Bleacher Report - Front Page

NBA Do More Moments of Week 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Ranking Ideal 2013 Free-Agent Targets for Chicago Bulls

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Michigan Football: Bold Predictions for Wolverines' 2013 Season

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

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

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

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

Devin Gardner

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

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

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

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

The Receiving Game

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

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

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

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

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

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

Forced Turnovers/QB Pressure

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

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

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

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

Prediction: 30 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and 12 interceptions

Record

By no means is Michigan's 2013 campaign easy.

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

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

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

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

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

Prediction: 9-3 (6-2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turnover.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good times.

Comparing Grizzlies' and Spurs' Chances Against Miami Heat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But make no mistake; these are not identical twins.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Follow @Hoops_Guru

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Martin should finally be retired by then, right?

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

Follow Joe Menzer on Twitter @OneMenz.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Marcel Mutoni (@marcel_mutoni) May 23, 2013

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

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

Power Ranking the Best Tailgating Scenes in the SEC

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

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

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

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

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

Let the fun and the debate begin!

Begin Slideshow

Each 2013 NHL Playoff Team's Most Impressive Statistic

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

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

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

Begin Slideshow

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

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

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

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

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

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

So what does all of this mean?

Here's how it will all play out.

Round-Robin Standings

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

Full Memorial Cup Schedule

Round Robin

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

Playoff Bracket

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

Game Recap

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

Neither goaltender let that happen.

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

The second period wasn't so kind.

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

Saskatoon wasted no time in adding to the intrigue.

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

And then Portland took over.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But does such a trade make sense for both teams?

Why It Makes Sense for Boston

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best Case/Worst Case

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

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

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

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

Why It Makes Sense for Indiana

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best Case/Worst Case

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will America?

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.

Texas Football: 4 Potential Impact Freshmen for the Longhorns

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

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

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

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

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

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Toronto Blue Jays: 5 Disappointing Draft Picks in Jays History

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

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

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

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

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

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LeBron James Talks 2016 Olympics and Return of Coach K

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

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

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

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

I think it's great. ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. RG3 needs to protect himself

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

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

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

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

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

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

He needs to protect himself.

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

2. Protecting the quarterback

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

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

The quarterback seemed unfazed and resilient following the game.

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

Can you say foreshadowing?

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Implement more passing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Better blocking

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

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

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

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

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

Changes need to be made on offense to protect RG3.

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

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

All statistical information provided by ESPN.com.

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

Formula 1: 2013 Monaco Grand Prix Preview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Los Angeles Kings' 5 Most Impressive Players During 2013 Playoffs

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

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

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

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Ranking the 5 Biggest Surprise Stars of the 2013 NHL Playoffs

Nicholas Goss — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:29:33 -0400

Every year we see players who unexpectedly make great contributions to their team's success in the NHL playoffs.

The atmosphere and pressure of the postseason often brings out the best in a lot of role players and rookies, many of whom are eager to make a name for themselves on the game's grandest stage.

Let's look at the five biggest surprise stars of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs thus far.

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Should the Toronto Raptors Trade into the 2013 NBA Draft?

Morgan Chalfant — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:29:03 -0400

Currently, the Toronto Raptors will get nothing from the 2013 NBA draft. They gave up their first-round pick to the Houston Rockets for Kyle Lowry in 2012 and they dealt away their second-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Solomon Alabi in 2010.

However, the Raptors could make a quick trade in order to acquire a pick in the upcoming draft, which will take place on Thursday, June 27. This may mean giving away a starter or a solid bench player, but it could also pay off for Toronto. In 2011, the Toronto Raptors selected center Jonas Valanciunas with the fifth overall pick, and the big man exhibited great improvement and talent this season.

The Raptors have a strong forward in Rudy Gay and a solid shooting guard in DeMar DeRozan, but they could use some help at point guard. Kyle Lowry had a mediocre season, and Toronto could potentially use him as a trading piece in order to grab a rookie point guard from the draft.

If they make the right trade, the Raptors could snag a late pick in the first round or one in the second round. If they’re looking for a point guard late in the first round, Shane Larkin is predicted to be taken as the 23rd pick. Larkin is a sophomore from Miami, and he averaged 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 36.4 minutes for the 2012-13 season.

