents, essentially anybody in his way. Bryant's tactics have polarized the nation for years, and it is clear that he is not a universally beloved figure. Rather, he is a complex character with countless strengths and weaknesses. Successful, yet continually wanting more, Bryant has always lived to fight another day. Unlike Achilles, maybe Bryant will be able to walk this one off... over time.<br />
<br />
Like his Nike campaign states, "Count on Kobe."<br />
<br />
This is not the end.<br />
<br />
It can't be.<br />
<br />
It won't be.<br />
<br />
He won't let it.</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-7419290441057734842013-02-21T02:24:00.000-08:002014-05-09T01:15:06.507-07:00Lakers Defeat Celtics, Dr. Buss Tribute (2.20.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes, a week is just different.<br />
<br />
This past Valentine's Day, the Los Angeles Lakers were handily defeated by the Los Angeles Clippers. I attended the game, <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/02/live-reaction-lakers-blown-out-by.html" target="_blank">it was awful.</a> The Clippers are championship contenders, and for true Lakers fans, that reality is quite jarring. It seems like that 2010 championship wasn't all that long ago, but a look at this team and the league nowadays, and it's beginning to look like a relic, a triangular one of sorts.<br />
<br />
Following the disappointing Clippers' game, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant headed out to Houston for All-Star weekend. According to various reports, these two didn't <a href="http://www.clublakers.com/lakers-discussion/espn-radio-kobe-and-bynum-bonded-during-all-star-break-t133367.html" target="_blank">suddenly turn into buddies</a> over the short break. <a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/19/report-dwight-howard-mocked-kobe-bryant-in-all-star-locker-room/" target="_blank">Multiple rumors</a> came out, <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1537426-gregg-popovich-reportedly-cursed-out-dwight-howard-at-2013-nba-all-star-game" target="_blank">who knows</a> what is true? This led to all sorts of debate and speculation regarding who leaked what, what it all means, and what's going to happen at the trade deadline.<br />
<br />
Then, Dr. Jerry Buss, the greatest owner of any franchise, regardless of sport, lost his battle with cancer, and passed away on February 18th at the age of 80. Dr. Buss hadn't attended a game all season, yet his condition was kept fairly quiet, thus making his passing all the more sudden for the general population. There will never be another Dr. Buss; his presence will be <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTsZypz1PkA&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">sorely missed.</a><br />
<br />
With the sudden loss, the franchise mourned while also preparing to face the Boston Celtics, a team that handed the Lakers their biggest loss of the season just a couple of weeks ago, and was likely Dr. Buss's least favorite franchise in the NBA. As history would have it, I attended this game as well. With that odd feat, I will likely remember these games with a firm timeline. Namely, one was the final game Dr. Buss would oversee as owner of his beloved Lakers, and the other would mark the first Lakers game without Dr. Buss in over 30 years.<br />
<br />
With such a heavy week, here is a quick, light rundown of my thoughts on the Celtics game.<br />
<br />
Howard was exceptional against the Celtics. He came out strong with putbacks, dunks, screens, dives, rotations, shot alterations, just everything, even free throws! It was everything that Lakers fans have wanted to see all season long. With 12 points in the first quarter, Howard was a catalyst for the Lakers' impressive 36 point opening quarter.<br />
<br />
Howard finished the game with 24 points on 10-13 shooting, along with 12 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. It's these lines that make Howard so disappointing, because we all know he can dominate like this, but this season, it's been a struggle for him to play well consistently. After an awful game against the Clippers, and a rocky extended break, it was great to see Howard bounce back with a worthy performance. If Howard continues to do all the little things, the Lakers may just do some big things.<br />
<br />
Along with Howard's impressive play, Bryant was excellent, in stretches. In the first quarter, Bryant supported Howard with 10 points and two assists. Watching each open with a strong performance was a surprising treat. In the third quarter, Bryant continued his strong play by dishing out four assists and helping the Lakers push the lead to nearly 20 points.<br />
<br />
Overall, Bryant's line wasn't great, but in typical Bryant fashion, he was able to grind out the game while leaving a lasting imprint upon the win. For stretches, Bryant made every single right decision and he carried the Lakers. If Howard is able to become a consistent force, these two can go far as a formidable one-two punch.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YREggVaR51s/USX8ea63J-I/AAAAAAAAAFA/HO_sxpTkEJQ/s1600/IMG_1537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YREggVaR51s/USX8ea63J-I/AAAAAAAAAFA/HO_sxpTkEJQ/s320/IMG_1537.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lakers win 113-99.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Furthermore, the collective whole of the Lakers really came through against the Celtics. Seven players reached double digits. The defense held the Celtics to just 99 points, a real feat considering Paul Pierce had 23 of the Celtics' 54 points at the half — Pierce finished with just 26 points overall. Also, role players like Earl Clark, Metta World Peace, Steve Blake, Antawn Jamison, and Jodie Meeks each produced solid minutes. World Peace opened with some corner threes, Clark notched a game high 16 rebounds, Blake made plays and hit some shots, Jamison scored at the rim with his keen sense for cutting, and Meeks just played hard and made sure that effort was never an issue.<br />
<br />
One final impression. Comparing this game to the Clippers' game is essentially night and day. That performance was about as awful as they come, and it led to a dull crowd that had nothing to cheer for. Against the Celtics, with another national audience, the players responded well, and the crowd poured out support with far greater enthusiasm. "Boston sucks!" along with some "MVP!"'s and even a heartening "Jerry! Jerry!" all contributed to a wonderful Lakers game atmosphere, one that Dr. Buss would have enjoyed.<br />
<br />
Overall, the Lakers can do some real damage if they continue to match this effort for the remainder of the season. Maybe it took some grief for the guys to dig in deep. Or maybe it will be just another fluke game.<br />
<br />
Whatever the case, I witnessed two polar opposite Lakers' games, and it's all a bit disorienting for just a week's time.</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-76675693391829617412013-02-15T00:21:00.004-08:002014-05-09T01:14:55.188-07:00Live Reaction, Lakers Blown Out by Clippers (2.14.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What a grand way to celebrate Valentine's Day.<br />
<br />
When I purchased tickets this past September to see the Lakers play the Clippers, I definitely thought I'd get a better show than that. I thought I would see marquee players deliver marquee games, instead, I was treated to a one-sided affair that was downright embarrassing from start to finish.<br />
<br />
Without taking a look at any of the box score information, let me give you a quick rundown of my thoughts on the game.<br />
<br />
First off, what an awful start. The Lakers got down 15-0 right off the bat. The Lakers missed a bunch of wide open three-pointers, and the Clippers seemed to sink just about everything. Blake Griffin was especially hot. I distinctly remember him dominating and finishing the opening quarter with 18 points. Griffin pulled out the full arsenal, with dunks, jumpers, hooks, up and unders, just about everything to make the Lakers' defenders look foolish.<br />
<br />
With the Clippers dominating, the crowd was especially dormant in the first quarter. With nothing to cheer for other than a couple of nice plays from Kobe Bryant, I sat in my nosebleeds and wondered how tame we sounded on a national TNT telecast. Speaking of Bryant, he had some memorable moments. It was a joy watching him bully Jamal Crawford and Chauncey Billups in the post, and once Caron Butler was assigned to him, the shoulder chucks and arm locks were in full effect. After serving as the only scoring threat in the first quarter, one that the Lakers lost 31-17, Bryant was covered with a man, and a soft double for the rest of the game. Anytime he caught the ball, the entire defense focused on him, and he tried to make them pay. Bryant repeatedly swung the ball to the open man, yet time after time, the Lakers bricked open shots. Honestly, I don't know how he ended up with 11 assists, I don't recall any buckets going down other than the dunks he spoonfed.<br />
<br />
In the second quarter, the bench came in and did a great job. Steve Blake pushed the tempo, and Antawn Jamison seemed to score at the rim whenever he cut. The efforts of those two got the deficit down to just three points with about three minutes remaining in the second quarter. However, once the starters came back in, the Clippers got going again, and they finished on a scorching run to close the quarter, finishing the half ahead 64-52. <br />
<br />
Notably absent throughout the big run by the Lakers was Dwight Howard. Simply put, Howard was awful. I watched him gain inside position on numerous rebound attempts, yet he would fail to come up with the board as the ball would bobble off of his hand, or DeAndre Jordan would nudge him and reach over the top, or he would fail to chase it down. It was disheartening. I also watched him bobble passes on the pick and roll. I watched him get owned in the post by some sweet moves from Griffin. I watched him rotate on defense like he was stuck in quicksand. I watched him struggle to seal his man and get good position on the block for easy buckets. I saw him miss gimme buckets at the rim and get swatted by Lamar Odom. I saw it all, live. It's a lot different seeing it live than it is on television. I don't know how to explain it, it just seems more profound.<br />
<br />
All I can say is, I hope he is still seriously feeling pain in his back or something, because, I just don't know how to explain his performance. Either he is broken down and his game is never going to be what it once was, or he is playing through some serious pain. It has to be one or the other, and for his sake, and the Lakers' sake, I hope it's the latter.<br />
<br />
On a side note, when I first purchased these tickets, I purposely made sure not to even attempt to get any tickets before January. The rumors over the offseason were that Howard wouldn't be ready to play until December, so I figured I would give an extra month or two just in case. Looks like it didn't even matter. I witnessed Andrew Bynum drop his career high, 42 points, on the Clippers just a couple of years ago, and I also saw Bynum get a <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/04/andrew-bynum-makes-history.html" target="_blank">triple double in Game 1</a> of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets last season with 10 blocks. Obviously, Bynum is hurt, so it's all for nil, but seeing each of these guys live, Howard sure has a lot of catching up to do.<br />
<br />
In the third quarter, the game got out of hand. Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler took turns annihilating the Lakers with bombs from deep. It seemed like they couldn't miss if they tried. It's like that rebounding drill, where your coach shoots threes and attempts to miss on purpose as you battle your teammate for the rebound, except your coach keeps making the shot despite intentionally attempting to miss, and eventually you just have to laugh. It was a lot like that. With those two hitting everything from deep, the deficit reached 20 points, and from there, the game was lost. Actually, let me amend that statement, the game was lost when the Lakers allowed a <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/02/lakers-crumble-end-grammy-trip-with.html" target="_blank">"poison pill"</a> (scroll to the last paragraph of the link to understand the Lakers' poison pill woes) to start the game, and then continued to allow the Clippers to pile up 30+ point quarters from there on out.<br />
<br />
In the fourth quarter, I expected Bryant to get ejected. He got hacked on like three straight possessions, yet he only received the whistle once. He eventually picked up a technical, and once that happened, I figured he was pining to get tossed as the team trailed by over 20 points with six minutes remaining. Bryant eventually was subbed out, and the flag was waived as Robert Sacre and Darrius Morris entered the game.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BjSMENq_c4/UR3uMxHYvOI/AAAAAAAAAEs/-OXRzZwKanw/s1600/179732_10151310377653181_1520779050_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BjSMENq_c4/UR3uMxHYvOI/AAAAAAAAAEs/-OXRzZwKanw/s320/179732_10151310377653181_1520779050_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lakers lose 125-101.</td></tr>
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Overall, the game was a dud, and it wasn't exactly the riveting date I had in mind to celebrate Valentine's Day with my boo. I thought we would be treated to an epic "Battle LA" experience, one that she would remember as a very exciting moment in her life, instead, she looked at me with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter and said, "Are we really going to stay and watch this?". I couldn't help but laugh and give her a kiss. I jokingly replied, "Hey, you know the Lakers are going to cut it down to like five with a minute left and then lose." We ended up staying, and the Lakers didn't get anywhere near pulling off that scenario.<br />
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On this Valentine's Day, the Lakers broke my heart. Fortunately, I still have a great girlfriend.<br />
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Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-16047821562086393532013-02-11T05:34:00.002-08:002014-05-09T01:14:42.263-07:00Lakers Crumble, End Grammy Trip with Loss to Heat (2.11.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
5-2 just looks, and feels, a lot better than 4-3.<br />
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With the Lakers fighting for dear life just to gain entry into the postseason, any loss significantly hurts their chances to do so. Currently in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 24-28 record, the Lakers trail the Houston Rockets by three and a half games for the eighth seed, and the Utah Jazz are a full four games ahead for the seventh seed.<br />
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5-2 should have been manageable on this "Grammy trip," but <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/01/lakers-start-grammy-trip-with-loss-to.html" target="_blank">coughing up a game</a> against the lowly Phoenix Suns to start the road schedule pretty much ended any hope of that happening. Relative to the type of season the Lakers have had this season, this trip was successful, but in reality, this trip should have closed the gap on the eighth seed, and instead, the Lakers are exactly where they were before the strip started, three and a half games behind the eighth seed.<br />
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Playing eight games in 13 days, with seven consecutive games on the road, probably didn't help the Lakers' chances, but this is the hole they have dug themselves in, and now it is time for them to buck up and survive. Metta World Peace gave the best sound bite following the game against the Heat, stating, "Going 4-3 on a seven-game road trip is successful for losers, [a 4-3 record is] successful for people who think of us as a losing team. It's successful for losing minds, not successful for winning minds." I couldn't have said it better myself, the Lakers had a chance to make a real dent in the standings with a realistic opportunity to go 6-1, instead they barely came out ahead.</div>
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After starting the first of those seven road games with a collapsing loss to the Suns, the season defining stretch certainly got off on the wrong foot. The Lakers followed that up by building a 29-point lead against the Timberwolves, only to see it collapse to four points with five minutes remaining in regulation. The Lakers fought off the comeback, but for the second straight game, they collapsed in the fourth quarter. Then came an unnecessarily close game against the Pistons on Super Bowl Sunday. The Lakers scraped by for a one point win despite Earl Clark and Steve Nash missing four straight free throws in the final sixteen seconds, allowing the Pistons one final chance, and a darn good attempt at a game winning alley oop dunk.<br />
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Following this bumpy opening, the Lakers pulled out their finest victory of the trip, a win against the Nets sans Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace, and Pau Gasol (tore his plantar fascia with four minutes remaining in a close game). Following the injury to Gasol, <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/02/bryant-questions-howard-leads-victory.html" target="_blank">Kobe Bryant shamed Howard</a> into playing through his shoulder pain, and the Lakers were destroyed by the Celtics for their worst loss of the season, a 21-point drubbing. Howard was a tentative non-factor, and it was clear that he was not ready to play in that game. The Lakers followed that up the very next night with a pathetic performance against the Bobcats in which they got down by 20 points with 17 minutes remaining in the game before rallying and pulling out a seven point win. With such roller coaster performances, the Lakers hoped to close out the Grammy trip with a defining win against the Miami Heat.<br />
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With three quarters of solid play behind them, it looked like the Lakers might actually sneak out of Miami with a win. Strong performances from Bryant, Nash, Howard, and Clark kept the Lakers within striking distance — of the four, only Clark failed to shoot above 50% from the field in the first three quarters — and the Lakers only trailed 73-78 entering the fourth quarter. In fact, that deficit should have been even less, but a costly mistake allowed LeBron James to end the third quarter with a free throw, a miss that led to a tap out by the wily Shane Battier, and a dagger three-pointer from James in the final seconds. Battier's tap out capped off a disappointing rebounding performance for the Lakers in the third quarter — the Heat were able to produce 10 points off of six offensive rebounds in the third quarter.<br />
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Despite the rebounding woes, things were looking good. As a whole, the Lakers only had six turnovers entering the fourth quarter — a phenomenal success considering the Heat's stellar defense, and the Lakers' high amount of turnovers this season (sixth highest average in the NBA). Back to back turnovers from Howard early in the fourth quarter foreshadowed things to come, but a Jodie Meeks three-pointer that put the Lakers down just one, 81-82, with 8:47 remaining in regulation, certainly inspired hope. From there, the Lakers crumbled with numerous mental lapses as the Heat turned up the defensive pressure.<br />
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In that final eight minute stretch, the Heat forced six steals. The Lakers, namely Bryant, had success in the first three quarters by attacking the baseline and either scoring, finding cutters in the lane, or kicking out for a three-pointer — Bryant entered the fourth quarter with seven assists. However, in the fourth quarter, the Heat began crashing the paint and cutting off those passing angles. Bryant especially struggled with this adjustment, and he was forced into consecutive turnovers on the baseline at the six minute mark. Bryant finished the game with four turnovers, and three of them came in that final eight minute stretch. Although Bryant finished the game with a stellar line of 28 points on 11-19 shooting, with six rebounds, nine assists, and a steal, I'm sure that he would like a redo on those consecutive possessions. Antawn Jamison, Clark, and Nash also gave away a possession in that eight minute stretch.<br />
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With the Lakers wasting possessions with turnovers, the Heat capitalized with buckets on three of the six steals, with each score coming in transition for a tally of six points. With LeBron James throwing down two vicious slams, and Dwyane Wade hitting a pull up jumper, the Heat gained all of the momentum as the Lakers came up empty.<br />
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The first slam started with Wade cutting off the baseline, stealing a skip pass from Bryant, tiptoeing the baseline, and saving the ball by tossing it back in play just before falling out of bounds. Chris Bosh caught the ball, sent the outlet to Norris Cole, and Cole let the ball fly into the air <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uopTvu6FTiM" target="_blank">for James to throw down</a> with two hands as Nash ran out of the way. This put the Heat up 84-91 at the 5:58 mark.<br />
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The next slam featured a lazy entry pass over the top from Nash to Bryant that James was able to intercept and take the distance without any resistance. With the Red Sea parting as neither Nash nor Clark wanted anything to do with the ensuing poster, James threw down <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMGSr3Pnddc" target="_blank">a monster one handed dunk</a> before scowling on his way back down the court. This put the Heat up 88-97 at the 3:25 mark.<br />
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With the sixth turnover of the eight minute stretch coming from Bryant at the 2:30 mark, the Heat were able to push the lead to 90-102, essentially sealing the game. In the end, the Heat won 97-107.<br />
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<a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/01/any-professional-basketball-team-that.html" target="_blank">Similar to the last game</a> the Lakers played against the Heat, the Lakers had their chances late in the ball game, and they came up short. That nine point loss was tied up with just over two minutes remaining in the game. This 10 point loss was within seven points from the 7:15 mark to the 3:03 mark in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers just couldn't close the gap. Strong games against the world champion Miami Heat are encouraging, but encouraging doesn't equal wins, and right now, that is what the Lakers need the most. With two more games before the All-Star break, the Lakers are guaranteed to be under .500 despite having Bryant and Howard start for the Western Conference squad.<br />
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The Lakers are in a world of hurt, and there isn't a single easy way out. With a depleted front line that has Gasol out for at least six weeks, Jordan Hill out for the season, and Howard battling a torn labrum that will bother him until he undergoes surgery, the Lakers' biggest strength heading into the season, size, is now their biggest weakness. With Robert Sacre as the only big man available after Howard, the Lakers have been going small, deciding to keep Sacre on the bench, and instead rolling with a rotation of World Peace, Clark, and Jamison sharing minutes at power forward, and sometimes, the center position. Any time Howard goes out of the game, the opponent attacks the rim, and usually finds an easy bucket or an offensive rebound.<br />
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Despite this crazy season of instability, the Lakers have to keep grinding away, and if they keep at it, it looks like a down year for the Western Conference may give them a shot at the postseason. For the past five seasons, 48 wins has been the average amount of wins for the eighth seed in the West. There is no way the Lakers will win 48 games this season. Fortunately, this season, 43 wins may be the lucky number for that final playoff spot. The Jazz and Rockets each have 28 wins so far, but one of them is likely to slide — my pick is the Jazz, especially if they shake up their roster with a trade before the deadline. With 30 games remaining in the regular season, the Lakers would have to go 19-11 to finish with 43 wins, a .633 winning percentage.<br />
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Fortunately, the Lakers have a precedent for that type of winning percentage. In the D'Antoni era, the Lakers are 11-6 in games in which they don't give up a "poison pill," good for a .647 winning percentage. A poison pill occurs when Lakers allow the opponent to score thirty or more points in a single quarter. These quarters usually steamroll the Lakers, and they all but guarantee defeat, evidenced by the Lakers' 8-17 record in the D'Antoni era when they give up a poison pill. On the Grammy trip, the Lakers only allowed two of their seven opponents to produce a poison pill (the Bobcats and the Celtics), so there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. If the Lakers keep up their defensive efforts, they should be successful. If they don't, well, we already know what will happen if they don't.</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-63307732069938636362013-02-06T04:37:00.000-08:002014-05-09T01:14:26.254-07:00Bryant Questions Howard, Leads Victory Over Nets (2.5.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My freshman year of college, I was introduced to a particular phrase that essentially shamed me into manning up and doing what was necessary.<br />
