Bleacher Report - Front Page

Michael Jordan Announces Bobcats Intend to Become Charlotte Hornets

Alex Kay — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:23:34 -0400

After nine years of misery, failure and heartbreak, the Charlotte Bobcats intend to change their nickname to the Hornets.

Michael Jordan, team owner and one of the greatest winners in NBA history, made the announcement at a press conference on Tuesday evening.

The switch won’t happen immediately, with Jordan revealing the franchise won’t be officially known as the Charlotte Hornets until the 2014-15 season, according to the timeline NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver outlines (via USAToday.com).

Rumbling for this change began back in January, when Charlotte conducted a Harris Interactive poll (via ESPN) to gauge local interest in reverting to the Hornets. The results were never released, but seem evident by the pending transformation.

With the league remaining in control of the Hornets name (as per ESPN), this process was easy for Jordan to start and should be easy to follow through with.

The name swap was an obvious one, as the Hornets played in Charlotte from 1988 through 2002, when the team uprooted and moved to New Orleans under then-owner George Shinn.

Tom Benson purchased the New Orleans Hornets from the league in 2012, and he immediately decided to change the franchise’s moniker to something more local. He eventually settled on the Pelicans—as the team is now officially known.

Benson even admitted that the Hornets belonged to Charlotte, saying:

“The Hornets name came from Charlotte. That fits in with Charlotte. It doesn’t fit into New Orleans, La., or our area here. The Hornets don’t mean anything here.”

For most of the original Charlotte Hornets lifetime, they were one of the more popular franchises in the league and sold out a majority of their games.

Players like Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Glen Rice and Muggsy Bogues helped the organization to make seven playoff runs in its 14 years of existence, but the Hornets never were able to get past the conference semifinals.

It seems they’ll get another crack at that when this young squad, led by recent lottery picks Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, finally rebrands and can shed the failures of the Bobcats.

The current Charlotte franchise has an overall record of 243-465 during the regular season and 0-4 in the playoffs. The Bobcats put together arguably the worst campaign in NBA history, when the 2011-12 squad went just 7-59, a .106 winning percentage.

The team has employed five head coaches and is actively searching for its sixth, while never putting a player on an All-Star or All-NBA team.

Hopefully for Charlotte basketball fans, that dismal reign ends when the Hornets return to town and give this downtrodden franchise some much-needed hope.

Grizzlies vs. Spurs Game 2: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis

Tristan Thornburgh — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:15:52 -0400

Can the Grizzlies' Zach Randolph bounce back, or will he continue to look like the player who was once traded for Quentin Richardson in a straight-up one-for-one swap?

After a 105-83 blowout loss in Game 1, Memphis will look to tie up the series against the San Antonio Spurs tonight in the Western Conference Finals.

The big story for the Spurs in Game 1 was their stellar defense. They were able to stop Randolph completely, limiting Z-Bo to just two points and seven rebounds on 1-of-8 shooting. Has San Antonio discovered the blueprint to slow down Randolph?

After a Game 1 performance in which point guard Mike Conley scored 14 points on 12 shots and center Marc Gasol scored 15 points on 16 shots, the Grizzlies will need to play a more efficient brand of basketball to keep up with the Spurs' tight-run ship.

The scariest thing from Memphis' perspective going forward is that Spurs star Tim Duncan scored just six points in Game 1, and you can be sure he'll be a bigger factor on the offensive end for the remainder of the series.

The Grizzlies have been in this position before, but the Spurs are the best team they've faced in the playoffs to date.

Game 2 tips off at 9 p.m. ET tonight on ESPN.

Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers Game 3: Live Score, Updates & Analysis

Isaac Smith — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:15:01 -0400

The New York Rangers host the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Tuesday night. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

This is a must-win game for the Rangers, as they are down 2-0 to the Bruins in the best-of-seven-series. A loss here would almost assuredly crush any hopes of the Rangers making a comeback in this series.

But the Rangers shouldn't be worried.

They find themselves in a familiar position. The Broadway Blueshirts went down 2-0 to the Washington Capitals in the first round, before promptly winning four of the next five games to advance to play Boston in the semifinals.

The Bruins were in a similar situation as the Capitals in the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs, up 3-1 in the series. The Leafs came back to force Game 7, necessitating a record comeback by the Bruins after being down by three goals in the third period of Game 7.

Tune in to this live blog during tonight's Game 3 for scoring updates and analysis.

Penn State Football: Power Ranking the 5 Most Memorable Plays in PSU History

Colin Tansits — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:04:26 -0400

Penn State football has a rich tradition that stretches through past years and generations.

Fathers, sons, grandfathers and all different families that flock to Beaver Stadium can agree on at least one thing: Penn State.

Over the years the football program has seen many memorable moments, plays and milestones.

Even with the dark cloud still hovering near Happy Valley as the dust settles from the Sandusky scandal that stunned the nation, those memorable plays and moments on the field still remain.

So as the college football world sits in limbo between spring practices and summer minicamps, let’s take a look into the past.

Here is a list of the most memorable plays in Penn State football history, ranked by impact and significance.

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NBA Draft Lottery 2013: Live Results and Analysis

Tristan Thornburgh — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:59:48 -0400

For all of the NBA teams that didn't make it to the playoffs, the 2013 draft lottery is their time to shine.

Tuesday night, the ping-pong balls will be drawn and we'll know which NBA team gets to have the top overall selection in the June draft.

Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore and Trey Burke are three prospects who have been mentioned as potential top picks, but who will make those top picks? Will a team leapfrog to the top spot?

Here is the list of teams entering the lottery, per NBA.com. The percentage next to each team represents the chance the team has at landing the No. 1 selection.

Utah Jazz: 0.5 percent
Dallas Mavericks: 0.6 percent
Toronto Raptors: 0.7 percent (pick is top-three protected; otherwise goes to OKC Thunder)
Philadelphia 76ers: 0.8 percent
Portland Trail Blazers: 1.1 percent
Minnesota Timberwolves: 1.7 percent
Washington Wizards: 2.5 percent
Detroit Pistons: 3.6 percent
Sacramento Kings: 6.3 percent
New Orleans Pelicans: 8.8 percent
Phoenix Suns: 11.9 percent
Cleveland Cavaliers: 15.6 percent
Charlotte Bobcats: 19.9 percent
Orlando Magic: 25 percent

The lottery begins at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight on ESPN.

Andy Murray Withdraws from French Open Due to Back Injury

Tyler Conway — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:56:30 -0400

Andy Murray's career-long quest to win at Roland Garros will not come to fruition in 2013.

According to BBC Sport's Twitter feed, Murray officially withdrew from the French Open on Tuesday due to lingering back issues:

After the news broke about his withdrawal, Murray released a statement, per The Scottish Sun's Sport Twitter feed:

He said that this ailment isn't new and it took away from his enjoyment of the game.

"It's been an issue for a while now and I want to make sure it goes away," Murray said (per the BBC). "It's not enjoyable when you're playing in pain."

Murray's decision was made after undergoing a scan, per the Daily Mail's Mike Dickson. It's unclear what Murray's prognosis was following that appointment.

While this news undoubtedly comes as a disappointment to the world's second-ranked player, there had been speculation about Murray's status for weeks. The 26-year-old Murray was forced to retire during his second-round matchup versus Marcel Granollers in last week's Italian Open due to the issue, casting a shadow of doubt over his French Open status.

Speaking after his retirement against Granollers, Murray acknowledged it was unlikely we'd see him in Paris.

"I pulled out because there is a good chance I wouldn't be playing tomorrow. We'll have to wait for Paris. I'd be very surprised if I were playing in Paris," Murray said to Reuters (via Yahoo! Sports).

All things considered, Murray is likely making a sound long-term decision. The French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament where he has never made the final, and his only semifinals appearance was in 2011. Last year, the fourth-seeded Murray was upset by sixth-seeded David Ferrer three sets to one in the quarterfinals.

With the grass-court season—Murray's speciality—getting underway after the French Open, Murray is making a forward-thinking decision to sit out. Ben Rothenberg of The New York Times noted that Murray likely made the correct decision considering his up-and-down history at Roland Garros:

Murray's withdrawal obviously makes things easier for contemporaries Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The defending champion Nadal had already passed David Ferrer for the No. 4 seed, but Murray's absence pushes Nadal to the No. 3 seed.

The official draw for the French Open will be held on Friday, May 24, and action gets underway at Roland Garros on Sunday.

Byron Scott Is Logical Choice for Clippers' Head Coaching Vacancy

Tim Keeney — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:54:59 -0400

If the end-game is re-signing Chris Paul—as it unequivocally should be—then the Los Angeles Clippers would be wise to hire Byron Scott to fill the head-coaching vacancy opened up by Vinny Del Negro's departure.

On Tuesday afternoon, it was revealed that the Clips' polarizing head man would not have his contract renewed (via Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski):

Finding a replacement is now of the utmost importance. The NBA draft and free agency are both right around the corner, and it would probably be best to know who is running the show before making significant changes to the roster.