In the second round, Lorenzo Brown of North Carolina State is projected to go at the eighth spot. Brown is a bit behind Larkin in terms of points but better in rebounds and assists; he averaged 12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 34.2 minutes for 2012-13. Nate Wolters, a senior from South Dakota State, is predicted to go ninth in the second round of the draft. He averaged 22.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists each game last season.

Close behind Wolters is Ray McCallum of Detroit, who is believed to go at the 11th spot in the second round. The senior point guard averaged 18.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 36.6 minutes last season. Another solid pick is Baylor’s Pierre Jackson at the 12th spot; Jackson averaged 19.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game for 2012-13.

All of these young options seem solid replacements for a mediocre Lowry, who only averaged 11.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.4 assists per 29.7 minutes of game play last season with the Raptors. However, any rookie point guard will face a huge adjustment coming in to lead a team in the NBA. The Raptors would be taking a huge risk if they decided to go for a draft pick to replace Lowry.

The Raptors could also try to trade for a draft pick in order to get another low-post man, seeing as Andrea Bargnani proved himself basically useless last season. It would probably be difficult to get rid of Bargnani for a solid pick in the draft, though, because of his large contract.

However, there are some intriguing centers and power forwards in the second round of the draft that the Raptors could set their sights on if they made the right trade. Predicted to go at the fourth spot is Mike Muscala, a senior center from Bucknell University. Muscala averaged an impressive 18.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per 31.7 minutes each game last season.

Jackie Carmichael from Illinois State is believed to be picked at the seventh spot in the second round. The power forward averaged 17.4 points and 9.3 rebounds each game during the 2012-13 season. Colton Iverson is another solid big man available in the draft. The center is projected to go at the 18th spot and averaged 14.2 points and 9.8 rebounds last season.

These big men are a few among the many talented low-post players available in the second round of the 2013 draft. Given Andrea Bargnani’s poor statistics and early exit from last season due to injury, the Raptors could certainly use some backup for Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas on the low post.

Though they could definitely grab some talent in the draft, the Toronto Raptors would need to trade for draft picks very carefully. They shouldn’t give up key players like Rudy Gay or DeMar DeRozan for a shot at a good pick in the 2013 draft; this would be too much of a gamble. However, should they organize the right trade, the Raptors could benefit from trading into this year’s draft.

Predictions for draft selections taken from DraftExpress' 2013 mock draft.

Penguins vs. Senators Game 4: Score, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

Tyler Conway — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:25:09 -0400

Even on nights where neither Evgeni Malkin nor Sidney Crosby could find the net until garbage time, the Ottawa Senators just cannot keep the high-powered Pittsburgh Penguins attack off the scoreboard.

Instead, it was James Neal who stepped up huge on Wednesday, as the Penguins defeated the Senators, 7-3, in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinals clash. Pittsburgh now has a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The 25-year-old Neal scored two goals, snapping a goalless streak that lasted over five playoff tilts. Neal's first- and third-period goals were sandwiched in between scores by Chris Kunitz and Jarome Iginla in the second period.

Pascal Dupuis, Crosby and Iginla's second goal in the third sent the score well beyond reach, each goal coming within the 8:08 and 9:53 mark of the period. The fusillade of goals led Tribune-Review reporter Josh Yohe to say the Penguins have reached a rarefied air usually reserved for future champions:

It was a performance that in retrospect will look every bit as dominant as Pittsburgh's Game 1 triumph. The Senators defense came absolutely unglued during the third period, leaving goalie Craig Anderson on an island to get pelted with shots.

For those watching, the barrage of shots hitting the back of the net came after a slow build—one that saw Ottawa look like the better team for much of the first two periods.

Perhaps spurred by the momentum of their double-overtime triumph in Game 4, the Senators offense came out on fire. Playing short-handed early after a Sergei Gonchar interference penalty, winger Milan Michalek took a pass from Daniel Alfredsson and blew past the Penguins defense, including Malkin, for a relatively easy goal for the Sens.

It took a mere 2:29 to send Scotiabank Place into a Game 7-esque tizzy. Senators radio announcer A.J. Jakubec noted that Michalek showed no signs of any lingering knee problems in jetting past the defense for the score.

