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Friday, August 19, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Hill the Right Fit
If you get past the fact that George Hill grew up in Indianapolis, starred at both Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI, you may notice that he's a pretty good basketball player. The three-year veteran was considered to be the heir apparent to Tony Parker as the franchise point guard for the Spurs, and carved out an important role with a San Antonio team that annually contends for NBA Championships.
I don't view the Hill-to-Pacers trade based on who George Hill is, or where he's from. It's solely based on the player he is: a pretty good one. It's nice to see an Indy kid play for the hometown Pacers, but even if Hill was from Topeka and starred at UMKC, I'd still think this was a good trade for the Blue and Gold.
This year's mediocr
e Draft was crapshoot. Generally, teams who pick in the middle of the First Round are unable to land a top-end prospect. The Pacers turned that 15th overall pick (and the 42nd selection plus Erazen Lorbek) into a guy that's going to come in immediately and push Darren Collison at the point, and potentially end up as the starting two-guard. The worst-case scenario for George Hill is that the Pacers will have a terrific sixth man. The worst-case scenario for Kawhi Leonard, Marshon Brooks, Chris Singleton or any of the other players the Pacers could've had at #15? Probably worse. That's not to say those players don't have the potential to become good or even great NBA players - they do - but you can only collect so many young players with potential.
The Pacers have plenty of potential, what they needed was a young player that has already proven that he belongs. Hill should bring a winning mentality from one of the great organizations in the NBA, and some much-needed leadership in what has at times been a fractured Pacers locker room.
I don't view the Hill-to-Pacers trade based on who George Hill is, or where he's from. It's solely based on the player he is: a pretty good one. It's nice to see an Indy kid play for the hometown Pacers, but even if Hill was from Topeka and starred at UMKC, I'd still think this was a good trade for the Blue and Gold.
This year's mediocr
e Draft was crapshoot. Generally, teams who pick in the middle of the First Round are unable to land a top-end prospect. The Pacers turned that 15th overall pick (and the 42nd selection plus Erazen Lorbek) into a guy that's going to come in immediately and push Darren Collison at the point, and potentially end up as the starting two-guard. The worst-case scenario for George Hill is that the Pacers will have a terrific sixth man. The worst-case scenario for Kawhi Leonard, Marshon Brooks, Chris Singleton or any of the other players the Pacers could've had at #15? Probably worse. That's not to say those players don't have the potential to become good or even great NBA players - they do - but you can only collect so many young players with potential.The Pacers have plenty of potential, what they needed was a young player that has already proven that he belongs. Hill should bring a winning mentality from one of the great organizations in the NBA, and some much-needed leadership in what has at times been a fractured Pacers locker room.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Grim Reality
After the Bruins' 4-0 Game 7 win over Vancouver to clinch the Stanley Cup the other night, I've been wrestling with the realization that Boston is the new Best Sports City in America. In fact, it's barely an argument even worth having. All four of Boston's major pro sports teams have won championships since 2004. They have seven total titles in the span of the last decade. Compare that success to the other cities nationwide that have 3-4 pro sports teams.
New York
- Yankees have won 27 World Series championships, with five coming in the last fifteen years
- Giants are near the top of the list with three all-time Super Bowl wins, and the Islanders dynasty netted them four Cup Titles
- Long droughts – the Rangers have one Stanley Cup in the last 70 years (1994), the Jets have one Super Bowl in 43 years (1968), the Mets have just one World Series in the past 40 years (1986), and the Knicks haven’t won an NBA Title in almost 40 years (1973)
Chicago
- the Bulls won six titles in the 90s, but those are the only NBA Championships of their 45-year history
- the Cubs and White Sox have combined to win one World Series Championship in the last 91 years
- the Bears have only won one Super Bowl (1985), and the Blackhawks have one Stanley Cup in the last 50 years (2010)
Dallas
- after the Mavericks won their first title in their existence, and the Rangers went to the World Series, they’re in the conversation
- Cowboys have the second most Super Bowl titles (5), and are tied for the most appearances in the big game (8)
- the Stars have only been in Dallas since 1993, but they do have a Stanley Cup title (1999), and have won seven Division Championships
Other cities with 3-4 major sports teams that don’t qualify: Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, Miami, Oakland, Denver, Washington, Tampa Bay, St. Louis
Other cities with 3-4 major sports teams that REALLY don't qualify: Cleveland, Seattle
New York
- Yankees have won 27 World Series championships, with five coming in the last fifteen years
- Giants are near the top of the list with three all-time Super Bowl wins, and the Islanders dynasty netted them four Cup Titles
- Long droughts – the Rangers have one Stanley Cup in the last 70 years (1994), the Jets have one Super Bowl in 43 years (1968), the Mets have just one World Series in the past 40 years (1986), and the Knicks haven’t won an NBA Title in almost 40 years (1973)
Chicago
- the Bulls won six titles in the 90s, but those are the only NBA Championships of their 45-year history
- the Cubs and White Sox have combined to win one World Series Championship in the last 91 years
- the Bears have only won one Super Bowl (1985), and the Blackhawks have one Stanley Cup in the last 50 years (2010)
Dallas
- after the Mavericks won their first title in their existence, and the Rangers went to the World Series, they’re in the conversation
- Cowboys have the second most Super Bowl titles (5), and are tied for the most appearances in the big game (8)
- the Stars have only been in Dallas since 1993, but they do have a Stanley Cup title (1999), and have won seven Division Championships
Other cities with 3-4 major sports teams that don’t qualify: Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, Miami, Oakland, Denver, Washington, Tampa Bay, St. Louis
Other cities with 3-4 major sports teams that REALLY don't qualify: Cleveland, Seattle
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Choke or Not?
In the last 48 hours, there has been some debate over whether JR Hildebrand's last-lap crash was a choke or not. Here are the two sides to the argument.
WHY IT ISN'T A CHOKE
JR Hildebrand did what rookies rarely do at Indy: have a chance to win. He ran up front all day, and put himself in a terrific position to chug the milk. With just one turn, and five more clean seconds necessary to claim the checkered flag, Hildebrand messed up.
He's handled it extremely well, refusing to throw his team (read: spotters) or Charlie Kimball (who he was attempting to pass) under the bus.
WHY IT'S A CHOKE
Plenty of great athletes have "choked" before. Bill Buckner had over 2,700 hits in his career. Hall-of-Famer Patrick Ewing missed a finger roll that would've won New York's Eastern Conference Semifinals series with the Pacers in 1995. 14-time Major champion Tiger Woods lost a Sunday lead in the 2009 PGA Championship to someone called Y.E. Yang. Alex Rodriguez, LeBron James, and Peyton Manning have all at one time or another been labeled as a "choker". If an inexplicable mistake comes at a crucial time, it's a choke regardless of who makes the error.
In order to complete the Indianapolis 500, you have to make 800 correct turns. JR Hildebrand was perfect for the first 799, and then crashed after Turn 800 about two football fields away from the finish line. Blame it on his spotters if you want, but even JR said that it was his split-section decision to go high and make the aggressive pass on Kimball. It's perfectly reasonable for a 23-year old rookie to make a mistake at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - it happens multiple times annually. The only problem is that it rarely happens after the final turn, on the final lap, while the rookie is leading the race.
FINAL VERDICT
It's a choke. Hildebrand is a great kid, with a ton of talent, who has handled the heartbreaking situation with the class of a long-tenured veteran. That being said, it doesn't matter how nice or how classy JR is. It would've been highly unlikely that he a) would've run out of gas, or b) been passed by Wheldon had he let off the gas a little bit and played it safe heading to the line.
WHY IT ISN'T A CHOKE
JR Hildebrand did what rookies rarely do at Indy: have a chance to win. He ran up front all day, and put himself in a terrific position to chug the milk. With just one turn, and five more clean seconds necessary to claim the checkered flag, Hildebrand messed up.
He's handled it extremely well, refusing to throw his team (read: spotters) or Charlie Kimball (who he was attempting to pass) under the bus.
WHY IT'S A CHOKE
Plenty of great athletes have "choked" before. Bill Buckner had over 2,700 hits in his career. Hall-of-Famer Patrick Ewing missed a finger roll that would've won New York's Eastern Conference Semifinals series with the Pacers in 1995. 14-time Major champion Tiger Woods lost a Sunday lead in the 2009 PGA Championship to someone called Y.E. Yang. Alex Rodriguez, LeBron James, and Peyton Manning have all at one time or another been labeled as a "choker". If an inexplicable mistake comes at a crucial time, it's a choke regardless of who makes the error.
In order to complete the Indianapolis 500, you have to make 800 correct turns. JR Hildebrand was perfect for the first 799, and then crashed after Turn 800 about two football fields away from the finish line. Blame it on his spotters if you want, but even JR said that it was his split-section decision to go high and make the aggressive pass on Kimball. It's perfectly reasonable for a 23-year old rookie to make a mistake at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - it happens multiple times annually. The only problem is that it rarely happens after the final turn, on the final lap, while the rookie is leading the race.
FINAL VERDICT
It's a choke. Hildebrand is a great kid, with a ton of talent, who has handled the heartbreaking situation with the class of a long-tenured veteran. That being said, it doesn't matter how nice or how classy JR is. It would've been highly unlikely that he a) would've run out of gas, or b) been passed by Wheldon had he let off the gas a little bit and played it safe heading to the line.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Big 2...
Besides celebrating the birthdays of Cam Newton, Salvador Dali, and Francisco Cordero, May 11th is a special day on the calendar because it's the two-year anniversary of The Zone!
I've already done so on the Zone fanpage on Facebook, but I also wanted to take this space to thank all of you that have listened, supported, and participated over the past 24 months. It's been a big thrill for me, and I'm looking forward to more of the same.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Help Found
It was very strange to watch the approach to this year's Draft for the Colts. For so long, we had seen this franchise draft based on the best player available, and for a long time that approach worked. But, a new philosophy - perhaps signifying a new era with Chris Polian waiting to take over for his father - was ushered in on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: the Colts were drafting for need.