But judging by the size of the target list (according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and the Orange County Register's Dan Woike), it appears Donald Sterling and Gary Sacks aren't wasting any time with the crucial transition:

The first question of each interview needs to be a simple one: How will you help re-sign the best point guard in the league?

Scott will have the best answer to that question.

His overall resume isn't spectacular. Yes, he took the then-New Jersey Nets to two NBA finals appearances in his first three seasons as a head coach and won Coach of the Year with the New Orleans Hornets in 2008. However, he has a career record of 416-521 and recently went an abysmal 64-166 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It got him fired.

Nevertheless, the rapport he established with Paul during their time in New Orleans can't be overstated.

Scott is seen as a key figure in Paul's development into a superstar, and when the former was fired from the Hornets, the latter "wasn't happy with the decision."

Even after the two separated, they kept up their "father-son type of relationship" (via The Times Picayune's John Reid) and continued to communicate several times per week.

Apparently, Scott simply has a way with point guards. Even after an ugly tenure with the Cavs, Kyrie Irving—another point guard he has molded into a superstar—took the firing rather poorly, according to Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal:

Now put yourself in the Clippers' point of view. If you're trying to hire someone who will best entice your star player to stay, aren't you going to go with the one man who has already developed an unmatched relationship with said star?

That should be obvious.

Scott may not have an overwhelming track record, but he's the candidate with the best chance of swaying the All-Star point guard back to Los Angeles.

And at this point, there is little else that matters.

Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Stevan Jovetic and Kevin Strootman Should Top Wishlist

Timothy Rapp — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:54:52 -0400

It's no secret that Arsenal will supposedly have a lot of cash to spend this summer. It's also no secret that, while both fans and the team's players are pleased with finishing top-four and reaching the Champions League, ending the trophy drought is the primary goal for next season.

And as John Cross of the Mirror writes, Arsene Wenger could have up to £70 million to spend this summer and is targeting the following players:

The Frenchman believes three key signings—a goalkeeper, a midfielder and a forward—would blend in easily and turn Arsenal back into title contenders.

The Gunners are eager to show they are not satisfied with finishing fourth, but want to win trophies again.

Strikers Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid) and Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina) and keepers Asmir Begovic (Stoke), Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) and Rene Adler (Hamburg) are all possibles.

Midfielders Kevin Strootman, of Dutch heavyweights PSV Eindhoven, and Max Gonalons, of Lyon in France, have also been watched.

Of that list, the two that stand out to me are Jovetic and Strootman.

I love Jovetic's game. He's a wonder with the ball on his feet, able to take on defenders with his dazzling dribbling and solid pace and would fit perfectly in Arsenal's open, possession-reliant attack.

If he led the line, he would give Arsenal a different option from Olivier Giroud. With his piercing runs, clinical finishing in the box and ability to drop deeper and find the play, he would almost give Arsenal a 4-3-3 look with a false nine.

But he could also drop behind Giroud as a second striker and give the Gunners a dangerous combo in the attack, with Giroud holding up play and threatening in the air and Jovetic taking on defenders and creating chances for his teammates.

In that role, it would be interesting to see how Giroud and Jovetic would gel with Theo Walcott driving defenders batty on the right wing and either Santi Cazorla or Lukas Podolski manning the left.

With 27 goals and eight assists in the past two seasons and at just 23 years of age, Arsenal fans will want to see him increase his production surrounded by more talent. But they'll surely be tantalized by his immense potential.

Then there's Strootman. He's a versatile, athletic engine in the midfield that offers a defensive presence, plays box-to-box and has the passing ability to bomb diagonal passes to teammates or push the play forward with powerful runs.

Oh, and he's got a pretty nice scoring touch, too. Truthfully, there isn't anything this man can't do, and he would be an absolutely perfect addition for Arsenal.

Essentially, he would take on the role Mikel Arteta so gamely fulfilled, only with a more physical presence and defensive mentality. Next to the hardworking, defensively conscious Aaron Ramsey, he could play as deep-lying playmaker, linking up play to the attackers.

Next to Jack Wilshere, he could play a more traditional holding role, using his high work rate and solid tackling to win the ball back and maintain possession. And next to Arteta, he would allow the Spaniard to play further up the pitch or the two could rotate the holding responsibility.

Honestly, it's pretty exciting to think about the versatility he would afford the midfield.

Finally, the Gunners would have a physical presence to replace the role that Alex Song abandoned when he surprisingly moved to Barcelona last summer.

With those two players aboard, Arsenal—which displayed an impressive level of resiliency this season, especially down the stretch—would be a true title contender.

With Walcott blossoming into one of the league's most dangerous attackers, Cazorla providing a much-needed creative spark and Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker finally becoming an efficient combination at centre-back, things are looking up for the Gunners.

Adding Jovetic and Strootman would help the team take the next step, one that hopefully will have some silverware accompanying it.

Wayne Rooney's Future at Manchester United Lies in David Moyes' Hands

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:50:16 -0400

When David Moyes was announced as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Wayne Rooney's tone may have changed.

Rooney may have requested for a summer transfer in April according to the Guardian, but that was before Ferguson announced his retirement and the 27-year-old's former manager at Everton took over.

Now, the man who watched Rooney begin to emerge on the pitch before departing for United may be able to keep him...at United.

It's a funny twist, one that would be far more humorous if Moyes is able to convince Rooney to stay.

The biggest obstacle will be Rooney's demand to be guaranteed his natural starting spot on the club, per his reported conversation with Ferguson in April. This past season under Ferguson, he wasn't able to play his preferred forward position because of the acquisition of Robin van Persie.

Perhaps what may have been even more hard to take was the fact that he wasn't included in United's biggest game of the season, the Champions League last 16 leg against Real Madrid at Old Trafford in February. Such a move will sting even the most hardened veterans.

In reality, you can't expect United, or Moyes, to cave in to Rooney's demands. He's not going to start at forward over Van Persie—that's just ludicrous. United fans can only hope that Rooney and Moyes come to terms and Rooney accepts his place as a centre attacking midfielder.

And it's not like Rooney didn't make an impact as a midfielder for United last season. Quite the opposite. He was the second-best player on the pitch for the club beyond Van Persie. He was second on United in goals (12) and first in assists (10). Perhaps if he can understand he's still a vital part of the attack, he will back off on his demands a bit.

That's where Moyes comes in.

The best chance to keep Rooney (and more importantly, keep him happy) is to convince him that he is greatly valued as a midfielder on the club. Guaranteeing him that he won't be left off the club's biggest game of the season may be a place to start.

Rooney's unhappiness appears to stem from not feeling valued. If Moyes can assure him he will be prized under his watch, that could ease Rooney's stance on playing forward.

Moyes—whose contract officially begins on July 1—has a lot of work to do at Old Trafford. By the looks of things, he's getting a head start.

He's going to need it when it comes to negotiating with Rooney.

San Francisco Giants: 6 Possible Replacements for Ryan Vogelsong

Matt Foster — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:35:33 -0400

After Ryan Vogelsong fractured his pitching hand on Monday night, the San Francisco Giants are faced with the decision of who will replace him in the starting rotation.

Despite the suddenness of the injury, it is likely that the leading candidates to fill Vogelsong’s spot have already been placed under the microscope.

The right-hander’s early-season struggles (1-4, 7.19 ERA in 9 starts) have been well-documented, and manager Bruce Bochy had recently broached the topic of skipping Vogelsong’s turn in the rotation.

So now that the unfortunate injury has forced the Giants’ hand, who is most likely to become the team’s new fifth starter?

Since Vogelsong is expected to miss only 6-8 weeks, the replacement almost certainly will come from within the organization.

*All statistics courtesy of MLB.com and MiLB.com and current through May 20.

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Breaking Down 2 of the NFL's Biggest Matchup Nightmares

Alen Dumonjic — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:27:04 -0400

One of the lasting images from the past few seasons is Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson standing at the line of scrimmage and being covered by two New Orleans Saints defenders.

It was only the second quarter and the Saints had a 17-point lead at that point in the game. It was simply a startling image.

How many wide receivers, a position that's regularly viewed by the NFL's best teams as disposable and easily replaced, can say they were literally double covered to the point where they couldn't get off the line of scrimmage at such an early point in a game?

Incredible, absolutely incredible. Johnson is the NFL's ultimate matchup nightmare on the offensive side of the ball. On the opposite side of the line of scrimmage, it's DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys.

Ware, the longtime defensive end and outside linebacker, is a pass-rushing menace who terrorizes offensive linemen and quarterbacks on a regular basis. He's had at least 11 sacks in seven of the last eight years, can cover very well for his size and lines up all over the trenches.

Between Ware and Johnson, football coaches have their work cut out for them every Sunday. Johnson, in particular, is dangerous because he can line up all over the formation and do damage. Recently, he's added the ability to play in the slot in addition to the perimeter, making him a very difficult matchup for defenses.

