Jeff Gentner/Getty ImagesWith a brilliant stroke of luck, the Washington Wizards came behind from a 10% chance of landing the top pick in the 2010 draft to grabbing the top spot in the upcoming draft's lottery. With the first pick, they are set to take Kentucky freshman PG John Wall.No surprises Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
here.For the Wiz, the pick comes as a breath of fresh air after a tumultuous season in which superstar Gilbert Arenas was arrested on gun charges. To make things worse, the team decided to blow it up and trade away veterans Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Brendan Haywood.Selecting John Wall is going to help out the Wiz tremendously, especially if they opt to keep Arenas. With Wall in the lineup, Arenas can move to the shooting guard position. This move will give Arenas a license to shoot at will.Arenas will be able to readjust to his position as one of Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
the NBA's elite scorers and lead a young Wizard team as Wall matures into one of the NBA's best point guards.For the Wizards and Gilbert Arenas, John Wall could just be the change they need in Washington.This article is also featured onMockDraftHQ.com Draft Blog
2010年12月26日星期日
2010年12月25日星期六
25 Dec 10 Derrick Rose: Destined To Be Best Player in NBA
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesForget about all the MVP talk surrounding Derrick Rose; in two or three years,he willbe the best player in the NBA. This may sound crazy, but it is just a matter of time. Kobe is getting old, and LeBron squandered his top dog status by fleeing to Miami.Thunder fans areNew York Jets jersey
probably pulling their hair out right now, but Kevin Durant is less dimensional and athletic than Derrick Rose. In fact, Durant will be the second best player on the Thunder in a few years. Russell Westbrook is the only rising star who poses a legitimate threat to Rose becoming the best player in the NBA, and he is lagging way behind Rose emerging perimeter game.Derrick Rose contributions cannot be measured by stats alone, however impressive they may be. Derrick Rose is a field general who can lead the Bulls to a 130-128 overtime victory one night, and allow the Bulls to squeak by in a low scoring gamethe next. The only real knock on Rose is his lack of defense; however, if his perimeter shooting continues to improve, he could go for 35 points per game. That's right, Derrick Rose could flirt with statistics only Kobe and Michael have achieved recently.Rose has the potential to play defense as well as anybody. Up until this point, he has never needed to. On the defensive end, Derrick sometimes looks like he is out of position, but when he does get burned, he tends to burn several defenders on the next play. Rose just needs to recognize that he cannot take plays off on defense if he wants to be recognized as the NBA top player.Rose potential was never more visible than in a loss to the Lakers at the Staples Center. After a game in which Rose was unstoppable, an upset Rose was taken aside by Kobe Bryant. Bryant whispered something into Derrick Rose ear, and one can only speculate that he was saying, Oakland Raiders jersey
Derrick, don worry. In two years, this is your league.Of course, it's stillKobe, andhe probably added, But for now it still my league.Even though Durant has been anointed the successor to Kobe and LeBron, there is no set line of succession to determine who the NBA best player is. Kevin Durant lacks the explosiveness that will be needed more and more in the coming years of the NBA. Derrick Rose isjust as explosive as LeBron James, just in a smaller package. While James can lay out defenders on the way to the rim thanks to a six foot eight frame, Derrick Rose can maneuver between three players mid-air while taking the ball to the basket.Durant relies too much on the line. His most explosive move is hooking his elbow under a defender outstretched arm and going up with the ball to draw a foul even though he has created no shot. That is the key difference between Durant and Rose;Durant cannot create shots likeRose. His deadly aim creates shots thanks to the dynamic qualities of Westbrook, but Rose currently averages higher field goal percentages from the floor, and the three point line,than Durant this year. If Durant wants any hope of being as good as Rose, he will need to get strong like Rose. Once Rose starts getting superstar calls, his lack of talent at drawing fouls will be marginalized. Rose is so athletic that he completes drives that he is fouled on, while making it look like he has not been touched.Based on the improvement Derrick Rose has shown in his game this year, it is safe to assume he is one of the hardest working players in the NBA. If he continues to uphold that work ethic, he will become the best player in the league. Derrick Rose is developing a dependable three, and opponents should be wary of the day he becomes deadly from beyond the arc. Once this happens, we will no longer judge him based on his peers, but instead by how many rings he has won.Of course, Rose best characteristic has not even been mentioned yet. He is a born winner. He won Philadelphia Eagles jersey
two state championships in high school,and he was robbed of the NCAA Championship in his lone collegiate year by a coaching blunder that allowed Kansas to shoot a three, when they should have simply been fouled. In two NBA seasons, Rose has piloted a mediocre Bulls teams to the playoffs. Now they are good, and if Omer Asik can become a reliable member of the rotation in crunch time, the Bulls could win the NBA Finals this year. Crazier things have happened.
