Bleacher Report - Front Page

Why Liverpool Should Sell Luis Suarez

Dusan Lucic — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:43:41 -0400

No player is bigger than the club.

The time has come for Liverpool Football Club to once again prove the old adage correct and grant the unsettled Luis Suarez his wish to leave Anfield.

Last year, Suarez scored 23 league goals as he guided a Liverpool side still in transition to seventh place in the Premier League and added seven more goals to his tally in cup competitions. However, the Reds ultimately failed to win a trophy or secure Champions League football, and the forward has openly spoken about his discontent since the season's end, such as in this interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais (via Daily Mirror).

Suarez is a world-class forward and is now in the prime years of his football career. Quite frankly, he deserves to be playing in the Champions League, which Liverpool clearly cannot offer at the moment.

Nevertheless, Suarez is slowly becoming a liability for the club. Due to his volatile personality and uncontrollable on-pitch behaviour, Suarez has received bans totaling 19 games since arriving in Merseyside without ever being sent off. No matter how good he really is, the list of his incidents grows uncomfortably long with each passing season, and the Reds cannot endanger their respectable club reputation by keeping Suarez for too long.

Simply put, one cannot possibly imagine the next stupid thing he's going to do.

Furthermore, Suarez might not be as vital to this Liverpool side as it seems.

Paul Tomkins of Tomkins Times states that Liverpool's win percentage is actually higher when the Uruguayan is absent compared to when he's playing (62 to 39). According to Opta, Liverpool would still have finished seventh in the Premier League had it not been for Suarez's goals last year.

7 - Without Luis Suarez's goals this season, Liverpool would still have finished seventh in the Premier League table. Depth.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 31, 2013

While it is true that statistics are not always reliable, they at least illustrate that the Reds will not be doomed without Suarez.

Another factor that should be considered is Suarez's truly remarkable wastefulness. Although he does score plenty of goals, he also squanders plenty of opportunities trying to do it all by himself. Suarez had more attempts on goal than any other player in the Premier League last year and more than double than the next Liverpool player on the list, which clearly means he can be rather selfish. One can only think of all the chances Suarez wasted when there was a teammate in a better position.

Finally, money talks.

According to various media sources, including this report from ESPN FC, Liverpool will be asking for at least £50 million from Suarez's potential suitors. With that outrageous amount of money at his disposal, Brendan Rodgers could sign two or three players and rebuild the starting XI.

Perhaps the time is right for Liverpool and Luis Suarez to part ways.

Brazil vs. Mexico: Confederations Cup Live Score, Highlights, Recap (4pm ET)

Christopher Atkins — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:24:58 -0400

FIFA Confederations Cup, Group A, Castelao, Fortaleza, Brazil

Brazil vs. Mexico (Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 4 p.m. ET)

Brazil secured an opening-day 3-0 victory over Japan to kick-start their Confederations Cup 2013 campaign but now move on to Brasilia where they will face a wounded Mexico side.

El Tri were stung late in their opening encounter by a Mario Balotelli goal that handed Italy a 2-1 win, leaving Mexico needing to take points off Brazil to have any chance of progression.

To do so, they will need to improve upon what was a fairly disappointing opening display. However, with arguably the toughest tie of the group already out of the way, they can now try to set the record straight.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, and we'll have full coverage here beginning 45 minutes before kickoff.

In the meantime, here are some related articles to prepare you for this exciting matchup:

Brazil vs. Mexico: 1-on-1 Matchups

Confederations Cup Power Rankings

Brazil World Cup 2014 protests grow

Underrated players to watch

8 Early Winners and Losers of the Arizona Cardinals Offseason

Andrew Nordmeier — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:17:31 -0400

The Arizona Cardinals have completed minicamp and entered the so-called dead zone of the NFL year. Minicamp and organized team activities (OTAs) are in the books, and training camp is about a month away.

That said, it's time to take a look at winners and losers to this point in the offseason. Things have changed greatly since this time last year with an upheaval in the coaching ranks and roster.

Start the slideshow below and see who's been winning and losing so far.

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Hidden Gems Golden State Warriors Can Nab in Late 2nd Round of 2013 NBA Draft

Andy Liu — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:07:37 -0400

Going into the Golden State Warriors' offseason, there are several tangible missing pieces but nothing that should prevent them from contending next season.

Those two aspects include: a guard that can handle while providing a scoring lift (think Jarrett Jack, who is an unrestricted free agent), and more length to compensate for David Lee's terrible defense, Andrew Bogut's injuries and Festus Ezeli's knee surgery.

Unfortunately, the Warriors won't have a draft pick after giving up their first-rounder in the Marcus Williams trade. They also lose their second-round pick to the Orlando Magic.

However, Warriors' management has expressed interest in buying into the second round.

The 2013 NBA Draft, criticized for its apparently talent-deprived, still boasts an impressive amount of talent at depth in the lower portion. There might not be stars but there are plenty of budding rotation players like Otto Porter, Gorgui Dieng, Cody Zeller, C.J. McCollum and Trey Burke.

Conversely, that also means any player slotted to go in the second round can also go undrafted so the players here might be players the Warriors should bring into camp.

Ray McCallum

Not to be mistaken for C.J. McCollum, who should be a lottery pick, McCallum is an excellent pass-first point guard that every Stephen Curry critic appears to love.

He shot a little over 47 percent in his last season at Detroit but most importantly, averaged 4.5 assists per game to just two turnovers.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN, he is an excellent ball-handler, dribbles with the ball quickly and is unselfish at the point of attack.

All that is nice jargon for a player that would ostensibly take over Jack's spot if he were to leave. Perhaps not a top-flight guard at his peak, McCallum should blossom into a great backup guard for Curry.

This pick would give more flexibility for a team that doesn't want to hamstring itself into the luxury tax with a large free-agent influx in 2014.

Nate Wolters

Compared to Steve Nash in college because of his ability to score, pass and his flowing hair, Wolters has good shooting ability, high basketball IQ and excellent passing ability.

All those are traits the Warriors love, high-intelligence players who show plenty of hustle and stay out of trouble off the court.

Wolters is a near-perfect bench guard in the way McCollum is but a much better shooter without the athleticism. Wolters is currently slated as a late first-round pick to second-round pick but if the Warriors like him, they'll decide buying into his draft slot is better than overpaying Jack.

DeWayne Dedmon

With Ezeli out, the Warriors are probably less inclined to go with the draft-and-stash technique the Spurs covet but take a player that's older but more polished in his game.

Like Ezeli, Dedmon started playing basketball at an old age, and has consequently been up and down in his play. However, he does look the part with his athletic finishes and defensive length.

Although he is about as raw as Ezeli is on offense, he did shoot a bit more from the outside so there is room for a bit of growth there. Most importantly, he averaged nearly four blocks in 40 minutes, pace adjusted, according to DraftExpress.

With Ezeli out and Carl Landry unlikely to opt it and re-sign, the Warriors aren't looking for an offensive center as much as defensive depth on the front line.

There are, of course, many other players the Warriors will do their due diligence on but the two needs at this moment are both backup players. That, in and of itself, speaks to the success Jerry West and Bob Myers has acquired in the short period they've been running the team.

10 Things for Arsenal Fans to Be Happy About Looking Ahead to Next Season

James McNicholas — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:00:00 -0400

2012-13 was a painful season for Arsenal fans.

Although they ultimately managed to edge ahead of neighbours Tottenham to finish in the top four, the Gunners also suffered morale-sapping defeats against the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Bradford City.

However, looking ahead to next season, Arsenal have renewed cause for optimism.

Go on to the next slide to see why Gunners fans should be excited ahead of next season.

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Can Santi Cazorla Become Arsenal's Team Leader?

James McNicholas — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:00:00 -0400

Santi Cazorla may be a small man, but he is a huge influence on this Arsenal team.

The club's recent Player of the Season poll underlines just how important he has become to the Gunners. Cazorla won the vote at a canter, seeing off competition from the likes of Laurent Koscielny and Mikel Arteta.

His victory is understandable. Within a year of his arrival, Cazorla has become integral and irreplaceable.

Cazorla started an incredible 47 games for the Gunners this past season and appeared in every single Premier League match. According to Squawka, he played the full 90 minutes in 68.4 percent of Premier League games.

Arsenal would be lost without him.

Cazorla arrived at Arsenal a year later than planned. Knowing that he would lose Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, Arsene Wenger set out to find a player with similar levels of ingenuity. The Gunners were heavily linked with the playmaker, then at Villarreal, before he moved to Malaga. A season on, with Malaga swamped with financial problems, Wenger swooped and finally got his man.

Cazorla wasted no time settling in. In Arsenal's third Premier League fixture of 2012/13 at Anfield, he created their first goal of the season, weighting a deft pass into the path of Lukas Podolski. In the same match, he fired home from a seemingly impossible angle to open his own Arsenal account.

Tellingly, both contributions came from Cazorla's supposedly weaker left foot. The player had ably demonstrated the ambidextrous brilliance that was to typify his season.

In the first half of the season, Cazorla was deployed in an unfamiliar role as a central playmaker. He revelled in the freedom, immediately establishing himself at the heart of the Arsenal team. The Gunners danced to the beat of Cazorla's shuffling feet.

However, as Arsenal's season wore on and the stakes rose, Cazorla increasingly found himself confined to the left wing. Pragmatism superseded panache, and Arsene Wenger was forced to abandon some of his aesthetic principles.

Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere were used in the No. 10 role in Cazorla's stead. Both players are technically gifted, but neither has the silken touch or panoramic vision that Cazorla provides. Arsenal became more robust but also more rigid.

Cazorla didn't fade entirely. He still made several stunning contributions to Arsenal's season from the flank, including a haul of four assists in the match at home to Wigan. However, the team was no longer constructed around him.

Cazorla might not be the most vocal presence on the pitch, but he is capable of leading Arsenal by example. He's the most gifted player in the squad, and the respect he has from his teammates is second to none. He'll never be the captain, but he could well be the conductor.

If Arsene Wenger wishes to build the team around Cazorla, he must re-deploy the Spaniard in a central role.