The reason he's so problematic from the slot is because of his combination of size, speed and route-running. He grades off the charts in all three areas, measuring in at 6'5", 236 pounds. However, he breaks down in his routes like he's 6'1". In addition to the three above, he has quick feet that can deceive safeties, as New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins found out during the 2012 playoffs.

Johnson was in the left slot on the short side of the field. Before the snap, the Saints looked to have him bottled up because they were playing Cover 2. Jenkins was over the top of Johnson and the outside cornerback would be underneath him following the snap.

At the snap, Johnson ran directly at Jenkins and then looked back to the quarterback. That, along with a quick jab of the right foot, was a part of selling the route. Both led to Jenkins taking false steps in the wrong direction and falling behind in coverage.

In addition to Jenkins' missteps, the cornerback failed to sink deeper into the flat and as a consequence, Johnson beat the two for a touchdown in the corner of the end zone.

It's plays like these that make it difficult to cover Johnson, who spent 30 percent of his snaps in the slot in 2012, according to Pro Football Focus.

Another example of his success from the slot came against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16.

He was lined up as the slot receiver in the Lions' stacked twin set to the left side of the field. He was set to run a dig route against the Falcons' exotic defense, which featured cornerback Dunta Robinson covering Johnson outside and a late rotating safety inside.

When the play began, Johnson ran vertically for roughly 10 yards before sticking his right foot in the ground and running to the middle of the field. By that time, the aforementioned defenders were in position to box him out and prevent a catch.

However, a well-run route by Johnson changed that. He ran a sharp and narrow route across the middle, not giving either defender a chance to intersect him.

With the defenders out of position, Johnson reached sky-high to haul in the pass.

Whereas Johnson is difficult to defend from the defense's view, the Cowboys' Ware is difficult to defend from the offense's perspective.

It's not easy to find blocking schemes that can protect against Ware. He's a very intelligent defender and understands how to attack the line. He's exceptionally quick and powerful as well, making him the complete package as far as pass-rushers go.

Under the direction of then-defensive coordinator Rob Ryan last season, Ware was moved around all over the field and did damage against tackles, guards and centers. Now with Monte Kiffin running the show, he's expected to be primarily a defensive end, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

In Kiffin's Tampa 2 scheme, Ware will once again be a weak-side rusher and his primary focus will be getting after the quarterback, which he didn't always do under Ryan.

Because of the switch to defensive end, Ware will have more opportunities to jump snap counts and beat tackles with his wicked first step, like he did against the Cleveland Browns' Joe Thomas.

It was early in the third quarter of a Week 11 game against the Browns. Ware was lined up at outside linebacker on 3rd-and-8 and with the play clock winding down, he jumped the snap to get a leg up on Thomas.

Ware's early step gave him a great advantage over Thomas, who was still in his stance when Ware crossed the line of scrimmage.

The quick first step set up a power rush off the edge, which consisted of Ware sinking his left shoulder and using his left arm to keep Thomas at a distance. This enabled him to turn the corner and sack quarterback Brandon Weeden.

It was the same type of play that Ware executed against the New York Giants in 2012, when he also came off the line before anyone knew they had to move.

Whenever he has the chance to take advantage of his first step, he uses the same long left arm mentioned earlier to turn the corner and get to the quarterback.

It's no surprise that Ware has quick feet, high IQ and great physical skills. After all, it's the makeup of great players such as himself and Johnson. They are the league's best at their positions and have been playing at a high level for many years.

That's why they give headaches to coaches every week.

Update on When John Cena Will Be Back on WWE Television

Sharon Glencross — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:16:27 -0400

Following his electrocution at the hands of Ryback at Sunday's Extreme Rules pay-per-view, when can we expect to John Cena back on television again?

Sans a post-show dark match, the current champion didn't appear at all on Monday's Raw, still selling his injuries from the event.

Instead, Ryback came out at the start of the show, complained about the strange no-contest finish to the match and issued a challenge for an Ambulance match at the Payback event next month.

He later took out Cena's old friend Zack Ryder and sent him off in a nearby ambulance for emphasis.

Well, it appears Cena will be answering the challenge sooner rather than later. In today's F4Wonline Daily Update, Dave Meltzer reveals:

"John Cena is expected back on Raw next week. He was off TV last night selling injuries, but he worked before the live crowd in the dark match main event."

Oh, come on. You didn't really expect Cena to miss any real time in an attempt to get over the seriousness of his injuries, did you?

This is the same man that famously "retired" from Raw in late 2010 only to make his, er, long-awaited return less than an hour later.

WWE brass obviously doesn't want one of the few top draws the company has left off of television for any prolonged period of time, which is a valid point.

Besides, in the storyline, this makes perfectly logical sense. Cena already emerged miraculously unscathed after being tossed by The Big Show into a massive spotlight, which then exploded, at 2009's Backlash event.

Like some comic book superhero, the guy is clearly immune to electricity at this point and cannot be seriously damaged by it.

Hey, maybe Nick Fury should show up at the end of next week's Raw and try to recruit Cena into The Avengers? Just a thought.

NBA Playoffs 2013: Why Chris Bosh Is the X-Factor in Heat vs. Pacers

Eric Bost — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:11:16 -0400

Chris Bosh will make his presence known when the Eastern Conference Finals start Wednesday.

The member of the Miami Heat's "Big Three" has taken on the most criticism by far from the media and fans, who claim he is soft around the rim. But after Bosh went down with an abdominal injury in Game 1 of the Heat's Eastern Conference semi-final matchup with the Pacers in last year's playoffs, people wondered if Miami could compete without their third star.

It took superhuman efforts by both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to move the Heat into the Eastern Conference Finals, but this year Bosh is back and primed to contribute to Miami's championship run.

Yes, LeBron James is the face of this team; he is the best player in the world, after all. But while he's going to continue putting up numbers, Bosh will be the deciding factor on what the reigning NBA champions can do offensively.

The Indiana Pacers run a more traditional defense with two big men down low. While David West is the more skilled perimeter shooter, Roy Hibbert operates from the low block and isn't afraid to muck it up trying to crash the boards.

Hibbert is a huge threat around the rim, just ask Carmelo Anthony. He leads all NBA centers this postseason in offensive rebounds (55) and offensive rebounds per game (4.6) and is first among remaining centers in blocks per game (2.5).

Now Bosh doesn't need to score more points in order for his team to win. His biggest contribution will come more from the perimeter and being able to drag Hibbert away from the rim.

The Pacers need Hibbert down low on defense to create shot blocking opportunities and alter opposing shot attempts. With the Heat's style of slash-and-kick, there will be numerous chances for Hibbert to swat away shots. James, Wade, Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole can all use picks to drive to the basket, and without Bosh, Hibbert will be waiting for them.

The Heat love to play small ball on both sides of the court. They don't have a conventional center; they use Bosh at the five while James moves down to the power forward. That way the Heat can get more athleticism on the court and can use that to create turnovers and run up and down in transition with ease.

With Bosh out there, it gives the Heat another shooter along the perimeter instead of a big center that takes up space in the middle. Bosh is more of a finesse forward that loves a mid-range jumper, like Kevin Garnett is with the Celtics.

Bosh has been a constant shooting threat in the 2013 playoffs. Even though he's scoring 13.2 points per game, he is making the most of his chances when the ball is in his hands. Bosh is third among remaining forwards in field goal percentage (51.6), only behind Kawhi Leonard of the Spurs and LeBron.

Bosh isn't just a hot shooter, he's also made himself dangerous from beyond the arc. He leads all forwards this postseason in three-point accuracy, making a remarkable 46.7 percent of his shots from downtown, according to CBSSports.com.

With Bosh being such a hot shooter lately, Hibbert has to make sure he keeps his eye on him during this series. He is going to be wandering out near the three-point line, far away from where Hibbert likes to be. The 7' 2" center isn't quick enough to get back and help on defense if one of the Heat slashers make a move toward the basket.

Bosh's ability to shoot drags the opposition's big man away from the paint, giving the Heat better scoring chances at the rim and more rebounding opportunities. If Hibbert does stay inside to help the defense, then the ball can be kicked to Bosh on the wing, leaving him wide open for a jump shot.

Chris Bosh may not have been able to play last year against the Pacers in the playoffs, but this time he comes back better than ever. Indiana has to account for Bosh on the wing, but that leaves the NBA's MVP room to charge the rim with authority.

Examining Pittsburgh Steelers' Offseason and Key Preseason Positional Battles

Justin Onslow — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:06:33 -0400

As has been the case several times in recent Pittsburgh Steelers history, consecutive playoff seasons gave way to a marginal campaign in 2012 that saw the Steelers post an 8-8 record, missing out on the playoffs behind the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North.

General manager Kevin Colbert promised changes in the Steel City this offseason, and he certainly delivered. Mike Wallace was left to walk in free agency (inking a massive contract with the Miami Dolphins), and oft-injured linebacker James Harrison will be facing his former team at least twice this year in the black and orange of Cincinnati.