probably pulling their hair out right now, but Kevin Durant is less dimensional and athletic than Derrick Rose. In fact, Durant will be the second best player on the Thunder in a few years. Russell Westbrook is the only rising star who poses a legitimate threat to Rose becoming the best player in the NBA, and he is lagging way behind Rose emerging perimeter game.Derrick Rose contributions cannot be measured by stats alone, however impressive they may be. Derrick Rose is a field general who can lead the Bulls to a 130-128 overtime victory one night, and allow the Bulls to squeak by in a low scoring gamethe next. The only real knock on Rose is his lack of defense; however, if his perimeter shooting continues to improve, he could go for 35 points per game. That's right, Derrick Rose could flirt with statistics only Kobe and Michael have achieved recently.Rose has the potential to play defense as well as anybody. Up until this point, he has never needed to. On the defensive end, Derrick sometimes looks like he is out of position, but when he does get burned, he tends to burn several defenders on the next play. Rose just needs to recognize that he cannot take plays off on defense if he wants to be recognized as the NBA top player.Rose potential was never more visible than in a loss to the Lakers at the Staples Center. After a game in which Rose was unstoppable, an upset Rose was taken aside by Kobe Bryant. Bryant whispered something into Derrick Rose ear, and one can only speculate that he was saying, Oakland Raiders jersey
Derrick, don worry. In two years, this is your league.Of course, it's stillKobe, andhe probably added, But for now it still my league.Even though Durant has been anointed the successor to Kobe and LeBron, there is no set line of succession to determine who the NBA best player is. Kevin Durant lacks the explosiveness that will be needed more and more in the coming years of the NBA. Derrick Rose isjust as explosive as LeBron James, just in a smaller package. While James can lay out defenders on the way to the rim thanks to a six foot eight frame, Derrick Rose can maneuver between three players mid-air while taking the ball to the basket.Durant relies too much on the line. His most explosive move is hooking his elbow under a defender outstretched arm and going up with the ball to draw a foul even though he has created no shot. That is the key difference between Durant and Rose;Durant cannot create shots likeRose. His deadly aim creates shots thanks to the dynamic qualities of Westbrook, but Rose currently averages higher field goal percentages from the floor, and the three point line,than Durant this year. If Durant wants any hope of being as good as Rose, he will need to get strong like Rose. Once Rose starts getting superstar calls, his lack of talent at drawing fouls will be marginalized. Rose is so athletic that he completes drives that he is fouled on, while making it look like he has not been touched.Based on the improvement Derrick Rose has shown in his game this year, it is safe to assume he is one of the hardest working players in the NBA. If he continues to uphold that work ethic, he will become the best player in the league. Derrick Rose is developing a dependable three, and opponents should be wary of the day he becomes deadly from beyond the arc. Once this happens, we will no longer judge him based on his peers, but instead by how many rings he has won.Of course, Rose best characteristic has not even been mentioned yet. He is a born winner. He won Philadelphia Eagles jersey
two state championships in high school,and he was robbed of the NCAA Championship in his lone collegiate year by a coaching blunder that allowed Kansas to shoot a three, when they should have simply been fouled. In two NBA seasons, Rose has piloted a mediocre Bulls teams to the playoffs. Now they are good, and if Omer Asik can become a reliable member of the rotation in crunch time, the Bulls could win the NBA Finals this year. Crazier things have happened.
2010年12月24日星期五
24 Dec 10 The Chicago Bulls 5th Pre-Season Game: An Analysis
Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesThe Chicago Bulls lost for the third time in five preseason games 109-105 in their rematch with the Dallas Mavericks in overtime. Many factors worked against the Bulls including not having either of their natural power forwards in the game (both Carlos Boozer and Taj Seattle Seahawks jersey
Gibson did not play due to injuries). However, the contest marked bit of a regression for the Bulls. It also exposed some of the Bulls persistent issues that are magnified by their hole at the power forward position.The Bulls were surprised early in the game by the Maverick’s zone defense. It created a lot of shooting difficulty for Chicago who persistently tried to drill the ball in the paint, a part of the game they have experimented with having Joakim Noah playing power forward. Adjustment to the zone defense came quickly but disappeared just as quick in the second half. In addition, the Bulls were still vulnerable to cutting Mavericks players who ran behind the Bulls defense on hard cuts to the rim. Throughout the game, Dallas often beat Bulls defenders while driving the corners. The Bulls were initially able to build a sizable lead, primarily because the Mavericks underestimated the Bulls perimeter shooting. But late in the first half the Maverick’s closed the gap with Bulls bench on the floor. Again, Chicago’s attempts at feeding the ball in the paint became somewhat predictable and led to many careless passes to anticipating Maverick players. For a large part of the second half, the Bulls did not push the ball up the court which had worked well for them early and after starting with good ball movement; it slowed in the middle of the game. The Bulls also could not capitalize on Dallas mistakes including multiple illegal defenses. Chicago seemed to be standing around more in the second quarter looking for plays to come to them instead of making it happened, a result of not using their driving ability to attack the basket. Their offensive sets looked much more tentative after the first quarter. It seemed as though once the Dallas zone St. Louis Rams jersey