The offensive line had been rapidly deteriorating for a long time, and that area was finally addressed by the team. Indianapolis used their first two picks to fortify their shaky line by adding tackles Anthony Castonzo, and Ben Ijalana. Ijalana, out of FCS program Villanova, is expected to shift to guard. Both are skilled and, more importantly, large. Castonzo checks in at 311 pounds, while Ijalana would be a beefy guard at 317 pounds. The additions of the two draft picks should lead to some shifting on the offensive line. Expect Charlie Johnson to move to the right side, whether that be at guard or tackle, with Castonzo securing the starting LT nod. The battle at offensive guard should be the most interesting storyline of Training Camp (if there is one), with Ijalana, Mike Pollak, Kyle DeVan, Jamey Richard, and Jacques McClendon all getting a look. The odd man out in this whole situation could be longtime RT starter Ryan Diem. Diem, a ten-year veteran, has been regressing for years and is due $5.4 million (a jump from $3.8M last season) in 2011, the final year of his contract.
Drake Nevis, a third-round pick out of LSU, puts an extra body at the interior of the defensive line with the statuses of Daniel Muir, Mookie Johnson, and Eric Foster still yet to be determined. Nevis will also get a chance to start. Also, I'm very intrigued by RB Delone Carter from Syracuse. The 225-pounder has a body type that we haven't ever seen in the Colts' backfield, and could help with their struggles in short-yardage situations. If Chris Rucker of Michigan State can prove his legal issues are a thing of the past, he can contribute as well. He is projected to help at safety, where the Colts have glaring depth issues.
All in all, the 2011 Draft class signifies that the Colts have gotten the message. Their patchwork offensive line needed improving, while the defensive tackle position and depth at RB and S needed to be addressed. We won't know how to grade this five-player haul until several years down the line. However, based on positions only, you have to be happy with what the players the Colts were able to bring into the fold.
The offensive line had been rapidly deteriorating for a long time, and that area was finally addressed by the team. Indianapolis used their first two picks to fortify their shaky line by adding tackles Anthony Castonzo, and Ben Ijalana. Ijalana, out of FCS program Villanova, is expected to shift to guard. Both are skilled and, more importantly, large. Castonzo checks in at 311 pounds, while Ijalana would be a beefy guard at 317 pounds. The additions of the two draft picks should lead to some shifting on the offensive line. Expect Charlie Johnson to move to the right side, whether that be at guard or tackle, with Castonzo securing the starting LT nod. The battle at offensive guard should be the most interesting storyline of Training Camp (if there is one), with Ijalana, Mike Pollak, Kyle DeVan, Jamey Richard, and Jacques McClendon all getting a look. The odd man out in this whole situation could be longtime RT starter Ryan Diem. Diem, a ten-year veteran, has been regressing for years and is due $5.4 million (a jump from $3.8M last season) in 2011, the final year of his contract.
Drake Nevis, a third-round pick out of LSU, puts an extra body at the interior of the defensive line with the statuses of Daniel Muir, Mookie Johnson, and Eric Foster still yet to be determined. Nevis will also get a chance to start. Also, I'm very intrigued by RB Delone Carter from Syracuse. The 225-pounder has a body type that we haven't ever seen in the Colts' backfield, and could help with their struggles in short-yardage situations. If Chris Rucker of Michigan State can prove his legal issues are a thing of the past, he can contribute as well. He is projected to help at safety, where the Colts have glaring depth issues.
All in all, the 2011 Draft class signifies that the Colts have gotten the message. Their patchwork offensive line needed improving, while the defensive tackle position and depth at RB and S needed to be addressed. We won't know how to grade this five-player haul until several years down the line. However, based on positions only, you have to be happy with what the players the Colts were able to bring into the fold.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Sold on Solder?
Mock Drafts are hardly an exact science, but with the 2011 NFL Draft beginning tonight, I was surprised at how nearly-unanimous the experts were in projecting the Colts' 22nd overall selection:
Colts' #22 Mock Draft rundown
Mel Kiper, ESPN: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Todd McShay, ESPN: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Mike Mayock, NFL Network: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Pat Kirwin, NFL.com: DT Cory Liuget, Illinois
Russ Lande, Sporting News: OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
Rob Rang, CBSSports.com: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Chad Reuter, CBSSports.com: OT Gabe Carmini, Wisconsin
Adam Caplan, FoxSports.com: DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple*
(* this was after Caplan had Solder in his first three Mock versions)
It's tough to know anything about offensive lineman, outside of the guys like Jake Long who are considered top-five picks. Here's a highlight video of Solder:
I don't really care if Solder is the pick or not, but with this being such a great draft for offensive tackles, the Colts really need to take advantage of that. I'd list their other needs in order as: DT, S, and depth at WR and CB.
Colts' #22 Mock Draft rundown
Mel Kiper, ESPN: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Todd McShay, ESPN: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Mike Mayock, NFL Network: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Pat Kirwin, NFL.com: DT Cory Liuget, Illinois
Russ Lande, Sporting News: OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
Rob Rang, CBSSports.com: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Chad Reuter, CBSSports.com: OT Gabe Carmini, Wisconsin
Adam Caplan, FoxSports.com: DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple*
(* this was after Caplan had Solder in his first three Mock versions)
It's tough to know anything about offensive lineman, outside of the guys like Jake Long who are considered top-five picks. Here's a highlight video of Solder:
I don't really care if Solder is the pick or not, but with this being such a great draft for offensive tackles, the Colts really need to take advantage of that. I'd list their other needs in order as: DT, S, and depth at WR and CB.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Tiger Myth
If you're a fan of the show (which I'm guessing you are if you're reading this...), you know that I'm not a huge Tiger Woods fan. It doesn't have anything to do with his personal life, or personal jealously, even though I'd love to look that scary in red. It's mostly because of his attitude, and a blantant disregard for the etiquitte instilled in all golfers when they first learn to play. However, all of that aside, one thing I can't stand is the belief that professional golfers are scared of Tiger Woods.
Chances are, you've heard it before from announcers and fans alike: "Uh oh, here comes Tiger! I bet is going to crumble!" Forget the fact that Tiger still has never come from behind on a Sunday to win a Major championship. There's a widely-held belief that other golfers on the tour watch Tiger's every move, and tremble with fear as he approaches them on the leaderboard.
It's completely ridiculous.
It's completely ridiculous.
Golf is a game of inner focus. Are other golfers cognizant of what Tiger (and everyone else) is doing? Of course. They need to know where they stand for strategy purposes. But, pro golfers have to focus on themselves. They wouldn't be playing at the PGA Tour level if they didn't. Brian Murphy of Yahoo! Sports writes a terrific piece on how Sunday's results at The Masters proves that other golfers are unafraid. Murphy focuses on what the other golfers did once Tiger tied for a share of the lead through 10 holes:
Just like the '09 Masters when Tiger charged the front nine and faded away, the rest of the field was unafraid. Tiger is great. Tiger will win again. But, the psychologial impact that Tiger has on the rest of golf is grossly overrated.
Jason Day: bogey-free back nine 32, including birdies on 17 and 18. Adam Scott: without a major title and questioned for his mental toughness, played behind Tiger’s roars and posted a bogey-free 33 on the back nine, finishing ahead of Tiger.
Geoff Ogilvy: already with a major in the Tiger Era (the 2006 U.S. Open), played in the twosome immediately behind Tiger and ripped off five consecutive birdies for a back-nine 31, tying Tiger’s final-round 67.Luke Donald: playing behind Tiger’s noise, bounced back from a double-bogey on No. 12 for a back-nine 34, going three under in his last six holes.
Charl Schwartzel: all of 26 years old (just 12 when Tiger won the 1997 Masters) and playing behind Tiger’s pine-rattling crowds, carded arguably the greatest back nine since Nicklaus in ’86, a bogey-free 32 and those instantly historic four consecutive birdies. Oh, by the way, he’ll be drawing up the menu for next year’s Champions Dinner.
Just like the '09 Masters when Tiger charged the front nine and faded away, the rest of the field was unafraid. Tiger is great. Tiger will win again. But, the psychologial impact that Tiger has on the rest of golf is grossly overrated.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Hammertime
Purdue will unveil their new and improved version of Purdue Pete during tomorrow's annual Gold and Black game. A video of Purdue Pete II (or version 2.0) surfaced on their athletics website yesterday before it was taken down a few hours later. We were still able to find the photo on the Lafayette Courier-Journal website.
I'm not a big fan. While the old Purdue Pete had a creepy, hard plastic face (similar to what the mascot from the old Big Boy burger chains had), PPII's is made from fabric. In fact, he looks more like the lovechild of Jay Leno and Sparty, just without the HGH. I'm completely lost on the hat. Since when was chrome part of Purdue's color-scheme? I thought it was "Hail to the Old Gold and Black". PPII's octagon-shaped tin foil hat makes this outfit appear even more ridiculous. A plain gold shirt, and oversized belt buckle (also chrome) don't help tie the outfit together. I'm no fashionista, but that reflective hat is going to look absurd reflecting the bright sun on Saturday afternoons at Ross-Ade Stadium. Did I mention the new Pete is ditching the trademark hammer as well?