Longtime nose tackle Casey Hampton remains without a contract—due in part to Pittsburgh’s lack of cap room and in part because of injury issues. And while Rashard Mendenhall had a few very productive seasons in Pittsburgh, his injury problems and poor attitude necessitated a change as well. He signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals to play for former Steelers offensive coordinator and new Arizona head coach Bruce Arians.

But this offseason wasn’t all about cleaning house and starting fresh.

The Steelers still have a solid core in place for the 2013 season, including linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley, wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown and two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger—to name just a handful.

Colbert also made his mark as he so often does with a strong 2013 draft class that features multiple starting-caliber players, including first-round linebacker Jarvis Jones and second-round running back Le’Veon Bell. Pittsburgh isn’t known for rushing its rookies into starting roles, but both players could be in line to see substantial playing time this season.

The 2013 season holds a lot of question marks for the six-time Super Bowl winners, though.

Todd Haley took the reins of the offense last season with underwhelming results. While injuries to Roethlisberger and general sloppy play from the likes of Mendenhall and Wallace didn’t help matters, it was obvious the Steelers' offense would need more time to adjust to Haley’s system.

But with a year of experience under their belt, the Steelers will be in much better position to take another run at the Super Bowl champion Ravens in the AFC North. Provided Roethlisberger can stay healthy—and Bell stabilizes a running game that finished 26th in the league last season—there’s no reason Pittsburgh can’t be a dominant force in the AFC again this season.

Dick LeBeau is one of the best defensive coordinators in the history of the league, and he continues to churn out top-three units year in and year out. This season should be no different, but a few fresh faces will have to step up.

2009 third-round cornerback Keenan Lewis had a tremendous 2012 campaign after earning the starting role to begin the season. However, much like with Wallace and Hampton, salary cap restrictions forced the Steelers to allow their best corner to walk in free agency. He signed a five-year, $26 million contract with the New Orleans Saints in March.

Lewis’ departure proves LeBeau has faith in 2011 fourth-rounder Cortez Allen and third-rounder Curtis Brown to fill his shoes, but Colbert also orchestrated the return of former Steelers corner William Gay to aid in those efforts. Allen is a favorite to get the nod across from Ike Taylor, but Brown and Gay should still play a sizeable role this season, especially in nickel and dime packages.

Pittsburgh may not have experienced its usual success last season, but Mike Tomlin will have his squad prepared to turn things around in 2013. Here, we’ll take a closer look at some of these storylines and break down several key position battles to watch this offseason.

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A's and Cubs Guaranteeing Your Summer Has Requisite Amount of Zubaz

Gabe Zaldivar — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:05:53 -0400

Because awful things never seem to truly die, two MLB franchises are digging deep into the fashion pile for "Zubazpalooza" day at the stadium.

Big Lead reports the Oakland A's are bringing back the audacious parachute pants for the dog days of summer, when we all stop caring about what looks good and dress for what makes the heat tolerable.

MLB.com has a full report on the A's bringing back pants we thought had died or gone to live in Rob Gronkowski's closet. Images via Zubaz's Facebook page.

The A's iteration of "Zubazpalooza" will go down on Saturday, August 3 at O.co Coliseum.

Fans that purchase a special Plaza Reserved ticket package will receive a pair of green and gold Zubaz pants at the afternoon game vs. the Texas Rangers.

The report states you can specify what size you want for your free Zubaz pants when you purchase the tickets for the game. Of course this begs the question of how you go about making sure everyone gets the proper size, something that once frazzled George Costanza.

The A's are not alone in their fashion endeavors. As Big Lead points out, the Chicago Cubs are throwing their very own "Zubazpalooza."

Sadly, those in the Chicago area will have to wait until September 23 to get their hands on their very own pair of outrageous pants.

The club is running pretty much the same promo the A's are with their game against the Pirates. Their statement offers: "The Chicago Cubs are pleased to announce the details of our inaugural Zubaz Night in the Budweiser Bleachers. Your Zubaz Night Special Event ticket includes a pair of official Zubaz pants in Chicago Cubs colors."

Again, nothing worth remembering. Zubaz will live on much the same way jellies are apparently making a comeback.

Sadly, I still see no mention of Hi-C Ecto Cooler or Squeez-Its coming back. Please remedy this quickly, world.

Hit me up on Twitter for more fashion advice: Follow @gabezal

2013 NBA Free Agents: Biggest Gambles on the Market

Chris Imperiale — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:05:16 -0400

The 2013 NBA free-agency market has plenty of big names who will create a lot of impact next season. This year’s class is filled with superstars, however, some of these players are the biggest gambles out there.

A few of the top free agents include Josh Smith, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Andre Iguodala.

Since the Miami Heat signed Chris Bosh and LeBron James three years ago, there’s been a larger emphasis on landing big players in free agency. This year will be the same, despite the risk that comes with a few of the marquee names.

Dwight Howard

While he'll attract any number of NBA teams, Dwight Howard is one of the biggest gambles on the free-agent market. Howard has shown throughout his career that he’s one of the best big men in the league, one who produces quality numbers each year.

The reason he’s such a gamble is the baggage and drama that will accompany his on-the-court talent. Howard turned his latter years in Orlando and his only season in Los Angeles into soap operas.

For years he demanded to get out of Orlando, and once he got his wish, he never seemed satisfied. In the Lakers' up-and-down 2012-13 season, Howard had his share of issues with the team and its on-court leader Kobe Bryant.

There’s no doubting Howard’s importance in a league where there aren’t many dominating centers, but his reputation will cause some teams to think twice.

Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum is in a very similar situation as Dwight Howard. With there being so few good frontcourt players in the NBA, Bynum will be highly sought after. He’s considered a risk, though, for reasons including his attitude and maturity problems.

Bynum will not get nearly the amount of attention Howard will based on the gap between their skill set. Bynum is regarded as a solid young player, but he’s never put together the numbers like Howard.

Another main reason Bynum is a gamble is that he didn’t play a single game last season for the Philadelphia 76ers due to knee issues. Philadelphia took a risk on trading some key players for Bynum last offseason, just to see it all go to waste on their bench.

Bynum will land a big deal somewhere, but he’s absolutely a risk.

Monta Ellis

If Monta Ellis declines his player option for next season, he too will be one of the best free agents on the market this summer.

Ellis has solidified himself as one of the top scoring options in the NBA, averaging just under 20 points per game during his career.

The gamble that comes with Ellis is that he’s the type of guy who can shoot his team both in and out of games. Ellis is a volume shooter and is known to be somewhat of a ball hog at times.

He’s also a risk because his lack of experience on winning teams. In his eight-year career, Ellis’ teams have made the playoffs only twice.

Best Potential Replacements for Vinny Del Negro to Keep Chris Paul with Clippers

Dan Favale — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:59:01 -0400

Chris Paul has decided that Vinny Del Negro will not return as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ahem, excuse me, I mean the Clippers as an organization have decided to move forward without Del Negro.

According to Adrian Wojnaorwski of Yahoo! Sports, the Clippers have parted ways with their head coach. His contract had expired and he was up for a new deal, which Los Angeles will not be giving him.

Del Negro spent the last three seasons with the Clippers, compiling a combined record of 128-102 and leading them to two consecutive playoff berths, a feat that hadn't been accomplished since Los Angeles qualified for back-to-back postseason runs in 1992 and 1993.

With Paul set to enter unrestricted free agency this July, the search for Del Negro's replacement must begin immediately.

By "Del Negro's replacement," I of course mean "Chris Paul's hand-picked preference."

One of the reasons Del Negro was reportedly ousted was because Paul wasn't a fan, so the Clips must sift through all the available options and find one that appeases their prized point man.

Among the biggest reasons the Clippers let Vinny Del Negro go today, sources say: Chris Paul was not a fan.
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) May 21, 2013

Where will that quest take Lob City?

Let's take a look.

*All stats in this article were compiled from Basketball-Reference unless otherwise attributed.

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SEC Football Freshmen with Brightest Future

Ian Berg — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:50:00 -0400

The SEC is loaded with rising stars throughout the freshman ranks with 20 of last year’s Top 50 signing with conference schools.

The No. 1 player Robert Nkemdiche is preparing to build a masterful career at Ole Miss, and O.J. Howard is expected to change the way that the Alabama offense pushes the football down the field.

The next few years will bring a lot of quality football with these five freshmen lining up on Saturdays.

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San Francisco Awarded Super Bowl L, What Does it Mean for 49ers?

Zach Kruse — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:45:39 -0400

While the San Francisco 49ers have their sights set on playing in a second consecutive Super Bowl next season, the franchise was presented Tuesday with a rare but obtainable goal for later down the road.

According to NFL Network, NFL owners voted to award Super Bowl L—the league's 50th anniversary of the first Super Bowl—to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016. The city beat out South Florida to host the iconic Super Bowl, which will be held in the 49ers' new stadium in Santa Clara, California.

