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WWE Raw Results: Winners, Twitter Reaction and Highlights from May 20

Tim Keeney — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:15:33 -0400

Extreme Rules, often known simply as the pay-per-view after WrestleMania, showcased some scintillating action on Sunday night, and as a result, the expectations for the next day's Raw were almost unreasonably high.

Consider the test passed.

Highlights included Ryback quickly setting a compelling stipulation for his rematch with John Cena, Paul Heyman revealing a shocking choice as his new client, Triple H wrestling on Raw for the first time in years and The Shield, Team Hell No and Kofi Kingston competing in a tactically elite match.

Yes, please.

Let's take a look at the full results.

Quick Results

Ryback challenges John Cena to Ambulance Match at WWE Payback.

The Miz and Jericho defeat Fandango and Wade Barrett via submission by Miz.

Sheamus defeats Titus O'Neil via pinfall.

Paul Heyman reveals Curtis Axel as his new client.

Big E Langston defeats Alberto Del Rio via pinfall.

AJ Lee defeats Layla via submission.

Cody Rhodes defeats Zack Ryder. Ryback puts Ryder in the ambulance after the match.

The Shield defeats Team Hell No and Kofi Kingston via pinfall.

Randy Orton defeats Jack Swagger via pinfall.

Triple H and Curtis Axel fight to a no contest.

Ryback Challenges Cena

After an epic Extreme Rules battle that saw Cena taken off on a stretcher but refuse the ambulance, this is how Raw started on Monday night:

Ryback went on to give a promo that, for him, wasn't too shabby:

Mr. Feed Me More ended up challenging Cena to an Ambulance Match.

That's not exactly surprising considering his match with Cena—which snaked through the arena on Sunday night and featured several impressive, powerful spots—was a truly memorable one. Not only does this stipulation let them leave the ring in similar fashion, but neither wrestler will have to be pinned.

For the WWE, which is trying to keep up each star's momentum, that's an ideal circumstance.

To further cement his point, Ryback attacked Zack Ryder later in the show and after a power bomb and Shell Shocked, threw him in the ambulance.

Because, you know, there's no better way to intimidate the WWE champ than by beating up a guy who was just beaten up.

Also, poor Ryder:

The Debut of Curt Axel

There was endless speculation about who Paul Heyman's newest client would be. Wade Barrett, Antonio Cesaro, Ryback, Christian, Rob Van Dam and several other names were tossed around as possibilities.

It was none of them, as Heyman revealed the newest member of his stable to be Curt Axel, formerly Michael McGillicutty of The Nexus:

Sidelined WWE star Tyson Kidd was certainly enthused about the development:

Combine the technical prowess of Axel, who is the son of "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, with Heyman's talent on the mic, and you have the potential for a future champion. As such, a massive push will almost undoubtedly follow.

But when Triple H came out to confront Axel and Heyman, most fans couldn't help but make jokes:

The Game slapping the former Nexus member didn't exactly quell those jokes, either.

In all seriousness, though, a feud with Triple H has the potential to serve as a gargantuan moment for the burgeoning third-generation star.

And after Raw ended in a no contest between the two after The Game nearly passed out with doctors surrounding him, it's clear a feud is on the way.

The Shield, Team Hell No and Kofi Kingston Electrify

A night after they swept for gold, it's not surprising that The Shield came away with the victory over Team Hell No and Kofi Kingston.

But it was an absolutely thrilling match:

Every wrestler got in a healthy amount of terrific offense, while there were several spectacular spots throughout the 23-minute match.

It doesn't appear that these feuds are anywhere close to coming to an end, and the entire WWE universe should be overjoyed by that fact.

Follow @t_keen

Philadelphia Phillies: As Ryan Howard's Fade Continues, Darin Ruf Must Play Now

Phil Keidel — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:15:25 -0400

Ryan Howard is day-to-day with inflammation in his left knee, per Ryan Lawrence of Philadelphia's Daily News.

That isn't all. The magnetic resonance imaging test of Howard's knee identified "changes" in his meniscus.

Since my training is in law and not medicine, maybe it would be best to hear it from Phillies' trainer Scott Sheridan: "He’s got some changes in his meniscus and his knee. And he’s also got some inflammation in the knee that concerns us."

Maybe Howard will be back in a few days. Maybe he will need a disabled list stint.

Either way, it does not really matter. Ryan Howard is a player with egregiously diminishing skills who now cannot much stay on the field.

And Howard's at-bats against decent left-handed pitching are the stuff of nightmares. As of this writing, Howard's on-base percentage against lefties is .213.

At this point in his career, Howard would be a solid platoon player. And that's about it.

If the Phillies could commit to playing Howard only against right-handed pitching, the production the Phillies would get from a half season from Howard and the rest from the likes of John Mayberry Jr. and Michael Young might equate to the output of a decent full-time first baseman.

Or maybe Darin Ruf should be splitting time with Howard at first base. More on Ruf in a minute.

It all sounds crazy, of course, because of Howard's contract.

The common refrain any time the idea of sitting Howard crops up is that the Phillies owe Howard too much money.

Here's the thing, though: One thing should have nothing to do with the other where that issue is concerned.

Howard is going to get the whole of his $20 million this year and $25 million in each of the next three seasons no matter what his playing status is.

Playing Howard only because of the money he is making, then, is quite possibly sacrificing enhanced chances to win future games because of a past blunder.

Not only does that decision-making run counter to the basic ethic of professional sports, which is to win above all else, but it sends the absolute wrong message to the other 24 guys on the team who might have a better chance to win if Howard sits against left-handed pitching.

Because Howard got off to a decent start in 2013, and because Darin Ruf's season began poorly at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Ruf fell off most Phillies fans' radar after he was the darling of spring training.

And it is not like Ruf is now the second coming of Miguel Cabrera at Lehigh Valley now.

But Ruf's batting average is up to .267, and he has hit five home runs in 40 games.

In limited major league action last season, Ruf hit three home runs in 12 games.

Maybe Ruf cannot hit right-handed pitching well enough to keep a job at the major league level. That's okay, because Howard can still do that just fine.

Ruf can almost certainly hit left-handed pitching at a better clip than .196.

If the Phillies are serious about trying to steal a playoff spot this season, the first order of business must be the beginning of cutting their losses with Ryan Howard.

Ranking the 11 Best Running Backs in Big Ten History

Michael Carroll — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:03:55 -0400

Though the Big Ten has existed since 1896, the conference first used its current name in 1953. Therefore, I will rank what I believe have been the 11 greatest running backs in the Big Ten since 1953.

When coming up with the 11 players for this list, I strongly considered national individual honors, such as Heisman Trophy votes and consensus All-America team selections. These awards allow us to compare the backs not only to their in-conference peers, but also to running backs throughout the country. I considered statistics to a lesser extent, but the numbers do carry a lot of value in this list.

This list includes five players who won the Heisman Trophy a combined six times, as well as the FBS career leaders in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. Nine of the 11 players are members of the College Football Hall of Fame, including a Class of 2013 inductee.

The conference has had some record-setting runners over the past 60 years, so choosing 11 was difficult. Feel free to debate the list, or to add players who you feel I have missed, in the comments section below.

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NHL Playoffs 2013: Best and Worst Goaltending Performances so Far

Brad Kurtzberg — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:47:28 -0400

Goaltending is always a huge part of winning in the NHL, but its importance is magnified even further in the playoffs.

We are now in the middle of Round 2 and already we have seen some outstanding play by netminders that helped their teams steal vital games.

There have also been some dreadful performances by goalies that cost their clubs at critical times and even contributed to their failure to win games or advance to the next round.

Here is a look at the best and worst goaltending games so far of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Feel free to mention any games on either side of the ledger that you feel I may have missed and indicate why you feel that game belongs on either list.

Because I try to remain optimistic, I have included 10 games on the best performances list and only five on the worst. We'll start with the five worst goaltending performances before finishing with the 10 best.

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Ranking Most and Least Efficient NHL Playoff Stars

Steve Silverman — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:43:17 -0400

Winning in the Stanley Cup playoffs means your stars have to step up.

Sometimes, the biggest stars in the game can dominate, like Sidney Crosby. But in other cases, a player with more subtle skills, like Boston's David Krejci, steps up after an ordinary regular season.

On the other hand, the pressure of performing under the brightest lights when you must win or go home may cause other players to falter and lose their way.

Here's a look at the five most and least efficient players in the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.

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Why College Football Rankings Shouldn't Come out Until Week 4

Jonathan McDanal — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:41:15 -0400

Early college football rankings are great hype material and provide good discussion points, but are they worth the consequences?

Computers can't see everything that's happening on the field, so there is a valid place for human opinion in the process that determines the best teams in the country. However, computers are completely unbiased, so they also have earned their seat at the table.

Ultimately, there are issues with the human polls, and most of the issues occur before the season ever kicks off. Here are the reasons that college football rankings should come out no sooner than Week 4.

Enjoy, and feel free to add some reasons of your own (or completely disagree) in the comments.

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Help-Wanted Ad for Brooklyn Nets' Open Head Coaching Position

Andrew Kipp — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:39:39 -0400

Help Wanted!