I'm not a big fan. While the old Purdue Pete had a creepy, hard plastic face (similar to what the mascot from the old Big Boy burger chains had), PPII's is made from fabric. In fact, he looks more like the lovechild of Jay Leno and Sparty, just without the HGH. I'm completely lost on the hat. Since when was chrome part of Purdue's color-scheme? I thought it was "Hail to the Old Gold and Black". PPII's octagon-shaped tin foil hat makes this outfit appear even more ridiculous. A plain gold shirt, and oversized belt buckle (also chrome) don't help tie the outfit together. I'm no fashionista, but that reflective hat is going to look absurd reflecting the bright sun on Saturday afternoons at Ross-Ade Stadium. Did I mention the new Pete is ditching the trademark hammer as well? The old Purdue Pete wasn't perfect. But, he had his weapon of choice, a hard hat with the official school colors, and a face that would haunt your dreams (don't you want your mascot to be intimidating?) Hell, I'd even take the super effeminate basketball-version of Purdue Pete, with the short shorts and go-go boots. This toned-down, huggable, tin foil hat wearing fraud was a big swing and a miss.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Quickest MLB Preview Ever
Author's note: we're already about two hours into Opening Day, so me putting off my MLB Preview has left me scrambling just to get some predictions on the record. Here they are...
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East: Red Sox - They're just too strong. Their offseason reminds me of what the Yankees did in '09 which led to a World Series run. Also, just imagine what they can do with a healthy Youkilis, Pedroia, and Ellsbury...
Central: White Sox - Chicago seems to be the trendy pick. There's nothing exciting about this team, but they're steady and would've been the Division champ last year if not for a late-season fade. The Adam Dunn Factor (teams suck when they acquire him) worries me.
West: Athletics - A casual baseball fan won't know much about their starting rotation, but it's enough to make a baseball nerd drool. For what Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, and Brett Anderson lack in big name appea, they make up for in talent and effectiveness. Don't sleep on Dallas Braden either - he was 11-14, but only had a 3.50 ERA in 2010.
Wild Card: Yankees - With Tampa Bay falling off, it's hard to see anyone else coming up here and grabbing this spot. If the AL Central was a college basketball conference, it would be a one-bid league. Texas had a lot of things go right last year, and the Angels aren't back (yet). From a talent standpoint, New York is still one of the three best teams in the league.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East: Phillies - This team isn't as invincible as everyone makes them out to be. Chase Utley likely won't be back until mid-May, and promising prospect Dom Brown is hurt, and still may need some more seasoning when he returns. The success of this squad falls on their starting pitching, which with the addition of Cliff Lee, is one of teh best we've ever seen on paper.
Central: Reds - I think they're a safe pick because there are more answers than questions with this bunch. They aren't flashy, but they have a wealth of solid starters, a young lineup with no glaring holes, and are possibly the best defensive team in all of baseball.
West: Rockies - I've been burned by them the last couple of years, but the law of averages says that I'll have to be right eventually. Ubaldo Jimenez can't be expected to have the same season as he did last year, but if the rest of their rotation can pick it up, they'll be in good shape.
Wild Card: Braves - It's tough leaving the defending World Champs out of it, but the Braves look like they're back. It's taken a few years for them to retool, but they have terrific pitching depth. Nate McClouth can't be worse than he was last year, and the addition of Dan Uggla can only help.
I'm not going to give you my World Series pick for fear that this entry will end up similar to my Bracket picks (see below, if you dare). But, I'm leaning towards Red Sox/Rockies in a rematch of a non-competitive 2007 Fall Classic, with the same end result.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East: Red Sox - They're just too strong. Their offseason reminds me of what the Yankees did in '09 which led to a World Series run. Also, just imagine what they can do with a healthy Youkilis, Pedroia, and Ellsbury...
Central: White Sox - Chicago seems to be the trendy pick. There's nothing exciting about this team, but they're steady and would've been the Division champ last year if not for a late-season fade. The Adam Dunn Factor (teams suck when they acquire him) worries me.
West: Athletics - A casual baseball fan won't know much about their starting rotation, but it's enough to make a baseball nerd drool. For what Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, and Brett Anderson lack in big name appea, they make up for in talent and effectiveness. Don't sleep on Dallas Braden either - he was 11-14, but only had a 3.50 ERA in 2010.
Wild Card: Yankees - With Tampa Bay falling off, it's hard to see anyone else coming up here and grabbing this spot. If the AL Central was a college basketball conference, it would be a one-bid league. Texas had a lot of things go right last year, and the Angels aren't back (yet). From a talent standpoint, New York is still one of the three best teams in the league.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East: Phillies - This team isn't as invincible as everyone makes them out to be. Chase Utley likely won't be back until mid-May, and promising prospect Dom Brown is hurt, and still may need some more seasoning when he returns. The success of this squad falls on their starting pitching, which with the addition of Cliff Lee, is one of teh best we've ever seen on paper.
Central: Reds - I think they're a safe pick because there are more answers than questions with this bunch. They aren't flashy, but they have a wealth of solid starters, a young lineup with no glaring holes, and are possibly the best defensive team in all of baseball.
West: Rockies - I've been burned by them the last couple of years, but the law of averages says that I'll have to be right eventually. Ubaldo Jimenez can't be expected to have the same season as he did last year, but if the rest of their rotation can pick it up, they'll be in good shape.
Wild Card: Braves - It's tough leaving the defending World Champs out of it, but the Braves look like they're back. It's taken a few years for them to retool, but they have terrific pitching depth. Nate McClouth can't be worse than he was last year, and the addition of Dan Uggla can only help.
I'm not going to give you my World Series pick for fear that this entry will end up similar to my Bracket picks (see below, if you dare). But, I'm leaning towards Red Sox/Rockies in a rematch of a non-competitive 2007 Fall Classic, with the same end result.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Hail to the King
In the late 1990's and early 2000's, Gonzaga captivated the nation with back-to-back-to-back Cinderella runs in the NCAA Tournament to the Elite 8 (1999 as a #10 seed) and the Sweet 16 (2000 as a #10 seed, 2001 as a #12 seed). They have made the NCAA Tournament in every year since, winning 263 games in the process, to become known as the preeminent mid-major power in college hoops.
However, following an upset of another top-seed to secure their fourth Sweet 16 appearance in their last six Tournament trips, Butler has surpassed Gonzaga as the king of mid-major hoops. Let me preface this by saying that I don't often count Xavier, from what is historically a multi-bid Atlantic 10 conference, as a mid-major. That term is reserved for teams from leagues that generally send just one team to the NCAA Tournament, ala the West Coast and Horizon (Mountain West wouldn't count).
When you look at the comparison between Gonzaga and Butler over the last decade, it's barely a comparison at all. Despite accruing more bluechip talent, the Zags' Tournament results just haven't stacked up against Butler's.
NCAA TOURNAMENT
Gonzaga hasn't really done anything since making their third straight run to the NCAA Tournament's second weekend in 2001. Since '01, Gonzaga has defeated the following teams in the Tournament:
Gonzaga Tourney wins since 2002:
#8 Cincinnati*
#15 Valparaiso
#14 Winthrop
#14 Xavier
#6 Indiana
#13 Akron
#12 Western Kentucky
#9 Florida State
#6 St. John's*
*win against a higher-seeded team
Gonzaga has beaten only two higher-seeded teams in the last decade, with no wins over a seed better than a 6. Five of their nine Tournament wins have come against a seed #12 or lower. Not very impressive at all. They went to the Sweet 16 twice, beating a 14 and 6 as a 3-seed in 2006, and a 13 and 12 as a 4 seed in 2009.
Gonzaga Tourney losses since 2002:
2002: lost to #11 Wyoming by 7
2003: lost to #1 Arizona by 1 in OT
2004: lost to #10 Nevada by 19
2005: lost to #6 Texas Tech by 2
2006: lost to #2 UCLA by 2
2007: lost to #7 Indiana by 13
2008: lost to #10 Davidson by 6
2009: lost to #1 North Carolina by 21
2010: lost to #1 Syracuse by 22
2011: lost to #3 BYU by 23
When matched-up against top-level competition, Gonzaga hasn't even been close. Their last three Tournament exits have all come in blowout fashion. This decade they've lost to four teams seeded below them (11, 10, 6, 10), and are just 2-6 against higher-seeded teams. Who has Gonzaga really beaten/pushed in the Tournament in the last decade outside of the OT loss to top-seeded Arizona in '03? Just in the last four years, Butler has defeated the outright Big East regular season champion (both as #1 seeds), defeated #2 seed Kansas State, and took #2 seed Tennessee to double overtime in 2008. Take a look:
Butler Tournament wins since 2002:
#5 Mississippi State*
#4 Louisville*
#12 Old Dominion
#4 Maryland*
#10 South Alabama
#12 UTEP
#13 Murray State
#1 Syracuse*
#2 Kansas State*
#5 Michigan State
#9 Old Dominion
#1 Pittsburgh*
Butler Tournament losses since 2002:
2003: lost to #1 Oklahoma by 11
2007: lost to #1 Florida by 8
2008: lost to #2 Tennessee by 5 in OT
2009: lost to #8 LSU by 4
2010: lost to #1 Duke by 2
In their six Tournament appearances this decade, Butler has been eliminated by three #1s and a #2 by an average of just over six points per contest. That's a lot less than the 20+ point beatdowns that have been handed out to Gonzaga over the past few years. Butler has advanced to the Sweet 16 four times in their past six Tourney trips as a #12, #5, #5, and #8. Gonzaga has only made it to the second weekend as a #3 or a #4 in their last ten appearances. Also, Butler is 7-5 this past decade against teams that are either seeded higher than them or on their same seed-line (Michigan State, Final Four '10). Compare that to the Zags' 2-6 mark.
TALENT
Despite Gonzaga becoming a national player when it comes to top recruits, acquiring talent hasn't really paid off for them. Meanwhile, Butler is just starting to scratch the surface with their last few classes.
National Top 150 recruits since 2002:
Gonzaga (12): Josh Heytvelt #120 (2004), David Pendergraft #147 (2004), Jeremy Pargo #105 (2005), Matt Bouldin #45 (2006), Theo Davis #39 (2006), Austin Daye #25 (2007), Robert Sacre #102 (2007), Steven Gray #64 (2007), Grant Gibbs #118 (2008), Demetri Goodson #132 (2008), Mangisto Arop #88 (2009), Sam Dowyer #116 (2009)
Butler (3): Nick Brooks #124 (2003), Matt Howard #91 (2007), Khyle Marshall #118 (2010), Crishawn Hopkins #124 (2010).