As currently constructed, the young, talented 49ers should have an opportunity to become the first NFL team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium.

Of course, it's impossible to look three years into the NFL future and determine whether or not the 49ers will still have the elite roster they currently possess. Predicting the league year by year is difficult enough; attempting to pin down what will happen three years down the road might require Nostradamus.

However, nothing about how the 49ers have been built in recent years suggests they will not be in the running for a Super Bowl in 2016. In fact, it's much harder to envision the franchise going south than continuing on as a contender.

From the staff to the front office to the roster, San Francisco is well prepared for longevity.

The 49ers are led by 49-year-old head coach Jim Harbaugh, who holds a 24-7-1 regular season record with three playoff wins in just two seasons at the NFL level. He was named the Coach of the Year in 2011 and could have won it again last season.

Harbaugh has won early in his NFL coaching career in large part to the roster provided to him by general manager Trent Baalke.

The 49ers have a promising young quarterback in Colin Kaepernick, who took the NFL by storm in 2012 and nearly won a Super Bowl during his first season as a starter. He appears to be the ideal running-and-throwing hybrid that is defining the future at the position.

The rest of the offense is littered with young talent, between the league's best (and one of its youngest) offensive lines, tight end Vernon Davis, running backs LaMichael James and Marcus Lattimore and a deep and talented receiving corps.

While San Francisco figures to be competitive on offense for the foreseeable future, the defense possesses as much if not more talent.

Inside linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis represent the best young duo the NFL has seen in some time, while 2011 first-round pick Aldon Smith flirted with 20 sacks in 2012. The 49ers also added a first-round safety in Eric Reid to an already talented and hard-hitting secondary.

In between their Super Bowl loss and the 2013 NFL draft, we broke down how the 49ers became such a talented franchise. The same holds true today. The 49ers are built to win on both sides of the ball—both now and in the future.

Barring unforeseen structural changes in the front office and coaching staff or regression from the talent in key positions on the field, the 49ers appear capable of being among the NFL contenders for the long haul.

If the franchise can continue its winning culture for the next several years, the 2016 season could be a special one for the San Francisco Bay Area.

As of the 2013 season, no team in the history of the Super Bowl has played the biggest game in their home stadium.

There's no tangible way to say whether or not the 49ers will become the first to do so three years from now, but all evidence in 2013 points to San Francisco having that opportunity.

Thankfully for this bunch of talented 49ers, the Super Bowl worth worrying about right now is the one taking place in the New Jersey this coming February.

NBA Playoffs 2013: 4 Keys for the Indiana Pacers to Beat the Miami Heat

Chris Landers — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:44:38 -0400

The 2013 NBA playoffs have reached their final four, and now things really get fun. On paper, the Eastern final is akin to a Biblical showdown. The grit-and-grind Indiana Pacers against the pyrotechnic show that is the Miami Heat. Blue collar, Midwestern pride against the sinful vanity of South Beach. Lance Stephenson against, well, just about everyone in a red and white jersey.

A title would put the 2013 Heat in rarefied air, squarely in any debate about the greatest teams of all time. They ripped off a 27-game winning streak while practically sleepwalking through half of them. They have arguably the greatest (and certainly the most versatile) player to ever pick up a basketball. So how, exactly, can anyone throw a wrench in the Miami coronation? Those humble, hardworking Pacers may have the personnel to pull it off, if they can follow these four keys to victory.

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Why Steven Jackson Will Be Even Better in Atlanta Than St. Louis

Scott Carasik — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:41:20 -0400

Steven Jackson will have one of the best years of his long career now that he's with the Atlanta Falcons. While he was excellent in St. Louis, he was toiling away on a team that was mired in mediocrity.

Jackson is one of the few players in NFL history with over 10,000 rushing yards and 3,300 receiving yards for his career. He's also known for a bruising style that makes him one of the top backs for a team like the Falcons to have. He will prosper will in their scheme that mixes of zone and man blocking for its running game.

The biggest things that will make Jackson more of a threat in Atlanta than during his Rams career are the options he will have around him, the more improved defensive line and how Dirk Koetter loves to run his screen-based scheme in the passing game.

Offensive Line is Better Than What He Had

In St. Louis, the Rams offensive line was mediocre at best. While Rodger Saffold, Scott Wells and former Falcon Harvey Dahl looked good, the rest of the line was terrible. Left guard was a revolving door while right tackle had the extraordinarily weak combination of Barry Richardson and Wayne Hunter there. That doesn't look as good as the Falcons current projected starting offensive line.

What it may lack in experience, the lineup of Sam Baker at left tackle, Justin Blalock at left guard, Peter Konz at center, Mike Johnson at right guard and Lamar Holmes at right tackle shows a ton of natural talent. It also shows a ton of investment. From left to right, it goes first-round pick, second-round pick, second-round pick, third-round pick, third-round pick.

It's also one of the biggest offensive lines in the league. Baker is the runt of the litter at 6'5", 310 pounds, but Blalock flanks him at 6'3", 330 pounds. Konz and Johnson increase the size at center and right guard as both are 6'5", 315 pounds. Holmes (6'6" 330 pounds) is actually bigger than the make he's replacing in Tyson Clabo (6'5" 325 pounds).

Investment-, size- and talent-wise, this is one of the best lines Jackson has been able to play behind. It may be unproven, but Pat Hill has done more with a lot less. I mean, he did coach the Browns for a long time and was known for turning 2- and 3-star prospects at Fresno State into draftable offensive linemen.

Offensive Threats Keep Defenders Out of the Box

Not only does his group of linemen look better than what he had in St. Louis, but the overall talent around him will open up the offense and allow him less defenders in the box to have to weave through. Receivers Julio Jones, Harry Douglas and Roddy White combined with tight end Tony Gonzalez will make it tough for any team to stack the box.

Jones, White and Douglas are a trio who could challenge for a combined 3,000 yards again this season after falling just 56 yards short of that mark last year. Gonzalez is still the best tight end of all time, but he doesn't have the same kind of speed he once did. He can still throw up over 900 yards and a handful of touchdowns every year though.

When the Falcons come to play in the fall, don't be surprised if quarterback Matt Ryan is given a pass-run combination call every down. The Falcons have the running back and blockers to take advantage of six- and seven-man boxes. And they have the receivers to burn the defenses deep in eight- and nine-man boxes.

All Dirk Koetter will have to do is make sure Ryan sees how many deep safeties and corners there are on the field. In a four defensive backs formation with a safety dropped into the box, Ryan should check to the pass call from the huddle. However, when the box is containing just six or seven men, Jackson should be given the ball, and he'll have a field day with it.

Jackson Doesn't Have to Come Out on Third Downs

One of the biggest strengths in having a running back like Steven Jackson is that he can run the ball like a monster from any formation. But even more important than that is his ability to catch the ball out in the flats as a checkdown and still be able to gain important yardage. Jackson's amassed over 3,300 career receiving yards from this skill and that should continue through this year.

Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter loves using the four verticals concept in his passing offense. The best part of a four verticals call is the ability to check down to a short route run by a hard-charging running back underneath the verticals. Jackson can not only run that route, but it could be one of the most effective routes on the play for the Falcons.

Add in how the Falcons will be able to enhance their already effective screen game with the addition of the bruiser, and Atlanta could have just made an offense that was already unstoppable even better. A scary thought if you are Tampa Bay, New Orleans or Carolina. There isn't really anyone who can stick with Jackson on all three downs.

Because he doesn't have to come out, the Falcons will be able to maximize their return on the future Hall of Fame running back. And in the end, Jackson will have one of the finest seasons of his career. If he ends up stealing the show and the Falcons make it to the Super Bowl, he will be the man that brought them over the hump and into the promised land.

And who knows?

Maybe Tony Gonzalez and Jackson can earn the Super Bowl rings that would cap off their already amazing careers.

All stats used are either from Pro Football Focus's Premium Stats, ESPN, CFBStats or the NFL. All contract information is courtesy Spotrac. All recruiting rankings come from 247Sports.com.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL Draft. He also runs DraftFalcons.com.

Follow @ScottCarasik

Big Ten Football Freshmen with Brightest Future

Randy Chambers — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:31:55 -0400

Despite what you may hear through the grapevine, there are elite recruits that decide to take their talents to the Big Ten. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer made it known he isn't impressed with the recruiting classes overall, but there are top recruits that have turned down offers from the SEC to play in this conference.

A lot of these guys are from the 2013 recruiting class who will have a chance to make an impact as early as this season. Whether it is a star running back, hard-nosed defensive player or a future star quarterback, the Big Ten is a conference you want to pay attention to for the next couple of years.

Here are the Big Ten freshmen who have the brightest future.

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NBA Lottery 2013: Teams Most in Need of Winning No. 1 Selection

Richard Langford — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:24:52 -0400

Every team in the NBA would like to win the No. 1 overall selection, but a few of these franchises need it more than others.