Offered by: Brooklyn Nets

Position: Head Coach

Location: Brooklyn, NY

About our organization

The Brooklyn Nets are an NBA team based in Brooklyn, New York. The Nets, founded in 1967, are a member of the Atlantic Division. The general manager of the team is Billy King, and the owner is Mikhail Prokhorov.

Core responsibilities

The team is loaded with talented players—including Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez—who have a combined 10 All-Star Game appearances between them.

With such a talented roster at his disposal, the new head coach of the Brooklyn Nets will be responsible for maintaining a winning atmosphere, with the ultimate long-term goal of winning an NBA championship.

Last year’s starting lineup featured players with a combined 52 seasons worth of NBA experience—so the head coach must be able to earn the respect and trust of elite-level, veteran players.

The roster also features budding talents such as 24-year-old MarShon Brooks and 23-year-old Tyshawn Taylor. The new coach must be able to instill confidence in these younger, less experienced players, and develop their skills as the season progresses.

The development of Brooks and Taylor will be critical to the future success of the franchise. The head coach must work with these players individually, and make them understand that he’s invested in their improvement.

Developing the younger players will also give Williams and Johnson more time to rest. Both players played through nagging injuries last season and played too many minutes while injured.

The new coach must do a better job of managing his veteran star’s playing time throughout the season, so they don’t wear down over the course of the grueling 82-game season.

Certain players—including Johnson and Gerald Wallace—failed to live up to their big contracts last season. The new head coach will need to get the most out of every player on the roster, and make each player want to perform their very best on his behalf.

He must have a consistent approach that the players believe in, and buy into.

Prokhorov has a lot of money, but very little time to complete his five-year plan for winning an NBA Championship. The new coach must make sure he, Prokhorov and King are on the same page.

He must earn the trust and respect of the general manager and the owner. He must maintain an open dialogue with both, and share the same vision and goals for the franchise.

Above all else, the coach must instill mental and physical toughness in the team. Last season’s team was maddeningly inconsistent during the regular season and lost in the first round of the playoffs. The coach must hold players accountable for their performance and not allow them to become complacent.

He will need to manage the egos of players who know they’re going to be paid for multiple years, regardless of how they perform on the court.

Last summer, the team splurged, signing Deron Williams to a $100 million contract extension. Then took on the rest of Joe Johnson’s $89 million contract in addition to inking Gerald Wallace to a four-year, $40 million deal.

Individual achievements must take a backseat to the success of the team. The coach needs to make the players understand that their individual statistics mean nothing if the team isn’t winning.

The head coach needs to allocate responsibility to assistant coaches, and make sure his voice isn’t the only voice the players hear. He cannot be stubborn, and must show the ability to make intelligent and calculated adjustments during games and throughout the season.

The New York fans and media are unforgiving and are known for having very little patience.

The new head coach will certainly be under the microscope, so he needs to display strong leadership and character—especially in the face of adversity.

Our requirements

Must be a great motivator and communicator
Must effectively preach discipline and mental toughness to create a strong team identity
Must be a defensive-minded coach
Must have the ability to manage egos
Must have thick skin and be able to take criticism from fans and the media
Must be able to make calculated in-game adjustments
Must have the team prepared to win every night
Must develop young talent
Must intelligently manage the minutes of older players and star players
Must not be afraid to make personnel adjustments
Must effectively allocate responsibility to assistant coaches
Must preach unselfish play on offense
Must facilitate continuity between core players, bench contributors, incoming free agents and rookies
Must preach consistency

Expectations for first season

Win at least 50 regular-season games
Earn a top-three spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs
Win a first-round playoff series

Thank you for your interest in the Brooklyn Nets head coaching position.

For more Brooklyn Nets analysis, follow Andrew on Twitter:

Follow @andrew_kipp

Blackhawks vs. Red Wings Game 3: Score, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

Ryan Rudnansky — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:24:00 -0400

The Detroit Red Wings caught fire in the second period on Monday night, going on to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.

There were plenty of exciting moments in the first 20 minutes of the game at Joe Louis Arena. The two teams combined for 24 shots (Chicago 15, Detroit 9) and 28 hits (Chicago 11, Detroit 17). And there were five penalties in the first period, resulting in three power plays.

After the Red Wings' Joakim Andersson was given two minutes for roughing Andrew Shaw, the Blackhawks got off three shots on goal. But they were all saved by Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard.

There were also three penalties at the 13:03 mark. Shaw was whistled for roughing, while Chicago's Bryan Bickell and Detroit's Kyle Quincey were both given two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. It resulted in a Red Wings power play.

During the power play, the Red Wings got three shots off on goal, but only one of them was inside 15 feet.

ESPN Chicago tweeted:

Detroit's Justin Abdelkader was whistled for holding the stick at the 16:12 mark. The Blackhawks got off three shots on goal on the ensuing power play, but all shots were longer than 40 feet.

Pat Caputo of The Oakland Press in Michigan tweeted during the first 20 minutes:

OHL broadcaster Bryan Thiel added:

Less than a minute into the second period, the Blackhawks got another power play. This time, it was the Red Wings' Brendan Smith who was given two minutes for holding Patrick Sharp.

But the Blackhawks weren't even able to get off a shot on goal during the power play, as all three of their shots were blocked by the Red Wings.

The inability to take advantage of the power plays came back to haunt the Blackhawks at the 7:49 mark. Gustav Nyquist flew through the defense on a break and slammed home a wrist shot from roughly 13 feet out.

Less than a minute later, it was Drew Miller who scored on a deflection, assisted by Patrick Eaves and Cory Emmerton.

All of a sudden, the Red Wings led, 2-0.

Chris Boden of Comcast SportsNet Chicago tweeted:

Brendan Smith was hit with another penalty for interference with 17:39 remaining in the period. But the Blackhawks once again squandered an opportunity on the power play. The only two shots on goal came from farther than 55 feet away.

Through two periods, Detroit had opened up a big advantage.

Brian Hedger of NHL.com highlighted Chicago's apparent inability to score on the power play:

Andrew Shaw was hit with a penalty for slashing Howard at the 1:53 mark in the third period. However, this time it was the Red Wings who were unable to convert, seeing three of their shots blocked during the power play.

At the 4:15 mark, Patrick Sharp broke away from the Detroit defense and had a shot against Howard, but Howard made a nice glove save.

About 20 seconds later, the Blackhawks struck on Patrick Kane's wrist shot from 12 feet out. They were within one goal, determined not to go down without a fight.

But it was Detroit that bounced back immediately.

With the Blackhawks threatening, Pavel Datsyuk made an incredible shot from 34 feet out, assisted by Brendan Smith and Johan Franzen, at the 6:46 mark.

SportsCenter tweeted:

And with about 13 minutes to play, it was 3-1 Red Wings.

Michal Handzus was given two minutes for holding Abdelkader with 8:58 remaining, handing the Red Wings a power play.

But Detroit wasn't able to capitalize.

Duncan Keith was whistled for roughing at the 14:09 mark, giving the Red Wings another power play. And—once again—the Red Wings came up empty.

But at this point, the Red Wings only needed to keep the Chicago offense at bay. And they did just that, cruising to a confidence-building victory in Detroit.

The Blackhawks finished 0-for-4 on power plays for the game. Howard was outstanding throughout, saving all but one of Chicago's 40 shot attempts.

The Red Wings now lead the series, 2-1.

Mexico: Heart of a Champion Is El Tri's New Anthem

Karla Villegas Gama — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:13:36 -0400

El Tri will have a huge motivator starting May 30, when the team faces Nigeria in an international friendly at Reliant Stadium. Mexican Grammy-winning pop group Jesse y Joy has put up an anthem for the national team.

The song, which you can download for free, talks about the pride and passion of the El Tri supporters. "Corazón de Campeón" (Heart of a Champion) is an upbeat tune, full of rhythm that invites people to sing and dance while cheering for the squad.

Kyle Diller, new media manager for Gilt Edge Soccer Marketing, LLC, told Bleacher Report that, “this is definitely an anthem for the Nigeria friendly and will be played at that game.”

Meanwhile, at the Hispanicize Music Festival where the song was released, the performers acknowledged that, “as soccer fans ourselves, we have great respect for the Mexican National Team. Soccer has no language barriers, so we encourage everyone to learn the song and chant it off the top of their lungs to support their national team.”

Jesse y Joy (brother and sister) came into the musical scene in 2007 with "Esto es lo que Soy" (This is What I am). Their debut album received a Platinum certification from the Mexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms. They have two more studio albums so far.

"Corazón de Campeón" is the first song they have recorded for sporting purpose, and it will be an anthem through the rest of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. Mexico is set to play against Jamaica on June 4 (away), and Costa Rica on June 11 (home), before traveling to Brazil for the Confederations Cup.

This is not the first time El Tri’s supporters have had a song to support the team.

In 1986 the players sang "El Equipo Tricolor" (The Tricolor Team). In 1994 Televisa, a Mexican broadcaster, created "Mexico Let’s Go," and in 2010 Mexican pop singer Emmanuel released "Bam, bam, un Gol por Ti" (Bam, bam a goal for you).