Wenger may be reticent. It would mean changing the structure of the team, introducing a traditional winger on the left-hand side and possibly a more defensive midfielder to replace Aaron Ramsey. It also raises question marks over just how Jack Wilshere fits in this new-look XI.

Given Cazorla's extraordinary gifts, such a change may prove to be worthwhile. Playing Cazorla on the left was enough to help a functional Arsenal secure fourth. Surrounding him with better players and unleashing him through the middle may allow Arsenal to do far more than that.

Who Is the NFL's Best Young Franchise QB?

Michael Schottey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:18:33 -0400

It's impossible to win in the NFL without competent quarterback play.

That fact isn't up for debate anymore. The days of limping through the playoffs with a fantastic defense and Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson under center are long gone. Front offices are hired and fired based on the decisions they make with the quarterback position, and very few survive if they're unable to bring in a great young passer to potentially lead the franchise to greatness.

To that end, Bleacher Report set out to find the best young franchise quarterback in all of football. This list is based solely on season-long film study and specific criteria that was meant to isolate a quarterback's strengths and weaknesses apart from the help (or lack thereof) he received from his teammates or the offensive scheme.

The names on the list you know. The order may surprise you. Click ahead to find out who was picked as the NFL's best young franchise QB.

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How History Will Judge Tim Duncan's Legacy as Best Power Forward Ever

Josh Cohen — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:04:05 -0400

By any metric conceivable, history will remember Tim Duncan as the best power forward to play the game.

Still playing at an All-NBA level in his 17th season, Duncan's claim to greatness will only strengthen over time.

His myth already has a firm foundation in the peak of his powers, the sustained success and the beloved fundamental soundness of his game. Between his personal and team accomplishments, Timmy is untouchable in this discussion.

Karl Malone's two MVP awards, 11 first-team All-NBA appearances and 14 All-Star nods do put him in line with Duncan's two MVPs, 10 first-teams and 14 All-Stars; no other power forward can match that. However, Malone's Utah Jazz lack the championship pedigree Duncan's San Antonio Spurs have.

Duncan is one of only four players in NBA history to win three Finals MVP awards—Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal are the only others. That hardware is a testament to his leadership role on the Spurs' four championship teams; just once, in 2007, was Duncan not the driving force behind San Antonio's NBA title.

Between his post scoring, defensive leadership and savvy big-man passing, Duncan is the rare power forward who can also make his teammates better.

That was the key to the Spurs' championships in 1999, 2003 and 2005; by 2007, his presence in the paint was so imposing and attracted so much attention, Tony Parker could slash the lane with impunity.

In fact, look at his per-36 numbers, courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and you'll see how absurdly reliable Timmy's dominance has been.

He has averaged 20.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes for his career. Like clockwork, Duncan has put up nearly identical numbers every season for 17 years, playing as efficiently in 2013 as he did when he won his MVPs in 2002 and 2003.

That consistency and effectiveness at the ripe old age of 37 has finally hammered home a point that Duncan supporters have spent his entire career grasping for: Tim Duncan is a fun player.

It is crucial to Duncan's legacy that he be regarded as entertaining as well as accomplished.

History is subjective that way. We inflate the memories of players we adore, sometimes at the expense of those we merely respect, but don't have fond feelings for.

There was the risk that decades from now, Duncan's career would be viewed as a confluence of bank shots and staunch defense, each year blending into the others, clearly great, but not memorable. The precision of his game would pale against the raw power on Malone's or Charles Barkley's highlight reels.

When the history of the NBA is written by people who didn't experience these legends while they were playing the game, the more exciting guy has better odds of being the more enthralling one. In that world, Duncan could be treated as the beneficiary of Gregg Popovich's genius, while Barkley and Malone are considered better talents on worst teams.

That unfair hindsight was a possibility when Duncan was in his prime, putting up double-doubles like it was nothing. However, as "The Big Fundamental" kept producing, and his retirement drew ever nearer, it became clear that while we were bored with Duncan, he was never boring.

Fans in 2013 regard Duncan's game more reverentially today than they did 10 years ago—not only because he's not going to be around much longer but because his game is going with him.

Duncan abused Chris Bosh en route to 25 first-half points in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals; in his illustrious postseason career, he has never scored more in the first half of a finals game.

Though fans became inured to Duncan's unparalleled array of hooks, spins and banks during his heyday, it's a true privilege to see them back in their old form today. Once they're gone, it's unclear if we'll see anything quite like them again.

Due to the proliferation of floor-spreading offensive philosophy and less emphasis on teaching post play to developing big men, Duncan is one of the last of a dying breed of back-to-the-basket scorers.

Even though he's past the point of overpowering defenders at this point, his technical excellence allows him to put together a performance like the way he started Game 6. That makes Duncan's skill set invaluable for any veteran forward, and yet there is no obvious heir to his traditional post-up throne.

As offenses continue to stretch out beyond the arc, Duncan's game is becoming a relic of basketball history. Remnants will remain in a few players' arsenals, but we'll never see another Tim Duncan.

That's what the 37-year-old's throwback game reminds us: There is beauty in the balletic nature of old-school post play, in the way it can make an aging vet play like a young man and the way it can help a great talent become an NBA legend.

That legend's lore will grow in the years after he retires. Absence will make Duncan seem that much more special, and no one will forget that he was the best to ever play his position.

Where Can the New York Giants Improve Most in 2013?

Scott Kacsmar — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:01:08 -0400

The New York Giants are the NFL’s ultimate Super Bowl-or-bust team.

No, this does not mean the 2013 season comes with such demanding expectations, but the Giants are a team that tends to go on Super Bowl runs that were not expected heading into the season.

In the 13 seasons since 2000, the Giants have been to three Super Bowls (2-1 record), went one-and-done in the playoffs four times and missed the playoffs entirely six times.

Of the last 12 times the Giants made the playoffs, which goes back to the 1986 season, they reached five Super Bowls and went one-and-done six times. The only different result was in 1993 when they beat Minnesota in a Wild Card Game before losing big to the 49ers in the Divisional Playoffs.

If they can qualify for the tournament and get past the first game, the Giants make their playoff runs go the distance.

As for the upcoming 10th season in the Tom Coughlin/Eli Manning era, by now we have a good idea of how this one will go.

The Giants have started 5-2 or better in each of the last nine seasons, which ties the 1975-83 Dallas Cowboys for the NFL record. Things always start well with the Giants earning respect as a NFC threat, but it comes down to finishing.

Twice the Giants have put it together late for two incredible championship runs, but the reality is they have also fallen apart and missed the playoffs in three of the last four years.

It’s never about the start but always the finish for this team, which likes to attempt to dig itself out of adverse situations. With an NFC East lacking powerhouses, this season presents another opportunity to impress with another title run.

Giants Have It All, When They Want It

Last season’s 9-7 finish for the defending champion Giants was a tough one, as they showed so much potential to be an elite team.

They annihilated the 49ers 26-3 in San Francisco. Coach Jim Harbaugh is 15-3-1 at home, but two of the losses have been to the Giants.

The Giants embarrassed the ultra-competitive Packers 38-10 in prime time in Week 12. The 28-point loss was the biggest margin of defeat in quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ career.

The Giants scored 52 points against the Saints in another one of their four wins by at least 25 points.

Yet there was no postseason, as the Giants suffered blowout losses to the Bengals (31-13), Falcons (34-0) and Ravens (33-14). A year after leading seven fourth-quarter comebacks, Manning had three in 2012. He had fewer opportunities with the losses getting out of hand so quickly late in the season.

However, Manning is 55-5 (.917) as a starter when the Giants allow fewer than 20 points. Two of those losses came last season against the division: a 19-17 heartbreaker against Philadelphia and a tough 17-16 loss in Washington.

At 8-5, the Giants’ season basically fell apart when they were outscored 67-14 by the Falcons and Ravens. Both of those games were on the road at two of the toughest places to win. They were also against the regular-season champion (Atlanta) and eventual Super Bowl champion (Baltimore).

It's a tough task for anyone to come out with a win or two, but when the Giants are on their game, they can beat anyone. Their no-show effort in those games was very disheartening.

The Giants have arguably the best formula for success out of all teams in the NFL today. Their method has been proven to work for two different title runs, but the problem is the team rarely sustains it for a long period of time like the elite teams who win 12-14 games can.

Manning is a dependable quarterback with 135 consecutive starts. He can make all the throws, but even after nine years, he will still miss easy ones he can make and fall victim to some head-scratching decisions. His consistency and accuracy cannot match his brother, but he is very much a gamer who can stretch the field and carry a team when the chips are down.

Manning’s 24 fourth-quarter comeback wins are the most in NFL history by a quarterback through nine seasons.

At best, a quarter of the league has a team with a quarterback capable of going on a three- or four-game hot streak against playoff competition. That’s what you need to win a Super Bowl, and that’s what Manning has already done twice with some brilliant plays along the way.

Part of his durability comes from getting rid of the ball quickly, which helps his offensive line look better. The Giants usually field a good offensive line, giving them balance with a productive running game.

No matter if it was Tiki Barber or the duo of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants usually get results on the ground—it's not a one-dimensional attack.

The receivers are always very good as well, whether it was a vertical threat like Plaxico Burress, a slot guy like Steve Smith, a big-play receiver in Victor Cruz or an all-around receiver like Hakeem Nicks.

Cruz just recently signed his tender for $2.87 million, so he should be ready to go this season. Still, it would be nice to have him happily locked up to a long-term deal.

Defensively, the Giants have continued to build the advantage of running a 4-3 with a lot of talent along the defensive line. By getting pressure with only having to rush four, that gives the Giants favorable advantages with the back seven defenders covering five receivers.

This allows the Giants to have success without having any real stud linebacker or player in the secondary. You get a good pass rush, and there is no problem with having Corey Webster as a top cornerback.

We have seen the Giants hold down the two highest-scoring teams in history (2007 Patriots and 2011 Packers) to an average of 17 points in the playoffs.

