Bleacher Report - Front Page

New York Knicks: There's Nowhere to Go but Down for Carmelo Anthony and Company

Chris Landers — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:18:40 -0400

Well New York Knicks fans, for better or worse, this is it.

These Knicks captivated us, bringing back magic to the Garden that hasn't been seen since the Clinton administration. But they seemed to hit a wall against the Pacers—Indiana took them out of their game, pushed them around and got under their skin (so much for veteran leadership) and watched them unravel.

It's hard to believe that this team underachieved, that the ceiling is significantly higher than what we saw this season.

New York is what we saw: a good team, a contending team, but not a championship team. It's clearly a couple of pieces away, and those pieces don't seem to be attainable in the near future.

Given the rapid decline of Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony needs a supplementary star, a reliable second contributor. And as much as we've embraced him (and vice versa), that can't be J.R. Smith. For all the talk of how he had proved his doubters wrong, he proved once again during these playoffs that he cannot be entirely trusted—probably ever.

As much as New York has grown to love Tyson Chandler (this past six-game aberration notwithstanding), the Knicks sacrificed a chance at signing another max contract player when they signed him. Now they find themselves hamstrung financially without any real movable assets.

The Knicks aren't going to blow up their core—'Melo, Amar'e and Tyson aren't going anywhere. And outside of that, what on this roster can serve as a bargaining chip? What will be the return for Steve Novak or Jason Kidd?

The only movable asset would seem to be Iman Shumpert, and after the strides he made this year and his importance to the team, is that something the Knicks would really be comfortable with?

New York will be a non-factor in free agency, and so all Glen Grunwald has to work with is the $3 million mid-level exception and a middling draft pick in a historically weak pool of players. Mike Woodson can talk about improvement all he wants, but that doesn't seem very likely—not when you're relying on a core of guys all 30 and up (Carmelo will be 29-and-a-half by the time next season starts).

Put simply, the Knicks are only getting older, and they don't seem to be able to get much better.

This team gave us everything it had, taking us on one hell of a ride. Which is why it seemed like such a bittersweet symphony, the swansong of a group we've hardly gotten to know.

This team has definite holes—a lack of any inside scoring, youth on the wing, replacements at the point for Kidd and (probably) Pablo Prigioni—and lacks the means to remedy them. Grunwald has shown himself to be a quality front office mind; he just doesn't have any bullets left in his chamber.

NBA Do More Moments of Week 5

Bleacher Report Productions — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:15:34 -0400

As the NBA Finals creep closer, NBA players find themselves in danger of going home before the big show.

Who is going to show up in this week’s video? Will it be the always-dominating LeBron James with a highlight dunk? Or will it be the Pacers' Roy Hibbert's highlight rejection of Carmelo at the rim?

Pacers vs. Heat Video: Watch LeBron James Sink OT Game-Winning Layup in Game 1

Justin Onslow — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:14:49 -0400

Sometimes the difference between a win and a loss is as slight as a brush of the wrist.

Fortunately for the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade’s sixth foul didn’t cost them Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and they can thank LeBron James for that.

With time expiring in overtime, James took his team on his shoulders once again and drove to the lane past Indiana Pacers forward Paul George to drop in the game-winning bucket as the game clock hit triple zero, boosting the Heat to a thrilling 103-102 victory.

It was the superstar’s first game-winning overtime bucket since 2009, via ESPN Stats & Info:

Those last 2 shots by LeBron were his 1st game-tying or go-ahead shots in final 24 sec of playoff game since his 2009 buzzer-beater vs ORL.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 23, 2013

James turned in his typical playoff performance in the contest, tallying 30 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks in 47 minutes on the court. But as impressive as his final stat line was, those two points defined his performance.

It was fitting that James beat George to the hole on the final play of the game. The Indiana forward twice put the Pacers on his shoulders, first with a 32-footer to send the game to overtime and again prior to James’ game-winning bucket with three clutch free throws to give Indiana a one-point lead.

Unfortunately for George, his contributions were overshadowed by his final defensive collapse in the waning seconds of the game.

Game 1 was a fitting preview for the remainder of the series, though. Despite Miami’s torrid pace in the first two rounds of the playoffs, Indiana showed it won’t go down without a fight in the conference finals.

If the opening contest is any indication, fans are in for a tremendous playoff series from the final two teams standing in the Eastern Conference.

The Shield's Domination of WWE Has Only Just Begun

Sebastian Maldonado — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:14:18 -0400

The Shield’s domination of the WWE has only just begun.

That’s a bold statement considering The Shield’s journey since their debut at Survivor Series. They are undefeated in six-man tag matches and achieved milestone victories at Extreme Rules.

Dean Ambrose brought The Shield their first championship by defeating Kofi Kingston for the United States title. Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns ended the night by taking the WWE Tag Team titles from Team Hell No, which makes them the first faction to have all members hold titles at the same time since Evolution in 2003.

The Shield continued their dominance by defeating Team Hell No and Kingston in a six-man tag on the May 20 edition of Raw. They’re showing no signs of slowing down, and they consistently bring excitement to the WWE.

Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns electrify the crowd in any match they’re in. They bring an unpredictable element that is sorely lacking in the wrestling industry today.

Their passion for the wrestling business shines through not just in their matches, but also in their promos. The Shield captivates us with straightforward promos thanks to their delivery along with the fact that each character is distinct from the other.

Ambrose is the technician of the group, which is why it makes sense for him to capture the first singles title of the three. Rollins is the risk taker, as he dives through the ropes with ease. Reigns is their soft-spoken powerhouse, who quickly became a factor of the group since their debut.

Each man doesn’t sound like the other, either. They bring their unique skills to every facet of the wrestling world, almost like an A-Team, minus Hannibal Smith of course.

They are united by one goal: bring justice to the WWE. The Shield has the United States and World Tag Team titles in their possession. Every wrestler that has done battle against Ambrose, Reigns and Rollins has failed.

It doesn’t look like The Shield will slow down anytime soon.

Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat: Game 1 Score, Highlights and Analysis

Michael Walsh — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:11:30 -0400

The air was completely let out of AmericanAirlines Arena, but LeBron James found a way to inflate it again. His Game 1 heroics pushed the Miami Heat to a 103-102 overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday night.

James had the place rocking with a layup inside 10 seconds to give the Heat the lead. However, everything fell silent when Dwyane Wade fouled Paul George on a long three-point attempt. After George hit all three, one could hear a pindrop in South Beach.

Yet, with just 2.2 seconds on the clock, James found time for one more masterful display. He took the inbounds pass and blew by George to kiss the glass as it lit up red.

James had himself his ninth career playoff triple-double, going for 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

George scored eight points in overtime, proving he is the star that the Pacers will need to compete with the Heat in this series. He also drilled the three-pointer to send the game to overtime, from about 30 feet out. He totaled 27 points on the night.

Miami's second star came from an unlikely spot on the bench. Chris Andersen was enormous for the Heat, cleaning up the paint offensively. He went 7-of-7 for 16 points in just 18 minutes.

David West was huge for Indiana, netting 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting. Roy Hibbert joined him with an excellent game in the paint, going for 19 points and nine rebounds.

Thanks to 18 points from West and the help of 13 turnovers from Miami in the first two quarters, the Pacers took a 42-37 lead into halftime.

Some back-and-forth buckets to end the third left the Pacers with a 65-64 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Tyler Hansbrough put up eight big points in the quarter, lessening the blow from West and Hibbert's foul trouble.

Four points at the rim from Chris Andersen and the Heat were back up 76-73 with 7:20 remaining. Andersen was the beneficiary of the Pacers helping on penetrators all night. At this point, he was 6-of-6 for 12 points, and it all required minimal work.

Sometimes James is just too much. Inside five minutes, Dwyane Wade was met and turned away at the rim by Hibbert. Unfortunately, the ball wound up in James' hands for an open three at the shot-clock buzzer. Miami went up 83-80 with 4:30 remaining.

With only 54 seconds left, West saw an open lane to the rim and took it. His graceful floater lofted over Bosh's hand and through, tying the game at 89.

Wade saw that same opening on the right side of the paint at the other end, subsequently laying it in for the two-point lead. Frank Vogel was forced to use a timeout with 36 seconds to go.

After a George turnover, in which he tried passing to his team bench, the Heat got the ball to Allen. Shooting his first freebies of the game, Allen hit just 1-of-2, pushing Miami ahead 92-89 with 17 seconds on the clock.

The Pacers looked lost on their final possession, passing the ball out on the perimeter. George finally had to settle for a covered 30-footer. Which, of course, he drilled to even up the score at 92. The 0.7 seconds didn't give Miami a good look to win, and to overtime it went.