defense shut down the Bulls ability to feed it inside, they could have used Derrick Rose and James Johnson or even Ronnie Brewer to break down the Mavericks by slashing to the basket. That may have limited errant passes and perhaps put Bulls players on the foul line more often. Dirk Nowitzki was able to capitalize on the Bulls weakness at the power forward position and got plenty of assistance from the referees, one of which led to yet another dubious technical on the Bulls in the past two games this time on Coach Tom Thibodeau. After the Bulls struggled to score, Thibodeau made an interesting move putting Brewer, Rose, and Keith Bogans on the floor which seemed to suggest deference to defense in an effort to stop the Mavericks scoring. The Bulls did finish very strong and their defense had more energy later in the game.Chicago did a tremendous job in hitting perimeter three point shots especially in the first half. That was supposedly a weakness for the team going into the season. If they can consistently hit from the outside as they demonstrated against the Mavericks, they should be considered one of the elite three point shooting teams in the league. The three point threat has been shown significantly by Keith Bogans, Kyle Korver, and Luol Deng; with C.J. Watson and James Johnson providing a better than decent effectiveness from beyond the arch; and Derrick Rose now being more consistent and confident with his shot. During the beginning and the end of the game, the Bulls showed good momentum. Their speed off the ball was effective. On defense the Bulls showed good hands pursuing the ball and making a number of steals. They were also effective driving to the rim the few opportunities they took which may have tilted the game in their favor if they utilized their slashers more often.Individually the Bulls had mixed results. Derrick Rose shined hitting a three point shot to send the game into overtime. He had his almost now customary dramatic fast breaks especially a lightning quick burst in the first quarter for a layup. Luol Deng was equally as effective both from the three point line and the moderate number of times he drove the ball. He was 5-for-7 from behind the arc. Deng had a monster outing hitting beyond the arch. Both Rose and Deng scored 23 pointsOmer Asik is becoming a more potent weapon for the Bulls in the paint and showed particular strength off of a feed for a successful layup. In addition, another area that was Tennessee Titans jersey
considered a weakness for the Bulls, Asiks free throws, is looking less like a liability. Asik had a nice block in the first quarter which was unfortunately stolen back and ended in a three point play, however it demonstrated that Asik is pretty good at picking off passes and lobs. He finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 21 minutes of action. James Johnson provided contributions to the Bulls in a number of ways in limited minutes including a great toss to Rose who elevated and slammed the ball. In addition, Johnson took a timely charge towards the end of the game. His effectiveness when pushing the ball to the basket during overtime suggests that he should have been driving more often and drawing fouls. Johnson finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds. Noah again had a strong game and showed nice footwork. For the second straight contest he played heavy minutes (35). Bogans continued to be a three point mercenary with two connects in the game but that was on 6 attempts. Brewer’s athleticism was good and he also should have been allowed to try to get to the basket more often. His defense was also strong with him picking off a pass ball for a steal just as he entered the game. Kyle Korver had an off night missing several shots including a free throw on a technical foul. C.J Watson also had a terrible shooting night going 2-for-13. Brian Scalabrini seemed to be having problems handling the ball.Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesWhile the Bulls can point to numerous reasons why they lost the game one of the more frustrating must be the terrible officiating by the referees. There were a considerable amount of fouls called or not called which affected the outcome more than it should have. That included a no-call on Jason Kidd for obviously fouling Derrick Rose on a break; another obvious no-call late in the second quarter again involving Rose; what should have been a flagrant on Dirk Nowitzki on a breaking C.J. Watson, and a no foul call on Dallas Maverick Ian Mahinmi off of a blatant push off. Unfortunately the game of basketball is a competition where excuses don’t matter and bad calls must be endured. For the Bulls, this latest outing should be a wakeup call to remind them what it takes to Washington Redskins jersey
close out games. The Dallas Mavericks are arguably one of three best teams in the Western conference and the Bulls appeared to be competitive in a game that clearly both teams were somewhat focused on winning. But the Bulls were exposed for some of their enduring weak spots and must make adjustments in order to compete at the highest levels and reach the potential that they continue to show. For the game, I would grade the Bulls defense an B, and the offense a B-, coaching an A- and the team overall a B
Gibson did not play due to injuries). However, the contest marked bit of a regression for the Bulls. It also exposed some of the Bulls persistent issues that are magnified by their hole at the power forward position.The Bulls were surprised early in the game by the Maverick’s zone defense. It created a lot of shooting difficulty for Chicago who persistently tried to drill the ball in the paint, a part of the game they have experimented with having Joakim Noah playing power forward. Adjustment to the zone defense came quickly but disappeared just as quick in the second half. In addition, the Bulls were still vulnerable to cutting Mavericks players who ran behind the Bulls defense on hard cuts to the rim. Throughout the game, Dallas often beat Bulls defenders while driving the corners. The Bulls were initially able to build a sizable lead, primarily because the Mavericks underestimated the Bulls perimeter shooting. But late in the first half the Maverick’s closed the gap with Bulls bench on the floor. Again, Chicago’s attempts at feeding the ball in the paint became somewhat predictable and led to many careless passes to anticipating Maverick players. For a large part of the second half, the Bulls did not push the ball up the court which had worked well for them early and after starting with good ball movement; it slowed in the middle of the game. The Bulls also could not capitalize on Dallas mistakes including multiple illegal defenses. Chicago seemed to be standing around more in the second quarter looking for plays to come to them instead of making it happened, a result of not using their driving ability to attack the basket. Their offensive sets looked much more tentative after the first quarter. It seemed as though once the Dallas zone St. Louis Rams jersey
