24 Jan 11 College Football Pick Tennessee at LSU 10-2-10

Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesTennessee Volunteers at LSU Tigers (-16)Saturday October 2, 2010 3:30 PM ESTLSU comes into this SEC game with a 4-0 record while Tennessee comes in at 2-2. LSU also comes in with the #12 ranking. LSU last week beat a ranked West Virginia team 20-14. Tennessee hasJacksonville Jaguars jersey
handled its non-ranked opponents, while losing to ranked Oregon and Florida at home. This is the first road game for the Volunteers.This is not the time nor the place for the Volunteers road opener. LSU brings into this game the 5th ranked defense, only allowing 12 points a game. QB Jordan Jefferson has struggled for LSU but this should be a favorable matchup at home vs a Tennessee defense that ranks 81st in the nation in points against with 27. Look for Jefferson to hand the ball off to Junior RB Stevan Ridley early and often. Ridley has 434 yard rushing this year with 3 TDs to lead the 35th ranked rushing attack.Look for the LSU crowd to be loud. Also look for the Tennessee offense to be very out of sync vs this 5th ranked defense of the Tigers. WIth football picks, you hardly ever want to take the road team. In Kansas City Chiefs jersey
this instance you donwant to take a team making its first road trip to a top 15 team with a top 5 defense. This all spells disaster for Tennessee. Look for Jordan Jefferson to do just enough to have these running backs run wild.Free College Football Pick: LSU (-16) This article is also featured onSports Picks

22 Jan 11 ACC Football: Monday Morning One-Liners

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesBoston College head coach Frank Spaziani knows that Virginia Tech1-2 record is no indication of their talent. Clemson played Auburn tough in an overtime loss, but head coach Dabo Swinney is finding all the positives he can. Duke surrendered helplessly to their overpowering opponent, Alabama, on Saturday. With dominating performances on both sides of the ball, Florida State crushed BYU 34-10 on Saturday. Georgia Techwin over North Carolina was nearly perfect in terms of gaining an edge in the ACC, and using it as a stepping stone for improvement. Maryland lost by two touchdowns to the Big Eastbest in West Virginia on Saturday. After being told to end his Twitter reign, Miami quarterback Jacory Harris has come forward saying he has received at least one piece of Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
hate-Twit, hate-Twittering, hate-mail, Twitter-hate. Despite being down twelve players for yet another game, North Carolina played Georgia Tech extremely tough on Saturday in a 30-24 loss. North Carolina State came away with a very impressive win over Cincinnati last Thursday night. If you checked the Virginia Tech-East Carolina box score on Saturday sometime around halftime, you probably laughed to yourself at one point. But, the Hokies outscored the Pirates 25-6 in the second half to beat ECU and record their first win of the year. Stanford nearly put up 70 points on Wake Forestdefense on Saturday. The Demon Deacons have now given up 116 points over their past two games.

18 Jan 11 Maryland-FIU: Terps Welcome Golden Panthers in Final Tune-Up Before ACC Play

Elsa/Getty ImagesAfter a disappointing 31-17 loss to West Virginia in Morgantown, WV, the Maryland Terrapins (2-0) are back in College Park, MD gearing up for the Florida International Golden Panthers (0-2).The Terrapins will be televised this Saturday at 12:00 pm ET on ESPNU for the second straight week.Florida International comes to College Park with a very deceiving 0-2 record. In their two losses this season against Rutgers and Texas AM, the Golden Panther were outscored by only 12 points.The Golden Panthers led Texas AM 20-6 before the Aggies went New York Jets jersey
on to score 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.The Golden Panthers suffered a similar defeat to Rutgers to open the season. Going into the fourth quarter, the Golden Panthers led the Scarlet Knights 14-13 before Mohamed Sanu scored what ended up being the game-winning touchdown two minutes into the fourth quarter.The Golden Panthers are led by transfer quarterback Wesley Carroll. In his freshman season at Mississippi State, Carroll threw for 1,392 yards and nine touchdowns, earning a spot on the ALL-SEC freshman team. Carroll transferred to FIU after losing the starting job to Tyson Lee in 2008.Carroll made his FIU debut against Rutgers on Sept. 11. Through two games, the Fort Lauderdale native has thrown for 283 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Carrollstruggles at Mississippi State can be attributed to his combined 50 percent completion percentage at both Mississippi State and FIU and 19 interceptions thrown in 21 games.The Terrapins enter Saturdaygame with the ninth best pass defense in the country, giving up 129 yards a game. It should be noted that the Navy Midshipmen quarterback Ricky Dobbs only attempted 10 passes while picking up over 400 yards on the ground.The Terrapins' ninth-ranked pass defense has also given up four touchdowns through the air.Marylanddefense shouldered most of the blame for last Saturdayloss to West Virginia. The Terrapins were only able to close in on the Mountaineers' overwhelming lead after a long awaited breakout game from receiver Torrey Smith.Smith entered last weekgame with four catches for 47 yards. Maryland entered the second half of the West Virginia game down 21-0, and Smith had only one reception for nine yards. After falling behind 28-0 early in the second half, Smith struck for Marylandfirst score of Oakland Raiders jersey
the game on a 60-yard touchdown reception from Jamarr Robinson.Robinson later led Smith across the middle of the field for an 80-yard catch and run touchdown. Smith finished the game with three catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns.Running backs Davin Meggett and DaRel Scott have combined for 291 yards to pace the Terps' rushing attack. Scott and Meggett were unable to get anything going on the ground against the Mountaineers. The duo carried the ball 13 times for 36 yards.Junior quarterback Jamarr Robinson, the third member of Marylandtrio, has rushed for 88 yards and has showed his ability to create plays downfield with his legs. Robinson rushed for 92 yards in the season-opening win over Navy. However, with Maryland giving up eight sacks this year, Robinsonrushing stats can be overlooked.The Terrapins showed their inability to stop the run last week against West Virginia in giving up 201 rushing yards to the Mountaineers.Marylandrush defense will be tested again this Saturday. FIU is led by sophomore running back Jeremiah Harden. At only 5'9" Harden poses a threat to Marylanddefense after Maryland has showed its struggles with short, agile running backs.Harden has rushed for 145 yards so far through two games. Maryland's rush defense has given up an average of over 200 yards this year.Marylandrush defense can be fixed. A lot of the Terps' struggles on the defensive side of the ball can be attributed to technique. However, the outcome of the FIU game will probably not yield any sign whether Maryland has made reliable progress.The Philadelphia Eagles jersey
Golden Panthers could hurt the Terps similar to how Middle Tennessee State has in recent years if the Terrapins overlook the Panthers' 0-2 record.Saturdaygame could end up becoming a defensive struggle for both teams. Neither team has yet to air it out this season; Saturday could turn into a game of field possession and blocking. As most field possession games go, the team that does not turn the ball over could most likely come away with the victory.