Follow @karlitsv

8 Premier League Players Who Won't Be Back Next Season

Joe Tansey — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:13:11 -0400

Usually in May, the talk surrounding the English Premier League contains a bevy of transfer rumors about incoming players.

But what about the players saying goodbye to the EPL?

Have no fear, this slideshow has all you need to know about the players who will not be playing in the English top flight next season, whether it be because of retirement or a move to a new club.

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Indiana Basketball: Setting Expectations for Each Projected Starter

Kyle Grand — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:09:35 -0400

The starting five for Indiana basketball next season is going to look very different. Point guard Yogi Ferrell is the only returning starter, meaning four new Hoosiers will be joining him.

Rounding out the starting lineup will likely be senior Will Sheehey, sophomore Jeremy Hollowell and freshmen Noah Vonleh and Luke Fischer.

For the above predicted starting lineup, this slideshow will set expectations for each player.

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Recapping Aly Raisman and Jacoby Jones' Final Dancing with the Stars Routines

Richard Langford — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:06:15 -0400

The season finale of ABC's Dancing with the Stars saw Aly Raisman go out like she came in: in spectacular fashion.

Jacoby Jones also put up another entertaining night of dancing, but he doesn't appear to be as strong of a contender for the Mirror Ball trophy.

In the grand finale, each couple performed three dances. The first was in a style of the judge's choice. The second was an entertaining cha-cha relay. The third was a freestyle—which was full of extra dancers and big production.

Neither of our two featured dancers did themselves any favors in the relay.

Jacoby came in fourth and Aly third. However, the judges had good things to say about all competitors, and as you can see, it was a solid effort from both.

It was in the other dances where Aly really shined.

Her judges choice was a samba:

She and partner Mark Ballas earned 28-out-of-30 from the judges for this sexy and technically sound dance. It was an impressive effort, but not nearly as memorable as her freestyle.

Team RaisNBall earned a perfect 30 for that dramatic performance. The judges were gushing after this routine, and as CelebDirtyLaundry passes along, judge Carrie Ann Inaba said: "That was one of the most amazing routines I have seen on Dancing with the Stars."

Meanwhile, Jones wasn't so shabby himself. He started off with a solid jive:

Jones earned a 27-out-of-30 for this routine. With his power and energy once again impressing the judges.

He definitely brought that energy to his freestyle.

The biggest knock on Jones is that in his exuberance he can lose timing occasionally, but not enough for the judges to give him anything less than nines.

Jones has had an impressive run, but I'd be surprised if he won the Mirror Ball when the champion is announced on Tuesday. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Raisman won it.

The fluidity of her dance moves improved as the season went on, and she was one of the favorites every week.

Also, that amazing freestyle performance was a great impression to leave voters with.

New York Knicks Expected to Re-Sign J.R. Smith with a 4-Year Deal

Aaron Chung — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:05:39 -0400

Despite the early exit in the second round, sixth man of the year J.R. Smith has a reason to smile today. The spark off the bench for the New York Knicks is expected to opt out of the last year in his contract in order to re-sign with the New York Knicks for a long-term contract.

According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, J.R. Smith is expected to re-sign with the New York Knicks on a four-year deal starting at $5 million.

Five million is far less than most sixth men of the year command. However, with the Knicks severely over the luxury cap, Smith was willing to take a major pay-cut in order to remain in his beloved city of New York.

Smith recently told the New York Daily News,

I want to retire a Knick. I don’t want to go anywhere else. I love my teammates, I love my coaches. I was standing in the locker room looking at my jersey after the game and just knowing that I don’t want to be anywhere else except in the orange and blue. We’ll see.

You can critique J.R. Smith’s game all you want, especially after his abysmal shooting performance in the second round of the playoffs, but the one thing that you cannot critique is his love for the New York Knicks.

There is no question that J.R. Smith could have commanded more money from another team, but Smith chose to restructure his contract in order to help the only team he wants to ever play for—the New York Knicks.

Perhaps some of his overpaid teammates can learn from his example if they are truly serious about winning a championship in the Big Apple.

Boston Bruins vs. NY Rangers: Is Tuukka Rask a Stanley Cup Caliber Goalie?

Nicholas Goss — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:05:10 -0400

Tuukka Rask joined the ranks of the goaltending elite during this shortened 2013 NHL season with consistently strong play in leading the Boston Bruins to their sixth consecutive playoff appearance.

The 26-year-old star and pending RFA went 19-10-5 during the regular season with a .929 save percentage (third-best in NHL), a 2.00 GAA (fifth-best in NHL) and a league-leading five shutouts. Through nine games of the Bruins' postseason run, Rask has been just as impressive, even though his stats are a bit worse compared to the regular season (.928 save percentage, 2.38 GAA).

Rask's brilliant play in net is the main reason why Boston is two wins away from eliminating the New York Rangers from the second round and securing a place in the Eastern Conference Finals for just the second time in the last 20 years. He has allowed just four goals on 72 shots going into Game 3.

The biggest question surrounding Rask at this stage of his career is if he's capable of leading Boston to a Stanley Cup championship, which is why the comparisons to his predecessor Tim Thomas (the Conn Smythe winner during the Bruins' 2011 Cup run) have yet to go away.

"We’ve got a lot of confidence in Tuukka [Rask]," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien following the Bruins' 5-2 victory in Game 2 on Sunday. "He’s been good for us all year, and our guys have lots of confidence in him.

Rask made several second-period saves to prevent the Rangers from taking control of Game 2. The Bruins had 16 turnovers on Sunday, which was their most in any game during the playoffs thus far, but these mistakes did not cost the team because its goaltender raised his performance at the right time. New York made its surge in that period, but Rask stopped 15 of 16 shots (several on odd-man rushes), which in hindsight, won Boston the game.

"He’s incredible. You got to give him a lot of credit," said Bruins forward Brad Marchand on Sunday. "He made a few really, really big saves in the second period that gave us an opportunity to come back and take the lead again."

"We definitely wouldn’t be where we are right now if it wasn’t for him."

The second period of Game 2 was a great example of why Rask is the type of goaltender who makes the big saves when his team is playing poorly defensively and/or getting outplayed. Very rarely does Rask give up a soft goal that deflates the confidence of his teammates. They trust him to make the important saves late in games, and in the playoffs thus far, Rask has done just that.

Without three impressive overtime performances from their goaltender, the Bruins would be on the golf course this week instead of traveling to the New York for Game 3 of the East semis. Rask made a lot of great saves in Game 4 and Game 7 of his team's first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, which helped the Bruins avoid another disappointing early exit from the playoffs. He was also stellar in the Boston's 3-2 overtime victory in Game 1 of the Rangers series.

His ability to rise to the occasion when the Bruins cannot afford to give up a goal is remarkable, and something that all championship-caliber goaltenders are capable of doing.

When Rask became the team's starting goaltender after Thomas decided to take a year off from the sport despite having another year on his contract, the expectations and pressure on the Finnish netminder were substantial.

Boston has a team with the depth and talent needed to win another Stanley Cup, but it won't reach its goal without an impressive and consistent showing from Rask. Luckily for the Bruins, Rask is the type of goaltender with the mental toughness required to be able to bounce back from tough losses and bad goals.

"My confidence is always high. That's just how I try to be," said Rask after Game 2. "No matter what happens, I try to stay calm and even keeled. Confidence can’t go any lower or higher, I think."

Rask's demeanor on the ice is a lot different from Thomas. He's composed, doesn't come too far out of his net, and does a tremendous job of focusing on the next challenge and not dwelling on past mistakes. A lot of young goalies crumble under the pressure to succeed in the playoffs and fail to move on from disappointing performances, but Rask has the mental makeup to perform at a high level in the postseason.

From a skill standpoint, Rask is solid fundamentally. He has great athleticism, a strong glove and doesn't allow many goals stick-side. His puck handling keeps getting better, and with a 6'3" frame, he stands tall in the net. Durability was a question with Rask going into this lockout-shortened season given his injury problems last year, but he's calmed those concerns with a healthy 2013 campaign.

Rask should not attempt to match Thomas' historical run in 2011, because to be fair, very few goaltenders in playoff history have played as well as the 39-year-old veteran did two years ago.

The current mission for the Bruins starting goalie is to win a second-round series, which he has never done in his NHL career. If he accomplishes that, the challenge will be to make the Stanley Cup Final, where Rask would have the opportunity to prove himself on the game's biggest stage.

Winning a Stanley Cup is a lengthy process, and thus far, Rask has passed each test thrown at him with the Bruins six wins into their latest playoff run.

Rask not only has the talent and mental toughness to be a Stanley Cup winning goaltender, he also plays with competitiveness that the best at his position display each game. It's one of the reasons why Rask was Boston's most consistent player this season, and arguably their MVP.

As the playoffs have progressed, the 26-year-old star has steadily improved, which is an encouraging sign for Boston. Rask gives 100 percent effort each game, and his teammates play just as hard for him.

If the Bruins maintain their great defensively play and continue to score timely goals, Rask will lead them to the promised land in 2013. He's good enough to win a championship right now.

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter. He was a credentialed reporter at the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and 2012 NHL playoffs in Boston. He's also a credentialed reporter at the 2013 NHL playoffs in Boston. Nick has covered the Bruins since the 2010-11 season. All quotes obtained firsthand.