defense shut down the Bulls ability to feed it inside, they could have used Derrick Rose and James Johnson or even Ronnie Brewer to break down the Mavericks by slashing to the basket. That may have limited errant passes and perhaps put Bulls players on the foul line more often. Dirk Nowitzki was able to capitalize on the Bulls weakness at the power forward position and got plenty of assistance from the referees, one of which led to yet another dubious technical on the Bulls in the past two games this time on Coach Tom Thibodeau. After the Bulls struggled to score, Thibodeau made an interesting move putting Brewer, Rose, and Keith Bogans on the floor which seemed to suggest deference to defense in an effort to stop the Mavericks scoring. The Bulls did finish very strong and their defense had more energy later in the game.Chicago did a tremendous job in hitting perimeter three point shots especially in the first half. That was supposedly a weakness for the team going into the season. If they can consistently hit from the outside as they demonstrated against the Mavericks, they should be considered one of the elite three point shooting teams in the league. The three point threat has been shown significantly by Keith Bogans, Kyle Korver, and Luol Deng; with C.J. Watson and James Johnson providing a better than decent effectiveness from beyond the arch; and Derrick Rose now being more consistent and confident with his shot. During the beginning and the end of the game, the Bulls showed good momentum. Their speed off the ball was effective. On defense the Bulls showed good hands pursuing the ball and making a number of steals. They were also effective driving to the rim the few opportunities they took which may have tilted the game in their favor if they utilized their slashers more often.Individually the Bulls had mixed results. Derrick Rose shined hitting a three point shot to send the game into overtime. He had his almost now customary dramatic fast breaks especially a lightning quick burst in the first quarter for a layup. Luol Deng was equally as effective both from the three point line and the moderate number of times he drove the ball. He was 5-for-7 from behind the arc. Deng had a monster outing hitting beyond the arch. Both Rose and Deng scored 23 pointsOmer Asik is becoming a more potent weapon for the Bulls in the paint and showed particular strength off of a feed for a successful layup. In addition, another area that was Tennessee Titans jersey
considered a weakness for the Bulls, Asiks free throws, is looking less like a liability. Asik had a nice block in the first quarter which was unfortunately stolen back and ended in a three point play, however it demonstrated that Asik is pretty good at picking off passes and lobs. He finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 21 minutes of action. James Johnson provided contributions to the Bulls in a number of ways in limited minutes including a great toss to Rose who elevated and slammed the ball. In addition, Johnson took a timely charge towards the end of the game. His effectiveness when pushing the ball to the basket during overtime suggests that he should have been driving more often and drawing fouls. Johnson finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds. Noah again had a strong game and showed nice footwork. For the second straight contest he played heavy minutes (35). Bogans continued to be a three point mercenary with two connects in the game but that was on 6 attempts. Brewer’s athleticism was good and he also should have been allowed to try to get to the basket more often. His defense was also strong with him picking off a pass ball for a steal just as he entered the game. Kyle Korver had an off night missing several shots including a free throw on a technical foul. C.J Watson also had a terrible shooting night going 2-for-13. Brian Scalabrini seemed to be having problems handling the ball.Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesWhile the Bulls can point to numerous reasons why they lost the game one of the more frustrating must be the terrible officiating by the referees. There were a considerable amount of fouls called or not called which affected the outcome more than it should have. That included a no-call on Jason Kidd for obviously fouling Derrick Rose on a break; another obvious no-call late in the second quarter again involving Rose; what should have been a flagrant on Dirk Nowitzki on a breaking C.J. Watson, and a no foul call on Dallas Maverick Ian Mahinmi off of a blatant push off. Unfortunately the game of basketball is a competition where excuses don’t matter and bad calls must be endured. For the Bulls, this latest outing should be a wakeup call to remind them what it takes to Washington Redskins jersey
close out games. The Dallas Mavericks are arguably one of three best teams in the Western conference and the Bulls appeared to be competitive in a game that clearly both teams were somewhat focused on winning. But the Bulls were exposed for some of their enduring weak spots and must make adjustments in order to compete at the highest levels and reach the potential that they continue to show. For the game, I would grade the Bulls defense an B, and the offense a B-, coaching an A- and the team overall a B
2010年12月23日星期四
23 Dec 10Toronto Raptors Acquire Peja Stojakovic and Bayless for Jack, Spare Parts
The Toronto Raptors have made a move for their future in acquiring Jerryd Bayless from the Hornets.Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesBryan Colangelo has done it again.Yes, I know some of us are still lamenting over the Michael Beasley debacle, but he was a potential locker room cancer, so lets all move onReebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
.Bryan Colangelo proved he has still got ‘it’ by acquiring a massive $14 million dollar expiring deal and our potential point guard of the future.The Toronto Raptors acquired Jerryd Bayless and Peja Stojakovic for Jarrett Jack, Marcus Banks, a trade exception and David Andersen.It was too quiet in Raptor land to begin the season with not even a rumour being bandied about, which led one to reason that Bryan Colangelo must be working on something big. This deal is big indeed.Now while there are conflicting reports on whether or not Bryan Colangelo acquired Peja merely as a trade asset to utilize at this year's deadline, as a massive expiring deal they would let come off the books this summer, or as someone he wants Jay Triano to use in his rotation.We are hoping he plans to use him as a trade asset to help expedite our rebuilding process.But Peja is not what or who this deal was about.This deal was all about Jerryd Bayless and his outstanding potential.Jerryd Bayless has the potential to be our Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
point guard of the future and possesses excellent quickness and is an excellent scorer.He is a fearless slasher in the Monta Ellis mold and is someone who has a unique ability to draw contact time and time again when he gets in the paint. He is the type of point guard we have been waiting and clamoring for and I for one could not be happier about this deal.Toronto Raptors fans are going to be pleasantly surprised.Our Full Trade Analysis. This article can also be found at Raptors Digest.