Ottawa was able to keep the game at its pace for much of the first 20 minutes. Playing physically and fast, the Senators stifled the Penguins' vaunted offensive attack, forcing them into bad, contested shots that had little chance of finding the back of the net.

And then, as they always seem to do, the Penguins found a way to strike. Taking one faceoff, Neal floated a bit toward the center of the attacking zone and sent a rocket-launcher of a wrist shot past Anderson to knot the score at 1-1.

Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted just what good the previously struggling Neal was doing for the visitors:

Kyle Turris made sure Neal's celebration was short-lived—at least for the time being. The Senators star sent his fifth postseason goal rocketing into the Penguins net less than two minutes later, giving the Senators a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

Unfortunately for the Sens, Turris' goal would be the last time they got a shot past Tomas Vokoun during meaningful play.

Pittsburgh's onslaught of the overwhelmed Senators defense took a little more than a minute into the second period to begin. Kunitz took a great pass from Dupuis and sent a wrister past Anderson for an easy breakaway goal. Iginla put the Pens ahead 3-2 less than a minute later on a rebound chance, making Anderson look like a "sieve," per ESPN's David Todd:

Things calmed down for the remainder of the second period, but the floodgates burst wide open in the game's final 20 minutes. The Penguins had scored six unanswered goals by midway through the third before a meaningless Alfredsson goal finalized the 7-3 score.

The teams will take a 24-hour reprieve before heading back to Pittsburgh for Game 5 on Friday. The Penguins can close out the best-of-seven series with a win at Consol Energy Center, where they won the series' first two contests.

NHL Network's Steve Mears was clear which way he thinks this series is headed:

Following such a dominant performance on Wednesday, it's not hard to see where Mears is coming from. The Penguins were the Eastern Conference's most dominant team all through the regular season, and they're starting to look the part again in these playoffs.

MRI Reveals Carmelo Anthony Was Fighting Through Shoulder Tear in Playoffs

Grant Hughes — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:21:46 -0400

During the New York Knicks' 2013 NBA playoff run, we saw Carmelo Anthony do two things on a frequent basis: shoot and grimace. Anthony has always been big on the former, but now we know why he did so much of the latter.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Anthony had been playing with a pretty significant shoulder injury:

The injury had been a source of concern for Anthony since April 14, when he initially suffered it against the Indiana Pacers. He aggravated it a handful of times throughout the postseason, with each new tweak bringing a familiar grab for the joint and an uncomfortable wince.

In Game 5 of the Knicks' opening-round series against the Boston Celtics, things looked particularly bad for 'Melo.

He continued to suit up throughout the playoffs, but he clearly paid for it whenever there was any significant contact with that bad shoulder.

It's hard to know whether the injury, which was to Anthony's non-shooting arm, affected his play. He certainly continued to log major minutes throughout the postseason and had no qualms about firing off plenty of difficult shots. If he truly had been hampered by the injury, you'd think coach Mike Woodson would have devised some way to run an offense that didn't involve such a heavy reliance on Anthony.

No other player came close to matching Anthony's 25.8 field-goal attempts per game in the postseason. So we know that his confidence, at least, remained healthy.

Still, it's interesting to note that after hitting 38 percent of his three-point attempts during the season, his long-range accuracy dropped to under 30 percent in the playoffs. The efficiency dip was the same from everywhere else on the floor, as well:

It might be a little reductive to point to the shoulder injury and assume that it led to 'Melo's reduced accuracy. It's certainly possible, but there's also a case to be made for the defenses of the Celtics and Indiana Pacers, which forced Anthony to take tougher shots.

Plus, Anthony's career shooting percentages in the playoffs (42 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc) actually aren't all that far off from what he did in this year's postseason.

Looking ahead, Anthony's prognosis is good. According to Isola, the Knicks are going to give 'Melo's shoulder some time to heal on its own. If that works out, he'll avoid surgery and be ready to go in a few weeks. On the other hand, if the shoulder doesn't improve, surgery and a three-to-four-month recovery period would be in the cards.

Either way, he figures to be ready for the 2013-14 season with plenty of time to spare.

The Knicks are coming off their first postseason series win in over a decade. If they hope to make it two in a row next season, they'll definitely need a healthy Anthony to do it.