This NBA draft class isn't receiving a lot of hype, but there is some difference-making talent at the top. Kentucky center Nerlens Noel will likely be the first pick. Noel has a dominant defensive game and the potential to develop into a solid offensive weapon.

These next three teams don't necessarily need Noel, but they need the value of the No. 1 pick. These floundering franchises could either take Noel, trade the pick or even take another player (likely Kansas guard Ben McLemore).

We'll get into those three teams below, but first, here is your guide to this year's lottery.

Viewing Information

When: Tuesday, May 21, at 8:30 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN.com

Odds of Winning Top Pick (via NBA.com)

Team	Record	% Chance
Orlando Magic	20-62	25
Charlotte Bobcats	21-61	19.9
Cleveland Cavaliers	24-58	15.6
Phoenix Suns	25-57	11.9
New Orleans Pelicans	27-55	8.8
Sacramento Kings	28-54	6.3
Detroit Pistons	29-53	3.6
Washington Wizards	29-53	3.5
Minnesota Timberwolves	31-51	1.7
Portland Trail Blazers	33-49	1.1
Philadelphia 76ers	34-48	0.8
Toronto Raptors	34-48	0.7
Dallas Mavericks	41-41	0.6
Utah Jazz	43-39	0.5

No. 1: Charlotte Bobcats (19.9% chance of winning draft lottery)

The Bobcats need all the help they can get. This is a franchise that appears to be lost at sea.

Last year, after one of the most unsuccessful seasons the sports world has ever seen, the Bobcats missed out on the top overall selection and the opportunity to draft Anthony Davis.

Karma has to be on their side this time, right?

All of this said, the Bobcats are not without young talent. They have point guard Kemba Walker and forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. These are two solid pieces to a winning foundation, but they aren't complete enough players to do it on their own.

This team needs a big boost down low. It could also use a shooting boost on the perimeter. The Bobcats' best hope is actually to win the No. 1 pick and then find a couple of assets via a trade. Still, this downtrodden franchise needs all the value it can find right now.

No. 2: Orlando Magic (25.0%)

Finishing with the league's worst record, the Magic have odds on their side to win the top pick, and they need it.

The season after trading franchise big man Dwight Howard saw the Magic take a huge step backward.

This team is not without young talent in the likes of Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris and Andrew Nicholson. However, much like the Bobcats, these guys can't turn around the franchise on their own.

Also, like the Bobcats, the Magic's best option would be a trade for the No. 1. However, even if they couldn't pull off a desirable trade before the draft, they could down the road. HOOPSWORLD's Steve Kyler shows he feels this is the strategy with this retweet:

Winning this lottery would put the Magic on the fast track to rebuilding.

No. 3: Phoenix Suns (11.9%)

Other than Goran Dragic at point, the Suns need to upgrade all over the court.

This is a franchise headed in the wrong direction. With new GM Ryan McDonough looking to build through the draft, landing the No. 1 pick would be a way to jump start the rebuilding process.

And while Dragic is a solid point guard, he isn't the kind of elite scorer who can lift an offense by himself. He needs more talent around him.

If the Suns took Noel, it would allow them to get back to being the kind of fast-break team that can run other teams out of the gym. And McLemore would give this team the kind of perimeter shooting it needs to help space the floor.

And both potential impact players would definitely be a step in the right direction.

Chris Andersen: Miami Heat X-Factor

NBA365 Productions — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:21:28 -0400

The Miami Heat had the best regular season in franchise history. Behind their 27-game win streak and 66-win season, the only thing missing to cap off this historic year is the Larry O'Brien trophy.

The start of the season was far from special for the Miami Heat. They were playing as though they were just waiting for late April to come around so they could start their real season.

Yet, once they acquired big man Chris "Birdman" Andersen, it seemed as though they found the energy they needed, as they went on to lose only 5 games since he joined the team in late January.

Watch now to hear about "Birdman's" impact and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Carlos Tevez: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Garry Hayes — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:16:59 -0400

Carlos Tevez has had a long, protracted history of pining for a move away from Manchester City.

In 2011-12 he went AWOL from the club, returning to his native Argentina as he looked to force through a transfer, but he later returned to see out the rest of the season.

With 2012-13 now in the rearview mirror, will this summer be the year he moves on? Big changes are expected at City, especially after Roberto Mancini's departure as manager.

Here's a breakdown of Tevez's vital statistics and where he might end up, should he depart the Etihad Stadium.

AGE: 29

CONTRACT SITUATION: The Argentinian's contract will expire at the end of 2013-14, leaving him free to leave Manchester City for nothing.

CAREER STOPS: Boca Juniors (2001-04), Corinthians (2004-06), West Ham United (2006-07), Manchester United (2007-2009), Manchester City (2009-current)

CURRENT CAMPAIGN: Premier League: 34 games, 11 goals, eight assists; Community Shield: one game, one goal; FA Cup: Six games, five goals, two assists; Capital One Cup: one game; Champions League: Five games.

VIDEO SHOWREEL:

SCOUTING GUIDE: Tevez is a tenacious competitor. It's often a cheap slight on his character and ability from opposing fans and managers to suggest that his best quality is that very tenacity, but he brings a lot more to the table.

He is skillful when running at defenders, forcing them into conceding free kicks and penalties, while his movement off the ball is also impressive. He has a knack for arriving unnoticed in dangerous positions and often evades the attention of his marker. His energy allows City to press high up the pitch when needed, and he often forces his opponents into mistakes.

WHERE NEXT: A report from The Mirror suggests that Tevez is interested in extending his contract at City beyond the end of next season, but given his chequered history, the club may be looking to cash in now while they have the chance.

The Guardian indicates Juventus or Paris Saint-Germain could be a likely destination this summer, while the Daily Mail has reported Monaco have also shown an interest in acquiring his signature.

All three clubs will need to act fast, as Inter Milan are also chasing Tevez, according to The Express.

NBA Draft 2013: 1st-Round Prospects Who Helped Themselves Most at Combine

Tyler Conway — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:16:58 -0400

You'll be super surprised to hear this, but people tend to overreact to the results at the NBA draft combine.

Held last week in Chicago, the two-day event puts players in a series of positional drills, scrimmages and athleticism testings that has very little correlation to NBA success. While not quite the Underwear Olympics that takes place every year in the NFL, it's very hard for a player to come out of obscurity to wow scouts at the NBA combine. The player pool is just too small and teams have watched enough tape to know what they're getting for the most part.

For fans, that can be frustrating. Arguably the most important aspect of the entire process—the team interviews—happens behind closed doors. So even though you'll hear about players "impressing" certain squads in interviews, it's impossible to know just how much tangible evidence you can take away.

However, that's not to say combine results are meaningless. They're far from it. Last week's festivities in Chicago were an opportunity for teams, scouts and analysts to start gathering a consensus. And even though many top prospects chose not to participate in the positional drills—mostly at the behest of risk-controlling agents—last week's action still had some very good takeaways.

Namely, there were a few players who were just good enough to send their stock on the upward swing. With that in mind, here is a look at a few first-rounders who had excellent stays in Chicago.

Steven Adams (C, Pittsburgh)

You don't have to look hard to find warts in Adams' game from his one-year stop at Pittsburgh. The New Zealand-born center arrived in the States as a seven-foot mass of potential and athleticism, but with plenty of work left on, you know, playing basketball.

Averaging 7.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and two blocks a night, Adams was everything scouts thought he was and nothing more as a freshman. Those hoping to see Adams develop an offensive game other than "dunk" were sorely disappointed. He was deer-in-the-headlights scared outside the restricted area on offense and thus only received a little over 23 minutes per game.

There were a few tangible positives, most notably his rebounding and shot-blocking prowess. But as the season progressed, it was clear Adams wasn't getting any better. He left Jamie Dixon's stead arguably looking no better than when he arrived.

Heading into the combine, most of the focus was on Adams' offensive game and the colorful adjectives used to describe it. None were positive and the most frequent was possibly "broken." Seriously, Adams looked like a three-year-old playing NBA 2K13 for the first time in his worst moments.

Well, it seems the 19-year-old has already improved more in the two months since the college basketball season ended than he did his entire time at Pitt. Adams was arguably the biggest "winner" of this year's combine, as he confirmed all the good things about him (size, athleticism, etc.) while showing a vastly improved touch around the basket.

He measured in at a full seven feet with shoes and had 11-inch hands, which was tied for the second-widest hands of anyone at the combine. While his leaping numbers were only middle of the pack, where Adams most helped his stock was in the individual offensive drills.

Jonathan Givony of Draft Express noted how much better Adams was than most expected:

Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix said that NBA general managers are "tantalize[d]" by the center's potential:

A first-round lock before heading to Chicago, there's some real lottery buzz about Adams now. His collegiate production doesn't justify it whatsoever—Adams' decision to go pro seemed jarring at the time—but he's true evidence of how much the combine can help an already-intriguing product.