15 Jan 11 St. Louis Rams "Smash-mouth football is the only way Rams can beat Washington"

This is one of those no-brainers on which you can bet the house and feel safe in knowing that you;ll win. The 0-4 St. Louis Rams traveling to Washington to face the 4-1 Redskins this weekend is sure money, right?But before you put this game in the 'L' column for St. Louis, remember that NFL can be a crazy place. How can the Rams beat the Redskins? Let us count the ways.Commentary: Should the Rams lose to the Redskins? Definitely. Will the Rams lose to the Redskins? Probably. But there is a reason that they play the games, and Sunday in Washington will be no Buffalo Bills jersey
different. The first thing the St. Louis has to do to have a shot against the Redskins is to get Steven Jackson going early. Jackson, one of the best running backs in the NFL, has started slowly after his protracted holdout during the preseason. Jackson has improved each week, rushing for 40, 53, 66 and 110 yards in the Rams; four games. If Jackson can establish himself early, it will allow quarterback Marc Bulger to keep the Redskins off-balance with his passing.The Rams also have to contain Clinton Portis to have any chance of beating Washington. The Redskins are fifth in the league in rushing yards per game, thanks mainly to Portis; 514 yards and four touchdowns. Washington quarterback Jason Campbell isn;t the type of player who looks to pass first and run later. If the Rams can force Campbell to pass more often, they will have a chance at the upset. Campbell only has six touchdown passes in five games, but he also has yet to throw an interception. Campbell is smart and doesn;t force the ball or make bad decisions.Fan Pulse: Utilizing Jackson to pound the Redskins is the only way fans think the Rams have any reason for hope in Washington. While the odds are against them, there are still some loyal Rams fans who want to believe their team has a shot.Fantasy Football Impact: If you own Jackson in your fantasy Carolina Panthers jersey
football league, continue to play him. Despite the Rams; dismal offense thus far this season, Jackson is a sure bet to post decent fantasy numbers. Expect Torry Holt and Bulger to start to resemble their more normal fantasy numbers in the coming weeks, but you might want to wait to start them unless your regulars are on a bye week.Injury Watch: Tight end Randy McMichael is done for the season with his broken leg. The Rams are thin at the receiver position, with Drew Bennett, Dane Looker and Keenan Burton all out with injuries. Eddie Kennison re-signed to help out, but don;t look for anything special from him this week. (4)

14 Jan 11 Carolina Panthers Tight Ends Kris Mangum Steve Smith Jake Delhomme

Quick, name at least one of the Carolina Panthers' top three tight ends. Not so easy, is it? Well, that doesn't matter to the Panthers' coaching staff, who happen to believe their top trio of tight ends are more than good enough to get the job done. Truthfully, they're probably right. After all, the Panthers' offense isn'tCincinnati Bengals jersey
one that focuses on throwing many passes to its tight ends.Now that you've pondered and still can't name any of the Panthers' tight ends, I'll clue you in. Kris Mangum, Mike Seidman and Michael Gaines make up the team's triumvirate. Obviously, none are household names by any stretch of the imagination. Still, they manage to do what they're supposed to, which is block, contribute on special teams and not take foolish, costly penalties.The 32-year-old Mangum has been a member of the Panthers for his whole career, which dates back to 1997. Quietly, he's been making a difference as a member of the Panthers throughout his time in the league; Mangum's also the second best tight end in franchise history, behind Wesley Walls, who caught 325 passes between '97-2002 with Carolina.In his eight seasons with the organization, Mangum has pulled in a solid 130 receptions. That only averages to about 16 per season, but it's good enough for an offense that uses its tight ends primarily for blocking. It was different in Walls' days, but offensive coordinator Dan Henning likes to utilize the team's most skilled weapons, instead of having the tight ends catch many passes.Mangum may not be the most enticing or athletic tight end in the league today, but he has the intangibles that coaching staffs look for: Cleveland Browns jersey
character, leadership, coach-ability and consistency. Carolina's head coach, John Fox, possesses great traits as well, so he can relate to Mangum. In fact, on a team that has been one of the NFC's best since Fox's arrival four years ago, character might be its best asset. Mangum joins other key Panthers such as Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith, Julius Peppers, Mike Rucker, Dan Morgan and Mike Minter as players with great character. Honestly, the Panthers are among the few teams in the league that lack a disruptive locker room force, unless you count newly acquired receiver Keyshawn Johnson. However, the man formerly known as "Meshawn" has seemingly cleaned up his act.Throw in Seidman and Gaines, two extra blockers, and the Panthers' top trio is just fine. They also added former Virginia Tech difference-maker Jeff King in the fifth round of last month's draft, so the Panthers seem all set. For Henning and Fox, all that's needed is blocking, solid special teams play and the occasional catch from this pack of unknowns. The rest of the offense can be left up Dallas Cowboys jersey
to Delhomme, Smith, Keyshawn and the running back strength, which runs four deep. Frankly, that should be good enough to make for an elite, ball-control, big-play offense in '06 for the Panthers, and that spells bad things for the rest of the NFC South.--Get more on the Carolina Panthers' offense

13 Jan 11 Pivot Points: Kobe Bryant's Teammates Not Bearing Fair Share of Lakers' Burdens

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesFor the duration of this NBA season, Kobe Bryant has carried his Los Angeles Laker teammates to the top of the NBA standings on the weight of some Herculean efforts and timely clutch shooting.Through the pain of a broken finger, constant double teams, injuries to other players, and subparNew York Giants jersey
performances from his bench, Kobe has persevered, and at a time when he needs his teammates the most, they have been unable to answer the bell.Bryant has visibly suffered from his finger injury recently and was forced to sit out the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs due to back spasms, and his team responded by being outscored 18-5 to close the game.Kobe is criticized for taking too many shots, but who in his stead has been assertive enough to be considered a legitimate alternative to Bryant? Pau Gasol for sure, but the Lakers don't expect him to return until this weekend against the Los Angeles Clippers.In truth, it could be longer, because hamstring injuries are tedious and the time frame for recovery drifts more to the speculative side rather than the specific, and is based more on the general feel of the player.So who steps up to share the load with Bryant? Ron Artest suffered a finger sprain of his own and is now listed as day to day, and the other members of the team have proven ill equipped for the job.Center Andrew Bynum had a strong showing against a team with superior inside strength with 23 points and 12 rebounds against the Spurs, but his performances have lacked consistency and aggressiveness, and trade rumors have began to swirl.I'm not sure if the Lakers would move Bynum, but to even consider it is a shift in previous Laker strategy, which envisioned Bynum as a cornerstone of the team far into the future.The other obvious suspect would be Lamar Odom, but afterdisplaying an unusually aggressive manner in offseason contract negotiations, Odom has reverted to his talented, meek, and inconsistent self.Sure, he shows up all over the stat sheet, but never in the dominant way his skills suggest he could, and his demeanor has never included traces of the alpha-male trait which would be New York Jets jersey
very useful in the time of Kobe's pain.And pain it has been, as Bryant has endured through a shooting slump caused by a hard hit on the finger against the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Lakers are mired in a slump which has seen them dropthree of four games.Bryant shot nowhere near as bad against the Spurs as he did in a 95-77 win against the hapless Milwaukee Bucks, where he went 4-for-21 from the field, or in the game against Portland where he scored 32 points on 37 shots.But the effects of the injury have began to show, and the Lakers can't afford to shut Bryant down for any significant portion of the season if they are to maintain their now vulnerable lead in the Western Conference.Bryant will always account for the majority of the Lakers' success simply because of the wide range of skills he possesses and the hunger and passion in which he approaches the game.But the Lakers' ailing captain is in need of a little reciprocation of the loveand the ability for his teammates to step up and help will aid Los Angeles now and further down the road.Kobe has been an iron man throughout his career, and this recent slide is sure to subside eventually, but the Lakers need to establish another player who can carry the team in his absence.The health of Gasol is paramount as he has really been the onlyLaker who has seemed Oakland Raiders jersey
to consistently produce outside of Bryant's umbrella, as his peers may have fallen victim to an over-reliance on Bryant.The time has not come to hit the panic button, but a little Laker self-reflection may be in order as Los Angeles finds itself faced with its first real adversity of the season.In order for the Lakers to keep their heads above the waters of the Western Conference, someone will have to step up and play alongside Bryant rather than in his shadow. Who might that Laker be?