Indiana went up 99-96 when George found himself a three-point play, drawing James' fifth foul with 2:10 remaining. Bosh, who finished the game with 17 points, then grabbed just his second (and final) rebound of the game with 50 seconds left in overtime. That rebound, though, was a part of a three-point play put-back that tied the game at 99.

Vogel made the call to pull Hibbert out and match up with Miami's small lineup, but that allowed James a nearly unimpeded shot to the rim. The easy layup put the Heat up 101-99 with just 10 seconds left.

After a mad scramble, George was fouled on a long bomb to try and win it, sending him to the line for three. Wade picked up his sixth foul on the play, ending his night with 19 points. George hit all three, giving Indiana a pencil-thin, one-point lead with just over two seconds left.

George was perhaps a tad overexcited on the ensuing Miami possession. He jumped out too far on James, who used the inbounds pass to spin in front of the defender and release a layup right before the buzzer for the win.

The Heat go up 1-0 in the young series. Buckle up, Game 2 is Friday night in Miami.

Michigan Basketball: 5 Toughest Games on Wolverines' 2013-14 Big Ten Schedule

Zach Dirlam — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:07:50 -0400

Now that the Big Ten Conference has announced the single plays for the 2013-14 season, the Michigan basketball program knows exactly how many times it will play each league team. The Wolverines drew one-time matchups with Ohio State, Illinois, Northwestern and Penn State for their upcoming campaign.

The former half of that quartet will be road games, while the latter two are going to be at the Crisler Center.

No dates have been announced for the Big Ten schedule, but with the unveiling of the single plays, it is time to rank Michigan's toughest league contests.

Expectations will be high in Ann Arbor once again with Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary back for their sophomore seasons. Michigan will be looking to take home a second Big Ten title in three seasons. These five games could prevent the Wolverines from hanging another banner from the rafters.

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Ranking Ideal 2013 Free-Agent Targets for Chicago Bulls

Haddon Anderson — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:06:40 -0400

If the Chicago Bulls are fully healthy, they are just a piece or two away from title contention.

Quite frankly, a few sensible offseason additions could be just enough to vault them past the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls already possess a stellar assemblage of marquee players—namely Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng—so they shouldn't proceed with any major moves over the summer. Nothing glamorous is necessary.

Truthfully, any bold moves would actually create more harm than good, because the free-agency class is limited and a significant signing would strain their financial flexibility for next summer (when the class is loaded with talent).

They should thus pursue a few complementary players who will mesh effectively with Chicago's core and style of play.

The free-agency period is approaching fast, and it's fitting to rank their ideal targets. If numerous players listed here are playing in the Windy City in 2013-14, then the Bulls might find the exact chemistry they need for a deep playoff push.

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Stock Up, Stock Down for Braves' Top 10 Prospects for Week 7

Matt Powers — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:02:28 -0400

After another week of the season, it's time to take another look at some of how the Braves top prospects have fared in the minors. While the farm system is thin, the recent contributions of rookies Julio Teheran and Evan Gattis have done a good job of easing some of the concerns about the future.

This article will take a look at how guys like Christian Bethancourt, J.R. Graham and Sean Gilmartin have performed in the past week.

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Michigan Football: Bold Predictions for Wolverines' 2013 Season

John Rozum — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:36 -0400

Coach Brady Hoke and the Michigan Wolverines enter the 2013 with high expectations.

And rightfully so because there's the historical implication of tradition combined with Hoke having made Michigan a strong Big Ten contender since taking over. The Wolverines also have another excellent group of recruits coming in, as they ranked No. 2 on Scout.com and No. 5 on Rivals.com.

Mesh all that with the chance to realistically contend for the conference title, and let's check out some predictions for Maize and Blue this season.

Devin Gardner

Getting under center toward the back half of the 2012 campaign, Devin Gardner finished with 11 touchdowns to only five picks. He even reached 1,219 passing yards, which was only 100 fewer than Denard Robinson.

As for the 2013 season, Gardner will have a full offseason under his belt to develop and Taylor Lewan for continued pass protection.

Combine his mobility, potential pocket awareness and mechanics and Gardner is capable of a breakout season. It will, however, be difficult against Michigan's schedule with teams such as Notre Dame, Penn State (away), Michigan State (away), Northwestern (away) and Ohio State.

Prediction: 27 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, 3,400 passing yards and a 62.5 completion percentage

The Receiving Game

Last season Michigan had six different players record 10-plus catches (including Gardner).

That's a testament to them defeating man coverage at a solid rate, while Gardner spreading and utilizing each field dimension. Expect a similar result for 2013 because guys such as Jeremy Gallon and Drew Dileo are capable of increasing production.

Plus, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com wrote of each receiver on May 2:

The Wolverines' leading receiver last year was 5-foot-8 Jeremy Gallon, and he figures to be joined in the starting lineup by 5-foot-10 Drew Dileo next year. Gallon is a terrific receiver, Dileo is sure-handed and both have terrific speed.

With these two making plays, as well as tight end Devin Funchess, the Wolverines present a dynamic aerial assault. Ultimately, the efficiency will improve courtesy of reliable targets across the field.

Prediction: Five players catch 20-plus passes and each average at least 15 yards per catch.

Forced Turnovers/QB Pressure

The Wolverines ranked No. 99 in turnover margin (minus-nine) and managed to only intercept seven passes.

Now part of that plays into the quarterback pressure as Michigan logged just 22 sacks. Therefore, more numbers are needed in 2013 to win the battle up front and force fumbles and ill-advised throws.

Enter Frank Clark, who accounted for nine tackles for loss in 2012. He'll need to lead the charge on crashing the backfield, which in turn, ups the quarterback pressure to provide additional turnover opportunities.

The quicker Clark gets established, the quicker he'll draw the occasional extra blocker. As a result, the rest of the front seven benefits accordingly.

Prediction: 30 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and 12 interceptions

Record

By no means is Michigan's 2013 campaign easy.

Hosting Notre Dame will remain tough because the Irish bring in a strong recruiting class and still possess playmakers on each side of the ball. Within the Big Ten, Northwestern and Ohio State will be the toughest of challenges.

The Wildcats didn't lose much to pro football and are coming off a 10-3 season. The Buckeyes have BCS title expectations and also sport a strong recruiting class.

Michigan State (sound defense) and Penn State (better offense than at first glance) won't be cakewalks; however, the aforementioned opponents are just more complete teams.

Nebraska at home and Iowa on the road can't be discounted either. The Cornhuskers field a balanced offense to control the tempo, and the Hawkeyes are always tough at Kinnick Stadium.

Nevertheless, Michigan possesses the overall personnel to finish with another sound season under Hoke.

Prediction: 9-3 (6-2)

Early Predictions for NBA's Social Media Awards

Roy Burton — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Not everyone associated with the NBA is well-versed in the art of Twitter and Facebook, but several of those who are will be honored at the league's second annual Social Media Awards next month.

The show—which will be televised live on NBATV on Wednesday, June 12 at 8 p.m. ET—will honor a number of players and teams who had memorable moments this season.

With more than 400 million likes and followers on their various pages and team sites, the NBA has effectively used social media to extend its brand across the globe. The league does an exceptional job of highlighting its signature moments and stars, and with the Social Media Awards, they also take the time out to celebrate their accomplishments as well.

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CM Punk: 6 Logical Scenarios for His Return to the WWE

David Levin — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

With WWE Payback less than a month away, the WWE is already in full swing, promoting matches like the Ambulance Match for the WWE title between Ryback and John Cena.

Sooner or later, the WWE will doing some other promotional work, getting the WWE Universe ready for the return of CM Punk in his hometown of Chicago. Anyone in their right mind knows that this will be Punk's triumphant return to the company following his loss at WrestleMania 29.

The time is right for the "Second City Saint" to jump full bore into the mainstream of activity that is currently at a standstill in the WWE. While Cena and Ryback seem to have found their chemistry in the match the other night at Extreme Rules, other feuds have stalled and have all but died a painful death.

Thank goodness for The Shield and its new "beginning" as they claimed the World Tag Team titles and the United States title in one night to arguably become the best trio of superstars to ever grace the wrestling ring.

The question pertaining to Punk is simple—what happens to him? Where does he go? Who does he call out? What other pipe bomb does he drop on us? How does he handle Paul Heyman and his new "associate?"

All very good questions with answers to be given by the "Voice of the Voiceless" himself. But in the meantime, here are some logical feuds that Punk could stick his two cents in upon his return.