Rivals.com three-star or better recruits:
Gonzaga (18): Derek Raivio (2003), Joao Batistia (2004), Heytvelt, Pendergraft, Pargo, Mamery Diallo (2005), Bouldin, Davis, Daye, Sacre, Gray, Gibbs, Goodson, Andy Poling (2008), Arop, Dower, GJ Vilarno (2009), Keegan Hyland (2010)
Butler (9): Brooks, Zach Hahn (2007), Howard, Gordon Hayward (2008), Shelvin Mack (2008), Ronald Nored (2008), Andrew Smith (2009), Marshall, Hopkins.
NBA Players:
Gonzaga (5): Dan Dickau, Adam Morrison, Blake Stepp, Austin Daye, Ronny Turiaf
Butler (1): Gordon Hayward
Gonzaga has gotten high-profile talent, but it hasn't been able to translate for them. Butler has had one pro (Hayward) as of now, and one Top 100 National recruit (Howard), yet they've outperformed Gonzaga in March.
The two schools have combined for 508 wins in the last decade, with either a regular season or Conference Tournament title (or both) in 17 of the 20 combined seasons. Both Gonzaga and Butler have carried the torch for all mid-major hoops programs. But, Butler has been doing more of the heavily lifting lately.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Bracket Breakdown
After slamming head into a desk repeatedly over the last 72 hours, I've finally come up with some analysis (if you want to call it that) on the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Enjoy.
EAST Region
Best potential matchup: Ohio State vs. Kentucky
This matchup really should've come in a Regional Final, but instead Kentucky was under-seeded as a four. You'd have the best team in the Big Ten face off against the top squad in the SEC in the Sweet 16. The Buckeyes would certainly have the experience edge, but the Wildcats have the athleticism to cause Ohio State some problems.
EAST Region
Best potential matchup: Ohio State vs. Kentucky
This matchup really should've come in a Regional Final, but instead Kentucky was under-seeded as a four. You'd have the best team in the Big Ten face off against the top squad in the SEC in the Sweet 16. The Buckeyes would certainly have the experience edge, but the Wildcats have the athleticism to cause Ohio State some problems.
Easy pickin': Xavier over MarquetteI'm stunned how many people are picking the Golden Eagles in this game. Since going to the Final Four in 2003, Marquette is 2-5 in the NCAA Tournament with three one-and-dones. Meanwhile, the Musketeers are one of the most dangerous teams in March. In their last eight Tournament appearances, they have only lost in the First Round once (falling by four points as a 14-seed against 3-seed Gonzaga in '06). In that span, they've advanced to the second weekend three times, going as far as the Elite 8 twice. I know that doesn't have much to do with this year, but I'll generally take the team that plays well in the Tournament over the team that doesn't. Plus, Tu Holloway will be the best player on the court by far.
Darkhorse: Washington
The Huskies come into the Tourney hot after running to a Pac-10 Tournament title. Junior guard Isaiah Thomas is one of the most dynamic players in the field, and UW is prone to offensive explosions. They should have any easy time of it against a weak Georgia squad in the opener, and can cause a lot of problems for potential Second Round foe North Carolina.
Champ: Ohio State
Even in a loaded region, the Buckeyes are the least flawed. Depth could be an issue, but their 1-7 is the best in the nation. I love the job Thad Matta has done mixing in experience (Lighty, Diebler, etc.) and youth (Sullinger, Craft, Thomas). They'll have to earn those four wins, but if anyone can make a tough run through the East, it's them.
WEST Region
Best potential matchup: UConn vs. Missouri
As an 11-seed, the Tigers don't jump out to you as a serious threat, but it's Mike Anderson's up-tempo style that should make this Second Round matchup a treat. Mizzou sports five players averaging in double-figures scoring, but had a lot of trouble away from Columbia this year. UConn likes to get up and down as well, so this one would likely get into 90s. Both teams shouldn't overlook Cincinnati and Bucknell, though.
Easy pickin': Arizona over Memphis
There isn't an upset pick that jumps out to me in this bracket, but I've been seeing Memphis get some heavy consideration as everyone loads up on 12-over-5 selections. I'm having trouble picking a Tigers team that wouldn't have even made the field without UTEP blowing a 13-point lead in the Conference USA Tournament Title game. Arizona has one of the best individual talents in the country in Derrick Williams, and would be one of the toughest challenges this season for a Memphis team that missed on numerous opportunities against Top 25-caliber teams over the course of the year.
Darkhorse: Tennessee
There may not be a team in the West Region more talented than Tennessee - the problem is that the Vols have rarely been able to put it together. UT limped to the finish line, losers of seven of their last eleven, but have a number of impressive early-season wins against teams like Pittsburgh, Villanova, and Memphis. Things fell into place for them in their Elite 8 run last year, but it'll be tough for history to repeat itself, even with the potent duo of Scotty Hopson and Tobias Harris.
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Champ: Texas
The Longhorns are a huge risk, especially with the way that they fizzled down the stretch, but this is a Region of risks. Duke is experienced and talented, but their overall body of work in a weak ACC wasn't worthy of their #1 seed. San Diego State has NBA talent (see: Kawhi Leonard), but built their entire resume on their dominance of UNLV, who they defeated three times. UConn has some exciting young guns, but they're essentially a one-man show that will go as far as Kemba Walker takes them. Here's hoping that the midseason version of Texas' reappears in March, instead of the Tournament version we've seen most years since 2003.
SOUTHWEST Region
Best potential matchup: Purdue vs. Notre Dame
I've always enjoyed their football rivalry - why not hoops as well? Two of the best-coached teams in the country are slated to meet in the Southwest Regional Semifinals should they be good enough to get through their first two games in nearby Chicago. The Irish are underrated athletically, and have a starting lineup with five guys that can hurt you. When Purdue defends well, they can hang with (and beat) anyone in the country. The most intriguing question in this game is what Notre Dame does on the interior to counter JaJuan Johnson. Meanwhile, without Kelsey Barlow, the Boilers will be short one of their best defenders against one of the nation's most fluid offenses.
Easy pickin': Richmond over Vanderbilt
This didn't require much thought. In their last two trips to the NCAAs as a four-seed, Vandy has been embarrassed in upset losses to Siena and Murray State. Meanwhile, scrappy Richmond, a 27-win team this season, may have been under-seeded as a #12. The Spiders have won seven straight, and eleven of their last twelve heading into the Tournament. The senior All-Atlantic 10 duo of Justin Harper (17.9 ppg) and Kevin Anderson (16.5 ppg) are a handful.
Darkhorse: Louisville
One thing we know about the overachieving Cardinals this season is that they've competed with everyone. Of their nine losses, five either came by single-digits or in overtime, mostly in the rugged Big East. Unlike in past years, Louisville doesn't "wow" you with NBA talent, but this is perhaps Rick Pitino's best coaching job of his illustrious career. They're athletic and they play smart. The Cards are going to be an awfully tough out.
Champ: Louisville
It's too easy to pick Kansas. If the Tournament was based on talent alone, the KU would be in the Final Four every year. I'll go out on a limb and take Louisville because I think they're one of the few teams in the country that has the athletes to compete with the Jayhawks. We've seen super-athletic teams (Texas, Kansas State) cause them problems this season. Plus, the Jayhawks burned me in '97, '98, and '10, and I'm tired of getting toasted.
Can't go wrong with a guy named "Peyton", right?
Best potential matchup: Butler vs. Old Dominion
Take the word "potential" right out of it. Butler/ODU may be the best head-to-head battle that this dumpster-fire of a grouping has to offer. ODU is making their fourth Tournament appearance in seven years, and this may be their best team yet, claiming victories over Clemson, Xavier, and Richmond this season. Also, don't underrate the strength of the Colonial which sent three teams to the NCAAs this year. Butler is Butler. They'll be ready and focused. But, the Monarchs won't be afraid.
Easy pickin': Florida being upset at some point
I have UCLA knocking them off in my bracket. Some have Michigan State. Others have whoever comes out of the BYU/Wofford/St. John's/Gonzaga pod. The Gators are a nice team, but were grossly over-seeded as a 2. The good news for Florida is that they drew what is by far the weakest half of any Region: a one-man BYU squad, banged-up St. John's, and bi-polar UCLA and Michigan State teams. I'm just not real high on Billy Donovan's group this year.
Darkhorse: UCLA
I often develop crushes on young teams with great head coaches, and UCLA checks both of those areas off on the list. They had some early growing pains, including a four-game non-conference losing skid capped by a loss to Montanta, but have since rebounded nicely. Oh, and it helps that the Bruins are 14-4 in their last four trips to the NCAA Tournament with three Final Four appearances.
Champion: Pittsburgh
Sometimes you're forced into picking a team based on what the draw ends up being. If Pitt breaks through for their first Final Four appearance since World War II, they should send a thank you card to the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. This Southeast Region is the worst Region that I can ever remember (2000 West Region is a close second) since I started filling out brackets in the early 1990s. Who beats Pitt? Kansas State, who was comatose for the first three months of the season? Wisconsin, who scored 33 points in their last game? BYU without Brandon Davies? Overrated Florida? Despite their lack of Tournament success - Pitt has been defeated by a lower-seed in six of their last eight NCAA appearances - my pick is the Panthers by default.
The Shots Final Bracket
CHAMPIONSHIP: Ohio State over Pittsburgh
FINAL FOUR: Ohio State, Texas, Louisville, Pittsburgh
DARKHORSES: Xavier and UCLA in the Elite 8
FIRST ROUND UPSETS: VCU, Richmond, Belmont, Wofford
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Banner-worthy
With the recent trade of Bob Sanders, the Colts will need a new face to hang on one of their banners outside of Lucas Oil Stadium. If you're unfamiliar with the outside of the building, the Colts have four banners - one of which is of Sanders - that hang outside year round, with two on each side of the stadium. Peyton Manning, Dwight Freeney, and Reggie Wayne are on the other three.