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That particular phrase was, "Don't be a bitch, do it right now!" Peer pressure at its finest. It was often yelled into my ear by my roommate, Matt. Even worse, once Matt uttered that phrase, the entire room would chant it until the desired action was completed. Similar to one Slayer fan <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWx_KV0Lbnk" target="_blank">yelling out, "Slayer!"</a> followed by any Slayer fan within earshot also yelling out, "Slayer!" this phrase would induce a chain reaction. 10 people pounding on a table and yelling, "Don't be a bitch, do it right now!" was enough of a motivator for me, or anyone else. While playing games of <a href="http://www.thecollegesurvivalhandbook.com/2012/02/how-to-play-land-mines-drinking-game.html" target="_blank">land mines</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_(drinking_game)" target="_blank">pyramids</a>, drinking games that would often make me regret my actions, that phrase would become a landmark.<br />
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My most memorable game of pyramids would be the first time I went on a road trip with Matt up to Lodi in Northern California. We decided to visit a friend of his about a week or so before our sophomore year at UCSB. While there, we eventually played a game of pyramids. I was informed the next day that soon after I left the room for a final bathroom break before the game started, Matt, a cunning individual, decided to inform the other four players to assign all of their drinks to me. Let's just say, I drank a copious amount of beer that night, and I felt absolutely horrible the following morning. What made me gut through it and not quit on the game? "Don't be a bitch, do it right now!" My pride was on the line, and I was not going to wimp out in front of four people I had never met before that night.<br />
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While my drinking tales from college certainly don't give me any right to question Dwight Howard's toughness, a certain quote from Kobe Bryant surely does. With Pau Gasol likely out for a month — or even the rest of the season — after <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8919808/pau-gasol-los-angeles-lakers-injures-foot-vs-brooklyn-nets-undergo-mri" target="_blank">possibly tearing his fascia</a> against the Brooklyn Nets this past Tuesday, Bryant stated, "I'm very, very concerned to say the least." Bryant followed that statement with a challenge to Howard, stating, "He's probably worried about the damage in his shoulder. I don't think he's ever had to play through injuries in his career. I think it's a new experience for him."<br />
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Elaborating on the statement, Bryant continued, "When I was growing up, going through high school and middle school, unfortunately, but fortunately, I dealt with injuries. Not injuries that were debilitating, but injuries you have to play through where you have to manage the pain. When you go through those things, you learn your body and what you can push through." Sounds an awful lot like a certain mantra pointed at me, doesn't it? Different words, same message. Bryant wants Howard to gut through the pain. As NFL players always state, <a href="http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-injured-and-hurt/" target="_blank">there's a difference between being hurt, and being injured.</a></div>
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Bryant continued, "But Dwight has never been hurt. The [back injury last season] was debilitating and he couldn't play. When you have an injury that hurts you, but you can play through it, that's something you have to balance out and manage, and he's never really had to do that."</div>
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Well, now, Howard has to do that. While on <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8915802/dwight-howard-los-angeles-lakers-remains-focused-season" target="_blank">his recent ESPN crusade,</a> Howard sounded an awful lot like someone with one foot out the door. While giving statements like, "There's no need for a circus," Howard wouldn't give a definitive statement regarding his offseason uncertainty. Listen, we all know it is best for Howard's sake to wait until the offseason and then sign with the Lakers in order to receive a maximum contract deal, however, it sure would be nice if Howard gave any sort of indication that he actually wants to play for a franchise that has the second most championships in NBA history. Instead, Howard gives statements such as, "Getting to the playoffs, and winning to the championship," as his goal for this season, yet he counters <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8910455/los-angeles-lakers-dwight-howard-again-injured-shoulder" target="_blank">that sentiment with,</a> "I don't want to have this happen every week or two to where I'm fine and then I take a hard hit and I reaggravate it."</div>
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Well, which is it? Are you committed to winning, or are you worried about getting injured and not landing that maximum contract? I think it's pretty clear. Howard is consumed with his own personal future. Howard's torn labrum injury is something that can be played with. It is an injury that will be a problem until he has surgery and recovers. What does he expect? Does he think he can rest a few games and then be healthy? Seriously, what is going through this guy's head? This torn labrum injury isn't going anywhere, and if the Lakers, winners of six of the last seven games, have any shot at the postseason, and a deep run from there, Howard needs to play, especially if Gasol is out for an extended period. Howard is going to get paid no matter what, so he might as well suck it up and play. With the Lakers three games under .500, and 3.5 games behind the 8th seed Houston Rockets, Howard's talent is a necessity for this team to avoid the label of "Biggest Failure in NBA History." </div>
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For further proof, take a look at Bryant. Bryant led the Lakers to victory against the Nets on Tuesday despite playing with a sprained elbow on his shooting arm. Bryant spoke of numbness throughout his arm, especially after he turned back the clock and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/06/kobe-bryant-dunk-kris-humphries_n_2627696.html" target="_blank">dunked over Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries</a> with just just under three minutes remaining in the game to give the Lakers a two point lead. Despite the injury, Bryant gutted it out and led the Lakers to an impressive 92-83 victory on the road without Howard, a suspended Metta World Peace, and Gasol (in the final minutes). </div>
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Even further, Bryant has played with Howard's injury! Howard <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8910455/los-angeles-lakers-dwight-howard-again-injured-shoulder?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">certainly doesn't want to hear it,</a> even scoffing at the notion with the statement, "Me and Kobe play two different positions, the position I play, I use a lot of force coming up." Howard continues his statement, but it's a bunch of excuses. Want to know what Bryant did with his torn labrum? He injured it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOMINSmk2uA" target="_blank">on this ridiculous dunk</a> in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first round of the playoffs in 2003. For the next seven games, Bryant played with the injury, and he averaged 32.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 44.9% shooting from the field and 41.5% from deep. That postseason, the Lakers came within <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6V1-UraQAs" target="_blank">one Robert Horry three-point shot</a> of possibly four-peating. Instead, the Lakers lost in six games to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the second round, and Bryant sat on the bench in the closing minutes <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck9nyiwaTIg" target="_blank">with tears in his eyes.</a> </div>
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While seven games is nowhere near the amount of games Howard will have to gut through, it's clear that Bryant was willing to give his all for a chance to win the title. Once the season ended, Bryant underwent surgery on his torn labrum. Obviously, Bryant feels that Howard should take the same route.</div>
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So what is Howard's plan? If he doesn't want to get hurt any further, then go under the knife and get it over with. Otherwise, play through the pain. Bryant did it, and if you are committed to this team, then you must do it. Bryant certainly expects so, as does all of Los Angeles. Howard is going to get paid a fat contract no matter what happens, so he might as well play. </div>
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My tales of drinking certainly don't qualify my opinion, but the message sent from my friends mirrors the sentiment held inside the Lakers' locker room. Essentially, that message is a catch phase that <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.empowernetwork.com/terriclay/files/2012/12/just-do-it.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.empowernetwork.com/terriclay/blog/i-just-want-to-be-successful-but-how-just-do-it-drops-the-mic/&h=290&w=400&sz=8&tbnid=lA2zRFsqwF-9PM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=125&zoom=1&usg=__knXhuAQQ2jq2hug1i7B3Ub0QodA=&docid=uvUuo7lvWIh0sM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=0kcSUfu4JozdqQGT8YDIBg&ved=0CEYQ9QEwBA&dur=265" target="_blank">has been attached</a> to the greatest athletes of all-time, "Just do it." </div>
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Howard has been told that he can't structurally injure the labrum any further, so pain tolerance is the only issue. Bryant spoke of playing with pain in his middle school days, Howard is unwilling to play with pain as a multi-millionaire in the NBA. What more can you say?<br />
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Play the role of returning hero, Dwight, it'd be a nice change. Los Angeles wants to embrace you, <a href="http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8917726/los-angeles-lakers-tell-dwight-howard-commit-split" target="_blank">Kobe wants to hand the franchise to you,</a> give us, give him, give the Lakers a chance.</div>
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Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-83991076237063741402013-01-31T04:15:00.002-08:002014-05-09T01:14:15.234-07:00Lakers Start Grammy Trip With Loss to Suns (1.31.12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What an odd week it has been for the Los Angeles Lakers.<br />
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A three game home stand saw Kobe Bryant reinvent himself as a triple-double threat, including an especially surprising ability to facilitate in spectacular fashion. Bryant dished out 39 assists in three games, his highest cumulative total in such a span throughout his 17 seasons of NBA play. Bryant also gobbled up 26 rebounds in this stretch to go along with his 49 total points on just 34 shot attempts. With Bryant controlling the tempo and setting up his teammates, the Lakers began winning ball games, going 3-0 at home.</div>
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Starting against the Utah Jazz, and continuing against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Hornets, the team began to give maximum effort on both sides of the ball. Dwight Howard may have <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/01/bryant-and-howard-lead-lakers-past-jazz.html" target="_blank">played his best game as a Laker</a> against the Jazz by playing stellar defense and throwing down four monster alley oops. Then Bryant turned in a classic performance against the Thunder by dishing out 14 assists and finishing the game in Mamba mode by hitting clutch buckets in the final minutes. Topping it off was a 20 point, 12 rebound performance on 8-11 shooting, including 4-5 from deep, from Earl Clark against the Hornets.</div>
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Throughout this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcjSDZNbOs0" target="_blank">bizarro world</a> time frame, Bryant primarily led the charge by playing the point and initiating numerous screen rolls. With Bryant on the ball and picking apart the defense, Steve Nash played off the ball and turned into a catch and shoot threat. Nash is one of the greatest pick and roll artists in NBA history, but his threat as a career 42.8% three-point shooter allowed greater floor spacing for Bryant to drive and dump, kick, or score. With defenses unable to leave Nash, Bryant was given numerous options with a great amount of space. With Nash and Bryant playing opposite roles, the Lakers averaged 106 points per game, about four points higher than their season average.</div>
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Even more bizarre, the Lakers overcame two poison pills in the three games. The Lakers held the Jazz without a 30+ point quarter, but against the Thunder and the Hornets, the Lakers surprisingly overcame these failure prognosticating quarters. The Thunder dropped 30 on the Lakers in the second quarter, but the Lakers only allowed 23 in the first, 22 in the third, and an impressive 21 in the fourth en route to the 96-105 victory. That 30 point quarter should have spelled disaster, but the Lakers were able to dig in and pull out a victory against the best record in the NBA. Then, against the Hornets, the Lakers allowed multiple poison pills, as the Hornets put on a furious rally in the second half with a 31 point third quarter, and a 33 point fourth quarter. Despite nearly blowing an 18-point lead, the Lakers held on and won 106-111.</div>
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So, riding a three game winning streak, and essentially entering the make-or-break portion of the schedule with seven upcoming road games due to the Grammy's taking place at Staples Center, you would figure the Lakers would take care of the lowly 15-30 Phoenix Suns, right? </div>
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Wrong.</div>
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Despite leading 78-65 with 10:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Lakers blundered away the game with turnovers, a four minute scoring drought, and missed shots. As this happened, Michael Beasley decided to go into beast mode and score 10 fourth quarter points, including two go-ahead buckets with the score tied in the final two minutes. </div>
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Oh, and let's not forget that Dwight Howard injured his shoulder, again. Remember in the preseason when Howard, in an asinine attempt to distance himself from Shaquille O'Neal's moniker of "Superman," <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/10/dwight-purple-hills-howard-10912.html" target="_blank">anointed himself "Iron Man"?</a> What a joke. He ripped off O'Neal, and then he failed to know enough about the Lakers' history that he ripped off A.C. Green, a Lakers' great that played in 1,192 consecutive games.</div>
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Anyways, Howard is no "Iron Man." With 6:56 remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers leading 78-73, Howard grabbed an offensive rebound, and as he went up with the ball, Shannon Brown (a memorable, former Laker) swatted down with two hands and stripped the ball from Howard. Howard instantly felt the pain in his injured shoulder, and he had to sit out the rest of the game due to his right labrum injury. I'm not questioning Howard's toughness, because a torn labrum is definitely a problem for a basketball player, I'm just pointing out that Howard is not an "Iron Man." Oh, and it would help if Howard kept the ball up high in the chest area like they teach big men at the high school level. Yeah, that simple fundamental aspect would help. In fact, the past two times Howard has aggravated the injury, he had the ball low, and he was stripped by a guard. </div>
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Moving on, Howard's absence isn't to blame for the loss. Even with Howard on the floor for most of this stretch, from the 9:59 mark to the 6:08 mark, the Lakers didn't score a single point. Not a field goal. Not a free throw. Nothing. This stretch featured two turnovers and nine missed shots. The worst culprit of this stretch would have to be the five bricks Metta World Peace laid, with most of the attempts wide open.</div>
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Following World Peace's struggles, Bryant finally got the Lakers on the board with a jumper at the 6:07 mark. From there, Bryant would struggle to carry the team. Abandoning the pick and roll success of the first three quarters, and the three prior games, the Lakers began going to Bryant in isolation sets. Bryant shot just 1-4 from isolation sets in the fourth quarter, and just 2-7 for six points and two turnovers in the final 6:56 — the other Lakers shot 0-3 in this final stretch, with Gasol scoring two points off of free throws. To top it off, Bryant missed a left handed layup that would have tied the game at 88-88 with 23 seconds remaining in the game. Instead, the ball had a bit too much oomph, and it rolled off the front of the rim and allowed the Suns to hit some free throws and win 86-92. </div>
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I can't explain why the Lakers abandoned the pick and roll late in the game. It may have been due to numerous wide open bricks from the weak side, namely World Peace and his 3-10 shooting from deep. Earl Clark was no better with his 1-4 from deep. Even Nash shot 1-4 from deep. And Bryant himself was 0-3 from deep. It also could have been a function of the five turnovers in the quarter, with D'Antoni favoring just getting the ball to Bryant in isolations and not having to worry about moving the ball around.<br />
<br />
Overall, Bryant scored six of the Lakers final eight points, but his inability to find teammates for easy buckets truly hurt the team. Bryant finished the game with nine assists — pushing his mark to a career-high 48 assists in a four game stretch — yet none came in the fourth quarter. Whatever the case, the Lakers scored just 13 fourth quarter points. Yes, 13.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the Suns poured in 29 fourth quarter points as Beasley carried them with clutch buckets all up in World Peace's grill, including an impressive off hand layup that gave the Suns an 86-88 lead with 43 seconds remaining in regulation. Despite playing solid defense for much of the game, the Lakers allowed the Suns to finish the game on a 19-6 run in the final 5:09. Howard's absence was obviously a factor, but the Suns did hit four jumpers in that stretch for nine points, while six points came from layups, and four points came from the line.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's a loss like this that may be the deciding factor as to whether the Lakers make the playoffs. 20 turnovers against a middling defense is unacceptable. Shooting 8-27 (29.6%) from downtown just won't get it done. Having just one Laker top 50% shooting isn't efficient enough. Six turnovers from Bryant, and four from Gasol, are far too many. With six more road games on this Grammy trip against very winnable teams, the Lakers need to go 6-0 just to get to .500 at 26-26. Facing the Timberwolves, Pistons, Nets, Celtics, Bobcats, and Heat, a 4-2 closeout is more likely, but I figured the Lakers would destroy the Suns, so who knows.<br />
<br />
Sitting a full four games behind the Rockets for the eighth seed, and five games behind the Jazz for the seventh seed, the 20-26 Lakers can't waste any more opportunities, and their 5-16 road record doesn't boast any confidence. In fact, the Lakers finished the month of January with an 0-7 road record, marking the first time in the history of the franchise that the team finished with an 0-7 or worse road record in a full calendar month.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With just 36 games remaining this season, each mounting loss spells a postseason drought. Needing at least 25 more wins to have a chance at the postseason with a 45-37 record by season's end, the Lakers must go 25-11 in the final 36 games. Such a mark isn't impossible, but with the Lakers blowing games this season against the Mavericks, Kings, Magic, Cavaliers, Sixers, Raptors, and Suns, all teams below .500, I can't say this Lakers team has instilled any sort of consistent play that warrants my belief in their ability to turn this season around. I can hope, but I need to see results. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You know what may be the most damning fact of the season? 22 players this season have either set a season-high or a career-high in a specific category against the Lakers in just 36 games, and seven opposing teams have set a high mark as well, whether it is points in a quarter, most field goals at the rim, or most points in transition. 12 of those 22 player highs came in the points department, with Beasley's performance as the newest addition with his season-high of 27 points on an efficient 12-20 shooting, including 1-1 from deep and 2-3 from the line. Add in his six rebounds, one assist, and five steals, and it's clear that the Lakers allow players to blow up on them far too often.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To come full circle with the odd factor, despite not allowing the Suns to produce a poison pill quarter, the Lakers lost. After winning two poison pill games in a row against the Thunder and Hornets, the Lakers are now 7-16 in poison pill games, and due to this loss against the Suns, 8-5 in non-poison pill games throughout the D'Antoni era. What a weird week. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-lakers-playoff-chances-are-slim-to.html" target="_blank">Three weeks ago,</a> this team had no shot at the postseason. Then, this past week, the Lakers instilled some hope. Now, I just don't know how to feel. I have a suspicion that my uncertainty is likely no different from what's taking place inside the Lakers' locker room, especially with Howard's availability up in the air.</div>
</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-27809798430744211712013-01-26T03:10:00.002-08:002014-05-09T01:14:02.310-07:00Bryant and Howard Unite to Lead Lakers Past Jazz (1.26.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I guess it's true, a happy Dwight Howard is a dominant Dwight Howard. Fresh off of <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8881867/dwight-howard-los-angeles-lakers-wants-negativity-stop" target="_blank">his statement, </a>"Negativity is just not good," Howard turned in his finest performance in a Lakers uniform against the Utah Jazz on Friday night, a performance that may serve as a stepping stone in turning this disastrous season around.<br />
<br />
It wasn't just the 17 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, two steals, two blocks, and just one turnover, throw all of that out. Those are just numbers. It was the effort. It was the athleticism. It was the willingness to accept a role. It wasn't demanding post-ups on the box. It wasn't saying, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/35544/dwight-howards-perplexing-season-hits-the-halfway-point" target="_blank">"Look at the stat sheet."</a> It was altering shots on the defensive end time and again. It was rotating from the weak side to the strong side to poke away entry passes, or to trap a man, or to help a beat teammate. It was fronting a beast like Al Jefferson, and then working to get inside position once the shot went up in order to secure the rebound. It was holding Jefferson to 12 points on 5-14 shooting and just seven rebounds. It was setting hard picks and rolling to the basket with authority. It was skying over the defense to throw down alley oop slams. It was accepting a defensive first mentality, and understanding that the scoring will come if he just does the little things and plays hard.<br />
<br />
Case in point, Howard scored 17 points on 8-12 shooting, while shooting 1-3 from the line. Six of Howard's eight made shots were spoon-fed at the rim, with four monster alley oop dunks, and two layups due to drop offs. His two other baskets featured a putback following an offensive rebound, and a traditional post up shot from seven feet. This should be a typical Howard game. Instead of traditional post ups that lead to strips in the lane, and intentional fouls that yield missed free throws, Howard can have a tremendous impact simply by utilizing his athleticism and rolling hard to the rim. Doing so will either lead to slam dunks, catch and kicks, or collapsing defensive shells that will open up open three-point opportunities for his teammates. Abandoning post ups altogether isn't necessary, but utilizing Howard's greatest advantage, athleticism, will surely lead to success.<br />
<br />
Speaking of three-pointers, the Lakers shot 9-21 (42.9%) from deep. With Kobe Bryant adopting the role of point guard and initiating pick and rolls all game long, the Jazz defense was forced to contend with Bryant getting to his sweet spots at the elbow, Howard rolling to the rim, and shooters on the opposite wing and corner. Other than Howard, who made four buckets on assists from Bryant, the biggest benefactor from Bryant initiating the offense was Metta World Peace. World Peace sank 5-11 three-pointers on the night, with most of them coming wide open in the corner following a Bryant pick and roll. In fact, four of World Peace's makes from deep were assisted by Bryant. Bryant also assisted Chris Duhon for a three, giving Bryant a direct hand in five of the nine makes from downtown.<br />
<br />
Taking the load off of Steve Nash, and presenting more of a scoring threat with the ball in his hands, Bryant turned in a spectacular game with 14 points on 7-10 shooting (no attempts from deep) to go along with his nine rebounds, 14 assists, three steals, one block, and just three turnovers. With Bryant assuming a playmaker identity and opening the game with four assists in the opening five minutes, including two alley oop lobs to Howard for monster slams, the Jazz had no answer. If they didn't hedge, Bryant would turn the corner as a scoring threat with options in the lane. If they did hedge, Bryant would find Howard on the roll or Pau Gasol on the slip. If they trapped, Bryant would swing the ball to Nash or World Peace for a three at the wing or corner.<br />
<br />