Credit Anthony for fighting through the pain and giving his team what he could during the playoffs. If the injury indeed hurt his productivity, it's reasonable to give him a pass for his low-percentage performance.

If only there were a similar excuse for J.R. Smith.

*All stats via NBA.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Rafael Nadal's Dominance Won't Change Unpredictable Nature of 2013 French Open

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:18:31 -0400

Rafael Nadal will attempt to win his eighth French Open title in nine years when he takes the court at Roland Garros this weekend. And if that fact doesn't astound you, then re-read it until it finally starts to sink in—he's won all but one match in nine years at the French Open.

Not one of those titles have come against easy opposition, either, with all but one championship final against a player ranked top five or higher—proving beyond any doubt that he is the king of Roland Garros.

Such dominance has not ever been seen before in men's tennis.

And yet, even with that dominance, the 2013 French Open is still wide open.

The Spaniard will no doubt be the undisputed favorite for the tournament and will definitely not be an easy-beat; that much we can guarantee will happen.

Yet even with Nadal losing just one match since his successful return from injury and even with his strong history at Roland Garros, the tournament is still up for grabs.

Read on to see the biggest reasons why.

Nadal's History Against Novak Djokovic

Perhaps the biggest reason why Nadal can't just be confirmed as a "lock" for the title is the current World No. 1, Novak Djokovic. For despite the fact that clay isn't Djokovic's strongest surface, he's certainly more than capable of pushing the Spaniard and triumphing over him this year.

Proof of that was found at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

Arguably Nadal's favorite tournament, Djokovic was able to finish over the top of Nadal and emerge with a huge clay-court victory in the process.

Now many will be quick to point out here that since that win, Djokovic has done next to nothing, and they'd be 100 percent correct. He was stunned by Grigor Dimitrov and then Tomas Berdych in back-to-back tournaments to leave him without the best of form coming into the French Open, but there's no taking away from the fact that he beat Nadal, on clay, this year.

Nadal will be comforted by the fact that he did secure a key win against Djokovic in the final last year, but even that wasn't as straightforward as it seemed.

Djokovic was starting to assert himself in the match when the rain delay came in the fourth set, and it did kill his momentum somewhat. Even then, he still had a number of chances to win the fourth set before Nadal eventually closed it 7-5, and will take confidence knowing that he can indeed beat Nadal at Roland Garros—even if it's something that he's never done before.

The Serbian has been playing great tennis this year, and his performance at the 2013 Australian Open showed that he hasn't dropped a single step from his 2012 season.

Nadal might hold a career head-to-head advantage over Djokovic, but the World No. 1 has won eight of their past 11 encounters. Moreover, since 2011, Djokovic has taken three finals off Nadal on clay, and has split the head-to-head clay-court record 3-3 in that time.

3-3 against Nadal—on clay, in two years—is definitely a record to be proud of, and Djokovic will surely try to use that to carry him toward the Grand Slam title here.

Key Withdrawals in Men's Field

You'd also have to think that the unpredictable nature of the draw and field this year for the French Open make this one very open.

For not only do we not yet know who Nadal will be facing in the semifinals and the like, we don't even know how the rest of the seeds are going to fall, courtesy of several big-name stars dropping out of the tournament. Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro are the two biggest names to be scratched this year, and it will be fascinating to see how their absence affects the field.

It will give a huge advantage to the likes of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Stanislas Wawrinka and Nicolas Almagro, who will all move up in the seeding and could now find much easier runs to the quarterfinals and semifinals than they would otherwise have had this year.

Interestingly, Nadal has not played anyone ranked outside of the top six in the world in all seven of his French Open finals. He's only played three players ranked outside the top six in the semifinals as well, and has therefore become very accustomed to playing guys closer to his level in at Roland Garros.

That might seem harder, but it means they're less likely to go for big shots all the time—which is what an outsider might try to do against Nadal if they meet.

We saw in his one French Open loss. Sweden's Robin Soderling went for big shots all the time, and it paid off. And with the unpredictable nature of the draw this year at the 2013 French Open thanks to all the key withdrawals, it could definitely be a storyline worth watching for again this year.

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

What Do the Pittsburgh Steelers Need to Do to Compete in the AFC North in 2013?