Hello, Superman: It is conceivable the WWE wants a fresh Punk to battle Cena again for the WWE title, which does make sense. Both are at their best when they face each other, and Punk has a great sense of pushing Cena to the limit and on the mic. When these two are in the ring together, it is poetry. I liken it to ballet at times.

You aren't Perfect: Could Punk come back and have a hemorrhage over the fact Paul Heyman chose another wrestler to join the stable? Curtis Axel was a solid choice because he was a fresh face, had a great pedigree and looks like a great marketing package. Does the move ruffle the feathers of Punk, who plays the disrespect card within his own stable with Heyman.

Punk/Lesnar Finally: I know a lot of you think this looks like a mismatch, but I believe it forms a more solid confrontation than Triple H and Brock Lesnar in the ring. There are a lot of psychological mind games to be played in this feud, especially with Punk and Lesnar sharing the diabolical mind of Paul Heyman.

Haven't we met before? Ryback, if he wins the WWE title, would be another opponent for Punk. The two have met before where Ryback has come up short and could not win or lose cleanly. With the roles possibly being reversed, Punk could set out to reclaim his title and win back the hearts of the WWE fans and the IWC.

Going another road: Could Punk come back and own SmackDown? If he moved to Friday nights and challenged Dolph Ziggler, that would do a few things to help the WWE.

First, the idea of Cena and Punk holding world titles at once will draw more for television and also make Friday night "must-see television." It also creates a great rivalry that exceeds a feud with Jack Swagger or Alberto Del Rio for Ziggler. And of course, there is always the AJ Lee angle.

An old rivalry is still a great rivalry: Daniel Bryan will need a dance partner when his days with Team Hell No are over. The matches between Bryan and Punk in the middle of last year all but brought the house down. There is a unique quality to these two great indie stars who were rivals long before they were in the WWE. To me, they are Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat all over again.

Whatever way the WWE plans to go with Punk, these options would give him a new lease on success and a great way to showcase his talents. And in this case, everyone wins.

Roger Federer Should Feel Confident Going into French Open Despite Rome Loss

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:54:10 -0400

Roger Federer might not be the favorite heading into the French Open, but he is still one of the top contenders in the field.

The veteran has been taking it easy this year while remaining fresh for the bigger tournaments. He did not compete for almost two months after losing to Rafael Nadal at Indiana Wells. Since returning for the clay season, however, he has seen mixed results.

In Madrid, Federer was upset by Kei Nishikori in the third round. The Swiss player struggled mightily at defending the serve and was unable to get too many break points.

Fortunately, he turned things around at the Rome Masters. He won four matches in a row in straight sets before falling to Rafael Nadal in the finals.

While some find it concerning that Federer was only able to win four games in the final round, there is really no shame in getting dominated by the King of Clay on his favorite surface. Nadal is clearly healthy and once again able to utilize his skill and experience to win these types of matches.

In reality, it is hard to imagine anyone beating the Spanish star at Roland Garros. He has won seven of the past eight French Opens and is rarely even challenged on red clay. Few should expect Federer to compete with Nadal in the next week.

However, the 17-time Grand Slam champion matches up favorably against the rest of the field. Andy Murray has already dropped out of the field, and Novak Djokovic is clearly less than 100 percent after early exits in each of the last two tournaments.

Among the rest of the challengers, no one has the experience of Federer. Plus, his skill is still better than anyone he faces, even as he continues to get older.

Even though he did not face any top competition for most of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the level of play was where it needed to be. If he can continue to serve as well as he has lately, he will be just fine.

Federer only has one career win at the French Open, so failing to get a championship will not be a huge deal. However, a strong performance will be able to give him momentum heading into the grass-court season, where he will truly shine.

As long as Nadal winds up on the other side of the draw, the legendary player should be able to reach the finals. From there, fans should expect at least a few tournament wins this season, with a good chance of a victory at Wimbledon.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

NHL Playoffs: Should the New York Rangers Scratch Brad Richards?

Rob Waters — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:43:12 -0400

Let me start this article off by establishing a few things: I respect the New York Rangers' Brad Richards tremendously as an athlete and as a person. On a personal level, his tireless efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy completely outside of the media spotlight were beyond admirable, and is something I will not soon forget.

I’m simply elaborating on a scenario that, quite simply, I did not anticipate at the beginning of this season.

Richards, as an alternate captain and as an individual athlete, has been disturbingly missing for the large majority of this season.

It’s hard to believe that just one season away from countless clutch goals and a very admirable postseason, we are looking at a player who has notched a mere 11 goals and 23 assists in the 2012-13 regular season. Even in a condensed schedule, that’s not the production we’ve come to expect from Richards—and never mind what he is being paid and the expectations that come with that.

In 20 postseason games last year, Richards had six goals and nine assists. This year, in exactly half as many games played, he has one goal—and zero assists.

I don’t know the last time I’ve seen such a rapid decline in a Rangers player in just one season. For too long, the New York Rangers have had the reputation of acquiring veteran players on the decline, grossly overpaying them and fading into irrelevancy.

I really didn’t think Richards would become the next star to do just that.

And so I am left to wonder if the Rangers would actually benefit from scratching Richards in Game 4—and beyond, God willing the Rangers find a way to win against the Boston Bruins this series.

Richards is currently slotted as a fourth-line center and is most likely the most expensive fourth-line center in the league.

Let’s not even get into the fact that a player with the skill and veteran presence of Richards should never play so badly that he is deserving of fourth-line status. And we all know how well former Ranger Marian Gaborik took to his brief fourth-line status.

In his place, I am proposing inserting Kris Newbury, part of the Rangers “taxi crew” that is on standby for the postseason should injuries or other adjustments be made necessary. Newbury has a very physical edge to his game, and quite frankly, it would fit in a very physically demanding series against the Bruins.

NBC Sports Network analysts Liam McHugh and Mike Milbury suggested removing Richards from the power play this series due to his ongoing struggles, but clearly something more should be done.

It blows my mind that Richards, a player with 900 career games played and 816 points in the regular season, could be so lost, both on an-even strength and power-play scenario. And although it’s a distant memory at this point, he even won the Stanley Cup with the same coach he is paired with today.

How is it so hard for him to snap out of the funk and find his game?

The Rangers have potentially one game left to make adjustments in a desperate attempt to keep their season alive. If John Tortorella wants to send a message to his team and to Richards, this may be part of the solution.

One thing is for sure: If Tortorella doesn’t send Richards a message for the remainder of this season, general manager Glen Sather might be sending a very different one: compliance buyout.

Paul George Video: Pacers Star Sinks Ridiculous Clutch 3 to Force OT in Game 1

Grant Hughes — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:42:15 -0400

With time running out in Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat and Paul George merely seconds from winding up an unlikely scapegoat, Indy's young star nailed a game-tying triple from way beyond the arc to send the contest to overtime.

The play was nearly a disaster, as George initially had Udonis Haslem switched onto him. Despite the mismatch, he inexplicably picked up his dribble and gave up the ball at the top of the arc. When his pass to George Hill was deflected, it ended up in David West's hands as time ticked away.

I was just thinking how brutal it was that George didn’t pull up when he had the ball initially. Then …
— Brett Pollakoff (@BrettEP) May 23, 2013

George raced to his left, took a clumsy handoff and elevated from a good three steps behind the arc. LeBron James, somewhat surprised by George's decision to fire, didn't even leave his feet to contest the shot.

The play helped erase an egregious throwaway by George that made it seem as though the Pacers were finished just moments earlier.

With 20 seconds left, the Pacers found themselves down two points in the midst of a scrambling, broken play. George drove the lane, left his feet and threw the ball to teammate Sam Young—who was on the bench.

Turnover.

On the ensuing Miami possession, the Pacers fouled Ray Allen, who—incredibly—missed one of his two free-throw attempts. That unlikely miss gave the Pacers the ball back with only a three-point deficit. The next play was almost poetic.

PAUL GEORGE IS REDEEMED
— Paul Flannery (@Pflanns) May 23, 2013

When George drilled the improbable bomb to tie the score, everyone was completely stunned.

Well, everyone except James, who merely shrugged in the aftermath.

Shrug. vine.co/v/b992ET5BMeL
— Jacoby_ (@Jacoby_) May 23, 2013

I guess when you're actually a superhero, the occasional heroic act by a mortal isn't all that impressive. Superman probably doesn't get all fired up when he watches World's Strongest Man competitions on ESPN 2.

And there was one Heat "fan" who was a little too busy to follow the action.