At one point in the third quarter, Bryant dished out an assist on four consecutive possessions — a three for Duhon, two threes for World Peace, and a layup for Jodie Meeks. Essentially, Bryant was unstoppable running the pick and roll, and it may become a staple in this offense for select stretches throughout the rest of the season. With teams fearing to leave Nash, a career 42.8% shooter from deep, Bryant will have plenty of room to operate while assessing numerous options. Dropping 14 dimes, Bryant finished one short of tying his career high — 15 back in '02 when he dropped <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200202120LAL.html" target="_blank">a triple-double all over Michael Jordan</a> and the Washington Wizards.<br />
<br />
With Bryant turning in his most unselfish game of the season, it's clear that he wants to make sure that the Lakers as a whole get rolling. Amid <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8875019/los-angeles-lakers-hold-team-meeting-air-grievances?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews" target="_blank">team meetings</a> and the blame game, Bryant understands that he can't carry the Lakers all by himself. In turn, five Lakers scored in the range of 14-17 points against the Jazz. Howard and World Peace led the way with 17 apiece, Nash and Gasol turned in 15, and Bryant scored 14. Fourth on the team with just 10 shots, Bryant took what the defense gave him and shared the basketball. An offensive balance of this nature is surely difficult to defend, and it fosters a sense of unity both offensively and defensively.<br />
<br />
Contributing to the success on the offensive end of the floor seemed to spurn the defensive efforts of certain Lakers (cough, cough, Howard). Case in point, the Jazz, winners of eight of their last ten games heading into the game, shot just 34-81 (42%) from the field, and just 3-14 (21.4%) from deep en route to just 84 points (14 points below their season average). With Howard's energy, athleticism, and protection in the paint, the guards were able to hound the ball handler with the understanding that Howard had their back. Pressure, rotations, and overall effort were considerably greater against the Jazz.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, the Jazz didn't burn the Lakers with a "poison pill" quarter. With outputs of 19, 18, 26, and 21 in each quarter, the Jazz didn't pour in 30 or more points in a single quarter like so many teams have done against the Lakers this season. With this win, the Lakers snapped an abysmal four game losing streak, and the D'Antoni era Lakers are now 5-16 in poison pill games, and 8-4 in non-poison pill games.<br />
<br />
With 39 games remaining in the season, the Lakers sit in 11th place in the Western Conference with an 18-25 record, five games behind the Jazz, and four behind the Houston Rockets for the seventh and eight seed. One can only hope that stringing together a streak of non-poison pill games along with strong team play will surely get the Lakers back on track for the playoffs. A .667 win percentage is a hell of a lot better than .238 (8-4 vs 5-16). Likely needing to reach at least 45 wins for a possible playoff berth, a 27-12 record to close the season will require a .692 win percentage. If the Lakers keep up the defensive intensity, and continue to play balanced basketball, maybe reaching 45 wins won't be <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-lakers-playoff-chances-are-slim-to.html" target="_blank">as impossible</a> as it looked just <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/01/any-professional-basketball-team-that.html" target="_blank">a couple days ago.</a><br />
<br /></div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-17460137120577146482013-01-18T04:27:00.001-08:002014-05-09T01:13:45.222-07:00Lakers Lose to Heat, Barkley Comments on Bryant (1.18.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Any professional basketball team that enters a season with four future Hall of Famers in its starting five cannot achieve a "moral victory."<br />
<br />
There is no such thing.<br />
<br />
Nobody would have guessed that a starting five of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard would currently be sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 17-22 record, but such is the demise of the Los Angeles Lakers.<br />
<br />
Now, it just comes down to wins and losses. That's it. A change in expectations does not change outcomes.<br />
<br />
With just 43 games remaining in the season, and 10 of the next 13 games on the road, moral victories are not going to lead the Lakers into the playoffs this season.<br />
<br />
Want to know what will get the Lakers into the playoffs? A 31-12 record to close the season <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-lakers-playoff-chances-are-slim-to.html" target="_blank">will almost guarantee a seventh or eighth seed.</a> Unfortunately, that calls for a .721 win percentage for a team that is currently playing .436 ball. Even under coach <a href="http://www.lakersnation.com/mike-dantoni-tells-lakers-players-their-season-starts-sunday/2013/01/12/comment-page-1/" target="_blank">D'Antoni's new season timeline,</a> the Lakers are playing just .667 ball.<br />
<br />
How about a more manageable record, let's say 28-15? That record would leave the eighth seed as a possibility for the 45-37 Lakers, but it would also be highly volatile with teams such as the Jazz, Rockets, Blazers, Timberwolves, and Mavericks in the mix. Even in that hypothetical situation, the Lakers would have to play .651 ball for the remainder of the season.<br />
<br />
Hey, if the Lakers keep up the pace they are on since the beginning of D'Anotoni's "new" season, they might just have a shot!<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
Either way, begin counting down the losses. With their loss against the Miami Heat, the Lakers have anywhere from 12-15 games to lose throughout the remainder of the season. With the postseason hanging on by a thread, the Lakers will have to pile up victories in bunches, because with each loss, the amount of bleeding will move from a minor abrasion on the finger, to a full on exsanguination.<br />
<br />
So, yes, the Lakers played with effort and heart against the defending champion Heat, but that doesn't make the 99-90 loss at home any easier to digest, nor does it point to a team turning the tide.<br />
<br />
Charles Barkley summed it up best in his post-game comments on TNT.<br />
<br />
Barkley stated,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Kobe Bryant is an older guy, he's one of the ten greatest basketball players ever, but to ask him to go out every night and guard the best perimeter player, and score 30 points a night, he's going to have more nights like tonight. Because, at his age, he can't do that anymore. They will question how long he can sustain it, and everybody is going to say 'Well it's one game,' but they are putting him in a situation where he is going to have more downs than ups. Everybody gets old [...] Kobe Bryant's an older player. To try and play great defense against the best guard every night, and tonight it was compounded, if he's playing against Milwaukee or Cleveland, it ain't the same as playing against Dwyane Wade or Russell Westbrook." </blockquote>
Following some statements from Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal, Barkley continued,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Why did LeBron James not guard Kobe Bryant until the last five minutes of the game? Steve Nash is not a good defender. You can't wear Kobe Bryant down night after night. He locked down Kyrie Irving, okay, that's pretty impressive. The next night he had to guard Brandon Jennings. But those young guys, they are wearing him down. Now he had to come down here tonight, and he didn't have anything left in the tank. He won't say that, but you can't do that."</blockquote>
To put these quotes in context, for the past three games (including the Heat game), in an effort to spur the Lakers defensively, coach D'Antoni has asked Bryant to guard the opposing team's best offensive playmaker. It worked well against Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as against Brandon Jennings and the Milwaukee Bucks. In each game, Bryant shut down the opposing guard as the Lakers went on to win each game decisively at home (93-113 against the Cavaliers, and 88-104 against the Bucks). Irving finished with just 15 points and seven assists as Bryant hounded him on the ball, sometimes even full-court. Jennings received the same treatment, and he finished with 12 points and one assist. Following the game, Jennings stated, "It was probably the best defense somebody's ever played on me since I've been in the league [...] Just constantly putting pressure on me, touching me, hitting me at all times in the game. He wouldn't let me just catch the ball easy, and I wasn't able to get the ball a lot, so it was pretty difficult."<br />
<br />
With Bryant taking on a bigger role defensively, Barkley has his doubts about the sustainability of such a task, especially considering Bryant's age and fading athleticism. Despite Barkley's doubt, the Lakers have not allowed a "poison pill" quarter in the past three games (includes the Heat game) — a quarter in which the opponent scores 30+ points. After allowing five straight games with a poison pill, the defensive role of Bryant changed, and the results speak for themselves. With the loss to the Heat, the Lakers are 5-14 in poison pill games, and 7-3 in non poison pill games throughout the D'Antoni era. Bryant can still get the job done, but Barkley believes that doing so for every minute while he is on the court is counterproductive, especially against elite teams.<br />
<br />
Case in point, Bryant shot 3-16 (1-6 from deep) from the field for just nine points throughout the first three quarters against the Heat. In the fourth quarter, Bryant began to heat up, and he finished the game 8-25 (4-9 from deep) for 22 points. Although Bryant began to finally hit shots when he should have been the most fatigued, that doesn't dispel the notion that he didn't have tired legs due to chasing Wade all over the court, rather it shows that Bryant can do some incredible things — Bryant hit four consecutive shots to score 10 points in a three minute stretch that gave the Lakers an 81-83 lead at the 6:33 mark, and later he hit a three pointer to tie the game at 90-90 at the 2:32 mark.<br />
<br />
However, prior to his burst in the fourth, Bryant couldn't buy a bucket for his opening 31 minutes of play, and he also couldn't shut down Wade at any point. As Bryant missed good attempts that he normally drains, Wade went on to have a hell of a game on his 31st birthday, finishing with 27 points on 11-20 shooting, along with four rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block, and just one turnover. On the other hand, Bryant struggled to stuff the stat sheet, finishing with his 22 points, and just four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and six turnovers — about four too many, and attributable to fatigue and the stifling defense of the Heat.<br />
<br />
So does this mean that Bryant should go back to roaming off of the weaker guards on opposing teams? No, not at all. It just means that the potential success of this team is severely handicapped unless a greater group effort is put forth. Bryant can't be a one man show against the upper echelon teams. Furthermore, if the Lakers actually make the playoffs, and want to do any sort of damage, having a worn down Bryant won't do the team any good.<br />
<br />
So what's to be done? Well, there are two solid alternatives, and each was pointed out by Barkley's co-analysts in the post-game show.<br />
<br />
Smith stated, "Yes, I still would put him on Dwyane Wade or LeBron James in key moments, but I wouldn't have that as a diet." Smith is essentially saying, Bryant can still cover those guys, but he should do so for key stretches, not for every minute of the game.<br />
<br />
Following this, O'Neal stated,"But, you have two seven footers out there. If one dominates, or two play great, then that diet is a good diet. It will work."<br />
<br />
I believe O'Neal's statement is more on point. Essentially, O'Neal is stating, if Howard can dominate the paint offensively and defensively, it will ease the load on Bryant on both ends of the floor. Even further, if Howard and Gasol can dominate the paint, it will be smooth sailing for Bryant to give maximum effort defensively, because that maximum effort will be a lot less if he has intimidating big men taking care of business at the rim. The amount of effort Bryant has to play with when those guys aren't dominant is much greater than the amount he could play with if they are. Obviously, working less while fielding more efficient results is far more desirable, and it would lead to greater sustainability. With Howard finally looking healthy, the season will truly come down to if he can overpower opponents nightly and open things up offensively while clogging the lane defensively. If so, the Lakers should win a lot of ball games, and Bryant should be fresh enough to be able to deliver some damage when it matters most.<br />
<br />
So how did the big men do?<br />
<br />
Well, not so well. The Heat outscored the Lakers 68-28 on points in the paint. Just read that again. The Heat don't have a single player on their roster taller than 6'9".<br />
<br />
Howard finished 4-7, 5-13 from the line, for 13 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, and one block in 38 minutes of play. A decent game — although the free throws were disappointing — but nowhere near dominant. Although the Lakers looked to feed Howard down low, the Heat did a great job denying passing lanes, fronting Howard, and constantly rotating weak side help to prevent lobs over the top — Howard didn't help the cause as he seems to regularly fail at pinning his man with his backside and anchoring post position to prevent rotating fronts.<br />
<br />
Gasol was actually pretty solid in his first game back from the concussion he sustained against the Denver Nuggets on January 6th. In the second quarter, coach D'Antoni ran a few sets for Gasol on the box, and he delivered with an arsenal of post moves. In the fourth quarter, Gasol showed off his spectacular court vision, with three assists in a five minute stretch that led to an 81-81 tie at the 7:05 mark. Gasol even slammed home a dunk with authority following a drive and dish from World Peace in the fourth quarter — on a play that he has been laying up this year (encouraging).<br />
<br />
Overall, Gasol shot 4-7 from the field, 0-1 from deep, and 4-4 at the free throw line, scoring 12 points, while also tallying four rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three turnovers in 25 minutes of play. Gasol converted three of his four makes in the paint, shooting 3-4 from within four feet, and just 1-3 from beyond — his next closest shot attempt came from 15 feet. When in the low post, Gasol showed that he still has the most extensive low post game in the NBA, one that, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/writers/chris_mannix/08/12/oly-gold-medal-thoughts/index.html" target="_blank">when used correctly,</a> nearly led an upset against Team USA in the 2012 Olympics.<br />
<br />
Despite the lack of domination in the paint, and a poor shooting game from Bryant, the Lakers were able to hang with the Heat all game. After a Bryant three-pointer in the fourth quarter, the game was tied 90-90 with 2:32 remaining in regulation. However, from there, everything went downhill.<br />
<br />
First, Howard attempted a free throw that epitomizes the Lakers' season thus far. Trailing 92-90 with just 1:51 remaining in regulation, Howard <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz6ARZqznjw" target="_blank">stepped up to the line and air balled</a> his first attempt. Yes, air balled. Deflated, Howard clanked his next free throw back iron. Following that, the Heat came down, and Ray Allen sank a difficult fading jumper in the lane over Howard's outstretched hand, giving the Heat a 94-90 lead with 1:30 remaining.<br />
<br />
Then, directly following Allen's shot, Nash tossed up a doozy of his own. Hounded by Wade in the post, Nash shook him off as he turned baseline with a pivot and scoop shot. However, Nash's shot went off the side of the backboard. Following Nash's blunder, James sealed the deal with a one-on-one stop and pop jumper over World Peace.<br />
<br />
Following some desperate attempts, James closed the game with an unnecessary dunk that drew an and-one because Gasol rightly gave him a push in the back — there was no shot clock, yet James decided it was time to go dunk the ball. James sank the free throw to end the game, 99-90.<br />
<br />
Anyone want a moral victory? I sure don't. This game was up for grabs and the Lakers let it slip away. A few more of these, and the season won't last longer than April 17th, aka, the Lakers final game of the regular season.<br />
<br /></div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-31461229078317576282013-01-14T05:58:00.003-08:002014-05-09T01:13:31.252-07:00Denver Broncos Upset by the Baltimore Ravens (1.13.12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well it looks like the Denver Broncos won't be reaching the Super Bowl after all.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/09/manning-solidifies-broncos-as.html" target="_blank">My Super Bowl forecast</a> following Peyton Manning's stellar Week 1 performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers came to a disappointing end as the Broncos were upset at home in stunning fashion by the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Losing 38-35 in a double overtime thriller, the Broncos have no one to blame but themselves, especially considering the amount of mental lapses they committed.<br />
<br />
Manning certainly instilled confidence in my early season projection. Starting in Week 6, the Broncos ripped off 11 consecutive victories to close out the regular season. By winning week after week for nearly three solid months, the Broncos earned the number one seed in the AFC, a bye week, and home-field advantage. Obviously, this stretch had me feeling ecstatic about my team's play.<br />
<br />
Looking back, maybe it shouldn't have. Here's a list of the teams the Broncos beat in that stretch: the Chargers twice, the Saints, the Bengals, the Panthers, the Chiefs twice, the Buccaneers, the Raiders, the Ravens, and the Browns. Winning 11 in a row is nice, but only two of those teams made the playoffs. I'm not sure what to make of this; 11 consecutive victories is nothing to sneeze at, but that competition certainly wasn't anything near playoff-caliber.<br />
<br />
With that streak, my expectations may have turned quixotic, but with Manning at the helm, I truly expected success. Facing the slumping Baltimore Ravens, losers of four out of their last five regular season games, including a 34-17 thrashing at home from the Broncos in Week 15 — and coming off of an unconvincing victory over rookie Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round, 9-24 — I certainly expected to witness a stellar Manning versus Brady matchup in the AFC Championship game. While Brady held up his end of the deal, Broncos' fans were treated to a pins and needles game that never should have been all that close. The Broncos struggled to gain complete control, and instead, they bled out chunk plays that ensured their demise. With the score never more than seven points away for either side, this game was truly up for grabs.<br />
<br />
Overall, the game was <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/denver-broncos/0ap2000000125523/Ravens-vs-Broncos-highlights" target="_blank">a classic,</a> but as a Broncos fan, it sure was disappointing — it will go down in Denver lore right next to the '96 upset handed down by the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars.<br />
<br />
Let me run down some positive and negative aspects of the game from my point of view as a Broncos fan.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Positives</span></u></b></h2>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Trindon Holliday</li>
<li>Peyton Manning's control of the offense</li>
<li>Brandon Stokley and Ronnie Hillman</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<u><span style="font-size: large;">Negatives</span></u></h2>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Peyton Manning's turnovers</li>
<li>Broncos' defense</li>
<li>Coach John Fox's conservative play calling in key situations</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
Trindon Holliday</span></h4>
<div>
Let's start off with the man who got the the game going. Trindon Holliday was absolutely spectacular as the Broncos' return man. Holliday opened the game with a 90-yard punt return touchdown following the Ravens' first series of the game. Then he followed that up with a 104-yard kick return touchdown to open up the second half. Each return set an NFL postseason record, and Holliday became the first player in NFL postseason history to record a kickoff and punt return touchdown in the same game.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
On the opening punt, Holliday took advantage of the Ravens' punt coverage team failing to properly fill assigned lanes during the return. As the Ravens stacked his left side, with eight of eleven Ravens pursuing from the left, Holliday was able to hit the middle hard, break one arm tackle from behind him that over pursued, and sprint along the right sideline on the way to paydirt as he outran the punter. This put the Broncos on the board, giving them a 0-7 lead with 12:14 remaining in the first quarter.<br />
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Then, to commence the second half, Holliday did it again, this time, on the opening kickoff. Holliday caught the ball deep in the right corner of the end zone. Then, he accelerated from the right corner to the middle of the field, planted his foot at the 10-yard line, and hit the hole hard to break through the teeth of the coverage. Eventually, Holliday made it to the left side of the field after juking the kicker and shaking off a tackle from a trailing Raven at the 30-yard line. With everyone behind him, Holliday outran the rest of the Ravens for the remaining 70 yards, and he put the Broncos ahead 21-28 at the 14:47 mark in the third quarter.<br />
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Holliday's contributions were instrumental in the Broncos' chances for winning, however, like much of the Broncos, he wasn't without fault either. In the first overtime period, Holiday fielded a punt at the Broncos' 14-yard line, and he proceeded to lose seven yards as he tried to circle across the field. Holliday's gaffe set the offense up on their own seven-yard line, and Manning would toss the game sealing interception on this drive. Despite Holliday's gaffe, his positives far outweighed this one mistake, and his returns were game changers that nearly led the Broncos to victory.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
Manning's Offensive Execution</span></h4>
The next subject to examine is Manning's control of the offense. Although his three turnovers marred the outcome, Manning led three stellar drives that produced touchdowns. I'll give a quick rundown of the drives to highlight just how brilliant Manning was when given the opportunity to run the show.<br />
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Facing a 14-7 deficit at the 9:49 mark in the first quarter, Manning came back strong from a pick-six and engineered an 11-play, 74-yard drive that was capped off with a beautiful 15-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley. On the touchdown play, Manning and Stokley took clear advantage of their time together as teammates on the Colts. After watching the replay numerous times, I still can't tell if the play was improvised or not, but either way, it was astounding. On third-and-eight, Stokley ran a five-yard hitch on the outside, completely turning to face Manning, before circling out of the hitch and turning up field to the far right side of the end zone. Manning lobbed the ball over the top, and Stokley hauled it in, tapping both feet and getting a knee down before falling out of bounds.<br />
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Out of the 11 plays on the drive, nine came in the shotgun, eight were pass plays, and 69 of the 74 yards on the drive came through the air. Manning controlled the tempo and cut up the defense with solid throws and no-huddles. The window for the touchdown to Stokley was no larger than a foot or so, and Manning fit the ball in perfectly.<br />
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On a side note, with the Stokley touchdown, the first quarter finished tied up at 14-14. While that's nothing out of the ordinary, the interesting part is the fact that it entered the record books as the first playoff game in NFL history to feature an offensive, defensive, and special-teams touchdown in the opening quarter.<br />
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Later on, following some failed drives from each squad, Manning turned in another impressive drive in the second quarter. Manning engineered an eight-play, 86-yard drive that was capped off with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Knowshon Moreno. The drive featured the Broncos longest play of the game, a 32-yard reception by Eric Decker that moved the ball to the Ravens' 14-yard line. From there, set up in a five-wide formation, Knowshon Moreno ran a cunning stop and go route, and he was able to come down with the ball in the right corner of the end zone. Similar to the Stokley touchdown, Moreno pulled off a double move to beat his man — this double move was definitely a part of the route. Utilizing a formation advantage that had Moreno (a running back) lined up outside on the far right with a linebacker covering him, Manning lobbed the ball over the top and Moreno came down with it.<br />
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Out of the eight plays on the drive, three came in the shotgun, five were pass plays, and 72 of the 86 yards on the drive came through the air. Once again, Manning put together a great drive, and he put the Broncos ahead 14-21 at the 7:26 mark in the second quarter.<br />
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That drive would conclude the Broncos' offensive output in the first half, however, that was no fault of Manning's. After the defense forced a three-and-out following the Moreno touchdown, Manning led a 14-play, 47-yard drive that gave the kicker, Matt Prater, an opportunity for a 52-yard field goal. Unfortunately, two things went wrong on the series.<br />