.Bryan Colangelo proved he has still got ‘it’ by acquiring a massive $14 million dollar expiring deal and our potential point guard of the future.The Toronto Raptors acquired Jerryd Bayless and Peja Stojakovic for Jarrett Jack, Marcus Banks, a trade exception and David Andersen.It was too quiet in Raptor land to begin the season with not even a rumour being bandied about, which led one to reason that Bryan Colangelo must be working on something big. This deal is big indeed.Now while there are conflicting reports on whether or not Bryan Colangelo acquired Peja merely as a trade asset to utilize at this year's deadline, as a massive expiring deal they would let come off the books this summer, or as someone he wants Jay Triano to use in his rotation.We are hoping he plans to use him as a trade asset to help expedite our rebuilding process.But Peja is not what or who this deal was about.This deal was all about Jerryd Bayless and his outstanding potential.Jerryd Bayless has the potential to be our Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
point guard of the future and possesses excellent quickness and is an excellent scorer.He is a fearless slasher in the Monta Ellis mold and is someone who has a unique ability to draw contact time and time again when he gets in the paint. He is the type of point guard we have been waiting and clamoring for and I for one could not be happier about this deal.Toronto Raptors fans are going to be pleasantly surprised.Our Full Trade Analysis. This article can also be found at Raptors Digest.
2010年12月22日星期三
AI could thrive with LeBron and Stoudemire
And the Knicks would instantly be the most dangerous team in the league.But even if the Knicks don't land LeBron, AI could still sign for the veteran's minimum, score 25 a night, get the Knicks into the playoffs, and set up a potential reunion with Carmelo Anthony in New York after next season.Top 5 teams that AI could play sixth man for:5.)San Antonio Spurs: AI would be able to get his 30 mpg on the Spurs, with Ginobili being the starter. Coach Popovich would be able to control Iverson and for once, with Tim Duncan on the team, Iverson would have a Green Bay Packers jersey
player that has done more than him on the team.AI could be instant offense off the bench and could give the Spurs plenty of firepower.4.)Los Angeles Clippers: AI could play 30 mpg off the bench at either the point or two guard spot for the Clippers.Now that Blake Griffin is ready to play, the Clippers could do some big things in the Western Conference. Iverson would be instant offense, and if the Clippers play freelance he could give them 20 points any night.Eric Gordon would learn a lot from Iverson, and if the Clippers land LeBron AI would have a chance at a ring with this team.3.)Orlando Magic: Although AI could probably start for this team, if he came off the bench and was set free he could give the Magic a lot of points. He could also help close games out, giving the Magic the go-to-guy and scorer they thought they had in Vince Carter.It would be Iverson's best chance to win a ring, and he would be respected by this organization. If Vince Carter is shipped out, he could even start.2.)Dallas Mavericks: If there is one gHouston Texans jersey
uy that has the guts to sign Iverson, it is Mark Cuban.Iverson could be the sixth man on this team or even a starter. But if the Mavs move Jason Terry into the starting lineup and bring Iverson off the bench for 30 mpg, he could really help.The Mavs have so many options that all Iverson would have to concentrate on is scoring. AI could give the Mavs 18 points off the bench and be a player that can take over in the playoffs. With Iverson in the fold, maybe the days of choking in Dallas would be over.1.)Los Angeles Lakers: If AI wants a ring, LA should be his top choice.Again, he would have a guy on his team that has accomplished more (Kobe), a coach that can control him (Phil Jackson), and he would get 30 mpg off the bench behind Derek Fisher.Phil Jackson has shown he trusts his bench a lot, and that was when it featured guys like Josh Powell and Jordan Farmar. Imagine if Iverson was coming off the bench for the Lakers, giving them 18-20 points a night.Farmar and Brown are expected to leave, and if Fisher re-signs than AI could be the sixth man, or seventh alongside Lamar Odom. This would be his best chance to win a title and Phil Jackson would never treat a former MVP, and one of the greatest players in league history, the way some of his coaches have lately. Indianapolis Colts jersey
Iverson helped himself immensely by making this statement on Twitter. He opened up a lot of opportunities for himself, and a number of teams could give him a look.AI has done it all in the league and is one of the greatest players ever. So if a scrub like Chris Duhon can sign a four year deal for $15 million with the Magic, I am pretty sure Iverson will get on a team by the end of this free agency period.It will be an interesting couple of months as we wait to see where Iverson lands. Hopefully it has a better ending than the last time Iverson was looking for a new home.