Just keep texting away. It's not like an NBA playoff game was just tied with 0.7 left. twitter.com/BleacherReport…
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 23, 2013

Somebody should explain to her that a pretty cool play just happened. Either that, or immediately have her thrown out of the arena and banned from the premises. Like, OMG, right?

Anyway, after Allen missed a prayer with less than one second remaining on the other end, fans were assured of one of life's great pleasures: overtime playoff basketball.

Why yes, I would like some more basketball.
— Rob Mahoney (@RobMahoney) May 23, 2013

Good times.

Comparing Grizzlies' and Spurs' Chances Against Miami Heat

Zach Buckley — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:40:54 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies don't have time to worry about the challenge that lies on the horizon. That's probably just as well, since the opportunity to lose to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals is hardly a just reward for fighting through a tough, physical Western Conference Finals.

But just how predetermined is the outcome of the 2013 NBA Finals?

No, that's not a rally call for the conspiracy theorists to start presenting their evidence of a Miami-biased basketball landscape. Rather it's a serious examination of the West's finest chances to unseat the defending champs, to tally four wins over a seven-game stretch against a team that hasn't suffered four defeats in nearly four months.

Since the Spurs enjoy a 2-0 series lead, they'll be the first team placed on the chopping block.

Gregg Popovich's plug-and-play group is the antithesis of Erik Spoelstra's All-Star-laden roster, but there are some notable similarities between the two franchises.

Both have the ability to lace up a number of different kicks, overwhelming their opposition with a perimeter-based offensive barrage or scratching out success in a slow-paced defensive test of wills. Pop and Spo have a horde of marksmen flanking multiple ball-handlers capable of carving up defenders with point-producing penetrations.

Each team employs a postseason rotation at least nine players deep, and both have the depth to extend their reserve units even further. Both offenses are built around their respective stars with a perfectly complemented supporting cast ready to help carry the load.

But make no mistake; these are not identical twins.

Miami has a decisive edge in athleticism but can't match San Antonio's size on the interior.

Any strong Spurs series starts with a dominant effort from Tony Parker, and bringing the Larry O'Brien Trophy back to the Alamo City would require nothing less. He'll have his hands full trying to get past Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole and could see either Dwyane Wade or LeBron James standing in his path at times.

But Tim Duncan's already salivating over some less-than-intimidating matchups with Chris Bosh and Chris Andersen, and the 37-year-old has enough in his veteran bag of tricks to carry the offensive load for prolonged stretches.

Of course, Miami has a countermove to toss at Duncan. A few of them, actually. The best chance for success against the four-time NBA champion involves pulling him away from the basket and using the gripping hands of Father Time against him.

Bosh's shooting range extends out to the three-point line, where he's made 7-of-16 in the postseason, meaning Duncan can't clog the middle when he's assigned to Miami's starting center.

Depending on Spoelstra's next chess move, he could task Duncan with stopping Shane Battier (a career 38.7 percent shooter from deep) or even Rashard Lewis (career 38.8 percent). And Duncan can ill-afford to lose sight of a streaking Andersen, whose off-ball movement has made him a perfect fit for Miami's frontcourt.

As for the Grizzlies, any chance of stealing a potential series with the Heat involves avoiding those sustained scoring runs that Miami seems to keep in its back pocket.

It's a far easier task to discuss than actually accomplish for sure, but there are certain Memphis strengths to help them do just that.

While the Grizzlies might not always look like they know what they're doing on the offensive end, they rarely shoot themselves in the foot there. Their 10.6 turnovers per game are the fewest in this postseason (the Spurs have the second-fewest with 11.3), and they finished the regular season with the fourth-lowest turnover average in the league at 13.2 (via ESPN.com).

Memphis' methodical, interior-focused system also helps it keep the pace at a manageable rate. Zach Randolph handles the post scoring duties (18.0 points per game in the playoffs), while Marc Gasol transitions between a scorer (17.5) and creator (2.9 assists a night in the postseason, 4.0 during the regular season).

Controlling the tempo is key for any team facing Miami, but it becomes an even greater concern for Memphis considering Lionel Hollins' playoff rotation has largely featured only seven players.

Mike Conley has had his coming-out party on basketball's biggest stage this year (17.4 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds in the postseason), but he would need to be even better to bring some championship bling to Bluff City.

The Grizzlies don't have a defensive liability among their starting five, but neither Randolph nor Gasol is particularly comfortable defending away from the basket. Memphis has struggled to keep San Antonio's shooters in check, and Miami has even more perimeter threats and dangerous slashers to account for.

And if one of those scoring runs does make an appearance, the Grizzlies don't have the athletes or the snipers to score in spurts.

Points are always at a premium for Hollins' grit-and-grind group, so its margin for error would be incredibly thin.

Obviously these potential series are the furthest thing from San Antonio and Memphis' minds at this point. And Miami has its own challenge to deal with first in the form of the Indiana Pacers.

But that won't stop any of these clubs from having some video staffers start building the scouting reel for next round. Championship desires have taken these teams this far already, and it's never too early to start planning ahead.

With that in mind, I have to give the Spurs an edge over the Grizzlies in their bid to dethrone the reigning kings. San Antonio was the superior team during the regular season, and the gap between the two clubs has only widened in the Western Conference Finals even with the Spurs' unsightly fourth-quarter performance in Game 2.

Of course, you could offer me the field or Miami and I'm bashing all piggy banks in sight and rolling with the South Beach All-Stars.

So take it one step at a time, Spurs and Grizzlies' fans. You might not like where this staircase is headed.

Follow @Hoops_Guru

Carl Edwards' Secret to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Success: Physical Conditioning

Joe Menzer — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:39:04 -0400

Sure, you’ve seen him yuk it up with Jay Glazer in Subway commercials. But in reality, the training regimen of NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Carl Edwards is no laughing matter.

Edwards is an active member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, for goodness' sake. This is the council of the President of the United States we’re talking about here.

Edwards granted a small glimpse into his fit world recently, when he admitted that one of his secrets to success in NASCAR driving circle—and they do drive in circles—is his superb physical fitness. He also admitted that it’s not so much a secret anymore, as more and more drivers are seeing the benefits of cleaner living, regular exercise and a healthy diet.

Legendary NASCAR driver Curtis Turner, who once landed a plane he was flying on a residential street to pick up a bottle of booze from a friend as a nearby church was letting out one long-ago Sunday morning, must be turning over in his grave.

Asked if he believes drivers these days need to be in superior physical shape to win a championship, Edwards smiled before replying: "No, I don’t. But I do think it helps on the bad days. You don’t have to, just like you don’t have to have the best car to win the race. But it sure helps, I can tell you that. It’s a big deal."

Edwards points to Mark Martin, his teammate at Roush Fenway Racing when Edwards first entered Cup racing, as the forefather of fitness in the NASCAR garage.

“I think Mark Martin was completely at the forefront of the physical conditioning deal,” Edwards said. “I would have completely missed the boat if it hadn’t been for Mark Martin. He was truly the inspiration for me starting to work out.

“Now it seems like everybody is doing something. I see Jimmie (Johnson) and Kasey (Kahne) and (Aric) Almirola, and Trevor (Bayne) and Michael McDowell. I mean, everybody is out riding their bikes, everybody is out there eating right. I think the advantage that Mark Martin or somebody like me had six or seven years ago has shrunk a lot.”

There even has even been speculation in recent years that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has hit the fitness trail from time to time, something that would have seemed laughable earlier in his driving career.

Even Tony Stewart, whose car and waistline at times have been sponsored by the likes of Burger King, got into it at least for a while. Stewart dropped 15 pounds prior to the 2011 season, when he perhaps not-so-coincidentally went on to win his third championship.

The subject of physical conditioning seems to pop up in NASCAR around the running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway each year. It’s not only NASCAR’s longest race—100 miles longer than any other—but the longest race in all of the major motorsports series by a considerable margin.

“Being in shape helps, especially if your car is bad and you kind of have to wrestle it,” Edwards said. “But it’s not just the 600. You look at Darlington (earlier this season). That was the first hot weekend we’d had in a long time. I knew that I had raced. I mean, I felt it. Especially if it’s a hot day, the 600 is a tough race on everybody.”

Even though Edwards revealed a small peek into his physical training regimen during his series of Subway ads, he’s never been very open about sharing his secrets with others. He has his reasons for that.

“I have a lot of stuff that I do that’s kind of out of the box,” Edwards said. “I like to keep it interesting. But I don’t tell people exactly what I do—because I feel like what I do works extremely well. So I’d rather have other people figure it out on their own.”

But again, there are fewer secrets now in all walks of sport than there ever have been. So even Edwards is willing to share at least some of what he does to stay in such spectacular shape.