So, with Sanders gone, who is banner-worthy?
The first candidates that come to mind are Dallas Clark, Gary Brackett, and Robert Mathis. All three have spent their entire careers in Indianapolis, and each of them are impact players. Clark is one of the best tight ends in the league, and his hard-nosed playing style (read: unafraid to take hits) has endeared him to the Colts' faithful. Brackett is the defensive captain and one of the vocal leaders of the team. He's worked his way up from an undrafted and undersized free agent, to one of the best middle linebackers in the league. Mathis is outspoken, he's fiery, and it helps that he's been to three straight Pro Bowls. You can't go wrong with any of those three, but for a darkhorse candidate, what about Johnny Unitas?
Since the Colts refuse to let go of their past in Baltimore, why not hang up a banner of the best player in franchise history? Unitas wanted nothing to do with Indianapolis, and wanted all of what he accomplished in a Colt uniform to stay in Baltimore. But, he's not here anymore. If Jim Irsay really wants to bring the franchise's history in Baltimore and Indianapolis together, this is his chance.
Doesn't this debate reveal the ridiculousness of the Colts holding onto history that isn't theirs? This has nothing to do with the Baltimore fans. They have their own team now. They won their own title in 2000. Broken hearts should've been mended long ago. My argument this entire time has been that the Colts have done enough in Indianapolis for that history to stand on its own. A Super Bowl Championship (XLI), 27 seasons, more games in Indy than were played in Baltimore - it's time to move on.
Nothing about the Baltimore Colts resonates with Indianapolis fans. Unitas isn't to Manning what Starr was to Favre, or what Staubach was to Aikman. Raymond Berry isn't a beloved figure in our city. To Colts fans in Indy, "The Greatest Game Ever Played" is the 2006 AFC Championship Game, not the 1958 NFL Championship.
Give Baltimore back their history, and further establish Indy's own. Or, put Johnny Unitas' face outside of Lucas Oil Stadium. We're only talking about a silly banner, but maybe the conversation about the Colts leaving the past in the past is worth bringing up again.
So, with Sanders gone, who is banner-worthy?
The first candidates that come to mind are Dallas Clark, Gary Brackett, and Robert Mathis. All three have spent their entire careers in Indianapolis, and each of them are impact players. Clark is one of the best tight ends in the league, and his hard-nosed playing style (read: unafraid to take hits) has endeared him to the Colts' faithful. Brackett is the defensive captain and one of the vocal leaders of the team. He's worked his way up from an undrafted and undersized free agent, to one of the best middle linebackers in the league. Mathis is outspoken, he's fiery, and it helps that he's been to three straight Pro Bowls. You can't go wrong with any of those three, but for a darkhorse candidate, what about Johnny Unitas?
Since the Colts refuse to let go of their past in Baltimore, why not hang up a banner of the best player in franchise history? Unitas wanted nothing to do with Indianapolis, and wanted all of what he accomplished in a Colt uniform to stay in Baltimore. But, he's not here anymore. If Jim Irsay really wants to bring the franchise's history in Baltimore and Indianapolis together, this is his chance.
Doesn't this debate reveal the ridiculousness of the Colts holding onto history that isn't theirs? This has nothing to do with the Baltimore fans. They have their own team now. They won their own title in 2000. Broken hearts should've been mended long ago. My argument this entire time has been that the Colts have done enough in Indianapolis for that history to stand on its own. A Super Bowl Championship (XLI), 27 seasons, more games in Indy than were played in Baltimore - it's time to move on.
Nothing about the Baltimore Colts resonates with Indianapolis fans. Unitas isn't to Manning what Starr was to Favre, or what Staubach was to Aikman. Raymond Berry isn't a beloved figure in our city. To Colts fans in Indy, "The Greatest Game Ever Played" is the 2006 AFC Championship Game, not the 1958 NFL Championship.
Give Baltimore back their history, and further establish Indy's own. Or, put Johnny Unitas' face outside of Lucas Oil Stadium. We're only talking about a silly banner, but maybe the conversation about the Colts leaving the past in the past is worth bringing up again.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Best in the State?
As we enter the final week of the regular season, we have been debating on the show who the best team in Indiana is. Here's how they weigh-in:
Purdue (24-5, 13-3 Big Ten)
RPI says: 2-3 vs. Top 25, 5-3 vs. Top 50, 12-5 vs. Top 75
Good wins: Ohio State, Wisconsin, at Illinois
Bad losses: Richmond-N, at Minnesota
PROS: have two of the best players in the country, have a dominant big, are terrific defensively, good role players who know what their job is, have experience where they need it, don’t get shaken too much on the road,
CONS: did nothing against a mediocre non-league schedule, their road resume isn’t super-impressive, struggle when a third guy doesn’t step up, rely on streaky players like Smith, Byrd, and Barlow, had trouble closing out good opponents away from Mackey Arena
Notre Dame (24-5, 13-4 Big East)
RPI says: 6-4 vs. Top 25, 9-4 vs. Top 50, 12-5 vs. Top 75
Good wins: at Pitt, Wisconsin-N, Georgetown, St. John’s, UConn, Louisville, Villanova
Bad losses: at Marquette (by 22), at West Virginia (by 14), at St. John’s (by 18)
PROS: experienced, senior leadership, have a go-to guy (Ben Hansbrough), lethal from three-point range, can score with anybody
CONS: have not played consistently well away from home, struggle when they don’t hit shots, not terrific defensively, have issues against physical teams, don’t have a great Tournament history in recent seasons
Butler (21-9, 13-5 Horizon)
RPI says: 0-3 vs. Top 25, 3-3 vs. Top 50, 5-4 vs. Top 75
Good wins: swept Cleveland State, Florida State-N
Bad losses: at Youngstown State (RPI 290!), Evansville (136), at Wright State (129)
PROS: seem to have gotten things figured out since a three-game losing skid, one of the premiere teams in the Horizon defensively, found some consistency on offense, have veterans that have been there before, when they hit shots watch out, thrive in the underdog role
CONS: the only NCAA Tournament team they’ve beaten this year is FSU, did not play well on the road, the Horizon is still the Horizon, Shelvin Mack has been disappointing (FG% down from 45 to 40, 3-pt FG% down from 39 to 33), as has Zach Hahn
Butler isn't really a part of this conversation. They're not a Top 25-caliber team, much less a Final Four contender like Notre Dame and Purdue. This really comes down to the Irish and the Boilermakers. While Notre Dame has a much better overall resume, I feel that Purdue is the more dangerous team. They have two of the top ten players in the country in JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore, and are more of a consistent lockdown defensive team than Notre Dame is. The verdict goes to Purdue, but it's close. Both teams have a chance to really be dangerous in a few weeks.
Purdue (24-5, 13-3 Big Ten)
RPI says: 2-3 vs. Top 25, 5-3 vs. Top 50, 12-5 vs. Top 75
Good wins: Ohio State, Wisconsin, at Illinois
Bad losses: Richmond-N, at Minnesota
PROS: have two of the best players in the country, have a dominant big, are terrific defensively, good role players who know what their job is, have experience where they need it, don’t get shaken too much on the road,
CONS: did nothing against a mediocre non-league schedule, their road resume isn’t super-impressive, struggle when a third guy doesn’t step up, rely on streaky players like Smith, Byrd, and Barlow, had trouble closing out good opponents away from Mackey Arena
Notre Dame (24-5, 13-4 Big East)
RPI says: 6-4 vs. Top 25, 9-4 vs. Top 50, 12-5 vs. Top 75
Good wins: at Pitt, Wisconsin-N, Georgetown, St. John’s, UConn, Louisville, Villanova
Bad losses: at Marquette (by 22), at West Virginia (by 14), at St. John’s (by 18)
PROS: experienced, senior leadership, have a go-to guy (Ben Hansbrough), lethal from three-point range, can score with anybody
CONS: have not played consistently well away from home, struggle when they don’t hit shots, not terrific defensively, have issues against physical teams, don’t have a great Tournament history in recent seasons
Butler (21-9, 13-5 Horizon)
RPI says: 0-3 vs. Top 25, 3-3 vs. Top 50, 5-4 vs. Top 75
Good wins: swept Cleveland State, Florida State-N
Bad losses: at Youngstown State (RPI 290!), Evansville (136), at Wright State (129)
PROS: seem to have gotten things figured out since a three-game losing skid, one of the premiere teams in the Horizon defensively, found some consistency on offense, have veterans that have been there before, when they hit shots watch out, thrive in the underdog role
CONS: the only NCAA Tournament team they’ve beaten this year is FSU, did not play well on the road, the Horizon is still the Horizon, Shelvin Mack has been disappointing (FG% down from 45 to 40, 3-pt FG% down from 39 to 33), as has Zach Hahn
Butler isn't really a part of this conversation. They're not a Top 25-caliber team, much less a Final Four contender like Notre Dame and Purdue. This really comes down to the Irish and the Boilermakers. While Notre Dame has a much better overall resume, I feel that Purdue is the more dangerous team. They have two of the top ten players in the country in JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore, and are more of a consistent lockdown defensive team than Notre Dame is. The verdict goes to Purdue, but it's close. Both teams have a chance to really be dangerous in a few weeks.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thanks, but...
The NBA Trade Deadline came and went with the Pacers having the same roster as they did earlier in the week. But, they were close to a major to making a major shakeup that never materialized. Indiana and Memphis had a deal in place to swap Josh McRoberts and Indy's First Round pick for troubled guard O.J. Mayo. Whether it was because of missing the 3 PM deadline, or the Pacers trying to recruit a third team (New Orleans) that pulled out at the last second, the deal didn't get done.
It was the best move the Pacers didn't make.
It was the best move the Pacers didn't make.