13 Jan 11 Pivot Points: Kobe Bryant's Teammates Not Bearing Fair Share of Lakers' Burdens

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesFor the duration of this NBA season, Kobe Bryant has carried his Los Angeles Laker teammates to the top of the NBA standings on the weight of some Herculean efforts and timely clutch shooting.Through the pain of a broken finger, constant double teams, injuries to other players, and subparNew York Giants jersey
performances from his bench, Kobe has persevered, and at a time when he needs his teammates the most, they have been unable to answer the bell.Bryant has visibly suffered from his finger injury recently and was forced to sit out the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs due to back spasms, and his team responded by being outscored 18-5 to close the game.Kobe is criticized for taking too many shots, but who in his stead has been assertive enough to be considered a legitimate alternative to Bryant? Pau Gasol for sure, but the Lakers don't expect him to return until this weekend against the Los Angeles Clippers.In truth, it could be longer, because hamstring injuries are tedious and the time frame for recovery drifts more to the speculative side rather than the specific, and is based more on the general feel of the player.So who steps up to share the load with Bryant? Ron Artest suffered a finger sprain of his own and is now listed as day to day, and the other members of the team have proven ill equipped for the job.Center Andrew Bynum had a strong showing against a team with superior inside strength with 23 points and 12 rebounds against the Spurs, but his performances have lacked consistency and aggressiveness, and trade rumors have began to swirl.I'm not sure if the Lakers would move Bynum, but to even consider it is a shift in previous Laker strategy, which envisioned Bynum as a cornerstone of the team far into the future.The other obvious suspect would be Lamar Odom, but afterdisplaying an unusually aggressive manner in offseason contract negotiations, Odom has reverted to his talented, meek, and inconsistent self.Sure, he shows up all over the stat sheet, but never in the dominant way his skills suggest he could, and his demeanor has never included traces of the alpha-male trait which would be New York Jets jersey
very useful in the time of Kobe's pain.And pain it has been, as Bryant has endured through a shooting slump caused by a hard hit on the finger against the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Lakers are mired in a slump which has seen them dropthree of four games.Bryant shot nowhere near as bad against the Spurs as he did in a 95-77 win against the hapless Milwaukee Bucks, where he went 4-for-21 from the field, or in the game against Portland where he scored 32 points on 37 shots.But the effects of the injury have began to show, and the Lakers can't afford to shut Bryant down for any significant portion of the season if they are to maintain their now vulnerable lead in the Western Conference.Bryant will always account for the majority of the Lakers' success simply because of the wide range of skills he possesses and the hunger and passion in which he approaches the game.But the Lakers' ailing captain is in need of a little reciprocation of the loveand the ability for his teammates to step up and help will aid Los Angeles now and further down the road.Kobe has been an iron man throughout his career, and this recent slide is sure to subside eventually, but the Lakers need to establish another player who can carry the team in his absence.The health of Gasol is paramount as he has really been the onlyLaker who has seemed Oakland Raiders jersey
to consistently produce outside of Bryant's umbrella, as his peers may have fallen victim to an over-reliance on Bryant.The time has not come to hit the panic button, but a little Laker self-reflection may be in order as Los Angeles finds itself faced with its first real adversity of the season.In order for the Lakers to keep their heads above the waters of the Western Conference, someone will have to step up and play alongside Bryant rather than in his shadow. Who might that Laker be?

12 Jan 11 Gilbert Arenas, Javaris Crittenton: Stern's Punishment Not Harsh Enough

Brendan Smialowski/Getty ImagesAmerica has seen a drastic increase in gun violence during the past 30 years. Professional athletes have been getting caught up in the whirlwind in recent years as well. It is a shame that this even has to be pointed out.Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton pulled guns on each other in Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
the Washington Wizards' locker room while feuding over a supposed bet gone wrong. Gun violence to resolve a bad bet? That sounds like more of a city alley or a casino back room than an NBA dressing room. The NBA already has rules in place preventing possession of guns in any workplace of the league, loaded or unloaded. Arenas and Crittenton have broken that ruleas well as several local and federal laws. All they received were season-ending suspensions.Let me put this in context: Two grown men who are both well-off financially and have relatively good job security pulled guns on each other because of an unresolved betting issue. I read stories about these kinds of events every day in the newspaper, and they have a very different result. Usually one or both persons are injured or killed, and usually, an innocent bystander is almost hit or injured.The response and sanctions from NBA Commissioner David Stern should have had no relation to the criminal investigations. Arenas and Crittenton should be banned from the NBA and all associated events, arenas and everywhere else. People have pointed out that Arenas has already lost $7 million in salary from his current suspension. That is only $7 million to a man who has already earned millions in salary and endorsement deals. I find it offensive that people even consider this a legitimate argument for approving of his suspension.With other players like Stephen Jackson firing seven rounds outside a nightclub and another player being arrested for illegal possession of firearmsincluding a Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
shotgun in a guitar caseallowing these clowns to continue in the NBA is a grave injustice.There are no other jobs in the world where pulling a firearm on a coworker in the workplace would be tolerated and punished by only a few months' suspension without pay. It does not matter how remorseful the pair appear to be in front of the commissioner or anyone else. The pair should have been banned for life instantly from any NBA- associated program or venue.With the amount of black-on-black violence in America and the number of guns used in those instances, I believe Stern skipped out on several great opportunities to make an impact on young African-American teens' minds. He could have shown that no matter how hard you work to achieve a professional career, if you think guns solve problems, then you have no place in a professional organization.Stern could have helped reverse the current trends sweeping professional sports and the role models of most of America's youth. Instead, he decided to sweep it under the rug and allow the impact of gun violence to Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
go unpunished. Stern showed that he cares too much for revenue and keeping the status quo than for using his position for good: showing there is no tolerance for gun violence in America, no matter how many jerseys you sell or what your points-per-game average is.