player that has done more than him on the team.AI could be instant offense off the bench and could give the Spurs plenty of firepower.4.)Los Angeles Clippers: AI could play 30 mpg off the bench at either the point or two guard spot for the Clippers.Now that Blake Griffin is ready to play, the Clippers could do some big things in the Western Conference. Iverson would be instant offense, and if the Clippers play freelance he could give them 20 points any night.Eric Gordon would learn a lot from Iverson, and if the Clippers land LeBron AI would have a chance at a ring with this team.3.)Orlando Magic: Although AI could probably start for this team, if he came off the bench and was set free he could give the Magic a lot of points. He could also help close games out, giving the Magic the go-to-guy and scorer they thought they had in Vince Carter.It would be Iverson's best chance to win a ring, and he would be respected by this organization. If Vince Carter is shipped out, he could even start.2.)Dallas Mavericks: If there is one gHouston Texans jersey
uy that has the guts to sign Iverson, it is Mark Cuban.Iverson could be the sixth man on this team or even a starter. But if the Mavs move Jason Terry into the starting lineup and bring Iverson off the bench for 30 mpg, he could really help.The Mavs have so many options that all Iverson would have to concentrate on is scoring. AI could give the Mavs 18 points off the bench and be a player that can take over in the playoffs. With Iverson in the fold, maybe the days of choking in Dallas would be over.1.)Los Angeles Lakers: If AI wants a ring, LA should be his top choice.Again, he would have a guy on his team that has accomplished more (Kobe), a coach that can control him (Phil Jackson), and he would get 30 mpg off the bench behind Derek Fisher.Phil Jackson has shown he trusts his bench a lot, and that was when it featured guys like Josh Powell and Jordan Farmar. Imagine if Iverson was coming off the bench for the Lakers, giving them 18-20 points a night.Farmar and Brown are expected to leave, and if Fisher re-signs than AI could be the sixth man, or seventh alongside Lamar Odom. This would be his best chance to win a title and Phil Jackson would never treat a former MVP, and one of the greatest players in league history, the way some of his coaches have lately. Indianapolis Colts jersey
Iverson helped himself immensely by making this statement on Twitter. He opened up a lot of opportunities for himself, and a number of teams could give him a look.AI has done it all in the league and is one of the greatest players ever. So if a scrub like Chris Duhon can sign a four year deal for $15 million with the Magic, I am pretty sure Iverson will get on a team by the end of this free agency period.It will be an interesting couple of months as we wait to see where Iverson lands. Hopefully it has a better ending than the last time Iverson was looking for a new home.
2010年12月21日星期二
Cliff Lee: Is It Possible That He Doesn't Care About Money?
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesThe title is not a joke. According to reports, the Cliff Lee sweepstakes are over. Cliff Lee has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for a five-year, $100 million contract. Yes, that's an expensive contract, but I am willing to bet Lee is worth every penny. For a player of his caliber to get $20 million a year is fair value, not the overpriced value that the Yankees give players.What's so amazing is that the Texas Rangers offered him at least $20 million per year and for six years with a possibility of seven years. The Yankees are rumoured to offer seven years for New York Giants jersey
at least $20 million per year. This means Cliff Lee has foregone at least $40 million. And for what? A championship.I am one who is extremely vocal that the spending in the MLB has gotten out of control. Where one team gets to spend more on one player than an entire team sometimes. But Lee decided to not accept these mega deals. He decided to be a winner. I thought he was one of those people who only cared about getting paid. Not that there's anything wrong with that (athletes have a short career so I don't know why people criticize them for following the cash), but I truly admire and respect Lee for taking less money to win.People are gonna come out and call him an idiot. They are going to say he could have won with the Yankees and gotten more money. To those I simply say one thing: stop letting your loyalty to the Yankees cloud your judgement.Does this move make the Phillies favourites to win the World Series?Does this move make the Phillies favourites to win the World Series?Yes93.1%No6.9%Total votes: 58Seriously, there is no way the Yankees are as good as the Philadelphia Phillies. Yes, the Phillies won a couple years ago, so what did they do? They restocked their starting rotation while all the Yankees could do is watch in awe. Seriously, the bluff with Crawford? What the hell was New York Jets jersey
the point? You should have been wining and dining Lee. In the meantime, the Phillies may have become a dynasty.Now, people won't believe me. To them, I simply respond: have you seen their starting rotation? I'm terrified of it. First, you have Roy Halladay, the best pitcher in the NL and in my opinion the entire league. Then you have Cliff Lee, a true terror in the playoffs. And finally, you have Roy Oswalt, an ace in his own right. You have these three players—add in Hamels and you have the best rotation for the playoffs, possibly in the history of the sport.The Red Sox may have created the best offense in baseball by acquiring Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. But remember the Yankees have been down that road before. They spent 10 years stockpiling brilliant hitters, and while they always had the highest budget in baseball they could not win a championship.The Red Sox have committed to their offense with solid pitching, the Phillies on the other hand have pitching set, and their offense is no slouch either. Ask me who the World Series favorites are Oakland Raiders jersey
now, and I say this move puts the Phillies over the top.As for Lee, if I said it once, I'll say it again: He is truly a unique player in this day and age. He chose to win over the almighty dollar. People kill for money—it can corrupt even the best of people. If he had taken the most money, nobody would've blamed him. But by choosing the Phillies, he has helped create a dynasty. Thank you.