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First, Moreno injured his knee on the drive, taking away a legitimate pass catching option out of the backfield, as well as a trusted pass protector in the shotgun formation. Second, Prater's field goal attempt was one of the worst kicks I have ever seen. With the ball at the Ravens' 34-yard line, and facing a fourth-and-eight, coach John Fox called for a field goal, a 52-yard attempt. Unfortunately, Prater, a legitimate long distance kicker, especially in Denver, totally blew the kick. Prater's kicking foot made contact with the ground about half a yard before reaching the ball, thus taking away his leg momentum, and causing his kick to come up woefully short as the ball sputtered toward the goal posts. At first viewing, it looked as if the kick had been blocked since it barely rose up into the air, but upon a slow motion replay, it was evident that Prater kicked the ground on his down swing. Lacking the proper depth on the kick, the ball never rose above the height of the cross bar, and it shanked left.<br />
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Following three-and-outs from each squad to open the fourth quarter, Manning engineered his final productive drive. Manning led a 10-play, 77-yard drive that was capped off with a Demaryius Thomas 17-yard touchdown reception. Following an audible at the line from Manning, Thomas ran a bubble screen, broke tackles from Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, and scampered into the end zone, giving the Broncos a 28-35 lead with 7:11 remaining in regulation.<br />
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Out of the 10 plays on the drive, six came in the shotgun, seven were passes, and 58 of the 68 yards came through the air — 20 yards were tacked on due to penalties on the Ravens, making the drive an 88-yarder. For the third time, Manning engineered a long, impressive drive that culminated with a touchdown. This would mark the end of Manning's prowess as conservative play-calling would take the game out of his hands until it was too late.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
Stokley and Hillman</span></h4>
My final positive discussion will focus on the efforts of Brandon Stokley and Ronnie Hillman.<br />
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First, Stokley.<br />
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As I mentioned earlier, Stokley came up with a spectacular touchdown in the first quarter that had as much to do with his effort as it did with Manning's. Utilizing great hands, and perfect footwork, Stokley managed to turn a tight space reception into a sure touchdown. An average receiver surely would have come down out of bounds.<br />
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Then, in the first overtime period, Stokley put his spectacular hands to work as he completely laid out in order to catch an underthrown pass from Manning on a critical third-and-five. Running a comeback route on the far right, Stokley hustled back to the ball and went completely parallel to the field as Manning's pass came up yards short. Stokley was able to get his hands under the ball, secure it, and give the Broncos a first down with the nine-yard reception. Since the play was so close, the Ravens wisely challenged it, but they ended up losing the challenge. Replays showed that Stokley kept the ball less than an inch off of the field as he secured it with his hands. The Broncos would later stall on the drive, but at the time, his spectacular catch allowed the drive to continue in an effort to score — any sort of score would have won the game. Although Stokley only finished with three receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown, his impact was critical.<br />
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Then there was the effort of Hillman.<br />
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Thrust into play in the second half due to Moreno's injury, Hillman stepped up with 22 carries for 83 yards and three receptions for 20 yards. The rookie may not have torn it up, but he also didn't serve as a reason for the loss. Hillman was especially exceptional with his ball protection. Understanding his opponent, Hillman kept both hands on the ball any time he touched it in order to make sure that the Ravens' defenders would not succeed with their attempts to knock it out for a fumble. After losing nearly every rep to Moreno following Willis McGahee's midseason injury, credit Hillman for his ability to keep up with all of the offensive audibles and protection changes in a hurry up Manning-run offense. Hillman's longest rush and reception may have been just 11 yards each, but his cerebral impact cannot be overlooked.<br />
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Now, it's time for the negatives — there sure were some doozies.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
Manning's Turnovers</span></h4>
First off, Manning's turnovers. Manning had three turnovers on the day, two interceptions, and a fumble, and each turnover led to points on the board for the Ravens, 17 points to be exact, with the final three coming in the second overtime to close out the game.<br />
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Tied up 7-7 at the 9:58 mark in the first quarter, Manning tossed a pick-six interception on his second throw of the game. Following an incomplete pass that was behind Thomas on a slant route, Manning targeted Decker on a sqaure-in route. The ball was spot on, hitting Decker's left hand and popping up in the air for the easy interception. Corey Graham caught the tip and took it 29 yards to the house. The interception marked the first turnover of the game, and it gave the Ravens a 14-7 lead at the 9:49 mark in the first quarter.<br />
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However, the interception truly wasn't Manning's fault. Upon slow motion replay, it is evident that the referees let some early contact slide on this play. The covering cornerback, Chykie Brown, absolutely made contact with Decker's left arm prior to the ball arriving. As Decker cut in and reached up for the ball, Brown swiped down Decker's left arm, thus moving Decker's hands out of position to securely catch the ball, and allowing the ball to bounce off of his left hand and pop up in the air. Brown definitely made contact before the ball got there, but you have to credit the Ravens for their tight defense and for making a play on the tipped ball.<br />
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Manning's next turnover came in the third quarter at the 2:51 mark. On the eighth play of a promising drive, Manning took the snap from the shotgun on third-and-eleven from the Broncos' 46-yard line. As the pocket closed in on him, Manning made an ill-advised decision to pump fake rather than just take the sack or release the ball. With four seconds of pass protection, Manning had more than enough time to make a decision. As Manning came down with his throwing arm due to the pump fake, his throwing arm was hit, and the ball squirted out. Somewhere, Jon Gruden is kicking and screaming, because Manning's fumble awfully resembled the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHEQtASq9BI" target="_blank">infamous "Tuck Rule."</a> Rather than getting lucky like Brady did once upon a time against Gruden's Raiders, the call was ruled a fumble. With solid field position, the Ravens ran the ball five straight plays. On the second run, Ray Rice exploded up the middle for 32-yards, setting up the Ravens on the Broncos' four-yard line. Three runs later, Rice punched in a one-yard touchdown, making the score 28-28 with 20 seconds left in the third quarter.<br />
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Manning's final turnover was the dagger. In the first overtime period, needing just a field goal to win the game, Manning made an indefensible rookie mistake. Facing a second-and-six from the Broncos' 38-yard line, Manning took the snap from the shotgun, rolled right as he was flushed out of the pocket, and threw across his body back into the middle of the field toward Stokley. The pass had no zip, and it was easily intercepted by Graham. Manning could have simply thrown the ball away and lived for another third down opportunity, but instead, he made what may go down as the worst throw of his career. With solid field position at the Broncos' 45-yard line, the Ravens gained 16 yards before sending out Justin Tucker for the game winning 47-yard field goal. Manning certainly had his positive moments, but nothing can save him from the scrutiny of this unnecessary interception.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
The Defense...</span></h4>
The next negative aspect to examine is the Broncos defense, or lack thereof. Playmakers such as the feared pass rushing duo of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil were rendered useless as they combined for just one sack in the game — although it was a huge sack in the overtime period. Hall of Fame bound cornerback Champ Bailey was actually picked on as Torrey Smith burned him deep multiple times for multiple touchdowns. And third downs were a problem as the Ravens converted 7-17 third down attempts, with six of those conversions coming in the second half and overtime periods.<br />
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First, I'll examine the rush defense.<br />
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The Ravens ran the ball 39 times for 155 yards and a touchdown. Ray Rice was especially productive, with 30 carries for 131 yards and a rushing touchdown. With Rice averaging 4.4 yards per carry, he allowed the Ravens to continually face manageable opportunities on second and third down. Rice's longest run of the game was a 32-yard scamper up the middle that led to his one-yard touchdown. Rice's most important run of the game was an 11-yard run up the middle on a second-and-ten from the Broncos' 45-yard line at the end of the first overtime period that moved the Ravens into the necessary field position for a game winning field goal. Overall, the Ravens running game was a much needed balance for their boom or bust passing offense.<br />
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Speaking of passing, Joe Flacco tore up the Broncos' pass defense as he competed 18-31 attempts for 331 yards and three touchdowns. 161 of those yards came on touchdown passes, as Flacco threw touchdowns of 59-yards, 32-yards, and a miraculous 70-yarder to force overtime. The Broncos made the mistake of single covering Smith, a burner out wide, with Bailey, and Flacco made them pay with two first half touchdowns. Then, Flacco flung a miracle throw that should have been picked off by any sort of competent safety play, but was instead caught by Jacoby Jones for a 70-yard touchdown with just 31 seconds remaining in the game.<br />
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Let me breakdown the touchdown throws.<br />
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Trailing 0-7 following Holliday's punt return, Flacco capitalized on a third down pass interference penalty that kept the drive alive and moved the Ravens up to their 33-yard line. Two plays later, Flacco threw the ball deep down the middle and Smith hauled it in for the 59-yard touchdown. Facing single coverage without any safety help over the top, Smith burned Bailey deep with pure speed and went into the end zone untouched to tie the game up. Bailey is a great cornerback, but at this stage of his career, it may have been unwise to have him on an island with a speed demon like Smith.<br />
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Then, following Prater's missed field goal in the second quarter, the Ravens began their drive with solid field position, and Flacco capitalized with a beautiful 32-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Starting on their own 42-yard line, Flacco completed three straight passes, an 11-yarder, a 15-yarder, and then the 32-yard touchdown. What looked like a sure interception on the far right sideline soon turned into a marvelous reception by Smith. As Bailey ran with Smith stride for stride, Smith gave Bailey a subtle push on the shoulder, and as Bailey stumbled out of position, Smith elevated, adjusted his body in the air, and fully extended in order to catch the ball and tie the game up at 21-21 with just 36 seconds remaining in the first half. The reception was Randy Moss-esque, and it will surely be replayed for years on end in Smith's highlight package. Once again, Bailey was burned, and once again, he didn't have any safety help.<br />
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Flacco's final touchdown will be featured in postseason highlight packages for years on end. Trailing by a touchdown, 28-35, with 77 yards to go, just 75 seconds remaining in regulation, and no timeouts, Flacco came up huge while the Broncos pass defense suffered a backbreaking mistake. On third-and-three from the Ravens' thirty-yard line, Flacco avoided the three man rush, stepped up in the pocket, and launched a bomb down the right sideline. A bomb, mind you, that should have been intercepted. As the ball hung up in the air for just over four seconds, Jones was able to get behind the Cover-2 defense, haul in the reception, and score a sensational 70-yard touchdown.<br />
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What's truly amazing about the sequence is the play made on the ball by Broncos' safety Rahim Moore. Simply put, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/12/jacoby-jones-touchdown-joe-flacco_n_2465119.html" target="_blank">Moore looked foolish</a> as he backpedaled, stumbled, and came up a whole two yards short of making a play on the ball. Moore was in position to intercept the ball, but instead he turned into a third grade Pop Warner safety that failed to comprehend basic defensive mechanics. Backpedaling for nearly five yards as the ball neared Jones, Moore flailed his arms, completely whiffed on the ball, and stumbled onto his backside as Jones took the reception the remaining 20-yards untouched.<br />
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This defensive lapse will go down as one of the worst mistakes in NFL history. Any sort of understanding of context and situation would have netted at least a bat down. Hell, a competent high school safety could have picked off that pass. After the original cornerback passed Jones off to the safety deep down the sidelines, the ball should have easily been batted down. Unfortunately, Moore turned into a backpedaling fool, and instead of sprinting to find the man and ball, he came up woefully short and allowed the absolute worst scenario to occur. This touchdown tied the game up, forced overtime, and served as the true reason the Broncos lost the game.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
John Fox's Conservative Play Calling</span></h4>
The final negative aspect to examine is coach Fox's conservative play calling in key situations. At the end of the first half, and late in the second half, the Broncos stuck with a conservative scheme offensively that limited Manning's ability to take over the game. Coach Fox seemed more interested in not losing, rather than going out and winning. In the end, this plan backfired, as Manning, tired of watching opportunities slip away, forced the action in overtime and threw an unforgivable interception across his body and over the middle. In an attempt to make a play, Manning threw the game away. If coach Fox had given him a playmaking opportunity earlier in the game, this mistake may have never happened.<br />
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<b>Example #1: Coach Fox decides to take a knee.</b><br />
With 36 seconds remaining in the first half, and possessing three timeouts, coach Fox foreshadowed his conservative play calling as the Broncos started from their own 20-yard line. Rather than giving Manning a chance to possibly engineer one last field goal attempt before the half, Fox ordered for a kneel down, and the Broncos entered the half all tied up at 21-21. I can understand the reasoning in this instance, especially since Prater had just missed a long field goal attempt, but it may have been worth a shot with a burner like Demaryius Thomas out wide. Thomas is especially adept at bubble screens, and likely facing a prevent defense, it may have been worth a shot to give him a chance to make a play. This decision didn't bother me, but it did serve as a prognostication for future decisions.<br />
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<b>Example #2: Late in the game, coach Fox plays not to lose rather than to win.</b><br />
After Thomas' 17-yard touchdown on a bubble screen gave the Broncos a 28-35 lead with 7:11 remaining in regulation, the Broncos defense came up huge on the ensuing Ravens' series as they shut down an eight-play drive with the game on the line. Facing a fourth-and-five at the Broncos' 31-yard line with 3:16 left in regulation, Ravens coach John Harbaugh decided to go for the first down. Too close to punt, and uncomfortable with a long field goal attempt that would still leave the Ravens down four points even if successful, Harbaugh gambled. His gamble misfired. Lined up in a four-wide set, Flacco rifled a pass over the middle to tight end Dennis Pitta. Running a slant route, Pitta was jammed at the line by safety Mike Adams, and as the ball arrived just past the first down line, Adams stretched out with a full dive in order to knock the ball away.<br />
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Game over, right?<br />
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Not exactly.<br />
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Possessing two timeouts, and the two minute warning to stop the clock, the Ravens still had a slim chance to regain the ball with 3:12 left in regulation. As the Ravens assumed, coach Fox went completely conservative, calling five straight runs, with each out of a base formation with Manning under center — completely abandoning the shotgun formation that the team had primarily run for the entire game. I understand the reasoning for running the ball, but running straight into the heart of the Ravens defense is not wise. I believe that a four-wide shotgun formation with one back, or a three-wide with a tight end and a back, would have opened up some lanes for draw plays while keeping the defense honest in case Manning were to decide to audible to a pass play.<br />
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After the first two runs combined to net a first down, the game was one first down away from being over — this sequence may have served as fool's gold. Following a two-yard run by Hillman on first down, and the third straight run of the drive out of a base formation, the Ravens called their final timeout with 2:19 left in regulation.<br />
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Knowing that one more first down would win the game no matter what happened, this is where I would have liked to have seen coach Fox give Manning an opportunity to win the game. I understand the desire to run down the clock, but the risk/reward of going for a first down on second-and-eight, and then again on third down, should have outweighed the importance of clock management, especially considering that the Ravens still had the two minute warning to stop the clock.<br />
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In this situation, the worst possibility would have allowed the Ravens to regain possession with the two minute warning still on their side, and, in a worst case scenario, tie up the game with a touchdown. On the other hand, a best case scenario would feature a first down, and then taking a knee to run out the clock. Unfortunately, coach Fox called another run, and Hillman picked up one yard, making the situation third-and-seven following the two minute warning. Following that, Hillman crashed into the line for no gain on third down, forcing a punt, and giving the Ravens the ball with 1:15 left in regulation.<br />
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Coach's Fox strategy successfully ate away the clock, but it also ensured that the Ravens would get one last chance. If I had Manning as my quarterback, I think I would tell him to go win the game with a first down. Anyone think Brady would have been handing the ball off in that situation?<br />
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<b>Example #3: Conservative mindset to end regulation.</b><br />
Following this sequence, coach Fox stuck with the conservative game plan after Flacco's 70-yard touchdown pass. With two timeouts, and 31 seconds remaining in regulation, Manning took a knee on the 20-yard line to close out regulation. The Broncos' fans in attendance at Sports Authority Field at Mile High rained down the boos after this conservative decision. While I understand the reasoning, I have seen Prater hit a 59-yarder before. Following Prater's earlier mistake, I understand, but I would have liked to have seen Manning get a chance to lead a game-winning drive. Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, shouldn't he have been given a chance to put his team into position for the win?<br />
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I know it was a different circumstance, since the Atlanta Falcons were losing, but we all saw what Matt Ryan did in order to set up Matt Bryant up for the game-winning field goal against the Seattle Seahawks. With 31 seconds left in regulation, and possessing just two timeouts, Ryan completed a 22-yard pass, called timeout, and then completed a 19-yard pass before calling timeout and sending Bryant out for opportunity to kick the game-winner. Bryant nailed the 49-yard kick for the win. While the situation was different, the possibility of success could have been the same.<br />
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<b>Example #4: Coach Fox continues to take the game out of Manning's hands.</b><br />
Once in overtime, coach Fox continued with the not to lose game plan. After the Broncos came up with a key stop to shut down the Ravens' opening drive, the offense needed just a field goal to win the game. Starting on their own 16-yard line, coach Fox continued calling conservative runs. After Manning converted a third-and-five to Stokley from the shotgun, Fox called three straight runs out of base formations. While the first run from Hillman netted a second-and-two opportunity, coach Fox avoided the endless options of such a desirable down and distance, and instead went with another Hillman run. This left the Broncos with a third-and-one situation. Coach Fox inserted a bigger back, Jacob Hester, and he dialed up a run up the middle. Hester didn't gain a single yard, and the Broncos were forced to punt the ball away from their 39-yard line. The Ravens wouldn't score on the next possession, but this conservative play calling took away an opportunity for the Broncos to put the game away.<br />
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On the Broncos very next possession, coach Fox would face the same exact situation, with a first down run netting a second-and-one, and a run for no gain netting a third-and-one. This time, the run on third down was converted, but it speaks volumes that coach Fox wouldn't try to catch the Ravens' defense creeping up to the line on advantageous offensive situations such as second-and-one and third-and-one. Two plays later, Manning would throw the final nail in the coffin interception.<br />
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Maybe coach Fox saw something in his quarterback, or maybe Manning saw something in his head coach.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
Conclusion</span></h4>
Overall, Manning and the Broncos turned in a solid year. Although the team had Super Bowl or bust aspirations, it sure is a welcome feeling considering how long it has been since the Broncos were considered worthy of championship hype. Obviously, the season didn't turn out as planned, but there's hope for next year, and with a few lucky breaks here and there, along with maturation from the coaches and players, the Broncos may come out on top next year. With Manning at the helm, talented receivers out wide, and a blossoming star in Von Miller leading the defense, this team is going places. Chalk this season up to a success. It may have ended earlier than expected, but it certainly doesn't feel like the end.<br />
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And on the other side of the equation, if anyone deserved to knock out the Broncos, it would be Ray Lewis in his swan song postseason. The all-time great recorded 17 tackles against the Broncos, hopefully he can take down Brady and the Patriots as well.</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-58849052118489977402013-01-09T01:47:00.001-08:002014-05-09T01:12:59.387-07:00The Lakers Playoff Chances Are Slim to None (1.9.13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Prepare for it Los Angeles, the Lakers have a very realistic chance of missing the playoffs this season.<br />
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Sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 15-19 record, and currently on a four game losing streak, the second longest losing streak currently in the NBA — behind nine from the Magic and tied with four from the Sixers, two teams that have defeated the Lakers this season — the Lakers will need to win at least 30 out of their next 48 games in order to have a shot at the eight seed by season's end. Factor in that the Lakers will likely drop to 15-21 by the end of the week as they head to San Antonio to face the Spurs, and then face the Thunder in Staples Center, and that margin for error shrinks to 30 out of 46.<br />
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30 wins in 46 games, a 30-16 record, a .652 winning percentage for a team that has been playing .441 ball. Without accounting for losses to the Spurs and Thunder, the Lakers still need a .625 winning percentage, which is still much higher than anything the Lakers have shown thus far. Add in the fact that 30 wins is the requisite floor in the projection rather than the ceiling, and it becomes even more difficult. 33 wins would probably guarantee a seventh or eighth seed, 30 wins would have the Lakers praying on the final day of the season for a Timberwolves or Jazz loss. So how about a 33-13 record, a .717 winning percentage? Sounds promising, right?<br />
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Yeah...<br />
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Not. At. All.<br />