12 Jan 11 Top Five Most Underrated Players in the NBA

Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesSome players are just forgotten about and don't get enough credit. It may be because they are on a bad team. It may be because they don't market themselves as well as LeBron might. Yet, they come out and perform without praise from the major sports' media outlets. Underrated players are Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
defined by how good they are versus how much credit they receive.On the other hand there are players who receive far too much credit for their play. The players who get too much attention are players like Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard, Nate Robinson, Shaq , and J.R. Smith. Too much of the time attention is given to flamboyant, flashy players over fundamental, consistent players. That is why I am making a list of the most underrated players in the NBA. Someone has to give them credit. I will be judging this list by stats, their value to their team, and how much attention they get.1. Gerald WallaceGerald Wallace is only the third player ever to average two blocks and two steals. Yet, he has never made an All-Star game until this year. He is hardly ever mentioned simply because he plays for the Bobcats. If the playoffs were today, the Bobcats would be the eighth seed in the east with a overall record of 22-22, all thanks to Gerald Wallace. This year Wallace is averaging 18.6 points, 11 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.8 blocks.2. Chris BoshChris Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
Bosh scores very consistently but is never talked about as being the best power forward in the NBA. He has the best stats out of all power forwards in the league. Bosh averages 24 points and 11 boards. He has a great high post game, and at times he is basically unstoppable. He is probably underrated because his team has a bad overall record, likewise he plays in a small market city.3. David LeeDavid Lee works hard night in and night out. Yet, he doesn't receive any credit because he plays on the Knicks. Lee averages 19 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field. Those are All-Star stats and he deserves All-Star recognition. I know he is not an exciting player, never does fancy dunks, or chucks powder in the air making a mess like LeBron. But, you shouldn't have to do that to receive attention.4. Brook LopezBrook Lopez is a solid center who can give you a double double on a consistent basis. Yet no one cares about him at all because he is an awfully boring player and because he plays on the depressing Nets. Whereas Shaq plays 23 minutes Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
a game and hardly does anything while receiving triple the credit.5. Antawn JamisonAntawn Jamison can hurt you from anywhere on the court. I think Gilbert Arenas' incident took everyone's attention away from Jamison's abilities as a player. Jamison is averaging 21 points and eight rebounds. He is one of the best power forwards in NBA. I think he should be mentioned more often as such.

10 Jan 11 NBA Trades: Tyrus Thomas Has The Opportunity To Blossom For Bobcats

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe brief NBA career of Tyrus Thomas has been filled with valuable teaching moments which the youngster sometimes failed to grasp, and his lack of progression is one of the reasons the Chicago Bulls were willing to part with him.Throw in a questionable attitude, a perception that he was Carolina Panthers jersey
hard to coach, and a rash of injuries, and you have the perfect recipe to derail a promising future before it has a chance to start.Life is all about second chances and the NBA mirrors that concept, so Thomas has been given the opportunity to revive his career in Charlotte, playing for Larry Brown, a coach all-to-familiar with difficult personalities.Talent or skill has never been an issue for Thomas who was blessed with other-wordly athleticism and great leaping ability, but discipline, instinct, and the ability to accept instruction has.So Thomas getsa return to the classroom for a coach who is renown as a teacher, and is unafraid to impose his will on the practice court or during the game, in order to persuade his team to adhere to his scheme.Brown may be exactly what Thomas needs as his brief time in the league has been highlighted by displays of immaturity and very public clashes with his coach and teammates.Thomas could have benefitted frommore time at LSU because even though he has shown the potential to be a breath-taking player, he is lacking in the fundamentals department, and most of his game relies on sheer athleticism.Although his skills are limited, the third year player still managed to average nine points and 6.3 rebounds with the Bulls, while also accounting for almost two blocks per game, so imagine what he could do if he ever learned to play.In Charlotte Thomas will get that chance and he will be able to sit on the bench and observe the play of Boris Diaw, one of the more fundamentally sound power forwards in the NBA.Diaw isn't blessed with Thomas' athletic ability but he does have a keen understanding of the game and he is well-disciplined on the style that Brown prefers to see on the floor.So it would serve Thomas well to take advantage of the gift which hasbeen presented to him because a Cincinnati Bengals jersey
player only gets so many second chances, and if he can't learn the game from Brown, then he lacks the capacity to learn.Thomas has the chance to bey a key piece to a team seeking it's first postseason spot, and he becomes another athletic player to go along with Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace, and Raymond Felton.Success however lies entirely in the hands of Thomas, and demonstrating he has learned from some of his past trials will go miles in determining how bright his future really could be.

9 Jan 11 Lebron Stay Clear of LA We Want To Win Not Choke In The Playoffs.

SATIRE Last night I was aimlessly browsing the web when I came across a handful of notable websites spreading the rumour that "Lebron James would be joing the Lakers next year. After laughing myself to an uncontrollable frenzy for the next 5 mins, I sat back and did the unthinkable, I considered it.This is Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
what I came upwith, the move would be good for the Lakers, not great. My reasoning behind that is the Lakers have proven they can win a championship without Lebron. So in retrospect Lebrons would need LA, not vice versa.They most certain would be able to win a ring with him also, but you also take a chance of a major malfunction occuring with two alpha males going at each others neck for the lead role.The Lakers would go on to win atleast the next4 titles they have the chance to do that now, but with Lebron and Kobe it would be a much easier road to sucess if it worked.On the other hand this would be great for Lebron! With his star power, he would not only pile up the rings, but he will land more endorsements, hell maybe even spark up a acting career in Tinsel Town.With the media handing over every thing to Lebron except a ring and a day as the Commander in Chief, Lebron would probally get the credit for the Lakers winning the title. Even though he couldn't win one on his own coming out of the weaker Eastern Conference.Let face it the Lakers are Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
all about Championships and so far Lebron has not shownthat he can play on that championship level. He is doen alot of mind bobbling things he possesses many traits but a heart of a champion isn't one of them.This scenenariowouldunfortunately be bad for the NBA. Bad for Nike, and reallyreally bad for ESPN. Nike would have to scrap there overly competitive muppet rivalry. It would make it that much more difficult for ESPN to discredit Kobe's achivements and praise Lebron's performances.(Even though I'm certain they would still find a way).Last but not Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
least it would totally eliminate thecompetiton around the league. Imagine if Magic and Larry Bird was on the same squad, what would of became of the NBA during the 80's. What if Isiah Thomas would of gotten traded to the Bulls? What if Dwight Howard got traded to the Phoenix Suns? It would take away from the sportsmanship and integrity of the game. and the way I see it hasn't Tim Donaghy done enough of that already.