I enjoy Bob Kravitz's work in the IndyStar, but I couldn't disagree more with his take on the Mayo deal. While nobody questions O.J. Mayo's potential, he's been a headache everywhere he's gone. From high school incidents (playing for three different teams in four years, by the way) involving shoving a referee and being charged with marijuana possession, to taking improper benefits at USC, to getting on a fight on the team plane and testing positive for a steroid this year, Mayo has a troubled past. The third-year guard was a 17-18 points per game scorer in his first two years, but has regressed to an average of just over 12 ppg in year three. He's seen his minutes decrease as the Grizzlies have shopped him openly around the NBA. Yes, he's only 23, and just three years ago he was the third overall pick. But, we've seen what has happened in the past when Pacers have weighed talent over character, and it didn't end well.
Rebuilding has been an arduous process for the Pacers, but one thing they have accomplished is weeding out the character-issue guys. Stephen Jackson is gone. So is Shawne Williams. Ditto for Ron Artest. Why bring toxicity back to a locker room that has worked so hard to purge all of their malcontents in the past four years?
This isn't about McRoberts, who is a marginal role player that the Pacers will likely lose to free agency anyway. It also isn't about their First Round pick which will likely fall in the mid-to-late teens in what most believe will be a mediocre Draft. Those are two pieces that the Pacers could part with and not lose any sleep over. But, a me-first headcase with behavioral issues is the last thing this young team needs right now.
The Pacers haven't been pro-active enough, and the front office has been too passive, leading to this long rebuilding process. I'm not saying the Pacers shouldn't take any risks. But, they need to push their chips on the table on the right hand at the right time. Mayo wasn't a winning hand.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Power Outage
There's a severe star power shortage in the NBA's Western Conference.
For several years now, the power has been in the West where teams like the Spurs and Lakers have reigned supreme throughout the 2000s. Even beyond the elite level, the Mavericks, Jazz, Blazers, and Suns have all competed for Conference titles. Over in the East, we've seen some great teams like the current incarnation of the Celtics, LeBron's Cavs, or the 2003-07 Detroit Pistons, but once you got past the top three or four, there was nothing else to speak of. That's about to change.
Just in the last 36 hours, two of the Western Conference's biggest superstars in Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams changed zip codes. Add in Amar'e Stoudemire jumping from Phoenix to New York last summer, and you can argue that three of the top ten players in the league have switched from the West to the East.
Look at the West now - the three best teams are the Spurs, Lakers, and Mavericks. Each have aging cores, and appear to soon be on the decline. Meanwhile in the East, Boston would fit under the Spurs-Lakers-Mavs category, but the rest of the Conference is on the rise. Miami has a trio of superstars in the prime of their careers. The Knicks have done the same with the duo of Carmelo and Amar'e. Even the teams near the bottom of the playoff standings like Philadelphia and Indiana have improving young cores.
If we're just comparing star power, the shift of balance really becomes apparent when you look at the ages. In the West, top players like Kobe Bryant (32 years old but 14 seasons in the NBA), Tim Duncan (soon-to-be 35), Manu Ginobili (33), Dirk Nowitzki (32), Steve Nash (37) all have left, or are leaving, their primes. Only four members of the West All-Star Team last week (discounting Anthony and Williams) are under the age of 30. When thinking of young(er) stars in the West, the list is pretty short: Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Monta Ellis. If you want to, you can also include All-Stars Kevin Love and Blake Griffin. In the East, you likely have seven of the top ten players in the entire NBA that are all under the age of 30: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Deron Williams. Beyond that, you have a second tier of stars that includes Rajon Rondo, Chris Bosh, Al Horford, and Josh Smith.
These things tend to go in cycles. The East dominated the league throughout the 1990s behind the strength of Jordan's Bulls, and teams like the Pistons, Knicks, Pacers, Heat, and Magic. The NFC dominated the NFL from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. The National League destroyed the AL for nearly two decades from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s.
Like these other trends, I'd expect the West's dominance of the NBA to come to an end soon.
For several years now, the power has been in the West where teams like the Spurs and Lakers have reigned supreme throughout the 2000s. Even beyond the elite level, the Mavericks, Jazz, Blazers, and Suns have all competed for Conference titles. Over in the East, we've seen some great teams like the current incarnation of the Celtics, LeBron's Cavs, or the 2003-07 Detroit Pistons, but once you got past the top three or four, there was nothing else to speak of. That's about to change.
Just in the last 36 hours, two of the Western Conference's biggest superstars in Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams changed zip codes. Add in Amar'e Stoudemire jumping from Phoenix to New York last summer, and you can argue that three of the top ten players in the league have switched from the West to the East.
Look at the West now - the three best teams are the Spurs, Lakers, and Mavericks. Each have aging cores, and appear to soon be on the decline. Meanwhile in the East, Boston would fit under the Spurs-Lakers-Mavs category, but the rest of the Conference is on the rise. Miami has a trio of superstars in the prime of their careers. The Knicks have done the same with the duo of Carmelo and Amar'e. Even the teams near the bottom of the playoff standings like Philadelphia and Indiana have improving young cores.
If we're just comparing star power, the shift of balance really becomes apparent when you look at the ages. In the West, top players like Kobe Bryant (32 years old but 14 seasons in the NBA), Tim Duncan (soon-to-be 35), Manu Ginobili (33), Dirk Nowitzki (32), Steve Nash (37) all have left, or are leaving, their primes. Only four members of the West All-Star Team last week (discounting Anthony and Williams) are under the age of 30. When thinking of young(er) stars in the West, the list is pretty short: Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Monta Ellis. If you want to, you can also include All-Stars Kevin Love and Blake Griffin. In the East, you likely have seven of the top ten players in the entire NBA that are all under the age of 30: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Deron Williams. Beyond that, you have a second tier of stars that includes Rajon Rondo, Chris Bosh, Al Horford, and Josh Smith.
These things tend to go in cycles. The East dominated the league throughout the 1990s behind the strength of Jordan's Bulls, and teams like the Pistons, Knicks, Pacers, Heat, and Magic. The NFC dominated the NFL from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. The National League destroyed the AL for nearly two decades from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s.
Like these other trends, I'd expect the West's dominance of the NBA to come to an end soon.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Snubbed
There has been a major outcry locally over Reggie Miller not making the cut for the 2011 Basketball Hall-of-Fame class. Besides Peyton Manning, Miller is easily the most beloved figure in Indianapolis sports history.
Contrary to popular belief, you can make an argument that Reggie Miller isn't a Hall-of-Famer. He only made the All-NBA Team three times, never cracking the First or Second teams. Reggie only finished in the MVP voting twice (16th in 1997-98 and 13th in 1999-00). He was a one-trick pony as a scorer, and provided little else (3.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.1 spg career). For being just a scorer, his career average of 18.2 ppg was respectable, but not on-par with the elites. Miller may rank 2nd all-time in three-pointers made, but he's just 17th in three-pointers made per game (1.8). You can poke holes in that resume.
However, there are other aspects of Reggie Miller's career that goes beyond numbers. He carried the Indiana Pacers' franchise for almost two decades. During his tenure, the Pacers saw an unprecedented run of success that included an Eastern Conference Championship (2000), and six trips to the Conference Finals (1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004). Reggie had the ability to raise his game when it mattered most - something that separates the greats from the very goods. His 20.6 ppg in the Playoffs is almost 2 1/2 points per game better than his regular season average. Those numbers are even better when you take out his final three postseason appearances (2002-05) when he had become more of a role player and emotional leader than the go-to-guy. When in his prime, Miller was a 23.5 ppg Playoff scorer.
Reggie Miller's Playoff moments have been forever etched into NBA lore. The 25-point fourth quarter in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, the eight points in nine seconds in the 1995 East Semis, the game-winner to beat Jordan's Bulls in Game 4 of the 1998 East Finals, the epic finish to the decisive Game 5 against New Jersey in 2002, etc. The list goes on forever. I don't think the lack of a postseason resume should hurt a player, but I do think that it should help. He's one of the great clutch players in league history.
But, forget all of that.
We're not supposed to be arguing whether or not Reggie Miller is a Hall-of-Famer. What makes Friday's news a travesty isn't that Reggie Miller isn't in the Hall-of-Fame. It's that he wasn't even a FINALIST.
When this year's class was announced, most believed the Reggie would be the marquee name. No offense to Chris Mullin or Dennis Rodman, but neither of those players were better than Reggie Miller. And, there's no debate that Maurice Cheeks, Jamaal Wilkes, and Ralph Sampson weren't even on Reggie's level.
Here are a few reasons why:
FEATURED PLAYER
In the case of Wilkes, Cheeks, and Rodman, all were on Championship teams, but none of those players were ever the best players on those teams. Wilkes was part of great Lakers teams that included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and later on Magic Johnson. Cheeks played with Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney, and later Charles Barkley in Philadelphia. Rodman played with Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, David Robinson, Sean Elliott, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen in stints with the Pistons, Spurs, and Bulls. There was never any question as to who the best player on the Pacers was.
STATISTICS
Chris Mullin is the candidate that is the most similar to Miller. He only made five All-Star teams (like Miller), and finished in the MVP voting twice (like Miller). He also has a identical 18.2 ppg career scoring average to Miller's. However, unlike Reggie, Mullin really only had seven seasons as a great player. He ran into injury problems in the prime of his career, and was reduced to a veteran role player in the late 1990s after he was traded from Golden State to Indiana. He's the NBA's 64th all-time leading scorer, compared to Miller being 14th on the list.
Dennis Rodman is known for being a great rebounder and defender. Helping Rodman's case are his eight nominations to the NBA's All-Defensive Team, including being on the First Team seven times. He also won five NBA Championships as part of dynasty Detroit and Chicago teams. But, Rodman was only a two-time All-Star and never was named to an All-NBA Team. Rodman is only 11th all-time in rebounds (11,954), and 21st in rebounds per game (13.1). In 169 Playoff games, Rodman averaged a paltry 6.4 ppg and just 9.9 rpg - over three less than his career average. He was never more than the 3rd best player on any team that he ever played for. Take out the Championships, and his career isn't much better than the one Buck Williams had.