“I really enjoy riding bikes,” Edwards said. “And I do enjoy the resistance training in the weight room. I think that’s a lot of fun, because it’s quantifiable and you can see your progress. And then eating right. That’s a huge part of it. You’ve got to eat right. That’s something I’ve learned how to do throughout the years, but it’s really hard to do.

“The trick is to find out how to eat right and still get to eat stuff you really like at least to some degree, so you don’t fall off the wagon. “

It also helps that Edwards hooked up with personal trainer Dean Golich, founder of Carmichael Training Systems, a few years back. But he still marvels as Old Man Martin, who has long espoused a combination consisting mostly of intense weight training and a diet heavy on goji berries that go for $17.95 per pound.

Edwards didn’t say if he adds the berries to his six-inch subs. He also admitted that he doesn’t work out every single day.

“I tell you what, I work really hard with my trainer Dean Golich from CTS. They are world-class physiologists and they really know how to get you in shape. So I’m fortunate there,” Edwards said. “So I have Dean and all this information. I have youth on my side—relative to Mark, in particular—and it’s still tough to get up and go work out every day. So I really look up to Mark, because he’s so passionate about it.

“And the other side of it is that I’d like to do this a long time. I’d like to have the option when I’m 53 or 54 or whatever Mark is to still be out here driving and still be fast. You watch Mark get out of the car now, and he’s not worn out. He’s fine.”

Edwards is only 33 and won’t turn 34 until August. But unless he unexpectedly falls off the food and exercise wagon in the coming years, odds are he’ll still be racing when Martin, now 54, reaches 70 years of age.

Martin should finally be retired by then, right?

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes for this article were obtained firsthand by the writer

Follow Joe Menzer on Twitter @OneMenz.

LeBron James Hurts Right Hand Blocking Hibbert, Follows Up with Lefty Dunk

Jesse Dorsey — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:25:13 -0400

It was a hard-fought game between the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat with plenty of bodies hitting the floor throughout. Who would have thought that the most interesting psuedo-injury would be LeBron James jamming a few fingers on his right hand.

With the Pacers doing everything possible to grab two points midway through the third quarter, LeBron and Chris Bosh blocked a pair of shots to keep them from doing just that.

Roy Hibbert would eventually score, and LeBron would walk away from the play in pain—a double-whammy.

As Miami's ensuing offensive possession fell into shambles, the Indiana defense seemingly forgot about LeBron standing on the weak side of the floor, grimacing his hand all the while.

Did the Pacers just stop playing defense? What was that?
— SBNation NBA (@SBNationNBA) May 23, 2013

Once the defense opened up enough, LeBron simply sprinted to the rim, grabbed the pass from Udonis Haslem and threw down an powerful dunk with the left hand rather than the aching right.

That's why we've got two of 'em.

LeBron should only take left-handed shots the rest of this series.

— Marcel Mutoni (@marcel_mutoni) May 23, 2013

In a solid game throughout, LeBron's dunk was part of a long back-and-forth between the two teams on their way to an overtime thriller.

Hopefully every game between these two teams is as exciting as Game 1.

Power Ranking the Best Tailgating Scenes in the SEC

Michael Carroll — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:25:08 -0400

The SEC features the best college football in the country. Collectively, the 14 member institutions and the communities in which they reside know how to party on game day.

In this slideshow, I will rank the SEC schools according to their tailgating scenes. I have placed emphasis on traditions: what are they and how well do the schools maintain them.

Each school has a unique way of creating a great game-day atmosphere, so trying to compare them was difficult.

If you want to learn more about how the SEC does tailgating, there are plenty of ways to do so. Each school has tailgating policies, and you should familiarize yourself with them before entering the tailgating scenes. Also, many people who have attended these tailgates have written and spoken about them online. Finally, the most fun way to learn about an SEC tailgate is to attend one yourself!

Let the fun and the debate begin!

Begin Slideshow

Each 2013 NHL Playoff Team's Most Impressive Statistic

Carol Schram — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:23:10 -0400

The Pittsburgh Penguins unleashed their fury against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, asserting their dominance in scoring and special teams. After such a performance, it's no surprise that they're now leading the playoffs in goals and power-play efficiency.

It's said that the numbers don't lie. Good or bad, here are a few other statistics that shed light on the unique characteristics of each of the 16 NHL teams that took part in the NHL playoffs this year.

Begin Slideshow

Memorial Cup 2013: Saskatoon vs. Portland Recap, Updated Bracket and More

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:22:14 -0400

The 2013 Memorial Cup continued on Wednesday, May 22, as the Portland Winterhawks defeated the Saskatoon Blades by a score of 4-2.

Four different players scored goals for the Winterhawks, including Ty Rattie, who netted his fourth of the Memorial Cup. Portland superstar and future No. 1 draft choice Seth Jones added an assist and helped contribute to a dominant defensive performance by the Winterhawks.

Goaltender Mac Carruth stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced.

On the opposite end, Andrey Makarov was sensational for two periods, but his defense fell apart during the third. He stopped 30 of the 34 shots sent his way, but receiving two goals of support wasn't enough in this high-scoring affair.

So what does all of this mean?

Here's how it will all play out.

Round-Robin Standings

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS
Halifax Mooseheads	3	2	1	0	4
Portland Winterhawks	3	2	1	0	4
London Knights	3	1	2	0	2
Saskatoon Blades	3	1	2	0	2

Full Memorial Cup Schedule

Round Robin

Date	Away		Home
May 17	London	3	Saskatoon	2
May 18	Portland	4	Halifax	7
May 19	Saskatoon	5	Halifax	2
May 20	Portland	6	London	3
May 21	Halifax	9	London	2
May 22	Saskatoon	2	Portland	4

Playoff Bracket

Round	Away	Home	Date	Time
Tiebreaker:	Saskatoon Blades	London Knights	Thursday, May 23	8 p.m. ET
Semifinal:	TBD	Portland Winterhawks	Friday, May 24	8 p.m. ET
Final:	TBD	Halifax Mooseheads	Sunday, May 26	7 p.m. ET

Game Recap

The first period of play was eventful, but both goaltenders stood their ground. The two sides combined for 18 first-period shots on goal, thus attacking the net and looking to take the early advantage over the opposition.

Neither goaltender let that happen.

The Portland Winterhawks got off to a hot start with 11 first-period shots on goal, but Saskatoon Blades goaltender Andrey Makarov stood his ground. He sent every shot he faced back in the other direction, thus keeping things scoreless after one.

The second period wasn't so kind.

Derrick Pouliot continued his dominant play at the Memorial Cup, finding the back of the net in an unassisted manner. This brings Pouliot's point total to five in three games at the event, which has some questioning if we're sleeping on the less prolific Portland defenseman.

Saskatoon wasted no time in adding to the intrigue.

With a beautiful display of puck movement, Shane McColgan converted a power-play goal off of assists from Erik Benoit and Josh Nicholls. This tied the game at 1-1, which was a score that stuck until the third period.

And then Portland took over.

Chase De Leo netted his second goal of the 2013 Memorial Cup, receiving assists from Oliver Bjorkstrand and Tyler Wotherspoon at the 4:08 mark of the third period. Just over two minutes later, Brendan Leipsic scored off of assists from Nicolas Petan and Seth Jones.

Jones, the NHL's top prospect, finally gets on the board in this game.

Makarov played a magnificent game in net, but there just wasn't enough defensive support. Portland piled on the shots and, without any counterattack from Saskatoon, the Winterhawks were able to strike again and again.

At the 10:16 mark, they capped off a three-goal third period when Ty Rattie found the back of the net for the fourth time during the 2013 Memorial Cup. Petan put up his second assist of the game to make it 4-1.

Josh Nicholls scored his fourth goal of the Memorial Cup with just over three minutes remaining, but it was a case of too little, too late, as the score remained 4-2. Saskatoon's defense was nonexistent, and a strong performance by Makarov was thus lost.

This was a very impressive outing from Portland's star-studded group.

NHL Playoffs 2013: Most Important Lessons Learned Midway Through 2nd Round

Tom Urtz Jr. — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:17:47 -0400

The second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs is almost over. Midway through the semifinals one of the most important lessons learned involves the power play. The New York Rangers have learned first-hand that you can live or die because of your power play.

Other lessons also include the importance of team depth and how it is crucial to win faceoffs. Here are the most important lessons that have been learned midway through the second round.

Begin Slideshow

Mike Trout and Bryce Harper Are Baseball's Newest Generation of Young Superstars

Brandon Mauk — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:15:50 -0400

Throughout the history of sports, there comes the appearance of a generation of superstars whom along with their clubs, rival each other in terms of team superiority, statistical races, and award chases.