If the draft were held today, don't be surprised if he landed somewhere in the back half of the lottery.

Tim Hardaway, Jr. (G, Michigan)

Adams spent his time in Chicago flashing skills few thought he had. Hardaway spent his time again flashing skills everyone already knew he had—and still amazing scouts in the process.

Overshadowed this past season by Trey Burke, Glenn Robinson III and even Mitch McGary during the tourney, Hardaway's NBA stock was a collective "meh" at this point a week ago. He was in no danger of going undrafted by any stretch, but was a victim of a phenomenon we see every year around draft time—scouts had seen so much of him they stopped caring.

It's easy to say the fans at home have inherent biases toward major conference players because they see them play on national television. But what goes unmentioned is that most teams send their top scouts to the same games the Regular Joe fan—generally because that's where top talents will take on the best opposing competition.

Of course, I'm speaking in generalities here and NBA teams have far greater resources to scour the world for the Giannis Antetokounmpos waiting in second-division clubs overseas. Teams and scouts still in get "bored" of a player like Hardaway, simply because any average college basketball fan has a general idea of what he's good at and what he's not.

In a draft so filled with uncertainties, though, Hardaway came into Chicago and reinvigorated his stock simply by showing up as a better basketball player than his buzzed-about contemporaries. Hardaway was among the most comfortable shooters among 2-guards during drills, with Allen Crabbe of Cal also impressing Jonathan Givony of Draft Express:

And after performing excellently for a guard in the athleticism drills—besting similar borderline first-rounders like Reggie Bullock—Hardaway's name looks like it's creeping into the first round. Seth Davis of CBS Sports "can't think of one" reason why the former Wolverines star shouldn't go ahead of players like Archie Goodwin, who boast a ton of untapped talent but little in the way of performance:

I tend to agree with Davis. There's a time to jump at the potential in Goodwin, and that's in the second round where contracts are non-guaranteed. Hardaway solidified himself as a back-half first rounder for me in Chicago and he'd be a great fit at No. 27 for the Denver Nuggets, a team in need of some shooting.

Cody Zeller (C, Indiana)

Zeller's performance in Chicago was a combination of a little Hardaway in reinvigorating his draft stock and a little Adams in showing off some unforeseen skills.

The former Indiana center's stock heading into the combine was in something of a malaise. An expected top-five pick prior to the 2012-13 college basketball season, the zest had almost completely evaporated from Zeller's name. His overall lack of improvement from his freshman year to his sophomore year was apparent simply by looking at a stat sheet:

Year	PPG	RPG	BPG	FG%	TS%	ORtg	ORB%	USG%
2011-12 (Frosh)	16.5	8.1	1.3	56.2	62.3	119.4	12.4	26.6
2012-13 (Soph)	15.6	6.6	1.2	62.3	66.5	126.8	11.2	24.3

All advanced stats via Ken Pomeroy.

By the end of the season, it was clear that Victor Oladipo was the top NBA prospect on the Hoosiers roster. And as Zeller's campaign concluded with a disappearing act against Syracuse in the NCAA tournament, plenty of folks wondered whether he could even stick in the lottery.

Fast-forward to lottery selection day and Zeller is almost firmly a top-10 selection again. Though Zeller did not perform in the position drills in Chicago, he had arguably the best athletic performance of anyone—and most certainly among big men.

As Jeff Rabjohns of Peegs.com notes, Zeller had the best standing vertical, sprint and lane agility drill numbers among big men:

And Zeller's standing vertical of 35.5" is the best in a decade among players 6'9" or bigger, per ESPN's Chad Ford:

Now, these test results should come with enough grains of salt to fill a Brinks truck. The standing vert is more meaningful for big men because it helps grabbing rebounds underneath, but this is still the equivalent of vaulting an NBA player simply because he had a good 40-yard dash time. There are plenty of other factors.

Zeller deserved to be a top-10 pick based on merit before the combine. He's always been the second-best center in this class behind Nerlens Noel, and the growing talk of him becoming a 4 at the NBA level is intriguing. If Zeller can flash some versatility and increased shot-making in individual workouts, you may see him claw his way back into the top-five discussion by mid-June.

Follow Tyler Conway on Twitter: Follow @tylerconway22

Why Does Triple H Keep Insisting He's a Babyface When We All Know He's a Heel?

Jonathan Snowden — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:14:22 -0400

"Guys, there's something wrong."

The line itself was innocuous. JBL could have delivered it during any match and at any moment. But context is key—as was delivery. This was no regular wrestling call. The hushed and serious tones, first made famous by announcers Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler when Owen Hart plummeted to his death in a ring entrance gone very wrong, told wrestling fans everywhere that this wasn't just part of the show.

In the parlance of the wrestling world, JBL was shooting.

Triple H, the son-in-law of the boss himself and a bona fide wrestling legend, did not look good. Fighting Curtis Axel, against doctor's orders, his poor brain seemingly took one jarring blow too many. The man who kicked out of roughly 10,000 finishers during his WrestleMania 29 match with Brock Lesnar was finally brought low by two right hands delivered by a newcomer getting what is likely his only shot at the big time.

"I need water, just give me water."

Hunter looked confused. He couldn't quite make it back into the ring, choosing instead to sit on a chair ringside to try and gather his thoughts. When he asked for the water and then didn't send a single drop spewing out of his mouth in true Triple H style—that's when we knew it was serious business. Shoot or work? The signs, including Triple H's refusal to abide by doctor's orders, all pointed to work.

The voices?

They were singing another song all together.

"Guys there's something wrong."

This time it was announcer Michael Cole delivering in code. Cole, who transformed his reputation overnight when he dealt with Lawler's real-life heart attack on the air with grace and dignity, was using the same voice he used to get through real-life tragedy as Triple H dropped to one knee, unable to return to the ring he's called home for 18 years.

Is Triple H alright? Can he come back? Wasn't it very brave of him to risk life and limb to step into the ring and compete in the first place?

Those are the questions everyone should have been asking after a bravura performance during the final segment of Raw. Instead, it was a finish met resoundingly with boos. With fans online complaining about Triple H stealing the thunder of the debuting Axel. With impromptu celebrations of his expected absence from the scene.

The question is "why?" Why did the audience sit on its hands as Triple H and Lesnar battered each other at WrestleMania? Why are his endlessly long promos something to dread rather than savor? Why can't he get the crowd to love him, no matter how many tricks he pulls out of what must be some rather long sleeves?

There might be a complicated answer to that question, one involving advanced metrics and plenty of mathematics, small focus-group studies and plenty of advanced degrees. My answer is simpler—nobody likes Triple H.

Hunter is a student of wrestling history. He knows that when they get to a certain age, respected veterans of the sport are hard to truly boo. Ric Flair could play a heel until the day he dies (and almost surely will do so), but at some point, all the way back in 1989 if you ask me, audiences simply refused to boo Ric Flair.

The same was true for Shawn Michaels upon his WWE return after a lengthy hiatus. The crowd may play along in part, but deep down inside, it doesn't want to hate a man it respects.

Triple H views himself on the same level as those other two men. Technically, he has all the credentials in the world. Looking at it on paper, you could make the case that he's every bit the iconic star that Flair or Michaels are. That he's like the Rock, only a Rock who stayed true to the business he loved.

He may feel he's earned the respect of the crowd, that no one could possibly boo him because his tenure in the company demands wrestling fans love him as much as he loves the wrestling business.

But nobody loves Triple H. Nobody ever has. Nobody ever will.

Part of the reason Triple H fails time and time again as a babyface is structural. He doesn't really understand what makes a good babyface tick, or, if he does understand, he just doesn't want to do what is necessary to make the time-tested pattern work for him. His match with Lesnar at WrestleMania is a perfect example of his failure to work a match as anything but a kick-butt heel.

A babyface has to, at some point in any good match, make the heel look strong. He has to be vulnerable, weak, nearing certain doom. Triple H doesn't want to work a match that way. His every instinct is to destroy and cut off his foe, never to nurture an opponent's heat.

Perhaps that was bred in him during his days in the Attitude era, when wrestlers competed fiercely for spots behind the scenes and weren't above the little tricks it took to catch McMahon's, or the crowd's eye. Triple H understands subtext, realizes that, though wrestling is predetermined, what happens in the ring matters. He doesn't want to look weak.

Despite being an aging veteran, which is a nice way of saying washed up, he insisted on being just as tough as Lesnar. Better at submissions than Lesnar. His opponent's equal in every way.

As much as that may have soothed his ego, it absolutely killed the match. Hunter doesn't look convincing trying to sell for his opponent. His heart clearly isn't in it. In that match, his best friend Shawn Michaels could barely be bothered to care, barely changing facial expressions as his former partner stiffly took Brock Lesnar's offense.

If he doesn't care, if Hunter doesn't care, how can the crowd care?

Which leads us inevitably to Triple H's biggest failure as a babyface—everyone in the arena, in front of the cameras and behind them, in the back or up in the cheap seats, knows that Hunter is a jerk.