Rarely has the defense had great stats in the regular season, but no other team has recently run the 4-3 to such success against elite offenses in big games like the Giants.

Quarterbacks are getting too good at identifying blitzes and spreading the field to attack to rely on sending extra rushers to create pressure. As long as the Giants have a premier edge-rusher like Jason Pierre-Paul along with good depth, they will have the right matchup for pass-happy offenses.

Pierre-Paul’s surprise back surgery this offseason is a concern, but he should return to the field early this season. This is why it helps to have depth like veteran Mathias Kiwanuka, who can play defensive end should Pierre-Paul miss games.

The Giants never wow anyone with elite statistics because they continue to have too many bad performances over the course of a 16-game season.

There are no real flaws in how the team is built or plays—outside of the invisible “on/off switch” it seems to manage during the season. It’s just that more often than not in the last nine years, someone forgets to turn it back on after December.

How do you solve that after a decade? It does not seem like Coughlin has figured it out yet, but when he gets the full effort out of his team, then it is as tough as any to beat.

Departures and Arrivals: The 2013 Starters

With a few noteworthy changes to the roster, here is a depth chart of potential starters (credit to Ourlads):

Perhaps the most notable change comes at running back. Ahmad Bradshaw is gone, and David Wilson was the first-round pick last season, but he only carried the ball 71 times. He did show some talent with four scores and an average of 5.0 yards per carry. He did impress on special teams by leading the league with 1,533 kick return yards.

You would expect Wilson to get most of the carries now, but Andre Brown was also impressive last season.

Justin Pugh was this year’s first-round pick and should have a great opportunity to take over the right tackle job right away.

The wide receivers are still going to rely on Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, both likely exceeding 1,000 yards, though expectations are rising on second-year receiver Rueben Randle. He was a second-round pick in 2012 and caught 19 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns last season.

With Domenik Hixon gone, Randle should be contributing more this year.

Tight end Martellus Bennett, who had a career-best 626 receiving yards last year left to Chicago, but in comes Brandon Myers from Oakland. Even if it included a lot of garbage-time stats, he caught 79 passes for 806 yards last year.

Myers is the prototypical Giants tight end, which means he’s another big white guy Manning will have no problem throwing to a la Kevin Boss and Jake Ballard.

This is still a defense that will be led by the defensive ends in Justin Tuck and Pierre-Paul. They are crucial to this unit having success. The Giants even found a potential steal in the draft with Texas A&M’s Damontre Moore slipping to the third round.

The Giants also signed free-agent Cullen Jenkins to replace defensive tackle Chris Canty. Jenkins did not live up to expectations in Philadelphia the last two years but is a veteran. Should he not be up to the job, the Giants do have Shaun Rogers, Marvin Austin and second-round rookie Johnathan Hankins on the current roster.

Chase Blackburn and Michael Boley are gone, so the linebackers have gone through changes. Dan Connor should compete for the starting middle linebacker spot. He was a standout at Penn State but has battled injuries in a five-year NFL career with Carolina (2008-11) and Dallas (2012).

Jacquian Williams was a sixth-round pick by the Giants in 2011, but he only has five career starts. Mathias Kiwanuka can play linebacker too but will likely play along the defensive line.

Former No. 4 overall pick Aaron Curry is also on the roster, though he has had a difficult time earning his keep in the NFL.

The secondary remains intact, with Stevie Brown coming out of nowhere last season to intercept eight passes and return them for 307 yards.

Cornerback Prince Amukamara has missed 12 games since being the team’s first-round pick in 2011, so it would be beneficial to see if he can last a full season.

Lawrence Tynes is no longer the kicker. Currently, the Giants have 34-year-old Josh Brown and David Buehler on the roster. Brown has a much better track record.

With Pierre-Paul’s status in question, uncertainty at linebacker and the search for consistency from the secondary, this looks like another season where the offense will have to carry the defense.

However, Coughlin is one of the league’s best coaches. He turns 67 in August and is all about winning now. If you have a franchise quarterback and a few elite playmakers on both sides of the ball, then you are competing at the top level in this league.

The Giants still have that.

Conclusion: Still a Contender, But Can They Finish?

Going for a new record with a 10th-straight start of 5-2 or better could prove to be difficult with the season beginning in Dallas in prime time followed by the third Manning Bowl. Eli has yet to outscore his brother Peyton in the NFL.

The opener in Dallas should be especially important, since the Cowboys do present strong competition in the tightly contested NFC East.

A mind-numbing stat from last year: Eli Manning led three fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives in his first four appearances at new Cowboys Stadium. Tony Romo also had three in his first 23 starts there.

Getting that early head-to-head win could set the tone for the division race. After the Manning Bowl, things should ease up for the Giants, which makes it likely they will be sitting pretty at the midway point of the season once again.

The bye week comes in Week 9. That’s when we will see if the high level of play can sustain itself or improve in the second half of the season.

The Giants will host Green Bay and Dallas in consecutive weeks in November. That’s followed by a crucial trip to Washington, which was essentially the Week 13 game last season that cost them the division. The Giants will host Washington in the Week 17 finale in what could be another game that decides the NFC East.

A 10-6 finish is very possible for this team, which could be all that is needed to win the division and get a home playoff game.

Though for the Giants, they have to time it right so that they enter the playoffs on a good note. Otherwise, we have not seen this team advance yet under Coughlin. All of the playoff success came in 2007 and 2011.

When the Giants play their best, they can beat any team in any stadium. It’s just a matter of finishing.

With Super Bowl XLVIII being played in their home stadium, the Giants have an opportunity to make more improbable history this season.

Scott Kacsmar writes for Cold, Hard Football Facts, NBC Sports, Colts Authority, and contributes data to Pro-Football-Reference.com and NFL Network. You can visit his blog for a complete writing archive and can follow him on Twitter at @CaptainComeback.

Unexpected Moves Houston Rockets Could Make in Free Agency

Eric Edelman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:00:30 -0400

All decisions in the NBA, whether they're made on or off the court, are subject to scrutiny from legions of unsatisfied fans.

A first-round exit at the hands of a superior Oklahoma City Thunder team is nothing to be ashamed of, but there is no question the Houston Rockets and their loyal supporters have high hopes for this offseason.

Thanks to plenty of expired contracts, the Houston Rockets enjoy a little tax relief, and as the saying goes, scared money don't make no money. In other words, the Rockets need to flex some of their cap space, and for Houston, the options are plentiful.

General Manager Daryl Morey could also have the option of going a bit unorthodox as far as his signings go. There are three specific free agents who would really shake things up if they went down to H-Town under new contract(s). For a team like Houston, an unorthodox signing could be the exact thing they need rejuvenate its spirits going into this new season.

Monta Ellis

After recently declaring his decision to opt out of his Milwaukee contract, Monta Ellis has become a prime target for many teams seeking a talented combo guard with plenty of upside.

Enter Houston, a team that already has a high scoring guard in James Harden. Sure the move seems silly on the surface, but Houston could feasibly create a super-small, super-quick team that could eviscerate opponents both on the break and from the perimeter.

Jeremy Lin at point, Monta as a shooting guard, Harden as a swingman and possibly Chandler Parsons playing the stretch 4 position is a lineup that could work.

It would be a very risky gamble to bring a shooter like Monta in, but there's no denying his ability to put up points. Ellis averaged 19.2 points per game for the 2012-13 regular season, and if he was expected to share the ball with a like-minded scorer a la James Harden, there's no question that average might dip a little.

Better yet, Ellis could also do some work with the secondary unit, so using him as a sixth man of sorts is also possible. It might be an awkward fit, but Ellis would further enhance Houston's lethal offensive attack, and he would help bolster its bench.

With around $38 million in available space for this season, Houston could feasibly afford him to give him the contract he might be seeking.

Al Jefferson

No matter the time of year, Al Jefferson is probably being overlooked by everybody, and despite it being free-agency time, it's probably still happening to Big Al. Most fans are sleeping on a guy who is arguably the best post-up big man in the league, pouring in an efficient 17.8 points per game on nearly 50 percent shooting.

He might seem "unexpected" because he isn't necessarily a big name, but Jefferson will undoubtedly have a huge impact wherever he ends up, especially if it's in a Houston Rockets uniform. Jefferson is the perfect fit—a consummate team player with a soft touch and plenty of mobility on both ends of the floor.

Jefferson would help ease the transition for some of Houston's younger bigs, and he would also give the Rockets a lot more depth and size at either the power forward or center positions. He would also finally get a lot more publicity in a bigger media market, and perhaps, he can finally shed the reputation for being overlooked.

David West

Here's another big whose signing would prove for a huge, M. Night Shyamalan-esque twist in the never ending NBA storyline—David West rocking a Rockets jersey this upcoming season.

David West is an unrestricted agent, and the Rockets have the space and necessity for a fundamentally sound veteran like West to come aboard. He can play ball with the best of them, but he can also bark with the best of them, too.

West is one of the few intimidating players who can also let his game do the talking.

He has a smooth stroke from mid-range, a gentle touch in the paint and he hustles like a guy fighting for a roster the spot. Plain and simple, the guy wants to win, and he's willing to shed blood to do so—whether it be his or yours. The Rockets desperately need a tough guy on their squad, but they don't necessarily need some scrub enforcer who gives you little more than a flagrant foul every now and then. They need a banger who can contribute in other ways.

West is the best of both worlds and—despite being 32 years of age—he's still capable of putting up 17 points and eight rebounds per night. It would be an stunning maneuver if the Rockets were to lure him from Indiana's solid core, but going to the Rockets wouldn't be a terrible downgrade for West.

Whether they choose Ellis, West or Jefferson, the Rockets need to be realistic about their stature in the league: No team in the league is afraid of Houston, per se, but any maneuver no matter how outside the box it seems is better than one that allows the Rockets to further carve out an identity.

To become an unexpected contender, it starts with an unexpected move. Your call, Mr. Morey.

8 Early Winners and Losers of the St. Louis Rams Offseason

Jamal Collier — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:16:30 -0400

Sam Bradford is probably still smiling—right now—because of the effort made by St. Louis Rams management since the Super Bowl. Les Snead and company shored up his offensive line and got him some new, shiny toys to play with.