A Nostalgic NBA Fan's Guide to the Charlotte Hornets of Yesterday

Jesse Dorsey — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:00:24 -0400

With the New Orleans Pelicans officially renouncing the Hornets name following the 2013 season, it was only a matter of time before the Charlotte Bobcats picked it up. The official announcement for Charlotte's re-acquisition of the "Hornets" nickname is expected on Tuesday, per the Charlotte Observer.

Will that mean the return of all the fun and joy that accompanied the Charlotte Hornets in their 14 years before moving to New Orleans? It's entirely possible.

After all, the Hornets represented a city that was completely crazy over basketball. They were gimmicky, never made it past the second round of the playoffs, and had a shifty owner, but they were a fun professional basketball team.

Meanwhile, the team that continues to reside in Time Warner Cable Arena represent a hasty apology to a city that had their basketball team ripped away by a vindictive owner.

The Bobcats remain a generic basketball team with barely a glimmer of success. Could a simple re-branding change the franchise for good?

Into the '90s

When the Hornets came to be in 1988, they ushered in the roaring '90s of the NBA.

They weren't able to make the playoffs until their fifth year of existence, but they, along with the Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat, were able to start the surge toward the incredibly marketable days of the '90s and beyond.

Charlotte's original uniforms were bold and flashy. Teal and pinstripes stood out in a sea of solid greens and yellows.

Their merchandise became synonymous with the early '90s, and their mascot almost instantly became one of the league's most recognizable.

Hugo the Hornet

If there's one symbol that can really describe the Hornets in an odd way, it's the team's mascot, Hugo the Hornet.

People, for whatever reason, loved Hugo. He always had a smile on his face, but he seemed somewhat mischievous as well.

Essentially he was the perfect mascot. There's just something about a creature that's generally tiny being blown up and turned into a furry, dancing, dunking mascot.

He, along with the team's bold uniforms, had people gravitating toward Charlotte, almost regardless of their primary favorite team in the league.

The Merch

Once the team got its footing in the league and the fanbase started to grow, the merchandise they put out started popping up everywhere.

Everything they pumped out was so deliciously '90s. Even looking at some of the stuff the New Orleans Hornets sold in the past few years was good for an instant flashback to 1992.

One of the most iconic pieces of clothing that Charlotte put out in its first decade was this two-toned starter jacket.

If you were a Hornets fan in 1995, you definitely owned this bad boy or at least some variation.

Famously Fun Faces

Charlotte's NBA tenure started out well with the 1988 Expansion Draft; the team picked up Dell Curry and Muggsy Bogues, among others.

Curry and Bogues were rare grabs, both players remaining on the team well into the '90s, and making an impact all the while.

Along the way, Charlotte would pick up a number of players who became fan favorites.

Larry Johnson enthralled the league with his Grandmama act, plus he was one of the players who had their talent stolen by cartoon aliens in Space Jam.

Alonzo Mourning put the team over the top after being drafted behind Shaquille O'Neal in 1992, and from there all they had to do was build.

In their later days, Charlotte was taken over by Jamal Mashburn and Baron Davis as the wave of the future.

Along the way the team was joined by a ton of recognizable players, including Rex Chapman and his spandex poking out of the bottom of his shorts, Vlade Divac, Bobby Phills, David Wesley, Anthony Mason, Glen Rice, Kenny Anderson, Matt Geiger, Hershey Hawkins and Kurt Rambis, to name a few.

Good Times

Throughout much of the '90s, the Hornets were a good team. They may never have been a legitimate title contender as they just did miss the two-year window when the league was without Michael Jordan, but the decade was good to them.

From 1993 to 1998, Charlotte won nearly 60 percent of its games, never falling below .500 and topping out with 54 wins in 1997.

The Hornets truly came into their own in 1993, their first trip to the playoffs.

'Zo made it known in the first round, knocking off the Boston Celtics with a jumper from the top of the key in the waning seconds of Game 4.

Charlotte Turns on Shinn

So why would a city so in love with basketball fall victim to sagging attendance numbers and general apathy that can kill a franchise?

Charlotte owner George Shinn was adamant that the Charlotte Coliseum, barely a decade old, was insufficient to house an NBA franchise.

Shinn gave the city an ultimatum: Build a new arena or lose the Hornets. Charlotte responded by telling the league the city would build a new arena if Shinn sold the team.

The Hornets skipped town after the 2002 season, moving to New Orleans. However, Charlotte was granted an expansion franchise almost immediately in 2004, the form of the Bobcats.

It seems that their run as the generic Charlotte basketball team is coming to an end after a few papers are signed and the waiting period ends.

Hopefully they can go back to being the fun, entertaining Hornets from the '90s, rather than the running joke that is the Bobcats.

Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for Every Big Ten Team

David Luther — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:00:01 -0400

The Big Ten has been widely viewed as a "down and out" conference for the past several seasons. With the College Football Playoff taking the place of the BCS after this season, 2013 will be the Big Ten's last opportunity to win some much-needed street cred before an as yet undisclosed selection committee process takes the place of the current "win and you're in" BCS system.

We all know what the conference has to do: win early-season nonconference matchups and postseason bowl games. But what about each individual program?

Where does each team stand, and what's the best fans can hope for in 2013? What about the other side of the coin—what's the worst we can expect?

We'll help you out with an early guide to the best- and worst-case scenarios for every team in the Big Ten heading into 2013.

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Belmont Stakes 2013: Horses Who Will Benefit from Longer Track

Dan Talintyre — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:58:52 -0400

Whilst there were many big winners to come out of the 2013 Preakness Stakes, there were also a number of horses who struggled on the shorter track.

The event is the shortest of the three legs of racing's Triple Crown, and for many horses, they simply could not adjust on the day. What they will be, however, is well-equipped to launch a strong challenge at the longest event of the Triple Crown—the Belmont Stakes which is scheduled for later this month.

Which horses will benefit from the longer track at Belmont Park?

Read on and find out.

Revolutionary

Kentucky Derby: 3rd place

Preakness Stakes: DNR (did not run)

With a strong showing at the Kentucky Derby, Revolutionary will definitely come into the Belmont Stakes this year as one of the most dangerous horses to watch.

His direct pedigree from Runup the Colors suggests he'll be a dominant horse over the longer track, and he will be very fresh here. He didn't run at the Preakness Stakes and could therefore have the freshest legs out of any horse in the field, which Todd Pletcher will definitely use to his advantage.

Calvin Borel is an extremely talented jockey who is more than capable of working a horse through the field. He loves to come home strong on the inside, and with plenty of track at Belmont Park, he will have all the time he needs to make a big run towards the finishing post.

Look for Revolutionary to be a very tough horse to beat in New York.

Orb

Kentucky Derby: Champion

Preakness Stakes: 4th place

After dominating the Kentucky Derby and appearing like a great chance to take out the Triple Crown this year, Orb finished a disappoint fourth in the Preakness Stakes. He was well off the pace and allowed the leader in Oxbow too much of a head start coming into the home turn—something that Joel Rosario certainly wasn't helped with after being drawn in the No. 1 post for the race.

Yet whilst Orb is a phenomenal sprinter and a tremendous horse over the shorter distance, he should also find great success over the longer course at Belmont.

His dam, Lady Liberty, provides him with a great deal of stamina, and Malibu Moon has also produced a number of champions over the 1.25-mile mark.

He has a great infusion of speed and residual stamina, and if he can get away from the rail here, he should be very tough to stop.

Especially if Orb comes into the straight with plenty of sprinting speed left.

Palace Malice

Kentucky Derby: 12th place

Preakness Stakes: DNR (did not run)

If you're after an outside horse to watch out for at Belmont Park, don't look past Palace Malice. He was ridden exceptionally quick in the Kentucky Derby as he tried to catch the field off guard, and whilst he did fall away down the home straight, don't be put off by his supposed lack of stamina.

He is the first crop of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, who shone at Belmont Park at his peak and went on to produce many strong horses over longer distances.

Palace Malice is also by transatlantic turf star Royal Anthem, who too was very strong over the longer tracks. If any of that pedigree comes to the fore at the Belmont Stakes, Palace Malice could be very tough to stop—particularly if he swoops around the back of the field and finds good running room.

He won't be driven to the front here, and will no doubt have learned from his mistakes at Churchill Downs, which makes him a very dangerous horse to watch.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

Uriah Hall Talks About the Influence Ronda Rousey Has Had on His UFC Career

Damon Martin — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:58:11 -0400

Former Ultimate Fighter finalist Uriah Hall had a mountain of expectations following him into his finale fight against former teammate Kelvin Gastelum last month in Las Vegas.

Hall came up short in his efforts and he was accused of not taking Gastelum seriously, letting the hype of the show go to his head, and all manner of problems that cost him the fight.

Needless to say, Hall didn't buy any of that and just chalked it up to a bad day for him and a good day for Gastelum

After the fight, Hall was ready to immediately jump back into training to try to forget the bad memories of the loss he just suffered, but instead, UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey offered him some sage advice and he took it.