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There are a multitude of reasons as to why the Lakers are in this predicament, but none can excuse the likely deplorable outcome of the 2012-13 Lakers serving as the biggest bust in NBA history. Prior to the season, no one would have bet that the Lakers would have to scrape their way into the playoffs. Now, that scraping is the reality, and the odds for failing to make the playoffs are worth putting money on. For a team that entered the season with title talk, such a reality is quite shocking. Coaching changes, injuries, and a general lack of execution have this team four games below .500.<br />
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In order for the Lakers to turn things around, defense needs to be the priority. Offensively, the Lakers score the fifth most points in the NBA with an average of 102.88 points per game. Defensively, the Lakers rank 26th in points allowed per game, giving up 100.82 points per game. Despite having the 10th best point differential (+2.06) in the NBA, the Lakers have not been able to win consistently. The positive point differential points to the fact that when the Lakers do win, they tend to win big with double digit victories, and when they lose, they tend to keep things close — often storming back from a large deficit only to come up just short.<br />
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In the D'Antoni era (24 games so far, with a 10-14 record), the Lakers have lost nine games by eight points or less. Out of the 14 losses in the D'Antoni era, nine of them were manageable games that came down to important possessions that turned the game. If half of those nine losses went the other way, this squad would be in much better shape. In the 10 victories during the D'Antoni era, the Lakers have won by an average of 22.4 points.<br />
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One common denominator in the losses is a stat that I have been tracking throughout the D'Antoni era, something I refer to as a "poison pill." This poison pill refers to a quarter in which the Lakers give up 30 or more points to an opponent in a single quarter. In the D'Antoni era, the Lakers are 5-12 in games in which they give up a poison pill quarter. In games in which they don't give up a poison pill, the Lakers are 5-2. Problem solved, right? Don't let teams blow up in a single quarter, and increase your winning percentage from .294 to .714. Simple enough.<br />
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.714, doesn't that sound familiar? I previously stated that if the Lakers were to rip off a .717 winning percentage, they would finish 48-34 and likely secure a seventh or eighth seed. .714 is close enough to .717, and it speaks volumes about the importance of playing solid defense for an entire 48 minutes. Unfortunately, the Lakers have only accomplished the feat of holding teams off of huge scoring binges in seven out of 24 games (29%) during the D'Antonia era. What's far more likely is for the Lakers to allow teams to tear them apart, build up momentum, and then withstand any sort of desperate comeback. The latter scenario has happened in 17 out of 24 games during the D'Antoni era, a troubling poison pill rate of 71% of the time.<br />
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So what's more likely, the Lakers figure things out defensively, turn on a switch that the Shaq and Kobe Lakers trademarked, or continue to get destroyed for at least 12 straight minutes in every game they play? Unfortunately for Lakers fans, it's the second scenario, and it's a resounding truth.<br />
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To further hammer home the point, the Lakers allowed 125 points to the Houston Rockets this past game. Yes, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Jordan Hill were all injured, thus placing Robert Sacre in the starting lineup and making him the only big man available on the roster, but that's still 125 points. The Lakers scored 112 in the loss, but they couldn't overcome allowing 28 points in the first quarter, 31 in the second, 38 in the third, and 28 in the fourth. The Lakers entered the half ahead, and led 78-77 with 3:48 remaining in the third quarter. In that final 3:48 in the third quarter, the Lakers allowed the Rockets to go on a 10-20 run, giving them an 88-97 lead entering the fourth quarter, and a sizable advantage that kept the Lakers at arm's reach for the entire fourth quarter — the score never got closer than that nine point gap that started the fourth quarter.<br />
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With Howard out indefinitely with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, and still laboring from offseason back surgery, Gasol suffering from a concussion in a prior game against the Nuggets that has him out indefinitely as well, and Hill suffering from a torn labrum in his left hip that has him out indefinitely, the Lakers will likely bleed points in the paint for the foreseeable future.<br />
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Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash may set some historical records this season, but that seems to be about all this squad will have to look forward to. It's a shame. Bryant is playing at a level no other 34-year-old NBA player has ever come close to. Nash just surpassed 10,000 assists and is fifth on the all-time list. Each play hard and inspired, yet neither can carry the team to much needed victories.<br />
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As a lifelong Lakers fan, this is the most disappointing season I've ever witnessed. I've followed this team since I was seven years old, coinciding with the Shaq-Kobe era in the 1996-97 season, and nothing remotely compares to the disappointment I feel while watching this squad this season.<br />
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Bryant's airballs against Utah were disappointing, but everyone knows that Eddie Jones froze up in his moment to be the man and instead relinquished the duties to an 18-year-old.<br />
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The loss to the Pistons in the 2003-04 Finals may come the closest to this level of disappointment, but I truly believe that if Karl Malone hadn't injured his knee, the Lakers would have won that championship.<br />
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Hell, even the 34-48 season in 2004-05 was better than this. At least watching Bryant, Lamar Odom, and Caron Butler was entertaining, especially since I saw some true potential with that trio all under the age of 26.<br />
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The worst pain definitely belongs to the 2005-06 Lakers that squandered a 3-1 series lead against Nash and the Suns in the first round. But what can you do when Tim Thomas is hitting series altering shots? I hated that series, but I never expected the Lakers to push it to seven games.<br />
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The loss to the Celtics in the 2007-08 Finals definitely hurt, but the Kobe-Pau squad was just coming together with less than half a season together. Obviously, they righted the ship in 2008-09 and 2009-10.<br />
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Now the Lakers are old, tired, and perpetually disappointing, without any sort of hope for the future, and with the looming possibility that Howard will walk in free agency this summer. I don't want to see Bryant's career end with meaningless basketball games. This squad is built to win now, unfortunately, it isn't living up to the billing. Whereas I once <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/11/whats-wrong-with-lakers-11112.html" target="_blank">preached patience,</a> stating, "By January, this team will be rolling," that leeway has come and gone, and it's given way to a depressing reality.<br />
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I'm pretty sure there has never been a team in NBA history that had four future Hall of Famers in its starting five, yet failed to miss the playoffs. Sadly, the 2012-13 Lakers are intent on setting a precedent.<br />
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The fan in me hopes for a stunning turnaround, a gelling process where the team heals up and plays inspired ball while holding opponents in check, but the realist in me understands that the Lakers haven't given me a single reason to believe in their ability to turn this season around.</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-2856784674440922252012-12-27T03:36:00.001-08:002014-05-09T01:12:47.442-07:00Dwight Howard Criticizes D'Antoni and Defense (12.27.12) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Riding a wave of momentum, the Lakers came out flat and spoiled a five game winning streak by losing on the road to the Denver Nuggets, 114-126, and in turn dropping to 14-15 overall.<br />
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If it didn't pop out at you, take another gander at that final score. Those season high 126 points allowed came in just 48 minutes of play. There was no overtime, nor something like a 50 point explosion from the likes of Andre Iguodala or Danilo Gallinari. Instead, six Nuggets hit double digits, with Corey Brewer leading the way off the bench with a career high 27 points, and the Nuggets shot 45-94 (48%) from the field, and 12-22 (55%) from downtown. </div>
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126 points allowed is just unacceptable.</div>
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After <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/12/lakers-win-streak-problems-solved.html" target="_blank">eeking out unconvincing wins against some weak competition,</a> the Lakers pulled their act together in games four and five of their win streak against the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks. It seemed as if the Lakers turned a corner in those games as Steve Nash returned to the lineup and brought a moxie to the squad. With Nash providing stability, and a "Never say die" attitude, the Lakers overcame deficits and played with heart and determination. In each game, the Lakers held their opponent to its lowest single quarter point total of the game in the fourth quarter. </div>
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Against the Warriors, the Lakers overcame a 14 point deficit early in the fourth quarter by surrendering just 21 points in the decisive quarter, while pouring in 34 of their own, in order to force overtime and pull off a stirring 118-115 come-from-behind victory. With Nash and Kobe Bryant leading the charge offensively, the Lakers chipped away at the deficit while playing outstanding collective defense. The Lakers forced the Warriors to commit four turnovers in the final quarter, while forcing them to shoot just 8-19 (42%) from the field. After posting 27, 34, and 26 points in each of the first three quarters on a combined 35-75 (47%) shooting, the Warriors were unable to continue producing at a high rate in the fourth quarter and overtime. In overtime, the Lakers held the Warriors to 3-9 (33%) shooting while forcing two turnovers. Overall, the Lakers faced some adversity and responded well by overcoming the tough deficit — something they have failed to do repeatedly this season. </div>
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Against the Knicks on Christmas day, the Lakers turned in possibly their greatest defensive effort of the season by absolutely shutting down the high powered Knicks in the fourth quarter. Trailing by one to enter the fourth quarter, the Lakers upped their defensive intensity and allowed the Knicks to score just 16 fourth quarter points. Forcing five turnovers, and allowing the Knicks to make just 5-15 (33%) shot attempts, the Lakers clamped down in order to pull off the 94-100 victory at home — marking the first Lakers win on Christmas day since an 83-92 victory at home over the Boston Celtics in 2008. After allowing 23, 26, and 29 points in the each of the first three quarters, the Lakers pulled off an impressive fourth quarter and forced the best team in the Eastern Conference (according to the standings) to put up a measly 16 point quarter. </div>
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With two impressive wins against quality opponents, the Lakers finally showed some flashes of greatness that many expected with the foursome of Nash, Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard anchoring the squad. However, it seems as if the Lakers felt a little too good about themselves and their five game winning streak when they faced the Denver Nuggets this past game. </div>
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Against the Nuggets, the Lakers came out lethargic, and it showed right off the bat. In the opening quarter, the Nuggets gathered 11 offensive rebounds. Kenneth "The Manimal" Faried led the way as he grabbed five of those 11 offensive rebounds. Seemingly beating the Lakers to every loose ball, the Nuggets played in fourth gear while the Lakers were stuck in second. The Lakers surrendered 29 points in the opening quarter, with 11 of those points coming due to the extra possessions afforded by the offensive rebounds.</div>
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Although the Lakers hung around in the first half, it was a matter of time before things fell apart. Trailing 54-57 to start the third quarter, the Lakers were dismantled in the third quarter as the Nuggets blew the game open with 39 third quarter points. The Nuggets repeatedly attacked the rim for dunks, layups, and trips to the free throw line. If a foray into the lane didn't produce, the Nuggets kicked the ball out to the open man for three point shots. The pick and roll, drive and kick game, absolutely torched the Lakers in this quarter. Often times, Howard would look at his teammates with his palms up, exasperated, and wondering who should have rotated when and where.</div>
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Eventually, Howard boiled over, and at the 5:01 mark in the third quarter,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhZqwKzTHGQ" target="_blank"> he let his frustrations spill out </a>as he committed a flagrant-2 foul on Faried. As Faried attacked the basket straight down the lane, Howard smacked him in the face, knocking him down, and clearly not making a play on the ball. The flagrant-2 earned Howard an immediate ejection. The flagrant foul seemed to serve as a message to his teammates, essentially stating, "I'm sick of this, we can't tolerate this anymore." While I would have preferred Howard to remain in the game and make a smarter play on the ball, I won't blame him. Following a pick and roll, Howard rotated from the weak side and dropped the hammer on Faried. I'd like to see more Lakers do this — while making plays on the ball. Howard may have acted a bit selfishly, but I think his message will go a long way.</div>
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You may wonder, well with Howard out, is that when the Nuggets began lighting up the Lakers? </div>
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Nope. </div>
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Prior to Howard's ejection, the Nuggets scored 21 points in the third quarter. Following his ejection, the Nuggets closed the quarter with another 18 points. For the quarter, the Nuggets shot 11-19 (58%) from the field, including 5-8 (63%) from deep. Brewer closed the quarter with a buzzer beating three pointer to put the Nuggets ahead 87-96. </div>
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In the fourth quarter, things didn't get much better. The Lakers lost the quarter 27-30. The Lakers trailed by as many as 15 points, and they rarely were able to get the deficit within single digits. Unable to slow down the Nuggets in a similar fashion to the Warriors and Knicks games, the Lakers lost 114-126.</div>
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Following the game, defense was a main theme from the post-game reporters. </div>
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Coach D'Antoni was the first to respond. When given a followup question regarding the offensive rebounds and defensive woes, D'Antoni was asked, "Was that a hustle thing or positioning thing, or a little bit of both?"</div>
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D'Antoni bluntly stated, "You'd have to ask them, I don't know. Whatever it was, we didn't come off the ball, and they did. Somebody did something, and we didn't do it."</div>
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D'Antoni's statement definitely seems to come off as a shot at his players. He deflects any personal blame by stating, "You'd have to ask them," and he doesn't offer any sort of schematic explanation as for why the woes occurred. Obviously, D'Antoni was not pleased with the effort of his squad.</div>
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Next up was the most interesting post-game response. Howard was asked, "We've been talking about this all season, the area of defense, what was plaguing you guys tonight on that end?"</div>
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Howard responded, "The pick and roll defense wasn't great tonight. The help wasn't there, the help the helper wasn't there. It just has to be better overall."</div>
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Another reporter followed up, "Those are things you have talked about a lot of times this season, what's the learning curve going on in regards to that?"</div>
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Howard replied, "Those guys gotta be in the right spots, and they have to be taught it. It has to be something that you practice on, so guys can understand [what] they have to go through. You can't just talk about defense, and talk about where to go, you actually gotta show guys where to go."</div>
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Hello! Howard definitely takes a shot at D'Antoni with this statement. I guess Howard isn't too fond of <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mike-d-antoni-gets-chippy-reporter-following-lakers-033700516--nba.html" target="_blank">D'Antoni being proud of practicing defense for half an hour.</a> Howard shifts to the second person, referencing D'Antoni when he states, "You can't just talk about defense, and talk about where to go, you actually gotta show guys where to go." Clearly, Howard wants more focus on the defensive end, and he must feel that his coach isn't living up to the task of preparing the team with defensive schemes and rotations.</div>
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While Howard may come off as deflecting the blame, or throwing his coach and teammates under the bus, he must feel this way for a reason. He is not happy with the Lakers defense, and as the anchor of the defense, he understands that it is his responsibility to get the guys on the same page. However, he also understands that if the guys aren't playing together and hashing out the details, they aren't going to improve, and the same flaws will continue to be exposed over and over.</div>
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For example, the Lakers routinely give up layups following the pick and roll, and often times, it's because the five guys on the floor fail to play on a string. As Howard comes over to hedge the guard, more often than not, a weak side teammate fails to rotate and pick up Howard's man in the lane. This leads to numerous easy opportunities in the lane. </div>
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Although it looks as if Howard is at fault to the naked eye, it's obvious that he is reacting within the assigned scheme, namely, softly hedging any opposing guard to buy time for his picked teammate to recover, and then hoping to recover into the lane to pick up his own man. While Howard hedges, the weak side guys should collapse into the lane and cover Howard's man until Howard can recover. Often times, this doesn't happen, and with this failure, the Lakers bleed points at the rim due to open layups and dunks. </div>
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In fact, the Nuggets outscored the Lakers 58-38 on points in the paint despite running very few traditional post ups. A majority of those points came from pick and rolls, whether the guard got in the lane and finished, or the guard dumped it off to the roll man for a finish. Even worse, when teams destroy the Lakers with the pick and roll, the Lakers will overcompensate with help, and then the opposing team will kick the ball out for uncontested three pointers. </div>
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This squad needs to strike a balance in its defensive rotations, and Howard is not shy about calling for that to happen. With 14 of 19 opponents topping at least 30 points in a single quarter during the D'Antoni era, Howard clearly feels that it's time for some change.</div>
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To round out the post-game interviews, Gasol, Nash, and Bryant each touched upon a common theme of energy, aka, a keyword for defense.</div>
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Gasol stated, "Overall, [we] didn't bring enough energy and effort to be able to win this one here." </div>
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Nash stated, "We didn't match their energy." </div>
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Bryant stated, "Tonight it seemed like we were just a step slow, seemed like we were a little stuck in the mud. We played old. They played with a lot of energy, a lot of youth, got up and down. It just seemed we were in a lower gear."</div>
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Energy, energy, energy, it's been a common statement in post-game interviews following losses this season. The Lakers are the fourth oldest team in the NBA this season, and it shows when they take plays off on the defensive end. Whether that's a byproduct of a D'Antoni coached unit, or simply fatigue, it's most likely a combination of both. Something needs to be done about this "Energy" issue, otherwise, the Lakers will have plenty of energy when they are sitting at home in June — or even worse, April.<br />
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After seeing the defensive success the Lakers had against the Warriors and Knicks, it's clear that this squad has the capability to play up to some lofty standards. Unfortunately, consistency has haunted this team all season long. If Howard's physical and verbal messages can spur some consistency, I'm all for it.</div>
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Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-2108746992304844022012-12-19T06:14:00.001-08:002014-05-09T01:12:34.040-07:00Lakers Win Streak, Problems Solved? (12.19.12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The last time I checked in with the Los Angeles Lakers, I pondered if they had reached <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/12/lakers-rock-bottom-121212.html" target="_blank">rock bottom</a> following a humiliating loss on the road to the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers.<br />
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Well, that post came a game early, because the Lakers were blitzkrieged in their following game against the New York Knicks as Carmelo Anthony went into <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/08/team-usa-historic-victory-over-nigeria.html" target="_blank">Team USA mode</a> and dropped 30 points in just 23 minutes before spraining his ankle midway through the third quarter. With Anthony spearheading the charge, the Knicks poured in a ridiculous 41 points in the opening quarter. The Knicks entered halftime ahead 49-68, and after Anthony went down, they held on to close the game out and win 107-116.<br />
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Now, the Lakers are riding a three game winning streak, bumping them up to 12-14 overall, so does this mean all is well in Lakerland?<br />
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Nope.<br />
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Not even close.<br />
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A convincing winning streak could have inspired some faith, but squeaking out wins against the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, and Charlotte Bobcats is nothing to hang your hat on. Well, let me revise that, the Lakers actually played well against the 76ers, winning on the road. However, the 76ers were without their star point guard, Jrue Holiday, due to a sprained foot, and were forced to start Kwame Brown due to the perpetually injured Andrew Bynum.<br />
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For each of these games, the old cliche, "A win is a win," is applicable, but sometimes some wins can feel like losses — especially the most recent game against the Bobcats.<br />
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Let me break down the games to point out why these wins highlight just how mediocre this Lakers team is currently playing.<br />
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First up, the Wizards game, on the road. After getting absolutely scorched by Carmelo Anthony in New York, the Lakers were handed a gimme game with the worst team in the NBA — the Wizards entered the game with a 3-16 record.<br />
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The Lakers came out with some energy and showed some promise. After one quarter of play, they led 27-25. The Lakers didn't commit a single turnover the entire quarter, yet they were unable to sustain an early eight point lead, and the Wizards closed strong on a 7-2 run.<br />
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In the second quarter, the Lakers decided to just outscore the opposition rather than try to shut down an offensively challenged squad. In about an eight minute stretch, Cartier Martin lit up the Lakers as if he is a super-duper-star. Who? Exactly. From the final two minutes of the first quarter, to the first six minutes of the second quarter, Martin scored 15 points by shooting 3-3 from deep, and finishing two and-ones. Behind Martin's efforts, the Wizards scored 30 points in the quarter and entered halftime trailing by just three points.<br />
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In the third quarter, the Lakers played how they should have been playing all along by upping the defensive intensity and winning the quarter 25-14. The Lakers forced three turnovers in a 50 second span early in the quarter, and they ran away with the lead, finishing the quarter ahead 83-69. The Lakers held the Wizards to 5-24 (21%) from the field, and after Martell Webster hit a three pointer on the opening possession to tie the game at 58-58, the Wizards didn't score another point until the 7:54 mark.<br />