He’s the biggest offseason winner.

A couple of his new targets will join him on the winners' list, while the guys they replaced in the pecking order wind up on the other side.

There weren’t a lot of changes at the top of the defensive depth chart; St. Louis will presumably continue to start eight of their 11 base-package starters from 2012.

The other three aren’t in town, so it’s hard for any current Rams defenders to be counted as losers.

Since most of the offseason movement was focused on offense, the winners and losers will be, as well.

Begin Slideshow

LeBron James on Unbelievable Game 6: 'By Far the Best Game I've Been a Part Of'

Jesse Dorsey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:15:07 -0400

LeBron James has been in the league for a decade now, is playing in his fourth NBA Finals, and has had his fair share of high-stakes games in the process, but he said after Game 6 that his career hit a peak.

It wasn't necessarily the way he played that was at a peak, he was talking about the level of intensity, entertainment, and terrific play from either team that really saw a high on Tuesday night.

"By far the best game I've ever been a part of. " - LeBron
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) June 19, 2013

There are definitely examples of games in which he preformed better—Game 5 against Detroit in 2007 comes to mind, as does last year's Game 6 in the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Boston Celtics, but as far as overall quality is concerned, LeBron may have hit the nail right on the head.

This game really had everything you could ask for when it comes to the NBA Finals—runs from either team, incredible defense met with equally impressive offense, a magnificent game from a 37-year-old man, ridiculous three-point shots, an extremely involved crowd (although a handful of people left with the Spurs up by five in the fourth quarter), and of course, overtime.

From the start of the fourth quarter all the way through the end of overtime, every possession was high in intensity and extremely important to the outcome of the game.

There was an outcome that was all but decided, a thrilling comeback, and a splendid overtime period giving us a solid ending.

If there was one complaint someone could have about the game, it would be the referees sticking their noses into it just a bit too much, and perhaps, a bit too little near the end.

Otherwise, what we had in Game 6 was a near-perfect basketball game, at least from an entertainment standpoint.

Let's just hope that Game 7 can live up to the hype and rival what we saw on Tuesday night.

Will Houston Rockets Pursuit of Chris Paul Force a Jeremy Lin Trade?

Marshall Zweig — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:12:46 -0400

Could the 2013-14 Houston Rockets be the 2010-11 Miami Heat redux?

And could Jeremy Lin be collateral damage?

Although it doesn't mention Houston, ESPN's Chris Broussard reports Dwight Howard and Chris Paul have been consistently communicating about being teammates. This is not the first time they've talked about the idea, either. During the 2011 lockout, their mutual target was the Dallas Mavericks—another Texas team.

That would give Houston a Big Three that's superior to the Miami Heat's, with all three superstar players still in their prime (as long as Howard is fully recovered next season).

Several Rockets players say they're selling D12 hard on Houston. And over a week ago, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Rockets consider Howard and CP3 "targets 1 and 1A."

And finally, there is the recent and suddenly pervasive rumor (here in ESPN) that the Rockets will discuss something I suggested about a week ago: a sign-and-trade involving Howard for Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik.

Lin, despite an uneven year, still has potential and marketing value; Asik had a superb first year as a starter. The only reason the Rockets would give both players up would be to create even more cap room—and the only reason the team would want to do that would be if they were intent on signing Paul (or another prime free agent).

Now granted, right now it's all speculation, rumor and innuendo—all sourced and legitimate, but hearsay nonetheless.

But I bring it all up to discuss once more what might be the inevitable: Will the Rockets have to jettison Jeremy Lin to sign Chris Paul?

The first question is whether or not they should. Lin's ardent admirers, and there are many, have a well-grooved refrain about Lin's tenure in Houston that can be summed up in one word: unfair.

The Lin faithful say the Rockets squandered Lin's talent by handing facilitating responsibilities to shooting guard James Harden, thereby robbing Lin of his ability to create. They contend Lin was still hurt from the previous season. They insist Lin was maligned by coach Kevin McHale. They claim Lin was great when Harden was sidelined.

We all know the song. I could argue the merits of each argument, but they all miss the point. Whether or not they're true, or merely wishful conjecture by loyal fans, the most important consideration—if one is a Rockets fan and not merely a Jeremy Lin fan—is what's best for the Rockets.

And even if all the arguments put forth by Lin's devotees are spot on, CP3 for JLin is still a no-brainer if winning is the goal.

Lin is a remarkably likeable fellow with an impeccable attitude and work ethic, but an uncertain and even questionable talent level.

Is Lin thrilling to watch at times? No question about it. Has he improved in certain areas? Yes. But would any of you bet their house that Lin ranks higher next year in player efficiency than 14.94, good for 35th place among point guards who averaged 17 minutes per game or more?

If you said yes, you probably either live in a tent or with your parents. It's just not a safe bet, simply because since his debut, Lin has been inconsistent. There have been flashes of brilliance, periods of mediocrity and stretches of ineptitude, like Lin's appearance in this year's playoffs.

The Rockets will miss Lin in the clubhouse, undoubtedly. And given the kid's incredible work ethic, they might well miss out on talent yet to develop.

But it's worth the risk. Because Chris Paul is a massive upgrade.

He's unquestionably the best of his generation at his position. Not since Steve Nash in his prime has a point guard been arguably the best player in the league. Not since Allen Iverson in his prime has a point guard been so breathtaking to watch.

If you don't believe me, ask John Hollinger. The Memphis Grizzlies exec (and former ESPN stats guru) estimates that Jeremy Lin was 5.2 wins to the Rockets last season.

Chris Paul was worth 17.9—over three times as many.

The question is not what would happen to Paul. The Rockets would be daft not to covet him. And paired with Howard, Harden and Parsons, they'll be a heavy favorite to win it all.

The question is what will happen to Lin?

If the Rockets are serious about pursuing both Howard and Paul—and by all current accounts, they are—Lin and Asik have to go, along with others, like forward Thomas Robinson and swingman Carlos Delfino.

So do they make the trade beforehand in hopes of getting Paul? Or do they make it once Paul agrees in principle?

That's the rub. If Paul says yes, moving Lin will become imperative. And though there will be ready takers for Asik's $8.4 million dollar contract with two years remaining, Lin's will give teams much pause, simply because Asik's season was head and shoulders above Lin's. At this moment in time, Asik is undervalued, while Lin is overvalued.

That's not to say there aren't teams who would covet Lin. The Los Angeles Lakers need a reason to put bodies in the seats; the acquisition of Lin would still have an impact on their fanbase…certainly not as great as it would have last year, but solid nevertheless.

Further, since the Lakers appear strongly committed to coach Mike D'Antoni, reuniting him with his star pupil Lin gives both a chance to prove doubters wrong. It also gives Lin the perfect offense in which to succeed.

Finally, the Lakers do need a point guard, because Nash (when D'Antoni doesn't use him at the 2) is aging, and the Lakers' best backup is career journeyman Steve Blake.

Los Angeles would be a dream destination for the league as well, because Lin is a very popular player internationally, and with Kobe Bryant's return not a sure thing, Lin would give the Lakers a player to feature should they fail to re-sign Howard.

So let's say Howard says yes, but Paul is hemming and hawing. Should Morey pull the trigger on dealing Lin and Asik, like he did last year in amnestying Luis Scola in a preemptive move to clear cap space?

Not securing Paul would then be potentially devastating to Houston's title hopes. But waiting until other teams are set at the point guard and center positions to start swinging a trade might mean Paul would have to wait quite a while before signing on the dotted line.

That's not good for anyone.

Plus trading with another team will simply net the Rockets more assets, which won't help them complete the deal for Paul and Howard.

For example, the Philadelphia 76ers, assuming they choose not to re-sign Andrew Bynum, could use a center and a point guard, the latter to spell Jrue Holiday and also play the point when Holiday moves to off-guard. Problem is, what do the Rockets get in return? A sign-and-trade wouldn't help clear cap space; it would just saddle them with players—or a player like, perish the thought, Bynum—whom they'd have to turn around and deal again to either the Lakers or the Los Angeles Clippers.

All right, so what about the Clippers themselves? Could the Rockets work a sign-and-trade with them?

Actually, yes. Asik, in my opinion, is an upgrade over DeAndre Jordan, though not a massive one. They're fairly equal on points per 36 minutes, though without CP3 to toss him lobs, Jordan's point total might well be lower. Also, Jordan averages .7 fewer turnovers and .7 fewer blocks. Where Asik shines, though, is on the boards: He's averaging over three more rebounds per 36 minutes than Jordan.

At the point, the Clippers have Eric Bledsoe, who has talent, and finally showed a bit of a touch from long distance, albeit in limited attempts. But Bledsoe is not going to make the turnstiles at the Staples Center revolve.

Jeremy Lin would pique fan interest should Paul decide to depart. He and Asik won't make the Clippers contenders, but they'd at least make them marketable. I question whether they could score a better sign-and-trade than that one.

Lin and Asik together make $16.75 million. The current collective bargaining agreement allows a team giving up more than $9.8 million but less than $19.6 million to take on a salary equaling the outgoing salaries plus $5 million. That means a sign-and-trade for Lin and Asik gives the Rockets the right to accept up to a $21.75 million contract, which would cover either Howard or Paul.

If the Rockets are truly serious about signing both Howard and Paul, they'll have to clear a Brinks truck full of cap space, and they have no amnesty candidate left. And since Harden and small forward Chandler Parsons have zero chance of being dealt, Lin and Asik will be moved, make no mistake about it.

There are only three ways the Rockets could make a deal that actually clears enough cap space, though: a sign-and-trade with the Lakers, a sign-and-trade with the Clippers or trading for players the Lakers or Clippers would want more than those players, then doing a sign-and-trade for the newly acquired talent.

So if the Rockets do acquire both free agents, it's a pretty safe bet Lin will be moving to L.A. A fresh start, and one that likely comes with license to playmake, might be just what the doctor ordered for Lin.

And it's likely a move that would please most Lin fans.