Chris G. — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:12:48 -0400

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not meet the standard in 2012. An 8-8 finish left them in third place in the AFC North and on the outside looking in on the playoffs.

But a down season does not change the expectations for the 2013 season. Championships are the standard in Pittsburgh, and that will be no exception this year.

Though not the ultimate goal, winning the AFC North is one way to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.

Pittsburgh had an opportunity to win the division title last season, but injuries, turnovers and failing to make the necessary plays at the critical junctures of the game were too much to overcome.

The Steelers didn’t necessarily have a problem overcoming their opponents—they had a problem overcoming themselves.

So what do the Steelers have to do in 2013 to get back in AFC North contention? Let's take a look.

Healthy Stars

Injuries may have been the single biggest contributor to the Steelers' struggles in 2012.

Troy Polamalu, LaMarr Woodley, Ike Taylor, Antonio Brown, David DeCastro, Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams were just some of the players who missed significant action due to injuries.

The defense was slowed without several of its best playmakers on the field—or at least on the field healthy. As a result, the pass rush lacked and opposing quarterbacks attacked the young, inexperienced players in the secondary.

But even so, the defense held tight and kept things close virtually every week.

The same could not be said regarding the injuries to the offense.

Without Brown, the offense lacked one of its best receivers. Adam’s absence led to a decline in the ground game. Then the Steelers lost Heath Miller at the end of the season with a torn ACL.

But none of these injuries were as significant as Roethlisberger’s.

Roethlisberger was a different quarterback after he injured his shoulder and ribs against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Prior to the injury, Roethlisberger was having one of the best seasons of his career.

He completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,287 yards and 17 touchdowns. During this time, he only threw four interceptions and was sacked just 18 times—including three sacks on the final drive against the Denver Broncos.

After the injury, Roethlisberger wasn’t nearly as sharp. He completed just 56.4 percent of his passes for 978 yards, nine touchdowns, four interceptions and was sacked 12 times.

More important than the stats, the Steelers were 6-3 with a healthy Roethlisberger compared to 1-2 without him in the lineup and 1-3 after he returned.

As long as Roethlisberger is healthy, the Steelers will be able to compete with any team in the league. They may not have one of the prolific offenses in the league, but they will be competitive each and every week.

Improve Production on the Ground

Injuries are an issue that is difficult to control. A balanced offensive attack is not.

While the passing game has been solid for the Steelers, the running game has been nothing short of pathetic.

Last season, the ground game was one of the worst in the league with 96.1 yards per game, and it only produced eight touchdowns.

That put the pressure on Roethlisberger to produce points through the air. While he did throw 26 touchdowns, it was not enough to make up for the lack of production on the ground.

Establishing a strong running attack will be important in 2013.

The Steelers face tough defenses in the AFC North and cannot be one-dimensional if they are going to compete.

Besides this, they are without their top scoring receiver from 2012—Mike Wallace—and may be without their top scoring tight end—Heath Miller—for a portion of the season.

Each player had eight touchdown receptions last year, and the Steelers will have to find a way to match this production.

Neither Antonio Brown nor Emmanuel Sanders have a history of putting up big touchdown numbers, and rookie Markus Wheaton is unproven.

The only way that the Steelers can realistically replace that type of production and improve upon it is to get more points on the ground.

Pittsburgh solidified its offensive line last season by drafting DeCastro and Adams. This year, it added a running back to carry the load.

Le’Veon Bell has the look of an every-down back. Not only is he a physical runner, but he has above-average hands out of the backfield and is a capable blocker.

Between the 20s, Bell’s overall effectiveness will help establish a play-action passing attack. Drawing defenders near the line will help free up the smaller receivers on the outside on downfield passes.

But where Bell is really going to make his money is inside the 20s.

The Steelers red-zone offense has struggled to put the ball in the end zone, but it has improved.

Pittsburgh scored touchdowns on 55.10 percent of its red-zone opportunities in 2012 compared to 50.91 percent of its attempts in 2011, via Team Rankings.

Bell’s efficiency running the ball near the end zone will be the key to the success of Pittsburgh’s offense.

The Steelers' current group of receivers are either easily knocked off the ball or lack the ability to get open in the end zone.