8 Jan 11 Antoine Wright Puts Up Zeros On the Road

Nick Laham/Getty ImagesOne of the nice surprises this season has been the emergence of Antoine Wright as a viable and effective rotation player.Considered a defensive role player, Wright was one of the Raptors important offensive contributors during their successful run in January and February.For two Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
months, the offensively challenged Wright averaged 7.1 points on a decent 45 percent shooting and hit on over 40 percent of his three-pointers. A poor man Bruce Bowen in the making?But Wright offensive resurgence flagged in March and during the recent four game road trip, Wright was a perfect 0-8 from the field and 0-5 from three. And the Raptors missed what had become a reliable three-point threat from the corner.One has to hope his recent shooting woes are the result of some minor nagging injury or just a temporary set-back and not a return to Wright historically offensive ineffectiveness. That "sprained" ankle in Portland had nothing to do with Wright's 0-8 shooting over the four road games.Wright started out the season shooting a career low 34 percent from the field. Unfortunately his 31 Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
percent shooting from three was actually an improvement from his last two seasons. The result was the disappearance of Wright into the Jay Triano doghouse in the second half of December.And during Wright previous four NBA seasons, he has been a five point, two rebound role player who averaged 41 percent from the field and 30 percent from three. Now in 55 games with the Raptors, those averages are reappearing.But it is easy to forget that Antoine Wright is just 26 year-old and the improvements seen during last year playoffs with Dallas Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
and in the last two months in Toronto could be sign of Wright continuing development as a player. There is a case for Antoine Wright.Wright has a strong incentive to find his February production of 9.1 points on better than 40 percent shooting and 37.5 percent from three. At the end of this season, Antoine Wright is a free agent.And in a year filled with free agents, Wright knows that he has to finish strong if he is get that next NBA contract.

30 Dec 10 Have The Suns Convinced Fans?

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesAfter all the doubt about the Suns appearing in the playoffs before the seasons started the Suns have finally proved that they can be lethal team if faith is given. The Suns had an amazing start to the season but started slow down until after the all-star break and trade deadline which seemed to have waken the team up from their misery and got them back on track. As a matter of fact they are currently 19-4 since the All-Star weekend break and are on a 10 game winning streak.This is all thanks to Amar'e Stoudemire's New York Giants jersey
recent MVP-caliber performance. He has been scoring consistently and improved in his rebounding skills, or at least it seemed like it has. But Amar'e isn't the only player who has stepped up. Jason Richardson has started to follow Stoudemire's lead and scored consistently as well.With Barbosa's return, Lopez was ruled out. This placed an uncertainty for Alvin Gentry as to whether or not Frye should start in place of Lopez but a decision was made to start Collins, who rarely gets any playing time. This has yet seemed to be a bad idea given the fact that since New York Jets jersey
he has received the starting position the Suns haven't lost a game yet.Alvin Gentry's decision making has been great and really has helped the Suns grab wins for their run to grab a higher seed in the Western Conference. Gentry has also won the Coach of the Month award for March. He seems to be not only the players' favorites but also the fans' favorite.After tonights win against the Suns, they have won 50 out of 76 games which is the exact same record as the Dallas Mavericks giving both teams the 2nd seed. Coincidently the Suns and Mavs will face offOakland Raiders jersey
against each other in the NBA's third outdoor game later on in the year for a pre-season game. The Suns have been the best team in the last 10 games with a 10-0 record.The Suns need to keep up their current pace and bring their A game into the playoffs in order for them to advance deep into the playoffs. This could be a year Suns' fans may never forget.

29 Dec 10 NBA Playoffs: Preview Prediction: Boston Celtics Vs Miami Heat

Boston Celtics vs.Miami HeatSeason Series: Boston 3-0This is just a preview for one of the eight games, for all eight match-ups, click below* NBA Playoffs - Previews and Predictions - Round One Match-ups * TheBoston Celtics aren't quite the team they were two years ago when they won the NBA Championship. Well, in a sense they are because they still have Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rando and Kendrick Perkins, and they even picked up Rasheed Wallace to boost their defense (he's also added almost 10 points per Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
game). Where lies the problem? Here it is; the Celtics are getting old. An 82-game season, plus the playoffs is grueling on the body and considering the big three for Boston (Pierce, Garnett and Allen) average age is 34 years old, its going to be awfully hard to keep place with young teams like Cleveland, Orlando or Atlanta as the playoffs continue. Don't get me wrong, they all still have a lot of talent and they'll walk past Miami but 2008 was their year, 2010 is the year for someone else (don't be surprised if its the Western Conference as they've won 7 of the last 11 championships and the most interesting part is the Spurs and Lakers have won all seven).Back on April 7, Garnett tweeked his knee in a game against the Raptors and even though he won't let it keep him out of the playoffs, the only person who knows if he is at 100 percent is himself, but if a pretty safe bet to say he won't be, at least he won't be there 100 percent mentality if not physically. There is no question the Celtics starting five is full of talent, and even Wallace (who has kinda stunk) and recently acquired Nate Robinson should help the Celtics chances of making a deep run in the playoffs butBoston combined to go 3-9 against the three teams ahead of them (Atlanta, Orlando and Cleveland) and with that record, it'll be tough to get past the second round after presumably coasting through the first. Boston has been there before (deep in the playoffs) and that experience is going to be impossible to stop for Miami but once Boston sees the likes of Cleveland, Orlando or Atlanta, expect not only great basketball but for Boston's age to catch up to them.Unfortunately forMiami Heat fans, you will see a trend as the my Eastern Conference preview rolls on but honestly, it is nothing to beReebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
surprised about. The top four teams in the East (Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta and Boston) are all head and shoulders above the remaining four teams (Milwaukee, Miami, Charlotte and Chicago). With that being said, don't tell Dwayne Wade because the guy is ridiculously skilled with a basketball and already has a Championship under his belt (yeah, mainly to the help of Shaq). There is no question that this is Wade's team now (it always was but he needed a big-man like Shaq to win it) but Miami has done what they can to help Wade by picking up Michael Beasley in the draft two years ago and also got Jermaine O'Neil via trade from the Raptors. Udonis Haslem and Quintin Richardson also dish in but what Miami is missing is what was the most pivotal part of their 2005-06 championship run: the big man.Dwayne Wade can't do it all himself; he is not LeBron, Kobe, Durant or Carmelo (who allbut Durant) have a better cast of teammates surrounding them. Although Wade does average 25+ points, just under five rebounds and over 6.5 assists I can't see him doing enough to get past a team that in every way is better than his. Again, the big man is the reason the Heat will duck out early and by early I mean five games... they'll be lucky to even win one in this series Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
folks. Jermaine O'Neil may not be at 100 percent but he has come back from injury and will definitely be a boost the Heat who will need him real bad but the fact he won't be playing at full strength is going to hurt Miami, and hurt them bad. It honestly wouldn't matter what Nos. 1-4 seeds played Nos. 5-8 because the four best teams in the East are moving on.TheCoach's Pick:BOSTON in FIVE