But a starting lineup in Houston featuring Paul, Harden, Parsons and Howard is exactly what the doctor ordered if you're a Rocket fan.

Ohio State Football: How OSU's 2009 Recruiting Class Failed to Meet Expectations

Tim Bielik — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:12:24 -0400

Ohio State's 2009 recruiting class was ranked No. 1 by Scout.com, and only one player from that group—John Simon—was drafted by an NFL team.

While the much less-heralded 2010 recruiting class was a huge success, despite low expectations, 2009 was the opposite: lots of hype but little payoff.

The "Brew Crew" in 2008 received a tremendous amount of hype, and the class that followed it was expected to help propel the Buckeyes to their first national title since the 2002 season.

It never panned out that way.

Instead, the two classes played a role in one of the Buckeyes' worst chapters, where they went 6-7 in 2011.

While the 2008 class deserves a brunt of the blame with several of its top names among the "Suspended Five," the 2009 class deserves some blame as well for its long list of recruiting busts.

Dorian Bell, Melvin Fellows, Jaamal Berry, Duron Carter, Jamie Wood, Dominic Clarke, Jonathan Newsome, James Jackson and Corey Brown were all expected to be the leaders of the 2011 team. Instead, for one reason or another, none of those players even sniffed those expectations.

In fact, Wood and Brown were the only two of that group to be on the roster when Urban Meyer coached his first game in 2012.

Ohio State recruited and signed 25 players to the class of 2009. Not counting Carlos Hyde who enrolled at OSU the year before, 10 members of the class were not on the roster by the time OSU played Michigan last season, which was senior day for players who didn't redshirt like Simon, who was one of the few stars of the class.

Even more devastating is that, despite having 17 4-star players in the class, according to Scout.com, only eight started multiple games and had a reasonable impact on the football team.

That's a problem when less than half of the top players recruited by a team live up to minimal expectations of being spot starters.

Bell and Fellows were 5-star recruits, yet neither had any impact at all on the football team.

By comparison, the No. 2-ranked team in Scout.com's 2009 rankings, Alabama, had two 3-star recruits (James Carpenter and Chance Warmack) go in the first round.

A No. 1 recruiting class has the expectation of being the group that helps a team compete for national titles.

By that definition, the Ohio State 2009 recruiting class was a major failure. It was projected to bolster the defense, which has instead been very shaky the past two seasons.

The only positive from this group is that it has formed the framework for the Buckeyes' 2013 offensive line. Jack Mewhort, Corey Linsley and Marcus Hall are all among returning starters for a line that was greatly improved from the year before.

The hope is that those three can have another strong season and help the Buckeyes improve on a breakout year offensively.

Other than that and Simon's spectacular career, there's not a whole lot to like about the class of 2009.

There was some talent there, and some players had big moments, but there was so much more that should have happened.

Fans will remember it as class full of "what if's?"

Follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim for the latest college football news and updates.

Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Nani's Departure Is a Foregone Conclusion

Ryan Rudnansky — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

Nani was inconsistent last season at Manchester United.

In the wake of Robin van Persie's spectacular season, expect Nani to be gone soon.

As Mark Ogden of The Telegraph wrote:

With Monaco and Juventus both keen to sign Nani, the winger is understood to have told associates that he is ready to play in France or Italy next season after opting to end his six-year stint at Old Trafford.

Nani played just 11 games for Manchester United this past season, primarily because of the arrival of Van Persie, and he registered a mere one goal and two assists in the campaign, Van Persie exploded for 26 goals and eight assists, leading the charge as United won the Premier League by 11 points.

According to Ogden, both Nani and United are prepared to part if the club receives an offer of £8.5 million.

The truth is, United don't need Nani anymore. Not only has he been inconsistent, he's also a benchwarmer for the club now. Anything the club can get for him it will take. Such is the brutal nature of football.

And don't think Sir Alex Ferguson's departure means anything. New boss David Moyes is ready to plop Wilfried Zaha onto the first-team squad next month.

The problem now becomes whether or not United can even get £8.5 million for him.

Monaco has already spent more than £100 million this summer on Radamel Falcao and midfielders James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho. It's not like the club is eager to shelve out the dough for Nani, so Monaco has the upper hand in negotiations right now.

United may have to accept less for Nani in the end, while the 26-year-old will have to accept his fate, moving to wherever that may be. Those years when Nani had big moments for the club are history; he's now an afterthought likely to be pawned off.

The writing is on the wall for Nani. The ink just has to dry.

Manchester United Transfer News: Red Devils Wise to Take Look at Kevin Strootman

Richard Langford — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman is an ideal fit for Manchester United. He would be an excellent first signing of the summer for the Red Devils and new head man David Moyes.

This is something the club undoubtedly realizes, as they've spent their time scouting him. Strootman also has his sights on moving from PSV to the EPL.

This news comes to us via The Guardian:

Kevin Strootman's heart remains set on a move to the Premier League despite interest from across Europe, with Manchester United's chief scout having watched the player in action last week.

Manchester United's interest is not shocking. There have been links between the player and the club for some time. For instance, back in April, Express' James Dickenson reported that not only was Manchester United interested, but also Everton, which was under the guidance of Moyes at the time.

The 23-year-old has been rapidly playing himself into a hot commodity with the ability to fill several roles.

When Strootman broke through with Sparta Rotterdam, it was as a box-to-box midfielder. Last season, he was serving more as a deep-lying playmaker.

He still has the athletic ability to be a box-to-box midfielder, but it is on defense where he is at his best.

At 6'1" and with good upper-body strength, Strootman is a giant in the midfield. He can bully the opposition by holding them off the ball and winning possession.

He is a natural and gifted tackler, and while he will pick up his share of yellow cards, he plays with wisdom beyond his years. He sees the game well, and this allows Strootman to pick up numerous interceptions.

His awareness also allows him to slide back and fill defensive positions when a void is created.

Strootman has a strong left foot, and he is a solid passer, but he is not much of a goal-scoring threat. However, it's not like the potent United offense needs much help.

Given his size, it is no surprise that he doesn't possess elite speed, and he doesn't play with much pace, but those weaknesses are easy to overlook with his tremendous strengths.

Also, at 23, he's just scratching the surface of his potential. He has a long career ahead of him.

This would all be an invaluable fit for Manchester United as they look to beef up and reshape their midfield.

Acquiring Strootman would help the Red Devils not only fill a big hole in their lineup, but it would also help them get younger. This move is good for the present and the future. There is a lot to like about that.

Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Should End Luis Suarez Drama To Maximize Return

Justin Onslow — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

The Luis Suarez drama has to end at some point. The way things are going, it looks like it may very well end with Suarez leaving Anfield and Liverpool coming away with a massive payday.

According to Phil Thomas of The Sun, Liverpool want Suarez to put in a transfer request if he hopes to leave Anfield in favor of Real Madrid, as The Sun also noted on Twitter:

Suarez’s discontent in England has been well-documented, and it comes as no surprise Liverpool are tired of hearing about it. As quoted in a report from The Sun, the striker doesn’t feel at home in England:

My main reason is my family and my image — that is my priority now. It is a difficult moment for me. My coach and my colleagues know that they didn’t treat me well here. I don’t feel comfortable here anymore — they know it, so I think it is understandable that I leave. Firstly being persecuted by the paparazzi all the time. I couldn’t go to my garden or the supermarket, I couldn’t do anything. I know it’s normal being followed by the press but it was too much.

At this point, it seems highly unlikely Suarez will settle back in with Liverpool as all the drama dissipates. The longer the situation plays out; the worse it’s going to get.

And therein lies the problem for Liverpool. If the club waits to make a move and Suarez continues voicing his desire to leave, clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona are going to be less inclined to pay Liverpool’s asking price, reportedly as much as £50 million, according to The Guardian.

Obviously the Anfield giants don’t have a lot of leverage in the situation—and demanding an official transfer request was the right decision—but Liverpool can’t afford to let the situation drag on. Now is the time to strike a deal and move on.

£50 million is a reasonable asking price for the star striker, and that kind of money would certainly go a long way toward the club’s efforts to infuse more young talent via the transfer market. But if letting Suarez go for slightly less now (as opposed to losing out on more later) is an option, Liverpool have to pull the trigger.

If the situation drags on, Liverpool are going to reach the point of just wanting Suarez out the door and may be forced to accept far less than their original asking price. As is often the case in these situations, the seller typically comes away with far less than anticipated the longer they wait.

Some may hope Suarez has a change of heart and chooses to remain at Anfield, but those days are in the past. Now is the time for Liverpool to cut ties and walk away with a handsome payday while they still have time to put it to good use.

Arsenal Transfer News: Yaya Sanogo to Become Solid Long-Term Option for Gunners

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

While Arsenal focus on transfers to help next season, the club appears to have already secured a player who will be a long-term solution.

According to ESPN UK, Yaya Sanogo is prepared to sign with the Gunners thanks to a great persuasive effort by Arsene Wenger. He told France Football (via ESPN UK):

Gilles Grimandi [Arsenal scout] came to see me from time to time at Auxerre too. One day he called me for a meeting in a Paris hotel and Arsene Wenger was there. I was very impressed. Wenger told me I would get opportunities and reassured me about my injury. He told me he had followed me for years. That meeting was very important and today I am an Arsenal player.

This statement is not to be overlooked because it appears as though the 20-year-old player will have a relatively large role right away.

Via ESPN UK, back in May, Auxerre chairman Guy Cotret said of Wenger loaning Sanogo back to his club: "He will only loan him back to us if he considers the player is not ready to join his team after the pre-season preparations. Otherwise he will not loan him."

It appears as though the forward will be on the first team next season and will be asked to make an impact in a hurry.

While Sanogo has not faced the toughest competition, there is no denying his talent. He scored nine goals in eight games (four starts) for his club last season and consistently shows a great scoring touch around the net.

He also has great handle of the ball and knows how to beat defenders one-on-one if needed.

To this point, he has played on France's youth national teams, but he is certain to be a part of the senior squad within a few years.