"After the finale, she convinced me to come down there and just take some time off," Hall said about Rousey. "I was actually ready to go back to training. Just hanging out with her and watching how her mindset is with a lot of things, and it motivated me to get back in there and just push even harder."

Following his exit from his old gym at Team Tiger Schulmann's in New York, Hall has landed at Mark Munoz's Reign Training Center for now while he's on the West Coast to pick up some training.

While there, he discussed several hot topics, including Vitor Belfort's dramatic spinning head kick knockout from over the weekend that mimicked Hall's own finish while on The Ultimate Fighter. He also talks about his time on the show and much more.

Has Phil Jackson Settled the Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan Debate?

Hadarii Jones — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:57:33 -0400

Former Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson didn't exactly come out and say that former Bulls' legend Michael Jordan is a better player than Kobe Bryant in excerpts from his book according to ESPN.com

But it's difficult to draw any other conclusion based on Jackson's pointed, and earnest words.

"One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael's superior skills as a leader," Jackson writes. "Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he'd yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had in his bones."

That's not too bad considering Jackson's analysis in this instance because it describes the emotional growth and maturation of a player, which is something that is learned and often exists parallel to a player's impact on the floor.

However, Jackson goes on to explain why he does feel like Jordan is a better overall player than Bryant, and by the time he's done you get the overall impression that the competition was never even close.

"No question, Michael was a tougher, more intimidating defender," Jackson writes. "He could break through virtually any screen and shut down almost any player with his intense, laser-focused style of defense."

Jackson doesn't mince words when describing Jordan as a superior defender, and even though he issued a caveat by saying that Bryant did eventually learn some of Jordan's defensive tricks, Bryant was still the lesser player on defense.

And offense as well.

On offense, Jackson said: "Jordan was also more naturally inclined to let the game come to him and not overplay his hand, whereas Kobe tends to force the action, especially when the game isn't going his way. When his shot is off, Kobe will pound away relentlessly until his luck turns. Michael, on the other hand, would shift his attention to defense or passing or setting screens to help the team win the game."

I thought this was perhaps the sentiment that most defined the arguments of Bryant's critics, who claimed his sometimes tunnel-vision focus on scoring prevented other parts of his game from blossoming.

Jackson also delved a little deeper than the game by comparing Jordan and Bryant's personalities, but he went further to reveal an inherent bias by mentioning Bryant's sexual assault charges in 2003.

Bryant's fans will say that Jackson's words can't be trusted because of his rush to judgement against Bryant before due process, but does that take anything away from Jackson's basketball critique?

In all honesty I prefer Bryant over Jordan, but it has much more to do with the uniform he wears than comparisons on the court.

I've always felt that people never give Bryant the credit he deserves for the right to even be compared to Jordan, but saying that Bryant is better is giving too much.

Of course you can point to areas of Bryant's game such as his footwork, perimeter shooting and even skill level, and say they are comparable or maybe even better than Jordan's.

The only problem is you can look at Jordan's legacy and say he was much better, and that opinion is backed by numbers.

Statistics may not tell the whole story in most instances, but in this case the book is closed.

Jordan has bested Bryant in almost every meaningful legacy category that can be defined by numbers, and while there is a good chance that Bryant could catch Jordan on the all-time scoring list, look how long it will take him to do it.

This is no knock on Bryant because he will finish his career as a top 10 all-time player regardless of how his recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon turns out.

But Bryant will never be Jordan, and that statement has nothing to do with style, personality and sneaker sales, and everything to do with on-court production.

And that opinion comes from the coach who has led each player at the pinnacle of their respective games.

Jackson won 11 NBA championships with both players, but he lost two with Kobe.

You can hate Phil Jackson for inserting his personal feelings into a basketball conversation, but you can't hate him for telling the truth.

The No-Stats Stars of the 2013 NBA Playoffs

Alec Nathan — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:57:22 -0400

Superstars receive the lion's share of acclaim and scrutiny come playoff time. However, it's the play of no-stats stars that can prove to be the difference between postseason success and failure.

Although these glue guys don't wind up being glorified, they're the ones scrapping for loose balls, fighting for post position, playing stellar off-ball defense and spacing the floor.

These players contribute far beyond average box-score lines, which is why many of the statistics cited in this slideshow will be advanced metrics that measure a player's worth to his team in terms of points scored or allowed when on and off the floor.

Note: All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference and NBA.com/stats unless noted otherwise.

Begin Slideshow

Ohio State Football: Comparing Braxton Miller to Troy Smith

Cory McCune — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:52:44 -0400

Ohio State's football program, which isn't known as a great quarterback producer, has had a string of solid quarterbacks recently. Since Craig Krenzel led the Buckeyes to the 2003 National Championship, quarterback play in Columbus has been at worst exciting and at best electrifying.

OK, the handful of starts from Justin Zwick and the three starts for Joe Bauserman provided more moments Ohio State fans want to forget than remember. But even the year and a half of Todd Boeckman brought a Big Ten Championship and a trip to the BCS National Championship Game.

Terrelle Pryor had a heck of a run for three seasons in this stretch as well. But in the coming years when "Ohio State" and "quarterback" are mentioned in the same sentence two names will come to mind: Troy Smith and Braxton Miller.

Different Paths to Stardom

Miller was a household name, at least in the state of Ohio, before he ever signed to play at Ohio State. Smith wasn’t a low-rated recruit by any stretch of the imagination, but he wasn’t the 5-star recruit that Miller was.

However, both made their way to stardom for the Buckeyes.

Smith was the last member of the 2002 recruiting class. He went to the Elite 11 QB Camp but was brought into Ohio State as an athlete. That was largely because Zwick was in the same class and it was Zwick, not Smith, who was touted as the next great Buckeyes quarterback.

In his first season in Columbus, Smith redshirted while the Buckeyes went 14-0 and beat Miami in the BCS title game. In year two Smith was used to return kicks (five returns for 83 yards) and ran some in garbage time (three carries for 14 yards).

Then in 2004, in the midst of a three-game losing streak Smith replaced Zwick as the starter. With Smith sparking the offense the Buckeyes won four of their last five regular season games including an upset of No. 7 Michigan.

In Smith's 27 starts the Buckeyes went 25-3. Smith also became the first Big Ten quarterback to ever win the Heisman Trophy.

Miller was supposed to come in and learn from the sidelines as the Buckeyes won a National Championship with Pryor at the helm. But those plans failed. Pryor and others got suspended, Tressel resigned and Miller was thrust into a starting role in Week 4 of his freshman season. The team struggled to a 6-7 finish.

But in his sophomore year Miller led the team to a 12-0 record and was a top-five finisher in the Heisman voting.

Comparing Miller to Smith: Passing

This is a tough comparison because Miller has had two years of college, while Smith was in his fifth when he threw his way to a Heisman Trophy.

By the time Smith took over as Ohio State's quarterback his mechanics were solid. However, Miller was forced into action immediately and the time to focus on his mechanics hasn't come until this offseason. I expect improvements and Miller to close the gap on these stats, but maybe not catch Smith.

Smith was clearly a more accurate passer than Miller has been. Smith completed 62.7 percent of his passes while Miller has completed 56.7 percent of his thus far.

It should also be noted that in Smith's three seasons he was throwing to three future first-round picks in the NFL draft. Miller has some talent around him, but not to the level of Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Gonzalez and Santonio Holmes.

Those three bolstered Smith's 8.5 yards per attempt, especially in the 2005 season when Smith had all three and averaged 9.6 yards per attempt. Miller is averaging 7.8 yards per attempt, but with the weapons coming to help him, that number should increase.

Smith's extra time to learn and grow is likely a reason his 4.15 touchdown/interception ratio is better than Miller's 2.8 ratio.

As evidenced by his Heisman Trophy and 25-3 record, Smith was a great college quarterback. While I expect Miller to improve I do not expect him to surpass Smith as a passer at Ohio State.

Comparing Miller to Smith: Runner

Miller may not be the most talented or polished passer, but he also doesn't have many peers as a runner. Smith was a good runner, especially in his sophomore and junior seasons. But Smith's running ability isn't on the same level as Miller's.

Smith's running ability was almost his secret weapon. Smith was a pocket passer that could run if forced to or if given a wide open opportunity. But he preferred to throw the ball, especially as his career wore on. In his junior season, Smith carried the ball 136 times for 611 yards and 11 touchdowns. But in his senior season he only ran 72 times for 204 yards and one touchdown.

Those numbers are decent for a runner. But it was Smith's ability to scramble to find a receiver that made his feet special. That skill was on display in 2005 against Michigan when he escaped Michigan's pass rush countless times to extend Ohio State's drives.

Miller has shown the ability to extend plays and find receivers downfield, but it's when he takes off that he is special. In two seasons Miller has compiled 386 carries for 1,986 yards and 20 touchdowns. All of those numbers dwarf those of Smith's. Despite being the Buckeyes' main runner in 2012, Miller was able to average 5.6 yards a carry.

That includes the 28 sacks he took, too.

Comparing Miller to Smith: The Michigan Game

There isn't a more important game in Ohio State football than the annual showdown with Michigan. Smith always rose to the occasion of facing the Buckeyes' hated rival.