28 Dec 10 Suns-Spurs: A Game Of Runs

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesAfter the Phoenix Sun's Monday night 111-102 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinal series, it has become more and more clear that this is a series that will ultimately be decided by the team that makes the last run.Phoenix led by14 Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
on two occasions, mid way through the second quarter and again early in the fourth quarter. However, both times,San Antoniowent on quick runs to narrow the gap, taking the lead with a Ginobili three pointer in the third quarter and cutting the Phoenix lead to1 with about four minutes to play.Thats not to say the Suns didn't respond to their fair share of adversity. After going down 67-64 mid way through the third quarter, the Suns turned defensive stops into quick scores and went on a 21-8 run to end the quarter and head into the final period up 10.Again in the fourth quarter after a letting a 94-80 lead get away with a 13-0 run by the Spurs, Phoenix went on a9-2 run to take an 8 point lead, 103-95, capped off by a Richardson three pointer with 90 seconds to play.The result of all this, a game that saw the Suns Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
go up by 10 at halftime, then the Spurs up by 3 in the third quarter, the Suns up 10 by the end of the quarter, eventually up 14 in the fourth, then up only 1 with four minutes left, then up 9 with all zeroes on the clock. And thats just one game.It is only Game 1, but it would seem that the team that is able to weather the storm most effectively in this series will be moving on to the next round.

27 Dec 10 How Amare Played His Way out of Phoenix Wednesday

Harry How/Getty ImagesAs one Phoenix journalist posted on Twitter during Game Two of the Western Conference Finals, "I think Amare opted out of his contract at halftime."The one thing that all Suns fans knew they were getting with Amare Stoudemire was all offense and no defense. After his pathetic performance on guarding Pau Gasol, I think it is safe to say that Suns fans have had enough of his lackadaisical performance on the end that doesn't improve his stats.Nothing against Gasolhe is a great playerbut he is not Shaq or Hakeem Olajuwon. Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
A player of Stoudemire's caliber should at least be able to stop him every once in awhile. He can't even do that.Play after play the offense ran through Gasol because of one reason, Stoudemire's inability to defend. He is constantly out of position and is afraid to make plays on the defensive end for fear of getting in foul trouble.By all accounts unless the Suns are willing to give him a new max deal for five years (Suns will only extend him by three years) he is as good as gone.The sad thing is despite all of his abilities on the court, I am all for him leaving.It took a midseason benching and not being traded to motivate him into becoming the dominating force that he was in the second half of the season.Despite playing seven seasons in the NBA, he still gets by on athleticism and hasn't bothered to learn how to play defense. The only part of the game that he has improved is his mid-range jumper.When Amare opts out of his contract this summer, he will likely land somewhere outside of the Valley of the Sun.This would give the Suns Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
around $44 million committed to eight players next season (let's say it safe to think that Grant Hill will pick up his option). Assuming they commit between $6-$7 million to re-signing Lou Amundson and Channing Frye (whose price tag has gone down since this series started) the Suns will have about $14 million in cap space to play around with.They could sign two solid role players to add to the chemistry that this team has been able to develop so well. Or they could make a splash in the free agent market.I'm not talking a LeBron type play but going for someone like Chris Bosh could be just the move the Suns are looking for. A power forward who would actually want to be in town and reap the benefits from everything that is Steve Nash.Stoudemire has no post moves and is not willing to box out or is often out of place on rebounds. Bosh's numbers have improved every year since he has been in the league while Amare's has been up and down, plus there are the numerous injuries that he has racked up over the years (knee, eye).Now is Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
this likely to happen? No, I'm also a Suns fan (which means I'm pessimistic) and the only time we got a superstar was when Charles Barkley came to town.The first two games of this series has only proved that the Suns need someone with a better all around game, in order to win a title. While Stoudemire can provide a name, he can't provide any D and that will not get the Suns a title while he is their power for