Of course, the lack of experience could be a problem. It will be a big jump to the English Premier League, and the young player is likely to struggle in his first year on the first team. This is where a big-time transfer will take over, like target Gonzalo Higuain.

According to John Cross of Mirror Football, Arsenal are close to signing the Argentine striker after making a bid in the coming days.

In the meantime, Sanogo will continue to learn from veteran players while getting some playing time as he gets better throughout the year. A year or two down the line, he could be a solid contributor to help the squad contend for a league title.

It is not only the high-priced transfers that help a club become elite. Sanogo is the type of player that will fly under the radar but make a big impact down the line.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest updates in sports.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Asier Illarramendi Is Perfect Fit for Gunners

Timothy Rapp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

Sure, we're all aware of the rumours linking Gonzalo Higuain to Arsenal this summer. And while that would surely thrill Arsenal fans, there's another play the team has been linked to that would be a perfect fit for the Gunners.

Arsenal fans, meet holding midfielder Asier Illarramendi. From Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail:

Meanwhile, The Gunners are leading the chase for Spain Under-21 international Asier Illarramendi.

The £10 million-rated Real Sociedad defensive midfielder has been outstanding all season and has attracted attention from Real Madrid.

Arsenal have also been monitoring Gilbert Imbula—as revealed in Sportsmail—but Illaramendi would fit well alongside fellow Basque Mikel Arteta.

Illarramendi seems like the perfect fit for the Gunners. He's a young, highly talented player who is sturdy enough to man the holding role but technically gifted enough to spur the play forward. Plus, he's a cheaper alternative to another player the team has been linked to, Everton's Marouane Fellaini, per the Mirror.

And we all know Arsene Wenger likes himself a tidy bit of business over a big and expensive splash whenever possible.

If you are wondering what player the Spanish youngster compares to, Bleacher Report's tactical analyst, Sam Tighe, compared his game to Sergio Busquets of Barcelona and offered the following scouting report:

He shields his back four perfectly, patrolling the deeper areas and sticking a foot in when needed. His identification process is excellent, shifting wide at the right times and tracking attacking runs with aplomb.

When he needs to, he can put in a real cruncher of a challenge.

In possession he's superb too, and doesn't hinder his side like many holding midfielders do by recycling pointless passes to his full-backs and midfield partner; Illarra is adept at moving the ball between the lines, forcing positive passes through into tight spaces.

It's easy to imagine him pairing with either Mikel Arteta or Aaron Ramsey in the midfield behind Jack Wilshere or Santi Cazorla in the 4-2-3-1 the Gunners seem to be playing with more regularity. If the Gunners slide back into a 4-3-3, he would be in the hole right in front of the defense behind a more advanced midfield pairing.

He was very solid for Real Sociedad this season, making 32 stars and earning a 7.18 rating at Who Scored. He also started four games for Spain's U-21 championship side (and appeared in a fifth), anchoring a young midfield that completely dominated the tournament.

While some folks may want a more physical specimen in the holding role—he's about 5'9" and 170 pounds—or a rangier option, Illarramendi has a solid build and makes up for a lack of pace with his solid reading of the game and quick reactions.

While Arteta filled in admirably in a deeper role, he's far better advanced up the pitch where he can be a more creative force. He has neither the build nor the defensive inclination to be used in a deeper role again.

He did his job this season, but for Arsenal to take the next step, a more natural holding player must reside in the position.

It seems unlikely that Illarramendi could be had for as low a cost as Mokbel's report suggests, but he most certainly should be a target for the club.

Chelsea Transfer News: Why Acquisition of Andre Schurrle Will Haunt Blues

Mike Chiari — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

Midfielder Andre Schurrle is a rising star in the world of soccer, so Chelsea is likely quite happy with its recent acquisition of the German national. Due to surplus of talent at his particular position, however, the Blues ultimately won't get their money's worth out of him.

According to Martin Lipton of the Mirror, Chelsea completed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen for Schurrle worth £20 million. It is Jose Mourinho's first signing in his second stint at Chelsea and one that the Blues have reportedly been trying to broker for a very long time.

There is no question that Schurrle is a promising player, as the 22-year-old netted 14 goals last year and already has seven tallies in 24 appearances for the German national team. It's difficult to imagine Schurrle earning regular playing time at Chelsea as he did in the Bundesliga, though.

With talented midfielders such as Eden Hazard, Oscar, Victor Moses and Marko Marin already in place, there may not be a spot for Schurrle in the starting lineup. He could be a super sub who would provide Chelsea with great pace and energy off the bench late in games, but his role should be more significant than that considering what it cost to bring him in.

While Chelsea is obviously one of the richest teams in the world, not even the Blues can afford to throw £20 million at a player without making it worthwhile. That £20 million could have easily gone to someone who will make an instant impact and perhaps help Chelsea usurp the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City in the EPL next season.

Schurrle could potentially be that player if Mourinho finds a spot for him, but that is far from guaranteed at this point. The addition of Schurrle is likely to lead to a couple departures as well in the form of Juan Mata and Kevin De Bruyne. It can certainly be argued that both of those players are better fits for Chelsea currently.

According to Jim Daly of the Mirror, Mata and Mourinho aren't on the same page, so he is a prime candidate to be moved. Chelsea obviously wants to avoid animosity between the coach and his players, but Mata racked up 19 goals and 35 assists, so there is no question that a scoring void would be left if he were to go elsewhere.

As for De Bruyne, he has yet to play for Chelsea as he was loaned to Werder Bremen last season. The rising Belgian star showed flashes of greatness, and he actually outperformed Schurrle from a statistical perspective, according to EPL Index.

According to John Edwards of the Daily Mail, De Bruyne is prepared to play elsewhere as he is unsure of Mourinho's intentions. Based on the fact that he was willing to spend big bucks on another midfielder, the writing appears to be on the wall when it comes to De Bruyne.

It simply seems odd that Chelsea is reportedly willing to move an ultra-productive player in Mata and walk away from De Bruyne as well in favor of a player who has yet to fully prove himself. If Schurrle lives up to his potential, then Chelsea could possibly have a steal on its hands, but he may not be put in a position to succeed.

Schurrle could already be on the losing end of a numbers game at Chelsea, so he could very well be set up to fail. Unless Mourinho comes up with some creative and effective ways to utilize Schurrle early in his tenure, look for the Chelsea faithful to turn on the German midfielder at some point.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Cost-Effective Moves the Los Angeles Lakers Could Make in Free Agency

Jacob Keimach — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:55:48 -0400

The Los Angeles Lakers have little room to operate in free agency this offseason, owing $66.8 million to a core four of Kobe Bryant ($30.5 million), Pau Gasol ($19.3 million), Steve Nash ($9.3 million) and Metta World Peace ($7.7 million).

All that before presenting Dwight Howard with a five-year, $118 million offer. Signing Howard is a legal breach of the salary cap because the team received his Larry Bird veteran retention rights when he was traded from the Orlando Magic.

The NBA salary cap will be set at $58.5 million next season, so we know the Lakers will once again exceed that limit. The luxury-tax bar will be set at a steeper price in 2013 and extend to include a repeat offenders tax. In total, the Lakers franchise is sure to exceed the $30 million payment it incurred last season when its roster also toppled $100 million.

Luckily, the Lakers also just signed a franchise-defining contract with Time Warner that is supposed to earn the Purple and Gold up to $5 billion over 25 years, per Mark Ozanian of Forbes. The TV deal will bring in enough revenue to cover all basketball expenses, so expect that if the Lakers see talent they value, they'll go and get it.

Under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, the Lakers have themselves in position to do minimum spending outside of a big chunk for Howard. That's what we're here to talk about anyway, right?

What moves can the Lakers make using the mid-level exception, and can they find value to sign at the veteran minimum?

In my opinion, the Lakers need to add a point guard and a solid frontcourt player this offseason. Not only will the additions support the current strengths of the roster, but they will also serve as a durable foundation for the rebuild ahead.

Here's my quick list of top options for each.

Point Guard

The Lakers could offer free agent Will Bynum their mid-level exception, which would total in and around $3.1 million over a three-year period.

Bynum is an optimistic get for L.A. because he earned $3.5 million last season with the Detroit Pistons and likely played well enough to earn a match in pay. If nobody else seeks Bynum's talent, the Pistons would likely make such an offer themselves, per Drew Garrison of SB Nation.

Perhaps Aaron Brooks of the Houston Rockets is a more realistic bet for L.A. Brooks will be available if the Rockets decide not to pick up his $2.5 million option for next season.

The buzz around Houston offering two max contracts, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, would likely see Brooks left out of the shuffle. I'd hardly be surprised if Los Angeles became an interested suitor.

Brooks won the Most Improved Player award in 2009-10, but hasn't quite lived up to the potential he then created for himself. Still, he's energetic and can spell Nash.

With Steve Nash requiring more rest than ever, the Lakers need a quality engine to make the reserve unit go. Brooks has the ball-handling and court vision to create offensive opportunities for his teammates.

And can score in bunches!

Even better is the fact that the Lakers could offer him a short-term offer to get a feel for his production. This year, he'd bolster the quickness of lagging point guards Nash and Steve Blake.

Big Man

I don't blame you for balking at the idea of the Lakers adding another big man. After all, they guaranteed Pau a bit too much money and are offering Dwight even more.

Taking these things into consideration, I still believe the Lakers need a quality reserve forward to play behind Pau. Should they decide to lay really low, they could seek a meeting with former Sacramento King Cole Aldrich. He's an unrestricted free agent, hasn't gotten many minutes in his career but wouldn't really need to with L.A.

That'd be a disappointing but semi-predictable vision of a Lakers backup big man.

I say they go for DeJuan Blair from the San Antonio Spurs.

Blair is not a part of the Spurs' current championship rotation, but could become a find for L.A. and for a reasonable price. Blair would be a useful power forward option off the bench. He'd even be compatible with Jordan Hill.

He was a terrific rebounder in college and has shown flashes of brilliance in his young NBA career.

Together, Hill and Blair would make a formidable rebounding duo.