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On the heels of a dominant third quarter, the Lakers looked as if they would blow out the Wizards. Unfortunately, the big lead didn't last very long. By the 5:31 mark, the Wizards utilized a huge run to get within three points, 92-89. Five different Wizards scored in that stretch, carving up the Lakers with drive and kicks and strong attacks to the basket. The gap remained in single digits the rest of the way, and the Lakers were forced to claw their way to a 102-96 victory.<br />
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If not for a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaXxZ6ApPMs" target="_blank">stunning Kobe Bryant tip in</a> following a missed Dwight Howard free throw with just over a minute left in the game, the Lakers may have lost — the momentum began to pull in the Wizards' favor up until that point. Only three Lakers scored the entire fourth quarter, and only Bryant and Howard scored for the Lakers in the final 8:48 of the game (eight points for Bryant, six for Howard).<br />
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Instead of putting away a horrible team, the Lakers allowed the Wizards to outscore them 27-19 in the final quarter of play. This first win of the streak could have been a "good win," but the Lakers tainted it by not closing the door on a squad that is absolutely horrible. The Lakers allowed four Wizards to top at least 16 points, with three of those Wizards coming off the bench. If not for 30 points from Bryant, and 24 points from Jodie Meeks off the bench, the Lakers would have lost — no other Laker reached at least 14, and Howard finished with just 12.<br />
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The next game against the 76ers, the Lakers actually played well, winning 111-98. They took care of business against a team they should have had no problem with. With Jrue Holiday and Andrew Bynum out, the Lakers won every quarter except for the fourth — getting outscored 25-24 when the game had already been decided. The Lakers played consistent ball, and they played much stiffer defense. For the first time in 10 games (a span of 19 days), the Lakers held their opponent without a 30 point quarter. These poison pill quarters have been a staple of the D'Antoni era, but the Lakers handled their business and kept the 76ers out of arm's reach the entire game. The scoring distribution was also much more even, as six guys hit double digits. Bryant led the way with 34, and four other players scored at least 14, with Meeks rounding out the double digit scorers with 12.<br />
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The only black mark on the 76ers game was Nick Young dropping 30 points on 52% shooting from the field, including 6-12 from deep. Young tends to play well against the Lakers, so his performance wasn't surprising, but a couple of defensive lapses allowed him to drain some open threes that are his trademark. In fact, as a team, the 76ers shot 49.4% from the field, and 40% from deep. Those numbers speak ill of the Lakers defense, however, the Lakers were able to force 18 turnovers, and they capitalized with 16 points off of those turnovers. Overall, the good outweighed the bad, and the Lakers turned in a solid performance.<br />
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On the heels of an impressive victory on the road, the Lakers headed home to face the lowly, 7-16 Bobcats. The Bobcats entered the game on an 11-game losing streak, failing to win since a double-overtime 108-106 victory over the Wizards on November 24th.<br />
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With that in mind, eeking out a 100-101 victory doesn't boast any sort of confidence for the Lakers. In fact, the Bobcats had three shots on the final possession of the game, with Gerald Henderson missing a layup that circled around the front side of the rim before rolling off the right side of the iron in the final seconds.<br />
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With Pau Gasol returning to the starting lineup following an eight game absence due to tendinitis in his knees, the Lakers fielded a lineup that should have dominated the weak frontcourt of the Bobcats. Instead, the Lakers were outscored 40-36 on points in the paint. Furthermore, Kemba Walker, Gerald Henderson, and Ramon Sessions lit up the Lakers by draining deep shots, continuously attacking the basket, and combining for 67 points on 25-54 shooting (46%) from the field, including 7-13 (54%) from deep.<br />
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Early in the game, the Lakers came out lethargic. The Lakers quickly fell behind 12-5 in the opening four minutes. By the 1:43 mark, the Lakers were able to tie the game at 23-23. A shot from Gasol gave the Lakers the lead to close the quarter ahead 25-27. Although the Lakers finished ahead, their opening performance was disheartening. Byron Mullens especially capitalized on the lackadaisical effort, scoring 10 of his 13 points in the opening quarter. Mullens stretched the floor as a 7'0" big man with range, hitting two threes in the quarter.<br />
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Although Gasol looked a bit rusty with two turnovers and some missed free throws, he finished with a well rounded quarter, shooting 2-4 from the field, scoring five points, grabbing five rebounds, dishing out three assists, and blocking three shots. Gasol's performance was a welcome sight early in the game — he would noticeably tire later in the game.<br />
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In the second quarter, things got ugly. Six straight points from Metta World Peace pushed the Lakers ahead 29-40 by the 7:52 mark. It looked as though the Lakers would turn the game into a rout. Then Walker, Henderson, and Sessions spearheaded a furious Bobcats charge.<br />
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Those three combined to score 28 of the Bobcats final 29 points in the second quarter. With those three leading the way, the Bobcats ripped off a 29-13 run to take a 58-53 lead into halftime. The Lakers went ice cold, shooting 5-15 (33%) from the field, highlighted by a missed alley-oop slam from Howard that surely would have made SportsCenter following a gorgeous feed from Bryant.<br />
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Although the Lakers froze up offensively, their defensive performance was slacking, especially in transition. The Bobcats shot 9-14 (64%) in that eight minute stretch, with their small ball trio shooting 9-11 (81%) from the field, and a red hot 4-5 (80%) from deep. As the Lakers missed shot after shot, the Bobcats pushed the ball and routinely found the open man in semi-transition. Practically shell shocking the Lakers, the Bobcats turned an 11 point deficit into a five point lead. The Bobcats finished the quarter with 33 points, marking another team to hand the Lakers a poison pill quarter.<br />
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To start the third quarter, things went from bad to worse. The Bobcats ripped off a 20-7 run, pushing the lead to 78-60 by the 6:07 mark. As the Lakers shot 2-10 (20%) from the field, including 2-6 (33%) from deep, the Bobcats once again pushed the tempo in semi-transition, and they capitalized by shooting 8-10 (80%) from the field, including a perfect 4-4 from deep. The Lakers poor play in this stretch was highlighted by a double dribble violation from Howard, and a sequence where Mullens swatted World Peace in the lane, and then recovered to swat Howard as well.<br />
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Riding a 49-20 run from the 7:52 mark of the second quarter to midway through the third quarter, the Bobcats embarrassed the Lakers and showed just how poorly this Lakers team often plays defensively. The Bobcats played without fear. They attacked the Lakers without any hesitation, and their confidence swelled with every made shot.<br />
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From the midway point on, the Lakers began to creep back in the game. Reaching into the depths of their thirty minute defensive practices, the Lakers allowed the Bobcats to score just six more points in the final six minutes of the third quarter. The Bobcats shot just 3-9 (33%) during this stretch, including 0-2 from deep. The Lakers didn't shoot much better, shooting just 3-10 (30%) from the field, and 0-4 from deep, however, the Lakers were able to slow the game down by attacking the basket and earning trips to the line.<br />
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The Lakers made 11-12 (92%) from the charity stripe during the remaining six minutes of the third quarter, thus slowing down the semi-transition attack of the Bobcats, and forcing the Bobcats to run their half court offense. When the Lakers actually had a chance to set up their half court defense, they were great. The Lakers forced four turnovers, two of which were shot clock violations. Riding a strong defensive effort, and numerous trips to the line, the Lakers entered the fourth quarter down 84-77 following a 16-6 run in the final six minutes.<br />
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In the fourth quarter, the Lakers initially sustained their defensive effort while surging ahead with an 11-0 run to take the lead. A Bryant and-one layup put the Lakers ahead 84-87 at the 9:52 mark, and a three pointer by Darius Morris capped the run. Following Morris' three pointer, Walker got the Bobcats on the board with a runner at the 8:33 mark, making the score 86-90. By the six minute mark, the Bobcats trailed 91-92. A Bryant three pointer buoyed the Lakers, but the team went dry, and three minutes later the score was tied 95-95 at the 2:35 mark.<br />
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After trading buckets, Bryant closed the game with four straight points. Bryant attacked the basket with authority to convert a tough layup that probably should have been an and-one. Then Bryant hit a 19-foot jumper from the near high elbow following a high pick from Howard. Sessions followed with an and-one after driving to the rim and finishing, making the score 100-101 with 47 seconds remaining. Following this, Bryant once again tried to close the game, but this time, his 21-foot jumper from the near wing was hotly contested, and he hit back iron, setting up the Bobcats for the final shot of the game.<br />
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With 21 seconds remaining in the game, the Bobcats called timeout and set up a play for the win. Following a double pick at the top, Bryant switched onto Walker at the near wing. Bryant shaded Walker well, forcing him baseline and staying on top of his right hip in order to prevent Walker's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyF6amZw82M" target="_blank">trademark step-back jumper.</a> Walker attacked the rim and was swatted by a rotating Howard. As the ball flew off the glass, Henderson crashed the lane and grabbed the offensive rebound while running full speed towards the rim. Henderson's layup just missed, Mullens was stripped in the lane, and the ball flew out to the top where Ben Gordon jacked up an ugly three pointer that came nowhere close. Game over.<br />
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The Lakers escaped with the win, 100-101, but it was nowhere near convincing. Yes, the Lakers overcame an 18 point deficit, but the Lakers should have never been there in the first place. Simply put, the Bobcats are awful. What does that say about the Lakers?<br />
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This win may indicate progress since the Lakers have routinely faced steep deficits this season, rallied, and then finished just short. But I can't believe in this victory. The Lakers escaped with a win, they clamped down, they finished strong, but they still failed to play hard for a full 48 minutes. They still allowed inferior players to turn in all-star performances. They still had to rely on 30 points from Bryant, with World Peace and Meeks hitting 17 apiece and outscoring Howard's 16. Overall, this game left a bad taste in my mouth, and I have to admit, against any other team in the league (excluding the Wizards), the Lakers would have lost. Entering the game with a 7-6 record at home, I expected them to play better than this.<br />
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Any sort of winning streak is appreciated, but three straight wins still has this team below .500, and the team is still sitting in 12th place in the Western Conference (exactly where it sat a week ago following the Cavaliers game). Sometimes building wins leads to confidence and ultimately better play, but these wins simply didn't seem to build anything. These wins came against bottom feeders. These wins relied on Bryant to drop 30-plus, marking his seventh straight game hitting that mark, and making him the only 34-year-old player to ever do such a thing.<br />
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Furthermore, the final win also marked a significant lineup change that raises more questions than it provides answers. Coach D'Antoni seems intent on playing World Peace at the power forward position, thus opting for a small ball lineup with one center. The lineup will feature Howard/Gasol at the five, World Peace at the four, Bryant at the three, Meeks at the two, and Duhon/Morris at the one. In doing this, D'Antoni will look to stagger the minutes of Howard and Gasol so that they play more often apart rather than together. We all know how much D'Antoni loves small ball, but I believe in the twin tower setup. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I saw Phil Jackson utilize Bynum/Odom and Gasol to the tune of three straight trips to the NBA Finals, and two straight championships.<br />
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Also, a casualty of this lineup setup will be Jordan Hill. Hill and D'Antoni clashed in New York, and despite his excellent play off the bench this season, Hill will be the odd man out in the rotation. Hill deserves minutes, and other than Meeks, he's the most consistent bench player the Lakers have. I love Hill's game, and I respect his energy and consistency off the bench. He's the ultimate hustle player, and he seems to be the best weak side rotating defender the Lakers have.<br />
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With three days of rest, the Lakers have some real competition coming up against the Golden State Warriors on December 22nd. Surprisingly, this game will be a litmus test, as the Warriors boast a 17-8 record, fifth in the West, and eighth in the entire league.<br />
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Like much of Los Angeles, I want to see if the Lakers can play consistent ball and build on this win streak. Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe that the Lakers can beat the Warriors at this point in time. The Lakers have allowed 12 of their 16 opponents to produce at least one 30 point quarter during the D'Antoni era. In fact, four teams have hit at least 40! These poison pills are far too alarming, and if squads like the Wizards and Bobcats can produce poison pill quarters, I have a feeling Stephen Curry, David Lee, and Klay Thompson are chomping at the bit to light up the Lakers.<br />
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Maybe a couple more <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mike-d-antoni-gets-chippy-reporter-following-lakers-033700516--nba.html" target="_blank">thirty minute defensive drills</a> can help the Lakers in the days leading up to this game...<br />
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Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-68602785212058054672012-12-12T04:17:00.002-08:002014-05-09T01:12:21.951-07:00Lakers, Rock Bottom...? (12.12.12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When Mike D'Antoni was officially chosen over Phil Jackson to be the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, my immediate take on the situation <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/11/lakers-hire-mike-dantoni-wrong-choice.html" target="_blank">was this,</a> "Essentially, D'Antoni will have to coach in a manner that he's never coached before."<br />
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That statement alluded to D'Antoni's offensive and defensive philosophies and their ability — my perceived inability — to coexist with the current makeup of this Lakers squad. As it turns out, D'Antoni's system isn't working all that well, and under his reign, the Lakers are 4-8, and 9-13 overall (four games under .500 for the first time since 2004-05).<br />
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D'Antoni is not solely to blame. He was thrust in this situation due to the front office. The biggest culprit for this early season failure is Jim Buss, Dr. Jerry Buss, and Mitch Kupchak. My take is that it is mostly Jim Buss to blame, but if Dr. Buss and Kupchak signed off on his hiring, then it's all three of them. Let's not forget the rhetoric spewed from the brass following the hire of D'Antoni. Here's <a href="http://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/111212_dantoni" target="_blank">a quote from Kupchak following the hire</a>, "After speaking with several excellent and well-respected coaching candidates, Dr. Buss, Jim and I all agreed that Mike was the right person at this time to lead the Lakers forward. Knowing his style of play and given the current make-up of the roster, we feel Mike is a great fit, are excited to have him as our next head coach, and hope he will help our team reach its full potential."<br />
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So, the front office panicked and fired Mike Brown without a definite backup plan. <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/11/rapid-reaction-mike-brown-fired-11912.html" target="_blank">In my opinion,</a> Brown did not deserve to be fired, and after watching the team's play under D'Antoni, it further validates my belief. Then, the organization flirted with Phil Jackson before ultimately spurning him with one of the most disrespectful courtships that I can recall. The organization clearly informed Jackson that it was his job if he wanted it, and then they decided to go in another direction at the last second. Rebuffing 13 championship rings, 11 as a coach of some of the greatest teams ever, and five of which came in Los Angeles, the organization decided D'Antoni would be a better "fit."<br />
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Never mind the fact that D'Antoni had never been to the Finals, or that his system has never incorporated back to the basket post players, let alone two of them, or that his system relies on shooters for offensive spacing that the Lakers roster doesn't have, or that his defenses have always been atrocious, or that he simply doesn't mend his philosophies to fit the makeup of his team (i.e. Carmelo Anthony's excellent post skills that were not utilized during his tenure as coach of the New York Knicks, and now Pau Gasol's post skills). How that equals "a great fit" is beyond me. But even if the front office truly believed that D'Antoni was the best fit, passing on Jackson may be the biggest mistake this organization has ever made.<br />
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With that said, if D'Antoni is going to lead this team, the onus is on him to find ways for this squad to win. In his 12 games as head coach, the Lakers have averaged 102.25 points per game. That's about eight to twelve points <a href="http://nba.si.com/2012/11/16/lakers-mike-dantoni-kobe-bryant-dwight-howard-pau-gasol-steve-nash/" target="_blank">below what D'Antoni wants</a> the team to average. Defensively, the Lakers have allowed 101.5 points per game. Although the Lakers are ahead on the point differential, that mostly stems from three wins that totaled a positive point differential of 61 points against the lowly Hornets, the disappointing Nuggets, and the mediocre without Dirk, Mavericks. Struggling to light up the scoreboard, or simply contain teams with solid defense, the Lakers have lost 8 of 12, and 5 of the last 6 games under D'Antoni.<br />
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The way the Lakers have been losing is actually quite perplexing. In the 12 games under D'Antoni, the Lakers have been outscored in the first quarter just four times, yet they have entered half time trailing in eight games (including all four games in which they trailed after one). Even more perplexing, the Lakers have been outscored just four times in the fourth quarter (losing all four games when that happened). Opening hot, and usually finishing strong, the Lakers have found ways to lose by giving up huge quarters that they struggle to recover from. In 9 of the 12 games, the Lakers have given up at least 30 points in one quarter. 30 point quarters are inexcusable, yet they are occurring regularly under D'Antoni. In three games, teams (Thunder, Magic, Kings) actually dropped 40 point quarters! In the three games the Lakers actually held their opponent under 30 points in any given quarter, the Lakers won 2 out of 3 (wins against the Hornets and Mavericks, a loss against the Pacers).<br />
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Overall, this team has a lot of holes that need to be shored up. Although D'Antoni is an offensive specialist, defense needs to be placed front and center. With Steve Nash out for <a href="http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-12-11/steve-nash-injury-update-los-angeles-lakers-guard-return-delayed-nerve-irritatio" target="_blank">at least another two weeks,</a> the offense is not going to run as smoothly as D'Antoni wants, and the Lakers are not going to win games by simply outscoring the opponent. Until then, getting stops needs to be a premium.<br />
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Following a 94-100 loss that bumped the Cavaliers up to 5-17 overall, and dropped the Lakers to 2-7 away from home, coach D'Antoni got testy when questioned about his defensive coaching.<br />
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Following the game, which featured a 32 point fourth quarter for the Cavs, a reporter irked D'Antoni with this, "If you're criticized for not having any defense so far, it seems like you guys haven't played inspired defense or just haven't played defense, you come here, you have shoot-around this morning, and basically it's a film session, and a little shooting under everybody's own."<br />
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D'Antoni quickly jabbed back, "I didn't see you in the film, I didn't see you there."<br />
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The reporter responded, "So, that's not true then?"<br />
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To which D'Antoni replied, "No, it's not true."<br />
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The reporter then retorted, "Did you work on defense?"<br />
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Then D'Antoni really got upset, stating, "Hell yeah, we worked for half an hour on it. You're starting to piss me off. You're starting to piss me off, because you're saying something that is not factually correct."<br />
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D'Antoni noticeably got heated during this last stage of the probing, and his gesticulations began to rise with his temper. Unfortunately, Time Warner Cable quickly cut away from the heated exchange and went to a commercial break following a couple more remarks from D'Antoni and the reporter. But one thing is clear, D'Antoni understands that he's considered the biggest problem with the defense. His defensive response and rising temper point to the fact that he's feeling the heat for the Lakers' woes. D'Antoni does not want this heat. He may have thought his time in New York was tough, but it will be nothing compared to the expectations for this team in Los Angeles.<br />
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The most telling tidbit of the exchange is D'Antoni's belief that half an hour of working on defense is considered putting in work. The conviction he used when stating, "Hell yeah, we worked for half an hour on it," is all you need to know about D'Antoni. The way this team is getting lit up, half an hour isn't going to cut it. This team needs basic high school level drills for at least an hour, every practice. Drills like closing out, shell drills, rotations, what to do on pick and rolls/pops/slips, transition defense, boxing out, one on one defense, help side, denying the ball, defensive slides, actually getting in a defensive stance, help and recover, taking charges, hustling for loose balls, and reaction drills can easily take up an hour and ingrain defensive principles that are necessary for a successful defensive unit.<br />
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This squad has the talent to shut people down. Unfortunately, the Lakers routinely play lazy defense because they simply don't have that grind mentality. Defense should never waver, it's one aspect of basketball that can be a rock if given the due effort. D'Antoni needs to inspire this team and put forth the proper schemes for this squad to succeed. Transition and pick and roll defense have been especially atrocious this season. The Lakers give up far too many layups on fast breaks by not hustling back in transition, and they also get burned by not having a help man rotate on pick and rolls to cover for the man who hedges the pick. If you watch the highlights of the Cavs game, you will see Kyrie Irving destroy the Lakers by continually feeding Anderson Varejao easy buckets following the pick and roll.<br />
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Irving is a stud, but the ease with which he picked apart the Lakers is troubling, especially because the Lakers will have to get through the likes of Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, and Tony Parker if they plan on making a serious postseason run. Toss in guys like Jeremy Lin, Mike Conley, Stephen Curry, Ty Lawson, Ricky Rubio, Tyreke Evans, Goran Dragic, and Damian Lillard, and it's clear that the Western Conference is loaded with talented point guards that need to somehow be contained.<br />