In the NBA, you had Russell vs. Chamberlain in the 1960s, Larry vs. Magic in the 1980s, Jordan vs. everyone else in the 1990s, Kobe and Shaq vs. Duncan and Robinson in the late-'90s and early 21st century and now we have LeBron vs. Carmelo vs. Durant.

In other sports, you have all-time great rivalries like Nicklaus and Palmer, Tiger and Mickelson, Sampras and Agassi, Ali and Frazier, and Nadal and Federer.

For its part, baseball has some of the most classic rivalries in the history of sport—rivalries that reflected their respective times.

In the pre-WWI dead-ball era, the two greatest players were Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner, and they faced off in the 1909 World Series, with Wagner's Pirates defeating Cobb's Tigers.

In the 1930s and 1940s, a time when America was trying to recover from the Great Depression and WWII, the legendary Yankees-Red Sox rivalry was highlighted by the performances of the Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio, and Boston's Ted Williams. Williams may have been the better overall hitter, but Joltin' Joe's Bronx Bombers consistently won it all and DiMaggio won three MVPs to Williams' two (though voter bias played a role)

Much like the rest of the world did in the 1950s, the major leagues of that era centered around New York City. The Yankees of the Bronx, the Giants of Manhattan, and the Dodgers of Brooklyn were at their peak. Fans of the New York teams looked up to the franchise's three great Hall of Fame center fielders: The Commerce Comet, Mickey Mantle, the Say Hey Kid, Willie Mays, and the Silver Fox, Duke Snider. Snider's Dodgers and Mays' Giants clashed almost annually for National League supremacy, and the Dodgers and the Yankees (led by Mantle) met in the World Series four times in a five-year stretch during the decade.

The chaos of the 1970s was reflected in the magnitude of baseball's biggest events, and the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry became more intense than ever, and centered around the clashing catchers Thurman Munson and Carlton Fisk, as well as the in-house fighting of Reggie Jackson, Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner.

In the late 1990s and early 21st century, the position of shortstop took center stage in baseball as Derek Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra and Alex Rodriguez became the central figure of their respective franchises. While the AL was competitive, Jeter's Yankees dominated—though A-Rod and Nomar put up the numbers and took home hardware for their individual exploits.

Today, there is a clash between the game's newest young superstars: Washington's Bryce Harper and the Angels Mike Trout, both Rookie of the Year award winners in their respective leagues last year.

It seems as if Harper and Trout were destined to be rivals. Harper was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old in Nevada. He idolized and based his game around another Midwestern kid who broke in the big leagues at 19: The Mick. But his cockiness and "I'm better than you" attitude resembles Alex Rodriguez.

The same year Harper was touted as baseball's answer to LeBron James, Trout was a sleeper pick in the late first round out of high school in southern New Jersey. Although growing up a fan of the Phillies, he idolized another legend on East 161st St. and River Ave, Derek Jeter, and seems to pattern his game after Jeter's balanced approach—speed, patience, contact, defense, power...everything. His calmness and humbleness seems to be inspired by his pinstriped idol.

Both have already made their impact in the sports world. On his way to winning NL ROY, Harper became the first teen since Ken Griffey, Jr. to mash 20 HRs in a season. He led the Nationals to their first playoff appearance since they were the Montreal Expos. A few weeks in to the 2013 season, his game has only improved: 12 HRs in 139 ABs and a whopping .995 OPS. He can't even drink alcohol yet—not that he would want to, famously.

Trout was just a bit better than Harper last year, finishing as the unanimous AL ROY and the MVP runner-up to Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera in a hotly contested race. He's certainly not suffering a sophomore slump either, posting just under a .300 batting average with a .944 OPS.

On Tuesday, he became the youngest American Leaguer ever to hit for the cycle—21 years and 288 days. Even at Trout's tender age, it may not be too soon to call him the greatest overall player in the game today.

And he'll only get better.

Although the two players will likely not meet until a potential World Series matchup or next year in interleague play, these two new faces of major league baseball seem to be throwbacks to a time before the era of steroids.

Both players, at their peak, could be dominant in every single aspect of the game. Both are very good outfielders; they can average .300-plus; they have plenty of speed (although Trout may be faster); they have excellent throwing arms, and they can crush the ball (although Harper may have even more power). Don't be surprised if one or both accumulates a 40-40 season, a batting title, a 50 HR season, a couple of MVPs and championships by the time both wrap up their careers.

They are both that good. And they are this generation's answer to the individual rivalries that have long helped shape the history of major league baseball.

Boston's Paul Pierce for Indiana's Danny Granger Makes Sense for Both Teams

Randolph Charlotin — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:06:09 -0400

The numbers work in a one-for-one trade of the Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce ($15,333,334 salary) for the Indiana Pacers' Danny Granger ($14,021,788) according to the RealGM.com’s Trade Checker.

But does such a trade make sense for both teams?

Why It Makes Sense for Boston

Without question moving Pierce for Granger makes sense for the Celtics. Because they play the same position, Granger would simply fit into Pierce’s spot in the starting rotation. Boston would get five years younger while gaining athleticism and offense.

Granger isn’t as complete a player as Pierce is, but he can flat-out score, which was a problem for Pierce as the season wore on, especially in the playoffs.

The change in scenery should be welcomed by Granger. He'd join a team that would be competitive (health permitting) in the Eastern Conference with his contributions and if Kevin Garnett plays with Boston in 2013-14.

Also, Granger would be Boston’s go-to player. Until injuries kept Granger sidelined for all but five games in 2012-13, he averaged better than 20 points per game between 2007-08 and 2011-12. Pierce averaged only 18.6 per game in 2012-13.

There’s been a lot of talk that Jeff Green should start over Pierce. Green certainly made a strong case for becoming Boston’s first option offensively after he had several explosive games in his best pro season.

But Green didn’t always exhibit the killer instinct required of a team’s alpha male.

Granger has been that for Indiana for the previous five years. The pressure will be much higher in Boston than in Indiana, but there are no indications that Granger wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure.

And an offense led by Granger and Green would be very difficult for opponents to handle. With Granger at shooting guard and Green at small forward, they would have a height advantage over many opposing players. This would remedy the lack of height issue if Courtney Lee (6’5”), Jordan Crawford (6’4”) and Jason Terry (6’2”) remain on the team.

As an inside-outside threat, Granger and Green could literally take turns attacking vulnerabilities. Who becomes the go-to guy simply would boil down to who has the hot hand for the night. With point guard Rajon Rondo feeding them, they should flourish.

A Pierce-for-Granger trade does come with some risk for the Celtics. Health has been a constant problem for the former University of New Mexico star. Granger has played a full 82-game season only once in his career. Granger’s return from patella tendinosis in 2012-13 lasted just five games before his left knee flared up and led to season-ending knee surgery.

Over the past six years, Granger missed a total of 121 games, which is 25 percent of a possible 476 games. Over that same period, Pierce missed just 26 games.

Fortunately for Boston, Granger is only guaranteed for the 2013-14 season. If for whatever reason things don’t work out for either the player or the franchise, Boston can let Granger walk as a free agent and gain $14,021,788 in salary cap relief for 2014-15. The Celtics would finally be under the salary cap by then.

Figure in the possibility of Garnett’s retirement that would free up $12 million for 2014-15, and Boston would have deep pockets for free agency.

Best Case/Worst Case

In the best-case scenario, Granger stays healthy, plays injury-free and at an All-Star level. The Celtics would be a lock to reach the second round of the playoffs with a good shot of reaching the ECF. Granger is rewarded with a reasonable five-year contract and Boston remains competitive for the next three to five years.

But if Granger’s knee remains a problem and he misses significant time, the Celtics would be a borderline playoff team. If Garnett retires after Pierce is shipped to Indiana, Boston has to get by as an offensive team without its defensive lynchpin.

Without the leaders offensively and defensively, the Celtics fail to make the playoffs and end up with a bottom-of-the-lottery selection.

Disappointed in their return from Granger, the Celtics let him walk in free agency and consider blowing up the team to begin rebuilding.

Why It Makes Sense for Indiana

The Pacers are Paul George’s team. With Granger sidelined most of the season, George Wally Pipped Granger. In his third season, George had career highs in points, rebounds and assists and earned a selection to the 2013 All-Star Game. Indiana actually got better without Granger, making Granger an expensive spare part.