As the front office has indicated that it wants to keep premier talent at the center position—even in the midst of the league trending toward mid-sized athletes—the Lakers will need bodies to absorb some of the wear and tear from the stars.

Blair didn't quite get over the hump and reach Gregg Popovich's trusted finals unit. He'd get a chance to have further impact with Los Angeles and is a good physical match for the style of play the Lakers are gearing toward.

The Lakers would optimally sign him at a veteran's three-year minimum price of just under $1 million per season. That't be a fantastic bargain and an unexpected draw for L.A.

So?

The Lakers basketball team was not good enough in 2012-13. I''ll grant mercy points for dealing with terrible injury luck. But if you're watching the NBA Finals and followed the Lakers season, you can see the distant gap between good and best.

Unfortunately for L.A., the rebuilding process will take a full calendar year of patience. 2014 free agency holds the key to the long-term future of Los Angeles' organization. Until then, we won't know the true direction the Lakers will follow once Kobe retires.

That conclusion is separate from the conclusion that there is talent on the market for L.A. to acquire now—and at reasonable price.

All current salary information came from HoopsHype and cap information from Hoopsworld.

Realistic Draft Targets for the Utah Jazz

Andy Bailey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:54:30 -0400

The Utah Jazz have three draft picks in the 2013 NBA draft and prospects like Miami's Shane Larkin or Germany's Dennis Schröder could be in play for them.

They have the rights to two first-round picks (No. 14 and No. 21), and one more in the second round (No. 46). Point guard is probably the biggest need and Larkin and Schröder will be realistic targets with the 14th overall pick.

And since they're not really set at any position for next year, they could go with a wing or a big with their later selections.

Here's a more thorough look at whom the Jazz may be targeting in the 2013 draft.

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Manu Ginobili 'Devastated' After Spurs' Crushing Game 6 Defeat to Miami

Jesse Dorsey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:44:59 -0400

After the San Antonio Spurs let a championship slip just out of their fingers in Game 6 as the Miami Heat came back and took a 103-100 victory in overtime Tuesday night, Manu Ginobili stands out.

Ginobili was miserable in the potential NBA Finals clincher, his team having entered with a 3-2 series lead. He fumbled away a career-high eight turnovers, including a shot knocked out of his hands and into Ray Allen's with just under two seconds remaining in overtime, and let his frustration show.

After Allen knocked down his free throws and Danny Green's desperation three-pointer was blocked by Chris Bosh, the Spurs were forced to tuck their tail between their collective legs and regroup for a Game 7 in Miami Friday night.

Unfortunately for the Spurs, Ginobili didn't exactly exude confidence in the postgame press conference.

"I have no clue how we're going to be re-energized [for Game 7]. I'm devastated." Manu Ginobili
— Ben Golliver (@blazersedge) June 19, 2013

While Ginobili argued on the court that his final turnover was forced by a foul, that doesn't take away the other seven cough-ups he had in Game 6. Or the minus-21 rating he posted with his nine points and three assists.

The fact remains that he was utterly terrible in the most important game of the season for the Spurs, and you could even argue that he's directly responsible for them not winning a championship on Tuesday night.

San Antonio held a four-point lead with less than 30 seconds left in the game, and Ginobili went to the line to give the Spurs a six-point advantage that would be borderline insurmountable.

He made just one of two free throws (same as Kawhi Leonard a few seconds later), LeBron James and Ray Allen hit three-pointers, and on to overtime we went.

Regardless of what Ginobili said after the loss, he and the Spurs will have to find a way to get re-energized. Otherwise the Heat could run away with a championship that was so nearly headed to San Antonio.

Gregg Popovich Chokes Away Spurs' Best Shot at NBA Title

Zach Buckley — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:43:46 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs wanted their season to come to a close with Tuesday night's Game 6.

Sure, this was only the first of San Antonio's two chances to secure the title, but neither of those two games would be held on its home floor. A win on Tuesday would've been an emphatic exclamation point at the end of its dynasty. A loss would bring a number of question marks between now and Thursday's Game 7.

Coach Gregg Popovich allotted his minutes accordingly. Tim Duncan, a 37-year-old 16-year veteran, tied his season-high with 44. Tony Parker, who's been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury, logged 43. Manu Ginobili, who gave away eight of San Antonio's 13 turnovers, played 35.

But Popovich's paper-thin rotation was far from his biggest coaching gaffe. Well, except for maybe Ginobili's prolonged run:

Gregg Popovich had a bad night. Manu Ginobli had no business playing. That was obvious early and often.
— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) June 19, 2013

All of this would have been forgiven if the Spurs ultimately found themselves on the right side of the scoreboard.

But thanks to a pair of crunch-time triples from LeBron James and Ray Allen and an untimely showing of the legendary coach's mortality, that wasn't the case.

The Spurs carried a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter, but they watched it all dissipate over the next 12 minutes. San Antonio's meager five-point showing in overtime wasn't enough to ward off the backs-against-the-wall Miami Heat, who lived to see another day with a 103-100 win.

With nothing more than two sleepless nights left separating these teams from a winner-take-all Game 7, Popovich would love to fast-forward the next 40-odd hours. Surely he didn't seem like he'd be searching for the rewind button during the postgame press conference:

Gregg Popovich might choke a reporter tonight
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) June 19, 2013

The what-if questions are going to haunt this team until the opening tip gets tossed on Thursday night.

So why not let the haunting begin here?

What if Popovich hadn't benched Duncan with 28 seconds left and the Spurs holding a five-point lead? Given that Erik Spoelstra sidelined his own big man, Chris Bosh, during the same break, it would have led to a tough matchup, but it's hard to imagine Duncan not tracking down at least one of Miami's two crucial offensive boards that set up James and Allen's bombs:

#spurs coach Gregg Popovich is a genius, but not having Tim Duncan on floor late in reg. was huge. Mia got 2 boards that led to 3s for #Heat
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) June 19, 2013

What if Popovich had just left Parker on the floor for the entire final 79 seconds of the extra session rather than pull him twice with a title on the line? Presumably that pulls the ball out of Ginobili's hands, who coughed up turnovers seven and eight in the final 45 seconds of the contest.

The Spurs' legacy is already set. Popovich's team wasn't expected to be in this position, so surely his career wasn't going to go down in the history books based off of this series alone.

But that doesn't free the coach from facing the same criticisms that would hammer his peers under the same circumstances:

Gregg Popovich coached like Vinny Del Negro at crunch time, with a title on the line.
— Marcel Mutoni (@marcel_mutoni) June 19, 2013

There's not going to be another 30-point, 17-rebound effort coming from Duncan. That's not me saying that; it's the body of work he's put forth over the last two months.

Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and 11 rebounds in this game. His last 20-10 game? A Spurs loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder back on April 4.

Another disastrous game from Ginobili would surprise no one; he's been a non-factor in five of the six games in this series.

This was a game the Spurs had to win. Not just because Miami's a 46-7 team at home, but because San Antonio had that 10-point lead with 12 minutes left, that five-point edge with 28 seconds remaining:

That was probably San Antonio's best punch. No matter how you slice it, Spurs choked. And that's on Gregg Popovich.
— Got 'Em Coach (@GotEm_Coach) June 19, 2013

And then Popovich lost his cool. He forgot why the Spurs were even in this position to begin with:

Almost any other coach but Pop would be ripped for the last moments of regulation and OT..no Duncan, no Parker, no sense
— Bill Plaschke (@BillPlaschke) June 19, 2013

Popovich has the kind of wildly successful coaching resume that we're never supposed to question.

But on Tuesday night, with a fifth championship ring at his fingertips, he left us with no other choice.

Follow @Hoops_Guru

Miami Heat Fans Leave Game 6 Early and Miss Team's OT Win

Ryan Rudnansky — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:43:26 -0400

Miami Heat fans have developed a reputation recently of not being the most faithful to their team.

Tuesday night could not have proven that point any more.

There was a mass exodus of Heat fans at AmericanAirlines Arena down the stretch in Game 6 on Tuesday. You know, the same Game 6 that saw the Heat come from behind in the fourth quarter. The same Game 6 that saw Ray Allen force overtime with a three-pointer with five seconds left. The same Game 6 that saw Chris Bosh block Danny Green at the buzzer in overtime.

The Dan Le Batard Show tweeted:

Le Batard added:

When fans heard the Heat were mounting a furious comeback, they reportedly begged to be let back into the arena, but weren't allowed to.

Victor Oquendo of WPLG tweeted:

Well, perhaps the guilty will learn their lesson: never lose hope in your team.

Game 6 was a stunning display of resiliency by the defending champions. Their season appeared to be over and done with when they found themselves down by five points with 28 seconds left. One missed free throw and two three-pointers later, they had forced overtime.

The Heat found themselves trailing by three points with 2:42 remaining in overtime, but went on to score six unanswered points down the stretch to force a Game 7.

For fans of perennially-struggling franchises, what some Heat fans did on Tuesday night was inexcusable. It was the kind of display that gives an entire city a bad reputation.

We can only hope Heat fans show up and stay at Game 7. That's the least they can do at this point, for the sake of die-hard sports fans everywhere.

Six Early Winners and Losers of the Chargers Offseason

Alex Ramirez — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:37:34 -0400

With less than 80 games left till the regular season begins, it's time to start recognizing who's hot and who's not this offseason. Whether an acquisition or injury occurred, there are a few players not enjoying the summer. Sometimes, too much media attention can hurt as well.

No one, and I mean no one, is predicting the San Diego Chargers to have a good season in 2013. Even with the second-easiest schedule in the league, no one is giving them a chance.

This doesn't mean you should sleep on them this year. They are going to shock many, but let's focus on the right now.

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Takeaways from Unforgettable NBA Finals Game 6

Josh Martin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:34:34 -0400

Wow. Just...wow.

What more could you ask for from an NBA Finals game? Great players from two great teams making big plays in crunch time.

That's what basketball fans were treated to in Game 6, which the Miami Heat won 103-100 in overtime against the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night. It was an instant classic, and one that Thursday's Game 7 will have a tough time topping.