In 2004 against the No. 7 Wolverines, Smith threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns. He added 145 yards and another touchdown on the ground. His 386 yards of total offense output is fourth all-time in Ohio State history.

The next season Smith ran up 337 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in another win. In his senior season in the legendary game between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan, Smith piled up 328 yards and four touchdowns.

All together in Smith’s three games versus Michigan, Smith had 1,051 yards of total offense and 10 touchdowns.

Despite losing his first game against Michigan, Miller was able to compile 335 yards and three touchdowns in 2011. He didn't put up huge numbers in 2012, but his 246 yards and two touchdowns were enough to grab the victory over the Wolverines.

Miller Still has Time

Miller has obviously shown he is a great talent. Right now he isn't on the same level as Smith, Rex Kern and Art Schlichter as Ohio State's most legendary quarterbacks. But that's to be expected.

Miller still has two years to add to what he has already accomplished. Not many players have become top-five Heisman finishers, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and their school's all-time single-single total offense record holder.

Ohio State's record books will likely be rearranged a few more times before Miller leaves Columbus. And he just might leave the school as its best quarterback ever, but as for now Smith still deserves that title.

Alabama Football: Criticism of Nick Saban Comes with the Territory

Ryan Rudnansky — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:50:36 -0400

It's lonely at the top.

Alabama coach Nick Saban—fresh off three national championships in four years—is currently experiencing the ugly side of being a winner.

It started when Vanderbilt coach James Franklin called Saban "Nicky Satan." Franklin later said it was a joke (h/t Yahoo! Sports), but it certainly wasn't a very pleasant one if it was.

Of course, Saban didn't take it that way.

Saban's former assistant coach Tim Davis, now the offensive line coach for Florida, recently called Saban "the devil himself" while comparing him to Gators coach Will Muschamp, according to ESPN.com.

Saban responded, via the report:

Twice. On two occasions. It's just disappointing. If somebody has a problem with me, I'd appreciate it if they'd tell me. If I'm doing something to offend somebody, I'd certainly like to do whatever I have to do to fix it. It's not our intention. It's not what we try to do.

We're in a tough business. It's very competitive. Sometimes you've got to demand that people do things that maybe they don't want to do, but it's not personal.

Jealousy. It tends to turn folks against one another.

This is simply the result of coaches either licking their wounds or trying to steal Saban's thunder. It's disgraceful, and if Davis didn't enjoy coaching under Saban's wing for three years, he should have never been there in the first place.

Saban may not be the most genial character in the world (media members know this more than anyone), but you can't deny that what he's doing is working. I don't doubt it's difficult to work for him, whether you are an assistant coach or a player, but winning three national titles in four years isn't supposed to be easy, either.

I admire Saban for taking the high road and not firing back at his detractors. They don't deserve his attention anyway. Heck, he even made sure to say he didn't connect the Gators coach's words to Muschamp, "because I'm close enough to Will to know that," per the ESPN.com report.

Saban has never rubbed his success in the face of anyone, despite being hailed as one of the greatest (if not the greatest) coaches in the history of college football. He wins with class.

Unfortunately, some individuals don't have the ability to lose with class.

How Seriously Should the Cleveland Indians Be Taken as a Contender?

Zachary D. Rymer — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:49:29 -0400

Do the Cleveland Indians have your attention?

If not, they should.

After concluding a four-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners with a walk-off win on Monday afternoon, the Tribe have won 15 out of 19 in May and 18 out of 22 dating back to late April. They presently have a 2.5-game lead in the AL Central over the reigning American League champion Detroit Tigers.

It shouldn't feel legit. Not after what the Indians did the last two years. They were 32-20 at the end of May in 2011 and 27-23 at the end of May last year. They ended up flopping both times, and how.

I shouldn't buy the Indians. I really shouldn't buy the Indians.

...But I can't help it. The Indians feel legit. They feel like a team that's going to be in it all season long. They don't feel like a fluke.

Nor do they look like one. You go looking for signs of unsustainable good luck in times like these, and there aren't many to be found where the Indians are concerned.

Most notably, the Indians entered Monday's action with a Pythagorean record of 25-17, according to Baseball-Reference.com. That was precisely the same as their actual record, which is always a good sign.

If the concept of a Pythagorean record is gibberish, all you need to know is that it's a metric that essentially evaluates teams based on their runs scored and runs allowed. If a team is even really good at one of those, odds are its success is going to look for real.

And that's the thing about the Indians. We know they're quite good at the whole "runs scored" thing.

Following their 10-run outburst on Monday, the Indians rank fourth in baseball with 218 runs scored as of this writing, according to FanGraphs. They lead MLB in home runs with 60 and in team OPS at .796. Not quite the Indians of the 1990s, but plenty good.

Cleveland's lineup features six regulars with OPSs over .800, including three offseason arrivals: Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn and Mark Reynolds. We know from his track record that Swisher is game to keep it up, and Reynolds will be too if he can maintain what would be a career-low 26.5 strikeout percentage. Bourn's early-season power is suspicious, but his .360 OBP is roughly where it should be.

As for Cleveland's other offensive studs, the Indians are seeing Carlos Santana make good on what was always considerable offensive potential. Jason Kipnis, meanwhile, is looking like he did in the first half of 2012 when he was a dangerous power/speed threat with a .765 OPS, 11 homers and 20 steals.

Expecting the Indians to maintain their 5.1 run-per-game pace is a bit much, but the talent level of their offense should not be underestimated. Terry Francona's lineup features a fine combination of power and speed, and it doesn't feature as many easy outs as recent Indians lineups.

Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma can testify to that. They went into their respective starts against the Indians sporting ERAs under 2.00, and their ERAs are now north of 2.00.

But what of Cleveland's own pitching?

It's not great, and that's not a minor concern seeing as how this is a club that's featured poor pitching each of the last two seasons. Especially last year, as the Tribe's 4.79 ERA was the worst in the American League.

But "not great" is not the same thing as "bad," mind you. The Indians don't have the St. Louis Cardinals' pitching staff, but there are things to like about it.

Despite some hiccups against the Mariners, Cleveland's bullpen owns a 3.07 ERA that's tied with Kansas City's pen for seventh-best in MLB. In guys like Chris Perez, Vinnie Pestano and Bryan Shaw, Francona has some quality talent to call on.

But it's the rotation that bears watching, and not because it's on imminent implosion alert.

Tribe starters had a rough go of things with a 5.09 ERA in April, but have since turned it around to the tune of a 3.52 ERA in May. That's good enough to rank in the top 10 in MLB.

The Indians boast two starters in Justin Masterson and Zach McAllister with ERAs under 3.00. Former walking disaster Ubaldo Jimenez deserves a hat-tip for posting a 1.90 ERA in his last four starts. Scott Kazmir has produced two poor efforts in a row, but the Indians have to like that he's throwing harder than he has in years (see Baseball Info Solutions data on FanGraphs).

I have the same suspicion of Cleveland's starting rotation that I suspect many have: that the numbers just don't match the names, and that the bubble that's been blown up this month is bound to burst.

At the same time, I like the sound of what Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway had to say to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick:

They've really made it a friendly competition within the rotation, and become a rotation instead of just some individuals who are struggling to have some success out there. They're really coming together and getting along great and competing against each other, which is always a good thing.

A's lefty Brett Anderson said something similar about Oakland's rotation when I put questions to him last year, and that bodes well for the Tribe. Oakland's rotation was a patchwork affair that shouldn't have put up numbers last year, but it produced the ninth-best ERA in MLB. A bit of friendly competition can have that sort of effect.

The Indians don't just feature something in common with last year's A's. They also have something in common with the Baltimore Orioles, last year's other big surprise.

That would be a flair for the dramatic.

Yan Gomes' walk-off on Monday pushed Cleveland's record in extra-inning games to 5-0, which is already reminiscent of Baltimore's insane 16-2 record in extras last year. The Tribe also own an 11-3 record in one-run games, which is reminiscent of Baltimore's even more insane 29-9 record in such contests.

The mathematical explanation is that the Indians have a heaping helping of good luck to thank for their heroics in tight ones. The Indians themselves would probably chalk it up to what Hawk Harrelson called "TWTW"—or "T-Dubya, T-Dubya," which is The Will To Win—brought on by good team chemistry.

And the word from Tom Withers of The Associated Press is that the Indians have plenty of that:

Great team chemistry doesn't come from nowhere. The Indians made it a mission to cultivate a strong clubhouse culture over the offseason. They started with the hiring of Francona, a known players' manager, and continued by adding strong clubhouse guys like Swisher and Jason Giambi.

As silly as it was, the "Harlem Shake" video the Indians produced during spring training did serve to show that they were already keeping things loose. They've gone from that to winning ballgames in exciting fashion, and the 2012 A's, 2012 Orioles and so many other surprise contenders from years past can vouch that this is a habit with surprising staying power.

In all, there's quite the mix going on in Cleveland. The Indians can hit, their pitching has improved, and they've got a case of T-Dubya, T-Dubya.

There's a lot of season left, and the Indians know from what they've been through the last two years that means there's a lot of time left for things to go wrong.

But this year, they look prepared not to let that happen.

If you want to talk baseball, hit me up on Twitter.