26 Dec 10 Steve Nash: The Busted Face of Basketball

Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesIve always been a Steve Nash hater. Let just get that out there. Ive always thought that he a wormy, saccharine Canadian;a player whose abilities on the court are blown out of proportion by hisstatistics on paper. He the highschool quarterback that scores the hot cheerleader, heads the San Francisco 49ers jersey
class council,gets straight A, and petitions for more soda machines on campus. He is the kid who does more community service than theamount required for graduation. I mean,who does that!? We get it, Steve.Youre nice. Youre a do-gooder,and youve won over the masses with your G-rated Disney pizazz. Just stop the act already.If you were to ask me, he didn deserve those MVPs. He got them because he was small, white, anddid everything right. He answeredquestions politely, and smiled for the camera. He visited hospitals and paintedhouses. But his play didn justify theaccolades, the fanfare, or the adoration.He has won nothing, accomplished nothing, proven nothing. I would have said he played us all for fools. And you know what? I would have been dead wrong. Because eventhough he playing against the LakersmyLakersI keep finding myself rootingfor Steven John Nash.***It kills me to say this, but Nash has revolutionized thegame of basketball. His effect cannot beseen in a single game (though I guarantee you, like last night Game 5thriller, he will make any game entertaining), nor can his effect on thebasketball culture be quantifiably measured.This is true within , , ,and all throughout the NBA-watching globe.Just ask around. This wormy, saccharine Canadian has Seattle Seahawks jersey
become anambassador. Our ambassador. And, thoughit has taken me a while to come around on this fact, it is a privilege to havethis class council president as our diplomat to the basketball-watchinglegions. His methods are highlysuccessful, tremendously watchable, and brilliant to behold. May the Coke machines abound.First, let me break down what Nash brings to the court. In this, his 13th season, when hisbody should be/has been breaking down for at least five years, he is enjoyingone of his finest seasons of all-time.(No small feat for a prior back-to-back MVP winner.) He averaged 16 points and 11 assists a gamethis year, 17.5 and 10 in the playoffs. Heled his team to the Western Conference Finals when no one had them out of thefirst round. He re-activated AmareStoudamire (not to mention the whole city of Phoenix), and in the biggest gameof the year he hit big shot after big shot even as his coach was puking on thesidelines. True story.And I realize it is a pity that we have never seen what hecan do in the Finals.True, he can beat players with his speed, providelock-down defense, elevate, or play for over 35 minutes a game. But he never really could in the first place,could he? When he is on the court, hehides his every shortcoming in a way that it only rarely becomes apparent. I mean, let be honest.Every single player in the NBA yes, even Earl Boikins could post upSteve Nash if they were alone in a gym together. But it doesn happen. Why?Because Steve sees the play coming, switches off, and never gives themthe opportunity. Steve maximizes his strengths at the offensive end to makeup for his defense. If he needs to getby his defender, he goes into a succession of stutter-steps and hesitations,dipping his shoulder only when heSt. Louis Rams jersey
has the man completely off-balance. If the defense switches, he lures the big menout to the 15-18 foot range, and either lofts a high shot over him (that hemakes with great regularity) or burns by him for an unorthodox - yet thoroughlypracticed - layup. For the opponent, it maddening. It like trying to share a sleeping bag withyour sister - it should be easy, but you just can get in the right position.On drives, Nash gets behind the hoop - much like a hockeyplayer and looks for cutters at angles the defense isn accustomed to. If the defenders stay at home on theirplayers, it makes for an easy and uncontested layup. But if they switch off, they have to turntheir back on Stoudamire or Grant Hill.And that never a smart idea. It brilliant basketball play, really. Like in fencing, he realizes that he is inpower when he has the ball in attack mode.He makes the choices, dictating every move that the defense makes, andcountering appropriately.Im beginning to realize Ive never seen a player like him.Steve Nash is proof that you don have to be able touch Tennessee Titans jersey
thetop of the backboard in order to play in this league. He embodies the natural evolution ofbasketball; the game where a keen eye and smart thinking can make up for a lackof athletic talent. Now, Ill root for the Lakers until Im purple and gold inthe face. But for basketball fans, SteveNash is our savior. He is the hope ofthe slow, ground-ridden masses. And that quite an accomplishment, isn it?This article is also featured onThe Second Coming NBA Blog
Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesIve always been a Steve Nash hater. Let just get that out there. Ive always thought that he a wormy, saccharine Canadian;a player whose abilities on the court are blown out of proportion by hisstatistics on paper. He the highschool quarterback that scores the hot cheerleader, heads the San Francisco 49ers jersey
class council,gets straight A, and petitions for more soda machines on campus. He is the kid who does more community service than theamount required for graduation. I mean,who does that!? We get it, Steve.Youre nice. Youre a do-gooder,and youve won over the masses with your G-rated Disney pizazz. Just stop the act already.If you were to ask me, he didn deserve those MVPs. He got them because he was small, white, anddid everything right. He answeredquestions politely, and smiled for the camera. He visited hospitals and paintedhouses. But his play didn justify theaccolades, the fanfare, or the adoration.He has won nothing, accomplished nothing, proven nothing. I would have said he played us all for fools. And you know what? I would have been dead wrong. Because eventhough he playing against the LakersmyLakersI keep finding myself rootingfor Steven John Nash.***It kills me to say this, but Nash has revolutionized thegame of basketball. His effect cannot beseen in a single game (though I guarantee you, like last night Game 5thriller, he will make any game entertaining), nor can his effect on thebasketball culture be quantifiably measured.This is true within , , ,and all throughout the NBA-watching globe.Just ask around. This wormy, saccharine Canadian has Seattle Seahawks jersey
become anambassador. Our ambassador. And, thoughit has taken me a while to come around on this fact, it is a privilege to havethis class council president as our diplomat to the basketball-watchinglegions. His methods are highlysuccessful, tremendously watchable, and brilliant to behold. May the Coke machines abound.First, let me break down what Nash brings to the court. In this, his 13th season, when hisbody should be/has been breaking down for at least five years, he is enjoyingone of his finest seasons of all-time.(No small feat for a prior back-to-back MVP winner.) He averaged 16 points and 11 assists a gamethis year, 17.5 and 10 in the playoffs. Heled his team to the Western Conference Finals when no one had them out of thefirst round. He re-activated AmareStoudamire (not to mention the whole city of Phoenix), and in the biggest gameof the year he hit big shot after big shot even as his coach was puking on thesidelines. True story.And I realize it is a pity that we have never seen what hecan do in the Finals.True, he can beat players with his speed, providelock-down defense, elevate, or play for over 35 minutes a game. But he never really could in the first place,could he? When he is on the court, hehides his every shortcoming in a way that it only rarely becomes apparent. I mean, let be honest.Every single player in the NBA yes, even Earl Boikins could post upSteve Nash if they were alone in a gym together. But it doesn happen. Why?Because Steve sees the play coming, switches off, and never gives themthe opportunity. Steve maximizes his strengths at the offensive end to makeup for his defense. If he needs to getby his defender, he goes into a succession of stutter-steps and hesitations,dipping his shoulder only when heSt. Louis Rams jersey
has the man completely off-balance. If the defense switches, he lures the big menout to the 15-18 foot range, and either lofts a high shot over him (that hemakes with great regularity) or burns by him for an unorthodox - yet thoroughlypracticed - layup. For the opponent, it maddening. It like trying to share a sleeping bag withyour sister - it should be easy, but you just can get in the right position.On drives, Nash gets behind the hoop - much like a hockeyplayer and looks for cutters at angles the defense isn accustomed to. If the defenders stay at home on theirplayers, it makes for an easy and uncontested layup. But if they switch off, they have to turntheir back on Stoudamire or Grant Hill.And that never a smart idea. It brilliant basketball play, really. Like in fencing, he realizes that he is inpower when he has the ball in attack mode.He makes the choices, dictating every move that the defense makes, andcountering appropriately.Im beginning to realize Ive never seen a player like him.Steve Nash is proof that you don have to be able touch Tennessee Titans jersey
thetop of the backboard in order to play in this league. He embodies the natural evolution ofbasketball; the game where a keen eye and smart thinking can make up for a lackof athletic talent. Now, Ill root for the Lakers until Im purple and gold inthe face. But for basketball fans, SteveNash is our savior. He is the hope ofthe slow, ground-ridden masses. And that quite an accomplishment, isn it?This article is also featured onThe Second Coming NBA Blog

25 Dec 10 Nets vs. Hawks: Josh Smith, Hawks Soar As Nets Lose Again

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesComing off an ugly loss in Boston, the New Jersey Nets dropped their eighth straight road game as they lost to the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday night, 116-101, at Philips Arena. The Nets fell to 6-16 on the season.Atlanta Josh Smith was unconscious on the night, scoring a season-high 34 points and hitting clutch baskets all night long.The Nets defeated the Hawks in their last meeting in overtime two weeks ago, but Smith and company earned their revenge.New Jersey came out strong early scoring the first five points and enjoying a Indianapolis Colts jersey
10-4 run. Brook Lopez scored seven points in the first six minutes, but Atlanta stayed close.Jamal Crawford took over late in the first quarter, scoring eight points in five minutes. The Hawks closed the quarter on an 8-0 run and led 27-26.With a combination of strong defense and Atlanta turnovers, the Nets went on their own 10-0 run early in the second quarter to retake the lead. Jordan Farmar continued his strong outside shooting by burying a few three-pointers. He scored eight points in nine minutes.Crawford was at it again in the second quarter, hitting big shot after big shot. The Hawks opened up a 13-point lead after a 20-3 run. Atlanta led 60-47 at the half.Josh Smith led all scorers with 19 first half points while Al Horford chimed in with 12. Crawford finished with 18 points in just over 17 minutes. Lopez Jacksonville Jaguars jersey
led the Nets with 15 points, and Devin Harris added eight assists.Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesThe third quarter opened with more sloppy play from New Jersey. The Hawks led by as many as 16, but the Nets gained some steam late cutting the lead to eight. But Atlanta surged in the final minute to lead 83-71.The teams traded baskets early in the fourth quarter which allowed Atlanta to maintain their 10 point lead for a while.The Nets began chipping away midway through the fourth as they got some much needed defensive stops. They cut the lead to as little as five with Kansas City Chiefs jersey
three minutes left, but big shots by Horford and Crawford kept Atlanta comfortably ahead. They scored 40 points combined in the win.Harris finished with a double-double, 16 points and 13 assists.The schedule only gets tougher for the struggling Nets as they travel to Dallas to take on former Net Jason Kidd Thursday night.