Maurice Cheeks was a good, but hardly a great player. His middling averages of 11.1 ppg and 6.7 apg (the same average as Mookie Blaylock) aren't close to Hall-of-Fame worthy. Ralph Sampson was one of the best collegiate players of all-time who never lived up to the hype as a pro mostly because of injuries. He played just 456 games in nine seasons, and really was only a premiere player for his first three years in the league. Jamaal Wilkes was a good player for about a dozen seasons, earning just three All-Star nods. If any of these three get in, then you might as well go ahead and let Stephon Marbury in, too.
If you dig a little deeper, the numbers shine for Reggie Miller. According to the stat geeks (and I use that term in a loving way) over at Basketball Prospectus, Miller's 172 career WARP (Wins Above Replacement Player) ranks 12th of all NBA players in the last thirty years. It's tops among eligible players not yet inducted into the Hall-of-Fame. He's 14th on the NBA's all-time scoring list, and everyone in the Top 30 that is eligible is already in the Hall. The only two active players ahead of Mille are Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, who are both easy Hall choices.
For Reggie to not be included on the list of finalists is an embarrassment. Unfortunately, this could mean that Miller might have to wait longer than most Pacers' fans originally thought. I still think he will eventually get in. But, sometimes the question of "when?" as opposed to "if?" is just as hard to answer.
Contrary to popular belief, you can make an argument that Reggie Miller isn't a Hall-of-Famer. He only made the All-NBA Team three times, never cracking the First or Second teams. Reggie only finished in the MVP voting twice (16th in 1997-98 and 13th in 1999-00). He was a one-trick pony as a scorer, and provided little else (3.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.1 spg career). For being just a scorer, his career average of 18.2 ppg was respectable, but not on-par with the elites. Miller may rank 2nd all-time in three-pointers made, but he's just 17th in three-pointers made per game (1.8). You can poke holes in that resume.
However, there are other aspects of Reggie Miller's career that goes beyond numbers. He carried the Indiana Pacers' franchise for almost two decades. During his tenure, the Pacers saw an unprecedented run of success that included an Eastern Conference Championship (2000), and six trips to the Conference Finals (1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004). Reggie had the ability to raise his game when it mattered most - something that separates the greats from the very goods. His 20.6 ppg in the Playoffs is almost 2 1/2 points per game better than his regular season average. Those numbers are even better when you take out his final three postseason appearances (2002-05) when he had become more of a role player and emotional leader than the go-to-guy. When in his prime, Miller was a 23.5 ppg Playoff scorer.
Reggie Miller's Playoff moments have been forever etched into NBA lore. The 25-point fourth quarter in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, the eight points in nine seconds in the 1995 East Semis, the game-winner to beat Jordan's Bulls in Game 4 of the 1998 East Finals, the epic finish to the decisive Game 5 against New Jersey in 2002, etc. The list goes on forever. I don't think the lack of a postseason resume should hurt a player, but I do think that it should help. He's one of the great clutch players in league history.
But, forget all of that.
We're not supposed to be arguing whether or not Reggie Miller is a Hall-of-Famer. What makes Friday's news a travesty isn't that Reggie Miller isn't in the Hall-of-Fame. It's that he wasn't even a FINALIST.
When this year's class was announced, most believed the Reggie would be the marquee name. No offense to Chris Mullin or Dennis Rodman, but neither of those players were better than Reggie Miller. And, there's no debate that Maurice Cheeks, Jamaal Wilkes, and Ralph Sampson weren't even on Reggie's level.
Here are a few reasons why:
FEATURED PLAYER
In the case of Wilkes, Cheeks, and Rodman, all were on Championship teams, but none of those players were ever the best players on those teams. Wilkes was part of great Lakers teams that included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and later on Magic Johnson. Cheeks played with Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney, and later Charles Barkley in Philadelphia. Rodman played with Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, David Robinson, Sean Elliott, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen in stints with the Pistons, Spurs, and Bulls. There was never any question as to who the best player on the Pacers was.
STATISTICS
Chris Mullin is the candidate that is the most similar to Miller. He only made five All-Star teams (like Miller), and finished in the MVP voting twice (like Miller). He also has a identical 18.2 ppg career scoring average to Miller's. However, unlike Reggie, Mullin really only had seven seasons as a great player. He ran into injury problems in the prime of his career, and was reduced to a veteran role player in the late 1990s after he was traded from Golden State to Indiana. He's the NBA's 64th all-time leading scorer, compared to Miller being 14th on the list.
Dennis Rodman is known for being a great rebounder and defender. Helping Rodman's case are his eight nominations to the NBA's All-Defensive Team, including being on the First Team seven times. He also won five NBA Championships as part of dynasty Detroit and Chicago teams. But, Rodman was only a two-time All-Star and never was named to an All-NBA Team. Rodman is only 11th all-time in rebounds (11,954), and 21st in rebounds per game (13.1). In 169 Playoff games, Rodman averaged a paltry 6.4 ppg and just 9.9 rpg - over three less than his career average. He was never more than the 3rd best player on any team that he ever played for. Take out the Championships, and his career isn't much better than the one Buck Williams had.
Maurice Cheeks was a good, but hardly a great player. His middling averages of 11.1 ppg and 6.7 apg (the same average as Mookie Blaylock) aren't close to Hall-of-Fame worthy. Ralph Sampson was one of the best collegiate players of all-time who never lived up to the hype as a pro mostly because of injuries. He played just 456 games in nine seasons, and really was only a premiere player for his first three years in the league. Jamaal Wilkes was a good player for about a dozen seasons, earning just three All-Star nods. If any of these three get in, then you might as well go ahead and let Stephon Marbury in, too.
If you dig a little deeper, the numbers shine for Reggie Miller. According to the stat geeks (and I use that term in a loving way) over at Basketball Prospectus, Miller's 172 career WARP (Wins Above Replacement Player) ranks 12th of all NBA players in the last thirty years. It's tops among eligible players not yet inducted into the Hall-of-Fame. He's 14th on the NBA's all-time scoring list, and everyone in the Top 30 that is eligible is already in the Hall. The only two active players ahead of Mille are Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, who are both easy Hall choices.
For Reggie to not be included on the list of finalists is an embarrassment. Unfortunately, this could mean that Miller might have to wait longer than most Pacers' fans originally thought. I still think he will eventually get in. But, sometimes the question of "when?" as opposed to "if?" is just as hard to answer.
Monday, February 14, 2011
No Spitting
I'm not going to make as big of a deal over Tiger's spitting incident as some others. If you haven't seen the clip, you can check it out here.
What I will say is the reason that I haven't been, and will never be a fan of Tiger Woods is because of his poor etiquette. I'm not 1/500th the golfer that Tiger is, but I know how to hack through 18 holes shooting a 96 without acting like a petulant child.
What I will say is the reason that I haven't been, and will never be a fan of Tiger Woods is because of his poor etiquette. I'm not 1/500th the golfer that Tiger is, but I know how to hack through 18 holes shooting a 96 without acting like a petulant child.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Apples to Oranges
Over the past three seasons, we've been bombarded with talk about the Big East's basketball dominance. In January and February, the league flexes it's collective muscle on Big Monday and Super Tuesday, generating a lot of buzz when the weekly AP and Coaches Polls are released. But, with all the talk about Big East dominance, why haven't they been that good in March?
A Big East team hasn't won a National Championship since UConn raised the trophy in 2004. In fact, they haven't had a respresentative even play in the National Championship Game since then. They're a paltry 3-2 against higher-seeded teams in the last two NCAA Tournaments, earning a nation-high total of 15 bids. Ten of those fifteens teams have been eliminated by lower-seeds. As you see, the Conference's perceived dominance hasn't scared off opponents in the last two March and Aprils:
2010
#1 Syracuse loses to #5 Butler, #2 Villanova loses to #10 St. Mary’s, #3 Georgetown loses to #14 Ohio, #3 Pittsburgh loses to #6 Xavier, #6 Notre Dame loses to #11 Old Dominion, #6 Marquette loses to #11 Washington
That's four losses to double-digit seeds, and the average seed disparity in those defeats being six seed-lines. The lone higher-seeded win of 2010 was #2 West Virginia's defeat of #1 Kentucky in the Regional Final.
2009
#1 Pittsburgh lost to #3 Villanova, #1 Louisville loses to #2 Michigan State, #1 UConn loses to #2 Michigan State, #6 West Virgnia loses to #11 Dayton
The results weren't as poor as 2010, but the big boppers (trio of #1 seeds in Lousiville, Pittsburgh, and UConn) were all bounced by lower-seeded teams. At least #3 Syracuse and #6 Marquette were respectable in losses to higher-seeded Oklahoma and Missouri.
The point isn't that the Big East isn't the best basketball conference in America - it is. However, comparing it to the SEC's dominance of football, just doesn't hold water. The last five football National Champions have come from the SEC, and the league is 15-6 all-time in BCS games. Compare that to the Big East, where current members are 0-5 in Final Fours since 2004, and the gap becomes apparent.
Let's see if they're able to truly be dominant in a couple of weeks.
A Big East team hasn't won a National Championship since UConn raised the trophy in 2004. In fact, they haven't had a respresentative even play in the National Championship Game since then. They're a paltry 3-2 against higher-seeded teams in the last two NCAA Tournaments, earning a nation-high total of 15 bids. Ten of those fifteens teams have been eliminated by lower-seeds. As you see, the Conference's perceived dominance hasn't scared off opponents in the last two March and Aprils:
2010
#1 Syracuse loses to #5 Butler, #2 Villanova loses to #10 St. Mary’s, #3 Georgetown loses to #14 Ohio, #3 Pittsburgh loses to #6 Xavier, #6 Notre Dame loses to #11 Old Dominion, #6 Marquette loses to #11 Washington
That's four losses to double-digit seeds, and the average seed disparity in those defeats being six seed-lines. The lone higher-seeded win of 2010 was #2 West Virginia's defeat of #1 Kentucky in the Regional Final.