Carmelo Anthony and New York Knicks Isolated Themselves out of NBA Playoffs

Art Eddy — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:49:09 -0400

Isolate. The dictionary defines this word as “to set or place apart; detach or separate so as to be alone.” Let’s key in on that word “alone.” How many times have you seen one player win a series of games on a continual basis, especially in the playoffs? It didn’t work for Michael Jordan when he would face the Detroit “Bad Boys” Pistons in the postseason.

MJ would win a game here or there, but he couldn’t shoulder the entire weight by himself to win a series against Detroit. He knew he needed to play as a team to get passed that looming obstacle that was in Detroit. Eventually, Jordan and his teammates worked together by using each player’s strength to win six NBA titles.

So if the best player in NBA history couldn’t do it “alone,” why did head coach Mike Woodson and the New York Knicks feel that this would work for them? The Knicks had a win now mentality since most of the team was looking to sign up for AARP benefits after the end of this season.

The team started out red hot in the months of November and December with a combined record of 21-9. Madison Square Garden was all abuzz with the notion that this could be the Knicks year to return back to the glory days.

Yet it didn’t happen that way. This past weekend New York got booted from the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks are the ones only to blame. They lived and died by the Carmelo isolation play. Yes, a select few other players did score and contribute. Even with Jason Kidd and Amar'e Stoudemire being nonexistent in the playoffs, there should have been a better game plan instead of just relying on Anthony.

Michael Marot from the Huffington Post caught up with Mike Woodson after Game 6 to get his feelings on why the Knicks are out of the postseason.

"It's tough to go out this way," coach Mike Woodson said. "I didn't make it happen for us and that's what's disappointing."

Even in the series against Boston, the Knicks kept going back to the isolation play with Carmelo. Other Knicks players are running around, and he holds onto the ball and finally shoots a highly-contested shot.

Carmelo did his best, but one player does not a team make. It is like when you are playing XBOX and using the same play over and over again. It might work in the beginning, but once your opponent stops that play, you will lose. The Knicks failed to switch up the offense and made it easier for teams like the Pacers to defend them.

Iman Shumpert told ESPN’s Jared Zwerling that they need to be more productive on the offensive side.

"We need some more continuity as far as running something that everybody knows we're in it -- just something with more pace," he said. "We have a lot of dead possessions where we don't really have any cohesiveness. We're just sort of out there and it becomes watching whoever has the ball."

Shumpert has the potential to be a great player for New York. If the Knicks want to be Eastern Conference contenders, they will have to get younger legs on the court. Players like Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler could contribute for New York, but in a limited role. Certain changes need to be made if Carmelo looks to lead the Knicks to win a title.

The biggest change is that they need to have role players on the team to give Carmelo much needed support. New York has a few players that will become free agents, most notably J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin.

If the Knicks still feel they have a win now team, they must change up their offensive strategy or New York will be sitting at Spike Lee’s house watching the Eastern Conference Finals on TV.

NBA Draft 2013: Unheralded Prospects with Bright NBA Futures

Maxwell Ogden — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:49:06 -0400

The 2013 NBA draft scouting combine is in the books, thus resulting in the significant reshaping of this year's selection process. While measurements and drills may determine athleticism, however, we cannot ignore the full package.

For that reason, we must acknowledge the unheralded prospects that have legitimately bright NBA futures.

Certain players may not have impressed with their athleticism, but have done enough on a grander scale to warrant praise and consideration. Other players measured well, but didn't quite draw the attention of the stars set to go in the first round.

One way or another, these players have put it all on the floor and proven to be NBA-caliber players.

Vander Blue, Marquette Golden Eagles

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 20

Height & Weight: 6'5", 197 pounds, 6'6" wingspan

2012-13 Season Averages

16.50 PER, 14.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG

Vander Blue is your quintessential Marquette Golden Eagles swingman. Not only is he a lethal slasher that explodes at the rim, but he's a well-rounded player that thrives defensively and has an unquestioned motor.

If you've followed the success of Dwyane Wade, Wesley Matthews and Jimmy Butler, you know to be intrigued.

Come the end of his career, you'll agree.

Blue is a leader on both ends of the floor, possessing the clutch gene offensively and versatility on defense. He can pick up players at both guard spots, as he's quick and explosive enough to handle either pace of play.

Assuming he adds the necessary bulk to his frame, Blue could also defend the 3 coming off rotations.

Blue needs to improve his jump shot, but his three-point field-goal percentage has increased in each of his three seasons at Marquette. That not only displays his work ethic, but the upside that Blue possesses.

If any school produces safe picks, we know it to be Marquette with their swingmen—Blue fits that bill.

Jackie Carmichael, Illinois State Redbirds

Position: Power Forward

Age: 23

Height & Weight: 6'9", 241 pounds, 7'2" wingspan

2012-13 Season Averages

27.31 PER, 17.4 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 52.7% FG

When a player possesses supreme athleticism, there is rationale in believing in their upside. When a player plays a physical, efficient brand of basketball and knows how to use their body, however, there's another word to use.

Safety.

Even if he does slip to the second round, Carmichael will be one of the top players from this year's draft class.

Jackie Carmichael may come from a small school, but he's a big-time prospect that knows how to impose his will. Not only is he a powerful interior presence, but he's an explosive athlete that can rise over defenders, all the while possessing the ability to step out for a mid-range J.

It doesn't hurt that he crashes the boards in a ferocious manner.

Defensively, Carmichael is one of the better players in this draft, mixing shot-blocking skills with a mature approach. When his man gets the ball in the post, both of his arms immediately go into the air as he bangs down low and keeps his man at bay.

Once the opposition commits to the shot, Carmichael will either keep his base to contest the shot without fouling or send it in the other direction if there is enough separation between he and his man.

All in all, Carmichael isn't just one of the best second round players. Instead, you could make the case that he's just one of the better players in general.

If you're looking for this year's Carlos Boozer—a second-rounder with All-Star upside—Carmichael is your guy.

Richard Howell, North Carolina State Wolfpack

Position: Power Forward

Age: 22

Height & Weight: 6'8", 250 pounds, 6'10" wingspan

2012-13 Season Averages

24.99 PER, 12.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 57.0% FG

Richard Howell isn't blessed with extraordinary height or athleticism. What he does possess, however, is an NBA body with the elite ability to do the one thing that translates from college to the NBA.

Rebound the basketball.

Howell has quieted critics concerned with his weight by developing a powerful low-post attack that displays intriguing elements of finesse. He can finish with both hand around the basket, and most important of all, has a strong face-up game with a consistent mid-range jumper.

Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat is a safe comparison,

High praise.

What Howell does similar to Haslem is crash the glass on both ends, using his body to gain position on his man. What he does better than Haslem is score out of the post and utilize his mid-range game to create opportunities for himself and others.

There will be questions about his ability to play in this small ball generation, but Jared Sullinger's success as a rookie should put an end to those concerns—Howell will be a strong rotational option at the next level with the upside to be a starter.

Peyton Siva, Louisville Cardinals

Position: Point Guard

Age: 22

Height & Weight: 6'1", 181 pounds, 6'3" wingspan

2012-13 Season Averages

17.35 PER, 10.0 PPG, 5.7 APG, 2.4 RPG, 2.3 SPG

Peyton Siva may not be the most statistically attractive prospect around, but he's got something else in his favor. Not only is more mentally developed than a majority of the top point guard prospects in this class, but he's better in one specific area.

Siva is the best defensive point guard in this year's draft—Michael Carter-Williams' upside is the only reason to consider otherwise.

Siva isn't your double-double point guard that will lead the league in assists, but he's something better. While other young point guards hope to fill a stat sheet, Siva will pick his man up off of the outlet pass every single possession.

By doing so, he'll force the ball out of his man's hands and create turnovers on a consistent basis—even at the NBA level.

The most intriguing thing about Siva is that he's proven to be a far superior athlete and physical specimen than previously believed. Not only did he weigh in at 6'1" with a 6'3" wingspan, but Siva is one of the most athletic players in the draft.

Just check the numbers.

This is yet another instance of reputation preceding facts.

Siva is vicious defensively, using a strong 6'3" wingspan and constantly shifting feet to remain in front of his man. He's more than capable of picking your pocket, swiping the ball as you go up for a layup or chasing you down in transition.

Siva is the player that makes the plays that the average point guard wouldn't even consider attempting—he's all about effort and defense, so there will always be a place for Siva in the NBA.

Khaliff Wyatt, Temple Owls

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 21

Height & Weight: 6'4", 215 pounds & 6'9" wingspan

2012-13 Season Averages

23.80 PER, 20.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, 2.9 RPG, 1.7 SPG

Khaliff Wyatt made his name known during the 2013 NCAA tournament, scoring 62 combined points in two games against North Carolina State and Indiana. During the latter game, he was defended by Victor Oladipo and still managed to go for 31 points on 12-of-24 shooting.

Just don't fool yourselves into thinking this was a fluke—Wyatt topped 30 points in seven separate games.

The teams that Wyatt topped 25 points against include Indiana, Syracuse, Kansas and VCU. Not only are those four schools considered to be elite programs, in some regard, but all but VCU is producing multiple NBA prospects.