at least $20 million per year. This means Cliff Lee has foregone at least $40 million. And for what? A championship.I am one who is extremely vocal that the spending in the MLB has gotten out of control. Where one team gets to spend more on one player than an entire team sometimes. But Lee decided to not accept these mega deals. He decided to be a winner. I thought he was one of those people who only cared about getting paid. Not that there's anything wrong with that (athletes have a short career so I don't know why people criticize them for following the cash), but I truly admire and respect Lee for taking less money to win.People are gonna come out and call him an idiot. They are going to say he could have won with the Yankees and gotten more money. To those I simply say one thing: stop letting your loyalty to the Yankees cloud your judgement.Does this move make the Phillies favourites to win the World Series?Does this move make the Phillies favourites to win the World Series?Yes93.1%No6.9%Total votes: 58Seriously, there is no way the Yankees are as good as the Philadelphia Phillies. Yes, the Phillies won a couple years ago, so what did they do? They restocked their starting rotation while all the Yankees could do is watch in awe. Seriously, the bluff with Crawford? What the hell was New York Jets jersey
the point? You should have been wining and dining Lee. In the meantime, the Phillies may have become a dynasty.Now, people won't believe me. To them, I simply respond: have you seen their starting rotation? I'm terrified of it. First, you have Roy Halladay, the best pitcher in the NL and in my opinion the entire league. Then you have Cliff Lee, a true terror in the playoffs. And finally, you have Roy Oswalt, an ace in his own right. You have these three players—add in Hamels and you have the best rotation for the playoffs, possibly in the history of the sport.The Red Sox may have created the best offense in baseball by acquiring Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. But remember the Yankees have been down that road before. They spent 10 years stockpiling brilliant hitters, and while they always had the highest budget in baseball they could not win a championship.The Red Sox have committed to their offense with solid pitching, the Phillies on the other hand have pitching set, and their offense is no slouch either. Ask me who the World Series favorites are Oakland Raiders jersey
now, and I say this move puts the Phillies over the top.As for Lee, if I said it once, I'll say it again: He is truly a unique player in this day and age. He chose to win over the almighty dollar. People kill for money—it can corrupt even the best of people. If he had taken the most money, nobody would've blamed him. But by choosing the Phillies, he has helped create a dynasty. Thank you.
2010年12月19日星期日
20 Dec 10 Philadelphia Eagles: Could Philly Bring Back a Familiar Face at Safety?
With Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid revealing that rookie safety Nate Allen will "struggle" to play this Monday against the Washington Redskins, the team is likely to start considering a safety to bring in for a week or two.As it stands, the team has only two healthy safeties on Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
the roster in strong safety Quintin Mikell and rookie Kurt Coleman, who stepped in for Allen after he was injured against the Colts.Coleman played well and will get the start this week, but the team will need more than two healthy safeties.The original plan was for Dimitri Patterson to kick back to safety, but he'll be starting in place of the injured Ellis Hobbs. Rookie linebacker Keenan Clayton played safety for two years at Oklahoma, but he has seen minimal snaps this season and likely isn't ready to step in if such a situation should arise.The team also has safety/cornerback Jamar Wall on the practice squad but, like Clayton, it's doubtful the team would trust him to fill in.So, with the guys on the roster ruled out, the next step is the free-agent pool. While it's a fairly thin market, it is worth noting that there are two familiar faces still floating around in NFL purgatory—Quintin Demps and Macho Harris.Demps and Harris both got the axe for essentially the same reasons. They played soft, showed almost no signs of improvement and the team had more pressing needs to address.Had the numbers been closer, it's possible one or both would have stuck around simply for depth, but it would have required going thin on either line (which Reid would never do) or parting ways with one of the team's young linebackers.It didn't take a lot of evaluation to see parting ways with Demps and Harris was the way to go.But now that the team is in desperate need of depth, it would make sense that Demps or Harris would get the call. Both guys know the defense, both have seen a lot of time in Sean McDermott's scheme and as backups looking to get maybe 10-12 snaps it would make sense to bring in a guy who already knows what he's doing.IfReebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