Let’s just say that the Steelers don’t have a savvy veteran like Hines Ward who could find the soft spot between defenders in the end zone.

A balanced attack will help solve that problem. No longer will the Steelers have to depend on the pass to move the ball and score.

It will not be a return to the “three yards and a cloud of dust” offense, but rather a balanced attack that will keep opposing defenses on their heels.

Attacking Defense

The AFC North may be known for its defenses, but the offenses are nothing to be ashamed of either.

There will always be arguments to Joe Flacco’s status as an elite quarterback, but none of that matters right now because he is a Super Bowl champion quarterback.

The Baltimore Ravens have quite a bit of skill on offense with Flacco, Ray Rice, Torrey Smith as well as a pair of talented tight ends that make them dangerous on offense.

They have nothing to sneeze at in Cincinnati either. The Bengals have put together a very talented group of offensive players.

Quarterback Andy Dalton has a ton of talent to throw to this season, including one of the premier receivers in the game, A.J. Green.

Besides green, Mohamed Sanu is an intriguing young receiver to keep an eye on as well as their two talented tight ends—Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert.

These two offenses ranked 10th and 12th in the league last season, respectively, and have potential to be even better this year.

In order to win the division, the Steelers must first and foremost defeat their divisional opponents.

Since they may have difficulty putting a lot of points on the board, the Steelers must once again depend on their defense to keep them in games. Therefore, they must find a way to stop these.

The Ravens and Bengals are going to continue to throw the football and attack downfield with their big-play threats at receiver. One way to stop this is to have an attacking defense.

Pittsburgh’s coaching staff has already made some changes and added talent to make this happen.

Cortez Allen will add a much-needed playmaker in the secondary.

Last season, he showed signs of having a nose for the football with two interceptions and three forced fumbles.

But it isn’t the cornerbacks who make the plays for the defense, it is the linebackers. That is why they drafted Jarvis Jones in the first round.

Jones may not start early, but you have to believe that he will get on the field sooner rather than later. He was one of the top pass-rushers in college football, and the Steelers are in desperate need of a pass rush.

A healthy Woodley will provide a huge boost, but using Jones on pass-rushing situations could make all of the difference.

To force turnovers in this league, defenses have to apply pressure and force the issue. This is an area in which the Steelers have failed in during recent years.

Jones has a history of getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers. He won’t be another James Harrison in year one, but he can help as a situational rusher.

Besides Jones, Dick LeBeau must continue to adjust his defensive scheme to the players who are going to be on the field.

Having Woodley and Polamalu healthy will help diversify the playbook, and if Jason Worilds can put up 10 sacks, the Steelers “Blitzburgh” defense will be right where it needs to be.

The defense will have to keep the Steelers close as the offense continues to find itself. It may actually even need to steal a game or two for the Steelers.

But if all goes well, the Steelers will be in contention for the AFC North. They must get back to playing “Steelers football,” and if they can play their game for a full season, there is no doubt that they will be a contender in 2013.

All stats courtesy of NFL.com.

Follow @ChrisG_FC

Carmelo Anthony Injury: Updates on Knicks Star's Shoulder

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:12:38 -0400

The New York Knicks may be out of the 2013 NBA playoffs, but that hasn't stopped them from stealing headlines. In fact, the news coming out of New York is not only revealing, but also potentially devastating.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Carmelo Anthony is battling a small left shoulder tear.

This comes after 'Melo played 12 postseason games.

Anthony had been favoring his shoulder throughout the playoffs, even wearing a protective sleeve. He fought through the pain, going for averages of 28.8 points on a slash line of .406/.298/885.

With that being said, it's not about what was—it's about what happens next.

If Anthony requires surgery on the shoulder, there's a possibility that the Knicks have yet another offseason in which their stars battle injuries. Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire have yet to complete an offseason in that regard, as each has faced his fair share of ailments.

This latest development could be the most devastating of all, as New York's window of opportunity appears to be closing.

Entering the 2013-14 season, only one player under contract will be younger than 27 years old. Free agency and the draft could help in that regard, but New York is tight in cap space and was built to win with Anthony, Stoudemire and Chandler leading the charge.

Anthony's shoulder injury could be yet another complication in what appeared to be the perfect plan to turn this storied franchise around.