Wyatt held his own—and then some.

The key for Wyatt is that he compensates for a lack of elite athleticism by knowing how to play the angles. Wyatt attacks the basket off the bounce in an unstoppable manner, as he utilizes his own and his defender's footwork to his advantage.

One way or another, he's getting by you and finishing at the rim.

His jump shot needs to improve, but there's reason to believe it will seeing as he's an 83.6 percent free-throw shooter. If that's not enough, Wyatt has a 6'9" wingspan and plays disruptive on-ball defense.

Wyatt plays an old man's game, possesses a high basketball IQ and is an unquestioned leader on the floor—he's the type of player you look back on as the steal of this draft.

Why You Want Brian Shaw as Your Team's Head Coach

Zach Buckley — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:37:57 -0400

Dear General Manager:

I'm writing to you on behalf of a distinguished candidate for your vacant coaching position, Mr. Brian Shaw.

Mr. Shaw is an accomplished veteran in this great sport of basketball, a man whose excellence has been apparent both on the playing court and in his sideline service as a valued assistant working with some of the most successful coaches in the NBA.

I understand that time is precious in your profession, so I have highlighted the key components of Mr. Shaw's impressive resume below.

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

Guard (1988-2003) Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers
Scout (2003-04) L.A. Lakers
Assistant Head Coach (2004-2011) L.A. Lakers
Associate Head Coach (2011-Present) Indiana Pacers

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Five-time NBA champion (2000-02 as a player, 2009-10 as a coach)
All-Rookie Second Team (1989)
Big West Conference Player of the Year (1988)
Set then-NBA record for most three-pointers made in a game (10) as a member of Miami Heat (1992-93)

KEY SKILLS

Proficient in the triangle offense, having played and coached under the legendary Phil Jackson in L.A.
Building a well-rounded knowledge of the analytics approach during his tenure with Frank Vogel in Indiana
Complete comprehension of the game of basketball, lauded by future Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal as the most respected teammate he ever played with
Understands the wants and needs of superstar players having shared the floor with the likes of O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Glen Rice, Derrick Coleman and Allen Iverson

Please review the attached video to hear directly from Mr. Shaw himself why he is the perfect candidate for your current opening.

He's not going to be on the market for much longer. Mr. Shaw has interviewed with the Pacers and Charlotte Bobcats in previous seasons. He has already scheduled an interview with the Philadelphia 76ers. He's been contacted by the Detroit Pistons. He's also been granted permission to speak with the Brooklyn Nets and was named a potential finalist for the Phoenix Suns.

Don't make the same mistake that the Lakers did. We both know how well that worked out.

Why plug in a retread candidate now, only to face this very same predicament in a few short seasons? Why not stay ahead of your colleagues and lock up a coaching fixture built to masterfully man your sidelines for decades?

Need a little more incentive to snatch up the hottest young coach on the market? How's an Executive of the Year award sound?

I thought so.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Assessing the Impact Andre Ward's Injury Layoff Will Have on His Next Payday

Kevin McRae — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:36:05 -0400

When Andre Ward defeated Chad Dawson in September of last year, the sky appeared to be the limit for the super middleweight champion of the world.

He had just defeated the recognized light heavyweight champion, in dominant fashion, and did so on the heels of cleaning out his own neighborhood by winning the super six tournament to establish his supremacy at 168 pounds.

But that's where things began to go wrong for Ward, a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist. He had jumped as high as No. 2 on the pound-for-pound lists of many respected media outlets—including ESPN, Yahoo Sports and The Ring Magazine.

With no high-profile opponents available at 168 pounds—he had already defeated most if not all of them—Ward was forced to settle on former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik for his next defense.

The fight was criticized in some circles, largely due to Pavlik's struggles with substance abuse and lack of commitment to the sport in recent years. But the fight never came off as Ward tore his right shoulder capsule, which required surgery to repair.

He hopes to return to the ring by the end of the summer, with the winner of the May 25 rematch between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler having been mentioned as the most likely opponent.

The question then turns to how the long injury layoff will affect Ward when he does return to the ring.

Ward won't know exactly what he's dealing with—or how the surgically repaired shoulder will respond—until he begins training. Will it stand up to the rigors of a hard camp, and if so will there be ring rust?

By the time he returns he'll have been out of the ring for nearly a full year, and that's potentially problematic for a fighter.

It would probably be wise for Ward and his team to seek out something of a softer fighter for his return. Froch and Kessler are world-class opponents, and highly dangerous despite the fact that both were defeated by Ward during the tournament.

Ward might be better off pursuing a fight against the likes of Marco Antonio Rubio or even WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz.

Both would provide a lower level of challenge, and provide Ward with the opportunity to test out his shoulder against an opponent less likely to push him. They won't provide either the financial or accomplishment rewards, but will gauge where Andre Ward is as a fighter.

The desire to get right back into the fire is understandable. Boxing is a business, and Ward is seeking to cash in on his recent successes and build his star power.

With Floyd Mayweather firmly entrenched in the top spot, and a jumble of fighters all lumped anywhere from spots two to five, Ward has a chance to separate himself from the pack.

And that, of course, could potentially mean big money.

He has the talent, and the opponents. A move to light heavyweight could be in the offing not too far down the road, but he needs to be careful.

On his best day, he can beat anyone in the world between 160-175 pounds. He showed that against Froch, Kessler and Dawson. But we won't know he's at his best until he can show it again in the ring.

And the best way to do that may be to take it slowly, rather than biting off too much, too quick.

Stock Watch for All of Boxing's Biggest Stars

Kelsey McCarson — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:34:10 -0400

Investing your time and money into following the career of a fighter is akin to what the money men do on Wall Street; it’s always important to look for the best bet, and it’s often not what stock you’ve put your hard-earned currency into, but when.

With that in mind, here is a look at 10 of boxing’s biggest stars. After reading this forecast, you’ll know if you should be buying, selling or holding your fan investment in their careers based on the most important near-future factors.

The most important criteria is how highly valued a fighter is currently in the sport of boxing today, as well as how much more value a fighter is forecasted to obtain during the next two years. Other criteria include forecasting a fighter’s market success, historical impact and his overall success within current and future weight divisions.

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Power Ranking 13 College Football Coaches with the Most Swag

Carl Stine — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:28:28 -0400

The coaches on this list are some of the best in the nation, with excellent coaching track records and performance to back it up.

They also know how to handle themselves both on and off the field.

"Swag" is a word that is overused in our society, but it has a meaning that can be applied to every coach on this list.

The word is a derivative of "swagger" and is usually used in reference to how a person carries themselves or presents themselves.

When it comes to swag, the coaches on this list have it figured out.

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Dwight Howard's Most Tantalizing Potential Destination Is with Rockets

Tim Keeney — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:25:57 -0400

I'm not sure I'm prepared for another summer filled with ever-changing Dwight Howard rumors, but if the end result is him donning a Houston Rockets jersey, it'll be worth it.

According to CBS Sports' Ken Berger, the polarizing center plans to "explore his options" once he hits free agency on July 1. Among re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, he is reportedly intrigued with the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets:

Well, consider me intrigued that he's intrigued with the Rockets.

Just imagine Kevin McHale trotting out the following starting lineup on a nightly basis, and try not to get giddy with excitement:

PG	Jeremy Lin
SG	James Harden
SF	Chandler Parsons
C	Dwight Howard
C	Omer Asik

Not matter whose team's bandwagon you currently ride, it's impossible to admit that wouldn't be at least entertaining to watch.

How could it not be with two dominant centers down low?

There are obviously limitations—most notably offensively—to playing both Howard and Omer Asik at the same time. Neither can score away from the basket:

But consider Houston's offensive arsenal and style of attack.

James Harden is one of the most dangerous playmaking scorers in the league. Chandler Parsons is a deadly shooter with a burgeoning all-around game. Jeremy Lin obviously struggled down the stretch and in the postseason, but he's a capable scorer and distributor. Even if his problems persist, Patrick Beverley showed loads of potential as a backup and Harden tends to control the ball, anyways.

Throw in Houston's propensity to play the fastest pace in the league, and scoring won't exactly be a problem.

But that's nothing new. The Rockets, with an offensive rating of 106.7, were one of the most efficient squads in the Association this season. Their eventual downfall, however, came on defense, where they ranked 17th in defensive rating.

With the addition of Howard, no one would score inside consistently against the Rockets.

The big man is undoubtedly one of the best interior defenders in the league—whether you look at basic stats (2.5 blocks per contest) or advanced ones:

Not only did he hold centers to a mediocre PER of 15.0, but when Howard was on the court, the Lakers gave up just 105.9 points per 100 possessions. When he was on the bench, they gave up 111.0.

Asik, another elite defender, had similarly impressive numbers.

So, in the end, you would be taking a team that thrives on fast breaks and offensive superiority, and giving it an atypical defensive center-center combo that the league hasn't seen in a long time.

In all honesty, it's unclear if a lineup that would actually gel together efficiently, but combining Harden's offense with Howard's defense would give the Rockets some unique versatility and a championship-caliber roster.

And no matter what happens, it would be fascinating and compelling to see how it plays out.