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Happier times in Cleveland and TorontoIn free agency, for every winner there is a loser. While the center of the NBA-world has relocated to Miami, LeBron James and Chris Bosh’s former teams are left to deal with the devastation their departure wrought in obscurity, far from the prying eyes of national TV. The natural reaction, as Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert showed in his infamous “Comic Sans” letter, is one-upmanship. Gilbert vowed revenge, disparaging LeBron’s character on the way out and generally acting like a scorned lover. Accepting mediocrity will be no easier for Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo, whose job is undoubtedly on the line this season. After four seasons at the helm of the Raptors, they are in far worse shape than when he New Orleans Saints jersey
arrived. But after a break-up, it’s better to think with your head and not your heart. It’s in both teams to rebuild completely, following the model of the Oklahoma City Thunder and not the Indiana Pacers. In 2005, the then Seattle Supersonics pushed the eventual champion Spurs to six games. But after two ineffectual 30-win seasons and All-Star Rashard Lewis approaching free agency, they took out the dynamite. They signed and traded Lewis to Orlando for a massive trade exception, which they parlayed into draft picks by letting teams like Phoenix dump salary to cut payroll and avoid the luxury tax. They moved franchise player and probably future HOF Ray Allen for a high first-round pick. As a result, they picked up franchise cornerstones Kevin Durant and Jeff Green in that year's draft. The next year, the young team inevitably struggled, allowing them another high pick – guard Russell Westbrook. There’s no question that it’s a genuinely painful process; the team averaged 60.5 losses those first two seasons. But that’s the formula for long-term success in the NBA – find an All-Star to build your team around and draft high enough for a few years to get suitable pieces to complement his game. The New York Giants jersey
only thing worse than a drastic rebuilding process is running on the mediocrity treadmill, being not good enough to contend and not bad enough to draft top young players. That’s what happened to the Indiana Pacers in the aftermath of the 2004 Palace Brawl. The year before the team had won 61 games, and they were seen as a legitimate championship contender before Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson charged into the stands that night. Instead of rebuilding, they hung onto a window that had already closed. Rather than flipping disgruntled franchise cornerstones Artest and Jermaine O’Neal for young players and cap space, they picked up a collection of retread veterans centered around Peja Stojakovic and TJ Ford. Even finding a legitimate All-Star at No. 17 in the draft – SF Danny Granger – couldn’t change their fate. There were too many solid veterans around Granger for the team to sink to the bottom of the lottery, but not another All-Star type player to push them into the playoffs. The fruits of a genuine rebuilding processOver the last four seasons, they have averaged 35 wins while never picking lower than No. 11. The team still doesn’t have enough cap room to sign an impact free agent, and a trade demand from Granger seems inevitable. It’s easy to see the Cavs following in the Pacers footsteps. Gilbert seems too competitive, and too used to filling the Q, to allow a bottoming out process to occur. Cleveland will have to rely heavily on active big man Anderson Varejao to anchor the defense and trigger the fast break, because they will struggle to score in the half-court. They have a roster full of finishers – be it shooters on the outside (Mo Williams, Daniel Gibson, Anthony Parker) or big men who can convert in the paint (Antawn Jamison and JJ Hickson) – but no one who can set them up effectively. But there still is enough talent on hand to win 30-40 games and compete for the final playoff spots in the East. The question is will that be enough to satisfy a fan-base used to competing for a championship. Ironically, Toronto’s mismanagement puts them in a better situation than Cleveland. Replacing Chris Bosh, New York Jets jersey
an athletic power forward and an excellent rebounder, with the erratic Amir Johnson won’t improve the league’s worst ranked defense. Offensively they are a team of 3-point marksmen (Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon and Linas Kleiza) without anyone who can draw a double team and give those shooters open looks. Danny Granger has had little support in his time with IndianaThey have no choice but to play the young players they drafted in the lottery in the last two years – DeMar DeRozan and Ed Davis – and see what they can contribute. And because they will have no choice to rebuild, Toronto’s future is brighter than Cleveland’s, despite a dramatically-less talented roster. For more in-depth exploration of this topic, check out the FanTake Blog:Get Buckets Follow on Twitter at:GetBucketsFT Follow on Facebook:Get Buckets

23 Dec 10Charles Barkley's Latest Babble: Kobe Bryant Is Fifth Best Player in NBA History

One of the things I was looking forward to at the start of the season was watching the Thursday night antics of Inside the NBA on TNT with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and the one and only, Charles Barkley. You just never know what will come out of Chuck’s mouth next, and last night was Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
no exception.After the Blazers eked out a win against the Nuggets in the nightcap game, Barkley referred to an earlier time where he said Kobe Bryant was one of the top 10 players in the history of the NBA. He took that a step further last night when he said he is now in the top five best players. Let’s take a look at his list:5. Kobe Bryant4. Wilt Chamberlain3. Bill Russell2. Oscar Robertson1. Michael JordanKenny Smith was surprised he picked Bryant over both Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, but he just about flipped his lid when Barkley said Kobe is better than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He tried to persuade Chuck from saying Bryant was in the top six and Barkley didn’t budge at first. After the commercial break, however, he aptly changed his mind and said Bryant is in the top six.Doug Pensinger/Getty ImagesIt seems to me that putting Kobe Bryant in the top five list of the best NBA players to ever play when he isn’t even done playing is premature. Barkley was a bit out of Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
line in his declaration. He should have stuck with his first decision of putting him in the top 10.To put him the top five while he is still playing does a great disservice to players who have come before him. I know Bryant has won five rings already, but let’s wait to properly evaluate him when his career is over. Heck, if he wins a couple more rings he could certainly move up that list, but for now, let’s not get too ridiculous. That’s why I love watching Inside the NBA. The things Barkley says are absolutely stunning.Here’s my Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
top 10:10. Elgin Baylor9. Moses Malone8. Kobe Bryant7. Larry Bird6. Magic Johnson5. Wilt Chamberlain4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar3. Bill Russell2. Oscar Robertson1. Michael JordanWhat do you guys think of the list? Do you think Kobe is one of the top 5-10 players in the history of the game?Also check out some of my other blogs on the Sports Fan Blog Network.