they bring in anyone else, it would mean cramming them with the scheme and hoping they pick it up in time. With Demps or Harris, that's a step they can skip entirely.So, if the choice comes down to Demps or Harris, who do they take?For my money, it's probably Harris. Demps is a guy who plays far too recklessly, gets himself wildly out of position, and seems to think he's more of a playmaker than he really is.With Harris, the biggest gripe was that he just had no interest in tackling. I'm not sure if he thought he was too good to tackle or if he was scared or if he just couldn't do it, but bringing down a ball-carrier was certainly not his strong suit.If it's either of the first two reasons, perhaps sitting at home for half the season has humbled him enough to the point that he'll be excited for the opportunity to tackle someone.In addition to being able to play safety, Harris could step in at corner in a pinch. Because let's not forget, the team is also thin there as well.Patterson and Asante Samuel are the starters with Joselio Hanson in the nickel, but with Hobbs injured the only reserve corners are rookie Trevard Lindley and Jorrick Calvin. Lindley has seen some time but is still very much in the developmental stage, and Calvin is about 99 percent special teams player and one percent corner.I'm not even sure Calvin has seen any reps at corner in practice, much less in a game.Of course, if the Eagles bring in a corner until Hobbs is healthy, Harris' versatility just becomes an added bonus for the team to keep in their back Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
pocket for a week or so.There's no guarantee the team will bring anyone in while Allen gets himself healthy, but if they should choose to do so, Demps or (preferably) Harris, are the only choices that make sense.UPDATE: According NBC-KECI in Montana (yeah, Montana) the Eagles are prepared to sign safety Colt Anderson off the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. He will take the spot of the recently-waived Joique Bell on the Eagles 53-man roster.The team also worked out free-agent defensive back Cary Harris. Absent from the workouts were Demps or Macho.This article is also featured on2 Minutes to Midnight Green
the roster in strong safety Quintin Mikell and rookie Kurt Coleman, who stepped in for Allen after he was injured against the Colts.Coleman played well and will get the start this week, but the team will need more than two healthy safeties.The original plan was for Dimitri Patterson to kick back to safety, but he'll be starting in place of the injured Ellis Hobbs. Rookie linebacker Keenan Clayton played safety for two years at Oklahoma, but he has seen minimal snaps this season and likely isn't ready to step in if such a situation should arise.The team also has safety/cornerback Jamar Wall on the practice squad but, like Clayton, it's doubtful the team would trust him to fill in.So, with the guys on the roster ruled out, the next step is the free-agent pool. While it's a fairly thin market, it is worth noting that there are two familiar faces still floating around in NFL purgatory—Quintin Demps and Macho Harris.Demps and Harris both got the axe for essentially the same reasons. They played soft, showed almost no signs of improvement and the team had more pressing needs to address.Had the numbers been closer, it's possible one or both would have stuck around simply for depth, but it would have required going thin on either line (which Reid would never do) or parting ways with one of the team's young linebackers.It didn't take a lot of evaluation to see parting ways with Demps and Harris was the way to go.But now that the team is in desperate need of depth, it would make sense that Demps or Harris would get the call. Both guys know the defense, both have seen a lot of time in Sean McDermott's scheme and as backups looking to get maybe 10-12 snaps it would make sense to bring in a guy who already knows what he's doing.IfReebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
they bring in anyone else, it would mean cramming them with the scheme and hoping they pick it up in time. With Demps or Harris, that's a step they can skip entirely.So, if the choice comes down to Demps or Harris, who do they take?For my money, it's probably Harris. Demps is a guy who plays far too recklessly, gets himself wildly out of position, and seems to think he's more of a playmaker than he really is.With Harris, the biggest gripe was that he just had no interest in tackling. I'm not sure if he thought he was too good to tackle or if he was scared or if he just couldn't do it, but bringing down a ball-carrier was certainly not his strong suit.If it's either of the first two reasons, perhaps sitting at home for half the season has humbled him enough to the point that he'll be excited for the opportunity to tackle someone.In addition to being able to play safety, Harris could step in at corner in a pinch. Because let's not forget, the team is also thin there as well.Patterson and Asante Samuel are the starters with Joselio Hanson in the nickel, but with Hobbs injured the only reserve corners are rookie Trevard Lindley and Jorrick Calvin. Lindley has seen some time but is still very much in the developmental stage, and Calvin is about 99 percent special teams player and one percent corner.I'm not even sure Calvin has seen any reps at corner in practice, much less in a game.Of course, if the Eagles bring in a corner until Hobbs is healthy, Harris' versatility just becomes an added bonus for the team to keep in their back Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
pocket for a week or so.There's no guarantee the team will bring anyone in while Allen gets himself healthy, but if they should choose to do so, Demps or (preferably) Harris, are the only choices that make sense.UPDATE: According NBC-KECI in Montana (yeah, Montana) the Eagles are prepared to sign safety Colt Anderson off the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. He will take the spot of the recently-waived Joique Bell on the Eagles 53-man roster.The team also worked out free-agent defensive back Cary Harris. Absent from the workouts were Demps or Macho.This article is also featured on2 Minutes to Midnight Green
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