There are two reasons why the Pacers would trade Granger for Pierce. If this trade goes down before June 30th, Indiana can cut Pierce so only $5 million of his $15,333,334 salary is guaranteed, saving the Pacers $10,333,334. That would put Indiana around $20 million under the projected 2013-14 salary cap.

That would give the Pacers enough money to sign George to a lucrative extension and prevent him from becoming a free agent the following season. Indiana might also be able to re-sign David West and Tyler Hansbrough. Though the Pacers can exceed the cap to re-sign both by using the Bird rights, they would be able to do so within the small market franchise’s budget after releasing Pierce.

If the Pacers intend to keep Pierce, it would be to give a supercharged boost to the bench.

Expectations were high for the re-signed Gerald Green after he averaged 12.9 points per game off the bench for the Pacers in 2011-12, but his average dropped to just seven points per game in 2012-13.

Enter Pierce, a proven scorer with a track record of stepping up at the biggest moments.

The Pacers believe they can knock off the Miami Heat after pushing Miami to six games in a competitive and contentious series last season. If the Pacers fail to dethrone the reigning Eastern Conference Champions in the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals, maybe a player of Pierce’s pedigree would push the Pacers over the top.

There isn’t a situation that Pierce hasn’t seen entering his 16th season. More importantly, few players have Pierce’s guile, toughness, leadership or proven reputation as a clutch player. Having Pierce on the floor during crunch time would do wonders for the Pacers’ confidence. He could be the offensive difference-maker the team is missing.

What gives the Pacers pause is whether a possible one-year rental of Pierce is worth it.

Pierce knows he wants to play at least one more year. After that, who knows? It’s a risk exchanging the grizzled veteran when they already have the younger Granger.

But is Granger willing to sacrifice for the team and accept a role off the bench? While Pierce is more likely to accept a sixth man role at this stage of his career, is Granger willing to do the same in the prime of his career? It’s a decision that could determine whether or not this trade happens.

Indiana was 29th in bench scoring during the regular season, and the Pacers won’t improve unless a proven scorer is added as a sixth man. The Pacers could either coerce Granger to step aside for George or put their faith in Pierce and value the intangibles his veteran presence would bring to a young team.

Best Case/Worst Case

The salary dump works pretty simple: Pierce is released, freeing the money needed to sign George to an extension, re-sign West and Hansbrough and have enough money left over to add a free agent to help get past Miami.

The other best-case scenario also leads to an NBA Finals appearance with Pierce being exactly what the Pacers were hoping he would be as a sixth man and a leader.

If Pierce ages disgracefully, the Pacers can find solace that it was just a one-year, $15,333,334 commitment and some of the money saved can be spent on a free agent next season.

Questions? Comments? Send to randolphc82@comcast.net.

Projected Top-5 NBA Pick Trey Burke Is Taking Care of off-the-Court Business

Benjamin J. Block — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:03:16 -0400

When he was a kid playing in the Columbus, Ohio youth leagues, officials would prohibit him from stealing the ball until the opponent crossed half court in an effort to try and keep competition fair. Now Trey Burke is projected to go in the top five of next month's NBA draft.

Besides father-slash-basketball agent Benji Burke signing Trey to Infinite Sports Concepts, the group most excited to be a part of Burke's future is The Legacy Agency (TLA).

The sophomore sensation from Michigan wasted no time making a big splash with his off-the-court representation—becoming TLA's first-ever active NBA client.

After the signing between Burke and TLA was made official Monday, May 20, Senior Director of Talent Marketing & Corporate Partnerships Brandon Swibel couldn't hide his excitement.

"We are in the position where we have the relationships with the right people, and we've just been waiting for the right NBA guy to come along. Trey has the image both on the court and off the court where we're not going to have to worry about him getting negative press or getting in trouble."

"When Trey became more familiar with the brilliant campaigns we've done with some of our other athletes like Reggie Bush, CC Sabathia and Ndamukong Suh, he was excited about the opportunity to come in and have all of our attention as our first active NBA client."

Swibel added, "we wanted to make sure that the first NBA player we brought on board was worthwhile and someone we want to build around."

Burke is smart to enlist the services of TLA, and capitalize on branding his image off the court.

The 20-year-old has already amassed over 87,000 twitter followers (Trey_Burke3) and has more than 122,000 fans on Instagram (Tr3yBurke).

It's that kind of command over social media that has Swibel and TLA drooling over the potential influence he'll have on corporate partners who are looking to utilize social media as part of their marketing.

Burke also has a a genuine human nature about himself, one of the bigger factors why TLA is excited for their partnership.

"He really credits his parents [Benji and Ronda] for instilling all the values he has," said Swibel. "It's good to see a guy who is about to be an NBA player fulfil his dream, but not forget where he came from and what got him there."

Rumors of Burke potentially landing with a small market team like the Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings or New Orleans Pelicans are swirling, but Swibel and TLA are not worried about the market size that their newest client goes to.

"From a marketing standpoint, we would always like an attractive market for Trey, but it's his play on the court that will drive everything. We just hope that he ends up somewhere that's a good basketball situation."

"If he can go to a team where he can make an impact right away, I think that would be a good opportunity."

TLA, unabashedly, has put all their basketball eggs into the basket of the reigning 2012-2013 consensus National Player of the Year, foreseeing and anticipating a fruitful investment in Burke.

Will America?

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.

Texas Football: 4 Potential Impact Freshmen for the Longhorns

Jonathan Woo — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:59:19 -0400

College football is forever a revolving door of high school talent, perpetually keeping the sport young, wild and unpredictable.

The Texas Longhorns will officially welcome 15 new players as part of their 2013 recruiting class in just a few weeks, although several from the group enrolled early and have already been through a semester on campus.

With new players comes fresh talent, perspective and possibility, and the Longhorns will be looking in every corner for the difference-maker who can contribute to a potentially special season.

The Longhorns return 19 starters next season, ultimately leaving few vacancies for the newcomers to find wiggle room, but there are always the surprises. Texas has a select few who could make contributions at some point this season, small or large.

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Toronto Blue Jays: 5 Disappointing Draft Picks in Jays History

Tim Mackay — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:59:04 -0400

With the MLB June draft on the horizon, it's a perfect time to take a look back at the Toronto Blue Jays draft history.

The Jays have recently been lauded for the drafting and development but that was not always the case. During the 1980s, the franchise had a string of unsuccessful high draft picks but balanced those out with strong picks in the lower rounds.

Either way, the team produced many disappointments over their history. Drafting is an inexact science, but that does not mean we're prohibited from looking back and dwelling on the team's mistakes over the years.

A warning for readers: This list attempts to include players that most fans would have heard of. Think of the list as a rundown of the teams most disappointing prospects rather than their downright worst draft picks.

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LeBron James Talks 2016 Olympics and Return of Coach K

Jesse Dorsey — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:57:49 -0400

With Mike Krzyzewski officially signed on to continue as the head coach of Team USA for the 2016 Olympics, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, he's also got the blessing of the 2012 Olympics' best player, as LeBron James is seemingly excited about the announcement.

Coach K and LeBron helped Team USA win the gold in 2012, the team going undefeated throughout and beating Spain in the gold-medal game, picking up the second consecutive gold for the U.S. in the Olympics.

Via Zillgitt, LeBron talked about Coach K's announcement prior to Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals:

I think it's great. ...

What he means to USA Basketball is beyond just what we do on the court – what we stand for as Americans and being proud to wear the red, white and blue every time we step off the bus, practice, talk to the media or whatever the case may be.

I've got the utmost respect and trust in Coach K. Whatever his decision was going to be, we all support that.

Krzyzewski said many times that the 2012 Olympics was his final international tournament, even officially stepping down back in February. However Team USA and Coach K will formally announce Thursday morning that he has decided to continue his reign as the team's head coach.

He took over the coaching duties back in 2005, coaching the team to a bronze in the FIBA World Championship and then gold in every tournament since. He was also an assistant coach for Team USA in the 1984 and 1992 Olympics, winning gold in each year.

When asked whether or not he would be returning for 2016, LeBron was more ambiguous:

"First, I have to make sure I stay healthy. If I'm fortunate to be healthy, I would love to represent my country again. But that's a long time from now."

While LeBron is still standing firmly in the "maybe" column, with Coach K and a litany of talented young players chomping at the bit to join in on the fun, Team USA should be in strong standing to defend their medal

4 Changes the Washington Redskins Offense Must Make After RG3's Injury

John Bibb — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:39:59 -0400

On any given Sunday in the NFL, when television announcers lay out their "Keys to the Game," one of the most common keys cited is to protect the quarterback. In the case of the Washington Redskins and the upcoming season, that key holds an entirely different meaning with their quarterback Robert Griffin III.