2009
#1 Pittsburgh lost to #3 Villanova, #1 Louisville loses to #2 Michigan State, #1 UConn loses to #2 Michigan State, #6 West Virgnia loses to #11 Dayton
The results weren't as poor as 2010, but the big boppers (trio of #1 seeds in Lousiville, Pittsburgh, and UConn) were all bounced by lower-seeded teams. At least #3 Syracuse and #6 Marquette were respectable in losses to higher-seeded Oklahoma and Missouri.
The point isn't that the Big East isn't the best basketball conference in America - it is. However, comparing it to the SEC's dominance of football, just doesn't hold water. The last five football National Champions have come from the SEC, and the league is 15-6 all-time in BCS games. Compare that to the Big East, where current members are 0-5 in Final Fours since 2004, and the gap becomes apparent.
Let's see if they're able to truly be dominant in a couple of weeks.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Boom, Boom, Bust
Some quick post-Super Bowl XLV thoughts:
- what a disaster for Dallas. In an effort to get into the Super Bowl rotation, things couldn't have possibly gone worse for them. Throw out all of their other issues (there were many), because it comes down to two things: 1) Ice injuring people outside of the stadium, and 2) the 400 fans left without seats for the game. When you screw up the safety of fans, and the fan experience, that's a black eye that doesn't go away.
- between Christina Aguilera's National Anthem flub and the shrieking awfulness of Fergie's version of the classic G&R hit "Sweet Child O' Mine", the music was some of the worst I've ever heard for a Super Bowl. Just brutal. I expected more from the Black Eyed Peas.
- Aaron Rodgers’ stats would’ve been even more impressive if he wasn’t the victim of several drops. One by James Jones and another by Jordy Nelson each would’ve resulted in long TD passes.
- Greg Jennings is one of those guys that just makes big plays. It seems like he always has a line of like 4 catches but a pair of scores.
- the running backs were largely ignored even though both played pretty well – James Starks only had 11 carries, but had 52 yards (4.7 ypc) and Rashard Mendenahll had 14 touches for 63 yards (4.5 ypc).
-Pittsburgh’s decision to kick a 52-yard field goal with Suisham didn’t end up hurting them, but it was a really poor decision. Sort of like trotting out Stover for that long attempt last year.
- Pittsburgh lost the game in the third quarter. They forced four punts, and had three straight possessions with the score at 21-17 and couldn’t do anything with it. On the 4th possession from the Green Bay 33, Mendenhall’s fumble gave the Packers the ball back.
- loved the option call from Roehtlisberger to Randle-El on the two-point conversion, but I still feel like ‘Twan should always run that.
- the Buck/Aikman booth was one of the most boring and unentertaining broadcasts in Super Bowl history. They added absolutely nothing to the game, and were completely unmemorable, even in critical moments. Neither of them told me something that I didn’t know about either team during the game, and it’s like they went out of their way to not mention Brett Favre.
- what a disaster for Dallas. In an effort to get into the Super Bowl rotation, things couldn't have possibly gone worse for them. Throw out all of their other issues (there were many), because it comes down to two things: 1) Ice injuring people outside of the stadium, and 2) the 400 fans left without seats for the game. When you screw up the safety of fans, and the fan experience, that's a black eye that doesn't go away.
- between Christina Aguilera's National Anthem flub and the shrieking awfulness of Fergie's version of the classic G&R hit "Sweet Child O' Mine", the music was some of the worst I've ever heard for a Super Bowl. Just brutal. I expected more from the Black Eyed Peas.
- Aaron Rodgers’ stats would’ve been even more impressive if he wasn’t the victim of several drops. One by James Jones and another by Jordy Nelson each would’ve resulted in long TD passes.
- Greg Jennings is one of those guys that just makes big plays. It seems like he always has a line of like 4 catches but a pair of scores.
- the running backs were largely ignored even though both played pretty well – James Starks only had 11 carries, but had 52 yards (4.7 ypc) and Rashard Mendenahll had 14 touches for 63 yards (4.5 ypc).
-Pittsburgh’s decision to kick a 52-yard field goal with Suisham didn’t end up hurting them, but it was a really poor decision. Sort of like trotting out Stover for that long attempt last year.
- Pittsburgh lost the game in the third quarter. They forced four punts, and had three straight possessions with the score at 21-17 and couldn’t do anything with it. On the 4th possession from the Green Bay 33, Mendenhall’s fumble gave the Packers the ball back.
- loved the option call from Roehtlisberger to Randle-El on the two-point conversion, but I still feel like ‘Twan should always run that.
- the Buck/Aikman booth was one of the most boring and unentertaining broadcasts in Super Bowl history. They added absolutely nothing to the game, and were completely unmemorable, even in critical moments. Neither of them told me something that I didn’t know about either team during the game, and it’s like they went out of their way to not mention Brett Favre.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
360?
Twelve days ago, Indiana was giving up 91 points in a 14-point thrashing at the hands of Big Ten cellar-dweller Iowa. Less than two weeks later, the perception of Tom Crean's rebuilding efforts has completely changed.
Back-to-back wins over ranked opponents, sandwiched between an overtime loss that the Hoosiers gave away in East Lansing, has IU fans singing a different tune. Sure, a 12-11 (3-7 Big Ten) record is nothing to crow about, but considering where Indiana looked to be headed, it's a bit of a small victory for Crean & Co.
I'm not going to go overboard and declare Tom Crean the Big Ten Coach of the Year like some are doing, but we're starting to see the Indiana team that we expected to see over the last three games. Reasonable Indiana fans weren't expecting this team to win on a consistent basis in the first three years. However, they were expecting IU to compete, something that they didn't do in losses to Iowa, Northwestern, and Ohio State. Frustrations reached a fever-pitch following the blowout loss to previously winless Iowa, but something must have clicked with Indiana following that setback.
Lacking a star, especially with the recent injury to Christian Watford, Indiana has to be a sum-of-its-parts team. Last night's win against Minnesota was a great example. Five Hoosiers scored between 8-12 points, with no one scoring more than 12. They got a bit from Matt Roth, a bit from Jordan Hulls, and a little bit more from Tom Pritchard and Verdell Jones. They'll need everyone to contribute if they want to enjoy similar results.
The recent streak has everyone re-examining Indiana's progress in year three. Progress is a funny thing - some judge it on how much progress you make. I've always felt like progress is progress, and though it's been slow, the progress is there:
2008-09 season: 6-25, 1-18
2009-10 season: 10-21, 4-14
This season: 12-11, 3-7
It's been a slow, arduous climb for Tom Crean and the Indiana program, but they are climbing. There are eight more games to see how far up the mountain they can go.
Back-to-back wins over ranked opponents, sandwiched between an overtime loss that the Hoosiers gave away in East Lansing, has IU fans singing a different tune. Sure, a 12-11 (3-7 Big Ten) record is nothing to crow about, but considering where Indiana looked to be headed, it's a bit of a small victory for Crean & Co.
I'm not going to go overboard and declare Tom Crean the Big Ten Coach of the Year like some are doing, but we're starting to see the Indiana team that we expected to see over the last three games. Reasonable Indiana fans weren't expecting this team to win on a consistent basis in the first three years. However, they were expecting IU to compete, something that they didn't do in losses to Iowa, Northwestern, and Ohio State. Frustrations reached a fever-pitch following the blowout loss to previously winless Iowa, but something must have clicked with Indiana following that setback.
Lacking a star, especially with the recent injury to Christian Watford, Indiana has to be a sum-of-its-parts team. Last night's win against Minnesota was a great example. Five Hoosiers scored between 8-12 points, with no one scoring more than 12. They got a bit from Matt Roth, a bit from Jordan Hulls, and a little bit more from Tom Pritchard and Verdell Jones. They'll need everyone to contribute if they want to enjoy similar results.
The recent streak has everyone re-examining Indiana's progress in year three. Progress is a funny thing - some judge it on how much progress you make. I've always felt like progress is progress, and though it's been slow, the progress is there:
2008-09 season: 6-25, 1-18
2009-10 season: 10-21, 4-14
This season: 12-11, 3-7
It's been a slow, arduous climb for Tom Crean and the Indiana program, but they are climbing. There are eight more games to see how far up the mountain they can go.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
End of the Line
The writing was on the wall for the future of Jim O'Brien, but the Pacers decided that they couldn't deal with it any longer. After an embarrassing 0-4 Western swing and blown leads agaisnt the Clippers and Warriors, it felt like Pacers' fans had reached their boiling point. That forced Larry Bird's hand, and as much as he would've liked to have held on to JOB for the rest of the 2010-11 season, he had no choice.
While the last four seasons have been a disaster for the Blue and Gold, this isn't all on O'Brien. Danny Granger has leveled off after averaging a career-high 25.8 points per game in 2008-09. Roy Hibbert talks the talk, but he has yet to walk the walk, suffering through a brutal last two months. And, frankly, I'm tired of waiting on Brandon Rush. He is what he is at this point - an inconsistent player that doesn't have a good enough work ethic to change.
Let's not forget the role that the front office has played in this as well. The cupboard wasn't exactly stocked for O'Brien. That being said, after a pair of 36-win seasons in his first two years, last year's squad took a nosedive. This year's team, despite higher expectations, is just 17-27. In 16 of those 27 losses, the Pacers have led in the fourth quarter. That has to fall on the head coach.
I compared the current state of the Pacers to a new house that is a fixer-upper. There are a lot of issues that need to be ironed out, but when you find out you have termintes, you have to nip that in the bud immediately. O'Brien was the first problem that needed to be solved for this franchise to move forward.
On to the next one.
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