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Overall, this team has a ways to go. Offensively, the team is struggling for continuity. Injuries have decimated the starting five, and the load is often thrown on Bryant. The Lakers are now 1-10 this season when Bryant scores more than 30 points. Although that stat seems to condemn Bryant as a ballhog, let me straighten that point out.<br />
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In a majority of those games, Bryant begins to take over offensively once he believes that the team is slipping. In almost every first quarter, Bryant assumes the role of playmaker. If the guys continue rolling, Bryant plays within the flow of the offense. If the guys taper off, Bryant begins taking shots. Bryant has had a disappointing habit of failing to get back in transition following what he believes are non-calls, but other than that, his effort is always in the right place.<br />
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Although the record isn't great, if it weren't for Bryant, those 10 losses would have been blowouts. Bryant executes what he believes the team needs, and in many of his scoring outbursts, he has kept the Lakers within striking distance. Without his 42 points against the Cavs, the Lakers would have lost by 20 instead of just six. Until Nash comes back, Bryant will be the only guy on the Lakers who can create a shot.<br />
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With Bryant struggling to play the role of superhero to the tune of wins, he seems willing to seek the necessary changes. Following the game, in response to the mounting losses, Bryant stated, "They're really f****** with my s***, really trying my patience with that zen thing." Bryant later used statements such as "Baffling," "I don't know," and "I'll give it a lot of thought," in regards to the slow start this season and the problems with the team. Rarely has Bryant ever sounded as perplexed as he was in this postgame soundbite, and it's obvious that he will do whatever it takes to turn this thing around. Bryant closed his interview with an eye towards improvement, stating, "One thing about this organization is that there are a lot of great players who came before you that are always one phone call away. I have no problem picking up the phone and talking to them and getting some advice." I have a feeling the other end of that call will be Magic Johnson, and Magic will surely have some great insight as to how to lead this squad.<br />
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With Bryant unable to carry the team to victories, Dwight Howard needs to start dominating. Although Howard seems to regularly lack touches when just looking at the box score, that simply isn't the case. Anytime Howard touches the ball, he is doubled, thus forcing a kick out. Howard also attempts double digit free throws almost every game. Howard's 18.4 points per game are decent, but I'd like to see that number jump up to around 22. Howard also seems to let his offensive performance dictate his defensive effort. As <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/video/clip?id=8738526" target="_blank">noted by Tim Legler,</a> Howard doesn't seem to be handling the role of second banana all that well. Until he turns into a reliable fourth quarter scorer who can knock down free throws, he doesn't deserve to be "the man." Howard can play harder, and if he begins to dominate like he's shown in the past, the Lakers will reach another level.<br />
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Simply put, the entire squad needs to get on the same page and start putting in the necessary effort that befits a championship team. D'Antoni isn't on the court <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=dantoni+number+8+italy&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&rls=en&biw=1038&bih=668&tbm=isch&tbnid=zJ47QRSXUMCyiM:&imgrefurl=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story%3Fpage%3Ddantoni/090401&docid=2nEW5lKeF82IxM&imgurl=http://assets.espn.go.com/i/eticket/20090401/photos/etick_dantoni14_412.jpg&w=412&h=648&ei=zW7IUKfxBof-iQLMuoDADg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=200&vpy=127&dur=1377&hovh=282&hovw=179&tx=111&ty=110&sig=108186906942921623435&page=1&tbnh=146&tbnw=91&start=0&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:86" target="_blank">wearing number 8.</a> His philosophies may be a detriment, but it's up to the players to play to the best of their capabilities. Inspiration should come from within, and if the players give maximum effort, this team will start reeling off victories. Until then, the losses will mount. With a quarter of the season gone, the Lakers can no longer coast. Significant ground has been lost, and the Lakers are currently in 12th place in the Western Conference with a 9-13 record. Hopefully this point marks rock bottom, leaving up as the only direction to move.</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-90377090676983580112012-12-04T02:45:00.004-08:002014-05-09T01:12:10.777-07:00Costas and Whitlock, Misguided Gun Control (12.3.12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After a full 24 hours, I still feel the need to give my commentary on Bob Costas' gun control lecture following <a href="http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/03/15650233-details-in-belcher-murder-suicide-emerge-as-families-grieve" target="_blank">Jovan Belcher's murder-suicide.</a><br />
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Great minds such as Sophocles and William Shakespeare promoted the metaphoric phrase, "Don't shoot the messenger," but on December 2, 2012, it became clear that the messenger overstepped his duty.</div>
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In case you haven't heard, Costas used the platform of NBC's Sunday Night Football <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/03/bob-costas-gun-control-jovan-belcher_n_2229496.html#slide=1829606" target="_blank">to deliver a 90 second segment</a> during halftime of the Eagles-Cowboys game to essentially give his personal belief about gun control while hiding behind quotes from a Kansas City writer named Jason Whitlock (more on him later).</div>
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Whether you personally believe in supporting gun control or the right to bear arms, I'm not here to debate. However, I do believe that Costas overstepped a boundary in delivering this statement to <a href="http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/12/tv-ratings-cowboys-eagles-game-gives-nbc-another-sunday-win-while-revenge-improves.html" target="_blank">over 18 million viewers,</a> "But here, wrote Jason Whitlock, is what I believe. 'If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.'"</div>
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I believe it's safe to say, that of the 18 million viewers tuned in on Sunday night, less than 10% expected to hear Costas' take on gun control. Viewers tuned in to watch football and were instead given a lecture. Information and debate are great for society, but force-fed political commentary in an unexpected atmosphere is not the status quo. If a viewer wanted to hear a debate about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" target="_blank">the second amendment,</a> that viewer would have been tuned in to a different network. Simply put, it was inappropriate for Costas to deliver his personal, political message in that setting. Costas is a sportscaster first and foremost, and if he wanted to give his take, he should delivered it in a more appropriate setting, such as on NBC's sister network, MSNBC. </div>
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In an effort to provide a dose of reality within an entertainment realm, Costas made his mark by essentially bringing the gun control debate to a national consciousness. If you recall, during the presidential debates, neither President Obama or Governor Romney <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/17/gun-control-presidential-debate" target="_blank">would even touch the subject of gun control.</a> If presidential hopefuls aren't willing to give their take, obviously the issue is divisive, personal, and carries strong opinions. By giving Whitlock's column an amplified, national voice, Costas ensured the debate would rage on. </div>
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With all of that in mind, I believe that the most damaging sentiment is the fact that Costas and Whitlock believe that a 6'4", 230 pound inside linebacker wouldn't have taken the life of the mother of his child without the use of a firearm. None of us know what was going on in Belcher's mind at that time, but if he was willing to pull the trigger on Perkins multiple times (completely ensuring her death), who's to say he wasn't willing to use any means necessary to take her life? </div>
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A gun may have presented the easiest option, but does that mean that if Belcher didn't have a gun, Perkins would still be alive? Are we to presume that Belcher would have been unwilling to use his dominating strength? Would a knife have been too intimate? Simply put, would beating the life out of his girlfriend, the mother of his three month old child, have been too much for him to bear? I don't buy it. Jovan Belcher committed murder with the deadliest of intentions. Belcher murdered Perkins with his own mother and child in the house. If he can commit an act like that in the presence of the woman who gave him life, then the man is capable of the most heinous actions. </div>
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Belcher perpetrated <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/04/3946159/belcher-shot-himself-as-kc-police.html" target="_blank">another case of domestic violence,</a> and gun or no gun, it was going to end badly. By posing as righteous leaders of life with anti-gun sentiments, Costas and Whitlock missed the larger point. Belcher needed help. That relationship needed help. Now, that child will need help. Glossing over the mental health of Belcher, Costas and Whitlock zeroed in on a political matter rather than identifying the true culprit of the situation. Why is personal responsibility so often overlooked?</div>
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As for Belcher's suicide, the man was ready to die. After killing Perkins, Belcher raced to the Chiefs' practice facility, thanked his coach and general manager, and then shot himself in the head as police arrived. He was not willing to pay the price of murder. He was not planning to live the rest of his life behind bars. All that would have changed in that situation without a gun, is that Belcher wouldn't have had the time to give his last words to his football authorities. Belcher would have found another way to end his life. My guess is that he would have killed himself in a car accident, but it could have been any number of options. </div>
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In giving Whitlock a national audience, Costas backed a man that was fired from ESPN for delivering disparaging remarks about two of his colleagues, a man that promotes stereotypes, such as this statement about Jeremy Lin, "Some lucky lady in NYC is gonna feel a couple inches of pain tonight," and a man that just stated, "I believe <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/whitlock-turns-up-personal-attack-on-gun-owners-calls-nra-new-kkk" target="_blank">the NRA is the new KKK.</a>" Whitlock's reputation and political agenda should have served as an editorial caution, but Costas misguidedly decided to promote such an agenda to a mostly 18-49 male demographic. Some believe Costas is a courageous champion of civil and social affairs, I believe Costas abused his power and simplified a tragic event.</div>
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<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/jovan-belcher-kansas-city-chiefs-murder-suicide-tragedy-girlfriend-self-leave-orphan-daughter-why-still-playing-sunday-120112" target="_blank">Whitlock's article</a> makes some solid points, points that are great for reflection and debate. But those points should have been read by those who follow his column. Among those points, Whitlock touches upon self-control, race relations, and the government, before concluding, "Handguns do not enhance our safety. They exacerbate our flaws, tempt us to escalate arguments, and bait us into embracing confrontation rather than avoiding it." While that sentiment may hold some credence, it has nothing to do with Jovan Belcher. Belcher's use of a handgun as his weapon of choice is undeniable, but when looking at his murder-suicide in context, it becomes clear that Belcher entered a murderous state of mind, and he was ready to use any weapon available. Either Whitlock truly believes that Jovan Belcher and Kasandra Perkins would be alive today if guns were not a part of the equation, or he sees a prime opportunity to use a devastating tragedy as a symbolic promotion of a political agenda. </div>
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Overall, the real issue is that Costas and Whitlock turned this sensitive matter into a debate about gun control. Mental health deserves more than that. Domestic abuse deserves more than that. <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=kasandra+perkins&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&tbo=d&rls=en&biw=1026&bih=668&tbm=isch&tbnid=HPT5lppEtMHK5M:&imgrefurl=http://news.lalate.com/2012/12/03/kasandra-perkins-battled-jovan-belcher-memory-loss-before-murder/&docid=HUllIIBcYaKYlM&imgurl=http://www.televisioninternet.com/news/pictures/Kasandra-Perkins-cassandra-perkins-Jovan-Belcher.jpg&w=420&h=275&ei=2_C9ULvDOKeOiALZuoCoAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=4&vpy=273&dur=4881&hovh=182&hovw=278&tx=160&ty=62&sig=108186906942921623435&page=1&tbnh=138&tbnw=211&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:107" target="_blank">Kasandra Perkins</a> deserves more than that. <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=zoey+belcher&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&tbo=d&rls=en&biw=1026&bih=668&tbm=isch&tbnid=qBw65-ryJMBdyM:&imgrefurl=http://hillnholler.net/2012/12/02/linebacker-jovan-belcher-shoots-the-mother-of-his-child-as-his-mother-watches-then-kills-self-in-front-of-chiefs-bosses/&docid=192zow86JOpOrM&itg=1&imgurl=http://hillnholler.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/zoey-kasandra-jovan-instagram.jpg&w=635&h=630&ei=lu69UNtbz-mJAquHgYgM&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=304&sig=108186906942921623435&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=138&start=0&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:90&tx=85&ty=86" target="_blank">Zoey Belcher</a> deserves more than that. </div>
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Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-7455832073692415082012-11-28T03:58:00.003-08:002014-05-09T01:11:40.855-07:00Lakers Awful Performance Against the Pacers (11.27.12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear Chick,<br />
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As the <a href="http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/Chick_Hearn_Bio-50564-59.html" target="_blank">"Voice of the Lakers,"</a> boy were you lucky to miss this one. On a night that should have celebrated your birthday with a victory to go along with the bobblehead dolls in your likeness handed out to each fan in attendance at Staples Center, the Lakers put together a miserable performance that may have been the worst ever for the franchise. </div>
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Although the Lakers topped the all-time franchise lows of 70 points and 29.4% from the field, there's nothing to be proud of when scoring just 77 points and shooting a pathetic 31.6% from the field. With such a woeful offensive performance, the Lakers topped off the night with a defensive blunder that allowed George Hill to drop in a layup high off the glass with just .1 left on the clock for a Pacers 79-77 victory.</div>
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Coach D'Antoni seems proud of the fact that his team actually had a chance to win despite shooting 24-76 (31.6%) from the field, 6-28 (21.4%) from deep, and 23-43 (54.5%) from the line, while also committing 21 turnovers (that led to 16 Pacers points), but I sure don't, and Los Angeles doesn't either. The fact that the Lakers were able to play tough defense and hang around against the defensive minded Pacers doesn't excuse this deplorable performance. The Lakers need to put in work, and coddling them with sentiments such as, "I'm a little bit proud of the guys, the way they fought and had a chance to win, which defies statistical logic," does the team no good.</div>
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Coach D'Antoni seems far too amused with the situation. At least Mike Brown took losses to the heart. You could always tell that Brown invested every bit of himself into the game. D'Antoni seems to have a grin on his face during his post game statements, and he is far too willing to rely on the crutch of, "When Steve comes back." Hey coach, does anyone know when Nash is going to be available? Nope! The man has a fractured fibula, it's time to develop something that is going to work in the meantime. Obviously, Darius Morris and Chris Duhon are the 10th man on any NBA roster, but this is the Lakers reality with Nash and Blake injured. With this reality, it's about time D'Antoni takes some responsibility, or begins dropping the hammer. </div>
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D'Antoni has already shown his willingness to call out a star player. Against the Grizzlies on November 23rd, D'Antoni sat Pau Gasol the entire fourth quarter. Following the game, when asked about the benching, D'Antoni bluntly stated, "I was thinking, 'Boy I'd like to win this game.' That was the reason." With a small ball lineup, the Lakers outscored the Grizzlies 28-24 in the final quarter, but they still lost 98-106. </div>
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Following that statement, Gasol fired back that he wants more touches in the paint, and he also released a perfectly timed excuse that he's battling tendinitis in both of his knees. With Gasol's passive play as of late (and actually for the past couple seasons) — 2-9 against Pacers, 4-7 against Mavericks, 3-8 against Grizzlies, 3-10 against Kings — don't be surprised if Gasol is traded this season. Gasol was so bad against the Pacers, five of his nine attempted shots were blocked! </div>
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Even further, Gasol is to blame for the final defensive lapse. Gasol was supposed to switch onto Hill following the pick at the top. Instead, Gasol was late on the hedge, allowing Hill to pick up speed, attack the open space, and take a straight line to the basket. With Gasol's hips facing the sideline instead of half court, Hill turned the corner and easily blew by Gasol before finishing the layup high off the glass just over the outstretched hands of the rotating Dwight Howard. Game over.</div>
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Following this game, D'Antoni has plenty of ammo to take shots at his team (behind closed doors) in the coming days. If you take away Kobe Bryant's 5-11 (45.5%) from downtown, the team shot 1-17 (.06%) from distance. Take away Bryant and Howard's combined 19-38 (50%) from the field, and the rest of the team shot just 5-38 (13.2%). Take away Bryant's 11-13 (84.6%) from the line, and the team shot just 12-30 (40%). With the team failing to knock down shots (many of them wide open), an extra hour of shootaround is a must. In fact, I wouldn't let a single player leave the gym without hitting 10 free throws in a row following a series of sprints, or better yet, shooting a minimum of 100 free throws and hitting at least 75% with sprints after every ten shots. If this team is going to run D'Antoni's system, accurate shooting is a must (one of the main reasons why I felt that D'Antoni was <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/11/lakers-hire-mike-dantoni-wrong-choice.html" target="_blank">a poor choice as head coach</a>).</div>
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Capping off the poor play was Bryant's 10 turnovers. Although he was forced to carry the load while battling the flu, Bryant needs to take better care of the ball. Thrust in the playmaker role with Nash out, Bryant needs to find more operating room. More than half of his 10 turnovers occurred because he drove into the teeth of the defense in the lane and ended up losing his handle or getting stripped. Forcing the action, and dribbling into help defense, Bryant was able to drop 40 points, outscoring his teammates by three, but he also got caught trying to make plays when no one else on the team could do anything positive. For an offense that relies on the maxim, "the ball finds energy," this game was as stagnant as they come. Following the game, Bryant put the onus on himself and lamented the fact that on 10 possessions he cost his team an opportunity. At least Bryant took responsibility, I didn't hear that come from any other Laker during the post game interviews.</div>
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Overall, this was one of the worst Lakers games I have ever seen. Putting the late dramatics aside, this game was awful. Other than Bryant's clutch, deep three to tie the game at 77, nothing about this game was exciting. Rather, the game was a boring, sloppy, repugnant mess. This team is too talented to put together a performance like this. Get it together, Lakers. If this team has many more games like this, Howard may walk in free agency this summer, and this team will surely get blown up. </div>
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Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-17810257002430976242012-11-21T06:17:00.004-08:002014-05-09T01:11:30.365-07:00D'Antoni Era Finally Underway (11.21.12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Mike D'Antoni era officially commenced on Tuesday, November 20, 2012.<br />
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Mark it down. It's an important date in basketball annals, particularly in Los Angeles, and it will ultimately be judged sometime in June 2013. Depending upon who wins the NBA Finals, this date will either mark a staggering blow to a franchise that took a sharp left turn, or it will mark a stamp of approval for Jim Buss and his <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/11/lakers-hire-mike-dantoni-wrong-choice.html" target="_blank">desire to avoid Phil Jackson at all costs.</a> Simply put, it's championship or bust, and D'Antoni and his coaching style will either be glorified or condemned.<br />
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After endless speculation regarding his unexpected hire over the revered Jackson, and a full nine days after he was chosen to be the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, D'Antoni was able to summon the necessary vigor — with the help of Vicodon — to sit on the sideline and act as head coach as the Lakers faced the Brooklyn Nets in Staples Center.<br />
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Although the Lakers have been partially running D'Antoni's system under interim head coach — and the Lakers all-time winningest coach, percentage wise — Bernie Bickerstaff, that really doesn't count. Six days after leading his first practice with the Lakers, D'Antoni was able to get near the action as he sat in Jackson's seat, both figuratively and literally — D'Antoni will be sitting on Jackson's infamous <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://duchisms.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/phil-jackson-chair1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://mavericks.scout.com/2/1068891.html&h=253&w=380&sz=63&tbnid=Jtg9rQN-UQFICM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dphil%2Bjackson%2Bspecial%2Bchair%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=phil+jackson+special+chair&usg=___9zflNULfAV2Tzwk46DHkq6t40A=&docid=NoJif7jEv1VSbM&sa=X&ei=ULWsUIgXhOaLAuv_gJgP&ved=0CDcQ9QEwAQ&dur=773" target="_blank">"special chair"</a> while he recovers from knee surgery. The sting of D'Antoni's hire over Jackson isn't going away any time soon, but at least Lakers fans can finally see their new coach in action.<br />
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So, how did the Lakers do in D'Antoni's first game?<br />
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Well, the game was a tale of two halves.<br />
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The first 24 minutes resembled a D'Antoni tempo as the Lakers shot 23-41 (56%) from the field, 4-13 (31%) from deep, and 6-11 (55%) from the free throw line.<br />
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This up and down pace resembles a typical D'Antoni led team. The Lakers zipped the ball around with excellent passing and took numerous open shots en route to pouring in 56 points. The Lakers struggled with the three ball, which is to be expected with this roster, but their attempts were in line with D'Antoni's philosophy. The Lakers also struggled to knock down free throws, as Dwight Howard shot 3-5, Pau Gasol shot 2-4, and Metta World Peace shot 1-2. Surprisingly, Kobe Bryant didn't attempt any free throws — he did his damage with jumpers, hitting five straight to close the first quarter. D'Antoni's teams usually lead the league in free throw percentage, but not attempts. This team may reverse those statistics due to Howard, however, in the first half, the Lakers were not as aggressive attacking the rim as they should be.<br />
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Also typical of a D'Antoni led team, the Lakers acted as sieves defensively and allowed the Nets to pour in 57 points. The Nets torched the Lakers in the second quarter with 34 points. In particular, the Lakers allowed Brook Lopez to play like a super duper star as he poured in 17 points on 8-12 shooting. Deron Williams also torched the Lakers as he scored 18 points on 4-7 shooting, 3-4 from deep, while dishing out five assists.<br />
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All in all, the first half was exciting. Both teams got out and ran, and both teams had no qualms about shooting.<br />
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The final 24 minutes were much different.<br />