(LeBron James would probably agree.)

Not that it won't. You can bet some theatrics will ensue when no fewer than seven Hall of Famers are involved in a winner-take-all tussle for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

But before we get too wrapped up in a hotly anticipated season finale, let's look back at the biggest takeaways from Game 6.

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King Mo Lawal Talks Fickle Fans, Newton's Fluke Win and His Path to the Gold

Damon Martin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:34:08 -0400

It's been six months since former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion "King" Mo Lawal made his debut with Bellator, and while not everything has gone right inside the cage, life is good on the outside.

Lawal inked his deal with the promotion after his release from Strikeforce last year, but his contract with Bellator was unlike anything else that had ever been done in the industry up to that point. The deal points including a long-term fight contract with Bellator, along with a deal to begin his pro-wrestling career at TNA Impact Wrestling.

Since he signed with the promotion, he's seen his fair share of fighters bashing Bellator like it's the fun thing to do right now. He's watched former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez's contract situation unfold while fans and journalists alike have jumped on the bandwagon to slam the promotion for their perceived mistreatment of athletes.

The fact is, according to Lawal, there's always going to be disgruntled employees—whether it's in Bellator, the UFC or players making millions of dollars in the NFL.

"Not everybody can be happy," Lawal told Bleacher Report recently. "There's guys that are unhappy in the UFC, but just won't speak out."

Despite the fact that he no longer works with Zuffa (parent company of the UFC), who he fought for while competing under the Strikeforce brand, Lawal still cherishes the time he spent with the promotion. He's now even happier to be competing for Bellator and pursuing his dream as a pro wrestler in TNA.

To hear Lawal explain it, some places are just a better fit for certain fighters. That's why he was happy to welcome in former UFC fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who will join him on the Bellator and TNA rosters later this year.

"You can't please everybody. With me, I had a great time at Strikeforce, I'm having a lovely time with TNA and Bellator," Lawal said. "I'll speak on me, I'm loving it. You can ask Joe Warren, he's loving it. Ask Rampage, I told him you made the best move. I texted him and was like this is the best move you could have made, dog. Now you'll be treated like a human being and you're going to be respected."

Respect is the key word for Lawal when talking about his promoters at Bellator. They treat him like a professional athlete, and he appreciates everything they've done for him thus far.

Lawal knows, however, the same can't be said for some fans who are going to make up their opinions about him or Bellator, and there's just no changing some people.

"You're going to be respected by your co-workers and the people you work for—the fans f—k them," Lawal stated emphatically. "Because some fans, the ones that are positive, show them love. I ain't got time for negativity just like (Rampage) doesn't have time for negativity. You just block the haters out."

The "haters," as Lawal puts it, came out in full force when he lost his last fight to Emanuel Newton back in February. The fight was supposed to be Lawal's path to the Bellator tournament finals, where he would then earn a shot at the light heavyweight title.

Instead, Lawal was a victim of a devastating spinning back fist knockout that landed him on the wrong end of a highlight reel that even made it to Joe Rogan's podcast when he just so happened to be interviewing UFC President Dana White at the time.

The loss doesn't necessarily haunt Lawal the way that some defeats always pop up for a fighter, but he's not exactly letting it go either.

"After I lost that fluke match to (Emanuel) Newton, granted congratulations throwing the spinning back fist. You just threw it, you didn't know, but whatever I got caught," Lawal said about the loss. "The fact that he said he looked over his shoulder before throwing the spinning back first? Please. Get out of here with that. Come on. Like he's Neo from The Matrix or something."

One day soon, Lawal knows he will cross paths with Newton again, and he plans for a much different outcome in the rematch.

"I want it. The thing is my goal is to get that belt. So if I have to whoop his ass to get the belt, that would be even better," Lawal said about Newton. "If he loses to Attila Vegh, and he has to fight his way to get to me, then he'll get an ass whooping when he gets to me. Eventually, I will see him."

Lawal will be starting back on his path to the title on Wednesday, and to borrow a page from his pro-wrestling personality, he quoted the infamous legend Ric Flair for his inspiration to get back to the Bellator gold.

"We're in Bellator—you have to beat the man to be the man," Lawal said. "I know it's going to happen."

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Should Boston Celtics Trade into 2013 NBA Draft Lottery Using Paul Pierce?

Grant Rindner — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:34:04 -0400

With news of the potential Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett deal with the Los Angeles Clippers falling through, according to ESPN Los Angeles' Ramona Shelburne, the collective eyes of the Boston Celtics faithful are beginning to shift to the future of Paul Pierce.

While Pierce was not a direct part of the Clippers rumor, there is still widespread speculation that the 10-time All-Star, who was nearly dealt to the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline, could be moved imminently.

Pierce is coming off of another solid season in which he averaged 18.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 38 percent from three-point range, and is sure to garner interest in the offseason from title contenders who feel they need an added scoring punch. However, another option for Boston is to look to move him to a lottery team and move itself up in the draft.

The Celts currently hold the 16th pick in the draft, and while there is always the small chance of finding a star in the mid-first round. Players like Kelly Olynyk, Shane Larkin, Gorgui Dieng and Mason Plumlee are all good, experienced players, but none of them are going to emerge as the kind of building block that Boston needs.

Although it's unlikely that one of the teams in the top five of the lottery is going to look to absorb Pierce and his substantial salary for the 2013-14 campaign, there are teams that are close to breaking into the playoffs that might consider adding the former finals MVP.

One possibility is to pursue a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were viewed by many as a dark-horse playoff squad before a slew of injuries resulted in a disappointing 31-51 finish.

Though Minnesota has Andrei Kirilenko and Derrick Williams at the wings currently, it is woefully thin at the shooting guard spot and could use a player capable of stretching the floor and creating offense for himself and his teammates. With Kevin Love sidelined for all but 18 games, the Timberwolves averaged just 95.7 points per game, good for 20th in the league.

The teams could swing a deal that would center on Pierce and the 16th overall pick for Williams and the ninth pick. Williams averaged a respectable 12 points and 5.5 rebounds as a sophomore, and the C's could use the ninth pick to draft a player like Cody Zeller or Alex Len who could help plug Boston's hole down low.

Another similar move would be to ship Pierce to Detroit along with the 16th pick for Rodney Stuckey and the eighth pick. Moving up to eighth would give them an opportunity to possibly snag Shabazz Muhammad, a gifted wing scorer who could give the team some much-needed perimeter offense.

Stuckey is only under contract for one more season at $8.5 million, and bringing Pierce to the Motor City would give the Pistons a veteran presence in the locker room to help mentor Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight and Andre Drummond while potentially making them a playoff threat in the Eastern Conference.

If Boston desperately wants to vault itself into the upper part of the lottery, it could consider engaging the New Orleans Pelicans in talks for Pierce. The Pelicans are thin at the center position and might be interested in acquiring Jared Sullinger.

A deal of Pierce, Sully, Jordan Crawford and the 16th pick for a package of role players like Jason Smith and Lance Thomas in addition to the sixth pick would give Boston the chance to grab one of the few impact players available in the 2013 draft.

Should a player like Otto Porter or Anthony Bennett slip a bit, the Celtics would have the chance to snatch him up and add a strong piece to their young core. Both Porter and Bennett provide unique skill sets offensively: Bennett with his rebounding and outside shooting, and Porter with his mid-range game and playmaking. Having one of them could potentially expedite the C's' rebuilding process and give Rajon Rondo another youthful running mate.

Beyond those three moves, though, it is tough to envision what Boston could do to make a meaningful leap upwards in the draft. Dealing Pierce to a team like Philadelphia, Dallas or Oklahoma City is a possibility, but is it worth losing Pierce just to move up a few spots in a relatively weak draft class.

Even the moves suggested here are far from guarantees given the lack of any "sure thing" player in this group of prospects. It would be one thing if this draft had the kind of top-shelf talent that many expect from the 2014 draft, but this is a year where even potential top-three picks like Nerlens Noel and Trey Burke may not be able to make a significant impact at the NBA level.

There is also the matter of what sending Pierce to a lottery team would do for a fanbase that has watched him mature and grow for 15 seasons. Given that Pierce does not have much time left playing at a high level, to see him languish on a team years away from a playoff run would be undoubtedly saddening.

Though he struggled somewhat against New York's stingy defense, averaging 5.3 turnovers per game, Pierce still managed to throw up 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists while playing more of a point-forward role with Rondo down.

Pierce's shooting at the rim is down slightly (64.8 percent in 2011-12, 62 percent in 2012-13), and he is hoisting more threes than he has since the 2006-07 season. But his ability to play strong defense and hit big-time shots is undeniable. His PER has also basically stayed the same over the past six years, hovering around 19.

For a team that has a rebuild looming on the horizon, trading up in the draft is never a bad idea. However, because of the uncertain nature of this crop of prospects and the mysteries surrounding the future of the Boston Celtics franchise, it would simply be too risky for Danny Ainge and the front office to gamble on moving Pierce just to move up in the draft.

A major move may soon be coming for Boston, but it should not come in the form of a Paul Pierce-based attempt to squeeze into the draft lottery.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat Game 6: Video Highlights and Recap

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:32:03 -0400

That. Was. Extraordinary.

For five games, the world was crying in outrage, as few games of the 2013 NBA Finals were competitive. Fortunately for those that were willing to wait, Game 6 was one of the best games we've seen all season long.

Talk about being worth the price of admission.

Ray Allen was the hero of the game, hitting a three-pointer with 5.2 seconds remaining to force overtime. LeBron James added a triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, while Mario Chalmers stepped up with 20 huge points on 7-of-11 shooting.

Allen finished with nine.

For the Spurs, Tim Duncan went off for 30 points and 17 rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard added 22 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Tony Parker finished with 19 points and eight assists, including a fourth-quarter spurt for the ages.

Manu Ginobili added nine points on just five field-goal attempts.

The question is: Were the Heat able to capitalize on Allen's momentous three-pointer and pick up the victory? Or were the Spurs able to overcome the late rally and win the 2013 NBA Championship?

Check the video provided above to find out.