During his rookie season, RG3 dazzled and delighted Redskins fans with his multi-dimensional execution of a pistol formation style offense. This was an offense unlike years past for the team. The excitement he generated amongst fans was something missing in our nation's capital for a very long time.

This Heisman Trophy-winning, Superman sock-wearing, media savvy uber-athlete had everything a town with multiple professional sports teams needed.

The optimism abounded. A phoenix had risen from the ashes.

The reality of RG3's humanity occurred in Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons after he had to leave the game following a helmet-crunching hit along the sidelines. You could hear a pin drop in DC. The entire town held their breath, waiting for their prize-winning boxer to reach his feet for a standing eight count.

He would not return to that game, suffering from what was termed a "mild concussion."

Fast forward to Week 14 and a tight game against Beltway rivals—the Baltimore Ravens. RG3 sustained a widely publicized hit to his right knee, causing him to leave the game and miss the following week of NFL action.

Questions resurfaced regarding his brazen and bold approach to not only scrambling, but avoiding unnecessary hits, not running out of bounds and not sliding to avoid contact.

Then in what some would say was bound to happen, RG3 and his damaged knee—one that needed surgical repair while at Baylor just year's earlier—crumpled to the ground and could not return in the NFC Wild Card Game loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Offseason surgery ensued and the questions surrounding his rehabilitation and safe return for his sophomore season have followed him every step along the way.

With the uncertainty surrounding the role RG3 will play on offense in 2013, the Washington Redskins need to make four key changes on offense to ensure his longevity in the league and the team's future success in year's to come.

1. RG3 needs to protect himself

Throughout 2012, RG3 would push the envelope and try to get an extra yard instead of sliding or running out of bounds. This needs to change. It is of the utmost importance for him to protect his career.

It's hard to tell a young, competitive NFL quarterback to duck out of bounds instead of going the extra step or two to get a first down. In statistics provided by ESPN.com, RG3's running game accounted for 40 of the Redskins 341 first downs—nearly 12 percent.

Last year he ran the ball 120 times for 815 yards—averaging 6.8 yards per attempt. That average was highest in the NFL among quarterbacks and running backs.

The Redskins will have difficulty this season trying to convince RG3 that his long-term health is more important than gaining a few extra yards.

This, perhaps, will be the most difficult challenge and change the team—strike that—RG3 will be forced to make. It is close to impossible to try and restrain or re-train an NFL player's competitive instinct. It is that drive within them to do whatever it takes to help the team—which in turn allowed the player the successes and opportunities to play in the NFL.

However, the future of the franchise lies in the hands of RG3. While backup QB Kirk Cousins certainly stepped in when called upon, Cousins does not have the agility, speed and playmaking abilities of RG3.

He needs to protect himself.

Is he damaged goods? That's highly unlikely, but we won't know how last season's injury will carryover into this season. In all likelihood, a quarterback with the skill set, talent, drive, determination and natural ability seen in RG3 will rebound—however cautiously.

2. Protecting the quarterback

Following the Week 3 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, RG3 addressed media questions regarding the high number of hits, sacks and knocks to the ground he had sustained so early in the season.

According to a Washington Times article written September 23, Griffin went to the ground 28 times in the 38-31 loss to the Bengals.

The quarterback seemed unfazed and resilient following the game.

“It doesn’t matter how many times they hit me, I’m going to continue to get back up. Even if they have to cart me off the field, I’m going to get off that cart and walk away.”

Can you say foreshadowing?

Redskins guard Kory Lichtensteiger told The Times, “A couple of those times he’s laying as crooked as a question mark on the ground, and you’re like, 'He’s not moving.' You’re wondering what’s going on, and then he slowly peels himself back up.”

Keep in mind, in the team's first loss of the year one week earlier, the Redskins QB challenged the league's defenses to, "Bring it on."

When RG3 is in the pocket, he needs more protection. That may be easier said then done because, after all, the offensive line gave up a respectable 30 sacks with RG3 as quarterback and 33 overall.

Allowing 33 sacks placed the team in the middle of the NFL statistically—20 fewer sacks allowed than the NFL-leading Arizona Cardinals, who gave up 58. Not to mention, the team did get penalized 15 times for offensive holding last season.

The bigger area of concern lies with RG3 and putting himself in vulnerable situations while standing in the pocket—including holding onto the ball too long while waiting for a play to develop. His linemen can only hold off the defenders so long before "holding" turns into a penalty.

It all begins with the offensive line controlling the line of scrimmage.

3. Implement more passing

Granted, the Redskins top receiver Pierre Garcon missed six games in 2012 due to injury, but he still led the team with 633 receiving yards. To their credit, the Redskins were the only NFL team to have four wide receivers with 500-plus receiving yards. So what do they need to change?

With a running game that finished atop the NFL in total rushing yards—taking into account 815 of those yards were from their quarterback—the team's ground game is secure, but the receivers need to elevate their game and contribute more on offense.

The last thing the Redskins want is to become predictable. After all, RG3 has shown he is an effective passer—completing 65 percent of his passes last season.

What the team needs is an improved role and better output from the wide receivers. That, in turn, will depend upon improved route-running, a decreased number of dropped balls and an increase in yards after the catch.

The top-four receivers accumulated 2,259 yards with 963 yards after the catch. The same group of receivers accounted for 15 of the 24 passing touchdowns.

To put those numbers into perspective—Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson led the league with 1,964 yards and Green Bay Packers WR James Jones led in receiving touchdowns with 14 in 2012. Those individual performances last season nearly eclipsed the top-four Redskins wide receiver's combined totals.

To further grasp the importance of an improved pass attack—in comparing the teams within their division—the Redskins passing yards accounted for a lowly 55 percent of the team's total yards.

The Dallas Cowboys led the NFC East with 79 percent, followed by the New York Giants with 67 percent and the Philadelphia Eagles at 66 percent.

4. Better blocking

It all starts at the line of scrimmage. The linemen, tight ends and even the wide receivers need to change the manner in which blocking is carried out while avoiding penalties that negate the play.

We have seen the explosiveness in the running game throughout last season with the efforts of Alfred Morris and RG3 on designed ground plays. What needs to change is player on-field awareness when a designated play turns into a scramble by RG3.

In-game scenarios that call for improvisation by RG3 are unplanned and require immediate decisions and actions. Better blocking by the tight ends and wide receivers at or beyond the line of scrimmage will open up lanes and space downfield for whoever is carrying the ball.

If we see RG3 has recovered 100 percent, as deemed necessary by coach Mike Shanahan, will we see a significant reduction in his scrambling and offensive production on the ground in 2013?

We could, but I think it is a highly unlikely scenario. There are a lot of unknowns prior to the season opener on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept 9th. This much we do know.

Changes need to be made on offense to protect RG3.

There is no "I" in team and one player alone does not make a team. However, there is a valuable and dependable quarterback that has the talent to lead the team for year's to come as long as he stays fit and healthy.

Change isn't painful—it's resistance to change that is painful. Hopefully, with the talented coaching staff assembled under head coach Shanahan, these changes and others will bring about positive results in 2013.

All statistical information provided by ESPN.com.

Follow on Twitter @JohnBibb and view previous Bleacher Report articles I have written on the Washington Redskins here.

Formula 1: 2013 Monaco Grand Prix Preview

James Neilsen — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:33:35 -0400

The Monaco Grand Prix has long been the jewel in Formula One's crown. Held in the second-smallest country in the world, the race has been a fixture on the calendar every year since 1955.

This is the race that every driver on the grid wants to win, and most of the sport's greats have at least one Monaco victory to their names. Ayrton Senna won here six times, while Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher have five wins apiece.

Of the current drivers, only Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber have more than one win.

The unique challenge of Monaco is that almost every inch of the track is lined with barriers. If a driver makes a mistake, there's a strong probability he'll come into contact with one of them—and that could well end his race.

The expected front-runners will be Ferrari, Red Bull and Lotus. But with tyre wear less of an issue here, Mercedes may be able to translate their blistering one-lap pace into a half-decent race performance.

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Los Angeles Kings' 5 Most Impressive Players During 2013 Playoffs

Jason Lewis — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:33:17 -0400

With the tension rising in a heated series between the San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings that now stands at two games apiece, let's take a moment to reflect back on the playoffs as a whole and talk about some of the team's more impressive players.

It's been all hands on deck as the St. Louis Blues and the San Jose Sharks have played tight checking series that have all but neutralized some of the team's best players. However, the Kings have received stellar play from stars and depth players alike. Moving forward, they will need more of the same if they want to continue the march toward a title defense.

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