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The second half turned into an ugly defensive slugfest full of missed shots and missed free throws. In the second half the Lakers shot an abysmal 12-32 (38%), including 2-8 (25%) from deep, and an awful 13-26 (50%) from the free throw line.<br />
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The fourth quarter was especially ugly for both squads. The Lakers shot 3-12 (25%) from the field, 1-3 (33%) from deep, and 12-22 (55%) from the free throw line. The Nets weren't much better, as they shot 7-20 (35%) from the field, 0-5 from deep, and 3-3 from the line. The Lakers finished with 19 points in the quarter compared to 17 from the Nets.<br />
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Halting any momentum to the game was Nets coach Avery Johnson and his decision to adopt a "Hack-a-Howard" philosophy early in the final quarter. Howard struggled mightily as he shot 3-10 from the line. At first, fans at Staples Center began to boo as Howard missed five straight at the line. But, eventually Howard garnered loud cheers as he sank one out of two during his final two trips to the line. Howard's final trip to the charity stripe occurred just before the four minute mark. All it took was Howard to hit two out of four for Johnson to halt the intentional foul strategy.<br />
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Surprisingly, the Lakers were able to dig in and weather Howard's free throw woes with exceptional defense. As Howard struggled, the Nets were only able to build a five point lead. Once World Peace knocked down the Lakers first field goal of the quarter, a three pointer at the 4:39 mark that cut the score to 82-84, the Lakers were able to take control. World Peace was so pumped about his shot from the far side that he enthusiastically rubbed his hands all over Johnson's hair in a playful manner before running back down the court.<br />
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Following World Peace's shot, Bryant closed the game. At first, it seemed like he contracted Howard's woes as he shot an uncharacteristic 2-4 from the line to start the quarter. However, then Bryant turned it on.<br />
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First, he set up a beautiful play that led to a Howard dunk. Bryant drove the lane and kicked out to Gasol at the top of the key. Then he received a return pass at the near top. As Bryant rose up from deep, two Nets rushed him, including Gasol's man, so he passed to Gasol midshot. Gasol caught the pass in the lane and sent a lob up to Howard for an alley oop dunk. This beautiful sequence from the stars on the court tied the score up at 86-86.<br />
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Then, Bryant summoned his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAMuXrTegSY" target="_blank">inner Magic Johnson</a> as he hit a running hook shot. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is obviously the <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=kareem+statue+staples&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&rls=en&biw=1041&bih=656&tbm=isch&tbnid=wL1QHNzR-Eu1OM:&imgrefurl=http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/sports/ci_22015132/basketball-kareem-abdul-jabbar-stands-tall-outside-staples&docid=ZBI7NI3txMQXDM&imgurl=http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site513/2012/1116/20121116_103654_17kareemstatue_500.jpg&w=500&h=751&ei=rs6sUNaBHcWkiQKoqIGYCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=152&vpy=270&dur=306&hovh=275&hovw=183&tx=115&ty=138&sig=108186906942921623435&page=2&tbnh=168&tbnw=110&start=16&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0,i:153" target="_blank">godfather of the hook shot</a>, but I don't think Kareem ever beat his man off the dribble from the three point line and then went into his patented shot. From the near wing, Bryant used a hesitation dribble to freeze up his defender, Joe Johnson. Then Bryant drove right, and once he neared the box in the lane, he elevated and hit a beautiful running skyhook to give the Lakers an 89-86 advantage.<br />
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From there, Bryant iced the game with six straight free throws to give the Lakers a 95-90 victory.<br />
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Bryant's second set of free throws were particularly interesting. After Gasol nearly threw the game away with a ridiculous jump ball after being trapped just past half court, Bryant gave his greatest Calvin Johnson impersonation as he outleaped two defenders just past midcourt to come down with the ball. With a one point lead, and four seconds remaining in the game, Bryant stepped up to the line. After watching Bryant sink the first shot, Gerald Wallace engaged in a war of words with Bryant in an effort to faze him. With the biggest free throw of the game on the line, Bryant cooly responded to Wallace as the two <a href="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/JKdrvvYU1R0?fs=1&start=118" target="_blank">traded barbs for nearly 20 seconds.</a> After giving Wallace on last incredulous look, Bryant focused on the rim and sank the shot. As he backpedaled away from the line, Bryant sent Wallace one last smirk.<br />
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Following that, Williams missed a potential game tying three, and Bryant stepped up to the line one last time. With just .2 left on the clock, the game was decided. As Bryant stood at the line, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ekj2VfjhJ0" target="_blank">Wallace engaged in more talk.</a> Bryant sank both to end the game.<br />
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Following the game, Wallace was asked about the war of words. Regarding the crucial second set of free throws, <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/nets/2012/11/gerald-wallace-wanted-kobe-to-shoot-with-his-eyes-closed" target="_blank">Wallace stated</a>, "I was trying to get him to close his eyes to shoot." <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWDnFm_VGTc" target="_blank">A la Michael Jordan,</a> Bryant almost took the bait. Wallace continued, "I had to make a big bet, so I just told him to shoot the free throws." We'll never know if Bryant would have actually risked a game on such a challenge, but it is interesting to know that parameters were discussed. Even more interesting, it was Wallace who was unwilling to take such a risk. Imagine the scrutiny if Bryant had done such a thing and missed! If Bryant was willing to risk a loss, I wonder what he demanded from Wallace? It must have been quite substantial.<br />
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Whatever the case, there are some noteworthy items to take away from this game.<br />
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Firstly, D'Antoni won his opening game behind a solid defensive effort. Surprising to say the least considering D'Antoni's reputation. After a hot start, Lopez went 3-6 and scored just seven points in the second half. Williams fared even worse in the final 24 minutes, going 2-10, 0-5 from deep, for four points and five assists. Although the offense stalled, the Lakers showed that they can get it done defensively if necessary. This is a good sign, and it may be relied upon more than most would have expected.<br />
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Secondly, D'Antoni is going to love having Bryant as a closer. The man has been through it all, he doesn't freeze up, and he loves the pressure. For the first time in his coaching career, D'Antoni has a bonafide two guard to work with. Joe Johnson was pretty good in his Phoenix days, but Bryant is at an entirely different level.<br />
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Thirdly, the Lakers need to work on the three ball, 6-21 (29%) won't get it done. However, World Peace, the man who will always be left open on the weak side, actually turned in a great performance by shooting 4-9 (44%) from deep. If World Peace can hover around 37-42% from deep this season, the Lakers starting five will thrive in D'Antoni's system. Simply put, World Peace is the x-factor. His ability to space the floor will be crucial for the Lakers.<br />
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Fourthly, will Howard's struggles at the line truly hinder the offense? D'Antoni has never had a key contributor shoot so poorly from the charity stripe. In fact, D'Antoni's worst regular free throw shooter was Amare Stoudemire, and he shot a respectable 73%. Howard is shooting 48% from the line this season, yet D'Antoni doesn't seem to mind. After delivering an "Umm" that turned into a weird groan/ponder when asked about Howard's struggles at the line during the post game press conference, D'Antoni stated "He's making one of two, so that's one point per possession, that's pretty good basketball, especially down the stretch. That's fine, if they want to do that, that's great, I got no problem."<br />
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Although I disagree with D'Antoni's claim, there's nothing that he can really say here. Taking Howard off the floor is not the solution, even late in games, so living with his inconsistency is necessary because he is too valuable a commodity defensively and on the boards to be sitting on the bench. However, for a team that wants to increase possessions with uptempo play, this can become a problem. If the Lakers have more opportunities, that means that the opposing team will also gain more opportunities. So if the Lakers are consistently coming up with just one point at the line, opposing teams that maximize their possessions can potentially score two or three points per possession.<br />
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For example, Howard finished this game 7-19 at the line, marking 10 separate trips to the charity stripe. By coming up with just seven points, an opposing team can potentially score anywhere from 20-30 points within that same frame. Obviously, these numbers represent stark contrasts of failure versus excellence, but the potential is there, and great teams have a knack for reaching that full potential. This is going to be a recurring problem all season long, and it will be interesting to see how the Lakers overcome such a disadvantage.<br />
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Overall, it's great to see the Lakers pull out the win. This team will look to improve with every game, and with Steve Nash still injured, this team won't near it's full potential until sometime after the All-Star break. Until then, D'Antoni will look to pile up the wins in any way that he can. In the end, it's all about the team's play from May to June. Those months will represent the playoffs, and if D'Antoni can deliver another championship to Los Angeles, no one will question his hiring.</div>
Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281711169483103069.post-44539399838828728382012-11-12T05:19:00.006-08:002014-05-09T01:11:17.252-07:00Lakers Hire Mike D'Antoni, Wrong Choice (11.12.12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just past midnight on November 12, 2012, the news broke that Mike D'Antoni agreed upon a four year contract to be the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.<br />
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I'm up writing this, and as of now, the specific details of the contract are unknown. However, rumor has it that the contract is worth $12 million over three years, with a team option for the fourth year.</div>
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What I do know is that this signing marks a significant shift in the direction of the franchise. Specifically, it means that Phil Jackson won't be coming back to Los Angeles, and that my friends, is not what anyone in Los Angeles wants to hear.</div>
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If you are an unfortunate DirectTV subscriber, then you have been missing out on the crowd at Staples Center thunderously chanting "We want Phil!" these past two games since the firing of Mike Brown. It's unlike anything I've ever heard before. Seriously, can you recall a time when a head coach received yearning chants of any sort, especially during a free throw — a time when most fans chant "MVP" like drones — ? We've all heard the boos and the fire so and so chants, but I've never heard such boisterous chants for a coach.</div>
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The fans at Staples are not the only ones who feel this way. Jackson is so well respected, he essentially holds unanimous respect all throughout Los Angeles. Despite a bitter divorce from the organization the first time around, and a humiliating sweep that ended his days the second time, Jackson is beloved, the coolest of cool, the "Zen Master." The man is a winner, arguably the greatest coach of all-time, regardless of sport. In modern basketball, he is the most successful head coach, with 11 championship rings since 1991 to prove it, and another two from his playing days to put him at 13 rings. In basketball coaching history, he's on a short list along with Red Auerbach and John Wooden as the only possible candidates for the title of greatest ever. Simply put, there is no better candidate than Phil Jackson.</div>
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With that in mind, the announcement of D'Antoni as the new head coach essentially comes off as a settlement, a second best candidate, a cheaper, easier choice that will have far less power within the organization. I think we can all agree, D'Antoni is nowhere near the level of Jackson. Just typing them in the same sentence seems blasphemous. That's not as much of a slap to the face to D'Antoni as it is a kudos to the brilliance of Jackson. One man has never been to the Finals, the other has 13 championship rings, and 15 trips to the grandest stage.</div>
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But as the Rolling Stones famously wrote, "You can't always get what you want." For fans of the Lakers, this means no Jackson. Specifically, it laments that the organization was unwilling to accept four key conditions.</div>
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First, salary. The Lakers did not want to eat Mike Brown's contract, pay over $100 million of player salary, pay luxury tax fines, and tack on Jackson's rumored contract talk of numbers near his previous run as the head coach — anywhere from $10-15 million per year. That's a lot of benjamins, folks. If you don't happen to remember, after winning back to back titles in '09 and '10, <a href="http://sportsbybrooks.com/report-phil-jackson-asked-to-take-60-pay-cut-28382" target="_blank">the organization asked Jackson to take a 60% pay cut.</a> If they didn't want to pay him then, they definitely don't want to now. This reality is disappointing, but it is understandable. However, the official contract negotiations are officially unknown, and if Jackson was willing to sign for less, then the Lakers royally screwed up.</div>
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Assuming Jackson wants top dollar, if the organization believes that D'Antoni can deliver a ring, why would they pay an extra $6-11 million per year? Organizationally, it doesn't make sense, right? Well, wrong, but, I believe in this team regardless of the coach. In fact, <a href="http://sportsmediummessage.blogspot.com/2012/10/21-gms-choose-wrong-nba-champion-102312.html" target="_blank">I believed that Brown would lead the Lakers to a championship this season,</a> but Jackson is a proven commodity, and he's as close to a sure thing as there is. If the organization wants to cut costs, whatever, it's their money and their decision, but I'm sure that there's some money floating around following the deal with Time Warner that is <a href="http://www.nba.com/2012/news/10/26/time-warner-cable-lakers.ap/index.html" target="_blank">reportedly $3 billion over 20 years.</a> Yes, billion. </div>
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Secondly, it also means that the Lakers weren't thrilled about Jackson demanding the right to not travel to select road games. Jackson has a long history of health problems, and at 67 years of age, with hip problems a constant toll on his body, he let the organization know that he would possibly have to skip a couple of road games. </div>
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Not a big deal. I happen to remember Brian Shaw doing just fine when he ran the team a couple times in 2010 while Jackson missed games due to his health conditions. In any case, a couple missed games is no big deal in the grand scheme of things. Home court advantage is great, but this team has enough talent to overcome those types of obstacles. </div>
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The third condition is most likely the biggest demand that the organization was unwilling to give in to, and I'm assuming it was Jim Buss who specifically cringed upon hearing it — Jackson wanted to gain greater control over player personnel decisions. Jim, the executive vice president of player personnel, and son of owner, Jerry, has had his stamp <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2007/may/13/sports/sp-springer13" target="_blank">all over player personnel since 2007.</a> Jim and Phil have had their dustups over the years, and the claim that Jackson wanted to poach on Jim's responsibilities is surely an indication that he wanted more power within the front office.</div>
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This situation is a bit stickier. Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak have made some excellent choices over the years, and I'm sure they weren't too thrilled about Jackson wanting to have more say about front office type decisions. Instead, they probably would prefer Jackson to stick to his forte, coaching. Considering, Jackson's history with Jim — Jim was the biggest proponent of distancing the organization from Jackson's principles following Jackson's retirement, specifically, the Lakers <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-8473673" target="_blank">never really gave popular candidate, and Jackson groomed, Brian Shaw a chance to win the job,</a> and instead Mike Brown was hired, signaling a complete 180° from the Jackson era — this condition clearly was an attack upon Jim and hinted at a power struggle. </div>
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Finally, Jackson hinted that he would groom his eventual replacement. Once again, this points to front office decision making, and it hints at Jackson leaving a lasting imprint upon the Lakers. Sounds great, right? Apparently, for the organization, not so much.</div>
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In an ode to Tex Winter, the originator of the Triangle offense, Jackson wants to pass the torch along to a successor. With candidates such as Brian Shaw and Scottie Pippen likely to join his staff, Jackson would have some very bright candidates. If anything, the organization should love the opportunity to employ a Jackson disciple in about three years for pretty much next to nothing salary wise. I can understand the trepidation of committing to an unknown successor, but if it that's what it takes to get Jackson, then it should be done.</div>
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With those conditions likely serving as deterrents on all counts, it makes the hire of D'Antoni that much easier (for the organization). It seems like Jackson was ready to accept the job, but the organization decided to go another way and instead announced this hire before Jackson could give his final response Monday morning.</div>
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Whatever news comes out, don't believe the hype surrounding the organizational statement that D'Antoni is the best guy for the job. He's not, and only a fool would think otherwise. You just can't touch 11 head coaching rings. With Bryant, Nash, and Gasol having about a three year max window, this team needs to win now. And if anybody is qualified to lead a team with championship expectations, it's Jackson. In case you have forgotten what I wrote earlier, D'Antoni has never been to the Finals. Better hire? Come on. </div>
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With the hiring process out of the way, let me run down a couple of on court points. Namely, what is this team's identity going to be?</div>
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D'Antoni is famous for his "7 seconds or less" philosophy. If you are unaware, D'Antoni's most successful Suns' teams would race up the court and fire up any open shot, regardless of the time remaining on the shot clock. If the team didn't have an open shot early in the shot clock, then Nash would run a pick and roll from either the top of the key or the side wings. Following that, Nash had a multitude of options, and if the pick and roll/pop/slip didn't produce, the Suns would drive and kick out to open shooters. With great shooters spotting up in the corners and wings, the Suns thrived with excellent floor spacing that produced open runs to the rim or open shots from deep. The Suns played exciting ball, and they often led the league in scoring. Valuing increased possessions, the Suns didn't worry about missed shots because they upped the tempo and relied on the three ball to make up the difference. </div>
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None of this coincides with the setup of the Lakers. The Lakers are old, plodding, and don't shoot very well from deep. As great as Nash is, his pick and roll relies on spacing and deep threats. Without shooting threats, teams can hedge the pick hard and make Nash swing the ball to a non threat on the weak side. Furthermore, if Nash turns the corner on the hedge, teams can cave into the paint and converge on the roll man, either Howard or Gasol. Howard is one of the best pick and roll finishers in the NBA, but his Orlando teams were stacked with shooters spacing the floor. On the Lakers, the lane will be packed, thus forcing kick outs to perimeter players for threes. The Lakers have just four viable three point shooters, Nash, Bryant, Jodie Meeks, and Steve Blake. Often times, the open man is going to be Metta World Peace or Antawn Jamison (each has been horrible from deep this season). Peace is nowhere near reliable from deep, and honestly, other than Nash, none of the Lakers are true threats. Bryant, Meeks, Blake, and possibly Darius Morris will hit shots, but it won't be consistent enough to truly do damage and produce successful results. </div>
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So with the pick and roll game nowhere near a threat as those Suns' teams, how will D'Antoni utilize the Lakers biggest advantage, namely, size? In Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire racked up his points on rolls to the basket that produced dunks. He didn't necessarily rely on back to the basket moves, or even much of a face up game. With Howard and Gasol at his disposal, it will be interesting to see how D'Antoni decides to get them the ball. I'm not really sure what type of offense this team will run, but I do know that it won't be "7 seconds or less," and I do know that it will require D'Antoni to shift his tendencies. </div>
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In my opinion, the Triangle offense would serve this team well. Although the Lakers have struggled with the Princeton (a similar type of offense), I believe that Jackson would be wise enough to ease Howard and Nash, along with the rest of the team, into the intricacies of the Triangle. While Brown forced the Princeton down the team's throat, causing the team to over think and constantly turn the ball over, Jackson would certainly introduce key concepts and ask the players to read and react upon basic reads. Howard would certainly benefit on the box, and Nash would be the greatest spot up shooter the Triangle has ever known. Even further, within the Triangle, Nash would be able to play two man games on the weak side (aka the pick and roll), something not difficult to pick up on, and something he's quite comfortable with. Meanwhile, Howard would have the ability to blossom in a Shaquille O'Neal manner with great spacing giving him numerous entry angles along with enough space to operate on the box. Essentially, the Triangle would play to the strengths of the Lakers.</div>
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On the other side of the ball, I hope the Lakers don't fall into the offense happy trap and abandon their defensive capabilities. With a twin tower setup, the Lakers should be a top five defense. However, D'Antoni has never coached a team like this, and his teams have often been bottom dwellers regarding defensive performance. While this can be attributed to the tempo of his offenses, it also indicates a lack of premium paid to the defensive end. This Lakers team is capable of some amazing things defensively, and D'Antoni will have to come up with defensive principles that he's seemed to avoid his entire coaching career. I won't doubt his capabilities, but it's definitely something that I've never really seen him do.</div>
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Essentially, D'Antoni will have to coach in a manner that he's never coached before. Honestly, that doesn't sound all that promising. I hope D'Antoni can get the job done, but his style certainly doesn't fit the makeup of this squad. I'm sure that D'Antoni is wise enough to play to the strengths of this team, but his track record certainly doesn't provide any examples, simply because he's never had a team like this.</div>
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Compared to Jackson, D'Antoni has his hands full. Although the organization may think he is the best man for the job, much of Los Angeles disagrees. There's only one way to silence that noise, and D'Antoni understands this, otherwise he wouldn't have taken the job. Win a ring, and Jackson will be but a distant memory. Come up short, well, I don't even want to ponder that possibility.</div>
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Good luck coach D'Antoni. I wish you the best. I don't believe that you are the best man for the job, but you certainly have a prime opportunity to prove me, along with any other detractor, wrong. With Nash, Bryant, Gasol, and Howard on this squad, you have been chosen as the head man over Phil Jackson. If you can't win a ring with these guys, you never will. For your sake, get the job done.</div>
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Tim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117365779400657551noreply@blogger.com0