Whether true or not, we know it.

He's a manipulator, a schemer, the guy who married the boss's daughter. While others earned their spots at the top, he coasted on nepotism, inheriting a position that might have otherwise gone to someone else.

Any attempt to put that behind him, to overcome it, is doomed to failure. Time for Triple H to drop the babyface facade. We've seen it—and we're not buying. Hunter's way too bad an actor to pull off anything but Hunter. And Hunter can never be anything but despised.

NBA Draft 2013: Prospects with the Best Chance to Win ROY Award

Jesse Reed — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:13:19 -0400

Nerlens Noel is the hottest name entering the 2013 NBA draft, but he won't win the NBA's Rookie of the Year award next season.

In addition to the fact that he's a big man coming off of knee surgery (Greg Oden asks, "what could go wrong?"), Noel lacks the necessary strength and bulk to contend with the elite big men in the NBA. Additionally, he's not likely to be ready for any action until Christmas, per SI NBA:

Even if he stays healthy throughout his career, Noel will likely struggle to play with consistency—especially on offense in the low post—for the first couple of seasons as he builds up strength and works on his footwork.

So, if Noel isn't going to win the ROY award, who will?

Here are a few players with an excellent chance to blow the hinges off their first year in the NBA.

Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

When you look at this young man and his incredible, natural basketball talent, one word comes to mind: upside.

He's already good enough to step into an NBA starting lineup and produce at a high level, but given his athleticism, length and natural shooting abilities, it's clear his best days are ahead of him.

Some have compared McLemore to a young Ray Allen, and it's a comparison he agrees with, according to Jonathon Givony of Draft Express:

His athleticism, length and speed allow McLemore to make plays inside the paint, and he's one of the best pure shooters to come into the NBA in the past few years. He hit on nearly half his field-goal attempts last year and converted 42 percent of his three-point attempts.

Combined with McLemore's ability to defend on the perimeter, it's no surprise that some have suggested he could be selected No. 1 over Noel. Even if he isn't, he has a strong chance to be the most productive rookie next season.

Trey Burke, PG, Michigan

Burke is a do-it-all point guard who's likely going to get a unique opportunity to become the face of an NBA franchise. He's also going to have his hands on the wheel of an NBA offense as a rookie.

Burke is a strong leader who excels on and off the court. He can hit the outside shot with consistency (38.4 percent last year), is adept at penetrating into the paint where he can finish strong or find his teammates for open shots.

Some have questioned whether or not Burke's size (or lack thereof) will negatively impact his NBA career. According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, he measured in at 6' 1.25" at the combine with shoes on:

He's bigger than Ty Lawson and almost identical to Mike Conley—both of whom have managed to successfully transition to the NBA game.

Given the fact that Burke will likely be a key player for his new team as an offensive leader, it shouldn't be a shock if he ends up winning the ROY award next season.

Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana

One of the hardest workers in all of college basketball the past few years, Oladipo discovered his shooting stroke this past season at Indiana.

After struggling with his shot in his first two years, Oladipo converted nearly 60 percent of all field-goal attempts and made 44.1 percent of his three-point attempts.

When you factor in his prowess on the defensive end of the court and his ability to clean up the glass from his guard spot, it's clear Oladipo is the most complete 2-guard heading to the NBA in 2013.

Therefore, it's no surprise to hear that Oladipo is being considered by some NBA scouts to be a top-five pick heading into the draft, per Jeff Rabjohns of Peegs.com:

If Oladipo's improved field-goal percentage from last year carries over into the 2013-2014 NBA season, he has the overall game to become an elite player early in his career and the NBA's ROY next year.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Liverpool Transfer Rumors: Reds Have Bigger Needs Than Adding Danny Rose

Timothy Rapp — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:07:06 -0400

The latest rumors involving Liverpool suggest the team has eyes for Tottenham's left-back Danny Rose, who played for Sunderland on loan this season.

The question is, why would Liverpool go after Rose with so many other needs on the team?

First the rumor, from the Daily Mail:

Liverpool have revived their interest in Tottenham left back Danny Rose.

The England Under 21 star was one of Sunderland's best performers during his loan spell, and boss Paolo Di Canio is keen on the 22-year-old.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers failed to sign Rose in the last two transfer windows and is struggling to make his £20million budget stretch.

He will have to offload Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jose Enrique, and Pepe Reina may also go.

Look, I understand why the Reds would be intrigued by the young, talented left-back. And I get moving on from players like Carroll, Downing and Reina. But why exactly would Liverpool sell off Enrique, who was pretty solid at left-back for the team this year?

Why focus on a position that has been solidified, at least with Enrique as the starter, when there are more pressing needs at centre-back, defensive midfield and on the wing?

I know Enrique is 27 and can be inconsistent, but with a Who Scored match rating of 6.93 on the season, he was far from Liverpool's biggest issue. Only Leighton Baines of Everton, Patrice Evra of Manchester United, Gaël Clichy of Manchester City and Kieran Gibbs of Arsenal graded out higher in league play at left-back.

In my opinion, Liverpool's first priority should be adding a replacement for the retiring Jamie Carragher at centre-back. That's easier said than done, of course, but solidifying the center of the back line is a must.

Then, it should be on to winger. While I think the attack is generally strong up the middle with Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and youngster Philippe Coutinho, I have questions about the quality of options on the wing.

And while Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva are a nice pair in central midfield, adding a more rugged holding midfielder would be a priority if I were manager.

Besides, we don't even know if Tottenham would be keen on selling Rose. Given his strong form this season and the fact that Benoit Assou-Ekotto is 29 years old, Spurs may be satisfied with loaning him out for one more year or even allowing him to challenge Assou-Ekotto for the starting gig next year.

Simply put, I don't envision Rose ending up at Liverpool. With more pressing needs and plenty of reasons to think Tottenham will either keep him to challenge for a starting spot or loan him out again this season, this rumor is coming up more thorns and less Rose for Liverpool.

Why Evgeni Malkin Is the Engine Driving the Pittsburgh Penguins' Playoff Run

Steve Silverman — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:05:29 -0400

The first player you think of when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins is Sidney Crosby.

It makes sense. A healthy Crosby is the face of the NHL. He may be hated in Philadelphia and New York City, but he is a truly magical player who is gifted in many ways.

When it comes to consistency and all-around play, though, the Penguins look to the other Hart Trophy winner on their roster. They look to Evgeni Malkin.

Geno may not be quite as charismatic or dramatic as the healthy version of Crosby. However, when it comes to playing the game in all three zones and handling defensive responsibilities, Malkin can do even more for his team than Crosby can.

While Crosby is scoring at a great rate in the postseason—12 points in eight games—he is not 100 percent healthy and comfortable.

Remember, Crosby suffered a broken jaw and lost several teeth when a deflected slap shot hit him in the face in late March. His mouth is still a mess, according to the colorful description of the Toronto Star's Rosie DiManno.

Crosby missed the final 12 games of the regular season and the Penguins' first playoff game.

Since returning, he has been one of the best offensive players in the NHL playoffs, but he has also been protective and concerned about his jaw. He is skating with speed and explosiveness, but he knows he can't afford to get hit with the puck again. He has to make sure he stays upright and healthy.

Malkin is scoring at an even higher rate than Crosby's. He has 14 points in nine games and an array of offensive moves that allow him to score or set up a teammate in an instant.

Combining the talents of Malkin and Crosby is what gives the Penguins a huge advantage over nearly every team in the league. No one can match the 1-2 punch of the two best Penguins.

But Malkin can give the Penguins something that Crosby can't. He can play superbly in the defensive zone. He knows how to shut down opponents in the biggest moments.

Malkin did just that in Game 2 against Ottawa when he blocked a third-period shot that kept the Senators from possibly tying the game and sending it to overtime.

Crosby had a hat trick in that 4-3 Pittsburgh victory, so Malkin's heroics were easily overlooked, but he got back into proper position and kept the Senators from capitalizing on a legitimate scoring opportunity.

In the Game 3 loss to Ottawa, Malkin was again in the perfect position to deflect Milan Michalek's pass to Daniel Alfredsson that resulted in the tying goal in the final seconds of regulation, but he was looking at the puck instead of Alfredsson.

Malkin will make the occasional mistake, but he usually finds a way to make up for it. He was flying in the Ottawa zone in the overtime that followed, but was foiled by Senators goalie Craig Anderson.

Malkin is a proven playoff performer. He won the 2009 Conn Smythe Trophy when the Pens won their last championship. He combines his incredible skill set with the ability to outwit opposing defensemen and goalies when he has a chance to score.

That makes him nearly unstoppable.

If Crosby was flying the way he was earlier in the regular season, Malkin could go along for the ride and play his role as the No. 2 scorer.

Even though Crosby is producing, there is some self-preservation to his game. That's understandable, given the circumstances.

The Penguins don't have to worry. They have Malkin to lead the way.